Ser Eldrich blinked several times. Surprisingly, even he appeared to be somewhat taken aback.

Then, once again, he let out a hearty laugh.

"I certainly did! You got me good there, lad.", he admitted.

"Wait, wait, hold on! Ser Eldrich had been in control of the match all along! Sharmon was only barely keeping up in order to not lose, isn't that right...!?", asked Manuel.

"It is not.", said Sharmon, without taking his eyes off the old mage.

"But... how?"

Sharmon turned around and began walking away from the arena.

"A brat in the benches said it herself: he who lowers their guard first, loses. That old fool let himself be defeated the moment he took the bait and attacked the left flank I had left exposed on purpose.", he said, as he walked down the steps.

Nero tried to walk towards him, but he quickly lost his balance.

It was clear the side effects of the summoning were still affecting him.

"Sharmon... wait! We have to sit on the benches! Also, ser Eldrich hasn't given us permission to exit the arena...!"

"It's fine, lad. You may both go sit."

Ser Eldrich was apparently so amused by this turn of events that he didn't seem to be upset in the slightest by the fact that Sharmon had called him a "fool" once and "old" at least twice.

Nero was looking at ser Eldrich to his left, then turned his head towards Sharmon, to his right, unsure of what to do until he realized he was in front of a stand full of people.

Nero decided there was only one thing to do.

He bowed.

Clap.

Clap, clap, clap.

Someone had started clapping their hands for him and Sharmon, and soon the rest of the stands followed suit, until everyone was applauding in solemn silence.

Indeed, there was nothing to say. Nero had performed a successful summoning, called forth a most unexpected familiar, and that familiar had flat out beaten ser Eldrich in a complex game of chess and magic.

He straightened his back quickly and hurried away from the arena, following after Sharmon, unable to hide his own excitement.

"Our seat is right here.", said Nero, occupying his previous space, before realizing there was no room for Sharmon, since Nero sat at the edge of the wooden bench.

Sharmon's black coat billowed elegantly behind his waist as he walked to the wooden post next to Nero and leaned against it, arms crossed, looking nowhere but to the front.

Nero catched Elanee staring at the sorcerer. In fact, most people were looking at his rather flamboyant outfit and murmuring among themselves.

Sharmon, for his part, wasn't paying attention to anyone, not even Nero.

The applaud eventually died out, as ser Eldrich raised his hand to ask for silence.

"That was amazing...", said Nero, trying to make conversation, "we totally aced that test."

Sharmon turned his head to look at him for a few moments.

"Hm. It was but child's play.", he said, averting his gaze.

"No way...! That was a difficult test, even for an experienced mage!", Nero shook his head.

He turned her head back towards him again.

His eyes squinted, but said nothing.

Or rather, Nero couldn't hear him.

In fact, he could no longer hear anything. The roar of the stands, the test that was taking place in front of him, every sound had faded to an unintelligible blur.

His vision was also blurring, and he quickly began to lose balance.

The whole place around him was spinning in circles, and before he knew it, everything turned to black.

Nero opened his eyes. It took a moment until his eyes adjusted and were able to focus.

The roof above was one he didn't recognize.

He got up and looked around him.

He was in some sort of hospital room, most likely still inside College grounds. Sunlight came through a window facing west, and the red sky that could be seen outside indicated that dusk was approaching fast.

There were several beds around him, like the one he was occupying, but nobody else was in the room with him, except for a tall man that he had summoned a while ago.

Sharmon was leaning against a nearby wall in a manner not unlike the one he adopted out in the arena.

"What...happened?", asked Nero.

"You fainted.", said the sorcerer. Something in his demeanor always made him sound accusatory.

He appeared to have been lost in thought prior to his awakening.

Suddenly, a pulsating pain hit Nero in the head. It was so intense that it forced him to place his hand against his forehead and close his eyes for a moment.

"I passed out...? But, why...?"

"It is clear that the exertion of the summoning was too much for your weak body to handle."

"I'm sorry, I don't get it. This wasn't supposed to happen..."

Sharmon chuckled.

"A weakness so thorough it surprises even yourself."

Nero frowned at him.

"Are you sure about that?"

"You are as weak as they come.", he sentenced.

"And yet, I summoned you."

"Do not fool yourself, brat. I am only here because I agreed upon it."

Nero sighed.

"...yeah. I guess I owe you one for that.", he said.

Nero stared at him straight in the... yellow glow?

"I mean it... you had no reason to accept. I don't know why you did, or who you are, but... thanks."

Sharmon squinted his eyes.

"Do not offer me your gratitude just yet, boy. We must talk first."

"My name is Nero", he said, frowning, "and what do you want to know?"

"Everything. I need to know where this place is, who you are exactly, and who you live with."

"...well, we're in the Nycean College of Mages. Or we were a while ago, I'm not entirely sure where this is... maybe the College's Infirmary? Today is the day of the entrance exams, and I'm an aspirant. Casting a spell was the first test, and so I performed the summoning as part of it."

"The College of Mages...", repeated Sharmon, pensively.

"...yeah, these exams have been a tradition in Nycea for a couple of centuries, now.", said Nero.

"I am aware of that. The College accepts students through paid tuition. Tell me why you are being tested."

"I don't have the money to pay for my education. I'm applying as an aspirant for a scholarship."

"Then, you are a peasant."

Nero nodded.

"I'm the grandson of a bookstore owner. I copy books and my grandma sells them, so reading and writing are just about the only things I know how to do well. I guess I can add summonings to the list, now...", he tried to laugh a little bit.

Sharmon's demeanor was oppressive, to say the least.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"You performed a rather unusual spell. Tell me where you learned it."

"Well... there was this red book full of spells that came in a batch one day... I stored it away without my grandma knowing and studied that one spell to cast it here. If you pass the tests then the College will let you become a mage, so I thought it would give me a chance, you know?."

Sharmon stared at him in silence for a minute.

"So, my summoner is a peasant brat who knows nothing about magic, has no money, no title, and no land to his name."

Nero shrugged.

"Sorry to disappoint, I guess."

"It is no wonder you wish to become a mage."

"Huh?"

"You long for it. The prestige that comes with being a powerful sorcerer."

"Well, I... yeah, I guess that's it...?"

"An escape to your mundane existence.", he concluded in a bitter tone.

This time it was Nero who said nothing. Why was Sharmon being like that to him?

Sure, it's true that he sucked at magic, but it couldn't be that bad, right? Sharmon had agreed to be summoned by him, after all.

"Tell me, brat. Do you have any idea of what you have done?"

"Well... a summoning...?", he shrugged.

Sharmon squinted his eyes.

"You fool. That was more than just a mere summoning."

"What do you mean...?"

Sharmon left the comfort of the wall to stand firm before addressing his question.

"You have performed a forbidden spell, boy, unknown to even the greatest mages you have ever heard of. You have agreed upon-"

The door to the infirmary opened, interrupting Sharmon.

"Oh! Are you feeling better already?", asked the nurse as she entered the room.

"I think I am. Is this the College's infirmary? Thank you very much for taking care of me.", said Nero.

She smiled.

"Here, try to stand. Excuse me..."

The nurse walked past Sharmon towards the bed and helped Nero get out of the blankets and put his feet on the cold floor.

He was able to stand up without losing his balance.

"Alright. Looks like you're all good now.", said the nurse.

Sharmon was tapping his crossed arms with his index finger, impatiently.

"Leave us, lady. He and I have much to discuss."

"Well, you'll have time for that later.", said the nurse, clearly unimpressed by Sharmon's poor attitude, before turning back to Nero in a much nicer tone, "the headmaster asked me to wake you up and give you this."

She handed him a paper, signed by ser Eldrich himself, requesting him to be present at the College's auditorium in a week's time, before dawn, for the second round of exams.

"I see... wait a moment, second round!?", said Nero, bringing the paper closer to his face.

"Hm. Unsurprising.", said Sharmon.

"Yes, my boy. You have been asleep for hours. The preliminary exams are over, and the participants that qualified for the next round have already been decided and were handed over a paper just like this one."

"But then... this means that I passed the first test!", he said, excitedly.

"Yes, you did.", smiled the nurse.

"Surely I need not remind you, it was me who did the most part.", said Sharmon.

"Well, at any rate... the College will allow you to have a meal here at the infirmary before sending you on your way back home. Would you like to eat here, or at the infirmary's dining room?"

"Oh, that's quite alright. I'll head home right now, my grandma must be worried sick."

"Okay, then. Take care on your way back."

"I will. Thank you again, Mrs. nurse."

"Take care.", she chuckled.

Nero left the infirmary followed closely by Sharmon, who didn't even wave the nurse goodbye.

The air outside was fresh and a little chilly.

"I passed the first round...! This feels so great...!", he smiled, opening his arms and feeling the breeze on his body.

Sharmon was simply looking around him.

The campus seemed to be almost empty. Most people had probably already gone home.

"It's getting dark; we better hurry.", said Nero.

He had promised his grandma to be back earlier than the time he was running.

"Wait."

Sharmon had stopped him.

"What is it?", he asked.

"I need to know one last thing.", Sharmon was looking at him straight in his eye, "you must tell me if you have ever heard word about me before today."

What kind of question was that?

"I don't know... should I know you? Have we ever met before?"

"We have not. So, you have never heard of me.", he insisted.

Nero thought.

"I don't remember ever reading up or hearing about a sorcerer called Sharmon. Actually, it's a name I have never heard before. I don't know anybody named like that, or that were ever was anybody who lived who was named like that."

Sharmon adjusted his gloves, pensively.

"I see. Let us be on our way, then. I shall follow your lead towards your home."

"Well, it's not a big palace or anything, so I hope you won't mind it...", Nero laughed.

But Sharmon had suddenly fallen silent and didn't seem to be interested in talking anymore.

Nero guided Sharmon through the narrow road back to the walled city, where he was allowed to pass almost immediately. Showing his College papers were a formality; everybody already seemed to know him and what had happened that morning.

"Hey! It's the summoner boy!", a man had called them out, as the pair walked down the streets of Nycea.

He seemed to be accompanied by his wife, who was holding his arm.

"Everyone got worried sick after you fainted right after your test. Are you alright?"

"Ah, I'm fine, now. The infirmary staff took good care of me.", Nero laughed, scratching the back of his head nervously.

He definitely wasn't used to being the center of attention.

"We were told by ser Eldrich after the last participant was done that you qualified for the second bout of testing. Well done, boy!", congratulated another man.

"Ah, yes. It'll be in about a week.", Nero confirmed, "though I have no idea what it's gonna be about."

"Ha. Nobody knows. That's why they're so fascinating!", said someone else.

A small crowd was starting to gather around him.

Sharmon crossed his arms behind him, impatiently.

"Get moving, brat. You have given this crowd plenty of entertainment this morning already."

Sigh.

"Fine, let's go. Geez, what a hardass...", he murmured.

And so, the walk resumed. Nero forced himself to simply wave and smile at the people he walked by and not indulge in this newfound sense of popularity, though if we had to be fair, most people only recognized the tall, hat-wearing sorcerer and figured Nero was the summoner.

And yet, no one dared to address Sharmon. In spite of his attire, which some considered elegant while others deemed it ridiculous, the way he conducted himself tensed up the air around him.

Nero had been the first to notice that there was something eerie about his familiar, but certainly not the only one. What would his grandma think upon seeing him?

He took a deep breath. He was about to find out.

"We're here."

Nero took out a key and opened the door into the backroom of the library -he was usually not allowed to enter through the front door-, and stepped inside.

"Grandma? I'm home!", Nero called out.

He heard some rustling, and then the sound of sandals being dragged.

Grandma Lonia appeared at the door threshold, looking upset.

"I believe I told you to be back ear- goodness! Who is this man!?", she asked, visibly shocked by the individual who had followed Nero into the back house.

"This one here is Sharmon. He's my summoned familiar.", Nero gave her a reassuring smile, "I passed the first test."

Grandma Lonia frowned, visibly confused.

"Summoned familiar...? But Nero, dear, you don't know how to do magic like that..."

Nero took a deep breath. The jig was up; it was time to confess.

"...I kept a book to myself, grandma. A book of spells written in dialect. I used it to learn this one spell that allowed me to participate.", he said, looking down.

He was visibly guilty for lying to his grandma.

The old lady looked at the tall man who stood behind her grandson.

"So, who are you, then?"

"My name", he said, "is Sharmon."

"And why are you here?"

"Well... I had to bring him home, grandma. He's my familiar."

"He's a grown man, Nero. Where is your house?", asked grandma Lonia.

Sharmon squinted his eyes.

"I have no property; for I was brought here by means of you grandchild's spell.", he replied.

It was clear that Sharmon didn't like Apollonia any more than she liked him.

The grandma look at her grandson in disbelief.

"Grandma, I went to the College of Mages to participate and passed the test using a spell... why are you so surprised?", Nero asked her.

Still shocked, grandma Lonia turned around and went back to the front of the store without saying a word.

"Wait here. I'll go talk to her.", said Nero.

Sharmon crossed his arms and rested his back against a wall in wait.

Despite staying behind, he could hear everything that was being discussed in the other room.

"What is it, grandma? What's wrong?", he could hear Nero asking.

Silence.

"Are you angry?"

"...is he going to stay here?", asked grandma Lonia.

"Well... I guess? Only until the exams are over. If I pass all the tests, then I'll be moving to the College dormitory. So it'll just be for a few days."

"I'm sorry, do you even know who he is?"

"I don't.", Nero said, "but he agreed to help me."

Again, silence.

"So what am I supposed to do, then?", Nero asked in an irritated tone.

It was clear that his grandmother's attitude was doing away with his patience.

Again, Nero received nothing but silence as an answer.

----------------------------------------

In the end, Nero couldn't get another word out of his grandma for the rest of the evening. They ate in silence -Sharmon ate nothing, waiting alone in Nero's room instead-, and then grandma Lonia went to bed without saying goodnight.

Feeling more exhausted than after casting the summoning spell, Nero dragged his feet into his room.

"She never believed in you."

Nero turned.

Sharmon was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, and staring at him.

"What...?", Nero asked in a tired voice.

"Your grandmother never thought you could succeed. That is why she allowed you to take the test."

Nero frowned

"Look, Sharmon, I get that you're trying to help me, but that makes no sense. If she thought I would fail, then she'd simply not let me go. It would be pointless."

Sharmon shook his head slowly.

"Use your brain, boy. She depends on you to copy those books, but never taught you magic, nor did she get you a book on magic, nor did she ever pay for anybody to teach you. Everything you know, you know because you did it on your own, and some of it in secret, no less."

Sharmon took a step forward.

"She knows that becoming a mage is your greatest dream in this life, and never once supported you."

"Sharmon, that's enough! She supports me everyday! She raised me!"

"And where was she today?", Sharmon asked.

"Well... here, tending to the store."

He squinted his eyes.

"Exactly. Not at the College with you."

"Things are rough, we need the money."

"Would you have done it, boy?"

"Huh...?"

Sharmon took another step forward.

"If you had a daughter, and her greatest dream were to become a mage, and she took a test, the same test you took today..."

Sharmon took yet another step forward, he was now standing right in front of Nero.

"Would you fail to support her on that day in exchange for a few coins?"

For the first time since summoning him, Nero had found himself at a loss of words.