Chapter 2: The Lingering Shadowlands

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7500 words

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7500 words.

Gon's first impression of his familiar is: 'Right here, before me, is the most powerful person I've ever seen.'

The second: he's never seen someone look so... sad.

Before Gon can even utter a word of response, the sorcerer's gaze shifts from him to the large bedroom window. Sharp like dracthyr steel, his features are accentuated by the moonlight, yet his eyes soften in an all-knowing way. Their depths are full of knowledge; it's the gaze of someone who has witnessed the full range of the human experience, the type of gaze that tells you, I know how it all ends.

His posture and limbs appear weak, hopeless, and a small frown curves the corners of his pale lips. Then his focus shifts back to Gon, who still lies dumbly in the same position that stuck when he fell from the ceiling, back cramped against the wall.

"You're the one who summoned me. What are your first orders?" he murmurs. His voice reminds Gon of the winter peaks, melodic as the chiming winds up above.

"I- uh..." Gon rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. "My name is Gon. Gon Freecss. I'm not really used to all this magic stuff." He waves his arms around trying to somehow put meaning behind the word 'stuff' and get his point across. "I kind of didn't know the exact details of the spell I was casting until it happened. You know?"

The mage's jaw drops before him. "No way."

"Heh..."

Suddenly, his face breaks into an enormous smile, sharp teeth showing with puffed cheeks. "You're a complete idiot!'

"Hey-!"

He bellows over, laughing in his silken robe. Gasping for air, "You- you realize it costs your entire lifespan, and you didn't even know what or who you were summoning? Did you even have a catalyst?!"

Gon stares blankly at him. "A what?"

"Hm, I feel that I should be offended that a magnus of his magnitude summoned me," the mage whispers to himself.

Gon may not know as much as many, but regardless, he takes great offense.

The archmage tilts his head towards the ceiling, letting his adam's apple bob as he attempts to calm his snorts and giggles. "I guess this time I'm bound to an idiot." He swings his head back down to latch eyes with Gon. "Alright, Gon. I'm assuming you aren't a noble class mage?"

He begins mumbling anxiously. "I'm still confused-" What the hell is going on?

An eruption sounds from the forest, shaking the towering pines and scaring off thousands of Nightshade crows. It snaps them both to the problem at hand and the unpleasantness of their current reality. Gon jolts up into a ready position, ignoring his gashes and bruises. "I need your help. We need to save the village from the demons!"

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