Chapter 58: The Familiar's Feast

Isabella moved quietly through the forest, the eerie silence of the Stone Forest not bothering her in the slightest. The twisted trees and strange sounds that made even seasoned recruits tense up had no effect on her. She had grown used to the murmurings and strange energies in this place. After all, her mind was preoccupied with more pressing matters.

She walked alone, her soft footsteps blending into the forest floor, seemingly talking to herself. The other recruits had begun to notice her strange behavior, the mumblings, the half-conversations, and the occasional odd glance around as if someone unseen were answering her back. It didn’t take long before they had started calling her "Witch."

Abel had his nickname, "Stargazer," and Sena had become known as the "Crimson Titan," both names filled with a mix of awe and respect. Isabella’s title, however, carried the weight of disdain. People whispered that she was losing her mind, cursed by some unseen force. But those closest to her, the members of Room Eighty, knew the truth. They knew that Isabella wasn’t speaking to herself—she was talking to her familiar, the small gray snake she had been nurturing for over a month now.

Isabella glanced down at the creature as it slithered beneath her cloak, barely noticeable to the outside observer. “I’ve fed you so much already,” she whispered softly, as if the snake could sense her growing impatience. “How much more do you need?”

Though no audible response came, Isabella felt the snake’s thoughts pulse through her mind—a strange connection that had deepened over the weeks. More, the snake seemed to say, its mental voice smooth and cool. I’m growing stronger, but I need more magical beasts. Their essence fuels me.

Isabella sighed. She knew the snake’s growth had been slow, but she also knew this process was necessary. Her family, deeply connected to serpents for generations, had passed down the knowledge of raising and bonding with snake familiars. The bond was unique, and when her familiar fully matured, it would become more than just an animal. It would merge with her, becoming her mana pool—an extension of herself in the purest sense. This process was familiar to her, and it was a guarantee, unlike the knowledge book she possessed before, in which there was simply a chance of creating a mana pool. In addition to the possible corruption, it was not better than her other options.

The old scrolls and her grandmother’s teachings had prepared her for this, but the reality of waiting for the familiar’s evolution was harder than expected. She glanced toward the trees as she moved, the cool breeze stirring the leaves, adding to the unsettling aura that lingered in the forest. One day, she thought, one day, I’ll return home with you fully grown, and we’ll restore what’s been lost to my family.

Yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being left behind. Abel had garnered admiration with his strange powers, and Sena, with his raw strength, had earned respect even from the gifted. Nando had recently joined their ranks with his own experiments and mysterious progress. But Isabella… she still felt like the girl with a knife and a snake. Her Katar techniques had improved, but it wasn’t magic. Not like the powers her friends were developing. Still, she had faith in her familiar. Soon, they would both ascend.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Her snake slithered beneath her robe as if sensing her thoughts. It had grown strong, able to expand to a massive size—a six-meter-long creature capable of paralyzing foes with a single bite. She had fed it well, and the snake was finally beginning to reveal its true potential. It was no longer just a pet; it was a weapon.

Isabella’s thoughts were interrupted when she noticed movement in the distance. A rat-like creature, its fur patchy and its body grotesque, slinked between the trees. She recognized it immediately—a magical beast. Its eyes gleamed with a savage intelligence that betrayed its rat-like appearance. If Ronald had been here, he would have recognized it from his own encounter. But Isabella wasn’t afraid. She murmured to her snake, preparing for the fight ahead.

Before she could make her move, however, a voice called out from behind her.

“Witch!”

Isabella didn’t need to turn to know who it was. Three gifted recruits had appeared from the shadows, all wearing smug expressions. She had seen them around before but had never bothered to learn their names. They were nothing more than annoyances—arrogant and dismissive of anyone who wasn’t gifted like them.

“Get lost,” one of them sneered, stepping forward. “That beast isn’t something you can handle alone. Let the gifted take care of it.”

The others chuckled, their eyes gleaming with superiority. One of them leaned forward, smirking. “We’ll do it out of pity for you, crazy witch. You don’t belong out here.”

Isabella’s hand tightened around her Katar. She murmured softly to her snake again, and one of the gifted recruits laughed. “There she goes again, talking to herself. What’s wrong, Witch? Losing your mind?”

With calm precision, Isabella turned to face them. “I’m not alone,” she said, her voice steady but cold.

The gifted recruits exchanged mocking glances. “Not alone?” one of them scoffed. “What, did you bring more freaks with you?”

Isabella ignored their taunts and instead murmured again. A soft hiss echoed from her robe as the small gray snake began to slither out. The recruits, still confident in their abilities, barely glanced at it. “Oh look, she brought a pet. How cute. Maybe we’ll hunt two magical beasts today.”

But as the snake began to grow, their confidence faltered. The serpent expanded, its body thickening, muscles rippling beneath its scales. It grew and grew until it towered over them, six meters long and as wide as Sena’s thighs. Its forked tongue flickered in the air, tasting their fear.

The recruits stepped back, their expressions no longer mocking but cautious, even afraid. The rat creature that had been ready to attack also paused, its instincts kicking in as it took a step back, its sharp teeth bared, but its body hesitating.

Isabella smirked, her eyes gleaming. “I told you. I’m not alone.”

One of the recruits, clearly shaken, spat on the ground. “Freak,” he muttered, backing away. “This whole Tower’s full of freaks.”

Without another word, the three gifted recruits turned and left, casting wary glances over their shoulders as they disappeared into the shadows of the forest. Isabella watched them go, her heart steady, her mind focused. She turned back to the rat creature, her smirk returning.

“Dinner is ready,” she whispered to her snake.

The massive serpent lunged forward, quick as lightning, sinking its fangs into the rat’s side. The beast screeched, its body twitching as the paralysis set in, rendering it helpless. The snake coiled around it, crushing it with ease before devouring the creature whole.

Isabella stood in silence, watching her familiar feed. The eerie stillness of the forest returned, but Isabella felt none of the tension that plagued the other recruits. Her bond with her snake had deepened, and with every battle, they grew stronger together.

The whispers about her in the Tower didn’t bother her anymore. Let them call her a witch. Soon, they would see what true power looked like.