The Divine Summoner: Godson of Altima

by Antony W. F. Chow

  Last but not least, Alectos took note of Luka's physical appearance. His body looked strong and healthy. His status card reflected this reality because only a trained soldier would possess over 500 health points. Furthermore, the boy increased his fighting skill presumably from daily spars with the sealed demon king. Overall, the mentor was pleased with Luka's growth during his apprenticeship.

  The god finally materialized before his pupil. "I didn't realize you enjoy being a tamer," Alectos joked. He was amazed that Luka could simultaneously control so many monsters because no two monsters were alike, which extended to their temperaments. Consequently, the more creatures brought in, the more likely they would become disobedient. That said, these hounds were obeying both Luka AND Bel. Thus, Alectos wondered if this outcome was due to luck or another unknown variable.

  "Hello, teacher!" Luka bowed his head politely in greeting.

  The god's demeanor turned serious. "If anyone from the Divine Church of Light asks, I did NOT teach you shadow magic," he said in a grim tone of voice.

  "Huh?" The boy became stumped at his instructor's explicit denial.

  "I did NOT teach you shadow magic," Alectos persisted while offering a knowing look at Luka. He glanced at Bel to get the demon to help convince the kid.

  [Alectos would get in trouble if the church believes that he taught you forbidden magic. After all, light and shadow magics are opposites.] Bel explained.

  "Ah, I see!" The boy replied with a nod. "But isn't that the truth? I didn't learn it from my master," Luka noted.

  [You're hopeless!] The familiar became depressed at Luka's naivete because Alectos practically led the boy to this realm! After all, the god issued Luka this mission to explore the Dark Catacombs and provided a map while vaguely hinting that the boy should explore the blank spaces; the closest was the herb garden and its entrance to Gilan's private plane. Thus, Bel realized that Alectos secretly wished for his pupil to discover this hidden realm, wrestle control away from Gilan, and unlock shadow magic.

  In Bel's mind, the final piece of evidence was Alectos's reappearance a year later, well after Luka spent precious time practicing this new magic. If Alectos disapproved, he would have arrived much sooner. Hence, the master implicitly approved the boy's shadow magic training and gave Luka adequate time to master it.

  Bel wanted to slap some common sense into Luka! But he recognized that Alectos had business with his student. Thus, the demon deferred his righteous anger at Luka until the god left.

  As if he read Bel's mind, Alectos said, "I appreciate your diligence and exemplary work ethic during this period of seclusion and training. But I fear that your apprenticeship so far has been inadequate in preparing you for adulthood. If I send you back to your mother right now, she would be extremely unhappy with me because I haven't taught you much about common sense and socializing with people. So, let's rectify that by having you stay in a quiet, rural village for a while."

  "You want me to stay in a village for two years?" Luka asked skeptically.

  "Do you have a problem with it?" Alectos asked with arched brows.

  The boy quickly shook his head. "Not at all, teacher! I'm just wondering what kind of village you're planning to send me. And if there will be kids my age," Luka clarified his concern.

  Bel chuckled and slapped the boy's left thigh. [That's right! This kiddo doesn't have any friends besides me! How sad!]

  "Yes, the Village of Langerlan will have kids there," the teacher confirmed with a nod. "But the villagers are elves, though, and you'll be the only human there."

  "Why is that a problem?" Luka asked. Ever since he met Alectos, Luka relished the idea of meeting more elves after his return to Zaleron.

  "Because Langerlan is a refuge from a war which decimated the elven race. I considered placing you in a human village, but they are all under the church's jurisdiction. Langerlan's inhabitants are my followers, and putting you with them would avoid the organization's prying eyes," Alectos explained.

  The familiar raised his paw. [Aren't you making it difficult for the boy? I assume at least some of the villagers in Langerlan harbor prejudice against humans.] Bel noted his concern.

  The God of Magic nodded. "Most residents had indeed fled their homeland because of the Religious Wars, and some resettled in Langerlan; the villagers wouldn't welcome humans normally," Alectos admitted. His brows creased at the horrific memories of the previous human crusade, which massacred many non-human believers of other gods. Consequently, the Divine Church of Light became the dominant religion for the Latima continent.

  After the war ended, a faction that believed in human supremacy controlled the organization. This suppression of non-humans continued until Altima issued a holy mandate of reconciliation and picked Issac Demetrius to serve as the new pope to execute her assignment.

  Bel smacked his forehead. [You think Langerlan would welcome the Godson of Altima?] The demon became incredulous.

  "I will personally bring Luka to meet the village elder, who will ensure that the boy receives proper treatment as a temporary resident," Alectos responded.

  The familiar shook his head. [I wish I had your confidence. No matter. I am Luka's familiar and guardian. Anyone who bullies the kiddo will answer to me!] The rabbit puffed his chest.

  Alectos smiled faintly. "I will introduce Luka as my official disciple and ask that he stays at the village to learn from the residents. Luka, I hope you will take this chance to enjoy rural life and minimize your reliance on magic."

  "Yes, master!" the boy saluted.

  "Good! Then let's leave now." The God of Magic held his pupil's hand and teleported out of the shadow realm.

  Before Alectos left, he considered removing Luka's beacons inside the Dark Catacombs. But the god decided to leave them untouched because the boy explored barely 10% of the labyrinth. And the dungeon still contained invaluable treasures and numerous monster encounters for Luka to temper himself. Thus, the teacher concluded that his pupil should retain access to the catacombs for future exploration and training purposes. Additionally, the mentor allowed his pupil to keep the Recall Stone for access to the magic realm.

  * * *

  Luka felt disoriented as his young body tried to adjust to the vastly different environment. Unlike the shadow realm, this new place contained an enormous concentration of natural essences. If the mage wished to cast a shadow spell, he would need to spend more time gathering the shadow elements to fuel his magic. But on the flip side, if Luka required to use a light spell, he could instantly cast the lower-tier ones. Even high-tier magic would need half the regular casting time.

  Bel took a deep breath. [It's nice to have some sunshine!] The rabbit noted with great pleasure.

  Alectos started walking towards the Village of Langerlan in the distance. The elven settlement consisted of treehouses atop enormous oaks; these houses connected via walkways high above the ground. This village's center was a large, open field split into portions dedicated to crops and herbs. A continuous wall of thorns circled this village with a gap covered by an open gate.

  Two elvish warriors wearing green-colored leather armor and carrying spears stood attentively at the opening. The guards possessed excellent eyesight, and they noticed Alectos's approach from a mile away. The village stood atop a small hill, and this geography allowed the elves to see approaching parties. The warriors whistled to signal a VIP arrival; they recognized Alectos and prepared a welcoming committee for their patron deity.

  Alectos strolled along the road leading to the village. The God of Magic heard the signals and recognized them. Although Alectos didn't care for a welcoming committee's fuss, he realized that the villagers desired to demonstrate their piety to him as worshippers. Thus, Alectos allowed them to act as they wished. When he finally arrived at the gate, a group of elves had assembled to welcome him.

  A wizened-looking elf with a regal bearing stepped forward and knelt before Alectos. "I am Ailmon Ravafiel, the Chief Elder of the Village of Langerlan, and I w
elcome you to our humble village, Patron God Alectos." Ailmon dropped his head until it was parallel to the ground.

  "Welcome to our humble village, Patron God Alectos!" the rest of the villagers joined in unison and prostrated before him.

  "Please rise, my children," the elven god replied. Alectos waved his hand, and his magic pulled the gathered worshippers to their feet.

  With a polite gesture from the chief, the patron deity crossed through the gateway and entered the pristine village. These elves were particularly fussy about cleanliness, just like Alectos. He noted with satisfaction that the ground was free of leaves, and the oak trees, which served as the pillars and foundation of the community, appeared healthy and vibrant.

  Alectos, through his divine sense, counted an astonishing number of inhabitants -- five hundred eighty-one elves! When the patron god created a portal connecting Delfrir to the Varlus continent, roughly two hundred and fifty refugees settled in this village. The deity noticed that many current inhabitants were relatively young for elves, between fifty and a hundred years old. He turned toward Ailmon and offered a compliment. "You worked hard, Chief Elder."

  "We survived only through your merciful intervention," Ailmon replied modestly.

  Alectos raised his right hand. "I give my blessing to Langerlan," he announced and invoked his divine power. A green aura enveloped the settlement, and sparkles of magic saturated the environment. Soon, the oak trees and the villagers absorbed them internally. The divine elements strengthened their collective lifeforce and protected the residents from natural illnesses and diseases.

  The worshippers prostrated before Alectos again. "Thank you for your blessing!" they said in unison. The elves immediately felt their lifespans increased by ten percent, and various body aches and soreness due to old age vanished.

  The patron god smiled gently and then pushed Luka to the front. "This child is Luka Heavensfell, my official disciple. He spent the past few years training in solitude, only accompanied by his familiar named Bel. I wish for Luka to stay here for up to two years; he will learn to live in a close-knit community and open his horizon. I would greatly appreciate it if you can tolerate his human racial heritage and allow him to learn from you during this brief period," Alectos explained.

  Ailmon agreed immediately. "We will shelter and teach your pupil, Patron God Alectos," the chief promised. He turned and glanced at the other villagers.

  "As you command, Patron God Alectos!" the majority of elves replied solemnly. However, some of the older residents became sullen and looked away.

  Alectos smiled as his divine sense picked up their attitudes. He saw that seventy percent of the population acceded to his wish. Thankfully, none of the remainders harbored murderous intent toward the boy. So far. Some were merely jealous of Luka for catching the god's eye, while others were displeased with having a human living with the elves. The teacher declined to intervene and allowed Luka to handle their disenchantments as a lesson in life. "I am very gratified by your willingness to accommodate my pupil. He will work hard to become part of your community. Isn't that right, Luka?"

  "Yes! I am eager to learn from each one of you!" the boy said excitedly. Luka was fascinated by what he saw in this settlement, and it showed in his voice and facial expression.

  Some of the elven children giggled, earning looks of admonishment from the adults.

  "I will return to pick you up before your apprenticeship ends. In the meantime, learn from my worshippers and make friends," Alectos ordered before he disappeared.

  Bel saw the stares from the younger elves, and he felt imminent danger. The rabbit adroitly climbed Luka's body and hopped onto the boy's head for protection.

  Chapter 22

  Slow Village Life

  Once Alectos departed, the villagers noticeably changed their attitudes toward Luka. Most of them pretended not to see him while a smaller group glared at the boy. Thankfully, no one tried to kick Luka out of their settlement. Instead, the elves slowly returned to their previous activities. After all, two years was a short duration, and nobody wished to incur divine wrath.

  However, Ailmon stayed behind along with a small group of friendly villagers. They included a half-dozen children and several adults who seemed to be the chief's loyal followers. Also, the guards stood near Luka and watched him like hawks eyeing their prey.

  Luka felt amused because he wasn't a threat to the elvish settlement. But apparently, the guards thought otherwise.

  The chief elder pondered who should host Luka during his stay and quickly made a decision. "Ellaria, can you foster our guest?" he requested politely. Ailmon chose Ellaria Gilren because she had lost her son to illness and her husband to a hunting accident. Thus, the widow had a spare room in her home to foster Luka.

  The chief also noticed a spark in Ellaria's eyes and realized that she wished to volunteer. Luka resembled her late son physically and possessed similar, shy personalities. Thus, Ellaria would care for Luka like a son, and Ailmon felt confident sending the human child to Ellaria's treehouse.

  "Yes, elder," she agreed immediately. Ellaria stepped forward and approached Luka. "Are you okay with living in my home?" she asked in a gentle voice.

  "I would be delighted to do so," Luka replied in the manner of an aristocrat and saluted.

  "Excellent! Now, come with me! I'm sure you're tired and hungry," the elf replied with a warm smile. Ellaria reached out and gently grabbed his hand. She pulled him through the gathered villagers in the direction of her tree.

  Bel quietly rode along on the boy's head. He had strong misgivings about Alectos's decision to leave Luka here. Bel understood the depth of racial hatred because the demon king also faced them. He believed that the malcontents in this village would seek to hurt Luka in the future when the boy was alone. Thus, the demon refused to lower his guard.

  When the trio arrived at the base of a particular oak tree, Luka looked up and wondered how they would reach the treehouse high above their heads. "Are we going to climb?" the boy asked.

  Ellaria's laughter sounded like a magpie's chirp. "No, silly. We fly with wind magic." The female elf started an incantation. Gentle wind enveloped the trio and slowly lifted the group off the ground. Under Ellaria's careful guidance, they landed on her front porch.

  Luka took a moment to scrutinize the building's exterior. Vines snaked around the property as decoration. The house stood two stories with a mushroom-shaped roof over the top floor. A door was on the left side and a window to its right, while the upper floor extended beyond the balcony and had three windows. A rope hung over the railing surrounding the porch for an easy descent to the ground. Lanterns hung next to the entrance, and several more dangled under the roof. The visitor smelled a delicious aroma wafting through the first-floor window.

  "Come inside!" Ellaria invited as she opened the door.

  When the two guests entered the treehouse, they saw a living room with a wooden table, four chairs, and a burning pot over a fireplace.

  "I'm making tofu and vegetable soup," the owner explained. "We elves rarely eat meat unless there's a celebration. But starting tomorrow, I'll barter with hunters for meat," she promised. "In the next room, you can draw water from the oversized wooden barrel to wash yourselves. We reuse the dirty water, though. Be sure to empty the washbin into the smaller barrel. There's also a chamber pot, which we empty into the garden as fertilizer. In the meantime, I'll look for a clean set of clothing for you." Ellaria climbed the staircase.

  Luka followed her instructions and entered the washroom. He quickly took care of business.

  Bel strolled in carrying a fresh set of clean clothes provided by the host.

  Luka wore them before exiting. When he returned to the living room, Luka saw that Ellaria had prepared a bowl of food. He discovered big cubes of white tofu mixed with green peas, tomatoes, and potatoes inside the container.

  The rabbit immediately hopped onto the table and started eating the food!

  The elf looked on with astonis
hment before she recovered. With a small chuckle, the host served another bowl and placed it on the table. "This is for you, Luka," Ellaria said. But this time, she guarded the second bowl to prevent the animal from stealing the boy's food.

  Luka smiled with embarrassment at Bel's rudeness before he sat at the table. "This fellow is my familiar. His name is Bel," the boy introduced his companion and began to eat his meal. Luka was pleasantly surprised by its taste because he expected it to be bland; instead, Ellaria had added spice and garlic to liven up the flavor.

  "Your pet has a hearty appetite," she replied with a giggle.

  "Aren't you going to eat?" Luka asked with concern.

  "I'm not hungry," Ellaria answered.

  The boy realized that the two of them were eating her lunch. "Sorry," he said with a guilty face.

  The host shook her head. "It's fine; I have some leftovers from last night. You're a growing boy, and you need to eat more food. You're too skinny!" Ellaria admonished with a shake of her head. She noticed that the new clothes were too big for him. She tactfully changed the topic. "Let's go upstairs to your room," the host said and walked up the staircase.

  Luka followed her and discovered that the second floor consisted of a hallway and two rooms.

  Ellaria opened the left door and entered.

  When Luka followed her inside, he was surprised to see a clean and dust-free guest room. It had a bed, a chair, a nightstand, and an open wooden window. A chest in the corner contained a stack of clothing. When the guest stuck his head out the window, he saw a nice view of the central farmland. Luka closed his eyes and enjoyed the breeze and sunlight.

  "Would you like to take a nap?" the foster mother suggested.

  "Yes, please," the boy replied. He laid on the straw-mattress bed, and Bel joined him.

  With a warm smile, Ellaria pulled the quilt over their bodies and closed the door behind her.

  The two slept through the rest of the afternoon and evening.

  Ellaria allowed them to rest and skip dinner.