Samantha Arcana was a journeyman mage.
Only a journeyman mage.
One who's master had died attempting the exact same spell she was now.
Truthfully, he was old and probably didn't have many years left anyway, but he was powerful and the thought of a spell that he couldn't cast was terrifying.
This summoning was of the utmost importance though. If she couldn't manage to summon the hero of the legends, then their kingdom, the world would not last much longer.
She stood there in the cold room sweating bullets. Her hair stuck to her face, her eyes squeezed shut, her arm shaking as she held them outstretched, her robes clung to her body drenched, all while she chanted the spell desperately to the universe.
Half an hour in the magic circle flickered, then glowed faintly. Samantha only dared open one eye as she continued to chant.
The circle increased in intensity, glowing brighter and brighter until it was like the very sun had entered the room.
She squeezed her eyes shut and turned her face from the blinding light.
She clenched her teeth and groaned, and just before she was ready to scream from the stress, it was over.
The room was dim and cold again.
Samantha slumped to her knees exhausted. She let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding.
She leaned forward on her hands, sweat dripping on the dusty stone floor. Tears welled up in her eyes.
A cold breeze blew in from the lone window. She shivered, then sneezed.
"Bless you." a soft deep voice said.
"Thank you." she sniffled her reply without thinking. She froze.
She was the only one in the room. So, whose voice was that?
She trembled as she slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes fell on a pair of large dark-skinned feet, then traveled up a pair of toned muscular legs, impressive proof this person was male, eight well shaped abs framed by strong looking arms, pecks that looked like plate armor, all crowned by the kindest, most handsome, smirking face she had ever seen.
Unsure whether it was from exhaustion, or desire, she swooned and fainted.
When Samantha woke her head was pounding.
It felt like she was being boxed about her ears with two cast iron pots. She sat up in bed and rubbed her temples, groaning loudly.
The smell of roasting meat aroused her senses, and she opened her eyes.
Samantha stared at her blanket for a moment. It wasn't hers.
Her old dingy white blanket wasn't the most elegant thing, but it was better than this dusty old brown thing.
She pulled the blanket back and set her feet on the floor. Where was her rug? Why was she naked?
The questions were starting to stack up in her foggy brain. She squinted her eyes around a room she didn't recognize.
There was an oil lamp on a small table by the bed to her right. There was a table across from her with a pitcher of water and a couple of glasses on it.
By the hearth there was a hulking figure, wrapped in a sheet, turning bits of meat over the fire.
That woke her up.
"Who are you?" she demanded, calling on her magic only to be answered by more searing pain in her head.
She groaned and flopped back down on the bed, holding her head in her hands.
The large man stepped over to her and knelt on one knee, handing her a plate with a few meat skewers, and a glass of water.
When he spoke his voice was soft, gentle and melodic, like a grandfather singing a lullaby.
"My name is Raymond, and I think you may be suffering from Mana depletion. Here, eat."
Samantha hesitated, but her stomach roared loud at the sight of food. She accepted the plate and sniffed the meat tentatively before tearing into it.
She grabbed the water and gulped the glass down all at once, gasping after. She took a deep, steading breath then eyed the man watching her with a slight smile.
"What do you want, Raymond? Why are you here?" She asked, maybe a little harsher than she meant to.
Raymond raised his eyebrows in a questioning look.
"Young miss, did you not summon me? I was told that I was sent here as an answer to prayer, to fight some great evil."
"What?" Samantha nearly choked on her food. "The summoning worked?!"
She stared at Raymond more intently now studying his features. "You're the legendary hero?"
Raymond chuckled lightly. "I think that part still remains to be seen, but I have been sent here to help. By the way, where is 'here'?"
Samantha bounced excitedly. "Of course, Sir Raymond! This is the planet, Althea. We are currently in the smallest of the four kingdoms, Americus of the Blue Dragon. This is the township of Tulip, right outside the capital city of York Town."
her voice took a somber tone. "To the far east, a powerful necromancer has resurrected the dreaded black dragon. With a horde of undead, he has managed to conquer Moscus of the Red dragon, the second largest kingdom.
The three remaining kingdoms are scared. They know none of us have a chance on their own, but they can't seem to agree on a single thing.
Legend tells of a warrior that will come from another world, unite the kingdoms and defeat the Great Evil.
That's why my master and I attempted the summoning spell. My master dreamt that the Nerco-King was on the move again.
We will need your help if we are going to survive."
Raymond nodded his understanding, thinking as he picked his teeth with a skewer.
"OK, seems pretty straight forward. I just have a few more questions. First off, who are you?"
He asked, pointing a skewer at the young mage and taking the time to look her over now that she was awake.
She was gorgeous. Her skin was soft and smooth from head to toe, without a single blemish. Her eyes were a light purple, something he had never seen before and found captivating.
Her raven black hair fell on loose curls about her slender shoulders, providing a stark contrast to her milky white skin.
She had large perky breasts that ended in wide pink nipples that seemed to beg to be sucked.
Her slim waist blossomed into wide hips and thick thighs like two pillows being squeezed together.
Even though he was never into that sort of thing, Raymond had to admit, even this girl's feet were cute.
Raymond silently gave thanks to whatever god that sent him here, to her.
She smiled brightly, lifting her chest in pride.
"I am Samantha Goodcat, journeyman mage and apprentice to Clydesdale the Great, of The Order of the Blue Dragon."
She touched her chest and inclined her head. She froze, her pale face turning bright red as she suddenly realized she had been talking to a man while completely naked this entire time.