Monster Academy: Rise of the Card Master
Chapter 2 Part 2
Leo spent the rest of the day with his family. Only when night time came did he finally ask Liana how to summon her. ‘You just need to imagine taking my card out. Once you do, the rest is pretty much automatic. Some Card Masters use the name of their card to summon their monsters. You can try that if you can not picture it well.’
“Hmm… Then, Liana.” Leo spoke Liana’s name out loud while picturing her true form. As he did, the middle of his chest began to light up with a golden light. From it, a card began to emerge and flew out in front of Leo. It shone brightly before turning into a beam of golden light and shooting to the ground. The light began to take shape until a rock salamander the size of a small dog appeared before him.
‘Now this feels much better!’ Liana stretched her limbs. She had been feeling very stuffy, locked inside the card. She preferred to be walking around the real world.
Leo looked at the Rock Salamander that was looking around with its tail swishing back and forth and really could not picture it turning into the beautiful girl he had seen in the Chaotic Realm. Looking at the figure in front of him who had started to clean herself, he couldn’t help but ask. “Do you want me to give you a bath?”
‘Oh-ho? Did you wish to touch me that badly?’ Liana teased knowing full well she was nothing more than a Rock Salamander at this time. But this still made Leo blush.
“If you were in your humanoid form I would still ask.” Leo put on a strong front. He did not wish to continue being teased by this salamander!
Liana had not expected the comeback and was glad she was currently in her weakest state, or else she knew she would be completely red. But the idea of having her scales cleaned did not sound too bad. ‘If you don’t mind, I think I will take you up on that offer.’
“I will be back with some warm water then. Stay in my room for now. I do not want my mother or sister to freak out.”
‘Understood~.’
The night went by with Leo doing most of the talking. Liana listened to his dreams and the things he wished to accomplish. When she heard he was mainly doing this for his sister and mother, she couldn’t help but feel that she had chosen a good master.
- - -
It was the next morning that the water works began to form. Both his mother and sister were hugging him, crying away at the entrance of the village. They were not the only ones. Jasmine’s mother was crying and shouting something about not wanting to let her precious daughter go. It seemed even the haughty daughter of the village chief had a soft spot when it came to her mother. Seeing how she was smiling helplessly while trying to comfort her.
“We need to head out. The trip is long and will take a few days.” Elder Hill hated to disturb the goodbyes between families, but time was ticking, and they needed to get going if they wished to make any progress.
“Mother, Alice. I will be sure to write as much as I can. I will send back any money I make as well. Use it to live better lives. When I have made enough, I will buy a small house for you both in the capital.”
“Leo, do not worry so much about us and just stay safe. We only care about your well-being and nothing else.” Leo’s mother gave her son one last hug before finally taking a step back. She held Alice’s hand and gripped it tightly, doing her best to send her son off with a smile.
Leo waved goodbye before turning and walking over to the elders. Once everyone was ready, the Elders, Leo, Jack, and Jasmine began their long journey.
They had only walked a few steps when Elder Hill looked down at the Rock Salamander that was walking by Leo’s feet. He found it strange that not only did the young man know how to summon his monster, but he even had it out as if it was not draining his energy, especially after he had passed out from battling the thing. “Leo, you should return your monster to its chaotic space. Otherwise, you won’t last more than thirty minutes.”
“Hmm? But I summoned her last night?” Leo tilted his head. He had not felt any energy being consumed at all. He felt perfectly fine.
“You…” Elder Hill did not understand how a young man who had passed out for two days straight was able to keep a monster in the human world for such a long period of time. He looked over at Elder Lancaster, who just smiled and shook his head. Elder Hill could only sigh. “If you start to feel tired, let us know. Make sure you store your monster before you get too tired.”
“I will.” Leo nodded his head. He felt perfectly fine, though, so he did not know why they were so concerned.
‘Hehe… the great me strikes again!’ Liana, on the other hand, felt proud. The reason that there was no energy consumption was related to the fact that she did not need to take energy from Leo since she had made a vow and her race could generate their own energy. She did not need to feed off her master.