Ater felt his heart race as he looked at his Master's calm, smooth face.
It had only been a brief moment since his Master fell into his slumber, but for the Familiar, it felt like an eternity. He had set up this room from scratch, using only the finest of materials at his disposal to make the ambiance worthy enough for his Master.
It still felt too shabby for his tastes, but Ater had to attend to the other assignments that his Master wanted him to handle, so he hoped that he would be forgiven for his inadequacies.
For his Master's protection, he made sure to erect a barrier that was invisible to the eyes of most. Regarding his Master's sustenance, particles of energy--containing nutrition that would energize the body--filled the interior of the barrier.
His Master was never going to starve or go malnourished under his watch.
In terms of hygiene, Ater made sure to personally--
"You look tired, Ater. Have you been working yourself very hard?" Rey's voice interrupted the Familia's thoughts, causing him to nearly break down in tears.
"M-Master...!"
If not for his mandated elegance, for the sake of his Master's image, he would have broken down in front of Rey and completely displayed his full emotions.
But... Ater would never slight his Master that way. Being the competent and capable Familiar that he was, he simply bowed once more, before straightening his posture to give a refreshing smile.
"Ah, I am fine. Being in the presence of lowly vermin just drains me and of life."
"R-really? Is it that serious?!" Rey gasped in shock. "I guess I burdened you too much..."
"It's just a figure of speech, Master. Haha, I'll be fine, so don't mind me."
Just one look at Rey told Ater that his Master was more than fine. He was literally glowing, his body carved like perfection.
His plain face ensured that the rest of his body displayed their full glory.
'I was alerted the moment he woke up, but since I figured Master would desire some time alone, I let him have his time alone.'
It pleased Ater that Rey called for him not too long after he woke up, though.
"Alright then. Thanks. Ah, also... please refrain from calling humans lowly vermin in their presence. I don't personally mind, but..."
'It's a little too late for that.' Ater's thoughts trailed as he struggled to maintain his composure.
Still, he nodded in recognition. "Understood, Master."
Ater found his smile broadening the more he looked at Rey, and it seemed the latter caught on to this. He shot the Familiar a suspecting look, but Ater didn't mind at all.
'Master is yet to recognize how much he has changed. This is so much fun!'
Like a giddy child who knew a secret but was waiting for the others to recognize it, Ater decided to bottle everything in; masking everything with his calm smile.
"There's a lot we need to discuss. I have a lot of thoughts, and questions, concerning what happened--especially after I fell asleep--but for now, I need to ask you something." Rey said, catching the attention of the loyal Familiar.
"Yes? What is it, Master?"
"Why... am I naked right now? Also, why do you keep looking at my body like that? It's seriously creepy."
"Those are two questions, though."
"You get the point!"
"W-well... I mean, I just thought it would be better this way." Ater said with a nervous smile.
The truth was that Ater had no real excuse for his actions. The particles that provided Rey nourishment could pass through clothing. The cleaning method that Ater used could also allow Rey to be dressed--perhaps only in underwear, but still...
In fact, wearing an attire--particularly an enchanted one--would offer Rey additional protection in case the barrier failed.
When considering all these factors, it was a mystery why Ater didn't choose that route.
"Better, huh? Okay then..." Rey said with a sigh. "I guess I'll trust you."
'Whew!' Ater sighed in relief.
"I wonder why I still have a connection to you, though. With most of my previous Skills gone, I assumed you wouldn't be in my control any longer."
As Ater heard Rey's words, he felt a little sting inside him.
"M-Master, come on. You can't just reduce our bond to a Skill." He whispered, clutching his chest a little tightly.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I mean... I made a pact with you down to our very Souls. I am yours, just in the same way you are mine."
That was why Ater was able to sense when tragedy struck his Master. He left all his business and immediately rushed back to his Master's side.
"Don't say it like that. It's weird." Rey sighed, placing his hand over his face while shaking his head.
It almost seemed like he was embarrassed.
"Really?"
"Yeah. If people heard that, they might start getting ideas."
"Hm? Okay then."
"Thank you, Ater. So if I get you right, you're still my Familiar since we were bound together by the Soul."
"That's right, Master!"
"Is that the case with all Familiars?"
"Well, I'm not sure." Ater shrugged. "I doubt it, though."
The Familiar deeply believed that what he had with his Master was special. Not many other Familiars could have the same kind of bond.
"What about those Pheonixes? I didn't even bond with them, yet…"
"There are some kinds of creatures who take a liking to an entity and attach their souls to that entity—even without some sort of mutual agreement."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I would also do the same even if we weren't bound like this."
"Pfft! Says the guy who wanted to murk me when I first summoned him. You think I'd believe that?"
Once again, Ater felt a sting in his heart, clutching his chest tightly as he held back the tears that would have leaked out.
"T-that was before I recognized your greatness, Master!" He yelled out. "I, Ater, would never leave your side after experiencing your power."
It seemed Rey didn't completely trust him, but Ater was being as sincere as he could be. His kind was known to be incredibly deceitful, and he was the very personification of the most evil kind of alignment.
But… he genuinely desired to serve Rey.
"What power? What greatness? I could barely even stop that Beast…" Rey suddenly spoke, his voice melancholic and his face crestfallen.
A different atmosphere took over the room, and it was clear that his Master had a lot on his mind.
Ater maintained his smile regardless.
'You don't see this now, but your true power does not lie in the present or past. It is in the future…' He narrowed his gaze on the somber boy.
'Within you is a seed. Perhaps the answer that I seek. That Skill you possess… it could prove instrumental in allowing you to see the true nature of this world.'
Ater felt his heart racing as impatience nearly swallowed him whole.
'Just a bit longer. Once you reach the SSS-Tier in Class, you'll finally be ready. Until then, I will do my best to guide and support you.'
Rey finally emerged from his sullen mood and looked at Ater's constant smile, reflecting the expression on his own face.
"Thank you very much, Ater."
"For what, Master?" He asked, his face displaying slight surprise.
Never before had he received a word of thanks from a Master
—not once.
The feeling was sublime.
"For everything. Thank you… for being by my side."
At this point, Ater could no longer hold back his tears. They streamed down his face as he looked at his Master's smile with pure bliss.
'No, Rey… thank you.'
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Thanks for reading!
I'll be traveling somewhere tomorrow, so I might not be able to write five chapters a day as I originally planned.
But I'll do my best!
