by Eden Redd
I would not ask this of anyone but I could see you have a protective and kind spirit. I feel she will make an excellent familiar for you.
As for your Siren, if you are having a hard time coming up with a name, Sylk is a nice one.
Thank you.
~Gwen Azure
Trystan turned and looked at his left arm. Sure enough there were six stars in random order on his upper arm. Turning away, he thought about what the ink witch asked. It clouded his mind as he tried to come up with a reason, any reason to say no. The journey to the elemental college was tough enough but he also had to search some old ruins for a familiar he doesn't even want? Trystan always told himself that one familiar would be enough but two was really pushing it. Mages would often have several familiars inked into their skin but Trystan found those people enjoyed the company of others. The mage knew he wasn't like that. Books and a small amount of friends was enough for him.
Trystan sighed again when he knew deep down he couldn't say no to anyone who needed help. If he marched down to the ink witch's shop and told her no, he would eventually cave and do it anyway. The mage's stomach made strange sounds as the enormity of the situation weighed heavy on him.
"One problem at a time." Trystan whispered to no one in particular.
The mage stood up and put on a pair of white boxers. Trystan walked out of his bedroom and nearly jumped. Arms rose up from the couch as Nia sat up and yawned. Light spilled in from the porch windows, setting an unearthly bright glow around her and making her hair look like it was actual fire.
"Good morning." Nia said with a sheepish smile.
Trystan hand went up to try and cover himself but stopped part way thinking how ridiculous that would look. "Oh, hi Nia. I didn't know you stayed the night."
Nia rubbed her eyes. "I had to make sure you were okay. You were real talkative last night after we left the ink witch, clumsy too. Sleep well?"
Trystan tried to play it off that it was no big deal that he was in his boxers and walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of juice. "Like the dead."
"So did you meet your familiar yet?" Nia's eyes brightening.
Trystan gave a momentarily blank stare. "Yes. I met her this morning." He said flatly.
Nia stood up in only a T shirt and panties. Trystan found himself staring as she walked over and took out two glasses from the cabinet. She set them down on the table and Trystan poured juice into them.
"What's her name?" Nia smiled.
"Sylk. It seems like a good name."
Nia's smile brightened. "That is a good name. I know you two have to get to know each other so I won't press to meet her yet."
Trystan looked at his arm with Sylk still in the same pose. "How much do I owe you?"
"Don't worry about it. The witch didn't charge us. She said that knowing she is helping two young mages was thanks enough for her."
Trystan looked down. "She didn't say anything else?"
"No, though half way through you’re inking I kind of dozed off. When she was done, she sent us on our way. You were really happy even though we stumbled back here."
"Thank you for helping me." Trystan said as his eyes lowered.
"What's wrong?" Nia said as she sat down at the kitchen table and took a sip of juice.
Trystan sat down in the other chair. "I was thinking about the journey to the elemental college. I was so happy that I was accepted, I didn't think how I was going to get there. I have barely enough coin to stay here. I can't afford the train or a horse."
Nia smiled. "Well I did save some coin by the witch not charging us. Plus, I have to make the journey too. I should have enough to buy two horses and supplies. It would be safer if we go together."
Trystan looked at his friend with a wide smile and hope in his heart again. "Really? You would do that?"
"I know you are having a hard time with Freya and your future. This will be the best for both of us. There is no one else I trust to make the journey with. Plus, I will need someone to make my ale."
Trystan jumped up, circled the table, pulled Nia to her feet and hugged her tight. Nia hugged him back and buried her face in his neck. The two mages stood for a long moment, body heat connecting and rising to each other's touch. Trystan could feel her smooth skin against his. The world around him fell away as her energy touched his and paradise opened between them. Something slipped from Trystan's arm. The mage opened his eyes to see the mist take form and his siren appeared.
"Why are you touching him? He is mine!" The siren said naked and annoyance written all over her face.
Trystan and Nia pulled apart. The siren stepped in between them and eyed Nia like she was an enemy combatant.
Nia smiled and held out a hand. "Hi, pleased to meet you. My name is Nia."
The siren looked at her hand and simply crossed her own arms. "Well Nia, you need to stay away. He is my master."
"Sylk, this is my friend." Trystan said embarrassed.
The siren turned to Trystan with starry eyes. The mood shift was unnerving. "Sylk? My name is Sylk. It is a beautiful name, master!"
Trystan looked to Nia and she let out a laugh.
"Don't worry; most familiars can be very territorial. I had the same issue with Red Fang for a few weeks. She will calm down."
Sylk turned back to Nia with fury in her eyes. "I'm right here! Don't talk about me like that!"
Nia continued to smile. "I think that is my signal to leave. I will talk to you tonight Trystan, so we can finalize what we need for our journey." Nia looked to Sylk. "It was a pleasure to meet you."
"Keep walking, hussy." The siren said while looking away.
Nia went to the couch and began dressing. Sylk watched tapping a webbed foot until Nia was completely dressed. Trystan sat down and awkwardly drank his juice. Nia moved to the door and looked back with kindness in her eyes.
"Talk to you tonight. Glad to meet you Sylk." Nia said as she opened the door and stepped out, closing it behind her.
"Not so glad to meet you!" Sylk shouted to the closed door.
"That was rude." Trystan said while putting down the empty glass.
Sylk's eyes turned to her adoring master. "I'm sorry master. Please forgive me."
"Please be a little nicer to my friend. We have known each other a long time."
"I will try." Sylk said unconvincingly.
The siren's body turned to mist and flowed back to her spot on his arm. Trystan looked down to see her in a shy pose with innocent eyes looking at him. The mage let out a deep breath as he tried to figure out how this was all going to work out. Freya popped into his thoughts and panic swelled. He had to get out of there before she finds out he was accepted. Trystan pictured himself a blast crater if Freya caught him.
Four
The day was sunny and calm. Shafts of sunlight filtered through the glass of a book store on a cobblestone corner. Trystan opened the door and a bell chimed. It chimed again as the door closed. Motes of dust floated in the air, blazing bright in the sunlight before fading into the background. Shelves of books and ancient tomes filled the walls and tables. Trystan felt at home as he let his fingers glide along book spines. The scent set him at ease as he made his way through to the back of the store.
Toward the back was a desk with several books haphazardly scattered across it. Seated behind it was a grizzled man with a shiny bald spot and a permanent scowl chiseled into his face. Trystan tried to let the calm of the store keep him on the task before him but the closer he stepped to his boss, the more nervous energy spiked.
The man looked up and then back down, writing in his ledger. "Trystan, you don't work today. If you call it work."
"Mr. Black, I've come to tell you that I can no longer work for you. I was accepted to the Elemental College of Stukarr."
Mr. Black continued to write, not looking up. "Congratulations. It seems the college standards are low enough for anyone to get in."
Trystan's hand clenched. "I've come for my final pay. I will n
eed every bit of coin for the trip. I also wanted to thank you for letting me work here the last two years."
Mr. Black was silent and continued to write. Trystan stood patiently. The man was difficult at best but Trystan put up with his poor attitude. It was a necessary evil so the young mage could study all the books he could. Coin was tight and Trystan knew this was his only way. With what he could scrap by, he bought all the books he needed to get started on his mage studies. Mr. Black was such a crab, he made Trystan pay full price.
Long moments passed before Mr. Black looked up and sat back in his chair, folding his arms. "You know pay day isn't for another three days. Come back then."
Trystan blinked. "I understand Mr. Black but I'm leaving soon, perhaps tomorrow. I really need my final pay today."
Mr. Black rolled his eyes. "I wish I could help you but you will have to wait. I can't simply give out coin to someone who is deserting me last moment. I need time to hire a replacement and train them. You really are leaving me in a bind."
Trystan stared in disbelief. "Mr. Black, can we bend the rules just this once or at least give me an advance and take it out of my pay mid-week?"
Mr. Black gave a condescending smile. "If I break the rules for you then I have to break the rules for everyone."
"There is only me and Lisa and you break the rules for her all the time." Trystan said with hint of annoyance.
"Come back mid-week. Your pay will be ready then."
Trystan's nervous energy turned into a blazing fire. He wanted to jab his finger at the worst boss ever to crawl out of a sewer and tell him to go fuck a fish. The two men stared at each other and time seemed to slow down. Trystan felt his heart slink back. He would have to talk to Nia and postpone their trip for a few days. Trystan's eyes lowered and he was about to turn away. Mist flared up from his arm and Sylk burst from the cloud.
Mr. Black's eyes widened as the siren stood in front of Trystan, eyes wild with rage. The book store owner's eyes fell down to Sylk's heaving naked breasts but shot back up to her blue eyes when she started yelling.
"You have no right to treat my master like that! Pay him now or I'll punch that bald head of yours until it caves in!" The siren's voice made the desk tremble.
"You can't hurt me! If you do, then your master is the one who will be thrown in jail!" Mr. Black said in a shaky voice.
Sylk's eyes narrowed. "They can't throw us in jail if they can't find the body." Sylk hissed.
Trystan covered his eyes with one hand. He couldn't believe this was happening. It hasn't been a day and his familiar was going to get him arrested. He had to do something before someone walked in and called the magistrates. The mage pulled away his hand to see Mr. Black fumbling at a desk drawer. Sweat beaded along his brow as he worked feverishly to open a lock box. Sylk leaned over the desk, watching him like a hawk. The siren was only about five feet tall but her intensity seemed to make her bigger.
The lock box opened and Mr. Black took out a small sack of coins. The man threw it to Trystan with a trembling hand. The mage caught it and opened the draw string to see four coins staring back at him. It wasn't much but every little bit would help.
"Now leave and never come back here again!" Mr. Black tried to yell but his voice cracked part way through.
Sylk looked like she was ready to leap over the desk when Trystan put a hand on her slender shoulder. The siren looked to her master and then gave a hard gaze to Trystan's former boss.
"If we see you again you better be polite. I'm good at hiding bodies."
Trystan took firm hold of the siren and pulled her away from the shaking book shop owner. The two stepped out into the street. An old woman walking by looked at the mage and naked siren and huffed before continuing on her way.
Sylk started jumping. "Did you see me master? He will never disrespect you again."
Trystan tried not to stare at Sylk's bouncing breasts. "Please don't do that again. And could you cover up? We are in public."
Sylk stopped jumping and frowned. The siren snapped her webbed fingers and in a puff of smoke, a bikini appeared around her top and bottom. Trystan had to turn away as he instantly got a hard on. Sylk circled around to him as the mage tried to fix the tent in his pants. The siren's bikini top was barely covering her blue nipples and her bikini bottom was the thinnest thong Trystan had ever seen. It made it that much harder for him to stop the rush of blood to his manhood. Thankfully the siren didn't notice as she stared at her master's eyes in concern.
"I'm sorry master but he was rude. You deserve better than that." Sylk whined.
"Yes but if you threaten everyone who is rude we will never get anywhere. Please from now on, try to hold yourself in check. Plus, when we are out in public, always wear something."
Sylk's eyes dulled. "You don't like me naked?"
Trystan sighed. "You look great naked. It's just that people become distracted when people or familiars are nude."
Sylk grinned. "You look great too, master."
Trystan couldn't help but smile. The siren winked, turned into a stream of mist and took her place back on her master's arm. The mage put the bag of coins in his pocket and set off.
The day marched on. Trystan stopped by a travel store and picked up a backpack of holding. It was light weight and could hold anything that could fit through the opening. Trystan thought about his few spell books he owned and his collection of poetry. After that, he went home and informed his land lord that he would be leaving. Mr. Talbot was a very nice man and gave back his deposit while telling Trystan he was one of the best tenants he ever had. Trystan thanked him and sighed in relief that Sylk stayed on his arm.
The mage returned to his home and began packing what meager possessions he had. He informed Mr. Talbot to sell off the furniture because he wasn't taking any of it with him. Spell books, poetry books and a few clothes went into the back pack. Trystan filled up several water bottles and wrapped what little food he had and placed it in the pack. Excitement and nervousness rolled through him. This was it, really it. Thoughts of him spending time learning the magical arts filled him with purpose.
Trystan's cell phone beeped. The mage looked down to see it was a text from Freya.
"Good news! I have talked to admissions and they are willing to push your acceptance through. I will be over tonight so we can celebrate!" the text read.
Excitement drained away and a sense of doom clouded over Trystan. This was far from good news. The mage paced around his small home, trying to get everything he needed. If he stayed, then Freya would dig her claws further into him and he would never escape. He had to tell Nia and they had to leave as soon as possible.
The mage circled his home, checking and rechecking that he had everything. When he was sure he took everything he could, he placed the keys on the kitchen table and bee lined for the front door. He stopped himself right before he touched the knob. Dreaded feelings spun out of control. He knew he had to leave a message, telling Freya that it was over. If he didn't, she would hunt him down and drag him back kicking and screaming.
"Fuck." Trystan cursed.
The mage took a pen and piece of paper from his pack and scribbled down a quick note. Folding the paper in half, he placed it on the kitchen table right next to the keys. He stared at it for a long moment before letting out a sigh. As quickly as he could, he left, closing the door behind him and mentally saying goodbye to his former home and relationship.
***
Nia sat at the bar with a back pack hanging from a hook underneath. The mage had a spell book opened on the bar counter and studied while waiting for Trystan. He called her about an hour ago and was agitated. She wondered what happened and why they had to meet earlier. Trystan wouldn't say but he did say it was important.
The words moved and flowed as the mage tried to study. Thoughts of her friend distracted her as she tried to focus. It was midafternoon and the bar was nearly empty. News rolled by on flat screens about another gremlin attack on the Sapphire Cove power plant. Ni
a finally closed the book and stared at the flat screens. Gremlin attacks were getting worse by the day. Power plants were like fortresses with mage guards and protective barriers. It seemed the gremlins were growing bolder. They managed to make it to the walls before being cut down. It has been years since they made it that close.
The door to the bar swung open and Trystan came barreling in with wide eyes. A second later he was sitting on a bar stool next to Nia, hands flexing and trying to get the bartender's attention. The bartender walked over and gave Trystan a blank look.
"Water please." Trystan said a little too quickly.
The bartender stayed put, giving Trystan a tried look.
"I really just want water this time. I promise I won't change it." Trystan looked the bartender in the eye.
The man eyed him before picking up a clear glass instead of a mug and filling it with water half way. Trystan picked it up and downed it in one shot before motioning to the bartender for more.
"Are you okay?" Nia asked while Trystan drank down a second glass.
"No. Freya texted me saying she managed to push through my admission to the shadow college. She is coming over tonight to celebrate! I packed everything I wanted to take with me. I can't go back."
Nia touched his shoulder. "You can stay at my place tonight."
"I can't. That will be the first place she looks for me."
"I was going to tell you tonight that I bought the rest of our supplies and we have two horses waiting for us. I was thinking we leave in the morning but maybe we should leave now?"
Trystan turned to Nia with relief washing over him. "Are you sure?"
Nia bent her head forward, shyness shadowing her eyes. "I think so. The last thing we need is you leaving with two black eyes. Let's grab the rest of the gear at my place and pick up our horses. We will have to camp out along the road before night fall but I think we can make some good distance."
Trystan reached out and hugged Nia. "You really are the best."
