3 The Ceremony

"I'm not sure" mark answered, "but whoever was the reason for the soldier to be there must have an insane level of spiritual energy".

"Yeah, I'm excited to see what he summons" David said.

What David and Mark didn't notice was the piercing gaze staring at them from under the hood.

David and Mark were both pretty tall for their ages at 6' and 5'10 respectively. David had black scruffy hair and green eyes. He had a very athletic build, and was stronger than most. Mark had black short black hair and brown eyes. lankier than David, but was slightly faster and more agile. While scanning the crowd David spotted two more of their friends. "Luna, Maria!" he called out to them. Two girls, both about 5'7 turned around. Luna had light brown hair and green eyes, and Maria had dark blond hair and brown eyes.

Both of them weaved their way through the crowd to reach David and Mark. The girls were stunning beauties and turned a few heads as they went. "Hey guys, are you excited?" asked Luna.

"I'm really nervous" Maria mumbled.

David and Mark shared a funny look. Maria was usually very talkative. The fact that she wasn't talking nonstop right now was evidence of how nervous she is.

"Don't worry Maria, it will be fine, I'm sure you'll summon a great bond" Mark reassured her.

"I hope so" she responded.

"EVERYONE LISTEN UP" all the people in the Summoning Arena suddenly heard a monstrous shout. Everyones attention was directed towards the back wall where the military official sat. "We're going to start soon, so first time summoners listen up for instructions" the man said. He took his cloak off, and everyone got their first look at him. He had blond hair tied into a braid, blue eyes, and a large but well kept beard. "First, when your name is called you will come up to the spiritual energy activator" he started, "it will draw out and measure your spiritual energy". "After that you will go to the Summoning circle and channel your spiritual energy inside of it. After your bond is documented you are free to leave. If I see potential in you, I'll invite you to come back to the military academy with me." After he finished speaking it was silent enough to hear a pin drop.

"First up: Marcus Benavidez" the man called.

Marcus walked up to the small gemstone that was the Spiritual Energy activator, and place his palm on it. It began to shine brightly before the number 147 appeared. Marcus turned to look at his parents with a grim face, 147 Spiritual Energy isn't a lot. He then went up to the Summoning circle and place his palm in the center. After staying there for a few moments a whooshing sound was heard and he backed up quickly. a blue vortex with a diameter of 18 inches opened up. A rabbit covered completely in golden brown scales with two small straight horns jumped out. It was a Lepidoron, a weak companion class bond. Lepidorons are fairly common, and are mostly kept in barns to control rat populations. The boy went to his parents, and they left the Summoning Arena together. A few more people summoned, and then the first of David's Group was up.

"Mark Flores" the man called out.

Mark went up to the Spiritual Energy awakening device and place his palm on it. After a few second he removed his hand, "647 Spiritual Energy units" called out the military official. Mark turned to his parents with a smile on his face. He walked up to the Summoning Circle and placed his palm on the center. soon after a blue vortex with hints of dark purple and black appeared. As Mark backed up the vortex grew to have a diameter of 4 feet. Out of it came a pitch black lynx with pupilless purple eyes. The lynx looked around for a little bit, and then a shadow appeared at its feet and it disappeared through it. Another shadow appeared right infront of mark and the lynx came through it. "Onza, average combat class bond with the potential to progress to strong. Not the best at fighting, bet great at stealth and reconnaissance. When you get home, pack your bags because your coming with me to the academy. If you want that is." The man said.

"Luna Acosta, you're next"

She was the next of the group to be called. Luna went up to the Spiritual Energy awakening device and placed her palm on it. "436 Spiritual Energy units" the man said when she was done. Luna then placed her palm in the center of the Summoning Circle. Soon, another vortex opened up of similar size to Marks except the blue was much more vibrant and there was no purple swirling inside. Out of it stepped a large wolf with dark blue fur. "Wonderful, a Caanen. A strong warrior class bond. You also have an invite to come back to the academy with me as well." The man said.

"Maria Escamilla"

Maria went through the same process as the others. She awakened however as the vortex enlarged it began to turn black. The man perked up and his Golden Roarer started to growl. Maria grit her teeth and began to sweat. Slowly, the vortex started to turn blue again with tinges of green, and began growing bigger once more. The vortex grew to a diameter of 2.5 feet and dog with the head and wings of a hawk flew out of it. "That summoning almost became tainted, thankfully it didn't. You summoned a Chamrosh, an average combat and companion class bond. You also have an invitation to the academy."

"David Ramirez"

David was the last of the group to go, and he was very nervous. There were only two more first time summoners left after him. The Summoning Arena was mostly bare, and David was so nervous he could throw up. He walked up to the Spiritual awakening device and placed his palm on it. He felt an unfamiliar feeling inside him, however it began to feel weaker and weaker. At first the feeling left fast, but it began to go slower and slower. After about a minute the draining feeling stopped, and the man called out "972 Spiritual Energy units, very nice". David walked over to the Summoning circle feeling overjoyed. He placed his palm in the center and felt that draining feeling again. After a while it stopped and he saw small blue vortex began to form and he quickly backed up. The vortex began to grow, and a gold color was mixed in. After the vortex reached a diameter of 6 feet a creature the size of a small dog walked out. The creature looked like a well muscled mountain lion except it was much smaller and completely covered in black scales. "Impressive, you summoned a nanuk. It's a strong warrior and laborer class bond. This one appears special, because normally they will have scales that match the color of their elemental affinity. This one is only a baby so it will get much bigger. Go home and pack for the academy, we leave in 3 hours." The man said to him.