Fools Paradise

Standing in a room the class has never entered before they see around them a dome shape room with intricate symbols carved into the wall itself dimly glowing. Inside the room is nothing aside from a slightly raised circular platform with a ritualistic circle in it.

Steel waited on the other side of the circle for the class to finish entering the room. Amazed at what he saw Wittorf could not keep his composure. His eyes were darting around the room looking at all the carvings and marks that signified old magic.

He had hoped one day that he could eventually learn to read magic script like that. Finished waiting Steel snapped his fingers and the door behind them shut on its own. He smiled as some of the students jumped.

"Here is where you will all make your contract with your new partners. Remember that they are in fact partners and not tools."

The kids nodded as they waited for him to continue. Caiman was not paying attention to his words. He was already feeling impatient he just wanted to get this over with and continue onto the next step.

Wittorf on the other hand was impatient as well but he was soaking up every work his teacher said. He was excited to finally get to meet his first partner in the magical arts. What kind of familiar was it going to be?

"Before we begin I need to explain the three types of familiars."

There were three types? That was news to Wittorf. Quickly shaking his thoughts away he listened to what Steel had to say.

"The first category is a humanoid familiar. They are meant to guide a young mage in their training. Helping them grow emotionally."

He calls for Alice and she appears in front of him, her serpent body coiling around to make room next to him. Her firm demeanor washing over the class as they all froze in place. She was beautiful but something scared them.

"The second type of familiar is monstrous. Like Alice here. They are meant to help protect their masters and are very good at combat."

Steel raises three fingers and Wittorf is shaking with excitement.

"The third type of familiar is an elemental one. They imbue their masters with strength, fusing with them to create stronger abilities and to overcome difficult obstacles."

Looking at each student individually Steel smiles and lowers his hand.

"I can't wait to see who you pick."

Pointing at Sedian, Steel waves him forward to stand at the front of the circle.

"Place the item you chose yesterday in the center of the circle and call out to your familiar."

Sedian takes the building blocks and places them exactly where he was told and pauses for a second. He was not exactly sure how to call out to a familiar. He wondered if perhaps he should start with a joke or maybe move onto more professional stuff.

"I seek an audience with the king!"

Silence filled the room as everyone waited to see what was going to happen. If this was a joke it was lost on everyone. Sedian continues to stare at the circle.

Nothing happened for a good while Sedian was not really sure what to say next. He could try to joke again but maybe it wasn't time for this. That quickly left his thought, for him every day was a good day to tell a joke. He decided to try again.

"I want to speak to the king now!"

His expression not changing one bit from his usual look, finally something spoke back.

"Gimme."

What was with that squeaky voice? Was this some kind of joke? If it was Sedian was not laughing. Although no one had ever seen him laugh so that was pretty normal.

Sedian looked at the center of the circle and noticed that a small dark area appeared in the center and from it two small dark animal like hands were poking out of it reaching around the rim of the dark spot searching for something.

"Gimme, Gimme"

Was he looking for the blocks that he placed there? He wanted to see exactly what this creature was. Sedian walks up and moves the blocks to be out of reach of the hands. He thought it was funny the hands kept getting really close but not quite reaching the blocks.

Slowly he was able to get the creature to come out of the dark hole. Out appeared a raccoon covered in a black mist, his eyes wide and looking around, his nose sniffing the air as he watched Sedian.

"Mine now."

The raccoon quickly swipes the blocks from out of Sedians hands and places them in his chest which seems to be made of the same black misty substance. They disappear and the Raccoon looks at Sedian with his large round eyes.

Sedian is not sure what to do with this new information. There was a raccoon staring at him. It looked pretty cute considering it was a black misty raccoon.

"Are you the king?"

"I'm no king I am Secur, who are you?

"Sedian, I am your new partner."

"Sedian is Securs partner?"

"It would appear so."

Looking at Steel Sedian did not know what to say. He looks back at Secur who is just watching him looking over his person for anything that might be important to him. Secur wanted something shiny he could tell this boy had something he just couldn't find it.

Steel smiles and looks at Sedian. He was curious to see what Sedian would do with this familiar.

"Looks like you have a monstrous familiar from the shadow family."

Steel calls out to Secur. Secur jumps a little and looks at the large intimidating man. Looking for anything useful to him. Unfortunately this man also lacked cool stuff. What was wrong with these humans. Don't they know shiny things have to be given to him?

"You have something for this boy don't you Secur?"

The raccoons eyes dart from Steel and back at Sedian before reaching into his chest and pulling out a comically large book. He sniffs it all over and looks at Sedian before handing it to him.

"Take, take!"

Sedian looks at the book and back at Steel who waves him to take it. He does so and the raccoon begins speaking quickly.

"The contract is complete now Secur and Sedian are united as one. You may now kiss the bride!"

Sedian looks confused and looks at the raccoon whose lips are puckered in a funny fashion. The raccoon does not move at all Sedian bends down and picks up the raccoon who had one eye open now looking at Sedian with excitement.

Sedian looks at the raccoon that is making a kissy face and just before it kisses him Secur smack Sedian in the face with its tiny raccoon paw and laughs.

"You're funny, Secur likes you."

The class laughs at the act that is taking place and Wittorf wonders if he will get something weird like that one. Hopefully not, he wanted one that was cool.

"Open the grimoire Sedian." Steel insists. "Inside, it's past will open doors to your future."

Raising the large grimoire Sedian opens it and inside he sees memories of his own past. Growing up with a lower noble family. Raised to become a proper gentleman in a boarding school that disciplined bad behavior with an iron fist.

Tosses aside when his lack of emotions ruined his chances to marry up. Forgotten by a family that no longer had any use for him. Raising a second son to take his place. Sedian became a shadow in the light that was his family. Constantly playing tricks to be noticed by them and by those around him.

Scolded when they worked. Sedians entire life was playing before his eyes. It did not phase him. At least from his outward appearance he did not appear that way.

He also saw something better. He saw the light that came from a smile. A friend that brought him out of his own mind. Someone that focused on him and cared. A gentle hand that guided him to find more friends.

No one could see what Sedian saw and that was good because he was not someone who liked to share his past. He wondered how this book knew so much about him. He wondered if perhaps this book really could tell the future.

The book slowed down and eventually as he turns the page it becomes blank.

"Is that it?" He thought he would see the future in this book. Sedian looks up at Steel and tilts his head. He was not sure what it meant.

Steel just nodded; he knew Sedian would not understand at first. Sedian closed the book and Secur climbs on Sedians back. They walk back to the rest of the students.

Steel looks at the students and points to Sai. She looks nervous and takes a step forward.