A Summoner Awakens, Chapter 4 [Self-Evaluation]

"That unscrupulous merchant," I chuckled, adjusting my pack to sit more comfortably on my back. He really tried to shaft me... again.

If I weren't able to make use of him, I would oust him to the authorities regardless of our agreement. Would probably save a few poor souls from wasting their Essence. He's so blatant with his price gouging. It's a wonder it took him so many years to show up on the criminal registry.

After putting some distance between myself and that corrupt business, I found a clean roadside bench a short way from the Chapel of Liberation. The grandiose white building stood taller than those surrounding it, a tribute to the wealth and power of the Church.

A similar, darker facility stood on the southern side of the Academy. The Churches of Damnation and Liberation held many of the same beliefs with just a few key differences. That was enough for each Church to see everything the other did as competition. Anywhere you found one of their buildings, another could be found nearby.

I brushed these thoughts away and pulled seven metal Cards from my Deck Box, mixing in the Strength Foundation and the other prize from my excursion. The latter was a simple Ability called Dash. Though its Rank was only Pure, it would suit my current situation well. I needed speed if I were going to pull this off.

That's three of the nine Foundation Cards. Intelligence, Agility, and Strength. Aside from those, I have four Abilities, one Enhancement, and one Spell. Ought to be more than enough to get started.

I placed the three Foundations to the side. It took a toll on the body and mind to use Abilities or Spells without the proper Foundations. They could still be used, but overuse would cause a backlash. The same could be said for using Cards that were too high a Level for their correlating attribute.

Next, I spread out my Abilities. This group consisted of Pierce, Howl, Throw, and Dash. Without removing my Summon, I looked at the last two. The Enhancement I was holding was called Memory. As the name suggested, it improved the ease with which I could recall information. I'd overworked myself to purchase it, needing all the help I could get with my studies since all my spare time was spent hunting in the forest. Seeing as the first Effect of my previous Origin Card was still functioning, this could be removed. Luckily, it was only Level 1, so the backlash wouldn't be more than a prolonged headache.

Finally, the only Spell Card that I had on me was Inspect. It could be used to view more detailed information about any Beasts I came across. I didn't own the Examine Spell that would allow me to view more detailed information about Cards or Relics. I did, however, have one of the simple Relics handed out to Academy students with a similar Effect. It only worked on Cards, but that was enough for a cheap Relic.

I pulled this item out of my pack. It was a blank glass sheet the same size as a Card. It was called Demon Glass and was one of the cheapest and most common Relics sold among Wielders. When tapped against a Card, the glass would reveal its basic information, the Essence needed to push the Card to the next Level, and expose the Card's Rank.

First things first...

I focused on the link between myself and my Deck before slipping the Strength Card into an open slot. A surge of warmth flowed through my body almost simultaneously. It was brief, but I felt I could feel the change once it was over.

As with all Foundations, the effects were subtle at Level 1. I couldn't suddenly punch through walls or leap onto a second-floor balcony. It didn't directly affect the body, instead using some unknown force to allow the impossible.

Gripping the glass loosely, moved it toward one of the Cards. Before the discovery of Demon Glass or Cards that revealed information, Wielders could only guess a Card's functions by its image. As time passed, the Effects of the first few Levels of any Foundation became common knowledge. At Level one, a Foundation would give a ten per cent boost to the corresponding attribute.

"Oi, kid!"

I was interrupted by a weary, husky voice coming from just behind me. After swiftly storing my Cards, I turned to see a haggard, drunken man looking over my shoulder. The booze coming off of his breath was heavy.

How did he..? Even without the Foundation, my perception isn't that bad.

I chose this spot for a reason. There was little foot traffic and a clear view in each direction. A Wielder could be injured if their Cards were snatched and carried far enough to splinter the connection. I'd not been careless or distracted, so how...

At any rate, since this fellow wanted to poke into my personal space, I decided against being considerate of his feelings. Securing my Deck Box, I stood and put enough distance between myself and the filthy nomad that I wouldn't have to smell his breath.

"May I help you, sir?" I asked, doing my best not to snap at the man. Even if my feathers were ruffled, it was essential to maintain some sense of decorum.

"Oughtn't you be in class, boy?" The drunken man asked while peering side-eyed at the uniform below my armour, "Everythin' may not work like it ought to, but these old ears ain't heard that bell ring... meanin' yoouuu are out 'ere durin' study hours. That ain't acceptable."

I chuckled at the drunkard's words. This boozer had another hundred years or more before he could call me 'boy,' "Do you intend to rat on me?"

"I might..." The man shrugged his shoulders and fiddled with the lid of a flask, "Lad... You really ought to head back. You may not see it now, but you'll regret missin' those classes one day. You keep bein' arrogant an' skippin' class. You'll see a monster's gut before too long."

"Hmm..?" I took a second look at the man. At first glance, he seemed to be some drunken old fool, but after observing him for a moment... deep scars marred both his arms beneath the dirt and grime. Though he was leaning over, his body was strong, and it appeared that he was forcing himself to look like a slob. His eyes were bright, and it seemed he'd seen his fair share of battle, which was... suspicious. Aside from other Wielders... there was nothing so dangerous on the First Floor as to yield a veteran.

Either way, I wasn't going to humour him. There was too much to do and hardly enough time to do it. He may have meant well, but this fellow's uncouth nature had riled me enough. Perhaps he would have been right about my arrogance if I were who I appeared to be.

"Pardon me, sir," I said, turning to leave. My cane tapped quietly against the cobblestone while I walked away. "You should be old enough to know that blind advice tends to land on deaf ears."

After a few steps, I glanced back to find the man was gone. There were no nearby alleys or crevices to jump into.

What a strange man. It didn't seem he meant me harm. I'd say I should be more cautious, but this isn't the time to be prudent. I have little more than a week to prepare myself and set things in motion.

Before long, I found a more secluded spot to sort through my effects. It was a small garden next to an inn with a few benches around a flowerbed. No one was around, and the area was bright and tranquil. More importantly, there was only one entrance.

Once settled, I untied my Essence pouch and pulled Demon Glass from my pack before sorting my Cards next to me. There was 1,170 Essence left after paying for rations, and now it was time to make a choice.

This decision wasn't life or death at the moment, but it would affect how I needed to go about the next few days. It would take almost all of my remaining Essence to Level a fresh Card from Level 1 to 2. If I could use my Summon, this wouldn't be necessary. Unfortunately, using Summons had more stringent requirements. Not only was every Foundation necessary, but each also needed to match the Level of the Summon.

So, to comfortably hunt the creatures on this Floor, it would be best to Level one of my Cards. At the moment, I felt that there were only two viable options. Strength or Agility.

Levelling either of these would significantly enhance my physical attributes and the effectiveness of my Abilities. My former, young self would likely Level Strength. As for me, I felt that it would be a waste. Since the Cards increased attributes by a percentage rather than a flat rate, it wouldn't do as much for my lean body as it would for a man with bulk.

Agility it is. Speed will better augment my fighting style.

I tapped the Card with the Demon Glass and looked it over while waiting for its stats to pull up. After my health started to decline, I relied on Agility in my past life. Doubling my Strength would have been useless when I would have struggled to lift a camping bag had I not been a Wielder. The Demon Glass in my hand glowed, and hazy words appeared on its surface.

[Card Name: Agility]

[Class: Foundation]

[Level: 1]

[Essence: 55/1,000]

[Description: Enhances the Wielder's physical speed]

[Effect 1: Increases the Wielder's speed by 10%]

[Effect 2: The Wielder's actions become 10% more instantaneous]

"Well, it's nice to see that it's already absorbed some Essence," I chuckled and prepared myself for the lengthy process. Holding a shard of Essence in one hand, I pressed it against the surface of the metal Card. The Card shined briefly as the crystal lost its glow and turned pitch black.

The Card had consumed the Essence within, leaving a worthless rock behind. On the surface of the Card, it looked like the woman had come alive briefly. Her purple hair and dress flew in the wind behind her as she sprinted through the woods.

I sat hunched over for nearly half an hour as the Card constantly glowed in my hand. I lamented that my pouch only contained Level 1 and 2 Essence. When I was done, the Card shone brightly, and the tendrils of wind surrounding the woman in the image seemed to increase. Once again, I tapped the Demon Glass to the Card's edge.

[Card Name: Agility]

[Class: Foundation]

[Level: 1]

[Essence: 0/10,000]

[Description: Enhances the Wielder's physical speed]

[Effect 1: Increases the Wielder's speed by 50%]

[Effect 2: The Wielder's actions become 50% more instantaneous]

Now, this I can feel.

My body seemed much lighter. This was the first step toward not being an invalid in this life. I glanced over to the pile of valueless black shards beside me. They were utterly useless. It would be different if they were of a higher Level. For example, once a Level 100 Essence crystal was used up, it could absorb the Essence from 100 Level 1 shards. They held the same value, but lugging around a single crystal was much more manageable.

I scooped the empty shards into the bottom of my pack to dispose of later and slid my Cards back into the Deck Box. Seeing the pile of useless scraps scattered throughout my bag, I couldn't help but frown. Almost one thousand Essence gone, just like that.

That leaves me with 225 Essence. There'll be more soon enough.

I chuckled and tied the pouch to my belt. It would take a while to build my Foundations to the Level I'd become so used to, but I'd manage. Before that, there was the matter of my estate, and it wouldn't hurt to give my Deck some more variety.

Just when I turned to leave, the sound of a horse's hooves clopping echoed down the street. I tucked my cane under my arm and Dashed to the sidewalk, using my new Card for the first time. I waved my free hand and grinned.

Lucky me. I wasn't looking forward to a long walk.

A bearded man with an unnaturally round head pulled the carriage to the side of the road. His face was half buried in his bushy beard, and it was impossible to see whether he was smiling or scowling.

"Good afternoon, sir," I bowed slightly to the driver. His brows rose, and even through his beard, I could sense a hint of a smile. Those that weren't Wielders or of higher standing were looked down on and rarely treated with respect.

"Hmm," the driver eyed me without speaking. I knew I probably looked strange wearing such shoddy armour over my Academy uniform. One wouldn't often encounter some young scion from the Academy showing a commoner such respect.

"Are you offering rides, sir? I don't fancy the idea of trekking to the forest on foot," I placed my cane against the ground and leaned toward him. "I know I'm missing class, but a man's got to make a living, eh?"

The bearded man scrutinised me for a while before his eyes softened, and he nudged his head to the back, "Hop in, young man. You said the forest earlier. You mean the Old Boar Forest, right?"

"That's right," I hopped in the back and tapped his shoulder to let him know I was ready.

"Alrighty, then," he snapped his reins, and the horses trudged forward. "The road's a bit rough further out, but I reckon I can get you pretty close to the edge. Will that do?"

I nodded in appreciation and settled comfortably onto the long bench. It was padded with hay and suited for the small bumps the cobblestone caused. That comfort didn't last long. The vibrations were almost unbearable when we pulled off Main Street.

I glanced through the contents of my bag and pockets once I'd settled in. Though the driver said he'd give me a lift, I planned to pay the fellow 20 Essence. It was a little more than would be required for a round trip, but I knew he was going out of his way for me.

While we travelled, I examined my surroundings. The outer ring wasn't as dirty as the inner ring that lay closest to the Academy. In this area, most of the big-time farmers, merchants, and wealthy individuals of the Origin Floor had set up on larger plots of land. The view from most of these locations was excellent, and there was more room for their stables and warehouses.

As the carriage travelled further, I could see more and more space between the dwellings. When we approached the outskirts, small mansions with large yards could be seen overlooking the farmland. The difference between these homes and those of the labourers in the inner circle was like night and day.

Once we reached the farms, the road smoothed out again, and the foul smell of the small city was replaced with fresh air. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, soaking up the sun's rays above me. This was nice, and I planned to enjoy it while I could. With every Floor, the sky would become darker as the level of the Plague increased.

Though the ride was bumpy, the driver wasn't rushing his horses to get back to the city. Anyone else would probably make this trip as fast as they could to hurry back to the wealthy men and women who refused to walk the streets.

"The view out here is quite captivating, innit?" I asked, striking up a conversation.

The bearded man nodded and squinted his eyes, "That it is, sir. It isn't often I get the chance to journey beyond the farms. Most Wielders on this Floor are working for some faction that provides their transportation, and the students of the Academy usually have their own horses in the summer homes. I get the occasional farmer or merchant who asks me to carry a load from this place to that."

I chuckled, and the small talk continued long after the farms were at our backs. Finally, the driver had to stop as the wheels became ensnared in the tall brush. He turned the cart around and pointed the horses back toward the city.

"I'm sorry I can't take ya any further. The cart will be stuck out here if I do," the driver shook his head apologetically.

With a smile, I patted the man on the shoulder and sat the stack of 50 Essence on the seat next to him, "No worries. I'm simply delighted that I didn't have to wear out these boots any further. Take your wife somewhere lavish this evening."

I hopped off the back and Dashed toward the woods before he could argue about the extra Essence I gave him. During the journey, I found out that the two were expecting.

I wish I could afford to give him more, but my pockets are too light at the moment.

It only took me a few minutes to reach the forest's edge using Dash and running between Cooldowns. With my Agility having been Levelled, I could have kept pace with the horses if I'd jogged beside the cart. Of course, they weren't going full speed, and I would have exhausted myself.

My eyes scrutinised the woodland. Six men could have wrapped their arms around the massive tree's trunks, and they were as tall as the wall around the Academy. This was just the First Floor. Further up, the trees were broad enough to carve a home in.

This was the edge of the Old Boar Forest. It was aptly named for the tens of thousands of Level 1 Wild Boars dwelling within. Even from this distance, I could hear more than one snorting from the brush.

"Haaahhhhh..." I stretched my arms and yawned loudly. Tears formed at the corners of my eyes. During my school days, I'd barely gotten any sleep. That was something I'd remedy shortly.

It was one of the reasons I'd splurged to buy the Memory Enhancement Card. Sleeping well hadn't been an option. All that stress for a stamp and access to their stores on every fifth Floor. Graduates also received a Blessed Card at the ceremony, with the top ten being rewarded a Holy and the first a Sacred. Seeing as I received a Blessed and never ventured past the Tenth Floor, that stress was undue.

It's a shame the practical exams are over. If I'd been brought back any earlier, I could have had a chance to take the top spot. My practical scores were still above average, so the top ten should be manageable.

I chuckled and shook my head, causing my long black hair to fall into my eyes. It seemed I'd be heading to the classroom again, despite my desire not to relive those days.

I pushed back the hair that had fallen over my face. How I lived like such a slob, I'd never know. Using my blade, I cut some excess string from my Essence pouch and used it to tie my hair back. It would do for the moment.

Welp, now that's out of the way, I think it's high time to loosen up these old bones.

My mood changed the moment I stepped into the forest. Though these boars were nothing more than pests, I still needed to test my body before pushing too hard. Many of the techniques I used required flexibility that this body hadn't been trained for. The Academy prioritised bulking up or expanding one's mind to prepare for using destructive Abilities and Spells. This body needed a test run.

Tucking my cane securely beneath my arm, I sped to a jog and nimbly dodged in and out of the trees. The goal was to test my body's response to last-second commands. The results were satisfactory, but there was room to improve. I didn't stop until I heard the loud grunting of a boar on the other side of the nearby brush.

Sounds like there's only one. That'll do.

Quietly, I peeled back a few branches until I could see the creature's shape. It was a normal boar, half as tall as a man, with two small tusks protruding from its snout. I almost laughed... It had been years since I'd seen such a plain-looking Beast.

Before moving, I needed to Examine the monster. Regardless of a creature's appearance, one should always maintain the tradition of gathering information. It wasn't necessary on the First Floor... but old habits die hard.

Focusing on the Beast, I felt a connection between myself and the Spell. A haze of letters materialised in the space over the creature's back. The missives were grey, showing that this Beast was merely a Plagued Rank creature. They were only found on the First Floor and were the weakest of any Rank.

[Name: Wild Boar]

[Class: Swine]

[Rank: ???]

[Level: ???]

[Description: ???]

[Skills: ???]

Ah, right. I chuckled inwardly. At Level 1, Inspect does nothing more than show a creature's name. Thanks to my Intelligence Foundation, I can see its Class as well. I'll need to Level it or find a better alternative before heading to the Second Floor.

Casting the stray thoughts aside, I grasped the hilt of my cane. In one swift motion, I used Throw while simultaneously clicking the button to release the blade. The sheath slung forward with unnatural speed and accuracy, slamming the boar's temple. Dazed and injured, it squealed and ran in circles, searching for the offender.

When it came within five yards, I Dashed out. My body lurched toward the stunned Beast as if propelled by some unseen force. I hadn't moved a muscle. Judging the trajectory, I repositioned my sword so that it was parallel to the ground and used Pierce. The edge glowed with a faint sheen that hadn't been there before.

My body continued to soar slightly above the grass. My blade hit the target's eye and penetrated the back of the boar's skull. The squealing stopped instantly. Dash continued to propel me forward, pushing myself and the corpse another two yards.

Once the Ability had settled down, I slid the blade from the creature's head. It was a clean kill. Blood oozed from the wound as the carcass fell to the ground with a dull thud.

"Haah... hahaha!"

I laughed heartily and shook my head. It was ignorant of me to believe that I still had so much control. In my elder years, I'd trained diligently to gain control over both myself and my Cards. With a proper balance between mind, body, and soul, a Wielder could cancel or adjust the actions of a Card. There was no way to alter the Effects, but they could be shaped or restrained if the situation called for it.

This body needs discipline. Oddly enough, my soul feels no different from before I regressed. I could feel it trying to persuade the Ability... If that's the case, then the hard part is done. My body only needs to experience the motions a few times to adjust.

I recalled equipping Rosie back at the dorm. Rather than the pressure I expected, it had felt like pouring a pint of water into a gallon jug. The soul typically took time to adjust, having to expand so it could accommodate the increase in Essence. This prevented a new Wielder's family from simply supplying them with a full Deck of high-Level Cards.

When the soul expanded, it would stretch whatever it was the walls were made of. It took time for that material to condense the added Essence and reinforce the structure. Once done, another Card could be added or Levelled, and so on. Even with a Deck full of Level 3 Cards after the Church's assistance, the emptiness I felt after removing my Level 4s and 5s never ceased.

If that's the case, and my soul travelled with me... does that mean I can add new Cards as soon as I get them? That will save me years of hard work, and it explains why this younger body isn't in harmony with my old soul. Then, something else occurred to me. If my soul travelled back with me... what happened to my soul from my youth..?

My brow scrunched together. I thought of this point while retrieving my sheath. It only took a moment to realise that there was no way to answer that. Any assumptions I developed would be just that, biased speculation.

No matter. If my current soul merged with my former, like I suspect, it would have been too slim of an increase for me to feel. Now, time for some math.

Dash at Level 1 springs the Wielder forward 5 yards in the direction they're facing with a Cooldown of 20 seconds. It uses both Strength and Agility, adding their Levels to the distance travelled. That puts my current distance at 8 yards. Though it's only a Pure Card, it's quite practical thanks to its short Cooldown.

It had the downside of sending the Wielder in a single direction, but that would be remedied once I regained control. Anyone with a strong will and a disciplined mind and body could do the same with enough training.

I pulled one of my throwing knives from my belt, looking it over briefly. There were nicks in the blade, and it needed oiling. Something to add to the list.

Looking down at the corpse, I grimaced. This was my least favourite part of hunting. There was no blood in the Beast since any remaining rushed to the heart to form the crystal, but there were plenty of other fluids to get my hands dirty. With deft movements, I peeled back the layers of meat, thrust my hand into the open chest cavity, and pulled out a solid, stone-like object.

Opening my fist, I looked over the beautiful, shining crystal. The Essence of this Level 1 Beast. It was spotless. Even the blood that was still warm on my hands didn't seem to soil its surface.

Whatever magic that is, I wish I had it.

I tossed it to the side and opened my pack with my clean hand, rummaging through the mess until I found a small box. It had been kind of the merchant to provide me with these treasures. Grabbing one of the twelve vials, I pulled the stopper with my teeth and poured a single drop onto my sword, knife, and bloodied hand.

The blood evaporated instantly. Not just the blood, but I could feel all of the grime that had built up on my body disperse. Even my hair was no exception. It felt as if I'd just finished bathing in a warm spring.

All this mess for a single Essence.

I chuckled at the thought. There wasn't a possibility for the Beasts on this Floor to produce Cards. These creatures contain enough Plagued Essence to form them. On the Second Floor, things were different. The drop rate for a Pure Card from a Crazed Beast was one in a thousand.

There will be plenty of opportunities to farm Cards later. These tasks will provide enough for me to get by while I'm here.

I tossed the single Essence into my pouch and sheathed my blade. This test showed me my current limits, and today's task provided an ideal exercise for harmonising my body and soul. Numerous lower Ranked Beasts with no real threat to my being.

I couldn't ask for better training grounds.

My head turned at the rustle of the nearby brush, and two tusked heads poked out. It seemed they'd heard the commotion and come to investigate.

I chuckled merrily, not bothering to hide my presence. If anything, I needed to attract more of these brutes. The first of the hidden tasks I planned to pursue was rather tedious, and if they came to me, well... It would make this venture a great deal easier.

I need to kill one thousand Wild Boars in under six hours.