Questionable Background

When Leonel and Zann told Aranea that they aren't familiar of Darenn back in their realm, Ravaya, she was at a loss for words—not expecting that they don't know him since all the while she thought that all familiars are familiar of each other since they are from the same realm.

"Wait… are you saying that you guys don't know Darennn? Even heard of him?"

The Water Familiar and the Fire Familiar nodded to answer their Summoner. She then nodded her head slowly, her eyebrows knitting together as she did not know what to say.

"All the while I assumed that you guys know each other or at least have heard of each other since you all came from the same realm," she mumbled, but it was enough for everyone to hear.

"We may come from the same realm, but it doesn't mean that everyone has known or heard the other, Aranea. Our world is also as big as other worlds out there," Zann replied, making Aranea wonder about Darenn.

If they are not familiar of Darenn, then what could his background be?

Is he from Ravaya? Are there even other realms that Familiars could come from? What would this mean? Is he older than them?

Rather… who is Darenn exactly and is he safe?

Snapping Aranea out of her thoughts, Leonel sighed and spoke his thoughts out loud, getting everyone's attention as well.

"I'm not saying that Darenn is a bad person. But with how we are not aware of his background, we should get to know him first. I could see that he is involved in the old civilization and from what Professor Gertrude will get from him, I say we should learn about it—his background—who he is."

Aranea had to admit that with what Zann and Leonel are saying, she felt bad and slightly annoyed that they are starting to doubt Darenn's personality when she sees that there is nothing wrong with how he is as a person.

"Why couldn't I help but feel that you guys are very suspicious of Darenn?"

"Oh, Aranea…"

Elenea reached out to her twin sister by holding her hand, giving her a small smile at the same time as she tried to voice out what the familiars are thinking so that Aranea would understand where this is all coming from.

"You have to look at your familiars' perspective. They are doing their job to protect you. If they don't know anything about Darenn as a familiar, then it's normal for them to be suspicious even though Darenn shows his good traits, no?"

Aranea looked at Elenea, "But sis… Darenn is kind and—"

"He is, we could see that," Zann interrupted, everyone's eyes now on him. "But you should know that there are also other familiars who are evil, Aranea. Not all are good in nature."

Aranea's eyes widened in shock. Even Elenea who heard this didn't expect that Zann would say such an information.

The twins believed that familiars, when summoned, have an innate nature to be good since they have the sole responsibility to protect their Summoners.

With Zann saying that not all familiars are good, what could it mean for a familiar to be evil?

"You mean to say, Zann… is that there are familiars who are evil?"

Zann nodded, his lips turning into a tight line as he contemplated for a while. Even Leonel had the same thought as the Fire Familiar. Both of them remembered one of the notorious legends of Ravaya—one of the familiars of their fabled goddess.

"The fabled goddess has a powerful familiar. He is very doting to his Summoner, really—he was. He is a Fire Familiar like Zann."

When Leonel started the story, Zann's hands balled into a tight fists. He then continued the story, his eyes fiery as the story angered him, making him think that the Fire Familiar who betrayed his Summoner was the reason why people looked down on every person down the Fire element.

"His name was Anvig. He is as what the legends say—the very first Fire Familiar who has mastered the element. He was strong and inevitable—had conquered a lot of enemies with his Summoner and his fellow familiars."

The twins and the professors present listened to Zann and Leonel telling the story. Even the professors found themselves amazed at the information that they were hearing from the familiars' story—something that they did not learn from the magical world and even from the academy.

"You see, Anvig, he was unstoppable. But like the saying goes, with great power comes with great responsibilities. He thought highly of himself—even risking and challenging the powers of his Summoner."

As Zann continued talking, he couldn't help but grit his teeth, his fists trembling at his sides as he knew what is going to happen next in the story.

Aranea looked at her familiar worriedly, sensing the anger from the Fire Familiar's demeanor. With Leonel noticing this, he sighed, continuing the story as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"Anvig wanted things to go his way. With his power, he even threatened the Summoner but was stopped by one of her familiars with a powerful and rare element not found in our realm."

"Oh?" Aranea cocked her head to the side, "What was the reason why Anvig wanted his way? Why did he become all evil and why did he betray his Summoner?"

Leonel shrugged, "As we heard it, he craved the power the rare familiar had—along the longevity the fabled goddess—his summoner, has."

Zann sighed, shaking his head at the same time.

"Until now, the story is unclear and has little details. But this we know of: not all familiars are good, and not only Anvig was evil. Others can also be a schemer. Others can also be greedy. Others can also be a threat."

Aranea and the others contemplated for a while.

The Summoner had to admit that even though this story was told to them, she could not see Darenn as a harm to her and to other people around them.

But then, as a Summoner, she also has to listen and to respect her other familiars.

They do have a point.

With Darenn's questionable background along with them meeting him for the first time today, what lies ahead of them is uncertain.