Raith was watching Zerine, who was frowning at her hand as the pebble wobbled when she stiffened. Umbra had sent an image of something that had arrived earlier in the area than the intersection.
Fucking phantom imps, Raith thought.
A floating transparent being appeared in Umbra’s sight that he was sending to Raith through their connection. The imps had a small, bloated, child-like body. Small bat-like wings stuck out of their backs with dangling tendrils similar to a jellyfish that drifted just above the ground. Soulless beady eyes searched the forest.
Umbra being dark magic aligned meant he could handle the imps magic, but the imps’ odd flames could counter any attack he could make, so Raith would have to go help. She pursed her lips for a moment, then sighed.
“Zerine, Umbra found something in the forest I have to go handle,” Raith said, which got a fearful expression and interrupted her best attempt so far.
“Willow,” Raith said to the air. A glowing ball of light appeared, shining blue and silver light out shining the nearly set sun.
“Willow! I thought you were out in the forest,” Zerine said cheerfully, holding her arms out.
The wisp flew over to Zerine, who embraced the ball of light. Raith shook her head. Both her familiars were rather shy, but both were fond of Zerine. They only didn’t appear earlier as to not distract her.
Willow’s light blinked, conveying a happy greeting.
“She says-” Raith was saying, but Zerine beat her to it.
“I missed you too, Willow!” Zerine said, now spinning the delighted familiar around her.
Raith tilted her head, now appraising Zerine. This wasn’t the first time Zerine and spirits or more magical creatures had gotten along. Her father’s familiar, a powerful water serpent akin to a Dragonair, but for it having four eyes and spikes running down the length of its smooth, scaley body. Before they had left for the year-long trip, they spent time as a whole family and that included their familiars. The serpent normally didn’t like children, but all it took was Zerine holding her arms open to the creature for it to begrudgingly accept her. Then, after a few minutes, become friends as they flew through the waves, cheers from Zerine and happy screeches from the serpent. It had been written off as a onetime thing, but what if it wasn’t?
“Zerine, how did you know what Willow said?” Raith inquired.
“I guessed,” Zerine said and Raith internally sighed, disappointed. Raith covered her disappointment with a laugh.
“Ok, Well Willow will keep you safe, while I go handle something quickly, alright,” Raith said. Zerine, delighted to see her old friend, only nodded, still holding the familiar in an embrace. Shaking her head, Raith vanished in swirling darkness.
Willow blink rapidly and Zerine released the wisp.
“Your right, I should practice,” Zerine said, sitting back down on her cushioned rock. She had only just discovered that she could more or less feel the intentions from Willow’s blinking. An exciting discovery for sure, but for now she would continue practicing. That evil pebble would yield to her will.
***
Raith appeared in the forest, stepping out of Umbra’s shadow. Umbra had split a clone of itself off so she could appear a safe distance from the imps. She checked her and Umbra’s connection, getting a glimpse of the imps through his sight. The imps were searching for traces of energy. Imps weren’t the smartest of the monster that could spawn, but they were some of the few that could propagate, well, other than the insect monsters that is.
If you find three, there are probably more, Raith thought.
“Alright Umbra, send out some more clones and see if you can find any more,” Raith thought to Umbra.
“Already started. So far, my clones haven’t found anything. Since these drift along ley lines, it is possible that a storm sent them our way,” Umbra thought back.
“Hmm, good point. Then let’s get this done. Odds are that Willow and Zerine will probably get distracted from training.”
“Willow was quite eager to see Zerine,” Umbra replied, and Raith mentally sighed.
Raith moved silently, approaching the imps from behind. Could she just swipe her hand, sending out a beam of light, thereby killing the imps, yes. Would it also cut trees down and kill anything in its path, also yes. So, to avoid collateral damage, Raith would have to get close to kill each imp quickly.
She could hear some strange hissing that the imps made as she got closer. The sound was a mix of an electronic sound and a snake’s hiss. The sound might have been them communicating, but Raith didn’t care. These creatures were parasites and, if left alone to multiply, could cause incredible damage to the forest and magic in the area.
Raith peered around a tree and spotted the three imps. Their translucent bodies glistened from the final shreds of the sun’s light that shone through the forest. She causally pointed a finger at the closet imp. A beam of golden light shot out, cutting a clean hole straight through the imp's head, instantly killing it. Its body fell to the ground with a soft thump. The other two imps whirled, sensing the magic she had used. Both started to build up power to strike, but two more quick beams of light shot from her finger. Two sizzling holes appeared straight through the middle of the imps' heads. They crumpled to the forest floor.
Raith stepped out from behind the tree and lifted a hand to the sky. Three beams shot down from the heavens, incinerating the corpses.
“And there we go," Raith said, looking to her right.
A shadow detached itself from a tree and an outline of a humanoid appeared.
“It appears there are several others creating what I can only assume is a nest of some kind,” Umra said.
“Figured as much, then let’s go handle that,” Raith said. Both vanished into swirling shadows.
Around fifteen minutes later, Raith now stood in a clearing with smoldering circles on the forest floor, which was all that remained of the imps. She had done the same strategy as with the first imps, only amping up the power, as several of the imps were able to protect themselves with magical barriers. She had just finished when she felt that elemental energy flare again. The energy had appeared several times during her travel to the nest but hadn’t paid it much attention. This time it was near Zerine! Raith swore and vanished into the shadows once again.
When she appeared at the place where Zerine was practicing, she stared in shock.
What the fuck? she thought.
***
After Raith had vanished, Zerine had practiced for a few minutes, only able to levitate the pebble for a second or two. It frustrated her, but she had to reminder herself that without a crest it was going to be difficult so all she could do was practice, and it would get better given time. Her practice was interrupted as Willow created a barrier around her. When she opened her eyes, she saw why.
A tiny doll sized being had burst from a bush. The little…spirit? Either way, the little being body was made from nearly translucent gray and deep blues. Hair whipped forward as a blast of air launched it back away from the bush it had been in. It wasn’t looking at them, but its pursuers. Two dark green snakes slithered after the little being. One snake missed when it sent a wooden spike at the being, which, with another blast of air, launched itself further away. That was when Zerine saw that instead of two snakes, there was one, but with two heads. She didn’t remember the type of snake, but knew they were poisonous creatures that everyone in the region had to be wary of. The second head sent green gas into a small stream that also missed the being.
Yep, there is the poison attack, Zerine thought.
“Help her,” Zerine asked Willow, who was floating next to her also inside the barrier.
It was a her? The little being had long hair, and it had a feminine figure, but Zerine wasn’t certain.
Willow blinked rapidly.
“I know Raith said protect me, but you can help her, please,” Zerine said. She gave the wisp a pleading look.
What could only be described a blinking sigh, Willow blinked twice.
A barrier appeared around the being, which immediately blocked a wooden spike that would have impaled the little being. Willow sent a silvery light beam that incarnated the snake.
The being’s barrier drifted over before with a pop, the barrier around the being vanished. The little being was now standing in front of Zerine’s barrier. With a cheery wave, the being whistled and burbled like a stream.
“It was Willow who helped you. Say hello, Willow,” Zerine said. That odd feeling of knowing what the being's intention helping her at least figure that the being was thanking them. She had to admit the little being was rather cute and it being so close gave her a better view. The long hair matched the being’s grey and blue body, drifting freely around as if a constant breeze blew. She had pointed ears like an elf and eyes that dimly glowed silver and blue looked up at them curiously.
Willow drifted down, still inside Zerine’s barrier, and blinked. Each blink varying in length and brightness. The being titled its head, then gave an intricate whistle with its arms outstretched. Willow drifted out of the barrier and the little spirit clearly made a cheering sound and hugged Willow. The barrier went down a moment later.
The little being ran up to Zerine, looking up at her, and waved. Zerine crouched and waved back.
It made several bright cheerful whistles and burbling sounds.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Hmm, my name is Zerine,” Zerine said, hoping her semi-informed guess work was correct.
The being made a tinkling chime sound and pointed at Zerine.
“Is that my name?”
A happy nodded confirmed that.
“Then what about your name?”
The being opened its mouth, but paused, then looked confused and made an uncertain sound.
“You don’t have a name?”
A mournful float note tugged Zerine’s heartstrings, and she began thinking.
“What about Lilly?”
Head shake.
“Mya? Shiya? Enakai? Varino?” Zerine wondered eagerly.
The being thought for a moment, then held up four fingers.
“Nice to meet you, Varino,” Zerine said, which got a bright, enthusiastic whistle. “Do you wanna play with me and Willow?”
That got an even happier cheer. The little being ran in a circle with its fists in the air, while Willow bobbed happily.
***
Raith was watching a tiny elemental spirit carrying a flat rock easily the size of its chest over its head.
She heard Zerine say, “Oh, that is a great one!”
The little spirit spun in circles, making a giggling sound before releasing the rock, which skipped across the water six times before Willow sent a tiny beam of light that hit it, sending it skipping out of sight. The spirit, meanwhile, fell on to its butt, its laughter a mix between the sounds of chimes and rain drops. Zerine was laughing too.
“Ready Willow!”
Several blinks.
Zerine sent her rock skipping across the water before another thin beam hit it. This time, the rock covered a far larger distance between each skip, getting an “ooh” from both the spirit and Zerine.
“What is happening here?” Raith asked, startling all three.
The elemental spirit hid behind one of Zerine’s legs, peering out at her with dimly glowing silver and blue eyes.
Willow flitted over, blinking, and Raith just nodded along, then sighed.
I leave for minutes and Zerine has befriended a young elemental spirit, Raith thought with a wry smile.
“This is Varino,” Zerine said, gesturing to the tiny spirit who shyly waved to Raith.
“Nice to meet you, Varino. Was that her name or did you name her?” Raith wondered looking to Zerine. Willow hadn't mentioned that part.
Please don’t say you named it, Raith thought.
The spirit came out from behind Zerine’s leg and happily gestured to Zerine, burbling.
“I named her. She’s great! Varino can use wind magic and water, too,” Zerine said. Varino pumped her fist into the air a small stream of water and swirling jet of air launched into the air to demonstrate.
Of course, she did. How am I going to explain this to Ava and Cal? Raith thought, exasperated. She clearly couldn’t let the little spirit stay in the forest alone. Creatures would want to kill her and feed on the quintessence she would undoubtedly leave behind going after the power boost it would provide. Not to mention the fact that the spirit was clearly already attached to Zerine as she watched it climb up Zerine’s dress to then sit happily on her shoulder, then hugged Zerine cheek, which got a giggle in response.
Ah, fuck, I can’t say no to any of this, nor will Ava or Cal once they see that. At least Zerine will have a friend and a future familiar maybe, Raith thought. Then it hit her, exactly how did Zerine not only name the spirit, but communicate with it.
“Zerine, how did you communicate with Varino?” Raith asked curiously.
“Um, I get this feeling that kind of hints to what Varino and Willow are saying. It’s like an instinct, I guess,” Zerine said.
Raith stared dumbfounded at Zerine.
“Is that bad?” Zerine asked, worried. Varino patted Zerine’s cheek in a reassuring manner.
“Not at all. That is actually a fantastic sign, might be the start of your soul’s awakening, but I am uncertain about that. Either way, it’s a good thing. Do you feel this instinct often?” Raith said quickly.
“I only kinda noticed when talking to Willow right before you left. Then it was clearer when Varino showed up,” Zerine said.
“Hmm, we will have to experiment and see what else it might do,” Raith said. Hearing that, Zerine looked ready to start right away. “But the sun is down, and we should get back. And we will have to see how your parents react.”
“Don’t worry, Varino. They will be happy to have you join our family,” Zerine said.
Varino whistled, chimed, and burbled. Raith watched as Zerine nodded.
“Varino wondered if she can bond with me?” Zerine asked.
“Varino, she can’t do that yet. She doesn’t have her crest,” Raith said.
Varino made a mournful sound that made Raith wince. If Zerine had her crest and bonded, then it would be one of the fastest ways for an elemental spirit to gain in power. She made a mental note to add natural treasures for the spirit affinities to Zerine’s birthday gifts. That way the spirit could grow even if Zerine didn’t get a crest in the coming years, which she truly hoped wouldn’t be the case, but better safe than sorry.
“We will get you something to help and I am sure Ava and Cal will be happy to meet you,” Raith reassured Varino, who smiled.
Damn, you are too cute, Raith thought.
"Well do you want to come home with me and live with us?" Zerine asked, which got an affirmative chime.
Grinning, Raith placed a hand on Zerine’s shoulder, and shadows swallowed them.
***
The celebration was still in full swing. Ava had been talking to Gary, while Cal had been pulled away by several lords and merchants to discuss the Emerald Sky festival. She felt Raith return along with Zerine. It had been a little over half an hour since they had vanished, but Raith wouldn’t keep Zerine out in the forest after dark. Ava had guessed what Raith would have Zerine do and where because they all had decided the beach near the forest would be where they train their children. There was diverse terrain, the wtater for Naro's affinity, and plenty of space for them spread out as needed. Tomorrow Naro would be introduced to it and their training would begin.
She and Gary turned to see the two. Ava’s mouth fell open, while Gary began to laugh. Sitting on Zerine’s shoulder was a tiny elemental spirit. The grey and deep blue body and hair were nearly transparent. Excited, glowing eyes of silver and blue examined the surrounding room.
As they watched, the little spirit stood lightly poking Zerine’s cheek, its mouth moving, but Ava couldn’t hear it over the surrounding conversations.
“Looks like you have a new family member,” Gary said, chortling.
“How the hell did she find an elemental spirit?” Ava muttered, which only made Gary laugh again.
She and Gary made their way to Raith, who wasn’t even trying to hide a toothy grin.
“Mom!” Zerine said, startling the little spirit who sat back down as Zerine nearly ran to Ava. Ava smiled down at Zerine. “I made a stone float! Oh, and I made a new friend! This is Varino,” Zerine blurted out.
The elemental spirit, Varino gingerly waved, while holding locks of Zerine’s hair as if to hide partly behind the hair.
“Raith, explain,” Ava telepathically said to Raith. She felt Raith’s mirth come across the connection. Raith didn’t hold back and explained everything that Willow had told her and what Zerine had said as well. Their conversation only took a second, and it left Ava shocked. Not only had Zerine managed to make a pebble float even if it was for a second or two, but could somehow understand with some sort of instincts what Willow and Varino say. Could it be a burgeoning communication skill or something else? Truly a fascinating turn of events. Then her gaze landed on the little spirit again. Raith was right. This spirit was…different there was more to it than water and wind. She could feel her own electrify affinity react to simply looking at the little spirit.
Maybe a storm elemental separated from its own kind. We will need a good natural treasure to help it grow, she thought. Varino and Zerine seemed close for only knowing one another for such a short time, but Varino clearly liked Zerine. There was also the fact that once you earned an elemental spirit’s trust, it would last practically forever. They were also very innocent creatures, especially when they are young like this one clearly was.
Ava crouched, so she was at eye level for both Varino and Zerine. “Nice to meet you, Varino.”
Varino whistled, releasing Zerine’s hair, peering at Ava curiously.
“She said nice to meet you,” Zerine said. Varino poked Zerine’s cheek, chittering. “And she hopes you don’t mind her being here.”
“We are happy to have you here. There are some house rules we will have to discuss, but that can wait for later. We will have to find something to help you gain some power too. Can’t have you stagnate.” That got the spirit to jump up and down happily. With a peep, the spirit jumped off Zerine’s shoulder to land on Ava’s shoulder. Ava started but felt a slight tingling as the spirit hugged her cheek. That was followed by Zerine embracing her. “Alright, you two just promise to behave.”
“K!” Zerine said, which was mimicked by Varino with a peep.
That was…too cute, Ava thought. Based on Raith's expression, she too thought that was adorable.
“First, can we test your affinities, Varino?” Ava asked. The spirit had climbed back on to Zerine’s shoulder. The spirit burbled a response that even Ava could tell it was confused.
“She isn’t sure why,” Zerine said.
“We need to ensure we get a natural treasure that covers all her affinities. And Raith and I are certain there is more to Varino than maybe even she knows,” Ava said.
Varino pointed at itself and whistled. Ava was certain it just asked, “really, me?”
“Yes, you Varino. Luckily, we have everything we need nearby. This was the celebration for Naro, Zerine’s brother, and we have testing crystals out of storage since he got his crest.”
Varino excitedly chittered.
“That was an oooh that sounds fun,” Zerine translated, which made Gary chuckle behind her with a giggle from Raith.
Raith, Gary, and Zerine, with Varino on her shoulder, went to a corner while Ava went to get the crystals. When she returned, she found Zerine showing her floating pebble.
Zerine was concentrating, staring at the pebble, which wobbled before it lifted. It stayed there for two seconds before it fell back into her hand. Zerine was panting with a faint sheen of sweat on her brow.
“Hey, hey look at that, nice job kiddo,” Gary said, which was echoed by encouraging chimes from Varino.
“That was incredible Zerine,” Ava said, placing a pouch next to Zerine.
Zerine smiled proudly but turned her attention to the pouch.
“Are those the affinity crystals?” Zerine wondered.
“Yep, so let’s start with water and wind,” Ava said, pulling out a crystal that was blue and another that was solid white.
Simply bringing both crystals near Varino made them shine.
“Now I personally felt something similar to one of my affinities,” Ava said, pulling out a crystal that seemed to contain lightning.
“Hmm, a storm elemental would explain somethings,” Raith muttered, while Gary nodded in agreement.
Sure enough, the crystal glowed brightly as it got close to Varino, who excitedly jumped then burbled a question.
Before Zerine could say anything, Willow appeared blinking rapidly to Varino, who titled her head. She nodded then closed her eyes and soon tiny sparks arched between her fingers, which got a chime of triumph. Varino excitedly showed Zerine by arching a larger lightning bolt between her hands, whistling and burbling quickly.
“That is incredible, Varino! I don’t really know what type of affinities I will have though,” Zerine said.
“Our kind don’t know till we get our crest, Varino,” Gary said, which got a clearly disappointed flute sound.
“Let's try the others,” Ava said.
After they tried the small assortment of crystals, they found that Varino was indeed a storm elemental, but with minor affinities for time and space, which was odd from what Zerine understood as the adults talked amongst themselves as she and Varino inspected the crystals.
“We have a pretty great natural treasure for Varino, but it's too powerful for her right now,” Gary said.
“And we were hoping to sell that,” Raith added.
“We will buy it. No friend discount either. That covers her for the future, but what about the current her?” Ava wondered, watching as Zerine, Varino, Willow, and even Umbra started to play some game.
Raith glanced at the group and snorted a laugh, but said, “The ley line intersection is starting soon. That will definitely have a natural treasure form that would be perfect for her. But in the meantime, we should still look.”
Ava and Gary nodded in agreement, both still clearly mulling over options.
“We should let them play. I really want to see Cal’s reaction to Varino,” Ava said with a devious grin, which got the others to snicker and follow her. Callahan’s reaction was everything the others had hoped for, complete and utter shock. He kept doing double takes watching his daughter, a spirit, and familiars play a game like it was completely normal. He was certainly excited to meet Varino later, but was fascinated by Zerine’s odd instincts, too. In fact, they all were rather curious about Zerine's odd skill and made plans to test it.
When the party had ended, Callahan carried a happily exhausted Naro, who was struggling to stay awake. Ava found Zerine asleep, with Varino curled up next to her, also slumbering. The sight was simply too adorable, so she telepathically sent the image to Raith, Gary, and Callahan. Their responses were to gush over the two. She gently picked the two up and brought them to Zerine’s room. Ava knew that Zerine and Varino would be quite the pair and was truly glad that Zerine had found what she hoped, would be a lifelong friend.
***
"You reincarnated her?" Eris commented. Her and Demetris were still watching the mortal child.
"I thought she deserved a second chance. And who knows maybe her path will cross with him again," Demetris replied.
"Hmm, who knows, with all the paths Zerine may follow, we can only go big event by big event. But I do have to admit I like this bit of chaos. She needed a true friend as well," Eris said.
"Is that why you sent that little image to direct her their way?" Demetris wondered.
"You said no spoilers. But no, if they do thats fine, but I mainly want her to learn from them," Eris said with a grin.
"Hmm, can't wait for that."
"Me too."