[The Norkari Mtns.] Chalet du Sommet Minuit

Feeling relaxed and relieved, Jun took a load off on the nearest couch. "It was no trouble. I like bringing snacks to things. Though I guess next time I should bring blood sausage or something... No offense."

She put her hands behind her head and leaned back. She thought back to the last time they spoke, at the festival of Rondon.

"I guess I'm still curious about your second self, and how you guys wound up changing bodies. Also if you like blood sausage or not."

"I see..."

"Oh... Poor Celine."

"Huh..."

Jun was attentive to the story, almost forgetting why she had asked.

That's so strange. So you were born with a new soul after Celine left this body. You were born through your brother."

She sighed and stretched out on the couch, her hands staring up pensively at the ceiling. "It makes me wonder what death and the world beyond are really like. Most people in my clan believe that our souls return to the light, and then come back as new people. Because life is about learning and... Something something something. I was never very religious. But I've seen some things, things that really make me wonder..."

After a few seconds she shook herself out of her trance. "Oh yah, this thing you wanted to try with me. What's that about?" She smiled genially.

"Enter into my dreams. That sounds... That sounds..." The wrinkles on Jun's forehead strained desperately to adequately describe the sensation. "Ok let me try to explain how it feels. I'm imagining like a hand feeling around inside my chest cavity for some reason. It's like, kinda... violating."

Jun stared up at the ceiling for a moment.

"It sounds weirdly appealing. Let's do it." She sat up and looked at Skarlet with a grin. "What do I gotta do? Besides, you know, falling asleep and actually dreaming."

"Oh, that does sound kinda disturbing. So it's gotta be a nightmare..."

Jun folded her arms and frowned in thought. She didn't remember her nightmares very well, but she felt like nightmares were the most personal things a person could have. And yet, the prospect of exploring a brand new type of magic was way too tempting.

"Let's go with the inducing nightmare on me thing. If nothing else maybe I can learn to do that too. I'm not very good at mental manipulation. I'm familiar with psionics as an element, but mostly I can just move things with my mind and... break stuff. Subtlety isn't my strong suit. Hehe."

Oddly the prospect of having a nightmare itself didn't bother her. Dreams were alien things in the waking world. Nightmares were hard to appreciate unless they were either chronic, or one was in the middle of having one.

"I could use some spicy food actually. Hmm..."

...

"Oh boy, yah, my grandmother. That's a loaded topic." She had a content smile on her face and she leaned back on the couch.

"Her name was Lynx. She was, she was very cool. She was kind of a complex person, hard to predict. She was a real veteran, all kinds of battles. And she was strong, stronger than anyone I've ever met."

Jun raised her hand and summoned a light construct. It was a crystal statue of a woman in robes, of similar build to Jun. The woman had a foot forward and a very determined postured. "We have the same hairstyle." She grinned, pointing at her shoulder-length, rounded hair. "Sorry, I'm not crazy. I mean, I'm a little crazy but-" She shook her head. "This is what the statue of her looks like, the one in the Elder's Council. All the Chaos Mages are there. She's the most realistic looking one though, because chaos mages only appear every few centuries. So the tales of the others become greatly exaggerated. Like, one of the older ones has flaming wings and crap."

She closed her fist and shut off the construct. "I went to school in the Guardian Tower, a big spire near the council. That's where people with magic potential go to learn things. My grandmother wasn't my main teacher, but she was my tutor. And I was obsessed with magic and with getting stronger and stronger. I felt a strong sense of obligation to keep up with her, even though I knew it was impossible. Chaos mages are kind of like chosen ones. You just don't get to be one. Oh but I was obsessed. It was why I left the tribe. I had to be the strongest. I had to be the best... But, that was a mistake. My obsession with surpassing her did a lot of psychological harm to me. It actually almost made me evil. If it hadn't been for Lum'Valia, I might have gone down a very dark path. So it's lucky I met her."

She sighed. "I think it was the void she left when she died. She died suddenly. I was about 12 I think. They say it was natural causes but I never believed it. Later I found out her husband resurrected her and used her as a kind of super weapon. I think he was jealous and power hungry. But somehow she broke out of it. Anyways, while I was training with Lum'Valia, I got a glimpse of the afterlife. Long story. But I met her. And she, I dunno, she convinced me to let it go, to follow my own path. I think her abrupt death made me feel like the only way I could be close to her was to keep getting stronger. I'm glad to be rid of that burden though. I feel much better about my life.

"That's why I didn't bother looking for her at the festival. I always believed that souls reincarnated when they died. I just didn't think she'd be there anymore. But, I don't think I know much about the afterlife at all. Maybe I was wrong. Hopefully, she doesn't hold it against me. Heh."

Her eyes shifted to Skarlet. "Sorry, I was rambling."

The construct would feel like warm glass.

Jun leaned forward and steepled her fingers, focusing on the lore she had learned as a child and what she had learned recently. "Oh, well, it's a bit complicated. They're called chaos mages because they're instigators of change. Usually, they change regimes, the status quo, whatever needs changing. What they do, they usually do for the greater good. Where they come from? Well, funny thing is, this was a mystery up until about a year ago, when the elves and Va'nei appeared.

"It all started thousands of years, you know, the way most of these stories do. Our people were primitives who were fleeing from an ancient race of sapient reptilians, the kiraxians I think they were called. We arrived in the Expanse and hid there. Turns out the place was already occupied by elves. Our ancestors were simple folk who were sensitive to changes in the climate. We knew how to live in harmony with the land. We had a knack for it I guess. Turns out we had a lot in common with the elves, so they let us stay. And they drove off the kiraxians with powerful magic. Fast forward a few centuries and Va'nei shows up. She was so impressed with our efforts that she blessed the land with a powerful magical presence. It's like a contract we have with the land. As long as we live in harmony with it, it'll bless us. This magical force is apparently what chooses the chaos mages.

Chaos mages have the ability to manipulate every element. Their signature ability is the power to cast light and dark magic simultaneously. No one else in my tribe can do that. They're supposed to be chosen for their spiritual potential, their capacity to understand what nature connects us with the elements, and master those natures within themselves. Basically, they're supposed to be complete, enlightened people I guess."

...

After her long-winded explanation, Jun was famished.

"Oooh! This looks good!" After a precautionary sniff, Jun immediately began to devour the slithery sustenance. Its odd appearance didn't offend her at all, not when she had eaten fried bee larva before. "Mmmm! Oh, you say they're intelligent?" Jun looked at the deceased and tasty master of camouflage with some sadness. "... It's so good though..." She grimaced for a few seconds. "Thank you for your sacrifice." She started eating it again.

Jun made a sad "mmm" sound as she continued to eat. "Still, it sounds like something that would make a good pet instead of food. Maybe I'll try to catch an octopus and turn it into my friend. Hopefully, Blackbean doesn't get jealous. Sorry, my pet giant crow. You might have seen him in Rondon... though he probably wasn't giant at the time."

In response to her comment about poweful beings, she replied, "Well yah, not all powerful beings are hostile. Some of the biggest dragons in the world are friendly, as are some powerful mages. But, you know, it's still good to be careful. Jarkoopi... he's... he's ok."

As Jun started tiring, she sensed Skarlet flirting with her. She just sort of leaned back serenely on the couch, her lips slightly pressed together.

Oh crap... No... not her too! Am I the only heterosexual female in Isra? What the hell? What do I do? Oh god I can't shoot her down? Can I? She's the Empress' daughter. Oh god, oh god oh god what do I do... uh, maybe, maybe I can make something up. Maybe, maybe maybe... the octopus. It was too spicy. I'm not feeling well. I'm-

[ Hissss!  ] Skarlet straddles her. Jun's calm facade breaks and she appears frightened.

"I'M ON MY PERIOD!" Jun blurted out. Then Skarlet backed away and told her she was just trying to scare her.

"Oh..." She blushed with a tight-lipped smile.

There was an awkward pause. "It woooooooorked."

In among the mess of basements, vaults, and tunnels, deep below The Chalet, lies a room that is all but perfectly cubical, twenty meters to a side. The walls, ceiling, and floor are of nondescript stone bricks of average size. There is exactly one door, a huge swinging affair, made of metal and covered in runes.

Naoki now returns to this room for the first time in some years, with a basket in one hand and a book under her arm. Things seem to be largely as she left them, with the dais in the center, the table on the right, and candles around the edges—all still lit. It’s a purpose-built room, and reflecting on it, she applauds the design. It’s the candles and that dim, flickering light that really give it the "ritualistic charm," as it were.

After ensuring the door is properly shut, she deposits her basket on the table and unceremoniously drops the book beside it, kicking up some dust in the process. It’s a large book—a tome, even, bound in purple letter and quite thick. It is none other than Wes’ Grand Compendium of Summoning, by Wes the Wizard, legendary summoner of an age long past. As far as Naoki is aware, only three copies exist today, and she owns all of them. None are available to the public, as Wes’ Compendium is an exceptionally dangerous book, even as books of dark magic go. Because not only does Wes’ Compendium go on about the theory of summoning and the magical principles involved, it also provides step-by-step instructions that anyone can follow, regardless of any magical talent or lack thereof.

Using a bookmark she placed earlier, Naoki turns to the relevant chapter. Chapter 17: Making Polite Requests of Those Otherworldly Entities With Whom You Have Already Built Some Rapport. After skimming the preface she locates the instructions. Running her finger down the page, she reads over the instructions once more and checks that she brought all of the requisite materials.

Chalk: red, white, and black. Check.
Ritual candles x15. Check, with extras.
Incense: bayberry for asserting control, and cinnamon for lust. Check, and check.
Nightshade oil. Check.
A handful of chromium dust. Check.
Ground roots of a bilberry bush. Check. Maybe not enough, but check.
And a dash of oregano, check.

Satisfied that she has all she needs, the Naoki spends the next half-hour preparing the ritual. Drawing the lines, arranging the candles, setting up the incense, making sure that everything that's supposed to be on fire is, and vice-versa. Only half of these preparations are strictly necessary—the altar itself is doing most of the work, but it’s Naoki’s thought that if it’s worth performing a demonic summoning ritual, it’s worth performing a demonic summoning ritual well, and that means going all-out on the thematics.

Once she’s finished, Naoki surveys her work and compares it to the descriptions in Wes’ Compendium. The shapes are aligned properly, the candles are where they ought to be, and she didn’t forget the oregano. Some of Wes’theorems have since been outdated and Naoki has modified the ritual significantly to suit her purposes, but it seems right. … More or less.

Then it is time to begin. After removing her clothing and placing it on the table, Naoki approaches the altar with one of the candles. Stepping carefully as not to ruin any of her straight lines, she extends the candle up to the center of the altar and uses it to light the last unlit candle in the center ring.

Immediately, the innermost series of runes burst into flame for an instant, then begin to glow. Like ripples in a pond, the other runes come alight and begin to glow in a similar manner. Naoki steps back hurriedly, holding her tail high as not to have it set alight (again). After only a few moments, all of the runes are glowing, and some of them begin to rise and move about. Things to feel… warmer as lust magic suffuses the room, and an unnatural wind begins to blow, threatening to extinguish the candles. Naoki takes this to mean it’s working.

Rather than chanting, Naoki opted to write her message in runes—that’s the outermost ring. The message is supposed to translate to, “If you would please, send me another tentacle beast. I enjoyed the last one very much, thank you,” but she suspects she may have botched the grammar.

Suddenly, with an all-too-loud noise, space itself cracks. Light refracts in indescribable ways as Naoki attempts perceive that which isn’t there. That would be the portal, she supposes. If things go as she intends, her new friend ought to drop out of there pretty soon.

As Naoki shields her eyes from the bright light, she begins to get the impression that she didn’t address her message correctly. This is not the same sort of demonic magic she’s come to recognize. She looks on with some trepidation as something drops from the portal and bursts into a mass of tentacles. It looks like she got that bit right, at least.

However, once the creature emerges, Naoki gasps, and any worries she may have had about those being the wrong sort of tentacles disappear. It isn’t quite what she was expecting, but it’s so cute.

She—clearly a she, says something with a rising inflection. Context would imply that it’s a demonic language of some variety, but it doesn’t sound like anything Naoki is familiar with.

“Hello,” she greets the demon with some level of decorum, despite the situation. “I am Naoki. I summoned you.”