The first sensation Theo felt as he came back into consciousness was the weight of the quill pen between his fingers.

He was writing something intently. The lightweight quill pen felt as heavy as a steel spear, and he could feel an ache run through his forearm with every movement. Despite only just regaining consciousness, Theo calmly reached out with his senses.

This- is it a summoning magic formula?

The thin hand was sketching out a summoning magic formula at a terrifying speed. It was a speed that displayed a fathomless knowledge of summoning magic.

Theo needed no other clues to realize that this nearly skeletal hand was Satomer’s. However, he wasn’t given a chance to be impressed by anything else of the best summoning magician in the modern age.

“... No, no!”

A grating voice echoed around them. It sounded like Satomer had a serious illness. He coughed up blood and phlegm as Theo grew more aware of how labored his breathing was. Nevertheless, Satomer’s voice was full of energy as he struck the...