Fly Pharos fly!

"So what's the story with you and Harmony?" Lee teases you as the two of you plus Brice make your way back to the main academics hall. "Finally melting the Ice Queens heart?"

"Story? There's no story." You try to dismiss the topic.

"Oh come on. I don't think I have ever seen that girl smile once." Brice joins in. "Let alone show concern for anyone. Always serious business with her."

"Yeah." Lee chimes in again. "Oh my god! Are you ok?" He continues in a mock voice.

"Oh, did you guys see all that?" You laugh nervously.

"Everyone saw that." Brice assures you.

"I bet it's the hot gossip around campus by the end of the day." Lee laughs causing you to turn a slight shade of red.

"Come on guys. I don't know what's going on with that girl any more than anyone else. Maybe she is warming up to me but that doesn't mean anything is going on." You protest to your two friends. "Besides, what's the story with you and Parisa? Or that Eldric girl from illusions class?" You put Lee in the spotlight. "Or you and that pegasus girl with the dark hair from last night?" This time directed at Brice.

Now it's Lee's turn to redden a little. "Well. I uh... You know, a gentleman never kisses and tells." He stammers out.

"Well, I'll tell. You two chickens." Brice laughs. "Her name is Lenita but everyone just calls her Len. We became friends last year in our basic enchantments class. Things are... progressing."

"Yeahhh." Lee draws the word out with skepticism. "Anyway, what's on your plate for the rest of the day?"

"I promised Pharos I would take him out for some breathing room." You reply.

"Pharos?" Brice asks

"Oh, he's my familiar." You answer. "He has been cooped up in my room for a couple days now and needs to get out to spread his wings."

"Ah." Brice acknowledges.

"What about your familiar?" You ask Lee.

"He's rather small and seems perfectly content to sit guarding my room." He shrugs. "That's apparently what rock golems do. I tried taking him out a couple times but he didn't want to go."

"They are rocks, you know." Brice jokes.

"Yeah. Yeah. My familiar is lame. Whatever." Lee rolls his eyes.

"What about you Brice? You got a familiar?" You ask.

"Nah. Haven't taken that class yet." He admits.

Reaching a turn in the hallways, you stop before turning. "I'm going to head off to Seven Winds and practice summoning Pharos from there if you guys want to come along." You inform them.

"Nah, we told Noah we would meet up with him after practice. He said he's been cooking up something new for the weekend." Lee tells you.

"Ok. Maybe I'll see you guys later." You wave bye to the two and turn towards the exit leading to the Seven Winds Courtyard.

A short walk down the hall you push your way through the simple wooden door that opens to the courtyard. Its lush gardens brimming with colorful flowers arranged in elaborate patterns while imported trees from all over the world spread their branches across the skyline. The gravel crunches softly beneath your feet as you make your way into the first open area with benches situated beneath the tall stone torches that line the large circular area in the center. From here, multiple pathways branch off leading to other sensational arboretums, each more exotic than the last.

Deciding this is as good of a place as any, you take a seat on one of the benches. "Innuo adsignatos." You mutter to yourself and suddenly you find Pharos standing at your feet. "Hey boy." You greet the majestic bird. "Ready to spread those wings?"

Pharos dips his head repeatedly in affirmation, his bright crest of feathers bobbing with his movements.

"Go on then." You tell him. "Let's see what you can do."

Without hesitation, Pharos spreads his wings and leaps into the air, darting for the treetops at breakneck speed. He doesn't stop but instead clips the uppermost branches to scatter a handful of leaves to the wind before banking hard to the left. Pharos extends his wings out to their limits and holds them there, gracefully gliding under the late afternoon sun. Occasionally dipping down in a rush only to loop back up to the heavens.

"You really needed this didn't you buddy?" You ask aloud to yourself.