Chapter three:
Ryan slightly glances to him then glances away to continue looking. "Only a few times. I'm still getting the hang of it and a lot of the time I somewhat black out so I'm not entirely sure what I am. However usually people are scared and when they know I didn't really know what happened they would just say that I'm a familiar but would never go into detail."
"Oh. I'm sorry." Ray apologizes bringing a hand to Ryan's shoulder. "Hey. Maybe now that we've found each other it might help."
Ryan turns to look to Ray who is giving him a smile. He smiles softly. "Thank you." He says gratefully.
"Don't worry about it." Ray assures him patting his shoulder.
They continue to look around for any flags.
"There!" Ray points spotting one.
Ryan turns and spots a red one stuck in a crack on a decorative pillar. "Good eye."
They go over to it and look up at it finding it obviously too high to reach.
"Here." Ryan lowers himself to one shoulder and Ray turns to him. "Climb on my shoulders."
"Ok." Ray gets on his shoulders and slightly wraps his arms around his head being careful to not cover the others eyes. "Ready."
Ryan gets up and Ray makes sure to hold on so he won't fall off though Ryan made sure to grip one leg in each hand to help.
Now they are taller and Ray reaches up to try to get the flag. "Almost…. Got it." He says as he continues to reach.
Ryan shifts a little on his toes as he looks up to watch Ray do this and Ray grabs the flag pulling it free. "Sweet! You got it!" He moves back to no longer be on his toes.
"Yes!" Ray gets off of Ryan once Ryan lowers himself down to allow it. "We did it!" He shares a grin with Ryan before they hurry back to Caleb.
There are some flags already there so Ray adds it to the pile.
"Good work." Caleb nods then Gavin lets out a screech making them look up before landing on the ground one flag clutched in his talons that he adds to the pile.
Michael hops off holding another one and he too adds it to the pile.
"Wow." Ray gasps. "You found two."
"Sometimes they are close together." Michael tells them. "Watch for those." He heads back to Gavin who lowers to allow him to get on in which he does. He gently pats the side of Gavin's neck then they are taking off again.
"Let's go." Ray says and takes the lead as they head to go search for another flag. "I believe you have good ideas. Can you think of any other place that they might be?" He asks thinking himself as well.
Ryan glances around thinking of any good place to hide a flag.
That's when Ray spots the little walkway and he can see the roof.
"Is there any way to get onto that roof?" Ray asks pointing to the walkway.
Ryan turns and spots the walkway that is like a more open hallway that can take you into the courtyard. "Hm. That's a tough one. But maybe we could look around the edge of the roof for a flag."
They move towards it and look up.
"We can try." Ray says unsure if they'll be able to reach it or not.
"Let's do what we did before." Ryan lowers himself and Ray gets on.
Ryan stands up and Ray tries to reach the roof but can't quite get it. He glances down as the witch continues to try to reach and gets an idea. "Hold on. I'm going to boost you up a bit more." He warns and Ray nods.
"Alright."
Ryan moves his hands to the bottoms of Ray's shoes to boost him up a little more.
Ray manages to grab the roof now and he uses the roof as a little stability helper. He feels around on the roof, he isn't high enough to truly see but he can touch it, until his hand touches something in which he grabs it pulling it back to him.
A yellow flag.
"Got one!" Ray calls to Ryan.
"Is that the only one there?" Ryan asks.
"I'll see if I can feel anymore." Ray responds. "Watch out." He drops the flag trying to not hit Ryan and succeeds. He starts to feel around a little more but doesn't feel anymore. "Not that I can feel."
"Alright." Ryan moves Ray lower and with some caution as well as a bit of teamwork Ray gets back to being on Ryan's shoulders. He moves down letting Ray off then as they stand he brushes his hands together just to get any dirt off.
"Here. Let me." Ray says pulling out his wand and Ryan presents his hands. He draws a raindrop then pushes his wand forward to finish the spell.
Water goes down onto Ryan's hands wetting them then Ray draws a spiral only to once again push his wand forward.
This time there is a small area of wind that last long enough to pretty much dry Ryan's hands.
"Thanks." Ryan thanks him as Ray puts his wand away.
"No problem partner." Ray responds with a smile then he picks up the flag.
The two head back to Caleb who now obviously has more in front of him than before with a few students adding at least one more before dashing off again.
"Your second one." Caleb nods looking pleased. "So far good teamwork."
Ray adds it to the pile. "Thanks." He heads off with Ryan once again to go search for some more. He spots Kdin moving around watching a few teams possibly to check on their teamwork though he probably won't always be seen as he might turn into his familiar form to spy better. He turns away knowing that he and Ryan will be fine if they keep working as a team.
They look around but don't spot any right away other than ones that other teams are getting.
"It's starting to look like most of them are being found." Ray admits watching one team trying to get one from a tree.
"At least the obvious ones." Ryan adds and Ray turns to him. "We just gotta think of places people wouldn't think of looking and we could find more."
"That's pretty smart." Ray nods. "Let's do that."
They continue walking looking around for spots people might not check.
Ray glances up and spots Gavin flying above only to swoop down probably finding another flag. He watches as Gavin swoops by one of the tallest trees in which Michael grabs a green one no one else had spotted as they fly by.
Michael gets a little bit of a branch along with it but he got it.
"I think I have an idea." Ryan speaks up just to his partner and Ray turns to him. "They are mostly looking up. Like in the trees or in any other high spot." He turns to meet Ray's eyes. "So."
"We need to look below for flags." Ray nods as he gets what Ryan is saying and the other nods. "Good observations." He praises his familiar. "Let's do it." He shares a nod with Ryan then they begin looking around on the ground for any signs of any flags. He turns to the fountain and goes over to it only to look down into the water spotting a blue one at the bottom of the fountain. "Ryan!" He calls the other over and he comes over only to spot the flag. He starts to take off his sweater when Ryan moves closer to the fountain.
"Let me. It'll be easier." Ryan places a hand on the edge of the fountain as he bends over then reaches into the fountain to get the flag.
Ray puts on his sweater again and waits for Ryan to get the flag.
Ryan pulls it out of the water and shows it to Ray.
"Good job." Ray says pulling out his wand and Ryan switches hands with the flag to allow Ray to air dry his hand again.
With that done they head back to Caleb delivering the flag though once the flag is in the pile there is a buzzer that goes off for a few moments then all flags appear in the pile.
"And that is the first half." Caleb says clapping his hands together.
Gavin swoops down and lands by Ray and Ryan, Gavin lands with a slide instead of flapping his wings to land so the only dirt, dust or small rock stirred up is around his feet, then once Michael hops off Gavin transforms back to human using the light like when he transformed into familiar form.
"You feeling tired?" Michael asks Gavin placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm fine." Gavin waves it off. "Not the longest we've flown before."
"That's true." Michael nods and lowers his hand from Gavin's shoulder.
They turn back to Caleb as Kdin comes back to Caleb while the rest of the students also return.
"That was a very good job class. We got many flags and I am sure Kdin got many notes about your teamwork." Caleb says once everyone is back. "Now then. For the rest of class we will discuss familiar riding."
Everyone sits down as Caleb decides to remain standing.
"Now. I am sure that you might understand the basics of riding familiars but there is more to it. Familiar and witch are partners even when a witch is riding a familiar. If the familiar has given permission then it may seem like the familiar is doing most of the work. However a witch will also usually be working as well. This can range from a variety of things like looking out for something including for danger or giving directions by using a map to find the way. It is all a part of the teamwork that must be there between you two as partners. So don't just get lazy just because you can ride your familiar. We don't use riding familiars just because you want to be lazy. You must remember that you will probably also need to help in some way. You can relax a little if there isn't anything for you to do at that moment but make sure that you know that at any moment it could change. In which your help will be needed. You never know when that might happen so be careful when relaxing during a ride on your familiar."
"But what if you are traveling and your familiar knows the way?" One of the students asks. "Can't we witches take a rest then?"
"Traveling is a great example on times that you need to be alert for any possible change in that." Caleb begins to explain. "For example what if a monster shows up? A familiar could try to fight it off but with you riding it'll make the battle harder especially if you do nothing. Let's say that you are in the air. If the familiar is fighting alone you could easily get thrown off. Then since the familiar is fighting they won't be able to catch you in time plus if the enemy is too strong you could lose your familiar." He explains to the class. "Sometimes some people have to learn that the hard way and their familiars get badly hurt as a minimum to what could happen in times like those. Not everything that you have to fight will be easy to win against especially alone."
The students mostly glance to their partners before turning back to Caleb.
"Witch and familiar are stronger when they are together. When they are a team. When they share a bond." Caleb continues. "We look after each other and through our connection we can give each other strength. Determination. Even the feeling of hope when things might seem bleak." He shares a glance with Kdin as they smile at each other. "You will know true strength when you are truly able to truly work with your partner." He and his familiar turn back to the class. "Which is why we do classes where we find flags or other such teamwork things. Growing that bond is very important between a familiar and witch. It happens in everything you do with each other no matter how small it is. There is also the chance of being able to talk to each other through your minds if your bond is strong enough. It is like a special gift for achieving such a powerful bond."
"However there is one thing you should also remember." Kdin steps forward and Caleb lets him speak. "Not every moment is going to be perfect. A connection between a familiar and a witch is similar to that of a relationship. There are ups and downs. Sometimes you will fight or disagree about something. But don't let it tear you apart. True partners will work it out together in the end. Finding a way that both sides can agree on is usually a good place to start. Don't assume that your familiar isn't for you just because you had a disagreement. Everyone has their own views and opinions so yes there is the chance that it will clash with your thinking. But this leads me to another point. Respect. If we try to change something about someone that we care for just because you don't like let's say their style of dress for example then it will usually end up unhappily. It is when we can respect how each other is and not try to change them to be how we want them to be that we find a true bond. Sure there are people out there who do things that are illegal but you must think that they are usually influenced by something or even someone else. Changing someone can have bad results and even has lead people to become delinquents because their friends made them believe that it is a good thing. That it's what has to be done to fit in. This should not happen between you and your familiar." He stands tall bringing his hands to link together behind his back. "We as partners should feel like we can be ourselves and not have to be something or someone we are not just to fit in with our partner. It is from this that strengthens our bond big time."
"Well spoken." Caleb nods in agreement as Kdin finishes. "Now. Can anyone tell us one instance when a witch and familiars bond truly shines?"
A few hands rise into the air.
Caleb looks around seeing all who have raised their hands. "Alright. Lindsay. Why don't you tell us what is one instance when a witch and familiars bond truly shines?"
Lindsay lowers her hand as does everyone else for now. "A time in which our bond truly shows is when one is in trouble. The other will be the first to go to save their partner. Even if there is a crowd there a familiar will be the one moving before any of the others do to go and help."
"Very good." Caleb congratulates with a nod. "That is very true indeed. Partners look out for each other especially the closer we become to each other and this of course includes when trouble arises."
The bell rings signifying the end of class.
"That'll be all for now." Caleb tells them. "Remember to be on time."
The class separates with that.
"Hey Ray. You gonna come to see if we beat the record tomorrow?" Michael asks.
"Definitely." Ray agrees then turns to Ryan. "You wanna come?"
"Sure." Ryan agrees.
"Then it's settled. The spectators and the one recording the speed will be on the usual balcony." Michael informs them. "See you then." He heads off with Gavin after that.
"I never really checked but what is their record?" Ryan asks turning to Ray as he had turned to watch the two head out.
"Eight thousand and ninety kilometers per hour." Ray responds. "If they weren't magical it would have been a whole different story. If they weren't magical that speed probably would have been impossible let alone beating it."
Ryan chuckles. "Yeah that is true."
Familiars magic usually centers around their familiar form. Such as that Gavin as a falcon is able to fly at really fast speeds yet neither him nor his witch will be affected really as it is like just a wind as if they weren't flying really fast. So as a result a familiars magic is lower than a witches which is where the fact that they have less magic comes from. Unlike witches their magic focuses around a certain part unlike witch magic that has a much wider focus. Though familiars can cast more spells than just transformation but it is limited and the spells that they can use as said before centers around the familiar's other form; however some of the familiars magic is automatic like with Gavin flying at fast speeds so he doesn't need to cast a spell to do that.
"Well. What do you have next?" Ray asks Ryan since it's the last class of the day.
"I've got a familiar class." Ryan responds. "Something to help us with being familiars. You?"
"I've got a class on potions." Ray responds.
"With Michael I presume?" Ryan asks in curiosity.
"Actually he got in a different potion class than mine." Ray corrects him.
"I see. Well I can walk you there." Ryan offers to the other.
"You won't be late for yours?" Ray asks in slight worry since not all of the teachers are so lenient about lateness.
Ryan smiles gently and pats his head. "Don't worry about it." He assures the other.
So they head off to Ray's class.
Though Ray still wonders what Ryan's familiar form is.