Academia: The House of Lionheart

VI

"Your familiar's to be a chimera too, right, Kerviel?" said Zerakiel.

"Yes, Master Zerakiel."

"Very well. Nix!" an owl swirled into reality, and the mark of a familiar contract appeared on his arm. "Inform Master Teelu that I'll be taking his pupils, Kerviel and Scratt, to get Kerviel's chimera. Go now."

The owl flew east, out of sight.

"Why?" said Roiru, "Why must they join us now?"

"I won't hear your objections. Let spending time as comrades be your punishment."

Roiru had to pick up his things to head down to the plains. What was Zerakiel thinking? What if the Yumadovs stabbed them in the back and took off running? Who's to say they wouldn't sabotage the peace of the chimeras to get back at them? They didn't know them well enough to say otherwise.

"Kerviel, Scratt, let's go," said Zerakiel. The Yumadovs finally let themselves collapse to their stomachs. Their arms must've felt like noodles, but Roiru thought it served them right. "Chimeras are normally territorial, and any outsiders who wander in would be attacked. But, they've grown accustomed to our presence since they've been here for years. Cadets and peacekeepers come by year-round.

"This isn't to say they wouldn't attack us. On the contrary, they will if they think of us as a danger to them. Stay on guard," Zerakiel led the way deep into the plains. He had Eliona and Kerviel make their pick, so they took a look around. They weren't too far away from the others, but there were hundreds of chimeras packed together.

They saw lions with the legs and wings of griffins, goats with dragon-like capabilities, tigers with scorpion tails, and dire wolves with horns and arms for tails. Roiru thought it was pretty scary just looking at them — why did they go in so deep?

He noticed one of the chimeras sneaking up on Kerviel. It was treading along in the cover of the pack. You know what, why should he warn him? If anything were to happen, he'd be getting what was coming to him.

No, no, he shouldn't be thinking like that. He wasn't going to stoop so low as to let a freak accident happen. Maybe the Yumadovs would, but he didn't want to be like them.

"Kerviel," said Roiru, calling his attention. The Yumadov glared at him, but he pointed out the chimera sneaking behind him. Kerviel's eyes widened with fear, shivers shooting up his spine. He turned to run, but he had no solid footing — he fell to his back with the beast jumping for him. Scratt tried running to his side — Zerakiel grabbed the Yumadov's arm as another beast jumped to protect Kerviel.

"It's nothing to worry about," said Zerakiel, "They usually roughhouse like that. Don't be so startled, Yumadovs."

"Haha," said Kerviel, "I knew that. Of course," the boy stumbled to his feet, wiping his uniform clean of the dirt he slipped on. What a solid, courageous display, Roiru chuckled to himself.

"Foed—" Zerakiel grabbed Eliona by the mouth before she could finish the phrase.

"Wait!" yelled her teacher. She struggled in his arms, even biting his hand to make him let go.

"Master, why?"

"I need you and Kerviel to make your contracts simultaneously. The chimeras are sensitive to elven magic — to them, the rituals are threats."

"What?" yelled Ren, "Then why are we this deep into their territory?"

"Team-building exercise."

"Team-building?" outraged Serenity, "They could kill us!"

"I won't let anyone die. None of you are allowed to fly away, either. Serenity and Sebastian don't have their wings, after all. Use your affinities together to make your way back to the cliffs. Is everyone ready?"