Chapter 3
The next day, as soon as I finished breakfast, I begged my nanny to take me into town.
I used all the allowance I had saved up to buy a summoner’s chain from a magic shop.
When I returned home, I started drawing magic circles right away. I kept erasing and redrawing them, over and over again. Before I knew it, it was lunchtime. I hummed a happy tune while eating. My parents were worried that I might get hurt, but when they saw how excited I was, they couldn’t stop me. That was all part of my plan.
Normally, my sister would go hunting on horseback. But when I joined her, we went by carriage. The mountain path was so rough that the carriage shook a lot. Even though it was summer, I wore an autumn dress. It had long sleeves and a loose back—called a Watteau gown—and was so long that it dragged on the ground. It was actually a dress meant for fancy parties.
My sister gave me a strange look and asked, “Are you really going to wear that?”
I nodded firmly, and she sighed and let me be. Noble children are known for being stubborn—especially when it comes to clothes.
But I wasn’t just a spoiled kid who liked fancy outfits. I simply didn’t have a magic robe. I couldn’t buy one because my parents wouldn’t like it.
Once we arrived, my sister handed me a small bow made for children.
“Here, hold it like this.”
She guided my hands, showing me how to hold the bow and shoot arrows. She even taught me the right posture. But of course, it didn’t go well at first. Still, I did my best to follow her instructions.
My first targets were unmoving things—like leaves and tree fruits. After some practice, I started chasing after rabbits and squirrels, hoping to catch one.
By the third time I had used up all my arrows, I told my sister, “It’s not working.”
I looked close to tears, and my sister smiled and patted my head.
“Should I catch one for you?”
“Really?!”
I asked with sparkling eyes. She smiled brightly and nodded.
“Of course.”
She sounded so confident. I felt like light was shining behind her.
One of the knights who came with us said he heard a hawk’s cry deep in the forest, so we went further in.
Not long after, a sharp cry rang from the sky. My sister had hit the hawk. I saw it fall through the trees. The knights praised her with smiles, and I ran forward shouting.
“I’ll go get it! I’ll get it!”
My sister was still complimenting the knight who heard the sound first, but she turned and called to me.
“Don’t go too far!”
I was too excited to respond.
I ran through the bushes until I saw the big gray hawk lying on the ground. When I got closer, I saw blood around the arrow in its side. It looked like it had been hit in a vital spot. I sat beside it and placed my hand on its neck. It was dying.
As I admired my sister’s hunting skills, I took out the chain and scroll I had hidden in my dress. I laid the scroll, with the magic circle, over the hawk and placed my hand on it carefully to activate the spell. The scroll glowed blue and then dissolved.
Next, I wrapped the enchanted chain around the hawk’s neck. Taking a deep breath, I spoke.
“Grey, Grey, Grey.”
That was the name I had just given it—because it was gray.
After calling the name about twenty times, blue light began to rise around the hawk. I kept calling its name, putting more power into my voice. Soon, the chain floated in the air and the hawk opened its eyes.
Its black eyes stared at me. I rolled up the long sleeves of my dress and revealed the magic circle drawn on my palm.
“Summoning Ritual, Chapter 1. You now belong to me.”
The magic circle glowed as it activated.
It didn’t need words to work, but speaking helped me focus.
The hawk let out a sharp cry and thrashed around. Then the circle faded from my hand.
I rolled up my sleeves even more, revealing more circles drawn on my wrist and arm. I recited Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 of the summoning ritual.
The ritual I had drawn had 13 chapters total—spells to stop the summoned creature from resisting and force it to obey.
With each spell, one circle would vanish from my arm. By the time I recited Chapter 10, I was starting to worry. I didn’t expect this fight to be so long. Maybe the hawk was too strong for me?
But I quickly shook off the thought.
The key to summoning isn’t just magic power—it’s a battle of will.
They say, “A summoned beast won’t agree to a bad deal.” That means even the creature is judging if the summoner is worthy.
I had to show I was strong enough. Willpower mattered more than magic.
I stared hard at the hawk. I didn’t blink. I didn’t breathe.
Once, at my grandfather’s gallery, I saw a painting of a dragon—the Blue Dragon, the royal symbol. Its bright blue eyes looked like they were burning. Even as a picture, it was terrifying.
I imagined myself as that dragon, huge and powerful, towering over the tiny hawk.
This was a battle of wills.
I glared and recited Chapter 11. The hawk’s body trembled, its spirit turning red. Its body shrank, and the chain tightened.
Sensing I had the upper hand, I skipped Chapter 12 and went straight to the last one.
“Summoning Ritual, Chapter 13. I give you my magic—give me your body in return.”
The hawk’s red soul screamed and vanished into the chain. The arrow in its body turned blue and disappeared.
The contract was complete. A wave of magic left my body. My head spun. I collapsed on the grass, soaking with sweat.
A moment later, I heard footsteps. Turning my head, I saw my sister.
“Chelsea!”
She must’ve come looking because I hadn’t returned in a while. She ran to me with a worried look.
“Are you okay? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“No… just tired…”
“Tired from what?”
She looked confused. I had been full of energy just a moment ago. I glanced around and saw the knights going to check the hawk. I looked at the chain still in my hand.
“Ahhh!”
The hawk suddenly opened its eyes as a knight picked it up. Startled, the knight screamed and dropped it.
My Grey flapped his wings and soared above their heads.
Watching the strong knights panic over a bird made me want to laugh so badly. I clapped and giggled.
“Was it still alive?”
I heard my sister mutter in disbelief.
I hugged her and said cheerfully, “Thanks, Sis. I’ll raise it well.”
Carmen is going to be so surprised!
I hoped he would like it.
Just thinking of Carmen’s happy face made me smile. My heart fluttered.
That was love.
* * *
Ten days later, I met Carmen again.
That day, I wore a new sky-blue dress. I even tied my pretty ruby necklace around Grey’s neck.
“Car-men!”
I spotted his golden head as he chatted with the Empress in the palace garden. I ran straight toward him. Carmen turned around when he heard my voice. I beamed and shouted:
“Look at this!”
I raised my left hand, the one with the chain wrapped around it. Grey let out a cry and shot up into the sky.
Carmen’s eyes widened as he watched Grey soar in a circle through the blue sky. He was completely focused.
I tried not to laugh and lifted my right hand seriously. Grey swooped down and landed perfectly on my arm.
We had practiced this over and over for ten days—to show Carmen the coolest scene.
It paid off. Carmen looked so amazed. He ran to me and asked breathlessly,
“Chelsea, you’re a summoner?!”
“Hehe.”
I gave a mysterious smile. Being called a summoner made me feel like I had to act cool.
When I looked up, Carmen’s blue eyes sparkled like gems. I had never seen him this excited.
It was adorable. I thought, You really are just a kid who loves magic.
“Yes, I am.”
“Wow…”
Carmen stared at Grey in awe. He couldn’t look away. I smiled and asked,
“Wanna try holding him?”
“Can I?”
When he asked, I nodded. He lifted his arm nervously, and I gently placed Grey on it.
Under the bright sunlight, Carmen looked like the sparkling summer sea. His beauty almost made me squint.
That day, we played with Grey all afternoon. I’d never seen Carmen so lively before. Even the Empress looked a little surprised.
And I was proud. And thrilled.
