MAGNUS

We ended up spending two days getting ready for our hunt. I thought we were going to be going sooner than we did, but apparently Jessica was taking advantage of her Talent and making a summoning crystal for each of us to use. When she explained why I saw the benefit. If we were going hunting for a combat focused summon then having it grow stronger faster wasn’t a bad thing. Between Vara’s empathic talent and Jessica’s newly discovered telepathic trick we were in a good position to convince a creature from the mountain to come with us. With my grandfather's help she made crystals that had a clause in the binding that would give a sentient creature the option to dissolve the partnership, but a non-sentient would need to have the person end the binding.

“How did you pull this off?” I asked my grandfather as Jessica put the finishing touches on the twelfth crystal.

He grinned and said, “By doing something so simple I don’t know why I didn’t think of it.”

I glared at the old man. He was being difficult on purpose. I spat out, “Come on gramps. I’ve been so focused on the maps and preparations to listen in on the discussion for these, and I’m tapped on aether from the card I finished up this morning. Can we not play the wise old sage game today?”

He reached out and ruffled my hair like he had done since I was a kid and answered the question, “Sorry, I’m not intentionally trying to be difficult. I’m just kicking myself because it really is simple. She made it where if the bound creature speaks a code word while putting their own aether into the summoning crystal, they can break the summon. Since bound sentients can communicate mind to mind with this design it means they can leave if they are mistreated.”

I hung my head and said, “Oh by the powers, it really is simple.”

He ruffled my hair again and said, “Only in principle. It wouldn’t work without the sigils I use in my design that lets them communicate with the summoner.”

“Yeah, but that pattern isn’t a secret,” I said with a shrug.

“So preparations are finished?” he asked.

“Yes; we planned for a week hiking the mountain. I used Fenris’s and Alara’s reports on where some of the major points are. We have ten days of rations packed just in case of delays, along with some other supplies that should help,” I explained.

He nodded and asked, “Where are you planning for your first stop.”

I pulled out the map I had made and pointed, “I was hoping we could make the caves by nightfall. Fenris mentioned that a set of Steel Rattlers had made a nest there. I was thinking Richard might be interested in them due to his knack for metals.”

The old man nodded, “A good choice. They aren’t sentient, but Vara can help with that. They aren’t overly aggressive either, butI’ve seen them used as a defensive summon before and they are hard to damage. You each are taking two crystals though, what else did you pick for him.”

I let my mischievous smirk show as I said, “A Silver Trapper.”

The old man groaned and said, “You would go after one of the more dangerous beasts on the mountain wouldn’t you. I can’t argue that if you can get one how effective it will be for the boy, especially now that he’s figured out how to actually bind the metals.”

“Yes, but I remember Alara saying that some of the spider types are sentient. If that’s the case Jessica might be able to convince one to come willingly,” I pointed out.

“I think they are, but they are also pretty standoffish. Just be careful not to get hurt going after them. Any other specific creatures you're looking for?”

I shrugged, “I don’t think Jessica, Vara, or I have anything specific in mind. We were thinking something with an air aspect for Mai. Takahashi would like to see if he can’t find something with a dragon aspect, so I was thinking of talking to Noraleth.”

“Noraleth won’t be bound. She won’t accept another bond after your grandmother, you know that,” he answered.

“Oh I know, but all the dragon types that roost on the mountain answer to her. If she knows one that wants to go exploring she might share that information,” I argued.

“Fair enough, you know where she winters right?” he asked.

I nodded and pointed to the high peak of the mountain, “Way up there. It’s why I made my coats for the group, and Richard’s been making climbing tools.”

“Well you have the plan in place, best make haste. You only have so long of a break and I’m sure Richard’s family actually wants to see him,” the old man said gruffly.

I could see the pride in his eyes though, so I stepped forward to grip him in a fierce hug.

“Thanks Grandpa, for everything,” I whispered.

The old man patted me on the back, but kept his silence.

The hike through the woods was grueling, but refreshing at the same time. Richard of course was used to the terrain and climate having visited many times over the past decade. Vara and Jessica were struggling a little, being physically fit but unused to the high altitude. Surprisingly it was the siblings that were having the most difficulty.

“You two seemed more used to rigorous exercise than this,” Vara said during one of our hourly breaks.

We were using the old standard that gramps had taught me of walking for an hour and breaking for fifteen minutes. It was odd how hard a time they were having, especially with Professor Schmidt’s class. Mai wheezed out, “I think it’s the altitude, and the fact that we were warned not to use our trick with the air.”

“Yeah the aether on the mountain shifts constantly, you could injure yourself with that breathing technique. We can adjust the pace if you want?” I said.

Tak shook his head and said, “No, we will be fine once we grow more accustomed to this. We will hit the caves by nightfall, correct?”

“A little before actually. I wanted us to have time to set up camp outside. There is no way of knowing how receptive the snakes will be to conversation,” I said.

“I don’t know much of these creatures, what can you tell me?” Tak asked.

“Steel Rattlers are a metal aspected serpent that looks like an oversized rattlesnake. They tend to live in communal groups unlike their normal kin. You will usually see around six to eight of them curled up together during the winter months. They aren’t cold blooded, but seem to have the instincts of other reptiles to hide the winter away. If you're curious on the evolutionary paths I can’t really help you,” I answered.

Vara spoke up, “They have two primary paths. One focuses on the metal aspect and they become more of a burrowing creature. The other actually causes them to grow wings and become a flying serpent. It’s an intriguing hybrid path I saw in a reference to them in the library.”

“Is that like the Jeweled Flyer out in the desert?” I asked.

Vara nodded, “Yeah, they look similar in form actually. There was a chapter on flying hybrids that mentioned the winged snake types. Apparently there are six known types, one of which is a possible evolution to the Rattler.”

We started our hike again and soon arrived at a series of caves at the foot of the great peak that led to the tip of the mountain. I hadn’t realized until my geography classes just how large this mountain truly was, as it apparently was. With the various valleys and caves it actually had multiple different ecosystems.

We were halfway through setting up our camp when Vara froze and looked around. I reached for my pistol while the rest of the group also went for their own weapons. Except Vara who motioned for us to calm down.

“What is it?” Jessica asked.

“Desperation, panic, and fear,” she said as she looked around as if trying to find the source of the emotions.

A small triangular white furred head poked out of a nearby bush, looking directly at me. It looked like an overgrown white fox and I wracked my head to try and identify the creature. Vara however hadn’t any difficulty as she said, “A Snow Fox, I thought they were extinct.”

I murmured, “A lot of creatures that were thought to be extinct actually made homes here. No one wants to hunt up here without grandfather's permission.”

“She’s worried and scared, I can’t understand why though,” Vara said.

Jessica stepped forward and crouched down to look at the little fox and said aloud, “Little one, he can’t understand you. I can though, if you will speak to me.”

The creature shifted its focus to my redheaded companion and I saw tears form in her eyes as she said, “Her kits, there is something wrong with her kits. She smelled Fenris on you and thought you could help.”

I nodded and said to the Snow Fox, “Show us.”

Clearly the creature was capable of rational thought as it turned and started moving towards one of the other caves in the mountainside, stopping part way to look at me. Vara, Jessica, and I followed while Richard said, “We’ll finish the camp. Don’t know how long that will take.”

I nodded my thanks to him and followed the fox. We had to scramble a bit to reach the cave, as there wasn’t much of a trail for humans to follow. The opening was more of a wide crack we had to squeeze sideways through, but it opened into a larger cavern. There was a small pool of water fed by run off in one corner, and a nest of sorts that four small fox kits were curled up in. Two had snow white fur and were curled up in slumber. The other two were tumbling around clearly fighting rather than playing, and had a light grey coloring to them.

I channeled my aether to view the aether flows of the creatures. Both kits’ aetherflow was damaged. When compared to the other two it seemed to be in the portion that would form the Ice Touched trait. After a moment's study it seemed like both had tried to form some other Talent and the flow began to unravel.

Jessica spoke up, “She said they had just grown to the age when they would evolve from cubs to kits and become true Snow Foxes, but something went wrong. Apparently her mate ran for your grandfather just before she scented you. Can you see what’s going on?”

I nodded, “They are in the point just before madness sets in, something went wrong in the evolution. They aren’t forming the Ice Touched trait like the other two and it’s causing havoc in their aetherflow. I don’t know what to do though.”

The mother separated the two squabbling creatures as I racked my brain. Hadn’t one of the professors mentioned that there was a way to fix aether madness? Thinking back I remembered Professor Nacht’s first lecture on monsters and I blurted out, “That’s it!”

Everyone, including the Snow Fox, looked at me. “Professor Nacht mentioned aether madness in her first lecture. It can be cured by our aether channeled through a summoning crystal.”

Jessica said, “She says that if we can save the kits they can go with us. She knows your grandfather won’t tolerate mistreatment of her children.”

I shook my head, “I can’t bind them and channel enough aether to stabilize them. It will have to be one of you two.”

Vara smiled and said, “Or both of us. I think I like the little female. I can feel how determined she is to get at that black stripe on the males tail.”

I looked at the adult Snow Fox and said, “Are you sure this is okay?”

The creature hopped up to place both paws on my chest and licked my cheek before grabbing each of the kits by the scruff of the neck and depositing them in front of one of the girls. Both girls pulled out one of the new summoning crystals and went through the activation sequence to bind a creature.

I watched as the grey furred beasts faded into motes of light and were drawn into the crystals. My vision showed me the aether the two channeled to heal their new summons, and I had to shut off my vision with just how much it took.

A few minutes later the two gasped out a tired breath and Jessica said, “Done. Dear God that was rough.”

The adult Snow Fox pawed at her leg and Jessica smiled and said, “Yeah, I’ll bring him back out. I know you want to meet your son.”

I reactivated my sight as she summoned the formerly grey kit. The newly black fox that formed was the size of my foot, and looked with deep blue eyes around the cavern before stepping forward and nuzzling his mother. Studying his focal points I saw how the repaired aetherflow had changed. The overall shape was the same, but instead of the origin point being focused on the elemental aspect of ice like the others, this showed a hybrid of ice and darkness. I said as much Jessica said out loud, “Well then boy, how do you like the name Riku?”

The little black fox yipped at her before turning to look, along with his mother, at Vara. Vara took the hint and called out her own fox. This one had pale blue coloring and grey eyes, though was the same size as her brother. The origin point showed she was expected to elemental air as well as ice.

“So the problem was they were trying to evolve to a hybrid aspect rather than just ice, and didn’t know how,” I explained to the group.

“But they are still young, why would they evolve so soon?” Vara asked.

“It’s the first evolution, most wild creatures will evolve from younglings dependent on care and feeding from their parents to what we know as their first stage. That’s when they are technically strong enough to survive on their own,” I answered.

Jessica smiled and said, “I guess that class was a blessing in disguise for this trip.”

I nodded and pulled some food out of my pack to give to the mother, “Here, I know your mate went to see gramps and can’t hunt for the other little ones. I’ll get a message back to him to let him know the situation is resolved so your mate doesn’t have to wait on him.”

This earned me another lick on the cheek before we squeezed out of the cave and headed back to camp. The situation was a blessing in disguise as two of our number had found potentially strong summons. It made me wonder if we would continue to have that good of luck the rest of the trip.