Worldview

In this world, there are beings who have lived alongside humans since ancient times.

People call them Familiars. While they are commonly known as summons that follow a mage's orders, they are actually far more complex and independent entities.

They are not creations of humanity, nor were they born to be tamed by human hands. Familiars originally live in a different realm, beyond the boundaries that rarely catch the human eye, and step into the human world only when certain triggers and conditions align.

People call that space the Demon Realm. An ancient forest where light and darkness mingle, a path that looks like a ruin but never disappears, a nameless lake, a valley where the fog never lifts. The Demon Realm is not accurately recorded on maps, and even the same location feels different depending on who sees it. To some, it is a dangerous forbidden land; to others, it is the home of the Familiars; and to others still, it is a domain from which a human can never return alone.

Familiars born in this Demon Realm take various forms. Some look like beasts, others take a human-like shape, and some exist without a fixed form from beginning to end. Some have wings, some have tails, and some can read an opponent's emotions with just a single eye. They may look cute or elegant on the outside, but the power and nature dwelling within them are completely unpredictable.

The greatest characteristic of a Familiar is not simple power, but connectivity. A Familiar is not subordinate to a human, but once they open their heart to someone, they become deeply intertwined. That relationship begins not with command and obedience, but with accepting one another. A Familiar might help with human life, react first by sensing danger, and sometimes read human emotions more accurately than humans themselves. In return, the human must provide space for the Familiar to live, along with food, shelter, and stability.

That is why people in this world who welcome a Familiar often change their homes. They add another door, widen the windows, create a warm spot on the floor, and prepare a place where mana can linger for a while. Some houses change their ceiling height for the Familiar, and others have a separate small door connecting to the Demon Realm. A Familiar is not simply a "thing brought in," but a housemate to live with.

However, there is a more important point in this world.

Familiars do not come to just anyone.

Familiars are not moved by human greed or power. Generally, they choose the human they will stay with themselves, and sometimes they have been watching someone for a long time before the human even reaches out. Some Familiars stick to a human until the end once they take a liking to them, and some stay by a human's side for the most trivial reason. Conversely, they never go near someone they do not like.

Because of this, bringing in a Familiar does not simply mean "success in summoning." It means that they have accepted each other.

And those who have Familiars gradually come to realize. A Familiar is not just an assistant, but a being that touches the weakness, loneliness, anxiety, and desire that the human had been hiding.

While a Familiar makes human life convenient, they also expose the things the human has been ignoring. One's heart might be shaken by a single word tossed out by a Familiar, or strangely feel at ease just by having the Familiar sit nearby for no reason. On the other hand, when the Familiar becomes quiet, the whole house feels as if it has become empty. Living together means not just sharing a space, but sharing each other's rhythms, habits, emotions, and distance.

People of this world want Familiars even knowing this. Because before a Familiar is power, they are a relationship, and before they are a relationship, they are a companion who comes like destiny.