8 Chapter 8: The Guard Beetle

"How he has two familiars?"

"My friend said that he bought it on the Mage Shop."

"He must have been loaded look at those two."

"He isn't the one with a bird?"

"It's that a Guard Beetle?"

"Whatever the beetle. The other is a Wild Fox."

It was Familiar training class and Peter was the center of attentions.

"You got two?", Ellen said.

"And have a lot of credits still.", he smiled.

"Felix wants to battle your Guard Beetle."

"What do you think Rhynus?"

"He is young yet but I see a lot of potential..."

"Not that. What about fighting him?"

"He's not on my league, my liege."

"Lets do it then. I want to see both on a showdown.", Peter said.

"Yes, my liege."

"Don't lose, Felix."

"I won't, milady."

Felix was still developing so he was a little taller than his master but yet a hatchling, almost achieving the young age. While this, Rhynus was a much older Guard Beetle that already had a life before becoming Peter's familiar.

"Without outside help?", the boy asked for rules.

"Only once.", she said.

"What you two are doing?", Cecilia came with two puppies following her.

"Familiar battle.", he replied. "Two times."

"Once.", she said.

"Ok.", he agreed. "But I was thinking about Felix help not Rhynus."

"Master, should I help it?", Fridda asked.

"Not needed I got this. Sit and enjoy the show."

"Familiars.", Steven was called to be the referee and the other student came to see too. "Wizards determined that only one spell will be allowed. Set. Ready. Go."

Rhynus was a war machine. He fastly cover the distance between him and the dragon to punch. Felix was caught off guard and everyone knew that if Ellen didn't use a protective spell the battle was over.

The air crackled as the punch almost break the girl's spell. Felix was on guard and fastly flew up but it wasn't as fast as Rhynus. The Guard Beetle caught the dragon by its tail and throw him into the floor.

"Resistance.", Peter used on his familiar enemy.

The beetle followed as he threw his opponent and as the dragon received the protective spell. Felix hit the floor and a moment after a great dive punch by its adversary. Rhynus was without a scratch from the battle.

"I give up.", Ellen said as she jumped on the battlefield to look at her familiar.

"What was that?", a student spoke.

"A Guard Beetle was really this strong and they sold on Mage Shop?", another said.

"But he has the Wild Fox yet."

As the time passed they became more and more confused on what happened. While this Rhynus felt good winning the battle. His shell was a navy blue and bright as metal. He was happy again with his life.

"How it was?", Peter asked smiling.

"Thrilling.", the beetle replied.

"Why aren't you three simple as Luke and Rhynus?", the boy directed to the rest of his familiars and they didn't answer. "Cecilia, want to train your familiars?"

"Yes. How do you plan?"

"Like all the dogs.", he replied. "With care and little snacks."

"Will that do?", she doubt.

"Have you seen a well trained dog? Of course will do.", he complained. "Come here, Müller.", he crounched and put some food on his hand while calling for the puppy.

The little wolf walked toward the boy and started eating the treat. Peter looked at Cecilia and pointed to the familiar eating.

"Good boy.", he then cuddled the little one. "For now is most probably to he follow my commands than yours."

"Müller come back.", she said and the wolf was looking focused on Peter.

"Told you.", he gave another cuddle to the puppy. "Go to your master, boy.", and he did it becoming happy and now looking to his owner. "How about you start doing yourself now?", he smiled.

"Hey, blac... Peter. Can you help me become stronger?", was Felix.

"You're young so don't compare yourself with Rhynus. But if you want something ask him. Rhynus, come here."

"Yes, my liege."

"Help Felix on his doubts."

"Yes, my liege."

"Pleased to meet you, beetle.", Felix put his hand to his opponent.

"It's my pleasure, young dragon.", they shaked hands.

"Luke help puppies."

"You are too little and must hurt you."

"Luke not helpfff..."

"You are very helpful but you can't help in this case maybe when you are older.", Peter said cuddling the little bird.

"Ok.", it replied.

"My liege, the dragon wants another battle but I don't think it would help him and neither can dissuade him."

"Black hair, make it happen, please."

"Okay, but some conditions, no spells and you must call me by my name if you lose.", Peter said it to the gold familiar.

"Ok.", the dragon accepted.

"Tell your master.", he called the dragon again. "But if she doesn't allow is your loss too."

"Okay, black hair.", he knew would probably be his last chance to call him that.

"Why bully the dragon so much, my liege?"

"So he know his place.", the fox answered. "I learned that very well."

As this things were happening the story about the Guard Beetle spread through the entire school. Leading one of the best students fear for his position at the top and making him to go confront that new familiar.

"Who is the Guard Beetle's wizard?"

The voice came from a not so good looking guy. He was very short and a little fat but at his side was what make him one of the best wizards of the school a Dwarf Dragon. The boy had curly hair and freckles on his face. The color of the hair and scales of the dragon were like bronze.

"Here, senior.", Peter answered the question.

"Good.", the short guy walked toward the boy and continued. "I want to challenge you."

Peter looked at the Dwarf Dragon. Different from a normal dragon the Dwarfs were ones more similar to the Guard Beetles that had raw power right from the start. And this in specific had a wizard one year more experienced than him.

"Sure. What about the rules?"

"You decide."

"Only Basics Incantations.", Peter let this to use his potential and limit his opponent's.

"Hey, are you sure?", Ellen was worried about the Peter's familiar.

"I don't know. How are you feeling against that dragon, Rhynus?", the boy asked his familiar.

"He is almost on my level but this is heights of difference, my liege. It will be another stroll."

"Wait if he is weaker than you he will ever be."

"That's may be, my liege."

The teacher was alerted by the upperclassman and then Peter let he knew the rules.

"Familiars.", he looked to both of them and knew he needed to left that location at the start. "Wizards. Only Basic Incantations will be allowed. Set. Ready. Go."

"Slow.", the young wizard used a Rune on the enemy familiar.

"Break.", the senior nullified the spell. "I knew from the start. My opponents only target my Dwarf Dragon."

"Oh, okay. Speed. Strength. Resistance. Enhance."

The dragon had a little delay and after that the beetle received a boost making the first contact with his fist on the dragon. Followed by another fasts attacks with its legs and finishing with his horn. The dwarf familiar badly stood up.

"Break. And with that I released all of your familiar enhancing spells."

"Good but just needed to let you off of this battle. Strength. Enhance."

"Thanks, my liege."

The Guard Beetle gave the last punch on the standing Dwarf Dragon.

"The battle is off. The winner is the Guard Beetle."

"How this insect could won over my dragon? A dragon.", the senior shouted.

"Because you were too focused on his own strength and not about the others.", Peter said.

Dwarf Dragons were a overpower strength familiar for young wizards but as the time passed they would fell a little in comparison on another of a normal dragon and other familiars. The same was about the Guard Beetles but they were comparable to an Adult Dragon power while the Dwarf Dragons were about a Young Dragon.

"I want a rematch.", the elite member claimed.

"I don't recommend for your familiar well being.", Peter was serious about that.

"Don't worry. I want a Wizard/Familiar duel.", the short senior spoke.

A Wizard/Familiar duel was a battle as the name says composed by two teams against each other. The wizard accompanied by his familiar would battle against the other party but this battle normally was cast through the country as talent exposion or talent destruction.

"Don't accept.", Ellen said.

"Yeah. He might end your career now.", Cecilia reaffirmed her friend words.

But in Peter's head this was a good time to promote himself. As a first year you duel against a nobody was foolish and wouldn't spread his power as a wizard. And now his senior came knocking on his door with this opportunity.

"What are the conditions?", he asked.

"Two day from today and only that you must use your Guard Beetle."

"I agree.", he had the advantage and wouldn't let this chance slide away.