Summoned To Serve

Inside a storehouse, a circle of sorcerers was gathered. A man dressed in a vaguely Roman legionary-style uniform approached the circle.

“How do you know this supposed ‘summoning magic’ of yours will work?” Arundineus asked.

“How else will we find out?” Sors answered.

“Sors Spero, has anyone told you how unreliable your magical arts are?” Arundineus asked.

“Arundineus Vulgatus, you will show the necessary respect to these masters of the summoning arts.” Sors, who wore more ornate clothes than the other sorcerers, said.

“Forgive me if I lack appreciation for your ‘arts’. Let me see if I understand correctly. You ‘masters’ gather in a circle and chant some magical phrases and some magical being suddenly appears out of thin air?” Arundineus said.

“We do not make sentient entities materialise out of nothing…I suspect creating something out of nothing is impossible even for magic.” Sors said.

“How much does the Emperor pay for all thismagic business?” Arundineus asked.

“Enough for it to be a profitable business.” Sors answered.

“And do you have any idea how much longer this ritual will take?” Arundineus asked.

“I resent the use of the word ‘ritual’. We would prefer to call it amagic ceremony.” Sors answered.

“Nothing happening during these ceremonies – is thatnormal?” Arundineus asked.

“Do you call the air tingling with magic ‘nothing happening’?” Sors answered.

“Who or what are you even trying to summon, anyway?” Arundineus asked.

“A powerful spirit named Legionaire.” Sors answered.

“We can already ‘summon’ plenty of Legionnaireswithout using magic. They might even come simply by asking them nicely – can your ‘powerful spirit’ do the same?” Arundineus said.

“We have yet to utter the incantation,of course it seems like nothing is happening.” Sors said.

“Your great demonstration of the summoning arts will be to summon a Legionaire…could you not have tried something a little moreimaginative?” Arundineus said.

“Very well, Summon Masters, perhaps it is time we moved on to the incantation.” Sors said.

“Imperial spirit, who is called Legionaire, lend your power to the empire.” Sors and the circle of sorcerers said in unison.

“Again with the bothersome incantations? You, legionary, can I confirm your name is Arundineus Vulgatus? And please, speak in your mind so these sorcerers do not hear you.” a voice said.

“My name is indeed Arundineus Vulgatus.” Arundineus thought.

“Please step into the centre of the circle of sorcerers.” The voice said.

“Will that not interrupt their summoning ritual?” Arundineus thought.

“Worry not about that. Simply step into the circle and hold your sword aloft.” The voice said.

“What isthat supposed to achieve?” Arundineus thought.

“You might be surprised.” The voice said.

Arundineus squeezed between two of the sorcerers in the circle and stepped inside the circle.

“Arundineus, you willruin the magic ceremony.” Sors said.

“Maybe not.” Arundineus said.

“This is highly unorthodox…I hope you know what you are doing.” Sors said.

“So doI.” Arundineus said.

In the centre of the circle, Arundineus brandished his sword and held it aloft.

“What are you trying to do, Arundineus?” Sors asked.

“All of us present might be surprised.” Arundineus said.

“Surprised if raising his swordachieved anything, most likely.” One of the sorcerers said.

Suddenly, a blue light appeared above the circle.

“Now, young Arundineus, I must ask you another favour – please leave the summoning circle.” The voice said.

“‘Summoning circle’…somehow I like thesound of that.” Arundineus thought.

Arundineus left the circle of sorcerers. A being appearing much like a Roman Legionaire in black armour appeared in the centre of the circle. It had flaming blue mist coming out of its eyes and mouth, and was holding a red flaming blade and a blue tower shield.

“The spirit known as Legionaire! It wasnot simply a myth.” Sors said.

“By what method did you perform that summoning?” Another of the sorcerers asked.

“‘Method’ would imply I knew exactly what I was doing.” Arundineus said.

“Well,powerful spirit, are you strong enough as to kill a group as large as this circle of summon masters with a single movement of your sword?” Arundineus asked.

“Perhaps.” Legionaire said.

“Wellperhaps the Emperor would like to hear of your threat to kill this prestigious group of sorcerers?” Sors said.

“‘Prestigious’ is not a wordI would have used to describe a group of sorcerers.” Arundineus said.

“You were speakinghypothetically, I hope?” Sors said.

“How else can I get a vague idea of Legionaire’s capabilities? There are no Cetin invading Parvulus to test his abilities on. Unfortunately.” Arundineus said.

“A lack of Cetin invaders isunfortunate? Why do we not simplyask them nicely if they can invade Parvulus then?” Sors said.

Arundineus, Sors and the sorcerers left the storehouse. Legionaire had disappeared. One of the sorcerers approached a house, where an unknown man approached him. The sorcerer gestured, and he and his unknown acquaintance retreated to a secluded location.

“Where are you, Legionaire? Why have you abandoned me?” Arundineus thought.

“I simply concealed myself. Would the average citizen be understanding if I were to literally walk beside you?” Legionaire said.

“I do not know any ‘average citizens’ that fear ghosts.” Arundineus thought.

“Is a ghost what you believe me to be?” Legionaire asked.

“What elsecould you be? Agod?” Arundineus thought.

Legionaire laughed.

“A god? Imaginative, I will give itthat.” Legionaire said.

“Have you stopped to contemplate the gods? It is not as strange as it sounds.” Sors said.

“What makes you think it sounds strange?” Arundineus asked.

“My definition of strange might be different to yours.” Sors answered.

“I was beginning tocontemplate that possibility.” Arundineus said.

“Let me know if you solve any mysteries about the gods.” Sors said.

“How could I compete with yourprestigious sorcerers?” Arundineus asked.

“Clearly you know something about the summoning arts my sorcerers do not. That is as much a mystery as the gods. I must bid you farewell.” Sors answered.

Sors walked away.

“Would you like to contemplate the possibility of testing my capabilities?” Legionaire asked.

“There are no enemies nearby worthy of your capabilities.” Arundineus thought.

“Would I be correct to assume the town of Parvulus is near a forest?” Legionaire asked.

“Why? Are there enemies in the forest?” Arundineus thought.

“Presumably, there would beno one in the forest, making it a suitable place for a demonstration.” Legionaire said.

“The forest! Of course! I should havethought of that.” Arundineus thought.

“The forests near Parvulus are not inhabited by any kind of native peoples, are they?” Legionaire asked.

“They might have been atsome point.” Arundineus thought.

“Do you expect the Verian Empire to behonest about the peoples it eliminates? Your official history is likely of dubious authenticity.” Legionaire said.

“You are not to harm any native peoples, if anyare present in the forest.” Arundineus thought.

“Please show me the way to the forest, young swordsman.” Legionaire said.

“When I get to middle age, will you simply call me ‘swordsman’? ‘Middle age swordsman’ hardly sounds respectable.” Arundineus said.

“What makes you think being aswordsman is respectable?” Legionaire said.

Later that day, Arundineus entered the forest. He suddenly stopped walking.

“Is this far enough into the forest, summoned spirit?” Arundineus thought.

“Summoned spirit? I would tire of that phrase quickly. Can you please refer to me as an Animus?” Legionaire said.

“You answered my question with another question,Animus. In fact, you answered my question withtwo questions.” Arundineus thought.

“It simply needs to be far enough into the forest that no townsfolk are at risk of injury from my demonstration. As a Chosen of the Empire, you must not...