The lecture hall smells of chalk dust and nervous sweat. Professor Eldritch’s voice drones as he gestures to the massive chalkboard behind him. Scrawled in perfect white letters are the Familiar Binding Rules:

1. A summoned familiar must obey any direct, clear verbal command from its summoner.
2. The bond is absolute—disobedience causes escalating magical torment until compliance.
3. The familiar’s true form is revealed only to the summoner in private.
4. The contract ends only by mutual agreement or death of one party.