Sliding the door shut behind him. Dean made his way to the dining area where the family usually had dinner.
Walking through the hallway with several unoccupied rooms. His eyes met a small altar inside the only open room. The altar contained flowers, incense, and several pictures of a woman.
'That must be her,' Dean thought. From this body's memories, he knew very well that the woman who gave birth to Dean was dead.
It was tragic, but he still considered the original lucky. At least he knew his mother, unlike him. Till date he had no clue who his own parents were.
He sighed and walked past the room, entering the dining area silently. The air smelt like roses mixed with the mouth-watering aroma of curry.
When he arrived, it was just Nessa and Yuki there, with the older girl still glaring at him as if he'd stolen from her.
'Give it a rest, you wench,' he thought as he looked around the low table which was filled with different delicacies.
There were several cushions on the floor with one made of golden-hued silk.
It was obvious where Ying was going to sit, so Dean sat opposite the head of the table.
He sat on a cushion with legs arranged properly. Just like him, Nessa and Yuki were now seated and dressed in more traditional attire.
In his case, he wore an all-black, plain jinbei while Yuki and Nessa wore pink kimono robes.
They sat in silence, awaiting the head of House Gray. Yuki's glare surprisingly shut even Nessa up as Dean continuously avoided eye contact with her.
His shoulders tensed involuntarily whenever her eyes locked on his, And he could feel his heartbeat speed up.
'What the fuck?' He clenched his jaw, annoyed at his own body. 'She's twenty and I'm a grown ass man. Why the hell am I scared?'
He couldn't fully understand why he was afraid of this girl? Sure, the memories he had of her weren't the most pleasant, but she was still just a kid.
Dean gulped slightly and steeled his eyes and thumping heart as he faced Yuki without breaking eye contact.
Both their black eyes stayed locked for about 10 seconds before Ying finally arrived. They broke eye contact immediately the man came in.
Without ceremony, the imposing looking man who wore a grey jinbei with the family insignia sat down on his cushion, and without words, everyone understood it was time to eat.
The family dug into the rice, curry, and roasted fish prepared by Yuki. They ate between brief conversations, laughter and Yuki threatening Dean's well-being.
After eating for about twenty minutes, they soon left only empty bowls and worn chopsticks on the table.
Dean also had to admit that Ying might actually be a situation of don't judge a book by its cover, with how the tension that always rose around him melts whenever he speaks with his children.
"Come," the coarse voice called.
Dean's eyes followed Ying, who had simply stood to signify the end of dinner.
Nodding softly, Dean stood and followed behind Ying, who was already making his way out of the dining area.
Nessa was about to stand and race behind the duo when Yuki blocked her off with an outstretched hand.
"Wait," Yuki muttered while she began packing up the dishes, expecting the young girl to assist.
Begrudgingly, Nessa assisted as Ying and Dean left the main house completely.
Ying led Dean to a building just across from the main house. It was exactly the same design as the main house, but a lot smaller.
The duo entered as Ying directed Dean to stand just opposite him. Ying hadn't said another word since he left the main house.
This made Dean lose any chance of controlling his increased heartbeat, with a million thoughts flying through his mind.
Did the man know he wasn't his original son?, or maybe he had received information that the summoning was a bust.
"How was the summoning ceremony?" Ying asked. His voice was thick with interest as if he had no clue what had happened.
Dean's expression was blank. He did his best to keep any of the joy he was feeling inwardly from spilling out.
At least the man wasn't asking him how he got into the body of his son.
"It was fine old man," he replied, while he took a single step forward.
"I pulled a third familiar."
Ying stared at him for a long moment, fully aware what having three summons meant for his son's future.
Ying nodded slowly as what seemed to be a smile hooked on the edges of his lips.
"Show me," Ying instructed.
Dean nodded momentarily before closing his eye. He channeled verge essence through his body attempting to connect to his familiar.
In a matter of seconds, he felt like an invisible tether had extended from his body into a mysterious space deep within what he believed to be his consciousness.
The tether tugged at nothingness until suddenly, the very space in front of him began glowing in a rainbow hue, and from the rainbow glow, a slime not larger than a tiny puddle slipped into reality.
There was no shockwave like before, just the slime which swiftly opened its big, round, googly eyes.
The slime stayed motionless, just like Ying. Seeing the unreadable expression on Ying's face, Dean scratched the back of his head.
"Th-that's it," he said flatly.
"It's precious," a sharp and cute voice broke the ice, causing both Ying and Dean to turn towards the door.
Yuki already had her hand over Nessa's mouth as she stared intently at the familiar, while Nessa struggled to escape her hold.
Ying looked back at the slime. There was just something off about the creature.
He slowly stretched his hand forward, even as his verge essence, the mystical energy that allowed summoners to pull familiars into reality, vibrated towards the slime.
Creak!
The slime wobbled, and Ying retreated his hand immediately.
It wasn't out of fear, but the fact that as much as this creature looked harmless. Its own verge didn't resonate to Ying's at all, like it wasn't even a familiar.
This was the first time in his forty years that Ying had sensed or seen anything like this. This slime was special.
Taking it's eyes off the slime and back to Dean. Ying finally found words.
"It's powerful."
Dean nodded once. He had figured as much especially after looking at the system.
Ying turned away from the slime and moved toward a low wooden shelf on the far side of the room.
He slid open a narrow drawer and retrieved a folded envelope sealed with a navy blue insignia.
He held it out without explanation.
Dean took it and unfolded it carefully.
The opening read: World Summoners Authority - Mandatory Evaluation Notice.
His eyes moved through the letter quickly. There was a re-evaluation just as Cruff said, and it was in three days.
There was also a notice that failure to appear would mean he'd forfeited his summoner registration opportunity.
"W.S.A," Dean said flatly.
"They sent it two hours after the ceremony," Ying replied. He folded his arms and watched Dean.
"In forty years I have seen only one other re-evaluation notice issued," he paused before walking towards Dean, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"The summoner who received it has been under WSA monitoring ever since."
Dean looked up from the letter directly into the depths of Ying's eyes.
"Assessment devices only fail between Mythic and Calamity rank familiars," Ying continued without flinching.
"What you have there my boy does not feel like either of those things to me."
"What does it feel like?" Dean asked with genuine curiosity.
Ying looked at the slime that was now on Dean's shoulder for a long moment.
"It seems empty and bottomless," Ying's voice lowered. "Like the Mist itself wasn't supposed to let it out."
Ying turned and moved toward the door without explaining further. He slid it open without looking back.
"You have three days." He stepped through the doorway and stopped.
"The Gray name has not meant what it once did," his expression was grim.
"But whatever that creature is," he paused before turning to face Dean with a smirk.
"Don't waste it," he concluded as the door shut behind him before Dean could even speak.
Dean stood in the empty room with the letter in one hand and the slime on his shoulder.
The slime wobbled once and nudged Dean.
"Yeah," Dean agreed quietly. "No pressure..."
A/N: If you're enjoying the story so far, please add to Library and support with some powerstones. Thank you