An Extra’s Rise in an Eroge

"So, I think you should return to your position," the professor instructed, his tone steady, and Damien complied, albeit reluctantly.

With the commotion resolved, the class regained its composure, and the lecture resumed seamlessly.

"Arthur, you've certainly been in the spotlight since morning. It seems you're up next," Professor Harris said, his eyes twinkling with interest.

I stepped forward with a confident smile, ready to take on whatever was next. As I approached the beasts, the professor's gaze landed on the thunderbird perched on my shoulder.

"Hmm... you're selecting one of those?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "Why not try making her your familiar instead?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I'd like that, but how?"

"It's quite simple," he explained, his tone patient. "Send a trace of mana into her. If she accepts, her mana will synchronize with yours, and a mutual bond will form. If she rejects it, which I highly doubt, it means she doesn't wish to be your familiar. So, are you willing to try?"

"Sure," I replied without hesitation.

"Excellent. Just as I said, release a small amount of mana toward her. A trace is all it takes," the instructor encouraged.

I nodded and complied. Releasing a tiny thread of mana, I directed it toward the bird. To my surprise, as though she had been waiting for this moment, she accepted it eagerly. A warm, new sensation spread within me. Even with my eyes closed, I could feel her presence. Her emotions were clear—she was ecstatic.

[Ding! An Exemplary Feat Completed: "Bond Beyond Thunder"]

[Made an SS-rank beast your familiar!]

[Reward: Primal Tongue – You can now understand the language of beasts.]

"Marvelous!" Instructor Harris's enthusiastic voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"That was an exceptional display, Student Arthur. The process was remarkably smooth. Now, why not give her a name? Naming your familiar increases their favorability," he suggested.

I cradled the bird gently, smiling as I muttered, "What kind of name would you like?"

"Hmm... How about Boltie?" I ventured, only for her to shake her head vehemently.

"Not that one, huh? Alright, how about Thunderpuff?" Another emphatic shake.

"Okay, okay," I laughed. "Let's keep thinking. Sparkie?"

Her disapproving reaction was instant.

The professor finally stepped in, amused. "Student Arthur, your naming sense leaves much to be desired. She's not a dog; she's a mystical beast. Give her a name that reflects her majesty. If you can't think of one now, take your time."

"Ah, right. My apologies, Instructor," I said, embarrassed. Turning to the bird, I smiled. "It seems your name will have to wait a little longer." To my surprise, she nodded, relaxing as if she understood me.

"Now that you've formed a bond, shall we proceed with the class?" the professor asked.

"Of course, Instructor," I replied.

Turning to the rest of the students, Instructor Harris addressed them, "Did everyone observe how the familiar bond was established?"

"Yes, Instructor!" came the collective reply.

"Good. Now, Student Arthur will demonstrate how to share a familiar's abilities."

A minute later, as the situation spiraled into chaos, I sighed internally.

Now this has turned into a complete mess.

Never did I imagine things would take such an unexpected turn.

The once pristine grounds were now marred with scorch marks and smoking craters. Students were sprawled across the area, gasping for breath as though they'd narrowly survived a life-threatening ordeal. The thunderbird, perched proudly on my shoulder, appeared utterly satisfied, her feathers still crackling with faint sparks of electricity.

Meanwhile, I stood at the center of the commotion, mortified, as dozens of bewildered eyes turned to me, a mixture of awe and terror on their faces.

What in the world just happened? I thought, suppressing the urge to bury my face in my hands.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

To explain how things spiraled out of control, we need to rewind the clock just a little.

[A Little Earlier]

"Accept this Synchronous Amulet," the professor said, holding out a delicate silver pendant. Enjoy more content from empire

The craftsmanship was exquisite, with interwoven geometric patterns shimmering faintly under the sunlight. The artifact seemed alive, pulsing with a subtle magical energy.

"This amulet operates on the principle of Mana Resonance," the professor began, his tone steady and instructional. "It intertwines the mana signatures of mana beasts and their owners. When a mana beast comes into contact with the amulet, its unique mana imprint is etched into the amulet's enchantment matrix, capturing both its abilities and emotions. Simultaneously, the amulet attunes itself to your mana flow, aligning the two frequencies."

He paused for emphasis, his gaze sweeping across the attentive students. "This creates what we call a Resonance Matrix. It acts as a bridge between your mana and your familiar's. Through this link, you can share abilities, communicate intentions, and even sense emotions. But let me caution you—this bond is delicate. Any imbalance or misuse can result in... unforeseen complications."

"Understood," I replied with a nod, taking the amulet into my hands.

"Good," the professor said. "Now, channel your mana into the amulet and maintain the connection with your familiar."

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and allowed a steady flow of mana to pass into the pendant. The sensation was unique—like a gentle warmth spreading from the amulet and extending outward, solidifying the bond between the thunderbird and me.

"Excellent," the professor commented, his tone carrying approval. "You're doing well. Now, mentally project a command to your familiar. Let this be the moment you demonstrate her abilities."

A command? I pondered briefly. Considering her nature, thunder seemed the obvious choice.

Closing my eyes again, I visualized the concept of thunder—a small, controlled burst of lightning. I felt the bond between us grow stronger, and the thunderbird responded eagerly to my intent.

And then... everything went horribly wrong.

[Back to the Present]

Instead of a "small burst of lightning," my familiar unleashed an overwhelming surge of energy. A deafening crackle filled the air as arcs of electricity erupted from her wings, spreading out in chaotic, unpredictable waves.

The sky darkened almost instantly, heavy clouds swirling as a thunderstorm began to form. Lightning danced across her body, faint but ominous, each flicker hinting at the raw power coursing through her. Thunder cracked loudly overhead, drawing stunned gasps from the students and the instructor alike.

No one could have imagined this little creature was so… capable.

The spectators stood frozen, transfixed by the spectacle as the storm intensified. It was a mistake to linger. We should have run the moment we realized what was happening.

The lightning that had been dancing harmlessly between the clouds suddenly turned violent, striking the ground with explosive force. The earth shook under the relentless assault, leaving scorched trails and smoldering craters in its wake.

Panic erupted. Students scrambled for cover, some diving behind obstacles while others stood paralyzed by fear. The professor, who had been composed and confident just moments before, now watched in stunned silence, his disbelief evident in his wide eyes and slackened jaw.

I, on the other hand, stood rooted to the spot, horrified as the realization sank in.

The field was a disaster zone.

Chaos unfolded around me. Students screamed, beasts bolted in every direction, and the ground trembled with each new strike. Finally, Instructor Harris snapped out of his stupor and cast a shimmering shield dome over the field, deflecting the lightning and preventing further devastation.

Minutes passed before the storm began to subside. The dark clouds dissipated, leaving the air charged with an eerie stillness. My familiar, her feathers still faintly crackling with residual energy, descended gracefully onto my shoulder.

She chirped happily, puffing out her chest with pride as if to say, "Aren't I powerful?" Her bright eyes fixed on mine, demanding praise for her "achievement."

"Arthur," the professor finally spoke, breaking the tense silence. His voice carried a mix of astonishment and exasperation. "What... exactly did you command your familiar to do?"

"I..." I hesitated, my voice trailing off. "I just asked her to demonstrate a bit of thunder."

The professor gestured at the charred remains of the training field, his composure fraying. "Well, she certainly demonstrated something."

The students, still shaken, began to rise cautiously, exchanging nervous glances as they surveyed the aftermath. Nervous murmurs rippled through the crowd, some glancing at me with a mix of awe and apprehension.

"Student Arthur," the professor continued, pinching the bridge of his nose, "while your familiar's abilities are impressive, I must strongly advise against requesting such demonstrations in the future."

I nodded mutely, too embarrassed to respond, while my familiar nuzzled against my cheek, blissfully unaware of the havoc she had caused.

Instructor Harris turned toward the students, who were still visibly shaken from the incident. He let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, students," he said, his tone a mix of exhaustion and resignation, "I think it's safe to say you're not in the right frame of mind to continue with today's class."

He paused, scanning the group. "Your minds are in chaos, and that's not exactly ideal for bonding with your familiars. Take the rest of the day to recover. We'll pick this up during our next session."

The students exchanged glances, some nodding in agreement while others muttered nervously under their breath. Slowly, they began to file out of the field, their whispers growing louder as they stole frequent, curious glances in my direction.

I tried to ignore their stares, keeping my gaze fixed on the ground, but the weight of their attention was impossible to shake.

[Quite the show you put on back there,] Sol chimed in, her voice tinged with amusement as her laughter echoed in my mind.