The moment Charles arrived back at the apartment, he shut the door, locked it, and collapsed face-first onto the floor.
Midnight landed beside him and immediately smacked his head with a paw.
"MEOW!!!"
Charles groaned.
"I KNOW! I know! I didn't mean to adopt a demon crystal!"
Midnight jumped onto his back, stomping angrily.
"MEOW! MEOW!!"
(WHY DID YOU ACCEPT IT?! ARE YOU STUPID?! IT'S EVIL!!)
Charles covered his head.
"Ow—stop! My soul is already in pain!"
The system chimed:
[Warning: Emotional turbulence detected in Familiar #1 — Midnight]
[Midnight Disposition: Furious]
[Bond Stability: 77% → 65%]
Charles sat up fast.
"WAIT—MIDNIGHT, DON'T LEAVE ME—!"
Midnight hissed again, turning his back dramatically.
Charles panicked.
"I SWEAR I DIDN'T WANT A SECOND FAMILIAR!"
Midnight glanced over his shoulder with narrowed golden eyes that said:
Then why did you press YES, idiot?
Charles felt his soul leave his body.
"I thought Creed was going to KILL ME if I refused!"
Midnight paused…
…and reluctantly accepted that this was true.
He jumped onto Charles's lap and butted his forehead against the boy's chest.
"Meow."
(Fine. I forgive you… partially.)
Charles sighed in relief.
"Thank you…"
Then the system beeped.
[New Familiar Awakening]
[Shardling emerging…]
Charles froze.
"…Oh no."
Midnight's fur exploded upright like a black porcupine.
"MEOW?!!"
---
The Shardling Appears
A soft purple glow leaked from Charles's chest—
FWOOOOSH…
A small crystal creature emerged, floating gently in the air.
Two glowing violet eyes blinked curiously.
Its tail of radiant particles curled into a heart shape.
"Kyuu…"
Charles blinked.
"…It's cute?"
Midnight screeched like a dying kettle.
"MEOWWWWW!!!???"
(WHAT PART OF THAT IS CUTE?! THAT IS A DEMON COCKROACH!!)
The Shardling flinched, floating behind Charles's shoulder.
"Kyuuuuu…" (sad)
The system chimed:
[Warning: Midnight is exhibiting dominance behavior]
[Familiar Rivalry Level: Critical]
[Conflict Imminent]
Charles put his hands between them.
"STOP. BOTH OF YOU."
The Shardling peeked out.
Midnight bared his fangs.
The Shardling hid again.
Charles sighed.
"This is going to be my life now, isn't it?"
---
Familiar Introduction Attempt
Charles pointed at the Shardling.
"Look—Midnight, this is… um… Shardling?"
The system offered a name:
[Recommended Familiar Name: Rift]
Charles nodded.
"Okay. Midnight, this is Rift."
Rift floated forward shyly.
"Kyuu…"
Midnight swatted at the air like he was batting a tennis ball.
Charles grabbed him.
"STOP TRYING TO KILL HIM!"
Midnight hissed:
"Meow!!"
(He tried to kill YOU first!!)
Rift lowered his head in shame.
Charles blinked.
"…You understand him?"
Rift tilted its head.
"Kyuu…"
The system translated:
["I did not intend to harm Master. I was awakening. I was… afraid."]
Midnight paused.
Then glared again.
But less angry.
---
Rift Shows Its Power
Rift floated forward and touched Charles's hand.
The system flashed:
[Rift Skill Unlocked]
Shadowlight Pulse (Beginner)
— Purifies corruption
— Absorbs small rift energy
— Emits both holy and shadow wavelengths
Charles gasped.
"This… this is actually useful!"
Midnight puffed up again.
"Meow!!!"
(Useful?! That's MY job!!)
Rift emitted a proud little hum.
Midnight slapped him again.
Rift lightly slapped back with a tiny crystal hand.
Charles watched in horror.
"Oh no. They're fighting. My familiars are actually fighting."
Midnight hissed like a demon.
Rift hummed like an angry toaster.
---
The Apartment Shakes
BOOM!
The two familiars clashed with tiny sparks—
Shadow vs. Light
Holy vs. Rift
Cat vs. Crystal
The table shook.
A picture frame fell off the wall.
The rice cooker turned on by itself.
Charles screamed:
"STOP!!"
The system blared:
[Familiar Conflict — 38%]
[Damage Potential — Low but annoying]
[Recommendation: Establish Hierarchy Immediately]
Charles blinked.
"I need to what!?"
The system clarified:
[Familiar Bond Rule #1: They must recognize Master as Alpha.]
Charles turned slowly.
Midnight and Rift paused mid-fight and stared at him.
Charles swallowed.
"Uh… sit?"
Midnight sat immediately.
Rift tried to sit… but fell like a rock.
Charles sighed.
"…Good enough."
The system chimed:
[Familiar Hierarchy Established]
[Conflict Level Decreasing]
[Bond Stability: Midnight (65% → 80%)]
[Bond Stability: Rift (60% → 85%)]
[Familiar Synchronization Increasing]
Midnight glared at Rift.
Rift floated and poked Midnight's forehead like:
We're siblings now.
Midnight hissed:
I hate this.
Charles rubbed his temples.
"My life was complicated before… but now it's impossible."
---
A New Notification
Just as things calmed down—
The system flashed a new alert:
[New Quest Available]
"When Light Meets Rift"
Objective: Successfully make your two familiars cooperate.
Reward:
• +10 Points
• Rift Evolution Path Revealed
• Midnight Skill Upgrade Unlocked
Charles stared at the quest.
"…Oh no."
Midnight and Rift stared at him.
He sighed.
"This is going to be hell."