Felix nods, feeling determined. He listens carefully as Eleanor guides him through the first exercise, which is to create a simple thought form that can move and touch things. He follows her instructions, closing his eyes and visualizing a shape. He decides to make a sphere, because it's the easiest shape to imagine and control. He pictures a smooth, shiny, metallic sphere, about the size of his fist. He imagines how it feels, how it weighs, how it sounds when it rolls. He then channels his mental energy into it, trying to make it real.
He feels a strange sensation in his mind, like a part of him is separating and becoming detached. He opens his eyes, and sees a faint outline of a sphere floating in front of him. It's not very solid or clear, but it's there. He smiles, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He did it. He made a thought form.
He looks around, and sees that some of the other students have also succeeded, while others are still struggling. Arden is one of the successful ones, and he looks smug. He makes his thought form, which is a cube, fly towards Felix, as if trying to intimidate him. Felix quickly makes his sphere move, blocking the cube's path. The two thought forms collide, and bounce off each other. They both dissipate into nothingness, leaving no trace.
Arden frowns, looking annoyed. He tries to make another thought form, but he's interrupted by Eleanor, who claps her hands. "Arden, stick to your own exercise. Though you all did well, especially those who managed to make a thought form on their first try. That's very impressive." She says, praising them. She then looks at Felix, her expression curious. "Felix, you seem to have a knack for this. You created a thought form very quickly and easily, without much effort. That's rare for a beginner. How did you do it?" She asks, her voice intrigued.
Felix shrugs, feeling a bit embarrassed by the attention. "I don't know, Professor. I just did what you said. I imagined what I wanted, and poured my mental energy into it. Using psionic intent is what I've done the most, and I think I'd say it's my strong suit." He says, trying to sound modest. He doesn't want to brag, but he's also proud of his achievement.
Eleanor nods, her eyes thoughtful. "I see. Well, that's a good skill to have. You might have a natural talent for thought forms, or for psionic manifestation in general. That could be very useful for your future development. Though don't get too cocky, you still have a long way to go." She warns, her tone stern but kind. "Now, let's move on to the next exercise. This time, you'll try to make a thought form with a specific function. For example, you could make a thought form that can fetch something for you, or that can scan an area for danger, or that can record what it sees and hears. Be creative, but be realistic. Don't try to make something too complicated or beyond your current ability." She instructs, her voice clear.
Felix thinks about what he wants to make. He decides to try something that relates to his interests and goals. He wants to make a thought form that can read books for him, and since what they learn, he learns, he hopes that it'll help him with his studies. He imagines a humanoid figure, wearing glasses and holding a book. He gives it the command to read the books to learn new information. He channels his mental energy into it, and opens his eyes.
He gasps, as he sees his thought form standing in front of him as a humanoid scholar before it moves to the nearby bookshelf. It's much more detailed and realistic than his previous sphere, with features and expressions. It's almost like a living being, except for the faint glow that surrounds it. He feels a connection to it, as if it's an extension of himself. He also feels a bit of pride and excitement, as he realizes what he has accomplished. He's made a thought form that can potentially teach him and read for him. He wonders if he can use it in his class or his free time, to speed up his learning process.
He looks at Eleanor, hoping to get her approval. She's staring at him, her mouth slightly open. She seems shocked and impressed by his thought form. She walks over to him, and examines it closely. "Felix... This is... This is incredible. I've never seen a beginner make such a complex and functional thought form. You've essentially created a psionic assistant, a device that can perform a high-level cognitive task. This is something that even some advanced psions struggle with. How did you do it?" She asks, her voice amazed. She then asks his thought form, "Can you understand me?"
The thought form doesn't respond and opens one of the books to read without paying attention to Eleanor. "I... I just did what you said, Professor. I visualized what I wanted, and gave it a clear command. It's something I've wanted for a long time, to be able to learn faster and easier. I guess I had a strong motivation." He says, his voice humble but also happy. He watches as his thought form starts reading the book, though very slowly. He can feel the information flowing from it to him, but it's not very fast or efficient. He realizes that he still needs to improve his thought form, and his own psionic skills, to make it work better.
Eleanor nods, her expression awed. "Well, you've certainly surpassed my expectations, Felix. This is a remarkable achievement, and you should be very proud of yourself. Though don't get complacent. You still need to practice and refine your thought form, and learn how to control it better. You also need to be careful about the information you receive from it, as it might not be accurate or complete. You have to verify it yourself, and use your own critical thinking. A thought form is a tool, not a substitute for your own mind." She cautions, her tone wise. She then smiles, and pats his shoulder. "But for now, you've earned my praise. You're a natural at this, Felix. I can't wait to see what else you can do." She says, her voice warm.
Felix feels a flush of pleasure at her words, and thanks her. He looks around, and sees that the other students are staring at him with a mix of envy, admiration, and disbelief. Even Arden seems impressed, despite his obvious dislike for him. Felix feels a bit awkward, but also a bit smug. He knows he's done something special, and he's happy to have proven himself. He also wonders what other things he can do with thought forms.
Eleanor nods back, and returns to the center of the room. "Alright, class, let's wrap up for today. You've all done a great job, and I'm proud of you. For homework, I want you to practice making and using thought forms. Try to make different kinds, and test their functions and limits. Bring your questions and observations to our next class, and we'll discuss them. Dismissed." She says, her voice cheerful.
The students stand up, gathering their things and chatting with each other. Some of them congratulate Felix, while others ignore him or glare at him. He doesn't care, he's too busy thinking about his thought form and how to improve it. He realizes that he has to dismiss it, or else it will keep reading and drain his mental energy. He focuses on it, and tells it to stop and return to him. The thought form obeys, and dissolves into his mind. He feels a slight relief, as if a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.
He wonders if he can make his thought form more independent and easier to maintain. Make it less of a drain on him so he could set it up and leave without worrying. He thinks about his magic, and how he uses mana to enhance his physical abilities. He wonders if he can do something similar with his thought form, using mana as a power source or a buffer.
He recalls a concept he learned from one of his books: a physical anchor. A physical object that the thought form could be connected to which would increase stability and allow him to offload some of the overhead costs. Something like a psi crystal that holds and channels the mental energy, and magically enchanted housing unit that helps the stability and handling complexity.
He decides that he'll try to make one tomorrow, after he gets the materials from his mom's shop. He's excited by the idea, and confident that he can pull it off. He feels like he's found a new way to apply his psionics, and that it will open up many possibilities for him.
He walks out of the classroom, feeling energized and optimistic. He heads home, thinking about what he'll do tomorrow, and what he'll tell his mom.
Felix walks into his home, feeling a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction. It's been a long and eventful day, and he's looking forward to relaxing with his mom. He finds her in the kitchen, stirring a pot of soup over the fire. She turns around when she hears him, and smiles.
"Welcome home, sweetie. How was your day?" She asks, her voice warm and loving.
He smiles back, dropping his bag on the couch and walking over to her. He gives her a hug, and a kiss on the cheek. "It was... interesting, to say the least. I have a lot to tell you." He says, his tone a bit dramatic.
She raises an eyebrow, looking curious. "Oh? Did something good happen, or something bad?" She asks, her voice playful.
He shrugs, sitting down at the table. "Both, I guess. Let's start from the beginning, magic class. Well, we were learning about summoning, and I... well, I kind of summoned a demon princess by accident. She wasn't happy about it, and she made me her familiar as a punishment." He says, trying to sound casual.
She stares at him, her eyes wide and her mouth open. "You... you what?! You summoned a demon princess?! And she made you her familiar?! How is that even possible?! Are you okay?! Did she hurt you?!" She asks, her voice full of shock and concern.
He holds up his hands, trying to calm her down. "I'm fine, mom, really. She just slapped me, punched me, and slammed me into the ground a bit. Though the worst thing was just the frustration of signing a contract that says I have to answer her summons and obey her commands four times a month, for up to two hours each. Though she can't literally tell me to anything. She can't make me violate core values, cause myself permanent injuries, and I reserve the right to refuse demands generally. Though if I don't do what she wants it doesn't count against her summon limit."
She looks at him, her expression a mix of disbelief and anger. "What do you mean, 'just slapped me, punched me, and slammed me into the ground a bit'?! That's not okay! I'm going to find this demon princess and give her a piece of my mind! Nobody messes with my son like that!" She says, her voice fierce. She stands up, ready to storm out of the house.
He quickly stops her, grabbing her arm. "Mom, no! You can't do that! She's a demon princess, she's powerful and dangerous! I love you and appreciate you wanting to help, but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't stand a snowball's chance in hell against her. I'll handle it, I promise."
She sighs, sitting back down. She looks at him with worry and frustration. "Fine, but I want to see this contract. I want to know what it says, and what your rights and obligations are. Maybe I can find a loophole or a way to cancel it." She says, her voice firm.
He nods, agreeing. "Okay, that's fair. Though you have to promise to not go after her, no matter what you find. She's not a regular demon, she's royalty. She could destroy our house and our shop without breaking a sweat. I don't want you to get hurt because of me." He says, his voice serious.
She gives him a look that says she'll do what she wants, but also that she loves him. "Alright, I promise. Now show me the contract." She says, her tone impatient.
He focuses on the contract, trying to remember its contents and wording. He feels a tug in his mind, and a piece of paper materializes in his hand. It looks exactly like the one Lilith gave him, with her elegant handwriting and signature. He hands it to his mom, who snatches it and starts reading it. He watches her face, which changes from anger to confusion to curiosity.
She finishes reading it, and looks at him. "This is... bizarre. I've never seen anything like this before. It's a standard summoning contract, but with you as the summoned party. And the terms are... well, they're not as bad as I expected. She's not asking for your soul, or your blood, or anything like that. She just wants you to be her servant for a limited time. Did she say what the purpose was?"
He shakes his head, "No, she just said it was a karmic punishment. I think she wanted to teach me a lesson about respecting the beings I contact. I'm not sure if she's going to be serious about the summons or not. Maybe she'll forget about me after a while." He says, hoping that's the case.
"So she wanted you to experience what you did to her, huh? That's... clever, in a twisted way. Though I don't like the idea of you being at her beck and call. What if she calls you in the middle of the night, or during an exam, or when you're with someone? What if she makes you do something embarrassing or dangerous?" She asks, her voice worried.
He sighs, feeling the same way. "I don't know, mom. I guess I'll have to deal with it when it happens. I'm not looking forward to it, but I don't have much choice, do I? Unless you can think of a way to get out of it." He says, his tone resigned.
She frowns, thinking hard. "Well... maybe. I'll do my best to find a solution for you, but of course I can't promise anything." She says, her voice determined. "In the meantime, I want you to be careful and avoid any more trouble. I don't want you to summon anything else, especially in my shop. I have a lot of valuable and delicate stuff here, and I don't want it damaged or stolen by some random creature you bring here." She adds, her voice stern.
He nods, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry, mom. I didn't mean to cause you any trouble. I'll be more careful, I swear. Speaking of which, I need your help with something else. I made a thought form in psionics class, and I want to make it more efficient and independent. I need some materials from your shop, if you have them." He says, changing the subject.
She looks at him, her expression softening. "What's a thought form, and how successful were you with it?" She inquires.
He explains, "It's a psionic construct that can perform a task for me, like an extension of my will. I made one that can read books and teach me what it learns, but it's not very fast or stable. I want to improve it by using a physical anchor, something that can hold and channel the mental energy, and reduce the strain on me. I was thinking of using a psi crystal housed in a box made of silver I can inscribe glyphs on. Do you have something like that?" He asks, hoping she does.
She smiles, looking proud. "I do, in fact. I have some spare psi crystals and silver boxes in the back. I use them for some of my alchemical experiments, they have some interesting properties. I'm impressed, Felix. You're really applying what you learn, and finding creative ways to solve your problems. That's very smart of you." She says, her voice praising.
He beams, feeling happy. "Thanks, mom. You're the best. Can I have them, then?" He asks, his tone eager.
She laughs, standing up. "Of course, sweetie. Come with me, I'll show you where they are. Though first, let's finish dinner. I made your favorite, chicken soup with dumplings. I figured you'd be hungry after your day. Also, I'll want to supervise how you use the materials and make sure you aren't doing anything reckless." She says, her voice teasing.
He grins, following her to the stove. "You're the best mom ever. I love you." He says, giving her another hug.
She hugs him back, "I love you too, sweetie. Now let's eat, and then we'll see about doing your project tomorrow morning." She says, her voice loving.
He nods, feeling content. Despite all the craziness of the day, he's glad to be home with his mom. He knows he can count on her for anything, and that makes him feel safe and happy. He enjoys the soup, savoring the taste and the warmth. He tells her more about his day. She listens, commenting and asking questions, but mostly letting him vent. They have a nice evening together, relaxing and bonding. He thinks that maybe tomorrow will be a better day, and that he'll be ready for whatever comes his way.
The next morning, Felix wakes up early, feeling refreshed and ready to work on his project. He eats breakfast with his mom, who has already prepared the materials he requested. She has a large psi crystal, about the size of his fist, and a small silver box, with a lid and a latch. The crystal is clear and smooth, while the box is plain and simple. They both look mundane, but Felix knows they have hidden potential.
"So, what's your plan, Felix? How are you going to turn these into a better thought form?" She asks, curious.
"Well, first I need to attune the crystal, so it can resonate with my mental energy. Then I'll put it in the box and enchant the box, so it can amplify and stabilize the crystal. The box will also act as a physical anchor for the thought form, so I don't have to constantly focus on it. I'll also try making the thought form more cognitively complex and adaptive, since the reduced cognitive overhead will hopefully let me do that." He explains, sounding confident.
She nods, impressed. "That sounds like a good plan. Though I'm going to watch you closely and make sure you don't hurt yourself. This is advanced stuff, and I don't want you to overdo it." She says, her tone motherly.
He smiles, reassuring her. "Don't worry, mom. I know my limits, and I'll be careful. Plus, you're here to help me if I need it." He says, grateful for her support.
They go to his room, where he has cleared a space on his desk. He sits down, and places the crystal and the box in front of him. He closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath. He tries to sense the crystal, to feel its vibration and frequency. He finds it, and matches his own mental energy to it. He feels a connection forming between him and the crystal, like a bridge of light. He then opens his eyes, and sees that the crystal is glowing faintly. He smiles, knowing that the first step is done.
He picks up the box, and examines it. He needs to engrave some glyphs on it, to enhance its magical properties. He takes the quiel and a bottle of magic ink, and carefully draws the symbols he wants. They are simple, but precise. Drawing the glyphs carefully. Grouping them together and organizing them with forethought. He finishes, and blows on the box to dry the ink. He then places the crystal inside the box, and closes the lid. He feels a surge of power, as the box activates and links with the crystal.
He leans back, admiring his work. He has created a device that can store, amplify, and regulate his mental energy. He hopes it will work as he intended, and make his thought form more efficient and autonomous. He decides to test it, and summons his thought form again.
He focuses on the image of the humanoid scholar, and the command to read and learn. He channels his mental energy into the device, and watches as the thought form materializes above it. It looks the same as before, but with a subtle difference. It seems more solid and defined, and its eyes have a spark of intelligence. It also moves more smoothly and naturally. It bows to him, and then flies to the bookshelf, where it picks a book and starts reading. Only a bit faster, but it's a meaningful step. Felix feels a sense of satisfaction, as he realizes that his device works. He also feels a sense of relief, as he notices that the device is taking most of the strain of maintaining the thought form, leaving him with more mental energy to spare.
He turns to his mom, who is watching him with awe and pride. "What do you think, mom? It's a major step, I'm sure I can improve it further if I keep trying. Though this is definitely something." He says, his voice cheerful.
She smiles, hugging him. "I think it's amazing, Felix. You really succeed, and you didn't break anything or call any extra planar threats or anything." She says while smiling teasingly.
He laughs, feeling happy and loved. "Thanks, mom. I couldn't have done it without you." He says, meaning it.
She kisses his forehead, "You're welcome, sweetie. Now, you should go to your classes. You don't want to be late, especially not after yesterday's chaos." She says, her tone reminding.
He nods, agreeing. He dismisses his thought form, and puts his device in his bag. He says goodbye to his mom, and leaves the house. He walks to the academy, feeling optimistic and curious. He wonders what the day will bring, and if he'll have any more surprises. He hopes not, but he's also ready for anything.
Felix arrives at the magic classroom, feeling excited and nervous. He hasn't seen Nya since the summoning incident, and he wonders how she'll react. He hopes she won't be too disappointed or angry with him. He enters the room, and sees her setting up some props and materials on a table. She looks up, and smiles when she sees him.
"Good morning, Felix. I'm glad you're here. I've been thinking a lot about what happened yesterday, and I have some ideas for you." She says, her voice cheerful.
He smiles back, feeling relieved. "Good morning, Nya. I'm sorry for causing trouble, and for scaring you. I didn't mean to summon a demon princess, it just happened." He says, apologizing.
She waves her hand, dismissing his apology. "Don't worry about it, Felix. I'm just glad you're okay. Are you ready for today's class? I'm thinking I want to make it about mages finding their niche in magic. It's an important topic, and I think you'll find it interesting." She says, her tone enthusiastic.
He nods, curious. "Sure, what do you mean by niche?" He asks, taking a seat.
Nya smiles warmly and scratches behind his ear before saying, "I don't want to get into it too soon before the rest of the class arrives, so you'll have to be a little patient." She winks before continuing, "Though I like your enthusiasm."