From the back of the classroom, Quincy could see everyone was hard at work filling in the bubbles on their test rosters. He looked at his scarce bubbles and regretted attending Halloween parties instead of studying. He read and reread the questions in his test booklet but nothing was sounding familiar. He reached a point of desperation; He needed help.

Quincy quietly opened his backpack and took out a loose sheet of paper, a pencil bag, and two petite vials along with a small shard of mirror wrapped in cloth. He pushed his test to the side and centered the loose piece of paper on his desk. On it, he drew a triangle and wrote several names around it. Within the triangle he set the mirror shard. Pencils and pens encircled the triangle. Quincy gently set down the vials next to the paper, careful not to draw anyone’s attention with the glass clinking on the hard desk. One vial contained holy oil which he used to draw a cross on his palm. The other contained rose water which he used to draw a pentagram on his other hand.

Eyes closed, mind cleared, Quincy began the evocation ceremony. He mouthed the Oath of the Magus and asked, nearly begged, Stolas—a demon full of knowledge on astronomy, stones, and herbs—to appear and aid him.

In just a minute, the head of a night raven appeared in the tiny mirror. Quincy introduced himself, though it was only as a formality. Quincy had summoned Stolas countless times, usually to help with assignments and tests.

Stolas tried to stifle a sigh. “How may I abide, Quincy?”

Quincy leaned in real close and whispered to the demon in the mirror, “King Stolas, please, I’m bombing this astronomy test. Can you help me, bro?”

The raven morphed into an owl donning a crown and squinted his black eyes. “I am a prince, but to you, just ‘Stolas,’ thank you. And I command 26 legions in Hell, so you may not refer to me as ‘bro.’ Now, Quincy, how many times are you going to conjure me to get you out of a school related bind? Aren’t you majoring in astronomy? How do you think you’ll succeed without studying?”

Quincy chewed on this before replying, “I have you, Stolas! … What three things contribute to the Milky Way’s rotation curve?”

Stolas didn’t bother to hide his sigh this time and spoke his answer with no enthusiasm for the knowledge he’d be passionate about sharing were he talking to anyone else.

Quincy went on to read more questions and Stolas answered each and every one of them in the same monotone voice. Once Quincy was finished, he began the dismissal.

“Wait!” Stolas demanded. “One thing…”

Quincy leaned in closer.

“Do not ask for me ever again. My knowledge is for those that truly wonder, not for frat boys that would rather party than study. Need I remind you I have 26 legions under my control,” the mirror started to darken as if storm clouds were brewing, “and if you disturb me one more time,” Stolas’ voice deepened, “I will send no fewer than ten damned souls to haunt you until your time comes to join me in Hell! Now let me get back to Hell. Please.”

With a hurt look in his eyes and a soft, “Bro…” he dismissed the owl and replaced all the conjuring material in his backpack. He turned in his test and sat back down, deep in thought.

When was the next Halloween party?