"I said that, but I don't really know what I'm looking for myself…" complained Eria.

"Mhm." Wynn agreed.

They'd been walking for quite a while now, but there hadn't been much to remark on. They had spotted some animals— mostly birds and rabbits, along with a pair of quick-moving deer. Nothing that seemed even remotely familiar-like to Eria. Not that she knew how a familiar was supposed to look like in the first place, and Wynn appeared to be just as clueless. The only hint they had to go off was that they'd know when they found it, which wasn't much of a hint at all.

They'd arrived at a stream now, one of the many tributaries that flowed into the Great River, a huge body of water that was the destination of the many brooks and lakes that dotted the forest. Doriado had taken them to see it once, right after the winter rains, and they could barely hear each other over its thunderous babbling.

This stream was calm though. Water gently but steadily traveled through, carrying fallen leaves, rocks, and even the odd fish, glimmers of color in the translucid current. Eria paused, enjoying the pleasant sounds of the water flowing and splashing against the rocks that lined the banks. She'd always liked nature, but she'd come to appreciate it even more since she'd been chosen by the water fairies.

Do not forget, children. Your powers are but a borrowing from Mother Earth. No matter how strong you become, you must respect your origins.

Doriado's words echoed in her mind. She was right, as always. Watching that river back then had left her breathless. The sheer force of that much water moving in the same direction at once might be something she could emulate for a second, but to keep it going for days or weeks? That was beyond the realm of humanity.

"Eria?" a voice reached her.

"Ah, sorry! I was just thinking." She apologized. "Have you found anything?"

Wynn shook her head.

"Hmm… I'm not even sure where we should look." Eria sighed. "I wonder if Hiita's gotten any luck..."

Wynn abruptly turned her head.

"Eria." She whispered.

"What is it?"

She pointed to somewhere in front of them. Eria's eyes followed her friend's finger, but she saw nothing except for the tall grass that surrounded the river.

"What is—"

She spotted them a heartbeat later.

Two beasts were standing just a few paces from them. One was a creature that had the appearance of a blue scorpion, though it was several times larger than any species Eria had ever seen. Its tail stood as tall as her shoulders, a dangerous-looking sting dangling from it. Poisonous, she had no doubt.

In front of him, taking slow, uncertain steps backward, was a by comparison small reptile-like creature. Standing on two legs, it looked almost like a small human from the back, save for its pale green skin. Its claws, which would have normally looked quite fierce, felt woefully inadequate against the scorpion's huge pincers. Eria noticed the reptile was also bleeding from a small cut on his side.

"They're fighting…" She murmured the obvious. Wynn nodded at her side, her expression imperceptible.

It wasn't uncommon to see animals or monsters quarreling in the forest, but Doriado had always taught them to stay out of the way if they spotted a struggle. Not only could they get hurt, but there was no need to interfere with nature's balance, she'd said. Eria bit her lip. She knew her teacher was right, but that didn't make this scene any easier to watch.

The tail shot out at incredible speed. She couldn't help but gasp as the reptile lunged himself to the side, desperately avoiding the deadly poison. The scorpion took the opportunity to extend its pincer, likely hoping to inflict another cut on its opponent, but the reptile deftly deflected it with its claws. They circled each other, neither of them daring to make a move. They were evenly matched for now, but anyone could tell the reptile was in trouble. Its chest rose rapidly, and its red eyes were half-closed in pain. If the fight dragged on, its injury would likely slow him to the point it wouldn't be able to avoid a lethal blow. It had to either run away or finish the scorpion.

The reptile seemed to come to the same conclusion. With a sudden movement, it lurched forward. The scorpion's tail moved almost immediately, ready to strike. The reptile avoided it by what seemed like a hair's breadth and jumped on the scorpion's back, digging its claws into the unprotected skin. The creature made a loud hissing sound and violently shook left and right, attempting to throw its opponent off its back. With nothing to hold on to, the reptile lost its balance. In a desperate move, it made to strike its foe's eyes, but the scorpion's convulsions caused the already unsteady reptile to slip and fall back-first on the grass.

The scorpion grabbed him with his giant pincer. Eria winced as animalistic gasps reached her ears. Wynn had already turned around and was starting to walk in the opposite direction.

Then, Eria heard an odd thump. She opened her eyes a crack. The reptile was on the ground, attempting to stand up. At first, she thought he'd somehow managed to claw itself free, but the scorpion didn't look injured. In fact, it was perfectly still, almost like it was waiting for something. Slowly, the wounded reptile got on two feet, and as soon as it did, the scorpion dealt a heavy blow with its pincer, knocking it down again. Once again, it attempted to stand, but it had only managed to get to a sitting position when the scorpion hit it with another strike. When it saw the reptile was no longer moving, the scorpion grabbed its tiny body with its pincer, black eyes full of malice.

Eria hadn't even noticed her hands moving until she felt the magic flow through her, but she didn't stop when she did. Beside her, Wynn was staring with wide eyes. Eria knew what she was thinking.

The predator is no more evil than the prey. Whether they are doing it to protect their territory or to feed themselves, to stop an animal from mauling another is to go against Mother Earth herself.

She knew Doriado's words by heart, as all four of them did. Still, she couldn't bear to let this happen in front of her any longer. This wasn't any one beast's territory, and the scorpion didn't look to have any intention of eating the reptile. It was just bullying the poor creature! If that was the way of things, then she did not care for it.

I'm sorry, Miss Doriado. You can scold me later.

A jet of scalding water flew from her hands and landed on top of the scorpion. It immediately let go of its prey and stepped back with a shrill cry. The reptile fell down on the grass. Only unconscious, Eria hoped.

"Go away!" She ran up to the hissing arachnid, who appeared to have just noticed the two girls and yelled.

"Go away!" Eria repeated.

The scorpion turned, pincer dangling naught but three steps from her. For a few tense moments, Eria wondered if it would try to attack her. Maybe it was too big enough to perceive her as a threat? Remembering Doriado's advice on dealing with wild animals, she waved her arms, trying to seem both bigger than she was and more brave than she felt.

The scorpion stood unmoving, seemingly contemplating his choices.

"Just go!" Her voice came out trembling, her heart thumping in her skull. She noticed Wynn had joined her and was also stretching her arms wide.

Slowly, agonizingly slowly, the scorpion stepped back. Once he was a good distance away, it turned around and disappeared into the woods.

Eria's knees buckled and she fell to the ground, panting.

"Are you okay?" Wynn asked.

"That was… scary…" She felt her cheeks wet and shook her head as if to shake both the tears and the fear away.

Her eyes fell on the downed reptile. There were a myriad of cuts and bruises on its pale green skin, and the grass around it was stained red.

"We have to take him to the teacher!"

Wynn hesitated for a moment before giving a curt nod and helping her hoist the bleeding reptile up, careful to not touch its sharp ungues. Its chest was moving, so the wounds hadn't been fatal, observed a relieved Eria.

I hope we make it in time…

The two girls ran through the thick forest in silence.

"There we go." Doriado smiled. "He'll be fine with some rest now."

Eria and Wynn thanked her profusely before walking away with the reptile she'd just healed in their arms.

She had been quite surprised when she'd seen two of her students running to her in a panic, carrying a half-dead creature in their arms. They had explained the situation while she tended to it.

"That Eria… She's too gentle for her own good." She muttered.

So often I told them to not interfere with spats between animals… Still, it was for the best this time. She thought.

There were no scorpions of the size Eria and Wynn had described in the forest. She might not have been as young as she once was, but a species like that would not have escaped her eye.

"A mutation, then? Or…"

She could think of only one place where a scorpion such as that might have come from, and she didn't like that. She liked it even less when she considered why something could have escaped from that world.

Doriado took a deep breath and stood up, startling a squirrel that had been curling on her lap, a trio of ants that had been searching for food near her legs, and a snail who had left a slimy trail on her robes.

"I suppose I'll have to go take care of it." She took a moment to stretch her arms. When she was done, she patted down her clothes. They were as clean as ever.

Doriado's palms caressed the bark of the tree closest to her. A moment later, she was gone.

"And that's what happened." Concluded Eria.

"I see… But why is it still here?"

Aussa was frowning, hands on her hips as she stared at the spooked-looking reptile, who was hiding behind Eria's leg.

"I couldn't just leave him outside after what happened! Look how scared he is!" Eria crouched and gently cradled the animal in her arms, who let out a happy mewl.

"I think it's just enamored with you since you saved it…" Aussa sighed.

"Also, it's not an "it"." Eria protested. "His name is Gigobyte."

"You gave it a name..:"

"Of course!"

"Are you gonna make him your familiar?"

Eria hesitated. The thought had crossed her mind, but she wasn't sure. She'd be spending the rest of their lives with whoever they chose as familiar, after all. She stared at the reptile, who looked back at her with inquisitive eyes.

"Well…"

"He looks weak," Hiita commented from the door. She'd just returned from the forest, her clothes still streaked with mud, red hair adorned with fallen leaves.

"Well, looks can be deceiving! Doriado said he's stronger than he looks." She had not used those exact words, but Eria felt the need to defend Gigobyte from her housemates' spurning.

"Hmmm…I guess it's fine as long as he doesn't mess up the books." Aussa shrugged before turning around and making for her room.

"Who's on dinner duty today?" Hiita asked, changing the subject as she plucked a blade of grass that had gotten stuck in her clothes.

"You are," Wynn replied from her chair. She'd gotten back to crocheting her bunny, needles, and pink thread in hand.

"Bleh…" Hiita stuck her tongue out. She didn't like cooking, but even when they were feeling rebellious, none of them dared to go against the chore schedule set by their teacher. Doriado had made it quite clear that those who lived together should share both the burdens and the joys.

"Should I cook something for him, too?" Hiita pointed at Gigobyte.

"I'm not sure what he eats…" Eria admitted. "Just make a bit extra for me."
"Alright, then."

A bit extra turned out to be nowhere enough, as Gigobyte wolfed down the steamed meat with a voracity that would put a wild boar to shame. Only after much pleading and a promise that she'd hunt more the next day did Eria convince Hiita to serve what was originally meant as the next two days' worth of meat.

Now, the reptile was sleeping soundly on the ground, a wooly blanket covering his small body. One wouldn't be able to tell he had been in a near-fatal fight just a few hours ago.

"He sure eats a lot." Commented Wynn.

"He must have been alone and starving." Eria thought for a moment. "Hey, do any of you know what species he is?" She asked.

"No clue." Shrugged Hiita. "Never seen anything like him."
"Me neither. I was in such a rush I forgot to ask Miss Doriado… Do you know, Aussa?"

"I'm unsure… He seems like a mix of a crocodile and a human, but he has a lizard tail and those claws…." Aussa shook her head, glasses reflecting the candlelight.

"What's a crocodile?" Hiita questioned, which prompted an exasperated sigh from Aussa.

"Never mind, then!" She pouted. "If there's none in this forest there's no reason for me to know it anyway."

"You should know what a crocodile is. It was in one of our tests last week."

"Well, we run every week and you're still slower than a snail!"

Eria promptly ignored the two's bickering and turned to the sleeping reptile. No matter what he was, she was glad she'd managed to save him from that bullying scorpion.

A familiar, huh… She couldn't help but think back to Doriado's words.

A companion that will stay by your side and grow with you, that will both enhance and be enhanced by your ever-evolving magic.

That was a big commitment. Gigobyte had already proven to be courageous, and she'd certainly be happy having him as her familiar, but… was it truly fine to make a decision like that so quickly? It was only that morning that Doriado had given them the task of finding a familiar. Besides, even if she did decide to make him her familiar, would he wish the same? He was still an animal, after all. Perhaps he had a family, a herd, or some other place to return to. Maybe he just wanted to be free. Maybe—

A light touch on her shoulder interrupted her thoughts. It was Wynn.

"Let's wait… until he wakes up."

Eria smiled. She didn't speak much, but sometimes it felt like Wynn was the wisest out of all of them.

"Yeah. You're right."