The Seven Demon's Tamer

"This belonged to your mother," Dr. Hamm explained as he handed the pendant to Mara with care.

"She left it with me before her last journey, the one from which she never returned. She made me promise to give it to you when you were old enough to understand its significance."

"It's beautiful," Mara breathed, staring at the pendant with awe. The emerald seemed to emit constant emerald light, as she felt a strange warmth emanating from it even from a distance.

"It's more than just beautiful," Dr. Hamm told her, with sincerity in his tone. "It's a focus stone.

A rare and incredibly valuable artifact from the ancient times, during the early age of summoners when magic was wilder and more powerful than it is today."

It existed in the era of the last black mark summoner, many centuries ago.

He paused, looking at the pendant with a mixture of reverence and sadness. "The legends say that such stones were created by a celestial being."

"What does it do?" Mara asked, though she was almost afraid to hear the answer. Something this precious should come with responsibilities she wasn't sure she was ready for.

"It triggers at the time of necessity," Dr. Hamm explained, "amplifying and enhancing the wearer's potential relating to their familiar.

But more than that, it creates a strengthened affinity and enhances the physical capabilities of a familiar, but that is possible only for those who can control the focus stone, of course."

"Because she believed you would need it more than she did. She always said you would be special, would do great things. Even when you were just a baby in her arms, she saw something in you that others couldn't see."

Dr. Hamm's expression grew completely soft. "Because she believed you would need it more than she did.

She always said you would be special, would do great things that would require every advantage you could get. Even when you were just a baby in her arms, she saw something in you that others couldn't see."

He stood up from his stool, moving with the careful deliberation of someone performing a sacred ritual.

"She used to hold you up to the light—you couldn't have been more than six months old—and she'd point to things around the room.

'See that bookshelf, little one? Someday you'll read every legendary book on it and then be the subject of better ones. See that window? Someday you'll travel to all the places beyond it. See this pendant? Someday it will help you become everything you're meant to be.'"

With gentle hands, he moved behind her, and Mara felt the cool weight of the chain as he fastened it around her neck.

The emerald crystal, which was indeed the same color as her eyes, came to rest just below her collarbone. It was cool against her skin at first, but it quickly warmed up as if adapting to her body temperature—or perhaps recognizing her as its new owner.

"I don't know if all the legends about the stone are true," Dr. Hamm admitted, moving back to face her with his palms coming to rest on her shoulders in a gesture that was both blessing and farewell.

"I was never able to use it—it only responds to either its chosen bearer or rightful owner, and it chose your mother, and now it has chosen you. But I do know that your mother loved you more than life itself, and that's for sure.

She wanted you to have every advantage, every protection she could give you."

He paused, his voice still soft as he then continued. "To be more precise, this isn't a gift from me to you. It is a gift for you from your mother, one she planned from the moment she first held you in her arms."

Mara touched the stone gently, feeling its strange warmth and the odd sense of presence that seemed to emanate from it.

She had worn countless pendants during her lifetime—pretty trinkets, fashionable accessories and so on—but none had ever felt like this.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion as she sniffed. "Thank you for trusting me with this, for sharing her with me."

"Use it well," Dr. Hamm said softly, his own voice unsteady. "And come back to me someday, with stories of your adventures. I want to hear them all—every triumph, every obstacle, every moment of wonder you experience out there in the world your mother dreamed you would explore."

"I will," she promised, throwing her arms around him in a tight embrace. "I'll make you proud, Father. I'll make you both proud."

Dr. Hamm held her tightly, his small frame surprisingly strong as he wrapped his arms around her.

She could feel him trembling slightly, and she realized that this was just as hard for him as it was for her.

He was letting go of his only child, his last connection to the woman he'd loved and lost, and trusting her to a world that had already proven itself dangerous.

"You already have," he assured her, his voice muffled from the tight embrace. "You always have. From the moment you took your first breath, you've been my pride and joy.

Whatever happens out there, wherever your path leads you, remember that you carry our love with you always."

They held each other as the sun continued its descent toward the horizon, painting the ruined village in shades of gold and orange.

The wind picked up at that moment, gently swaying their hair.

Finally, reluctantly, after what felt like forever, Mara pulled back from the embrace.

It was getting late; she needed to prepare for tomorrow's journey, so she finally ended the embrace.

"I should have been packing up my stuff," she said, looking around at the scattered remains of their home with a forced smile. "But there is nothing for me to pack."

Her father followed her gaze, taking in the destruction with the resigned expression of someone who had already begun to let go.

"I am so sorry about that," he said, genuine regret in his voice. "All your books, your clothes, your research notes... Gone."

"It's alright," Mara said, and was surprised to find that she meant it. "Maybe it's better this way. I get to start fresh, without the weight of the past holding me back."

"How uplifting," Dr. Hamm said with a small smile. "Just like your mother. She used to say something similar when things always went south."

Brushing dust from his travel clothes, he continued. "But I can at least help with some practical matters. Let me see what I can do about preparing some food for your journey. You can't rely on Ryder and his friends for everything, or else you'll be a burden to them."

"No, probably not," she agreed with a laugh. "Unless you want to cook an eternity's worth of food."

Dr. Hamm's face went through a remarkable transformation, his eyes widening comically as his mouth fell open. "What!" he yelled, his voice cracking slightly. "Eternity!? How long exactly are you planning to be gone?"

"No, no, it's not like that," Mara said quickly, waving her hands in surrender as she realized how her words had sounded.

"I was just being... ironic. You know, because adventures can be unpredictable, and who knows how long it might take to achieve our goals with the Red Eastern guild."

Her father sighed deeply, one hand coming up to rub his temples. "Thank goodness. For a moment there, my mind went wild."

The mention of the Red Eastern guild brought a frown to his face even now, and Mara could practically see him remembering all the reasons he disapproved of her choice.

"You better be careful around him," he warned, though there was less heat in his voice than there had been earlier. "Or he will influence you to be a troublemaker like him."

"Relax, Dad," Mara chuckled, sincerely amused. "Why do you dislike him so much, anyway? If you really understood him, you'd know he's not the kind of guy you think he is."

Dr. Hamm's expression grew stern, his professorial composure returning momentarily. "There's nothing to understand about that kid," he said, folding his arms across his chest in an accusatory gesture.

"He got straight F's for three whole academic years in my subject. Three years, Mara!"

Mara burst out laughing, falling to the ground. "Dad!!!!"