The Divine Summoner: Godson of Altima

by Antony W. F. Chow

  "Even though he kept asking her out, she refused to date him. Tsunka was a playboy, and your mother didn't think he was serious about her. Juliette became fed up and gave him an ultimatum: she would give him a chance if he reached the honor roll for that semester."

  "Since I was a vassal of the Heavensfell Dukedom, Tsunka begged me to tutor him and help improve his grades. I had to teach him history, geography, kingdom law, and even arithmetic because his studies were far behind."

  "At first, Tsunka tried to duck out of these afterschool lessons. But Lartius solicited retainers to hunt Tsunka down and chase him all over the school campus. His Majesty became amused and ordered his guards to help us as well. After much cajoling and shaming Tsunka into keeping his promise, the boy settled down and obediently waited for me after the regular school day ended."

  "I tutored him for four months. I gave him daily quizzes at the beginning of each session to preview what he would learn that afternoon and early evening. I made him stay until he learned the material and quizzed him again afterward. If Tsunka performed poorly, he would miss dinner for that evening."

  "Your father worked hard and eventually pulled up his grades enough to make the honor roll. Frankly, Tsunka was intelligent but very lazy. But with proper motivation, he showed his talents to everyone."

  "Juliette was amazed when the academy released the test scores and announced the honor roll for each grade. She knew Tsunka received tutoring but didn't expect him to pull his grades up so quickly."

  "However, your mother was an honorable woman who believed in keeping her word. Thus, she reluctantly agreed to start dating your father but added the requirement that Tsunka must remain in the honor roll to maintain their relationship."

  "For whatever reason, Tsunka agreed and worked hard to maintain his honor roll status. We continued the tutoring sessions throughout his matriculation at the school. After Tsunka's graduation, Duke Artem Heavensfell arranged for me to become his son's official retainer and advisor."

  "Eventually, I became Tsunka's trusted confidant and helped him ease into his headship of the dukedom when Tsunka turned thirty. Artem was very ill by then, and he died shortly after."

  "Before Duke Artem's death, I accompanied the couple for several years when they became adventurers. But due to my advanced age, my body couldn't hold up to long journeys on the road. Moreover, I had to focus on governing my earldom as the feudal lord. So we parted ways about five years after your parents first registered with the Adventurers Guild. But I returned to his side when Tsunka became a duke."

  The butler returned to the parlor room. "Lunch is ready," Lartius announced.

  "Fantastic!" the host replied. "Luka, let's go!" Cloten put his hands on the armrests of his sofa and pushed himself up.

  The attendant stood nearby and observed; Lartius was ready to assist his master if necessary to avoid injury. He suggested the lord use a cane, but the nobleman was too proud to do so.

  Luka noticed the host's difficulty but remained silent because he appreciated Cloten's pride as a nobleman. The guest followed behind the lord into the dining room and took a seat to Cloten's right.

  Without a word, Bel and Gripper also sat at the table.

  The host glanced at Lartius, who nodded subtly and entered the kitchen to request the chef to make a salad for Luka's pets.

  The head maid rolled a cart into the room and placed a tray in front of Cloten and then Luka.

  The guest was delighted to see beef on his plate because Luka hadn't eaten it for a long time!

  When the servant served salad bowls to the pets, Bel patted Luka's arm. [You want to trade?]

  The boy looked at Cloten with a chagrined expression. "My familiar wants to eat meat," he explained.

  The nobleman was surprised to learn that the rabbit was a magical familiar. Cloten looked at his attendant, who immediately entered the kitchen again to relay his master's order.

  Fortunately, the cook had leftover beef and quickly prepared another entry.

  When the maid placed the dish in front of Bel, the rabbit's looked at Cloten and bowed politely.

  "You're welcome," the host said with a laugh. "Let's eat before the food gets cold," Cloten invited.

  Bel devoured the meat like a hungry wolf but pointedly ignored the salad bowl.

  Gripper finished his food and took the uneaten portion as well.

  Luka slowly chewed his meal and carefully used unfamiliar utensils to cut the meat into smaller pieces.

  Cloten took note of his guest's difficulty but made no mention of it.

  Luka asked a question to satisfy his curiosity. "Why is there a statue of my dad at the water fountain?" He realized the sculpture was costly to make and install.

  "I commissioned a famous sculptor to make it after the Netherese War ended. Your father was a hero, and he deserved a statue in his honor so that future generations will learn of his greatness and glory," the host explained with passion in his eyes.

  "I had the privilege to know Tsunka Heavensfell for over a decade as a teacher and then as his retainer and advisor. He was a feudal lord who we proudly served as his subjects in his dukedom. I think it's important for the commoners to remember him. That's why I installed the sculpture in the public square of my capital city."

  "Thank you," the boy said and lowered his head toward Cloten.

  "Please raise your head, young master Luka!" the lord said hurriedly. "Frankly, I dreaded meeting you because Tsunka died before you were born. You never met your father. As his friend, I can only share old stories of him to assuage my guilt." Cloten reciprocated the bow toward Luka.

  Lartius approached his master and whispered into the lord's ear.

  Cloten faced his guest and said with a smile, "Your family carriage is here to bring you home."

  "Thank you for informing me," Luka replied. He turned toward Bel and Gripper. "It's time to leave."

  The lord accompanied Luka and his companions to the carriage parked in front of Cloten's house. "I hope you enjoyed hearing about your old man, and I look forward to your next visit to my city," he said with a bow.

  "I had a wonderful time. Thank you for your warm hospitality. I'll be sure to revisit Erz City," Luka promised and bowed politely. He turned toward the carriage and confirmed that it bore the Heavensfell family crest. The coachman opened the door, and Luka climbed inside the cabin with Bel and Gripper. The vessel soon started moving.

  Chapter 37

  Homecoming

  Luka and friends rode inside the carriage for several hours before the vehicle finally stopped. He fell asleep along the way, and Bel woke him.

  [What will you do without me around?] The familiar lamented in exasperation.

  "Hoot!" Eager to appease his boss, Gripper agreed.

  The coachman opened the door, and Luka got off after a brief moment adjusting his clothing. When he stepped out of the cabin, a chorus line of staff greeted him. "Welcome back, Young Master Luka!"

  The teenager nodded slightly. His eyes focused on the beautiful woman standing at the doorstep of the manor: his mother! Luka straightened his back and slowly approached her. "I'm back from my apprenticeship, mother," he greeted her.

  Without warning, Juliette Silverblade drew her sword in one stroke and slashed at his face!

  The son activated Blink, and the weapon passed through his body. When Luka reappeared, he stepped behind the woman and hugged her tightly, pinning her arms against her torso. "Stop it, mother! Don't you recognize your son?" he cried out in despair.

  "Let go!" Juliette abruptly bent forward and pulled the lighter boy along.

  The son's body flipped over and slammed on the ground. Bam! Luka banged his head and became dizzy.

  The mother ended the sudden scuffle with a heel on his throat! She scowled at his poor showing and pulled back.

  The head butler, James Sample, fed Luka a healing potion to help the boy recover. He gently pulled Luka to his feet.

  Luka nodded his thanks and followed Juliette
as she stormed into the parlor room.

  The duchess took a seat and waited for her son to sit across from her.

  "Why did you attack me, mother?" Luka tried hard to avoid criticizing her inappropriate and dangerous behavior.

  "I raised my son as a swordsman, and I wanted to see if you lost your edge because of your apprenticeship in magic," Juliette replied.

  Luka frowned at her answer. "But surely there are other ways to test my abilities?" he pointed out.

  "I prefer the direct approach. If you don't like the way I do things, you can leave," she retorted haughtily.

  [Hahaha! What a cold bitch!] Bel laughed.

  The son sat up and glared at his familiar. Luka had forgotten how headstrong his mother could be. He didn't want his relationship with her to deteriorate further.

  Juliette took a good look at his face. Her son left as a child and returned a man. Luka had the same square jaw and dark brown hair as her late husband and resembled him. Additionally, the son possessed an aura of serenity, holiness, and wisdom. The two had the same personal charisma, which bewitched others.

  Juliette felt ambivalent about Luka's return. On the one hand, she felt lonely because he was her sole remaining relative in the world. And she lost those precious years of his childhood raising Luka as a mother. But the failed assassination attempt forced the duchess to confront her inability to protect Luka. Leaving her son with a god for ten years was the best way to ensure his life.

  Now that Luka returned, his safety fell squarely on her shoulders both as a mother and the Heavensfell duchy's feudal lord. And just as important, several noble families wished to arrange political marriages with Luka. The king also implied his desire to engage Princess Camellia with Luka. Juliette politely deferred those inquiries with the excuse of waiting for her son's return from his apprenticeship.

  As a duchess, Juliette understood the critical importance of Luka's marriage partner or partners. She married Tsunka because he promised Juliette would be his sole wife; she was willing to give him several sons in exchange. Alas, the Netherese War broke out suddenly and messed up their family planning.

  The upper nobility had politely but firmly criticized Juliette for endangering the Divine Summoner bloodline by her insistence on a monogamous relationship with Tsunka. They expected Luka to engage in polygamy to protect his sacred lineage. Thus, they urged the duchess to arrange several fiancées for her son under the name of national security.

  Inwardly, Juliette agreed with them. If Luka didn't confirm his Divine Summoner Class during the Ceremony of Blessings ritual when he turned five, then history would forever condemn her as the wicked woman who broke the precious bloodline. But outwardly, the duchess needed to maintain her aristocratic pride and personal reputation. Thus, Juliette publicly refused to give in to these demands to pick a fiancée for Luka ASAP.

  As these thoughts passed through the mother's mind, the son also studied Juliette's face. Luka compared his memories of her from a decade ago to the current version, and he noticed that she aged slightly.

  While her golden hair barely hid her frown and forehead lines, crow's feet and wrinkles began to surround her icy-blue eyes. Her skin started to sag, and her cheeks became more hallow. Luka felt guilty being away from his mother for so long; he yearned to take on some of her responsibilities as the duchy's feudal lord.

  Juliette noticed his stare and asked, "What are you thinking, young man?"

  "Mother, I'm thinking how hard you worked to keep up with your duties as the feudal lord while I was away for my apprenticeship," he answered honestly.

  "Oh? Are you anxious to replace me and become the family head? Unfortunately for you, I've got plenty of years left in my life, and I don't plan to retire early. So don't expect to become the next Duke of Heavensfell for, say, another three decades or so," she mused with a faint smile.

  But Juliette's face suddenly turned serious. "I know that people expect great things from you because of your unique bloodline. But you have one life, and it's your decision on how to live it. Don't ever feel pressured to do something just because other people, whether it's the nobles, the royalty, the church, the gods, or even I, want you to do it. Whatever happens in the future, you'll make the best decision for yourself. Promise me this, okay?"

  Luka didn't know what to say. From his past life reading fantasy novels, this sounded like a foreshadowing.

  "Promise me!" Juliette's eyes flared up.

  "Okay, I promise you, mother," the son agreed reluctantly.

  The beautiful woman's eyes lit up. She worried that Luka would turn stubborn and reject Juliette's advice. The mother adroitly changed the topic. "I want to hear about your apprenticeship under Alectos -- in private." She turned toward the two maids standing in the room. "Leave us and make sure no one enters the parlor room," the duchess commanded.

  The servants curtsied and executed her order. Each maid exited via a different door and closed it shut behind her.

  Juliette walked up to the statue of Altima standing on the northwest corner. The sculpture depicted the goddess with both hands raised to the heavens. The duchess pulled the left arm back, and a panel on the wall slid open to reveal a stairway leading downward! She turned toward Luka and said, "Go on."

  The son obeyed and entered the passage.

  Bel and Gripper quickly followed their master.

  Juliette went inside the tunnel and pressed a hidden trigger on the wall to close the secret door.

  Glow stones on the wall provided some illumination in the passageway. Nonetheless, Luka placed his left hand on the wall to brace his body as he descended the steps. When he reached the bottom, he saw a corridor with three paths.

  "Turn left," the mother called out.

  The child obeyed and continued walking until he arrived in front of a door.

  "It's locked," Juliette said. She handed him a silver key, and Luka used it to open the door. When he tried to return the key, the mother shook her head. "You need a copy."

  When Luka entered, he saw a roomful of valuable treasures! Heavy chests on the ground leaned against the western wall; their lids were open and revealed gold coins. One bookshelf on the northern wall held books with deteriorated spines. Nearby were a desk and three chairs. On the western wall was a stuffed head of a red dragon! Under the display were several barracks holding armor pieces, swords, and staves.

  A life-sized mannequin stood in the middle of this room. It had a face similar to the statue of Tsunka Heavensfell from Erz City. He wore a pure white mantle with a gold chain clasped over his collarbone, a light-blue doublet with gold stripes over a white linen shirt, short white linen breeches held up by a dark brown breech belt, navy blue hose over brown leather boots, and a brimless scarlet cap with a white peacock feather.

  "Your father often wore this attire when he attended the Royal Court," Juliette explained helpfully. "Now, take a seat. You're probably wondering why I brought you here and what this place is. We are inside the family treasury, and its existence is revealed to the Heavensfell Heir when he becomes an adult."

  "Your ancestors stored many relics and slowly accumulated wealth from one generation to the next. There are only two copies of the key to open this treasury door. A predecessor added a curse to prevent its duplication. So don't lose it!"

  "This place is also a safe house. There is enough food and water, stored in a special item box, for four adults to survive for a year. Your predecessors etched magic circles onto the walls and the door to protect the occupants here from scrying and magical detection, as well as fire and flood damage. The structure can also withstand an earthquake."

  "I brought you here to show you this room and to discuss your apprenticeship privately. But first, I want to check your status," Juliette said. She opened a drawer at the desk and took out a box. Inside was a crystal ball. "Touch it," she ordered.

  Luka obeyed, and a screen of light hovered above the magical item. His status report appeared, and the teenager quickly checked its contents
for accuracy. The mage was pleased with his natural magic advancement because Luka devoted a portion of his practice to the four elemental magics. His bond with Alraune made it easier to learn them compared to time magic.

  The mother read through the report with a poker face and saw the following:

  "Name: Luka Heavensfell

  Race: Human (10% Corruption)

  Age: 15

  Primary Class: Divine Summoner

  Divine Summons: Alraune (Nature), Glacius (Ice), Stowne (Stone), Tes (Lightning)

  Subclass: Sage

  Magic: Air (II), Earth (III), Fire (II), Light (VIII), Shadow (IX), Space (X), Time (III), Water (II)

  Familiar: Belphesto (sealed Demon King)

  Contract Beast: Gripper (Thallian Gorilla)

  Titles: Benefactor of Langerlan, Disciple of Alectos, Godson of Altima, Heir of Heavensfell Duke House, Honorary Elf, Master of Gilan's Shadow Realm, Ptelea's Friend

  Health: 900/900

  Mana: 12,000/12,000

  Stamina: 4,500/4,500

  Skills: Archery VI, Aristocracy II, Arithmetic II, Barehand Combat VI, Cooking III, Domestic III, Enragement II, Etiquette III, Farming V, Horsemanship I, Hunting II, Literacy III, Swordsmanship VII

  Traits: Critical Insight, One with Magic, Singleminded, Spatial Sense, Toughness

  Special Items: Pendant of Life, Recall Stone, Shadow Keystone, Staff of Alraune"

  The woman's eyes betrayed her mixed emotions: surprise, delight, and anger. Juliette picked up Bel off the floor and placed the rabbit on the table. She pointed at the 10% corruption and asked in a cold tone of voice, "Why did you give him your demon essence?"

  Juliette always suspected that Bel wasn't a simple rabbit. The status card revealed its true identity as a sealed demon king! However, the duchess wasn't afraid of this evil creature. Instead, she was angry at Bel for corrupting her son!

  The son felt goosebumps from her killing aura and intervened. "I asked Bel to help train my body, and that was his solution," Luka explained.

  "You can't afford to absorb more of his blood, or else you will lose your humanity," she warned.