1 The summoning ceremony

"Lady…"

"My lady, we have arrived"

"gasp..!"

I look around me. The carriage is already stood in front of the temple's front door. Have we already arrived? I didn't even realize the carriage has stopped.

"Are you alright, my lady?" the attendant asked me worriedly since there is no sign of action from me.

"I'm fine."

I get off from the carriage and correct my robe. My hand felt cold. I clench my hands a couple of times to let the blood flow to the tip of my finger. I told myself, it is not the time to be freaking out.

I walk straight to the ceremonial room situated in the basement. There's already a lot of mages and priests arrive at the room. The ritual room is massive. It's a hall that can hold up to thousands of people. A large room is necessary since the ritual would require a tremendous amount of magical energy. It is my first time here. My jaw kinda dropped the first time I set my foot in the room. Right after I enter the room, I spotted a familiar figure.

"Head mage! Good morning." I walked towards that person who is known as the greatest mage in the kingdom of Richfield. Isaac Clark, the head mage of the royal magic division.

"Good morning Eve. Are you ok? You look pale."

Whaa… am I that transparent? As expected of the head mage Isaac. Nothing can be hidden from him.

"I appreciate your concern, sir. However, I am merely just nervous since it will be my first time taking part in a saint summoning ceremony. I hope I will not become a bother."

"Haha. You know, it is the first time for most of everyone here since it's been 200 years since the last time this ceremony takes place. The last ceremony, I was still in my apprentice period."

200 years! How old is head mage is exactly? He doesn't look that old.

"That's a really long time ago. how ol-!"

Before I could finish my sentence, suddenly, there a dark aura coming from the head mage as if he knows what I'm gonna ask. I stiffly smile. I could feel sweat start to accumulate on my back.

"W-well, it makes sense since the seal to the demon world should be so strong. I think it is time to strengthen the seal am I right?"

I think I should not pry any further and use my imagination regarding the matter of head mage's age.

The head mage only smiles and nod.

"Look at the time. I think we should begin soon. So eve, It seems that I will be not seeing you for a long time after this."

Heard him said that, my heart starts to ache. The ceremony would take a great toll on the head mage and will force him to go on a deep sleep. Nobody knows for how long. Besides knowing that, he could still smile and laugh. I put my hand on my heart and bow to the head mage.

"Then, I bid you farewell and wish you luck, sir."

"See you again Eve. Take care."

Soon as he said that, he walked away from me who is still bowing.

"Hey look at that. How shameless."

"Does she not know her place? How brave of her to suck up to the head mage like that."

Soon after the head mage left, I heard ugly voices coming from behind me. I glance at my back. It was the girls from my apprentice days, whispering with their hand covering their mouths.

Is that even whisper? I could hear you loud and clear girls. Sigh, it can't be helped.

You girls won't know that I can act familiar with the head mage because I have known him since I was a kid. My father, the prime minister of this kingdom, as well as the lord of the Herrington dukedom, is a friend of the head mage. Well, it's not like you know about that either. If they know that I'm the prime minister's daughter, I bet they would be circling around me right now. How filthy.

There always been people like that anywhere you go. You just have to ignore them. I know that a lot of mages envy me since I climb faster than an average mage. I have been appointed as the royal mage at the age of 19. Normally, you would serve as an apprentice for 3 years. But I have done it only for a year. To make it worse, recently I have been nominated as a captain at the age of 21. People call me 'genius' but actually, I am not.

'Clap, clap'

"Everyone, thank you for willing to participate in today's summoning ceremony. Without further ado, lets us all take our position. We will begin the ceremony shortly".

After the head mage gives his instruction, everyone starts to move to their designated position. Finally, I will meet a person from another world. My emotion is jumbling upside down right now. I'm excited, scared, worried, I'm so nervous I might mess things up. I can't wait to meet her. I hope we can be friends.

When the head mage starts to chant, everyone starts to release their magic energy. Just in a short amount of time, the room started to fill with intense magic power. The magic circle on the floor at the center of the room starting to light up.

The light got brighter and eventually, the room was filled with light. I close my eyes with my hand blinded by the light. the head mage stop chanting and everyone slowly stops releasing their energy.

When the light is gradually fading, I slowly open my eyes to search for the sight of the saint. There is a silhouette of a figure lying at the center of the circle.

Is that the saint? Thank goodness, the ceremony has succeeded. The figure slowly moves try to stand.

When the light completely faded away, my eyes still cannot see very clearly from the after effect. But my line of sight still fixated on the tall figure at the center of the magic circle.

Somehow the saint looks rather tall for a girl. I retort my eyebrow a little.

When my sight got clearer, my eyes slowly widen. Unable to believe what I'm seeing, I take a good look at that summoned person.

I can't see the face because I can only see the back of her figure. From behind, the priestess looks tall and a bit masculine with brown short hair. Well, just like a man.

A man? It can't be..!

I rub my eyes a couple of times to confirm the figure in front of me. Shouldn't it be a cute, petite and sweet as sugar girl?