The Elixir

~Interruption

Derald harrumphs before continuing. "As I was saying, the same thing happened to the Founders. Their familiars only arrived two months after their Summoning."

Xara's dark eyes widen. "Really?"

"Really. It's a symbol of how strong your magic is, I think."

"That's... actually kind of neat."

"I could be wrong, though."

"Still, I appreciate you telling me. Speaking of familiars, where's yours? You have a kelpie, right?"

Derald nods. "His name is Slyff. He's down by the pond. I let him go down there three times a week."

Xara goes silent, so the two of them eat in silence. It's not a bad silence, almost companionable in a way. Derald finds he likes it.

"Hey, do you know-"

A screech impedes Xara's words. It pierces the jovial mood, and the dining room falls silent. Tenseness fills the spaces where joy previously resided. The teachers stand, facing the windows where the sound originated. Derald holds himself rigidly, eyes trained on the window. Beast Anthology is the class he actually listens to, but that call is nothing like what he's studied. Professor Beledras's expression is guarded, cautious. Something indescribable lights her dark eyes.

Suddenly, a dark shape appears through the evening gloom. The student body gasps, and one girl screams. Derald makes out the first flashes of fear. The thing-whatever it is-doesn't seem to be stopping.

It's going to crash through the windows.

Students scramble to the back of the room, and panic ensues.

Casktalon stands in a sweep of thick velvet. "Everyone, remain calm. Stand at the back wall and wait. We will handle this."

With that, she takes her position in the ranks of the professors, who await the beast. All goes silent for a few moments, and Derald feels as though he can wring the fear from the air. He follows the stream of students to the back.

Xara remains at the table, now standing up.

"Xara!" He yells. "What are you doing?"

She doesn't answer. From the way she's standing, it's as if her limbs have been infused with iron.

"Ms. Roffinnes," barks Professor Emmeric Evenfall, the Training teacher. "Move!"

She doesn't answer him either. It's as if she's completely zoned out.

"Xara Roffinnes," growls the professor again, "I command you to-"

He doesn't finish his sentence. The creature plows through the window, shattering the french pane windows. Glass rains in shards, deadly crystals. It looks almost beautiful.

Until the glass begins to fall.

Students tumble to the ground, arms over their heads. The room is filled with screams of panic, yelps of pain.

"Xara!" roars an upperclassmen, panic and fear twisting his voice. Presumably one of her brothers. Derald hisses as a shard nicks his arm, as blood bursts forth from the thin cut. The professors have erected a barrier, and some of the upperclassmen lend a hand. Xara still does not move, even as the glass cuts into her pale skin.

"Xara!" cries her brother again, his voice breaking off. She merely stares at the beast circling the dining room. Derald only can hope it's not deciding which ones of them to eat. It's too high up for Derald to see without glass piercing his eyes, so he keeps his vision downwards. He can feel the wind from the beat of it's gigantic wings.

"It's a griffon," whispers one of the professors reverently. Derald's curiosity piques. The griffons had thought to be extinct, around the same time Fynn Runemore died. He'd only seen them in drawings, but even then they looked fearsome. They're the familiars of the Storms.

Realization clicks in his mind. Xara's a storm, and her familiar hasn't arrived yet.

But now it's here, for her to claim.

The beast hovers, beating air in both directions. It blows dust straight in his face. Derald squints against it. When he opens his eyes, he finds the griffon on the floor, shaking out its feathers. It's majestic, resplendent against the evening darkness. The face of a hawk, with those keen eyes and knife-sharp beak. It's feathers are large and silky smooth, and it's lion tail wraps and curls in what Derald assumes to be happiness. The creature shakes out her maw, cooing as it does.

No one dares to speak, or make any sound. Xara laughs, a wonder-filled sound. The griffon is drawn to the sound, and lowers her large head to Xara's, making a clicking sound deep in her throat. Xara reaches up, and the room is strung in bated silence. Derald finds himself staring eagerly along with the rest of the occupants.

Xara slides a hand into the ruffle of feathers, stroking her familiar's face. Xara's lips move, but she's talking too quietly for anyone to hear.

The professors don't put down the barriers, even though the griffon seems to have calmed down. They glance at each other, an unspoken conversation passing through their gazes.

Until Headmistress Casktalon stands. The griffon lowers her head as Xara looks to the headmistress.

"My office, if you will, Ms. Roffinnes."

She doesn't wait for Xara to follow her out. 

>>AUTHOR'S NOTES:

this was definitely a fun chapter to write. i was glad Xara found another friend at Ruxnorth Academy. and finally, my girl found her familiar. comment down below what you thought of this chapter, and vote on it too! both are highly appreciated!

I'm honestly really happy, more than I can say, with how The Elixir is turning out. i don't like to pick favorites, but this one is definitely high up there;) and let me just say:

thank the good gods it's Friday. it's been a killer week for me, and it's just dragged. it's just been one of those weeks that are just... bleh. get my drift?

anyways, I'll hopefully get to publish the next chapter of The Last Mage. It's a longer one, but I think I'll get to finishing it. and look forward to a very special chapter of Rebel's Will coming out as well.  IM SO EXCITED!!!

peace&love,

raniaditi