The academy was gradually returning to its normal routine. Students moved between lecture halls and training facilities, instructors resumed their usual schedules, and merchants in the eastern commercial wing were beginning to receive more customers.
However, something unusual caught Kael’s attention along the way.
A Hero Department student walked past him with a small green bird perched on his shoulder. A few steps later, two Villain Department students passed by, one carrying a dark-furred creature with unusually long ears while the other had a little reptilian beast sitting inside a leather satchel.
Kael slowed down.
He spotted another student crouching beside a small four-legged creature, carefully brushing its fur. Nearby, a girl was feeding a round, rabbit-like familiar from her palm.
There had always been students with familiars in the academy. They were not particularly rare, especially among nobles and students whose families were involved in magical beast research.
But this many?
Kael glanced at Quinn, who was resting comfortably on his shoulder.
The little spider tilted its head.
"Qiu?"
"Don’t look at me. I have no idea either," Kael muttered.
He continued toward the training grounds, though the sight had left him puzzled.
Perhaps the familiar/beast stores had given some discounts. Or maybe some academy announcement had encouraged students to establish contracts with magical beasts, though he didn’t hear about it.
Whatever the reason, the sudden increase was difficult to miss.
When Kael reached the training grounds, he found his teammates already gathered.
Elias was checking his bowstring, while Mira was organizing the medical supplies she had brought. Darius had just arrived too, but something beside him immediately caught Kael’s attention.
A small creature was walking around Darius’s boots.
It had a compact, sturdy body covered in earthy brown fur, short legs, and a broad head. Two little horns curved backward from its forehead, while a thick layer of natural armor covered its back. Despite its short stature, its movements were surprisingly steady.
The creature looked like a miniature beast built to charge through a stone wall and complain about the inconvenience afterward.
Kael stopped walking.
His gaze moved from the familiar to Darius, then back again.
"What’s happening?" Kael asked, pointing at the creature. "Why is everyone carrying a familiar now?"
Elias turned around with a grin.
"You noticed too?" He asked, lowering his bow. "I thought I was imagining things when I saw three students carrying familiars on my way here."
Mira crouched slightly to get a better look at the little beast.
"It’s quite adorable," she said with a smile. "Is it yours, Darius?"
Darius folded his arms, looking somewhat uncomfortable under their attention.
"Yeah. I got it yesterday."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"You bought a familiar?"
"Not exactly." Darius scratched the back of his head. "The academy’s familiar store had a few young beasts available for bonding. This one was being overlooked because it wasn’t particularly fast or flashy."
The little creature approached Darius’s boot and nudged it with its head.
Darius glanced down.
"It’s stubborn, though. Don’t back down easily."
"That sounds familiar," Elias remarked, covering his smile with one hand.
Darius shot him a look.
"Want to test how stubborn it is against your shin?"
"I’m sure we can settle this through peaceful discussion," Elias replied, taking half a step backward.
Kael crouched to examine the familiar.
"What’s its species?"
"Stoneback Badger," Darius answered. "A low-grade earth-type magical beast. Its natural armor is pretty tough, and it’s supposed to be good at holding its ground."
Kael studied the creature’s short legs and thick body.
"So you picked something that specializes in defense."
"I’m the frontline fighter," Darius replied. "Having something that can protect itself while I’m fighting isn’t a bad idea."
"That makes sense."
Kael reached out slowly.
The Stoneback Badger sniffed his fingers before pushing its forehead against his hand. Its hide felt rough beneath the fur, and the small horns were harder than they appeared.
Quinn leaned forward from Kael’s shoulder.
"Qiu?"
The Stoneback Badger looked up.
For a moment, the two familiars stared at each other.
Then the badger lowered its head slightly, as though preparing to challenge the white spider.
Quinn raised two front legs.
"Qiu!"
Kael watched the exchange.
"Don’t start a territorial dispute. We’re at an academy, not a wilderness examination."
Darius looked down at his familiar.
"It’s been doing that whenever it sees another beast. I think it wants to test its strength."
"Then it should learn some patience," Kael said, straightening up. "Charging at everything it sees isn’t a particularly reliable strategy."
Darius gave a short laugh.
"That’s what I’ve been trying to teach it."
Before Kael could respond, a familiar voice came from behind them.
"Perhaps you should ask your own familiar to demonstrate that lesson."
Kael turned.
Seraphina was approaching with her teammates.
Laira walked beside her, wearing her usual confident expression. Rhea followed a little behind, while Maretta carried her shield on her back.
However, Kael’s attention was drawn to something else.
Seraphina was carrying a small, furry white beast in her arms.
It had soft-looking fur, a rounded body, and a pair of pointed ears that stood above its head. Its paws were tucked comfortably against its chest, and its eyes were half-closed as Seraphina gently stroked its back.
She looked almost as though she were cradling a child.
Kael blinked.
For a brief moment, he wondered whether he had arrived at the wrong training ground.
Seraphina Eversnow, commonly known as the Ice Princess, was holding a fluffy little creature against her chest and gently caressing it.
The contrast was difficult to ignore.
Elias noticed it too. His eyes widened slightly before he quickly composed himself.
"That’s quite a cute familiar," he said, glancing between Seraphina and the creature.
Laira folded her arms, looking amused.
"She has been carrying it around since this morning," Laira remarked. "I didn’t know she had such a soft spot for fluffy things."
Seraphina glanced at her teammate.
"It’s still adjusting to its surroundings," she replied calmly, continuing to stroke the beast’s fur.
Rhea smiled.
"You’ve been saying that for the past hour."
"Because it is."
Maretta covered a small smile with her hand.
Kael looked at the white beast.
"Another familiar?"
Seraphina nodded.
"I obtained it yesterday."
Kael glanced around the training grounds, then toward the academy buildings.
"So this really is a trend."
"A trend?" Seraphina repeated, tilting her head slightly.
Kael gestured toward Quinn, Darius’s Stoneback Badger, and the white beast in her arms.
"I’ve seen several students carrying familiars on my way here. Now Darius has one, and you’ve got one too. It seems the entire academy decided to become familiar handlers overnight."
Laira chuckled.
"You might be partly responsible for that."
"Me?"
"The story about your familiar has spread quite far," Laira explained. "A white spider that can construct silk bridges, restrain magical beasts, detect approaching enemies, and assist in rescuing students during the examination. Naturally, some students have become interested in obtaining familiars of their own."
Kael looked at Quinn.
Quinn raised its front legs proudly.
"Qiu!"
"Don’t look so pleased," Kael muttered. "You’re not receiving a salary for this."
Elias laughed.
"Still, it’s not a bad influence. Most students only think about familiars as combat support. Seeing what Quinn can do might have reminded them that familiars can be useful in other ways."
Mira nodded.
"Some can assist with healing, gathering materials, searching for people, or sending messages. Their abilities depend on their species and training."
Darius glanced at his Stoneback Badger.
"Mine isn’t particularly good at any of those things yet."
"It’s still young," Seraphina said, looking down at the little beast in her arms. "A familiar’s potential isn’t determined solely by its current abilities. Training and compatibility matter as well."
Kael nodded.
That was a reasonable assessment.
Familiars were not simply equipment that could be purchased and immediately put to use. They needed time to adapt to their handlers, develop their abilities, and learn how to cooperate.
Quinn was a good example.
Its unusual abilities had certainly helped, but Kael had also spent considerable time figuring out how to use its silk effectively. Their coordination had improved through repeated encounters, not simply because Quinn possessed rare traits.
He looked at Darius’s familiar again.
"Have you given it a name?"
Darius paused.
"Not yet."
Elias stared at him.
"You bought a familiar without naming it?"
"I’ve only had it for a day."
"You could at least give it something to respond to."
Darius frowned.
"I haven’t found a suitable name."
Kael considered the little creature.
"Stoneback Badger. Sturdy body, short legs, and an expression that suggests it has already decided everyone around it is annoying."
The familiar looked up at him.
"Maybe call it Brick."
Darius stared at Kael.
"Brick?"
"Simple. Easy to remember. Appropriate for its build."
Elias burst into laughter.
"That’s actually not bad!"
Darius looked down at the familiar, then back at Kael.
"I’m not naming it after a building material."
"Your loss," Elias shrugged his shoulders.
Mira smiled as she watched the little beast circle Darius’s feet.
"What about something that sounds a little more like a name?"
Darius considered it again.
"Maybe I’ll think about it after training."
Laira leaned closer to Seraphina’s familiar.
"Have you decided on a name?" Kael asked, glancing at the white lynx in her arms.
Seraphina gently stroked its head before answering.
"Lumi."
Kael looked at the little beast. "Lumi?"
"Yes. It seemed appropriate."
The Frostfur Lynx let out a soft cry and nestled closer against her.
Seraphina’s expression softened slightly.
"I think it likes it."
Kael’s gaze lingered on its thick fur.
It was actually a Frostfur Lynx, an ice-aspected magical beast. Its species was not particularly powerful at a young age, but mature individuals possessed excellent cold resistance and could manipulate small amounts of frost mana.
Unlike Seraphina’s usual ice magic, the beast’s abilities were more instinctive.
It was a reasonable choice for someone who specialized in ice.
The little lynx opened its eyes and looked directly at Kael.
Then it noticed Quinn.
Its ears perked up.
Quinn leaned forward.
"Qiu?"
The Frostfur Lynx extended one paw toward the spider.
Quinn cautiously raised a leg in response.
Seraphina adjusted her hold, allowing the little beast to reach without slipping from her arms.
For a moment, the two familiars examined each other.
Then the lynx gently tapped Quinn’s leg.
"Qiu!"
Quinn recoiled slightly, apparently surprised by the unexpected greeting.
Kael looked at it.
"Congratulations. You’ve made another friend without having to web anyone."
Quinn turned toward him with an offended cry.
"Qiu!"
"Don’t get offended, it’s the truth."
A quiet laugh escaped from Rhea.
Laira looked between the two familiars.
"Perhaps they should have a chance to play together sometime."
Kael glanced at the Frostfur Lynx.
"That depends on whether Quinn remembers how to behave around another creatures."
Quinn raised both front legs.
"Qiu!"
Seraphina watched the exchange with a faint smile.
"Your familiar seems quite expressive."
"That’s one way to describe it," Kael replied. "It also has a talent for getting involved in situations that don’t concern it."
Quinn immediately turned away.
"Qiu."
"Don’t pretend you didn’t hear me."