《Grandmaster, And The Familiar》


 0: Prologue 1/2

    Prologue 1/2


    On top of a school rooftop stood two people, one female and one male. Both wearing school uniforms with a black tailcoat, the tailcoat is required to be worn as per school rules, and the tailcoat is basically the school¡¯s image and pride. The male boy around fifteen years of age has short sunshine blond hair, with a crystal face which gave of a disciplined feel. It was by no means a coincidence that the boy had gained such an aura. Evident by the countless engraved badges clipped onto his tailcoat, clearly shows the reason behind his natural clean and sorted look:


    STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT


    EDUCATION OFFICER


    CLASS MANAGER


    CLUB ORGANIZER


    Moreover, his popularity always stayed at an all time high-standard. Whenever this boy¡¯s name is spoken around the school, usually the image of a ¡°talented student¡± and ¡°always working hard¡± pops up in the student¡¯s minds. Obviously there was looks of utter envy and jealousy, whenever his presence is seen. His name:


    Atlas White


    However, the female standing in front of Atlas was a complete opposite of what he represented. Dyed red hair, earrings drooping down onto her shoulders. A bruised face with a bandaid on her forehead, no doubt acquired from the countless fights that she picks around the school. She was the true example of how a delinquent looks and acts like. Those rebellious half-opened eyes scanned the person in front of her, and seeing the average form of his body. She rolled her eyes.


    ¡°You will get expelled if you keep up this attitude¡± Atlas immediately spoke out in warning after seeing an expression that showed no respect or dignity.


    ¡°Did you not know that my father runs this school?¡± The delinquent stated lazily. But it more or less sounded like a challenge to a fight, from her slightly tilted arms and clenched fists.


    ¡°I already knew that, so now let me ask you a question. Do you know who I am?¡±


    ¡°No, I d-¡± But before she could finish talking, Atlas interrupted with a calm voice.


    ¡°That is why you should pay more attention in school, maybe we wouldn¡¯t need to have this conversation¡±


    At this point she felt something was not right, so she opened her eyes and reeled her mind in from her daydreams. Her eyes first fell upon his blond hair and his chiseled face, and then...his golden badges. Face turning slightly pale, the slouched back becoming straight. Her fists clenched, with black nails digging into her calloused skin. It¡¯s quite noticeable to see, she definitely knows the person in front of her. But who wouldn¡¯t know him? Atlas is almost like a king, and the throne that he sits upon is obviously the school itself.


    Her legs shook a little whilst her hands began turning a deathly white, a colour that looked strange with her spray tanned skin. But suddenly, she took a step forward and swung her fist at Atlas who was completely unprepared for it. After all, she is not a delinquent for nothing.


    The punch sloppy and rigid smacked Atlas¡¯ left shoulder with a loud thump. However, he did not move backwards nor did he let out a pained moan. But instead, he himself took a step forward, without swinging a fist of course.


    ¡°Thank you. With that clear breach of school rules as evidence, it will be a simple matter to have you gone.¡± After saying that, Atlas took out his phone and tapped the screen a couple of times before placing it to his ear.


    Meanwhile, the naughty student stood frozen with depression written all over her face, as she mumbled: ¡°What...if I don¡¯t go to school, then...my mother will punish me.¡± Gradually, her face turned from worry and into a sinister grin. Her bloodshot eyes looked in the direction of the roof banister, a glint flashed through her coloured contact lenses.


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    ¡°Hello Mr Smith, I am sorry to tell you tha-¡± His phone suddenly disappeared from his hand as he felt someone snatch it away. Immediately his head turned into the girl¡¯s direction, his face revealed annoyance and anger.


    ¡°You trash, give me my phone back this instance!¡± Along with a different expression on his face, his tone also changed. The kind of tone that could make you feel like an insect and below everyone. Along with a feeling of: that at any given time, someone could just plant his feet on you and that would be the end.


    The girl, exceeding Atlas¡¯ expectations, only gave a smile as she waved her arm in the air. While the arm was still making an arch, the hand released the phone it was holding. It flew over the railings of the roof and...smashed off the pavement. Perhaps some parts can be salvaged after a four storey drop to find evidence of her disobedience, but it¡¯s definitely unlikely.


    While the phone made it¡¯s way to the ground, Atlas had run over to see where the phone landed. Every single little part shattered and flew all over the place.


    ¡°It was good that no one was standing there¡± Atlas stated silently.


    He turned around to the girl after saying that to himself. But strangely, the girl was already in front of his face. Her arms raised to his shoulders, slightly touching him. From this action, Atlas had already guessed what this delinquent wanted to do.


    Push him off the roof.


    The courage and determination that she needed in order to be able to go through with this, caused Atlas to feel slightly amazed. If he knew that she had done this on a whim, would he have changed the situation?


    Her leg moved forward, and her hands pushed strongly against his shoulders. But to her shock, he did not budge from the spot at all. Her strength that she acquired should be enough to make a boy with an average frame move, but some stuff about Atlas was not quite yet common knowledge. The fact that he has been learning martial arts ever since he was five years old, no one knew about that.


    However, the girl let out a smile as Atlas unexpectedly started to fall backwards, as she believed that he couldn¡¯t retain his balance and fell because of her strong push. It was correct, Atlas did start falling backwards but only for his own reasons. Atlas had something entirely different in plan, as he thought in his head: ¡°Equality is a fundamental rule taught in this school; an eye for an eye, a life for a life¡±


    Even as that boy fell backwards to an imminent doom dragging a redheaded girl together him, he stayed true to his life morals.


    Time slowed down for Atlas and his memories revealed themselves in front of him before disappearing, except one memory stayed with him, as he fell. That piece of memory had great significance in Atlas¡¯ life:


    A five year old him playing a game of chess with his father. ¡°Atlas, you should only move your pieces when you are sure to win¡± His father¡¯s voice seemed so intelligent and full of wisdom at the time, that he had believed that father knew everything in the world. ¡°Papa, isn¡¯t the game we are playing right now, the same as this one?¡± The little kid pointed to himself and grinned, but his father revealed a glint of surprise and astonishment. ¡°Atlas...then try play life as a game of chess from now on, I¡¯d love to see how well you do¡± His life changed dramatically after that statement, it was almost as if he became a different person from that point on.


    Now as he fell, the smile on his face seemed a little regretful as he voiced out the last thoughts in his mind:


    ¡°Good game, but too easy for my taste¡±

 0: Prologue 2/2

    Prologue 2/2


    Atlas vanished just as he was about to hit the ground, gone almost like a magic trick. The girl however, did not share the same magic and the body splashed against the concrete floor crippling her limbs in successive snaps. She died a quick death without even seeing her life flashing through her eyes, as she had already been stricken with surprise and horror when Atlas grappled her, and holstered her over his shoulder in half a blink, and then threw a fist that clobbered against her chest directly striking a pressure point causing pain, dizziness and nausea. She had no time to react against a martial art master.


    The white pavement became painted crimson by the blood.


    Meanwhile, Atlas was unconscious inside a strange building somewhere. Inside there was a bed, wardrobe, table, and a glass cabinet displaying countless medals. A woman was seated on the bed wearing an almost transparent nightgown revealing a lot of skin. Her brown hair reached her waist and a smile was plastered on her face. The raised cheekbones and eyes revealed her excitement as she stared at Atlas. Her smooth skin with small hairs slightly raised on their ends made her seem like a child that is overfilled with excitement.


    She would have been a beauty if it were not for her tattooed arms. Different kinds of monsters and beasts sullyed her skin. Her foot touched the floor as she gently raised herself off the bed and walked closer to Atlas. Her face becoming slightly flushed. ¡°That body, appearance, frame...¡± Her mouth started muttering countless things in an intellectual sounding manner, whilst her eyes licked every part of Atlas¡¯ body.


    Nothing was left unseen from her big blue eyes that hid behind a pair of glasses.


    She made physical contact with his body after fifteen minutes of observation from afar which made her look afraid of Atlas. But it wasn¡¯t the case as she stopped mumbling and started ¡°preaching¡±. Her barefoot smacked against Atlas¡¯ cheek, gaining no response from his unconscious person at all.


    ¡°When the first day of the beginning arrived


    The Creator bestowed upon this world light and darkness


    But the Creator did not leave after gracing the earth


    With his mighty power.¡±


    She inhaled and exhaled a long breath, before licking her dry lips and continuing with her religious speech.


    ¡°On the second day of the beginning


    The Creator bestowed upon the world consisting of light and dark


    A species of life along with exotic lands and seas


    But the Creator did not leave after gracing us once again


    With his mighty power.¡±


    Once again, she inhaled and exhaled before continuing. A grin on her face.


    ¡°On the third day of the beginning


    The Creator visited the human world that already started developing,


    Bestowing us a gift that changed our lives forever


    And as the Creator left without the promise of coming back


    He turned to the precious gift within our arms


    To look at the product of his mighty power.¡±


    She seemed to have finally finished her speech as she turned to look down at Atlas¡¯ bruised cheek. However, a light appeared in her eyes as her lips parted once again. The room dimmed slightly as the prospect of another preach escaping her mouth showed within the surroundings. Even the candles seemed to show distaste in her speech as they almost flickered out.


    ¡°The gift that the almighty Creator himself bestowed upon us


    A contract that bounds the souls of a fated two


    The reality created from a fantasy where trust is given and is returned in equal share


    The Summoning of Familiars¡±


    Her voice raised pitches as she said her last poetic sentence, and her foot became planted more firmly on Atlas¡¯ forehead.


    ¡°From today onwards your new name is Venix and you shall serve me until: I depart from this world, you fall in battle defending me with your life or when the Creator himself wishes for the gift to be returned!¡±


    In sync with her speech, steam mysteriously started to form around her foot and Atlas¡¯ forehead. It looked similar to when someone poured cold water over something scalding, and the noise of the forming steam made the procedure seem painful. The woman seemed pained as well, her hands were clenched, shoulders were shaking and her teeth grating against each other.


    In spite of that, the woman did not do anything to fight against the strange phenomenon, and instead seemed to accept it by not moving her body away at all. It was a strange sight to see.


    Slowly the steam disappeared and revealed a tattoo of a chess piece on her foot; it was a pawn piece. And on the other hand, after the steam surrounding Atlas¡¯ head evaporated a tattoo on his forehead also revealed itself. A red cross covered in flames, it might have been mistaken for a scar if it were not for the flames surrounding it.


    When the woman looked down at her foot, she made a confused facial expression before bending over and placing a finger over the tattoo, then flicking it as if it was a fly and not something she wanted to see. When she saw the tattoo stay still and not change, she sighed. Then her head moved to look at Atlas¡¯ head or more accurately, his tattoo. Her glasses moved down her nose and she bit down onto her lip, before rolling her eyes and turning her head to the bed. Revealing a smile.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t slept in two days because of you, Venix. Two days for basically nothing of value. So it isn¡¯t fair that you are the only one who gets to nap.¡± She said whilst lightly slapping Atlas¡¯ cheeks. She let out a large yawn standing up, and walked lazily over to the side of her bed. Looking at Atlas once before pressing her hand down over a tattoo of a turtle.


    ¡°Barbosa, carry the new familiar to the others¡±


    It looked like she was speaking to herself until a giant turtle scurried out from under the bed, really slowly. The choice of pets is really strange, since you wouldn¡¯t normally own a pet turtle that looks dangerous. And this one looked very dangerous indeed.


    A black spiked shell with clawed hands that evoked a feeling as if it could slash apart iron relatively easily. A bit of green moss that was on the shell swaying with every movement, made the turtle seem ancient and old. The turtle passed its master but stopped, a tongue popped out its mouth and licked her barefoot leaving drool all over it.


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    She looked down to the turtle in shock before her foot started carefully stomping on the turtle, whilst making sure not to plant a foot in one of the spikes on it¡¯s shell. ¡°A mere poor grade, first rank familiar dares to lick its master?¡± The woman¡¯s brown hair slightly floated as she looked down upon the turtle in disgust. ¡°Not only did I dismiss the fact that you were in my room, but now you are doing this...¡± As she spoke, the turtle showed an expression of disappointment and regret on its rocky face. She quickly turned around, walked to the table and picked up a thin short stick, then pointed it at the slowpoke.


    ¡°Since you have just been summoned two days ago and didn¡¯t take away much essence, which allowed me to summon another familiar, I will let you off easily.¡± She flicked the stick in a practised manner and chanted words that seemed to be copied from a bible:


    ¡°Come to me my friends. The winds, lend me your strength and take my mana essence as equal payment for your aide.¡± She pointed the stick at the closed door that suddenly whooshed open by a whistling wind. Her hand quickly moved, and the stick fell upon the turtle and Atlas. The stick made a slashing motion, and the wind carried both of them out the room.


    ¡°Sleep with the others today, Barbosa. Maybe you will see how low you stand in this household of familiars.¡± She said calmly before pointing the stick back at the door a final time, creating a wind that slammed the door hard to a closed state.


    ¡°Thank you for your aide, the winds.¡± She whispered before placing the stick back onto the table.


    Then silence enveloped the room. She yawned for a moment, and blew out the candle that illuminated the room, then walked to the side of the bed again. Picking up a towel that was placed conveniently on the bedside table, she slowly cleaned her foot that had drool all over it. After giving a final dab to the foot, she threw the towel into the back corner of the room, where countless clothes and towels had already piled up.


    After getting in the bed and snuggling herself up into the blanket, she closed her eyes and fell asleep with a smile on her face. Two days sleep deprived and now getting to sleep, how could she not be happy?


    Meanwhile outside the room, a turtle was slowly dragging a boy by his clothes down the corridor. Occasionally the clothes would rip and the journey would stop, but the turtle just latched onto a different piece of cloth and continued to drag him along.


    Eventually it stopped in front of a large steel door that was guarded by two soldiers in armour on either side. Atlas was almost naked from the turtles barbaric carrying, and had countless bite marks on his body. No blood was spilled however, showing the softness of the turtle. As soon as the guards spotted the turtle, they quickly went to open the door. Both the guards were slightly shivering for some reason, maybe the cold temperature surrounding the place had something to do with it.


    The men at guard did not question or stop the turtle from dragging a body with it, maybe they did not even see the body. Since their heads were turned away from the black shell and facing a completely different direction.


    When the steel door finally opened, the turtle latched onto Atlas and dragged him in¡­the door immediately shut afterwards.


    The room was completely dark and only the noise of the splashing droplets of water could be heard. In the corner, a flame appeared lighting up half of the room. The turtle dropped Atlas and hid its head inside the shell, as if sensing danger. The noise of wet feet quickly slapping against the stone floor could be heard coming closer and closer. Then suddenly nothing was heard anymore and at the place where the turtle was previously cowering at, there was nothing there anymore. The turtle disappeared. The shell wasn¡¯t there, and it seemed like someone had snatched it up in an instant.


    The flame also disappeared, bringing the room into darkness once more.


    Outside the room, the two guards were having a conversation between each other:


    ¡°Do you reckon that turtle is the newest familiar?¡± A young male¡¯s voice questioned, he was a guard with the light blue cape.


    ¡°Yeah it probably is, meaning that she is not in a very good mood right now¡± An older voice answered, belonging to the guard with a dark blue cape.


    ¡°What do you mean she won¡¯t be happy?¡± The young one asked once again.


    ¡°You know what I am talking about...oh right, you are new!¡± The old one exclaimed in surprise, whereas the younger soldier just tilted his head in confusion.


    ¡°Are you really bad at remembering people? You were the one that showed me around the place this morning, plus we are also sharing the same room in the barracks.¡± The younger soldier drooped his head in disappointment due to the older man¡¯s bad memory.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it kid!¡± The old man walked over and smacked his back, making the young soldier fall over.


    ¡°Ok! So what did you mean by she won¡¯t be happy?¡± He heaved himself up from the floor and asked in anger.


    ¡°You must be pretty inexperienced to not be able to tell the strengths of familiars. No matter, you will be able to tell after you train with me for a couple of months. So, onto the question. That turtle is actually a black-striped crab that is graded as poor, so it¡¯s future growth will not be anything spectacular.¡± The old man told his subordinate in an informative manner.


    ¡°So how does that answer my question?¡± He snorted, which earned him a slap on the head making his helmet fall off.


    ¡°Do you know the grandmaster¡¯s hobby?¡± The old man responded with a question.


    ¡°How does that have anything to do with this?¡± He asked once again, bending over to pick up the helmet.


    ¡°Just answer, you young fool!¡± The old man hawked at him, giving the young one a startle.


    ¡°Alright you pervert, I do not know what her hobby is or care about it. Unlike you.¡±


    ¡°Well, smartass. Her hobby is summoning familiars and growing them to their full potential, then after that...do you know what happens next?¡± The old man asked after informing the youngling.


    ¡°I do not. But how can she summon so many familiars, that you would need to have them guarded inside a large cage?¡± The younger one subconsciously gave in to defeat and asked dejectedly.


    ¡°I won''t tell you. Since you will see what she does with full grown familiars in the morning, and to answer your question: there was only one familiar in this cage before the turtle popped up.¡± The man answered with a laugh.


    ¡°So what kind of familiar is inside the room right now?¡± The young man asked in order to satiate his curiosity.


    ¡°A rare graded two star jabberwocky.¡± The old man¡¯s response was filled with reverence.