Logging back in inside our room at the in I greet Malek and ask him our plans.

"Malek, are when are we going to start back up on our journey?"

"Well it is probably best for you to keep training near the town for a while. Having a base of operations beats training while travelling at lower levels." Malek gives his input and I accept.

"Okay, well I will go head out and find some monsters to kill. What are you going to do?" I ask Malek a question expecting a vague response.

"Ah I'm going to do some shopping maybe." Malek doesn't seem to sure of his plans.

"Maybe? Are you just going to be playing around? I guess I can't criticize you, you can do what you want. Seeya!" I leave Malek to do whatever he plans to do."

I leave the inn and the villagers gazes seem softer than when I was with Malek. 'He really looks suspicious doesn't he?' I ask around the town to see if there are any monsters people need taking care of, or any chores people need done.

While simpler quests like doing chores may not grant high experience or monetary rewards, it increases intimacy with npcs which can decrease store costs and increase the chance of receiving a higher ranked quest.

'Maybe I will get lucky and receive a good quest before we leave the village.' I venture around the village excitedly hoping for some interesting tasks.

Running all around the town I ask each villager I see if they need any jobs done.

"Excuse me, do you need any assistance with anything?" I ask a tad too aggressively.

"Err- not right now, no sorry I don't need any help, thank you."

Maybe I was a little over the top and scared off the villagers. 'Whatever, I will just head off and fight monsters in the area.'

Grabbing my staff and some food I head out and begin exploring the area.'

'Hmm now that I think about it I should try and get some other familiars.'

Without using a chant this time I cast [Nature Manifestation].

A light builds around me, moves around the lantern on my staff and projects itself through the air. After flying 12 feet it enters into what looks like a pool of water standing vertically in the air. The surface tension of the "water" sticks to the form of the being exiting the vertical puddle. Erupting from the pool is a human looking woman covered in a purple scale armour, her light blue hair draped over her shoulders.

"I have received your call and await your orders, master." The woman places her trident in front of her and takes a knee before me.

"Ah sure umm, give me your name." I am surprised by the intelligent familiar I seemed to have summoned.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"I am a one of Neptune's paredrae or consort. I am known as Venilia while my sister is known as Salacia." The woman's voice is tranquil and seems to have a calming effect.

"Neptune? Like the god of the sea?" I wonder how much influence real life has on this game.

"Hmm god? I am not sure I would go so far as to regard my lord as a being of all mighty power, but I do recognize where some might regard him as powerful." She begins to downplay the power of Neptune.

"Hmmm is that so? Well if you are his consort you must be extremely powerful right? How strong do you think you are?"

"Well if I had to say I am probably only 60% as strong as Neptune, yet while out of water I am only at 10% of my usual strength. I do not believe I will be spectacularly useful outside of water."

"So your strength decreases out of water? Well I guess that only makes sense, if you are a person of the sea it only makes sense." I nod my head in understanding.

"Yes, my form also changes when in water, allowing me fins for faster movement and gills to breath." Venilia's smile becomes slightly prideful at her ability to change form.

"Oooo that sounds incredible! And even if you aren't very strong you are still a valuable member of my team!" I give Venilia a thumbs up for reassurance.

"Hmm, I have a chant for Ceres, let's make one for you too Venilia!" I shout in excitement.

"A chant? Sure why not?" She gives a gentle smile.

"Hmmm, maybe 'Oh great goddess of the ocean blue, come to me when I call for you.' ahh and it rhymes. Is that fine?" I look into Venilia's eyes gleefully.

"Yes that is good, I will come when you call, but I am often busy so do not put all your hopes on me. Now I must be leaving, it was a pleasure Corvus." Venilia walks into another invisible vertical pool and disappears from this plane.

'Corvus? How did she know my name? I don't recall telling her...' I call for Ceres and we continue fighting monsters.

Though I haven't fought any monsters I decide to return to town and check again if anyone has any tasks, this time a little more calmly.

On my way to return I spot a little fluffball. "Oooooaaahh A BUN!" I yell and startle the small bunny causing it to run away. 'Oh darn I need to not get so excited.' Spotting another bunny I watch it as it hops around. Inside it's mouth are five pieces of straw, its tan ears stick up above it's head. The bun hops over to a small hole until it wriggles into it's den.

"There are so many bunnies!!!" I cheer gleefully and run around through the field.