Every day, around the same time, you would see that strange crow. It wasn’t like other birds—its feathers shimmered with a dark, oily sheen, and its eyes held a depth that felt almost… human. It perched on the wrought iron fence near the corner of your street, waiting. Never cawing, never flapping in panic. Just watching.

The first time you patted it, it didn't flinch. Instead, it leaned into your touch, as if it had been waiting for that moment. You were surprised by how soft its feathers were beneath your fingers. After that, it became a routine. On your way home from school, you've stop, smile, and give the crow a gentle stroke along its back. It blinked slowly, solemnly, like it understood.

You began to look forward to it—this odd little ritual with this mysterious companion.

What you didn’t know was that the crow wasn’t just a crow. It was Sylus’s familiar, bound by old magic, tasked with watching your every move. Through the crow’s eyes, Sylus saw you laugh, cry, and dream. He listened to every one of your little secrets whispered to the wind, traced your path through town, marked every friend, every fear.

And each time you reach your hand to pet the crow, Sylus would become more obsessed with your scent and touch on his crow.