[Azra, we're taking you to the registrar's office to get a familiar's license.]
"A familiar license?" Azra looked at him with her head tilted. "Am I a familiar now?"
[No, since we haven't created a pact, but it's the only way for them to let you stay here with me.] wrote Sebastian.
"I can stay?" Azra looked happy. "Can I come with you?"
[Yes, but please stay in your bird form]
Upon hearing this, Azra hopped on Sebastian's shoulder in her bird form.
"Should we go straight to the registrar's office?" Dorin asked Sebastian. He had just arrived with Johan from the kitchens.
[I messaged Prof. Dupont, we'll meet him in front of the dorms.] Sebastian went inside the room and came back wearing a cloak with a hood on. His head bulged since the caladrius was under the hood as well. [Let's go.]
"Yeah, good luck," Johan called out to them. Dorin stopped in his tracks.
"You're not coming?" He asked the fire mage who comfortably slouched in front of the TV.
"What for?" the other asked. "I'd rather stay here and rest for a bit."
"Okay, see you later then."
There were hardly any people loitering in the hallways when the two made their way downstairs. They took the recommendation letter from Ms. Ermingard and headed for the front entry way. Prof. Dupont was there, wearing a simple shirt and jeans. His long hair was tied up in a bun, loose strands falling in some places. He looked like just another student in his get up as he waved at Dorin as they came nearer.
"Sebastian, is that you?" he asked the hooded figure with Dorin.
[Yes Prof. Dupont] Sebastian held out the slate from beneath his cloak.
"Just call me Jacob when I'm on my day off," said the professor. "Same goes with you," he told Dorin. "So, where's the caladrius?" he asked, looking around in the sky.
Azra peeped out of Sebastian's hood, her golden crown feathers ruffled. She gave a small chirp and dodged back in
"Oh, how did you fit in there?!" Jacob Dupont exclaimed.
"She's still very young," Dorin found himself saying.
"So it seems," Jacob said thoughtfully, "a mature caladrius can reach a wingspan of about 2 meters, you know." he told the two students in front of him. "So, shall we head to the main building?" he smiled, "Just in time, too, here comes the school tram."
"What's a tram?" Dorin asked, then noticed the vehicle coming their way.
[It's a free transport service that goes around the campus] wrote Sebastian.
"Oh, we had something like this?" Dorin watched the tram pull over. It was almost full.
"Since classes have not started yet, only a few trams are operational, but there would be more next week," explained Jacob. "Come now before all the seats are taken."
Dorin enjoyed the ride in the tram. It went into the Arts and Organizations area of the Magic Division and passed the entrance leading to the main Magic Building. From there, they went towards the East Gate before heading to the front of the Main University Tower in the center where they alighted.
"For registering familiars, they used to just send an application letter to the teacher in charge," Jacob told them, "But now-a-days, with the lost of the Magical Familiar Treaty, there are hardly any cases of familiars being registered, or for that reason, any familiars at all," he continued as they entered the main doorway. "That's why all familiars are now introduced to the Head Registrar."
"What's that 'Magical Familiar Treaty'?" asked Dorin.
"You see, hundreds of years ago, there was a treaty with fairy folk and us humans that we, as weaker beings, may have partners or familiars from the fairy realm." Jacob started to talk in a lecturing manner. "At first everything was fine, but then, there were some cases that certain humans took advantage of their familiars, especially the ones who lack intelligence. Salamanders, undines, low level sprites... They were used and discarded just like low level animals..." Jacob added solemnly.
"So the treaty was broken?" Dorin asked.
"Yes," answered the professor. "Damien Wolfsbane is not just a groundskeeper. He is the keeper of the fairy folk near the university, and sort of an ambassador to the elves." He looked at Dorin and smiled. "You were lucky that he was there in the woods, the night you were attacked," he added, "he is very powerful, and he has all of the fairy folk on his side."
"Then, what happened? What did Damien do?" Dorin asked again.
"Ah, that is for another lecture!" Jacob grinned. "For now, let's get this caladrius registered."
Azra chirped from beneath Sebastian's hood.
As they went their way to the head register's office, Dorin noticed that there were still long lines of students in the hall. Jacob led them to one of the lines, this one much shorter, thankfully.
"I'll go see if Lady Chantrell could grant us an immediate audience," said the Professor. He left Sebastian and Dorin at the end of the line and knocked at the door to the Head Registrar's office.
"Do you know about that Familiar Treaty?" Dorin asked Sebastian.
[I've read about it.] Sebastian wrote back.
"Do you know what happened?"
[The Arch Wizard Damien Wolfsbane, keeper of the Dark Forest, came with a horde of beings to the capital and demanded that the treaty be broken] wrote Sebastian. [All familiars were given the choice to stay or leave their masters freely. In exchange, Damien said that they would honor the treaty and not simply kill their abusive masters. Also, they gave a big expanse of land to the west of the Dark Forest which had a hidden mine in it] he added.
"And the humans simply agreed?" Dorin seemed surprised. "I thought humans were more stubborn than that."
[Well, who would want to wake up to see their familiar's teeth around their necks?] Sebastian went on. [Besides, it would be suicide to go against them in this country. The land was theirs to begin with. They could easily send us away.]
"But that's not what happened in the land of the black sands..." Dorin asked thoughtfully.
Sebastian's cloak looked up at him. Dorin could see his glasses glinting under the hood. [The history of the Arfan Empire] said the slate. [That one went out of hand, in my opinion] he continued. [Plus, we are near the center of the fairies' realm, they are more powerful here compared to the desert lands. There are still so many things that us humans don't know about the Dark forest. Things that only the fairy folk know of. The end of that treaty about 90 years ago also ended the possibility of unlocking those mysteries.]
"You mean, the Familiar Treaty was ended 90 years ago?" Dorin asked. "But Ms. Ermingard said the last familiar in the dorm was about 40 years ago..."
[Not all familiars left their partners] wrote Sebastian in reply. [There were still good humans in the world, although the number of familiars declined gradually, until now, only regular animals are used as familiars.]
"Until now..." Dorin agreed.
"Sebastian, Dorin!" Called Jacob from the doorway. Sebastian lowered his hood. "Let's go!"
The other students looked back at the two young mages as they went straight into the Registrar's Office.
"Is it okay to just cut in line?" Dorin asked the professor whose face was flushed with excitement.
"Yup, don't worry," replied Jacob, "you stay here, Dorin, We'll be right back."
The 2 entered the room and closed the door behind them. Inside, Lady Chantrell Ravant sat behind her desk. Beside her stood a very attractive young woman with flowing gold hair, holding a clipboard.
"Ah, Sebastian Revious," said Lady Chantrell. "I believe you have something to show us?"
Sebastian took off his hood to reveal the caladrius on his shoulder. The white bird stood in its full height and ruffled its feathers, shaking its golden crown back to shape.
[This is my caladrius, Azra] wrote Sebastian, [I would like to register her as my familiar.]
The registrar stood up to get a closer look at the caladrius. Her companion almost dropped her clipboard.
"Is it really a caladrius?" Lady Chantrell whispered. She came closer, slowly, as to not frighten the bird. But still, Azra went around Sebastian's shoulder and refused to look at her. Lady Chantrell stopped at her tracks.
"My Lady, how can we tell if it's a real caladrius?" asked her companion.
"It is real," answered the head Registrar. "Can't you see?" she continued. "It refuses to look at me."
There was a silence in the room that was only broken by the sound of rustling clothes. Sebastian had dropped his cloak and went to Lady Chantrell's side, placing his head on the other's chest. Azra flew away, landing on a chair behind them. Words rushed across the fallen slate's surface.
[What does it mean? Why won't she look at you? You said you were feeling so much better now, they said you would be better soon!]
"Hush," Lady Chantrell whispered, "who would know better, but a caladrius? That they refuse to even take a glimpse of a person who can no longer be saved."
[But...] the words on the slate faded away and remained blank.
"This is a useful device," the registrar said, picking it up. "Is this the slate that your friend Dorin made for you?" Sebastian nodded. "He seems to be a good young man. I could tell right away that he does not like to tell lies." She smiled down at Sebastian, sadness in her eyes, when one of her legs almost gave way beneath her.
"Lady Ravant!" Prof. Dupont and the young woman were suddenly beside her. They led her back to her seat and gave her a glass of water.
"Sebbie, just where did you get that caladrius?" the woman asked Sebastian as soon as the head registrar looked better.
[Secret] Sebastian wrote.
"What, you can't even tell your big sister?!" she fumed, "Don't you go expecting any favors from me again, if that's your attitude!"
[Your pic won a special price you know] wrote Sebastian.
"Ho-ho, Sam, so you where that lady in 'Shadow Lace'?" Jacob grinned from beside Lady Chantrell.
"Well, isn't it obvious, Jacob?" Sam smiled confidently, "Who else would look that dashingly beautiful?"
[I cropped your head off.] wrote Sebastian.
"What did you say?!"
"Now, tone down your voices," said Lady Chantrell. "You are not helping my headache."
"Sorry, Lady Chantrell," murmured Sam. "So about the familiar..."
"I would allow it, of course," said the head registrar. "And may I ask you, Azra, though you may refuse to look at me..." she requested, "Please, never keep your eyes away from this child."
In respond, Azra flew from the chair she was perched on and landed gently back on Sebastian's shoulder.
"Jacob," Lady Chantrell called the professor, "I thank you again for always looking after Sebastian. I leave everything else to you."
"My lady–" Jacob tried to say, but the Lady Ravant stopped him.
"We all know what is coming. All I ask of you is to continue to stay by his side. Samantha, my niece..." She reached out a hand which the other took gently. "To the daughter I never had. Please continue to guide him as well." Tears start to fall from Samantha's eyes which she quickly wiped away.
"It is my greatest honor, my Lady," she replied, eyes shining.
"Now, can you give me a few minutes to be alone with Sebastian?" She asked with a smile.