Chapter 25
Why do you seem Familiar?
“What is a Familiar?
Some say that there are two halves to a soul. Each lives inside a different body. If these two halves should meet, they would be considered each other’s Familiar.
I cannot say that I believe in this theory; all I know for sure is that one's Familiar can seemingly be anything, from a common house cat to a Water Buffalhigh. When a person and their Familiar meet, they instantly know they are connected, a bond is formed, and both will be greater for it.
How can I find my Familiar?
There are three methods that I have found evidence for.
The first is sheer, dumb luck. If the two creatures that are destined to be together are found on the same plane, on the same planet, on the same continent, in the same country, there is a small chance that they might simply stumble upon one another.
I have given up on this approach; though I know it is possible, because I have seen it with my own eyes, the chances of it ever happening to me are astronomically small.
The second is to be granted a Familiar summoning token by the System. This is also not an option for me, as it can only be obtained in one of two ways. Either by virtue of one’s Class, Witch or Warlock to name but two, or as a rare Quest reward.
As I already have the Class of Scholar, and Questing does not suit my temperament, I have ruled out this option.
The third, and I believe most promising, option is to conduct the Familiar summoning ritual. The materials are rare; it requires more mana than any one mind-type Class can provide, and it takes several days to complete, according to the tribal records I have found, but if it works, it could be revolutionary!” — An excerpt from the Journal of Scholar Blueus Ballicus, who died having never found his Familiar.
New Evolution Class E?v?o?l?u?t?i?o?n? C???l???a???s???s??? E???v????o?????l????u????t????i????o?????n??? C??????l???????a???????s????s??????? … Unlocked!
Evolution Unlocked:
Bullock Buster: D
This Evolution of the Minotaur is less focused on labyrinthine affairs. Acquiring this Class gets rid of the ability to construct the subspace known as a labyrinth but adds a further increase to stats when inside another’s labyrinth, maze, dungeon, or other similar structure.
New Class Trait Unlocked!
New Class Trait unlocked:
Bullock’s Brawn: D
This is an enhanced version of the Minotaur’s core Trait, Minotaur’s Strength, and will replace the existing Trait. Strength is increased by 50, Endurance is increased by 50, and Vitality is increased by 100 when inside a labyrinth, maze, dungeon, or similar structure.
You have reached Level 1 in B?????u????l????l?????o????c????k???? ???B????u????s????t???e???r????!????
+1 Strength
+1 Endurance
+2 Vitality
That Trait explained why the Minotaur was so strong and why it could heal so quickly. Now that it was his, Elijah would be unstoppable! Assuming he was in a labyrinth, maze, or dungeon.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Actually, that didn’t sound like it would be very often, if Earth was anything to go by. Maybe it wasn’t so useful?
The stat points from the rank D Class were more generally applicable, and he could feel them suffuse his body and bolster his physique slightly. He was still little more than skin and bone, but at least there was some level of toned muscle beneath the surface.
With life being the way it was, there was no time to admire himself. A new Trial began to appear around him.
The rosy red sky seemed to be entirely sun; at least he was outdoors this time. A stiff breeze bent over long, hillside grass as it formed. White, cotton ball-like flowers broke up the sea of green as they swayed in and out of the blades.
The field before Elijah was open and held an air of freedom. The teen was barely able to make out a lake at the base of the hill, nearly a mile away.
On its far side was a craggy mountain, covered in sheer grey faces with stoic expressions. On the mountain’s snowy peak, far above, was a great cairn, so large that he could see it all the way from where he stood, miles away.
If not for the alienness of the scene, it would have reminded him of Scotland.
The last thing to form was the monster. It appeared to be a dark horse with glossy black fur that glistened in the red light, almost as if it were wet.
There was a sense of nobility to its flowing locks and the curve of its neck. The creature’s height only added to the air it possessed; standing at sixteen hands, it really was quite something!
The pair were positioned next to each other, both facing towards the lake and the mountain beyond. It appeared that this Trial was going to be another in which he wasn’t supposed to fight.
Everything clicked into place, and the Trial began. As Elijah stood there, waiting for the notification to appear and tell him what to do, the horse swished its head over gracefully to examine its competitor.
The serene expression it had been wearing morphed into a mask of disgust. It spat out a globule of grassy spit, hitting the teen in the eye, then kicked him in the chest as it ran off towards the distant peak with quite a turn speed.
Elijah was left sprawled out on the ground with saliva all over his face, cradling what felt like a cracked rib, and left wondering: what the hell just happened?
As if in response, the Trial notification finally appeared.
The Trial of Evolution 1: Kelpie
You have reached Lv 25 as a Kelpie! Welcome to The Trial of Evolution: beat the Evolved Kelpie in a race to prove your right to undergo the first Evolution. A better performance in this trial will lead to a more powerful Evolution with stronger monster Skills and Traits.
The teen pushed himself back to his feet. If this was a race rather than a battle, why had the Kelpie attacked him? A smaller notification at the edge of his vision gave him the answer.
The Trait, Dishonourable, has activated!
Elijah didn’t remember what that Trait did and had to look through the System tab for a reminder.
Dishonourable: F
As a dishonourable Earth Buffalow, you gain 10% damage when attacking another before they are ready or with a method against which they have no defence. You are looked upon with disdain.
Since he hadn’t been sneak attacking anything, it had to be the second part which had caused this. If everyone was going to react like that to his mere presence when he got out of here… Perish the thought. He’d have to find a way to neutralise Traits.
That wasn’t what he needed to do right now, however. There was a race that needed winning!
Elijah was already behind, but that didn’t dissuade him. Nor did the sight of the Kelpie tearing up the ground as it ran fast enough to create a dust cloud in its wake. He was motivated to get his revenge. Petty though it may be, spite was a powerful thing.
Tensing his muscles, the teen launched himself into a run, intent on showing that monster what’s what.
Something appeared on the ground right before him in the same manner objects entered and exited his Inventory: with the same square, particleized, pixely effect. It happened too fast for the teen to react.
He stubbed his toe on the sudden box, fell to the ground, and landed on his already injured ribs. Suffice it to say, there was plenty of swearing.
“What is it now?!” Elijah shouted when he had gotten a handle on his language. He stood up and stared angrily at the item that had hurt him.
It was a chest, much like the one containing treasure that he had found on Treasure Island. It was made of old wood with dull brass fittings and a lock.
Looking up, Elijah saw that the monster was already halfway to the lake; there was no way he would catch up now. Channelling his anger, he kicked the stupid box with his one good foot and was left with no good feet.
The sixteen-year-old hopped around, swearing and cursing.
Despite appearances, the chest was as hard as an anvil; it even rang out slightly as metal might. He had to hold himself back from punching the thing; that could only end poorly.
Once his frustrations had simmered down somewhat, the teen kneeled before the chest, intent on opening it and finding out what was so important that it needed to appear right in front of him with no warning whatsoever.
Before he could touch the brass of the lock, a notification opened. It didn’t look normal; the edges were glitchy, and the text was different, almost handwritten.
THIS IS A GIFT FROM FAUN. HE SAYS TO SAY THAT YOU SHOULD USE IT TO CLEAR YOUR CURRENT PROBLEMS FASTER, WHATEVER THAT MEANS.
The teen suddenly became more interested in the box. He hadn’t heard from manager Faun since he had received that first message. If he was getting this now, was something wrong?
With seriousness, he reached to unlock the chest. As soon as he made contact, a red spark transferred from him to the object.
He felt woozy; his health dropped by 100 points, and the lock clicked open. The chest opened itself. It played a little theme that wouldn’t go amiss in a retro videogame. Something the size and shape of a jam jar lid floated up, hovering around eye level.
Elijah snatched whatever it was out of the air. The second the chest was no longer of use, it left in the way it had arrived.
“What’s this?” the teen asked as he struggled to focus his eyes on the large coin. On one side was the image of himself, smiling goofily and with his thumb stuck up cheesily; on the other was a pentagram carved into the grey-black metal.
Another message, a normal one this time, appeared, answering his question.
Would you like to use this Familiar summoning token?
Yes/No
patrons:
