The Summoning

Pilate was on cloud nine, unable to suppress his excitement. No one had ever been so enthusiastic about his drawings, especially not his master. Pilate couldn't recall a time where he had gotten this much attention, and it was even positive! I

“I'm a biourgist,” Pilate announced with a grin, watching Victor expectedly.

“Life magic?” Victor replied through writing, frowning.

Pilate puffed out his chest. “Yup! One of the most powerful Heavenly Elements.”

Pilate threw his sketchbook on the ground, a circle of blazing red magic burning onto the floor. Pilate forced his arms upward, raising up invisible tides of energy. The pages of the notebook fluttered, flipping to the drawing Pilate wished to work his spell on. Pure magic flushed through the runes inscribed on the page, mirroring themselves on the exposed flesh on Pilate's arm.

“SURGERE!” Pilate screeched, red magic bleeding through his pupils and filling the air with crackling electricity.

The paper turned into a vortex, a pillar of reddish-white light blasting through it. A shape crawled from the portal, its glowing form stabilizing as it reached the Earth dimension.

In the midst of the ritual circle, a massive lion sat, his noble head raised. He stared stared at Pilate with warm eyes.

Victor whimpered in alarm, slowly scooting backward.

“No, no!” Pilate said quickly, “It's okay! He's friendly, I promise.” Pilate took Victor's hand, pulling him towards the lion.

Victor cut his eyes at Pilate, as if to say “Really?”

“This is King Leo’s good twin brother, Leon. He wouldn't hurt a fly, right?” Pilate explained, extending his fingertips to the lion's muzzle.

Leon rubbed his head against Pilate’s hand, a loud purr rumbling in his chest. Pilate scratched his chin, letting his silky fur slip through his fingers. The lion sat two large paws in Pilate’s lap, and Pilate wrapped his arms around Leon’s neck.

“See! You can pet him too,” Pilate said, nodding at Leon.

Hesitantly, Victor drew his hand to Leon’s furry cheek, gingerly stroking the lion. Victor's worried expression softened, and he smiled.

Victor scrambled to find his notebook, and quickly wrote into it, “This is amazing...I never knew that's how life magic worked.”

Pilate scratched the back of his neck, “I guess it is pretty cool. Usually the ritual isn't that flashy, but I wanted to impress you.” Immediately he cut himself off, cursing he had even said that. He wasn't supposed to know that! Pilate thought, watching confusion fall on Victor's face. Now I really screwed up.

“Well, it was really cool,” Victor wrote after several painful seconds.

“So, uh,” Pilate mumbled, “What kinda mage are you?” He scanned Victor, trying to make a guess. Cold blue eyes, distant personality...Pilate thought.  “Maybe ice?”

Victor shook his head, holding up the notebook, “Death.”

Pilate's heart skipped a beat, and his mouth dropped.

Concerned, Victor wrote several question marks, leaning in closer to Pilate.

“It-It's nothing,” Pilate said hoarsly, turning his eyes to Leon, “You know, uh, my summon creatures keep me company.”

Victor nodded, obviously interested.

Happy Victor accepted the sudden change in subject, Pilate became more comfortable, “I can make them fight for me, but really don't like to,” he brushed his fingers across the runes shining on his arm, “I'm linked to them by my magic. When something happens to them, I feel it.”

Pilate suddenly gasped, waves of pain rolling over his body and squeezing his chest. He clutched his heart, digging his fingernails into his sweater. It was like someone was shoving a blade into his torso. Just like that, it was over, and Pilate was left heaving for air.

Pilate became aware of his surroundings again, finding Victor with a hand on his back, looking concerned.

Victor grunted, shaking him gently. His eyebrows knitted like he was asking a question.

Pilate rubbed his temples, cold sweat dripping down his face.

“Dusk…” he rasped, “He killed her.”

Author's Note- uh oh. things start going down hill from here. hope you enjoyed the cute smol dorks