Birth of a Bond*

Mulling over that disturbing thought that the God of Life might just be a trickster. I felt nothing but a headache coming over. It looks like I'd have to visit the temple as Muheia had suggested.

I didn't, yet, know if I could trust her, but I was of her kin as she'd said. I believe I could hold some stock in that at least.

"Ahem," Herma clears her throat.

I glance at her, but she inclines her head towards the door. Without a second passing the door is pushed open and in comes my three friends. Silvyr leads the three of them with an annoyed look on his face, while Cecily's situated in the middle, with her brother to the other side of her. He's got a sour look on his face.

Cecily looks like she's trying to mediate between the two boys. Although she seems to be unsuccessful in that endeavor.

"Pfft," I mutter.

She looks like a baby chick that standing between two rosters' trying to sort things out. What a cutie she was! Her eyes lock with mine and she's got a look in her eyes that makes me think she's seen her savior.

Without wasting a second she quickly darts towards me and grabs my hands.

"Hollis, they wouldn't stop arguing about you!" She says quickly as her eyes start to water.

Heh.

What the hell was wrong with those two? Why did they have to argue about me?

"Ah… it's not like that Hollis, we're talking about how you always have us over, and whose house you should come over to next!" Silvyr says quickly as he also comes over to me.

His ghostly white eyes looking at Cecily like she's wronged him, by saying that they're fighting over me. While Ekon's shooting dagger towards him like he has beaten him to the punch.

Well, they are still children, of course, they want to show off in front of there friends.

Removing my hands from Cecily's. I gently pat her head as I stand up from my chair.

"There's no reason to argue about anything. I didn't realize that you all wanted me to come over, I'll be sure to visit both of you. I'd love to see the tents that the nomads use, I've heard that they're amazing. And, of course, I want to see yours, as well, Silvyr," I say moving over to pat his head, as well.

A deep red spreads down from the top of his head to his neck.

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see a sinister glint in Ekon's eye as he watches Silvyr reaction.

Oh, looks like I've created something else from him to bug Silvyr about… well, that's for the boys to figure out.

"Well do you all want to take a seat? Since you've all come over, I'll have them bring us some snacks to the library," I say smiling.

Ekon nods his head and walks over taking a seat on the other side of the table. Silvyr also goes and sit next to him, while Cecily jumps into the seat next to mine. Her little body was so tiny that the table was a little tall for her.

Herma comes to the rescue with a pillow. With the added height of the pillow, she's able to reach the tabletop.

"Thank you, Herma," Cecily says with a beautiful smile.

"No problem at all Miss Cecily," Herma says with a bow.

"Herma, could you have the kitchen bring us some snacks and some drinks?" I ask her.

"Of course, Young Miss," she turns, and leaves bring all the other maid and butler with her. With that, all of them leave me alone with my three friends.

"So why did everyone want to meet? I thought that we had planned to meet later this week," I say leaning back in my chair.

The three of them all shared a look, and then Ekon decided to speak up.

"Hollis, when did you plan on taking the test to get your class?" He asks.

Oh ho ho.

"In three years', time. My mother said that the minimum level to enter into the temple was about fifteen, but she said that I should wait till I was at least eight," I tell them honestly with a shrug.

A laugh comes out of Ekon's mouth, and a tense expression appears on Cecily's face. Silvyr has a determined look in his eyes.

"Indeed, you're a monster of a girl," Ekon comments.

I shoot him a dark look.

"Don't take it that way, I just mean that it's not normally that someone would try a temple that early. As a human most take it at age fifteen. So by our standards taking it only three years after you've turned five is pretty monstrous," he says, inclining his head towards his sister.

I wanted to bite my tongue, I really was a broken character, huh?

"If Hollis is taking it in three years, then I also will take it in three years the same as her! That's only normal like her friend!" Silvyr comments as he slams his hand down on the table. A fiery look in those eyes of his.

I wanted to give him a hug, that right there was another race here besides, maybe I wasn't that strange!

"When does your race generally take your class test?" I ask him.

"Mhm, around age fifty, they say that patience is a virtue," Silvyr tells.

WHY?! He's ruined my confidence; I might really be a monster?!

I want to hang my head in defeat, it wasn't my fault, I had role models like my mother and father. They are monsters in their own rights?!

"Anyway, knowing that's the case. Cecily and I have decided that we'll take the test at the same time as you, as well," Ekon says.

"Really? But it's in three years' time, if Cecily takes it, she'll only be eight. With you only being eleven, yourself. Wouldn't your parents be against that?" I ask him.

"We don't care we're resolved to complete it at the same time as you! That's what friends are supposed to do, besides didn't we already agree that we'll conquer the dungeons together?" Cecily asks.

"She's right! It's only natural that your friends that made a pact accompany you, no matter how monstrous you are we'll stay by your side!" Ekon says with a grin.

"Although, I don't think you're monstrous, I agree that we've got to do this together!" He adds in.

I wanted to cry a bit, but I stopped myself. I was so happy that I didn't want to ruin it with tears; this was the first time in both of my life that I'd ever gotten myself friends like this…

"You guys are amazing!" I tell them, smiling brightly at them.

This time Ekon and Silvyr both blush. While Cecily gives me a radiant smile.

"If you guys are that motivated. Then if you don't mind, I'd like to know about everyone's special skills! If you are this confident about being able to keep up with my monstrous motivation, then you've got to have an ace in the hole," I say.

"Elves are naturally skilled at archery, I planned to hone my skills in that," Silvyr explains.

"My mother's family has a special skill that passed down through the woman, it's called 「Winter Dance」," Cecily says, while she taps her fingers on the table.

"My father's tribe has a special art called Sage arts, they're adept that improving one's body and also increasing one's Mana," Ekon explains lastly.

They all turn to look at me, and I felt a little nervous.

"I've got the unique skill 「Devour」, which gives me a chance to gain skills from any creature that I eat," I decided to tell them about my one skill. It was too early to let them know that I have more than just that. I'm sure that it would cause a riot.

"Y-you've a-already got a u-unique skill?" Ekon stutters as he jumps up from his chair. His golden-brown eyes look unsteady as he looks at me.

At the same time, Herma comes through the door, with a few maids in tow that have a couple of plates of snacks.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry did I interrupt something?" Herma asks.

"No, no it's fine Herma, please put everything on the table, and then you and everyone can leave," I say softly.

Nodding her head, she and the maids quickly clear the books off the table and place everything on the table, and then bow, before quickly leaving.

Ekon seems to have composed himself in the short amount of time that had transpired.

"Hollis, you can't go around telling people about unique skills!" He tells me firmly.

I nod my head. "Your right, I'm not telling people, I'm telling my friends," I say softly.

He wants to open his mouth and retort, but it seems that he didn't expect that retort.

"Cecily will never betray your trust Hollis," Cecily tells me grasping my hands.

"Agreed, I'd never disclosed this information to anyone," Silvyr says.

I look over at Ekon.

"I wouldn't tell anyone either," he says sitting back down.

"With that settled, shall we eat some snacks and discuss some other stuff to prepare for our quest that's in three years?" I ask them.

They all nod their heads.