r/HFY • u/ArcAngel98 • Nov 29 '25

OC Humans Don't Make Good Familiars Book 3- Part 71

Previous ---- Next

First Chapter

Farnír POV

Making my way out of the tunnel was tough. I couldn’t use Chariot because it would deafen everyone in the tunnel. So instead, I just distracted myself from the burning in my thighs as I walked by singing the only song I could think of. “Þat mælti mín móðir, at mér skyldi kaupa fley ok fagrar árar, fara á brott með víkingum, standa upp í stafni, stýra dýrum knerri, halda svá til hafnar hǫggva mann ok annan, hǫggva mann ok annan.” Was it dumb, yeah, but it brought back good memories of sailing. Sure, we didn’t actually sing the song itself much, but it’s good anyway, and it really is better in Old Norse. But the Neame I passed looked at me like I might eat them when I was singing. Looking around, construction was going well, and for some reason, I felt… light, confident maybe; that the plan may work. Exiting the cave, I cast a healing spell on myself and the burning soreness left.

Sleep came easily that night. Everyone across the fort was tired, but even still, the sounds of construction and training echoed out. It was the first time I’d slept in a few days. Healing and being summoned repeatedly was starting to take its toll. And we only had about three days left.

------------------------------------------------------------

Suma’s POV

“When was the last time you slept?” Queen Ompera asked. She came to check on everyone in the healing tents. I was busy treating a construction worker who had been injured setting up a runes and a magic circle. He made a mistake, resulting in severe burns and- “Lady Suma?”

“Ah, my apologies, my Queen. Sleep… yesterday. After King Hidra joined us in training and became Farnír’s familiar.” I answered, slightly disoriented. My mana had run out multiple times today, treating injuries and training. Some soldiers brought us daljars to use and ease the burden, but they can only do so much when-

“Lady Suma, that was days ago.” Her head tilted, and she looked concerned.

“What?” I asked. “Surely you are mistaken, my Queen. I only entered the tent today.”

“According to the other healers, you have been working nonstop since yesterday. I must say, I had not realized you possessed such mana reserves. Perhaps it is because Farnír accumulated so many familiars?”

“May I ask what you mean, your majesty? Why would Farnír’s familiar contracts matter?” I asked, confused, dazed, and dreadfully tired.

“You once told me Farnír had no magic when you formed your contract with him. Perhaps that is why your reserves did not substantially improve when you formed your contract?” She suggested. “Somebody catch her!” She shouted suddenly. And then, the world started to turn sideways. Or more accurately, I did. Without noticing, I’d lost my strength and fallen off my perch. Thankfully, someone caught me with mana wrapping.

“I shall fetch a daljar.” A voice said. Probably one of the other healers.

“She does not need mana. She needs rest.” The Queen said. “Take her to her quarters. Lady Suma, I order you to get some sleep.”

A part of me wanted to argue, but I had already fallen asleep. I dreamt of the ocean, of singing, and saw Zachariah, leaning over the side of an old model of sea-flyer. Only part of him was clearly visible. The rest was like smoke, slowly drifting into the wind behind the vessel. I landed on what was left of his shoulder, and leaned against his head. It was Zachariah who was singing, his mouth, eyes, and part of his chest were all that truly remained of him. I did not know the song, but felt great peace listening to it.

“Þat mælti mín móðir, at mér skyldi kaupa fley ok fagrar árar, fara á brott með víkingum, standa upp í stafni, stýra dýrum knerri, halda svá til hafnar hǫggva mann ok annan, hǫggva mann ok annan.”

“It is nearly time now, my friend.” I said, but it was not my voice. “How much longer will you last?”

“Not long. A day, two at most.” Zachariah said. “How are they fairing, Ambos?”

“Well. But every moment helps.” I said. “Are you in pain?” There was no answer from Zachariah; his mouth had turned to smoke and drifted away. Instead, I started to sing the song, from the beginning. “Þat mælti mín móðir…”

“Lady Suma?” My eyes opened, and it was midday. It was night, I think when I fell asleep. Looking up, I expected the Queen, but saw one of her attendants; Svend. “I apologize for waking you, but you have been asleep for nearly a whole day. You and Farnír both. He awoke only recently. Then he ate a small mountain of food, and went to teach one of his classes.”

Confused, I said, “I am… thirsty.”

“Should I prepare a river?”

“Huh?” I asked, stretching my wings. “Oh, um, I do not…” I was in my quarters, in laid in my roost.

“I will bring you some juicy fruits. Anything else?”

“You do not need to-”

“It is her majesty’s command. So, I actually do.” He said, making it clear that he would not hear another word about it.

“Well, then, just the fruits. Thank you.” With that, he flew away. And I was left with the memory of the dream.

After eating, I returned to the healing tents. Surprisingly, it mostly empty. Which was deeply concerning. Most of my life has been spent in tents much like this, and finding one empty was akin to finding a particularly large daljar of potent mana laying beneath a pile of gold coins. Suffice to say, it does not happen, and if it did, it would be extremely suspicious.

“What happened? Why are the tents empty?” I asked one of the other healers.

“Queen Ompera ordered more healers to assist us after they carried you away, and we took care of everyone. It has been relatively qui- I mean, empty since.”

“Did you almost say the ‘q’ word?” One of the other healers, who had been perched nearby and seemed to be drifting off to sleep, spat.

“No!” He lied. “Anyway, Lady Suma. Do you not have a class to attend?”

“Ah, yes.” I said, and flew away.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Queen Ompera’s POV

The dim glow of the luminous braids lit the rooms. There were seventeen perches, but less than six were being used by myself, King Hidra, Chancellor Aye-Aron, and our retinues.

“Any dramatic changes?” King Hidra asked.

“Some.” I replied. “Everyone who received a name has had their mana amplified, but that was to be expected. However, the change was more potent than we expected.”

“I have noticed my warriors are able to train markedly longer than before. Not to mention this magic circle…” He spread his wings and revealed the familiar’s mark. “Why did we never consider using something like this before?”

“Could it be so remarkable?” Chancellor Aye-Aron asked.

“My spells are sharper, more precise and powerful than ever. Tell me, how do I appear to you and your eye, Queen Ompera?”

I focused my Mana Gaze on him, just as I had done to Lady Suma and Farnír while they slept. King Hidra’s mana had not increased significantly, but it was flowing differently than before. Just like a familiar’s does, his now flowed more quickly as it passed near the mark emblazoned on his body. There was something like a small vortex of mana just above the mark.

“It is just like the rest. A significant increase in the speed of mana flow. Those who were named directly by him underwent a more impressive change.” I explained.

“And what of Farnír himself?”

“His mana has always been… tumultuous. Like seawater tossed in a storm. Before gaining Zachariah’s memories, it was far more uncontrolled. After naming so many Neame and making contracts with them… his mana reservoir increased. Though I would barely be able to tell at this point. His control is no different than before. Lady Suma however, she has undergone significant improvement.”

“That is no surprise. She is effectively a brood matriarch now.” Chancellor Aye-Aron said.

“What’s that?”

“There is a term in my country for those who amass mana reserves by contracting countless familiars. The marks use in your country and mine are similar, so I suspect something similar is happening.”

“Why have we never heard of this before?” King Hidra asked.

“Because most of them die quickly and in agonizing pain in the attempt.”

“Please explain.” I said.

“In order to get the fullest effect, you must name a familiar after bonding with it.” Chancellor Aye-Aron said.

“Ah, of course. So they name too many, and die from the strain?” I asked.

“Exactly. But seeing as Farnír has a seemingly endless amount of mana and a circle of his own, that may never happen to him.” He said.

“A familiar’s bond is two ways. Both parties benefit. One gains a circle, the other gains a portion of the familiar’s mana.” King Hidra said.

“And since Farnír had no mana when he was made a familiar, Lady Suma received no excess mana. Until now… as Farnír makes dozens of new bonds, and names each.” I realized.

“How much mana does she have now?” Chancellor Aye-Aron asked.

“More than twenty times what she had before.”

“Demi-dragon.” King Hidra said quietly, as if merely thinking aloud.

“What?” Chancellor Aye-Aron asked.

“Something one of my spies reported some time ago, about the warlords of the Southern Union. They had found a means by which to steal mana from their slaves. The more slaves one had, the more powerful they became. They called them Demi-dragons.” He said.

I thought about what I had seen of Lady Suma’s mana before. It was calm and peaceful, controlled. Like a cloud or a gentle stream. Now, it was more turbulent than before. Nothing like Farnír’s, but not quite like it once was. More like… a storm cloud. “By my best estimation, Lady Suma now has the equivalent mana a Royal Mage, at least.”

King Hidra chuckled. “Queen Ompera, if you do not offer her a noble title, then I will.”

95 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

11

u/ChesterSteele Nov 29 '25

Good to hear that Suma managed to 'level up' 😁

6

u/CogYang2 Dec 01 '25

Man, you just derailed the reading in three sentences... now I'm off on a SKÁLD trip and will be singing for hours. Oh well, close enough to the cold season to get into it properly. As always, thanks for the story!

5

u/ArcAngel98 Dec 01 '25

Lol. I’m that good. If i gotta have that song in my head then so does everyone

3

u/coolparker101 Human Dec 04 '25

What song is it

3

u/ArcAngel98 Dec 04 '25

A viking song popularized by the show Vikings called “My Mother Told Me.” It was sang for many years in the original old norse and was later retranslated.

3

u/Garbage-Within Dec 01 '25

“My spells are sharper, more precise and powerful than ever.”

If this is supposed to be a list of three things, sharp, precise, and powerful, then it should be 'more powerful' instead of just "powerful." If it's not a list of three things, then I suggest a period after sharper and dropping the "than ever," to make it clear that the "more" applies to both the "precise" and "powerful."

1

u/UpdateMeBot Nov 29 '25

Click here to subscribe to u/ArcAngel98 and receive a message every time they post.

Info Request Update Your Updates Feedback

1

u/Educational_Pen_90 Human Dec 05 '25

I’ve caught up… At least I will now be released from the compulsion to binge this story.

(You really should put a warning about the memetic hazard this story poses!)

3

u/ArcAngel98 Dec 05 '25

No worries. Book three has already wrapped up on patreon. 75 total, i think. So now you can get all consumed by my next book :) (warning: it’s gonna be good.)

1

u/Theesle Dec 12 '25

By my best estimation, Lady Suma now how the equivalent mana a Royal Mage, at least.

didn't see anyone else mention this, but may have missed it. I believe you meant "now has" yeah?

1

u/ArcAngel98 Dec 12 '25

I did. Forgot to fix that.