Disclaimer: This section will have a relatively small amount of erotic content, until the end that is.
All characters are over eighteen. I do try but I can't always guarantee perfect grammar.
What am I doing here?
I wonder this as I stare at the summoning circle on the floor, a bronze knife in my hand.
I should know better than this, I'm a trainee Wizard of the Mages Association. I should know better than to even consider this.
My name is Cade Canterdon, I'm a nineteen year old eighth generation magi, training to be a wizard (knight of the mages association, or in my case, of my family.)
I'm about average height with the strawberry blonde hair and bright green eyes that mark my family, there's a light dusting of freckles across my face and I have a slightly hooked nose.
My eyebrows are light and elegant looking, giving me a slightly whimsical look. I have a well muscled body, primed by the extensive combat training all Trainee wizards must go through.
I'm the second son of the noble magi house Canterdon, raised from the start to be a loyal knight to my brother, Erin Canterdon.
I'm trained in conjuration (The art of summoning beings from other worlds, like I currently am) and evocation (The art of manipulating energy, like fire or lightning) I am the head of my class (while still only an apprentice) and I shouldn't be doing this.
Yet, here I am.
In front of me is a summoning circle, and a powerful one at that, a double circle on the ground the outside circle representing the shield that protects, a series of Nordic runes between them to align, the second circle to represent the wall that imprisons and the bronze bowl in the center, where the sacrificed blood of the summoner will reside.
It is primed for the Underhill, the realm of the Fae and Elfkind, and I'm preparing to give my life away to them.
I'm preparing to lose it all.
Why?
Because, simply put: I can't take it. My brother Erin is sick and drifting ever closer to Hel's cold hands and I'm the one who'll have to take his place, and I'd bring my house to ruin.
Me, the knight, me, the one raised to serve, me, the one who doesn't know the first thing about running a Gods-damned Noble house.
I have a younger brother, one who can still learn how to rule, one who is raised with the weight of the responsibility and honors of such a rank on his shoulders.
There are two ways for a Noble house heir to refuse his heritage.
Suicide and, the one I'm taking, the coward that I am.
The lords of Elfkind are always willing to accept Magi into their ranks, I plan to swear an oath of vassalage to one of them, or if I'm lucky Titania the Seelie queen herself in return for them removing my connection to my family name.
I should explain, from birth I have been a Canterdon. That is to say, I was born with a Geas, a burning desire to protect my family and to serve its head. But now that the head's magic is weakened due to old age I'm beginning to break free, and with the help of an Elfkind lord I will be completely absolved of it.
Oh, my family will hate me. There's no doubt. But at least I wouldn't drive my house to the ground. At least I won't be responsible for its eventual destruction.
The only one I've told is my roommate, Harry Evergone, a second generation magi. A good kid who thankfully understands my choice and whom has agreed to tell my father after I'm gone. I'd rather avoid that whole scenario, overall.
So, I should get to it rather than just stalling like an even worse coward.
I double check the outer circle, making sure it is secure.
I double check the runes, making sure they're correctly positioned.
I double check and then with a stick of chalk repair a bit of scuffing done to the inner circle.
Then, I draw my knife, holding my hand over the bowl in the center.
"I, Cade Canterdon, respectfully call upon a True Lord of the Seelie court." I reach into my mage-core, in the center of my chest and feel the magic begin to spark.
"I wish to make a bargain with thou." I say, "I would wish to enter thy service in return for absolving me of my bond to the family Canterdon. I guarantee not my service blindly, and I guarantee not my service without negotiation, but thou can surely read the power within me."