Being a Summoner on our Evolved Earth

(54)

The only thing that could be heard soon after was breathing and the flowing water. The cave had already been warmed up by Vicki earlier, and she continued to play the role of a space heater while she rested. The sun had set a while ago and the cave was even darker. Lucia couldn't fall asleep with a stranger nearby and would randomly open her eyes to make sure he wasn't moving suspiciously. She found that Ray had curled up in his sitting position and was shivering slightly. Lucia got up and pulled the blanket from her space as she walked over to Ray. Ray heard the footsteps and looked up with a glare. Lucia dropped the blanket on him and turned to go lay down again. Ray annoyedly pulled the blanket off and saw Lucia walking away. He realized that this was her way of showing concern for him. His eyes drooped as he wrapped himself with the blanket. He secretly sighed and closed his eyes to keep resting.

 As Lucia was walking back, she noticed a subtle purple glow in the depths of the cave. They hadn't noticed it earlier because of the light peering in before. As if bewitched, she walked towards it. Aegis who was watching Lucia, quickly moved to follow her. Lucia stopped in front of the glow as her whole body tensed. It was a very familiar carved doorway with a spider web of chains covering a purple barrier. Lucia stared at the door with hesitation in her eyes.

"Lucia, what is it?" Aegis asked as he caught up with her.

"A dungeon..." Lucia replied solemnly.

"What? That's the entrance to a dungeon?" Aegis was shocked and took a good look at what she was looking at. "This is a cursed barrier?" 

"A curse huh." Lucia said as she raised her palm toward it.

"Wait." Aegis grabbed Lucia's wrist. "Are you sure you want to risk what will happen if you lift the curse?"

"Do you know what will happen?" Lucia asked.

"No. However, this cursed barrier only traps its target inside, it doesn't stop others. So even if we enter, we can still leave since this curse isn't meant for us. Also, there is a chance that this curse is stronger than you right now. The rebound of failing to remove it would be dangerous." Aegis explained calmly.

Lucia asked questioningly, "There is a rebound for failing?" She sighed and shook her head, "I want to explore it, but I already promised to take Ray out of the canyon first. We can only try to find this place later."

"And what exactly do you gain from putting me, a stranger, first?" Ray's cold voice asked from behind them.

"I choose to put my desires after my promises. What's it to you?" Lucia rolled her eyes as she turned to look at Ray who was staring at them with his arms crossed. Even the subtle purple glow didn't allow them to see his features.

"I don't trust people who don't display their greed." Ray replied with a distrustful tone.

"Then if we have a contract, will you feel better?" Lucia asked as she snapped her fingers. 

A contract appeared with a glow that was bright enough to allow it to be read, yet soft enough that it didn't hurt their eyes that had been adjusted to the darkness.

"Are you a devil?" Ray asked as he glanced at the contract.

"Am I making a deal for your soul?" Lucia retorted then laughed helplessly. "I'm a summoner, contracts are my specialty."

"I thought you said you were a healer?" Ray asked suspiciously.

"Yes, I'm a support type summoner who specializes in healing. I can't be a summoner without the ability to form a contract." Lucia clarified.

"Sounds like a game..." Ray mumbled to himself.

"You know about games?" Lucia asked in surprise.