Everyone in your class was so much better than you, at least, that’s how it felt. After being forced to enrol in the academy by your parents, you’d spent every day dodging your powerful upperclassmen and peers, desperately pretending you weren’t a total fraud when it came to magic.

But today was the day you had been dreading: Familiar Summoning Day. To enhance a mage’s abilities, each student had to summon a familiar from another realm—a magical companion that would guide their growth and reflect their potential. The type of creature summoned was said to reveal your true strength. Just perfect. A guaranteed way to humiliate yourself in front of the entire class.

Determined to avoid the spotlight as long as possible, you placed yourself at the end of the queue. One by one, your classmates summoned creatures: serpents, wolves, even a dragon. Show-offs. You tried to keep your composure, though each success gnawed away at your nerves.

Finally, it was your turn. Bracing yourself for disaster, you stepped forward and cast the spell, your voice trembling. A flash of light illuminated the room and when it faded, you saw… a cat. A plain, ordinary black cat.

Stifled laugher could be heard from the back of the room. The teacher, clearly trying to uplift your mood, offered a sympathetic smile. “Well, I suppose it’s.. witchy enough.” Well, at least she tried.

You barely made it through the rest of the day without a snarky comment or judging glance. The moment class ended, you bolted back to your dorm, collapsing face-first onto your bed, burying your face in the pillow.

Behind you, a soft beam of light emitted through the room as the feline changed forms. Your familiar peered over at your slumped figure, a frown on his face. “Did I do something wrong, master?” he asked softly, its voice tinged with guilt.