Heroine Creation: All My Summons Are Custom Made

After the silence, the hall instantly broke into whispers.

Whispers of confusion.

It was clear that none of them had expected such a turn of events. Another legendary figure was somehow a summon for Lancet Leogardt?

Mirelda Quain leaned toward Yorrick Vale and spoke behind one hand. Elian Vossard turned to the Head of External Relations, who answered with a look rather than words. Even Helagreem Pastop did a readjust on his seat, his fingers tightening around the head of his cane.

Danistasia said nothing.

She stared at Lancet from beneath cold, narrowed eyes while thoughts moved behind them too quickly for her face to reveal. Ordenance looked at him as well, though his surprise was more amicable than the Headmistress’s.

Helagreem ultimately broke the silence. ”How is that possible? So far, you have presented yourself as an Invoker-type Summoner. Your known Summons are historical figures brought forward from the past.”

He turned his gaze toward Solaris.

”She no longer fits that condition. Solaris Ashen returned through her own Class and power. Your ability did not resurrect her. She is living in the present now.”

Solaris looked between them, listening carefully.

Helagreem faced Lancet again. ”Are you claiming that you are also a Binding Summoner?”

”Yes.”

The answer came too easily for the room.

Mirelda removed her spectacles, cleaned one lens and put them back on as though the second look might reveal a different student.

Yorrick leaned forward over the museum report. ”Your Class supports both Invocation and Binding?”

Lancet nodded. ”I realized recently that my Ladders can connect me to Awakeners in the present too.”

Danistasia’s eyes sharpened. ”So you can place a Summon bond on a living person.”

Lancet glanced at Solaris. ”Under the right conditions.”

He did not explain those conditions. ’I just have to create them first.’

Ordenance remained quiet, but his eyes had widened.

Months earlier, he had spoken to Lancet about the theoretical reach of his ladder-type summoning.

He had told Lancet about summoning Awakeners from the future.

At the time, Lancet had listened more closely than Ordenance expected. He saw it in his face. Now the boy was binding someone who had lived in the present.

Ordenance sat a little straighter.

Perhaps the boy had followed that idea and discovered something adjacent to it. Not the future, but another direction along the same path.

He liked to believe he had contributed. Even slightly.

”You expanded on what we spoke about,” Ordenance said.

Lancet looked at him. ”Something like that.”

Ordenance nodded to himself.

Danistasia noticed. ”You look pleased.”

”I am allowed to appreciate academic growth.”

”He has bound a living woman to himself.”

”A historically significant living woman,” Ordenance corrected.

”That does not improve it.”

Elian Vossard opened the disciplinary file again. ”Headmistress Ardental raises the obvious concern.”

Lancet looked toward him.

Vossard folded his hands. ”A binding relationship between a Summoner and a living human touches several restricted laws. Consent. Compulsion. Independent will. In less polite language, it is almost akin to slavery.”

Solaris turned toward Lancet. The feather-crown hidden beneath her copper-red hair glowed faintly.

Lancet raised a brow. ”Then bonding with beasts is animal abuse.”

They all froze, shocked by his audacity. ”Mr Leogardt!” Helagreem warned.

”Look, I don’t know what you want me to say. The bond exists,” he shrugged. ”That doesn’t mean I intend to use it to control every decision she makes.”

”Intent is not law,” Danistasia replied.

”And there’s no law against this either,” Lancet replied. ”Why do we suddenly care if it’s someone in the present? Don’t Astensia, Thor and Spectra have independent will too?”

Everyone stayed quiet. Of course, the obvious problem was that they feared — especially Danistasia — that he could claim any of them as a Summon now.

Lancet sighed. ”I apologize for my directness, administrators. But this meeting is about whether Solaris is about to burn the Academy or declare war on Carrion Spire.”

”And your answer,” Danistasia interjected, ”is that she cannot do so without your approval.”

”Yes.”

Danistasia studied him.

If he spoke a command now, could Solaris resist? Would she stop moving? Lower her flames? Kneel?

The idea was too ugly to ignore and too useful to dismiss.

She looked at Solaris again. ”Does he control you?”

Solaris answered without hesitation. ”The bond compels me to answer when he calls.”

Several administrators went still.

”But he has not used it against me,” she added.

Danistasia looked back at Lancet. ”Yet.”

Lancet ignored that.

Danistasia eyed him directly. ”Do you have any other Bound Summons?”

Lancet looked straight into her eyes and gave his answer. ”No.”

Solaris looked at him from the side. Lancet kept his face still. ”She’s the first.”

Danistasia watched him for a moment, then looked away, her expression showing some disbelief. Mirelda wrote something down.

It was important that Lancet kept his relationship with Espel hidden. At least for now. The riskiest move he had done was to use her power to heal himself when he fought Renan in the underground arena.

He couldn’t try anything like that again.

The council began speaking among themselves again.

The Head of External Relations asked whether a Bound Summon retained citizenship. Vossard questioned whether existing Summoner law even covered a human who returned from death through her own power and became bound afterward.

Helagreem listened until the discussion began circling. But he got tired quickly and he struck the floor with his cane.

”This is not the subject before us.”

The chamber settled.

”We will address Mr. Leogardt’s Binding capabilities in a separate meeting. With the appropriate legal scholars present.”

Lancet did not like the sound of that, but it was better than answering everything now.

Helagreem turned toward Solaris. ”I assume you cannot enter his Summon Space since you’re a present living being. Hence, you will require ordinary accommodations.”

Solaris gave the old man a guarded look.

”A residence,” Helagreem continued. ”Clothing. Identification. Access to food, transportation and whatever medical or historical support may be required after such a long absence.”

The Head of Academy Resources opened a prepared document.

”The Academy is willing to provide all of this,” she said. ”A secured residence within the upper grounds, a living allowance, private access to the archives and assistance adjusting to the present age.”

”You don’t have to worry about that,” Lancet interrupted.

Every administrator looked at him.

Lancet knew what was going on. They were trying to make Solaris agree to being an asset like those Awakeners back in the Kingdom Council or to shutting down her goals of reclaiming Cinderhold.

”I can provide her with a house.”

The room went quiet again.

Lancet continued. ”And clothes. Food. Identification support. Whatever else she needs.”

Yorrick stared at him. ”You?”

”Yes.”

”With what money?”

Lancet looked around the council. ”Have you all forgotten the three million Notes King Romsgard gave me after Hebthej?”

Several faces changed at once.

Ordenance’s expression showed that he did indeed recall it.

Mirelda looked down as though the amount might be written somewhere in her files.

The Head of External Relations leaned back. ”A private house would not solve the legal issues.”

”It solves the immediate one,” Lancet replied. ”She needs somewhere to live.”

”And where exactly would you place her?”

”Somewhere close enough to the Academy.”

Helagreem cleared his throat. ”I see then. There’s no reason for us to try to come in your way. Mr. Leogardt possesses the means to provide independent accommodation, the council cannot require Solaris to accept Academy housing.”

The Head of Academy Resources pressed her lips together.

Helagreem continued. ”Though we can require registration, supervision and a clear point of responsibility.”

He looked directly at Lancet.

”That point will be you.”

Lancet had expected as much.

Elian Vossard slid the disciplinary file aside and pulled another document toward him.

”Solaris Ashen is your Bound Summon. You have claimed authority over her actions and assured this council that she will not present further danger.”

Lancet nodded once.

”Then understand the consequence. Any serious violation she commits may be treated as your failure to control your Summon.”

Solaris’s expression cooled.

Vossard kept speaking.

”Property damage. Assault. Unauthorized military action. Interference with Academy affairs. If she causes harm, you may face suspension, financial penalties, and for the harsher penalties; untethering or imprisonment, depending on the result.”

Lancet glanced at Solaris. She looked back at him.

’It’s the burden of claiming another person as a Summon, I guess.’

Lancet did not like the phrasing.

Helagreem leaned back in his seat. ”Do you accept responsibility?”

Lancet considered the woman beside him.

A newly resurrected anti-hero with a list of families she intended to kill, a stolen city she wanted returned and enough fire to destroy half the Academy.

He had created this problem. So it was his duty to control it.

”Yes,” he declared.

Solaris turned her head toward him.

Lancet kept his eyes on the council. ”I accept.”

Helagreem nodded. ”Then the immediate matter is settled.”

Mirelda began gathering her files. Yorrick pulled the museum report back toward himself with the unhappy look of a man who still had a ruined roof and no one willing to pay for it. The Head of Academy Resources closed the housing proposal completely.

Danistasia did not move. ”This is not finished,” she said.

Lancet looked toward her.

”The Binding issue will be examined. Your Ladder Summoning ability will be reviewed. And I expect a full explanation of how you bind living people to become your Summons.”

Lancet gave her a polite smile. ”I’ll explain what I can.”

Her eyes told him exactly how much she trusted that answer.

Helagreem raised one hand toward the doors. ”You are excused.”

Lancet turned before anyone found another question.

Solaris followed him out of the open center, her boots quiet against the black floor. The guards opened the council doors, and once they stepped into the corridor, relief and even warmth wrapped around Lancet.

The doors closed behind them.