Tabitha was reading his book quietly as always. She cared little about what was about, but it were always good to pass time.
"Hey, Tabitha!" A brown-skinned redhead said weaving her hand.
That was Kirche, Tabitha's best friend, also her only friend. She aproached quickly and said "Tabitha! What are you doing here?! We should be heading to the courtyard. Today's the summoning day, isn't it?"
Ah, yeah. The summoning day, the day they wold summon their familiars.
"I was reading"said Tabitha without looking up.
"Well, stop reading and let's hurry up"
She grabed her arm and run through the hallway. She was very enthusiastic.
"...bind my familiar"He kissed the mole.
"Amazing! Amazing! Come with me, Verdandi." Zaid Guiche followed by his familiar.
Everyone had summoned a familiar of sorts, a bird, a cat, a mole, one even summoned a lion.
"Aww. Flame, how can a familiar be so cute?!" said Kirche while petting her flaming salamander.
The only ones left to summon were her and...Louise.
"Tabitha, go you. I want to keep the Zero for dessert." Said Kirche smiling
Tabitha walked up front and recited the ritual.
"...My name's-
She stopped for a second.
-..Charlotte Helene Orléans de Gallia." The circle appeared on the floor.
"And bring forth my familiar"
She waved her staff and the circle grew brighter.
When the light cleared out the whole yard became silent, and for the first time in years Tabitha gasped in terror.
Lying on the floor was a young man, maybe 24-26 years, with a great cut from his neck to his gut. He was dressed with an orange robe and a cream-colored scarf. He had gray pants but no shoes and his left arm replaced by a wooden proteic arm. All those were beeing stained by a growing pool of blood.
Suddenly Tabitha fell to her knees while shaking in fear. That man was dead, he was lying dead on the floor.
Like her father.
Everyone were terrified yet confused, because Tabitha summoned a man, a dead one, but a man nonetheless.
"A-Alright everybody, calm down" It was professor Colbert's voice that woke Tabitha from her daze. "Don't worry, Miss De Orleans. Yet rare, there are reports of mages summoning a dead familiars."
Tabitha stared back at him. He was forcing a smile to appear calm.
He approached her and with a gentle touch he told her to bring that man to the backside of the school to bury him.Tabitha nodded.
She raised her staff and the man started levitating, and she walked away.
Once she was out of sight everyone started whispering about what happened.
"Did Tabitha just summoned a commoner?"
"Yes, and it was dead! How could she do that?"
"You think Professor Colbert woul let us ask her later?"
"Enough"
Everyone went silent as the bald teacher folded his arms.
"Miss De Orleans has summoned a familiar, as many of you have, but that's no excuse to talk behind her back for making a mistake. Tomorrow she will perform the ritual again, so right now you must focus on yourselves. That said:has anyone not summoned their familiar yet?"
That's when a hand raised, and below that hand was a pink haired little girl with bright eyes.
"Me Professor"