Scias waited for death, bracing himself for the final, crushing impact of the serpent's massive jaws.
As seconds passed, nothing happened. His mind, clouded by pain, struggled to make sense of this unexpected situation.
He should be dead by now. The serpent was mere moments from reaching him.
Fighting against the darkness that was overtaking his consciousness, Scias forced his eyes open.
The sight before him. Was he hallucinating?
A colorful bird the size of a hawk, descended from nowhere and was now darting around the serpent's massive head.
The bird moved with impossible speed, diving and weaving with precision that seemed unnatural for bird of that size.
It was hurling wind blade after wind blade at the serpent's head. But the snake learned its lesson and protected its remaining healthy eye.
Seeing that its attacks were doing nothing, the bird stopped it's magical assault and switched to physical attacks, forcing it to move closer to the snake.
Each pass brought its sharp beak close to the serpent's eye.
The snake thrashed wildly, its massive body contorting as it tried to strike the nimble enemy.
Its hisses rose to a fever pitch—sounds of frustration and pain echoing across the marsh.
The bird was simply too quick, ducking below snapping jaws and twisting away from lunging strikes with ease. It was so unreasonably fast because it was using wind magic to increase its speed.
Dark fluid began to leak from the serpent's second eye as the bird's relentless assault continued. The snake's movements grew increasingly erratic, its head swinging blindly through empty air.
'Impossible,' Scias thought, blood seeping from his lips.
With one final, decisive strike, the bird plunged its beak deep into the center of the serpent's remaining eye.
The snake reared back as it was plunged into total blindness. Its body thrashed in mindless circles, spraying venom in all directions.
The bird, its task complete, abruptly abandoned the battle. It soared directly toward Scias, wings catching sunlight in a prismatic display.
As it was passing by Scias, it gave him a look that said "What the hell are you still doing here? Run!"
Scias did not hesitate.
The blinded serpent would soon regain its composure and use its other senses to hunt him. This momentary advantage might be his only chance.
With all the will power he could muster, Scias forced himself to move.
The pain was blinding—broken ribs causing pain with each breath, muscles screaming as he struggled to his knees.
Mud beneath him was mixed with his blood as he coughed, but he pushed onward.
'Get up! Move!' he screamed in his mind.
His first attempt to stand failed, sending him crashing back to his hands and knees.
The second attempt succeeded, though his legs were trembling, barely able to support him.
Behind him, the serpent had regained some clarity, its tongue flicking rapidly to taste the air.
It began moving to the place where Scias was just moments ago.
Scias stumbled forward, one hand pressed against his damaged ribs.
Each step threatened to send him toppling back to the ground—especially when he was moving through muddy marshland.
Every few steps, he caught himself against tree trunks, leaving bloody handprints on the bark.
The sounds of the serpent's pursuit drove him onward. Though blinded, the creature was still deadly—perhaps even more dangerous in its rage.
It moved with surprising precision for something robbed of sight, following some combination of scent and Scias's careless splashing.
Fifty paces. Sixty. Each step a small victory against his failing body.
His foot caught on an exposed root, nearly sending him face-first into the ground. As he caught himself, a wave of dizziness washed over him.
'Just a little further,' he coaxed himself.
Behind him, the massive snake had finally reached the spot where he'd lain moments ago.
Finding nothing, it hissed in frustration, its tongue flicking rapidly. Then, in a display of mindless fury, it began spraying venom in all directions.
Scias pressed onward as the sounds of destruction faded behind him. The marsh gradually gave way to firmer ground, the trees growing taller and more widely spaced.
His lungs burned with each labored breath, the copper taste of blood filling his mouth.
Finally, when the sounds of the serpent could no longer be heard and the ground beneath his feet had fully solidified, Scias's legs simply refused to carry him any further. His knees buckled, sending him sprawling onto a bed of fallen leaves.
'Can't… go… any… further,' he thought as his vision darkened.
The last thing he saw before losing conciousness was the colorful bird landing next to him.
***
Scias woke with a jolt, his chest burning as if someone had pressed hot coals against his ribs.
The metallic taste of blood still coated his tongue, and every breath sent shivers of pain through his torso. Despite the agony, relief washed over him—he was still alive.
With a tremendous effort, he pushed himself up, grunting as he shifted into a sitting position against a nearby tree.
Sweat beaded on his forehead from the exertion, and he took several shallow breaths to steady himself.
'Still... alive,' he thought.
Examining his body, Scias found cuts and bruises all over.
His selfmade leather armor hung in tatters, revealing angry purple bruising across his ribcage. Moving his fingers gently across the area, he felt at least two breaks where bone shifted unnaturally beneath his touch.
Moving carefuly, he rinsed his mouth, spitting bloody water onto the forest floor. The cool liquid provided momentary relief as he washed his visible wounds, wincing as water stung the open cuts.
Scias closed his eyes and concentrated and in his muddled state he focused on healing his wounds first, watching as the superficial cuts slowly closed, leaving pink skin in their wake.
When he tried to focus on his damaged ribs, progress was minimal. The pain dulled slightly, but the bones remained broken beneath his touch. Frustration washed over him as his mana reserves depleted without resolving his most serious injuries.
'No idea if there's internal damage,' he thought, releasing the last wisps of healing energy.
'Maybe the spell helped somewhat.'
A melodious chirping interrupted his thoughts. Scias turned his head carefully toward the sound and saw the colorful bird perched on a low branch nearby.
Its feathers shimmered with mostly blue, red and yellow color. Some feathers were shades of purple and green that seemed to shift with each movement, catching sunlight in mesmerizing patterns.
The creature watched him with unusual intensity, its head tilted in what appeared to be curiosity.
As Scias met its gaze, a translucent blue window materialized before him:
[The Brightshade wants to become your familiar.
Do you accept?
Yes/No]
"Familiar?" Scias mumbled, his mind still foggy from pain and exhaustion.
The concept seemed vaguely familiar, though he couldn't recall where he'd heard it before.
His thoughts drifted to the marsh—to the bird's unrelenting attacks against the serpent, the way it had created the distraction that saved his life.
Without the bird's intervention, he would be dead, dissolved in venomous acid at the bottom of the marsh. Or inside the serpents body as its nourishment.
"Yes," he whispered, nodding weakly. "I accept."
The bird trilled softly, its wings fanning out as he glowed slightly.
Scias tried to reach toward it, but the movement sent a fresh wave of pain through his chest. His vision blurred, darkness embracing him as consciousness began to slip away.
The blue window disappeared, replaced by a new message:
[Congratulations! The Brightshade is now your familiar.]
"Thank... you..." he managed before slumping back against the tree.
[Bestow a name to your new familiar.]
The world faded to black, his awareness dissolving into nothingness. He did not see the final System message appear and then vanish moments later, nor did he notice as the bird—his new familiar—flew down from its perch to land gently beside him.
The Brightshade settled on the ground near Scias's outstretched hand, watching his face and chest moving up and down.
Satisfied, that its new master will live, the bird hopped onto a nearby branch and assumed a vigilant pose.
Its eyes, strikingly intelligent for a bird, constantly scanned the surrounding forest for threats.
The bird's head turned at each snapping twig or rustling leaf, its body tense and ready to defents its master should danger approach.
As daylight began to fade, casting long shadows through the trees, the Brightshade maintained its watch.
Occasionally, it would hop over to Scias, peering closely at his face as if checking his breathing before returning to its self-appointed guard post.
When nocturnal creatures began their evening chorus, the bird's feathers puffed slightly, adding an extra layer of insulation against the cooling air.
Its vigilance never wavered as darkness settled over the forest, turning the vibrant underbrush into shadowy silhouettes.
Through the night, as Scias remained lost in unconsciousness, the Brightshade kept its silent vigil—a newly bonded familiar protecting its wounded master from the dangers that lurked in the darkness.
As Scias woke up with the first light, he searched for the Brightshade and found it asleep on a nearby branch.
Not wanting to disturb the creature but desperately thirsty, with minimal movement to avoid aggravating his injuries, he conjured small balls of water above his mouth, tilted his head back, and let the water fall into his parched throat instead of reaching for his waterskin.
The cool liquid brought immediate relief. He conjured several more water spheres, drinking each one until his thirst subsided.
Though his ribs still ached fiercely, the pain had dulled somewhat during his rest. The forest around him remained peaceful—no signs of the serpent or other threats.
Curious about his new companion, Scias pulled up his System information:
[System Information
Name: Scias Tenebre
Race: Human???
Age: 17
Level: 6
Affinity: Non-elemental
Class: Not Available (Reach level 10 to awaken a class.)
Skills: Not Available (Becomes available after awakening.)
Abilities: Not Available (Becomes available after awakening.)]
He frowned, scanning the text multiple times but finding nothing about familiars.
He considered focusing directly on the word 'familiar', confident the System would provide the information he sought, but curiosity made him wonder where such details should properly appear.
Then he noticed a peculiar symbol at the bottom of the text—an indicator he instantly recognized meant additional pages existed.
He focused on it, and new text materialized before him:
[Titles: (Becomes available after awakening.)
Quests: (Becomes available after awakening.)
Familiars: Unnamed (Brightshade)]
'Titles? Quests?' Scias pondered. These categories were completely unfamiliar, though he suspected attempting to access them would yield the same "available after awakening" message as previously with skills and abilities.
Instead, he focused his attention on the Familiars entry, and new text appeared:
[Familiars:
Name: Unnamed (Bestow a name to your new familiar.)
Affinity: Non-Elemental (Wind)
Species: Brightshade (Rare)
Level: 5
Description:
Only beasts can become familiars, creating a symbiotic relationship that benefits both parties. Familiar takes on its master's affinity in addition to its own.
The Brightshade is an exceedingly rare creature possessing remarkable intelligence. This particular specimen displays unusual coloration and appears to have significant potential for growth. The Brightshade has potential to evolve.
A Familiar can change its appearance based on its level.
A familiar bond allows for shared perception, enhanced communication, and combined magical potential as the bond strengthens.
Your familiar's strength will grow by consuming mana cores.
Warning: The death of either party will sever the connection permanently.]
Scias stared at the information, fascination overriding his pain momentarily.
The sleeping bird suddenly seemed far more significant than its small size suggested. A rare creature with potential for further evolution—and now bound to him through some magical contract.
'Shared perception?' he wondered. 'Enhanced communication? It can even change its appearance? And taking on my Non-Elemental affinity?'
As if sensing his thoughts, the Brightshade stirred, lifting its head and blinking.
It trilled softly, hopping from the root to land beside Scias's hand. The bird cocked its head, regarding him with what appeared to be genuine concern.
Scias attempted to reach out with his mind, uncertain how this bond might manifest.
"Can you understand me?" he whispered.
No words came in response, but Scias felt a curious sensation—a gentle pressure against his consciousness, like fingers lightly tapping on a door. With it came impressions rather than language: relief, happiness, concern.
The bird hopped onto his leg, causing Scias to vince in pain under his weight.
He immediately hopped back to gound, moving close to Scias's face.
Up close, its feathers were even more remarkable—blues that shifted from cobalt to azure, reds ranging from crimson to scarlet, yellows spanning from gold to amber, and occasional flickers of emerald green and royal purple.
Every movement caused the colors to ripple in mesmerizing patterns.
"I need to give you a name," Scias murmured.
The Brightshade chirped, bobbing its head in what appeared to be agreement.
"Let me think about it."
"Thank you for saving me," Scias continued. "I'd be serpent food without your help."
Another chirp, this one somehow conveying something like modest pride.