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Book 1 Chapter 5

Diana (dumbfounded): You... you actually WANT to be my familiar!? James (poking his pinkie in his ear): 'Want' is a bit strong, but yeah. Drizella: HEH HEH HEH (she completely breaks in amusement) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Diana (still startled) I can't just ask a human being to be my familiar! That is NOT how this is supposed to work! James (nonchalantly): Well to be fair, you summoned me when you tried to summon a familiar. Ergo, I must be your familiar.

Drizella (doubled over, clutching her sides with one hand and Cornwallis' desk with the other): HEE HEE HEE HEE (she lifts her head, Bedlam moving aside on the desk): He-he raises an excellent point! Diana (to the Head Wizard): Head Magicians, you cannot think this is a good idea! We are well into uncharted territory with summoning a human from another world, but making a human a familiar has to be a bridge too far! Drizella (cheekily): Funny you should mention tha- Cornwallis (interrupting): A WORD, Agnes...

Head Wizard Cornwallis convenes with Head Witch Drizella in hushed tones, as James, Diana, and Professor Philmor watch on. Philmor: I must agree that this is rather bizarre. Many species of animals and creatures have been created in the aether to act as a familiar. But to make a human a familiar is... James (raising his hands in a placating manner): Okay, let's take a breather here. I'm not suggesting putting a leash on me and having you walk me around the campus and training me like a pet. (he shifts his eyes to the side) That's not my kink, at least.

Philmor (raising a finger sternly) Now hold on, familiars are not simply pets, Mr. Boves! (He gestures to the dog at his side) They are a magician's most loyal magical companion! The powers they possess and the understanding they share with their master is a bond unlike any other! Dog: BORF! James (bending down to pet the dog, who PANTs with each SCRITCH): Sounds awesome. So why not try it? Diana: Because you do not possess magic, you said so yourself! James (shrugging): Well we are in a magic school, so... Diana, Professor Philmor, and his dog stare at the boy I confusion over his implication.

James sits and stares in response, realizing that no one is picking up what he's saying. He eventually clears his throat and stands back up. James: Look at it this way: this entire thing, summoning people from other worlds, is completely new. We need to figure out a way to reverse the spell that brought me here to bring me back. But you all seemed to imply that no one knows how to do that, right? Philmmor (a hand to his chin as he contemplates this): Well, I certainly do not know who, yes... James: And even if there was someone who could help, they would take a while to figure out, right? Philmor: Correct...

James: So if it's gonna take time anyway, I'm gonna need something to do while away the hours. Why not do whatever it is familiars do? (he turns to Diana) Diana here needs the help anyway, I could learn to provide some backup! Hell, I could at least help with whatever thesis thingy you need! Diana (nervously): I, uh... well... (she turns to Professor Philmor) Can we... even complete the ritual with a human? Philmor (still pondering): Well... theoretically, it should be possible...? James (shrugging with his eyes closed): Then we should just see what happens when you make a familiar outta me! No matter what, it's a learning experience for everyone! (he opens one eye) At the end of the day, isn't that all that really matters in school?

Professor Philmor and Diana stare at each other as they consider James' argument. The awkward silence is swiftly broken by Head Witch Drizella charging over. Drizell(excitedly): THEN IT'S DECIDED!!!

Cornwallis: After some deliberation, we have decided to go along with Mr. Boves' suggestion of allowing him to be Ms. Gilshire's familiar- Drizella (humming in with a finger pointed up): With permission to enroll in all of her classes as a sit-in to see if he can learn magic! Cornwallis (as his colleague ducks back down): ... All while any available faculty can put time aside to aid in researching how this happened and how to bring him back to his home- Drizella (rising up again, closer to the camera): In which the Gilshire girl can sit in and use our findings as the basis for her thesis and revolutionize magic for the first time since the Great Sage! Cornwallis (sternly): With the additional caveat that you will conduct yourselves as respectable mages and not let this bizarre, excitable circumstance cause you to act as wild and impolite as a certain head witch!

Head Witch Agnes Drizella casually stands in the office, patiently waiting as cartoony facsimiles of the heads of the other people and familiars in the room stare at her expectantly. She realizes everyone is waiting for her after a few breaths, initially confused. Drizella (politely waving a hand): ... No he's right about that. Bedlam (rolling her eyes): MOW

James (turning to the head wizard with excitement and stars around him): So I really get to learn about magic!? Cornwallis: If you are going to be in Faegea for the foreseeable future, it would behoove you to learn about one of the guiding forces of our society. An honorable privilege, I am sure! Drizella (nudging an elbow towards James): And even if you can't use magic, that just means you have bragging rights among the other non magical peoples! James (giddy): If you could tell me that I don't have to worry about student loans, then I'll start believing this is heaven! Cornwallis: Now then, I believe it is time to finish the familiar ritual and make this official. Professor Philmor, if you would? Philmor: Uh, yes sir.

Philmor: Allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor Lupin Philmor, and I teach the Bestiary Class here in Galinda Magic Academy. If you have any questions regarding familiars, monsters, and creatures of all breeds, I will be happy to assist! (to his dog) And this is my dear familiar, Boscov. Boscov: BORF! James (extending his hand): Nice to meet you, sir! And like I said earlier, you can call me Jimmy! Philmor (shaking James' hand): Nice to meet you as well! But I must insist we keep things formal, Mr. Boves. There are those among the magicians that still value tradition and social hierarchy. James (annoyed): Ugh, fine... Philmor: In any case, we have a ritual to finish. Ms. Gilshire, now that your familiar has been crea- er, summoned from the aether, you must create the pact that will bind you together. Diana (putting her hat back on): Uh, right, yes sir.

Diana reaches into the right pocket on her skirt, pulling her wand out. With her free hand, Diana digs around in the left pocket until she pulls out a piece of parchment. She reads over what is written on the parchment carefully for a moment. She suddenly points her wand at James, catching him a bit by surprise.

Diana (reading off the parchment): I, Diana Gilshire, by the power of the ancient elements and the grace of the fairies... As she recites the oath, her wand slowly beings to glow in a magenta light. James stares in awe of this phenomenon, as a light begins to glow at his feet. A pentagram, just like the one that James fell through on arrival to this world, shines beneath the two youths, sparks of magic zapping from the glowing mark.

Diana (eyes closed in concentration): Do solemnly swear my eternal bond with this humble familiar, James Bones, and grant unto him my protection and an equal path between our wells of magic power. Bless this, our bond as master and familiar. As the spell processes, James becomes enveloped in a purple glow, the magic sparks coming off of him now as well.

As the ritual draws to a close, the magic around Diana and James dissipates in a sudden WHOOSH. The light faded away from above the two as the remaining magical energy sparks away into the air. Philmor: It seems you managed to succeed in creating the pact! Drizella (whispering just loud enough to her colleague): And on her first try, give her a medal! Cornwallis (angrily): Shh!

Philmor: And now to complete this contract, Ms. Gilshire, you must seal it with a kiss. James and Diana awkwardly stare at each other, faces flushed and heartbeats noticeably audible BA-BUM BA-BUM BA-BUM BA-BUM. James (cartoonishly raising a hand next to an equally cartoonish and steaming Diana): There's a loophole to that rule that we can exploit, right? Philmor (mildly exhausted) : It does not have to be on the lips, if that's what you're insinuating. Diana (embarrassed): R-Right, yes of course! Your hand, please! James holds out his right hand in silence.

Diana, moving the brim of her hat up and out of the way, kisses the back of James' hand. Magical energy forms around the mark where she placed her lips, smoke beginning to billow up. James' hand starts to burn enough for him to swiftly pull it back with a 'TSK!', the back of his hand audibly SSSSSSSSSSSSSS-ing. James looks closer at his hand, seeing a magenta pentagram in an almost perfect circle burning into his hand, SSSSSSSSSS-ing more.

James (clutching his right arm as the mark burns into his hand): Gah, damn! Luis heard right, tattoos on the back of the hand hurt like hell! Boscov (as James shakes and blows on his hand): The pain only lasts a moment, the seal sets and cools quickly. James (looking at the seal, the magic mist billowing away): Yeah, it's already cooling off... James becomes startled as he realized who just spoke to him. With wide eyes, he looks back at Professor Philmor's familiar and stares for a couple breaths. James (looking back to the others while pointing at Boscov): Did anyone else hear the dog talk?

Diana (looking at James in confusion with Philmor): Huh? The dog... but... Boscov cannot talk... Drizella (whispering loud enough to her familiar while pointing a thumb at James): Oh ho! Maybe the boy is mad after all! Bedlam: Did you not just verify that he was not? James: Heh? Cornwallis (stoking his beard): Curious still... Chauntecleer: Seems like it's not just Boscov he can hear. James: HUH!?!

James (freaking out, pointing at the other familiars): What the? But up until now you all barked and meowed and hooted like any other animal! What changed? Boscov: Well, you officially became a familiar just now, for one. Philmor: Wait... Could it be? Diana: What is it, Professor Philmor? Philmor: When a magician forms a contract with a familiar, the familiar seal grants special privileges to the familiar in service to the contract. One such perk is the ability to communicate with their master and with other familiars. (a graphic of Philmor's elemental sigil, a pentagram with lightning bolts connecting the central star with the points on the shape, is shown as an example of the seal that appears on the familiars) Mr. Boves is already a human, so of course we can speak to each other just fine. But now it seems Mr. Boves can talk to familiars as well! Truly astounding! James (even more excited): Did I really just become Dr. Doolittle? SICK!!!

In a zoomed out shot from a perspective over the desk, James converses with Diana, Professor Philmor, and Boscov. Boscove: So now you're a doctor? Well if you're sick too, that's not good. James: No, I was referencing... eh, it'd be too hard to explain. Drizella (popping up in front of the desk, real close like): See what I mean now, Toby? Real interesting stuff here!

Cornwallis: This is an interesting discovery, I must admit. Drizella (inching closer): All the more reason to dust off that old hat? Cornwallis: I am still not sure we should go THAT for! Drizella (pointing sternly, the familiars watching intently): This is a golden opportunity, Tobias Cornwallis! And you'd be a fool of a scholar to not see where this leads! Who knows what this boy and his new master could show us! They could very well give us the answers we've been searching for these fifty odd years! Cornwallis (concerned): But if this were to receive the wrong kind of attention- Drizella (dismissively): You worry too much! This is the apex of magic in Faegea! Who would dare pull any funny business when we're around, especially when funny business is MY job!

Drizella: Besides, don't you think taking the risk is worth it for HIS sake? Head Wizard Cornwallis considers this, looking on at James Boves as he looks at his new familiar seal in amazement, childlike wonder in his eyes. Cornwallis (nervously tapping his desk): ... I suppose it is the best chance we have to- Drizella (loudly interrupting, startling the old wizard): THEN IT'S DECIDED!!!

Drizella (putting herself between James and Diana, winking at the new familiar): Now, Familiar Boy, we have a little gift for you! James: Is it time for my wand!? Oh wait, if it's not too much trouble, can I get a staff instead? Something durable, so I can use it as a bludgeoning weapon when I run out of mana! Drizella (considering this seriously, Diana chuckling behind her): Hmm, that's not a bad idea actually. Maybe I'll back order one for myself...

Cornwallis: I am sure we will find an appropriate conduit to aid your magical education in the storage vault. A loud BONG sounds out from an ancient bell somewhere within the academy. Philmor (as the bell continues to BONG): Well, Head Magicians, if you do not need anything more from me, I must go and prepare for the last class today. Cornwallis: Go on ahead, Lupin. And if you could have Boscov inform Ramadan that his class will have an additional student attending with Ms. Gilshire? Philmor (waving good bye): Yes sir. And Mr. Boves, I will meet with you tonight to help with your sleeping situation. Boscov: It was good meeting you, James.

Cornwallis (getting up and grabbing his hat): Now, if you would please come with me. An excited James joyously walks on out of the office, Chauntecleer flying overhead, Diana close behind her new familiar, and Bedlam seeping into her shadow with a faint SSSSSSSSSSSS. With their hats on and trailing behind, Drizella cheekily nudges Cornwallis with her elbow while pointing towards James.

The Head Magicians examine the familiar seal on the back of James' hand. The pentagram engraving burned taking a different appearance from the other seals. Over the small star in the center, the lines of a bigger star surround it and connect to the points of the pentagram shape. Multiple dots connect the lines and thinner lines connect the points of the large star to the ends of the small star. While this symbol is different from other familiar seals, it matches the pentagram shape that pulled James into Faegea and shined during the ritual. Cornwallis carefully ponders this observation while Drizella giggles with delight (Hee Hee).

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