Ignis (2)
In the world of Deus ex Machina, at the current point in the story, the continent's inhabitants were unaware of the existence of spirits.
They had been common in the Mythical Age of old, but for some reason, they had vanished from the continent by the present day.
It wasn't until the latter half of Part 1 that hints about the Mythical Age began to unfold, introducing an event where players could obtain a spirit as a pet.
It was a one-time-only method, but the required materials and the summoning ritual itself were so simple that most users remembered acquiring and carrying around a spirit.
Wondering if the same summoning method might work in this world, he had attempted it—and that was how he obtained the salamander.
He had performed the ritual in secret, in a hidden space, without telling a soul. Not even Hans knew that he possessed a spirit, let alone that he had a means to wield fire.
Everyone in the castle believed he had no talent for either magic or swordsmanship, so they would have found it suspicious if he handled fire. He kept it hidden as best he could.
Thus, he rarely summoned the salamander except during his clandestine outings alone, leaving her stuck at the initial low-grade spirit level with almost no growth.
Even as a low-grade spirit, she was a spiritual being made of pure fire.
The salamander possessed power beyond what magic or the laws of this world could comprehend or counter.
With the strength of the low-grade spirit he knew from before, she could have contended with Cronia Messene's golem.
But even then, her limit would have been damaging key parts to halt its movement and disable it—nothing like melting it completely, as she had just done.
Why had the salamander's power grown so immense? And what was with her changed appearance?
Instead of brooding over it endlessly, he should summon her and find out.
Worried that if she had grown too strong, even the summoning might reignite flames like before, he erected a shield and called her forth.
"Summon. Salamander."
A gate to the spirit realm opened. Mana drained from him in an instant.
Mana? Something was off. More than half his mana had been consumed. He was confident in his mana reserves, at least—no ordinary amount, thanks to the vast elixirs he had consumed.
For him to use half his mana on a summoning... Salamander, what on earth had happened to her?
Flames burst from the rift in dimensions.
Whoosh!
The fire gathered, forming the shape of an adult woman.
......An adult woman?
During class earlier, she had been a little girl.
"...Salamander?"
-Yeah! Luke! You called me again!
No, why had she grown so much in the meantime? A growth spurt?
He had already been shocked when his tiny axolotl-like spirit turned into a little girl, but just a few hours later, she was in the form of an adult!
"Uh... yeah, Salamander. Sorry for sending you back right after summoning you earlier. There was someone—the headmaster—who couldn't be allowed to discover your true nature."
Did that mean she had surpassed low-grade? Mid-grade? Or high-grade? An adult form usually meant high-grade or above.
He wasn't sure, since Deus ex Machina's story had stalled before fully unpacking the spirit lore.
-It's okay, Luke. I get it. You didn't want the headmaster finding out you're Lydia's Lord.
"Right. That's why I reverse-summoned you in a hurry... huh?"
Wait a minute. What did the salamander just say? That he didn't want the headmaster learning he was Lydia's savior?
No one knew that.
How did the salamander...?
Besides, she had the intelligence of a preschooler before. How could she grasp such a complex situation?
-Luke, that's mean. Preschooler level?
She read my mind?
-Sorry, Luke. But I didn't read your thoughts. To be precise, as I've grown, I've become fully linked to you, my contractor.
What? Linked to me? But she didn't know my thoughts before.
-Until now, I was just an ordinary low-grade spirit. But at some point, I grew and gained power. I surpassed mid-grade to become high-grade. With my elevated rank, our connection deepened and strengthened. Oh, by the way, when you summoned me earlier, I was high-grade. Now, I've gone beyond that to top-grade.
Suddenly?
He had diligently fed her magic stones all this time, but she had never grown stronger or evolved once.
The last time he summoned her in his room before heading to the academy, she was still his tiny axolotl. What had changed?
-Hmm... it's a long story. How should I explain? Actually, it's not time for you to know yet, Luke. But you're smart—you'll figure it out soon enough.
Not time? What does that mean? Just tell me, Salamander. What the hell happened?
-......Alright. I'll tell you a little. You'll learn it eventually anyway. Mom might scold me, though.
......Mom?
-Luke. Do you know what happens when intelligent beings strongly believe in something that doesn't exist in this world—if their belief reaches the level of faith?
Something that doesn't exist in this world? What happens?
-It becomes reality. The firm belief of intelligent beings generates a resource called divinity, and when that divinity accumulates, it materializes the faith. And if they 'worship' something that does exist in a different way, that entity transforms accordingly.
Faith gathers to create reality... Right. Now that he thought about it, there were speculation posts on the community forums about Deus ex Machina's lore like that.
There had been plenty of hints. Of course, with development halted, he never confirmed if the theories were true.
But if the salamander was saying this now... no way!
-Exactly what you're thinking, Luke. Others 'worshipped' me as a 'holy spirit,' granting me divinity—and that's how I grew.
Others believed the salamander was a holy spirit?
But how? No one should have even seen the salamander to believe in her...
......Wait. In that instant, memories from a few days ago flashed through his mind.
Holy spirit.
Holy spirit. That's it. Saula had come to believe in the holy spirit. In truth, she had purified herself, but she attributed it to the holy spirit. That's how the salamander gained divinity.
Ah, the headmaster too. The headmaster had also mistaken the salamander for a holy spirit.
That explained the divinity. But could just two people's faith elevate a low-grade spirit to top-grade?
......Were there more? More believers in the salamander—in the holy spirit?
-That's as far as I go! I can't say more. I knew you were smart, Luke, but not this smart! Any more, and Mom's plan might go awry. She's nagging me even now. Sorry, Luke. I really can't say anything else.
Who's Mom? Spirits don't have parents.
-Mom is Mom. You'll learn everything in time, Luke. Everything in this world will unfold like clockwork, just as Mom planned. So don't worry. It's all for you.
......What the—
-Luke, just get what you were planning to obtain tomorrow.
Avatar?
-Yes, that.
......He was too numb to be surprised anymore. If she had grown enough to read his every thought, of course she knew his plans for tomorrow.
-Whether you obtain it tomorrow will drastically change this world. So you must get it, Luke. Got it?
His mind was a whirlwind of confusion, but he had planned to get it anyway.
He gazed at her, burning brightly as a pure flame before him.
Their tiny axolotl who used to frolic in his room with him was gone. Their salamander had suddenly become a mature beauty.
Ah, right—she was top-grade now. Salamander was the name for a low-grade fire spirit, so maybe he should give her a proper name.
She had a human form now; calling her Salamander felt off. She wasn't an axolotl anymore, either.
-A name? Yay! Give me one, Luke!
Just moments ago, her eyes had held the wisdom of a sage, but now she bounced around like a child.
This side of her felt like his salamander, at least.
What were some typical names for fire spirits...? Hmm.
Ah, right. Ignis.
How about Ignis?
-I love it! Ignis—the name you gave me, Luke. I am Ignis, the flame that will purify this world alongside you.
The moment she uttered "Ignis," her voice suddenly shifted.
-Thank you, Luke! I love the name!
Good... glad she liked it.
Huh? But you said you're top-grade now. Is it okay to keep you summoned? Can my mana handle it?
-Oh, that. Truth is, with your mana, you can only sustain me for about 30 seconds.
30 seconds? It's been way longer than that already.
-To explain to you, I've been burning my own divinity to stay. Probably won't manage it next time.
I see.
Then he couldn't use Ignis recklessly going forward. Especially now that she had divinity, it was even trickier.
-That's why you need the 'Avatar,' Luke.
Avatar? Ah, so that's why.
-Luke, though I'm a holy spirit, I'll be your flame—your power. So don't worry. I'll never leave you.
......You knew. He'd been anxious about it since earlier.
Worried that Ignis might leave him.
-Someday, you'll fully command me, Luke. And on that day, you'll become this world's --------.
The middle of Ignis's sentence cut out with a glitchy buzz, inaudible.
-Oops, Mom intervened. I said too much, hehe.
Ignis's body began to dissolve into swirling smoke.
The flames flickered and died.
-Call me whenever you need me, Luke. I'm always your flame.
Whoosh!
And with that, Ignis vanished completely.
......His mind was an utter mess.
Faith. Divinity. Ignis. And Mom.
......Interesting.
After over ten years in this world, a clue to Deus ex Machina's hidden lore had finally emerged—one he hadn't uncovered before.
His plans hadn't changed anyway.
He could summon Ignis again later.
Tomorrow, he would obtain the 'Avatar'.
"Lady Paola. All who received baptism from the holy spirit have gained unique abilities."
"Indeed. The holy spirit purifies us and grants powers to serve Deus. Isn't that true for you as well, Barnabas?"
"Yes... To think such immense power would be bestowed upon a lowly one like me..."
"All is the will of Lord Deus. We need only obey. Spread his words to the ends of the earth. That is our mission."
"Yes, Lady Paola!"