Chapter 11. Craving Frosties
"He won't bite, Sam." Adom watched his friend eye the salamander like it might suddenly breathe fire in his face. Which, to be fair, wasn't entirely impossible.
"Are you sure?" Sam's hand hovered uncertainly above Gizmo's head. The familiar tilted his head, that permanent gentle smile somehow looking even more encouraging.
"He's really friendly," Gus assured from the seat behind them. "Sometimes too friendly. Yesterday, he tried to follow a third-year girl into the library."
Adom chuckled. "Did she have some fire-affinity crystals in her bag?"
"Yeah. Gizmo's got expensive taste."
Sam's hand was still frozen mid-air. Gizmo, apparently tired of waiting, stretched his neck up and bumped his head against Sam's palm. The boy yelped, nearly falling out of his chair.
"See?" Adom grinned. "He likes you."
"His scales are... warm," Sam marveled, slowly relaxing as Gizmo leaned into his touch. "And soft? I thought they'd be rough."
"Like velvet, right?" Gus beamed proudly. "Watch this - scratch under his chin."
Sam did as instructed, and Gizmo's eyes closed in pure bliss. Small flames began flickering across his scales, casting dancing shadows on their desks.
"Gizmo," Gus warned, though he was still smiling. "What did we say about getting too excited in class?"
The salamander opened one eye, looking absolutely unapologetic.
"You know," Sam said, growing bolder with his pets, "for something that can literally burst into flames, he's actually kind of cu-"
The classroom door burst open with enough force to make everyone jump. A massive figure ducked through, and suddenly all thoughts of cute salamanders vanished as the students stared up - way up - at their visitor.
"Right then!" The giant's voice boomed through the room. "Who's ready to meet a real monster?"
Gizmo scrambled back to Gus's desk, his scales flickering. Around them, students straightened in their seats, all eyes fixed on the enormous man and the empty space beside him.
"Is that..." Sam whispered, grabbing Adom's arm, "is that Guild armor?"
Adom nodded, fighting back a smile. He remembered this class from his past life, but somehow, seeing the familiar adventurer in person still made his heart race with excitement.
Professor Drake cleared his throat. "Class, this is Master Borgen from the Pentoss Guild. He's graciously agreed to bring us a specimen for today's practical demonstration."
"Graciously?" Borgen let out a laugh that made the windows rattle. "Been dying to show this beauty off! Found her in the Whisperweald Dungeon, Class B. Ain't she just perfect?"
He gestured to what looked like empty air beside him. A few students leaned forward, squinting.
"Ah, right!" Borgen chuckled, pulling out what looked like a handful of glowing dust. "Bit shy, this one. Watch this..."
He blew the dust gently into the air. As it settled, something... shifted. Like watching water ripple in clear glass, the air seemed to bend and twist until...
Gasps filled the room. Where there had been nothing, now stood a creature about the size of a large dog. Its scales shimmered with every color imaginable, constantly shifting like oil on water. A long, elegant neck supported a triangular head with intelligent golden eyes, and a tail that could probably reach across half the classroom swayed gently behind it.
"This," Professor Drake said, "is a Shimmerscale. B-rank monster, evolved from common lizards after prolonged exposure to light-affinity mana crystals."
"Beautiful, isn't she?" Borgen beamed like a proud parent. "Go on, girl. Show them what you can do."
The Shimmerscale tilted its head, those golden eyes scanning the classroom. Then, slowly, its scales began to shift. The iridescent colors faded, and suddenly the creature was almost invisible again - except now they could see the faintest outline, like heat waves rising from hot pavement.
"Merlin's beard," someone whispered from the back.
"Natural camouflage," Drake explained, writing on the board. "The scales can bend light around them, making the creature nearly invisible. In their natural habitat, this makes them exceptional ambush predators."
"Though this little lady prefers dried fish to hunting," Borgen added, pulling something from a pouch at his belt. The Shimmerscale's head snapped toward him, suddenly visible again, its tongue flicking out expectantly.
"Now then!" The giant man clapped his hands together, making several students jump. "Who wants to learn about their hunting patterns? Or maybe how they use their camouflage for mating displays? Oh! Or that time I saw one take down a Dire Wolf pack by itself?"
Professor Drake sighed, but Adom could see the slight smile on his face. "Perhaps we should start with basic anatomy, Master Borgen."
"Right, right..." Borgen nodded, still grinning. "But trust me, kids, that wolf pack story? Absolute cracker. Remind me to tell it after the lesson."
The Shimmerscale, apparently tired of being ignored, bumped its head against Borgen's leg. The massive man immediately melted.
"Oh, alright, one more treat." He tossed another dried fish, which the creature snatched from the air with surprising grace. "See that? Lightning-quick reflexes. Typical of light-affinity monsters. Now, if you look at their skeletal structure..."
Adom found himself leaning forward, notebook forgotten. He'd seen this lesson before, in another life, but somehow, watching the Shimmerscale's scales dance with color as Borgen enthusiastically pointed out its features, it felt brand new.
Besides, he thought as the creature's golden eyes met his for a moment, some things were worth seeing twice.
As the lesson progressed, the adventurer named the Shimmerscale Luna, apparently because her scales reminded him of moonlight on water. The creature responded to her name with an almost prideful bearing, her head held high as she demonstrated her camouflage abilities.
"See, that's the thing about monster classifications," Borgen explained, while Luna lazily coiled her tail around his boots. "They're not just about power levels. A C-class dungeon might spawn B-class monsters if the mana concentration is right. Take the Whisperweald - technically a C-class dungeon, but the light-affinity crystals there are so pure that even common lizards can evolve into beauties like Luna here."
From the front row, Mia's hand shot up. No surprise there - she hadn't earned those top scores by staying quiet. "But sir, wouldn't that make it a B-class dungeon by default?"
"Excellent question!" Borgen's voice boomed. "Anyone want to take a stab at it?"
"Because monster evolution doesn't necessarily indicate dungeon evolution," Damus drawled from his corner, not bothering to raise his hand. "The dungeon's core determines its class, not its inhabitants."
Adom kept his eyes forward, ignoring the pointed look Damus sent his way. It was almost amusing how hard the boy tried to create conflict - like a puppy trying to pick fights with older dogs. Still, being the adult he was mentally, Adom couldn't help but feel a twinge of shame at letting himself get baited into their previous confrontations.
Damus' words were directed at Borgen, but his posture was stiff, deliberately angled away from where Adom sat. Behind him, Finn and Marcus exchanged meaningful glances, their hands clenched into fists under their desks.
"Correct!" Borgen nodded. "Though some monsters, like our Luna here, can be tamed with the right approach. Others..." He trailed off, his expression darkening slightly. "Well, let's just say you don't want to try befriending a Shadowmaw, no matter how cute it might look as a pup."
Sam shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Maybe we should head to the library after class," he whispered. "Take the long way around..."
"They won't try anything," Adom murmured back, though he noted how his friend's shoulders remained tense. He had to suppress a sigh. Having to redo school was bad enough; getting wrapped up in teenage drama was worse. Still, seeing Sam practically vibrate with tension over these wannabe tough guys... yeah, they'd definitely need to work on that.
Gizmo hopped over to Adom's desk again, butting his head against Adom's hand until he got the expected scratch.
"You know," Gus said quietly, watching his familiar's antics with a slight frown, "he's always friendly, but... with you, it's different. Like he's known you forever or something." He shrugged, clearly trying to play it casual. "Weird, right?"
Adom kept scratching Gizmo's ears, mind turning. First Biscuit's behavior last week, now this. Either familiars could sense the regression, or... well, better file that thought away for later.
"The key is understanding their nature," Professor Drake added, his chalk drawing complex diagrams in the air. "Shimmerscales, for instance, evolved in light-rich environments. Their camouflage isn't just for hunting - it's a way of processing excess mana. Makes them naturally more stable than, say, darkness-affinity monsters."
Luna demonstrated this point by shifting her colors to match Professor Drake's robes perfectly, earning appreciative murmurs from the class.
"Now, speaking of stability," Borgen continued, pulling out what looked like a crystal map, "let me show you how dungeon layouts affect monster evolution patterns..."
As Borgen prepared his next demonstration, Luna took the opportunity to investigate the students more closely.
She made her rounds through the classroom, her scales shifting colors as students reached out to touch her. Some squealed in delight, others hesitated before working up the courage. When she reached their corner, Sam's nervousness melted away after the first touch. "She's so warm," he whispered, clearly enchanted.
Adom smiled, reaching out to run his fingers along Luna's scales. Like touching sunlight, if sunlight had texture. His heart quickened with anticipation - this was the moment he'd been waiting for since Borgen walked in.
Then Luna reached Gus's desk, and just like before, everything changed.
Her scales shifted to a deep, resonant gold - not the playful imitation she'd shown others, but something that seemed to pulse from within. She pressed her head against Gus's palm, and a soft, melodic trill filled the air.
Gizmo, who had been contentedly dozing on Gus's desk, perked up. The salamander scuttled forward, touching his nose to Luna's scales without a hint of hesitation.
"Oh," Borgen's booming voice softened with interest. "Now that's promising. Boy. Ever considered druid studies?"
"I..." Gus looked between Luna and Gizmo, clearly struggling to process what was happening. "I've been taking the preliminary classes, but..."
"She's offering a bond," Professor Drake explained. "Typically, familiars can sense when their bonded human is compatible with another creature. Your salamander's reaction suggests..."
"A resonance," Borgen finished. "Rare to see it happen this quickly, but not unheard of. Especially with someone already studying the craft."
A familiar bond wasn't servitude - it was partnership, pure and simple. Two beings choosing to share their magic, their strength, their very essence.
"If you want to," Gus said softly to Luna, "I'd be honored."
The Shimmerscale's trill grew stronger. She pressed her forehead against Gus's, scales blazing. Gizmo climbed onto Gus's shoulder, adding his own warm glow to the moment. The magic built slowly, naturally, like watching a flower bloom in fast motion.
"Well done," Borgen approved. "Clean bond, no hesitation on either side. Though..." He stroked his beard thoughtfully. "You realize this means we'll need to discuss guild affiliation. Luna's contracted to Pentoss for another five years."
The class shifted their attention to Gus, who seemed to shrink slightly under the sudden scrutiny. Luna pressed closer to his side, her scales taking on a gentle, reassuring shimmer.
"I..." Gus glanced at Gizmo, who chirped encouragingly. After a moment of what seemed like silent communication with both familiars, he straightened. "Actually, I was planning to declare as a druid at the third-year ceremony. Field work and dungeon research were always my goal."
"Were they now?" Borgen's eyes crinkled with interest. "And would you consider a five-year contract with Pentoss? Same terms as Luna's - full guild benefits, training, expedition priority. After that, you'd be free to go independent or join another guild if you prefer."
Gus's hand absently stroked Luna's scales while he thought. "Would I... would we be able to start training before graduation?"
"Supervised expeditions to C-rank dungeons, certainly. Maybe even B-rank by your final year, depending on your progress." Borgen grinned. "Can't let talent like this go to waste, eh?"
The bond was still settling, magic humming in the air as Luna and Gizmo flanked Gus protectively. It wasn't the theatrical light show most stories described - just three beings finding their natural rhythm together.
"Then yes," Gus nodded, somehow looking both terrified and determined. "I accept."
"Excellent!" Borgen's voice boomed back to its usual volume. "We'll sort out the paperwork after class. Now, Professor Drake, I believe you were saying something about environmental adaptation?"
*****
After class, students crowded around Gus, showering him with congratulations. Some were already asking about dual-familiar bonds, a rare feat that druids were famous for. Each additional familiar exponentially increased a druid's capabilities - some famous figures were said to have bonded with dozens of creatures, though most settled for two or three.
"This is just the beginning," Borgen explained proudly while gathering his things. "Druids with multiple bonds can channel different types of mana simultaneously. Imagine combining Luna's light affinity with Gizmo's fire abilities..."
"I wish I had a familiar bond," Sam sighed as they packed up their bags.
Adom snorted. "You jumped three feet in the air when Gizmo touched your hand."
"That was different. I wasn't prepared."
"I remember you screamed when a cat walked past you one day."
"What? I never did that."
Adom laughed. "Come on, don't you remember? It was when-" He stopped mid-sentence, blinking. Right. That hadn't happened yet - it would be in a few months, during the autumn festival.
"Sorry, I must be thinking of someone else," he mumbled.
"Are you going senile on me?" Sam grinned. "First you wanted to actually eat that horrible tomato soup, now you're making up stories about me and cats. You're starting to sound like old Mr. Biggins - 'Back in my day, the staircases moved counterclockwise!'"
"I don't sound like Mr. Biggins," Adom protested, though he made a mental note to be more careful with his foreknowledge.
"Well," Sam shouldered his bag with exaggerated dignity, "maybe I'm just waiting for the right familiar. One that's less... bitey. Or scaly. Or..." He paused, considering. "Do they make silent familiars?"
"There are ghost-type familiars. And spirits. Djinns, too." Adom offered helpfully.
Sam's face went pale. "I take it back. I'm perfectly happy being bondless. And you," he pointed accusingly at Adom, "are definitely going to start wearing those memory crystals the healers keep recommending to old people."
"They're not memory crystals, they're focus stones, and I don't need them," Adom grumbled, following his friend out of the classroom.
"Whatever you say, grandpa."
They headed for the door, Sam still muttering about the unfairness of all magical creatures having either "too many teeth or too many eyes or both," while Adom tried not to laugh too obviously at his plight.
Adom paused at the doorway, the odd sensation of being watched prickling at his neck. He turned to find Damus and his group still inside, their eyes fixed on him. Sam had already gone ahead, his voice fading down the corridor.
Were they actually planning something?
Adom stood his ground at the threshold, meeting their stares directly. This could all be solved quite simply - just a word to Professor Meris about the bullying. The headmaster didn't tolerate that sort of thing. No need for confrontations or escalation.
"Hey, you coming or what?" Sam's voice broke through his thoughts. "I'm not saving you a seat at lunch if you're going to stand there all day."