(It's been a while... I've been meaning to work with this idea for the new fanfiction contest. Since I wasn't even on the ballot for "Best fanfic writer", it's time I got back up on that horse and show those youngsters how it's done!
Basically, it's a Cairne fic dealing with the first meeting between himself and Shade (critter?).)
In this world, few exist who walk the path of the Summoner. It is not that people, as a whole, are lacking in Elder magicians, those who feel the powers of the ancient magic suit them best. It is that, rather, those who prove themselves worthy of greater powers choose the staff over a lesser demon. And why not? A companion from the ether is rarely superior over the ability to save your allies from otherwise certain death. The staff ensures man's place in the world, ensures his usefulness to his kin. A summoned creature, however, completely unable to sustain any damage and really hardly any more useful in combat than a scout, does not.
...However... take note of the blindfold over my eyes. That's right--I'm blind. I've been so from birth. In this dangerous world we live in, there seemed no place for a... cripple such as myself. Yet it was foreseen that I had potential in the ancient arts, and was spared the knife. But that's beside the point. The point I tried to make is that, well... while I can at least 'sense' the world around me through the same magic I wield, it would be incredibly difficult for me to run all around the battlefield. I could as well heal a stump as a wounded tribesman, or a foe as well as a friend! No, when the time came, I would help no one by choosing the healing arts. What I would need... was aid for myself.
But unlike a Druid, becoming a Summoner is not so simple as donning a Guiding Ring and proudly proclaiming, "Behold, world! Your shiny new Druid has arrived!" It involves donning a Guiding Ring and proudly proclaiming, "Behold, world! Your shiny new Summoner has arrived!"
...However, that's only half of it. For you see, when a Shaman first "promotes" to a Summoner, he is such in name only. The second half to becoming a Summoner is to actually summon a creature and bind it to your will.
And to bind it, you must first prove your power before it.
Although the demon is not as powerful as you, do not think this such a simple task--the demon won't waste words or time. It will come straight at you with everything it's got, and if you're not quick on your feet or smart about what you summon, all that will come of your trial is a puddle of blood on the ground and the end of your life. (Friends are usually gathered to put the demon out of its misery should it come to that--and no, they cannot interfere before that point. Otherwise, the demon will not acknowledge the Summoner's power.)
For this reason, your average Summoner will choose something simple to control, like a spectral soldier wielding a sturdy axe. This is a textbook case, where the soldier generally has to charge... but of course, the caster will be more than prepared for this and have an effective counter. But I'm not your average Summoner, and frankly I failed to see how some axe-waving ghost warrior would aid me. I saw through the world of shadows. Therefore, my summon also had to be shadows.
It was with this in mind that my trial began.
You might think that given my above example, I would know exactly what I wanted. This was... not the case. You can give a few specifications as to what you want, but unless you're willing to go into details like "This demon has hotcakes for breakfast on Wednesdays", you're in for some random element.
As for myself, I only knew two things: First, I wanted to be able to detect it on a battlefield, so that I could visualize through its dark form. Second, I... well, I couldn't ride a horse, and coming from the plains of Adliana, a riding animal was a must. So in short, I wanted a shadowy creature that I could ride.
For all I know, I could have gotten a shadowy horse to come charging at me, or perhaps a jet-black wyvern lunge to sink its teeth into my flesh. Maybe even something beyond my imagination, with tentacles or axes or magic most foul.
Instead?
A massive black dog with eyes of flame jumped out of the ether straight at me!
I sensed the mass of darkness surge toward me and stepped out of the way. The dog landed neatly on the ground behind me and slowed. It just circled around me, sizing me up. I kept myself faced toward it--if I turned away for a split second, the battle would be over for me.
I would have to make the first move.
If the creature was at all concerned as my lips began moving for a spell, I didn't sense it. That alone worried me, and I realized if I missed the dog would have a clear shot at my abdomen after I cast. I instead aimed the spell so that Nosferatu landed between myself and the dog... only, you know, much closer to the dog.
This, of course, was hardly on target, and the dog backed up, snarling at me, its eyes burning with rage. Like I'd guessed, it charged at me, lunging for my abdomen, hoping to tear it open... but because it backed up, I had a valuable split-second more time. It hit me full-on, but instead of falling backwards and becoming easy prey I turned to my left as I fell. Wrapping an arm around the dog's front, I turned enough so that although I'd fallen to the ground, for at least an instant I kept the dog's head and front paws pinned under my own weight.
This wasn't going to last long. I knew that. Certainly anyone else knew that. But that was alright--I had my chance, here and now.
As the dog struggled to rise, I lifted my right leg and vaulted it over the summon's back. With my hands, I held onto fistfuls of shadowy fur... for dear life, I might add, as it bucked about better than most horses. But I held on as long as I could, and just as I felt as though I would be thrown off, I'd finished a frantic Nosferatu.
I was indeed thrown off, flying forward and crashing onto the ground in front of me, but my purpose was served--I heard a loud, pained yelp and felt the demon's quintessence flowing into me.
Almost immediately, the nature of the ritual changed. The dog, once so feral, now sat back on its haunches and stared at me, flaming eyes inquisitive.
...Who are you, that would risk binding me when you have lack sight? It wasn't speaking. Rather, its thoughts were pushed into my head, as though my mind was its own.
I slowly raised myself to a sitting position. Using the mass of shadows as my guide, my face turned back towards the creature.
"I am Cairne, tribesman of the Aishyu," I responded, clearly.
A moment of silence passed between us. The creature wasn't hostile towards me, and I'd known that according to summoning rituals, I'd won the fight--all you needed was one good magical blow to defeat the demon. But of course, this was before the creature and I were officially bonded.
...I sense fear in you, it replied, tilting its head to one side. Are you afraid?
"Shouldn't I be? I did just fight for my life."
...
It looked upwards, staring off into the sky.
Wisdom, courage, power..., it began. To gain such magic, mortals must be wise. To make a challenge of me, mortals need be brave. To defeat me, mortals must show their power.
You cannot truly see the world before you. Do you not fear that which you cannot see? ...Or is it perhaps that same ignorance which has made you brave?
I did not answer. It seemed to me the best course of action was to let it continue. A moment later, I was rewarded as its gaze returned to me and its thoughts once again bored into my mind:
...Regardless, you have proven yourself. Cairne of the Aishyu, I am known as Shade. And I would forge a pact with you to the end of your days.
"To the end of my days," I replied with relief. My fellow tribesmen began applauding around me; it was the end.
The pact was finished.
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Uhh... how do these 'headers' work?
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