(OOC: This post is going to basically reboot Cody and establish him as someone else's familiar. Cy's character is being "deleted" for the time being, however I will leave the disappearance open in case Cy returns. If this totally ruins the story, my bad and ignore the post. Or I will delete it. I will be using the Headmaster for a brief dialogue. Just assume that he was free at time. Filler if you will. I also took a few liberties with the whole familiar/master relationship if thats alright.)
Cody stood in the hallway of Tristan Academy, dumfounded and confused. Normally his mind was quick to accept things as he was always able to adapt easily to fate's plans for him. But this….this was different. Cody slammed the door to Primeria's room and shook his head, scratching his hair rather violently as a means to relieve stress and clear his mind. He had to make sense of what happened. Cody has to presume magic was involved; it was a safe guess at least. Perhaps she teleported to demonstrate some skill? Or maybe she lost control? Death was another possibility, but Cody did not want to be grim. The only truth that was evident was that sitting around would not get Cody anywhere. Digging his hands into his pockets, Cody began to wander the halls with no destination in mind.
He had no idea what to do at this point. Should he look for his "master"? Should he just leave the school and work somewhere? Should he search for a way back home? Hmm, scratch that last one. Cody was clearly deep in thought at one point or another, finding himself nearly colliding with several walls and students while also losing himself in the corridors of the academy. In times of Cody actually be conscious and aware of his surroundings, he found on several occasions students jeering at his orange jumpsuit. He had nearly forgotten he was still wearing the damn outfit. It was at this point, he sighed and refocused his attention on navigation, deciding to intimidate passing students that gave him dirty looks. Revenge is a sweet dish and he couldn't think of a better way to inciting some fear.
It was at the point that Cody had a minor epiphany. Minor is the best word as it was far from that the type of self realization that changes the way one lives his/her respective life. It was minor in that he reached a new goal: Get the hell out of the school. It was readily apparent that without a "master" fitting in would prove difficult. In time, he will adjust to this world's culture but based on how his conversation with the headmaster he had a ways to go. Cody swiveled through the crowds of the students in various areas, trying to remember the layout from earlier. It seemed he was in a different wing however, his mindless wandering bringing him to a completely foreign dimension. Cody firmly believed that he walked in circle at least once, possibly twice seeing very similar features in a moment that could be called deju vu.
The only feature that was different was the second time around was that there was a fairly sizable group of students lead by what Cody assumed was a teacher. Cody believed he could squeeze by the teacher unnoticed. However, you try performing that feet wearing a bold orange jumpsuit in a world where every individual sports a fine silk robes and funny wizard hats. Cody looked down as to avoid making eye contact, hoping if the whole "If I can't see them, they can't see me" phenomenon would kick in.
It didn't.
"Excuse me? You must be a familiar. Where is your master?" The teacher perked up, staring with her crooked nose bearing down on Cody.
"Um…huh…" Cody stuttered, unable to craft a good enough lie, hoping his other plan was going to work.
"Well?" The teacher appeared to be demand, motioning the others to move along.
"Well…" Cody mimicked. "You ask an interesting question. I have no idea where my master is right now."
The teacher's face twitched and eyes flickered. Confusion was apparent. In fact, her face was practically a copy of Cody's face from earlier. "What do you mean?" She asked slowly, struggling to find the words.
"I mean what I said, teach. My master isn't here."
"Did she leave?"
"Mmm. Possibly. She kinda vanished. Like poof!" Cody said with a cheeky sound effect for added flavor. Cody's expression was flat and dry, as if he was actually trying to be truthful.
"I see. You must see the headmaster. Go immediately," she said. "Come we will go now."
"Whoa, whoa. Slow your roll. I was just going to leave. I have no intention of staying here," Cody pleaded, but the teacher would here none of it. She, for lack of a better word, dragged Cody by the ear towards the headmaster's office. Resistance was futile as Cody learned earlier due to the fact she could probably throw a fireball at him if he did fact decide to attempt to flee. Dying was not in Cody's plan for the day.
The features of the corridors gradually became more familiar. He recognized some of the opulent decorations and the layout of the hallways bore some resemblance to what he had seen earlier. It was apparent that the teacher had every intention for bring Cody to the headmaster. What was that going to do? Prove what Cody already knew? Make him stay somehow, perhaps as a slave? Cody rather die than be a slave. At least with Primeria, Cody was clearly an alpha male and in control.
"Here. Up the stairs and through the door. Speak with him. Tell him what you told me."
"Like I have a choice," Cody muttered bitterly. Cody shuffled slowly up the stairs, head down, hands in the pockets, and posture broken. His body language revealed Cody's spite towards his current situation. He did not want to see the headmaster and he doubted the headmaster wanted the same. But, there was light at the end of the tunnel. If anyone had any clue had to what happened, it was the headmaster.
Cody stood before the door and unlike earlier he decided against barging in. He wanted this conversation to get to the point.
Knock. Knock.
"Yes? Who is it?" Professor Awenston asked. He looked around with curiosity, before his face became suddenly scarred and horrified as if he witnessed the summoning of a horrible demon.
"Yo." Cody said with a wave. Awenston did not hesitate and attempted to slam the door in Cody's face only to discover Cody had predicited such a move and used his left arm to keep the door ajar. "Hold on and get the wand out of your ass and give me a chance."
"Why would I give you such an honor you insidious troll?"
"I don't think you want a sarcastic guy like me to answer that," Cody mumbled under his breath. "Look, it's important."
"Try me."
Cody took a breath before finding the words: "My master…vanished. As if someone wrote her out of the story." The headmaster's expression revealed his opinion in its entirety, primarily one of curiosity.
"Give me your hand. The one with the markings," The headmaster ordered. Cody grew curious, as he did not demand the details of the vanishing. It filled Cody with some confidence, as the Awenston may have had insight the teacher did not. Cody offered his hand and Awenston grasped it gently and examined it with the occasional "Hmm" suggesting internal thought.
"Well? What's up?" Cody asked impatiently.
"Tell me, can you sense your master at all?"
"Sense?" Cody asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Can you feel her presence nearby in your mind? Familiars and their masters share a bond and it can be often felt in the mind. Think of it as feeling an aura. Certain connections even allow familiars to sense when your master is in danger. If anything, you should at least feel that," the headmaster replied continuing to examine Cody's hand.
Cody closed his eyes and contemplated Awenston's lesson to no avail. He concentrated hard and truly attempted to feel Primeria. In the end, he shrugged his shoulders and let out a loud audible sigh, "I got nothing."
"Most interesting," Awenston hummed again. "I have many plausible theories as to what is happening. Either way, your master is no longer with us."
"Obviously," Cody interrupted. "Could you be any more vague?"
"I could. As to what exactly happened, I cannot say without making uneducated guess. If I have time, I will look into further. As for you, it seems you are released from your contract."
"Awesome!"
"At least with Ms. Sage."
"Eh?!" Cody exclaimed. As Cody yelled in shock, realizing the potential freedom he had acquired had vanished as fast as his master, the Headmaster appeared to have some sort of spell. Cody's head began to throb and his hand felt strange. He was taken back and felt dizzy, similar to when he was summoned hours ago. "What the hell did you to me?!"
"I simulated a summoning you could say. A new magical power has awoke in these walls. I think you will find you are capable with this young girl. Good luck!" The headmaster said with a troll like smile as he closed his door.
"What the hell does that mean? Hey! What am I supposed to do?" Cody demanded.
"I think you will find instinct will be all you need," Awenston called from beyond the door.
Cody could only pout in response muttering to himself about how much of a help Awenston wasn't. With that abrupt and rather cryptic salutation, Cody walked down the steps in similar fashion as to how he ascended them. The teacher was gone this time around likely going back to attending her duties. At least she was responsible unlike the crackpot old man Awenston who was the "headmaster." Cody was willing to beat if she had his knowledge, she would actually tell Cody what happened to Primeria and much more. Grunting and kicking a small object on the ground with frustration, Cody walked the halls of the school attempting to find himself an exit. It was probably easier to just ignore the headmaster completely and find a way out of this dump. Of course, he didn't know his way on around the school but he took an uneducated guess and let his gut take it from there. Cody's sense of direction was quite good, so nature may be on his side for once. Allowing his mind to wander, Cody simply took the path most appealing to him at the time and navigated the hallways and corridors without hesitation. Turn after turn was taken unconsciously with Cody not giving movement much thought. He was too distracted, confused and hungry to care.
And then there was a door. It clearly was not an exit, as there were doors like it all around him. It resembled Primeria's door so one could assume behind was some sort of living quarters. He had no idea what he brought himself here, but something told him to open the door. Cody slowly opened the door, as apparently the door was unlocked. Peering inside, Cody had some difficulty in making out the figures in the relative darkness. However, eventually as his eyes adjusted Cody was able to find two figures sleeping. One was a boy about his age, by about a year or two. The other was a girl. They were cuddling or something. Cute.
Cody's head became fuzzy, cloudy and deluded. For some reason, the next actions were a blur. With fervent desire, Cody chucked the boy off the bed and halfway across the room, picked up the girl and in a pose only seen in sappy romantic films, kissed the girl as if finishing a dance. In that moment, Cody's hand burnt again. Gritting his teeth, he placed the girl back on the head and a overwhelming sense of deju vu consumed him. His hand roared with pain and his head screamed with a thunderous headache. He glanced at his hand and saw new different runes than before.
"Not again…"