111. Familiar

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(Lex POV)

- So, thanks to the power of this star, Mr. Jingles was able to create his own pocket universe frozen in time? A world where the greatest dream of his life came true? And where, in fact, could he change reality? - I asked after listening to Ashley's story.

- Apparently, it is. - Grandpa replied.

"It's amazing, to put it mildly. - I said, taking the metal cube with the star inside from Ashley's hand and placing it in my inventory.

Be sure to explore this unknown artifact and find out all its possibilities. Already from what I knew, this star would be very useful to me. Still, it's not every day that you come across a device that can change reality, even if it's limited. I even have an idea where and why to adapt the Star.

- Here you are right. So, how was your adventure? - Ashley asked as we walked towards the RV.

- Everything did not go according to plan, but in the end, we achieved our goal. - I said, and then began to tell in more detail what had happened over the past few hours.

After making sure I couldn't get Excalibur, I immediately moved back to the USA and quickly found grandfather's bus thanks to a bug I left there a long time ago. Initially, I wanted to visit Hope to give her the Ubramant Diadema and two other artifacts that I confiscated from the Forever Knights for research, but after some thought, I decided that I could wait until tomorrow, after all, we will meet with Hope anyway in Salem. At the same time, I will find out if Hope found what I asked her.

In addition, I had a premonition that my family was in trouble, and I wanted to quickly make sure that everything was all right with them. Who would have thought that while I was gone, they would stumble upon the Holiday Village and figure everything out on their own. I did not expect this, but I am glad that my training and gifts were useful. It's good, after all, that I was convinced that the girls and grandfather are not helpless without me.

But still, I took a minute to drop into the Cave and send the Mr. Hyde Formula to the analyzer to find out its composition and properties.

- In the end, you destroyed the London branch of the Forever Knights? - Grandfather asked when I finished my story.

- "We did not do this, but this is the result of our invasion, yes. - I said as I opened the RV door.

Of course, I left out some of the nasty details from my story, like killing Chadwick in front of me, and the fact that I didn't even try to stop Tzul 'Kalu from doing it, although I had the opportunity to do so. Others shouldn't know about it. I want to protect girls from such cruelty of the world as long as possible. But I didn't say anything to Max, because I don't want him to think worse of me.

- I don't even know what to say about this. - Max said with a sigh, following me inside the bus.

- Grandpa, Lex freed a good cryptid from imprisonment and saved a friend from the possibility of being enslaved. I think he did everything right. - Ashley said, coming to my side.

- Honestly, I think so too. - Gwen said softly.

Looking at Gwen with a bit of surprise, I noticed that she stopped looking at me with such coldness and seemed to even start talking. It seems that Ashley has some merit in this, and while I was away, they managed to have a heart-to-heart talk. Finally, everything got off the ground. Well done Ashley.

- Yes I know. I'm just worried that you constantly get into some dangerous adventures. - Grandpa said to me as he got behind the wheel of the bus.

- Ever since I found the Omnitrix, we knew from the beginning that this would happen all the time. Especially since the battle with Vilgax was much more dangerous than this invasion. - I said, sitting down next to him and taking Nebula, who was still asleep, in my arms. She didn't even seem to notice my absence.

- I know it's stupid of me to worry about this after everything we've been through, but then we were together and I could look after you. - Max said displeasedly when we hit the road.

- I understand your feelings, Grandpa, but you will have to come to terms with it. There's nothing to be done here. Now this is our life. - I said with a sigh.

- Fuuh… I know. Never mind, it's just my parenting quirks. Better tell me what it was about time travel? - Max asked, looking at me and Ashley.

- Did you hear me tell Gwen about this? - Ashley asked in surprise.

- You had a private conversation, so I didn't eavesdrop. But still, I managed to hear that you and Lex went to the future while Gwen and I didn't see. - Grandpa replied.

- Well ... So it was. - Ashley said, and seeing my nod of approval, she began to talk about our nine-chapter adventure.

I only sometimes supplemented the story of the girl, but basically, she told the whole truth. Again, missing a couple of juicy details that Max should not have known.

- So that journey outside the universe was much more dangerous than you originally said? - Gwen asked.

- Very little. But it wasn't as critical as you think. - I shamelessly lied so that they would not worry.

- And you went to fight a crazy mutant with a force of 11,000 aliens? - Grandpa asked.

- Only 1'100. It's not as much as it seems. – I said with a weak smile, looking at the displeased faces of Gwen and Grandpa. At the same time, Ashley did not share their fears at all, but on the contrary, she thought that I was very cool. Thank you at least for this.

- You single-handedly went out to fight the genetically modified Vilgax, who is dozens of times stronger than ours, and who caused problems even for a guy with 10,000 available aliens in his Omnitrix? - Gwen asked again.

This time, I didn't even have time to answer, as a very dissatisfied Max again took the floor: - And you already dealt with that Ectonurite who tried to capture Ben's body and Omnitrix, without even saying a word about it?

- Ehe hehe… Yes. - I said awkwardly, laughing. Will start now.

- And after all this, you don't want me to worry about what might happen to you while you go away and get into such trouble? - with a raised voice, asked a very angry Max.

- Have you even thought about what might happen if you don't deal with that ghost? Why didn't you tell us anything? You could be in the same position as Ben. - showing that she and Max are real relatives, Gwen shouted with displeasure, using exactly the same tone.

Before I could even get a word in and say anything, they began to show dissatisfaction with my behavior and scold me. Gwen especially tried to do this. Although Grandfather did not lag behind her and agreed with her in everything.

While I had to endure the moralizing of my relatives, Ashley watched this with interest, while eating popcorn who had taken it from nowhere. Nebula could not be counted on either, as she continued to sleep. Traitors.

After half an hour of swearing and screaming, I was released to think about my wrong behavior and regret what I had done. To be honest, I already thought it would never end. In order not to attract the attention of the still furious Gwen and Grandpa, I hid in the back of the bus and continued to read the Spellbinder's Grimoire. And this is not a cowardly escape, but a tactical retreat, understand?

***

By the time it was already dark and we had almost reached the suburb of Boston, which we need to pass to get to Salem, I read several hundred pages of the grimoire, and finally found a ritual that interested me. It was a Bonding Ritual that allowed you to form a bond with a chosen animal to make it your Familiar.

How can I consider myself a true magician if I don't even have a familiar? It is imperative to correct this misunderstanding, especially since I already have a candidate for familiars, and at the same time very attached to me, without any ritual.

- Nebula, do you want to get even closer to me? To stay together forever? - I asked the blue tiger cub that was lying next to me.

Raising her head, Nebula looked at me for a few seconds with her very intelligent eyes, and then nodded, uttering a quiet: - Meow!

- That's good. - I said with a smile, sitting up straight.

The ritual itself not only creates a bond between us so that we can feel each other, no matter how far away, it will also allow me to understand Nebula's thoughts so that I don't even have to create a cat translator.

And most importantly, Nebula's life expectancy will increase. In fact, she will live as long as I do. And since I plan to live a very long time, Nebula will indeed forever remain by my side. In general, I'm not against it.

With time, when the bond becomes stronger, Nebula will be able to awaken magical powers, and perhaps even be able to use my Anodite powers. Plus, she can teleport to me whenever she wants. However, in all this, there is also an unpredictable element.

Do not forget that Nebula is not an ordinary animal, but a cryptid with the ability to manipulate probability. The unpredictable element is also my 'peculiarities'. There is even a chance Nebula will be affected by my serum as well. In the end, no one knows how it all will turn out.

The main thing is that it will not harm the tigress, but will only help her, so I can safely use the ritual. There is no risk in this, and I can not be afraid. Moreover, I received permission from Nebula herself, which will only strengthen the ritual itself.

- So, blue tigress Nebula, do you agree to accept an eternal bond with me, Alexander Tennyson, the magician and Anodite? - Activating my magical energy, I asked while creating a vessel and a knife at the same time.

- Meow. - the tigress meowed affirmatively.

- Then, to bind us forever, as a sacrifice, I will use our blood. - I said, and then poured some of my own blood into the vessel.

- It will hurt a little. - I said, carefully cutting the tigress's paw and adding a few drops of her blood to the bowl.

Seeing that little Nebula bravely endured the test, and did not even flinch, I continued to speak, gradually mixing our blood adding my Mana to it: - May Magic itself be our witness! Nebula Elizabeth Tennyson, you will be my faithful familiar and will support me until the end of my days. I, in turn, promise to answer you the same. Agree?

- MEOW! - the tigress meowed loudly, activating the power of the ritual.

The blood in the vessel began to glow brightly and I said, - I accept this connection. Ligans ad Familiares.

After my words, there was a blue flash of light that blinded us for a second. When the light disappeared, the blood from the bowl flew into the air, and, splitting into two drops, flew towards me and Nebula.

- It's needs to drink. - I said and swallowed my portion of blood, which tasted like chocolate. Nebula also drank her portion without any problem.

After that, we both lit up for a few seconds, and a thin magic chain appeared between us, which connected our hearts. The disappearance of the chain, marked the end of the ritual. Now, we are connected and I don't think anything can change that.

- Are you okay? - I asked Nebula, examining her. I did not notice any external changes, so everything should be in order.

- Meow! - Nebula meowed, showing her paw, which still had a wound.

- I'll heal now. - I said and turned into Doctor Fatty.

With the help of his healing powers, I healed my familiar without any problems. True, I did not take into account one problem. Dr. Fattty weighs at least a ton, so I caused the RV's rear suspension to drop to the ground and scratch the rear bumper a bit. Ouch…

- What's going on here? - Gwen asked as she appeared, pulling back the curtain behind which I was hiding.

- Nothing. Absolutely nothing. - I said calmly, in the form of a man, having already managed to use the spell to repair the floor that had caved in because of me and the damaged bumper.

- What is this chain? - Gwen asked, noticing Nebula and me bonding. It seems that although the chain is no longer visible, other magician, and perhaps only Anodites, I'm not sure, can notice its outline.

- I'll tell you later. Is there anything new? - I asked, changing the subject. I know Gwen very well, and when she learns about the Bending Ritual, she will definitely want to find herself a familiar. I don't feel like looking for an animal that Gwen will like and want to bond with right now. Let's leave that for another time.

- In general, yes. The news was about an earthquake under the British Museum. Is it because of you? - Gwen replied.

- How many times I say, it was not me who destroyed the base of the Forever Knights. But yes, due to the self-destruction of the complex, an earthquake occurred. - I said with displeasure, getting up from my seat, and Nebula went back to sleep.

- Anyway, the news said it was random seismic activity. - Gwen said.

- Is that how? It's good. The main thing is not to blame me for this. And then these 'knights' can do something else. Anything else?

- Yes, this is the most interesting. They showed a whole report about the Mystic and Rogue, assistants of the Legion. - Gwen said with a smile.

- And how? Do you like it? Or would you prefer to remain a Fire Witch? : I asked with a smile. Looks like my idea worked.

- No way. Mystic suits me very well. - Gwen said quickly, and then added more quietly: - And I'm sorry for acting like this the last couple of days.

- Nothing, I understand everything. So, have you forgiven me? - I asked hopefully.

- Not. I'm still dissatisfied with you. But, now I understand that I behaved very ugly and you did not deserve this. But this does not mean that everything will be the same as before. I need time. - Gwen said honestly.

- Is that how? This is at least some progress.

- You do not mind? Maybe you want to break up with me? - Gwen asked seriously, looking into my eyes.

- No, I don't, and never have. I will give you as much time as you need. - I said sincerely.

- Thanks. - Gwen said with a smile, and already wanted to kiss me, but at the last moment she changed her mind and went to Ashley.

As I watched the girl leave, I thought, 'This is going even better than I thought. It remains only to wait.'

We're due to arrive in a few hours, so I went back to bed, lay down next to Nebula, and dozed off for a bit. Today was a very busy day.