A few minutes ago
As I rushed through the hurtling astral sea of space and a myriad of blackholes, it suddenly turned… peaceful? I felt the mana flow around my body, I started to believe that I believed that I had finally died.
… Though that was cut short.
-KA-BOOOOOM!-
My ears rang so badly as I heard the sounds of jeers and laughter, a strange variant of the common tongue. My head ached badly as I fully stood up and heard gasps and whispers with hints of fear. I looked around to see human children, all dressed in uniform. The color of hair was certainly across the spectrum from the common human colors I have seen to those that would match the elemental planes or my teacher's mood swings. I finally noticed a man, he was bold and had hair around the back and side of his head. He wore spectacle and dressed in black robes. He stared at me with awe and slight fear, likely never seen an orc of intelligent skill.
Ah, a fellow caster of the arcane arts! Surely, he would know where I am. The thought brought sufficient joy as I begin to clear my throat. They all shifted, do they fear I may care some sort of barbaric cold? "This is an odd place," I spoke, before figuring out that I was speaking my home tongue. I sighed at the inconvenience, I hate using my Awaken Spellbook's limited power, but I may need to cast Tongues on myself. Before I reached for my spellbook, strapped to my side, the young cherry blossom maiden spoke to me and gestured for me to lower myself.
I, of course, to show I am not a reckless brute, did as gestured to do so. She soon spoke a string of words that seem to carry a magical aura of some sort. Though… it felt odd. As I was taught the art of magic, I was taught to see the "color" magic takes, and to use my five senses to understand what each spell is without needing to use Detect Magic all the time. I could hear the green rattling shackles of Abjuration and clattering Magenta keys of Conjuration. This was some form of fusing of two different schools of magic!? Before I could question how this young girl knows such binding arts, she planted a kiss on my lips!? What in Hecate's setting moon was that?! Before I could even question that questionable move, I felt a searing pain in my right hand!
My head was now bathed in a heavy presence, I was barely holding onto my consciousness to the best of my ability. Suddenly, I found myself falling backward as darkness filled my vision.
I started to wake up…
My head felt cooler now, I could actually think straight now. I instantly sat up as he looked at the back of my left hand. What are these runes? was all I could ponder as the middle-aged man looked at them.
"Hmm… These are unusual Runes," He spoke with a hint of curiosity.
"Fellow arcane weaver, what manner of acts did that young child did to me?" I spoke with a justified angered tone. Some of the students back away from me with slight fear and disgust, the same I've seen for those of mind kind.
"Let us head back to class," My plight was ignored, my teacher was right about me not asserting my dominance. I was going to cast Hold Person, but I barely have enough strength. I had to waste all my arcane reserves of the third level to deal with those pirates. I might be able to cast a second-level, but then I would be left with first-level spells and cantrips. I need to save my power for now. I watch as the older mage –though I am greatly older than him– levitated off with many others.
"Better walk back, Louise." A blonde girl with a yellow frog and dark brown spots on her shoulder shouted down.
"Wouldn't want her to fail at a levitating and send herself flying back home." I merely looked up, unimpressed really. To use Levitate, Tenser's Floating Disk, or the advanced Fly for such means of transport was rather wasteful in my view. That may come from all the hiking and brutal running during my time as a student.
"Follow me, familiar." The pink-haired girl spoke curtly to me as I merely got up and nodded. As we walked through the courtyard toward the main tower. I couldn't help but watch this girl with a hint of pity on how she took such insults. If my teacher was here, I would likely scare the daylights out of them with an upcasted fireball. I kept my tongue shut for now and reached into my bag of holding. I thanked the stars for it not being damaged and grabbed out one of my teacher's books on magical theory.
We arrived in her bedroom and I did enjoy the sunset. The rising of the two moons was certainly a treat, all I prayed for them not to be the eyes of Hecate, that witch goddess. When we entered, I merely stood there as I read my tome.
"Familiar," The young one spoke in my direction. I merely flip the page.
"Familiar, do you understand me?" A silent flip was my answer. "Familiar!" I finally looked up. "Why didn't you answer me?!" I sighed and closed the book. Once placed away in my beg, I started to clean my spectacles.
"First, young cherry blossom," She was slightly caught off by my baritone vocals. "The power of three is a magical number to a caster, basics really. Second, I do have a name and shall be addressed by it, if you bothered to ask for it." I placed my lenses back on my face as I looked down. "I am Tusk Arcane, an arcane weaver." I can see her seem skeptical at my words.
"You cannot be a mage, familiar." She tried to rebuttal. "This is certainly an embarrassing time, I wanted a cool familiar, not some delusional barbarian." She spoke under her breath as I pulled out the same book and read onward.
"And I certainly did not wish to be kissed by a child when appearing here," I calmly added. "Though, if that was the payment for saving my life from those pirates in the astral sea, then I shall not hold my tongue." She looked at me a bit annoyed me.
"I will have you that I am 16 years old, and would also have you refer to me as master." She spoke, trying to return to a composed form. I arched an eyebrow at the last part. Master?
"Why would I call you 'master' in what context?" I questioned, looking up from my book to look down.
"Those runes on your hands are the binding marks of being a familiar." She points to the runic pattern on my left hand. "The spell is designed to summon an animal or magical beast to be a familiar. I was hoping my incantation would grant me something cool like a dragon or a griffin. But, I end up with some green-skinned brute." I do not know if I should be honored or insulted at that. Though, I can let it slide by dismissing my magical skills. Though… that spell did seem familiar, to the spell… Well, Find Familiar. A second level conjuration Rital spell that can summon an animal companion, or to the skilled or Eldritch origin, magical aid. But this surely couldn't be the case.
"Impossible," Years of study have made me quite the "know-it-all" as I was called. "The spell, Find Familiar, can only contract magical sentient life via mutual agreement. Even so, the strongest one can summon is the fiendish imps, for you must be a savant of the third level to contract something like potent gazers. Anything beyond that is dangerous wishful thinking." To bind fully grown dragons is mad as it is taming a griffin. A pseudodragon would be suiting familiar as well.
"You certainly aren't a mage," She sighs. "Many familiars can range from powerful dragons to fearsome hounds. Those runes are a sign of a contract formed." I looked down at the runes and examine them. "Until the end of our lives, we are bound to each other." I closed my book as the magic was certainly complex formula of bind Abjuration, conjuration, and enchantment. I felt anger at this, to be bound and slaved without a say.
"Can you merely break the contract and summon a new one?" I questioned. "I can even help you forge a new contract for a decent creature." I was not spending my life here, away from endless studies.
"It cannot be undone," She added. "I could only summon a new familiar unless you were to perish." I was slightly taken aback at that. "Do you wish to die?"
"Sadly, without my teacher to resurrect me," I can see her caught off by such a harsh concept. "It seems not to be a choice."
"You are delusional," She shook her head. "As a familiar, they are supposed to protect their master, retreat regents, and do basic chores."
"Then, where do you wish for me to sleep?" She points at a corner. "Rather poor taste of humor, young one."
"There is only one bed, and that is final." She huffs and starts to– Good lords, she is undressing in front of me!?
"Goodness child, have the decency to your guest?!" I shielded my view with the book in hand. "You are a young lady!" She seems unfazed by my upburst.
"All I see in this room is just a familiar." This was getting on my already tested nerves. I felt drained. I am too tired and can attempt to escape in the morrow. I gathered the bundle of clothing as she got into a nightgown. She crawled into bed as she snapped her fingers to turn off her lamp. I let a sigh out of exhaustion, I can certainly feel the binding power of the familiar spell. I am in for a long stay. I sat crosslegged and leaned against the wall. When I got my glasses off, I slowly drifted to sleep.
"Familiar!" A distant voice ran in my heavy slumber.
"Familiar!" It sounded… annoyed…
"Familiar!" I finally woke up as I see my… master sitting awake. With a yawn, I stood up. Being in the astral sea has certainly distorted my internal clock. I use to nap based on how tired I was than the time of day. "Finally awake, familiar." I wanted her to use my name, but I was too tired right now.
"What is it do you need of me, young lady?" I do hope it is nothing too–
"Dress me." I regret my internal thought already.
"Beg pardon? Are you not able to do so yourself?"
"If a servant is present, they are supposed to dress the noble," She answered sharply. "now move or no breakfast."
I sighed as I got up and walked to her dresser. I go through them quickly and grabbed the necessary articles of clothing. As a man, this is shameful by all nine hells. "I am guessing we are to be off, milady?" With a nod for confirmation, I opened the door.
The pinkette certainly was not amused by the green brute's sarcastic tone and lack of much respect, but she can at least gets a "milady" from him. Though, his muscles may hint she could have an affinity to earth. She pushed it aside when she came up to… Kirche.
"Good morning Louise," She smiled, the aura of hot arrogance was easily felt.
"Kirche," Louise responded with an indifferent tone.
"So, it is true you summoned so poor human as a familiar." The red hair Germania looked at the robed familiar as he gazed down at the Salamander. "Ah, I see he admires dear Flame, a Salamander from the Fire Dragon Mountains." He was studying it as he pulled out a notebook and jot. He's literate? Was he some poor preacher of a church? Louise pondered at how quickly he wrote and sketched.
"Certainly impressive," He commented. "Though, I have seen stronger things. He can be comparable to a fire snake with legs." He commented as he placed the notebook and strange writing device away.
"How deep of a voice," She smiled. "What might your name be?"
"Tusk Arcane," He answered.
"Tusk Arcane, how strange." She giggled as he kept a straight face. "As you can see, Louise the Zero, my affinity of fire. Suiting for me, as I am Kirche the Ardent." She happily pets Flame, further irking Louise. "Come Flame." She headed on off as the Salamander scuttled off.
"Ugh, how that woman gets under my skin! To have such a familiar!"
"It is just a familiar, milady." He answered with a tired tone.
"You wouldn't understand it," She glared up at the giant. "A familiar signifies the affinity of the element. Who knows what I am with a brutish commoner." She complained to her familiar.
"Parden that an orc is not suitable familiar." He had a bit of an annoyed tone there.
"You? An Orc?" She looked up at him. "Orcs are far larger than you, they might mistake you as one of their young though." She headed off. "Come along, it is time for breakfast."
Upon entering the Academy of magic's dining hall, her familiar was looking around with some awe at the construction. "Impressive works for a place of magical studies." He commented as he looked at the cloaks. "Hm… uniforms each with different colors. Must be a sign of years."
"Indeed, the brown cloaks are first years, black cloaks are second years, and purple cloaks are third years." She walked over to a table. "My chair." He sighs as he pulled it out for her and pushed her in. "You should be honored to be in the Alvíss Dining Hall." He gazed at some of the stone statues.
"Impressive works," He nodded at the design. "Surely they have more uses than being decor?"
"Yes, they can dance for entertainment." She prepared to eat as she sees him reach for a chair. "What do you think you are doing, familiar?" He gave a puzzled look.
"To see and eat my fill of this morning?" He answered as she points down at the bowl on the ground. "Who's left a bowl of strange food on the ground?"
"That is your food," She answered as she grabbed what she desired. "I asked for you to eat in here, unlike the familiars outside."
"I am honored," He answered with a hint of sarcasm. After a prayer to Brimir and the queen, she ate. Her familiar ate his food with no show of indifference or retaliation.
After such a distasteful breakfast, we headed off for her classes. Any normal mage would be whining their heads off if they walked as much as I have done. Though, it is good exercise. I am rather grateful that I get the exercise needed.
As I reached for a seat, Louise gave me a disapproving look. I sigh and allowed myself to sit on the ground. Though with a heavy –thunk!– on purpose of course. I merely chuckled to myself as I saw this older lady come in. She instantly was caught off by my form. Not a shocker.
"My, Miss Vallière a certainly… distinct familiar you caught." She spoke with innocence with only the cacophony of laughter. This certainly soured my mood a bit and anyone of my kind who follows the old way would've destroyed the place.
"Louise the Zero had grabbed some poor deformed commoner!"
"No, I did not!"
I quietly toned that madness out instantly and closed my eyes. I was able to filter out a majority of the slung insult and childish actions. Goodness, being in the astral sea and having no physical aging certainly doesn't hold true for your mentality. I think like an old mage now.
I did tune back in for the lecture, and Mystra's seven stars, I wanted to interject quite a bit. I had respect for elementalism and the craft, but using this as the basis of studies was insulting! What of the arcane power? What of the schools? The Theory of Five parts of the Weave? What of the general study of the Weave!? By the gods of magic, what world did I land in?
I watched the demonstration, certainly is transmutation magic, but not simple "earth" magic. Some variant of Transmute Rock maybe? I paid no mind and went back to memorizing old formulas and spells I knew. Certainly, nothing could go wrong if I close my eyes.
A loud explosion rang out when my eyes snapped open. I watched my master and teacher get flung aside with the blasts! Students panicked, and familiars went rampant! Chaos bloomed as I just sighed.
My teacher would have a field day on training her. I got up and went down to help my master.
Author's notes:
Thanks again for checking and reading this dear fanfiction. I'm sorry if it is lengthy and less action-based, I wanted to set the proper stage. To give facts on Tusk Arcane, he is a level nine Wizard, but his total level is nine. His intelligence state is high, but so is his strength. I'll reveal more as things progress and I do enjoy reviews and thoughts on my work.