21 We Have to Kiss Again!?

"Whaaaaat!?"

Aranea's face was still red as she put both of her hands on her cheeks.

"Isn't summoning you enough to be my familiar? Why do we have to kiss again!?"

Leonel scratched his head as his eyebrows creased. He felt that kissing was done normally--like an everyday life routine.

Why would Aranea act this way? Does that mean that in their realm, kissing is not that accepted and open?

"Well, of course, we have to kiss again! Since you summoned us, it would now be our turn to see if you are worthy of us! And the kiss is the answer. It formally seals the pact!"

Aranea squinted her eyes then crossed her arms in front of her chest, her head tipping up as she looked at Leonel.

"What if you don't accept your summoner?"

"Then we have to go back to Ravaya and wait for us to be summoned again."

"What if you regret choosing me after you sealed the pact?"

"Then I have no choice but to stay with you even though I don't want to."

"What happens if you go against my word?"

"That's taboo... but the seal that binds us would punish me."

Hearing this, Aranea's expression suddenly turned softer. She slowly put her hands at the sides as her eyes turned serious.

"How would it punish you?"

Her question almost turned into a whisper but it was enough for everyone to hear. Leonel's face suddenly turned melancholic as he forced out a sad smile, answering her question.

"It's like sitting on an electric chair. If we go behind your words after the pact being sealed, then it would mean us violating the vows of a familiar protecting their Summoner. That's why we have to think properly before we seal it formally with our kiss," he said, Aranea's eyebrow slightly arching up.

"But then... why would you kiss me suddenly then if we just met?"

Leonel gave her a sweet smile as their eyes met. He put his hand on her shoulder and spoke, his words tugging her heartstrings.

"Most familiars couldn't wait for a Summoner to summon them as it takes too long. And besides... even though I just met you, I know you'd be worth protecting and I know I'd be worth it being your familiar."

"O-oh..."

With seeing how her twin sister Aranea's face was getting red by the second, Elenea giggled as she looked at Headmaster Gavin, asking him an important question.

"By the way, Headmaster Gavin, if familiars have human forms, how will they be able to stay in the academy?"

"Good question, dear!"

There was enthusiasm in his voice, making the two look at him as he got their attention.

"Leonel here would be a student of the academy, too! Of course, he would be facing the ordeals, and automatically, he will be protecting his Summoner at all costs as his challenge. Whatever rank he gets and with how many diaz he gets, he has to share with his Summoner."

Hearing this, a smirk appeared on Aranea's face as she looked at Leonel, holding his hands in the process. Her eyes twinkled like the stars, making her familiar furrow his brows and smile at her nervously.

"Please do well during the ordeals to get the highest rank possible! Your job is to satisfy and protect your Summoner, is it not? I believe in you!"

Elenea narrowed her eyes at her twin sister as she shook her head, slightly disappointed in her.

"Oh, Aranea... don't depend so much on your familiar. Remember, you have an ordeal on your own, too. You have to handle that, too, with his help, of course," she reminded, making her twin sister nod as she scoffed slightly at being scolded like a child.

"Of course, of course... I have archery, remember? Leonel and I will do our best, jeez..."

Leonel chuckled as he ruffled his Summoner's hair playfully, making the girl look at him and meet his blue eyes.

"I look forward to working with you, Aranea."

"Ah..."

Her cheeks turned beet red in an instant as she saw his beautiful smile.

'He's so handsome and at the same time, so kind!'

Headmaster Gavin cleared his throat to get their attention. When all of them looked at him, he spoke, giving Aranea a warning.

"There is also one thing that you have to remember as a Summoner, Aranea."

"What is it?"

"This is a rule every familiar should follow and a Summoner must respect it."

Seeing how serious the headmaster is, Aranea looked at Leonel expectantly as she waited for him to explain what it is.

"It is taboo for a familiar to fall in love with their Summoner because their sole purpose is to serve and protect them."

"Oh!" Aranea scoffed as she laughed a little, finding the rule stupid. "You don't have to worry about that. You won't find anything attractive about me," she joked, her eyes rolling at the same time. "But what happens if the familiar falls in love, though?"

"It's the same," Leonel answered. "The familiar would have to be punished. It would immediately terminate their bond as Summoner and familiar."

Suddenly, his face turned ashen. His eyes looked sad as he continued to answer, surprising the twins as well.

"The bond would be terminated with the familiar's death."

"Wh-what?" A surprised look appeared on Summoner Aranea's face. "Once the familiar falls in love with his or her Summoner, the familiar would have to... die?"

Leonel nodded once.

"Yes... it is taboo for a familiar whose sole purpose is to serve and protect its Summoner, to fall in love with him or her. Because a Summoner can also have more than one familiar. It would cause rivalry between the familiars, which should not be."

"I-I see..."

Aranea didn't know what to say so she forced out a laugh, scratching the back of her head as well.

"You don't have to worry! As I said, there is nothing to like about me! And I won't cause anything to make you and my future familiars argue, don't worry," she said, making Leonel smile as he nodded.

"But... there is a twist to that rule."

Headmaster Gavin said, interrupting their conversation.

"If the Summoner reciprocated the familiar's feelings, then he or she would not die. However, this is only advised IF all of the other familiars do not advocate romantic feelings toward their Summoner. Because if a Summoner chooses one out of all the familiars who had loved him or her, then the others would cease to exist."

"Nngh..." Aranea furrowed her brows, "That's so messed up. Like living in a harem. I wouldn't want to be in this situation where I would have to choose and I would have them disappear."

"Yes," Leonel agreed, "That's why as much as possible, familiars should not fall in love with their Summoner."

With that, Aranea was instantly pulled in her thoughts.

If familiars fall in love with her, then there would be a rivalry happening.

If she were to choose one from those who like her, then the others would cease to exist.

The only way to prevent this is for them not to fall for her or with them falling out of love if it were to happen.

Aranea shuddered as she cringed at her own thought. She shook herself out of her imagination and sighed, giving herself a piece of advice, making it a joke as well.

"Well, like what the song says, 'too much love will kill you.' I won't ever let myself be in a risky situation such as that--and I won't ever let my familiars be in that situation. That, I have to make sure."