Celestial Summoner backup September 8 2018

   In the late hours of the night one man by the name of Dominic Farns sits at his dinner table in his modestly large two bedroom house off campus but within the town around the Grand Summoning School within its great white walls. A simple oil lantern flickering its shadowy light upon his walls. He watchs across the entryway of his home staring at the hard brown wooden door, before him on the table a note written in psy-words that only echo into his mind when only he touches it. A woman's voice, "I can help you solve your problem with Daiyakisar. I understand your family has kept this vile blood thirsty spirit imprisoned in your servitude for centuries with your only means to be rid of, risking it being unleashed upon the world once again. I will come to your home late in the night, before the dawn but long after dusk, I will knock only three times. If you do not answer, my offer will not be given again. For I have something, a tool, that can get rid of that most horrid of spirits permanently."

   Farns wipes a bead of sweat off his brow as he hears footsteps approaching outside. He taps a blue stone that sticks to the surface of the underside of his table, there is a knock at the door.

   "Coming," says Farns.

   The person in the doorway he at first mistakes for Sasha Ora in the poor light, but bringing up the crystal light of his porch while she too is pale and tall with shoulder length black hair, her eyes are blue and her features sharper.

   "Who are you?" asks Farns eying the stranger wearing what looks to be black leather combat armor.

   "I am a traveler," says the woman, "simply a visitor in this land. I take it you got my letter?"

   "Indeed," says Farns with a distrusting gaze and taking a step back from the doorway into his home, "Are you a student at the school? I don't believe we've met."

   "I am indeed new here, yes." answers the woman.

  Farns takes another step back, "So what exactly was the meaning of that letter?"

  The woman smiles with deep red painted lips shining in the porchlight, "I wrote what I mean, I witnessed what happened today. I understand Daiyakisar attacked one of your students despite being ordered not to."

   The woman looks past the man, her eyes peering into the darkness, surveying the shadows, "I hear the spirit has been sealed from reappearing in the school for some time, a mere slap on the wrist, possibly not even a punishment from its perspective."

   Farns takes another step back as she talks outside the doorway, "That spirit is a vile entity, blood thirst, deranged, it wants to be worshipped, it wants humans to sacrifice blood to it. It tests the limits of your magical commands, it pulls at the reigns looking for any moment of weakness, any chance to do what it wants and break free. But you know that if you sell it, if you pass it on via some exchange, you will only rid your personal self of it, but it will be free to continue to test another, it may even break free, you can't be certain anyone else will have the same fortitude as you?"

   "and," says Farns interrupting and taking another step back, "I take it you represent someone who does and wants to take it off my hands? Who thinks what they saw today is me losing control of a partner spirit and wants to give it to someone else?"

   "Hmm," says the woman eyebrow raised, she looks down at the man's feet, at looks about the doorway, "Ah, I see,"

   She taps the inside of the doorframe with her index and ring finger quickly, "You have mistaken me for something else I think."

   She takes a step inside, Farns lets out an audible *sigh*, "Very well," he gestures to his table as he turns up the crystal lights on his ceiling, "you came here obviously to try and sell me something, something you can't try to sell me openly."

   She sits down opposite him at the table.

   "I will let you know right away," says Farns, "Aside from Dark Lords and summoners who want Daiyakisar, I have had more than my fair share of magic shop salesman trying to sell me some seal or another, as though my family were not the creators of most those brands in the first place; there is a reason I am a highly respected instructor at the Grand Summoning School. So let me guess, you are a new student at the school or someone who attended a student arriving today and come from a land with special seals and banishments; or more likely are looking to open a buisiness here for such things and saw an oppertunity; want an under the table, secret business venture and saw the trap shop or the dark magic card shops hidden in their back alleys. That is all for show I assure you, if you wish to open such a buisiness you can go through normal channels, this late night secret visitor stuff is completly unneccisary."

   The woman taps her fingers on the table, "Has Daiyakisar ever spoken to you about the other members of the Sar clan?"

   Farns gives her a curious look.

   "I am sure it has, no doubt however it has only ever spoken of three others, Sensar, Devisar, and its creator Satasar. These are not the only ones."

   She smiles and takes from her pocket a small purple velvet box like one would expect a ring or a pendent to be held in, "In its native world Sar can best be translated to mean...boss. Daiyaki would roughly translate as man-squid or land-squid. So Man-Squid Boss. Its world was more a world of spirits than men. Nothing it fought could die, and the ones that lead its cults did so more as a game than anything else; it wanted more, it discovered the worlds of flesh, worlds of blood, where suffering and agony were real, it wanted those things, it wanted its minions to be minions, it wanted its priests to be real priests, to worship it, to crave its favors, to be willing to trully sacrifice to it. Not to simply be...a game. Indeed your Eldritch spirit is more like...a prototype to the Mystic Monsters than anything...trully eldritch."

   Farns leans back and crosses his arms eying this strange woman coming to his home in the dead of night telling him these weird things that in centuries of keeping it captive have never heard from Daiyakisar, nor discovered in any texts.

   "A nice story," says the man, "and I might believe it if I weren't a Farns, we have had this eldritch spirit as you know in our company for centuries."

   The woman opens the box to reveal a grey cat claw like spike on a black string, "Shabrasar the traitor," she continues, "Shabrasar hated its existence, and those of others like it, it couldn't stand having any other spiritual beings inhabit the same world as its self. It didn't want to be A spirit, to be A elder god, or A monster, or A dark lord of this or that...it wanted to be THE GOD, the one and only power to be worshipped. Shabrasar created this, while true death does not exist for such beings, this can get rid of Daiyakisar, banish it compeltly from this world and never allow it to return again."

   "And why," says Farns eying the rather simple looking thing for what its holder boasts about it, "would you even have something like that?"

   "I am a collector of many curious magical things."

   "No," says Farns, putting his hand up, "I mean why did you bring that here, to this town, with you. It would be more believable if you had a messenger inform me such a thing existed and someone hearing of my...problem, would be willing to sell me something from their collection."

   "Firstly," says the woman pulling a green card from her pockets, "I used an equipment card I link to every magical item I own, seeing the oppertunity. Secondly this would not be a sale, but a loan...a rental."

   She pushes the box towards him, "I can give you...90 days, if you use it, you owe me, if not, it will simply be returned to me on its own. Even if you try to sell it, throw it away, destroy it, those conditions will result in its return to my collection and no sell. It is on you, to decide if you want the burden of Daiyakisar on your shoulders or be passed down to your descendants, relatives, or hapless fool who buys it at a funeral auction."

   "What guarantee do I have," says Farns, "that this can even do what you say, and this isn't some elaborate prank? Have you made a similar deal with anyone else to permanently be rid of a spirit? You know such things can have dire consequences."

   The woman turns her head and narrows her eyes.

   Farns follows her gaze, just the wall of his house, nothing more.

  "This is unrelated to the issue with the cards that have stopped working." she says.

  "I didn't say anything about that," says Farns, "you did. Rather suspicious, we have a series of cards that have stopped working, spirits disconnected from our world."

   He stands, "and someone approaches me, telling me they have a way to do just that to an Eldritch spirit."

   He grabs the box as two guards enter through the front door, "I do believe the authorities will want to know about this, and if this thing works on more than just one kind of card, you anti-spirit zeolots are hypocrits using,"

   The woman waves her hand and the two guards fall to the floor asleept. A *clink* sound reveals the stone under the table has fallen to the floor, now just an innert rock.

   The woman glares at Farns, the lights flicker, when they come up fully Farns staggers backwards nearly knocking his chair over, where the woman had stood there is now in her long white dress, long black hair, her hand raised palm up beneath her breasts in some noble stance Mirai's partner spirit, Tempestia.

   "I assure you," says Tempestia, "The claw of Shabrasar has nothing to do with those cards. All threats must be eliminated. I cannot target the summoner thanks my princess's orders, however that most vile thing you can't control properly has presented its self as a threat. I have more than enough reason to believe it would target her to be rid of me."

  Farns mouth agape looks at the box and back at her.

  "You have 90 days from the dawn, no more, no less, my summoner in the morning is taken me on her next job. You and that squid will have no distractions. Do as you wish, but if it comes after her in the meantime..."

   Tempestia stops and smiles as she looks towards the wall, Farns realizing she is looking towards the school, and up slightly, like any partner spirit, she can sense and is looking directly at Mirai beyond the walls and distance, checking on her sleeping in her bed in the dorms.

   She turns back to Farns, "I am a far more horrifying spirit than it is, but a far more loyal one. You have been warned ephemeral, use your escape from its clutches and your part in this story is over. Do not, and risk that blood thirsty wannabe elder god breaking free of your control and dragging you into the darkness that awaits it."

  Tempestia looks back to the wall, the lights flicker and it vanishes.

   ******

   *
   Sakura Oko,  partnered with an Elemental Faerie (Alraune *Cherry Blossom*)
   -fully comfortable with and proficient in Possession combat and prolonged Possessed state without loss of control

   Angela Maki, partnered with an Elemental Faerie (Golden Harpy *Goldie*)
    -fully comfortable with and proficient in Possession combat and prolonged Possessed state without loss of control

   Mirai Tonoka, partnered with an Eldritch Spirit (Tempestia)
      -has tested for and passed under the guidance of instructors Vizor Vicks and Sasha Ora the guidelines for Possession combat and spirit has shown loyalty in ending the possessed state when commanded.

    Instructor Sasha Ora, partnered with an Eldritch Spirit (Dominess) will be accompanying these three on the job request by a contact in Yoko Town. A traveling circus was built up overnight on Yoko Town farmland without permission and the performers appear to be either all spirits or people possessed by spirits, at least three locals have gone missing since the time of the circus arrival shortly after visiting it. The contact believes the circus to be the work of a Dark Lord or a cult trying to seduce people into permanently bonding with wild spirits as their hosts to join them. The team will be sent in undercover to investigate, utilizing a possession state to determine if the circus is targeting such individuals

  *Secondary investigation team noted: More than one contact has placed quests related to this circus, another team may be in the area utilizing a different tactic.


******

   In Tabitha Grimm's office Farns is standing there beside Vizor Vicks and a man in armor with a short dark beard, as Tabitha looks at the small claw like object he has brought in.

   "Ms. Tonoka already left this morning with Ms. Ora on a job," says Vicks, "I could use a contact spell, but given the nature of this particular job that could be troublesome for them if they've already reached Yoko Town."

   Tabitha looks up at Farns, "Considering you had two guards on this stake out over that suspicious note and they were rendered asleep and you weren't, I am surprised the chief didn't call wake us last night and waited till now." she looks up at the man in armor.

   "Spirit in fighting," says the security chief, "Not the first time one has tried to banish or convince a summoner to get rid of a spirit," he looks over at Vizor Vicks briefly, "as it was late we decided to wait till this morning to bring this to you. Mr. Farns has informed us of an on-going summoner investigation regarding deactivated summoning cards and that something like this might be responsible. You say the owner of the spirit is with one of your top faculty now who brought this to Mr. Farns and are currently out of town, I think we should appraise this item before we determine any further motives beyond two spirits simply having it out for each other."

   "I agree," says Tabitha nodding to Vicks, "bring her in."

   Vizor Vicks holds out a golden card, "I summon you forth, Luminous."

   The lithe pale elf like girl in golden swaying celestial robes and long golden hair appears, "Oh hero of old what would you have me reveal unto you."

   Vizor Vicks picks up the box, "We need to know what this is."

   "Its a box on concealment," says Luminous, "a special item that can conceal its contents from the senses of any spirit, making it a particularly powerful box of concealment, an extremly rare item, using a magic power beyond that of any alchemist my master has ever encountered upon this world or any other in our long and wonderful adventures."

   Vizor Vicks *sighs*, "Well...that's...something, in that case we need you to tell us what this item is inside the box."

   He opens it up to reveal the claw.

   She raises a brow and looks over at Farns and back at Vicks, "Wow, did Daiyakisar fuck up again that badly?"

   They are all taken back a moment before Luminous stops, looks around and speaks, "I mean, my master, that which you would would ask I shall reveal, that item is indeed what you seek to rid this unfortunate world from any future peril by Daiyakisar, as Farns grows old in years with no kin to pass on his burden, he can use this item to be rid of that most vile bloody thirsty abomination."

   Farns furrows his brows, "Hold on, spirits can change their forms...that spirit did...Mr. Vicks was it your partner that visted me last night and not Ms. Tonoka's?"

   Vizor Vicks asks the question as Luminous refuses to answer to anyone else, "No, my master, had I had this item I would have encouraged you long ago when you were...more open, to my suggestions of justice to hunt down this man's prisoner and be rid of it."

   Vizor Vicks turns the box, "So this simple looking little thing can really banish any spirit?"

   "No," says Luminous, "my master, that item only works on Mystic Monsters and those of Daiyakisar's lineage, it is a special creation."

   "How does it work?" asks Vizor Vicks.

   "Either my stabbing the card with it," says Luminous, "or enchanting a weapon by via a special ritual, the targeted opponent of these specific types will be permanently banished from the world upon which they were attacked by it."

   "So then," asks Vizor Vicks, "If I took out an Aqua Slime card and stabbed it, then all Aqua Slimes everywhere would be gone forever from all of Mededaria?"

   Everyone listens keenly, remembering the case at hand with all the cards that stopped working at once.

   "No," says Luminous, "only that specific Aqua Slime, this item was not intended for such a thing, to fulfill its purpose on those of the Sar clan it can only work on an individual. That one particular Aqua Slime would never be able to return to this world, which as Mystic Monsters are prone even when defeated they can return one year later to a world, in this case that individual could just never return here. Affecting Mystic Monsters is likely a side effect at any rate, it was intended by its creator."

   "Something just occured to me," says Farns, "Vicks, your spirit there hasn't said the name of the item, only what it does, seems a tad odd given how...detailed your spirit there usually is."

   Vicks *sighs*, "Luminous is there a reason for that...not saying the items name?"

   "Yes," says Luminous just stopping there.

   "And that reason is?" asks Vicks.

  Luminous looks at him showing him the rare sight of her annoyance, "I greatly dislike that individual. I would rather not even his name touch my tongue."

   She looks visibly digusted.

   "So then," says Farns taking the item back from Vicks, "This Shabrasar is a real spirit, and created an item that can work on individual spirits, but this was so long ago that it ended up in the possession of this Tempestia. I wander if perhaps this Shabrasar might not have created a more powerful version, one someone who knows it and summoned it intentionally could have used on dark water cards."

   "At this time," says Tabitha Grimm, "the team headed to the desert is working on the lead that the Twilight Temple might have been closed off,"

   "Although," says Vicks, "The Great Ocean Fairy did just say the cards were disconnected from the Great Fairy of the Twilight Temple, an item like this seems to work by shutting the door to our world on that particular spirit, if this could be done in mass it would feel about the same I'd wager."

   "Another lead," says Tabitha, "however this is more conjecture than the last, I can send a message to Ms. Ora to have Ms. Tonoka ask her spirit where it got this item and if it knows of a stronger version that might have ended up on our world, although Ms. Tonoka did say her spirit claims to have never been on our world before."

  "Master," says Luminous surprising them again by speaking first without being asked a question, "Although you have not asked, I will inform you. This spirit you call Tempestia is capricious, I can sense a timer on that item to automatically return it 89 days after today to its point of origin, in my experience she is...forgetful of things like this and likely did so as she won't remember she acted, which is why she also likely acted so quickly and brashly as to make contact with that man last night rather than act in a more discreet manner. She may not even remember she did this now, let alone when asked, and may change her mind if asked and remove the item immediatly as she is also a selfish creature who does not like her property being handled without her consent. She likely thought he would use it immediatly and thus would even now be back in her collection. If a stronger version of this item exists, and she knows of it, then it is not here and not being used as she likely would have taken it for herself upon its discovery."

   "A kleptomaniac spirit, but only of rare and powerful magical items," muses Vicks, "better than a Harpy just grabbing any random shiney object I suppose."

   "Indeed," says Luminois as she levitates and glows, "I bring you a greater warning oh mortals. If what you fear is true than the creator of this item being summoned to this world is of a much greater concern for it is a horrid spirit that hates all other spirits and would seek a means to imprison, enslave, seal, or banish them all so only it remains."

   "An echo," says Farns, "of what Ms. Tonoko's spirit said last night."

   "Heh," says the chief, "So what I get out of this, is there might be a spirit that doesn't like playing with other spirits and wants the whole playground to its self, and that pisses off these other spirits, but this thing right now though between Mr. Farns and this, uh, student's spirit is basic spirit in-fighting and happened to have something to get rid of the other one. I think perhaps you are all over thinking this. What I see is one spirit doesn't like the other, so at some point picked up an item that can specifically get rid of that other spirit, kick it off the playground. Chances are Mr. Farns your spirit knows this so went berserk seeing her, freaking out it might not even get its chance to get free some day and just *whoop* be banished."

   ******

   -Mean while-

    It is a region of rolling hills, most of which are covered in crops and tipped with farm houses. Yoko Town is really nothing more than a tiny assortment of businesses that keep the local farms organized in storing, shipping, and selling their produce. However such places also attract other businesses, and these result in smaller homes being built closer to the main street; one such business being construction and repairs. Mirai notices as the carriage goes through the town that there is even a card shop, as small as it is, as they make their way to a large house just beyond the edge of town, surprisingly they can also see the circuis they are here to investigate; its not as hidden or far off as they had suspected; it may even be a stones throw from the house they are going to in fact.

   *****

   -Some minutes later-

    It is an all too familiar scene, sitting across a very fancy table with a middle aged man and some body guards telling them the details they already know from taking the job request, the whole thing is just for show and to confirm with the client they are on the case and who the client can expect to show up after its done to collect the reward. However a few minutes after Mirai, Ora, Sakura, and Angela leave the man's office another person comes out from behind a door behind him, the two large guards in uniforms sloutch over dead weight in the air being held up by puppet strings dangling from the ceiling that had been invisible a moment before. The woman from behind the door is a thin yet bosom youth in a tattered looking black dress, white stickings, white sleeves, a massive white bow wrapped around her waist on her back, long black hair in twin braids, and a face as white and stiff as porceline with painted on cherry red lips, and black pools for eyes with black glowing cracks around the eye holes.

   "D...do you approve honey?" asks the middle aged man nervous.

   "Yesss," hisses the human like doll, "I want to see them changed, I want to see them bonded first, but yesss, the master will like her new dollies, she will find a place for them even if they are not perfect."

   "Th...that's good Beth..."

   The human like doll *HISSES*,

  "S...sorry," says the man nervous and shaking, "Doll Master Lara,"

   ******

   -Meanwhile back at the Grand Summoning School-