Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ３ -𝒯𝒾𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝑅𝑒𝓈𝒸𝓊𝑒 𝑀𝑜𝒸𝒽𝒾

​​​The Headmaster stares in disbelief.

​Flora drops to the ground crying

​Flora: MY FAMILIAR! I failed again…my first success…and he was taken away…

​Ceralle: we should have tied your familiar to a tree…

​​“Hey guys! What are you guys doing here?”

​They all turn to see an Indigo hair boy waving at them with a smile.

​Flora was the first to recognize him. She quickly wipes her tears before he gets closer

​Flora:“ I-Indigo? What are you doing here? I t-thought you were um…out sick today. “ Her tone got much more timid as her hands fidgets seeing he was getting close to her

​He patted her head as she closed her eyes as if embarrassed. The gesture was brotherly, but it seemed to unconsciously make her lean in a bit.

​“Don’t worry, it takes more than some sickness to put me down. My mom used to walk to school every day, even if she was sick. And she had me take some meds, so I should be okay.” as if trying to reassure her, he put on a big grin.

​The teacher walks up to them with a frown.

​“ I may not be your teacher, but if I was, I would have demanded you stay home if you're going to be late. At this point you probably already missed a bunch of lectures, “ she clicks her tongue as Indigo looks at her sheepishly.

​The headmaster glances over.

​Ceralle:“ That is allowed… but for the wrong reasons. Did you forget I'm here?” Ceralle gave Serif a weird look

​Serif huffs.

“ Not at all. I was just stating my opinion. But in all seriousness, if you don't want to miss more due to your tardiness, I suggest you head to class right now.” she frowns at Indigo

​Indigo: “Yes, teacher !”

​Ceralle immediately stops him.

​Ceralle; “ Wait I think I remember you have a fast flying familiar “

​Indigo raise his brow

​“ um ...yes Arion is” he scratches his head looking confused.

​Ceralle nods.

​“ Ok then can you help Flora? You see… her familiar got taken by a bird. And I'm sure it's probably taking him to the babies”

​Indigo quickly grabs Flora's shoulders, who yelp. He looks excited.

​“ Flora! You finally summon your own familiar?! That is so great! We absolutely need to get him back right away!”

​Flora gets embarrassed

​“ Wait wait! W-we?! I'm going with you?”.

​He fails to notice the anxiety she gets from him getting too close. He chuckles as if she said something funny.

​Indigo: “Of course, silly. How else will I know what he looks like? And I want to see what he looks like." He looks excited.

​Flora: “ Ah…you're right”

​Indigo steps back and puts his wand up in the air as he closes his eyes. A bright light emits from the wand and glows to his chest, before a magic circle appears in front of him.

​Indigo: “ Arion! Heed my words and come forth”

​From the magic circle, a bright figure emerges and starts to form its shape. A black Pegasus neighs, opening its wings. Its legs were up in the air before it landed.

​Serif walks to the Pegasus, but it seems like there's a bit of hesitation from her. Her face looks like she's trying to swallow some pride.

​Serif: “Just this once, I'll help, but don't expect the same next time.” She bit her lips for the next words

​“ There's a bit of the familiar's scent here” she pointed at her foot. The rest of the class gave each other all knowing looks. Most of it was pity while for Flora, she flinched at the comment. Indigo looks confused, but didn't question it as he allowed his Pegasus to sniff the older woman's foot.

​Indigo: You memorized the scent, Arion? Good!”

​He took Flora by the hand as she yelped and put her in front as he wrapped his arms around her waist. The Pegasus gallops quicken his speed before they flew into the sky with a screaming Flora

​As they fly into the sky, the older woman look at her toe with a puzzle look

​“Huh… I never noticed before, but when did my mana recover?”

​​​Blue hair girl screams as her nails dig into boy's hand

​He gave a sheepish smile, but the pain was getting to him

​​Indigo: “Um… I don't mean um… but you're really gripping your hands hard .... it hurts”

​Flora widens her eyes in realization.

​“ I'm sorry!” She quickly let go, feeling she could lose her balance if it weren't for his arms holding her waist.

​“ I'm sorry, Flora. I didn't mean to pressure you into coming with me. If I was being honest, I was still feeling nauseous from my fever earlier…and I wanted someone familiar with me. “ He chuckles. “I can be selfish, huh?”

​​“ You're not selfish at all… Indigo.” She talks as if struggling to focus on him and not falling. She continues.

​Flora: A selfish person would not come to save another life!” Indigo chuckles hearing that, which made Flora feel relief.

​“I suppose you're right,” he said. Flora wished he would say more, but she cheered on the inside, thinking her comment must have made him feel a bit better.

​ ‘ That's right! Take that, Anxiety! I didn't mess up this time’

​ Flora felt she sucks at timing the correct response to people so when it was delivered without any embarrassment, she felt happy

​She was feeling giddy thinking how smooth she delivered the line before the flying mount came to a slight stop. The horse sniffs.

​Indigo: It's near… we're close. I hear something.

​The two of them heard chirping nearby and flew closer to the sound.

​​Up on the cliff, they saw a huge nest with baby birds chirping. In the middle was Mochi inside one of the crack eggs with his tongue out unharmed

​​“ Eh…”

​Both Indigo and Flora were speechless

​​Indigo: “ Is that… your familiar?”

​Flora: “I…believe so”

​They then watch as the big bird lands on the nest. Indigo and Flora quickly pull out their wands now guarded.

​​Flora: “ Oh no! Mochi is about to be eaten-”

​The bird started coughing up vomit and started feeling the little ones

​Flora makes a disgusted face.

​Flora: “ This is worse, actually …”

​Indigo: “ I'll stop it before it gets to Mochi's turn”

​He points his wand to the big bird and closes his eyes.

​Indigo: “ Wrap up that bird and take back the familiar. “

​ That caught the bird's attention, but by the time it turned away, it was too late.

​​Indigo: “Yures Vino!”

​As the wand glows, vines appear from the ground and tie the bird up as it lets out a shriek. One other vine manages to secure Mochi as it takes him away. Flora sighs in relief as she grabs hold of Mochi seeing that he is safe.

​​Indigo tap his Pegasus who looks at him sideways in agreement

​Indigo: “ Let's go home, buddy. Flora, hold on to Mochi tight “ Flora nods

​Flora: “R-right!”

​The mount fled the scene, speeding up as it flew to the skies once more. Flora, feeling paranoid that Mochi could fall any moment, tightens her grip. She looks down, hoping Mochi isn't too scared. She imagines he must have gone through a lot today. She was met with a surprise, seeing the dog didn't look phased and was closing his eyes and sticking his tongue out. It looks as if he's trying to catch the wind with his mouth.

​​“You're enjoying this, aren't you?” She mutters. “ I don't get you at all”

​She was also so sure Mochi would be eaten? What happened in the short span of time they were away?

​

​​In Mochi's perspective earlier….

​​Being kidnapped by a giant bird was not something Mochi expected of all the things that happened today. Even in the old world he was in, Aya makes sure he is safe and doesn't even leave him alone outside.

​His little feet dangle and paddle up the air, as if thinking that might loosen the bird's grip. He had never been up this high before so it was more fascinating to him than fearful. He sticks out his tongue to enjoy the air. It reminds him of those cars his humans would let him ride in as they open the window. Well, if this is how it ends, it's not the worst way to go.

​- Just please let me be teleported to Aya after this-

​He heard chirping from below. They were near some sort of nest. Inside there were these baby birds almost his size if not bigger.

​​Bark bark bark !

​He just has the urge to bark, seeing these creatures make chirping noises. It was mostly because he felt unsure of them, but it was not unnoticed by the giant bird. It suddenly let go of Mochi as he landed and crashed into one of the empty eggs. It almost looked like a funny costume as the egg covered part of his body like he was wearing it.

​The dog continues barking back and forth, making a circle as if he was indecisive who to bark at. The giant bird tilted her head as she pokes Mochi's eggshell like she was cracking it. Mochi growls at her and lets out his little bark. The bird pulls back as if confused and flies away.

​-Yeah that's right. Be scared-

​ He stops barking, looking proud before looking at the surroundings. It didn’t seem like these babies looked all interested in him. Most of them had their mouths open while chirping at the skies like they were waiting. He peeks out to see that the nest was on top of a cliff. In the bottom of the cliff was deep water and rocks. He shivers at the sight. He heard a bit of movement from the side. There was a baby slightly lying down with one leg pushing as if to move.

​-is it dying?-

​He sniffs at it. It seems to react much as he does so. The chirping was much weaker than the rest, making it stand out. Pieces of the eggshell were still attached to its body. Its coating feels much more damp and warm. Mochi tilted his head, wondering what it was trying to do.

​-Ah… I have to pee again-

​Mochi looked around to see if there was a good spot to relieve himself. He sniffs and sniffs, frowning that it feels crowded here with the babies surrounding him. He looks again at the baby that was barely moving

​​“ …..”

​​-Oh well… beggars can't be choosers-

​​He'll just pee on the eggshell that was stuck on its body. As he finishes that business, he lets out small kicks from his back legs to show that he claims this spot. A noise disrupts this moment, coming from behind. He jumps, seeing the baby from earlier now standing as if it wasn't injured.

​A bar appears in front of him.

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

Healed 20 Hp to Wild baby bird

Recovered 10 Mp to the Wild baby bird”

​+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

​​He blinks confused as the bar disappears, and the baby approaches him as he backs away a bit. He freezes as the baby huddles against him as if seeking warmth.

​-Why is this creature cozying up to me?-

​Mochi tries to back away, but the more he does, the more the baby moves closer. Mochi whines and lets out a whimper. Compared to Mochi the creature seems to be enjoying the attention. Then he heard a familiar caw. He looks up to the sky, seeing the giant bird has returned.

​-WAIT??? WHAT IS IT CARRYING?-

​He widened his eyes, seeing the giant bird lower itself from the skies with a big rock. The scary part was the fact the entire shadow covers him up. He closes his eyes tight, thinking the worst. That is, until he realized there were no further moments from the giant creature. Once again, as he opens his eyes, the bird looks confused. It tilts its head and, beside it, was the rock now abandoned as if it lost interest. For some reason, he had a bad feeling that the bird was going to use the rock in an unfriendly way. But now the mood seems to shift as the bird taps the bottom beak to Mochi a couple of times.

​‘Was that…supposed to be a pet on the head?’ Mochi wonders as he sees the bird, then nuzzles its head to the baby that was attached to him from earlier. The two of them seem happier. It makes him envious.

​-Did I do that?-

​​He suddenly let out a bark as the baby flopped its head on top of his, nuzzling him.

​​-AYA! GET ME AWAY FROM HERE!-