WARNING NOTICE: Graphic Content
In the Necroforce Camp, a thick forest far away from civilization in the city of Metropolis, there was a group of tents spread out. They surrounded a big circular contraption with a diameter of ten meters. In the middle of the contraption were two teenagers nervously sitting in the middle of the runes, waiting for their Pets.
"What do you think we will get?" Zephyr asked as he touched his knee, sitting with crossed legs in a meditative position, but there was no response.
"Sera, Sera," he hushed, trying to get her attention. "Seraphina..."
"We are to sit silently and meditate as we listen to our breaths and project our energy into our surroundings," Seraphina said with her eyes still shut as she continued her meditation.
"But we have been at it for over ten hours now, and nothing has happened. I am tired and hungry," Zephyr argued as he struggled to keep his back straight and maintain the appearance of meditation.
"That's when you keep pushing," Seraphina said as she monitored her breathing pattern, focusing on her meditation.
"Are you sure those guys know what they were talking about and are not quacks? I mean, a seven-day fast locked in a room with no distractions from outside—my mind is as screwed up as it can be. You only had to fast for two days before butting into this shenanigan."
"And those two days, I fasted diligently," Seraphina quickly added with an angry sigh, her brows furrowed. "I will not let you take my blessings."
"Your blessings?" Zephyr asked mockingly. "This is my initiation; it was planned for me. If there were a pet to show up now, it would go to me and not you. And there is a high probability of only one showing up since this ritual was made for one. I don't know how they plan to magically make two appear two days before the ritual."
Seraphina's breath grew louder as she struggled to focus on her breathing. 'Iwill not fall into your trap. I will not give in to anger. I will keep my calm and composure, as the type of lady I want to be in society,' she thought, filling her mind with calming thoughts—only to hear Zephyr scoff with no intention of hiding it.
They were both friends—best friends, if you may say. Seraphina's mom was Zephyr's mom's best friend and had been for many years now, ever since their first encounter during a Parents Come To School Day in their junior years. Zephyr was once a calm, quiet boy and still played that front, but as they grew older, it became evident how much of a jerk he could be. He knew when to stop but would not stop until he had seen a sign of giving in or breaking down.
After learning this, Seraphina decided she would not give him the satisfaction he wanted. He would not see her break down before him. She was a strong, independent woman!
"Do you still play those scenarios in your head?" Zephyr asked, tilting his head, no longer bothering to keep the pretense of meditation. He had had enough and was reaching his breaking point. He no longer felt the initial pain from hunger and thirst as if he had grown accustomed to it, but he could not help feeling very irritated.
Seraphina stared long at his blue eyes, which were keenly observing her. He had reason to bear animosity toward her, but it simply was not her fault. He could not attack the cause, but the effect was within his reach. It would be cowardly to go after her, but he could not help it with how annoying she could be.
"It is not my fault your father cannot keep his thing between his legs," she said, maintaining eye contact with him. If he was antagonizing her, she would not sit back and watch. "Or that he prefers my mother."
An awkward silence followed as they engaged in a staring contest.
"How good do you feel after saying that?" Zephyr asked with a smirk and a light scoff, crushing whatever bravado she had summoned to say those words. "Your mom is a sl*t—a mistress. That is what she is seen as and will ever be seen as, and you will be seen as a child of a mistress, born out of wedlock. Whether that is true or not, that is how you have been portrayed. If I were you, I would loathe your mom for attaching such a shameful title to your already insignificant name."
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Circe Astra, Seraphina's mom, was watching her child along with Willow Mistral as they sat quietly, watching their kids.
"What do you think will happen if one of our children gets a pet?" Circe asked as she gently swirled the warm cup of strong tea in her hand.
"Each child will go back with a Companion," Willow said as she looked at her son with an expressionless face.
"What makes you so sure that they would get not only Pets but above Pets—Companions?" Circe asked in a worried tone as she clicked her metal spoon against the ceramic cup, earning a disdainful gaze from Willow.
"I am sorry," she muttered under her breath as she dropped the spoon on her makeshift table under the tent she shared with Willow Mistral.
"What makes you so sure I did not make preparations for you?" Willow asked as she continued watching her son.
"As you know..." Circe began to explain herself, but her words were drowned out by Willow's thoughts as she looked at her son. 'He has had a very stressful week. He should be very hungry—no, in fact, famished. I feel that way too. I don't know how much pain he has had to endure during this ritual. I just pray to the gods he gets a good Companion.'
'Like I?' her Companion asked, breaking her thoughts as she was brought back to reality.