Revenge of the Gamer

By Christine Reasons

The young girl chewed on the tip of her braid, her steps taking her around the large summoning circle, the blessed charcoal held loosely in hand. Her cloth top hung tightly around her upper chest area and Sivetri had to tug at it some before she could continue, double checking to see if all was still in place and perfect. 

A year ago Sivetri didn’t have this young maturing body to deal with, but now she had to contend with two new additions and some clothing she has just out grown. This top was one of them but she wanted something comfortable and familiar when she did this. Her gaze moved to her Master and she nodded, heading towards him. She had one more glyph to place then the bone fragments to finish. 

Sivetri came to a stop near him and knelt down, braid still in her mouth and began to draw, her movements precise and in a matter of seconds the last glyph was finished. She stood up then walked to the small table with the ritual components resting on it and picked up the bowl holding the bones. Her mind was so focused on the task at hand she barely heard the soft murmurings of everyone, nor noticed Andarak’s gaze on her. Had she seen or even felt what he was feeling, she might have faltered a tiny bit. But this was one of those moments she had decided to leave the ward up. She really wanted this to go off with no issues. It was a big mile stone for her. It had to be perfect. 

“Do you remember the placement Sivetri?” Arkelias asked from his vantage point, his stance and tone much the teacher with a student then a father with a child. 

“I do Master” Seevee said as she picked up the bowl and made for the circle, holding it tightly against her chest.

Kneeling down Sivetri started off by placing the first bone skull in place, her eyes darting over to her Master and the three other figures with him before looking to the skull again. She adjusted it how he had shown her making sure the symbol on the skull was aligned with the glyphs. Once done Seevee patted the skull and grinned, seeing how it all matched perfectly forming the smooth line to represent strength, her braid tip trying to slip from her mouth as she glanced over once more to the others.

Aerlia was giggling at something her mother had said, then waved slightly at Seevee. This brought another smile to her face and the braid tip slipped free even more. Sivetri answered her friends wave with one of her own before moving to the next focal point placing another skull, representing cunning. As she did this she heard the little. “Mmhmmm” sound from Ashianna. Her gaze moved to the woman she has come to see as a mother while she adjusted the skull, catching a wave from her as well. The smile grew more and the braid tip finally slipped free. With another wave of fingers Seevee moved, placing two more skulls, one for swiftness and another for the form of the spirit to appear as.

During this time her thoughts moved to the morning conversation and the words of wisdom that Ashianna had given her. “Remember to relax, you know you can do this, we all know you can as well. And if for some reason it doesn’t happen, know we are here and we love you.” The hug that had followed made her feel all warm inside right then and it certainly made her feel warm now thinking about it. When she went to adjust the last skull Sivetri’s gaze moved to Andarak catching him staring at her and the warm feeling went warmer. She waved at him too, then her head ducked, her cheeks growing very red when he grinned, pushing a bit of his hair from his face.

Sivetri stood up quickly and made one final sweep with her eyes over the circle and nodded. “Perfect” She said her steps taking her back to the table, and her depositing the bowl there. Once that was done she moved, placing herself just on the edge of the circle.

“Now Sivetri, remember what I taught you, and you will do fine.” She heard her Master say. Then she heard the whispered. “Good Luck See!” from Aerlia and one from Ashianna, then Darak’s yelp, a giggle from his sister then him saying. “yeah See, good luck!”

Sivetri nodded, murmuring. “Thank you” before her her hands began to go through the motions to start the summoning.

Up then down her small hands went, drawing on her power within. Light started to form around her tiny body then it changed, growing darker almost as wisps of dark energy pulsed around her feet, taking the shape of humanoid skulls perhaps . At the faint prickle of warmth the power gave Sivetri’s fingers began to dance in front of her, signing many of the glyphs that were mirrored upon the floor before her.

One by one they lit up, faintly at first then growing casting Sivetri in an eerie lighting. What felt like a life time to Sivtetri was only a few seconds and the power she was drawing forth came out in a rush. She took that power and channeled it all into the circle. Sivetri continued to feed power into it slowly, building it up before she reached out and felt for what it was she wanted. The perfect spirit companion.

Sivetri signed the last glyph a few moments later, the center skull, the one for the spirits form shimmered then seemed to glow. It moved, then bounced a few times, as this funneled light formed beneath it. That light shot up all around the still moving skull, bathing it then swallowing the skull whole. She pushed further, searching, calling to the one she had envisioned so many weeks ago. His coat of fur had been black, those red glowing eyes full of mischief. Ears perfect to scratch. And its soft whisper like whine. At that moment she felt him and her power grabbed at him, pulling, yanking him forward. Then she heard it a soft whimper, then another, their sounds much like a whisper. As the light slowly faded from the center Sivetri’s nodded.

There in the center was a wolf pup with bright red eyes, staring back at her, its little tongue hanging out the side. The pup stood up then faltered and sat back down with less grace then even she could muster.

Sivetri giggled softly, moving forward and picked him up. “Welcome home Whisper” She murmured, scratching behind his ears and looking to everyone with bright eyes.