As Tony opens the mahogany stained door to his apartment he is greeted by the familiar site of his apartment. On the left is his beige 3 seater couch he picked up from the local pawn shop. Across the couch is his black glass coffee table with his television mounted on the wall gathering dust. The right hand side of his apartment is given over to a small kitchen counter and with his sticker covered fridge inherited from his college days. Straight ahead is his bedroom with ensuite shower and toilet hidden by two fake walk in cupboard doors.
Tony picks up the mail piled up in the entryway. Leafing through the envelopes he finds a large manilla envelope. In bold red ink the “URGENT” sign shines like neon glow paint. Walking to the barstool at the kitchen counter Tony grabs a knife from the block.
“What is this? Probably another offer to ‘invest’ in some low-risk-but-in-reality-crap-property-investment brochure.
As Tony slits the top open and take out the documents he realises it is an amended list of required clothing and gear for the training.
“What the hell do I need a duster for? They training us to be Harry Dresden?”
In all the hubbub Tony almost forgot about the training. Tanya’s translucent form starts materialising across from Tony in the kitchen. Leaning on the kitchen counter she starts reading the updated requirements with Tony. As Tony glances up from the list at Tanya he realises Tanya is no longer translucent. In fact, apart from a fading purple glow she is fully visible. Captivated by her emerald green eyes he realises she has a light dusting of freckles around her nose. Her lips are rose red and smiling. Her face is perched on a delicate neck below which -
“Your naked!” Tony spins around granting Tanya some privacy.
“Awesome!! I thought I would never be anything but a purple haze.” Tanya’s eyes widen as she looks down at herself. It has been many, many years since she was able to see herself. Slowly Tanya slides her hands from her hips, over her flat stomach, crossing her arms over her breasts and giving herself a hug in delight. “I can feel again! Thank you Tony!” Laughing Tanya runs around the counter, giving Tony a hug from his right.
“You are welcome.” Tony says looking to the left with his right arm trapped between two soft mounds. “What happened? And how do I get you clothes if you are only in my head?”
Laughing against his red neck Tanya decides to tease him a bit. Hugging him even tighter Tanya breathes in his neck. As her hands glide south Tony starts fidgeting and gasping.
She can’t be serious! Her ghost touch feels so real…
As she reaches his belt buckle he spins around wildly staring into her eyes.
“Don’t do that.” Tony gasps while holding his hands in front of his crotch.
“Don’t I look pretty for you?” Tanya pouts while pushing her breasts up with her crossed arms.
Trying not to stare at he figure Tony just repeats a mantra - “green eyes, green eyes, green eyes.”
“You do! Just, please put on some clothes?” Tony says - “otherwise I'll never look at the walls again.”
“How about this?” Tanya says while twirling in tight, white yoga pants. Coming to a stop with her arms braced against the door. Looking over her right shoulder she smiles as Tony feels his heartbeat skyrocket.
”Or this?”
As Tanya bends over in a cheerleader outfit Tony finds himself fascinated by the ceiling paintwork.
Betrayed by his boy’s reaction Tony says, “That is fine, just keep the stretching for when I am in bed, ok?”
Batting her eyelashes Tanya says in her best little girl voice, “ Oh mister, Tony, sir, I am not that kinda girl!”
Stumbling, Tony retreats to the kitchen counter. Shaking his head to get his circulation in the right order again Tony sits on his kitchen counter. Taking the letter of requirements he tries to focus on what he needs to get for the 3 month trip.
I can almost hear her laughing at my embarrassment.
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Putting Tanya out of his mind, Tony goes through the long list in detail.
After 15 minutes Tony warily looks up and says, “Tanya, how good is your memory?”
Tanya, once again dressed in yoga pants and sports bra, leans against the kitchen counter next to Tony.
”Why? Do you want to put your big pen on me?”
Tony leans back and sighs, “Can you help me or not?”
As Tanya looks thoughtful Tony sees a flash of triumph on Tanya’s face.
What is she up to now? Her lips were smiling for a second, I am sure of it!
“Stop staring you grumpy man, my memory is fine. I do, however have a spell I could teach you. It would help even more than just using me to help you remember things, interested?”
As Tony crosses his arms he starts tapping his chin. Tanya calmly smiles.
What is she up to? She seems too calm. She will be training me so I should probably trust her on the magic side of things. Especially since all this magic stuff seems real.
“Ok, I’m in. What do I do?”
Tanya smiles and walks back towards the living room. “Come join me,”
Tony walks up to Tanya till they are an arm's length apart, ”sit across from me,” When they are both settled Tanya holds out her hands. “Take my hands, I won’t bite,” Tony takes her hands with a blush creeping up his neck again.
”It is still weird that I can feel you yet you aren’t really here” Tony says.
”Hush! You will get used to it. Now. Close your eyes. I need you to picture a stream of energy flowing in a figure eight between our hands.”
Closing his eyes Tony draws a figure eight in his mind from his right hand to Tanya’s right elbow. The purple stream goes through her abdomen, exits at her left elbow, through his abdomen, shifting the origin stream from his hand to his right elbow.
“Once you have the stream flowing, imagine the edges of the stream becoming a pipe. Not letting any excess energy out or new energy in.”
Tony increases his focus. As he does, he sees the stream become a bar of purple light.
“Ok, I have a solid bar of light, what now?”
“Force your will down on the infinity symbol. Just like in the restaurant.” Tanya says.
Tony opens his eyes as he forces his vision onto the world. For a moment there is a purple flash. When the purple stars clear from his vision Tony doesn’t see Tanya anymore.
“Tanya, where are you?” With a tremble in his hands Tony backs onto his couch.
What the hell just happened?
Hi Tony, it’s Tanya. You didn’t kill me, but you might. I lied to you about what the spell did. Believe me when I say I am sorry that I lied to you. But this was the only way for us to be able to spar.
What do you mean Tanya? Tony thinks at what he now recognises as Tanya in the back of his mind. She feels like a cold, soft ball of suede at the back of his mind.
I kinda, sorta, just became your familiar. Not just a passenger anymore but a partner that also happens to serve you. Except I can’t make coffee or send emails.
Why didn’t you tell me about this? Why can I not see you anymore?
I wasn’t sure whether you would agree to the spell if I told you upfront. You barely held it together about magic when I first appeared. You can see me, I’m just hiding right now.
Tanya, come out! As Tony finishes his thought purple light streams from his chest. As the light coalesces into a human sized oval there is a clear chime ringing in the air. In front of him Tanya stands looking at her toes wringing her hands.
“Are you going to whip me, Tony?”
With his mouth falling open Tony says “No!! I will never do that, not that I can since you're just imaginary for all in-”
“Uhm… Well, you see…” Tanya shuffles her feet and glances at Tony before looking at her toes again,” I am now here physically. As a familiar I can materialise in corporeal form by using your own mana for my body.” Tanya says.
I hope he isn’t angry at me using his mana. Most mages would kill me for taking any of their mana.
“Does that mean I can’t do spells anymore?”
“No,you just have about 2 percent less th--”
“Then why does it matter?” Tony says. “I don’t even know how much mana I have nor-”
“I can show you if you want?” Tanya says. “I looked through some of your memories and have an idea. The spell connects your mana with your eyes and mind. This allows your mind to give you some individualised way to see your mana and other info. Other info depends on what your mind comes up with. I have to warn you this is a permanent spell, but it won’t harm you, ever.”
“Can I trust y-”
“You can trust me Tony. From the moment I became your familiar my life is in your hands.”
As Tony nods slowly he closes his eyes.
Here goes nothing, either this works and she is for real or not.
Slowly a gentle stream of purple mist flows from Tony’s chest to his closed eyes. The purple mist coalesces into two swirling purple. Suddenly the pools implode with twin purple lance of light shooting into Tony’s head.
“Aaahh!” Tony stumbles, hitting the couch with the back of his knees. “I am blind your crazy demon!” Blinking furiously, Tony leans back on the couch. As his vision returns he gasps.
“I have a Heads-Up-Display!” At the top left of his vision he sees a translucent blue bar. Inside the bar there is a percentage figure of 98%. On his right there is a red bar with 100% inside. Focussing on Tanya he sees a green glow surround her. Gasping for joy Tony jumps up and hugs Tanya, eliciting a gasp from her.
“I am so glad you didn’t blind me, I don’t know wh-”
“Shhh,” Tanya stills him with a finger on his lips, “it is alright now. I have given you the ability to know your own status. Can you see the glow around me” Tanya says while stepping back out of his embrace. Suddenly Tanya shifts her right foot back half a step. Throwing a quick punch just past Tony’s surprised face, Tony sees Tanya flashing red for half a second before she glows gold again. With her hands on her hips she looks very proud of herself.
“And that is how you know someone means you harm, but only if you can see their actions or their intentions are obvious.” Tanya says while grinning at Tony.
Damm, this girl is fast, Tony thinks to himself.
“Thank you for the lesson. Now can we please get the stuff I need for this course?” Tony says walking to grab his keys from the kitchen counter.
“Sure hun, just think of me moving to the ball at the back of your-” Tony focusses for a second on the sensation Tanya is describing. Tanya flows in a stream of purple energy into his chest.
“head. Nevermind, seems you already get this.”
“I am a quick study,” Tony thinks at Tanya while grabbing his wallet from the kitchen counter, “Let us just get what we need for the training with the bank, ok?”
“Sure hon, when we get back I can really start training you in magic!”