Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 19 (Part 2)

Some said it was because the superior summoning spells of the past had been lost. The spells had been lost in countless wars.

Others believed that the Familiars had become disillusioned with humans and distanced themselves. They suggested it was because humans had mistreated the Familiars.

‘In the past, Familiars did the work that slaves do in the Kingdom of Riyaz now.’

There was a growing movement across the continent to abolish slavery. Many of the 13 Allied Nations had already abolished slavery, and the Ingram Empire in the north had made it illegal a hundred years ago.

However, slavery was still legal and thriving in the Kingdom of Riyaz. The number of slaves in Riyaz was comparable to the combined total of the other 12 nations of the 13 Allied Nations.

‘I wonder if there’s anything in the upper ranks?’

After putting back the last volume of the intermediate rank compendium, he took out the combined upper and highest rank compendium.

He read it meticulously from the beginning. About two-thirds of the way through, just before the highest rank section, he found a Familiar that looked similar to Jito.

‘Does this mean it’s upper rank? Or highest rank?’

The rank was ambiguously listed as “Upper/Highest.” Rodin decided to conveniently remember it as “upper.”

‘Eliph?’

The Familiar that looked exactly like Jito was called “Eliph.” Of course, this name was just one given by humans, not its true name.

Humans call the four-legged animal that barks a “dog.” This is a name humans gave it.

Dogs don’t care what their species is called, be it a cat or a dog.

Anyway, the Familiar that looked like Jito was called “Eliph” by people in the past.

‘It had more than one ability.’

As expected, it could be used for reconnaissance. It could share its vision and hearing, allowing the summoner to see and hear what the Familiar did.

But the Eliph recorded in the compendium also had transformation abilities. It could transform into objects, not other animals.

‘It transformed into clothes… that’s interesting.’

A summoner in the past always wore their Familiar by transforming it into clothing.

‘It seems to have significant defensive power.’

There was a mention of wearing Eliph as armor. The explanation was vague, but it was clear it was better than ordinary cloth clothing.

‘I should finish reading the rest.’

Even though he found Jito, there were still parts of the upper and highest rank compendium he hadn’t read. Rodin read through the remaining sections and closed the book.

There were many interesting Familiars, especially those classified as “Miscellaneous.”

There were Familiars that enhanced the summoner’s vision, increased strength, and even replenished magic power. There was a wide variety.

With an hour left until the designated bedtime at the training center, Rodin left the library and returned to the dormitory. He took off his uniform and headed straight to the shower.

‘The shower room is quiet as expected.’

After contracting with the spirits, he had been buried in the ground and submerged in water. He had shaken off as much dust as possible, so he looked clean on the outside.

He turned on the water and washed his body thoroughly. Coming out of the shower room and drying himself with a towel, he finally felt better.

‘Hmm, no one is here, right?’

He put on his training clothes and checked the locker room. Even though he knew no one was there, he checked again.

‘Jito.’

He opened the locker room window and looked towards where Jito was. Jito, who had been in the sky, was now sensed in the north.

‘Jito. Come back.’

He strongly wished again. Then Jito’s presence rapidly approached.

With a swoosh, Jito flew in and perched on the windowsill. It was an incredible speed.

‘Here.’

He placed Jito on his shoulder. It was the same spot the water spirit had briefly sat on during the day.

The water spirit had vanished just a few minutes after emerging from the lake. He lacked the magic power to maintain the spirit.

‘You can change your form, right?’

―Kkueng.

To the ear, it just sounded like “Kkueng,” but Rodin could sense Jito’s emotions. That sound was a positive response.

‘You don’t use my magic power, right?’

―Kkueng.

A Familiar exists as an independent entity after being summoned. It flies, fights, or transforms independently of the summoner’s magic power.

However, the shared vision and hearing abilities, which are sensory sharing, required the summoner’s magic power.

Rodin, who had almost no magic power, couldn’t use that ability.

‘Try transforming into the form of the training clothes I’m wearing.’

―Kkueng.

‘Ah! I need to take off my clothes first.’

Jito could transform into an object but needed to be attached to the summoner after transformation. It lost the ability to move independently.

Rodin took off his top. Then Jito spread its body and adhered to Rodin’s upper body. It was a motion that seemed to make a “slap” sound.

Jito’s body, in contact with his body, spread out in an instant. Its color changed to a deep brown and quickly transformed into the shape of training clothes.

“Wow!”

Rodin couldn’t help but exclaim. There was no difference from the training clothes he had just been wearing. The color and texture were identical.

“You’re amazing.”

―Kkueng.

Jito’s characteristic sound remained unchanged. Originally, the sound wasn’t vocal, so it didn’t change with the appearance.

‘How do you feel? Not uncomfortable?’

―Kkueng.

‘That’s good. But uh…’

On closer inspection, there was a red dot-like mark below the neck area. He looked in the mirror and found a similar dot on the back of the training clothes.

‘These are your eyes.’

Jito was originally small. It was about the size of his young fist. Smaller than a sparrow he had seen in the countryside. Naturally, its red ruby-like eyes were also small.

The tiny red eyes were embedded in the brown training clothes. The colors were similar, making them hard to notice even up close.

‘Did you decide to put eyes on both the front and back?’

―Kkueng.

‘Smart.’

Jito deliberately placed its eyes in the front and back. The front eyes saw the same things as Rodin, while the back eyes watched for surprise attacks.

‘I’ll leave the back to you.’

―Kkueng. Kkueng.

‘Good. I trust you.’

Rodin put the training clothes he had taken off into a basket and left the shower room.

From now on, he intended to stay with Jito as much as possible. It was reassuring to have it watching his back, and he especially liked the feeling of being with a Familiar.

‘I need to accumulate magic power quickly.’

With ample magic power, he could always be with the spirit as well. The future with two reliable friends, a Familiar, and a spirit, was something to look forward to.