Under Grace’s guidance, Luke learned things he couldn’t have learned anywhere else. That was the advantage of being taught by a summon that had reached its peak.
Grace was a Greater-tier beast. Principal Claris had awakened her when she was twelve and entered Luminara El Caria Academy because Grace had been classified as a non-combat summon.
Starting from a fortitude of 1.5, Claris had raised her all the way to 9.6, the highest point of her growth. Along the way came years of experience, mastery, and knowledge. Now, Grace was passing a small part of that knowledge on to Luke.
After teaching him about the different summoning theories, the owl encouraged Luke to find his own way forward.
"You do not belong to the ninety-nine point nine percent," Grace reminded him. "Walk your own path. Discover your own method of evolution."
Luke rubbed his chin.
"But that’s where I have a problem," he admitted. "I can summon armor, but I have no idea how to evolve it. I can’t keep relying on the same gauntlet or chestplate forever. Even if the armor is powerful, my enemies will eventually adapt to it."
"Do not worry, Luke. You are only at the beginning of your journey," she said. "In time, you will find the answer."
Soon, Silent Classroom faded away, and the courtyard returned to normal. Not long after, someone entered the fortress.
It was Scarlett.
She had come as promised, still wearing her academy uniform. She looked like she had hurried all the way here, and the haste made her look more attractive.
Scarlett also brought a bag of snacks for Luke—and a kiss, too.
Grace, the Lotus Owl, frowned when they kissed. If she had things her way, her mistress would have been the one dating Luke instead.
"I copied down all the class notes for you today," Scarlett said. "If you want, I can explain everything we learned."
"Thanks, Scar," Luke replied, but his attention was on her body, searching for bruises. He still couldn’t forget seeing Scarlett lying helpless on the library floor, unable to move. It was a sight he never wanted to see again.
"How did you manage to fight off Adrian and the others after I went down?" Luke asked.
"It wasn’t me who saved us, Luke. It was... Lucretia," Scarlett replied, sounding like she didn’t want to admit it.
"Lucy?" Luke thought. "I guess one good turn deserves another."
First, he was grateful to her for stepping in. But at the same time, he had to worry about her.
Adrian wasn’t the type to let something like that go. A summoner whose beast hadn’t progressed in over a year was an easy target, even if she looked strong on the outside.
Scarlett sat on Luke’s lap and continued.
"Your brother was suspended indefinitely and docked three thousand points," she said. "Also, my father abolished him. That means even if Adrian becomes the Duke in the future, he won’t get to sit on the Presidential Council."
Then she turned to Grace.
"Oh, where are my manners... Hello, Mrs. Owl."
Grace frowned even more.
"Outside the walls, you must have left them," she replied, turning her back on the couple. "You may keep your greetings to yourself, young lady."
"Grace, wait!" Luke called, slapping his forehead. "Please, we apologize. Scarlett didn’t mean to ignore your presence. In fact, she needs your wisdom."
Grace paused and turned around nonchalantly. A beast of her standing ought to have pride. After all, very few summons ever reached their full potential.
"Well? What is it that the young lady wants from me?"
Scarlett picked at her fingernails, anxious about sharing something so vulnerable about herself.
"I have a Mythic beast, but we share a Negotiation-rank contract," she explained. "Is there any way for me to improve it so I can gain better control over my summon?"
"Hmmm..." The owl pondered in silence.
"The authority over a beast is not something you improve," Grace finally said. "It is something you realize. When that day comes, it will become a story you can tell. Now, if you will excuse me..."
With that, Grace turned around and disappeared into the building.
*********
By nighttime, Grace had disappeared, leaving Luke and Scarlett by themselves in the fortress. They couldn’t stay there alone forever, but not long after, another familiar face returned.
It was Camilia.
She returned looking more tired than she had yesterday. After spending the whole day helping manage the academy, the exhaustion was evident.
Also, Scarlett’s presence made her act colder because she was expecting to come back and find only Luke.
The rules allowed one visitor, so there was nothing Camilia could say.
"Camilia, where is Principal Claris?" Luke asked as she walked toward her room.
"The Principal is working overtime. There was a lot to deal with today," Camilia answered while unlocking the door.
Luke nodded. Whether Claris had recalled Grace because Camilia was arriving or because she was exhausted, he wasn’t sure. He had another question to ask, but Camilia entered her room and closed the door before he could speak.
"Be upstairs for dinner soon!" she called from the other side.
Luke scratched his head. He had been about to ask what the dinner arrangements actually were.
"Vivian doesn’t like Camilia, the new assistant. What do you think of her?" Luke asked as he and Scarlett walked back to his room.
"I think she’ll make a great Principal," Scarlett replied. "Maybe Vivian forgets Camilia isn’t here to be a student. They say her CGPA is 98.98. Isn’t that the highest in the country?"
"It should be," Luke said. "But having a high CGPA doesn’t mean you’re a great summoner. It just means you’re a great student. Before I awakened, my CGPA was 94. Some students with beasts scored lower than me."
Luke rubbed his chin as he thought about it.
But could someone have both? A high CGPA and a powerful beast?
Usually, the stronger your beast became, the more time you had to spend training it, leaving less time for studying. This was why Luke’s siblings usually ended terms with scores around 70 to 85, whereas he and Scarlett had been the best students back before they summoned their own beasts.
Talk about Scarlett, Luke noticed she looked troubled, maybe because of what he said. Scarlett noticed him looking at her and spoke before he could ask.
"Your words made me think about my own problem, Luke," she admitted. "If a high CGPA doesn’t make someone a better summoner, then I shouldn’t think I’m the best just because I have a Mythic beast while I’m stuck with a Negotiation-rank contract.
Honestly... I’d rather have an Elder-grade beast with a Dominion-rank contract. That feels like a more balanced setup."
"I..." Luke started to say, but stopped. Even he wasn’t sure what to tell her.
But he had thought the same thing before, and maybe Scarlett was right. An Elder beast you could control sounded safer than a Mythic beast you still had to negotiate with.
But he also remembered what Grace had told them.
She said authority over a beast wasn’t something you improved but something you realized. If Scarlett kept thinking this way, would she ever discover that answer?
"Have you told your father about it?" Luke asked.
"Yes," Scarlett answered. "He said it doesn’t matter. He believes I’ll gain more control as I become stronger. My aunt even said a Negotiation-rank is basically the same as a Cooperation-rank, so I shouldn’t worry."
Luke frowned at her reply.
He couldn’t understand how experienced summoners could be so relaxed about it.
If Scarlett kept evolving the Empyrean Phoenix while they were bound by a Negotiation-rank contract, the risk was too great.
What if the Phoenix turned against her one day?
What if the fortitude of the contract leaned closer to Rebellion than Cooperation?
Who could stop a Mythic Phoenix?
"I’m not taking any chances with what your elders say, Scar," Luke said, standing up. "We’re going to find a way."
Scarlett looked up at him, inspired.
"Thank you," she whispered, standing too and hugging Luke.
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A/N: Thanks for reading
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