Ghost and the Writer

Lion

August stepped sideways, but much to Mandy's surprise that single step had been a dozen meters long, for just a moment vivid colors passing her eyes. At that moment Mandy came to see why there was no way one could catch a dryad in a forest. It took no time or preparation to move like that.

The sobbing boy, naturally, fell into moss. But he lifted up his face almost instantly, seeking for August with his eyes. He didn't dash into a run to catch on him, seemingly getting the cue that this display was not welcome.

"What is going on?" August asked Ceruleum and Riveria.

Riveria shrugged. "I said I would gut him if he tells anyone the same thing he did."

The unicorn boy flinched. "I-It-It's not that--" he said. "I didn't know that-- hick-- an army of Soleans might come after master if--"

August shivered at the word 'master'. "August. Not master."

"August," the boy repeated. "If it gets out that you are a dark dryad. So I'm sorry about-- that." He looked sincere. Big tears dropping on his knees as he looked down.

"Ceruleum cleaned up after you this time, but do be careful," August said.

The boy nodded.

"What is your name?" August asked.

"Albusflores von Palustribus," the boy said.

"I'll call you Albus then," August said.

The boy pursed his lips, looking to be sulking a bit. He did wipe off his tears though, seeming to have calmed a little.

"Call me Veri then," Riveria said, also looking to be sulking. "It's not fair that the ghost and unicorn get nicknames, but not me."

Mandybird froze in space. What? How the heck did Riveria know 'Mandy' was a nickname? Mandy was also a given name on its own.

August sighed, squinting. "Fine."

Mandy was tense. August hadn't asked anything about that line-- maybe he didn't notice or-- passed the detail over. Riveria could be mistaken, after all. There was no reason to worry.

"Leum for me," Ceruleum added in with a childish smile, seeming to find it all fun.

"Fine, fine," August said, not getting the point of this, as far as Mandy could tell. But not caring about it either. 

The unicorn boy's pout faded. "If it's like that for everyone--" he mumbled to himself and nodded. Since he was no longer crying (or puking) he finally started looking more fitting to his image and not so much like a dolt.

Riveria was brimming with joy, making a twirl in the moss and humming to herself. Mandy couldn't help but find it adorable how she was happy about small things like those. 

"Uhm," the boy spoke up again, "if I get it right, then I'll be getting surname from you?"

"They don't have the tradition for it in Urea," Ceruleum said. "Here they only share surnames when adopting children or marrying."

Albus cast a surprised look at Ceruleum. "Then how will they tell my belonging when I name myself?"

Mandy followed the two with her eyes. She now knew that Ceruleum couldn't enter human society before, but he did seem to know some things. And it seemed like in Ahea familiars got surnames from their master.

"Albus from August's Galord's familia?" Ceruleum cast a look towards August to check.

August nodded.

"Is that bird also a familiar?" Albus asked as he looked towards the bird.

"I'm not," Mandy replied. "I'm just haunting August."