"You are such an irresponsible creature owner," Rue huffed, feathers puffing up like she was about to file a complaint with management. She stood at the edge of the desk, with nowhere to escape to. Puff purred loudly, nuzzling her like she was his mother. Maybe that was why he did it.
A few other people came up to Liora and Adriel with their own creatures, but each of them stopped dead at the sight on the desk.
"Is that a Mooncat? Liora, you're so lucky," gushed a girl with a tiny sparkling fawn following her. "I heard they're supposed to bring good luck to their owner."
Liora laughed. "Myth? Nah, this is divine intervention," she grinned. "Look at this face. Look at him. Tell me you wouldn't die for him right now."
I already would. Pull the plug. He wins.
A boy stepped up behind the girl. "An Obsidian Corvid. Wow. Aren't those the birds that barely anyone manages to bond with? Of course they gave you the hardest creature, Adriel."
Adriel nodded, shrugging. "Yeah, but he's just a baby. It's like saying a little kid's dangerous because one day they might punch God. Calm down."
I dunno, I've seen toddlers with that kind of energy. My little cousin for starters.
Ethan wasn't sure if he was imagining it, but he thought he caught a hint of smugness in his voice. For someone who could actually communicate with their creature, this assignment would be a breeze.
"Tell that girl to take her fluffy abomination away from me!" Rue barked, trying to hop away from Puff.
Adriel folded his arms. "Then fly away, genius. You've got wings, right? Or are those just for decoration?"
"Don't patronize me! If I could, I would. But unfortunately, these Academy degenerates cast some spell on me, and I can't fly!"
Ethan laughed. "Guess you're stuck there."
"You're one to talk, sword. At least I can move," Rue shot back.
"Ouch. Target all my weak spots, why don't you?"
Sighing, Adriel scooped the crow off the desk and deposited her back onto his shoulder. "I'm going to go outside. Want to come, Liora?"
Puff looked up at him with wide eyes. "Birb… I wan' see birb again…" he said sadly.
Adriel didn't react to the kitten's words.
Can he not hear him? Ethan wondered. This telepathy thing makes zero sense.
Liora grinned, picking up Puff. "Yeah, sure! Maybe there's some shiny stuff out there I can steal--uh, I mean, borrow. For Puff, obviously."
She and Adriel walked over to the open side of the classroom, and beyond the walls. The sun was shining, and there wasn't a single cloud in the sky.
They treaded over short grass, and past other classmates and their creatures, eventually coming to a stop near a large boulder seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
Wait, is this a romance scene? Cue the cupids descending from the skies.
"I guess we're supposed to play with them now," Adriel said. "Bond with them a little before we can start training them. What's Liffey going to test us on, though? Synergy?
"Yeah, she wasn't specific enough," Liora grumbled. "She just said our scores will depend on how close we are with them, and how much they listen to us. Not nearly enough information."
"You don't need to worry," Rue muttered. "I'm not a mindless beast like that furball. I can pretend we're best friends, as long as you give me some nice food, not that Academy junk."
No one replied to her. But Ethan decided to tune out the sound around him, just in case it really did turn into an unrequited romance scene.
When they were in the classroom, Ethan hadn't heard any telepathic noises coming from the creatures, yet he could hear Rue and Puff.
So the list of things he could communicate didn't necessarily include all magic beasts. But it did include Adriel and magic artifacts.
I'm gonna have to make a list soon. Let me guess, unicorns are the next thing I'll meet, and we'll sing about how friendship is magic.
A sudden thought drifted through his mind, now that he wasn't listening to the voices nearby.
Would anyone notice I'm gone…?
"Why'd your sword just flicker blue? Am I going insane?" Liora quipped, bringing back Ethan's wandering thoughts.
I turned blue???
"Definitely," Adriel said. "Going insane, I mean."
Liora put Puff on the boulder, punching Adriel in the shoulder jokingly. "I'm serious, though. I swear, your sword did something weird for a second."
"I thought you were supposed to be a normal sword," Adriel said pointedly to Ethan.
"Bro, I didn't mean to. Not my fault your girlfriend is observant."
A bell rang in the distance.
"Oh, it's already next class? Time goes by too fast when you're not doing boring textbook work," Liora said, quickly forgetting about what she'd seen. "I've got archery next. No idea where I'm supposed to put Puff, but I'll figure it out."
She took off with her magic creature, heading back towards the main building.
Rue breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally, that thing's gone. I could hear it whining about wanting to eat me the entire time."
"No, he wasn't," Ethan protested. "He's too small. And too innocent. Give him a chance."
Adriel began walking back too, with Rue still on his shoulder at Ethan at his side. "I've got a self-study session. You two are not to cause any trouble while I'm in the library."
A while later, the three of them got back into the main building, trudging through flurries of students rushing to get to their next classes. A bunch of people greeted Adriel as they passed.
"Gee, Mr Popular. You must know the entire school," Ethan commented, as what felt like the hundredth person nodded to Adriel.
They finally got into the library.
"Shut up, Ethan. So what if I do? Jealous?" Adriel replied, finding a quiet table in a forgotten corner to sit in, pulling a few random books from the surrounding shelves.
"That reminds me," Rue interrupted. "I never asked your name. I must say, that sounds incredibly--"
"Strange?" Ethan finished for her.
"And foreign. Like an alien herb."
"That's not very comforting."
"I am trying to read, if you two don't mind."
Rue and Ethan begrudgingly went silent, and soon, all that could be heard was the rustling of paper from Adriel and the few other people around.
This is sooo boring, Ethan thought. I thought this guy got into duels every five seconds. Why is nothing happening?? The only interesting thing that's happened so far is a new character being added to the roster. When can we fight a dragon or trade with elves?
"...Yes. The top Magic Creatures class each received their own animal to take care of."
Adriel's head snapped up, and he gripped the book he was holding tighter.
"Yes, very good, but have you found that artifact yet? It's been months since I informed you of the assignment, Vermilion. The Blank's patience is running thin."
Shady people with stupid codenames?! OHHHH SNAP! I SENSE A NEW SUBPLOT!
Voices drifted through the bookshelf opposite Adriel's table. Without a single telepathic word, he silently set down Rue and Ethan on the soft carpet, drawing closer to the voices soundlessly.
In the early morning, there weren't many people who were supposed to come to the library. And no one who was saying something so suspicious.
"Well, I'm sorry, Cerulean. But looking for restricted objects without getting expelled isn't--"
"Quiet down…!" Another voice snapped. "Don't go around yelling secrets in here. For all we know, the librarian could already be onto us."
From his spot on the floor, Ethan watched as Adriel turned, listening closely to them.
"Are they roleplayers?"
Rue hopped closer. "What's that?"
"The hell is a roleplayer?"
"Uh, nothing. But is this for real?"
Adriel stood stiffly. "I don't know. I'm listening just in case."
"The Blank cannot wait forever, Vermilion," the first person said. "Now's the perfect chance. Soon, we'll finally see our organization's wish come true."
Rue tripped on her own feet, falling on the ground with a thud. A muffled squawk.
The voices cut off.
"Who's there?"