Suma’s POV

I reversed the summoning spell and sent Jake back to his home. He had been staying in my world for a few days, he did not feel it was right to leave after what happened. He had stayed in a kennel for sick or injured familiars, renovating it temporarily so it would be comfortable. Actually, he convinced the owners of the kennel by paying with his own mana, an arrangement the owners were very happy to agree to. He stayed for about three days and the owners said if he ever needed a place to stay again, they would be happy to help.

I flew home, after sending Jake back, and prepared to go to sleep. I had been so tired lately; ever since it happened, I have felt absolutely exhausted. I arrived at my home and used magic to open the entrance. I expected it to be dark, but all the lights were still on. Normally, the light braids only last an hour or three, but it had been at least five hours since I had been home; Jake insisted on me coming over so he could be sure I was alright and had eaten. I heard a clamor from the back of my home just as I closed the entrance. “Oh sweety?” A voice called from my sleeping area.

My heart started pounding and my chest tightened as I shouted, “WHO IS THERE?!” For a moment, I thought perhaps it was more nobles, come to take some kind of revenge.

“Baby? It’s me.” The voice called out as my mother poked her head out from inside my canvased off roost. My body relaxed, but my heartrate was still high.

“Mom? What are you doing here?” I questioned.

“Me too,” another voice called from inside my room.

“Dad?” I asked confused, recognizing his voice. I could not see myself, but I could feel my feathers were still standing on end, so I relaxed them, and myself, before asking them why they were here.

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“Why are you here?”

“Honey, you were attacked, why wouldn’t we be here?” My mom stated.

“Well yeah, but that was days ago, almost a week. Why now and not then?” I wondered, a bit hot under the collar. Honestly, it had been on my mind a lot since that happened. I live only a three-minute flight from my parents, but they had not been by to see me.

“I-I know, and we are sorry, but…” My mom started but she was fumbling over words and beginning to trail off, so my dad interrupted her.

“Honey, that familiar of yours. He scares us… he is dangerous. You are a rank five healing mage, you have no business utilizing a familiar that strong. He is dangerous, and… and it is his fault you were attacked.” My dad said to my disbelief.

“Jake did not get me attacked; he saved my life! He named me!” I shouted. “You remember that? Suma? Do not think I have not noticed you never use it.”

Dad scoffed, “Right, Suma, what kind of name even is that? Probably means pet on his world.”

“Enough, both of you!” Mom interjected just before I could reply to my father. “Look… Suma… we are just worried that this familiar of yours-”

“Jake,” I interrupted.

“Right, Jake… we just think Jake may not truly have your best interests at heart. He is so strong, you can practically feel the mana radiating off of him. That’s why we think maybe he doesn’t understand that you just… well not to say… look what I’m trying to say is-”

I cut her off, “You are saying I am weak and that I cannot take care of myself.”

“No no no, we aren’t saying that at all-” Mom started but Dad cut her off.

“That is exactly what we are saying! You are a rank five mage, the lowest of the medium ranks, and you are a healer; not even a combat class. You should get rid of that trouble making ape and get a familiar that you can actually handle, like a Zantorax Hound or a-”

“Get out! Get out right now!” I screamed and forced the entrance open. “I will not listen to this anymore! This is the argument over the army all over again and… just get out!”

“Honey please, don’t-” Mom tried to say.

“Go!” I yelled again. My parents were not the listening type, not when it came to me. Dad wrapped a wing around Mom and led her outside as she cried. I closed the entrance and just fumed for a few seconds. I flew over to my roost and just tried to calm myself down. I knew they had no right to talk about Jake, they had no right to ridicule me, but they always have. I spent several minutes angry, but once that was gone, all I was left with was sadness and a very large, very empty, home.