[Familiars]. According to the wiki, they are monsters bonded by someone through unique stones called [Core Crystals]. They were originally made by the [Elves] until they decided to share their methods to connect with the monsters to most of the kingdoms through a union between the [Adventurer Guild] and the monarchy of the kingdoms.
Apparently, the new feature of
Although, the real problem lies in the mechanics of the feature itself. According to the forums we read, the [Familiar Soul Gem of Fate] can get us a fully-randomized [Familiar] or nothing at all. The only way to manipulate the odds is to use the item at a specific location based on the monster's element. Kaz and I wrapped our heads around what we might get in our gems. While there's no way for us to choose our ideal [Familiars], we learned from the wiki that we can manipulate our chances based on the locations where we use our gems. The problem, this time, both of us have different interests where we want to summon our would-be [Familiars]. While it's no problem now that Kaz is old enough to go off by himself, I'm a bit concerned about him.
"I know what you're thinking, Wind," he says as we head out of the inn. "I told you, I'll be fine. I read those safety tips from you and Dad yesterday. I promise not to join any suspicious parties along the way. So don't get too paranoid."
He has a point there. I shouldn't be the overprotective big brother any longer. Kaz is a growing kid and I need to let him do what he wants in the game now.
"Alright. Sorry about that." I sigh loudly before I continue. "If something comes up, you know where to call."
"Yeah. Good luck on your [Familiar] summon, Wind!" Kaz says before he runs out of town.
I smile as I wave at him. "Same to you, Kaz!"
As I watch him go off, I can't help but frown as I watch him grow smaller the farther he runs from me. He only turned 13 a few days ago and he’s already taking advantage of his newfound freedom in the game. He really is starting to become a man.
Well, enough reflections. I should head out before the sky turns dark here.
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Honestly, I don't think I need an ally. Thanks to Kaz, I can hunt monsters with my friends or Kaz's help. Yet I can't help but not to ignore the [Familiar's] benefits. I read from the wiki that my namesake element can aid me by doubling my movement or attack speed for a while. Since I’ve got a new [Advanced Mastery] that may fit with my build, a Wind-elemental Familiar should be a good partner for me.
This is why I'm walking through the windiest area near
I heard there are some more dungeons and areas related to the [Wind] element. But the wiki didn't say it needs to be a dungeon to increase the odds of a Wind-elemental Familiar. All that's left is to leave it up to chance for this one summoning. I take out my [Familiar Soul Gem of Fate] and raise it up in the air just as a gust of wind blows through my body. There's an incantation attached as soon as I try to use it, so all that's left is to chant it to activate it.
"I call on the spirits that govern the ties between humanity and creatures of mana. Show me where my path lies with my future partner."
The stone begins to glow in many colors I can't describe in words.
"[Familiar], release!"
As soon as I finish the incantation, the gem leaves my hands as it slowly raises itself up in the air.
> [NOTICE]
>
> [You have activated the [Familiar Soul Gem of Fate].]
The glow becomes brighter as I hear the gem hums.
HUMMMMM...
HUMMMMMMMM...
I can't help but smile as I watch my future [Familiar] come out. I can't wait to...
> [NOTICE]
>
> [The gem summons...nothing!
>
> The [Familiar Soul Gem of Fate] will be consumed.]
...WHAT?!
I don't react on time as I hear the cracks on the gem. Of course, I'm too late as it explodes in a burst of energy, leaving half of the cracked gem as it falls back into my hand.
> [Cracked Core Gem]
>
> [The remains from a failed [Familiar] summoning or bond.]
Seriously?!
Goddammit, RNG! The devs just gave us a special item that has a 98% chance to give us a [Familiar] and I got short of it in the end! Now I know how Zac felt when it came to his mobile gacha games.
Complaints aside, what am I going to do now? With that summoning a dud, there's no point in keeping the cracked gem around. Since it's not a [Key Item], I might as well sell it for cash, but...
> [NOTICE]
>
> [Your [Shadow Doppelganger Core Piece] has started to react to the [Cracked Core Gem].]
React? I look down and notice one of my pockets is starting to glow in a purple light. True to the notice's words, it's the very same piece I recovered from [Shadow Doppelganger] fight at the [Test of Courage] quest as my [Cracked Core Gem] is also glowing in the very same color as the former.
This is way too good of a coincidence. I couldn't get anything from the [Familiar Soul Gem of Fate], yet I got the [Shadow Doppelganger Core Piece] beforehand. I'm already feeling cautious after that ridiculous failure, but if this is how the game compensates for my bad luck, then I can't lose that chance. I slowly push both stones closer to each other while keeping my distance in case of any accidents and...
> [NOTICE]
>
> [Your [Shadow Doppelganger Core Piece] and [Cracked Core Gem] have started to fuse.]
>
> The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
I know it. I let go of the stones as I watch them float to each other before a bright flash envelops both of them. I tried to shield my eyes from the light as I noticed their forms mixed together. As the light fades after that, I see a clear blue star-shaped gem slowly fall from mid-air. I caught it and saw what those stones had fused into.
> [Shadow Doppelganger Soul Gem]
>
> [A [Familiar Gem] that contains the soul of a reflection made of shadows.
>
> Effect: Summons a [Shadow Doppelganger] as your [Familiar].]
Wait... Is it saying I can summon the very same monster I fought as my [Familiar]? No catches?!
I feel like this game is more like rewarding me without doing any hard work than compensating me. But honestly, do I have a choice? I said I can't ignore this and I only have a little trauma from that fight.
Might as well give it a go then.
"Reflections of shadows, hear my call. I seek your aid for my future journeys ahead," I chant while focusing my energy on the stone. "Show yourself and become my [Familiar]! [Shadow Doppelganger], release!"
> [NOTICE]
>
> [You have activated the [Shadow Doppelganger Soul Gem].]
Just like the previous gem, it glows in a bright purple light as it starts to leave my hand. I can't do anything else but watch the whole event unfold. If what the description says is true, then there is no way it will be a failure like the last time. As soon as the gem starts to hum, I'm mentally praying that it won't suffer the same fate as the last gem.
HUMMMMM...
HUMMMMMMMM...
I swear, if that gem breaks, I'm going to send a lot of complaints to the mods and devs for the unfair...
> [The summoning is successful.]
I gasp as soon as I see the small notice in my UI. I open my eyes as I notice the humming stops. When I do, I see a bright purple light start to take a humanoid shape. As the light disappears, my jaw drops once I see what's behind the light. It’s a seemingly human child with small brown cowlick hair and slightly peach skin like mine, and wearing a simple white T-shirt, brown shorts, and boots.
I'm...lost for words. I was honestly expecting that the monster might mimic my appearance like that previous [Shadow Doppelganger]. But I never expected them to mimic a child version of my appearance. Looking at him now, he reminds me of Kaz with the fearful expression on his face when he was still back in elementary as a bullied victim. Oh man, that gives me mixed feelings of those memories.
> [NOTICE]
>
> [Do you want to bond this [Shadow Doppelganger] as your [Familiar]?]
>
> [YES] [NO]
Honestly, this is not the [Familiar] I had in mind. But again, I'm not too picky on them in terms of stats and skills and those metagame stuff. As long as they help me and Kaz in the long run, I'm good with everything. So I tap next and I wait for a few seconds for a new window to pop up. Okay, game. I think you need an explanation about this.
> [TUTORIAL]
>
> [Congratulations! You have successfully summoned your first [Familiar]!
Your [Familiar] will act as a party member that you can summon at any time. They can grow stronger the same way as you. Depending on how well you bond with your [Familiar], you can discover their new skills and evolve them to their highest potential!]
I see. So it works the same way as with any monster-catching game I saw on YouTube. They can grow and evolve based on how well you take care of your [Familiar].
With that said, why is my [Shadow Doppelganger] a kid?! Don't tell me he's like that because of his level.
> [HINT]
>
> [If you possess the [Hunting Mastery], you can learn more about your [Familiar] the same way as any monster.]
Huh. That's a bit convenient. I already get what it's trying to say, so I quickly use my [Investigate] to learn more about my new ally. Once I do so, I see the very same information from my last fight with that boss. However, what's different this time is that there's another window popping up above the information.
> [Your [Shadow Doppelganger] seems nervous around their new surroundings...]
Oh. So that's how I can determine his current emotions and feelings with me. Reading about it makes me wonder if he's scared after being born from my gem. God, the more I look at him, the more I can see him as Kaz from the past.
Hang on a second, am I going to keep an eye on a pseudo-little brother again?! Is this the game mocking me or is it because I'm having those "Be careful what you wish for" situations now that Kaz can go off on his own?!
> [To fully seal the contract, you must give them a new identity.]
>
> [Do you want to name the [Shadow Doppelganger]?]
A name... Well, calling him "Kazuki" would be very redundant and I know he, Arthur, and Razul will clown me for my naming sense if I don't think one carefully. Again, he's a [Shadow Doppelganger] and he's currently mimicking me as a kid...
"My name means "sound of the wind". I called myself Wind here..." I snapped my finger as soon as I had an idea. "How about I'll call you "Soma"? Is that good for you?"
"Soma". The Japanese Kanji of that name is the same as mine. However, there is another Kanji that means "real or genuine". I feel like it's a bit ironic since he's only a copy monster. But after my battle with one, I know they existed to copy and I want to show him not only a bit of individualism but also the advantages of his abilities. It looks like he seems to like his new name despite his shy nature thanks to a slow nod.
> [The [Shadow Doppelganger] accepts their new name.]
Alright. Now that's done, time to finalize everything. Once again, the game provided me with an incantation and I got to work with that.
"I call on the spirits that govern between man and monster. Let me bond my soul with the [Shadow Doppelganger] so we can become eternal partners."
A large magic circle starts to glow below me and Soma.
"I promise myself to care for their wellbeing and I accept the responsibilities of their fate. To this day, I name this creature
The circle glows brighter once I finish the incantation. Then, both our bodies also grow in purple aura on me and green aura on Soma as wisps leak out. They tied themselves together into a solid blue color before it exploded in a bright white light.
> [NOTICE]
>
> [You have successfully bonded [Shadow Doppelganger
As the lights disappear, Soma suddenly runs up to me and gives me a big hug.
[N-Nii-chan...]
Huh?! Nii-chan?! Why that nickname?! I get he's a scared monster who was seemingly born out of my gem, but that's a bit too sudden.
[P-Please... Don't leave me alone...]
Oh god... Just what kind of personality does this kid have?! Is the game trolling me right now?!
Okay. I may have a [Familiar] like I intended, but this might be a bit more complicated than I thought. I wonder how Kaz is doing with his [Familiar] summoning.
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Wind's Masteries
[Archery] Level 23
[Woodcrafting] Level 10
[Swordsmanship] Level 24
[Cooking] Level 9
[Wind] Level 17
[Physical Enhancement] Level 18
[Hunting] Level 17
[Blacksmithing] Level 18
[Dagger] Level 8
[Dual-Wielding] Level 1