Heroine Creation: All My Summons Are Custom Made

The Dean’s office sat at the highest spire of the Academy.

It was as grandiose as anyone would expect a Dean’s office to be, designed in a circular fashion with fancy high furniture shelves filled with knowledgeable tomes, a large map of the world sculpted into the wall’s surface, and numerous charts here and there.

Lancet didn’t really know what to expect from this meeting, but it was obvious it had something to do with summoning Astensia, who to their knowledge, was a beloved legend.

From what Lancet remembered about the Dean from the novel, there wasn’t really much to be wary about. Overall, Ordenance was a good man to be ruling the Students’ affairs.

Except of course, the massive Academy secret that he also was a part of which completely blew up the third arc of the story.

But the cause of that, Principal Danistasia, was yet to be back from her world meeting with the Elders of Earth.

Remembering all of this sent a chill through Lancet’s spine. It was almost bizarre that he was actually in this world where some of the darkest lore he’d read hid behind this fluffy, nearly generic Academy lightnovel.

That was until they ruined it.

Returning to the present however, Dean Ordenance sat behind a massive dark wooden desk, stacked with tomes and a gilded scroll he had been studying before Lancet walked in.

He adjusted himself, petting his grey beard as he watched Lancet with those dual-colored eyes that felt like they were peeling back Lancet’s skin to look directly at his Soul Core.

”Take a seat, Mr. Leogardt,” Ordenance said. His voice was deep, lacking any of the frantic energy of the instructors downstairs.

Ordenance knew how to be professional. It was one of his major attributes, especially because he was born and raised in the Kingdom of Aethelgard. The entire culture of formality was engrained into him.

He was made for the role of Dean, and hopefully one day, Principal.

Lancet sat down, keeping his posture straight.

”So,” Ordenance began, lacing his fingers together. ”I was informed of what you did today in the Dungeon Clearing expedition. I have also watched the footage.”

Lancet waited, unsure if Dean Ordenance wanted him to respond to that.

”First I’ll like to congratulate you on being the first MVP of the School Year amongst the First Years,” Ordenance continued, unlacing his fingers.

”Thank you, sir,” Lancet replied.

Ordenance watched him for a while, a single brow raised. Then, he continued. ”The Academy has seen many unique Skills. We understand that students prefer to keep the mechanics of their abilities secret.”

He pulled out a student’s profile image. ”Look at Clevus Cattenham in the Third Year. He calls himself the Classless Summoner, yet we know what he is strangely capable of. Still, we can not force anyone.”

”Awakener Supreme does not pry unless a student poses a threat to the Academy.”

He leaned forward, the shadows in the room seeming to lean with him.

”However. Summoning a legendary hero who died three centuries ago is not a mere trick. It disrupts our understanding of Grace and the afterlife. I cannot force you to reveal your secrets, Lancet, but I require an explanation I can put on paper.”

Lancet’s mind raced. He couldn’t mention that he was an all powerful being who created humans as summons.

Not even because it would ruin his surprise element like in most stories, but because they just wouldn’t fucking believe him.

There was no point in trying.

So, for everyone’s sake, he needed a lie that fit the magic system of this world.

”Well, as you know, my Class is Architect, sir,” Lancet said smoothly, holding the Dean’s gaze. ”Architects build. They construct. But my Grace doesn’t build physical structures.”

”Then what does it build?”

”Ladders,” Lancet lied. ”Bridges. I can construct a tether made of Grace that reaches backward through the ’Stream of Time.’ If my connection is strong enough, and if I have the energy to anchor it, I can bring a reflection of a historical figure forward to serve as my summon.”

Dean Ordenance stared at him for a long time.

The silence was heavy, filled only by the ticking of a grandfather clock in the corner.

”A ladder to the past,” Ordenance murmured, testing the words. ”Fascinating. It is a believable enough theory, though the Grace requirements must be excruciating for a body with your retention levels.”

”It is, sir,” Lancet agreed readily.

Ordenance leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes glinting with a sudden, intense curiosity. ”This is amazing, enthralling. So you can bring back anyone? Just anyone?”

Lancet shrugged. ”If I am strong enough, sir. I think so.”

”Wow,” the Dean exclaimed, stroking his beard in thought. ”This must be why your Talent is Dull. Perhaps the world’s system believes the ladders you create are your summons. And what can a ladder do to a Higher Orc?”

Lancet chuckled softly. ”Pretty much nothing.”

”Indeed!” the man said with astonishment. ”Pretty much nothing.”

They both sat in silence for a while as Ordenance thought to himself, then he leaned forward with a query.

”But it begs a rather interesting question, Mr. Leogardt.” The Dean tapped his finger against his chin. ”If your Architect Class allows you to build a ladder that goes down into the past...”

Ordenance tilted his head.

”Can that ladder be built upward? Can it bring someone from the future?”

Lancet’s breath caught in his throat.

His mind instantly went blank, and then, a thousand possibilities exploded in his head all at once.

He had been so focused on creating characters that fit the past lore, but there was nothing that stopped him from creating someone from the future.

Was there?

’Could I write a sci-fi lore?’ Lancet thought, his heart pounding. ’A cyborg heroine? A time traveler from a hyper-advanced utopia?’

Lancet looked at the Dean, realizing that the old man had just inadvertently handed him the blueprint for a possible Heroine in the future.

”I don’t know, sir,” he shrugged. ”Maybe I’ll try it one day.”

××××××××

After the meeting, Ordenance wished Lancet good luck and told him to focus on his studies and in getting stronger to make more ladders.

”I’m excited to see what more legends you can bring back to the present.”

Now outside the office, heading towards the elevator, Lancet prompted his interface. After the Dungeon Clearing with Astensia, he was curious to know just how much Creativity Points he had now.

⸢ Currencies: ⸥

⸢ CP (Creativity Points): 1120 ⸥

⸢ AP (Archetype Keys): 0 ⸥

⸢ Narrative Coupon: 0 ⸥

⸢ EXP: 3445 ⸥

His eyes locked on to the Creativity Points, ⸢ 1120 ⸥. That was about enough for an average Gold Rank Heroine.

But Lancet’s next planned Heroine, Thor Stormchild, was nothing less than a Platinum. An equal to Astensia. Hence, he needed more Creativity Points because even with the Narrative Coupon, 1120 CP was still too small.

To get more CP, Astensia would have to kill more beasts. That meant he had to wait until after next week’s Dungeon Clearing in order to create the Heroine of Thunder.

RINNNNNNG!

The bell for lunch break ripped into the air.

Lancet rested on the elevator wall and exhaled slowly.

Well. At least he had food to look forward to while he waited.