TBATE - The Help of a Certain Being

"Phew! Today's the day. You nervous?" I asked, Arthur as he stood at the front doors next to me.

"Not really. I'm excited, I'm happy, I really want to see these guys again after four years." He had a smile etched onto his face that could barely hold his excitement.

Just then, we heard a knock at the door.

"It's them," I confirmed, just as Sylvie jumped onto Arthur's shoulder..

"You're starting to get too big for this, Sylvie," he chuckled as he pulled the Dragon off of his shoulder and handed her to me.

"Don't mind if I do." I said as I grabbed her from his hands and set her on my shoulders. She cooed as she got nice and comfortable. She had a unique comfortability around me specifically, even to a degree that Arthur was surprised as she hung around me quite often.

He opened the door and was bombarded by a pair of weapons no man could survive. He didn't even have the chance to talk.

"Hi, every- OOF!" Was all he managed before a crying Angela and her deadly pair of breasts began suffocating him.

"Oh my goodness! You were alive! Look how big you've gotten! I'm so sorry, Art! I wasn't able to protect you! I'm so glad!" she sniffled.

"Mmfph! Mmmfph!"

"Angela, I don't think he can breathe..." A familiar voice pointed out.

"Eep! S-Sorry!" Angela squealed.

Peeling his face away, he smiled at the sight of his old companions. "It's so good seeing you guys again!"

"Yeah, it's nice seeing you guys again. How long has it been, almost two years now?" I made my presence known from behind.

The giant that is Durden patted his head and I saw his narrow eyes getting watery, triggering a tear from Arthur as well.

Adam smacked him on the butt. "Little brat! You know how devastated everyone was because of what happened? It's good to see you again, hehe."

"You've gotten better-looking, Arthur." We turned to see the charismatic Helen Shard with her signature bow still strapped to her back squat down in front of him. She lightly pinched his cheek and gave him a sympathetic smile before standing back up.

Suddenly, he was embraced again, but this time, I was thoroughly surprised. "Well, how about that." I smiled.

It was Jasmine. That cold, aloof Jasmine. She kept mute as she just tightened her arms around him, letting out soft sniffles.

He couldn't resist the urge to pet her head when she suddenly peeled herself away from him, her face scarlet. Quickly standing up and trying to regain composure, she shot him an embarrassed nod and turned away.

Because of the commotion, Sylvie had been stirred from her sleep and climbed off of my shoulders.

"Woah! What the hell's that?" Adam exclaimed as he looked at me. I shook my head, pointing at Arthur.

"The name's Sylvie. She's Arthur's contracted beast, but she has a special fondness for me, I guess. She tends to sleep on my shoulders as I let a nice warm combination of Fire and Wind mana soothe her to sleep. Good training for magic." I explained to the group as they looked at both of us in amazement.

"Holy crap! You already have a contracted beast? Do you know how valuable it is to have a bond? Oh man, I've been trying to look for a beast to tame these past few years but with no luck. The ones that they sell are way too expensive, too, lucky brat!" Adam was practically pulling his hair out in jealousy.