52 Being Summoned

Looking at the notification and countdown, I was confused, ''What... what the hell is that?''

The fox appeared on the bed, ''We don't have much time so listen carefully. Demons can be summoned to fulfill a wish through a ritual. Sometimes they can demand the soul of their customers in return, sometimes a little blood or whatever they need. In order for a person to summon a demon, they need the seal of the demon in question and a predetermined ritual.''

{Remaining time: 00:03:40}

Staring at the system window blankly, ''I have no seal or ritual or whatever the shit. You mean, I can teleport beside someone out of the blue and have to grant their wish?''

''No... At least that's not what it supposed to be. You aren't the owner of your soul right now, technically you are a servant of the owner of your soul in the demon society. Malice must have appointed you to a call made for her,'' the fox said.

''Heck,'' I looked down the window to find my dagger, but it was nowhere to be seen. I didn't know if I should be happy that no one was hurt or be angry about the stolen dagger. ''Is there any way to cancel the summoning?''

The fox shook its tiny head, ''No,'' levitating to come near to me. When it wasn't near me, it gets more difficult to maintain its physical form and it used up more energy. I tried to remember when was the last time I fed. Under normal circumstances, I could have lasted more than half a day from now, but I was tired of Ender's little game.

{Remaining time: 00:02:58}

I put the whip in the leather bag and looked at what I had. Several potions in the trial phase, a whip, and a... scarf? ''Where did this come from?'' I murmured. I took a quick glance around the room to see if I had forgotten anything.

''Calm down,'' the fox said. ''Twelve minutes is too short for complex rituals. I don't think the customer can summon your real body. I guess you will take an astral trip.''

I frowned, astral trips had advantages and disadvantages. You were traveling with your soul and consciousness instead of your real body. Thanks to that, even if you died on the trip, it was not your real body that died but a temporary shell that is part of the plane you are in.

However, this meant that your real body would remain unconscious and vulnerable on your original plane. ''Before an astral travel, leaving your body in a safe environment with people you trust is one of the most basic rules,'' the fox said.

I looked at the broken window, the wooden door, and then the fox. I was speechless. ''I couldn't see it coming, I'd warn if I knew. I'll be here, trying to protect your body as much as I can'' It said.

I frowned, ''Aren't you coming with me?''

''The core is more connected to your body than to your mind, so no. I'll stay here.''

The fox couldn't be considered as the best companion, but knowing that it would not be with me, I couldn't help feeling like I lost something. ''You're a terrible guide anyway. No matter what happens on the plane I'm going to, it's impossible for me to die. I'd rather you stay here,'' I said.

{Remaining time: 00:01:10}

I lay down on the bed to avoid falling off and hitting my head when my consciousness left my body. ''Do you have any idea what I am going to face?''

The fox took appeared on my chest, ''Well, it could be anything. People often resort to demons to get their revenge or get rid of their rivals. On other occasions, it could also be to see if it will work or to have sex. Humans sell their souls for such stupid things...''

Before I knew it was an insult to me, the fox disappeared from my sight. It was as if I had a black hole inside of me and I was being drawn into it. It wasn't painful, but it wasn't a pleasant experience either.

When I regain my consciousness and look around, I noticed that I was swimming in the air. The strange thing was that there was no air where I was. Or sky. Or land. ''This must be the astral plane,'' I murmured. There was nothing around but endless white light with no source, and passageways to different dimensions.

All of the passages were of different shapes and sizes. Some had locked doors and some were simply frames in which you would see a sky, forest, desert, or city when you look inside.

I recalled what I know about astral travels, ''This is an infinite plane, so the passage I am looking for may be away infinitely distant. But logic required me to find the plane of the person calling me.''

I looked at the passages near me one by one until I find the passage there I feel a connection, and it was there. It was a circular gate of a city with tall structures. Most of the buildings were gray, with numerous windows on them. There were vehicles without horses, moving between the buildings.

''Looks peaceful, It's good that I'm not going to the middle of a war I guess.'' I took a step to the gate, before taking the second step, I lost the sense of the existence of my body with the uncomfortable drawing feeling. For a second I was a consciousness without hands and feet, that couldn't see or hear, and then I was back in my body.

''Sorry for the circle but you made me do this,'' I heard a voice and turned my head to see the owner. I noticed that I was lying face down on the ground when I had to get up to turn my head.

''Huh, who are you?'' A male asked. I was in a bedroom and there was no one but a young-looking man in a chair as far as I saw. One of his arms was in a cast and he had glasses. On the other hand, I was inside a red magic circle.

''I'm sure that I summoned a fox girl, who are you?'' His voice was angry, but he looked more confused than being angry.

''As you can see, I'm not a fox girl. Must have been a mistake, send me back,'' I said.

''No!'' He leaned back in his chair and the chair slid back a little. Looking closely, I saw that the chair had small wheels. There was some kind of screen on his desk behind the man, and fox girl posters hung on the wall. ''I wasted a week of my life span for this ritual.''

''Then tell me your wish, I will fulfill it if I can,'' I said.

''You can't!'' He got off the chair and fell to the ground, ''All I want... sob... all I wanted was giving a fox girl head pat... '' I saw tears dripping down his glasses, ''...caressing her fluffy tail... sob... why this is happening to me... first fox girl was an arrogant mature lady and the second one don't even have fox ears...''

''Look, I see but I didn't evolve yet so...''

He suddenly raised his head off the ground, ''So you can be a fox girl?!''

''Well, maybe one day, this is an option too but...''

He got up and sat in front of the magic circle, his legs crossed, ''Okay. Grow a tail. I'm waiting.''