Part 10- Suma's Day: Part 1

"See you later," Jake said in his rough human voice as he faded away. Jake and I just got done performing a few tests to see if he could use magic like I can. After he left, I flew to town to take care of a few tasks that needed tending. It only took me a few minutes to fly to town without Jake, he may be incredibly large and strong, but he is obscenely slow. Normally, it takes over twenty minutes to go from our training area to town with him. My first stop was City Hall, I needed to file paperwork on Jakes spear; all equipment used by familiars needs to be registered. It only took a few minutes; I have my new name, that Jake gifted me with, to thank for that. Afterward, I flew to the royal citadel, I was now a named citizen, and as such I had to present myself before the Grand Duke for inspection. It is an event that is done once every six months, so if I did not do it now, it would be another quarter of a year before I could do it again.

It was a special occasion; many lords and nobles come to watch and see how many of their citizens get named. It is an investment in a way; the more citizens with names that a lord or noble has living in their territories the more funding they get for future projects or goals. I live in Count Thecoma Isbala's domain, so he will be the one who inspects me and gets the funding. When I arrived, there was a large crowd of nobles talking amongst themselves. I knew they were nobility from their highly ornate feathers and high-quality beast familiars. Their feathers had been dyed a dazzling array of bright colors, and the familiars they were perched on were ones whose races were known to have dense lifeforces and unique traits. Not only that, but the saddles on the familiars, the ones that their masters were perched on, were excessively extravagant.

As a citizen who was presenting, I was to go into a smaller room and prepare myself. After asking for directions and finding the room, I found myself among only four others. A child who still had his tuft in some places, an elder with feathers beginning to turn white, and two others about my age, a male and a female standing off together away from the rest of us. We did not wait long, soon someone was sent to lead us out and explained how everything would go.

She flew into the room and landed on a perch in the center of us all. "Attention everyone, we will shortly make our way out to the Grand Duke's meeting hall, once we do, you will all fly in and land single file on the perch that I do. It will be a long narrow bar, so be careful when landing. Afterward, the Grand Duke will enter the room, you are all expected to bow for a moment, then await your turn to present yourselves. Once you have finished, you will be led out of the chamber by either myself or another Chamber Representative. After that, you may either leave and return home, or go through the side entrance and watch the rest of the presentations with everyone else. Does everyone understand?" She concluded. One by one we each answered that we understood. "Well then everyone, line up, and let's begin."

We all lined up and one by one flew in a single file line as instructed into the Meeting Hall. She was not kidding about the narrow bar; I was only barely able to land smoothly. The young child stumbled a bit, but caught himself without falling. Once we had all landed, the Grand Duke flew in and perched atop a high pedestal, we each bowed for a moment as instructed, and the Grand Duke ordered us to rise and for the first of us to step forward. Each of the places we landed had numbers, so the one closest to the duke was to go first. There was five of us total and I was last.

First up was one of the others my age, the male. He flew to a perch in the center of the room and began his introduction. "My name is Quan-Car, and I reside in Lord Gamut's territory."

"Tell me, Quan-Car, who gave you your name?" The Grand Duke asked.

"My name was given to me by my master, Calsandee, before his death. I was his apprentice and have taken over his duties and business." Quan-Car explained.

"And what is it that you do?" The Grand Duke questioned.

"I am a craftsman; I deal with construction and creation magics. Some of my duties include repairing buildings, maintaining structures, and fabricating tools used in other trades." Quan-Car said.

"Important work Quan-Car. You have been seen and your name is recognized by the court. A record of your name shall be made and stored in the city's library. You may take your leave." The Grand Duke said. Quan-Car thanked him and was escorted out. Next up was the woman he was with in the waiting room. She flew over and landed gracefully on the center perch.

"My name is Sela-Car, and I reside in Lord Gamut's territory." She said.

"Tell me, Sela-Car, who gave you your name?" The Grand Duke asked.

"I was named by my husband's master, Calsandee, before his death." Sela-Car said.

"Ah, not an uncommon occurrence. Tell me Sela-Car, what is it that you do?" The Duke asked.

"I am a Magical Scholar; my focus is on rune magic. My duties include creating runes for different purposes and installing them where needed." She explained.

"I see, thank you Sela-Car, you have been seen and your name is recognized by the court. A record of your name shall be made and stored in the city's library. You may take your leave." She also thanked the duke and was escorted out. Next in line was the eldest of us.

"My name is Nook, and I reside in Baron Chyper's domain." The elder said in a breathy, strained voice.

"Tell me Nook, who was it that gave you your name?" The duke asked.

"I was given my name by Baron Chyper as recognition of esteemed military service." Nook said.

"Hmm," the duke thought, "it is highly unusual for a noble to name a member of their own territory, but special exceptions aren't unheard of. Do you still work for the military?"

"No sir, I was given my name once I retired two and a half months ago." Nook explained.

"Well then, once we have confirmed your military record, you name will be added to the city's library. You will be sent a notice once we have confirmed everything, you may take your leave." The duke said. The elder, Nook, slowly made his way out and the youngest one took his place on the perch.

"My name is Abmanza Vervil, and I reside in Viscount Silee Vervil's domain." The young man squeaked.

"What is your relation to the Viscount?" The Grand Duke asked.

"I am his youngest child," Abmanza said.

"I see… and was it your father who gave you your name?" The duke wondered.

"Yes sir," Abmanza replied.

"Do you have a job or any duties Abmanza?" The duke asked.

"No sir, I am still too young to legally take a job." Abmanza explained.

"Well then, as a son of a Viscount, you have been seen and your name recognized. A record shall be created and stored in the city's library. Once you have turned of age, all rights and liberties of a name shall be afforded to you. You may take your leave." Abmanza shyly thanked the duke and was escorted out. Finally, it was my turn, I flew to the perch and presented myself.

"I am Suma, and I reside in Count Thecoma Isbala's domain." I said nervously. I felt as if every eye in the room was gazing into my soul, as if to prod the core of my very being.

"Tell me Suma, who was it that gave you your name?" The duke asked.

"My name was given to me by a human called Jake, known to the court as Sentinel." I told him.

"A human… what is that?" The duke asked sounding confused.

"It is a very powerful being from another world, called Earth." I said.

"And what of this name discrepancy? You said he was called Jake, but was known as Sentinel, why is this?" The duke wondered.

"On his world, he was named Jake, but he has become my familiar, and so I chose a summoning name for him… Sentinel." I told him. The room was filled with murmurs and grumbling, some sounding angry, others shocked.

"Order in the court!" The Grand Duke announced loudly. The hall fell silent once again. "Suma, this is a highly unusual circumstance, you claim that your familiar named you. While this is not illegal, it is… abnormal. Tell me, what is it that you do?"

"I am in waiting to be summoned to the battlefield, I volunteered for the Kings Armed Forces four months ago." I told him.

"You are quite brave indeed young Suma. I wish you good fortune in your tour of duty, and hope that you return home unharmed. Once we have checked that you have indeed taken a familiar named Sentinel, a record of your name will be made and stored in the city's library. You may take your leave." The duke said.

"Thank your sir." I said and bowed before following my escort out of the chambers. With my exit, the Grand Duke dismissed the event and sent orders to the city's library to create all the confirmed names. I flew home that day elated; I was now officially going to be recognized as having a name. I only wish I could have foreseen what would happen later that very day.