"Welcome students to The Sentience Coven's annual convention!" A lady will naturally silver hair and a young face spun across a stage, "I'm Chrissy, a pro water witch who will be your main guide for today,"
"Today you'll be focused on familiar bounds. As familiars spirits of another realm and give us a level of depth to our witch powers, you just know how to use and care for them properly,"
"Now most of you have familiars who remain in the spirit realm, so we'll split you guys into groups,"
"Ones without familiars, ones with familiars currently or spend the most time in the spirit realm, and ones with familiar who spend most of their time in our realm," Ms. Chrissy pointed out different marked areas and left the students to find their way to their group.
Vex stirred in his slumber but didn't feel like waking up. I smiled a bit as Wynter and I walked to our group.
"How can you tell if he's asleep or in the spirit realm?" Wynter teases and I chuckled dismissing the seriousness of the question.
"Vex has undergone tons of training so to spare energy he sleeps,"
Wynter nodded before pulling Maple out of her bag holding her under her arms. She squeaked and squirmed.
"She's the opposite. Wants to do it all but barely has the strength to not pass out from exhaustion," Wynter gently dropped Maple, or maybe she leaped out herself before she went off running.
Wagging her tail and running between our legs. Then she ran in front of me and started barking for Vex. Vex shuffled a bit before he squeaked back, now eager to play. I picked him up and let him out to mess around with Maple.
The two ran and tackled each other.
"I'm glad you're feeling better," I whispered to Vex as he continued to bite at Maple.
I looked over at Wynter who only grinned like an idiot. He didn't speak but he had something to say. Our arms playfully brushed past one another as our hands tucked deep into our pockets.
We watched our familiars play and intermingle with each other and other familiars.
"Tempest is that you?" A voice squealed taking me by surprise.
I twisted my body to turn and look for the source of the voice until I saw a redhead come bubbling down to me, her curls bouncing and hopping from the winter wind.
The girl stopped in front of me with her hands on her knees panting like a maniac, "Woo! I don't get out much!" She breathed barely finishing her sentence.
Wynter looked between me and then back to her in a deep confusion noticing the familial similarities between her and Vivianne.
She perked up and outstretched a hand to him, "Marianne Ivory, Vivi's eldest sister. You must be Wynter, the blue hair is a trademark,"
He blinked twice trying to comprehend what was going on. Soon he fell victim to Marianne's handshake. The moments his hand locked with hers she pulled him into a tight hug lifting him from the ground. She dropped him back to the ground leaving him completely speechless.
Vivianne soon came to follow up with her slow walk. I wanted to hide from her, I was still bad about how things ended but I don't want to let her go.
"You look pensive, did something happen?" Wynter asked and I didn't answer him.
Vivianne descended a nearby hill and grabbed a hold of me immediately without saying a word to anyone else. My hand was still in my pocket but she only hung from my arm. I looked down at her but she didn't seem to want to talk any more than I wanted to.
Marianne and Wynter seemed to pick up on our tension but remained quiet before we continued to the site.
I watched Vivianne's mouse familiar, Poppyseed, trying to play with Maple and Vex. Vex seemed indifferent to him as he climb atop of him. Poppyseed brushed up against Vex's fur in a nuzzle.
Same here buddy. I tried to tell him through my thoughts but he seemed to have another problem on his hands. A very angry Maple was being quite hostile to Poppyseed who seemed to ignore her cries.
I looked up at Wynter to see if he was gonna do anything but he didn't seem to care. Wynter looked deep in thought about something. His eyes temporarily locked with his mind for a second before he turned to Vivianne. His face narrowed a bit but when I turned to Vivianne she looked away from me.
If only I could read minds, then I could feel more at ease being around her but she hasn't said a single thing to me.
We arrived such as the lesson began to start. A girl with a stiff black half shaved buzzcut and dark blue almost purple eyes looked over us and scoffed. Her bearded dragon familiar sat on the arm on her chair just as disapprovingly.
She wore elegant gothic clothing. Tall platform boots, a lengthy black dress, lots of rings, and a headpiece that was centered in the middle of her forehead. It looked like it could be Topaz or something similar in color.
"Awful to see you all today, I'm Laila, this cute little guy next to me is Stick. I'm a Spirit Magic Specialist, a special guest at today's event," She spoke as looked down at us from her stage chair.
"Alright students, are you ready to disappoint me?" She asked in a dry tone.
She stood abruptly and approached a group of nearby students. She carefully eyed each one of their familiars. Her cherry red cloak swung as she whipped out her wand and tapped each of the familiars on their head making all of them pass out.
The students gasped and some even started to panic but she didn't respond at all to their cries. She moved her wand back and targeted the area around us, lighting a magic circle under our feet.
She muttered something and quickly cast the spell. Soon everyone started screaming and panicking as their familiars fell into a deep slumber.
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!" A female student from Frog's Gate screamed.
"YEAH! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" A monovore boy sneered with exacerbation.
Our lesson leader shushed the outward cries and everyone went silent. I picked up Vex, who was fast asleep.
"You're unconscious familiars is a sign that you have kept them too far from the spirit homes. Familiars are being made of magic, and when they support us they use their magical energy or their synergy,"
She stopped and looked over the displeased crowd, "With their synergy gone, you can't siphon any magic half as strong as you normally could,"
The student gasped and started whispering only to be shushed again, "This lesson, wake up your familiar. If you don't know how to figure it out,"
She started to walk off before turning back, "Oh incase you guys haven't realized. I placed a barrier around us so, no one is leaving until every familiar has wakened up,"
Everyone started to panic but I kept a level head. Out of most challenges, this had to be the easiest. The first thing I ever learned about synergizing was how to share it.
"You seem to know how to fix this," Wynter pointed out as I took a seat on the ground.
Vivianne crouched beside me and held my shoulders, "Oh course they do, that's how they saved my life,"
"It's like it was yesterday, the day you and Charlie found me passed out in the forest from over-exhaustion,"she reminisced
"You know very well how limited you were. You shouldn't have cast those spells back to back," I bit back but kept my eyes off of her.
She leaned down to me, "I'm still thankful for it," She whispered into my ear.
I turned back to her and she only smiled awkwardly back at me. I inhaled sharply before turning back to the task at hand.
Vex lay in front of me and right as I was about to start I realized something so important. The petals, I couldn't do anything with the petals bubbling out of my mouth. In one breath I swallowed and coughed them back down my throat which surprisingly seemed to work.
"Is something wrong? You don't look too well," Wynter asked kneeling next to me.
"I'm sure they're fine. You are fine, right?" Vivianne chimed in for me but I only pushed her away.
Marianne had left to join her other friends the moment the lesson started so I didn't have to fake anything or having her worry.
"I'm fine, just a little out of it," I dismissed their worries before turning back to Vex, who of which was more important right now.
What else could I do? Healing wouldn't work because Vex isn't harmed and I don't know any strong healing spells. Maybe I could create something but what exactly? It's not like I can just make more energy for him.
When Vex was last asleep it took him days to wake up. He needed to recharge like how Charlie stated so if he can only recharge in the spirit realm then maybe we have to send him away, by command.
"I think I got it. Familiars always listen to their witches, that's how their familiar bonds work but when bonds are first made it's calling them to stay with us,"
"So you think they are ordered to remain with us?" Wynter questioned me quickly catching on, "What makes you say that?"
"Well, you know how Vex had been sleeping ever since we'd arrived here. I took him to Charlie who reminded me of a very important fact,"
"What would be?" Vivianne asked still on the ground from where I pushed her.
"Familiars are magic beings that help us when they are awake and since synergy isn't ever created or destroyed it has to be recycled. But the only place their synergy recharges is the only place they go when they sleep,"
"The spirit realm?" Wynter guessed tilting his head.
I nodded watching the faint breathing of Vex."Bingo. They can physically sleep but their soul is still here,"
"So we let them go back-" Wynter smiled started to get it.
"They recharge and recycle their synergy-" I cut him off grabbing his hand as he lifted me.
"Then they come back better!" We stood close together in our excitement practically squealing.
Vivianne pulled me closer to her. She didn't say anything or even bother to look at me but I could already tell where this was going with her. While it's nice to feel wanted it wasn't as nice since the person who wanted me was someone who only wanted to see me as an aid.
I pulled out my staff from my cloak forcefully separating Vivianne from me. I took the largest crystal that hands embedded itself into the wood of my staff and tugged at it. It didn't budge but with one more pull it popped out cleanly reducing my staff to fade into nothing but dust.
If I remember how to do this correctly, I need to hold this very carefully over Vex's heart.
Vex's body twitched as magic from the jewel swirled and hit Vex's chest like the powder of snow falling from the sky.
It continued until the crystal completely disappeared. Vex's body went stiff as I remained crouched over him.
"Did it work?" Vivianne asked looking down at Vex.
"I can't say," I muttered, "Let's hope so,"
A few moments of staring passed before I started to worry. Wynter watched over me from another corner while Vivianne tried her best to coerce me in some way.
I was still squatted to the floor watching his body carefully.
With one loud bark, I screamed and fell to the floor. I looked up to see the faint blue soul of Vex barking at me.
I laughed as he jumped up and down at me then took a moment to scream at Vivianne, who pressed her hands tight to her ears.
Vex returned to his body which lit up a small blue color. Once he awoke he slowly stood before I noticed Vex's body was starting to morph slowly.
His eyes were a frosted blue making it hard to tell the difference between the sections of his eyes. As his fur seemed to glow a small gem formed at the center of his head and chest.
I grabbed someone, whoever was closest to tugging at their clothes, "Am I crazy or does Vex have two tails?"
Vex's tails wagged as he pranced around me before jumping into my arms. That's when I noticed it wasn't just two tails it was six tails.
Before I could ask too many questions he disappeared in a cloud of smoke forming a new staff for me.
It was still the same hickory wood, butcher block patterned staff but it was now its crystal sat in a bramble perch with six swirled tails engraved on either side for support.
I tapped the tips of the cerulean crystal that was shaped like little fox ears. A part of me couldn't help but laugh but another part couldn't help but feel confused about what had happened.
"Wow! You've truly awakened your familiar, color me impressed," Miss Laila patted my shoulder as her beard dragon seemingly smiled at me.
I turned to her, "So awaken as in evolved? This is his new form?"
"Precisely, and you'll notice-" She cut herself off and removed her topaz headpiece. It transformed into her wand, "It makes carrying things much easier,"
A part of me couldn't help but gawk at all she had shown me, "Now your familiar can properly rest inside the crystal,"
Miss Laila gave me a sharp sigh before pulling me closer, gripping both of my hands for a brief second. She let go before taking a moment to dig through her mini purse of assorted items.
She looked around and handed me a brooch, "Take this with you tomorrow, I'm gathering a specific set of students and I'd like for you to join for specialized class,"
I took the brooch carefully eyeing it, "What do you-" I looked up and she was gone as she had blown away with the wind.
"TEMMIE HELP ME!" Vivianne whined before I pocketed the brooch.
Hesitantly, I made my way back to Vivianne. The two of us sat together while she waited for Poppyseed to get back from the spirit realm.
"So, why are you here? Aren't you too busy moving?" I asked her but she only smiled at me.
"I am but I still wanted to see you again before I see you never again. Will you at least let me have that much?"
I could feel my face deform. Love or not I'd feel like an asshole if I'd said no.
"Fine but keep it decent," I compromised but immediately got wrapped in a tight hug.
My eyes shifted to Wynter who seemed deep into his thoughts. I wanted to get closer to him and help him out but it was almost as if he was just out of reach.
Soon came the moon and as nightfall approached the six of us say outside our crystal camp tents, inside a small pocket of the woods, I found yesterday.
No one spoke a word and all watched me pace as I tried to figure how to explain anything I knew and how not to share too much. I mean as nice as they are they're still knights and have a code to abide by. Perhaps I should flip a coin.
Kendra laid a flat hand against my back making me jump towards her, "We're right here, we'll listen to anything you have to say,"
A small hand grabbed a clump of my cloak and tugged at it, I looked down at Charlie who smiled, "You're not alone. Whatever happens, we'll face together,"
I turn to the both of with a small chuckle, "You make it sound like you know what I may say,"
Charlie smiled widened by a thousand miles, "You don't trust easy, so they must've done something to make you believe in that they are good,"
I nodded and the three of us reproached them completing our little sitting circle.
"In truth, I'm not sure if I should be this nervous or not but I've concluded because you all must know of it," I took in a deep breath as Kendra gripped my hand.
My chest tightens and I perked up a bit, "An enviable future is coming. Pillages across the Kingdom will start on the day of the spring solstice,"
"A pillage across the kingdom? Where did you hear that?" Mei questioned further but I couldn't tell if she looked disconcerted or in serious thought.
I swallowed hard, "Yuma, she's an oracle, she's seen it many times. We don't even know what's causing it but if one thing is for sure, it's a new dark age approaching,"
"What is the dark age? It sounds melodramatic,"
I shook my head, "Don't be so quick to judge, it's a hidden period of time mostly told through word of mouth. A period of time where witches were discriminated against and killed on sight,"
"I remember the stories my grandfather would tell about the discord that remains in our family from the captures," Kendra exhaled, "The psychological and physical torture made generations post dark age lose their humanity,"
"Point taken. Something just as bad is happening again or rather it's reaching its climax now,"
"The emerald act, Inorexa, Saint Ivy, new knight protocols, harassment and terror from it all is undeniable evidence that something is about to happen," I explained pulling my cloak tighter around my body.
Everyone went silent for a moment and I let go of the breath I had held so tightly.
"Yuma saw a future and game me a key. A couple of keys that she thinks could lead us to reclaim the peace," I say gesturing to relics.
No one said anything but everyone different stared at them since they all sat in the middle of our circle.
I leaned back and started to gaze at the stars as everyone continued to process my words.
"All believable claims but can we trust you? One of the few people who claim that there's trouble in a kingdom of peace," Trevor questioned.
"I suppose to you guys it's just words but I've experienced. The loss of friends, family, and my humanity," I sputtered sitting up, I held a hand up to my throat where I felt my voice break.
Kendra sighed, "I've seen it in my family too. Most of them suffer through a mental crisis and can't leave the house without someone to look after them," She held her encrusted pendant close to her.
To Kendra that pendant is life or death. A curse of Daarv Arak.
Charlie nodded in agreement, "I lost a good friend of mine and I haven't been the same since," Xe started to tear up but remained smiling, "Even the forest knows something isn't right. The animals speak to me,"
Charlie started to squeeze my hand, the same way I would do to xyrs when I was upset. Xe squeezed tight but kept xyr fingers rolled back as to not stab me with xyr long nails.
"I don't understand. To normal people, what you say sounds abnormal does it not?" Trevor questioned leaning back against a tree. "A whole section of history can't just disappear,"
Something was condescending in his tone. I looked towards Wynter and Mei for answers but they didn't seem to argue with him. I didn't want to argue about the logistics of the dark ages. I needed help and that is what's important.
"Regardless of what you believe my point is something bad is coming. Even though you have no reason to trust or believe me, I'd like your help anyways,"
"Why? Let's say I do want to help you, what stops me from reporting you for disturbance of the peace?" He argued with a sly grin plastered all over his face.
"What's stopping you from letting down your guard and being friends with us?" I countered with just as much sass.
"Oh shit!" Mei sang but Trevor shot her glance to remind her that this isn't a good time but she just laughed and moved on.
Trevor sooted in closer to the circle, "Perhaps I don't want to be friends with someone who could get us all in trouble,"
"Perhaps you should be friends with someone who will keep you from dying. If what our oracle says is true, it will be a war, both knights and witches will be dead on the streets," I rambled on nearly sounding hysterical.
I took a deep breath and sat back, "In war, everyone is expendable except for the ones that start it. Now I can't say for sure who's causing what but nothing good is to come over the next month or so,"
"A war versus knights and witches. Call me hopeful but this is a land of peace surely nothing too bad would happen," Wynter suggested but it was a definite nope.
"Hopeful? More like naïve. People aren't that kind,"
"Peace as a concept won't ever exist in this Kingdom's current social climate. Too many people have been hurt, too many are gone,"
"So you want revenge because your hurt. I can feel it, your anger and frustration are like a hurricane of emotion," Mei's attempt at reason was a little convincing.
"I'm sorry but we can't help you," Mei declined looking back between Trevor and herself.
"How about you?" I turned towards Wynter for his opinion but he didn't seem to be listening.
His mouth gaped open for a bit before he answered, "Sorry, I'm still a bit confused right now. I doubt I would be much help,"
As I told you a million times, you're nothing. Nobody without a city to protect you.
You've should've given up years ago but you insisted on sharing. Sharing your fate with others.
Now you are broken and hurt for being reasonably rejected. They never cared why would they care? I'm sure even if they saw the real you one day. They'd kill you on sight.
My eyes burned as the whispers sunk in. I took a deep breath and while I could still hear them scolding me with their words, I pretended as if there was nothing but quiet in my head.
With a faint smile, I shrugged it off, "Well I tried," I sigh I fell back into the grass, "It'll be the three of us once again,"
Charlie flopped down beside me, "I'm sure it's fine, who knows Yuma could've gotten something wrong,"
Kendra chuckled laying down on the other side of me, "Unlikely, but remember that you're never alone. Okay? We'll figure it out, celestial wonder or not. Knights or not,"
I barely noticed Mei, Trevor, and Wynter shuffle away they seemed stiff in their choice. The heads bobbled down, deep in thought. Wondering if it was the way to go,
It's dangerous to investigate and I'm sure they are afraid of losing their positions within the knights if someone found out. At the end of the day, those three are more knights than they are a witches and that's okay. We're still friends but with different goals.
"I've been thinking about something," Kendra offered pointing at the different stars.
"Say all of this revolves around something that happened almost five hundred years ago, shouldn't there be some sign of it here?"
I nodded in agreement, "It is the platform for a wide array of witch history and culture. The coven is bound to know a thing or two about it,"
"The guy who left the note in the box for us seemed to be frantic to get it to us. Do you think something happened to him?" Charlie asked with a little hum in the back of xyr voice.
"I couldn't say but it is a good guess," I offered back.
"One thing is clear, we need to find the other people that are connected to this,"