Chapter 5 - Meeting Ms. Proctor

Time Unknown

Filomena stood like a guard dog physically putting herself between myself and the old woman lounging in a wicker chair. Somehow we found ourselves in a beautifully kept garden. I would think we had simply landed outside the house if it were not for the fact that it was nowhere in sight, we had not fallen nearly enough, and also that the sky above us was dark and full of stars and nebulae.

Despite the fact that the sky was not light, everything below it was lit as though it were a bright spring day. There was something off about nearly everything but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was.

“Where are we?” I pondered aloud.

“I don’t know,” Filomena whispered back to me, “That’s why we need to be extra careful. Eat and drink nothing until we-”

“I understand your confusion,” the woman interrupted Filomena’s warnings. Her voice was kind, and grandmotherly. For some reason I didn’t think we were in danger, but then that probably meant we should be extra careful.

“What is your name, dear host?” Filomena said. Despite her words, her voice remained frosty and she was clearly wary.

“Oh, how old fashioned,” the woman tittered, “Very well, you may call me Ms. Proctor, dear guest. Perhaps you have heard of me and my employer- Bearlisp Academy of Magecraft.”

Filomena thought for a moment, she may not have heard of them, but I certainly had. My parents had attended the school and I’d often fallen asleep to tales of their adventures in the academy.

I tugged on the torn sleeve of Filomena’s dress, “Filomena, my parents told me about her, and the academy.”

“Truly?”

“Did you not receive our letter, dear guests? Is that why you were not expecting me?”

“I’m afraid not, um, dear host?”

“Oh? That is most unfortunate, dear guest. Please join me, and I will find a copy for you to read.”

I looked at Filomena questioningly, she closed her eyes and nodded. So we took the two seats that appeared on the opposite side of the table. With a snap, a small file box that had been wrapped in contact paper with a busy floral pattern appeared on the table in front of her. She opened the lid and searched through the papers. I watched silently, occasionally looking at Filomena, who looked uncomfortable and very out of place surrounded by flowers.

It didn’t take long for Ms. Proctor to find what she was looking for, and she slid a cream colored envelope across the glass top of the table.

“Please read this, dear guests, and let me know if you have any questions. In the meantime, may I offer you tea? In strict accordance with the safety guaranteed by guest rights, of course.”

I looked at Filomena, who sighed before she responded, “Dear host, we will gladly accept the refreshments you offer around this table in accordance with guest rights.”

I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on. What did they mean by guest rights? Ms. Proctor nodded graciously and produced three small porcelain tea cups, with elaborate flowers painted on the sides. She poured a dark yellow liquid from a similarly painted tea pot, and with a gesture two of the cups gently floated in front of each of us.

I went to take a sip, but Filomena gently placed a hand on my wrist. It was surprisingly soft, and warm. Ms. Proctor smiled and took a sip of her tea. Filomena removed her hand from my wrist, and took a sip herself before nodding at me to do the same.

It was possibly the best tea I’d ever had. I had no idea what it was but it was delicious. Simultaneously floral and citrussy. There was no bitterness, and it didn’t need any sugar or milk. I don’t think I would ever tire of the flavor.

“Now that that is settled, please read your letter, Maxwell,” Ms. Proctor said.

I clenched my jaw at the use of my deadname, but grabbed the letter, reading the front of the envelope.

Maxwell Oldstone

8200 SW Wilsonville Rd

Wilsonville, OR 97070

“Oh,” I said, “that’s my old address, and, um dear host?”

“Yes, dear guest?”

“That is also my…,” I paused, worrying that I might cause trouble by correcting the issue with my name.

“Her name is now Maxine,” Filomena said, rescuing me from floundering miserably. There was nothing I hated more than correcting people, other than having them continue to call me by the wrong name.

Ms. Proctor was taken aback, but she quickly recovered.

“Oh, I see. I do apologize, Maxine. I will of course correct the errors immediately,” no sooner had she finished saying this then the ink began to sink into the cream colored paper of the envelope, and reappeared so that it now read:

Maxine Oldstone

Ms. Proctor’s Garden

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“Thank you, Ms. Proctor,” I sniffled in spite of myself, and tears filled my eyes.

Have I really become so unused to basic human kindness so quickly?

Filomena’s gaze softened somewhat, and she said under her breath, “Open the letter, we would not want to waste our dear host’s time.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I opened the letter and read:

Dear Oldstone Family,

Your application to be considered for entrance to Bearlisp Academy of Magecraft has been received and approved. Please accept my heartfelt congratulations to you and your student!

In order to ensure that your student is a match for the outstanding skill our students are expected to have on more than just paper, there are two additional steps to admission. Our Alumni families are probably fully aware of the process, but I will explain the two additional steps for full enrollment for those who may not know.

The first is the entrance exam, performed, as it has been since our founding in 1874, by the peerless Ms. Proctor. The details of the exam are subject to change at her discretion. However, you should be prepared for the exam to include summoning your student’s very first familiar to aid in their growth as a mage during their time at our academy.

All tools and materials will be provided by Ms. Proctor at no cost to you or your family. Any students who already have a familiar will be required to dissolve the contract, and redo the summoning ritual to show their individual ability during the entrance exam.

This is why we would ask that families refrain from binding a familiar to their student in order to allow the entrance test to proceed quickly and smoothly. You are, however, more than welcome to explain the ritual, and even demonstrate in your own homes. For those with families unfamiliar with the process, there is no need to worry as everything your student needs to know will be explained during the test.

If you would like to read up on the process, I cannot recommend enough reading through “A New Mage’s Guide to Familiar Summoning, 23rd Edition” by Nevin Brownleaf.

The second requirement is attendance at the mandatory sorting ceremony. Bearlisp Academy boasts four dormitories each split into three houses so that students may learn and grow alongside those who share goals and passions with your student.

Please join us after the sorting ceremony for refreshments and mingling. During this time, the students will be brought to their dormitories and introduced to the faculty advisors who will be guiding their individual education. They will also be shown their rooms.

At any point after this, students may move their belongings to the dormitories, but freshmen will not be allowed to fully move in until the start of the semester.

There will be a guided tour of the academy grounds July 13th for any families who are on the fence. At any time you may contact us to remove your student from the enrollment process.

I am looking forward to seeing you all at the sorting ceremony,

Signed,

Anthony Freethorn

Dean of Students

Bearlisp Academy of Magecraft

I read the letter twice, and then handed it to Filomena. I sipped the tea again, closing my eyes and savoring everything about it.

“Is the tea to your liking, Maxine?” Ms. Proctor asked.

I opened my eyes, “It’s incredible, do you mind if I ask what kind it is?”

“Not at all, it’s a Hollow Lands plant that I have been cultivating in my garden for the last century called a clorraf. The berries are poisonous to all but the strongest hollows, but the leaves are quite safe and make a wonderful tea.”

I froze at the word poisonous.

“Don’t worry, Max,” Filomena said, putting a hand against my trembling arm, “Clorraf leaves are perfectly safe, and in fact have many health benefits for both our species.”

I nodded, putting the tea cup down as gently as I could manage.

Filomena cleared her throat, “I am worried about the contents of this letter, however, dear host.”

“Which part has you concerned, dear guest. I am happy to alleviate any worries you may have.”

“The part that involves my banishment.”

“I am worried about the tuition, I’m not sure why it isn’t mentioned in the letter but this school can’t be inexpensive.”

“I see, is that all? Max, let me address your concern first, as it is the simpler matter to address. I know that it has not been long since the death of your parents, but are you familiar with the contents of your parent’s wills?”

I shook my head, “Should I be?”

“I think that it may be wise to go over that at some point, however, I will tell you that your parents have already paid your tuition for all four years at Bearlisp Academy should you be accepted. So you need not worry about that.”

Was this what my parents were going to surprise me with that day? Had something gone wrong with a summoning ritual and that’s why they died?

While my mind was reeling with the implications of my parent’s planning, I missed something that Ms. Proctor had said. I shook my head, and noticed that Filomena was looking expectantly at me.

“I’m sorry,” I said, “I was distracted for a moment.”

“Max,” Filomena said, her face as hard as ice, “Our dear host has just explained that there can be no exception made for this entrance examination to her academy. If you wish to attend, our contract must be dissolved and I will be banished back to the Hollow Lands.”

Wait, didn’t Filomena want to redo our contract anyway?

“That’s perfect!” I exclaimed, turning in my seat and grabbing her hands.

“It is?” she asked, clearly shocked, “Do you really not want me to be your familiar any longer?”

“What? No!”

“Oh, I see,” she said, for the first time since I had seen her she looked hurt, “Very well, I wish you well in your education, mistress.”

With that, she pulled her hands out of mine, and looked away.

“Wait, I think there has been a miscommunication,” I said. She didn’t respond, so I continued, “So allow me to be clear, I do want you to be my familiar, Filomena. We just agreed to be partners didn’t we? When I said this was perfect, I meant because you had wanted to redo our contract, and now we have an opportunity to do so.”

Filomena said nothing for a moment. I desperately hoped that my words had reached her. I had finally grown used to her presence.

After a moment of silence, I felt compelled to continue, “Will you trust me to do the summoning ritual properly this time? Even without our bond.”

She said something that I couldn’t hear.

“Sorry?”

“I said, ‘You better not summon anyone else’,” she repeated herself firmly, and turned to face me, “I will allow none but myself to serve you.”

Ms. Proctor cleared her throat politely, “I think I understand the situation, as such I will allow a modification to the entrance examination. Filomena will be banished, and resummoned. This will be a harder test, Maxine, are you sure you are up for it? Summoning a specific hollow is a harder ritual than summoning who or whatever will help you.”

I put on a brave face and nodded, “I am up for it.”

After that, Ms. Proctor taught me how to banish a hollow. It is as easy as informing them that their services are no longer required if you are the one who summoned them. She further explained that it is slightly more complicated when they weren’t summoned by you. And it is not possible if they are in the service of someone else.