A Familiar Void

Chapter 15

Bug tapped the lantern, waking up the Lumafly that was asleep within. A bright glow emanated from the insect as it awoke from its slumber, and flew to the edge of its glass container. It hovered right in front of the hand that had tapped its container, while Bug stared at it from outside.

"Bug!"

Louise looked up at where he Familiar had gotten itself, bewildered at its current position.

It looked away from the lantern and stared down at her.

"How did you get up there?!" Worry and annoyance laced her tone as she called out to her Familiar as she watched it balanced precariously on a metal bar that connected the lantern to the wall.

Since she couldn't hear it talk unless she was touching it, all it did was stare at her from its elevated position on a lantern at the height of the second floor of the main tower.

Briefly she wondered if she needed to buy a leash once the Familiar Exhibition was over, because with her releasing most of her restrictions on its exploring tendencies it seemed to just go wherever it wanted. Heedless of both danger, and the situation.

She still hadn't found out why it was covered n dirt yesterday.

"Having trouble with your Familiar Louise?" Kirche asked as she appeared next to her. The Salamander that was her Familiar followed beside her.

She turned to her redhead for a brief glance, before she returned her attention to her Familiar. It was still looking down from its perch, which was making her worry the longer it was standing there.

"It just got up there somehow," she pointed to where it was standing "I couldn't find it when I left the Alviss Hall, so I looked around and found it up there." Her eyes narrowed "I don't even know how it managed to get up there."

Kirche followed her finger, and found herself looking up at the Familiar with her eyebrows raised. Her eyes trailed to the roof of the hallways that lead to main tower and she snorted in amusement "I think I know."

Louise looked at her with confused look.

"In any case," Kirche waved away her questioning look "Are you prepared for the exhibition after this?" She asked. Her hand gestured to her Familiar "I think that my precious little Flame would dazzle the audience."

Louise's gaze turned from the Germanian and towards her Familiar. The Salamander seemed to be preoccupied with chewing something rather than the conversation that they were having. It peeked up at her, and a small ember fired out of its mouth with an odd sound.

"I guess?" Louise said with an unsure tone as she turned away from the Salamander, and faced its Master "I," she hesitated "Didn't really get to practise my routine with Bug." She hugged herself slightly "So uh," her eyes averted away from her "I'm just hoping for the best."

She shook her head "But that's still going to be better than yours!" She pointed at Kirche, a determined look in her eyes "So don't think just because I didn't get to practise, that you'll win!"

The redhead smirked "We'll see Louise." Her eyes glanced at the Familiar who was still above them "Though, you might need your Familiar for that."

Louise turned away from her and cupped her hands in front of her mouth "Bug!" She shouted towards it "Can you come down from there?"