Familiar: A magical beast of one type or another which forms a magical bond with a mage who possesses a similar magical trait. Thus entering into a master-servant contract. Due to their abilities as a familiar, they possess all of the intelligence and knowledge of a human alongside the instincts and nature of a beast.

Sourced From: My First Familiar Assigned text for third-year mages

For young mages, obtaining their first familiar is a momentous occasion. Their magic forms a symbiotic relationship with their bonded mage, amplifying their's strengths and covering for their weaknesses. Often the strength of one's familiar is a key factor in how far a mage will go in their career. They are considered a necessity in the Empire of Afaron and the surrounding nations.

Once familiars were caught in the wild and brought back for training and bonding. Eventually, however, the wild magic beasts were hunted to the point that they could no longer be found. Those that had been bred domestically would often produce magicless offspring. Nowadays the mages of Afaron know nothing of how familiars are bred, raised, and tamed. Once every three years, the Order of Beast Tamers come down from their mountain strongholds with caravans loaded with familiars purchased by noble families and magic academies.

The Beast Tamer's generosity hides a dark truth. If you can't find a magic beast, make one.

(Warning: Mild Nudity)