My Adventures In Philia

Welcome Home

Cobalt kneeled on the dirt road with one knee while his right hand was on his chest. He looked at me patiently, knowing that I might reject him. But of course, I wasn't planning to.

Mystics were usually been forced to become one's familiar if they were captured. This is why Mystics always hid away that one day they will be taken from their home and to be with someone who orders them around for as long as they live. But here we are with Cobalt kneeling in front of me waiting for my response.

"Instead, I will be in your care from now on as my new owner."

Those words surprised me and caught me off-guard. It's rare for a Mystic to behave like this. He is acting like a stray puppy who wants to come home with a stranger that they just met. I couldn't just turn down his offer to become my familiar.

I haven't had my first familiar yet since my master told me that I should find one on my own in the wild but since I was busy doing quests and spending time inside the walls of the Rose Empire, I didn't have a chance.

"What is your answer, Ria?" The boy asked me as a few tears of sweat dropped from his forehead. Is he nervous? Or is he still catching his breath from running all the way here?

But all I know is that Cobalt trusts me. And I will make the right choice for him. If he wants to then...

"Okay, I will accept you as not only my familiar but as a friend to me."

...I have to fulfill it.

Cobalt eventually stood and was smiling in joy, "Thank you very much! I will do my best to follow you." He said while his wolf tail wagged back and forth in excitement.

I began to discuss with the Mystic Boy, "Alright then, we should begin the Bonding Ritual. If you know how to do it?"

"I learned how to do it. So, let's start." He answered as he gave me a nod in response

The Bonding Ritual is an undertaking in which one person makes a bond with the monster they want to be with. Those rituals only work when both sides come to an agreement and pledge their lives to stay together until death.

"Can I borrow your dagger, Cobalt?" I asked him as I lend out my hand.

Cobalt took out one of his daggers from his pockets and let me hold the handle of it.

The first step in doing this ritual is for the owner/master to cut a wound on their palm and let the blood bleed.

I took the blade and cut a small scar on my left palm. I whimpered a little at the pain until it eventually stops. My red blood bleeds out from the scar and started to drip onto the ground.

I saw Cobalt glancing at my bleeding hand and his wolf ears suddenly flop downwards. I then asserted to him
"Don't worry, I'll be okay. I could just bandage it up but for now, this needs to be done for the ritual."

"Oh, right." Cobalt's wolf ears began to perk up and stayed in their regular position.

The next step is for the soon-to-be-familiar to concentrate its magic on their paw, wing, or in this case, hand and then hold their owner/master's hand.

In a short moment, Cobalt let out a howl which is like what he performed back at the Goblins' Camp. But this time, the howl is more gentle and more calming. Magic Particles gather around the Mystic's hand, ready for it. Now, here is the final step in the Bonding Ritual.

We both need to hold each other's hands and recite the magic words together.

Cobalt lends out his hand and I take hold of it. All of a sudden, a beacon of pure light shines underneath us as more Magic Particles encircle our clenching hands as if they were dancing in mid-air. I could feel the overwhelming magic flowing through my veins at ease. It's now time to chant the magic words.