In the m, I took out the book on familiars, a notebook, and a pen and started writing. I didn’t pn to copy the entire book, only the vital information. I skipped all the chapters about familiars in general, choosing the appropriate animal for your character, etc. It didn’t seem like necessary information, nor was it something I knew from personal experience.

  When I reached the chapter on Mana Priming, I skimmed through it and summarized the main points in my notebook. I did the same with the two chapters that discussed feeding the familiar mana-rich food to prepare it for the ritual.

  The chapter on Blood Binding was cise—only four paragraphs—so I copied it in its ey.

  The chapters oual were extensive, filled with descriptions, fluage, and unnecessary fluff. I summarized the key points into bullet points: perform the ritual on a vent, band the mana, how to prepare the mixture of ash, salt, and soil, and how to purify it.

  Taking out a rge sheet of part, I copied the magic circle and wrote all the essential instrus on the part itself, using arrows to point to the relevant expnations.

  Otom, I added a note from Lis that wasn’t in the book. I didn’t want to write “my father told me,” which wouldn’t pass with a Truth Mage, so I worded it in general terms:

  “I was told that for the ritual to succeed, the person binding the familiar must perform all the steps—not just the magic circle, but everything: priming, feeding mana-rich food, preparing the mixture, bang the mana, and drawing the magic circle. If others handle any of these tasks, the ces of success decrease. If the ritual fails, there’s no point iing it.”

  I reviewed everything again, trying to figure out if I missed any vital information. I added an emphasis that priming must be doh pure iions, with no hidden motives, and included Lis’s expnation that animals are smart enough to seent. After thinking for another half hour, I couldn’t e up with anything else worth adding.

  It was already afternoon, and I didn’t know where the Noble Quarter was, so I left early. Rue wao join me, but I had a bad feeling about Lord Damarion, especially when he asked about familiars. I didn’t want to take any ces. Rue was strong, but not as versatile as I was.

  “I’d rather you stay here,” I told him, trying to keep my tone casual.

  He must have sensed my disfort, because he tilted his head slightly. “Rue e with John. Rue protect John,” he said firmly, his tail wagging.

  “No, buddy. Stay here. If there’s a problem, I turn invisible, electrocute everyoh lightning, a out of there.” I said, my voice soft but firm. “I don’t want to put you in darust me, I’m not helpless.”

  He locked eyes with me. Spirits! His eyes were already at my level. I didn’t even have to look down!

  After ten seds, he nodded slowly. “John promise return not hurt,” he said, his voice almost a whisper in my mind.

  “I promise,” I reassured him, reag up to scratch his ear.

  I had to raise my hand higher than usual to reach it. “You grow every day,” I remarked with a smile.

  “Rue eat yummy forowing,” he said proudly, puffing out his chest.

  Hmmm, he did have a growth spurt these past few days. I stroked him o time ahe suite.

  At the entrao the hotel, I fgged down a carriage, showed the driver the address, a off. I was gd I hadn’t walked a early. It took us over two hours to reach the address. And no, there weren’t any traffic jams in this world—it was just far away. The new Noble Quarter was across the river, at the city’s eastern end.

  We arrived at a high wall, at least teers tall, with guards patrolling along the top. The carriage drove to a gate, and a guard spoke briefly with the driver befiving two solid knocks on the carriage door.

  When I ope, the guard, with his sword drawn, said, “Passage clearance.”

  I showed him the page the Lord had given me. He read it, looked at me, reread it, then nodded and ha back.

  “You may proceed,” he called to the driver.

  I closed the door, and we tinued onward. It took another half hour to reach Damarion’s spire.

  After paying the driver, I stood and looked up. It was one of the tallest spires in the district. I ted forty-seven floors, and the width of the building was eveer thael I was staying at.

  I shook my head in disbelief. Even with an enormous family and businesses, I couldn’t uand why the Lord needed all that space. I retty sure half, if not more, of the floors were empty. There was no way one family could fill this pce. It was massive.

  When I approached the door, I felt a warning twinge from my luck.

  “I know,” I muttered under my breath. “I felt it yesterday when I met him. He’s shrewd and dangerous.”

  A uniformed butler opehe door and eyed me critically. “Yes? What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice ft.

  I showed him the letter, and he skimmed it before stepping aside. “Please, e in, sir. You are early. You will have to wait.”

  “No problem,” I said, shrugging. “I didn’t know how long it would take to get here, and I didn’t want to be te.”

  He nodded curtly aured for me to follow him. We walked down a long corridor, about twenty meters, before we reached aor. The butler pulled the rope, and after a few mihe elevator arrived.

  It took us over five mio reach my floor. I did not know which floor it was—the elevator had no numbers. When the doors opened, another butler was waiting for me aured for me to follow him. He led me into aremely luxurious living room with colossal velvet sofas in a deep, dark blue, almost bck, and a marble floor. Heavy dark curtains covered all the windows, so I still didn’t know what floor I was on.

  “Please wait here, sir. Refreshments will arrive shortly. When Lord Damarion Fusil is ready to receive you, I will escort you,” he said formally.

  “Thanks,” I replied, a nod.

  A maid soon arrived with a pot rahat smelled of berries and a pte of small sandwiches filled with, judging by the aroma, some smoked meat. She curtsied a without a word. I waited for more than an hour before the Lord was finally ready to receive me. The tea and sandwiches were excellent, at least.

  The butler returned aed, “Follow me, sir.”

  He led me to another elevator at the opposite end of the building, and we went up an unknown number of flain. On the destination floor, he brought me into a massive office. It was the very definition of “power office”—wooden shelves lined every wall, crammed with scrolls and stacks of pages, and the rgest desk I’d ever seen domihe room. Behind it was the biggest armchair I’d ever id eyes on, and in front of the desk were two chairs so low they were like kindergarten chairs.

  He was ridiculous. I reized the power-py of the chair height from Earth, but at least there it was more subtle. Here, it was ically extreme. I was sure his armchair was on a raised ptform and had to work hard not to giggle.

  There was a sitting area with rge leather sofas arranged around a low table and a dining table with eight plush chairs surrounding it in another area. o his desk stood aable with bottles that I suspected tained alcohol.

  “Good evening, sir,” I said, keeping my tone polite.

  He stared at me for a long moment without saying a word, and I got the distinct feeling he wasn’t pleased that I didn’t feel threatened by him. It wasn’t anything I could pinpoint, just a gut instinct, but I was sure I was right.

  After over a minute of tense silence, he finally replied, “Good evening. Please sit down,” aured toward one of the ridiculous chairs.

  I sat down, and it was absurd. My height retty average, maybe even on the short side, a my knees were at my chest, and my was level with the table. I really struggled not to shake my head or burst out ughing.

  “Before we proceed with our business, there are a few things you o swear on,” Lord Damarion said, calm but authoritative.

  I nodded, and he rang a small silver bell sitting on his desk.

  A young man, probably in his te twenties, ehe room and began asking me questions. He wasn’t a Truth Mage—but a wyer posing as a mage.

  “Do you swear you gave Adi a twenty pert dist?” he asked, his tone all business.

  “Yes,” I replied without hesitation.

  He g Lord Damarion, nodded, and tinued. “Do you swear that the information you are about to provide to Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire is plete and tains all the necessary details for him to bind a familiar?”

  “Yes,” I said again, keeping my expressioral.

  He looked at Lord Damarion once more, nodded, and turned his gaze bae. “Do you affirm that the familiar, once bound, will develop a power ter akin to its master, as you’ve described to Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire?”

  “Yes.”

  The mage oward Lord Damarion, theurned his attention to me. “Are you certain that the information you io provide to Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire is prehensive, without withholding any importaails that might affect the success of the ritual?”

  “Yes.”

  Another nod to Lord Damarion. “Do you swear that the magic circle designed for Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire is fully funal, with no missing pos that could impede the ritual?”

  “Yes,” I answered. I maintained my posure, but it was getting harder.

  The mage g Lord Damarion again, nodding as he did so. “Do you stand by your cim that the familiar will gain a power ter that matches its master’s abilities, for Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire?”

  “Yes.”

  He turo the Lord, hen looked back at me. “Is it your assertion that the information you will provide to Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire is plete, leaving no signifit gaps?”

  “Yes.”

  Another nod to Lord Damarion. “Would you swear that the magic circle you’ve drawn for Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire is fully intad funal, without any fws that could cause failure?”

  “Yes.”

  He turned back to Lord Damarion, hen refocused on me. “ you firm, beyond doubt, that the familiar, once bound by the ritual, will obtain a power ter in alig with its master, as you’ve expio Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire?”

  “Yes,” I said, w how long this would tinue.

  Another nod to Lord Damarion before the mage asked again, “Do you swear that all the information you are providing to Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire is thh, without omitting any key details?”

  “Yes.”

  He nodded once more to the Lord before turning bae. “And do you firm that the magic circle, as designed, will fun without issue for Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire, ensuring the ritual’s success?”

  “Yes,” I repeated, doing my best not to show any frustration.

  The mage g Lord Damarion again, nodded, and asked, “Are you certain that, through this ritual, the familiar will develop a power ter as described, and that all this information has been truthfully veyed to Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire?”

  “Yes.”

  He turo the Lord, nodded once more, and then tinued. “Do you affirm that the information, including the steps and any necessary nuances, has been fully disclosed to Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire, without holding bay essential instrus?”

  “Yes,” I answered, holding back a sigh.

  Again, the nod. “Would you swear that the magic circle created for Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire is fwless, and will perform as required, ensuring the success of the binding ritual?”

  “Yes,” I said, my patience wearing thin.

  He g Lord Damarion, nodded, and tinued, “ you verify that the familiar will obtain a power ter that aligns with its master’s abilities, just as you’ve stated, for Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire?”

  “Yes.”

  The mage turned once more to Lord Damarion, nodded, auro me. “ you guarahat all perti information, including steps, methods, and any observations, has been fully veyed to Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire, without leaving out any critical details?”

  “Yes,” I repeated, feeling weary.

  The nod came again. “And do you swear that the magic circle provided to Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire is fully funal, without any error or missing elements that could promise the ritual?”

  “Yes,” I replied, trying to remain posed. I had to ch my fists and dig my nails into my palms to keep my temper. The fire in me was rearing its dangerous head with my frustration.

  The mage turned again to Lord Damarion, nodded, and then faced me o time. “And to clude, do you swear that the familiar will gain a power ter, as described, for Marquess Alistor Varence Damarion Fusil of Crystalspire?”

  “Yes.”

  He oward Lord Damarion again, then stepped aside, signaling that the lengthy questioning was finally over. Smart cookie. He might have felt that he ushing it.

  “Thank you, Borin, you may go.” The lord said, and the mage left.

  He held out his hand, anding, “Give me the information.”

  I handed him the notebook and part. He looked them over, flipping through the notebook before asking, “Do you have any of these booklets for sale?”

  The questioning had exhausted me, and I just wao get out of there. “No. Only for my use.”

  He regarded me for what felt like half a minute before asking, “Is there any other iing magic that you know?”

  “No.”

  He leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “I don’t need a Truth Mage to know that wasn’t true. I see it in your eyes. You know something you’re refusing to share with me.”

  I took a deep breath and squashed the fire again. “I know many things. Wizard things. As I’ve already told you, I e from a wizard family. I shared the magic circle with you because it wasn’t our exclusive knowledge. It didn’t belong to us. O was widely known, and we merely preserved it. But my other knowledge belongs to my family, developed and passed down eions. It’s not knowledge we sell, share, or distribute in any way. I’m sure you have family secrets you protect. So yes, there’s magic I know. But I ’t share or sell. The only person who decide that is the patriary family.”

  He smirked slightly, leaning ba his chair. “He’s far away. You’re here. He doesn’t have to know.”

  I met his gaze without fling. “It doesn’t work that way. Before my family approved my jouro explore the world, I had to make promises—swear certain oaths. They trusted me, and I’m not going to break that trust. Doing so would betray my family and my self-iy. It would be like cutting myself off from my roots and tradition. No amount of money is worth that. My family is where my loyalty lies, first and foremost.”

  He said nothing, but his eyes hardened as if calg his move.

  “Careful, boy,” he said, his tone low and dangerous. “You don’t want to make me your enemy.”

  “Is family loyalty a justifiable reason for enmity?” I asked, meeting his gaze.

  He regarded me silently for what felt like ay before speaking again. “I will agree to accept that if you swear it to the Truth Mage.”

  “I’m willing to swear,” I said, keeping my voice calm, “but this time, it won’t be aensive questioning. Due to the nature of the information, I’ll say my oath and the mage will tell you if I’m telling the truth or not.”

  “How he be sure you’re not lying?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.

  “My oath will be very clear, leaving no room for dishoy, without revealing any family information or anything else that could viote the trust pced in me.”

  He stared at me again, this time for at least three minutes, probably thinking he could make me unfortable.

  Ha! Idiot! I grew up in the foster care system; I know all these tricks and a lot more than you even imagine.

  “Very well,” he said, ringing the small bell again. The mage returo the office, his expression unreadable.

  Lord Damarion made a sweepiure with his hand. “Your stage,” he said. “I’m waiting.”

  I took a deep breath and spoke carefully. “I swear that the information I refuse to share with Lord Damarion Fusil is known to no one else in this world and has never been known to aside my family. This information belongs solely to me and my family”—I silently included Rue in that—“and no one else. It has never been sold or shared with anyone.”

  The mage looked at Lord Damarion, who waited for firmation with a pierg gaze, and nodded.

  “Swear that you will not sell this information to anyone else or share it with them,” Lord Damarion demanded, his tone sharp. “And I want to hear again that it is yours alone.”

  I g the mage before responding. “I swear that the information in my possession is mine alone, and I have no iion of selling or distributing it to anyone else in this world.”

  The mage looked at Lord Damarion, giving him a nod of firmation.

  With a slight movement of his head, Lord Damarion sighe mage to leave the room. Ohe door closed, he waved his hand, and a wooden box appeared oable before me. “There is three thousand gold in the box. This cludes the business between us. Leave,” he said coldly and turned his attention to the page on his desk, btantly ign me.

  I stood there momentarily, then quietly took the box a without another word.

  I hate hey are all shitheads!

  On my way to the elevator, I shook my head. That was a lesson in always listening to my sensei.

  When I left the spire, I looked for a taxi-carriage but didn’t find one. I shrugged, pulled out my bike, located the gate, and pedaled. After five minutes, I began giggling. After ten minutes, I was ughing out loud. The spoiled fox had spent three thousand gold on a product he could never use. All the information I gave him was corred accurate, but he didn’t bother to read it. If he had, he would’ve uood.

  To bind a familiar, one needed pure iions. I was a thousand pert sure that idiot wouldn’t reize pure iions even if they walked up to him oreet and bit his butt.