A month passed in the blink of an eye. For second-year students, that meant the preparations for summoning faefolk to establish a contract with was fast approaching.
With that came more in-depth lectures about the faes, their characteristics, and elements.
Rotsard couldn't care less about any of that, though.
He was enjoying the few last completely peaceful days before the actual summoning, spending time with Mira or training in the self-made version of the cold room.
As for why he didn't have a proper one established again… well…
Neither of his servants showed up since the start of the semester.
It did make things more bothersome for Rotsard, although not that much... Why? Well, becaue the moment Mira learned about his situation she got her servant to help him with all the troublesome chores.
Mira's maid wasn't very happy about that, but she was committed to her job and one of the requirements was doing her best to fulfill her master's wishes and requests.
Besides that, Rotsard was acting just like his character in the doefol's story, although the actual one wasn't devastated about being exposed by his cousin and the defeat at the hands of the future hero.
And speaking of. Justin could finally breathe out as his victory should have put a definitive end to the bullying. Not to mention that even though he was wearing bandages for two weeks straight as the internal damage he suffered from Rotsard… 's ice puppet's punches couldn't be healed immediately, even with teacher Mivoress's full attention. Even so, his self-esteem skyrocketed, finally making him resemble his character from the story.
While Justin's achievements and luck would only snowball into greatness after the actual summoning, and during which he would make a contract with a juvenile Great Fae, Rotsard's luck would take an even sharper nosedive.
Rotsard could enjoy some peace only because the students holding grudges against him were being cautious.
Even though Saria declared him a shame of the Vallhall family that will not receive any help or favor, all could change if he lucks out with the summoning and makes a contract with something really spectacular.
The latter part could be true for anyone, and it wasn't something limited to the officially recognized children of the noble families.
A contract with a really powerful fae opened the door for success for anyone, as it would immediately raise their status and even get them acknowledged by the family that shunned them in the past. Or, sometimes, get them adopted into a new one.
Even so, not many people other than students in a strictly controlled environment would attempt summoning.
The ritual opened the door, the person's mana lured in the fae, but since it was an open passage, something else could always attempt to barge in uninvited.
Mutated monsters afflicted with gedwyld.
Sometimes even stray lesser deofols.
Rarely, with cataclysmic bad luck, a true deofol.
That's why proper knowledge and preparations had to be done in order, and safety rules were the first and most important information the teachers tried to hammer into their students.
Because, since the potential contractor opened the door, they could shut it too.
Being able to recognize the difference between an incoming fae and anything malicious could be the only difference between life and death.
Anyhow…
The reason why Rotsard wasn't being swarmed with duel challenges was because of the slight chance that he would summon and make a contract with a Great Fae and get back into the good graces of the Vallhall family.
…only Rotsard knew that it would not happen, but… why would he out himself like that?
"..."
"As part of the preparations for the summoning, today we will be testing everyone's attunements. I'll explain once again, just in case. All fae are of a certain element, with some extremely rare exceptions having dual elements. That is not the case for us humans, as each and every one of us has five elements that mana connects us with. The elements themselves, as well as their purity, are different in each and every human, which influences the types of spells more compatible with their caster."
While Rotsard was zoning out, staring absentmindedly into the distance, the teacher began to explain while also unveiling a rather bulky piece of equipment on the additional table next to her desk.
"That's why even within the standardized magic system, there are differences between the same spells from caster to caster. Those characteristics, or augments, are also what lures the fae in. It is imperative that all of you definitely know what elements you are compatible with, considering that if during the summoning you will sense something like a fae but bearing an element different than any of your elements, you need to cut off the connection immediately. That is not a fae but a lesser deofol trying to get you... Faes are lured in by the similarities and compatibility only!"
"Teacher, but what if the deofol mask as fae of the right attribute?"
The woman continued, already pointing her hand towards the equipment about to explain its function, but was taken by surprise by a question from one of the students.
"..."
For a moment, she looked baffled. Not because a question was asked, but because the answer to it should already be well known to every second-year student as it was one of the basic safety rules.
"It's… it's because deofols are creatures of contrary. They never lie, but they wish only harm. It is something that baffled the minds of many and still causes some to make the fatal mistake of thinking they can use deofols to their advantage. For them, it's the greatest joy to come at a human, bearing all of its hostility in the open, being as obvious as they can that they are the enemy, and still getting them. And since during the summoning, their signatures ARE similar to that of a fae, they WILLINGLY announce that they are the enemy by displaying an element that's not compatible with the summoner."
"But… that doesn't make sense…"
The teacher breathed out and patiently explained, once again... but even so the student who originally asked the question made a bewildered expression and complained.
"That's because as we are creatures of reason, deofol's actions go against our nature. If you want to trick someone, you lie, or at least misguide them. Deofols will not, but that's exactly how they still manage to pollute humans with their gedwyld. We believe that there must be something more, or a way out, or some trick, but there's none."
"..."
As the woman continued the explanation, even Rotsard started paying attention.
Only with a slightly different reason than the others.
He, for once, wasn't confused at all about deofols' nature, but he did find it amusing how defols' being upfront and always speaking the truth painted creatures like faefolk or even humans.