Kais walked calmly and stood among the first-years.
His head slightly lowered. The golden light that had shone around him moments ago was now gone… as if it had never existed.
The massive classroom doors opened with a long creak.
Step… step… step…
Boots echoed against stone.
A tall man entered, wearing a dark summoner's cloak marked with a silver insignia. His eyes were cold and deep—like someone who had witnessed things others couldn't even imagine.
In a firm voice, he said:
"Greetings. I am Master Voran. Your instructor for summoning magic."
Whispers spread.
"That's him…"
"Master Voran…"
"The summoner…"
"They say he summoned a dragon once!"
"Summon? No one can even control a dragon, let alone summon one…"
Master Voran lightly tapped the wooden desk with two fingers.
Tap.
The sound rippled through the air, and silence fell instantly.
"Please… quiet."
He stepped into the summoning circle. The engraved lines beneath his feet glowed faintly.
"Today, each of you will summon a guardian. The simplest form of summoning. Something even a child can do."
Several students relaxed.
Smiles returned.
But Ashlor…
His fists were clenched so tight his nails dug into his palms.
Not from anger.
From stress.
Cold sweat slid down the back of his neck. His heart pounded.
Why?
Why did the word simple make him more afraid?
Master Voran closed his eyes.
"The first rule of summoning… is inner control."
He raised his hand. The air trembled.
"Whatever stress you carry—master it. If you fail… the being you summon will become unstable."
Blue light rotated beneath him.
"And anger…"
His voice deepened.
"If you cannot control your anger… you may call forth something demonic."
Several students instinctively stepped back.
"And in that moment… you are expelled."
The circle beneath him brightened.
Symbols began rotating.
He chanted in a melodic tone.
Hooooom—
Light rose from the ground.
A shadow formed at the center.
It became clearer.
A silver wolf with blue eyes appeared beside him—calm, dignified.
No growl.
No chaos.
Just presence.
The classroom fell into absolute silence.
Master Voran placed his hand on the wolf's head.
"This… is a balanced guardian."
Then his gaze swept across the students.
It paused briefly on Ashlor.
Then on Kais.
"Now… it's your turn."
Ashlor's heart slammed against his ribs.
And somewhere deep inside him…
Fear and anger awakened together.
One by one, students stepped forward.
A second-year successfully summoned a small silver wolf.
Balanced.
Stable.
Applause.
Then a nervous first-year summoned a trembling, unstable wolf that nearly attacked a classmate—
Until Master Voran froze it mid-leap and dismissed it coldly.
"Stress is the enemy of summoning."
His gaze lingered again on Ashlor.
"Be balanced… or balance will be taken from you."
The line grew shorter.
Closer.
Closer.
Then—
"Kais."
Whispers returned instantly.
Kais walked forward with light steps. No tension. No urgency.
As if this were nothing more than a simple game.
Master Voran's lips curved slightly.
This one… could summon an Emperor Dragon if he wished. His magic is spilling out of his skin.
Kais stepped into the circle.
At that moment—
The circle beneath him turned gold.
Not blue.
Not unstable.
Pure gold.
Warm and alive—like a miniature sun in the center of the classroom.
Whispers erupted.
"That golden light again…"
"It's so stable…"
"Is that level of balance even natural?!"
Kais gently raised his hand.
Closed his eyes.
Chanted softly.
His voice was gentle… but deep.
Each word steady as a heartbeat.
Hooooooom—
The light surged.
For a moment, everything turned white.
Then—
Darkness.
Silence.
When the glow faded—
Everyone froze.
Even Master Voran.
At the center stood a wolf.
But not like the others.
Larger.
Muscular body covered in icy fur that shimmered like crystal.
Two curved horns rose from its head.
Its eyes—brilliant gold.
On its forehead, a radiant blue gem shone brighter than any crystal in the hall.
The air grew cold.
Breath fogged.
Several students stepped back.
"What is that…?"
"That's not a wolf!"
"Send it back! It'll devour us!"
A low rumble echoed—
But it did not attack.
Instead, a deep, dignified voice filled the hall:
"Until my master, Kais, commands… I shall not move."
Silence.
Complete.
It had spoken.
One first-year collapsed to the floor.
Master Voran suddenly laughed—astonished.
He stepped forward boldly and placed his hand on the creature's icy head.
"Extraordinary…"
He looked at Kais.
"You summoned an Ancient Frost Spirit."
Gasps filled the room.
"I expected you might summon an Emperor Dragon one day… but at this age… to bind an ancient spirit to your will? This is beyond belief."
The spirit lowered its head respectfully.
Kais simply smiled.
That same simple, childlike smile.
But behind it…
Power that had silenced the entire hall.
Across the room—
Ashlor felt something change.
The anxiety was gone.
Something else had replaced it.
Pure.
Heavy.
Boiling.
Anger.
Why…?
Why are all the eyes on him?
Why are all the praises his?
Why even the teacher—
The Frost Spirit stood behind Kais like a royal shadow.
And inside Ashlor…
Something broke.
Not his balance.
But the fragile peace he had fought for years to maintain.
Kais lowered his hand.
"Return."
The Frost Spirit dissolved into golden mist.
The circle dimmed.
Warmth returned.
Master Voran nodded deeply.
"Impressive. Truly."
Then—
"Ashlor."
His name echoed.
Ashlor stepped forward.
Heavy steps.
Sweat dripping from his temples.
Rage burning in his eyes.
He entered the circle.
The magic around him trembled.
Unstable.
Master Voran looked at him for only a moment.
Then calmly said:
"No."
Ashlor froze.
"What?"
"I said it's not necessary."
His eyes widened.
"Why?!"
"Go master your anger first. Then return."
Silence.
Then—
Whispers.
"Did you see that?"
"He wasn't allowed!"
"He has power but no control…"
"That's the Emperor's eldest son? Seriously?"
"A prince who can't even summon a basic wolf?"
Stifled laughter.
Each word pierced like blades.
Praise for Kais.
Humiliation for me.
His hands shook.
His lips trembled.
Under his breath—
"Why…? Why am I the one humiliated…?"
His heart pounded violently.
Magic surged inside him.
"WHYYYYYYYYYYYY?!"
His scream shook the classroom.
At that instant—
The circle beneath him ignited.
Not gold.
Not blue.
Black.
Deep black.
Like a bottomless abyss.
Master Voran leapt up.
"Everyone out! Now!"
Students rushed for the doors.
But—
Too late.
BOOOOOOM—
An explosion of black light swallowed the hall.
Windows cracked.
Desks overturned.
Dust and debris filled the air.
For several seconds—
Nothing was visible.
Then—
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr—
A deep, brutal sound.
The dust slowly settled.
And at the center of the circle—
A monster stood.
Massive body like a bull—only far larger.
Skin dark and cracked as if forged from molten stone.
Gigantic horns curved forward.
Eyes blazing red.
Black vapor exhaled from its nostrils.
The ground fractured beneath its hooves.
One student whispered in horror:
"That's… not a wolf…"
Master Voran muttered under his breath:
"Damn it… a Molten War-Bison…"
The creature lifted its head.
Its gaze locked directly onto Ashlor.
But there was no obedience in its eyes.
Only savagery.
Anger.
Hunger.
Ashlor panted.
Tears and madness burned in his eyes.
Black magic coiled around his body.
And in that moment—
Everyone understood.
This was no simple summoning.
This…
Was the answer to rage unleashed.