Being a Summoner on our Evolved Earth

Ogres (20)

{Hello, may I know your element please?}

{I- Ice...} The monkey was shocked when it heard Lucia talking to it.

{What are you looking for by contracting with me?}

{Strength, Momma's last wish was that I grow up strong...} The little monkey whimpered. Lucia felt her heart pang, but she focused on keeping a straight face.

{What... What happened to your mom? Do you want revenge?} Lucia hesitated to ask, but she felt like it would be important.

{Mom was overrun by a bunch of large hornets bigger than me. They carried her off after she froze herself to protect herself, but they dug up her ice form. They couldn't reach me under the tree, but I also can't leave the tree...}

{Hornets? Do you live in a warm region? Even though your power is ice?} Lucia had doubts. {They are ice element hornets that hunt at night... We live in a cold forest with trees twice as big as these trees.} The little monkey looked at the nearby trees again. {As for revenge... I think it's impossible. Mom's last wish was for me to grow up strong, I'd rather fulfill that wish.}

Lucia knew she had been emotionally moved which affected her decision making. She glanced back at Aegis and Vicki feeling guilty for wanting to bring a weak and helpless creature to the team.

{How do you defend yourself besides hiding or rather what can you do?} Biting her lip, Lucia asked one more question.

{I can do this!} The little monkey growled as it covered its body in pieces of ice armor that covered its back and arms. Then it created a snowball in its hand and threw it at the barrier away from Lucia. When the snowball hit the wall it exploded like a small grenade. Lucia smiled with relief as the little monkey wasn't going to be a burden for long.

{Just one moment please.} Lucia said then went to the observing Aegis and Vicki. "So I'm thinking the little monkey. It may be a bit weak at the start because of how young it is, but I think it would be a great asset when it grows up."

"We trust your decision Princess." Aegis saluted and Vicki nodded. Lucia smiled wryly as she went back to the little monkey and created a contract in front of it. The little monkey scanned the contract then signed it, and Lucia did as well. The fish and raging flower disappeared and the monkey was released from the barrier.

It took a tentative step forward and grabbed some grass to explore the sense of touch from it. Then it crawled forward and touched Lucia's shoe and looked up at her with a wide innocent smile. Lucia smiled back gently as she bent down to pick it up. The little monkey bolted up her arm when she was half way bent down. He perched on her shoulder while clinging lightly to her hair and shirt. It started to look around at everything again while energetically bouncing on her shoulder. Lucia patted him on the head and he sat still obediently while rubbing his head against her hand. Lucia felt helpless against this cuteness, like having her own energetic child. Lucia took a few deep breaths to organize herself.

"If you want mana and resources to evolve then you will have to help with tasks. Can you make a mana core first? I'll explain how." Lucia guided the little monkey to make a mana sliver which she then started to fill with mana. Then without warning, the little monkey disappeared back into the contract space. Lucia sighed, "It looks like I still am limited to two familiars out at a time, and I can only bring a third one out for several seconds."

Lucia passed four fire cores to Vicki and four death cores to Aegis. "Go ahead and absorb these while we're waiting for the food." Soon only the sounds of nature and the crackling fire kept them company.

The sun was well into the sky by the time the meat finished cooking, so Lucia packed up everything just in time to hear rushed footsteps crunching the leaves nearby. Aegis blocked in front, Lucia grabbed her staff, and Vicki stood behind Aegis shield. From the woods came a young woman and little girl running without shoes while covered in cuts. When they burst through the bushes to see Aegis they stopped in their tracks.

"Please mister save us! We're being chased by bandits!" The woman pleaded.

Lucia peaked out from behind Aegis and waved them over. "Come by me, we'll protect you." The woman and child came over quickly as the bandits burst through the bushes next. "Oh look here boys! We found us a lump of metal. Hey tin can, we heard the woman plead for help from you give them up and your armor and we'll let you live." A man with a close shaved head and red markings over his bare upper body said cockily.

{Orders?} Aegis asked Lucia telepathically.

Lucia was pondering how to handle the situation, 'Should we just kill them? Talking isn't going to get us out of this and I don't want to hand over anything to these ogres.' A strange fog swirled up in Lucia's mind which clouded her consciousness at this moment.

Lucia wore a confident grin as she stepped into the bandits line of sight. "You think we have to listen to you monsters? You're just a bunch of ogres to be slaughtered for the sake of peace! [Mana Slash]." Lucia attacked the captain of the bandit group. The nearly invisible slash easily hit the unprepared man and cut just deep enough to cleave his heart in half. He dropped to the floor in a matter of seconds.

"Kill." Lucia ordered Aegis and Vicki after she loosed the spell. Vicki ran forward to gain speed and turned into a wheel covered in fire as she barreled into a couple bandits. Aegis blocked the other two bandits that moved forward after the women. Hearing the sounds of battle and the screams of pain Lucia chuckled wickedly.