In the end Kat's retelling of her princess adventure took well into the evening and Lily had to head home. The girls had planned to mess around with Kat's options menu more once everyone got together again but Lily wasn't available as her parents decided to take the rest of the week of to spend some time with her. Kat was tempted to go and rescue her friend a few times but Lily's text messages assured her that her parents weren't that bad to be around, and while Kat begged to differ at least in the specific case of Lily's parents it also wasn't her place to comment otherwise.
And so Friday night came and went and just as Saturday morning began a portal opened for Kat. She quickly knocked of Callisto's door to inform her she was leaving and received only a shrug in response. Collecting herself and resummoning her attire she stood in front of the portal.
You know, I really need to find a way to wear other clothes again. It's nice that my kimono shares the grime repelling attribute my skin has but sometimes I still feel like it's dirty even after resummoning it. Am I just making it up in my head?
Yes. Unless User Kat's soul is dirty. No dirt will contaminate User Kat's Demonic Attire.
A soul can be dirty? Is that something I have to watch out for?
No.
Shaking her head Kat pressed her hand against the flames and was whisked away. The fire that encapsulated Kat had returned to its vibrant shifting nature that seemed to bend and twist a number of colours together and let them swirl around Kat. There was one difference though, and Kat had to enhance her eyes to see it clearly, but everything was shifted slightly purple the tiniest amount. If she hadn't enjoyed the flames so much prior the subtle shift would have gone unnoticed, and it had indeed gone unnoticed by many demons before her.
Suddenly Kat's feet met the ground and she found herself in a well-lit room. The ceiling had plenty of light sources dotted around it but there was no window in site. Across from Kat was a very neatly dressed man in a white robe that had countless blood red symbols sewn into it that all lit up and danced with light as he stood there. Looking around further revealed another surprise for Kat. Unlike previous summonings where she stood in a rather small circle opposite a summoner this time they were separated by a large distance, around ten metres in fact. And yet it wasn't the distance that surprised Kat but the exceptional number of glyphs and sigils packed into the drastically larger circle that surrounded her. Kat turned around to study the full room and saw that the circle continued in all directions sigils overlapping and interlocking all glowing in the same blood red that matched the runes on the man's outfit.
A cough interrupted Kat's cursory investigation of the symbols and she returned her gaze to the man. In addition to his elaborate robes he stood straight and tall with the air of a professional who was having his time wasted. He had strange grey hair that let him keep is air of youth despite the age associated with the colour. It was slicked back flat against his head and had that shine you associated with too much hair gel. Kat gave him a questioning look. His impatience was strange, didn't he want her for a job?
"What never seen a real summoning circle before?" asked the robed man
"Well I guess not then. I've not seen anything so…" Kat paused not necessarily wanting to compliment the rude man but deciding it was true nonetheless "impressive"
"This is simply a standard set up for multiple consecutive demon summoning. Nothing so impressive as to get worked up over. I do suppose the criteria that needed to be set is to blame. I suppose the clients will be happy" said the robed man
"What do you mean?" asked Kat
"I run a respectable demon summoning business. You have been summoned to assist on of my clients, or a group in this case. I'll take you to the meeting room shortly but I'll get to the contract now.
"Demon, you are contracted to follow me down the corridor for exactly 50 metres, turn left and then enter the room before you. You will not stop moving until you are inside the room. Once inside you are required to remain within the room until you have accepted the deal offered to you by my client. In the event you decline their offer you will immediately be banished and receive twenty percent of the promised amount. In the name of Tobias Olesen. Are you willing to accept the terms of the contract"
"Ah…" Kat just stared at the man. What's up with this set up? Do I accept? What promised amount is he even talking about?
The Payment for each job is sent to D.E.M.O.N.S to then be later distributed. This Summoner is aware that additional payment terms can be given in the initial contract. Certain figures would never be accepted by D.E.M.O.N.S. D.E.M.O.N.S has deemed 20% a reasonable fee in the event a User doesn't accept the request.
The system seems to think this is normal so I guess I just accept? "Sure…" said Kat and the chains appeared from Kat and the summoner. The chains originating from Kat was her trademark purple shade she had acquired after her awakening, but the chains that originated from the man were that deep blood red of the runes that coated the room. Kat's eyes grew wide as they wrapped around her and sunk into her flesh. Kat was genuinely disturbed by the blood red dripping chains that emanated from this summoner
System, you better tell me why those chains were blood red or so help me.
Summoners that have taken extra steps will have their own representation in the contract. Powerful User's are capable of using their chains to influence the contract in their favour and skew the interpretation of the contract terms in the User's favour. This Summoner has drastically increased the number of necessary runes to ensure that deals remain neutral to both parties.
Why doesn't he try to skew it in his favour then?
The runes required to skew a contract away from a demon's favour are extravagantly complicated, strict in their requirements and uses. Additionally there would then be a contest of wills between the Summoner and the User, likely resulting in the Summoner losing as demons have an instinctual understanding of how to fight against them.
"Why do you look so shocked girl?" asked the man, despite the professional tone the girl part seemed like a sneer. Despite this Kat couldn't see any dismissal in the man's eyes.
"I've never seen chains that colour" said Kat
"Indeed, well then enough questions it is time I took you to the clients" said the man who chanted a quick spell and began to float towards the door.
Kat was about to step over the circle and follow him when the man whipped his head around and hissed "Do you have no respect for my profession. Fly over the runes you insensitive fool"
"Um, I haven't really learnt to fly properly, I don't even know if I can" said Kat
"Just flap your wings a bit, you're a demon it should be really easy" said the man who moved his body into a sitting position while still floating towards the door.
"Oh yeah like it's as easy as flapping your wings" said Kat as she flapped her wings for emphasis… And started flying.
Kat's eyes darted around the room as she could feel her wings rhythmically beating about once every two seconds and keeping her afloat.
"This doesn't make any sense?! Why is this so easy? I shouldn't be able to fly like this" said Kat who had enough knowledge for physics class to understand she shouldn't be able to fly, let alone hover in place with a wingspan this small consider how… light… Kat was.
The man just shrugged. "If only learning levitation was that easy" said the man clearly not believing Kat had just learnt to fly in that moment.
Kat just shook her head and followed the man out of the room annoyed that she hadn't even tried to fly during the few days she had been on earth, or even during the time she was with Minor.
It clearly isn't even hard! It just works. Who on earth knows why but it just works? Doesn't even take that much energy, I could just fly all over the place then. System, can you ease my suffering and tell me how easily most demons pick up flight?
Does User Kat mean demons possessing flight capabilities?
Yes
Almost instantaneously. User Kat may have taken the longest recorded instance to learn that flight was within their skillset. Certainly the longest among demons with functioning wings.
I regret I ever asked.