Amenza

Chapter 22

   Then, a few months pass...

   It's December 23. Spri is called to Merlben's office, so he gets out of class.

   Spri walks to Headmaster Merlben's office unscathed, and Helgardner is there with him. "Well, I suppose it's time that you leave the school," Merlben says, getting the paperwork ready.

   After Helgardner does a full stack of paperwork, Merlben stands up. "We'll miss you here at Whinter's Charter, Spri Harkitz. Farewell!" As they're walking away, Merlben forgot to tell the teenager something. "Before you leave, happy birthday." Students watch as the kid they bullied walks out of the school with the king of a country. A girl with bluish-grey hair and emerald green eyes looks longingly as he leaves. Spri turns around and gives her a big smile.

   Helgardner has a cart ready. Spri hops inside. Helgardner joins, and soon, the cart takes off. "I guess I can take off the disguise for good." He transforms into Amenza for the last time. "You seem to be much happier than the last time I saw you."

   "Yeah, something good happened to me about a week after the tournament." He looks out to the road as they ride back to Geni. Soon, it starts to snow. Amenza smiles as he looks out the window. 'I thought when Viper's Tower was over, he would be more.. angsty?'

   "By the way, happy birthday, Amenza." He hands him a wrapped present. He opens it and finds a necklace with a blue gem inside that has white markings all over it. "It's a necklace that increases the power of Water Magic, but that isn't all." A bodyguard makes a table appear, including a bag. "Since you're 16 now, you get your magical companion. By this time, you're supposed to be able to tell what's alive. So, which one?" He pulls out three seemingly stuffed animals.

   He looks at the options. The one on the left is a lizard, the middle is a frog, and the one on the right is a sparrow. "I suppose it's the sparrow. It's breathing, and I can hear its heart beating." Soon, the sparrow flutters its wings and sits on his shoulder. It pecks his neck. "The sparrow is about a month old, so don't be too rough with it."

   It made a black dot on his neck, and it starts to glow. The bird suddenly becomes sleek, and its feathers become lighter in shade. 'Master. You have been graced by the deity Ieyr!' It says, in Amenza's head.

   "Is it supposed to speak telepathically in my head?" Amenza asks. "Only S-Class level ones," Helgardner responds, confused. 'How do you know I was 'graced' by Ieyr?' Amenza asks the bird in his head. 'I saw them, the eyes. He told me that I would be graced as well since I was your companion. It seems my species has changed as well, as I'm now a Roc. When I grow up, I will be able to fly you around wherever you want.'

   'Any other abilities do you have?' Amenza asks the bird. 'My magic is Transform. I can stay a sparrow if you want to.' The bird responds. 'I will only have you be a Roc when I need you to, stay as a sparrow until then.' Helgardner clears his throat. "What are you gonna name him?"

   'Got a name?' Amenza asks. 'No.' The bird says chirping. "I'll name him Pers. I feel like it fits him. He reminds me of someone I've met once." Pers snuggles into Amenza's neck. "It seems friendly," Helgardner says. 'I WILL BATHE YOUR ENEMIES IN THEIR OWN BLOOD!'

   "Sure, friendly..." He chuckles. Pers looks outside. 'Pretty. Master, what is this?' Amenza sighs. "You don't have to call me Master. Just call me Amenza. That's snow."

   Helgardner watches as the bird squawks, and Amenza laughs. 'Something must have happened. At the tournament, he was fairly aggressive. Whatever it was, I'm glad he's OK.' Amenza looks at Helgardner. "Technically now, Ophelia's older than me, right? What's her companion?" He shakes his head. "It's a bear! A bear for god's sake!" Both Amenza and Pers are afraid now, for different reasons.

   About an hour later, they reach Geni. Pers and Amenza are asleep, so Helgardner nudges him awake. "Huh? Are we there?" Amenza asks, groggily. "Yeah, where do you want to go?" Amenza sits up. "Cheruson's flower shop."

   Soon, they get there, and Pers gets on Amenza's shoulder. He flips his scarf, and the cart drives away. He enters the shop. "Hello, and welcome," Cheruson says happily watering the flowers in the back. "Man, haven't seen me in, like, a year and you treat me like your everyday Joe?" She sets down the watering can, and turns.

   "Amenza!" She runs and hugs him. She almost knocks him over. 'IS SHE AN ENEMY? SHOULD I TAKE HER OUT?' Pers asks. 'Friend, Pers. Not foe.'

   She lets him go. "Ah, look at you." She smiles and pinches his cheek. "How've you been?" She asks. "It was good, then it was bad, then it got good again. I went to the tournament, but I didn't have any time to say hi."

   "It's fine. Are you staying here for the next few days?" She asks. "Yeah, and I might as well help out around here until school starts. Oh, meet my companion, Pers." She looks at the bird and shakes his wing. "Hi, Pers."

   The Roc gets flustered. 'She's... pretty!'

   "While you were gone, I got a girlfriend!" She flaunts. They're sitting at the table, with tea, and a bowl of water for Pers. "Wow. When am I going to meet her?" He asks. "In two days, on Christmas. By the way.." She pulls out a small, neatly wrapped present. "Here is your birthday present. Happy birthday."

   He opens it, and it's a medal that says 'I haven't killed anyone in 3̶6̶4̶ 0 days.' He laughs at it. "That's so sweet. I'll cherish it." He says. "Kind of fits better with Pers with the number of times he's threatened to kill people.." He says. "How long have you had him?"

   "About two hours." She looks surprised. 'Yes, stay in shock!' He says, proudly. "That's not a good thing, Pers.." She then realizes. "Wait, how has he threatened to kill people." She asks. He taps Pers' head. "Telepathy. For some reason, he can use it, but I'm not going to complain... For now.."

   An hour or two of them catching up later, and it's dark out. "Ah crap, I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow Amenza. See you Pers." She walks out. Pers flies around the shop. 'Master Amenza, the 'shop' is cramped. Can we go outside?' He asks. "Sure, just don't be right next to me."

   They turn off the lights and lock the shop. 'Master Amenza! It's snowing!' They walk around Geni. 'Master Amenza, this city is very large!' Amenza gives a slight chuckle. 'Yeah, it is. See that statue up ahead?' The roc looks and sees the large statue. 'I do!' Pers swoops down onto the statue's head. 'I met this guy once. He was the enemy.' Pers' eyes dart. 'DO YOU WISH FOR ME TO POOP ON HIS HEAD?' Amenza chuckles.

   'No, it's OK. He was actually a nice person. He helped me disappear.' He walks off. Pers lands on his shoulder. A group of teens passes him and turn to see him. "Amenza?" The redhead turns and sees the Royal Aristocrats. "Oh hey, guys." Lew comes and hugs him. "How've you been man?"

   "I've been good. I see you all are well. Collin?" Collin looks at him. "How've you been, douche?" Collin laughs. "I've been fine." The redhead turns to Staciap. "Staciap, how you doing?" She gets a giant smile. "You remembered! I've been great!"

   Finally, he turns to Ruenmi, who's in shorts and a t-shirt. "You do know it's snowing, right?" She shrugs. "Is that your companion?" Ruenmi asks. "Yeah, this is Pers. He is a sparrow." The sparrow looks at the group of friends with darted eyes, which scares them all, except Collin. 'FRIEND OR FOE?'

   "They're friends, Pers." He stops darting his eyes and puts his wing forward. "What is he doing?" Collin asks. "He wants you to shake his wing." They all realize and shake the roc's wing. "Anyway, we have to go. You going to school this school year?" Lew asks. Amenza shrugs. "I don't know. I'll think about it." Amenza smirks. "I'll see you guys later."

   After a bit more walking, he comes across a giant Christmas tree in the town center. "Wow." Amenza looks astonished. "Haven't seen it before?" A familiar man approaches Amenza. "Mr. Loweman!" They shake hands. "I've never seen it. It's so pretty." Selma notices Pers. "This is my companion, Pers. Pers, this is a friend." Pers puts his wing out, and Loweman shakes it. "Smart sparrow."

   After a nice talk, Amenza holds Pers, and they teleport into the flower shop. 'That's very handy!' Pers says. "It really is." Amenza summons a perch that you can attach to the wall. 'I can sleep on this.' Soon enough, Pers is out like a light. Amenza gets on the couch. "I'm back, baby."