Thronebound Summoner

The hunt was over. It had been far too easy.

The only creature summoned, other than his own, was the large panther. It had run off with its prey and was now devouring it with a vigor that even frightened Fay.

These summoned creatures would consume their kill entirely, leaving not even a hair behind.

As for Jolt, it was already chomping on the impala that had nearly impaled Fay. He noticed that the hunters didn't look too pleased this time.

But a low growl from their leader caused them all to gather their kills and prepare to move out.

[Worry not, little hunter. Kimya is at fault this time—he did not take your role into account.]

The sabertooth's glare made the young man bow in apology before returning to his task. He then approached the beast once it had finished eating and caused it to disappear.

"Doesn't everyone have... a summoned beast?" Fay asked, wondering why the large panther was the only other creature besides Jolt.

[Yes. There are six of us, including my youngling, who can summon such creatures. But you must understand—they are always hungry. If not fed, they may turn on you. Be careful, little hunter. We are given power, but it is also a dangerous weapon. Now, have your creature depart once it finishes eating. You'll need to hunt one more to make up for the loss of two meals.]

Fay didn't argue about the need to hunt again. In truth, he was looking forward to it.

What lingered in his thoughts, however, was the idea that his creature might one day turn on him if it wasn't fed. He couldn't imagine the small lizard being able to harm him—yet its magic, and its rapid growth, told a different story.

He recalled the panther and its deadly way of fighting—the toxins it used to kill its prey, and the dark mist that made it impossible to detect within its domain.

What if Jolt grew to that size and one day became a beast capable of killing him?

Fay glanced toward his creature.

The lizard was halfway through its meal, its stomach like a black hole that could swallow an animal five times its own size.

He noticed that with each bite, the creature's body grew slightly larger, its features becoming more dangerous.

It took just over ten minutes to finish—every part of the impala was devoured—and the lizard grew by three inches in an instant.

Its power had also changed. Sparks now crackled more intensely around its bronze-scaled body.

"Are you full now?" Fay asked, stepping closer. He then willed it to disappear back into his two gems.

The boy found himself slightly afraid of it now that he understood what it was capable of.

The others were still busy with their kills, so Fay looked around. He needed his own share of the hunt. There were still plenty of deer about—only a small portion had been startled, and even they quickly returned to grazing.

He scanned the herd, searching for a strong one. He wanted to prove himself. His eyes moved from target to target as he calculated and formed a plan. Soon, he had chosen one—a large male. Not the strongest, but a solid contender for the one with the most meat.

Fay was about to leave the cover of the tall grass when he noticed someone following him.

It was the daughter of the leader—the girl who usually kept her distance while glaring at him. This time, however, she looked troubled.

She glanced back at her father, then back at Fay. It felt like she had been ordered to keep an eye on him.

Fay sighed but ignored her. She didn't seem interested in talking and kept her distance, about three meters behind him.

He looked around again. His chosen prey was still there, roughly twenty to thirty meters away.

The boy still had his spear, though it was a bit worn, and the dagger he'd been given. He considered whether he could rely on the lizard now that it had eaten, even if it unnerved him.

After a moment of thought, Fay shook his head. He had never relied on anyone before—why start now?

He tightened his grip on the spear and crouched into position, wondering how close he could get before being noticed.

The grass was golden at the tips and green near the base. Each strand was about a meter tall, enough to conceal him while crouching. His worn-out coat was starting to become a problem in this sun-drenched region, and he made a mental note to address it later.

For now, he focused on keeping the fabric from rustling. He watched as the creature's ears occasionally turned in his direction. Its head suddenly rose when another of its kind let out a strange call.

The entire herd lifted their heads, alert, as if listening for the source of the disturbance.

Fay froze. He didn't move until they returned to grazing.

"Dumb creatures…" Fay murmured. He took off his coat, left it on the grass, and used it to crouch even lower. He would have to abandon it—it was hindering his hunt.

Underneath, he wore only a worn shirt, one he'd scavenged from an abandoned market.

That was when he felt the sun's rays on his arms and neck. The heat was unlike anything he'd experienced before. Still, he forced his thoughts back to the task at hand and crawled forward toward the impala that had forgotten about him.

He moved slowly, spear in hand. The creature was less than five meters away. The plan was simple: get close, throw the spear, and chase after the wounded animal.

Simple—but the two hundred or so others surrounding it made progress risky. One wrong move, one noise, and the whole herd could scatter.

He finally got close enough. Any nearer, and he'd risk alerting it. Taking a steady breath, he hurled the spear at the creature.

It should have hit. The aim was perfect, the distance close, but at the last second, the spear struck a rock and deflected.

The sound of the clash echoed.

And the herd bolted.