Chương 19: Impish Therapy

Ever since his conversation with Finneas, Mark had not been able to stop thinking about obedience training. Teaching an imp not to burn down a classroom was reasonable, but to use magic designed to alter a familiar's personality should never be an option. Since it still seemed to be a few minutes before Professor Thornwhistle would arrive, Mark slipped off his bench and tucked his tail close enough to avoid hitting anyone or anything.

He squeezed around Torvax and Skarl to the staircase and then walked down toward the front row on the section next to them where Finneas and Edwin sat. Ember perched on Finneas's shoulder with one taloned claw raised, a small flame hovering above its tip. The imp was not bored, which was obvious from the delighted intensity in his eyes. Mark was in awe as he got closer as tiny adjustments of Ember's claw made the flame rapidly change colors from blue, then yellow, then orange, then a rich, steady red.

Ember was acting as if he was playing with the most interesting toy in the world, which unfortunately happened to be an excellent way to destroy property. Edwin noticed Mark approaching before Finneas and looked rather frustrated when he saw Mark heading in their direction. Whisper was not on Edwin's shoulder, but Mark's widened peripheral vision caught movement near the top row where Damien sat with his golden golem.

Mark glanced that way and sure enough Whisper was there, talking to Damien although neither of them looked happy at each other. Oh boy Whisper and Damien that will likely be a volatile combination. Edwin followed Mark's glance, saw Whisper, and closed his eyes for half a second.

"Please tell me you are not coming over here to start an argument. I was just hoping for a few minutes of rest before class." Edwin said.

"I actually came over to try to prevent bad things from happening. Specifically wanted to talk to Finneas and Ember," Mark said. Edwin blinked and looked confused for a second. He then glanced at Finneas. Finneas had been watching this conversation with Mark and Edwin but on mention of him and Ember he chimed in.

"You're the kobold who asked me about obedience training earlier."

"Yes."

"So, why do you want to talk to us?"

"Actually I wanted to talk to you and Ember a bit about obedience training, if that's all right." Mark looked directly at the imp. Ember's head swiveled away from his flame and went toward Mark for the first time. The flame in his hand disappeared as he looked at Mark.

"Can I just say I am relieved you hiss on your S's?" Finneas said.

"You spoke so oddly in our other conversation that I was beginning to wonder whether you were secretly a changeling who took on the appearance of a kobold for some reason, but your S's are pure kobold."

"Changeling? What's a changeling?" Mark had heard of changelings before, but of course had no idea what that word meant here. Regardless, it pleased him more than it probably should have that someone had heard him and thought there was something odd about him. Mark liked Skarl, but he would never think of himself as a kobold, and was happy to hear when other people thought he was something more than a typical kobold.

"They are shapeshifting fae that like to impersonate other creatures and like all of their kind hate demons. They usually speak too formally as their biggest tell. Hence why I thought you may have been a changeling."

"Well I'm not a changeling. It's just the thought of obedience magic used on Ember made me want to help if I could." Finneas's eyes narrowed.

"You're a kobold familiar who was just created. How can you help?" Edwin next to Finneas scooted up to the edge of his desk.

"Let him try Finneas. This should be hilarious!" Finneas looked over at Edwin before turning back to Mark.

"Fine I'll let you talk to him, but he doesn't like to speak to anyone who isn't me. If he is willing to talk to you I can understand him in his language through the bond, so can translate. If you rile him up or he doesn't want to speak and I tell you to go will you?"

"Absolutely" Ember then started chittering rather frantically to Finneas.

"Oh it appears he does want to speak to you." Mark then looked directly at Ember and gave him a smile which he hoped did not come across as threatening.

"Ember, I'm sorry I don't know your language, so Finneas will need to translate. I'd like to ask you a few questions, if you'll allow it." Ember's eyes widened. He then created another flame in his claws. Mark decided to proceed, "So Ember, what do you like about setting things on fire?" Ember chittered immediately, which sounded more like noise from sparks rather than speech to Mark's ears. Finneas listened, then sighed.

"He says fire is fun."

"That part makes sense," Mark said.

"What part is fun?" After a moment, Ember spoke again, longer this time, the flame above his claw splitting into three smaller flames that circled one another. Finneas's eyebrows rose despite himself.

"He says fire moves, fire changes and makes dull things interesting. People make better faces when they notice his flames. Ember chittered again, sharper. Finneas added reluctantly, "And breaking rules is always funny."

"That is useful to know." Finneas stared at him.

"What, how is that useful?" Edwin next to him started chuckling again.

"It is useful because it tells us what he gets from the behavior which is very important information." Mark kept his attention on Ember.

"Let me see if I understand. The fire itself feels good. You enjoy seeing the fire, but the reaction you get from other people is a good bonus. Plus you enjoy things that are funny." Ember's flame brightened. Finneas translated it as "obviously."

"That makes sense." Finneas looked horrified.

"Please do not encourage his arson."

"I'm just validating his reasoning, not encouraging him to commit arson." Mark glanced up at Finneas.

"If you only punish the behavior and ignore what he gets from it, he'll keep finding ways to get the same rush from making fire and doing things that he finds fun and funny. He isn't going to just magically not want to cause mischief if he gets enjoyment out of it." Mark returned his focus to Ember.

"Here is the problem. Right now, to you, fire is fun and the reactions you get are funny. I understand that, but the Academy will likely not see the humor. They see the damage to property and see it causing potential danger to other people. They very well may decide the behavior is not something you are doing but something wrong with who you are. Then they will try to change you. No one here wants that." The flame above Ember's claw disappeared. Finneas said, "I have told him that. More than once.

I told him the Academy can intervene if they decide I cannot manage him. I told him there are spells that can force him to be obedient, and he tells me that is just what masters say when they want familiars to be boring."

"Why do you think that Ember? What makes you think that Finneas is telling you this just to be boring?" Ember chittered for quite a bit. Finneas translated.

"He says imp is imp, and masters don't like imps. They think us bad and want to take away what makes us, us. We are fire, fun, and mischief. To be boring is worse than death. An imp without fun has no purpose."

"Ember, has Finneas ever given you a reason to think he doesn't like you? Has he ever told you, he hates your fire and wants you to be boring?" Ember took a while to respond, but eventually chittered rapidly. Finneas had tensed, likely worried about whatever Ember might say about him, but he quickly started smiling, and translated when Ember finished.

"He says I don't act like I hate fire. That I wanted a fire familiar, and we both think fire is powerful. The day I created him, he says he enjoyed that I actually had ideas for pranks. He enjoyed how we pranked his younger brother and made him think a fire was in the house. He does say that I get too angry when he does, and he knows that I don't trust him. He also doesn't like how I stay up all night because I think he will burn down our house. He says he is not evil, just mischievous and wants to have fun.

He says he would never intentionally hurt me."

"Ember, do you think you have earned Finneas's trust?" Ember pulsed red and chittered quickly… stopped… Then chittered slowly looking down. Finneas translated.

"He says he is a good imp, and has earned trust! It's just since I don't trust him, he wants to prank me and make me worry and that causes him to set fire to things that will cause me to get annoyed. He then says that… Actually… he sees… he hasn't earned trust. But he wants to earn trust!"

"Ember, how could you earn Finneas's trust?" The chittering was softer and quieter then became more animated. Finneas translated.

"He says by doing what I say, and not make me feel in danger. He just wants to have fun. I…HEY!" Finneas looked hurt.

"That's not true. I do not want to take your fire! I wanted a fire familiar and I just don't want to get in trouble for what…" Mark had been holding his hand up trying to get Finneas to stop talking. This was always the problem about not having a neutral third party translator.

"Finneas, that is your perception. When you translate I need to hear what he says, not your interpretation. If possible translate directly, don't say he says this… I know he is your familiar but his perception is just as valid as yours, and it sounds like Ember thinks you are trying to take his fire." This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Ember chittered. Finneas started translating again but this time Finneas tried to translate it more word for word.

"Is my master's fear really true. Could they use magic to change Ember?"

"Finneas's warnings I believe are true." Mark said.

"I've heard other wizards discuss those spells too, so I don't think Finneas is bluffing. From what you've told me, he likes your fire, but he is afraid someone with more authority will decide your fire needs to be taken away from you. I don't think Finneas hates all mischief and wants you to completely stop. The fact that you worked together to prank Finneas's brother is proof he enjoys a little mischief himself." Ember made an angry chittering sound. Finneas translated, "No one touches my fire."

"Then we have to make sure they don't think they need to. I want to work with you, Ember. However, fire can be dangerous. If you are destructive with your fire to provoke reactions it makes your mischief not fun for anyone else but you." Mark leaned a little closer, but was careful not to crowd him.

"I'm not asking you to stop liking fire, or to stop having fun. Actually what I really want to know is what else gives you some of that same fun that burning things does, but won't make the Academy feel the need to control you.". Finneas translated Embers chitters and seemed a bit surprised.

"Pranks. Flame colors. Fire shapes. Burning things that are supposed to burn. Making people jump in surprise, but not from pain." He paused, listening more carefully.

"He says pain makes them stop being funny." I can work with that.

"So we build around that," Mark continued.

"Creating fires in your hands and changing the colors and making fire shapes are safe anytime unless Finneas says otherwise. I saw you do some pretty amazing looking flames when I came over here. Burning things is safe when Finneas gives you something meant to be burned in an environment it is safe in.

"Now burning things that aren't yours without permission from Finneas crosses into harm, and harm is exactly what gives the academy permission to control you. Pranks are possible, but they need rules. Maybe as long as nobody is hurt and nothing important is damaged a prank would be fine? Does that seem a reasonable compromise to both of you." Ember chittered.

"Does making Damien's shadow look like it has horns count as a safe prank." Mark could tell from Finneas's expression while translating that he did not think this was a good idea. He glanced briefly toward the top row where Whisper and Damien appeared to have become a bit more animated since his last glance.

"That may be an acceptable prank," Mark said. Finneas stared at Mark.

"Please do not say that."

"It is, though. It does not burn anyone. It does not destroy property, nor does it injure anyone. Compared to setting something on fire, or throwing a fireball at Damien, altering his shadow to have horns is a significant improvement." Ember made a delighted sound and pointed at Mark as if he had finally located the only reasonable person in the room other than himself. Finneas rubbed his forehead.

"I do not want 'better than setting Damien on fire' to become the standard for acceptable classroom behavior."

"It is not a great standard. Clearly we need a firmer boundary than that, but it may be a useful starting point. What harm does Ember altering shadows actually do? It sounds funny to me."

"Yeah Finneas, what harm can altering shadows do!" Edwin still had a very large smile on his face.

"I cannot believe I am being advised by a kobold familiar to allow my imp to create demonic shadow horns, and people think this is good advice. Have you seen him alter shadows before? Damien would freak out!"

"Finneas, the two of you have to be a team. If he needs mischief in his life you have to give him a version that is safe enough not to get you two in trouble. Altering shadows seems like a safe prank with little downside, but If you really think Damien would get angry I'd just advise Ember to hold off on pranking Damien today. Honestly, pranking anyone who ends up getting angry at your prank or who you know will get angry because they can't handle a joke is a bad idea." Ember objected.

"Not today, but maybe some other time you can prank Damien." Mark repeated.

"For today let's start with someone qho can take a joke and who would not object as much. Damien objects to familiars thinking, so he definitely would object to you changing his shadow and then everyone laughing at him." Ember chittered.

"He says he could practice on Edwin."

"No," Edwin said immediately.

"I don't want him to change my shadow. I haven't seen it happen but I've heard about it, and I don't want to be a laughingstock on the first day of class. Whisper is making me look bad enough already."

"Maybe you can practice on objects today or your own shadow. Maybe Finneas's shadow, if he agrees." He paused, then thought of a better practice target than Finneas.

"Actually, Ember, I give you permission to alter my shadow in any way you see fit. You may practice on my shadow once before class if you want. I already have small horns, so horns may not be a very fun prank but if you want to make the shadow look less kobold-shaped, I do not object." Oh if only he had the power to actually turn me into a non-kobold and not just my shadow that would be even better.

Finneas sent a look to Mark as if he just made a very unwise decision, but try as he might Mark did not understand the concern. It was a shadow. Who cared if the imp changed what his shadow looked like? Ember seemed genuinely pleased with the agreement.

"You both also need a signal," Mark said.

"Something Ember can do that will notify Finneas when the urge to burn or prank is getting strong, before he makes a choice that gets both of you in trouble." Ember objected in a sharp burst. Finneas translated, "He says his choices are excellent."

"To you they may seem excellent, but if they were always so excellent would we be having this discussion, Ember? The imp looked a little irritated for a moment and quieted, but after a few seconds, he started chittering again and tapped two claws against Finneas's shoulder. Finneas looked at him.

"Two taps means you want to do some type of safe fire? Is that right?" Ember chittered and tapped twice again.

"Good," Mark said.

"When he uses that signal, answer clearly. If yes, give him something safe. If it's impossible like during class it will be your job Finneas to tell him when you can allow it. Do not say later as that is too vague. Say for instance after class in the courtyard. Give him a real answer and then don't break it." Finneas looked at Ember and started talking.

"After class in the courtyard I'll find scrap parchment, and you can burn it while I watch. You can even go and practice on the shooting range in the courtyard with your fireballs, and I can practice putting it out with my substrate water magic since I got to get better at that. However, Ember, you can't set anything on fire while we are in class, although you can safely play with your flames. Does that sound fair?" Ember stared at him and chittered slightly. Finneas added, "I mean it. I won't forget."

The imp then bowed to both Finneas and Mark.

"Thank you, Ember. Give these ideas a try, and if something isn't working, we can always adjust it later. Finneas exhaled slowly.

"Well I have no idea if this will really work but you seemed to get him to listen. How did you do all of that? No offense, but a kobold familiar walking over without his master to talk to my imp did not inspire any confidence."

"No offense is taken." Mark glanced at Ember.

"I… Well, I have some memories that explain why I did what I did. The key thing is there's always a cause for behaviors. Now that you understand Ember's reason to set things on fire and what he gets out of it, you will hopefully be able to guide him to safer outlets for everyone." Mark then smiled a toothy grin, "I'll send my bill through the mail." Finneas looked very confused after Mark's last sentence.

"Bill through the mail? You don't really expect me to pay you, do you?" Mark's smile deflated.

"That was a joke. As a fellow familiar I wanted to help out another familiar using some skills I have. I'm just glad to help both of you anyway I can." Hmm… I guess my humor doesn't work here. I wonder if they even have a postal service. Mark then looked at Edwin.

"I'd love to talk to you and your familiar as well after class. He seems to be a bit of a handful." Edwin glanced over at Whisper who was still with Damien, and sighed.

"Well that's an understatement, but yeah you can try. By any chance are you a Venwick familiar?"

"Yep, according to Wes that's what I am. Tessa told me and Wes that Whisper was created from the Venwick ritual as well, and so we have something in common. Maybe Whisper would like to compare our previous memories since we both seem to have some."

"He definitely isn't in a good mood now, but maybe he won't be as angry after class." Edwin then chuckled as he said, "If you're able to use your knowledge to calm him down like you did Ember, I would be willing to pay you."

"That really was a joke." Mark returned back to his seat in the third row and settled beside Wes, who had watched the exchange with open curiosity.

"What were you doing?" Wes asked.

"Talking to Ember, helping him find ways to have fun without burning down the Academy." Mark then paused as he wanted to verify something.

"So, I learned Finneas understands Ember because he is his master."

"Yes," Wes said.

"The bond translates a familiar's natural language for the master. It's pretty handy especially when familiars know very little Common" Mark stared at him for a heartbeat, then turned and spoke in Draconic. Despite Mark wanting to say a full sentence just one long guttural word came out of his mouth.

"Can you understand me?"

"Yes."

"You understood that."

"You asked if I could understand you."

"But you couldn't understand Skarl or Torvax when they spoke Draconic."

"No. I can understand you. It's because of the bond." Skarl leaned over Torvax's book bag. He stayed in Common, perhaps for Wes's sake.

"You Draconic good-good. Accent strange, but words clear-clear." Then he lowered his voice and shifted into Draconic.

"You went to speak to the imp because you did not want them changing his mind with magic. Is that correct?" Mark glanced toward Ember.

"Yes."

"Good thing," Skarl said.

"But he is still an imp. Tell an imp not to do one thing, and he will find three ways to do it sideways." Something tugged at Mark's lower back. It wasn't hard or painful but just a strange, pulling sensation at the base of his spine, as if his tail had caught on something behind him. He glanced down to check for anything his tail may have caught on, but instead saw his shadow which now had two tails.

He looked over his shoulder, and emerging from the base of his spine beside his first, was a second red scaled tail. He could move it, but it was just as uncoordinated as his original tail. Evidently with his shadow magic if Ember alters the shadow what he alters actually happens. This was very powerful magic, but Mark really hoped it was short lived, because one tail was annoying enough. He could not imagine having to live with two uncoordinated tails bumping into each other or causing him to get off balanced.

Mark turned toward where Ember was sitting. Ember was still perched on Finneas's shoulder, his yellow eyes squeezed shut in fierce concentration and with one claw raised toward Mark. Finneas followed Mark's stare, saw the second tail, and went pale.

"Ember." Ember cracked one eye open. Mark took a breath, felt both tails twitch, and then, laughed. It came out as a sharp yipping sound.

"That," Mark said, pointing at Ember, "was a very good prank." Ember's eyes opened fully. For a few brilliant seconds, the imp wore the largest smile Mark had ever seen on a face that small. Then Mark's second tail vanished. The pulling sensation disappeared with it, leaving Mark with only his original tail. The tail lashed behind him as if it was offended by the unauthorized competition. Could this imp actually turn me back into a human theoretically?

Doubtful that his powers were anyway strong enough to do it and even if it was it would likely be very short termed but… could this imp be part of his solution? Just then true yelling came from the top of the amphitheater where Whisper and Damien had been arguing preciously. Whisper was extremely upset.

"How dare you insult my species!" Damien's voice followed, albeit he wasn't yelling and so Mark could not quite understand what he was saying. Whisper's response however was loud enough for everyone to hear.

"You are a disgrace to sapience itself! The fact that you chose to create a non-sapient familiar shows how brainless you are! I wish I could force you into a familiar bond and see how you like it!"

"Whisper, please..." Edwin from his seat sounded mortified. Mark knew he should not react. Anything aimed at Damien could splash back onto Wes, and Wes already had enough problems with Damien without his familiar adding more. Unfortunately, Whisper had just said exactly what Mark had wanted to say all morning. Worse, Mark had already been primed by Ember's prank, so his body was on the border of laughing already. So it should have been no surprise when a loud yipping noise escaped Mark's muzzle.

Since he was turned around, staring straight at the argument in progress, there was no way Mark could pretend the laugh was about anything else. High above them, Whisper turned away from Damien and fixed his glare on the laughing Mark instead.

"You little scaled mining vermin, laughing at me..." Before Whisper could move to confront him, the door at the top of the chamber began to glow with soft blue light that intensified with each passing second. All activity in the room ceased for a second, then a mad dash happened as everyone who wasn't in their seat suddenly scrambled. Mark's laughter died in his throat.

Whisper climbed down the amphitheater steps with great speed on all fours and clambered across to where Edwin was sitting down climbing up onto his shoulder. Ember went perfectly still. Goldheart's tail stopped wagging. Even the badger next to the dwarf stopped his irritated growling at his master and the elf nearby and laid down beside the dwarf. The raven at the front did not move, just watched. Mark's tail curled around his leg. His hand went to his coin, seeking comfort in the familiar weight.

His other hand gripped the stone desk hard enough for his claws to scrape against rock. Wes went completely still beside him. Mark notices he had sat his white rock on the stone table he was facing. On the other side of Mark, Skarl's breathing went shallow, and Torvax's hand settled on his shoulder. The blue light intensified until it was almost painful to look at, but then the door opened and out stepped a tall woman with dark blue robes settling around her.

At the front of the room, the raven looked directly at Mark and blinked once. It was time for class to finally begin.