MFS:my familiar system

The halls of the academy felt colder than before. Jared Morn was still on the floor, his breathing ragged, his face frozen in terror. The students who had watched from a distance were silent, unmoving, their minds struggling to process what they had just witnessed.

Kyle didn't wait for anyone to react. He turned on his heel, the fading chill of Boneclaw's presence still clinging to his skin. Jace fell into step beside him, glancing back at the scene with a mix of curiosity and disbelief.

"What the hell was that?" Jace muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Kyle to hear.

Kyle exhaled. His heartbeat was finally slowing down, but his mind was still racing. He had never summoned a familiar before—never even felt the presence of one. Yet, something inside him had responded instinctively when the Brassfang Wolf lunged.

And then Boneclaw appeared.

It wasn't just a familiar.

It was something else.

A beast of shadows and death.

Kyle could still feel it lurking, as if it hadn't fully left, just waiting beneath his skin, curled in the depths of his mana.

"I don't know," Kyle finally answered, keeping his voice low. It wasn't exactly a lie. He didn't understand what had just happened, but one thing was clear—he had just revealed something dangerous.

And people had noticed.

He could feel their stares boring into his back, whispers already spreading through the hallway.

A familiar that appeared from nothing.

A beast that swallowed another whole.

A darkness that chilled the air.

His hands clenched into fists.

They weren't supposed to know.

---

The Report

By the time Kyle and Jace reached their dorm room, Jace had stopped asking questions. He knew Kyle wouldn't answer—not yet, at least.

Instead, he flopped onto his bed, sighing. "Well, congratulations, man. You beat a Level 6. That's big."

Kyle sat down at his desk, barely listening. His mind was still on Boneclaw.

[Familiar: Boneclaw (Dormant)]

Dormant.

That meant it wasn't at full strength. The thought sent a shiver down his spine—what would happen when it was?

Before he could process it further, a notification flashed.

[You Have Been Summoned]

[Report to Instructor Vaughn Immediately]

Kyle's chest tightened. Of course. There was no way an event like that would go unnoticed.

Jace saw his expression and sat up. "Let me guess—Vaughn?"

Kyle nodded.

Jace whistled. "Shit. You want backup?"

Kyle shook his head. "I'll handle it."

Jace hesitated but didn't push further. "Alright. Just don't get kicked out before we even start training."

Kyle didn't answer.

Because deep down, he wasn't worried about getting expelled.

He was worried about what they would do if they knew the truth.

---

Instructor Vaughn

The military instructors didn't waste time.

Kyle barely had time to catch his breath before he was standing in Vaughn's office, the cold stare of the Level 8 officer locked onto him.

Instructor Vaughn was a man of few words—rigid posture, sharp gaze, and a presence that felt like a blade pressing against your throat.

"So," Vaughn finally said, his fingers tapping against his desk. "I assume you know why you're here."

Kyle kept his expression neutral. "The fight with Jared."

"More than that." Vaughn leaned forward. "I've already received three different reports about what happened. Some say you defeated Jared with pure skill—impressive, but unlikely. Others claim you summoned an unregistered familiar." His voice sharpened. "Something unnatural."

Kyle remained silent.

Vaughn's gaze was piercing. "What did you summon, Corvayn?"

Kyle met his gaze but didn't answer.

Because he didn't know what to say.

The wrong answer could get him labeled a threat.

The right answer… he didn't even know what that was.

The silence stretched before Vaughn finally sighed. He reached into his desk, pulling out a small card. A familiar summoning card.

Kyle's stomach clenched.

Vaughn slid it across the table. "Summon it."

Kyle hesitated.

Could he even control it?

He had stopped Boneclaw once… but that was instinct. Would it listen to him if he called it now?

Vaughn watched him closely.

Kyle took a slow breath and touched the card.

A pulse of mana surged from his fingertips, activating the summoning sequence.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

Darkness bled from the edges of the card.

The temperature plummeted.

The lights flickered.

And from the shadows, Boneclaw began to emerge.

Its form coiled out from the darkness, skeletal claws scraping against the floor, its hollow gaze settling on Vaughn.

The officer didn't flinch—but Kyle saw his shoulders tense slightly.

Boneclaw's presence was suffocating. Even in its dormant state, it felt wrong.

Kyle swallowed hard. "This is my familiar."

Vaughn studied it, his expression unreadable.

Then he nodded.

"Dismiss it."

Kyle hesitated—then willed Boneclaw back.

The shadows retreated. The cold faded. The room returned to normal.

Vaughn leaned back in his chair, exhaling through his nose. "I don't know what that is." His voice was calm but firm. "But it's not normal."

Kyle kept his face unreadable.

"You're lucky," Vaughn continued. "The official story being passed around is that you encountered a rogue beast on an expedition. That's what the cadets will believe."

Kyle's pulse quickened. So the military didn't want the truth getting out.

Vaughn folded his arms. "I don't care what your familiar is, Corvayn. As long as you can control it, that's all that matters." His voice darkened. "But if you can't—if it ever threatens your squad, your officers, or this academy…"

Kyle knew where this was going.

They would eliminate him.

Kyle straightened. "I can control it."

Vaughn held his gaze for a long moment, then nodded. "Dismissed."

Kyle turned and walked out of the office.

The door shut behind him, but the weight of Vaughn's words stayed.

As long as you can control it.

Kyle exhaled. He wasn't sure if that was a warning… or a test.

Either way, there was no turning back now.

---

Aftermath

By the time Kyle returned to his dorm, Jace was waiting.

"Well?" Jace asked.

"They're covering it up," Kyle muttered, throwing himself onto his bed. "They don't want anyone knowing what I summoned."

Jace raised an eyebrow. "Damn. That bad?"

Kyle didn't answer. Instead, he stared at the ceiling.

He had gotten a glimpse of what Boneclaw was capable of.

And if it was this strong while dormant…

Kyle's fingers curled.

He needed to understand it.

To control it.

Because if he didn't—

Someone else would.

---