A new year begins in the kingdom of Merian, and with it, a new chapter at the Academy of Magic and Summoning, Theteos. The academy buzzes with excitement as students from all corners of the realm arrive, moving into their dormitories and settling in. After a few hours of organization, the instructors and professors gather all 500 students in a large training ground, where a massive summoning circle glows faintly with magical energy.
One by one, the students are called forward to summon their magical familiar. The power and type of familiar are directly linked to the summoner’s potential, and once summoned, the instructors will evaluate it and assign the student a rank from 1 to 500.
As the hours pass, students step forward, summoning a wide array of familiars—some impressive, others less so. Among the crowd, three students stand out: Vanessa Graham, Lysandra Valthera, and Seraphine Valthera.
Vanessa stood at the edge of the group, her slender fingers nervously clutching a small notebook filled with magical theory notes. Her long, blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her simple, humble robes contrasted sharply with the elaborate outfits of her peers.
“Okay, Vanessa” she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the murmurs of the crowd. “You can do this. Just focus. Remember the theory. The circle, the incantation, the intent… You’ve practiced this a thousand times.”
Her hands trembled slightly as she watched a classmate summon a towering, fiery phoenix. The instructors nodded in approval, assigning the student a high rank. Vanessa swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest.
Lysandra stood tall and composed, her ruby-red hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of fire. Her piercing blue eyes scanned the summoning circle with a detached air, betraying no emotion. She wore a tailored robe adorned with subtle royal insignias, though she made no effort to flaunt her status. Her posture was perfect, her arms crossed as she observed the proceedings with quiet confidence.
Seraphine stood a few paces away from her sister, her ruby-red hair styled in playful pigtails that bounced as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. Her robes were more extravagant than Lysandra’s, with frills and accessories that screamed privilege. A mischievous grin played on her lips as she watched her classmates summon their familiars, making snide remarks under her breath. Her eyes flickered toward Lysandra for a brief moment, a hint of envy and resentment hidden beneath her bravado.
After a student finishes their turn, the instructor glances at the list in their hands, their eyes scanning the names written in neat, precise script. The crowd falls silent for a moment, the anticipation palpable as Vanessa is called.
Vanessa’s heart raced as her name echoed across the training ground. She took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she stepped forward into the summoning circle. The faint glow of the magical runes beneath her feet seemed to pulse in time with her heartbeat. She closed her eyes, focusing on the incantation she had practiced so many times in her small, dimly lit room.
“By the threads of magic that bind this world” she began, her voice soft but stead “I call upon the forces of creation to grant me a companion, a familiar to stand by my side. Let the essence of my will take form, and let the bond between us be unbreakable"
The air around her seemed to hum with energy as she continued the chant, her hands moving in precise, practiced gestures. The summoning circle flared to life, its light growing brighter and brighter until it was almost blinding. The crowd of students and instructors watched in silence, some with curiosity, others with thinly veiled skepticism.
