"I require your abilities in order to seek vengeance for my teacher, who was murdered," Lawson says darkly. "My Master was a great mage, she...well, you don't need to know about that yet," Lawson cuts himself off. Murder? You really don't like the sound of that. What have you been dropped into? "A familiar can normally enhance the magic of their master, but since we are Linked, a sort of loop should be created. Theoretically, it should allow me to increase my magical abilities exponentially if necessary. However, if strengthening myself was the only goal, I would've sought a magical treasure or some easier means. The truth is," Lawson pauses and closes his eyes, then looks back up at you sharply and continues, "I need an ally who cannot betray me in order to find out who killed my Master. That is where you come in."
"How can I help? I'm just a student...well, I was. But I don't know anything about magic!" you protest.
"That will come," Lawson dismisses your concerns. "For now, we live or die together, especially if anyone discovers you are a Linked familiar. That means for now, no one must discover that you are a familiar at all, and if you are revealed, you must act completely subservient to me and obey whatever I say to throw off suspicion," Lawson tells you firmly. "Of course, both our lives depend on it." Being a glorified slave doesn't suit you, but being dead suits you even less.
"Fine," you nod reluctantly. "But what about when you have your revenge? What happens to me then?" you ask. Lawson gives you an almost surprised look, as though he hadn't thought things out that far. After pondering a moment, he looks you straight in the eye.
"I cannot guarantee we will survive... but if we do, there is no way for me to return you to your former life, I'm sorry," Lawson states as your shoulders sag. "However, if we do survive, I swear I will do whatever it takes to ensure you live a satisfactory life here, even if that means granting you ascendancy over me and becoming your servant, so long as you help me avenge my Master," Lawson states determinedly, and you cannot help but feel moved at his conviction. Something about his sincerity makes you trust him in spite of yourself.
"Alright, I'll help," you agree hesitantly. "But how do I do that? I don't know anything about this world!"
"That will come," Lawson smiles slightly, obviously relieved to have your consent. "Didn't you wonder how you could understand our language if this was a different world?"
"You CAN read my thoughts!" You exclaim. "But...how?"
"I told you, we are Linked," Lawson replied. "I have had more mental training than you, so your mind is unguarded, and it is easier for me to see into your thoughts than you into mine. However, over time, our experiences will bleed into each other, and eventually, you will likely know everything I know. Also, with a bit of training, we will be able to communicate mentally, which will be a great asset in our investigation." You and Lawson discuss things a bit further, but he avoids giving you any details yet as to his Master's death, and the only information you receive is that this world is called Ovion, and you are currently in the large nation of Grovesend. Eventually, Lawson ends the conversation and tells you to get some sleep, as there is a long way to travel yet.
However, your thoughts are still too muddled, so you stay awake a while. Now that the lamp is out, the moonlight streams past the curtains and casts a gentle light on Lawson's sleeping face, the night-vision of a fox aiding your sight. Getting your first real look at him without his normal gloomy countenance, you have to admit Lawson is a bit handsome. He's also rather younger than you first thought. His stern and depessed demeanor made you think he was older, but he's actually around your age. His angular features and short hair give him an almost elegant appearance in the silvery light, enhanced by his oddly peaceful expression. You don't like what he's done to you, but you do feel a bit of attachment to him. Waddling around uneasily on four paws, you curl up against the back of his neck and nod off.
The next morning, Lawson changes you back into a mouse and proceeds to set off on another long trek. However, when he reaches a deserted field, you hear his footsteps deviate from the road, and he extricates you from his pocket.
"We need to move faster. We don't want to be anywhere nearby if someone comes to investigate the magic disturbance from the spell I used yesterday," he says, gently putting you on the ground. However, instead of giving you a chance to reply, he points at the brand on your chest, and that wave of vertigo sweeps across you again. However, now you are much larger than before. Eyeing yourself, you realize that Lawson has changed you into a...