The Summoner's Mark (First Draft) (Book One)

A Search for Power

For the second time since coming to Kanerra, Sin found himself standing before the design that he had etched upon one of the walls within the classroom that he and the other Dark Mages use for spell practice. While Sin was muttering the words of the spell that he was using, he was also thinking of the reason that brought him here in the first place.

While the first time he had headed into the Faelands was to officially become a member of the Summoner discipline; this time around was for something more carnal. With the onset of violence against beings that shared mixed blood like he did, Sin decided that he needed to find a way to better protect himself and considering that he was someone who knew how powerful the Fae could be; what better way to protect himself than to claim another as a Familiar.

As usual, Sylris stood in the background to watch over the portal while Sin was within the realm of the Fae though this may be a little more difficult this time around considering that Sin wasn't the only student that Sylris was tasked with watching over since both Lucius and Nohki were practicing their own magic within the room.

Eventually, the mana that Sin was allowing to escape his body finished performing its function which caused the shimmering purple to reveal itself as the portal opened once more. Knowing that Sylris would be there to ensure the portal was still open on his return from his search through the Faelands, Sin had no qualms about pushing his way into the shimmering doorway.

Before Sylris was able to inform Sin that he could go through the portal, the young half-breed already vanished from this realm and into another.

*

Just as he had been the first time within the world, Sin was still astonished at how similar his world was to the Faelands and though he had managed to get past the fear that was associated with this place considering how his first experience was within this realm, Sin felt that it would be better if he had Inari out with him.

Placing his hand upon his pendant, Sin allowed his mana to escape once more though since it only took a small bit of his mana to awaken the pendant; he didn't worry about overexerting his supply.

As the portal that Sin had become quite familiar with opened before him, he called out for his Fae that was resting within. "Inari!"

Per usual, the moment that Inari's name came flooding into the world; the pure black Kitsune flung itself out of the portal that Sin had used to bring him outside and once Sin saw the small bundle of fur that was his Familiar, he pulled his hand of his pendant which allowed the portal to close.

Before Sin had made this trip into the Faelands, he had perused the bestiary that he had on the creatures and had been able to determine the Fae that he would like to claim for his own. Considering how easily Inari had been able to track the individuals that they had fought the night before; Sin figured that he would be able to do the same thing this time around though he assumed he would have to inform his Familiar on which Fae that he was wishing for him to catch the scent of.

Crouching down to look his Familiar in the eyes, Sin spoke out the words that he wished to request of his Fae. "Inari. Is it possible that you would be able to track a Minotaur for me?"

As his words faded around him, Sin felt a small pull in the bond that he shared with his Familiar and though this was one thing that he still couldn't explain to any who would be curious enough to ask about it; Sin knew that Inari had accepted the request that he made of him.

With a small yip, Inari turned from his Summoner and sprinted off in a direction that would take them north of the portal that Sin had used to enter the Faelands. Not wishing to lose his Familiar, Sin tore off after the Kitsune.

*

Sin couldn't be sure how much time had passed since entering the Faelands and though he didn't doubt that Sylris would keep the portal open no matter how much time has passed, Sin didn't particularly feel like spending the night in this realm given that there was still so much about it that was unknown to him.

Shaking with the thought of spending a night within the Faelands, Sin decided that it would be best to focus on what he was wishing to accomplish instead of possibilities that he wouldn't allow to happen considering that he would just make his way home and come back another day if he needed to.

With his mind being brought back to the mission at hand, Sin had to focus on his surrounding to catch sight of the Kitsune he was following. Thankfully, Inari was only a few feet in front of him which he noticed after the Fae brought itself back out of the trees that it ran into for some unknown reason. Regardless of what brought Inari into the small grotto of trees, Sin no longer had to worry about it since his Familiar was leading him in another direction.

As time continued to pass by, Sin started to wonder if Inari were having difficulty tracking the Fae that he was looking for and instead was just leading him around hoping that they would magically find one. This curiosity was about to cause Sin to call out to his Familiar though he was unable to put this action in motion due to the small yip that Inari let echo around them.

After the yip, Inari suddenly stopped which caused Sin to hurry toward the Fae. Once he arrived, Sin was wishing to ask Inari if he had managed to find the Fae that they were looking for though once again; he was unable to do so.

Two distinctive cries broke out around them and though one was unknown to him, Sin was able to recognize the other. Pushing himself through the small barrier of trees, Sin made his way to claim the Fae that he and Inari had been tracking.