So there’s a few things I learned about [Familiars].
They act not only as NPC allies, but they also possess special AI that grows smarter based on how you treat them. Treat them like your pet and partner and they will fight alongside you. Hurt and abuse them and they might turn against you (at least that's what the Wiki page said about them). Not only that, but their abilities differ based on how you treat them. Give them food and treat them like a hunting dog and they would get skills that befit them. Let them play in the ocean and they might have the ability to swim underwater. Even if two players have the same species, they might not be the same as the other.
However, the developers didn't account for the fact that some [Familiars] might get some characteristics from a certain magic brother of mine from the past. As soon as I start to leave the plain, the young [Shadow Doppelganger] starts to cling onto my pant leg the very same way Kazu did when we were going into a haunted house or something like that.
"Um... Soma?"
[Hm?] He quickly looks at me with small tears in his eyes.
"I understand you're afraid of your new surroundings and I just became your pseudo-older brother, but can you loosen your grip on my leg for a bit?" I gently ask. "I'm not a security blanket, you know."
[O-Oh... S-Sorry...]
Soma complies as he slowly backs away a few steps. I don't want him to leave, but honestly, his grip is a bit tighter than I imagined.
"And if you want to tell me something, you better tell me now," I tell him. "I get you're scared, but I feel like you wanted to do something more now that you're my [Familiar], right?"
This [Familiar] might be copying my younger self, but he has the same scared personality as my young brother. Despite that, he is still copying me and I know he's more than a scared version of myself.
[I-I... I want to help...Nee-chan...] Soma stutters. [I-I want...to be a good [Familiar] to you...]
I thought so. "Well... I doubt you're battle-ready since you've recently been born. How about we'll check your abilities first?"
The hints said that I could check on his stats through [Investigate]. So I use it and read what Soma has to offer.
> [Young Shadow Doppelganger
>
> [Familiar Stats]
>
> [Name: Soma]
>
> [Bond Level: 1]
>
> [Level: 1]
>
> [Total Mastery Level: 1]
>
> [HP: 126/126]
>
> [MP: 48/48]
>
> [SP: 62/62]
Oh. So not only do [Familiars] have the same mechanics as the players, but it seems like they also have a different leveling system than ours. And it seems like there's a tutorial window attached to it.
> [FAMILIAR TUTORIAL]
>
> [There are two kinds of levels to keep in mind. You can train your [Familiar] by gaining [Familiar EXP] and deepen your bond through a [Bond Level].
>
> At the moment, your [Familiar] doesn't have any [Masteries] as you. But if you broaden your horizons, you might help them gain their own and evolve to their fullest potential!]
I see. So if I introduce Soma to some mundane activities or skills, then he might gain some variety of [Masteries] he can use in battle. Plus, he might be useful outside it, too! So there really are no two [Shadow Doppelgangers] alike.
That aside, there are some useful skills Soma has right now.
> [Familiar Skills]
>
> [Mimic] Level 1
>
> [A [Shadow Mimicry] skill that uses their owner's recently used skill or spell, but the power or buffs will be halved.]
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> [Shadow Boxing] Level 1 Passive
>
> [A [Shadow Mimicry] passive skill that lets a [Famiiar] train against their own shadow abilities, doubling the [Familiar EXP] and chances of learning a [Mastery] if used this way.]
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> [Mirroring] Level 1
>
> [A [Shadow Mimicry] skill that mimics their owner's movements, allowing them to recreate and use any last skill or spells they used for the last 30 seconds.]
Huh. They're not much, but they might be useful in some situations. The [Mirroring] skill is also useful. Currently, he's only mimicking my movements. But I wonder if it'll be useful for learning new [Masteries].
[N-Nee-chan?]
Oh, right. I need to deal with that embarrassing nickname first. He was only a few minutes old and yet, he already knew what that word was?! Just what the hell is this game?!
"Um... First, can you stop calling me "Nee-chan"?" I suggest. "I get the nickname, but it's kinda embarrassing if you call me that in public. Can you call me something else or just "Wind"?"
I'm hoping he might get the hint already, but judging by his expression, I might have made him confused instead.
[B-But... You are me. And the only thing I remember is that you are my big brother.]
I don't remember saying that as a kid. Is the game's AI confusing my memories with Kazu's? God, this is too confusing.
"Still... It's a bit awkward if you call me that." I hum a bit as I look at Soma. It takes a minute, but I get an idea. Cringy, but it's not worse than "Nee-chan". "Then how about you call me "Windy"? It's short and sweet and I don't mind if you use it."
[R-Really?] I nod. I'm gonna pay with a bit of cringe, but I'm okay if he uses it. [O-Okay, Windy!]
Ugh... I'm mentally cringing. But again, I'm okay with it.
"Now that's done, let's go onto the main topic now." I turn back to his stat window next. "Since you're new, you don't have many skills ready for battle. If I want to be brief, your mimicry might hinder us if you don't use it at the right time."
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
[I-Is that a bad thing?]
"Somehow." In reality, most of Soma's skills are practically OP in their own right. What sets him back in his current level is that [Mimic] halved the strength of my skills and [Wind] spells and you need great timing if he uses [Mirroring]. "But overall, most of them are great skills if you want to learn them. All we need now is to not only gauge your strength and skills in battle but also your usage of them."
I do want to find a monster right now. The problem is Soma's level at the moment. If I faced a monster at my current level, then Soma would be overwhelmed before I could help him. And with the [Familiar's] leveling system a bit foreign for most players beyond the basic functions the official site and wiki told us, who knows what will happen if I leave him unattended?
God, it's like I never left my [Guardian Player] role at all.
[Um... Windy? What is that?]
Soma points to his left. I turn in that direction and see a white rabbit hopping about. And it's not just any rabbit. I quickly use [Investigate] while locking my eyes on it.
> [Horned Rabbit]
>
> [A rabbit that is more aggressive than [Wild Rabbits]. While they possess the same diet as their weaker counterparts, they are very territorial and will attack if anyone enters their habitat or is provoked.]
>
> [HP: 120/120]
"Oh! Nice find, Soma!" Despite what I’ve said, this one is a bit stronger than a [Wild Rabbit]. Kazu and I ran into them a couple of times and we were nearby in trouble because of our formerly low levels and aggression. Still, it seems to be a good first opponent for me and Soma as a team. "You should take the lead with that guy. I'll help out if you're struggling a bit."
[A-Are you sure?] Soma stares at the rabbit and I understand his hesitation. [I-It looks cute...]
"I understand where you're getting at. But trust me, they are not as cuddly the moment you try to approach it."
Unfortunately, it's not an exaggeration as Star and Annie previously expressed their frustrations with encountering them. But just in case. Game, is there anything about [Familiars] and items?
> [TIP]
>
> [While you can offer some consumable items to your [Familiars], there is a chance they can equip armor and weapons depending on your interactions.]
So it's a 50/50 chance. It's not much, but at least it clarifies some details. At least the [Iron Dagger] I hastily built beforehand wasn't for nothing. Otherwise, I would cringe at the thought of a canine [Familiar] holding it in its mouth like in that rage action game Zac kept raving about.
"Here." I offer the dagger to Soma. "It's not much, but it should be enough to help you defend if you can't use your abilities. Don't worry, I'll build you a bow afterward."
I know it's 50/50, but I don't want him to fight unarmed. Soma, of course, hesitates when I offer the dagger. I would freak out if Kazu or Dad did the same with a gun or something. But thankfully, he takes the dagger with reluctance.
[I-I won't...let you down, Windy.]
After that, I slowly back away to give him space as I take out my bow. I might kill the rabbit in one shot if I used the iron ones, so I decided to use the basic arrows that I didn't use in my early levels. With my current [Archery] level, it's still powerful with my compound bow, but it's not enough to kill it, thankfully.
So once I ready my weapon, I aim it at the rabbit without a sound. I release it and I hear the wooden arrow strike through the body of the rabbit. Unlike my first battle with it, the arrow didn't hit its head once it reached it. The whole point of this fight is to help Soma with his battling skills. Once that's done, I turn to him and say, "Now!"
I don't need to say anymore as I watch Soma charge to the rabbit with his dagger in hand. He quickly stabs it with a scream and I hear the rabbit crying in pain. I feel a bit sorry about the rabbit as I watch him stab it over and over again. But then again, some of them like to troll players including me and Kazu, especially when we tried to help them before the expansion was released. So, not sorry at all.
[I-Is that okay?] Soma asks after he pulls out his dagger from the rabbit's carcass.
"Yeah. Not bad for your first battle," I answer with a smile as I give him a gentle pat on the head. "You do need to work on your charge though. There are times when your target will run away the moment you try to ambush them without any preparation. Even trying to ambush an aggressive monster is more dangerous than recklessly charging into one. The key is discretion. You need to stay quiet whenever you charge in or make an ambush."
[Oh... Is that so?]
I nod. "Yeah. You also need to aim carefully. You may be using a melee weapon, but you need to keep in mind their weak spots. If you can stab its head or neck, it will be incapacitated enough for you to kill it. Do not hesitate or your opponent will turn things around on you when you least expect it."
It sounds cruel, but that's what I’ve experienced in my several battles with the monsters. Most weak spots can be inflicted with a [Critical Hit] and a chance to [Stun] them for a few seconds. I did a bit of a test run before the [Hidden Quest] and I'm surprised at the number of criticals I made with only a dagger. It's a simple weapon, but it can become a lethal tool to take down any powerful non-boss monsters. I can see why the description of one of the [Dual Wielding] skills relies on stealthy strikes.
[Okay. I'll keep that in mind.] Soma then turns around and gasps. [Hey! There's another rabbit!]
Oh, already? I quickly use [Investigate] to check his next opponent. "Another [Horned Rabbit], huh? Alright, now it's your turn to ambush it. I won't help you this time unless you're in danger. Don't forget what I taught you."
[O-Okay...]
I crouch down and use [Stealth] while Soma slowly approaches the rabbit. I can hear low footfalls with every step he makes, something that he surprisingly picked up with no issue. Still, the main question is if he can strike the rabbit down without getting their attention. Those kinds of monsters have sensitive hearing and they can run away or attack depending on their disposition. But since he doesn't have [Stealth] right now, ambushing it might be a bit tough for him.
But then, I see him taking a deep breath. Then before I notice, he charges at the rabbit with a sudden burst of speed, and to my shock, he somehow stabs the rabbit in the back of its head.
> [CRITICAL HIT!]
I'm very surprised once I see the ping. He only got a few pieces of advice and he managed to do it without a sound. However...
KREEEEEE!!!
Unlike the [Wild Rabbit], it would take more than a critical to finish it off in his current strength. If he wants to clear this battle, he needs more than stealth to defeat the rabbit.
Back to the battle, the rabbit cries again before charging towards Soma. I have to hold the urge to interfere. But in a burst of speed, he swings his dagger several times at the rabbit. They look sloppy, but I become amazed to see that every slash he inflicts on its body gets bigger and bigger. Not only that, he successfully dodges several attacks and gets hit about three times. Before I know it, he finishes it off by stabbing the rabbit between its neck and chin.
> [CRITICAL HIT!]
Damn... Just the look of the rabbit makes me flinch. I know [Horned Rabbits] are jerks, but I briefly feel sorry for it. But it's too late for that now as I hear its last cry before it disappears.
[H-How is that, Windy?] Soma stutters as he turns to me. [D-Did I do it right?]
I quickly shake my head when he turns to me. "Uh, yeah. Nice job, Soma! You really stick to my teachings very well!" I compliment. "There are a lot of hiccups from your fighting style, but you're still a beginner. I'm sure you can improve with a bit of practice."
[Really?! T-Thank you!]
Seeing his smile is enough to tell me that I did a good job as his mentor. Of course, it didn't take long for a certain window to pop up.
> [FAMILIAR CHECK]
>
> [Soma is satisfied with your teachings.]
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> [Your bond with your [Shadow Doppelganger] has gone up significantly.
>
> You have a decent chance to learn a [Weapon Mastery].]
So that's how it works. If I keep teaching him some basics and bond with my [Familiar], he might be able to learn a [Mastery] easily. However, it depends on how I treat him and I can't spoil him too much. In other words, this is like [Guardian Player] with a hint of pet training. The real issue is his learning curve. According to the wiki, rare [Familiars] are very tough to train in exchange for power. That's one road I’ll have to cross soon once he hits the double digits. But either way, I can't wait to see where his skills and talents take off from here.
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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