By the time Adonis and Mia stepped out of the Familiar Shop, Quackner sat perched like a feathery crown on Adonis's head. Eclipse fluttered protectively around them as though it had just adopted a grandchild.
"People are staring," Adonis muttered, clutching the summoning-scroll under one arm. His mood was darker than night:
dragged into a boutique,
roped into a fake relationship,
and now saddled with a duck.
This is too much for his little head to handle
His eyes were dead and lifeless now like a walking cancer patient.
"You look scary," Mia observed, cradling her ice-blue hatchling. The tiny bird chirped softly, occasionally puffing a breath of frost. "Cheer up."
A small crowd of students gathered by the academy fountain, whispering:
"Is that… a duck?"
"They got their first familiar, how lucky"
'Isn't he top ranked bloom student, no wonder they got it first, but why its duck? is the guy's luck is too poor?"
"Don't underestimate it—he's a top-rank Bloom. Must be an ancient Divine Duck."
"Look how how the Duck looking down on all, its definitely a rare species."
"Enchanted, maybe? Ancient Duck bloodline?"
Hearing all of this, Adonis who was thinking life couldn't get worse now in despair.
He sighed. "Kill me."
"Don't underestimate familiars," Mia said, stroking the Phoenix chick's downy head. "Even weak-looking ones can grow powerful with the right nurturing."
"Easy for you to say," he grumbled. "Yours will be a mythical beast. Mine steals snacks and burps in my face."
Quackner hearing that felt being underestimated, so it hopped down with surprising grace, waddled three steps forward...and with a dramatic spin, kicked a nearby rock straight into the forehead of a boy who'd been pointing and laughing.
Bonk!
"OW—what the hell?!" the student yelled, clutching his face.
"Quack," said Quackner, as if delivering ancient judgment.
"Great," Adonis muttered, staring at the groaning boy. "Now it's kicked the bear-looking guy." This day is getting worse and worse.
"Who the hell are you calling bear?" snarled the injured student, rubbing his forehead.
"Tyrant Haul, ranked fifth—special Metal Element user, extremely rare," Mia supplied calmly.
"Oh, you're fifth," Adonis said in a flat tone, already turning to leave. His day is already shitty he don't want anything more now.
But Tyrant's pride flared. "You think you're better than everyone just because you ranked first? Your golden swords are nothing next to my metal body." the guy exclaimed. But Adonis don't even react in his depressing state.
"Is that so, then nice to meet you" Adonis replied, but his dead expression and neutral voice only angered the boy even more.
"You don't seem to take me seriously. Fine—duel me now!" Tyrant declared, grabbing Adonis's cloak and dragging him toward the raised stone Duel Stage by the fountain. Quackner chirped and hopped back up onto Adonis's head, ignoring the commotion.
Students from Bloom, Bud, and Weed classes poured in to watch. Eclipse flared its collar anxiously and let out a string of soft "uwuu wuu…" noises.
"What?" Adonis asked it. "You're saying I'm looking like a zombie?"
"Uwuuwuuu!" it said again.
"You are saying I can release my stress on this guy since he is so confident in his metal body" Adonis replied, steel entering his gaze and golden light sparking in his eyes. "I guess you're right."
Then his shone with cold light like hunter looking at his prey.