Lasair, for only the second time in this world, was in danger. She recognized this, but fear kept her still. It was only just before the intruders entered her [ROOM] that she told Apollo to hide. There was no time to retreat down the corridor, and his glow was too bright to hide in the nooks and crannies of stone. So instead, she sent him up, past the lip of stone that represented her boundary and and around the corner hidden from the adventurers sight. But for the first time, Lasair's as well. She could not move her view past the boundary, could not even send or receive communication from Apollo. The [SOUL BOND] was the only thing connecting them, and the only thing that kept her from a panic attack. She could not lose Apollo. The footsteps grew nearer as the adventurer stepped into her view, just before the opening. She used [INSPECT], and he immediately bristled, drawing his weapons.

[STATUS LOADING...]

[STATUS]: COOPER JACOBS

[CLASS]: [ELVEN HUNTER]

[LEVEL]: 9

[AFFINITY(S]): LIFE

[BONDED]: [FAMILIAR]{ALBERT}

[ABILITIES]: PREY'S DENIAL, A FAMILIAR SIGHT, CALL TO ARMS

[INSPECT]: [PREY'S DENIAL]: YOU WILL KNOW WHEN A SKILL IS USED ON YOU.

[INSPECT]: [A FAMILIAR SIGHT]: DEEPENS THE BOND BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR FAMILIAR, LETTING YOU SEE THROUGH THEIR EYES.

[INSPECT]: [CALL TO ARMS]: WHEN DEFENDING SOMETHING OR SOMEONE YOU HOLD DEAR, GAIN GREAT STRENGTH.

The adventurer had dropped a small creature that at first looked like a cat, until Lasair saw the third pair of legs and the tentacles sprouting from its shoulders.

[STATUS LOADING...]

[STATUS]: ALBERT

Stolen story; please report.

[CLASS]: [JUVENILE DISPLACER BEAST]

[LEVEL]: 4

[AFFINITY(S]): LIGHT

[BONDED]: [MASTER]{COOPER}

[ABILITIES]: LESSER LUMENMANCY, DARKVISION, A FAMILIAR SIGHT

Well these two were certainly an interesting pair. An elf and a displacer beast walk into a magic cave. Sounds like the start to a bad joke.

"Cloak."

The beast raised its tentacles, and Lasair felt the mana around them begin to bend. As it swirled around the adventures, she could feel it pass through an affinity. Instead of the greedy blaze of fire mana, this new type seemed to be more... weightless. Like it was bowing to the beasts will because it had nothing better to do, instead of resisting. She sent an image of this mana to Apollo through the bond. He had a light affinity as a result of being a [WILL-O-WISP], perhaps he could harness this new mana as well. He sent back subdued excitement, still tinged with nervousness at the adventures. Said fear was proven when the elf attacked her wisp [HORDE]. He threw a knife which returned to his hand after a throw, which she felt deserved an [INSPECT].

[INSPECT]: [LOYAL DAGGER]: A DAGGER THAT IS TIED TO THE WILL OF ITS OWNER. WILL RETURN TO HAND THAT THREW IT WHEN SUMMONED.

So, the elf boy had a knockoff Thor's hammer. He quickly proved proficiency with the dagger by slaughtering her wisps. Even after his bubble of light mana fell, it only took him a minute to finish off the [HORDE]. He stalked over to the ledge beneath the chest that held the [DRAGON'S BREATH WAND]. Little shit was going to steal it, wasn't he? The beast was lifted up to the ledge, where Lasair could presume [A FAMILIAR SIGHT] let the elf inspect the chest. When satisfied, he scrambled up the ledge and opened the chest. There was no fanfare, no golden glow, not even a groan from the hinges. The elf just opened the chest and picked up the wand.

"A stick?"

Excuse me you little shit? That 'stick' could fry your ass in a single shot. You are fucking lucky I don't have hands.

"Fuck!"

Oh shit did he hear me?

Instead of finding her viewpoint or indicating if he could hear her, the elf spun the wand to check the end. The explosive end to be exact. What he found seemed to please him, and he slowly grew a grin, before bursting out laughing.

"Do you know what this means Albert? We're set."

The beast licked the wand.

Little shit. They'll never find the body. Actually, better threat, they'll never stop finding the body. They'll be picking up pieces of you for three months and you'll be alive for at least two.

The beast stuck its tongue out and let it fall to its chin, just like a cat.

I take that back I will defend you with my life.

The laughing was stopping. Lasair refocused on the elf as his face fell. He seemed to have realized something.

"We need to get the fuck out of here."

The fuck?

The elf grabbed the wand and the beast, before sprinting back the way he came.

Am I that bad of a host?