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Humans Don't Make Good Familiars- Part 53
🕑 Added 2021-11-22 20:25:51 +0000 UTC“Alright recruits, here’s the drill you and your familiars will be running today. We are going to pair you off in teams of six. That’s three mages and three familiars. You have until nightfall to make it up and back down Dragon’s Hoard. The first team to make it back will get to sleep in an extra hour tomorrow. The last team wakes up two hours early for extra training!” The instructor announced. No one was talking before the instructor made that announcement, partially because we were too busy looking at one another’s summons, partially because we were too tired from the day’s training, but as soon as he said Dragon’s Hoard no one was even thinking about talking anymore.
“What’s Dragon’s Hoard?” Jake asked me.
“Bad… very.. very.. bad.” I told him. “Dragon's Hoard is just that, an old dragon hoard from before the falling away. Other things have moved in in their absence, wild beasts that can slaughter a Neame in a heartbeat. There is a path up that is maintained and relatively safe, but all the shorter paths are much harder with fewer willing to brave the new tenants of the mountain.”
“This is an exercise in your ability to get into and out of dangerous situations. As medics, you will need to go places that might be hotspots of enemy activity. Your ability to survive, evade, or overcome is paramount; perhaps even more necessary than your ability to heal.” The instructor explained. “At the top of the mountain there have been placed seven silver bands on poles. Each team will go up the mountain, retrieve a band, and return.”
“This is like some hunger games stuff.” Jake whispered to himself, shocking two of the nearby Neame who hadn’t realized he could talk.
“The teams are as follows: recruits 15-20 are team 1, recruits 1-6 are team 2, Von-Pac, Suma, and recruits 7-10 are team 3, Lauric, Toman and recruits 11-14 are team 4. You will have ten minutes to find your groups and discuss strategies. When you hear the bell, leave camp and begin your trek up the mountain.” The instructor finished.
“I don’t think I will ever get used to people not having names.” Jake said over our private connection. “So, how are we supposed to find recruits 7-10 and that Von-Pac guy.” I flapped my wings and flew up to perch on his shoulder.
“There are tags on our feet.” I said and lifted one of my legs to show him. “Mine has my name, but unnamed Neame will have numbers based on order of arrival to camp.” Jake nodded his head that he understood and examined the tags. I looked around and saw several Neame already looking for their teams, some were asking for tag numbers, others were bending down to examine the tags.
“I think I have a faster solution,” Jake said then cupped his hands around his mouth. “THIS IS SUMA’S GROUP! IF YOU ARE ON TEAM THREE COME OVER HERE!” He shouted, nearly causing me to lose my balance and fall off my perch. I let out an involuntary squawk as I regained my balance.
“That’s one way to do it,” I mumbled embarrassed as every single Neame present turned and looked at us in shock. But I can’t foul its effectiveness, within a minute every member of team 3 was accounted for; perched on the saddles of their respective familiars.
“I take it that means you’re Suma?” A Neame with the number 7 on his leg, and riding on the back of a Zantorax Hound, asked.
“I am,” I answered.
“I didn’t realize it could talk,” one of the Neame, who’s tag read Von-Pac, said; he was perched on a Salamander.
Jake raised one of his “eyebrows” as they are called, and said, “It has a name… Jake.”
“I heard Lady Suma summon you earlier, she said Sentinel.” Number 9 pointed out; she was on some kind of Mountain Cat, but it was all white, so it wasn’t a Vadel Mountain Cat.
“You can Just call me Suma.” I told number 9.
“Yes, my summon name is Sentinel, but my actual name is Jake.” Jake explained. The others exchanged looks; it is quite unusual for any familiars to not use the name given to them by their summoners. “So, you all don’t have names?” Jake asked the numbered Neame.
“Um yes, unlike lad… uh, unlike Suma and Von-Pac, we aren’t from wealthy noble families, so our parents didn’t have the mana needed to name us.” Number 10 said.
“I’m not from a noble family, it was Jake who named me.” I explained. They all seemed to be caught off guard by that.
“What!? Is that even legal?” Von-Pac asked shocked.
“The Grand Duke had no complaints with it.” Jake told him.
Von-Pac scoffed, “Of course he didn’t.” I wasn’t surprised at his reaction, Von-Pac was a noble and most nobles disapprove of the Grand Duke.
DONNN DONNN DONNN
“The bell!” Number 8 said.
“All recruits, leave the camp now and begin your journey!”
