"Miss lina, are you sure that's a good idea?" Alistair asked, his expression distraught as were those of other adventurers.
I am absolutely certain that it is not a good idea. It will most certainly scare the townsfolk and I honestly can't claim that I'll be able to contain this monster. It is even likely that the rumor of a baker's apprentice taming a wyrm might even reach the Church's ears.
But when a System notification appeared after the ember wyrm touched her forehead, she just couldn't resist.
[ wants to beco your familiar. If you accept this bond, you'll be responsible for its well-being, however in turn your familiar will protect you. You'll also be able to channel so of its magic through your bond.]
lina had accepted the bond almost instantly—how could she not? Magic used to be such a strong part of who she was. While lina also loved being a baker and adored creating pastries that people enjoyed, she still missed her magic every day.
By bonding with a familiar, she was able to circumvent the skill that banned her from using magic, because technically speaking—it wouldn't be her magic, it would be the wyrm's. She'd be rely channeling it. Not to ntion that she didn't have to fear growing too powerful, because nobody can fully channel all the magic from their familiar, but rather only as much as the familiar was comfortable with providing for their tar.
"I believe it'd be safer if I kept an eye on this little one instead of just releasing him back into the forest. We do not know what exactly triggered her to attack in the first place," lina said.
"That is a valid point. I wouldn't want it to go berserk again," the woman whom others had addressed as Guildmaster said. "Are you sure you can contain it?"
"I still have the feyfruit that she seems to love so much back in the bakery," lina said.
"Very well. Then for the ti being at least, I shall leave the ember wyrm in your and Gilbert's capable hands. We'll need to investigate this matter and understand it better before we decide what to do with… it," Guildmaster said, warily eyeing the little wyrm. "Nobody say a word of it to anyone!"
"Understood, Guildmaster!" The adventurers replied dutifully, although lina got a feeling that they would not be able to hide this matter so easily. Sooner or later, the townsfolk would find out about what happened.
"Captain Sinclair, would you be so kind as to escort Miss lina and the… wyrm to the bakery?" Guildmaster commanded.
Alistair nodded and stepped closer to lina. His gaze lingered on the ember wyrm, who was still munching on the tartlet that lina held in her hand. "Would it be possible to hide it?"
lina nodded and pulled the half-eaten tartlet away from the wyrm. It let out a dissatisfied yelp and everyone jumped a step back, reaching out for their weapons.
"You'll get to finish it later. But if you want to get it back, you're going to have to hide while we get through the town," lina instructed the monster. It let out a dissatisfied puff of smoke but seed to understand. lina draped her long hair over her chest, hiding the wyrm from sight.
"Wow, that's incredibly convenient," Remi noted with a chuckle. "Makes want to grow out my hair too."
lina nodded awkwardly and turned to Knight who'd been grazing so distance away this whole ti, completely unperturbed by the situation. "Let's go ho."
The nightmare shook his head, clearly, he had wanted to graze for longer, but begrudgingly began walking back towards the town.
"Aren't you going to ride it?" Alistair asked.
lina shook her head, rembering how difficult it had been for Master Gilbert to convince Knight to let her onto his back. The nightmare had been completely against the idea, although lina suspected that it was not out of dislike for her—maybe just a little—but rather because it felt guilty over dropping her off its back before. "I wouldn't want to attract any more attention. Besides, Knight will be great at blocking from the view of the townsfolk."
"Can't argue with that logic. Let's get going then."
The three, no rather the four of them, made their way back into Sunglow. The townspeople were clearly on edge, many of them having been evacuated away from the wall by the town watch. They stared with curious gazes from their houses as lina and Alistair passed by.
The silence was almost suffocating as she felt the burning questions emanating from the people. She wanted to say sothing to break this silence but could not force herself to speak.
"What are you going to call it?" Alistair suddenly asked.
"Excuse ?" lina blinked, not understanding his question at first.
"The ember wyrm, I an."
The creature shifted a little on her shoulder, trying to find a more secure position. She found it odd how pleasantly warm the wyrm felt. It did make sense as it was a fire monster but she had expected it to feel hot.
"I'm not sure… To be honest, this situation still feels a bit surreal," she admitted, walking a bit closer to Knight to hide herself and the wyrm.
"Indeed. When I saw you ride out on the horse's back right in front of the wyrm, I thought my heart would stop from fright. At that mont, I was certain you had gone crazy," he said, but there was a delighted glee in his eyes.
I've never actually seen him smile like that. Alistair always had this calm exterior.
She must have stared at him for a second too long as he tempered his expression and cleared his throat. "Excuse ."
"No, it is quite understandable. Master thought I was crazy too when I decided to take the tartlets to the wyrm myself. But I doubted that anyone would believe when I told them that this tiny pastry could calm a large, dangerous monster."
"I have to agree with Master Gilbert. It was extrely dangerous. You could have given the pastries to sobody from the guild or the town watch. I'm sure that given the severity of the situation, sobody would at least entertain the idea."
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"Perhaps, but by the ti that happened, sobody could have died," she muttered, rembering all too well the large scar that the older Alistair had. A scar that he will never obtain. This knowledge made her feel proud of what she had done.
The risk that lina could face in the future was great. She'd made herself stand out among the crowd, and she knew that it would co to bite her sooner or later. But seeing Alistair's face still undamaged and knowing that she saved Leon and several adventurers made it worth it.
I'll get through the consequences as I always have. Not to ntion that no matter what happens, I won't be alone anymore.
It was odd that she already found comfort in the ember wyrm's company. Likely it was caused by the pact that bound them together. But even so, it was a pleasant feeling.
"Yes, you may be right, and I certainly can't deny that I was amazed by your courage," Alistair admitted. lina felt a bit embarrassed, hearing him praise her like that so she decided to return back to his original question—the ember wyrm's na.
I don't know how but her na ca to when we touched our foreheads together. Perhaps, it's just that it is her na, and she told it to .
"Sienna," she said.
"What?" Alistair looked at her in confusion.
"I'm going to call her Sienna," lina said, pointing at the spot on her shoulder where the wyrm was hiding.
"How do you know it's a her?" Alistair asked.
Because the System showed her gender when we bonded.
"It's just a feeling," she said instead, and smiled when she saw the familiar silhouette of Gilbert standing by the bakery. The old baker looked relieved at their approach.
"It's a nice na," Alistair noted, but after a brief mont of silence, a frown appeared on his face. "I have to admit I am apprehensive of leaving you alone with the wyrm. While you are the one who cald it down, we don't really understand what made it attack the town in the first place. I fear it might decide to attack you."
"I don't think you need to worry about that," lina said and pulled her hair aside to show Sienna curled up on her, her long tail wrapped around lina's neck for balance. "At least not for the ti being."
"To think that this innocent-looking creature almost killed …" Alistair noted. "But perhaps it would be best if I remained here for the ti being."
"As much as I appreciate your offer, I truly believe we'll be fine. I still have one and a half tartlet left for Sienna, not to ntion that I have all the ingredients I need to make more. So please, don't worry and return back to the Guild. I'm sure they'll need your help there."
Alistair thought her words through for a mont, then nodded. "Very well. I shall go settle the matters in the town and then return here."
"There's really no need for that," lina said, but Alistair shook his head.
"No matter what you say, that is still a monster snoozing on your shoulder. The only reason I am comfortable leaving you alone with it is because it is exhausted from the battle. I'll be back as soon as I can," Alistair said resolutely and left at almost a running pace.
Oh, boy… I don't know how I'm going to deal with that.
lina sat on the couch in the living room while Gilbert sat across from her, tapping his foot in annoyance while his eyebrow twitched. She understood why he was angry with her. She'd probably be angry with herself too if she was in his shoes.
"I understand that you went out there with good intentions but do tell —why is it that you have the dangerous monster that tried to attack the town sleeping on your shoulder?" Gilbert grumbled.
"I'm afraid that by offering it so of its favorite treats it has grown incredibly fond of ," she stated flatly.
"Alright. But why'd you think that bringing it into town was a good idea?"
lina thought through her words for a mont, wondering what would be the best reply. But after the talk she had earlier that day with Gilbert, she decided to tell the truth.
"I have to admit that it was partially due to my own selfishness."
"Selfishness?" Gilbert raised an eyebrow.
"When we were attacked by that hobgoblin on the way to Pertia and later by the nightshade wolves, I felt so… helpless and useless," she looked down at her hands. "When this ember wyrm reached out to and offered to beco my familiar, I saw it as a chance to gain so strength to protect myself. Isn't it similar with you and Knight?"
Gilbert nodded, albeit sowhat reluctantly. "Yes, it is true that the only reason I can be at ease is because Knight is around. But you should be well aware that an ember wyrm is far more ferocious than a nightmare."
"Yes, and it is also far stronger. I believe that with Sienna around, we'll be able to go to Pertia without escort. I could even go to the nearby forest to forage for ingredients."
"Sienna?"
"It's what I've decided to na her," lina explained, pointing at the sleeping wyrm.
"You've already nad her? So the pact is sealed," Gilbert sat back and groaned. Then he gave lina a suspicious look. "Is there perhaps another reason why you so readily accepted this wyrm as your familiar? I know you realize that this will co with a whole host of troubles."
Of course, how could I not realize it? All the adventurers and guards from the town watch saw what I did with Sienna. The Guildmaster ordered to keep it a secret, but I have no doubt that within a few days, the whole town will know the truth of what happened. The question is—how will people take it?
Most adventurers will likely be sympathetic to since I've saved their lives. However, many will be scared of Sienna. At the end of the day, she is a monster and to them, the only thing between them and that monster is the frail baker's apprentice. I honestly can't even bla them for being scared. But even so… I could not let this opportunity go.
"Magic…" lina muttered.
"What? Magic?" Gilbert narrowed his eyes.
"Through Sienna, I can channel a little bit of her magic," lina said and raised her hand. In it appeared a tiny little fla, no larger than a candlelight. But even so, it filled her with elation. After what felt like an eternity, it felt like she was able to breathe again. Feeling the little fla burn above her hand felt so pleasant, so right.
Gilbert rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I can't believe that this girl would ta an ember wyrm just to get a taste of magic."
lina didn't say anything to his statent, and the man sighed. "Well, what's done is done. Now we just need to worry about damage control."
"Indeed. I am sure tomorrow the whole town will know that I have tad the ember wyrm," lina said, although a little part of her hoped that Gilbert would refute the statent.
"Without a doubt. Nothing can be hidden from people in Sunglow. It's not often that exciting things happen here so when sothing exciting does happen, it gets blown out of proportion," Gilbert said, thoughtfully scratching his beard.
"I'd say that having regular monster attacks and elves and drow living among townsfolk is exciting enough."
"No, everyone's used to that by now. But they certainly are not used to seeing an ember wyrm snoozing on the apprentice's shoulder."
"Yes, of course you're right," lina nodded slowly, so as to not disturb the sleeping wyrm. "So is there sothing we can do so that the people don't feel so… agitated by it?"
"Well, first of all, you cannot admit that you knew about feyfruit's properties. If sobody asks them about the tartlets, just say that it was my idea to make them."
"Are you sure about that, Master? Won't this make you into a target instead of ?" lina frowned. She didn't want the old baker to suffer the repercussions of her decisions.
"I am old, I am experienced and I am knowledgeable. They won't question how I knew about it, but they most certainly would question you," Gilbert said firmly.
"Are you sure, Master?"
"Yes!" he confird. "But that's not even the worst of the issue. The worst is that people will be scared of the creature. You and I both know that as a familiar it will not harm you and will obey your orders as long as you satisfy its needs."
"But the townspeople don't know that I have the System."
"Exactly. So your main task now is to convince them that the monster on your shoulder is harmless. If you are unable to do so, then I am afraid they might just force you to leave Sunglow."
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