BOA4

As I lay there in the darkness, my thoughts began to wander back to my past. I turned my head to look at my roommate, Asher, who was still awake, staring up at the ceiling.

"Hey Asher, do you ever think about your parents?" I asked.

He turned his head to look at me, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Not really, Vesper. Why, you got a story to tell?"

I chuckled softly. "Well, not much of a story, but… I think that I would have a better life if I could live with my family. I only see them once in the year but they always say we love you vesper… It makes me feel warm inside is that love Asher. Do you even know what love is"? It came out as a half shout. My voice cracked with the lack of water so early in the morning.

"No." The response was quick and sharp, he continued quickly.

"I never had parents. I stay in Umbramancy all year around."

"Sorry I'm so Sorry I just thought you overslept when we were meant to go home".

"Well you're on the ball I overslept but I didn't have to worry about going home so I didn't need to pack up".

I nodded, feeling a pang of guilt for assuming the worst about his absence. "So what do you do during the breaks then?"

Asher shrugged. "Just hang around here, explore the academy a bit. Maybe try and catch up on some reading or practice some Invocations."

"Speaking of exploring," I said, sitting up in bed. "Do you want to go check out the library today? Maybe find some books on Invocations or something."

Asher's eyes lit up with interest. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I've been meaning to do some research on Invocations for a while now."

We quickly got ready and headed out of our dorm room, making our way towards the academy's library. As we walked, we passed by several other students in our year, chatting and laughing as they made their way to their own classes.

It was strange to see so many unfamiliar faces, even though we were in the same year as them. As Umbramancy students, we spent most of our time studying in a separate branch of the academy, only crossing paths with students from other disciplines during meals or the occasional joint class.

But as we entered the library, we were greeted by a familiar sight. Shelves upon shelves of books towered above us, and the soft hum of students quietly studying filled the air. We quickly found a section on Invocations and settled in at a nearby table, flipping through pages of various Invocations and techniques for Invocations your akana which according to the book was named after the originator a peasant called .

Then a page caught my attention it was titled

Familiars and what they do.

Familiars are a part of nature. These creatures are born to be guided by others and guid others. The same animal will be related to a deep desire you might know about most of the time people don't know their deepest desire. You may not understand the summon you receive in life and if your deepest desire changes after you summon your familiar your out of luck multiple trials that you'll be able to see the sources on page 320 near the end. Of the articles that support my claims.

Back to the topic at hand: what are the benefits and drawbacks of possessing a companion.

Benefits

You Get a life long friend

A battle, pet and therapist all in one

Can evolve if given enough time or requirements

You can talk to your familiar

A boost in power

They can only break bonds if your abusive

Drawbacks

An extra mouth to feed

They can break the bond if they choose

When a bond breaks the beast will take majority of the casters power

There is a slight stigma against specific creatures for more info page 300

Overall the benefits outweigh the downsides. I will be listing the requirements to do the summon. It's quite pricey and if you can't buy it you can always go out and fetch the requirements which will be hard

I continued reading, my interest piqued by the thought of summoning a familiar. Asher leaned over my shoulder, peering at the page.

"What are the requirements?" he asked.

I skimmed the page. "Looks like we'll need specific ingredient's."

Asher nodded thoughtfully.

I frowned, flipping through the pages.

"Do you really think it's worth it?" Asher asked, looking at me skeptically.

I shrugged. "I don't know. It could be cool to have a familiar. And it says the benefits outweigh the downsides."

"Well give me the list of ingredients"

"It says here

1. The birds called Umbrus have a photo that looks like a large bird with jet-black feathers that seem to absorb light, making it nearly invisible in the darkness. Its wingspan can reach up to six feet, and its eyes are a piercing red, which seem to glow in the dark. It is known for its eerie call, which sounds like a distorted version of a raven's caw and is found in the deserts of Aridus.

2.Get a stone found in most mines called Selenith,Selenith is a rare gemstone that is prized for its otherworldly beauty. Its color ranges from pale silver to iridescent blue and purple, and it shimmers and glows in low light. The gemstone is incredibly hard and durable, making it perfect for use in jewelry and other decorative objects.

3.Frostwort. It grows in cold and damp environments, such as the base of mountains or in the depths of forests. Its leaves are a deep emerald green and are heavily veined with silver, giving it a frosted appearance. Frostwort has delicate white flowers that bloom in the winter, even in the coldest of temperatures.

4.The second to last ingredient it's a parchment that the user has to chant. What it says it's called the Chronicles of the Elders. There is only one copy so if you have this scroll your one a criminal or related to the GloryFlowers family.

5.The final ingredient is most likely going to be the easiest or hardest you will have to ground up the fangs of a Nirax. These things are a large and powerful being with razor-sharp claws and glowing, ethereal eyes. Its body is covered in shimmering scales that shift and change color depending on the angle and intensity of the light. The Nirax is able to fly effortlessly through the air with its massive wings.

The rest of the instructions are found in the scroll. With the end of the chapter I shut the book and pull Asher up with me. After I placed it back into the shelf.

We stepped out of the aisle and started walking towards the library exit. As we approached the door, we heard hushed voices coming from behind it. We exchanged a look, and I gestured for Asher to follow me as we made our way towards a nearby shelf and took cover behind it.

We listened intently as the voices grew louder and clearer. It was the sound of two teachers talking. They were discussing something about the upcoming exams, but then their conversation turned to a more serious topic.

"I heard from a little bird that a burning day is coming once again any good prospects," one of the teachers said in a low voice.

The other teacher replied, "Yeah, the blackwood kid and his friend Dolos has potential. I wonder how bright he shines . They're going places, but I don't know where yet."

I froze as I heard the teachers' conversation. Burning day was coming up again, and they were talking about potential candidates. My heart pounded in my chest as I realized they were talking about me. I couldn't believe it. I had always known I was better than my classmates, but I never imagined I could be a candidate for the Burning Day ritual.

I turned to Asher, my new friend and roommate, and whispered urgently, "We need to go. Now." I grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the dorms, running as fast as I could towards our dorm.

Once we were inside, I closed the door and locked it, my mind racing. The teachers thought I had potential. That meant they would be watching me closely, waiting for me to slip up, waiting for the perfect opportunity to initiate the Burning Day ritual.

"I can't wait for it to happen," I said to Asher, my voice shaking. "I want to be a monster just like the stories of old."

"If you remember they said i also had potential you would know if you paid attention are you sure you want this" Reproachfully Asher stared at me.

"Sorry they just you know… always said you can be something, something worth keeping around if you're strong. I could belong somewhere other than at home. It is one of my biggest dreams in life asher".

"That's a lame goal" Asher said with a bored expression on his face.

"I thought you would be different from the other kids but maybe there is still hope for you. What do you think about freedom Vesper?". He looked deep into my eyes, his dark brown eyes almost looked gold in the light that mesmerized me. My next words came out as a mess.

"I nev-never really thought about freedom before," I stuttered, taken aback by Asher's question.

I quickly snapped back "There's nothing outside the walls of the nation don't you remember that all other human settlements are war torn and bound to collapse".

I almost didn't hear the response. Asher's voice was low and thoughtful as he replied, "But is it worth sacrificing our own freedom for the illusion of safety? Don't you want to know what lies beyond these walls, what other possibilities exist for us?"

I opened my mouth to reply, but found myself at a loss for words. Asher had always been the more philosophical of us, questioning the world around us and challenging the status quo. But his words struck a chord with me, and I found myself wondering if there was more to life than just surviving within the confines of our nation.

As if sensing my inner turmoil, Asher placed a hand on my shoulder and said, "Think about it, Vesper. We don't have to settle for just existing. We can strive for more, even if it means taking risks and facing the unknown."

With those words, Asher left me alone in our dorm, my mind buzzing with newfound curiosity and a thirst for adventure. Perhaps there was more to life than just serving, and maybe it was time for me to start exploring the possibilities.