Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1177: The Arrival of the Spirit Queen

Vale moved toward the Anima Haven’s Formation Circle, closing the distance.

Although he wasn't particularly accustomed to conducting a Summoning Ritual of this scale, he had performed the process before, making the technique familiar to him.

Before long, the glow of the circle began to merge with shadows that coiled around his form.

'Everything should go smoothly...' Vale mused, glancing toward Constance, who stood observing him from the edge of the room.

This space had not been granted to him without a price.

After negotiating with Constance, he had surrendered a significant amount of Divine Crystals to ensure she would look after the Spirit Queen and her followers. It was, after all, a demanding responsibility.

Their knowledge of the group's temperaments was limited, based solely on what they had gathered from Yvaine and Lotus.

Nevertheless, since Constance was recognized as a Spirit Immortal herself, Vale viewed her as his most reliable partner for this endeavor.

"Proceed, Vale... call them forth," Constance urged, sensing a hint of hesitation in his stance.

With a subtle nod from Vale, the Tower began to resonate. A powerful hum vibrated through the walls as Arcane Energy surged through the structure.

The Arcane Circle ignited with light as a bridge formed between the Spirit Realm and the ritual site.

Vale initiated the ceremony. It was a lengthy process, culminating in the moment he had to invoke the specific Spirit Being he sought.

"...By the bond of shadow and spirit, by the seal of concealment and haven, I call upon the Queen of Spirits. Cross the path... and be sheltered."

Across the void in the Spirit Realm, the Queen sensed the beckoning force. She shared the mysterious energy with her followers, who huddled close as their bodies began to radiate light.

'It is beginning...'

'We are truly migrating to a different world...'

'The human realm... I have heard the energy density is lacking, but we are out of options. It is a weak realm, which means the Demon Lords would never suspect us of hiding there.'

'I simply hope the Spirit Energy there isn't as dreadful as what we found in the Dark Realm...'

'The Summoning Call has actually encompassed every one of us...'

The group shared a variety of reactions as they witnessed the summons take hold.

None felt fear as the summoning energy enveloped them, for they recognized the power at work. However, seeing the sheer number of beings being transported at once, they realized that Vale was far from an ordinary Summoner.

The Queen’s violet eyes widened when the resonance of the circle brushed against her essence. The sensation was surprisingly mild and protective, lacking the violent tearing usually associated with crossing dimensional boundaries.

"Vale..." she whispered, feeling his aura reaching out across the divide.

As their sanctuary dissolved into shimmering light, the guardians braced themselves.

They were unsure when they might return to this realm, but they knew that when they did, the hierarchy of power would be irrevocably altered.

One by one, the light claimed them, drawing their essences silently through the passage.

The summoning was smooth, devoid of any spatial distortion, leaving only the gentle tug of the light.

***

Inside Constance’s Tower, a brilliant flare erupted from the circle.

Vale felt a massive drain on his Divinity, causing his aura to surge. Fortunately, he had the foresight to prepare enough Divinity Crystals to sustain the summoning demand.

Spirit energy quickly saturated the chamber. The air carried the delicate scent of the Spirit Realm, signaling that the Queen’s arrival was imminent.

Then, she stepped into view.

The Spirit Queen emerged, followed closely by her entourage of attendants and guardians.

Her silver hair shimmered like moonlight, and though she appeared exhausted, her gown of spirit threads pulsed with a soft light.

As the circle sealed itself behind them, her guardians immediately dropped to their knees.

They appeared to be struggling against the suppression of the Realm’s Will.

Despite Vale’s extensive preparations, the suppression could not be erased entirely. At best, he had managed to significantly dull its effects.

With the ritual successfully finished, Vale lowered his arms.

His gaze met the Queen's. For a brief moment, a heavy silence filled the Tower as two great powers acknowledged one another.

"The suppression must be hitting you now... but stay within these walls and it won't intensify. I trust you have brought the agreed payment?" Vale inquired in a low voice.

The Queen understood he was referring to the Spirits destined to be contracted to the young Arcanists, and she gave a firm nod.

***

Meanwhile, Ceres, who had once held the title of the third princess of the Millton Kingdom, went about her duties.

Born into high nobility, she had been schooled in the elegance and poise of royalty. However, her life took a turn when the Millton royals sought an alliance with Vale’s Shadow Domain. Ceres had been dispatched as a diplomatic envoy to gain favor with the Immortals, serving as a human link between the kingdom and the domain.

Magnus, the commander of the Shadow Domain, had welcomed her without hesitation.

The domain was short on high-level Arcanists at the time, and Ceres’s expertise in Holy Arts was an invaluable asset. She was likely the very first practitioner of Holy Arts to join their ranks.

Despite her royal upbringing, she adapted with impressive speed. She traded her crown for the life of a medic and healer at Shadow Castle before eventually being moved to Constance’s Immortal Tower.

As years passed, Ceres became a fixture within the Tower.

Her days were spent caring for exhausted Arcanists.

She provided relief to spirits drained by overwork, as Constance often pushed many Arcanists to labor for more than twelve hours a day.

Furthermore, she acted as a mediator, maintaining the peace between the mortals and the Immortals who sought safety there.

She lived a modest life regardless of her lineage. Dressed in plain robes with her golden hair pulled back, she worked tirelessly throughout the Tower’s corridors.

To the Immortals, her status as a princess mattered little; she was simply a dependable and kindhearted medic.

Usually, her routine involved waking early to mix healing draughts and spending long hours monitoring patients wounded in conflict.

Working alongside the attendants of Constance, she ensured the Tower remained a true haven for the weary.

However, the atmosphere shifted instantly when word traveled through the halls: the Spirit Queen herself had arrived from the Spirit Realm.