Chapter Two: Undergoing Mon-Fu
"Wake up! Damnit Hunter, you too Hektor get out of bed, you two!" a young boy yells as he's shaking me and yelling to wake a larger boy
"I am awake now shove off Grymalkin." the larger boy said as he rolled out of bed, and I decided to join them sitting upright.
"I'm awake too I have been since Aura got up to shower I just didn't want to get accused of peeking like you did, besides how's your face, I could hear the slap from under my pillow." I replied jumping from the top bunk that I shared with Grymalkin, or Grim as we call him, and gathering my neatly prepared clothes for the day so I can head to the shower as soon as I see our 'sister' Aura coming out. She appears, and I head into the shower turning the water on and just getting ready for the day, as I step out, dressed in my uniform, special for today, the loose fitting grey pants and blue shirt with a button up long sleeved coat also grey like the pants, the others are talking animatedly about the scores they think they got on the Monster Fusion placement exam standard tests or Mon-Fu PEST as it's been coined for the posters.
"Well we know you and Hunter got great spots having your monster seeds since you were kids, but I just got an Iron ranked seed that can at most bring me to the grandmaster realm, and Grim is going with the familiar route so all the kids next year can afford something to the iron rank." Hektor complained using how Aura and I have our own monster seeds gauged to be capable of taking their hosts to the King Realm of the Immortal Grade at least.
"You are worrying too much you big lug, the grandmaster realm is nothing to laugh at, besides how far do you think you'll really go, I'd bet that you will just go high enough that you can come back to protect this orphanage and ensure these kids grow up as happy as they can be." Grim says back knowing that he's right, "Besides, the familiar route is what I wanted it's uncommon and while it can't go as high as our star seekers can, I just want to have enough money to keep these kids fed while I perv out on some hot girls three cities over without matron dragging me back by my ears."
"And with that we should probably get moving or food will be cold and we'll have to undergo the monster fusion hungry." I say grabbing both Grim and Hektor by the shoulders, "besides we actually scored the top four and I finally beat Aura for the top spot."
"I still think you cheated, there's no way you were able to score higher than me on the written exams." Aura grumbled over her shoulder
"You are right I didn't score higher than you on the written test, but I was top in the survival and navigation courses respectively and and I managed to set a new record in the sparring match" I reply catching up with her as we reach the top of the stair, "Ready to go down, we are quite literally not going to be the same when we come back."
"Ready!" the four of us say in unison, as we file down the stairs into a full dining room, the town orphanage is pretty big whoever set it up for Morena, or the Matron as her title says must have really loved and cared for abandoned or orphaned children. There are five tables and each one seats twelve people, one has the 'sisters' they work under the matron as teachers counselors and most importantly caregivers for the youngest, but today they are at the head table five on either side of the matron and for some reason the guildmaster, it's not unusual to see him around and he has a seat at the table but I thought he'd be busy with preparations for the Mon-Fu and it looks like all of the children are in attendance as well, we were literally the last ones here. "Good morning Matron, and good morning Guild master." we say bowing in greeting before going to find our seats at the two/thirds full table that has kids a year younger.
"Good morning children of silver vein orphanage, and while I may be the representative of the local adventurers guild I think of you as my own grandchildren, so I have come here today to personally and officially acknowledge those who are undertaking the Monster fusion process today." the old man says before clearing his throat and running a hand through his graying mutton chops beard "I Ethan HepBurne, guildmaster of the Freelance adventurers guild, do hereby acknowledge these four Mr. Hunter Raebir, Ms. Aura Silvervein, Mr. Hektor, and Mr. Grymalkin, as the top four in the Monster fusion placement exam standardized tests, and Nominate Mr. Hunter Raebir as the young man who had the highest score to be the one that will undergo the monster fusion process in the forest temple. The rest of you about to under go the main monster fusion process will do so in the village square and those who will be undergoing this process in the upcoming years will be allowed to watch if there are enough seats in the viewing plaza, all of those who are under the age of ten years may not come to this process." and then he deflated still beaming but out of breath like he was giving a medal of valor to a war hero but we're orphans, not gonna lie this old dude is pretty cool.
"Well that was a very... moving... speech, grandfather Ethan just gave, but here's mine. kids from zero to three are with the sisters, three to seven do your chores then you are free within the grounds, Seven to ten years old chores then free until the ceremony is over, ten to fifteen chores and good clothes if you want to attend the ceremony, my four sixteen year old's you are to eat do your chores and then report back to me in an hour so we can get you off to the grounds, hunter your chores are done and you will be staying with me as we have to take you to the forest temple." Morena said in a calm yet strict tone.
Everyone Ate their breakfast in quiet conversation, and promptly went to do as the matron said, That means that after I finished eating I had to stay in the room with not one, but two fused adventurers, as I knew that our strict and somehow loving matron was a Mon-Fu practitioner, although her monster had somehow become expelled from her and died crippling her so she could no longer wield the majority of her power, and the guild master was fused with a steel ranked snow tiger, and he was at the late saint realm, but couldn't go father without a potion that he could not afford so he became our grandfather and pretty much the whole town's too. so in a room alone with these two was kind of scary although it was also kind of exciting. "Hunter I have something to give you, actually it is a two part gift." Matron says calling me to them.
"Yes Matron, what is it?" I ask reaching their table
"First is this," she hands me an envelope that is still sealed "and second is this she says pointing to a sword that the guildmaster is presenting to me. "also you can call us by our names, you have turned sixteen now."
"Thank you Morena, and thank you too Ethan... err yeah, sorry guys, I think I am just going to keep calling you gran and gramps, your names just feel so weird." I Reply then look at the envelope it looks old and says to read after I consume my monster seed. So it looks like I'll be waiting to read it, then I look at the sword and slowly draw it from its scabbard, the blade is roughly 40 inches long with a single edge and slight curve, it is a two handed sword, a Tachi a longer type of katana. "thank you again."
"Well we had best be off, if I am to be back in time to get to the square before the rest of the participants." Ethan says grabbing his jacket from its spot by the door I follow him, giving the matron, no Granny Morena a hug, and running out the door after the old man. We run at a good jog most of the way out of town, then when we enter the forest we slow down the path to the temple is maintained but there are still some unbound spirit beasts that have gone feral roaming the forest, actually there are a lot, they are more akin to wild animals with powers, and only a few become bound to humans so we have to hunt them, I've heard their meat is good, but can't eat it at least not until after my monster seed is consumed, which makes me think about it and the pendant appears around my neck, where the gem would usually sit though is a blue and black sphere a monster seed, apparently when I get to the temple I am supposed to swallow the seed like a pill and begin meditating, and then my monster and I will bond or something, I will know more in an hour.
Back at the silver vein orphanage the other three are finishing their chores, and have just started to go back to the matron, Aura arrives first "Grandmother I'm done with my chores."
"I thought I told you not to call me that." Morena says back without her usual trademark glare "and why do you do it, especially now that you know you'll be leaving soon to meet your parents."
"Because I'm leaving soon to meet my biological parents, you and grandpa weird beard are my real family, same as the others in the orphanage, and no amount of scowling or glaring will change that, besides I can tell you like it, also the other two are coming so you'd better put that scowl back on as that smile will scare them to death." Aura says hugging her grandmother then backing away just as the other two boys come in leading a the eight kids who were coming to watch the Mon-Fu process
"Well It looks like everyone has made it, we will be leaving now then and remember to be quiet and polite." Morena says opening the door and ushering the kids out to the town square where the guild had set up for the monster fusion, they just finished drawing the last magic circle and connecting its energy to the town's obelisk. The matron arrived just as the guildmaster was getting back and they met each other, "has he started yet?" receiving a shake from the guild master Morena knew that Hunter wouldn't start without his friends.
Back in the forest temple I am sitting on the dais looking at my watch, and at the monster seed in my other hand, I know that at the strike of ten the group in town would consume their monster seed or form the familiar pact. I was told that he could start when I was ready but I don't want to have a head start on my friends, so I'm waiting patiently until the clock strikes ten. I watch the seconds tick by and count the last ten out. 'Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one' I press the pendant to my lips and the monster seed slides off and down my throat, there is a subtle warmth inside me, I notice beginning to meditate. I just let my mind drift everywhere and nowhere until I hear the roar. It makes my blood boil, so I roar back. My mind has started to go black and then there are flashes of light like lightning, and I see him my monster, a true dragon in all of its glory and fury.
"Do you dare to forge the bond with me O child of the dragon clan?!" he roars at me Eyes flashing with furious lightning and Belching a pillar of black flame so bright it devours the light around it
"I do so dare to forge the bond with you Dragon of the Abyss and Lightning clan, and I name thee Rexis Dante" I shout back, not knowing why I chose to name him that.
"Then Speak the words and our pact shall become real!"
"Two souls one body, sword and shield, fangs, and scales, From the sky above to the caverns below, in life and death, I swear to uphold the ancient covenant spoken in ages long past and to fight the eternal foe with you at my side until the day we die."
"And may our souls be forever joined, upon battle field bloody and peaceful respite, through hatred's black fury and love's tender light, may the sky burn and the earth shake, in life and death, I swear to uphold the ancient covenant spoken in ages long past and to fight the eternal foe with at my side until we breathe our last." Rexis says his part, and then our bodies begin mixing, and I can feel pain, damn I hope its not this bad for the others, I know it might be, some monsters really do a number with extra limbs, but my body feels like its literally being ripped apart, little do I know it really is. everything is being shuffled around inside me to make room for the fire lung heart on the other side, dantian or appendix for non cultivators, being filled with mana and compressed, my spine now is built with the tail, there are wing nubs on my back, I know they aren't full wings yet because I'm still in the lowest level of the Mortal Grade so my dragon will have to start as a salamander, but dragons grow fast. I open my eyes to see blood splattered all over the temple's central chamber, its a good thing I took my clothes off in the other room.
In the town square an hour has passed and almost all of the participants have fused with their monsters, or completed the rite of familiars. There are only two who have not, Aura and Hektor. In Hektor's case his monster is still altering his body, and there seems to be no change to Aura. Finally Hektor rises from his spot and lets out a ferocious growl, splaying his six arms out wide, his monster was a six armed bear, and because of his compatibility, with it he is able to express all six arms, a Short while later, Aura stands as well, and while there is no outward physical change, she seems to be very different from before. the ceremony ends and the participants begin to file out of the plaza. "let's go to the Matron." Aura says after collecting Grim and Hektor.
A few minutes later they are standing in doorway to the orphanage that they have called home for the past 16 years, still waiting for Hunter to return they go up to their room and talk animatedly about their experiences and Aura reveals her monster to be a humanoid one an elf. they wait impatiently for Hunter to return home going over their plans now that they have their monsters.