Chapter 7 – Affinities and Familiars

“Ah-! Don’t let go, I still need to record the results!” Atresia breathed out and frantic quill strokes sounded their scritch-scritching for long moments before the third-year gave Ria the okay to remove her hands from the crystals.

Ria wasn’t sure she wanted to ask, but as the glow of her attunements and the blob of pure darkness faded away, she roused her courage. “Is it normal for it to turn black like that?”

“I don’t think so?” Atresia offered, sounding unsure. “At least, I’ve never seen it do that. What’s your bloodline’s usual affinity?”

“I didn’t think I had one....” Ria’s mind was still in a state of shock, but one thing seemed to be more likely with every passing moment. “So... I do have one then?”

“Oh, yes. Certainly,” Atresia confirmed. “And a powerful one at that. Your aura representation reminds me a lot of House Astacio’s bloodline—definitely a metal affinity of some kind. Theirs is silver, so maybe gold? But yours has another component, maybe a variant of ‘time’ or something... so ‘ancient gold’ perhaps? But I think your amulet was causing interference with the resonance device. Best would be to remove anything that might be interfering with the test and try again.”

A metal affinity? “Not shadow or void?” Ria asked.

Atresia shook her head. “Not that I saw. You’d have spikes reaching from the primary aura representation then—like you did for spirit.”

So, she did have a spirit affinity. Ria was afraid of that. Spirit affinity was one she hadn’t previously tested for. Sure, having it might solve her temporary license issue, but Duelleres was already interested in her… did he know?

“Good thing you have a familiar or your high spirit attunement would create some awkward questions,” Atresia cheerfully pointed out.

Ugh.

“Woof?”

“Yup, I’m lucky to have you, Ranger.” Ria patted his head.

“You can place your enchanted items over on this table,” Atresia prompted.

“Ah, thanks, Ezzie.”

Ria unhooked the clasp on her cloak and folded it neatly onto the table, worked some hidden buttons on her robe and did the same with her robe. The divination and clairvoyance obscuring ring she carved from a piece of the shadow-beast horn gifted to her by Keth’yan went next. Followed by her pouch.

The amulet was the last enchanted item to remove. She had only removed it briefly a handful of times since acquiring it and was reluctant to do so. After taking a deep breath, her faith medallion joined the other items.

A wry smile slipped onto Ria’s face. Poor Jax was doubtlessly regretting his choice of line by now.

“That’s everything,” Ria reported and stepped back up to the device, feeling a little chilly in the button up shirt and light trousers she wore under her robe.

“Ready when you are,” Atresia prompted.

Taking another deep breath to calm her racing heart, Ria again placed her hands on the crystals and sent a pulse of her energy into the device.

This time, she paid more attention to the crystal ball rather than the resonance ripples inside her body. The golden blob and smaller elemental balls appeared just as last time, same color, shape, and locations, but with one important difference—a shocking difference: rather than a small spike reaching toward the etching for spirit, the spike had become part of a bulge reaching toward the adjacent etching for divine. Again, starting from the edges, the infinite black progressively encroached the golden glow.

“W-what does it mean?” Ria asked with a whisper, glancing over at Atresia, who looked even more stunned than last time, again forgetting to note down the results until reminded by Ria’s voice.

“A divine bloodline... or maybe you’ve received a direct blessing from one of the gods...?” Atresia speculated. “Did your parents say anything that might give a hint?”

“No... but...” Ria’s gaze went to the amulet sitting on top of her pile of stuff.

Atresia followed her gaze. “Was the amulet from your sponsor?”

Ria shook her head. “No, it was a gift from Hemse.”

“You mean a priest gave it to you?”

Ria shook her head again. “It appeared on the altar after a divination.”

Atresia stared at her for a long moment before setting her book down on the table. “I think... maybe we shouldn’t include your results in the survey. In fact, it might be better if you keep that amulet on you at all times while at the academy.”

Ria slowly nodded her agreement.

“If you don’t mind, Ria, I’d like to keep your measurements confidential, and you should make sure to ask for me any time you want to re-test your attunements, okay?”

Again, Ria slowly nodded her agreement and watched as a smaller journal appeared and Atresia copied the measurements, writing ‘Confidential!’ at the top of the journal’s page.

“Ah, what’s your House, Ria?”

“Sorry, I don’t have one. I’m a commoner from Shadewood.”

“Okay. Got it.” With the data copied, the journal was set to the side, and Atresia made a wand appear in her hand opposite the quill.

Ria lightly touched the ambient energy in the room and watched as Atresia constructed and activated a surprisingly complex spell. Directing the magic with her quill, Atresia made the ink noting Ria’s test results in the survey book float up from the page and disperse into the air.

They moved onto quantifying Ria’s attunements next. Atresia directed Ria to use one of the other machines, and columns of similar crystals grouped in fours of increasing sizes lit up to measure her attunements.

As if anticipating Ria’s disappointment at only being able to make the little more than one medium-sized crystal glow in each column where she had an attunement, Atresia explained that being able to light up a single medium-sized crystal was a requirement to being able to perform the element transformation without a focus tool, such as a wand or staff, and congratulated her on her hard work achieving that much attunement in so many elements.

After noting down the results in the confidential journal and helping Ria put her gear back on, Atresia offered, “If you’ll give me a week, I’ll do some research on your affinity. Even if it is the result of a blessing, there should be a record of something similar in the archives.”

Ria gave the third-year a thankful bow. “Thanks, Ezzie. For keeping my results secret and for helping me out.”

Atresia shook her head and made a denying motion with her hands. “No, no. You’ll be helping me with my personal research by letting me follow your progress.”

“Finally!” Jax complained when the door opened, and Ria gave him an apologetic gesture before hurrying off to find Arthur, a task that didn’t take long.

Arthur was looking bored from where he was waiting by the stairs. “What took so long?”

“Uh... I was really hoping to have an affinity, so she ran the test again for me.” Yep. Best to stick to her original story. The truth was too unbelievable, and she still didn’t have a complete answer on what her affinity was... divine ancient gold? The heck was that?

“And?”

“At least my attunements are good?” Ria tried with an embarrassed expression.

Arthur gave her an eye roll and started for the stairs. “We’d better get back. They’re probably waiting for us by now.”

Ranger gave her a questioning woof as she followed, and Ria assured him that it wasn’t really a lie. If her familiar’s disapproving brow raise was any indication, he had a differing opinion on the matter.

“So... how did yours go, Arthur?”

“Fine, I guess.” Judging by the cringe in his shoulders at the question, Arthur had anticipated better results.

Turned out there was a reason that Aldri hadn’t mentioned purchasing her books at the library. His recommended bookstore had the books for her classes at half the price she paid... the shop owner even gave her a sad smile that told Ria he saw the same reaction from students all too often. At least the next book in Lady Hawthorn’s Epic of Heroism and Betrayal was available at an inexpensive price.

The three of them were in high spirits as they gallivanted on their way to the mage familiar shop recommended by the bookstore owner. Ria had procured one of those lace umbrellas that she always wanted for her ‘rich girl’-look and was twirling it around as she skipped ahead of Iselyn and Keira.

“You look ridiculous,” Keira chided.

Ria turned around using one of the dance steps Sir Guthrie had taught as part of her etiquette lessons and stuck her tongue out at Keira before laughing and returning to skipping. Ranger was also trotting happily beside her and barked in shared excitement.

Arthur had better self-preservation instincts than Leon, and as soon as he was faced with the choice of escorting three excited girls ready to hit the city streets for a day of shopping, he wished them a good time and bailed off the dragon—or so the expression went. The thought of mushroom-headed Arthur flailing his arms in panic and leaping away from doom made Ria chuckle heartily. Would his hair puff outward and slow his fall?

“And... here!” Ria twirled and made a dramatic pose as she stopped in front of the windowed shop.

A quick grinning glance back in her friends’ direction showed Keira with her twitching-eyebrow face and Iselyn tugging her hood lower to not be recognized. Ahahaha!

Ranger barked to get her attention. In one of the windows sat the largest cat Ria had ever seen, catching rays of mid-day sun. The cat colored in whorled wood-tones lazily displayed its dangerously long fangs in a grand yawn as it stretched and looked out at Ranger with eyes greener than Shadewood forest after a spring rain.

Whoa! So cool!

The cat wasn’t the only creature on display either. Colorful birds perched on tall stands ruffled their wings and chirped curiously at Ria and Ranger, and fancy fish with long drapey fins swam in a large aquarium. Above the aquarium, a row of plants turned their flowers as if to see the commotion.

“Being in public is what your etiquette lessons from Sir Guthrie were for, you know,” Keira chastised, as the pair caught up.

With a huge grin, Ria’s umbrella disappeared, and she made the required pose. “I’d like to request this dance, my lady.”

Keira huffed in exasperation but daintily offered up her hand, unable to keep a faint grin from slipping onto her face as she deadpanned, “If you would lead, my knight. I will follow.”

“I thank the lady for her trust and will endeavor to amuse,” Ria vowed while receiving Keira’s hand and placing it in the crook of her arm before prompting with a flourish, “The door, if you would, kind Lady Iselyn.”

Iselyn froze with her hand already on the shop’s fancy door handle, caught as she was trying to slip into the shop unnoticed while Ria and Keira acted out their embarrassing play. With a cringe and a sigh of defeat, their new friend held the door for them and Ranger as they entered the shop.

Though to call it a ‘shop’.... rather, the interior was more like a menagerie with trees and stands and glass aquariums providing temporary homes to an uncountable number of critters, ranging from cute to fierce in appearance. Creatures, apparently, weren’t all the shop sold, as displays with what Ria could only assume to be grooming implements and special foodstuffs were nestled among the trees and helped form the nooks and walkways around the shop. As Ria stared, what she suspected was an imp snuck a fiery-colored candy out of one of many similar jars with differing contents.

Keira’s hand slipped from her arm as her friend also turned in place, pausing occasionally to wonder at the varied residents that inhabited the wild-seeming surroundings of interwoven perches, tree branches, and vines. Not every shop resident was small; a few larger beasts lounged on beds of moss or large horizontally placed logs in the nooks between the trees and displays.

A pointy-eared and delicate-featured man with sparkly hair sitting on a stool nearby closed his book and rose to greet them. “Welcome to Tyrilenil’s One-stop Familiar Shop. I am Tyrilenil. How may I assist you three fine young ladies today?”

“My friend here...” Ria said, stepping aside and motioning toward Iselyn. “...is looking for a familiar to fight alongside her in the Grand Games.”

“Oh-hoh, is that so, young lady?” the elf asked, amused.

Iselyn nodded and glanced at the large cat which was currently having a stare-down with Ranger.

Tyrilenil chuckled. “I’m sorry, but Vielle there is my personal familiar and helps me keep all my many friends here well-behaved and safe. But I’m sure one of the many magical creatures here will meet your needs. Judging by your robe, would it be safe to assume you have a lunar affinity?”

Iselyn nodded again.

“How wonderful! An uncommon affinity even among those of us with Elven blood.” He gave Iselyn a warm smile. “While some choose a familiar to match, more important is the synergy with your affinity and chosen specialization. Have you decided on a direction for your magic?”

Nodding a third time as her eyes returned to the elf after being drawn to the potential familiars that seemed to be gathering around or posing to look more impressive, Iselyn hesitantly answered, “... an illusion mage.”

“An excellent choice with your affinity,” Tyrilenil approved and spread his arms in an encompassing gesture. “Feel free to wander the shop. Choosing a familiar is a very personal decision and often the familiar chooses the mage. For now, you’ll want to introduce yourself to the prospective candidates. When you are ready, I’ll be here to provide more detailed advice.”

Glad to be done with the talking, Ria’s new friend lowered her cloak’s hood and turned her attention to each of the different creatures gathering around her. Ria was curious to see more herself and, suspecting Iselyn would want some privacy to make her choice, began to wander deeper into the shop.

In a nearby display, slimes in glass bowls gently bulged against the glass, following Ria as she passed by. Her own traumatic experience with slimes probably biased her against them, but thinking about it, slimes were likely useful for alchemists, enchanters, and mages with limited ability to sense magic. Slimes likely also had the advantage of being inexpensive.

As Ria continued, the aquariums kept drawing her eye. The way most of the creatures roamed free and were so personable was nothing short of amazing to Ria, but it also made the cages and aquariums stand out, particularly the aquariums housing non-aquatic creatures. What soon became apparent was many of the aquariums were used to create or contain special environments. Though if elementals and such required special environments, wouldn’t that make them difficult to keep as familiars? Or maybe, like Amilee’s shapeshifter, they were fine once the energy for their upkeep was provided by the familiar bond?

“Are you going to get a familiar as well, Keira?” Ria asked.

“Hmm, I’m not sure.” Keira was careful to keep her distance from the slimes and eyed them warily. “It’s a lot of responsibility, and I don’t think I’m ready for that sort of lifetime commitment yet.”

Was it really a lifetime commitment? Sure, elementals were effectively immortal, but did magic beasts have longer expected lifespans than normal animals? Did the familiar binding ritual provide additional longevity? Ranger was already an old dog when Ria formed her contract with him, and he did seem to regain much of his youth...

While Ria was lost in thought, a small dragon climbed down from a perch made of twisted wood and delicately climbed onto Ria’s shoulder, rubbing its head against her cheek and cooing questioningly.

“Woah... a pseudo-dragon,” Keira breathed out. “I hear their rarity is only exceeded by their expense.”

Ria scratched under the little dragon’s chin like she would do for a cat, and it extended its chin, inviting her to continue. If familiars really were a lifetime commitment, then price wasn’t as important as finding the right companions. But was it even possible to have multiple familiars? And if it was, would Ranger be fine with her getting a second familiar?

She queried Ranger about it and asked him if he wanted a buddy and received the mental equivalent of a noncommittal shrug in reply.

Of course, there were already worries about the ritual she used to form her contract with Ranger. Adding another on top of that before her existing familiar bond was examined was assuredly unwise. So, even if she did want to add another familiar, she wouldn’t be able to make a decision today.

Rather than Ranger being jealous, it was Keira who was giving her envious eyes and grumbling. Ria couldn’t help letting out a laugh.

A glowing fish swimming in the air caught hers and Keira’s attention, and she followed it around a corner to see Iselyn staring intently at a large spider that was working on improving its web.

Oh! A spider with its webs and poison combined with illusion magic would be nicely scary for the Games especially if it can keep growing larger, but... having one as a lifetime companion and sharing thoughts with it like she did with Ranger... would be rather creepy, wouldn’t it?

“Ah-! Don’t do it, Iselyn!” Keira desperately urged once she peeled her gaze away from the glowing fish and realized what the illusionist girl was intently studying.

Iselyn glanced over and a slight smirk played across her face at Keira’s concern and the girl returned to studying the spider and the web, even reaching out trying to cajole the spider onto her hand.

“Oh, no... she might actually do it,” Keira worried. “What do we do?”

Ria was pretty sure that Iselyn was just messing with Keira, which was pretty funny, but if Keira was that worried about it, Ria would have to at least attempt to help.

Hmm... what to do? Ah!

“Sorry, little guy,” Ria said and pointed the dragon at Iselyn. “My friend is the one here for a familiar today. You could try asking her.”

The dragon turned its head to look at Ria with what could only be a dubious expression.

“It’s okay. She’s a really nice girl,” Ria assured, trying to hold back her chuckles.

The little dragon nodded and hopped onto a tree branch, scurrying along the way until it was close enough, then reached down and carefully tapped Iselyn on the head with a clawed finger. When Iselyn looked up from the spider who kept side-stepping her efforts, the dragon cooed its question.

“Well of course I’d want a dragon for a familiar!” Iselyn answered with a laugh and scooped the little dragon into a hug. “What kind of silly question is that?”

Whether that was what the little guy asked or not, who really knew? But it was probably close enough.

“Good job,” Keira whispered her approval and let out a sigh of relief.

“It’s not a done deal yet,” Ria cautioned as Iselyn was chatting with the dragon and guessing its answers from its hand and head gestures. “You said it yourself. Pseudo dragons are expensive.”

“Ah-” Keira froze as she realized that it was probably hopeless.

Ria gave a sad chuckle. “Maybe if we both lend her some coin, she’ll have enough?”

“Guess I walked into that one,” Keira sighed out.

Soon enough they were back in front of Tyrilenil, who was looking rather amused. “So, you managed to attract little Zephec’s interest, huh. He’s quite the match for you. His air affinity is versatile and has good synergy with your lunar affinity, potentially leading to the Lunar Mirage compound element. Not to mention his specialty is also illusion magic, and he recently mastered the invisibility spell.”

Iselyn’s eyebrows rose in surprise, and the little dragon, Zephec, puffed up his chest and looked proud from where he was perched on Iselyn’s shoulder.

“Since you both seem to be in agreement, I guess it just comes down to price now. I was hoping to get 50 gold for him...” Seeing the shock and dismay on Iselyn’s face, Tyrilenil let his pitch trail off and tried again. “After having raised Zephec since he was an egg, I’d really rather see him go to someone who he can be happy with, than a spoiled heir from one of the Greater Houses. But with the cost of his egg and care, I can’t go any lower than 30 gold.”

“I’m sorry, Zephec,” Iselyn told the little dragon as she gave him a farewell hug and placed him on a nearby shelf. “I’d pay it if I could, but I don’t have enough coin.”

Zephec made a dejected face but refused to give up hope and trilled questioningly at Ria and Keira.

“How much are you short, Iselyn? Maybe Keira and I can help?” Ria offered.

Iselyn shot Ria a surprised look but didn’t perk up at all, instead glancing down at her feet and shaking her head. “Almost all of it.”

“I’d help you out, Zephec, but even if I had half the amount with me, I don’t think Keira can lend the rest.” Ria looked to Keira for confirmation, and at Keira’s indication that she didn’t have enough either, the dragon’s expression became so pitiful that Ria felt moved to at least give him some hope. “Um, Shopkeeper Tyrilenil, is it possible to have more than one familiar?”

The elf glanced over at Ranger who had finished his staring contest with Vielle and was sniffing a stubby legged and armored beast. “Hmm… that would depend on the original contract, the mage’s spirit attunement, and his energy pool. Each additional contract puts stress on the mage’s soul and continually draws on his energy. As an example, I am a spirit mage specializing in familiars and have made temporary caretaker contracts with all of the creatures in the store.”

Oh, wow. That probably explained why the creatures were all so friendly. Keira and Iselyn also looked shocked at the number of contracts the shop owner was maintaining.

Ria nodded thanks for the answer… with her affinity and attunement tests, if anyone could have more than one familiar, she probably could. “In that case, Zephec, I can promise you that if you still haven’t found a partner by the time I earn enough money, I’ll return and purchase you, okay?”

The dragon and her two friends gave her shocked looks.

Ria shrugged. “The cost of books was a setback, for sure, but if we can find time to make the fancy enchanted paper, I doubt it would take even a year. Right?”

Keira rolled her eyes. “That’s true enough, I suppose.”

This time, it was the shopkeeper’s turn to look surprised.

“So, don’t worry, Zephec, okay?” Ria gave the dragon a thumbs-up. “I’ll even let you choose between me and Iselyn.”

With eyes wide, the little dragon nodded.

“Unfortunately, that doesn’t solve the problem of Iselyn needing a familiar for the Grand Games or for class…” Ria admitted.

“If familiars are that expensive, I’m not sure I can afford anything…” Iselyn said pitifully.

“What’s your budget, if you don’t mind my asking?” Tyrilenil queried.

Iselyn fished a gold coin out of her coin pouch. From the sound of it, there weren’t main coins in there, gold or otherwise. She hesitated then dug out a second, placing both on the shelf, hesitating again before withdrawing her hand.

“2 gold crowns?” Tyrilenil confirmed.

Iselyn nodded. “That’s the most I can do.”

“Hmm… I may have one that could meet your needs at that price. He’s a rot element sprite—a spriggan really. As an element with characteristics of earth, nature, and shadow, it is a more difficult synergy to achieve with your lunar affinity, but with some creativity there would be significant potential for both offense and defense. Would you be interested?”

“A specialty elemental spirit for that price?” Keira asked in disbelief. “There must be a catch.”

Tyrilenil nodded. “Indeed. His personality doesn’t meet the standards that I expect for my store, and his temporary caretaker contract will expire soon if I don’t find him a new contractor. But, I can promise you that he’s not weak. As an elemental spirit, his body is an avatar formed of magic and, as long as he has a contractor, he can only be truly harmed by spirit magic, void magic, and shadow-based absorption attacks.”

“So, it’s like that,” Keira muttered. “Won’t such a familiar be too difficult for a first-year to handle?”

“I recommend a ‘Limited Contract’ for the short term. It would allow communication and restrictions on actions but sharing of abilities and affinities would be limited. He would need to be regularly fed energy to perform at full strength,” Tyrilenil suggested. “Upgrading to a true familiar contract can be done later at the academy or here for a small fee should such be desired. Shall I call him over?”

If the personality issues could be worked through, it sure sounded like a good deal. Keira seemed to think so as well and nodded when Iselyn glanced over.

“Okay,” Iselyn agreed.

“Well, you heard her, Malleron. Come on out. I’ve got a contractor for you,” the elf said, projecting his voice into the shop.

An annoyed grumbling and the sound of a lid being moved came from over where the environmental aquariums were.

Glancing back for the source of the grumbling, Ria noticed the glowing fish from earlier was lurking inside the tree branches nearest Keira.

“You know, I think that glowing fish likes you, Keira,” Ria half-whispered.

The elf smiled. “Ah, a Dawn Chaser. A light spirit and favored familiar for members of the Golden Dawn. They are often used as messengers due to their ability to pass through walls. I’d be happy to sell it for 5 gold crowns.”

Surprise showed clearly on Keira’s face, and after looking back at the glowing fish, her brows scrunched in thought.

As the grumbling got closer, they all turned to watch a shin-high mushroom man with a wood mask for a face and splintered wood arranged over his body like armor.

Ria glanced to see her friend's reaction and caught Iselyn’s face light up at the sight of her prospective familiar.

“Can you make it so he can answer some questions for me?” Iselyn requested.

“I’ll cast a spell,” Tyrilenil agreed, and Ria watched with interest as the spirit mage quickly and expertly cast the complex magic.

“...from those stuck-up holier than thou... and one from that Order of screw-loose screw-ups... it’s gotta be that one, dammit-”

Once they could understand his speech, Iselyn eagerly interrupted him with, “Malleron, can you produce spore clouds?”

The question stopped the mushroom man dead in his tracks. “Of course, I can. Do I look impotent to you?”

A grin spread on Iselyn’s face. “How strong is your armor?”

“It’s petrified wood.” Malleron struck a fist against his chest. “There’s nothing stronger.”

Iselyn knelt down to get a better look as the spriggan resumed approaching.

The mask-faced mushroom man gave Tyrilenil a dubious look and motioned toward Iselyn. “This child is my contractor? Betcha she ain’t got enough juice to keep me solid.”

“You’d prefer an old man then?” Tyrilenil countered with a smirk.

Malleron tilted his head. “Well, no.” He hopped up on Iselyn’s bent knee and gave a sniff. “At least her bloodline smells good.”

“So, you’re fine with it?” the Elven spirit mage confirmed.

“Limited Contracts are bullshit, you know. Leaving me half-starved and grouchy all the time,” Malleron half-heartedly complained.

Tyrilenil seemed to take that as a yes and turned to Iselyn. “And our aspiring contractor?”

“Yep! He’ll do just fine,” Iselyn declared, her eyes gaining a bit of a mad-alchemist look as she grinned evilly and scooped up the soon-to-be familiar. “Heh. Heh. Heh. More than fine.”

“Oh, gods,” the mushroom man worried.