Into Another World (kotlc/mlb au)

preface

A Summoning was simply a theory.

    If anyone thought of performing one, someone would turn them down, reminding them of the consequences. Death and destruction were only two. No one knows what the other consequences could be, but given the consequences of an Unleashing, many fear a Summoning would make things worse.

    An Unleashing would only kill that who was attempting to host.

    One certain person, by the name of Fintan Pyren, was a part of that category. He'd swept across Aelesia to find the most remote stone altar, so remote not even the fugitive who'd traveled the farthest could find it.

    His Unleashing would involve the spirits who possessed the most power.

    Fintan cradled the amulets in his fist, having double checked he had the right ones. The rest were scattered across Aelesia, most left behind by the victims of past Unleashings. In fact, one of them he'd had to pry from a young girl's disentegrating hands, having obviously attempted hosting but was rejected.

    He'd finally reached the altar.

    Most altars of Aelesia had been abandoned, left to grow in the wildlife. This one was no different. In fact, it looked like no one had been to this particular altar in decades.

    Perfect for Fintan's needs.

    He stepped up, placing the two amulets in the center of the altar, the silver chains wrapped around the stone spire.

    It was all he needed to do to prepare. Besides wait and hope he didn't die.

    Fintan looked up at the clouds, threatening to rain down and wash the dirt away. He was running out of time, he was running out of time, he needed to work fast. He figured the spirits would certainly reject him if he allowed them to come under these circumstances.

    He summoned enough energy as the amulets glowed with power, signifying the spirits had been made aware of an Unleashing. But whether the spirit Fintan wanted to host would accept him or not was still up in the air.

    He stepped into the halo of the amulets.

    Certainly this would be a bigger spectacle if this was a Summoning, he thought. The Vacker Court strongly enforced legislation against Summonings, but Fintan knew if he could just get a hold of all the spirits, he'd have enough power to overthrow them all.

    Emperor of Aelesia. He liked the sound of that.

    But he just needed one spirit to host in order to begin.

    But he was releasing two, since they never went apart.

    He craned his neck to the sky, hoping the spirits were listening. Rain was starting to trickle, he could feel it running down his skin.

    "I, Fintan Pyren, wish to Unleash," he called out to the spirits. "I wish to Unleash two. I wish to honor their decision if they do not let me host them."

    Of course, he would take any and all chances to make sure he was a host, but it was part of the ritual.

    Not that anyone listened. Try telling it to the victims.

    "I wish to Unleash Tikki and Plagg," he called out.

    Instantly, the amulets glowed, sending sparks of red and green everywhere. Lightning erupted, sending a shockwave that flattened the deadened grass. Creatures in the area howled and cried, trying to escape from whatever seemed to be threatening them.

    When Fintan picked up the amulets, the pendants had grown warm.

    There was one thing left to do.

    He opened his mind, allowing for the spirits to enter his thoughts.

    I request the honor of being a host, he thought to them. I request the honor of hosting Plagg.

    The green amulet grew warmer, and he could feel the full force of Plagg's power beginning to flow into him.

    Then he felt the pull.

    Fintan knew it would be a mental battle, but he didn't realize how much of a battle it would be. He struggled, knowing Plagg was trying to escape, trying to reject him.

    He could feel his life draining from him, it was too much, he couldn't handle it.

    At once, he released his hold, feeling the power leave, and the amulets went cold.

    Fintan stood eerily calm for a moment, then swiped at the stone spire, sending it collapsing, the amulets nearly crushed.

    He cursed as he stepped away from the altar.

    He was weak, he could feel it in his bones.

    Plagg had ruined him.

    I'll destroy you the second I get, he vowed. The second I do, none of the spirits will remain.

Nine years later...

    Deep inside a quiet manor in Everglen, one duchess was trying to educate her son, trying to give him a head start against the royals.

Gisela Sencen had been reading from a book about Summonings and Unleashings, about how the Vacker Court forbade Summonings because of the predicted outcomes, given how terrible Unleashings could end.

But halfway through, she could see twelve-year-old Keefe more interested in clenching blankets.

"Keefe, are you even listening?" Gisela snapped the book shut, startling her son.

"What were we talking about again?" he asked innocently.

Gisela threw her hands up. "Honestly, it's like you don't want to be a part of the Vacker Court. You only have one year before the Council can appoint you."

"I don't see the point of it," Keefe whined. "It's all stuffy nobles."

"You are a Sencen," Duke Cassius swept into the room, hanging his cloak up. "And we expect you to follow in our footsteps. The Sencen family has always been part of the court. You're next in line."

Keefe unleashed what sounded like a cross between a grumble and a snarl.

"You have to understand we're trying to prepare you for greatness," Gisela said.

"I have the best hair! I'm already great!" Keefe protested.

Gisela let out a sigh. Keefe always kept his hair in the same disheveled style, no matter how many times she or Cassius would try and fix it. He'd named it the Hair, insisted everyone call him Lord Hunkyhair, and was nothing but a little rebel.

She wouldn't allow it.

The Sencens were great because they'd been planning. Planning that stretched back generations. They were trying to become greater than the Vackers, become greater than anyone on the court. Everyone in Everglen served the court; they could show they would rise to the top.

Gisela knew there was only one way to ensure it. A process she'd been planning with a secret rebel group. A process that may cause destruction, but it was a small price to pay in order for her and the rebels to overthrow.

Perhaps a Summoning would fix things around Aelesia, reforming it to the way it should have always been.