"Hey, why am I carrying you again?" Remicra grumbled as they descended the stairs. "Wasn’t Dave your predestined hero or whatever?”

"Because you loooove me," Cedez replied, snuggling closer and closing her weary eyes.

“What? I do not!”

"You're warm and your scales are sooo shiny and rainbow,” Cedez slurred.

"That's not..." Remicra flickered pink. "Whatever. Just don't get used to this.”

“Uh-huh. Totally not getting used to this.”

"I'm just preventing you from falling down the stairs and cracking your empty head open," Remicra huffed.

“It’s not empty, it's full of Shadowmancy,” Cedez purred sleepily.

Cedez waved a hand at the guards on duty on the main level who gave their group a curious glance.

“Can’t even walk after last night!” She winked at Guardsman Golrik Bostrum and squealed when Remicra’s grip on her tightened. “Remyyyy! Staaaph squeezing meeee! Haven’t you had enough of me yestrrrrr… AAaahhhhh, not the claws!”

Golrik tried very hard to appear professional as they went past him.

They emerged into the bustling market floor of the Adventurers Guild. The morning crowd was already thick - adventurers gearing up for dungeon runs, tent merchants hawking their wares, and the occasional flash of a Kitlix sparkling on someone's head or shoulders. They headed straight to the Kitlix tent.

"Eyyy!" The catgirl breeder spotted them. "It's the man with the chonky Vitalix! And... Oh my whiskers! Are those newborns?!"

She practically bounded over to them, her own Infix Kitlix perched on her shoulder.

"Born just this morning," Dave confirmed as Healy preened on his head.

"Three splits! That's quite rare for a first multiplication!" The breeder examined the trio of Kitlix with professional interest via her Infix. "Usually they only split into two. And such unique combinations! My! A Shadow-Void, a Pathosteel-Void, and a Healing-Intelligence."

"Yes," Dave nodded. "This is Healy Junior, Shady, and... um..."

"Feely!" Cedez supplied helpfully from Remicra's arms, opening a single blue eye.

"Aurora," Remicra growl-corrected, squeezing Cedez harder with her claws. The fox squeaked slightly at being crushed.

"Lovely!" The catgirl clapped her hands together. "I'm Breeder Myriel Rexi! And these little ones need bonding and sustenance right away!"

She quickly arranged several varieties of mana crystals on her counter. "This is for your lovelies to snack on. Thirty silver worth of mana crystals. The bonding ritual is fairly simple, once your Kitlix is sated, just come into my tent one at a time and step on this hexagram on the floor and state the name of your familiar. The binding is seven silver per Kitlix.”

Remicra dug the money purse from her apron and counted out 51 silver, handing it to Myriel.

The catgirl accepted the coins and directed them to feed their Kitlix first. Healy Junior and Shady quickly devoured their portions of mana crystals, but Feely/Aurora seemed confused about what to do with hers, pawing at the nearest crystal.

"Here," Remicra said gently, readjusting her grip to hold Cedez with one arm while guiding the colorful Kitlix with her free hand. "Hold on, I’ll make it tastier.”

She snipped off one of her colorful scales with a wince from her elbow and bent it around the mana gem as if she was making sushi and held it near her Kitlix's face. “Eat.”

Feely sniffed at the scale-wrapped crystal cautiously before taking a small nibble. Her edges immediately lit up with swirling colors and she began eating more enthusiastically, absorbing the scale and the colorful gem.

"There you go," Remicra smiled, her scales shifting to a pleased violet. "Good girl."

"Aww, look at mama dragon n’ her baby," Cedez cooed.

"Shut up or I'm dropping you," Remicra threatened, though her scales remained violet.

"Uhh, do I need to bond with Healy again?" Dave asked, trying to be frugal about the cost of seven silver. "She was already bonded to me at Healers Hall."

"Oh honey," Myriel shook her head. "When a Kitlix splits, it is reborn and the bond fractures between all the newborns. You need to re-establish the familiar connection. Otherwise the Kitlix will wander off seeking new masters within a day or two.”

“But…” Dave began.

“My Infix says that the connection is disrupted,” Myriel sighed. “Look, it should be super easy to test whether Healy still responds to you fully. Can you use her to see my stats or Aura?”

Dave tried to see Myriel through Healy. It didn’t work. He frowned. He put thirty four Vitality into his Attributes. Nothing changed. He couldn't see her Aura or stats.

“See?” the catgirl said. “You have to rebind her. Her stats are likely completely different from what they were yesterday.”

Dave entered the bonding tent first. The ritual was similar to his experience at Healers Hall, though much simpler without all the pomp and ceremony. Myriel directed him to stand in a hexagram circle while Healy sat on his head.

"Place your hand on her head and focus on reconnecting with your familiar," she instructed as a large, beige Kitlix jumped onto her shoulder, igniting with rainbows.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

The bond snapped back into place with a bright flash of green light. Dave immediately felt the familiar connection return, along with Healy's enhanced vision.

[Bonded Familiar: LV 17 Vitalix-Infix Kitlix, Healy Jr.]

"Half the level," Dave muttered, dissatisfied with the downgrade. “Where did the Vestix part go?”

"That's normal after splitting, especially since she split into two other incredibly unique beauties," Myriel assured him. "The Wisdom Attribute that defined her as a Vestix likely went to both of her new sisters. Since they both have Void, Wisdom is necessary to manage such a rare Affinity. She'll grow strong again with time and mana crystals, don’t worry!”

“More expenses,” Dave sighed.

“I’d bond your lovelies for free,” the catgirl made a pouting face. “But alas, the bonding ritual eats mana crystals and I have to pay brave dungeon delvers for ‘em.”

As Dave exited the tent, Cedez grabbed his sleeve, pulling him close.

"Hey," she whispered, leaning towards his face. "I can't bond with a Kitlix, cus… you know. Bond with Shady for me."

“Are you sure? Will you still be able to…” He whispered back.

“She’s almost entirely my Shadow,” Cedez replied. “I’m certain that I’ll be able to boss her around even if she’s your fammy.”

“Okay.” Dave nodded. He brought Shady into the tent next. The dark Kitlix bonded to him easily, her multiple blue eyes blinking at him as the connection formed.

[Bonded Familiar: LV 11 Noxix Kitlix, Shady]

Finally, Remicra unceremoniously shoved Cedez into Dave's arms and entered the tent with her small, colorful Kitlix. There was a bright flash of light and then...

"Feely… Aurora?!" Remicra yelled loudly, staring at the dead adventurer’s banking bracelet Dave had given her. Her figure ignited with red. "What... CEDEZ!”

The dark fox shrugged from Dave's arms. “Told you she likes it!"

"Actually," Myriel explained with an amused smile, "the name is chosen through a combination of the Kitlix's preferences and the master's desires. The bonding ritual creates a deep connection that allows both parties to influence the naming."

"So you're saying..." Remicra's scales flickered between mortified pink and angry orange, "that part of me actually wanted to name her... Feely?! I only said the name ‘Aurora’ out loud during the bonding ritual, damn it!”

"She does respond to your feelings," Dave pointed out diplomatically. "And has the last name Aurora.”

"This is all your fault somehow," Remicra growled at Cedez.

“Nu-huh,” Cedez snickered in Dave’s arms. “That name was Dave's idea! Blame him!”

Dave glanced at Feely through Healy. [LV 7 Pathoflex Kitlix, Feely Aurora]

“That’s a fancy name,” he commented.

Remicra marched over to another merchant's tent, bought a large leather bag from a blue-skinned trader with a sleeping bag roll attachment, and unceremoniously shoved the giggling Cedez inside it.

"Nuuu!" Cedez protested as Remicra slung the bag over her shoulder. "I wanted to be princess-carried some more! I’m not a sack of potatoes!"

"Should've thought about that before corrupting my Kitlix," Remicra growled, though her scales flickered with amused violet. "Now be quiet or I'll shake the bag."

"Remy's so mean to me," Cedez's muffled voice complained from inside the bag. "Dave, save me from this tyrannical dragon!"

"You brought this on yourself," Dave chuckled, following Remicra through the market.

The trio acquired breakfast to go from a tent merchant and headed out of the cathedral. Cedez swallowed the sandwich Remicra shoved into the bag and fell silent, snoozing softly.

"Ugh. I can feel her purring in there," Remicra commented as they walked up the hill towards the lighthouse, adjusting the leather bag on her shoulder. "Oversized, troublesome cat."

Dave replied. "Being disconnected from everything really drained her."

"Yeah," Remicra nodded. "At least, she's... lighter than I expected.”

“Or maybe your swanky Auraflex is making your bag lighter?” Dave smiled.

“Hrm,” Remicra replied with a small, sharp smile.

Dave's Voicecast bracelet suddenly vibrated against his wrist. He tapped the crystal, accepting the incoming Voicecast.

"David?" Terri's voice came through. "How are you? Did everything go okay with... the, uh, containment?"

"Yep," Dave replied. "Cedez spent all night in the bubble. Also, Healy split into three Kitlix this morning!”

"A three-way split? Impressive!" Dumpich's voice chimed in from the bracelet. “Showoff!”

"Indeed," Leon added. "Though, speaking of impressive things - we need to discuss your rank situation, Dave."

"My what?" Dave asked.

"Your Iron rank," Leon explained. "It… might raise questions when our party declares victory over the dungeon we are clearing.”

“Ah, right,” Dave said. “So, what should I do about it?”

“Raise it up,” Leon said. “Do the Quests you’ve already accepted. Take on even more Quests. The more Quests you do for the Guild the higher your rank will get.”

“I see,” Dave looked at the Iron tag. “Yeah, I guess I can do some Questing today. Are you guys…”

“Can’t hang out with you, alas,” Dumpich commented. “Got a big influx of patients today at Healers Hall and a lecture from Archmage Healer Garobok from Illatius. We can meet up at the pub for dinner though!”

“Sounds good,” Dave replied.

“See you then?” Terri asked.

“See you tonight,” he replied and hung up.

. . .

As they approached the lighthouse, Dave noticed several adventurers had already gathered outside, ordering food or already holding onto steaming coffee cups at their tables. Hyrei and two other maids were flitting about between customers.

"Welcome to The Forged Brew!" The owlgirl called out cheerfully as they came up the hillside. “Morning Dave, Remicra. Where’s Cedez?”

"Mrrrrrf," came a muffled protest from Remicra's bag. "Too early for customers."

"Your grandfather insisted we open for breakfast," Hyrei replied. "Something about 'maximizing profit potential through increased operating hours.' Why are you in a bag?”

“I’m nappin’,” Cedez replied. "Ugh. Grandpaw's been reading those business scrolls again hasn't he? Next thing you know he'll want us to implement a friggin’ loyalty program with punch cards."

"Actually..." Hyrei began. “Murdoc didn’t want to deal with it, but I am already implementing them at our new cafe location!”

"No!" The bag declared firmly. "I refuse to give out little cards with tiny Bessies that need to be punched ten times for a free coffee!"

"But it's cute!" Hyrei protested. "I made them a while ago and now I finally get to use them!”

She pulled out a stack of small cards decorated with chibi drawings of Bessie.

"Those are actually pretty adorable," Dave commented, examining one of the cards.

"Don't encourage her!" The bag complained.

"I think they're clever," Remicra added as she studied the cards. "The little snail is... cute.”

“Ugh,” Cedez huffed from the bag. “Punch Cards. Thematically wrong ones. They should have tiny dragons holding tiny coffee cups instead.”

“I’ll have new ones made after I run out of these. So, Ceddy, are you going to work at the cafe or…?” Hyrei asked. “Cus I was going to head out to the dungeon with Murdoc to help him secure the area.”

“No,” the fox replied. “I’m tired. Figure things out yourselves.”

“You’re… tired?” The owlgirl blinked. “Since when do you feel tired?”

“Since I had a sleepless night,” Cedez whined. “Going to take the day off. Maybe a week. I don’t know. I don’t feel so good. K. I’ma rest. No bug fox pls.”

“If you’re sick, you should…” Hyrei began.

“Not sick. Tired. No bug fox. Remy keep safe,” the bag replied with a bothered growl and fell silent.