Pilo slid out of bed. Today was the big day. The day he was going to finally summon his familiar. It had taken him months to gather all the necessary components to cast the spell. Then he had to pay the guild’s alchemist to mix up the concoction. Even though the man had failed the last two attempts. Pilo knew the potion was not an easy one to craft. He still felt cursed as it took him three tries and four years to get to this day. He even wondered if the man had cheated him. Though if caught, he would be marked and shunned. So he bet his money on his own bad luck.

Some of those ingredients were too expensive for him. So, he was forced to hunt and gather each item himself. While still not cheap as he was forced to travel the wilds to gather them, he at least made back most of the funds by harvesting other things of worth. Mostly cheap items, like pelts, but once in a while he would find something of worth.

With a yawn worthy of his saga of troubles that led him to this point, he settled into a slight smile as he got dressed in his best robe and clothes. He took a look around his bedroom. It was a small affair, with an equally small house attached, but it was still home, and not an inn or a field and tent.

He opened the curtain and moved into his square kitchen/dining/sitting portion of his house. It was roughly eighty feet square with a central cookstove/fire place. There was a small plain table with three sturdy chairs on one side of the stove, and cupboards with a built-in counter for food prep. He even had a small stop box to keep his perishables fresh.

Stop boxes were very expensive, as they were enchanted with a spell that slowed the flow of time inside of them. To add or remove an item, you removed the small charged copper plate on top of the box. Then to reactivate the spell you dropped the plate back into its slot. The more time was slowed, the more expensive the box. Non magic oriented people had to get their plates re-charged by a mage, he did not have that problem. Being that he was a mage himself.

Pilo made himself a small breakfast and pulled out his spell scroll that he would use in the casting today. He laid it out on the table and went over it. The top portion had the diagram of the required summoning circle, while the bottom portion had the spell chant he would empower as he read the words.

Scrolls were great for using in long worded spells. As the mage read the words they would push a bit of spirit into the word on the page causing it to glow. As the words were read the power would build up and then release once the final word was read, activating the desired spell outcome. Scrolls were not very practical for combat, as they could be damaged during use, causing backlash, that would wound a mages soul. And that could take days or even years to heal.

Magic was not for the faint of heart.

Once Pilo had finished his small meal, he rolled up the scroll and put it in his most sturdy spell scroll case. Which he then slid into a pocket sewn inside of his robe.

“Time to go make magic!” he called out to the room. Then left his home and walked, almost at a skip, his way to the mage’s guild. Someday he would get himself a port stone. But he did not have the money, or if he was being honest, the spirit for it yet.

The only way to empower one’s spirit strength, was through ethereal soul combat. Mages used meditation to move their soul out of body. Then they could wander the soul plane in search of other mages to battle. A soul battle was not a physical thing, where souls punched each other. You used your spirit, or soul power as some called it, to create a small connection with another mage, like a rope, then you played tug of war. It could take a while to find a good partner for this, as if you played against a too strong of an opponent the connection would just tear. Same if the opponent was too weak. You would tear the connection away from the weaker soul. But if two souls were near equal strength, they could create a solid connection to struggle back and forth with. Building spirit strength was a lot like building muscle in your body.

Unless you were able to tap into a better power source. That is what Pilo aimed for today.

“I hope I get something good.”

The Mage’s guild was a simple looking small three-story tower, a part of the trifecta. It was called the trifecta as there was the mage’s guild, the adventure’s guild, and the merchant/crafter guild. All neatly set in a triangle, surrounding the ruling hall. Which was currently home to a Triumvirate. Two lords and one lady currently held power, as per the emperor’s decree.

“Hey Pilo!” a plain looking woman in robes called out to him.

“Hi Kris.” Pilo gave her a small wave as he approached her and the guild doors.

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“Were you able to get your potion?” She asked as he held open the door for her to enter the building before him. “Such a gentleman.” She said over her shoulder favoring him with a smile.

Pilo just smiled back, and once Kris had turned to walk through the guild doors, Pilo couldn’t help looking down. There were always perks to being a gentleman, he grinned inwardly. He was also sure she accentuated her walk on purpose too.

Kris wasn’t an overly talented mage. Nor was she the best looking. No, she was pretty much middle of the road. Nothing that stood out too good or bad. She did have nice hips though. At just over five feet with dark brown hair to complete the plain trappings, he considered her sort of cute. She did have a very positive demeanor, which is what drew him to her. She always found the silver lining in the bad.

Pilo cleared his throat and got his mind back on track. He needed to stay focused for his big moment.

Kris slowed to walk at his side, having to stare only slightly up, as he himself was only half way to six feet tall.

“Today’s the big day.” She prodded him into conversation.

“Yeah,” Pilo let out a soft sigh as he looked up to the massive domed roof above his head. This was the Grand Entry and main gathering area, so it needed to be on the large size. There were many tables and comfortable chairs for mages of every station to gather. Book shelves ran the perimeter with books about every mundane subject one could think of. Mundane subjects were important primers he guessed. After all you couldn’t just read a book about advanced spell work and understand the nuances. The old fogies who wrote those books made sure of it. There were always references to books in this room.

This was one of his favorite rooms. Every time he walked from outside the wonderful smell of the pine wood and old books made his mind instantly relax, all worries and stress falling away.

Kris poked him as they neared the middle of the room. “You awake in there.”

“Oh yeah, sorry. Just going over all the steps.”

“I get it.” She nodded looking ahead. “It’s not an easy spell. So what regents did you gather for your summons? It’s taken you a long time to get them all.”

“I gathered everything with the goal toward reptile.”

Kris nodded. “Possible regeneration.”

“I’m hoping. Though there are other good benefits depending on the type of reptile. Snake vs lizard or maybe even an ancient type if I get really lucky.” As he said the last his face took on a dreamy far away look.

“That would be amazing. Imagine if you got a dragon.” She poked him in the rib with her elbow gently.

Pilo started. “Don’t even kid about dragons being reptiles. Master Guthrey has a dragon, and if it heard your claim I couldn’t even imagine what would happen to you.”

“Right, sorry.” Kris said solemnly. More to the room than Pilo.

Pilo nodded. “Anyway, the droppings I gathered and dried were from a hunting type lizard. After all I found them near a large amount of blood. Though I can’t imagine what kind of reptile could cause such a scene. It was almost like the prey exploded.”

“Maybe it was a dragon!” Kris whispered her eyes lighting up.

“I doubt it. There have been no sighting of stray dragons in hundreds of years. And even if I did get a dragon I’m sure Doer, Guthrey’s dragon would take him away, for whatever and however long. So I don’t taint it’s upbringing.”

“Still. The longevity you’d gain would be more than worth it. It’s not like you need him beside you to gain your trait.”

The two had reached the far end of the room. Pilo still feeling the calming effect the room had on him. Though he had acclimated to the scent of the pine and books to his dismay.

There was a large open set of double doors that arched to a point at the peak. Through those doors was a small landing with spiral stairs leading up on the left, and down on the right.

Pilo turned to the right and began to descend into the depths of the tower.

“Good luck!” Kris called out behind him then went back into the Grand Entry.

“Thanks!” he called out half turning his head to be heard.