CHAPTER 18, WHAT COMES AHEAD

After the meeting with Eridanus and Hydra who gabe me their Mediums, Eridanus' was a hair tie with a blue color and stars patterned into it while Hydra's was a bracelet that has a shake head on it we continued on our journey. I thanked Horologium and now that the water was gone we can cross safely now we just need to rest for a bit. I got a whip from Eridanus that looks cool, it doesn't have the whip part because she said it was a special whip that extends and grows freely it's called Hoshi no kawa, in Aerial Language it means River of Stars, it seems fitting. I fasten the whip to my belt and we all return to camp to get some rest, I'm tired as well. I lied down and I fell asleep easily.

When I wake up the next day I decided to go out and look for some herbs and medicinal plants so that I can make more medicine. I told Master and she told me to be careful and call if anything was up.

I walked through the forests that were turning orange and orange by the day, fall has gotten closer to its end, winter will be here soon. As I walked over the fallen leaves I saw mushrooms in the distance, some herbs. I picked countless herbs and stored them in a small pouch. I sat down with an *oof* and let out a sigh after returning to camp. "What's wrong Haru?" Alexi asks.

"Ah, I completely forgot I didn't bring my tools with me, I can't make medicine without it." I say with a sigh again.

After breakfast everyone seemed raribg to go but Master said to wait a little longer. I sit up and wonder how I could learn magic. "Master, do we have anything that can judge one's aptitude to magic?" I ask Master.

"We have a Magic Crystal in our care try that." She says and makes a small magic circle and hands me an orb. "Place your hand on it."

"Okay." I say and place my hand onto it and slowly a singular orb emerged, Master had a worried expression on her face. "Master, how did I do?"

"Well it seems you are compatible with a single aspect which is called Personal Magic besides your Summoning. Personal Magic as it's name suggest is a spell which only the person can use." Master says. "To awaken it you have to learn who and what you are. I'm sorry dearie, I have no idea how to help you."

"It's okay Master." I answer. "I'll figure it out."

After leaving Master I tried to figure out who and what I am. I guess I'll learn it eventually, but for now I have to focus on helping the Familiars around the world.

After departing for the Padparascha Plains, we who were inside the same carriage were talking. The ones on the same carriage are Aria, me, Neph, Storm, Yue, Rose and Alexi, Jade is driving. After a while the talk came to what I plan to do after our journey. "I think I'll permanently join the guild, it's pretty fun. Besides, I don't think I leave Aria in your hands." I say with a smile.

"Speaking of which when do you plan to have a wedding?" Rose asks.

"W-wedding?!" Yue suddenly looks down.

"W-we just started out... there's no way... wedding?" Ari was at a lose for words.

"Haru-sama will have fifteen brides." Horologium says and suddenly appears beside me.

"F-fifteen!?" We all exclaimed. What the heck!?

"How do you know?!" I asked him.

"My magic, Future Sight allows me to see somethings." He answered and disappeared.

"F-fifteen... whoa... that's Haru for you." Rose teased.

"I don't care, as long as we're among those fifteen!" Aria exclaimed and I just smiled.

As I noticed Yue looking drowsy I leaned her head to my shoulder and gave her a gentle smile, she after all. She easily drowses off and soon after Aria places her head on my shoulder and does too. These two are adorable when they're asleep. I feel drowsiness kick in as well and soon follow after the two.

I open my eyes again and when I do it's only me, Aria and Yue in the carriage, I try to wake the two and it seems they still want to sleep so I let them lie down on the carriage for a bit. I go outside and see that everyone is getting ready for lunch. "Oh? Haru, had a good nap?" Neph asks setting the table.

"Yeah, the girls are still sleeping though." I tell him and just then I feel the ground tremble. "T-this is, an earthquake?"

"Master, something is advancing from the west towards our direction." Dia says. "That's not all, it's being chased by men in black cloaks."

"Taurus, the Bull." I say and run towards the west, it's not Tsukikage that's chasing him it's Shadow's Order.

"Haru! Wait up!" Neph says running after me. "You need help don't you?"

"Yeah, don't go running in without a plan." Rose says running after me.

"Master, we'll be back soon." Dia says to Master as we run along.

The ones with me are Dia, Rose, Storm, Neph and Alexi, I'm thankful to have friends like them. As we rushed forward I saw that it was Taurus, being pursued by Shadow's Order. We decide it's best not to split up for now and just face them here. "Come, my Dragon Familiar, Draco." I say as my necklace dawns the Dragon Medium.

"Master?" He asks.

"Cover for Taurus." I tell him and he nods, he's in his dragon form. "Meanwhile let's deal with these guys."

"Garden, Rose!" Rose says and a bunch of thorns grow and send our opponent flying.

"Sky Dance." Storm says charging forward with a strong gust of wind.

"Brionac." Neph says and a spear appears in his hands and he charges in at his enemy.

"Don't look down in me, I'm the queen of the gems, Diamond!" Dia says charging in with a gauntlet made from what appears to be diamond.

"I may not be as strong as her but I am powerful!" Alexi say and just then the ground shifts and giant crystal grow and send the enemies flying.

As I'm about to join the fight I feel something, an attack! It's aimed towards, Dia. "Adamantine Shield!" I say and a round shield blocks a spear that flies to Dia's direction.

"Thanks Haru." She say.

"Tsubaki-san, deal with the ones in the shadows." I tell Tsubaki's group who are watching in the shadows via telepathy.

"Understood." A voice answers.

I reach for my whip and aim for the hand of the man who was about to slash Rose. He grins and tries to pull me closer but the whip just extends. "This whip, made from the River of Stars Familiar, can stretch and move freely, meaning it doesn't end!" I say and pull on it and he is sent up into the air, the whip part looks like it's made of water with water on it.

"Haru behind you!" I hear Rose say and I see an arrow fly towards me.

"Pay head and block my foe, protect the one I will, Protection." I hear Yue's voice chant and the arrow is deflected. "Haru-sama, are you fine?"

"Yue! Aria!" I call out to the two who are running to our direction. "Stay alert!"

"Where do you think you're going?" I ask the man who is bound by my whip, I'm about to walk towards him when my foot suddenly hurts, I look down and see that the heel of my shoes have gotten worn out. This gives him the chance to break free and run away along with his companions. "Darn it."

"Haru, are you fine?" Aria asks helping me up.

"Yeah, my shoes have gotten worn out though." I say and I stand up. "Where's Taurus?"

"He rushed to our camp. He's waiting there now." Yue said and we returned to camp where a man wearing dark brown pants, with black boots and a checkered button up shirt with brown vest and a cowboy hat, he has brown hair with white skin and sapphire blue eyes.

"Hey there, the names Taurus, my guess yer' Haru." He says looking at me, I just realized but his hat has bull horns on them. "Since ya here, I'll form the contract on one condition, ya gotta beat me in combat."

"Okay, but I need to change my shoes first." I tell him and search my pack.

"Yer taking too long, here." He says and hands me boots that have a black color with white tips and hard heels. "Wear that."

"Thank you." I say and try them, just then they glow a light blue color and shirt to my size. The black color turns blue as well.

"These here boots change to fit their owner. They've got whatcha call them again ...Enchantments, they boost yer kicks and running capacity." He says. "Consider it a greeting gift, ya got something from Eridanus and Aries-chan after all."

"Thanks." I answered and wore them, I've noticed a few Familiars have been giving me combat gear lately.