That's the worst part. You don't REALLY have a choice. There's some rights baked in, refusals, arbitration, but in the end...

It mostly never happens. But it could.

And her contract inflicts a 600 Argold monthly fee on her just to exist on Earth legally and not be forced to take summons. 

Do you know what a good monthly wage is if you're using a powered skill on Anesidora? 

Depends a LOT on your rank, class, and specific skills. You can probably just search for it, there are going rates for some skills and everything. Wrights have it pretty good if you actually set out to make money instead of dubious weapons.

Right, I keep forgetting that the System exists. Still going to take some time to get used to that.

She directs the system to search for the going rate for B Rank Design Environment. 

Search results include:

The rank B Rabbit Skill Tailor Environment is a very solid choice with consistent demand, ideal for desk and workspace organization, interior design, and decorating. Summons for Tailor Environment typically pay out over a thousand argold for 3-6 hours' work. Manon, the first serious user of Tailor Environment and now a prominent design blogger, has said 'I don't take work from the public anymore, but when I did my rates varied from about fifty to a hundred argold per hour, depending on the situation'. Of course, it's not enough to simply have the skill. You need to build up a list of contacts and clients, and really know how to get the most out of it. My book, 'Hop To It!' has a plethora of advice for this and far more Rabbit skills so you can...

While everyone thinks of Cloth Wrights first and foremost, I've found a surprising level of skill in Meisters of Needle, though both are somewhat uncommon classes. There's a few other skills that can help, usually the foundation enhancement of Visual Processing. If you really must have a super-powered tailor, these are your options...

She checks quickly whether the Interdimensional Warriors contract includes a 600 Argold per month maintenance fee. 

It does not. The Contract (as everyone just shortens it to that) is paid for by all the free healthcare and technology that everyone on Earth benefits from, and the deals that the Artonans have made with world governments. Theoretically, someone who never visits a House of Healing or takes certain kinds of charity or signs certain government forms (like those necessary to go to high school, or get a driver's license) might not be bound by the contract at all! Theoretically. It's never actually happened, as far as anyone can tell.

Ah.

Okay. 

Serves her right for trusting the system. 

Still, twelve hours of work a month for translation services, telepathic internet, and a place in the system is not a ludicrous deal, even if she was planning to take summons and now is... not. 

I have altered the deal! Pray that I do not alter it further! 

Seriously, this contract is looking worse all the time. It's a good thing that we negotiated for an escape hatch. 

I'm concerned that we won't be able to get twelve hours of paid work at 50 Argold an hour this month. Especially not that and also groceries and so on while holding down university. 

Probably the ideal situation here is to instead go for a paid apprenticeship in our Skill, if we can swing that. 

She queries the system. 

I understand that if I fail to pay 600 Argold per month I may be subject to two contractually obligated summons per year. What are the terms regarding late payment? When does summoning become contractually obligated? 

Your Contract is a special case.

Payment is due at the end of each Earth calendar month. Late payment does not incur any interest or fees. However, after a payment is late for 30 days, you may be involuntarily summoned with 24-96 hours warning. While you are open to potential involuntary summons, no fees will be assessed. Involuntary summons will not involve any expected personal danger. Involuntary summons will be paid out with a 600 argold bonus in addition to the standard rates.

In light of your status as an Anesidoran student, two years of fees may be deferred interest free, for up to three years for each payment. No penalties will be incurred.

The Contract can still be dissolved with the agreed upon 30 day waiting period, and the teleportation to another world will still be provided as specified, regardless of outstanding fees. However, in this event, no further System services will be available until the debt is paid.

Oh. Okay. So she's got a month plus thirty days, nearly twice the time she feared. And her summons are still paid. And there's no interest. 

Okay, she is considerably less peeved now. Not zero peeved. But less peeved. They Artonans are visibly screwing her much less than they could be doing. 

Honestly, these terms are good enough that I want to try a summons. Even if they are casual with drugs, three to six hours of work for more than a month's payment is good odds. 

I think we really need to discuss about it. Hazel is the one who gets nervous about taking too many tylenol. 

It is super not cool to steal teenagers from their homes, give them superpowers, then drug them and make them do your household chores. Just saying. 

But I do think we haven't seen the Artonan side of this yet, and it might be different from what we expect. This could be an honest mistake. We are kind of more sensitive to this than most people. 

Girls, we're totally leaving our roommate hanging here. 

Oh yeah right. 

Sorry for dropping you there, I went down a research rabbithole. 

Do you know anybody who's been summoned and could tell me what it's like? Have you been yourself?

No worries. That is how texting works.

Ask Juniper. She's an S rank Enchant Wright and told me about building spaceships once.

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for helping out. 

Well, now what - 

Burning light slams into her and etches a design into her heart, her body, her very mind and soul. It comes suddenly and without warning and departs with not a trace. 

HECK YES MORE MAGIC

She grabs it as hard as she can and pulls it in to her heart, where it becomes fully a part of her.

And a cast-iron skillet forms in her hand.

Magic Cooking Pot (The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild - SB) 100

A simple iron pan, that can magically light a fire underneath itself when set up. Even when off of a fire, it will heat items placed in it to the desired temperature. All meals and elixirs cooked on it will receive a boost in quality, and can provide a variety of beneficial effects, depending on the ingredients used. Magically provides a comfortable temperature nearby when in use.