The warm rays of the morning sun bathed the training field, but Grim barely noticed the comforting light. He stood in the center of the open arena, sweat clinging to his brow, his body tense as he stretched his arm toward the sky, palm facing upwards.
Nothing.
No breeze. No ripple in the air. No enormous shadow stretching across the land.
Just the relentless silence.
"Again," came the firm voice from the edge of the field.
Ms. Karina stood there, her arms crossed with an intensity that mirrored the power she wielded. Her green coat fluttered slightly, though it looked as if the very earth had grown to respond to her presence. Flowers seemed to blossom in her wake, and the vines at her feet quivered as if they recognized her strength.
Grim sighed and closed his eyes. *The Minokawa...*
The thought was almost desperate now. He stretched out his senses, reaching for the ancient creature—its great wings, its burning golden feathers. In his mind's eye, he saw its celestial form.
But the connection was fleeting, distant—nothing more than a faint whisper in the wind.
He grimaced. "It's not working today."
Ms. Karina's voice cut through the air like a blade. "You're trying too hard. You're thinking too much. Summoning isn't about controlling the beast—it's about trust. You're trying to force the Minokawa into your will, but you need to invite it."
Grim blinked, surprised. "Invite it?"
"Exactly," Karina nodded. "You cannot command it. The Minokawa is ancient—born of instinct and power. You have to call it to you. Extend your hand as an equal, not as a master."
Grim furrowed his brow, still unsure. "Like… asking a friend for help?"
"Precisely. You hold power that most would dream of, but it will remain nothing but a trickle of potential unless you learn to master your heart. Power without control is a danger to both you and those around you."
Grim glanced up at the sky, his thoughts a whirlwind. *How am I supposed to trust something like that?*
But he didn't voice his doubt. Instead, he clenched his trembling fist, staring at the empty sky. "I'm trying."
Ms. Karina studied him for a moment, her sharp gaze softening. She placed a hand on his shoulder—firm, yet comforting. "Rest now. Training isn't always about pushing yourself until you break. It's about understanding when to pause."
---
Later that afternoon, Grim lay on the soft grass beneath a large tree near PHU's northern garden. The peaceful environment did little to ease his frustration. Beside him, Marcus wolfed down a sandwich with a gusto that suggested he hadn't eaten in days, while Liya worked on a small flower chain, her laughter light and infectious. The contrast between their carefree energy and his own was hard to ignore.
"You're basically a legend around here now," Marcus mumbled, crumbs falling from his mouth. "People are still talking about that *eagle* the size of a stadium that you summoned."
Grim groaned, half-laughing. "It wasn't that big. I barely called it in time."
"You're too humble," Marcus teased. "You're like the campus celebrity. Everyone's whispering about the *Minokawa.*"
Liya glanced over her shoulder, smiling softly. "You're okay, right? You've been quiet for a while."
Grim hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. Just... struggling, you know?"
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "With what? Your new pet?"
Grim chuckled dryly. "Not my *pet,* Marcus. I'm just not getting anywhere with the Minokawa. I thought I could handle it, but every time I try, it's like it gets farther away."
Liya's expression softened. "Sometimes, the harder you try, the further it slips. Maybe it's not about reaching it, but letting it come to you."
Grim nodded slowly, unsure. He'd never been the type to *wait* for anything, least of all something as unpredictable as his summon. "I guess I'll figure it out... eventually."
Marcus grinned, oblivious to the weight on Grim's shoulders. "Or maybe it's like Karina when someone steps on her garden: it's just moody."
Liya laughed, but the sound was quickly interrupted by a loud, deep horn, echoing across the campus.
"Emergency signal," Grim said, his voice tense as he sat up quickly. His instincts kicked in.
Liya turned pale as she scanned the sky. "That's the Gate Ward perimeter…"
Within moments, the group was on their feet and rushing toward the eastern forest. Students around them had already started moving, some faster than others, but all had their eyes on the black smoke that curled ominously into the sky from the direction of the ward.
The stone formation—an ancient, jagged ring of rocks at the edge of the campus—had remained dormant for years. But now, violet energy pulsed through it. The sky above it flickered with a dangerous, foreboding glow.
"A gate?" Marcus whispered, eyes wide. "It's opening."
Grim moved ahead, instinctively drawing his blade and shifting into a combat stance. "What are we looking at?"
Elyse, a calm presence among the chaos, approached them. Her eyes were fixed on the swirling energy as a few students gathered behind her.
"D-rank gate," she said, her voice steady. "Skarn Crawlers. Not too dangerous if you know what you're doing."
Grim glanced at her, a frown furrowing his brow. "Where's the backup?"
Elyse's gaze swept over the students. "The professors are on a field simulation. We're it. We hold the line until reinforcements arrive."
The moment she finished speaking, the first wave of creatures emerged. Small, lizard-like monsters with sleek purple scales and burning red eyes. They hissed and slithered from the gate, their claws clicking against the ground in a dangerous rhythm.
"Ready up!" Marcus shouted, igniting his hands in a flare of crimson flames. He flung a wave of fire toward the oncoming creatures, incinerating the first few that were foolish enough to get too close.
Liya stayed close, weaving healing spells that mended minor injuries as quickly as they occurred, her staff glowing softly with every incantation. Beside her, Elyse raised her hand, and the gravity around a dozen monsters collapsed inward, crushing them under the weight of their own mass.
Grim was moving instinctively. His chains lashed out at the nearest Crawlers, restraining them just long enough for a clean strike. But for every one they took down, more poured out of the gate. The pressure was mounting.
*This isn't enough,* Grim thought. *I need to do more.*
His breath quickened as the battle raged on. There were too many of them. And no sign of reinforcements.
His heart hammered in his chest as his mind raced. He wasn't ready, not yet—not like this.
"Minokawa…" he whispered to himself, barely audible over the din of battle. "If you're there... I need you now."
The air shuddered. A tremor passed through the ground, rippling outward. The familiar whisper of feathers brushed against his mind.
The sky dimmed.
A shadow—no, *a presence*—loomed above them, blocking out the sun. A massive, golden form descended from the heavens, its wings outstretched in a glorious display of light.
But this time, it wasn't the colossal Minokawa. Instead, a smaller version of the celestial eagle—a compact and dazzling version—landed with a mighty screech, talons tearing into the ground. Its feathers gleamed like the sun itself, and its eyes blazed with the intensity of a storm.
The Crawlers screamed in fear as the Minokawa swooped down, its mighty wings sending gusts that flattened trees and enemies alike. With each swipe of its talons, the monsters were shredded into nothingness.
In minutes, the battle turned. The remaining Crawlers scattered or fell, and the gate's swirling energy began to recede.
When the reinforcements finally arrived—Professor Mika leading a squad of third-year students—the battle was over, and only the wounded remained.
Grim stood quietly by the Minokawa, his heart racing as he looked up at the creature that had answered his call. Its golden eyes locked with his, an unspoken understanding between them.
Ms. Karina appeared at his side, checking for injuries. "Are you hurt?"
Grim shook his head, still in awe. "I... I called it. It came."
Karina studied him for a moment before speaking softly. "You didn't summon it. You *called* it. There's a difference. Ancient summoners understood that distinction well."
She stepped closer, her expression grave. "Grim, something is awakening inside you. A power not seen in centuries. You must be ready."
Grim clenched his fists, a newfound resolve in his eyes. "I will be."
---
That evening, as the stars blinked into existence above, Grim stood alone on the university's tower, the Minokawa resting beside him. Its eyes remained on the sky, watching, waiting.
Grim's voice was barely a whisper. "Why me? Why now?"
The wind stirred, but no answer came.
However, as he gazed up, a faint flicker of light from the far horizon caught his eye. Something—or someone—was watching.
And far across the seas, in a hidden mountain temple, a massive golden bell rang for the first time in a hundred years.
A man wrapped in crimson silk robes knelt before it.
"So... the sky-bird stirs. And the summoner has been found."
He rose, grasping a long staff etched with cosmic symbols.
"Let the others know. The Game of Gates... has begun."