Something in you wants to jump up and say "Heck yes!" but you lock it back up before it makes you look like an absolute moron. Is the old woman playing some kind of joke on you? You hope she didn't catch the gleam of excitement in your eyes as you clear your throat.
"You mean, like, illusionist stuff? Smoke and mirrors? " you ask, trying not to get your hopes up. There was no way this job would turn out to be that cool, right?
"Smoke and mirrors indeed!" the old lady snorts derisively. "Who would want to bother with that nonsense?! Now see here, real magic does not rely on such mundane things! That sort of thing is for tricksters and con men!"
"But, magic isn't...I mean...real?" you stammer out, a little taken aback at the woman's vehemence. The old woman gives you a glare, and you reluctantly meet her piercing gaze. Which suddenly starts to change slightly. And then more. And a bit more. Until you are staring at an exact copy of yourself, right down to your shoes.
"Does this feel real, dearie?" the former old woman, now your doppelganger with your voice but not your manner of speech, steps forward and pinches your cheek.
"Wow..." you mumble out in spite of yourself. At that moment, you know, and you're pretty sure the old woman knows...you're hooked. Satisfied at your wide-eyed reaction, your twin pats you on the cheek she pinched and steps back, only to morph back into the old woman.
"You...you said something about being a familiar? What does that mean?" you ask in a daze. It's done. You are all-in, and you don't think you can stop yourself now. Something about this is just too tempting.
The old woman smirks and motions you into a room, which cools your ardor a bit because...it's the one filled with cages.
"I am a bit low on options lately, of course I have all the traditional ones on hand, but if we do decide on a specialty form, it will require a bit of finagling to procure one. It's been so long since I've had to contact the Living Creatures Exchange, I'm not sure the current availability of other animals," the old lady says as you are completely lost. Your blank look finally draws her attention.
"To be a familiar, you have to merge with an animal specially chosen for its affinity to magic and you," the old lady explains. "As such, a familiar can utilize aspects of that animal's form to perform tasks for their handler. By being infused with the handler's magic through a pact, the familiar gains an awareness of magic and, if talented enough and the handler approves, can eventually become an apprentice."
"Wait, what do you mean merge with an animal ? You mean, I have to become an animal? But I can't just disappear, people will wonder what happened to me!" you blurt out.
"I'm not that sloppy, dearie, we wouldn't want to have the authorities nosing around, now would we?" the old lady sneers and taps you on the nose. "Familiars can change between animal and human form, it just takes a bit of practice. Now, are you interested in any of these creatures, or will we have to find you something more bespoke?"