Page 15 of Lich's Bride

Confused, I blink my eyes open, squinting against the pale dawn light filtering through the curtains.

As my vision clears, I look down... and my heart nearly stops.

Curled up on my chest, its furry little body rising and falling with each breath, is the most adorable creature I have ever seen. It's small, no bigger than a kitten, with lustrous fur the color of burnished copper. A bushy tail is wrapped around its body, the tip twitching slightly as it dreams.

For a moment, I simply stare, my sleep-fogged brain struggling to process what I'm seeing. Then, all at once, it hits me. This creature, this beautiful, impossible being... is my familiar.

The magical companion I've wanted so desperately, the other half of my soul made manifest.

Tears spring to my eyes, blurring my vision as a wave of pure, incandescent joy crashes over me. With a shaking hand, I reach out to stroke the soft fur, marveling at the silken texture against my fingertips. The familiar stirs, its eyes blinking open... and I find myself gazing into orbs the color of molten gold, flecked with hints of emerald and sapphire.

At that moment, as our gazes lock, I feel something click into place deep within me. A connection, a bond, a sense of recognition so profound it steals my breath. This creature knows me, down to the marrow of my bones, the deepest recesses of my heart. And I know it, with a certainty that defies explanation.

I have never loved anything so greatly.

Slowly, carefully, I sit up, cradling the familiar in my arms. It makes a small, trilling sound of contentment, nuzzling into my chest. I can feel the thrum of its heartbeat against my own, the whisper of its breath on my skin. It's like holding a piece of my own soul, warm and vital and achingly precious.

A grin stretches across my face, so wide it almost hurts. I have to share this, have to show my master. He'll understand, more than anyone, the magnitude of what has happened. Swinging my legs out of bed, I stand, the familiar—my familiar—perched securely on my shoulder and it chirps contentedly, wrapping around my neck.

I dash out into the corridor, my bare feet slapping against the cold flagstones. I'm still in my nightgown, my hair a tangled mess, but I don't care. All that matters is getting to Malachar and sharing this incredible, life-altering moment.

I find him in his study, bent over a massive tome, the candlelight casting his aquiline features into stark relief. He looks up as I burst in, his eyes widening fractionally at my disheveled appearance.

"Kira? What?—"

"Look!" I exclaim, the words tumbling out in an excited rush. "Look what happened! I woke up and it was just there, sleeping on my chest, and I could feel it, the connection, and?—"

I'm babbling, I know, but I can't seem to stop. The joy is a living thing inside me, bubbling up my throat, spilling out in a giddy torrent. Malachar's gaze flicks to the familiar on my shoulder, then back to my face. He rises slowly from his chair, setting aside his quill.

"Well," he says, his voice a soft rasp in the hush of the study. "It seems congratulations are in order, apprentice. You have successfully called your familiar. A momentous occasion, indeed."

I beam at him, my cheeks aching from the force of my smile. "I can't believe it," I breathe, reaching up to stroke the familiar's silky fur. "After all this time, all the failed attempts... it's really here. It's really mine."

Malachar moves around the desk, coming to stand before me. His eyes are inscrutable, fathomless pools of shadow in the guttering candlelight. "The familiar chooses the mage," he says softly, almost to himself. "It is a bond that transcends the purely magical. A melding of essence, of spirit. To be chosen... It is a profound gift."

There's something in his voice, an undercurrent of some deep, nameless emotion that sends a shiver down my spine.

For a moment, he looks almost... wistful.

Melancholy.

As if the sight of my joy, my newfound connection, stirs some ancient grief within him.

But then the moment passes, his face smoothing back into its usual mask of cool composure. "Have you discovered your familiar's abilities yet?" he asks, his tone brisk, businesslike. "Its elemental affinity, its unique powers?"

I shake my head, suddenly eager to explore this new facet of my magical journey. "Not yet. I came straight here, I didn't even think..."

Malachar nods, a faint smile quirking the corner of his mouth. "Your eagerness is understandable. But now the true work begins. Learning to work in tandem with your familiar, to harness your combined strengths. It will require focus, dedication... and no small measure of patience."

I meet his gaze, my own determination kindling to match the glint in his eyes. "I'm ready," I declare, standing straight and tall. "Whatever it takes, I'll do it. We'll do it." My familiar chirrups softly, as if in agreement.

Malachar's smile widens a fraction, a hint of warmth softening the hard planes of his face. "I have no doubt of that," he murmurs, almost too low for me to hear. "No doubt at all."

He turns back to his desk, picking up his quill once more. "Take the day to acquaint yourself with your new companion," he says, already refocusing on his work. "Explore the bond, test its limits. We will begin your tandem training on the morrow."

I nod, too excited to be dismissed so easily. "Thank you, master," I say softly, meaning it with every fiber of my being. "For everything."

He inclines his head, a bare acknowledgment, but I catch the flicker of something in his eyes.

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