Chapter 3

    The Sand Castle

    Part 1

    Three weeks had passed since the field exam.

    By now, Zal and his friends were officially registered as young adventurers, each choosing the main class they had set their hearts on.

    Alan chose to be a Swordsman, Talis a Cleric, Lofen an Apprentice Mage, and Zalaras a Summoner.

    Since each class had its own set of basic courses for them to learn, the four friends had to attend different classes for many subjects, especially as the classes for warriors and mages were distinctly separate. However, Zal faced more challenges than the others.

    Although a summoner, like an apprentice mage, belonged to the mage class, it was a highly specialized class not focused on using magic like other mage classes, which meant even within the mage track, his curriculum was quite different.

    Because summoning was typically not a first-choice class, the educational resources for young summoners were limited, making most of Zal's subjects categorized as 'self-study', requiring him to research independently in the library. Thus, he spent most of his time buried in the library alone.

    However, the available resources on summoner were still quite sparse. Even in the expansive library of the Ejis Academy, which rivalled any major city’s library, the section for summoners was just a small corner on one of the bookshelves. Even though Zal could access a broader database of magical lore via the library’s network, he found that while there was more scholarly information on summoners, every piece was outdated, with the most recent update being 75 years ago.

    "Ah... This is going to be more problematic than I thought..."

    Zal, who had nearly exhausted the basic summoning books and online database, began to understand why summoners were not a popular class.

    Summoners divided their summoning into two main types: existing entity summoning or Contract Summoning, and conjured entity summoning or Minion Summoning.

    Contract Summoning involved summoning already existing entities, be it humans or animals, which required forming a pact with that entity.

    For instance, to summon a person, one had to make a pact with them, allowing them to be summoned. The same went for animals and monsters; one had to find a way to make these creatures agree to the contract.

    Making contracts was challenging, especially with humans, as the summoner benefited unilaterally without offering anything substantial in return to the summoned. Generally, a monetary compensation was involved. The higher the adventurer's level, the more expensive the fee. Thus, summoning high-level adventurers was costly and not commonly favored, as for the summoned, people were generally reluctant to enter into a one-sided binding contract.

    Contract Summoning also presented another problem: the summoned often were not available to respond due to personal activities like eating, bathing, sleeping, or other errands. Furthermore, the distance between the summoner and the summoned affected the summoning; if they were far apart, the magical energy required for summoning increased significantly to the point where summoning might not be possible. If the distance was too great, even establishing contact through the summoning circle became impossible, further limiting the use of summoning magic.

    To address this issue, ancient summoners devised what was known as 'Image Summoning'.

    Image Summoning created an avatar of the person under contract, which almost entirely mirrored the original in capabilities except for decision-making and response capabilities, which were somewhat inferior. This innovation was considered a significant breakthrough for summoners of the past.

    However, this method had its own problems. Image Summoning required immense magical power as it created a avatar with powers equaled to the original, not just a dimensional passage like typical summoning. The stronger the individual, the more magical power was needed, and thus, summoners could not summon high-level individuals’ proxy.

    Moreover, since the avatar looked exactly like the original and was fully controllable by the summoner, there were concerns about its misuse, such as committing crimes that could implicate the original. There had also been instances where summoners used the proxy of female adventurers for unsavory acts, which had led to fewer people agreeing to make contracts, especially with strangers or those who were not fully trustworthy.

    "The restrictions of making a contract include not making contracts with someone under eighteen, not being able to contract with someone who is already under a binding contract, or with non-sentient entities like machines or summoned bodies. Hmm... The age thing seems to be just a prohibition, but I guess it's also encoded into the summoning circle..."

    Zal once tried to make contracts with Alan, Lofen, and Talis, but was unable to form a contract with any of them. From what he read, the only deviation from the restrictions was the age, but that should have been just a prohibition unless the circle itself was set with this rule.

    For a beginner summoner like Zal, all the circles and runes he used were standard ones copied from textbooks. Although this method was easy and convenient, it came with limitations in various aspects. These circles and runes often had a predetermined structure and usage pattern, offering little flexibility which was inadequate for in-depth or customized applications.

    To fundamentally alter the functionality, one would have to dismantle and rewrite the circle from scratch or design a new circle entirely. While this could address the contractual limitations and meet Zal's desire to create custom summons, which led him to focus on studying circle creation. Yet, this endeavor introduced even greater challenges.

    "Is this... even in human language?”

    In reality, creating magic circles was a highly complex science.

    The most basic magic could be composed by arranging just a few magical runes, but as the complexity of the magic increased, so did the number of required runes. Large-scale magic might need hundreds or even thousands of runes arranged in specific sequences. Early large-scale magic required long incantation times, and any interruption would necessitate starting over from scratch, with a high chance of errors. This was a disadvantage for early mages that persisted for centuries.

    To speed up rune arrangement and reduce the complexity of casting, later generations of mages developed 'magic circuits' or 'magic circles'. These circles helped organize and efficiently sequence runes, significantly reducing the number of runes needed for incantation by almost a third in initial designs. Most importantly, skilled mages could construct magic circles from memory much faster than following old methods of sequential rune tracing incantation. Thus, using magic circles as a medium for casting became the new standard up to the present day.

    Designing and creating new magic circles from scratch was a high-level science, challenging even for experienced mages. It required a deep understanding of both magical architecture and engineering. Needless to say, this was far beyond the grasp of novice mages.

    Moreover, creating summoning entities or minions was significantly more complex than typical magic that created temporary phenomena like fire, ice, or lightning. It involved creating 'entities' with their own distinct appearances and properties, including 'artificial intelligence' that allowed the summoned forms to act or respond to situations independently. Designing circles for summoning minions was thus exceedingly complicated.

    Zal tried to understand the basics of magic circle design, but the details were overwhelming, filled with specialized terminology that made the reader increasingly confused, making it seem like an unfamiliar language.

    "If there's no one to teach, it's really too difficult to manage on my own..."

    Since designing his own magic circles was beyond his current capabilities, Zal's only option was to adapt pre-designed circles for use. The wolves he summoned during the field test were also based on summoning circles from templates provided in books. He simply copied and adapted them for use.

    Although these pre-designed magic circles were easy to use, they came with limitations in customization. For instance, the wolves Zal used could only be adjusted in terms of duration and the skills they utilized. They could not enhance physical capabilities, and the skills available for installation were also limited.

    Because designing magic circles for creating powerful summons required specific skills and considerable dedication, summoners in the past rarely shared their research publicly. High-level summoning magic was typically transmitted directly to the direct disciples of each school, with only secondary-level or pre-designed magic circles being made available for others to study. It was natural for people to guard the work they had painstakingly created, not wanting others to easily reap the benefits of their efforts.

    Originally, summoners were not a particularly popular class, and not all summoners had the capability to develop new magic. Most inheritors of the craft chose to use pre-designed magic circles rather than researching to create better ones. Thus, the development of summoning magic had been slow, and it had been increasingly sidelined by other classes, seen as inferior. This had led to even fewer people being interested in learning it, creating a vicious cycle that had left summoners outdated for nearly a century.

    If it were a popular class like Mages, which many were interested in studying, the rate of information shared and dissemination of knowledge would be much higher. This led to continuous discoveries and developments in the field. For example, the 'Fireball' spell used by Lofen during the field exam was once considered a mid-level spell beyond the capabilities of young mages. However, because this branch of magic was widely studied, it had continuously evolved. The magic structure had been regularly revised, making it easier to use with reduced casting time that required less magical energy. Now even apprentice mages could use it.

    On the summoner's side, there were still only old simple summoning circles that require enormous amounts of energy but had only basic capabilities. They were not cost-effective and perform worse than they should have. If one wanted to create high-performing summoning circles that use less energy, they needed to research, design, and develop new magical circles, a process akin to conducting research.

    Zal closed the book he was reading and stared at it for a long while. The book was about the basics of creating magic circles, but at the moment, the subject was still far too advanced for him.

    "At least if someone could guide me, maybe I could achieve something substantial."

    Despite encountering formidable obstacles, Zal was not discouraged in the slightest. He saw potential in the challenge; he just needed to find the right approach.

    If self-study reached its limits, he would need to seek guidance.

    This could be done in several ways, such as applying to study at a specialized institution in the city or registering for remote learning with a specialized institute through magical communication. Regardless of the method, he would first have to pass a test to qualify.

    The subject of magic circle structures was typically studied only by mages preparing to advance to higher levels. Basic magic that was widely disseminated was usually sufficient for practical use, and there was no need to create or develop one's own spells. However, for those aiming to become high-level mages, having personalized spells that closely match their own attributes was a distinct advantage in terms of capability.

    Although Zal could not fully grasp the content on designing magic circles in depth, he thought he might have a chance of passing the initial test to enroll in this course, given his basic understanding from previous readings. He knew he would just have to dedicate more time to studying.

    While he was pondering various matters, the lunchtime bell rang, reminding Zal that he had been engrossed in his research and had lost track of time. He had actually arranged to have lunch with his friends. He quickly put the books back on the shelf and hurried out of the library.

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    Part 2

    At the cafeteria, Zal, who was late, found his friends already waiting for him.

    "Hey, Zal, over here!"

    Lofen waved Zal over to the spot where a tray of food had already been prepared for him.

    "Sorry, I got carried away with my thoughts."

    "You still manage to be late even when you set your own schedule. We hardly see each other as it is. Try to be on time, man."

    "We see each other every day, though..."

    Zal stopped mid-sentence as he caught Lofen's glance and realized the implication.

    Lofen's look was directed towards Talis, who was quietly eating next to Zal. She seemed a bit sullen, continuously stuffing food into her mouth without looking or greeting him, likely upset about his tardiness.

    Since the courses for warrior and mage classes were quite different, the two hardly met during class hours. Lunch and the period after afternoon classes were the only brief times they could spend together.

    "It must be tough for you, having no dedicated teachers for summoner studies here."

    Alan, sensing the atmosphere, tried to shift the focus to a topic that would give Zal an excuse to join in, earning a discreet smile from Lofen for his cleverness in tackling two issues at once.

    "Uh, there are almost no teachers who can advise on creating summoning circles. I have to study entirely on my own. But the library and the magical data archives do offer quite a bit to research. I think I've nearly grasped all the basics now."

    "Oh, not bad at all. That's just like you,"

    Lofen complimented, spearing a small piece of sausage and popping it into his mouth.

    "Not really, the content for this class is limited. Most people study just this much because the truly heavy and complex part is actually in creating minions."

    While most people were not interested in summoning minions, many chose Summoner as a secondary class to have basic summoning capabilities. The ability to summon could be very useful and adaptable to many situations.

    For deep dungeon raids, summoners could be incredibly useful, especially if someone got lost; they could summon group members back together. Or, in critical moments, summoning a simple minion to divert attention could be a life-saving maneuver. That was why many chose to learn summoning at least once, primarily for these basic summoning abilities.

    While Zal and Lofen were discussing, Talis, who was stuffing her cheeks with food, intermittently eavesdropped while sneakily glancing their way. When Zal looked over, she shyly turned her head away, continuing to chew. Her reaction was endearingly cute, which Zal secretly enjoyed. However, letting the slight tension linger would be a waste of their valuable time, so he decided to do something about it.

    "But if I want to advance further, I think I might need to study at a specialized institute."

    "Whoa! ...What did you say!?"

    Talis, catching that sentence, nearly choked. She quickly swallowed her food before turning to him eagerly for confirmation. Finally, Zal got her to engage in the conversation.

    "Since there are no specialized teachers here for minion creation, I was thinking that going to an institute with experts in this field might be beneficial."

    "B-but that means..."

    Talis's face visibly fell, making Zal wonder if he had teased her too hard. Fortunately, Alan intervened at the right moment.

    "Aren't most specialized institutes for summoners closed down, except maybe in the capital? Moving just to study one subject doesn't seem practical. Why not study remotely through magical communication?"

    "Oh, that's an option? Great, I didn’t really want to study elsewhere anyway."

    Relieved by this suggestion, Talis's demeanor brightened. Lofen, who had been observing silently, could not help but smirk at Zal's cunning and Talis's naivety, while Alan, starting to understand Zal's true intentions from Lofen’s manner, maintained a neutral expression.

    "Speaking of which, since we officially became young adventurers, we haven't really taken on any real quests or adventures. How about we find some time next break to take on a mission together?"

    Lofen suggested this after everyone finished their meal.

    Talis, excited by the idea, looked around with sparkling eyes as if pleading for others’ agreement, but Alan appeared contemplative and hesitant.

    "Hmm... But most quests available for young adventurers tend to be boring ones, like delivering or fetching items, or eliminating minor pests. Nothing as exciting as our field exam."

    "It might start off that way, but if we clear enough simple pest control missions to accumulate points for upgrading our group's level, the guild will allow us to take on higher-level quests."

    "How many quests do we need to clear to upgrade? Is there enough time? We might not even reach the next level by the end of the break."

    "It might not take as long as you think. If we don't start now, when will we ever advance? Or should we wait another three years until we finish the young adventurer course, become full-fledged adventurers, and then start taking on mid-level quests?"

    Alan, who seemed reluctant to undertake low-level quests for young adventurers, argued against Lofen on almost every point. For Alan, who had already undertaken mid-level quests with his siblings, returning to such mundane tasks would be quite boring.

    Zal remained silent, not voicing any opinions. In truth, he too was keen on embarking on quests like any other adventurer, but he had his concerns.

    What worried him was Sandro, the skull-faced mage he had encountered in the dungeon during their field exam.

    Over the past month, there had not been a day when Zal did not think about that him, particularly his terrifying reaper-like appearance. His research suggested that Sandro might be a 'Lich.'

    A 'Lich' was the highest class of 'Necromancer,' which was another branch of summoning magic, belonging to the practitioners of dark arts, which included studying all branches of dark elemental and black magic. Initially, during the early periods of civilization restoration, studying dark arts was not forbidden. However, after several invasions, it was found that many practitioners of the dark arts joined forces with hell in invading the world, participating directly in conflicts or serving as spies. Consequently, from around the year 203 or about a century ago, purges began, and the study of dark arts was banned.

    'Liches' were considered the ultimate aspiration for dark arts scholars because, besides being the pinnacle of dark magic users, they represented an entity that transcended human limitations, comparable to demons or angels.

    A successful lich would be granted a new form resembling a skeleton, which was immortal, did not suffer from sickness or need for sustenance, and did not require rest. Although appearing fragile due to being skeletal, a lich’s bones were as strong as steel. Physical attacks hardly bothered them, and with their immense magical power, their resistance to magic was also exceptionally high. They were perfect in every sense and could even resurrect continuously as long as their soul-containing magical artifact remained intact. Some said dealing with a lich could be more challenging than dealing with demons.

    However, becoming a lich was not easy. To achieve this state and gain such a form, one had to undergo numerous rituals and tests. Only those with exceptional intellect and endurance could succeed. According to records, in the last three hundred years, only thirteen individuals had achieved lichdom. While these were the recorded numbers, there might be other liches whose identities were yet to be disclosed, this ratio confirmed the difficulty of becoming a lich.

    Knowing that the one seeking him was a being of such stature made Zal even more anxious.

    Ejis Academy was considered a safe place because it was affiliated with 'Peace Keeper,' the most influential organization in the world. The school had a robust security system and a strong professor faculty. Sandro's lack of movement confirmed its security.

    However, stepping outside the academy could mean encountering Sandro lurking somewhere, making Zal reluctant to venture outside, especially with friends, as it could endanger them as well.

    "Let's do this then; I'll have my older siblings try to contact someone in the local adventurers' guild. If things go well, we might not need to clear low-level quests to advance, or we might advance by just clearing two or three quests. That would be better."

    Finally, Alan and Lofen concluded their discussion, forcing Zal to quickly think of an excuse to postpone this plan.

    "Uh... I need to discuss this with my family first, not sure if I can make it, but I'll try."

    "Right, Talis has to go home first, so it would reduce the time we all have to align our schedules. But if we can level up quickly as planned, it shouldn't be a problem. What do you think, Zal, is that okay?"

    Lofen summed up the conversation, thinking everyone was on board, but Zal's response was not as expected.

    "Actually... I've been planning to take a test to qualify for a course on creating minions. It's quite a difficult test, so I'll need to spend most of my time studying. I won't be able to join you guys, sorry."

    What Zal said was not entirely a lie since he really considered doing it; he just had not decided yet.

    "Huh~ Why haven't you ever mentioned this before?"

    "You just started talking about doing quests, too. How would I know?"

    Despite having different reasons, both Lofen and Talis showed visible disappointment, making Zal feel even guiltier.

    "Even without Zal, it shouldn't be a big deal. At first, we might just be doing low-level quests anyway. The three of us can go on quests to advance our group first. When he's free, he can join us for the mid-level quests, right?"

    Alan's suggestion managed to calm Lofen a bit, though he was still somewhat upset, while Talis still looked regretful.

    Zal himself would have liked to join his friends on adventures, but their safety had to come first.

    "Maybe... I should tell Professor Garris about Sandro..."

    He had thought about this many times, but because of the delay, he was afraid of being scolded, which made him even more hesitant to speak up. But living in fear like this, it might be better to seek help from the professor. He decided he would tell Professor Garris everything tomorrow.

    "Let me brace myself to be scolded for another day..."

    The plan for the term break ended with Alan's conclusion, coinciding with the end of the lunch break. The students then dispersed to their respective buildings, and Zal returned to the library as usual.

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