The Golden-Haired Summoner - Ch. 5
“So that’s what a Spirit Summoner is. As you know, Spirit Summoners are extremely rare on the continent, and their efficiency is difficult to gauge. They are truly exceptional individuals.
But that also means there aren’t many who can teach them. Even if we establish the department, that child may very well be its only student.”
“That is true, Your Majesty.”
“So you must be well aware of how difficult this will be.”
“Precisely because it is difficult, I see it as even more valuable.”
“Valuable, you say. The child? Or the endeavor?”
Marquis Lyle was a cautious man, and King Dikel III was even more so—a formidable conversationalist who could not be underestimated.
“Both. Geenie Crowell is… a truly peculiar child. She’s so sharp and cunning that it’s almost absurd to call her a child. Her intelligence surpasses even that of adults. Every teacher who has tried to persuade her has given up. She’s not someone who can be forced to do anything. But this time, she said just one thing to me: ‘Teach me Spirit Studies, or expel me.’”
“Expel her, you say? So, she’s uninterested in anything else. Is this ignorance, or is she truly resolved?”
“It seems to be the latter. Graduating from Drike Academy is a great honor for her family, yet she is willing to forgo that for what she truly desires.
Beyond her personal request, I believe this is a matter worth pursuing for the future of this kingdom.”
At the mention of “the kingdom’s future,” King Dikel III’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Consider the reason Drike Academy was established—to fill the severe lack of intellectuals compared to other nations. While we’ve brought in talent from various fields, the primary goal has always been to train more magicians. After all, the outcome of wars can often hinge on the number of magicians.”
“True, we wanted magicians, not Spirit Summoners.”
“Your Majesty, Spirit Summoners wield magic just as remarkable as magicians do. Several ancient texts record them producing even more powerful magic. Did you know that in ancient times, Spirit Summoners and magicians were considered equals in power and influence?”
“And yet, they are nearly nonexistent today. Doesn’t that suggest some disadvantage?”
“The decline in their numbers stems from the stricter conditions required for their abilities, far more demanding than those for magicians.”
“Conditions, you say. What of the child? Does she possess the talent?”
In response to King Dikel III’s question, Marquis Lyle bowed deeply.
“I’ve already requested the help of the royal Spirit Summoners.”
“Ah, those five Spirit Summoners in our kingdom, whom I’ve never even seen. They’re so inconspicuous that I have no sense of their worth.”
The king’s skepticism toward Spirit Summoners was evident.
His wariness stemmed from a lack of understanding. While magicians had a well-established presence, Spirit Summoners were an enigmatic profession. Spirit Studies itself was an unfamiliar and arcane field.
“One of them verified Geenie Crowell’s aptitude as a Spirit Summoner.”
“And she has talent?”
“If a thousand people have the aptitude to become knights, only fifty possess the aptitude for magic. And for Spirit Summoning? The number is so small it can be counted on one hand.”
“I see.”
“And this child is one of those few.”
“That’s promising.”
“She possesses enough affinity to summon a spirit right now if needed. Surely, Your Majesty, this is a blessing for our kingdom. My request is not for the child’s future—it is for yours.”
Marquis Lyle’s voice carried a hint of passion as he spoke, causing King Dikel III to stroke his chin thoughtfully.
“A Spirit Summoner…”
In Dmitri, Spirit Summoners were so rare that their presence was barely noticeable. This was the case across most other nations as well.
“What would you require?”
“First, we need a mid-tier or higher Spirit Summoner to serve as her mentor. If Your Majesty grants approval, I will invite one of the royal Spirit Summoners to serve as a professor at the academy.”
King Dikel III pressed his fingers against his temples, lost in deep thought.
After a moment of deliberation, he nodded decisively. He trusted Marquis Lyle implicitly.
“Very well. I will spare no resources to support the child. A new budget will be allocated under the name of the Spirit Department.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
“I trust you, Dert. Turn that child into an exceptional Spirit Summoner and bring honor to our kingdom.”
The king’s voice was full of conviction, and while Marquis Lyle felt joy, a sense of unease also crept into his mind.
Everything was falling perfectly into place—royal support, a mentor, the diversity in education he had hoped to achieve, and a student with extraordinary talent.
But the problem was that Geenie Crowell, the centerpiece of it all, had a notorious reputation for being lazy.
And nothing was more frustrating than a lazy genius.
—
To be honest, my feelings were simple.
‘Has the old man gone senile?’
I knew the headmaster had taken an interest in me, but I never expected him to go so far as to create an entire Spirit Studies department just for me. That wasn’t an easy thing to do.
Who would’ve thought the headmaster would use his connections—being the king’s former tutor—to make this happen?
The truth was, I had made the demand out of sheer stubbornness.
I had secretly hoped to be expelled!
How could he twist my genuine desire for expulsion like this?!
When I said expulsion, I meant it!
As if oblivious to my disappointment, the headmaster boasted about how much effort he had put in for my sake.
It seemed I was destined to become the first Spirit Summoner to graduate from Drike Academy.
Well, if I had anyone to blame, it was my own innate talent.
Out of respect for the headmaster’s efforts, I decided I would at least put some effort into learning Spirit Studies.
It definitely seemed like an easier path compared to magic.
—
“Today, you will meet your mentor, the Royal Head Spirit Summoner, Master Yael Roenin. You’ve met him before, haven’t you? Properly greet him, Geenie,” the vice headmaster instructed.
With a sigh, I lifted the hem of my robe just enough to show the tips of my shoes.
I tilted my head slightly to the left and introduced myself. I was, after all, quite a polite child.
Though, of course, only when I felt like it.
“My name is Geenie Crowell, a student in the general studies class at the Royal Drike Academy. I look forward to working with you.”
The man, who appeared to be in his late twenties with soft green hair and a gentle demeanor, extended his hand toward me with a warm smile.
His hand was pale and delicate, almost unnaturally so for a man’s. It was the hand of someone who had clearly never endured any physical hardship.
Was this what Spirit Summoners were generally like? Considering that the most renowned Spirit Summoners were elves, perhaps a gentle, nature-loving temperament was an inherent trait among them.
I decided I liked my new teacher.
He seemed like a kind and calm person, the sort who would make a good teacher.
That is, a teacher who wouldn’t mind me causing a bit of trouble.
“Yes, Miss Jini. I look forward to working with you as well.”
It wasn’t ‘Jini’—it was ‘Geenie’—but I had yet to meet anyone, including my family in this world, who pronounced it correctly.
I placed my hand lightly on top of his.
This wasn’t a handshake; it was a typical greeting among nobles meeting for the first time. Both hands were held lightly in mid-air while a small bow of the knees was performed.
“Miss Jini?”
“Yes?”
“Why are you… holding my hand like that?”
Master Yael Roenin seemed visibly flustered as I held his hand and began to toy with it.
“Your hands are so soft,” I said.
Like how I hoped my future hands would be.
Smiling brightly, I swallowed my thoughts, but neither Master Yael nor the vice headmaster had any idea what I was really thinking. They simply looked at me as if I were a sociable and charming child.
Master Yael, blushing slightly, awkwardly pulled his hand out from my tiny grasp and redirected the conversation.
“Maintaining a pure body is one of the basic qualities of a Spirit Summoner. We strive to keep our physical selves as close to their natural state as when we were born.”
“Oh, really?”
“A clean body ensures a clear soul, and a clear soul facilitates seamless communication with spirits. That’s one of the fundamental principles of Spirit Studies.”
I wasn’t particularly interested in all that, but I liked the idea of Spirit Summoners having such refined and gentle physiques.
The fact that they seemed frail likely meant less physical labor.
Even in wartime, Spirit Summoners were stationed farther back than magicians, making it obvious they weren’t built for the frontlines.
Spirit Summoning seemed like a profession as soft and comfortable as Master Yael’s delicate hands.
At least, that’s what I thought at the time.
“I’m curious, Miss Jini. The Royal Drike Academy already has many excellent departments. What made you interested in spirits?”
“Do you really want to know?”
“Well, we’ll be teacher and student from now on, so…”
“You’ll regret asking.”
“…Perhaps I should save that question for later.”
I had been ready to give a candid response like, “It looks easy, and I can picture myself lying down while eating soup,” but Master Yael wisely heeded his instincts and avoided hearing my answer.
After asking his question, he stared off into the distance, evading my response entirely.
Master Yael was, in a word, herbivorous.
Gentle, slender, and equipped with sharp instincts—not unlike a prey animal.