Summoner: Origins The Prequel by Taran Matharu Page A

first and second years will practice demonic control and infusion for the remainder of the day. As for the rest of you, I suggest you practice opening and closing portals, making sure to keep your distance. As you know, the air in the ether is highly toxic to humans. No demons are to enter under any circumstan—’
    Scipio froze, his eyes searching the stone, though all Arcturus could see was the tree trunks.
    â€˜Something’s coming. Kali can hear it. Smell it,’ Scipio uttered. The pentacle behind him crackled as his concentration slipped, but he grunted and it returned to a steady glow once more. The acrid stench of burned wood permeated the room, and Arcturus could see the planks at the edges of the pentacle singeing black.
    â€˜Another. Two of them. But not the same. Better stay in the trees,’ he was muttering to himself, the lesson momentarily forgotten.
    Kali’s eyes turned to the ground for the first time. Another orb, identical to the one floating in the centre of the summoning room, hung in the air, spinning gently. It must have been what Kali had come out of, and would need to return to if she wanted to leave the ether.
    They were above a large clearing of sorts, for the surrounding area was uneven, scattered with tangled branches and lichenous rocks. Yet within the vegetation, there was a disturbance, shaking the leaves as something made its way towards them. Though Arcturus could only see what was happening, he could imagine the sound of snapping twigs as a beast tore through the foliage.
    To the other side, something even larger had almost reached the clearing, for Arcturus could see horns tearing at the undergrowth. Whatever it was, it was enormous, perhaps as tall as seven feet.
    â€˜There’s going to be a fight,’ Fergus whispered, wrapping his arm around his little sister. Elaine ignored him, instead removing Valens from her pocket, so he could watch.
    A hairless, gangly creature emerged into the clearing. It was longlimbed and skeletal, with elongated claws and splayed feet. It walked much like Kali did, though it was more hunched and bowlegged, with lengthy arms that knuckled the ground with every step.
    Gnarled antlers branched from a heavy-browed forehead, above a snout somewhere between a horse’s and a wolf’s. Its black eyes scanned the ground ahead and it snorted gulps of air as it sought the scent of its opponent.
    â€˜A Wendigo,’ Scipio whispered, his voice tinged with something between awe and horror. ‘I’ve never seen one in the wild. They’re rare in our hunting grounds, in fact, it’s virtually unheard of. Only the most powerful of orc shamans use them, and rarely. It has a fulfilment level of thirteen.’
    Arcturus felt his stomach turn over, watching as the grey-skinned aberration edged around the orb. With just one leap, it could enter through the portal and into the summoning room.
    â€˜Sir, shouldn’t we get help. It . . . it might come through,’ Arcturus stammered.
    Scipio was sweating profusely now, his face gone from the red of exertion to the pale white of exhaustion. He responded to Arcturus without lifting his eyes from the Oculus.
    â€˜Don’t worry boy. Wild demons don’t like to go near portals. It’s strange enough that the Wendigo would get that close at all. Must be starving, that’s why it’s wandered into our hunting grounds. Still, if it’s that desperate, we can’t risk sending Kali through until its gone. It might jump in after her.’
    â€˜Can you keep the portal open for long enough? How are your mana levels?’ Prince Harold asked.
    â€˜If I can keep the flow of mana steady, maybe another ten minutes or so,’ Scipio replied, watching as the second creature neared the clearing. ‘I exhausted most of my mana yesterday on the battlefield. If the worst happens, I may send in Kali when the Wendigo is distracted. Let’s see what the