Celestial Summoner 08: Conflicts of Interest

She is an older woman, although by no means should that bring one to imagine an unattractive woman, in fact she is quite the opposite. Her curly brown hair framing a face aged and beautiful, a body taken care of, wearing a professional brown uniform matching a style from many decades ago when students at the Grand Summoning School actually wore uniforms.

   "Mr. Farns and Ms. Ora," she says addressing the two people in her office, "you both should be well aware that when a student obtains a partner spirit from us they are by no means new at summoning. More likely they have had years of experience; and while it is far more common for summoners to obtain Living Spirits through Testament Wills, or else capture one gone rogue, or as we are now seeing in Afar and parts of Osor the recovery of summoning spells to form direct contract with the likes of Daemons and Ghosts, of which they can form multiple if they like; so much so and in part thanks to us of course, that there is now a big enough market for items to pamper, care for, and yes even punish for the sake of training these spirits; at least in cities that have guild halls."

  She focuses her gaze on Ms. Ora, "however it is not our place to pass judgement on the methods kingdoms use for these goals. Remember students come here from all over, and return to all over, including those kingdoms. Yes most of those students won't gain partner spirits from us, but that is not our main focus despite how it may look with the 13 temples we have to outsiders. And remember to an outsider's point of view those Tamer Rings don't seem any different from the Capture Cards, and unfortunatly many a student won't be likely to tell the difference either, other than how it looks, and may regard the rings with their more limited use as a specialty tool against ghosts, daemons, and rogue elemental faeries and eldritch."

  She pauses a moment to sip the coffeee on her desk, "Truth is there is very little keeping those rings from entering a more broad market; in fact they are only illegal due to the fact they can be used to steal spirits, including partner spirits, sealed and bound with cards; which are far more common of course, and as a second point whose manufacturers and primary distributors don't want to have as competition. This second point being the main reason we arn't seeing more research into developing Tamer Rings that can't steal card spirits."

  "Ms. Grimm," says Mr. Farns, "There is another concern here,"

  "Ah yes," says Ms. Grimm, "Tempestia, a spirit never recorded before, not exactly rare for an Eldritch in that regards, after all I have never seen another Daiyakisar or Dominess, and yes yes we have seen Eldritch and other spirits similar to them. I could say the same for this Tempestia, seems to me to be an Eldritch version of a Sylph, like something out of an old story book before they knew the limits of a Sylph's power."

  There comes a knock at the door, a frail man enters wearing long white robes embroidered with golden thread, his long canary blond hair and pointed beard giving him a blinding apperance even in normal indoor lighting.

  "I'd think," says the man addressing Farns, "you of all people would be glad that a summoner obtained such a powerful spirit while under our tutelage. As opposed to obtaining one via the Testament Will from a grandparent right as they leave the house to go on their big adventure."

 An odd yet solemn smile crosses his face as he remembers a young blond boy leaving an old wooden cabin, a tiny yellowish glowing pixie looking spirit hovering about him.

  "As I understand it," says the man, "your Daiyakisar claims it was worshipped by blood thirsty cultists on some other human world."

  "All the more reason for my concern," says Mr. Farns, "my concern isn't about Ms. Tonoka, it is for her. Her spirit claims to have been worshipped as well, and has twice now overshadowed our spirits. Defeating and then intimidating mine, and now on this first partner job rather than be shown how to use a partner spirits Ms. Ora's spirit backs down from an enemy spirit; only for Ms. Tonoka's spirit to laugh and take it out....as well as destroy the Tamer Ring and free the opposing spirit."

  "Mirai," says Ora, "as already instructed her spirit against that; and it seems it did that not as a boon to the spirit, but as part of its continued attack against what it percieved, likely rightfully so, as a threat to its summoner."

   The man new in the room strokes his beard, "Ms. Grimm, I was under the impression we were called together to discuss the disenchantments case and not a student."

  "The two are connected," says Farns.

  "Really?" says the man.

 "Yes, Vizor," says Farns, "I do believe they are, according to Ms. Ora's report and that coming from the Gawk Guild in Port Tims several of their members loss the use of several spell cards and Battle Spirit cards. They thought it was being caused by a Krampus given its ability to do that, augmented and enhanced by these bandits."

  "Naturally," says Vizor, "other guilds and our own students have reported this as well, so no chance it was these bandits from Kurka. However I fail to see how you believe cards being disenchanted and unsealed can tie into a student obtaining a partner spirit."

  "The theme," says Farns, "Ms. Grimm I trust the cards reported so far fit into the same theme I've reported from my students."

  "Disturbingly," Ms. Grimm, "The spell cards reported so far, Summon Storm, Dark Tempest, Cataclysm. All powerful spell cards normally only obtainable through contests or passed down of course. Battle Spirits, Chaos Vines, Tiny Trinity, Dark Water's Mask."

  She pauses, "Well the spell cards all fit a storm theme, the Battle Spirits are all so far those from the Dark Sea set."

  "Well three storm spells," says Vizor, "but these battle spirits are aethetically similar but far from the only ones like that."

  "Ms. Tonoka's spirit shapeshifted its hair into a Dark Water's Mask to intimidate Daiyakisar, and during our evaluation shifted its hand into Chaos Vines to strike down one of my Onryo."

  "And Tiny Trinity?" asks Vizor.

 "Not that I've seen," says Farns.

 "Perhaps," says Ms. Grimm, "you are looking at this a little off, yes her summoning her spirit coincides with the same time these cards are all reported to have stopped working. However what if being able to summon this spirit was possible because of whatever disenchanted these cards."

  She pulls out a book, "One of our fears since Afar reopened the old summon libraries was that some spirit realms are sealed, attempting to open them can have consequences, such as allowing new spirits to appear in the wild as well as drain or enhance the powers of cards. At this time we have little to go on, I will be contacting the Afar Explorer School and Guilds to investigate if any unusual summonings were done, and for all guilds to keep an eye out. If this is like the Seasonal Spirits event from a hundred years ago we could start to see new Mystic Monsters and other wild spirits; although most of those only appeared during certain times; however it is when this over powered Santa Clause, these Krampus, and a good number of other spirits first appeared; all because someone broke a sealing stone; starting up that whole big adventure deal with that  Pumpkin King dark lord."

  "And the request we got?" asks Mr. Farns, "she is my student, I havn't told her yet, Kurka requested her assistance in recapturing this Santa Clause; given her spirit freed it in the first place."

  "We cannot force the hands of our students," says Ms. Grimm.

 "Mirai," says Ora, "has already expressed that she has no desire to go to Kurka; and given what happend with Tempestia, I don't think its wise, not simply in regards to her ability to destroy the rings, but also what happened when someone tried to use one on her."

  The room is silent. Vizor looking around and taking a step to Ms. Grimm's desk who slides the report from Ms. Ora over to him. He reads it.

  "Oh my," he says, "yes, well, these things happen. My spirit Luminous also knows many ancient secrets, the kind that makes her rather dangerous to take to certain corners of the continent as she just can't help herself. Looks to me like this Tempestia has some history with the Tamer Rings, or at least some ancient predecessor of them and knows all the little tricks. Kurka isn't after all on a Guild list, nor is their guild there; I would be suspicious of this request given this information."

  "Exactly," says Ms. Grimm, "As much as we should remain impartial, we have no reason to not suspect they'd try to capture a spirit that knows this kind of information, and poses a risk to their business. If it happens in Kurka, under their laws, we would have no legal recourse, and neither would Mirai."

  Vizor looks off in the distance a moment a memory of a tiny glowing pixie like spirit trapped in a cage etched with runes and the boy now a teenager being near useless as a group of Hunters has to fight off some spirit poachers and free the spirit.

 "The request isn't from the Kurka government." says Vizor, "Spirit Poachers are still a thing; I would suspect these bandits were also spirit poachers capturing and selling rare spirits in the black market."

  "We could check," says Mr. Farns.

  "No," says Ms. Grimm, "our concern right now is the disenchanted cards, this request came directly to us, and not through any official channels. We arn't even legally required to inform Mirai Tonoka about it; and given our reasonable suspicions we have legal ground to reject it on her behalf for as a student here she is under our protection."

  ******

  -The sun is down, Sakura is away on a make up job, there is a fairly good chance; a for certain chance that is, she and Angela will be graduating this year. After all this isn't really a job training facility and students can "graduate" and return as often as they like. Just the kind of lessons they take reflects on their guild resumes. Mirai likewise is considering graduating soon as well, while she has only had one partner job it was against Poachers, which a success of which is easily worth a dozen ordinary wild spirit hunting jobs, as well as the evaluation results so far. These things and more Mirai contemplates in the dorm room. On her desk a tiny fairy house, made from the kit she bought returning to the school. A small pagoda like building with a red roof, a shrin like entrance, and a small yard around it with a fake pond and illussionary fish. Inside Tempestia sleeps on a futon, splayed out snoring. Mirai *chuckles* as she holds out Tempestia's contract card. An image projected before her that only she can see.

  "Let's see," says Mirai as she take out her deck of 25 summoning and spell cards and her sleeve book of cards not in the deck, "Element: Star and Primal, makes sense, HP and MP are crazy high. Well any doubt you are an Eldritch is gone here, five skill types each with their own menu of known skills, and five special defenses. Hmm, skill types, Atmokinesis, MagneElectrokinesis, Psionics, Sorcery (Elementalism), and Shapeshifting. Okay, defenses; Psy-Killer, Dream Guardian Manifestation, Mana Absorbtion, Ethereal Touch....does that really count as a defense?...and Antithesis."

  She pauses a moment, "yeah, I read about this, guess I should have read more up on it, five skills, all vague but gives a wide range of abilities they can and have learned, defenses are more specifice. So Psy-Killer I know, Dream Guardian Manifestation is what we saw when you fought that Santa Clause then; let's see [When forced asleep will automatically manifest randomly one of a set of Dream Guardians to protect her, Dream Guardians have partial memory, may have different personalities, and abilities. Will not take orders from the summoner directly]."

  "So not something to rely on," she says shuffling through her deck for awaken spells and status affect ending Battle Spirits.

  "Okay, Mana Absorbtion, [Absorbs the mana aspect of special attacks and spells to increase own HP and MP; note cannot be used against Ice element spells, and will still take damage from the none mana aspect of special attacks and spells if they exceed the mana aspect absorbed]."

  "Hell of a defense," she smirks.

  "Okay Ethereal touch means you can hit ghosts...oh and [see and hit invisible and intangible enemies], so that's why you get away with it being a defense. Can't be sneak attacked by a cloaked opponent.

  Mirai continued into the night adjusting her deck, checking on Tempestia's strengths weaknesses and unusual takes on Aura Guardian, Possession, and Combo Initiative. Abilities many Eldritch have in common with Elemental Faeries, yet each Eldritch has their own unique take on them.

  ******

  -Late at night Mirai sleeps soundly in her bed, few students are awake at this late hour, save some professors working on papers; a handful with nocturnal spirits practicing in their element; and high above the Grand Summoning School, above the clouds a single figure floats. Tempestia stands here above the clouds, her azure eyes surveying northwords. Her six silver thread like crown spikes appearing from the lengths of her hair, shortening to their proper length and spreading like the feathers of a parrot on alert. She points her finger northword, towards Port Tims.

  In Port Tims, few shops are open, the Fairy House shop is among those closed, the old shop keeper snug in his small single wooden bed nestled in the backroom of the shop. Clad in striped pajamas colored various shades of purple, and his head adorned with a night cap, he is rustled awake by a soft hissing voice, "awaken, awaken, awaken,"

  He blinks his eyes into the darkness, something in the dark across the room by the door beyond the foot of his bed catches his eye. Movement, something swaying in the dark, the moonlight outside enough to illuminate a white mask atop the snake like yet non-distinct in form swaying mass. The moonlight giving it a ghostly glow, it is distinctly female.

  "What...what is this?" asks the man blinking and reaching for a card with a big green X on it sitting on the bed stand.

 He is paralyzed as a blue light fills the room, the tips of his fingers mere inches from the card. His head is turned, his body flung by an invisible force to lie back and look forward. The eyes of the mask are filled with an intense blue light. A slit appears inside the mouth of the mask, that spreads in both directions beyond the red painted lips and upwards like a smile on the cheeks. The mouth opens like that of a dummy, white sharp teeth forming from black spiraling strands of darkness.

  "Not all were punished," the mask hisses from the darkness inside its mouth, "for the wrong you have committed mortal against that which is I and they who could summon me you shall suffer..."

 There is a quick scream as the entire thing vanishes in a blue glowing and sparkling mist, leaving the man confused and able to move again, practically diving for the card on his bed, touching it and his entire shop becoming encased in a green glow.

  Meanwhile across the Hagnar bay and up into the clouds Tempestia winces as a large blue humanoid figure with large solid mechanical looking wings flies between her and the bay; covered in a mighty glow. With Tempestia's back to the school she sees the figure stop and right its self before her. A tall, standing over ten feet in height, figure shaped like a feminine battle mech only made of a sparkling smooth blue substance with specks of color subdued colors along and appearing to be inside its body although these could just be smaller and and more faded spots perhaps. If not for the sharp angles, armor like jutting parts, pointed boots, helmet like head, and clawed gauntlets it would easily be mistaken for a gelatenous being. The large wings with their triangular configurations setting this being as distinctly mechanical in form despite its non-mechanical texture.

  The two simply eye each other, as much as a pair of azurite like eyes and glowing yellow slits can be said to "eye" each other. The mech like one starts to circle, Tempestia keeping them facing each other also circles, with its back to the school the mech like one spreads its wings.

  "This is unique," says Tempestia, "I am normally the silent one looking all intimidating in this circumstance. So tell me, Polymorphica Spectra, why do you interfere with me?"

  The being's eyes glow red and it aims its hand at her while saying in a calm dignified woman's voice, "Star Light Blast."

  Numerous white points of light fire from her hand, Tempestia *zips* about not changing her pose to dodge them. The two circle each other again, with Tempestia's back to the school she aims her hand and shouts, "Aurora Blast!" firing a flame-beam like blast of mostly green with streaks of purple and blue inside. The armor like being does a side step dodge.

  The two circle each other again, with its back to the school the armor being says, "You are violation of the school's rules. Long distance attacks will not be tolerated."

  "I see," says Tempestia, "from you demeanor I take it you are one of those high order spirits of the school's staff I had not met yet. Hmm...Royal Knight?"

 The figure is silent.

 Tempestia *smirks*, "What an uncreative name, I suppose it fits a Polymorphica Spectra though."

 The figure clutches its claws, forming blue and black spheres of energy in them like tiny blue suns.

 "For the sake of my summoner," says Tempestia, "I will relent this night...Royal Knight, however those who have wronged us will suffer."

  She *smiles*, "I was ordered not to kill anyone, but there are far worse punishments than death I can inflict on the sinner."

  "Blue Sun." says the being as it combines its two spheres causing them to grow in side.

  "Fool." comes Tempestia's voice, but from above.

 A giant pair of blue eyes looking down from a black cloud that has formed above them in roughly the shape of her face. Like a boat crashing through waves of darkness a giant fist made of the very same clouds plunges and stikes the being, pulling it into a spiral of darkness within the clouds being thrown above by many small cyclones within and thrown into the distant field its attack pulled away and absorbed by the darkness. The figure above quickly vanishes along with the artificial cloud it appeared from.

  In a small crater in the field the being rights its set, eyes glowing with an intense red. It actually *growls* as it crouches and lunges into the air with an intense fiery blue aura about it. Tempestia meanwhile is calming floating down to the school and towards Mirai's window.

  "Stop!" shouts a woman's voice from the rooftop as the being comes closer. Tempestia calmly looking on.

 "Royal Knight stand down," the source of the voice is Tabitha Grimm.

 Ms. Grimm looks at Tempestia, "Partner Spirits strive for justice against those who would wrong their summoners. However those poachers have already been arrested, our laws, mortal laws are dealing with them. This will be part of Ms. Tonoka's lessons, and should have been before going out on a job."

  Tempestia looks at her a moment and over at Royal Knight and back at Ms. Grimm, "For the sake of my summoner I will confess, I was not ordered to do this, however one has escaped your laws, the informant in Port Tims who runs the fairy house shop, who is in league with these so called poachers; who knew of things he witnessed, things of my doing. For the sake of impressing my summoner I caused her to be targeted instead."

  Her voice grows harsher, the wind hotter, "This error must be corrected."

  "I will be seeing you both in my office in the morning anyway."

  The Royal Knight speaks, "Be sure to inform your summoner of your activities."

 Tempestia *hisses* like a cat, eyes sparking as electricity dances between her outstretched fingers, "Insolent tiny weapon you dare give me orders!"

  "Tempestia?" asks Mirai looking out the window.

  Not the only one awake now.

  Tempestia floats down, shrinks, and lands on Mirai's bed, arms crossed and back turned to the window, chin up.

  "What...is going on?" asks Mirai.

 "I attempted to drive that shop keeper who sent those men after you and attempted to steal me away from you insane. My efforts to right the wrong that resulted from my own actions in their shop; as I was not aware my lock breaker skill was so unique in this world for a spirit to know, has resulted in a...scuffle between myself and your leader's spirit apparently guarding your skies against transgressions of your rules."

  "Uh," says Mirai, she stops to think about how to word herself in a way as not to upset her partner spirit; the spirit taking initiative is a rare sight indeed, "Please confide in me of your suspicions so we can decide the fate of such people together please."

  Tempestia *smiles*, "I shall my princess. As you are my princess it is only fitting you decide their fate."

  Mirai *yawns* and blinks as Royal Knight hovers outside her window.

  "Um," says Mirai.

  "Message," says Royal Knight, "Ms. Grimm looks forward to your meeting in the morning."

 "Do not try to stress my princess tiny weapon of forgotten people." hisses Tempestia.

 Royal Knight's eyes glow red a moment before it flies away from the window. Mirai able to see Ms. Grimm standing on the roof as her spirit shrinks and vanishes into its card.

 "Spirit In-fighting," thinks Mirai, "Daiyakisar is afraid of her, Dominess acts weird, and Royal Knight has...history maybe...I need to go back to sleep."

  The long white sleeves of Tempestia wrap around Mirai as they pull her to the bed, Mirai snuggling into Tempestia as she falls back to sleep. Tempestia lays her down and with a gesture makes the windows close softly on their own.

 "Curiouser and curiouser," she thinks, "I suppose I should have anticipated a school like this would have sensors regarding long distance spell attacks; hmm; even out going spells. Heh, a Polymorphica Spectra posing as a spirit, when Mirai said the principal's spirit was called Royal Knight I was expecting some Paladin Angel or Ghostly Knight; among other possibilities; something actually from and native to a spirit plane. How fascinating."