"I do! I do! Pick me! Me!!!"

Turning, I recognized the voice. It was the kid who had made a fart noise during attendance, Henrick.

"Alright Henrick, could you please come forward?"

Henrick bounced his way to the front of the classroom where the teacher was. The teacher than addressed the class.

"Familix Summoning is a method in which a young Xetralite or other warrior obtains a familix. By tapping into their familix's powers, one can increase their strength. One can start to access their familix's powers once they reach Tier 3. It used to be that Familix Summoning was for older children, when they were about 15. These children often picked better base stronger spirit. However, studies released nearly ten years ago showed that performing the Familix Summoning at a younger age lead to stronger familix in the long run, even though they can not access their familix till later on."

"In the Familix Summoning, the summoner will sit in a relaxing position inside the summoning area. Then, after breathing deeply and closing their eyes, their conscience will enter the Spirit Realm. There, in the Spirit Realm, the summoner will meet the Spirit King who will grant a familix. Then, the summoner's conscience will return to their body. This processes takes seconds at most. This is because time flows different in the Spirit Realm."

The teacher managed to get Henrick to somehow settle down in the circle. After taking a deep breathe and closing his eyes, he went completely still. The entire class was silent as they watched Henrick's still form.

Suddenly, Henrick's eyes snapped open and he breathed out heavily.

"I got a Kitty Cat!!" Henrick said excitedly.

"Not bad, Henrick." the teacher replied, "The cat familix is somewhat common, but should match your boundless energy."

"Pssstt, Nathaniel!"

"What Lufis?" I whispered.

"When you are in the Spirit Realm, make sure you don't anger the Spirit King, as he in the end chooses your spirit familix. Although, from what I read, he does consider your opinion of what traits your looking for. Different creatures will lead to different traits and abilities."

"Thanks Lufis."

While I was talking to Lufis, the teacher was going table by table for the Familix Summoning. The only creature I didn't know that someone had got was a wagamo, which from the strands of conversations I could overhear, was something similar to a horse.

"Nathaniel Armis, you are next."

Moving from my seat, I approached the circle on the floor.

"Go ahead and sit down, Nathaniel." The teacher said to me as I reached the circle.

I sat down in the circle, which was about a meter in diameter. I reclined in my meditating pose, the one I used when stretching out my internal mana, or Xetral. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

The Spirit Realm

I opened my eyes to find myself alone. I was on some sort of misty field. Gray mist swirled around me, almost clinging to me. The grass felt soft underneath me, but I couldn't see or feel anything else. I also couldn't feel my Xetral very well. It felt sluggish.

"You are the first young human I have seen come to my realm sitting in such a strange manner."

I quickly went to stand at the sound of the voice. The voice was deep and powerful. I still couldn't see anything besides the mist.

"You can remain sitting, no need to stand. What is your name, young human?" The voice asked.

"Nathaniel Armis" I managed to croak out. My throat was dry for some reason.

"Nathaniel Armis, what sort of spirit do you wish me to grant you?"

"Spirit King, can I ask you first a question?

The voice, belonging to whom I could only assume was the Spirit King, seemed slightly taken back by my request.

"I will permit it. Speak and amuse me, human child."

"Why do all of these? I mean, I don't see the benefit of you handing out your people to make humans stronger. I don't think you were forced to either, as no humans could possible fight you in this realm and win. I can feel your power from your voice, while I can barely move my Xetral."

The Spirit King paused before answering.

"Curious, are you? You are correct, human child. I was not forced into giving out my people to give you humans strength. Some time ago, I was visited by a human. Back then, not many humans visited my realm. His name was Roland Lantideniz. He proposed a treaty. For you see, human child, we spirits harbor a deep hatred for demons. We are always at war in the Ethereal Realm. Upon hearing from him that the cursed demons were trying to take over the human realm with artificial bodies, I agreed to a treaty. I would send some of my spirits to assist the humans fight the demons, because if the demons took over the human realm would put us in a difficult situation. In exchange, the human race could never attack our realm. The barrier created by Roland Lantideniz slows the flow of what you humans call Xetral."

"Can I ask you a question in return, human child?"

"Sure" I managed to choke out.

"Why is your Xetral, as you humans call it, so refined? Yours is the one of the most refined I have seen in centuries, and most certainly the most refined human child in the last decade."

I decided to answer somewhat truthfully as I wanted to live this encounter.

"I didn't realize it was my Xetral, but when I closed my eyes, I could sense this substance in my body. It was spread out like puddles. Since I had nothing better to do I slowly evened it out."

"I see. Also I have one more question."

"What?"

"You are not originally from this human realm, are you?"

What did he just say?

"Could you repeat that?"

"You are not originally from this human realm, are you?"

I didn't even make it ten years before someone figured it out. What am I supposed to do? I can't lie as the Spirit King will read my pulse and then vaporize me or something. That only leaves one option that I can think of.

I told the Spirit King my tale.

"Do you have any idea if I can go back?"

"I see . . . Ortus . . . I have heard of that before . . . But from where?"

"I will make a deal with you, Nathaniel Armis. In exchange for looking into this Ortus Project and a way for you to return to your world, I want you to do something for me. Don't worry, it will be beneficial for you."

"What is your request?"

"I do not have a good feel for the situation on the demons in the human realm. I need to send one of my trusted generals to check on the situation for me. Unlike our enemies, we do not use artificial bodies to traverse the human realm. I want you to take my general as your spirit, your familix. From what you have told me, I have a feeling you will eventually encounter those cursed demons."

"That sounds fine. I accept your terms."

I hated to say it, but the Spirit King was right. I probably would encounter demons in the future.

"However before I can give you the spirit, I need to test your mental strength. If you are not strong enough, your mind will break when you receive my general. Prepare yourself, Nathaniel Armis."

It started light. It felt like I was carrying something on my head. Then the pressure increased more and more till I had to use my hands to support myself. The mist around me swirled downwards, visualizing the pressure. The mist almost seemed to be inviting me to rest, stop fighting and just flow with the force. The mist beckoned, drawing me closer. . . closer . . . . . . closer . . . . . . . . . closer. . . . . . . . . . . . closer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . closer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . closer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to a peaceful slumber.

"Impressive, Nathaniel Armis. In a last attempt to stop yourself from fainting, you bit your tongue. You are mentally strong enough."

I hadn't noticed that I had bit my tongue. Nor that the pressure was gone, but that was because my mind was already numb.

"I wish you luck, Nathaniel Armis. It is time for you to return to the human realm."

As the Spirit King said his parting words, some of the mist in front of me twisted and spiralled till it formed a feline figure, a cheetah. The cheetah approached me. Looking down at my body, as I was still on my hands and knees, it nudged me with its head and dissolved back into formless mist. After that, everything went black.

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