The days passed and The Black Lion sailed through the vast ocean, Jack began to teach Clover and Grady how to summon their familiars. He explained that familiars were powerful creatures that could help them in battle and channel their magic more easily.

Clover and Grady were both excited to learn more about familiars, and they listened intently as Jack explained the process. He told them to close their eyes and focus on their inner selves, to let their magic flow freely.

"Imagine a creature that represents your spirit and your magic," Jack said. "Picture it in your mind, and call out to it with your heart."

Clover took a deep breath and tried to focus on her magic, but her mind was clouded with doubt and fear. She had never been good at this kind of thing, and she was worried that she wouldn't be able to summon her familiar when the time came.

She tried to remember the instructions that Jack had given her, but they seemed to be slipping away from her. She closed her eyes and tried to push everything else out of her mind. She focused on the image of the snail in her head, trying to make it as vivid as possible.

Suddenly, a memory popped into her mind. She remembered the time she was collecting rocks by the river with her father. They would spend hours searching for the perfect stones, and her father would tell her stories about each one they found.

She felt a surge of warmth in her chest as she held onto that memory. She channeled that feeling into her magic and pushed all her doubts aside. She opened her eyes and concentrated on the snail once again.

This time, she felt a surge of energy, and the snail began to materialize in front of her. She watched in awe as it took shape, its shell a beautiful shade of pink with swirling patterns of white and gold. The gemstone on its head was a deep blue, glinting in the sunlight.

Clover reached out to touch the snail, feeling a sense of calm wash over her as she did so. She knew that with this new ally by her side, she could conquer any challenge that lay ahead. She smiled to herself, grateful for the memory that had given her the strength to summon her familiar.

"Wow, Clover," Jack exclaimed. "You've summoned a celestial snail. They are known for their healing magic and support abilities. With this little guy by your side, you'll be able to heal yourself and your allies in battle."

Clover couldn't contain her excitement. She had always wanted a magical creature that could help her and her friends in battles. "That's amazing," she said with a smile. "What kind of support magic can it do?"

"Well," Jack continued, "the celestial snail can create a protective shield around you and your allies, enhancing your defense in battle. It can also enhance your weapons, making them stronger and more effective against enemies. And if you ever need to make a quick escape, the snail can create a temporary portal to get you and your allies out of danger."

Clover's mind was racing with all the possibilities of what she and the snail could achieve together. She was grateful to have such a powerful and supportive familiar by her side.

"I'll call you Pearl," she said to the snail, and it responded with a soft chirping sound.

Grady closed his eyes and took a deep breath, but the magic within him was unresponsive. He tried again, but his mind was clouded with doubt, and he couldn't focus. The creature he was trying to summon seemed so far away.

Just as Grady was about to give up, a memory flashed through his mind. It was a memory of his first sword that he forged, a simple blade, but he was so proud of it. The memory filled him with a sense of purpose, and he took another deep breath.

This time, when Grady channeled his magic, it flowed easily, and with a bright flash of light, the shimmering serpent appeared before him. Its scales glinted in the sunlight, and Grady could feel its power coursing through him.

"Congratulations, Grady," Jack said with a smile. "You've summoned a Crystal Wyrm, one of the most unique creatures in the magical realm. It can imbue your weapons and armor with magical properties, and it can also support you with battle magic and short-term enhancements."

Grady felt a sense of pride wash over him as he looked at his new companion. He knew that with this creature by his side, he could forge weapons and armor, not just for himself but for others as well. He decided to name it "Forgelight," as a tribute to his passion for blacksmithing.

The Crystal Wyrm coiled itself around Grady's arm, and he felt a surge of power flow through him. He knew that with this creature by his side, he could create swords and armor unlike anything the world had ever seen. He looked at Forgelight and knew that they would make a great team.

As Clover and Grady marveled at their new familiars, Jack stepped forward to explain their potential.

"These familiars are not just ordinary creatures, they will grow and evolve along with you," he said with a smile. "As you become stronger and more skilled in your respective crafts, so too will your familiars become more powerful and develop new abilities."

Clover's celestial snail, for example, will continue to develop its healing powers, and as it grows larger, its shell will become even more radiant and its wings stronger, allowing it to fly longer distances.

"As for Grady's Crystal Wyrm," Jack continued, "it will grow in size and strength, and its magical abilities will become more potent. It will also develop the ability to imbue not just weapons and armor, but other objects with magic as well."

Grady's eyes widened at the thought of what he could create with the Crystal Wyrm's help. He could imagine crafting not just weapons, but magical tools and objects that could change the world.

"You'll find that the bond between you and your familiars will deepen as they grow and change," Jack said. "They will become more than just pets or allies, they will become trusted companions and partners on your journey."

Clover and Grady felt a sense of excitement and anticipation at the possibilities that lay ahead. With their familiars by their side, they were ready to take on any challenge that came their way.

That night, Clover jolted up in her bed, sweat dripping down her face. She couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that was still lingering in her body. It was just a nightmare, she told herself. But it felt so real.

In her dream, she saw her parents being attacked by a group of shadowy figures. They were armed with swords and spells, and her parents were outnumbered. Clover tried to run to their aid, but she found herself held in place by some kind of magic. All she could do was watch as the figures closed in on her parents.

Just before they struck the final blow, one of the figures asked, "I'll give you one last chance, where is the Moon Tree?"

Clover couldn't make out the face of the figure, but the voice sounded familiar. She racked her brain, trying to remember where she had heard it before. The dream was starting to fade and before she could remember, she woke up.

As Clover woke up, she felt a sense of relief wash over her, she looked down at Pearl, who was still gently casting the healing spell on her. Her familiar senced her distress and had been trying to make her feel better.

"Thank you, Pearl," Clover said softly. 

She stayed awake for the rest of the night trying to remember the dream but it was no use.The dream was fading from her memory, slipping away like sand through her fingers. She tried to hold onto it, grasping at the fragments of images that remained, but they were too slippery. All she could remember was the terror she felt as her parents were taken from her.

The next day, Clover stumbled into the courtyard, her hears drooping with exhaustion. She almost tripped over a small rock on the ground, causing her to yawn and nearly fall asleep standing up. Her fur was a mess, and her clothes were wrinkled as if she had slept in them.

As she stumbled towards the group, Jack noticed her fatigue and asked, "Clover, did you get any sleep last night?"

"I had a nightmare," Clover replied, stifling another yawn.

"A nightmare?" Jack asked, concerned. "Do you want to sit this training out?"

"No, I'll be fine," Clover said, rubbing her bleary eyes. "Let's do this."

Jack began the lesson by demonstrating a few basic sword techniques. Clover struggled to keep her eyes open as she watched him move, her mind wandering. Suddenly, she jerked awake as Jack swung his sword in her direction.

"Sorry, Clover," Jack said, looking a little embarrassed. "I didn't mean to startle you."

Clover shook her head, trying to clear the fog from her brain. "No, it's my fault," she said, feeling embarrassed herself. "I'm just really tired."

As the lesson continued, Clover's movements were slow and uncoordinated. She was clearly struggling to keep up, her reactions dulled by lack of sleep. At one point, she even yawned in the middle of a swing, causing Jack to shake his head in amusement.

Despite her fatigue, Clover refused to give up. She was determined to learn the sword techniques, even if it meant stumbling through them with bleary eyes and a foggy mind. She knew that if she could master these skills, she would be one step closer to avenging her parents and uncovering the mystery of the Moon-

In that moment, Clover's mind started to work. Feeling stupid, she realized that she had been foolish and was overthinking the problem. She needed to tell Jack about the details she remembered.

After the training session, Clover pulled Jack aside and told him about her dream. Jack's expression grew serious as he listened to her account of the night before. He had always known that Clover was special, but he hadn't realized just how much until now.

Jack's mind was racing with the information Clover had just shared with him. It couldn't be, Jack thought to himself. He had to be very careful with his words, especially if Malakar was involved. He wanted to tell Clover everything about Malakar, but he knew it wasn't the right time. 

Instead, he asked, "Clover, are you sure you're ready for this? Seeking revenge is a dangerous path to take. It could put you in harm's way, and I don't want to see you get hurt."

Clover's eyes grew wide, and she looked at Jack with determination. "I know it's dangerous, but I can't just sit back and do nothing. I want to find the person who killed my parents and make them pay. I'm serious about this, Jack."

Jack sighed, knowing that he couldn't dissuade Clover from her path. "Alright, I hear you. But before we go any further, I need to test your skills. If you want to take down the killer of your parents, you'll need to be ready for anything."

Clover's face lit up with excitement. "Yes, anything! I'll do whatever it takes."

Jack nodded, he was proud of Clover's determination, but he also knew that the test he had in mind was not going to be easy. He would have to push her to her limits to see if she was truly ready for what lay ahead. 

"Take a good long rest and then come see me." 

End of Chapter.