Magic Familiar

By September 1989, half a year had passed since Touko had set off for Europe on her search.

Aoko had made remarkable progress along the path of Weave magic. In two years, she had raised her wizard level to 8, gaining two 4th-level spell slots at most, while her Intelligence score had increased by two points to 20.

However, Aoko still doubted whether her growth system was truly identical to the player's class handbook released in her "previous life." Before reaching level 8, she had obtained the so-called Spell Mastery feat through daily meditation and study. This allowed her to prepare certain spells through quick meditation without using a spellbook—the number of prepared spells corresponding to her Intelligence modifier ((20 - 10) / 2 = 5). This greatly improved the speed at which she prepared spells every morning.

Yet when she reached level 8, she had not gained the additional two points of Intelligence through a choice. It now seemed that even if she did not actively choose Intelligence, Aoko's Intelligence would increase as she grew. And if she acquired a feat ahead of time through her own effort and talent, it would replace the bonus feat rewarded upon reaching the corresponding level. So, for Aoko, class levels were merely a safety net. As long as she was smart enough and possessed sufficient physical potential, she could obtain certain class abilities ahead of time.

In game rules, such restrictions existed to balance character abilities, but reality apparently did not work that way. Just as when Aoko had chosen Alertness as her first bonus feat, her original Intelligence attribute had still increased by two points.

Based on Aoko's current understanding, so-called "classes" were actually humanity's understanding and application of certain cosmic laws. But at this moment, Aoko was not in Kingdom Tianyu, so the source of her class could only be the "Weave fragment" within her body, because this universe had no concept of "classes" at all.

In terms of spell learning, Aoko had mastered three 4th-level spells: Dimensional Anchor, Ice Storm, and Dimension Door. She had also learned several lower-level spells, such as Nondetection, Protection from Energy, Greater Mage Armor, and Dimensional Prison. These spells were all highly useful, but they had to be used in the right situations to achieve their greatest effect. That tested a wizard's experience and wisdom enormously.

Because Aoko had been highly educated in the sciences in her "previous life," she was especially skilled at mathematics. This advantage allowed her to progress exceptionally quickly while studying the local magi's "mathematical magecraft." Even Alice Kuonji, with her quiet and aloof personality, had praised Aoko's talent in mathematical magecraft several times.

Aoko studied mathematical magecraft under Alice because this type of magecraft improved the efficiency of magical energy circulation. Her own magical energy circulation was already inhumanly efficient, so Aoko intended to seize upon that strength, specialize it, and push it to its limits.

Through mathematical magecraft, Aoko had elevated her old standby, magic missile projection, to a level where even a Lord of the Clock Tower would have to exclaim, "Beast!" It perfectly displayed her destructive nature.

At the same time, mathematical magecraft was an auxiliary form of magecraft that helped magi construct spell formulas and magical workshops. Improving this skill brought nothing but benefits. Even Alice, her current mentor in magecraft, could find nothing wrong with it.

Aside from Aoko's own improvements, she had also spent quite a bit of money last year to purchase a New Caledonian crow chick from abroad and turn it into her familiar. These clever birds were already among the brightest of all birds, and New Caledonian crows were renowned for their intelligence even among crows.

After becoming a familiar, the little New Caledonian crow gained the supernatural ability to speak one language designated by Aoko. Considering how widely it could be used, Aoko chose English.

Based on Aoko's own Intelligence and level, this New Caledonian crow familiar now possessed an Intelligence score of 10. In other words, it had fully reached the passing standard of an ordinary human. Whenever she was bored, Aoko often chatted with it, and the girl and crow had developed a rather good relationship.

Aoko gave the clever little crow a name: Dashuang. She hoped the adorable little bird would grow strong and healthy every day. Dashuang was clever and obedient. It was deeply grateful to Aoko for turning it from an ordinary crow into a high-Intelligence wizard familiar, and it cherished its current identity.

It completed every task Aoko gave it with the utmost dedication, because Dashuang instinctively worried that if it performed poorly, Miss Aoko might replace it with another familiar. Then it would have to return to that muddleheaded existence as an ordinary animal.

No, not that! At least wait until the end of my life as a crow, right? Dashuang thought.

In truth, Dashuang's worries were completely unnecessary. In Aoko's eyes, Dashuang the New Caledonian crow was absolutely the best possible familiar. Not only was its innate intelligence slightly higher than that of other crows, but after becoming a familiar, its language ability was also more convenient than that of other familiars.

Besides, Aoko liked Dashuang's plumage. Up close, it was a smooth, "multicolored black" that looked remarkably refined.

Aoko had even spent a large sum to buy Dashuang all kinds of imported nuts, as well as various health supplements made specifically for pet crows. For the still-young Dashuang, these nutrient-rich foods would let it grow better, faster, and healthier than others of its kind.

Alice also had Robin, the PLOY robin left behind by her mother, as a companion for idle conversation over tea. Of course, it could speak as well, but it was ultimately an artificially created familiar. The robin's linguistic logic followed a magus's design. Outsiders might not notice, but as its owner, Alice understood that the robin's "personality" was actually restricted. Compared to Dashuang, it fell far short.

Moreover, Dashuang was a wizard familiar capable of sharing Aoko's spellcasting abilities to a certain extent. No matter what, Robin could not compare in that regard.

Alice Kuonji was a lonely girl. When she saw the interactions between Aoko and Dashuang, she said nothing on the surface, but deep down, she was very envious.

More than once, Aoko had noticed Alice secretly leaving snacks for Dashuang in conspicuous places. Aoko never exposed her, merely telling Dashuang that as long as the snacks were left by Alice, it could eat them freely.

Of course, Alice was not entirely without complaints about Dashuang. Yet the complaint was not directed at Dashuang, but at Aoko. Alice Kuonji was a girl who cared greatly about taste and style in life. When she first learned that Aoko had given her important familiar such a strange name as "Dashuang," she had nearly gotten into an argument with Aoko. But Aoko had kept deflecting and changing the subject, making Alice's punch land on cotton. In the end, the matter of Dashuang's name was dropped, and Alice gave up dwelling on it.

Perhaps Aoko would give Dashuang a new name someday, but for now, she could not be bothered to think of one. Dashuang was fine. A humble name was easier to raise.