Change in the Air

After the explanation and "punishment" everything seemed to simmer down around the mansion. There was some explaining needed for my evolution so people didn't panic. But other than that things calmed down.

After my scuffle with Gerald and Morgan Sam figured it would be good if I went through combat training with them. Military practice was a good thing to learn for its discipline and its ability to hone ones mind for a more broad perspective in combat. So during the day I practiced with Morgan and Gerald. While my nights were taken up with learning how to speak without telepathy with Sam.

It was gruelling and embarrasing work. I was basically a toddler learning my vowels and syllables with a lizards mouth. Which is very different by the way. Alot more muscles in a lot of different places. But it was worth it in the end. I could converse with simple sentences and say small words without issue. Though a real vocabulary was in my head it was alot harder to put it into voice. Though as they say "slow process for a fruitful expèrience."

Some sparring sessions with Morgan even turned into vocalizing practice. We would spar while I voices complaints. Alot of complaints. And when Sam was too busy for evening practice I would walk around the courtyard with Morgan practicing my speech.

And with all this talking I started learning what happened for Gerald to be home even though he was in the military.

Turns out that Gerald was released from military service. Morgan said it was because because they wanted Morgan to do most of the fighting instead of the men. Which quite frankly I understand but it's kind of stupid to use a cannon when a pistol would do the job well enough. (If you get my drift). This to me seems a waste in power.

There was also alot of problems with the captain of their squad apparently. Morgan said he was a stuck up noble with delusions of grandeur. And because he viewing taming as a lesser magic he picked on Gerald alot. Giving him alone duties that the whole platoon was supposed to do together.

And Gerald put up with it for his family's sake. For the Carnac name. Until one day there was apparently a battle with a pack of frost wolves. The Captain told Gerald to "Sacrifice your Gryphon so we can get away." Gerald had other thoughts on leaving his trusted partner behind.

When Gerald told his commanding officer that he would rather fight alongside the men than leave Morgan to fight and die alone. Everything turned ugly. Words were exchanged and a certain person received a well deserved punch to the face from a very loyal friend.

Needless to say he was shipped home and labeled a Monster Lover. That is apparently a bad thing in the military's eyes. Morgan was happy on the other hand because Gerald valued her more than his commanding officer.

It was several weeks of our sparring and talking later that we heard a messenger read a decree from the royal family.

" Sir Gerald Von Carnac has been hereby released from his majesty's army dishonorably. For his acts against a superior officer and his unit he will be bound to this house and surrounding grounds for the following 5 years. His Gryphon may remain by him. He will not be allowed to affiliate or see any member of my court or any kind of nobility that he comes across. Any act of doing so will be seen as treason and he will be so dealt with by public execution. So says his Majesty the King."

The messenger lowered the scroll with shaking hands and a pale face before politely bowing and retreating out of the house. Sam's father was clenching his hands on and off.

" Do those fools have any idea how much time and effort it takes to raise a familiar!? Or that damage transfers from familiar to the contractor when it gets too much!?" His voice was a growl and it dripped with a sense of violence.

" If it had been my eagle to that field I would have done the same. They asked him to stake his life and Morgans for some damn earl. I'm a Duke! Our status should be seen as such! Now my own son has to abide by this foolishness and avoid my very presence within my own house!" He stood and his chair skidded back.

" I will speak to his majesty of this outrage!" He stormed from the room as the rest of us sat there in shock.

Sam slowly shook her head, looked at her brother, and finally spoke.

" We are not technically members of the kings court. Just children of one. So of course we can be around you Gerald. The king can't change that." She winked at him. "Meanwhile.... Bryant is at school and not set to come home till after the months of fire ( summer essentially). Soon we'll all be together again."

Geralds face lit up a little but his eyes still seemed a little dead.

"It's not such a big deal Sammy. After all. I had this coming for me." He got up from the table and slowly exited the room. It was sad seeing him go. The way he walked was so slow and somber. He usually walked with briskness and energy. Now he looked for all the world like a lost puppy.

{Sam. There's nothing we can say or do to deal with this. I would trust your father to deal with this.} I looked at her and felt the sadness that went through her. She patted my head. " I know. But what else can we do while we wait?"

I turned and laid my head down in thought.

" We can go to the place you found me. I've always wanted to go there." I said after some consideration.

Sam gave me a skeptical look.

"You do know that place is a little less dangerous than the Forest you were living in?!" Sam said with a little fear. "Not to mention that every beast there is fire based. I would be burnt to ashes!"

I continued to look at her with a dissatisfied look. " You were 15 when you went and got my egg from there. Now that 4 years have passed and you're stronger you don't dare go back?" I slightly baited her ego. Unfortunately for me her ego didn't change anything.

" No. A thousand times, No. We can go to the forest for more training. But not that place."

I sighed and laid my head down as my stomache released a gurgling growle. (Perhaps I should go to the kitchen.) I got up with a grunt and went down the hallway toward the kitchen. The smells lead me toward this place without fail.That is till my fantasizing of food was interrupted by a ruddy birds screech.

I looked toward the sound and saw Malphus standing on a out hanging ledge. ( Odd... isn't he normally with Sam's father?) I looked around. Nothing. I waved a paw and he huffed in reply before he started preening his feathers. I shook my head. (At least he doesn't launch himself at me any more).

It was around 5 hours later that Sam's father returned. His face was darkened and he held a deep red scroll in his hands. Sam looked concerned and she felt afraid of the scroll. Sam's father looked at her and slowly handed her the scroll with a low voice. "His majesty asked that I give you this." Sam slowly took the scroll and her father quickly left which only left the air heavier than before.

Sam and I retreated to her room where she sat on the bed before slowly opening the scroll and read. "Samantha Von Carnac. Being commissioned by his majesty the king. And due to the circumstances which have been set in motion. His majesty has agreed to lift your brothers sentence if you agree to marriage to his imperial highness. If not, your familiar shall be forced into the arena of shadows instead and Gerald Von Carnacs punishment extended to his family members as well. So says his majesty the king."

It took a moment or two for the info to set in but after having Sam read it a second time I understood. My scales rattled on my body as tried to contain my anger. " That Filthy Pig!!!! How dare he threaten us!!! " I shouted. " If he dares step foot close to you I'll fry him myself! Filthy goddamned Kings. Never in any history have I thought a king was a good thing. Now this one just proves the point!" I growled as I paced the room. The information churned in my head faster and faster till only the really important bits remained.

First Marriage to deranged Kings is always bad. Especially when it's someone threatening you into marriage. How bad of a personality do you have to have to threaten someone to marry you?

Second. The Arena of Shadows. It was a place of pitch black darkness. There was no light. Just a place filled combat and slaughter. Monsters filled its catacombs and familiars of criminals were sent down there to torment their contractors.The place was a hell filled with blood and destruction. Only one familiar has ever made it out of there alive. And he died a few hours afterward. And as Duke Carnac said. "After so much damage it starts transfering to the Contractor." So most people didn't maintain their sanity or lives when their familiar was sent in.

My thoughts and pacing were interrupted by a sudden Sob. I paused as I smelled tears and looked over to see Sam crying in despair. "Why is it that our family can't find a moment of peace?" She whispered. "First Mother, then you, then Brother. We do so much yet life gives us so little. Even Dukes can't change the waves. " She sobbed as she took her head in her hands.

I looked at her and could feel my heart ache. I hated seeing a woman cry on an average day. But seeing Sam cry hurt. I approached slowly and pushed my head against her knee much like a cat would.

"Hey. Even waves can hold a boat. So we just need to find a way to get what we need from this situation. Right?" I whispered trying to comfort her.

Her sobbing slowly turned into sniffles as Sam raised her head wiping her tears away with her fingers. "Yeah. You're right. We just need to find something. A boat.... A boat.... A Boat! Ignis you are amazing!" She suddenly laughed as she hauled me up and into her arms spinning.

"I am? Okay? I'm getting dizzy."

/ Ding! Host has gained confusion status resistance./

My world corrected by snapping back as Sam slowed down and held me up to the sky. "We can be adventurers! Hahaha!"