Cain woke before the bell.
Not because of nervousness and not because of excitement—his body had simply adjusted to the academy's rhythm faster than he expected. The stone walls held the night's coolness, and the pale light slipping through the narrow window carried the quiet promise of morning.
He sat up on the edge of the bed and rested his feet against the floor.
Today was not an exam.
That alone made it different.
Cain dressed without haste, fastening the academy robe neatly, smoothing the fabric at the sleeves. Outside his door, the corridor had begun to stir—soft footsteps, muted voices, doors opening and closing in staggered sequence.
He stepped out and joined the flow.
First-year students moved through the halls in loose clusters, the atmosphere noticeably different from the examination days. There was tension, yes—but it was softer, threaded with curiosity rather than fear.
"Do you think it'll hurt?" someone whispered behind him.
"I heard if your mana's unstable, the familiar rejects you."
Cain did not slow.
He followed the signs carved into the walls, descending the broad staircases that led toward the eastern courtyard. The academy architecture guided movement subtly—no guards, no raised voices, just stone and direction.
When they reached the open air, the summoning grounds revealed themselves.
The courtyard was vast, paved in pale stone, with a circular summoning formation etched into the center. The markings were old, smoothed by years of use, their lines precise but unadorned. Tall pillars surrounded the circle, each bearing faint elemental inscriptions that pulsed gently in response to ambient mana.
Students were directed to stand along the outer boundary.
Cain took his place among them.
From here, the circle looked ordinary. Not ominous. Not sacred. Just another academy structure designed for purpose.
The instructors arrived shortly after.
They positioned themselves along the raised steps overlooking the circle, robes moving lightly in the morning breeze. At their center stood Instructor Halden, posture straight, expression unreadable.
The murmurs faded as he stepped forward.
"Today," Halden said evenly, "you will form a familiar bond."
He paused, allowing the weight of the statement to settle.
"Familiars are elemental manifestations shaped by compatibility. They are not tools, and they are not weapons. They are bound companions."
His gaze swept across the students.
"To establish ownership and stability, each summoning requires a binding trace."
Several students stiffened.
Halden continued without emphasis.
"A single drop of blood. No more."
An assistant stepped forward, carrying a narrow case. Inside, rows of slim, sterile needles rested in perfect alignment.
"This is not sacrifice," Halden said calmly. "It is identification. The trace ensures the bond cannot be transferred, stolen, or overridden."
At the Royal Magic Academy, familiars are categorized solely by elemental alignment, not by rank or perceived strength. The Academy maintains this system to prevent premature comparison and to encourage steady, disciplined growth among students.
There are six recognized elemental classifications:
Fire Elementals — Manifestations of heat and combustion. Often expressive and aggressive, but capable of precise control when bonded with disciplined summoners.
Water Elementals — Fluid, adaptive entities that excel in endurance and recovery. Their behavior reflects balance and responsiveness rather than force.
Earth Elementals — Dense, stable familiars associated with defense and persistence. They tend to form strong, grounded bonds with their summoners.
Wind Elementals — Agile and perceptive entities. Known for speed, awareness, and rapid response to mana flow.
Lightning Elementals — Rare and volatile manifestations marked by sudden output and heightened sensitivity to emotional fluctuations.
Shadow Elementals — Uncommon familiars formed from absence rather than substance. They display subdued presence, minimal mana signature, and high adaptability.
The Academy teaches that elemental alignment indicates compatibility, not superiority. A familiar's development depends entirely on the summoner's discipline, awareness, and long-term control.
He gestured toward the summoning circle.
"The procedure is simple. When called, step into the formation. Channel mana evenly. When the familiar manifests, apply the trace."
No chanting. No embellishment.
"Before we begin," Halden added, "I will demonstrate recall."
He did not move toward the circle.
Instead, he raised his hand slightly and spoke clearly.
"Kael."
The air shifted.
A ripple of wind gathered above the courtyard, spiraling downward in a controlled descent. From it emerged a hawk formed of compressed air currents, wings spreading wide as it landed atop one of the stone pillars.
The wind elemental hawk folded its wings neatly, eyes sharp and alert.
No runes glowed. No circle responded.
Halden lowered his hand.
"This is my familiar," he said. "A bonded companion does not require repeated summoning rituals."
With a gesture, the hawk dispersed back into the wind.
The students watched closely.
The order began.
Names were called.
One by one, students stepped into the circle.
Each summoning followed the same rhythm: mana flow, elemental response, manifestation. A water elemental eel slithered into being, its form rippling smoothly. An earth hound emerged with a low rumble, stone plates locking into place. A wind lynx appeared silently, its body half-formed of moving air.
After each manifestation, the student pricked their finger and let a single drop of blood fall onto the summoning mark. The runes absorbed it instantly, sealing the bond without spectacle.
Clean. Efficient.
When Liora Valcrest was called, the atmosphere tightened subtly.
She stepped forward with composed precision, her movements economical, her posture flawless. She entered the circle and closed her eyes, breath steady.
Her mana flowed.
Fire gathered—not violently, but with controlled intensity. The runes glowed red, steady and contained.
From the center of the circle, a wolf took shape.
Its body was formed of condensed flame, muscles defined by shifting heat rather than flesh. Its eyes burned with a quiet intelligence as it stepped forward and stood at Liora's side, head held high.
A fire elemental wolf.
Liora opened her eyes.
She extended her hand, accepted the needle without hesitation, and let a single drop fall.
The bond sealed.
The wolf lowered its head briefly, then straightened.
No reaction followed.
Liora bowed once and exited the circle, her expression unchanged. She did not look toward the crowd.
Cain was called later.
By then, the ceremony had settled into routine. Students watched with interest, but the tension had softened.
Cain stepped into the circle.
The stone beneath his feet felt cool.
He released his mana evenly.
Shadow gathered naturally—not forceful, not dramatic. From it emerged a small feline form, composed of soft darkness that clung close to itself.
A shadow elemental cat.
It sat quietly, tail curling once around its paws.
Cain accepted the needle, pricked his finger, and let the drop fall.
The trace absorbed it.
The cat rose and moved to his side without sound.
No one spoke.
Halden recorded the result and nodded once.
"Next."
Cain exited the circle.
Around him, students examined their companions—some smiling, some cautious, some already whispering names. Cain did neither.
The cat stayed close, presence light, unobtrusive.
As the ceremony concluded, Halden's voice carried once more.
"The bond strengthens through time and discipline," he said. "You will integrate familiars into training under instructor supervision. Dismissed."
Students dispersed.
Cain walked back toward the academy halls, blending seamlessly into the flow.
He glanced down once.
The shadow cat looked back.
No emotion passed between them.
Only understanding.
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