The sun barely pierced the thick canopy of the Familiar Forest, a vast and mystical stretch of wildlands nestled deep between the borders of the Underworld and the realm of contracted beasts. Magical energy shimmered in the air like golden pollen, and the very soil pulsed with ancient power. This forest, veiled in myth and guarded by primeval force, was no place for the faint hearted. Creatures of legend roamed freely some noble, others savage.
Riser stood at the forest's edge, his cloak trailing like shadows behind him, the faint ember of his flames warming the chilled morning mist. His peerage stood behind him, armor clinking softly, expressions set with anticipation and hunger.
"This forest," Merlin said, stepping beside him with a hand resting on her staff, "The beasts within don't serve the strong. They serve the ones who are worthy."
Riser narrowed his eyes at the misty expanse. "Good. Power without worth is just noise. I didn't come here to make noise."
He turned to face his gathered peerage members, his voice cutting through the quiet like a drawn blade.
"This is your rite. Familiars are not pets they are partners. Reflections of your soul. They will not yield to fear. They will not be bribed or dominated. You must earn them."
He paused, scanning each of them warriors, knights, spellcasters, and monsters, all bound by loyalty and ambition.
"Split into groups. Seek what calls to you. Listen to your instincts. Fight if you must. Bond if you can. But return only with something that recognizes your soul or not at all."
A murmur of excitement rippled through the group. Thalia smirked. Milim and Merlin stared into the woods with glints of mischief. Artoria adjusted her blade. Even Daryun, standing beside Riser, looked wistfully at the forest.
Riser nodded. "Milim. Thalia. Artoria. You're first."
Milim cracked her knuckles, a wild grin breaking across her face. "Took you long enough. I thought I'd die of boredom."
Thalia rolled her neck, electricity dancing across her skin. "I've been itching for something to beat."
Artoria didn't speak. She simply adjusted her cloak, gave Riser a small nod, and stepped forward, regal as ever.
"Go," Riser said, voice low with quiet pride. "Gather your partners."
Thalia moved through the forest like a phantom, each footstep soft, her senses peeled open to the hum of nature's breath. Her spear crackled faintly in her grasp, the weapon feeding off the dense ambient energy that saturated every inch of this place.
A gust of wind brushed her cheek. Static bit her skin.
She stopped.
Her eyes flicked upward just in time to catch a silhouette slicing through the clouds like a blade.
A shriek split the air. Lightning crashed.
And Thalia grinned.
"Finally."
A Lightning Hawk, feathers crackling with raw voltage, dove from the sky, talons extended like javelins.
Thalia spun her spear, catching the attack in a burst of sparks. The clash exploded in sound and light, the forest around them convulsing with the force.
"C'mon then!" she shouted, launching herself skyward with a bolt of her own magic. "Let's see which of us the storm favors!"
For nearly 10 minutes, the two danced through the canopy and clouds clashes of light and shadow, shockwaves that split trees, thunder that rolled for miles.
She learned its rhythm. Its anger. Its pride.
Then, Thalia did the unexpected.
She rested her weapon on her back. Stood tall fearless.
Opened her arms.
"No more fighting. I respect your storm. Now respect mine leting her lighting surround her like a light bulb."
The hawk hovered, wings stretched, eyeing her like prey. But slowly , it descended. Its talons gripped her armored shoulder.
A deep hum of magic resonated between them. Acceptance.
She smiled and reached up to stroke its head.
"Aashni," she whispered.
Sometime later Artoria walked , the quieter the world became. She didn't rush. She didn't force her presence into the forest she let it carry her, step by step, like a river finding its course.
Eventually, she entered a wide clearing scarred with claw marks larger than her entire body. A beast had claimed this place. And still resided in it.
A low growl, like the grinding of a mountain, echoed.
On the hill stood a lion. A monarch. Golden fur dulled by scars, its mane black as midnight, its eyes the color of judgment.
It didn't roar.
It watched her.
Artoria drew her sword not in challenge, but respect. She walked forward, step by steady step.
"I feel a connection towards you," she said quietly. "A beast that bows to no one. I was once a weapon for my family. I carried my pride like a shield. And then I laid it down. Not in shame, but in love."
The lion descended the hill.
It pounced.
They clashed in silence, claws scraping against steel, Artoria deflecting, weaving, enduring.
Minutes stretched on. Neither yielded.
After some clashs later The lion stood before her like it recognized something in her.
And it bowed.
Her hand reached out, resting on its mane. "Kion," she breathed. "Let's walk forward together."
During everyone else exchange with there partners, Milim who didn't walk. She rampaged through the forest, swinging from trees, bouncing off stones, laughing the whole time.
"This place is awesome!" she shouted. "Where are you, my awesome familiar?! I'm ready to be impressed!"
The deeper she went, the stranger it became. The air cooled. Shadows thickened.
She stopped in a glade wrapped in twisting roots, darker than the night sky above.
At the center an egg. Black as void. Glowing with violet veins of pure magic.
"Oooohhh," Milim gasped. "Jackpot."
As she approached, the egg cracked.
A growl.
Then a hiss.
A tiny creature burst forth sleek black scales, wings like broken glass, a tail spiked with bones.
It snarled and fired a beam of compressed shadow right at Milim's face.
It hit her dead on.
She blinked. "Rude."
Then she grinned, lunged, and grabbed the baby dragon in a crushing hug.
"Awww, you're feisty! I love you already!"
The dragon snarled, bit her shoulder, swiped at her face.
Milim giggled.
"You're perfect."
It hissed then curled on her shoulder, tail wrapping around her neck.
She scratched under its chin. "Oblivion. That's your name now."
Back at Camp
The fire crackled warmly as dusk painted the sky in a deep purple color. Riser sat with Merlin,Daryun,and kaijin speaking among each others when the rustle of leaves drew their attention.
Thalia entered first, Aashni perched above her like a winged sentinel, sparks crackling from its feathers. She gave Riser a cocky grin and tossed a pine cone at Kaijin, who scowled.
"Got a new buddy," she said. "He's zappy."
Artoria came next, walking beside Kion, who padded silently, towering over her like a divine protector. The camp fell into reverent silence at the sight of the beast.
Milim was last, bouncing with energy, Oblivion coiled around her neck like a scarf made of scales and teeth.
"He already tried to eat Kaijin's boots!" she called. "Isn't he great?!"
Kaijin who was shaking the dragon off of himself looked to Riser for help
Riser who ignored Kaijin rose, arms crossed, pride in his eyes as he looked over them.
"These familiars are more than trophies," he said, his voice low and commanding. "They are mirrors of your soul. Extensions of your spirit."
He stepped forward, placing a hand on each of their shoulders in turn.
"You've earned more than beasts. You've earned trust."
He turned to the rest of his peerage.
"Tomorrow, the rest of you will enter the forest. Do not fear what you meet. Fear only walking away unchanged."
He looked up at the stars blinking into view above the treetops.
"This is how empires are built not by conquest alone, but by those who walk beside us. Warriors. Friends. Familiars."
The fire roared higher as the familiars settled, and the night deepened with the rhythm of magic echoing in every heartbeat.
The vast forest held more than he will ever know.
And soon that answer will come.