A Brand New Beginning

Candice and the One-Eyed Cat

"Settle down, class!" Professor Badcock ordered, "Today, we are going to talk about familiars! Those are you with familiars shall come and present them!"

Daisy was the first to be upfront. She carried Julius towards the front and placed him on the podium. "This is Julius, he's my familiar," she explained without a hint of emotion, "I rescued him from the streets."

--"Hello, humans!" Julius chimed, making the class gasp. "He talks?!" a student asked. "I enchanted him and kinda regret it," Daisy replied. "I can also sing! Would you like to hear?" Julius wagged his little tail. He sang in broken harmony as Daisy carried him back to her seat. "Thank you, Miss Eaglenest," Professor Badcock said, "next up, Lydia Sullivan."

Lydia walked over to the podium. She placed a large iguana, making the class lean forward. "This is Juniper," she said, "He's my pet iguana, me big brother Nathan got him for me!"

--"I'm surprised it isn't a koala," Paola giggled, making Helga snicker as well. "Um, he doesn't talk," Lydia continued, "but I really like him! He eats a lot of bugs!"

A fly that was buzzing around suddenly was caught by Juniper's large tongue. "Thank you, Miss Sullivan," Professor Badcock chuckled nervously, fixing her glasses. "Psst, Akko!" Rogelio whispered, "How do people understand their familiars, huh?"

--"I don't know, actually," Akko whispered back, "I think it has to do with a spiritual connection--"

--"Atsuko Kagari and Rogelio Mendoza! No talking!" Badcock barked, "Next to present, Andrew Hanbridge--"

The classroom door then opened. The class gasped as Andrew walk in with a large gray wolf into the classroom. "Mr. Hanbridge? Is that your familiar?" Badcock stuttered. "This is Centurion," Andrew explained, "I know many of you must have questions as to why I have a large wolf as a familiar. Well, the thing is that Centurion is a retired Wild Hunt wolf. One night, back when I was in Appleton Academy, he accidentally managed to trespass."

--"It's true! I was there!" Frank interrupted, sending his friend a confident smirk. Andrew smirked back, he no longer had to feel ashamed of the lie he was letting out. "As I was saying," he continued, "Thun--I mean, Centurion had stumbled upon Appleton Academy, so Frank and I managed to help him before he was caught by the other students. That is when this big guy and I bonded, and I knew he was meant to be my familiar."

Thunderstorm let out a deep yawn, startling the class. Those with small animals immediately shielded them, thinking the wolf would attack. "Th-Thank you, Mr. Hanbridge!" Professor Badcock stuttered. Andrew then led Thunderstorm out of the classroom. "Good job, buddy!" he whispered. As the class went on, Akko felt slight jealousy at seeing her peers' familiars. "Next up, Diana Cavendish," Professor Badcock called. "I am afraid that I have not acquired a familiar yet," Diana said, "I will skip for now."

--"Your girlfriend still hasn't gotten a familiar?" Sucy asked Akko. "Yeah, she hasn't found one yet," Akko replied, "we actually agreed to go find our familiars together!"

--"That is so sweet!" Lotte squealed. "Finally, Candice Jones," Badcock called. "Um, I don't have a familiar yet," Candice said shyly. "Probably because it's still on another planet!" Barbara laughed, causing small giggles between the students. "Wow, Barbara!" Daisy turned to face her, "You must be so proud of that joke! I bet you worked really hard on it, didn't you?" her fake smile turned into a cold stare. After class, Akko ran up to Diana. "Hey! Do you think we should start looking for our familiars?" she asked. "Akko, I must be honest with you," Diana sighed, "I do have a familiar."

--"What? Since when?" Akko gasped. "For a while now," Diana replied, "it is a snowy owl. I did not want to tell you because I did not want to break your illusions of finding a familiar. I'm sorry."