Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ２- 𝓒𝓾𝓻𝓲𝓸𝓼𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓽𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓸𝓰

The blueberry-haired girl turns to an older woman, who looks on in disbelief. Her gaze was also followed by other young teens who had the same expressions.

​“No way… Good for nothing, Flora actually summoned something?”

​“ I thought all of her spells were useless. “

​“ This must be a fluke. “

​As more voices and whispers spread across the room, Mochi notices the girl they called Flora stood up, but her posture is a bit hunched, lacking confidence. Mochi senses some distress from the girl. Her gaze looked down at the ground. Eventually, the older-looking woman from before silenced them with her hand raised slightly, indicating she wanted to speak.

​Mochi noticed she wasn't some ordinary woman. She was more like a humanoid with bark-like skin, with the top of her head divided into branches. She almost resembles a tree. But what separates her from an actual tree is the elegance of her movements. Even her clothes look rather fancy. Then there's her body. She has legs and arms. The facial structures. Even the leaves from her branches remind him of hair.

​The humanoid walks with her hands behind her back and looks down at Mochi. Her forehead crinkles with a hint of disbelief. Yet Mochi felt a sense of some emotion that was close to adoration as she got closer

​The so-called teacher cleared her throat before opening her mouth. “I am Serif, the Great Treefolk of the Fargus Woods. Now I am also one of the teachers who teaches Magecraft in this Red Moon Academy. A school for gifted young mages. You should be honored to be here. Remember that name well. And if the familiar has a name, say it. What kind of creature are you?”

​She was not met with words, but instead, she noticed the small creature was eyeing her wooden toes. She was stiff when she noticed Mochi was sniffing her. She loosened up when she saw how cute he looked. She felt his wet nose touching.

​“You're actually a bit-”

​Her words were cut off when the dog lifted his leg up where she could see his little balls and wiener. And it did not take a genius to see the dog had peed on her.

​“You foul beast!” Her hands shot up to grab the dog, but Mochi bolted the other way.

​She was not the only one with a shocked expression. The whole class had similar expressions, and poor Flora had the most disturbed reactions.

​Flora: “I am so in trouble…how am I supposed to recover from this?”

​Flora curses under her breath, biting her fingernails as she watches her teacher chase the small mutt around.

​

Bark Bark!

Serif immediately stops in front of Flora and angrily points at her.

​“Flora! Tell your familiar to stop right now!” The older woman screams. The younger girl flinched with her hands up before forcing herself to raise her voice.

Flora could feel her anxiety increasing by the second, but she forced herself to act quickly

​Flora: Familiar! Please stop! I command you to stop!

​She pauses for a second to check if anything happens.

​Mochi ignores her and starts going under some tables, thinking they can't reach him that way.

​Serif: “What are you fools standing for? Go get that foul beast!”

​The students look at each other as if they still have questions

​“ Do we harm it? Or try not to hurt it?”

​“ Should we exorcize it?”

​Flora widens her eyes as her arms flail in the air.

​Flora: “Please don't hurt him! Don't kill him! I don't think I can summon a familiar successfully the second time! Give me a chance!”

​The other students looked at each other and murmured

​“ She's annoying. Why should we listen to her?”

​“ But her familiar is so cute. I really don't want to harm it.”

​Flora felt a sudden grip on her shoulder. She sweats, feeling the aura of the angry lady behind her.

​Serif: “YOU. HAVE. FIVE. MINUTES. “She spoke with venom.

​The girl immediately gets straight to work. Chasing the dog and crawling beneath the tables was a hassle. At times when she nearly had the dog, but missed by a few inches. The dog was tiny yet fast. She couldn't understand how he wasn't out of energy yet. She noticed other familiars and students were blocking some pathways to hinder his escape. However, she was nowhere close to catching up.

​“ What are this creature's stats! I can't even analyze it!”

​The girl pulls out a stick that resembles a wand and points at the target she's chasing. The teacher widened her eyes as her hand reached out.

​Serif: “DO NOT USE ANY SPELLS YOU-!”

​The girl was already determined and had made her decision.

​Flora: “Heed my words. Trap this unfortunate soul in the bubble. Bauberis Aqua!”

​A flow emits as a large bubble sprouts from her wand. Immediately, Mochi found himself floating in the air inside the big bubble. He tried to claw the bubble, but it didn't have any effect.

​Flora looks relieved to see that she caught him.

​“Teacher! My spell work this time-”

​Once again, that joy was disrupted as once the bubble touched a desk, another bubble emerged from the original bubble and engulfed the desk.

​Flora screams

​“ Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Why did the spell do that!”

​And soon after, a bunch of desks got captured along with some students inside. She heard one of them at her

​“ Flora! The hell! Undo the spell!”

​Flora trembles

​“ I don't know how!”

​Mochi barks inside the bubble, demanding freedom. At this point, everything has turned to chaos.

​Serif managed to free some students as she also muttered some enchantment. What makes Flora nervous is the death glare the older woman gives her once in a while.

​Flora: “I'm sorry ... teacher… I'm sorry,” she mutters softly as she swore her soul left her body.

​“ Odious Sepheratu “

​Black, shadowy spikes appear in multiple places, popping the bubbles. As it felt like time froze, Mochi noticed a new face. He saw a woman in a robe with elvish ears and wings appear before him. As the bubbles popped, she was there to catch him. She gave scratches to his chin and then his sides. He felt calm and familiar. The way she scratches reminded him of home.

​His body relaxes as this newcomer holds him. He closes his eyes and sticks his tongue out as she gives more scratches.

​“ Yuki… is that you?” He hears her ask. She had a calm expression, but he could feel a bit of sadness after. The woman, as if understanding his struggles, pets him.

​

“ Ah, I see… you're far from home, aren't you. Your owner didn't come with you?” She opened her other fist and held it to his lips. Immediately, he recognized what it was from the smell and took it from her hand. It was a piece of bread. Once again, it reminded him of home. Everything reminds him of home when he misses his folks so much.

​-I want to go home-

​

The immersion was over as the students gathered around the new face.

​He hears her open her mouth again.

“ I will protect you this time.” The way he was held felt protective and safe.

​-This time?-

​All the students click their shoes and bow a bit as if showing respect

​“ Headmaster Ceralle”

​Mochi noticed Flora was the last to do the greeting as she fumbled between putting her wand away and closing her legs

​Serif: “Ceralle. I would have been able to handle it on my own.”

​Ceralle gave her a glance and then went back to Mochi.

​“The less that panics, the better. This poor dog was terrified. I can't help but feel sorry for him. “

​Serif looks baffled at the fey.

​Serif: “Sorry for that beast?! That thing urinated on me! The nerve!”

​She regains her composure.

​Serif :“Wait…dog? You know what this creature is? And why is this dog calmer with you?”

​As if showing the dog that it is safe, she held him to her chest with both arms as she approached Serif. Another piece of bread appeared from thin air as some particles glowed around Ceralle. She then handed it to Serif.

​Serif: “What is this-”

​Ceralle: “Please hand it to the dog.”

​The treefolk lady tried to argue back, but held back as she handed the dog the treat. Mochi happily devoured the food, temporarily forgetting about his predicament. After, he gave Serif's finger a lick as to thank her. He sticks his tongue out as his lips curl upward. Serif widens her eyes, and if her cheeks could give out a color, it would be red.

​Mochi was getting all kinds of emotions from her. He was getting excitement, adoration, and amusement. But the funny thing is, it looks like her face was fighting it.

​Ceralle:” See? He is harmless.”

​Seriff: “Hmph… I suppose I will let it slide this time. You still haven't answered my question, Ceralle.”

​She lifted the dog to her face and felt his tongue on her nose before a small smile crept upward.

​Ceralle: “I remember, a long time ago, I was an adventurer. A hero came to this world with a similar-looking beast. “She pauses as if to let the words sink in

​Flora: “Wait, Headmaster…so are you saying this dog is from another world?”

​Ceralle had an unreadable look as her eyes locked on Flora.

​“ Yes…perhaps that is what I am saying,” the fey woman read the collar from the dog.

​“ And this little thing is named Mochi.”

​As if responding to his name, Mochi let out a small bark.

​Flora looks amazed. “ Wow, my familiar is from another world … Wait, um, can Mochi talk?”

​The older woman scratched her cheek a bit.

​Ceralle:“ Not in a way that you'll understand “

​Flora looks disappointed

​Flora: “Oh, um… then does Mocha have any stats or special abilities? For some reason, I can't seem to get a reading on him.”

​Serif walks closer to the Mochi to open something like a menu, and it seems to turn static for a bit. She was quiet for a second.

​Serif: “Strange… I can't either. This has never happened before. ”

​Ceralle: "That's normal. When I was at my party in my old days, the hero and his dog's stats were unreadable. But I could give it a try this time to see if it changes. “

​She pauses and opens some sort of menu.

​“ …..”

She looks at Flora and back at Mochi.

​Flora looks hopeful and curious.

​Flora: “Well… Headmaster, did you find anything?”

​Ceralle: “No…. Nothing. But anyway, even if this dog has abilities, he will need to know how to open a menu.”

​Everyone looked at the dog, who had his tongue out as he breathed through his mouth.

​“.....”

​Flora looks worried and slightly disappointed

​Flora: “Um… Headmaster… when you were with your party, did the dog there help out or…”

​With a straight face, the fey says without hesitation.

​“ Nope. He was completely useless. He just stays in the back while the rest of us fight the monsters.”

​The class watches as Flora gets on her knees and hands.

​Flora “I failed…in a different way”

​Ceralle: “But…the dog doesn't seem dangerous, so you can keep him as a familiar.”

​She put Mochi down, and for a second, the dog did not move. One of the familiars that looked like a slime got closer in curiosity. Mochi took a sniff at it. Some of the students took admiration of the scene, that is, until the dog bit the slime and shook it in his mouth like a chew toy

​Another girl screams

​“ WHAT IS YOUR FAMILIAR DOING TO MY FAMILIAR!”

​Flora stares in horror, debating what to do as her body flails again in panic

​“ I-I-I! I'M SORRY!!!! AHHHH!!!!”

​As the scene unfolded, the body of the slime dispersed into nothingness. And before a small menu opens up

​+----------------------------------------------------Mochi----------------------------------------------------------+

You have gained 20 exp points.

10 coins will now go to your inventory.

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

​“Eh…”

A young boy mutters before more people open their mouths

​“ EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!!”

​The girl from earlier grabs Flora's collar, lifting her slightly in the air.

​“WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY FAMILIAR? BRING HIM BACK”

​Flora looks defensively with hands raised.

“ I-It wasn't me, Tara! And I don't know how!”

​Tara: “That's no excuse, you useless mage! You know I don't have much mana in my bloodline compared to yours! Summon a familiar for me then!”

​Flora: “I d-don't think-”

​Serif steps between them.

​Serif : “ENOUGH. I expect my students to be civilized. You are not barbarians.”

​Tara scoffs before letting go of the shorter girl.

​Ceralle looks like she was in deep thought.

​Ceralle:“ Everyone, I have an idea. I want to see something. Let's all go outside… with the dog. “

​The response felt like it was out of nowhere, which was why the students gave her all weird looks.

​Ceralle: “Oh, come now. Have I ever given bad ideas?”

​

Eventually, all the students call back their familiars, making them disappear into their masters' bodies. The exception was with Mochi for obvious reasons, so Ceralle held the dog until they got outside.

​Ceralle's idea was more transparent as they walked further. Outside the gate stood a bunch of slimes who didn't pay attention to the students.

​Ceralle: These slimes don't attack back, so it should be okay.”

​She puts Mochi on the ground and watches as the small dog walks towards one slime. The slime stares at the dog but doesn't react much as the dog sniffs it. Expectantly, the dog starts chewing it like it did before. They see a bar appear in front.

​+----------------------------------------------------Mochi----------------------------------------------------------+

You have gained 5 exp points.

2 coins will go into your inventory.

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

​Then soft music plays

​

+----------------------------------------------------Mochi----------------------------------------------------------+

Congratulations,

you have reached level 2

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

​The Headmaster nods in approval.

​Ceralle :“ Well, at least your dog is not weak. Those slimes are weaker than a regular familiar, so it makes sense there's less exp points.”

​The screen continues

+----------------------------------------------------Mochi----------------------------------------------------------+

You will now learn Super Zoomies

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

​

​Mochi could feel extreme excitement, seeing all these prey smaller than him.

​Flora looks confused, seeing that.

​Flora: “Huh? Doesn't it usually ask if the user wants to learn the skill instead of deciding for them?”

​They watch as the dog starts chasing the slimes, moving faster than before, and runs in a circle.

​Flora:” What is he…doing?”

​Ceralle:” I believe this is Super Zoomies.”

​Her guess was right as the dog headbutts the slime, making them disappear.

​The screen appears again, telling the dog the experience and coins he earned.

​The crowd looked slightly amazed

​One of the students mutters under her breath

​“ He would be great for pest control. “

​But the moment was cut short as a giant bird swooped up and stole Mochi away.

​As it flew away, they heard a huge cawing sound

​“ ….”

​“Did that just…”

​Flora had the biggest jaw open

​“THEY TOOK MOCHI AWAY!”

​