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The Mage's Path: Chapter 2
🕑 Added 2024-06-17 00:26:05 +0000 UTCHi all,
Here’s the first of two chapters that rolled over from last week. I made some minor tweaks to some of the game mechanics, and I will go back and edit the first chapter at some point.
Harry thrust the dagger downward with all of his strength, aiming for one of the Chomper's eyes. The blade pierced the slimy surface with a sickening squelch, eliciting a hiss from the monster as it released Harry's leg. He kicked the Chomper, causing it to slide across the floor.
Wincing, Harry reached down to massage his injured leg. His ripped jeans had absorbed some of the impact, resulting in only minor lacerations. Still, pain radiated from his limb, a stark reminder of how little protection his clothing provided.
Players HP: 32/50
With his HUD turned on, he could easily monitor his current health. Harry's heart raced as he realised how easily he could be killed with a few hits. With his HP so low, he couldn’t afford any more careless mistakes.
As the Chomper recovered, Harry used the brief respite to examine his foe. The monster was roughly twice the size of a standard hardcover book, with two muscular arms protruding from its sides but no legs. Its maw gaped open, revealing rows of wickedly sharp fangs capable of inflicting serious damage.
Harry didn’t forget to check the Chomper's parameters.
======
Chomper | Level: 3 | Type: Normal | Sentient Book | HP: 31/40 | MP: 26/30 |
Primary Attributes: Strength: 15 | Perception: 15 | Defence: 6
Primary Skills:
Swift Lunge: It uses its powerful arms to lunge forward, gaining +50% AGI for three seconds.
Grapple: Uses brute strength to pin down opponents and gains +5 STR when on top of them.
Chomp: Delivers a powerful bite with a 25% chance of inflicting the bleeding status effect.
Monster Traits
The Hands that Tread Lightly: It can sneak up on the target by remaining silent and hiding in the shadows.
Dark Adaptation: The Chomper has adapted to see in dark environments; PER +5
Ambush: The Chomper hides among the library shelves and launches surprise attacks. When catching its target off guard, there is a 50% chance of landing a critical hit.
Keep Your Maw Shut: When held shut by external force, the Chomper finds it difficult to open its mouth.
It’s Just a Book After All: Weak against Slashing, Piercing, and Fire Damage.
=====
Exp: 15 [Base 12 + 1 per level]
Loot: 5 Pounds; Tutorial Page; (????)
Bestiary Entry: 0/10 defeated.
Description: The Chomper is a malevolent creature born in the cursed environment of the library, with an insatiable appetite for human flesh. It possesses enormous strength and a terrifying arsenal of razor-sharp teeth. It has a cunning ability to ambush and surprise its victims, heightening the dangers that await any daring adventurer who crosses paths with it.
=====
Harry only had a moment to process the information before the Chomper lunged at him once more. He sidestepped the assault, the monster's snapping jaws missing him by mere inches. The putrid stench of its breath made Harry's stomach churn as he stomped on the Chomper, pinning it to the ground. It struggled fiercely, but couldn't open its mouth.
"I managed to read your weakness, you bastard," he smirked.
His moment of triumph was short-lived. The Chomper's powerful arms grabbed his leg, violently throwing him to the ground. Pain exploded through Harry's body as he hit the floor, reminding him of the monster's incredible strength. How could he have forgotten about those bloody arms? As the Chomper lunged again, Harry kicked out desperately, his foot connecting with a solid thwack. The monster flew backwards, giving Harry precious seconds to scramble to his feet.
Harry charged forward and buried his dagger into the Chomper's remaining undamaged eye, causing it to thrash in agony.
Chomper’s HP: 20/40
With the Chomper blinded and disoriented, Harry circled his prey, waiting for the right moment to strike. Despite its blindness, the monster continued to turn, following Harry's movements with unnerving accuracy. An idea struck him.
Harry grabbed his backpack and hurled it against the bookcase. The resulting clatter distracted the Chomper, causing it to lunge towards the noise. It slammed into the bookcase with a resounding crash, giving Harry the opening he needed.
Seizing the opportunity, Harry plunged his dagger deep into the Chomper's back. The blade became lodged inside the creature, and Harry, gritting his teeth against the strain, lifted the entire monster and slammed it repeatedly against the ground. Each impact drove the dagger deeper, until finally, the Chomper fell limp. As Harry released his grip, the monster disappeared in a shimmer of light, leaving behind another five-pound note and another page.
Harry grabbed the page and absorbed the new information, pausing to fully process it. There was a lot to unpack, but now wasn’t the time to do so. He needed to keep exploring so he could stay ahead of the phase shift.
"Is this really a tutorial dungeon?" he wondered aloud, wiping sweat from his brow. "It seems a little too challenging. Maybe if I stopped making stupid mistakes, I wouldn't make things so difficult for myself."
Harry took a deep breath, reminding himself not to be so hard on himself. Adapting to life-or-death combat was no easy feat, both mentally and physically. The constant threat of pain and injury weighed heavily on his mind, despite his unfortunate familiarity with Dudley's thrashings.
A notification icon flashed on his HUD, momentarily distracting him from his thoughts. He opened it with a mental command.
======Congratulations!
You learned a new skill by repeatedly performing a specific action!
The skill has been added to the Skill Board. It doesn’t have a primer associated with it, but if you unlock more related skills, it may generate one.
======Dagger Mastery | Level 1 | Passive | Upgrade: 1/30 | Cost: None | Attribute: AGI |
The skill increases the wielder's damage output while wielding a dagger. It also improves the player's accuracy, ensuring that each strike is delivered with pinpoint precision. This allows the player to unleash attacks with a higher chance of landing critical hits.
* Daggers deal an additional 10% damage.
* Increases the chance of landing critical strikes on target weak points by 5%.
* AGI > 30: Critical hits cause enemies to bleed, dealing additional damage over time.
* Upgrades to level 2 upon defeating 30 enemies with a dagger. ======
"So, I can learn skills with this method as well," he mused.
Harry examined one of the bookcases, his fingers tracing the spine of a book. He tugged, but it wouldn't budge. These weren't real books, just set dressing to enhance the library's atmosphere. A shiver ran down his spine as he realised Chompers could be hiding among them.
"Stay alert," he muttered to himself, moving cautiously down the corridor.
As he progressed, his Magelight began to flicker. Thankfully, his HUD alerted him just in time, allowing him to recast the spell before being plunged into darkness. The thought of navigating this eerie library blind made his palms sweat.
After another minute of walking, Harry came to a dead end with a treasure chest. He pried it open, hoping to find something useful. A sudden cacophony of sliding books broke the silence. Harry's instincts kicked in and he dove behind the chest, making himself as small as possible. His makeshift barrier shook under the impact of flying books.
When the barrage came to an end, Harry cautiously peered out. The books had vanished, leaving no trace of the trap he had narrowly avoided. Now that the danger had passed, he returned his attention to the chest.
Inside, he found a vial of red liquid. Using an appraisal scroll, he revealed its properties:
======= Minor Health Potion | Common | Effect: Instant HP Recovery | Quality: Low
A potion that restores some of the player's health. Its quality is low, so it's not very effective, but it could come in handy in a pinch.
* Recovers 30 HP instantly.
* Increases consumption by 10.
* Toxicity: None. =======
The consumption resource was displayed on his HUD. He assumed it was a game mechanic that prevented him from consuming multiple potions at once. It wasn’t such a terrible constraint. He could always solve the problem by using higher-quality potions.
Harry carefully placed the potion in his bag. It was fortunate that he discovered this potion now, as it served as a safety net in case he sustained additional damage.
He retraced his steps back to the intersection, this time heading east. After a minute without encountering anything, the corridor turned northward, where the bookshelves had vanished and conventional walls replaced them. There were two doorways on his right, just ahead of him. The signs over the doors indicated that these were men's and women's bathrooms.
Steeling himself, Harry pushed open the men's room door. The stench hit him first – a foul mixture of decay and neglect that made his eyes water. Cracked tiles, discoloured walls, and scattered rubbish completed the scene of abandonment.
"This realism is a little too much," he whispered, his nose wrinkling in disgust.
Harry dropped to his knees, swallowing his revulsion. He ignored the grime as he crawled stealthily along the floor, inspecting the space beneath each stall. With the stall doors closed, there could be potential hidden threats within. Finding nothing, he stood back up.
As he turned to leave, something in the mirror caught his eye. His blood ran cold. In the reflection, the stall doors were transparent, revealing two Razor's Edge perched on the toilets. As if sensing his gaze, they turned to stare back.
Adrenaline surged through Harry. He lunged at the nearest occupied stall, shoving the door inward as the lock clicked. The Razor's Edge tumbled backward against the toilet. Harry slammed the door shut, locking it before plunging his dagger into the flailing monster. The power of the strike caused it to partially submerge into the toilet bowl.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Harry's face revealed a mischievous grin. He grabbed the toilet seat and repeatedly slammed it on the monster.
"I wonder if this will become a skill. I will call it the Toilet Bludgeoner." Harry burst into laughter. "I got the idea from that fat lump, Dudley."
As he continued his assault, Harry experienced a cathartic release. Years of pent-up frustration from his relatives' abuse poured out with each blow. While he'd never harm a person this way, these monsters were fair game. They were trying to kill him, after all.
The second monster pounded on the door, but he ignored it, focused on defeating his current opponent. Harry pressed the toilet seat down on the monster and sat on it, preventing it from moving. He was about to finish it with his dagger when he realised he needed to examine it.
“Scan!”
=======Razor’s Edge | Level: 1 | Type: Normal | Sentient Book | HP: 14/30 | MP: 30/30 |
Primary Attributes: Agility: 14 | Endurance: 12 | Defence: 4
Primary Skills:
Paper Storm: Launches a barrage of razor-sharp papers with devastating cutting power.
Monster Traits
Cute Charm: Uses its adorable appearance to surprise and distract its intended target.
Dark Adaptation: The recipient has adapted to see in dark environments; PER +5
Agile: The monster has a pair of legs that are designed for swift movement; AGI +5
It’s Just a Book After All: Weak against Slashing, Piercing, and Fire Damage.
======
Exp: 10 [Base 10 + 1 per level]
Loot: 5 Pounds; Tutorial Page (????)
Bestiary Entry: 1/10 defeated.
Description: Do not be fooled by its adorable appearance. The Razor Edge is as terrifying and malevolent as any other creature in the Cursed Library. It may only have one primary skill, but the pages it fires from its body can cause significant damage. If it believes it is losing the fight, it may flee. ======
Harry plunged the dagger into the monster and ended the fight. A movement caught his eye; the other monster poked its head above the partition, its large, round eyes blinking innocently. Harry's jaw clenched. He wouldn't fall for that trick again.
The monster scrambled onto the partition. Harry backpedalled, his spine pressing against the cool metal of the door. Fingers fumbling, he grappled with the lock, his eyes never leaving the approaching threat.
"Dammit!" The lock refused to budge under his trembling hands.
As the monster prepared to attack, Harry threw his dagger in desperation. The blade struck true, sending the creature tumbling back into the stall with a surprised yelp.
Heart pounding, Harry finally wrenched the door open and darted into the adjacent stall. The Razor Edge was just rising to its feet, clutching Harry's dagger. Without hesitation, Harry lashed out, his foot connecting with the monster's hand. The dagger clattered to the floor.
"You aren't very intelligent, are you?" Harry muttered as the monster stooped to retrieve the weapon.
Seizing the moment, Harry drew back his leg and delivered a powerful kick. The surprised monster flew backward, crashing into the wall. Harry snatched up his dagger, planted his foot on the crumpled creature, and drove the blade into its body repeatedly. The monster's struggles weakened, then ceased entirely.
After the monster died, Harry collected the loot and absorbed a flood of new information. . He gathered the loot from the adjacent stall before conducting a thorough search of the bathroom. In one toilet, he discovered a sealed bottle of water. Overcoming his disgust, he retrieved it, suddenly aware of his parched throat. He downed half the bottle in one go, savouring the cool relief.
Before leaving, Harry tried the taps, hoping to refill his bottle. No luck. He checked the women's bathroom as well, but found nothing of use.
The path veered eastward. For the next twenty minutes, Harry mapped out the southeastern area, discovering conference rooms, classrooms, and frustrating dead ends. He encountered more monsters, each fight a test of skill and nerve.
The first monster he defeated gave him enough experience to level up, granting him five AP and two PP. He immediately boosted his Vitality to ten, bringing his total HP to a hundred. Disappointingly, this didn't restore his health back to full.
After defeating several more monsters, he used his accumulated experience to level up again. This time, he saved his AP because he was doing well against the monsters and wanted to remain flexible. The two level ups had increased both his Spirit and Willpower by two, which meant he didn’t have to worry about them for the time being.
One Razor's Edge managed to land a hit, forcing Harry to use his health potion. Fortune smiled on him, however, as he discovered another chest containing both a health and a stamina potion. The latter was a godsend, replenishing his dangerously low stamina.
He came across a switch in the southeastern corner of the map labelled "1/4" and featuring an emblem of a maze inscribed on it. As he pulled the switch, a distant rumbling echoed throughout the library, indicating that a hidden mechanism had been activated. If he understood the situation correctly, he needed to find the remaining switches for something to happen.
As Harry was walking north to explore the northeastern section, a tremor ran through the floor, causing him to stumble. He received a notification that made him curse.
Due to the instability of the dungeon, it has shifted into the Magic Phase. All weapons have become much less effective, and now the player can use offensive magic.
"I knew things were going too well," Harry muttered, surprised at how long the shift had taken. Perhaps this tutorial dungeon was cutting him some slack.
With his dagger less effective, Harry was wary of encountering any monsters. If he took longer to finish a fight, it would have an impact on his stamina. The potion hadn’t restored enough stamina to give him confidence that he could defeat even one monster.
Harry knew there was a safe zone somewhere in the dungeon based on what he had learned from the last monster he had defeated. Finding it became his priority, but he'd have to avoid monsters to conserve his dwindling resources. But if encountered a monster, he would have to run, which would also deplete his stamina.
"Managing resources is a real headache," he grumbled, continuing his cautious advance.
Almost immediately, a Chomper leapt from a bookshelf. He chose flight over fight, sprinting past it. Another Chomper attempted to ambush him, but he vaulted over it, maintaining his pace. Pursued by the relentless monsters, he frantically searched for the safe room, acutely aware of the risk he was taking.. The safe room could be anywhere, including the opposite side of the library.
Player stamina: 17/150
Rounding a corner, Harry narrowly dodged a cascade of papers. He used a surprised Razor's Edge as an impromptu springboard, propelling himself forward. His lungs burned, chest heaving with each laboured breath. He suspected stress was also to blame. With how fast he was moving, he didn’t have much time to react to anything that jumped out of the darkness beyond his magelight, which was terrifying.
He rounded another corner and noticed a doorway at the end of the corridor. The sight gave him a renewed sense of determination. When he heard a noise behind him, he realised the Razor Edge had turned a corner and was catching up. Harry tried to pick up the pace, but his legs felt like lead, and he appeared to be slowing down instead. The door was so close but seemed so far away.
A familiar sound prompted him to take a quick dive forward, which turned into an awkward roll, narrowly missing a flurry of papers. With a final push, he lunged for the door, twisted the handle, and dashed into the room, slamming it shut behind him. Moments later, the monster smashed into the door with a heavy thud, but the sturdy door stood firm.
Harry collapsed to the floor, his chest heaving from exhaustion. His stamina levels were nearly zero, but he had escaped the pursuit. As he caught his breath, he examined his surroundings. The room he found himself in was a staff break room, surprisingly well-equipped with a fully stocked kitchen, a sturdy table, and a plush couch.
Yet, what truly captured Harry's attention were the unexpected amenities that dotted the room. In the corner, a bed beckoned, adorned with soft blankets and plump pillows. At the foot of the bed sat a large, blue chest. Opposite the bed, a compact shower cubicle and a toilet stall stood, blending seamlessly into the room's layout.
“Is this the safe zone?” he wondered aloud.
In response to his question, another notification appeared.
======Cursed Library Break Room
You have entered a safe zone. It is a place where no monsters can enter, and provides amenities for you to rest and take a break from dungeon exploring. The kitchen is stocked with food and beverages that can be consumed freely but not taken outside of the room.
The bed provides instant, dreamless sleep while also replenishing your resources. In the tutorial dungeon, there is no time limit for staying in the safe zone or restrictions for using the services. =======
Harry's stomach growled, a reminder of the meagre breakfast he had this morning. Despite being used to ignoring his hunger, the physical exertion made it difficult to do so in this instance.
Harry rose to his feet and explored the kitchen. He retrieved some bread from the pantry, followed by sandwich fillings and a bottle of lemonade from the refrigerator. After making two stacked sandwiches, he sat at the table and ate them slowly, savouring each bite. As he ate, he reviewed some of the information he gained from defeating the monsters. Everything was neatly presented in the database, making for easier reading.
======= Levelling
A level is a general measure of a player's strength, and it can affect a variety of factors such as access to specific dungeons, quests, and equipment. Furthermore, each level grants the player five AP and two PP. Some dungeons may have level restrictions, which means he cannot advance beyond this level until he completes the dungeon. The restriction is typically set at or a few levels higher than the player's current level.
Attribute Points (AP)
Attribute points allow the player to increase their attributes to further improve themselves. They can earn them through levelling up, training them, or as rewards for certain quests.
Path Points (PP)
Path Points allow the player to gain new skills that are placed on the Skill Board. They are obtainable through levelling up or completing certain quests. Since they are finite, the player must choose how to spend them wisely.
Experience Points
The player can level up by earning experience points, which are saved and can be spent at any time, giving him control over his level progression. Each subsequent level requires more experience, with major thresholds occurring every ten levels. Experience points can be gained by defeating opponents or completing quests. The amount earned is usually proportional to the difficulty of the opponent or the quest. The player gains less experience for defeating opponents five levels below him, and nothing for those ten levels below.
Resources
Resources are the essential lifeblood of a player, dictating their capacity to move, act, and survive within the game world. The main resources are health points (HP), mana points (MP), and stamina points (SP), but there are lesser-known resources such as consumption (CP), which functions differently.
Health (HP)
HP serves as the player's lifeline, determining their ability to withstand damage and survive. When a player's HP reaches zero, they die. HP has a unique attribute in that it can protect the player from fatal injuries, allowing them to endure wounds that would be lethal to a normal individual as long as they have remaining HP. While HP can prevent immediate death, it doesn’t shield players from pain or lesser injuries.
1 Vitality = 10 HP
HP Regeneration Rate = 1 VIT = 0.05 HP/min.
Mana (MP)
Mana is the player's resource that enables them to cast spells and utilise magical skills governed by Magical Skills. As an aspiring Mage, maintaining a healthy reserve of MP is crucial for being able to cast powerful spells and use magical skills.
1 Spirit = 20 MP
MP Regeneration Rate = 1 WIL = 0.05 MP/min.
Stamina (SP)
Stamina dictates a player's capacity to perform physically demanding actions and execute skills governed by Physical Skills. Any activities that are less strenuous, like slow walking, do not deplete SP. When a player's SP is low, they may experience sluggish movements and shortness of breath, hindering their performance. It’s important for players to manage their SP effectively to avoid exhaustion and maintain peak performance.
Total SP = (STR + AGI + END) x (10/1.2)
SP Regeneration Rate = 1 END = 0.05 SP/min
Attributes
Attributes are the unique characteristics or qualities that define a player's abilities, strengths, weaknesses, and overall capabilities within the game world. The player can allocate their acquired Ability Points (AP) towards increasing their attributes, yet there is an alternative avenue to bolster them—through rigorous training.
Training attributes entails performing actions and participating in activities related to the attributes. It cannot be done in the tutorial dungeon, and the method is limited as the attribute becomes more difficult to train with each subsequent increase.
Strength (STR): Strength represents a player's physical power and prowess in dealing melee damage, wearing heavy equipment, lifting heavy objects, and performing athletic feats. It also influences their total (SP) and defence, making them more resilient in battle.
Agility (AGI): Agility encompasses a player's speed, nimbleness, and reflexes, contributing to their fluidity of movement, evasion skills, and overall combat finesse. It also affects a player's total (SP), enabling them to sustain prolonged bouts of physical exertion without succumbing to stamina.
Vitality (VIT): Vitality represents a player's life force, resilience, and resistance to harmful status conditions that target the body's internal health, such as poisons, curses, and internal injuries. It affects the player's maximum (HP) and regeneration rate outside of combat, bolstering their overall survivability. It also influences how quickly the player's consumption rate decreases, allowing them to eat and drink more.
Endurance (END): Endurance is a measure of the player’s fortitude, and ability to perform strenuous actions and athletic feats. It determines a player's maximum (SP) and regeneration rate, enabling them to engage in prolonged physical activities without succumbing to exhaustion. Furthermore, endurance strengthens a player's resistance to injuries and debilitating physical status conditions.
Spirit (SPI): Spirit is the Mage's most important attribute, determining their ability to harness and wield magic and cast powerful spells. Certain magical abilities and skills are restricted by a high Spirit requirement. In addition, the magic attribute governs a player's total (MP), allowing them to use spells and magical skills for longer periods of time.
Intelligence (INT): Intelligence measures a player's mental acuity, knowledge, problem-solving skills, and ability to retain memories. Some skills, spells, and grimoires require a high level of intelligence. Furthermore, intelligence also influences how quickly the player learns skills.
Willpower (WIL): Willpower represents a player's determination, focus, mental fortitude, and their ability to learn specific spells and abilities. A player with strong willpower is more resistant to mind-altering spells, psychological manipulation, and other mentally debilitating status conditions. Willpower also determines the player's (MP) regeneration rate.
Perception (PER): The perception attribute affects the player’s keen senses, intuition, and awareness of their surroundings. Those with high perception are adept at detecting hidden threats, uncovering concealed objects or traps, and sensing monsters. An important attribute to have when exploring dungeons.
Defence (DEF): Defense measures the player’s ability to mitigate or reflect incoming damage from physical and magical attacks. It acts a little differently from the other attributes. The player's equipment provides the majority of his defence, so it is critical to constantly seek out new equipment with superior defensive capabilities.
Player Base Defence: (STR + VIT + END) /15
=======
Harry had already absorbed and understood the majority of the information, but it was helpful to get an overview of it. After finishing his meal, he went over to the treasure chest. It was distinct from the others he had discovered, so he was filled with expectations.
As he lifted the lid, his eyes widened at the bounty of treasures that awaited him. There were ten items within, five of which were appraisal scrolls. He took the items and laid them out on the bed to get a better look at them.
The last item in the chest was a book, which piqued his interest because he assumed it was another grimoire. The cover was embellished with swirling patterns that represent the fluidity and unpredictable nature of gusting winds. When he picked it up, he was met with a prompt.
====== You have found the Wind Elemental Grimoire
Through careful study and practice, a wielder of this grimoire can channel the wild and untamed forces of the wind, shaping it to their command and unleashing its fury upon their foes. It also helps to improve the player's speed, flexibility, and ability to perform incredible athletic feats.
Requirements to unlock: 15 Spirit; 12 Willpower
Tempest Path: 1/7
* Whirlwind Blades
Air Acrobatics: 0/7 ======
Harry grinned. "This is incredible!"
It solved his problem of not having any offensive magic during the magic phase. He needed to increase his Spirit to fifteen to unlock it, so it was fortunate he had saved some AP. For the time being, he placed it on the bed. He wanted to check out the other items first.
A vibrant purple egg caught his eye next, pulsing with an inner light that outshone even the magelight overhead. As he cradled it in his palms, the egg's glow intensified, its rhythm quickening to match his heartbeat. Warmth spread through his hands, and he could have sworn he felt movement within.
He retrieved an appraisal scroll and laid it out on the bed. Once he rested the egg upon it, words promptly appeared on it. Reading through it, he couldn’t help but get excited.
=======Familiar Egg | Level 1 | Legendary | Effect: Summons a Familiar |
It holds a familiar inside, who is waiting for its human companion to appear and release it from its prison. The familiar's size determines the egg's size, but not its potential. This egg contains a long-dormant familiar from an extinct realm. Gaia placed the egg in the dungeon in the hopes that it would respond to the player. Inject magic into the egg, and see what happens.
*Hint: If you are unsure how to inject magic into an object, cast any spell on it instead. =======
"A companion would be nice," he considered. "But what if they turn out to be like Dudley? Or worse?"
Pushing aside such worries, Harry cast a Magelight spell and beckoned the orb closer, placing it atop the egg. In an instant, the orb disappeared, and a crack appeared on the egg's surface.
Harry took a seat and awaited the arrival of whatever was inside. Holding his breath, he watched as a piece of the egg broke off, revealing a tiny arm, then another, and finally a head with short, spiky purple hair. The female had delicate features and looked to be in her mid to late teens.
She looked confused for a moment before her expression cleared. "Finally, freedom!"
"Hello," Harry said, smiling at her. “What’s your name?”
"I've just hatched," she replied, rolling her eyes. "Why assume I already have a name?"
"Well, you don't look like a newborn. And you're already talking."
"That's entirely different!"
“Well, my name’s Harry,” he told her. “Do you want a name?”
"I suppose a new name wouldn’t be so bad. It could symbolise me beginning a new chapter in my life. Give it a shot."
"Tinkerbell?"
"Are you serious?"
"Calypso?"
"Dull."
"Flora?"
"Do I look like a plant to you?"
After a moment's thought, a name struck Harry. "How about Celeste?"
She pondered, tapping her chin. "Acceptable. I can always change it later."
"Are you my familiar now? What species are you?"
"Not quite yet; there's a final step," Celeste explained. "I'm an Umbra Fairy, the rarest and most powerful magical species in the world!"
"I will take your word for it," Harry murmured. "How about I free you from your egg, and we can get to know each other better?"
"Now you're talking, Harry. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
So, what do you think? Celeste is returning in this story, so Harry’s going to have a companion going forward.
Thanks for reading.
