Familiar Summoning

The day of familiar summoning had arrived, and an air of anticipation hung heavy in the courtyard of Allegria. Although I’d already had my first encounter with Riri—my mysterious, mismatched-eyed familiar—I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of excitement about the formal summoning ceremony. There was something about the bond between a witch or wizard and their familiar that felt sacred, and I wanted to mark this moment, despite knowing that Riri had already chosen me long ago.

The clearing where we gathered for the ceremony was filled with an eerie, magical energy that pulsed through the air. Master, ever the calm and collected figure, stood at the forefront of the group. His gaze swept across all of us, and his usual stern demeanor was softened by a flicker of approval.

"Today, you will solidify the bond with your familiar, an essential part of your growth as a witch or wizard. Your familiar will share in your magic, and through them, you will become more attuned to your true self."

His words were wise, but they hardly seemed necessary. I already knew the significance of the bond. It was through Riri that I had learned more about my own magic than any lesson in the classroom. The black panther had first appeared when I had saved the crown prince, his mismatched eyes gleaming in the moonlight. It was Riri who had calmed my runaway mana when I was on the brink of destruction, pulling me back from the edge and becoming my steadfast companion.

As we each stood in a circle, preparing to call forth our familiars, my heart beat in time with the swirling magic around us. Unlike the other students, I had already formed a bond with Riri—yet there was something about this ceremony that felt important, a reaffirmation of our connection. The air shimmered with power as each of us began to focus, reaching deep within to summon the creatures bound to us.

When it was my turn, I took a deep breath, closing my eyes and calling out to Riri through the bond we shared. He had been with me through so much already, from the chaos of the Battle Royale to my battles with magic, but in this moment, I felt his presence more strongly than ever. A flicker of shadow, then a gentle purring sound, told me that he was here.

My eyes snapped open as Riri emerged from the shadows, but what struck me was his size. When we first met, Riri had been about my size—small, sleek, and agile—but now, as he emerged into the clearing, his form had grown three times larger. His massive black panther body moved with the same grace, but his sheer size was enough to make the ground tremble beneath his paws.

I stood there in awe, feeling the power surge between us. This was no ordinary familiar. His transformation wasn’t just a result of the summoning—it was a reflection of my own growth. The increase in his size meant that my mana had improved significantly since I had first summoned him in the heat of battle. He was now able to return to his normal form, one that had been suppressed by my earlier instability in magic.

His mismatched eyes—emerald green on the right and golden on the left—gleamed with a quiet power as he padded toward me. I reached out and, without hesitation, he nuzzled me, his enormous head nearly knocking me off my feet. His size was a testament to our deepened bond and my progress in controlling my magic.

Master Eisen nodded, his eyes meeting mine with understanding. "It seems your bond is already firmly established, Valkyrie. Your familiar is a reflection of your own power. Now, remember, he is not just a companion but an extension of your soul."

Riri’s eyes gleamed as he rested his massive form beside me, curling up protectively as though nothing could harm me. I could feel the connection between us even more clearly now—the bond that would only strengthen over time.

The others summoned their familiars one by one, each connection as unique as the witch or wizard who had called upon it. Dion’s water serpent shimmered like a living river, Farrah’s wind spirit danced playfully in the breeze, and Caine’s stone golem towered over the rest of us, steadfast and immovable. Magnus’s lightning phoenix crackled with energy, and Amon’s hellhound stood with a fiery growl, its eyes blazing. Mira’s water nymph swirled in the air like a shimmering mist, while Tabitha’s flame spirit burned brightly at her feet.

Jared, with his poison affinity, summoned a venomous moth, its wings shimmering in shades of green and black, dusted with toxic powder. As it floated through the air, its eerie eyes gleamed with intelligence, releasing a faint poisonous mist with every beat of its wings.

Elara’s celestial griffin glowed with an ethereal light, its wings spanning wide as it took flight. I watched as each of them bonded with their familiar, feeling the shared magic, the quiet moments of realization. They were no longer just individuals—they were part of something bigger, something that transcended their own personal struggles.

Each familiar was a reflection of the summoner’s affinity and personality, and together, they formed a circle of magical creatures, each as powerful as the one who had called them into being.

As I knelt beside Riri, I realized that our bond had always been more than I could have ever understood. He had been with me since the moment I saved the crown prince, his presence guiding me when my magic ran wild, his strength supporting me when I was weak. But he wasn’t just a protector—he was a partner, and together, we would face whatever challenges lay ahead.

“I never got to thank you for saving me so many times.” Riri’s eyes gleamed as he rested his head on my lap, purring contentedly. He changed into his black cat form so he could sleep on my lap.

I reached out to stroke his sleek black fur, feeling the familiar warmth that always comforted me. Despite the tension between me and some of the others, despite the challenges I faced as the only human among witches and wizards, I knew that with Riri by my side, I wasn’t alone.

***

While I was patting Riri, the calmness of the moment was shattered when Amon’s hellhound suddenly approached me, its sharp teeth bared, ready to bite.

“Hey!” Amon yelled, trying to call the hellhound back, but it was too late.

The clearing fell into an uneasy silence as the hellhound moved closer, but then—just as quickly as the tension had risen—Riri stirred. The black cat from my lap suddenly opened his eyes wide, his mismatched gaze glowing like twin beacons in the dim light.

To everyone’s surprise, Riri never left my lap. Instead, he sat up with an eerie stillness, his eyes locked onto the hellhound with a dangerous gleam. The moment he made eye contact, the hellhound froze, its jaws hanging open, unsure whether to continue its advance.

Riri, with a slow, deliberate movement, raised his head. It was as if he was saying, Stay away from my mistress, or I’ll devour you where you stand.

The hellhound, its fiery gaze now filled with hesitation, took a step back, clearly feeling the weight of Riri’s silent threat. Amon, who had been ready to call his familiar off, stood stunned, his face paling as he watched the cat’s unblinking stare.

Everyone in the circle grew eerily quiet, the tension thick in the air. Even the bravest of the familiars, usually so confident in their strength, seemed to recognize the power in Riri’s stillness.

“Hey, your familiar is scaring everyone,” Dion whispered to me, his voice laced with a mix of unease and admiration.

“Yeah, me too,” I muttered in agreement.