The Morning

Victor slowly awoke, blinking blearily at the rays of sunlight that spilled through the blinds of his window, filling his room and warming his face.

For several seconds, he laid unmoving, taking in the familiar sight of his and his father's bedroom. The dark violet paint and plush white carpet created a soothing atmosphere, nearly lulling him back into his slumber. However, the uncomfortable feeling of an emtpy stomach encouraged him to stay awake.

Victor turned over, drunkenly focusing at the clock on the nightstand. In a distinctly digital shade of green, the numbers 8:17 were displayed on the screen.

It's already eight o'clock...I guess I should be getting up now. Dad doesn't like it when I waste the day sleeping. Victor thought, his mind still muddy from sleep and the lingering exhaustion that plagued him.

His gaze traveled to the bag lying at the foot of the bed, and all of his memories suddenly rushed back to him.
The nagas, the fighting, Aunora and Esper... It may have been a terrifying experience, but impressing his father had made it all worth it. But there was one major issue that nagged on him.

The most recent memory he could recall was performing the zombie spell, and then things went fuzzy after that. He could have been unconscious for hours, days, or even weeks; his spell book didn't list the exact period of unconsciousness that occurs after using the spell. The text had stated that it varied from mage to mage, and mostly depended on physical and magical strength- both of which Victor lacked in.

Victor swallowed dryly, wrapping his arms around his chest as a form of self pacification. How long have I been asleep? He thought fretfully, his breath sharply increasing in rate.

Frantic, Victor shoved himself out of bed, head swimming after such a sudden movement. Stumbling but eventually finding his footing, Victor rushed out of his and Umbra's bedroom and sprinted down the hall. The boy sped down the stairs, nearly tripping in the process, and entered into kitchen.

A small creature sat on the counter, using a spare newspaper as a makeshift bed. Victor instantly recognized the ferret-like being as his familar (and legal guardian) Umbra.

Umbra was a fae, born with the ability to seamlessly shift between a quadrupedal beast and a human form. He had trained for several years in something called a familar guild (Victor was unclear on the specifics of the process) until he was assigned Victor as a master. A brand on Umbra's back marked his bond to his son.

Umbra's head shot up, his cat-like ears twitching in shock. He stood up on his tiny paws and stubby legs, leaping off the counter and shape-shifting mid air.

A slender man who looked to be in his twenties landed gracefully on the carpet before him, worry apparent in his expression. Umbra was tall, with dark colored skin and a thin face. His hair was painstakingly styled so that it stuck out to the side, and the gratuitous amount of hair gel shined in the sun light that filtered in through the open window. He was still dressed in his sleep clothes, a long t-shirt and fleece bottoms.

"Victor!" Umbra exclaimed, grabbing his child around the waist and hugging him tight. "You're awake!" He kissed him rapidly on the top of his head and his forehead, twirling around on the tips of his toes.

Victor smiled sheepishly, going limp in Umbra's embrace. He must have missed me a whole lot, he thought, I might as well let him savor the moment.

From the connected living room, Aunora's head popped up from behind the back of the couch, Esper right beside her.

"Victor's up?" she asked.

Author's Notes- The first chapter is finally done! I hope you liked it! Please vote, comment, and tell your friends!