Max entered the simple, rustic house. A steaming bowl of rice and curry were on the small table. Liliana awaited him as she impatiently stared at the food. Her mother sat opposite, beckoning Max to take a seat with a gentle smile on her face.
"It's not much, but I hope you enjoy the food. Please eat up."
Max simply nodded before he started to dig in. He glanced at Liliana who seemed absorbed in the meal with no intention of starting a conversation.
Breakfast was over in a flash. Liliana's mother, Isabel, took the plates outside for a wash. During this time, Liliana subconsciously sent sporadic glances at Max while appearing to be in deep thought. Amused by her fluctuating expressions, Max whispered, "What's the matter?"
"It – It's nothing. Don't worry about it. Just stay quiet and let me do the talking."
Max noticed Liliana's hesitation. The girl was clearly thinking of ways to explain how the night had unfolded. As a stranger feigning amnesia, it would be hard to have any say in the conversation that was about to ensue between mother and daughter.
Making herself comfortable in her chair, Isabel sternly said, "Now then… Why don't you formally introduce me to this friend of yours?"
The question sent Liliana into a daze. She had been completely focused on trying to formulate a plausible excuse to explain her previously sorry appearance. So much so that the redundant question caught her off guard. "Uh – This is Max."
Chuckling at the hilarious state of the otherwise mischievous girl, Max extended his arm and said, "My name is Max Walker. It's a pleasure to meet you Ma'am"
"Walker?" Repeated Isabel as her eyes widened in surprise.
"Something wrong?"
"No, it's nothing."
Max eyed her suspiciously as he wondered if there was something odd about his last name.
"So Lily, tell me more about him."
Confused, Liliana wasn't sure on how to respond. Thinking back to how they had met, she realized she didn't know much about her new familiar. And she was fairly certain that Max hadn't lied about his amnesia.
"Why are you so curious about Max all of a sudden? Didn't you say you wanted to know about what happened last night?"
"Isn't he your familiar?" Isabel answered with a smile. "Did you think I wouldn't notice the insignia on his hand?"
"That's …" Liliana hesitated and said, "I had intended to tell you but –"
"But?"
"It's just that… Well, look at him! He's human and he looks so weak! I wasn't sure how I should break it to you. You know… because he was summoned from the Guardian talisman you gave me."
"Hey!" Max interjected, looking offended. Being called weak by the girl he secretly saved got on his nerves.
"You be quiet!" Liliana snapped at him.
"Oh? From the guardian talisman?" Isabel was rather disappointed by the revelation in spite of having considered the possibility earlier. She sighed and turned to Max. "It seems my daughter's brought you some unnecessary trouble, I apologize on her behalf."
"No. No trouble at all" Max responded almost instinctively after noticing Liliana's glare.
"Now then… Lily!" Isabel stared at her daughter.
"Ye – Yes!"
"I want to know what made you use the talisman. Tell me everything! If you lie to me, being grounded will be the least of your worries."
Liliana could only smile wryly. As she voiced her story, Isabel's expression became more and more solemn.
As a mage, Liliana was diligent in her practice of magic. Every night she would train at the edge of the village. However, last night bore witness to the arrival of some unexpected guests. James and Charles had introduced themselves as knights under the Minister. Charles explained that the Minister seemed keen to meet her.
Rumors of the Minister's recent promiscuous indulgences had already reached the backwater village. While many said they were baseless, Liliana wasn't one to take any chances. She had no intention to meet him and had immediately refused. Having failed to persuade her even with promises of riches and fame, the knights had resorted to force.
Liliana wasn't one to go down without a fight. However, a contest of strength between an Apprentice Mage and two Premier Knights was a foregone conclusion. She was captured without much of a struggle.
A little after the knights had reached the village outskirts, Liliana had regained consciousness. To her surprise, she had found herself stripped of her magic powers and generally overwhelmed by feelings of nausea and weakness.
The duo stopped a mile outside the village where they seemed to be waiting for someone. Liliana had used their momentary distraction to her advantage. Escaping from their grasp, she had rushed into the forest grounds despite the possible dangers because of the blood moon. With no wand or staff, the only thing magical in her possession had been the mysterious guardian talisman.
Liliana chose not to mention the figure in flames. That moment was still fuzzy in her head. Instead, she skipped directly to when she had met Max.
Isabel's eyes flashed with fury and helplessness. Sighing, she slowly stood up and silently went over to hug Liliana. Taking her daughter into a tight embrace, she felt disappointed in herself. That her daughter had been subjected to such a horrific experience under her watchful eye brought her great shame.
Max awkwardly smiled and silently excused himself after seeing the touching moment between mother and daughter.
Soon, Liliana opened the door, scowling as she yanked Max back inside.
"You have amnesia?" Once Max was seated, Isabel questioned to reaffirm her daughter's tale.
"I'm afraid so."
She silently ruminated on the matter and inquired. "Do you at least know if you're from the Alcatraz Empire?"
"Alcatraz Empire?" Max looked exceedingly confounded. The Knights mentioned something about it as well. Was there ever an Alcatraz Empire on Earth?
Isabel frowned at Max's reaction to the name. Liliana's recount of her nightly adventure had given Isabel the impression that Max had fought off the two knights. She had felt certain that the amnesia was part of some ploy which was why Liliana had been sent off in order for her to ascertain the truth. But one question into their conversation, and she was already unsure of her deduction. Does he really not remember anything?
"Yes, the Alcatraz Empire. Don't you know where you are?"
"I have absolutely no idea." Max answered, oblivious to the fact that he was being suspected. "The only thing I remember is waking up in that forest."
"You really remember nothing at all?"
"Nope."
Isabel was at a loss for words. The child before her made her wonder what fate had in store for her daughter. Remembering the rumors of an infamous incident from a few years ago, she sincerely hoped that Max wasn't connect to that family; the only family with the last name of 'Walker' within the Alcatraz Empire.
"Though the circumstances are a bit forced, it is a fact that you are my daughter's familiar. I am not sure what my daughter told you, but she doesn't have much knowledge about the guardian talisman. Your contract with her isn't just a regular contract between master and servant."
Max couldn't hide the traces of panic on his face as he blurted out, "It's not?!"
"Unlike the standard three types, this contract between the two of you cannot be broken."
"It can't? I thought there were only three types of contracts. How is there a fourth?" Max's face paled slightly. Are you saying that I never had a choice from the beginning?
"It isn't as bad as you think." Isabel forced a smile on seeing Max's expression. I guess his reaction is to be expected. I just hope that he doesn't come to resent my daughter.
"Really?" Max felt overcome by embarrassment as he realized his emotional state had become increasingly apparent.
"Yes." Isabel replied. "It's called a guardian contract – a sub-type of the soul binding contract. It can only be terminated if the caster or the familiar dies, but unlike the regular contract, it has laxer restrictions."
"Wait! Won't that be a problem for the mage?"
"Not really. Ideally, the guardian summoned is supposed to disappear after completing its mission."
"Meaning?"
"I presume that Lily used the talisman to fend off the knights that attacked her. If the knights were dealt with, then the spell on the engraving should have transported you back to where you came from." Isabel answered while also at a loss with the current anomaly.
"So a onetime use… So then why didn't it?"
"I am not sure either. In fact, this is the first time I've ever seen a human being summoned as a guardian."
"I see." Max appeared composed. He secretly sneaked a glance at the engraving on his left hand and cursed. Stupid thing! If you can't work right, then don't work at all.
Isabel suddenly warned, "Understand, that this is a rare contract. No matter the circumstances, you must not reveal to anyone that what you have is a guardian contract."
"Why?"
"That's… a bit difficult to explain. I'm sure you'll know when the time is right."
Max frowned and nodded.
Isabel heaved a sigh of relief. The implications of having a guardian familiar were quite severe. She didn't want her daughter getting any unwarranted attention.
Max said with some hesitation, "Well… I was hoping you could share more about this world and where exactly I am. I have no recollections of this Alcatraz Empire."
Isabel seemed slightly embarrassed as she began to explain. "Of course, I'll tell you everything you'll need to know."
The territories of the world were divided between three superpowers. This delicate balance was formed between the Alcatraz Empire, the Southern Kingdom's Alliance and the Warlord's Dominion. Each one was powerful in its own right. However, while these three reigned supreme, there was another existing power that could stand on equal footing - The Asterisk Academy.
The school always remained politically neutral, choosing to only focus on nurturing the potential geniuses of magic. It had the best resources and took in students from all over the world. While all three entities wished to pull this colossal mammoth to their side, none had succeeded.
The academy provided an exceptional platform for growth and was the dream school for every mage and knight. Entering one its local branches was a testament to a mana user's capability.
There were many who had initially wondered why the three powers tolerated such an existence. An academy that could threaten the mighty armies of the three was surely a threat to their thrones. However, the rulers of the three nations knew better than to provoke the founder of the Academy. He was a Saint class being - a powerful deterrent who inspired fear and respect in everything in existence.
"A Saint?" Max was puzzled. Is religion a big thing here?
"Yes." Isabel looked at Max and then paused. Is this child ignorant to the segregation of levels? Sighing, she continued, "I guess before I explain any further, I need to tell you a bit more about knights and mages."
"Please do." Max calmly replied, though his heart was in turmoil. Alcatraz Empire? Warlord's Dominion? Southern kingdom's Alliance? Charles really wasn't messing around!
People in this world were divided into three categories. The first were incapable of using magic which consisted of majority of the population.
The remaining were those with the affinity for mana. Mana permeated through the air, the earth and almost every living organism on the planet. Those that could voluntarily interact with it were the mages and knights.
Knights were humans capable of absorbing mana into their bodies. Mana had the ability to nourish and strengthen the human body. The more one absorbed the stronger one would get and longer one could live. They were segregated further into several levels based on power and skill. Starting at the lowest was Esquire, followed by Knight, Premier Knight, Superior Knight, Crusader, Grand Crusader, Paladin, Paragon. Every increase in level brought about an explosive increase in strength.
On the other end of the spectrum were the mages. Mages were gifted with mental energy – a variant of mana supposedly stored in their brain cells. By casting spells, they could channel their mental energy in a way that could change the nature of mana in the surroundings.
Like the knights, mages were also categorized into levels. Increase in the amount of mental energy quantified to a subsequent increase in level. For the mages, the respective equivalents were Novice, Apprentice, Intermediate, High, Master, Grand Master, Arch Mage, Saint.
The number of Paladins and Arch Mages were limited to the triple digits. As for those who had stepped into the highest realm; the world only knew of three such individuals. The might of each of these three entities was enough to decimate the three superpowers combined.
The founder of the Alcatraz Empire was a Saint while the creator of the Warlord's dominion was a Paragon. People often speculated that the reason why the Royal families stood strong was because of these two monumental existences. It was rumored that these two individuals were still alive, but chose to stay away from the affairs of the mundane world.
The third was responsible for founding the Asterisk Academy. This was an entity shrouded in mystery. Rumors and speculations ran amok among the general masses while only a handful were privy to the truth about this secretive Headmaster. Perhaps, only the Paragon of the Dominion and the Saint of the Empire had met him face to face.
The presence of these two monstrosities behind the Empire and Dominion gave the two superpowers a slight edge over the Southern Kingdom Alliance, but since the two otherworldly individuals had separated themselves from the mortal world, Paladins and Arch Mages were considered to stand at the apex. This gave the Alliance a firm footing, allowing them to stand side by side with the Empire and the Dominion.
"What about familiars?" Max's head had already begun to spin from all this talk of Paragons and Saints.
"Even familiars are divided into levels based on their power."
Familiars were unique existences that held a special meaning to mages. Unlike knights, mages were incapable of incorporating mana into their physique. With weaker physical abilities, they stood at a clear disadvantage in close combat. To overcome this hurdle, the mages devised a method to contract familiars. By having a partner who could face the brunt of the attacks, mages could have the time to cast their spells.
In most cases, familiars were animals and were categorized as Beast, Mortal, King, Heaven, Titan, Divine, Celestial and Primordial. There was only one known Primordial beast.
As these creatures grew stronger, they gained a level of intelligence. Legend had it that those that had surpassed the Divine level were capable of shedding their animal bodies and taking the human form.
The insignia on the familiar represented both the contract and the link between it and the mage. It was also a key to the familiar's personalized pocket dimension.
While the contract was a great boon to mages, it came with its restrictions. A mage could only have one familiar, regardless of strength. A prevalent theory for the limitation was that it had something to do with the unknown profundities of the soul.
"Wa – Wait… Souls? It depends on a person's soul?" Max's brows twitched at the unexpected mention of the involvement of a spiritual power.
"Yes. It's theorized that a Mage's mental energy stems from the soul. It's why their ability is so different from the knights."
"…" Max stifled a dry laugh as he said, "Alright. Please continue"
"Then here comes the bit you're really interested in." Isabel lightly laughed.
A little over a thousand years ago, mages considered the possibility of taking humans as familiars. This little experiment was a success and immediately became popular for a time till they realized the drawbacks of taking human familiars.
Not only could blood contracts not be used on humans, but human familiars also couldn't be sent to pocket dimensions. The soul-binding contracts took tens of years to become permanent making this phase of transition no different than the standard temporary contract. There were often cases where the human familiar abandoned the mage in the midst of battle. Considering the vast number of shortcomings, many started to look down on such contracts, eventually causing the trend to disappear.
"So you can understand why Liliana wasn't all too happy when she found you as her familiar."
Max awkwardly scratched his head and muttered, "Yeah."
"The next bit is important since Liliana is aiming for the Academy. If you plan on staying as her familiar, then it concerns you as well."
Since the Academy stood neutral, it had established branches in the territories of all three superpowers. The Headmaster's wish was to groom the next generation of knights and mages.
The Academy was located in at the epicenter of the three powers. Every few years, the main branch would open its gates to admit the best and the brightest of the next generation.
Liliana's current aim was to get into the Empire's branch. An admission would mean smooth sailing and a higher probability of securing a spot as a core student.
"And that's about everything I could think of."
Max sighed. His lingering suspicion had turned out to be true. This really was a different planet.
The door burst open as Liliana marched through, huffing and puffing. She fumed and shot a glare at Max and her mother.
"What's wrong, Lily?"
"Nothing." Liliana mumbled at her mother's words while glowering and silently demanding an answer from Max.
Max defensively raised his arms and said, "She was telling me a bit about the empires and the academy to help jog my memories."
"I know that. And?"
"And… What?"
"Well!" Liliana impatiently asked, "Did you remember anything?"
Max noticed a hint of unease in her expression and couldn't help but smile. Does she think I'll resent her? Relaxing his posture, he put on his best act and said, "Not a thing."