Light began to swirl slowly around her, starting as tiny wisps before growing in intensity. The air inside the room thickened with magic. Her body remained still, yet her consciousness drifted away, deeper, further into the realm where only souls and intentions could tread.
———
Somewhere Beyond - The Familiar Realm
When Evelyn opened her eyes, she found herself in a strange, dreamlike world.
It felt like she stood at the bottom of a sea that had been drained of water, vast and still. The horizon was vast, undefined, bathed in monochromatic grey. Everything looked submerged in a silence that bordered on unnatural. Despite this bleak environment, Evelyn could feel the pulse of magic in the air, guiding her toward something.
All around her, indistinct shapes of beasts flickered in and out of visibility. Each creature emitted a soft glow, barely enough to reveal their outlines—a proud stag with crystalline antlers, a serpent with iridescent scales, a fox with multiple tails.
They roamed the void freely, their movements graceful and enigmatic.
Evelyn (Thoughts): "So many powerful beasts... But I don't need something flashy."
She kept walking, her feet making no sound on the unseen ground.
Evelyn (Thoughts): "I want a familiar that won't be too eye-catching. Just a normal one. A rabbit or something small, squirrel would be fine too. Simple. Discreet. Efficient."
She passed silent rows of glowing forms, ignoring the larger ones who seemed to pause and take notice of her. A massive winged beast, its talons glimmering like metal, looked at her curiously. Another beast, shaped like a lion made of mist, let out a soft rumble.
But Evelyn passed them all.
She wanted something small. Something unassuming.
Eventually, she reached a section where the light began to dim. The beasts were fewer here, and soon, she found herself alone.
Total darkness. Even the ambient gray vanished, replaced by shadows that stretched infinitely. For a moment, doubt crept into her mind.
Evelyn: "Did I go too far? There's nothing here..."
Just then, she caught a faint glow in the distance.
Drawn to it, she moved forward, unaware that the beasts had stopped following her much earlier. The light grew stronger, and soon a small form became visible—a silhouette that barely reached her knees.
She stepped closer and finally saw it clearly.
A small black cat sat quietly, its tail curled around its paws, staring at nothing. The glow around it was minimal, as if it was trying to hide its presence, blending into the darkness. But something about it... something called to Evelyn.
Evelyn (Thoughts): "Finally. A small beast."
She approached slowly, not wanting to startle it. The cat lifted its head and stared straight at her. Its eyes glimmered like blood—red, intelligent, ancient.
Evelyn knelt before it, holding out her hand.
Evelyn: "Would you like to form a contract with me and become my familiar?"
The cat stared unblinkingly. Seconds passed.
The glow around it wasn't just dim—it felt contained, like a presence that knew how to hide its power. Its red eyes didn't just look at Evelyn—they seemed to peer through her, as though weighing more than her words.
The silence deepened around them. Evelyn still knelt, her hand outstretched. The cat did not move, yet its eyes held her captive.
In its crimson eyes, there was a strange glow—as though it was seeing something far beyond Evelyn, something distant and unseen by mortal eyes.
Then, as if considering her offer, it blinked slowly and raised one paw, placing it lightly on her palm.
In that instant, Evelyn felt a surge of warmth. A soft smile touched her lips as light erupted around them.
The light expanded until it enveloped them completely. A mark appeared on Evelyn's hand—a sleek, elegant mark that looked like flowing ink. The mark pulsed once, in rhythm with her heartbeat, before settling into her flesh as though it had always been there.
The warmth from the contract lingered, not just in her hand but spreading through her veins, anchoring her spirit to the strange little beast.
A similar symbol, tiny and almost bright, glimmered for a second near the corner of the cat's right eye before fading.
———
Back in Evelyn's Room-
The room exploded in light.
The sigils around the circle pulsed rapidly before dissolving into sparks. The candle flames flared up once before extinguishing on their own. Silence fell like a curtain.
Evelyn slowly opened her eyes.
She felt drained, as if the magic had sapped more energy than she expected. Something warm rested on her lap. She looked down.
There, curled up peacefully, was the same black cat from the realm.
Its chest rose and fell gently. It was asleep, content and calm.
Evelyn lifted her hand and softly patted its fur. It was warm and soft, almost unnaturally so. She tried to stand, but her knees buckled slightly. Her legs felt heavy. With a soft grunt, she scooped up the cat in her arms and stumbled toward her bed.
She lay down, placing the cat beside her. It curled instinctively into the crook of her arm. Within seconds, Evelyn slipped into unconsciousness, Her breath fell into rhythm with the cat's.
Her body surrendered to exhaustion, but her sleep was unlike before—no dreams, no restless visions. Only silence. A silence filled not with emptiness, but with presence. She was not alone anymore.
Even as she slept, she could feel it: a faint heartbeat not her own, steady and calm, resonating with hers.
——————
Midnight—
The moon hung high in the sky, bathing the world in silver luminescence. The mansion was silent, still and serene, except for the occasional rustle of wind brushing past the curtains and the faint creaking of old wood settling in the quiet.
Knock. Knock.
A soft, deliberate knock echoed on Evelyn's door. It was calm, unhurried, yet clear enough to disturb the silence.
No response.
Just the wind rustling past once more.
The door remained closed, untouched.
The quiet stretched.
Still, no response.
The gentle moonlight continued to stream in through the windows, casting long shadows across the hallway floor. The mansion remained undisturbed.
And the door stayed shut.