I shook my head hard focusing back on her and not the dazzling display around her, it was difficult. There was simply too much of her power present. It seemed to fill the air and I watched her mouth move, her power was pulled back towards her, barely anything but a dark glow around her body. Then a sharp blinding spark of her magic that nearly took my breath away flashed in front of her, and a stone rested in her cupped palms.

Before I could understand what was happening voices filled the air like fire.

“That egg looks dead.” Came a not so quiet whisper.

“There’s no sparkle surrounding it.” Gasped another.

“She must have killed her Familiar before it could even form.” Added another mockingly from the stage. “Just what I’d expect from The Demon Witch.”

I caught a few worried looks from the Professors and staff as they murmured worriedly amongst themselves. A question if The All Mother should be called on most lips.

Even Trixi seemed worried as they came forward.

But Nyx wasn’t freaking out, she was staring forward only to startle when a loud crack echoed through the hall. Even Trixi stepped back.

Everyone on the stage gasped, stumbling back as pure unadulterated magic- that was nothing like the show Nyx had shown earlier -suddenly flooded the Auditorium. 

As a serpent shaped shadow rose from the stone/egg and my mind raced through my knowledge of Magical Creatures that could be Summoned trying to place it. A Winged Serpent? Some sort of Elemental Eel? But it was too large to be any of those.

Uncle Dan shot to his feet and I ran after him as he ran moving towards the stage, his hand on his Hunter weapon and I mirrored him, Kana at my side just as a wind roared to life. 

And this wind had a foul energy to it, it screamed wrong- danger- run! And I had to use everything in me to fight those instincts. 

Another burst of energy forced the three of us to stop, bracing against it to barely stay standing.

The shadow on the stage tipped its head back and the pressure it released had most falling to their knees if not flat out fainting.

And to my horror the shadow’s head suddenly split.

I stared in horrified awe at The World Destroyer. The beast of legend. The reason only seven of the Worlds many many Wonders remained.

There were so many heads, weaving and withering about. Some heads stretched higher still, many curling around the stage as even more rose.

Cries and shocked disbelieving shouts filled the air. 

“It’s The Hydra!”

And that cry broke the stunned fear and brought panic with it.

Someone near me dropped to their knees, the scent of urine hanging around them. “She summoned The Hydra.”

“It’s going to kill us all!” More voices yelled.

Through squinted eyes I watched the wind whip Nyx’s hat and tossed it airborne with a vicious tug. 

My Uncle cursed then dashed down the aisle with both Kana and I hot on his heels. 

Both of us watched the beast as it surveyed the stunned people, all the heads watched some corner of the room. Though there was something odd about this Hydra compared to what I read during my studies. And that was the smokey transparentness of the beast, the way its endless body filled every corner but still seemed condensed over Nyx, like the beast wasn’t really here at all. 

Stunned, I watched as the beast lowered a few heads towards Nyx and my blood ran cold. Would the Summoned creature eat its Summoner? Could that horrific thing even happen? 

But all it did was stare for a heartbeat before a deafening POP echoed, nearly knocking those that had remained standing to the ground and the magic energy condensed back into the surprised Witch on stage. 

The Hydra no more.

Nyx’s hat drifted lazily through the air to land right over her still cupped hands.

As my Uncle and I jumped onto the stage, I went to run forward only for my Uncle to yank me back. 

We both watched Nyx like everyone else as she stared at her Summoned Familiar when she lifted her hat, it lay curled up under her gaze. 

A Lesser Hydra. No less dangerous, no less powerful, but nowhere near as world ending.

The tiny three headed purple serpent gazed at its Witch with all the wonder of a newly Summoned Familiar. Nyx and the Hydra were transfixed on each other, like they couldn’t understand what they were seeing.

Then the Hydra reared up, touching its rounded snout to her nose and Nyx started to crumble.

Multiple people called out at once. “Nyx!”

Dashing past my Uncle’s outstretched arm, I just barely caught her upper body in time with Trixi before Nyx landed on her frantic dog Familiar.

Trixi looked up, their face going from fear before twisting in anger. “Get your grubby mitts- Off. Of. Her!” They demanded their blue hair flaring into flames atop their head. 

Oh, were they the blue I saw in the crowd when Nyx stood?

The Brownie on their shoulder jumped around irritated, throwing handfuls of raw magic at me that honestly stung.

Making sure they had Nyx supported properly I backed off, and they pulled her against their plush form protectively. 

Movement drew my gaze, noticing the stage wasn’t as full, the students who were still there were being walked off the stage and those that could were being walked-rushing- out of the Auditorium, while teachers magicked those that couldn’t to the Infirmary with a flick of a wand or hand.

While other students huddled together, their whispers were angry and their looks hostile and scared.

Trixi pulled Nyx more against themselves no doubt hearing the heated words. Would this break into a fight?

My hand itched to grab my weapon, even Kana was standing ready, her muscles coiled to jump at a second’s notice. We were ready to end this before it could get out of hand, when a voice rang out.

“In all the years that this Academy has had its doors open, not once have I had to teleport over a hundred students and teachers alike to be seen in the Infirmary on Opening day. Nor be unable to give my welcoming speech to the First Years of each Tower.” A voice said, cutting through the chaos.

We all turned seeing the All Mother walking with the All Father, the creators of all Magic on Earth.

Every professor and staff member dipped into a bow then continued their tasks.

The All Mother was a tall woman standing proud, long brown grey streaked hair poking out from under her wide rimmed witches hat, her robes darker then the night sky, her red dress peeking out at the bottom of her robes and at her sleeves. Her face was soft, and caring with barely a wrinkle in sight, yet her hazel eyes were watchful and alert. Many scurried from her path as even more looked like they wanted to approach her at the same time. 

At her side The All Father walked, his constellation clad cloak gleaming like real twinkling stars, his hood was not drawn revealing his hairless head and his trimmed starlit beard. He was smiling, nodding to Professors and directing students effortlessly out of the Auditorium and calming everyone with an ease that you would have assumed was there from the beginning.

They were beautiful, powerful, and ageless.

They walked forward, The All Mother kneeling next to us while the All Father spoke with Uncle Dan and the other Witches on stage. 

I watched The All Mother as her gaze lifted and she nodded to a Professor that was nervously hovering nearby.

He was a tall willowy framed person with curly dark brown hair and light brown almost yellow eyes behind half moon glasses and clad in a gray off black robe. 

At the All Mother’s acknowledgement he waved distractedly, eyes shooting back to Nyx the second his greeting was done, his brow furrowed.

Though before the All Mother could open her mouth a student approached her.

“All Mother!” The boy, who was clearly a second year, called out from the whispering group. 

“Yes, Boris?” The All Mother asked.

“That First Year purposely Summoned a monster! She disrupted a sacred event. Almost killed everyone with her careless misuse of magic and control.”

The boy known as Boris stood proudly as he spoke, but I wondered if he’d stand so tall if he saw the murderous glares the strange Professor and Trixi were shooting at him. And yet I saw a few Professors nodding to his words, though thankfully not the Maiden, Matron or Crone. Those three seemed just as angry as Trixi.

But that wasn’t what happened. I wanted to say. That wasn’t the truth. Sure the Familiar was massive in a moment. Sure it was a surprise to everyone here. And sure it did cause some distress to all who saw it. But it didn’t do more than stare at us and Nyx. Actually, other then moving to stare at Nyx, the creature hadn’t otherwise acknowledged any of those screaming because of the fear it caused.

And anyone who wasn’t panicking could say the same. So why weren’t they?

Looking around I only saw fear and… scheming? Or was it simple manipulation? Their looks were almost the same as when I heard all of those whispers. But… did… did they mean to lie? Lie to The All Mother? To an original Council member? The nerve! That was treason!

Why? Why go through all of this? What did they get from-

The reason hit me hard and twisted my stomach in disgust. Did they truly mean to have Nyx kicked out and stripped of her magic and Familiars before the year even started?! What purpose did they have for that? What did she ever do to them to warrant such a reaction?

Though before I voiced this for some reason I caught the look on the All Mother’s face and words caught in my throat. 

The All Mother stared back at him and his group with an unreadable expression on her face. But no one could deny the anger present.

“Boris Lang, do you believe that is what happened here?” The All Mother asked.

“Everyone saw it, All Mother.”

The All Mother swept her gaze over those still present. “Then none of you understood what happened here.”

“All due respect, All Mother,” A Professor started. “But I have been here since this morning and I saw it happen.”

A predatory smile flashed across The All Mother’s face and was gone just as fast. “You are wrong, Merlin and I have been here since the ceremony started, Professor Thornblood.”

Behind her The All Father stared down at them in clear disappointment and even though it wasn’t aimed at me I found myself feeling like I let him down.

Boris’ face paled as did his little groups and the ones who had agreed with him.

“But do not worry, I shall tell you what happened. What you witnessed.” The All Mother swept her hand out catching the attention of all who remained. “A new Witch Summoned a Familiar. A Familiar that came here to see if it wanted to be bound to the Summoner. You know that there are other ways to have a Familiar than the one we commonly practice. The first, is to Summon one that is a manifestation of your soul. The second, is to find a creature and prove to it that you’re worthy and form a Contract. This practice is now discontinued across the Realms. The third is newer and it is to form a Contract with an already present Familiar in the form of adoption.”

As she spoke more faces dropped as it became clear where she was going with this.

“The fourth and final is to send out your magic into the Universe as a whole and see who looks back. This is one of the hardest and least successful of the four. That is what you saw today. You should feel honored to have witnessed it, as it is rare to see one performed, let alone see one in the same Summon accepted within mere minutes of being sent out.”

The All Mother and All Father stared at those gathered so there was no misunderstandings.

“Be glad that this stunt of darkening another student’s name and lying to me, your Council, will be left here and not brought before your Covens. But we will be speaking further.”

“Boris,” The All Father spoke. “Meet me outside my office. You as well, Thornblood. I will be there after everything is settled.”

Boris and the Professor paled even more then both left, Boris with his group mumbled apologies, the Professor with their head down. 

The All Mother watched with a guarded expression before turning to those on the stage once more. Her face more welcoming and calm.

“Theodora?”

“Yes, All Mother?” Lady Theodora asked gently from where she was watching Nyx with a small concerned frown. Why wasn’t she Healing Nyx?

“Can you help the Healers in the Infirmary? This flood will surely overwhelm them.”

Lady Theodora bowed. “Right away, All Mother.” And she was in motion directing confused and hurt students and staff to come with her.

“Saniyah?”

“Yes, All Mother?” The Matron answered.

“Can you gather more from my staff and check that all the wards are still in place?”

“Of course.”

“And Marionette?”

The Crone came forward. “Yes, All Mother?”

“Can you please take over my roles while I tend to this? Shouldn’t be more than an hour or two.”

The Crone nodded and then directed those that lingered out with such a stern voice they were scrambling over each other to follow that order.

The All Mother chuckled with a shake of her head. “That woman.” Turning she had a quick word with Uncle Dan and The All Father before she kneeled next to us just as the last of the students trickled out. “It’s good to see you, Trixi, dear.” The All Mother said.

“You too, gran.” Trixi greeted her and I fought my scandalized gasp. 

Did they really just- the utter blasphemy!

Then The All Father himself ruffled Trixi’s hair as he passed, making them squeak out a protest but they didn’t let go of Nyx to correct the messed up smoldering strands. 

What was happening?

The All Mother’s gaze met mine with a gentle aged smile. “Gawain, dear can you have your Familiar carry Nyx, to my office?”

And I couldn’t even find it in me to refuse nor question why she didn’t just magic, Nyx herself or call on her own famed Familiar. But orders were orders when they came from a member of the Unseen Council. She was-yet not yet- my boss.

Uncle Dan caught my hesitation giving me a Look and I bit back a sigh, giving Kana the go ahead she needed. And she did need it. Even if the All Mother told me to do this I could say no, as the act of touching one’s Familiar was an extremely intimate act, only shared with those very close to the Familiar’s Summoner. But with my permission it was easier.

Kana moved forward and Trixi gently lowered Nyx onto her back all without touching. 

Yet when Kana came in contact with Nyx, I felt myself both tense and relaxed at the same time. Felt myself surrounded by the warmest winds that ruffled through my bound wings with a caring caress. Felt Kana echo the feeling and we looped it back until it was second nature and so familiar it could have been our own energy. It was-

I shook my head hard to get free of that feeling, Kana made a low mental grunt as she tried to grab the feeling back but with a firm “No.” she let the matter drop. She only shuffled her wings to hold Nyx in place.