‘Obviously your demon needs some discipline and training, but good work none-the-less! I shall summon my demon, Lysander, so that I can demonstrate how to infuse. Stand back please!’ Lovett announced. Sylva and Sariel moved aside, and the rest of the group took several steps backwards.
‘The larger your demon is, the more difficult the summoning. Of course, in the field, you won’t be able to wear protective clothing, but it is best to take precautions when we can, especially with untrained noviciates such as yourselves,’ Lovett said, kneeling on the corner of the summoning leather. ‘The main reason for all the protection is for using keyed pentacles, but we won’t get on to that until later.’
She fished a pair of black-lensed goggles and a leather cap from a pouch in her apron, then put them on firmly.
The pentacle glowed again, white sparks spitting and sizzling on the leather around it. A white orb appeared above it and, to Fletcher’s astonishment, a demon formed in just a few seconds. The creature had the body, tail and back legs of a lion, but the head, wings and front talons of an eagle. It was the size of a large horse, with tawny brown feathers that blended into the golden fur halfway down the creature’s back.
‘I too was blessed with a rare demon, a Griffin. But he was not given to me. I started with a Mite, just as some of you have. Do not be disheartened by your modest beginnings. Mites are fiercely loyal creatures, and you can control many of them at once. Lysander requires all my concentration just to keep him under control. Major Goodwin will teach you more on demon control in your demonology classes.’
Genevieve smiled and lifted Azura to her lips, kissing the beetle’s cobalt carapace.
‘Does that mean you were a commoner too?’ Rory asked, barely able to tear his eyes away from the majestic creature.
‘No . . . although I was present when the first commoners arrived at Vocans. I am the third daughter of the Lovetts of Calgary, a small fiefdom in northern Hominum. By strange coincidence, my father was blessed with several adept children. I was the youngest, so I was given the weakest demon by my father. I’m glad he did though. If he had not, I would never have specialised in demonic capture. You can all own a powerful demon such as this, as long as you work hard.’ She wrapped her arm around Lysander, who nuzzled his beak against her chest fondly. The Griffin’s eyes were deep amber, as large and intelligent as an owl’s. They flicked from student to student with curiosity, at last resting with special attention on Ignatius.
‘Now, I shall demonstrate how to infuse. It is almost a reverse of the procedure. The pentacle must be pointed directly at the demon and it cannot be too far away. This is why we have them stand on the summoning leathers. However, if Lysander were to hover several metres above the pentacle, I would be able to manage it.’
She kneeled and laid her hands on the leather once more, sputtering the pentacle into life.
‘You must first push mana into the pentacle. Soon you will feel an obstacle between your demon’s consciousness and your own. Once you feel that, pull the demon through it . . .’ She heaved with effort, and Lysander glowed, then dissipated into strands of white light that flowed into her hands.
‘That’s all there is to it,’ Lovett announced, her forehead beading with sweat. They applauded her skill, but Fletcher was filled with apprehension when she turned her steely eyes on to him.
‘Fletcher, you shall try first, as your demon needs to rest the most. Arcturus tells me you are unusually gifted at spellcraft. Let us see if the same holds true for infusion.’ Lovett pointed at the floor in front of him.
Fletcher slowly unrolled his summoning mat and sent Ignatius on to it. The demon sat there, uttering a nervous chirr as he felt Fletcher’s anxiety. Fletcher did as he had been instructed, channelling the mana into the leather mat. It glowed a fierce violet, steady and unwavering.
‘Do you feel it, Fletcher?’ Lovett asked, placing a steadying hand on Fletcher’s shoulder.
‘I feel it,’ Fletcher grunted back through gritted teeth. In his mana-charged state, the light was almost blinding, filling his vision with the glowing star.
‘Pull him through. You may struggle initially, but that is normal for the first infusion.’ Lovett’s voice sounded as if it were coming from a great distance. The mana pulsed through his veins with each beat of his heart, thundering in his ears. His link with Ignatius was blocked. He grasped at the demon’s mind, then, with a colossal effort, drew him in. For a moment, he strained, hissing between gritted teeth. It felt as if Ignatius was caught in an elastic web. After what seemed like an age there was a gentle snap, and the demon’s consciousness merged with his own. It was like sinking into a warm bath.
‘Well done, Fletcher! You can rest now,’ Lovett whispered in his ear.