Chapter Eighteen: Pets II Part Three

Walking over to Julian’s house, the lot, or whatever you want to call it, Acelin’s words hung around in my mind. Sticking to me like honey, but tasted bitter as I thought about them. Am I really spending my time efficiently? I train day and night to just get a little better, but what does it mean, If I don’t have any connections? Or... friends?

But, I’m not actually that bad off connection wise am I? I mean I know Rashid, who seems to be some kind of badass and I know the Kingdom Killer Carcajou Rexus, but I don’t really see them helping me for free. I should probably look into getting some more training from Rashid though… Or maybe Carcajou, that alchemy stuff looks like it could be cool, or useful.

Huh, I wonder if my connections with my pets would count? But I haven’t really spent much time with them. Eh, whatever I’ll teach them to love,- I mean respect me if I have to!

“Haaha,” I sigh,

No amount of connections though would stop my dad from collecting me though. Aside from maybe the whole Union’s Hand, but if dad knew I even came within spitting distance of one he’d….

I couldn’t help but shiver at the thought.

Before, I knew It though I had arrived at Julian’s lot. I know I’m in the right area, from the magic that’s trying to prevent me from entering, the enchantment’s around it trying to turn my mind around from the lot, but my Aura flared up and they burned away, like dry grass in a wildfire.

I wonder why they put up enchantments to keep people from entering different lots?

Julian’s lot looks the same as I last saw it, orderly and divided equally for the most part into basic houses and a large section towards the back with a Manor that would put Acelin’s house to shame.

As I walked towards the lot I notice that most of the guys in the lot all moved with a purpose and in a squad with three or four other guys. But none of them really stuck out to me, except for one guy that was practicing with a trident on some sandy ground next to a pond.

Watching him go through the motions of using his trident was a treat to watch, and I stood there for a moment watching him and examines his movements. But he eventually came to a stop, and then sat down cross-legged and started meditating.

Curious I narrowed my Aura into a thin probe and sent it over to him. To determine whether he has an Aura or not. My probe came within fifteen feet of him, only for it to be batted away like a raging tide had just hit it. It shocked me a little, and I retracted my Aura probe back and realized that he’s smirking at me.

I’d be lying if I say I didn't want to go over there and smack his face in, but that could wait for now. So I smirked back at him, and gave him a bow and started walking over to Julian’s place.

Julian’s place is the same as ever, made of trees, rocks, and earth, and still absolutely reeked of powerful magic. So that’s why I opted to knock at his door rather than punch it open, well that and I’m not a complete asshole.

Waiting, I could hear muffled yelling through the walls. But, I couldn’t make it out so I ignored it, and started to run my hand over the walls.

The earth that packed the walls, felt soft and smooth, but at the same time sturdy and densely packed. I even gave it a cursory punch to see how it would hold up, and my fist barely made a dent in it, and then the wards activated.

I felt a force hit my hand back at the same time it landed, and it blasted back my hand, my bones rattling and shaking, and very numb. But nothing felt broken, I imagine that would mess up most people’s day though.

I took a quick look at my hand, and saw a couple scratches and cuts bleeding, but nothing too serious.

The door then opened, and I could hear the shouting full force, only for it to stop as Julian walked out the door and it closed.

“Atlas,” Julian said with a polite nod.

“Julian,” I say back

“What brings you here? Another spar?” He says monotone, but with a slight undercurrent of excitement, that I can see in his eyes.

“My pets, I heard Damon took them,” I respond bluntly.

“Oh, those,” He said with his face brightening up. “C’mon in, I’ll show you to them.”

“Ok,” I said and followed him into his house.

The shouting resumed full force, once the door opened, and I could identify the voices.

“Why not, Damon?!” Said George in an angry shout. “It’ll be fun I assure you, and nothing we can’t handle, trust me on this!”

“Because, it’ll get you, me, and the master killed you nitwit!” Damon shouted back.

I look to Julian, who makes a gesture and both freeze.

“That’s neat,” I say to him, and then gesture to the pair, “So, what’s up with those two?”

Julian gives a slight shrug. “Something about a quest George wants to go on. I don’t really know Damon say it’s a bad idea. But, I don’t really care.” He makes a gesture with his hand and a basket floats over to us.

I grasp the basket out of the air, and peer inside, and smile seeing the wolf puppy and the kitten curled up next to each other.

I reach down, and scratch behind the puppy's ear, and watch as it twitches, and as he breathes softly. Both the kitten and puppy had grown immensely in the time I’ve been gone. Looking to be a month or two older, despite the fact I couldn’t have been gone more than two weeks… The miracles of alchemy.

I then notice a slender and pale hand doing the same to the kitten, scratching behind his ear and causing him to let out a soft purr.

I look over to my side to see Julian looking down at the kitten with a soft, gentle look, before looking back up at me with a sad look.

“Thanks for taking care of these two, Julian. I really appreciate it.” I say honestly.

Julian smiles sadly and gestures at George and Damon, who unfreeze. “It was mostly Damon doing all the work, all I did was the feedings.”

He looks down at the kitten again. “I’ll miss you, Felix, make sure to come back and visit.”

He then looks at me again. “Sorry, probably shouldn’t name your pets without permission, so name him what you want.”

Feeling a little awkward I wave it off, and say “No problem, Felix looks like the strong name for a cat.” Looking away from Julian’s sad, droopy eyes, I turn to Damon who stands silently with a fuming George.

“So why did you catnap my critters?” I say to turn the conversation around.

Damon snaps to attention at that, and say with energy. “Because I don’t trust that snake Acelin or his lackeys as far as I can throw them! The more bartering chips I can get out of his hand the better!”

I scratch my head and say curiously. “I don’t know, I had breakfast with him today and he didn’t seem like that bad of a guy, and plus isn’t The Dormis largely more powerful than him.”

He lets out a laugh, “Ha! Family names mean nothing in Newbie Town, it’s all about skill, power, and connections here, and you abandon all the outside power and connections once you come here or otherwise what’s the point.” He rolls his shoulders and growls “I don’t trust him, It’s only a matter of time till he tries to come cow Master Julian and I again, since if we submit here, we’re his lackeys once we leave too. So watch him Atlas, anybody here is equally likely to be enemy as they are a friend.

I then saw George charge at me with his arms open, but I don’t dodge and open my arms awkwardly.

“Atlas! Buddy when did you get here?!” He shouts as he tackles me into a hug, making me a take a step back from it.

“Even him?” I say as I point at George.

“Not likely,” He says bluntly, “The worst thing you must worry about from his is being annoyed to death.”

I then point at myself, “So what about me?”

He smirks “I think you don’t have the intellectual capacity to betray anybody.”

I grimace at that and growl. “I show you how smart you are when I put my foot up your ass if you keep making smarmy comments like that.”

He holds up his hands in submission and backs away.

I feel Georges hug tighten before he lets go and gives me a goofy smile that I can’t help but smile back at. “So, buddy get into any wild adventures while you were gone? I bet you did, come on tell me about them!” He says as he sits down in a leather chair.

I sit down in the chair and relax in it for a second, “Sure, I could tell you guys if you’re interested.” I ponder for a second. “Got anything to drink?”

By the time I’m done telling my story, It’s a little dark out and I’ve drank a couple bottles of high proof whiskey and feeling a little tipsy. George is red in the cheeks and slurring every other couple word, Julian as gone back to playing with Felix, and Damon stands sentinel.

“Daaammit, Atlas you ok? You shouldn’t be that rooough your body, or it’ll wear out on you. But, daaamn that sounds like a lot of fun though.” And then he looks like he passed out, and falls to the floor.

Damon then appears out of the shadows and drags him off with a dark chuckle.

A couple moments later I hear the splash of water and gasping.

“Fuck you, Damon!” Then some splashing sounds.

“Who’s a good kitty!” I hear Julian say, playing with Felix.

I feel a little weird watching Julian play with the kitten, but then I look down at the puppy sleeping in my lap, suddenly feeling pretty tired.

I look to the shadows and ask.

“Hey, Damon.”

“Yeah?”

“Any of the formula left?”

“No, they drank it all, Julian went to see that alchemist, and he said that they could eat solid food now.”

“Aww thanks, well I think I’m going to go home now,” I say getting up while cradling the puppy in one and stretching with the other.

Once, I said that though I could practically feel the sadness coming from Julian, who got up dejectedly and shuffled over to me.

“Here, take good care, Felix.” He says handing me the small kitten, though he looked fairly large in Julian’s hand.

I give him a smile and push his hand away.

“You, know what Julian?”

He cocks his head at me curiously “What?”

“I’m not much of a cat person? So, if you could find him an owner or something I’d-”

He wraps me in a tight hug, before detaching embarrassedly. “Thank you, Atlas.”

Feeling odd, I decided to leave before this can get any weirder.

“Hey wait, Atlas!” I hear George say as he comes running into the room soaked.

“Yeah what is it?”

“Whatcha gonna name him?” He says pointing at the puppy.

I take the puppy and put him at eye level, “Hmm, what should I name you, ya ugly little bastard?” The puppy had grown, some more but he still wasn't’ any less ugly, but then a name came to me.

“Mud, that’s what I’ll call him. Mud Mule.”

Then I turned on my heels and left.