Familiars
Familiars have a long history in the Shiji-Long world. Created by the gods to be loyal supporters of their heirs, these animals help their masters in everyday life and even combat when necessary. Familiars are born of magic and are tethered to the Shiji-Long they bound to. Since familiars are magical beings, they can perform a certain range of magical tasks, including flying, storing energy or memories, or changing their size to help out their Shiji.
Familiars are born through clusters of magic. This magic takes a solid or crystaline state, depending on the amount of magic gathered. These 'eggs' can look like any type of stone and rock, up to the most delicate gemstones. These eggs have to be taken care of to hatch into their future forms. The time spent with the Shiji binds the familiar to them.
During this time, different items can influence of the familiar's appearance. The egg will hatch into different forms based on what substances and items surround it. Gemstone eggs are the hardest to hatch, since they need a lot of care and time.
There are three types of familiars. The most common ones are made after the image of normal animals. Most Shijis with a familiar have such a companion. The second type are mythological beings. The humans actually weaved them into their myths thanks to some Shiji traveling the earth. The third kind was especially made for royalty. These familiars harbor larger amounts of magic and look closer to the Shiji-Long in appearance, but need a lot more care to hatch.
Rumor has it that there may be a fourth type of familiar, born from impatience, greed, or selfishness. The magic that hatches familiars is sacred and it is said that it can be influenced by negative emotions. Although one has not been created for many years, it is said that familiars hatched under the wrong circumstances may come out as malformed, frightening creatures - or may lack any form at all.