Beyond the Sky - Session 26.5

After a long trek back to Kyaro, the day is nearly at an end. The party store their spoils in their wagon, and retire back to the inn for tomorrow. Valaire, however, decides to make a more special preparation, spending the night on a summoning ritual, Adrian watching out of curiosity.
Valaire hums to herself, painting a series of concentric runic circles on the wooden inn floor of her room with a small dark red-stained brush.
Adrian sits nearby, studying the runes from a reasonable distance.
Valaire: "Let's see... id cal shol id vul... and then it's..."
"Right. That should be the basis. Time for the central rune."
Valaire traces a newly tattooed rune on her right shoulder with her left claw, as she mimics its pattern on the inn floor.
Adrian: "Are the markings going to last after the ritual? The tattoos, but not the circle?"
Valaire: "The circle is used up. I'm not going to be leaving Arcane Runic on the Kyaro inn floor."
Adrian: "Oh, that I know, it's not a concern of mine. Simple curiosity, since the designs are the same."
Valaire: "That's for synchronicity. I need to summon just the right creature, or this ritual is going to be pretty much a waste."
"The last thing I would want would be to be spiritually bound to a slug or a amoeba."
"With the right runes, I can seek out the singular most ideal candidate and summon it here."
Adrian smiles, chuckling.
Adrian: "I suppose a slug would be an unpleasant surprise. Then, which one is the right creature?"
Valaire: "I figure a cat or something. Maybe something magical and clever, like a cait sidhe. Something that sounds 'Valaire'."
Valaire applies the last bit of markings on the runic circle, putting the brush back and pulling out a dagger from her leg sheath.
Valaire: "Behold as the great mage Valaire summons a creature from the great world beyond, torn through time and space for the singular purpose of serving as her familiar!"
Valaire snickers to herself at her grandiose claim, before nonchalantly slitting her own wrist and letting blood drop onto the circle.
Adrian watches with mild amusement at the declaration, showing no other reaction.
The arcane runic circle starts glowing, vivid blue light emanating from the magic circle.
A figure, covered in blue light, rises out of the circle, as the light from the runes dims, it eventually fading completely to reveal Valaire's familiar.
Valaire: "And the ritual is complete, and I am now spiritually bound to my loyal... a faerie?"
Sprite staggers weakly upright, holding a hand to her head as her moth-like wings flutter.
Sprite: "Ow... that was some distance, wasn't it..."
Valaire: "I don't get it. Did the ritual fail? Why did it call a faerie?"
Sprite: "Yeah, hello to you too... thanks for the warm greeting, summoner."
Adrian leans forward to stare at the little creature curiously.
Sprite hops up to her diminutive feet, looking up to Adrian and Valaire's faces.
Valaire: "Id cul shal... no, it was id cal shol thul... ugh, did I get it wrong? Or...?"
Sprite: "Geez, she's out of it. I guess she needs time to adjust."
"How about you, big guy?"
Adrian: "If you weren't seeking anything specific, what's unsuitable about her? Her personality seems to suit you."
"Ah, hello there, little one."
Valaire: "But faeries are so... irritating! I don't want to be saddled to one for--how does it suit me?"
Sprite sighs, fluttering her wings rapidly and rising into the air in a hover.
Sprite: "For life, and for the record, I'm a sprite. There's a fundamental difference between fae, and don't go calling me a faerie or pixie or nothing."
"I mean, there was that one guy that called me a naiad. Oh, I pranked him good for that."
Adrian: "Well, she's showing herself to be observant, independent, and a precise degree of scathing when she wants to be, so far. Seems fitting."
Valaire sighs, clawed hand covering her face.
Valaire: "I've made a terrible mistake, haven't I?"
Sprite: "That certainly doesn't seem rude at all, nope."
"But no, we're bonded now, summoner, so we're stuck with each other whether you like it or not."
Adrian: "Well, little one. Are you going to go around playing tricks on us, or can I expect you to uphold your master's station?"
Sprite: "Again, you two're thinking of faeries. Sprites are dignified."
"Also what's up with her? Did something mess with her head today or something?"
Adrian: "Actually, yes, I think so."
Sprite: "Oh. Hopefully she feels better about this whole thing in the morning?"
"I dunno, it looks like she lost a lot of blood today. Real pale."
Adrian: "...That's probably also true. Although I wouldn't count on the idea that she'll appreciate your honesty on the matter."
Valaire: "Damn it. Hopefully Prince Kallian knows a solution to this, it seems something he would know better..."
Adrian: "Try to not kill the little thing in the morning, I think I'm rather fond of her."
Sprite: "Hey, an admirer! I'm grateful."
"So hey, if she doesn't want me but I somehow manage to survive her murderous crazy rampage in the morning, can I be your familiar?"
Adrian: "Does it work that way? I can't say I'd mind."
Valaire sighs, tapping the rune on her shoulder as it glows a brief violet color.
Valaire: "It doesn't. We're bound."
"Damn it, I can't even kill her and start over without utterly ruining all the magic I've spent years practicing."
Sprite: "Okay. So official verdict is 'would kill me if it didn't take so long'."
Adrian: "As I thought. Maybe you should have specified a cat."
Sprite: "Yeah, it's actually pretty picky. It selects whoever is closest to her spiritually."
"Eh, I dunno if spiritually is the right word. Like there's this whole... wavelength... thing?"
"Synchronicity."
"So if it picked me, it's because she and I are really well suited for each other. I guess she just needs to realize that."
"I mean... it didn't pick a daemon for her. So that's something? Could you imagine how devastated she'd be then?"
Adrian: "Now one of those, I think we would have to kill, seeing how that one earlier behaved."
Sprite: "Yeah. You'll have to tell me about it!"
"The summoning told me, like, the basics? But not anything like memories."
"Then again, with her blood loss and whatever, is she even going to remember this night?"
Valaire sighs, going to sit on her bed.
Valaire: "Maybe she's right. Maybe I just need a quick lie down. I can't say being eaten by toads and mauled by apes has made for the most pleasant outdoor excursions."
Adrian: "I may not have paid the most attention to the parts of my education pertaining to actual medical care, but I do know enough to thoroughly agree with that."
Sprite: "Tough day for you, huh?"
"Hopefully she warms up. I'd hate to be a homeless sprite."
Adrian: "I had expected you would just sneak around after her, if she rejected you."
Sprite: "True enough!"
"Hey, speaking of home, where is this place, anyway? It doesn't look like Zeltria, but you're speaking Zeltria."
Adrian: "We're in the capital of Ashdale for now, I'm afraid. It may be a while."
Sprite: "That's... a pretty long distance, I think? No wonder I have a migraine."
Adrian: "You and me both, little one. Hm. Do you have a name, or do you have to coax her into choosing one?"
Sprite: "Name! I have a name... but it's in Sylvan."
"I think she's supposed to pick a human name?"
Valaire waves a hand towards the sprite dismissively, collapsing on the bed in exhaustion.
Sprite: "Oh. No name you can use then, unless you give me one."
Adrian: "I think it may be best if you wait for morning. She'll likely be in a better mood."
Sprite: "Yeah. I might get a better name if it's something thought about and not just off the cuff."
"Just as long as it's not 'hey you', right?"
Adrian: "I imagine Valaire in a bad mood could pick worse."
Sprite: "Yeah, probably."
"I mean, I don't wanna annoy her. Or any of her friends. Because she's still my summoner."
"I don't want her to decide killing me is worth the trouble it'll cause her."
Sprite flutters a little closer to Valaire, sitting on the edge of her bed.
Sprite: "I guess she's asleep. Is it okay for you to be in the room with a sleeping woman?"
"Oh! Are you two dating? The calling didn't mention that."
Adrian: "No, no we are not. You're right, I don't suppose it's wise of me to linger here. Look after her for me, then, little one."
Sprite: "Yeah, no problem! And hey, before you leave, mind opening the window a little? Just enough for me to fit through."
Adrian grins, nudging the window open a little for the sprite.
Adrian: "Tomorrow I'll have to ask you why you know human customs better than some humans."
Sprite: "Doesn't that just make those other people failures at being human?"
Adrian: "That it does. Good luck with Valaire."
Sprite: "Yeah, thanks. And if you're asking me questions tomorrow, hopefully I can ask some too?"
Adrian: "It seems a fair trade. Very well."
Sprite: "Alright, rest well! I'm going to go see if I can get a bed set up."
Adrian slips out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
Sprite: "Night, Mister!"
Sprite flutters over to the windowsill, pausing to look at the unconscious tiefling.
Sprite: "Night, Valaire."
The sprite goes to sleep on the windowsill, as the night goes on.