Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 125: The Little Shadow

So there's a few things I learned about [Familiars].

They act not only as NPC allies, but they also possess special AI that grows smarter based on how you treat them. Treat them like your pet and partner and they will fight alongside you. Hurt and abuse them and they might turn against you (at least that's what the Wiki page said about them). Not only that, but their abilities differ based on how you treat them. Give them food and treat them like a hunting dog and they would get skills that befit them. Let them play in the ocean and they might have the ability to swim underwater. Even if two players have the same species, they might not be the same as the other.

However, the developers didn't account for the fact that some [Familiars] might get some characteristics from a certain magic brother of mine from the past. As soon as I start to leave the plain, the young [Shadow Doppelganger] starts to cling onto my pant leg the very same way Kazu did when we were going into a haunted house or something like that.

"Um... Soma?"

[Hm?] He quickly looks at me with small tears in his eyes.

"I understand you're afraid of your new surroundings and I just became your pseudo-older brother, but can you loosen your grip on my leg for a bit?" I gently ask. "I'm not a security blanket, you know."

[O-Oh... S-Sorry...]

Soma complies as he slowly backs away a few steps. I don't want him to leave, but honestly, his grip is a bit tighter than I imagined.

"And if you want to tell me something, you better tell me now," I tell him. "I get you're scared, but I feel like you wanted to do something more now that you're my [Familiar], right?"

This [Familiar] might be copying my younger self, but he has the same scared personality as my young brother. Despite that, he is still copying me and I know he's more than a scared version of myself.

[I-I... I want to help...Nee-chan...] Soma stutters. [I-I want...to be a good [Familiar] to you...]

I thought so. "Well... I doubt you're battle-ready since you've recently been born. How about we'll check your abilities first?"

The hints said that I could check on his stats through [Investigate]. So I use it and read what Soma has to offer.

[Young Shadow Doppelganger <Soma>]

[Familiar Stats]

[Name: Soma]

[Bond Level: 1]

[Level: 1]

[Total Mastery Level: 1]

[HP: 126/126]

[MP: 48/48]

[SP: 62/62]

Oh. So not only do [Familiars] have the same mechanics as the players, but it seems like they also have a different leveling system than ours. And it seems like there's a tutorial window attached to it.

[FAMILIAR TUTORIAL]

[There are two kinds of levels to keep in mind. You can train your [Familiar] by gaining [Familiar EXP] and deepen your bond through a [Bond Level].

At the moment, your [Familiar] doesn't have any [Masteries] as you. But if you broaden your horizons, you might help them gain their own and evolve to their fullest potential!]