Chapter Two:

My inauguration was in a week and I had up until then to endure the torment my classes gave me. It seemed like homework never ended but I managed to keep myself busy at least. The research I had done came up with great astounding results, I handed it in to Headmaster Lilith beaming, as she skimmed over it with an impressive look.

"I am very pleased with your work, Fawn." She placed it onto her desk and motioned for me to sit down in front of her. I did as I was told as she spoke with a tenderness in her voice, "And I have high hopes for you as well. I feel you would fit studying astronomy further in depth and possibly becoming an Astrolgician. Have you looked into particular field of magick yet?"

I paused and considered multiple variants before shaking my head with an apologetic smile. "I was actually hoping I could continue learning in tomes. I've been told I would have better luck branching out from several of my mentors, but I feel I work best with my tome, and with Carbunkle by my side."

"Ah," She patted Carby's head, "So you're aiming for Arcanist? You'll make quite the name there I can already tell."

"Put in a good word for me?" I pulled out a silver tray and saw her eyes light up as I handed it to her.

"Bribing me," She spoke in a stern tone but her eyes gave her away, "You should be ashamed!" Lilith opened the tin eagerly and popped one of the gourmet chocolates into her mouth with a fever only a chocolate-lover could have. Her eyes rolled back and she clapped her hands together happily; as I giggled at the exaggerated display. Miss Lilith had always had a sweet tooth, and as a child Fawn would sneak her all kinds of delicate chocolates, in exchange for a chance to have an excuse to get passed the academy's walls for a brief period. The last bell rang signifying it was time to head back to our dorm rooms as I picked up my bag and waved back to Lilith.

The academy was set up where the dormitories were well away from the school itself, which were set up as apartments in similarities with all the typical accommodations, thankfully I didn't have any roommates to worry about like some did. My keys fit perfectly into the locked door, it swung open with ease as I flicked on the lights, shutting the door behind me once Carby had made it in properly and locked the door again. I noticed Carbunkle's fur was ruffled and he stood with a defending stance in front of me; a low growl escaping his maw.

"What's wrong Carb?" I bent down to pick him up and followed his glare to find a familiar figure laying on my couch. His hands were placidly propped behind his head, with both of his legs crossed he looked like he was quite comfortable, snoring comically loud the culprit of Carbunkles unease was the short fat skeleton she had met the yesterday. I pushed his arm easily just enough to stir him from his sleep; as he feigned a yawn and smiled lazily up at me.

"Why is it that skeletons are so calm?" Sans voice droned out sleepily as he sit up on the couch waiting for me to answer him back. When I shrugged at him, he grinned brightly finishing his joke happily, "Because nothing gets under our skin."

I giggled so hard I couldn't help but snort, and between his bad joke and my snort, Sans let out a hearty chuckle only to look down sadly.

"I want to say sorry for running off on you," His voice was low and I could tell he was cautiously trying to not offend me. I put my hand on his shoulder and reassured him it was okay, "No, I was a real bone-head, and I hope you can forgive me. I just didn't know how to react. Most people can't really tell somethings wrong…" His voice wavered for a second and trailed off. I could tell he was in a great deal of emotional stress, but from what I wasn't sure, I knew I had to try and cheer him up.

I pulled him into a hug and I felt his body tense; taking a long time before he relaxed. While I was holding him I noticed he breathed, not like a human would, but his chest lifted just enough to signify he was. He pushed away lightly with a sad grin plastered onto his face.

"You're lucky I don't scare easy, kid." He shot me a wink and held out his hand to Carbunkle who had been sitting in front of us watching the display. Carefully sniffing at a bony finger joint curiously he added, "What is this thing, anyway?" As if to react to being called 'thing' Carbunkle huffed at him angrily and hopped into my lap; making me laugh out loud at how offended he got.

"It's my familiar!" I said in between laughs and snorts. Sans gave me a look that screamed, 'Well I knew that thanks' dripping in sarcasm making me laugh so hard my eyes were watering. Once I had calmed down I added, "Every beginning magi gets one. The very first spell you learn is to summon your familiar. And not every one of them are the same. Mines a cross between a jackrabbit and a fox. You have to learn your familiars strengths and weaknesses in battle, and they have to learn yours, so that you can protect each other should the need arise." I scratched behind Carbs ears lovingly making him hum happily.

"So he's made of magick?" Sans seemed to be rather curious, but he looked like he was afraid he would bite him, "Isn't it hard to sustain magick like that all the time? I haven't seen you without him beside you."

"And you won't," I added softly. He seemed more curious and I took his hand to gently let him pet Carbys velvet-like fur, "He's made into existence by magick, yes, but it's a summoning spell. Only the initial spell takes magick; not actually sustaining it. Most only summon their familiar when they are in danger. Carby took to me the day I summoned him, and being a child who had never owned a pet… even a magickal one, I took to him greatly. We trained together every day. Our hearts beat as one." I smiled affectionately down at him with which he barked back as if to answer me.

"Heh, that's pretty cool," Sans leaned back on the couch and Carby hopped down to busy himself elsewhere seeing the new friend was no threat, "Well, if I'm keeping track, I believe it's your turn to ask me something."

"Oh… Wasn't aware we were playing that game… But sure," We sat in silence for a moment while I thought up of something to ask, "How's it feel to be a skeleton?"

"Seriously? I give you the chance to ask me something and that's what you ask?" I felt my face redden and Sans shot me a glance before he sighed and countered with, "How's it feel to have skin?"

"Well," I stopped blushing long enough to think about it, "Coming from my experience, it pretty much sucks. I mean humans skins are only a few layers thick depending on how fat you are, then there is muscle, and then passed the muscle there's bones. So really our skins the only buffer between our very important muscles that help us control our body; not to mention our skulls can be really fragile and if anything happens to our brains well… We die."

He seemed to be rather shocked I answered him. 'Was that a rhetorical question?' I thought cursing myself for being so dumb. Sans burst into laughter, a smile pulling up on my own face, his laughter seemed to always be contagious.

"I didn't expect you to answer," He shook his head and scratched his head as if to put into words how he would explain what he was, "Well, I guess for starters, not all skeletons are the same. My brothers really tall and I'm pretty short. Our bodies' process food magically; there's none of the squishy stuff you humans have." He gave my bare outer thigh a joking poke before continuing, "We're pretty basic. We don't do most of the things you humans do, like going to the bathroom or shaving or having hair, but other than those things we're just…. Walking skeletons."

When he shrugged I grew curious and felt a little daring, lifting up his shirt to be face to face with an actual rib cage, I felt my mouth open a little in awe. When he didn't protest I took my hand and gingerly slid it across a lower rib; when I felt him spasm for a second and squirm. My eyes shot up to his face, which had a blue hue to them, and he looked intensely uncomfortable with me touching his body. I felt my face getting red again and backed up away from him.

"S-Sorry," He murmured sounding extremely apologetic in which he added, "My bones are very sensitive." He sat up and fixed his shirt when he added, "Do you live here?"

"Yeah. This is my dorm. I live on campus—"I wasn't able to finish my sentence as a knock sounded at my door. Carbunkle jumped up onto my shoulder, his ears posed up, as I got up off the couch to answer it. The door opened to show a well-built taller teenager hovering around the door. Carby's fur bristled and he growled a warning growl as I took my two fingers to his snout signaling the stay command then sweeping it through the air as an added heel command; although it didn't stop him from showing his particular distaste to the teenage boy at the door.

"Fawn, every time I see that mutt, he always has an attitude problem." Jace ran his hand through his hair and rolled his eyes at Carby. I folded my arms and sighed; this was definitely the last person I wanted to see today. He seemed to pick up on that idea and added, "Why don't you teach it some manners, huh?"

"Maybe but I think Carbunkles a good judge of character," I snapped back quickly sneering at him before adding, "I mean he's got you pegged right on, doesn't he?"

I didn't even have time to react to his hand flying at my face, when it connected I had just pulled my tome out, but Carbunkle knew my heel/stay command was void. I screamed out the command to sic as I hit the floor; seeing a blur of pink fly to catch his arm in his maw. Jace let out a holler and flung Carbunkle before taking off down the steps as Carby chased. I sat up and gingerly put my hand to my lip, it was split wide open and blood was pouring out of the open wound, as I hissed a little at the stinging pain.

"Fucking jerk," I called out to Carbunkle only to see him making the climb up the stairs when a boney hand extended to pick me up this time, "Thanks. Sorry about that. Jace doesn't know how to not be a hotheaded meat-jockey."

"Looks like it, kid," Sans touched the wound with surprisingly gentle hands before lifting a finger to signify to wait. I blinked and he was gone. My head swiveled and I could tell even Carbunkle was stumped. He sniffed around the ground before whining pitifully just as I turned to encounter Sans in front of me. I jumped and he chuckled at me, "Told you to wait. C'mon, doll, I got a first aid kit."

I sat on the couch while Sans dressed my wound, wincing a little while Carbunkle worried in my lap, his eyes trained on my lips. I wondered if this is what it felt like to have a significant other, caught myself thinking of him that close, and mentally slapped myself but it was too late. I felt my face get hot and Sans picked up on it quickly; winking at me which made me push my face away to hide it.

"You're an odd one, kid." He spoke up tenderly and chuckled a bit.

"You know, I'm not a kid, I'm nineteen." I leaned back absentmindedly petting Carbunkle, "Technically speaking, I'm not a kid anymore, I mean."

"Huh. So I guess calling you kid doesn't work." He shrugged and had one of his goofy grins on his face. "Fawn it is then; got it."

I giggled a little, turning to get the remote and turn the TV on, figuring it wouldn't hurt to see what was on. I tossed the remote over to him after flipping channels and seeing nothing I wanted to watch was on; letting him know I was going to go take a shower.

I stepped into the hot bath I had ran, Carbunkle curling up beside the tub, before I remembered I had forgot my book.

"Carby," I patted his head to get his attention and he happily wagged his tail, "Can you run and get me the black leather book on my bed?"

With an obedient bark, he ran out the door when I turned the knob, and I leaned over the sink to brush my teeth while I waited. Once he came back in I took the book from him happily; promising him a big meal with me when I got out which excited him greatly. I laid back in the tub to enjoy reading not realizing I was dozing off until I did.