Kingdom of Elvan

Deep beneath the royal castle, the heart of the Kingdom of Elvan. In a vast summoning chamber carved from marble, dense magical energy swirled. The air was chillingly cold, and ancient characters engraved on the walls emitted a faint glow. In the center, before a massive and complex summoning circle, a single man stood silently.

Clad in jet-black robes with his silver hair flowing loosely, the man—Xeno Valgray—looked down at the circle with his usual expressionless face. His mana was worn thin from days of relentless work, and the deep shadows under his eyes spoke of his exhaustion.

He slowly raised his right hand. The magical light spilling from his fingertips traced complex patterns through the circle.

...I begin.

As Xeno's low voice echoed through the hall, the summoning circle at his feet erupted in a blinding light. Purple lightning crackled and the wind howled. He narrowed his eyes, staring into the center of the radiance.

(...It won't be anything special anyway. I'd be lucky to get a clever little animal that can help with some filing. If it can just reduce the burden eating away at my body, even a little...)

The light reached its peak, turning his vision pure white. Then, as the light particles began to converge, a single small shadow appeared.

Xeno forgot to breathe for a moment. His blue eyes locked onto the being before him and wouldn't let go.

......So, it was you who answered the call.

His voice maintained its usual monotonous ring, but it was slightly raspy. He let no one sense his inner turmoil. In truth, even he could not yet fully comprehend the shock that felt like it was about to burst through his chest.

(......What? What is this... creature? 'Adorable' isn't enough. Is its very existence a conceptual weapon? Has it come to erase my sanity??)

This is the summoning chamber beneath the royal castle of Elvan. You have been called to this world by my summons. ...Do you have a name?