Industrial Mage: Modernizing a Magical World

24 - Familiar!

Author's Note:

Want to read ahead?

Check out Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/itsnectar

Discord: https://discord.gg/d57v5upvcx

---

Excitement warred with apprehension within Ethan.

He'd narrowly escaped the horrifying potential consequences of Connecting with a Constellation's "embrace"—which was very unlike an embrace—and now, the prospect of summoning his [Familiar] was lucrative. Not only was it lucrative, he was looking forward to it. Really.

But how? How to summon the [Familiar]? Will it be dangerous, again? I should've asked Derrick. Ethan swallowed. He didn't tell me that Connecting would be that terrifying and could lead to death, however unlikely it may seem to him or whatever Connecting may entail in their culture. He didn't tell me. I don't want something similar to happen again... nope.

Regardless, how to summon his [Familiar]?

Unlike the ritual for establishing the Constellation Connection, Ethan had received no instructions on this seemingly simple task.

He cast his gaze upon the [Familiar's] information.

Viper (Unnamed) — Lvl 0

Species: Viper

Length: 2 ft (0.6 meters)

Appearance: Base scales are a deep obsidian black with an iridescent sheen. Running down the length of its body are shimmering cracks, glowing faintly with a chaotic energy that mirrors the Sunder constellation.

Abilities:

[Severing Bite] : Can deliver a magical bite that severs magic and magical protections and weakens enchanted materials.

[Chaotic Aura] : Passively disrupts nearby magic, causing minor fluctuations and malfunctions.

Frustrated at the lack of options to summon, Ethan rubbed his chin.

Surely, there had to be some ritual, some incantation, some way?

He scoured his memories of Derrick's words. Of what he'd seen. Experienced. It was fairly painful to do that, psychologically speaking, but Ethan knew he had to. He remembered the azure tendrils that had snaked around him during the Connection ritual—It was a physical manifestation of the Constellation's power. Perhaps the key lay in replicating that experience somehow? After all, the [Familiar] was given to Ethan due to the Connection? So, "tapping" into said Connection with the Sunder Constellation seemed to be the most logical thing to Ethan.

Ethan closed his eyes, looking within himself using [Arcane Awareness].

There were a multitude of... energies inside of him. One appeared to be a distinct color of gold, one was green, and one was amethyst. Squinting, Ethan found another one.

An azure tendril that practically radiated a sense of power.

He focused on it and raised his hand. It felt like a warm current coursing through him, tingling at his fingertips. He tried to recreate that feeling, picturing the azure tendrils emanating from his own body. It was a clumsy attempt, like trying to remember a half-forgotten dream. Yet, slowly, a faint warmth blossomed in his chest, spreading outwards, illuminating him from the inside.

It was weird to look at. His veins, his heart, his organs. He could see them all. He could see their shadows created by the light.

He tried to do something with it. That light. He tried to do something.