The atmosphere at the academy that morning felt different. We were all gathered in the training field, the air thick with that mix of nerves and anticipation that only comes when you're about to discover something important. Professor Meller watched us with a calm smile, his robe fluttering slightly in the morning breeze.
"Alright, class," he said in a strong voice, catching everyone's attention. "Today, we will test your familiars to determine their primary affinity. Remember, not all familiars are suited for direct combat. Some are meant to support in other areas—enhancing abilities, gathering items, or even healing."
I raised my hand with a bit of uncertainty, glancing at Aegis, my cockatiel, who rested on my shoulder as if nothing in the world could bother her… which, to be honest, seemed pretty reasonable considering she had eaten a live snake just a few days ago. A detail I still wasn't entirely able to process.
"Professor, a question," I said as Aegis gently pecked at my ear with suspicious affection. "How many types of familiars are there, exactly? I mean... is there an official classification? Because mine... well, doesn't really seem to fit into any category. At least none that I know of."
Meller adjusted his glasses and nodded calmly.
"Good question, Rurik. There are several broadly accepted categories. We have combat familiars, which are designed for direct fighting. Support familiars, which provide passive skills or buffs to their masters. Others are specialized in healing, some are used to gather materials, and finally, a few rare cases are mixed-utility familiars, which combine several functions. However... there are exceptions."
I nodded, taking in the information, though one doubt still lingered in my mind.
"I see, professor. But in Aegis's case..." I looked at the cockatiel perched on my shoulder, who tilted her head from side to side with curiosity. "I'm not sure what category she fits into. She doesn't seem geared for combat, I haven't noticed any passive buffs, and I definitely haven't seen her collect items or heal wounds."
The professor gave a slight smile, as if he had anticipated my concern.
"It's natural to have doubts at first, Rurik. That's exactly why we're doing this test. However, if you're eager to learn more about Aegis, you can ask her to perform a specific action that might give us a clue about her abilities."
I thought for a moment, recalling Aegis's peculiar behavior since she hatched. An idea crossed my mind, and I decided to try it.
"Aegis, could you give me back my axe?" I asked calmly.
The cockatiel let out a soft squawk and, to everyone's surprise, grew in size and opened her beak enormously. The bird spat out the axe, and the weapon flew out with incredible speed, zooming just inches past Professor Meller's head. With surprisingly quick reflexes, he tilted to the side to avoid the projectile.
A heavy silence fell over the class. All eyes were on Aegis and me. I swallowed hard, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.
"I'm really sorry, professor," I said, bowing in a hurried apology. "I didn't expect it to come out with that much force."
The professor, after regaining his composure, adjusted his glasses and gave me a curious look.
"Rurik, has this happened before?"
I nodded, scratching the back of my neck nervously.
"Yes, professor. Aegis has a habit of... storing things. She's done this with several of my items."
Some students stifled giggles, while others stared at Aegis in fascination. Tesline, standing beside me, had her hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Professor Meller stroked his chin, deep in thought.
"Interesting. It seems Aegis possesses an extra-dimensional storage ability. I've seen it before—uncommon, but not unheard of. Though the fact that your familiar is a bird could have been a hint."
"What do you mean?"
"Familiars that resemble birds are more likely to be storage-type familiars, since the items they store in their crop work similarly to how real birds store stones or food."
"So we have a symbiotic relationship."
I looked at Aegis, who returned my gaze with bright, dark eyes. I smiled, feeling a mix of pride and wonder. I had just solved the problem of not having storage.
"In any case, since it's a very rare class, it's usually grouped under the collector category."
"So, does that mean Aegis is a collector-type familiar?"
The professor shook his head.
"Not necessarily. While collection involves retrieving and bringing back items, what Aegis does is more akin to acting as a living container. Her ability could be extremely useful for transporting extra gear, supplies, or even hiding valuable objects. However, to fully determine her potential, it will be essential to observe her performance during the test."
I nodded, understanding the importance of the evaluation.
"I see, professor. I'm looking forward to discovering what else Aegis can do."
Professor Meller smiled slightly and turned to the rest of the class.
"Alright, now that we've had this unexpected demonstration, I invite you all to prepare for the test. Discovering the unique abilities of your familiars will allow you to harness their full potential and strengthen the bond you share."
As the other students began preparing, I turned to Tesline, who still had an amused smile on her face.
"I can't believe your bird spat out your axe in the middle of class," she said, laughing softly. "That was... hilarious."
I covered my face with my hands to hide my embarrassment. That really was quite the scene. I was lucky no one got hurt.
Professor Meller raised his voice again, this time in a more formal tone.
"Alright, I've just been informed the training yard is free. I want everyone to form two lines and head there quickly."
Everyone complied immediately, possibly out of excitement to find out their familiar's affinity—or maybe in this world, when a professor speaks, everyone listens without question. Which I find hilarious, considering how little respect teachers get where I come from.
*・・*・・*・・*・・*・・*
Professor Meller announced in his rough voice that we would move on to the next stage of training. I had already gotten used to the way he spoke, as if he were always about to scold you, so I just smiled as he said:
"Let me introduce Instructor Arvek, who will be in charge of the next part of your familiars' training."
I turned to look, curious, and saw a huge man in dark armor that looked like it had been stitched together with growls. He had a scar running across his face and eyes that seemed like they could see right into your soul… and judge it harshly.
"I'm Arvek," the man said, wasting no time on friendly greetings. "I don't care if your familiars are adorable, weird, or look like a nightmare made of flying bread. I'm here to see what they can do."
I couldn't help but whisper to Tesline, who was next to me.
"Did he say flying bread? Is that even real?"
She elbowed me and tried not to laugh.
"What, did that make you hungry, Rurik?"
"Hey! Well, maybe a little."
The instructor led us to the academy's southern courtyard, where they had set up a sort of magical fair though with no food stalls, which was a real disappointment. There were several stations with training dummies, objects scattered on the ground, and even some floating platforms that I had no idea what they were for.
"First, combat test," Arvek shouted.
One by one, your familiar will interact with the dummy without direct instructions. If they attack, they're offensive type. If not, we'll move on to other tests to classify their role.
Tesline shot a determined look.
"Zephyr's going to split that dummy in half, just watch."
"Mine will probably eat the dummy and I'll have to buy a new one."
And sure enough, when Tesline's turn came, her lightning squirrel did not disappoint. It leapt from her shoulder, squealed like a tiny thunderstorm, and unleashed a blast so strong that the dummy sparked like someone had lit a mana furnace inside it. Then it spun around and electrified the ground beneath it. Everyone applauded.
"Combat familiar, electric type!" announced the instructor. "Good offensive response and area control."
"Zephyr, you're the best!" Tesline shouted, happy as a kid with a new cape.
I clapped too, genuinely impressed, and when my turn came, I walked to the center feeling like someone bringing a pigeon to a dragon competition. I already knew its affinity, but I didn't want to go against the instructor's directions.
"Come on, Aegis," I whispered to my cockatoo, flying above me. "It's your time to shine. Do what you did to my axe… but with the dummy. Okay?"
Aegis landed in front of the dummy. She stared at it for a few seconds with that look I already knew as if deciding whether it was worth paying attention. Then, very slowly… she sat down. That was it. No screech, no puffed feathers, not even a threatening glance. She just curled up like she was enjoying the sun.
I scratched the back of my neck, awkwardly, as the instructor frowned.
"I was already told it was a gathering-type familiar, so I think it's better to head to the utility zone."
Arvek sighed.
"Next time, warn me. Don't waste my time."
And off I went, guided by one of the assistants. The station was full of objects: mana crystals, coins, and a few fake gems. They explained that I had to ask Aegis for something without being too specific, to see her instinctive reaction.
"Aegis, uh… could you please find something interesting for me? I don't know, whatever you think looks nice."
Aegis screeched like she had just woken from a delicious nap, then took off. She flew low, in tight circles, with surprising precision. In seconds, she gathered a bright blue mana crystal, a coin that looked like silver, and… a button? No, it was a small gem hidden in the grass.
One by one, she dropped the objects neatly in front of me except for the last one, which grazed my foot and nearly made me jump.
"Hey! Warn me before you fire stuff, will you?"
The assistant was speechless.
"Excellent selectivity. Picks rare items, ignores trash. Very high efficiency."
"Yeah, it's like she knows what's worth money," I muttered, impressed. "She's my familiar, after all. She's got to have something of my personality in her."
Aegis spun around and perched on my shoulder, chirping happily. When I got back to Tesline, she greeted me with a smile.
"So? How'd it go?"
"Gatherer. Though I think she also doubles as a personal item catapult."
"Did she spit something at you?"
"A coin. Nearly lost an eye."
We laughed together as we waited for the others to finish their tests. I glanced at Aegis, who settled on my shoulder like she owned the world.
Maybe she wasn't a combat familiar, or one that healed or cast powerful spells. But her ability to act as a living inventory would definitely come in handy and with a bit of creativity, I could find even more uses for her.
After everyone finished their trials and the familiars were classified I still can't get over that one guy whose familiar looked like a giant jelly that gathered stuff with tentacles! — Professor Meller told us to return to the main classroom.
"Alright, now that you have an idea of what your familiars can do," he said, adjusting his glasses, "We're going to practice a simple but extremely useful spell for adventurers: visual linking."
I raised an eyebrow, curious. That sounded important. Aegis, my cockatoo, chirped on my shoulder as if she was interested too. Or hungry. Sometimes I can't tell the difference.
The professor, wasting no time, crouched in front of a massive magic carpet that covered the center of the room and began drawing a glyph with enchanted chalk. The lines glowed a soft blue as he traced them with surgical precision. It looked like he was drawing a flower with deep roots… or a magical spiderweb.
"This glyph," Meller continued as he stood up and brushed the dust off his hands, "will activate a visual link with your familiars. You'll be able to see through their eyes… or whatever they use to see. It'll be useful for exploration, ambushes, surveillance, or just spying without getting caught."
"Could we also use it to cheat on exams?" I asked in a low voice, half-joking.
Tesline elbowed me again. "Rurik…"
"I was joking!" I laughed, raising my hands. "Although... would it work?"
Ignoring me, the professor instructed us to form a circle around the glyph, with our familiars in front of us. Aegis, as always, seemed more concerned about a speck of dust floating in front of her than the seriousness of the situation.
"Now, focus. Channel a bit of mana through your right palm and touch the center mark of the glyph. Think about your familiar. Think about their eyes, the way they see the world... and let that bond flow into you."
I did as he said. I placed my hand on the center of the glyph. It was warm, vibrant, as if it pulsed with life. Aegis looked up at me from the ground, tilting her head as if she knew I was about to do something important. I focused the mana, felt it slide through my fingers like warm water, and then... something lit up.
Suddenly, my vision... changed.
It was as if the world had doubled.
For a second, I was seeing the room through my own eyes. My classmates, the professor, Tesline beside me. But also... I was seeing from a lower angle, as if I were floating close to the floor.
The vision was sharp, precise. As if my own eyes had become clearer. I saw my own face, my astonished expression. I was seeing through Aegis' eyes!
"I did it!" I shouted, right before getting dizzy like a drunk sailor.
Everything started spinning. Seeing two things at once wasn't as cool as it sounded. I felt like I was in two bodies at once—one lighter, more agile, and the other... clumsier and confused.
I quickly closed my eyes, hoping that would help. And to my surprise, it did. The double vision vanished. Now I could only see through Aegis' eyes… and it was weird.
But also... fascinating.
I had expected to see the world from a bird's perspective, like those documentaries my old self used to watch, with a wide, panoramic view, like a drone camera strapped to my head. But instead... I saw like a regular person.
A little shorter, sure, and with slightly more saturated colors, but it was totally normal vision. No compound eyes, no weird filters. Just... human sight.
"That's... weird," I murmured, eyes still closed. "Aegis, why do you see like this? Shouldn't you have bird vision?"
I felt a response. Not words, not clear thoughts. Just a sensation. As if Aegis was telling me, "What did you expect, idiot?" Though in a loving way. Maybe.
"Rurik? Are you okay?" Tesline asked from somewhere in front of me. I couldn't see her, but I knew she was there. It was like Aegis also knew exactly where Tesline was.
"I'm fine. Just... seeing the world through Aegis. And I have to say... it's a bit strange. Not complaining, though. I wasn't expecting super vision or X-rays either."
"X-rays what?"
"Never mind! I just... thought I'd see like a hawk or something. But this is like seeing through myself… but prettier."
Aegis squawked, offended, and I felt something hit my head. I opened my eyes just in time to see my cockatoo toss a bit of lint at me from the floor.
"Hey! That wasn't an insult!"
Professor Meller approached, his usual frown in place, though this time he seemed less annoyed than usual.
"Interesting, Rurik. You say your familiar's vision is like yours?"
"Yes, sir. It's... quite clear. Even human. Is that normal?"
"Not at all. That suggests a special bond. Or that your familiar has an altered form of perception. Perhaps she's not just a cockatoo, after all."
Aegis squawked as if to confirm his words.
"Or maybe she's just a stylish cockatoo," I added, giving her a pat.
Meller sighed. "Either way, keep practicing. You might be able to use both visions at once with enough experience."
"Without throwing up?"
"Hopefully."
I sat down while the others continued practicing, seeing the world through their familiars' eyes.
After class ended, Tesline and I left the academy building together. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in warm tones like something out of a painting. We walked in silence for a while, heading down the path that led out of the city, toward our home in the forest.
It wasn't that we had nothing to say… I think we were both just processing everything that had happened that day. The shared vision thing still had me half dizzy.
"I still feel weird," I muttered, rubbing my eyes as we walked.
"Still dizzy from the spell?" Tesline asked without looking at me, though she sounded amused.
"Yeah, it's like I still have a bit of... how do I put it... ghost vision. Sometimes I think I'm seeing two things at once, even though my eyes are normal. I think Aegis is having a great time with this."
My familiar, perched on my shoulder, let out a cheerful squawk as if to confirm my suspicions. Tesline laughed.
"Well, you'll get used to it. Unless you pass out first."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I grumbled, though I couldn't help but smile.
After about twenty minutes of walking, we reached home. Or rather, our home. Though calling it just a "house" felt like underselling it.
Entering always filled me with a mix of pride and peace. I closed the door behind me while Tesline hung her jacket on a makeshift coat rack made of twisted branches.
"What's for dinner?" she asked, stretching like a lazy cat. "We trained a lot today and I'm hungry enough for three people."
"Stew," I said with a grin as I headed to the small kitchen. "I saw we still had salted meat and potatoes. There are also carrots and a bit of garlic."
"Oh, that sounds great. Just don't blow up the pot like last time, please," she joked as she flopped onto the wooden couch padded with furs.
"It happened once! One time!" I protested, lowering my voice as I remembered the mess it had been. "Well, maybe twice."
I started working on dinner. I peeled the potatoes a bit hastily—nearly lost a fingernail in the process then chopped the carrots into small pieces, tossed everything into the iron pot, added the meat, water, some herbs we had gathered that morning, and placed it over the coal fire. As it began to bubble slowly, the aroma started to fill the room.
Tesline came closer and peeked over my shoulder.
"Hmm... that smells nice. At least the bottom isn't burning this time," she said with a teasing smile.
"Because it's not done yet!" I retorted, sticking my tongue out at her.
Soon after, we sat down at the small round dining table, with our steaming portions in front of us. The stew didn't look like a masterpiece, but it tasted decent. Even Aegis gave me an approving look before tucking herself under the bench to rest.
While we ate, the inevitable topic came up.
"Classes resume in two days, right?" I said while stirring a chunk of potato with my spoon. "I feel like it's going to be a madhouse."
"It will be," Tesline affirmed with a serious frown. "All the students are going to compete against each other for reassignment. It'll be based on strength, strategy, technique… and probably endurance too. They're going to sort us into classes based on that."
"From Class S to F, right?"
She nodded.
"Yes. And I want to at least end up in Class B. Though if I can make it to A, even better. But you…" she pointed at me with her spoon, "you need to train more."
"I am training!" I protested, puffing out my chest. "I'm going to practice my spells all day tomorrow. And I've got Aegis to help me too."
Tesline raised an eyebrow.
"Training spells is good, Rurik. But you should train your body too. I saw you struggling just with the warm-ups the other day."
"That's not fair! I gave it my all, and those warm-ups lasted almost an hour," I replied indignantly, though a bit embarrassed.
She burst out laughing. That laugh of hers was so genuine, so carefree, it made me smile without even meaning to.
"Don't lie. You almost passed out after doing five push-ups."
"It was seven," I corrected her, pointing with my spoon before stuffing it into my mouth. "And besides, I don't have your strength! Not all of us are experts at punching monsters in the face, Tesline."
"Then you should adapt. What if you can't cast a spell in time during a fight? Or if you get interrupted and have to dodge something? Being in shape is also part of being a good mage."
I sighed. I knew she was right. But I was so lazy.
"Fine, fine," I huffed. "Tomorrow I'll do ten push-ups. And then I'll train magic. Deal?"
"Thirty," she replied without hesitation.
"Thirty!? What if I pass out?"
"Then Aegis drags you back home. Deal or deal."
I rolled my eyes and raised my spoon like a sword in surrender.
"Deal, evil general."
We finished dinner in silence, though with smiles on our faces. The night was slowly creeping in through the round windows of our home, and a strange but comforting peace filled the air. Two days. Just two days to prove what I had learned in this new world. And even if I was a little scared… I was also excited.