A/N: Neither Familiar of Zero nor Tales of the Abyss are mine.

I decided to write this in dedication to one of the most fascinating but under appreciated God Generals of Tales of the Abyss. All of the God Generals had good depth that I felt was unexplored. Not that I blame the game makers, as the story was mostly meant to be about Luke's journey and he might honestly be the most realistic fictional character to display human characteristics.

This story will not follow the typical events of Familiar of Zero. It will be similar at first and then deviate from canon. Don't expect a rehash of the events with "x-character" filling in for the protagonist of the series. The plot will be entirely different.

This story will have spoilers for Tales of the Abyss, Familiar of Zero, and possibly other Tales of Series games too. You have been warned.

I've always felt like my existence was meaningless, He thought as his disembodied spirit floated throughout the Planet's memory of Auldrant, Deep down, I just knew that no matter what I did . . . what I accomplished . . . my life was meaningless. On a deep level, I was flawed, never good enough, always the problem to be thrown around, and never satisfying anyone's expectations. Always a disappointment to everyone who met me.

So why didn't I kill myself, even back then? I still don't understand it. I don't understand myself. How can I have this gnawing desire for release - for liberation - from pain and suffering . . . but not do the deed? I don't understand. I try, and I try, and I try . . . reading, memorizing, making habits, and it all failed. I could never let go of this intrinsic self-revulsion and this deep sense of shame for being who I was.

But it doesn't matter . . . I don't matter . . . nothing I ever did mattered. So, why feel so much pain?

The dead don't matter. When you die, all your emotions, your life's hopes, your desires, your shameful moments, and everything about you ceases to be part of the world. You don't matter. You don't need ceremonies, eulogies, remorseful well wishes, beliefs of going to an eternal paradise, and so forth . . . because you have died. The dead need nothing. They suffer no more, they are happy no more, and soon enough they'll be forgotten because so many countless people are so meaningless due to the vast amount of people who perish every day.

So, why do I feel so much anger, regret, and hate despite my deep sense of shame that continues to control everything that I did? What the hell is the matter with me? Why can't I die in peace?

Why does it matter?

"My Servant that exists somewhere in this world!"

What?

"My divine, beautiful, powerful familiar . . . I wish and assert from the bottom of my heart . . ."

Who is saying that? What am I hearing? Just shut up, and let me be . . .

"Answer my guidance . . . answer my wish . . . answer me from the depths of the Abyss! I summon thee, the one who is most suited to be my familiar."

Louise blushed as yet another resounding explosion enveloped the area due to her magic. Oh Brimer, I sounded so desperate at the end of that speech . . . Please, let something, anything at all, have come forth. I can't stand the idea of being expelled. I've worked so hard . . . please, please, please! Something be there!

The smoke and dust slowly cleared. Some people in the class were already shouting "Louise the Zero!" before the dust settled. Others were laughing.

The entire crowd went silent after the dust settled and a young man with spiky green hair, a white vest coat on top of a black military uniform, black combat pants, and black boots was kneeling on the ground with one arm. The figure slowly rose himself to full height and stood with a scowl as he looked around the area.

"What in the hell is going on?!" shouted Sync, he froze and looked over himself. "I'm . . . alive?! But how? The Replica and his friends killed me and went on to fight Van. By all rights, I should be dead . . ."

He looked to see a pink-haired girl and a group of youths. Sync scowled at them. "What is going on?!"

Louise and the crowd only heard a high pitched chirping noise when he spoke.

The group started speaking amongst themselves. They didn't seem to hear him as the pink haired girl was arguing with the oldest gentleman in the group. Some people in the crowd began jeering and laughing at him. Alright, that's enough of this crap!

Sync folded his hands together and began unleashing his fonic energy similar to the last time he fought the Replica and his group on the Replica Hod. The group of youths, the elder gentleman, and the pink haired girl froze and began shouting amongst themselves. Some students seemed to be trying to cast with their sticks. Sync took a deep breath and took a more critical look towards his surroundings. As best as I can tell, these youths are students, those sticks are . . . wands? What the hell? I feel like I'm in some fairy tale.

Sync held the pressure as some of the students began shouting and pointing at him. He looked up and did a double-take as he saw two moons. This is defying the fundamentals of logic . . . I'm not in Auldrant? Then again, the very fact I'm alive is in and of itself staggering.

He gazed toward the class and looked down in time to see the pink haired girl pointing her wand at him. A sudden explosion occurred right in front of his face but Sync only bent his knees and kept putting on the pressure. I can handle more than this. The necromancer's Mystic Cage and the Replica's Radiant Howl couldn't keep me down for long, this is nothing compared to that!

"Please stop!" shouted the pink haired girl. Her eyes wide and her body shaking.

Sync relented and stopped releasing his energy. He unclasped his hands and crossed his arms. He gazed at the entire class and their pets.

"Who are you, where am I, what am I doing here, and how did I get here?" said Sync, glaring at the pink haired girl. The girl frowned. She and many of her classmates were shaking in what Sync presumed to be fear. "I want a satisfactory explanation. If I don't get it, I'll detain one of you, kill anyone who fights back, and get my explanation through torture, if necessary."

The pink haired girl and the older gentleman gaped at him. Many of the crowd were turning various shades of blue and green, some gaped at him, and others gazed at him with widened eyes while their knees shook. One of them had already pissed themselves.

"Well?!" snapped Sync. Many of the students flinched. Sync smirked. Fucking rabble; all the same wherever I go. Act like they're tough but in the end, they're pathetic cowards.

"P - please sir, calm down!" said the elderly bespectacled gentleman. "I am Professor Colbert, you are in the Tristan school of magic in the continent of Helkeginia. Might I ask your name?"

"No, I don't recognize that continent or the location of this Tristan school on any map that I've studied," said Sync, observing the class before settling his glare at the teacher. "Exactly how did I get here and why are there two moons?"

"Ah, well, you were summoned here as part of a magical ritual that students undergo to become full-fledged mages." said Colbert, his fingers shook as he re-adjusted his glasses. "It is possible that . . . you were summoned from another world entirely different from ours."

The crowd gasped. Some began to murmur amongst themselves. Sync was only able to catch a few words. Louise the Zero? What are they talking about?

Sync let his arms fall to the side as he glanced at the nervous looking pink haired girl. The pink haired girl was shaking but her eyes didn't waver from his like the other students.

"This girl beside me is the one who summoned you as her Familiar. A familiar is meant to be a . . . life servant of sorts. Although, typically, people summon various kinds of animals and familiars are a type of pet that mages take care of." asked Colbert, Sync's scowl deepened and his fingers balled into fists. "Now, if we may have your name and perhaps some knowledge of your background?"

"Sync the Tempest, formerly one of the Six God Generals for the Order of Lorelei located in Daath. Although, I suppose that information is meaningless now. My work essentially consisted of intelligence gathering, subterfuge particularly psychological subterfuge, and assassination." said Sync, the crowd of students gasped. Some turned green, others stared at him with their mouths hung agape, and a few girls gave him lecherous gazes. The pink haired girl remained silent. The teacher's cheeks had turned a shade blue. "However, that's beside the point. How am I still alive? I can assure you that I was killed in action. I was one hundred percent dead. So, how am I here?"

"Z-zombie!" shouted one of the students, stupidly pointing a finger at Sync. "Louise the Zero summoned a zombie!"

A handful of the students proceeded to run back to the Castle in a panic. The professor put a palm to his forehead as he observed his more rambunctious students. Sync snorted as he watched them run away. The professor sighed before turning his attention back to Sync and Sync straightened his posture. The pink haired girl stood scowling and shaking at the fleeing students while the rest of the class jeered.

"If what you say is true, then the best I can surmise is that the magic of this world and your world's equivalent of magic caused your miraculous return to life. There are five different magical elements in our world; earth, fire, water, wind, and the Void." said Colbert, "It is possible that another element in your world or a special quirk of your world's magical properties allowed you a new life when transported here."

Could I be a Replica with the memories of Sync? thought Sync, No, that doesn't make sense. Every single one of the other Ion replicas and Asch's Replica had independent knowledge of their own. It can't be an original waking up in the Replica body either, because I'm a Replica myself with my body made of the seventh fonon. The original would be the real Fon Master Ion and that would only occur when he had a perfect copy. I'm an imperfect copy.

Sync carefully examined his clothes and performed some light stretches. This definitely feels like my body. I took far more intense training and it definitely feels the same. But would I really know the difference? I can't be entirely sure but perhaps it no longer matters, if I'm in a new world?

"The "magic" you speak of . . . in my world, they're referred to as fonons and there are seven different properties. Fire, water, wind, earth, light, darkness, and last one is - for lack of a better definition - sound or perhaps resonance would be a better term. Resonance is the most volatile and can create intense explosions capable of destroying entire cities when utilized improperly. Although, I don't use it much beyond controlled sealing artes that create narrowed and more specified areas to damage under the controlled sealing style." said Sync, Colbert's eyes widened. "At any rate, you mentioned that I'll be spending my life here from now on until the one who summoned me dies?"

"Ah yes, we should actually move along with the day's activities." said Colbert, clearing his throat and then turning to the pink haired girl. "Louise, if you could please complete the ritual? Your familiar seems to be quite unique and I would love to chat at length but we need to speed up things along so that we're done before the class ends."

"I, Louise Franscoise Le Blanc de La Valliere hereby invoke the familiar contract," said the pink haired girl, holding up her wand. She began walking towards Sync.

Sync could tell from her slow movements that she was nervous. She walked towards him while pointedly looking down at the grass. Once she was close enough, she raised her head and gazed at him directly in the eyes. Sync narrowed his eyes and straightened his posture.

Sync froze as he felt her sloppy, moist lips touch his. Sync immediately backed away to break the contact and scowled at her. "What the - What?!"

Sync grit his teeth as some encryption burned itself on his hand. He scowled at Louise.

"Just what did you do to me?!" snapped Sync.

Louise flinched and put her hands up. "I . . . I had to complete the ritual! The mark means that you're my familiar!"

Colbert's eyes widened as he glanced at the mark. Sync suddenly began to see spots and his everything had turned into a pair of threes moving in a circular motion.

"Damn it!" shouted Sync before falling to the ground unconscious.

Sync groaned as he got up to a sitting position. He surveyed his surroundings. A bedroom?

"Good, you're finally awake," said Louise, her hands were on her hips and she scowled down at him. "Now, let's get a few things straight. I summoned you, so that means you're my familiar. You better not give me any backtalk like earlier or else."

Sync quickly got to his feet and snorted. Louise narrowed her eyes. "Or else what?"

Louise turned around and opened her dresser. She took out an odd, thin stick and then turned back to Sync.

"Or else this!" snarled Louise, she hit Sync with the strange object.

Sync scowled at the light snip of pain. He grabbed the object from her and pulled it out of her hands.

"Hey!" said Louise, she began to growl. "Give it back!"

Sync put both his hands on the sides of the object and snapped it in two. Louise gaped at him. Sync threw the pieces on the floor.

"W - well . . . um . . . you still have to do my laundry!"

Sync turned his gaze to the floor and sighed.

Sync sipped his tea in the cafeteria and observed the students. I can't believe that moron ordered me to wash her clothes. Psh, well, I finished it quickly. I've been doing menial tasks for myself for years so she can't complain.

"Thanks Siesta," said Sync, standing up upon seeing the maid that he had met last night. She had pointed to where the laundry rooms were. Siesta was walking over to him holding several trays, dishes, and tea cups. "but I can go to the back room and get this cleaned myself."

"What?" said Siesta, gasping in surprise. "Oh, no, no! It's quite alright! As a commoner, it's my duty to have it cleaned. You're a familiar, it would be unbecoming if a noble's familiar were to -"

Sync waved her off. "I've done tasks for myself all of my life. Besides, it really is no big deal, all I'm doing is walking to a room to clean the cup after drinking it. Thanks for serving it by the way."

"Oh but . . ." Siesta stopped and blushed as Sync carefully bowed to her before walking to the back room. "I - it's improper! As a familiar, you shouldn't lower yourself to . . ."

"It's not lowering myself to clean up after myself," said Sync waving a hand, he walked to the back room and entered.

Siesta flushed and quickly returned to her assignment of taking the tea cups and trays from the nobles.

Sync arrived inside the kitchen and went to the faucet to begin washing the tea cup.

I wonder, what is the point of me being here? thought Sync, I'm not some pet. I can't think of any real reason for me to be here. My life already ended. My existence never really meant anything in Auldrant. Louise is a student learning magic and despite whatever issues she has, I don't really see her as wanting my assistance beyond menial tasks that she can do herself. Precisely what am I doing here? I have nothing to do. Why was I brought back? I go from having a meaningless existence in one world to a meaningless existence in another world. How pathetic . . .

Sync finished washing the cup and exited the kitchens. He sighed as he walked towards the exit. Maybe I'll just try exercising to keep my mind off of these matters for now.

He glanced at the students to see Guiche Chevalier de Gramont receiving the ire of Katie and Montmorency as they each took a turn slapping him for his two timing before they both stormed off in different directions. Sync burst out laughing with the rest of the crowd.

The blushing Guiche glared at the laughing crowd of onlookers. Finally, he set his gaze upon Sync. Sync smirked as he approached and folded his arms.

"You've got some nerve, commoner. To laugh at a noble such as myself," snarled Guiche, he proceeded to grin. "Perhaps a lesson is in order to remind you of your place? How about a duel outside after classes? We will see if you're laughing then!"

"No, I have no reason to, and it isn't my fault you were humiliated." said Sync, he chuckled. Guiche's arms shook and his scowl deepened. "If you want to throw a hissy fit, go throw your tantrum at someone else. It isn't my problem."

"Aha! So you're a coward then," said Guiche, sneering at Sync. "You talked a big game during the summoning but it looks like that's all it was. Too afraid to face me because you know that you'll lose, is that it?"

Sync shrugged. "You can say whatever you want. I have no interest in encouraging your pathetic temper tantrum and I highly doubt that you could survive a fight against me."

Guiche pulled out his wand and pointed his shaking arm at Sync. "Take that back! No commoner talks to Guiche Chevalier de Gramont in such a disrespectful manner! You best learn your place quickly, commoner or you shall suffer more than just punishment from me with that attitude."

"No, it's the truth," snapped Sync, scowling back at Guiche. "If you want to throw a hissy fit, then do it to someone else. I have neither time or the inclination to indulge your stupidity and arrogance."

Sync walked towards the exit. Guiche attempted to run in front of him and point his wand but Sync moved past him. Guiche growled at him until his gaze and hand drifted for another target.

"You then!" snarled Guiche, "Servant girl! Come here and accept your punishment like an appropriate commoner!"

Sync froze and turned to see Siesta nervously balancing the large tray with the finished cafeteria cups, trays, and plates while walking over to Guiche. He cannot be serious. Is he really going to attack Siesta because he embarrassed himself with his two-timing?

"P - please my Lord, I . . . I need time to appropriately discard the stack I'm carrying," said Siesta, her body shaking.

"HURRY UP!" snarled Guiche.

Siesta flinched but carefully kept her grip on the large metal tray as she walked to the kitchens and shut the door. She came back out quickly and walked to stand in front of her Guiche with her head bowed. Guiche raised his wand.

"Now, commoner, I shall remind everyone here of your place beneath us born with nobility," said Guiche, "To have that difference mocked is a vile offense, I shall bestow punishment to remind all commoners of their place!"

Guiche summoned a whip. Siesta flinched and then shivered as Guiche raised the whip. Sync closed his fingers into fists and his arms shook. This has nothing to do with me, this has nothing to do with me, I shouldn't interfere. I should just head out and begin exercising like I intended to. Inequality exists everywhere; both in this world and in Auldrant. It doesn't matter, it shouldn't be upsetting me. I shouldn't care.

Guiche hurled the tail end of the whip at Siesta. Sync froze and frowned as he saw the whip move closer to harming Siesta's defenseless body. Why do I always feel anger, hate, and humiliation when terrible events happen to me or people that I tell myself that I shouldn't care about? Why did I help Asch at Coral Castle? Why do I feel so indignant when I know that it doesn't matter what I do? Why do these emotions keep influencing me to interfere in what is none of my business? I never needed anyone to get where I was since the day I was born, so why do I feel pity for Siesta? Why can't I just leave it alone? Why . . . do I feel so much pain for strangers that have nothing to do with me? Why do I feel shame whether I choose to act or choose not to act? Maybe . . . it's just proof that I'm always going to be defective.

Sync ran between Siesta and the whip. He took the blow for her and hissed in pain as the whip hit his chest. Guiche, Siesta, and the crowd of students stared with wide eyes.

"H - how did you -?" stuttered Guiche gaping at him. Guiche proceeded to straighten his posture, shut his mouth, and scowl at Sync. "Well, it looks like you decided to accept judgment like a good commoner, after all!"

Guiche brought down the whip once again and hit Sync. Half the crowd of students began howling with laughter or cheer Guiche. He whipped Sync on his cheek, he whipped Sync's chest, he whipped Sync's feet, and his legs. The other half of the crowd were either frowning, looking away, leaving, or turning the shade of blue or green from watching the whipping. Guiche began to laugh with the crowd as Sync stood with a scowl. Sync attempted to remain pensive but hissed when the whip's attack hit a sensitive area that had become sore from the previous strikes. Fucking brilliant, I get myself into a mess. Why did I decide to do this? Why did I decide to protect her? It shouldn't matter to me. I shouldn't concern myself at all. Why do I feel so indignant? Why do I constantly feel this shame? I don't help her and I feel ashamed of myself; I help her and I still feel ashamed of myself. I hate myself, I hate my stupid choices, I hate my ambivalence to virtually everything, I hate the stupid planet I'm from, I hate this moron in front of me, I hate Siesta for getting into this predicament, I hate myself for hating Siesta because it's not her fault, I hate this stupid noble and commoner bullshit, and I hate myself for feeling shame when I do something and when I don't do something. Damn it, I hate the universe itself! Why was I born? Why do I struggle to survive? Why do I train and fight? Why do I exist? . . . Why do I choose to do anything?

"So much for being some hot shit assassin, you stupid commoner!" said Guiche as he laughed. Guiche tightened his grip on the whip and continued whipping Sync with renewed vigor. Sync grit his teeth and hissed but didn't respond. "Just look at you! All that talk meant nothing and you finally learn your place in our society! You stupid commoner filth! This is what you deserve for mocking me and humiliating me!"

Sync hissed as Guiche kept whipping him. Some of the bruises began to become small cuts on his body. Sync remained standing and scowling at Guiche. Guiche's scowl deepened and he began hurling the whip even faster.

"Well, aren't you going to beg for mercy?! Or scream and cry?!" shouted Guiche as he continued whipping Sync. "Come on! Beg me for forgiveness for your shameful behavior! Come on! Get on your knees and beg for mercy like a good commoner!"

Sync remained unperturbed. The remaining crowd that hadn't already left or turned away to ignore what was transpiring kept egging Guiche on to keep whipping Sync. Guiche looked around at the approving faces, he sighed in relief, and kept whipping Sync. Sync grunted but staunchly refused to move or to respond to Guiche's taunts. The laughter grew ever louder as some of the students decided to make their own snarky remarks.

"Look at him! I bet Louise the Zero's familiar is just a fraud! So much for all those boasts during the summoning! He isn't able to do anything to Guiche at all!"

"I kinda pity him, but that's what he gets for insulting a noble. We need to make sure commoners are reminded of their place or they'll get uppity like this one."

"He seemed really hot before, but now he's really boring. He isn't doing anything! I guess you can't judge a book by its cover."

"I bet that shaking after the summoning was just the after-effects of Louise the Zero's summoning. Yeah, actually, come to think of it, that makes way more sense than this commoner being the cause of the shaking. He really had us fooled, I'll give him that. Maybe his profession really has something to do with fraud. The guy clearly can't fight."

"Damn, and my opinion of Louise the Zero was really beginning to change. Guess it was all talk, after all. Too bad."

"Any bets on when he begins to cry and beg for forgiveness?"

Sync stood impassively despite the snips of pain slowly worsening, the bruises turning into cuts, and the cuts deepening into gashes. Only a few muted noises of hisses, grunts, and gasps of pain escaped his lips. Guiche's visage reddened and his eyes seemed to burn with an unrestrained ire. I suppose the fact that I haven't done what he's told me has humiliated him somehow. I thought I was pathetic, but wow. The students at this place are truly vile and stupid, if they really feel entertained watching someone below them in a social hierarchy get tortured.

"Stop it!" shouted a strong feminine voice from the crowd. A red haired woman with dark skin came stomping towards them and scowled at Guiche. "Gramont, that's enough! You've been whipping him for over ten minutes! Don't you think that he's learned his lesson?"

"He has yet to apologize," said Guiche scowling at the newcomer. "Besides, this is none of your business, Kirche Augusta Frederica von Anhalt-Zerbst. This commoner besmirched me and mocked me in front of the other noble students in the cafeteria. His insubordination must be dealt with by my hand!"

Kirche placed her hands on her hips and scowled at Guiche. "Well, I think you've made your point. He's bleeding for Brimer's sake! What else did you plan on doing to him? There's nothing else. Just leave him be, let the maids and Valliere clean him up. Just stop whipping him already! It's obscene!"

Gramont growled and turned his gaze back to Sync. He pointed at Sync. "Listen here, commoner. I'm not done punishing you. You will meet me after class outside so that we may duel and I'll show you the real difference between our social ranks!"

"Fighting on the grounds is strictly forbidden!" snarled Kirche, her visage reddening and her eyes narrowing.

Gramont waved his hand at her. "They're forbidden between two people but not between a mage and familiar. It will be the considered the same as disciplining a pet. I shall demonstrate why a commoner can never hope to beat a mage and remind everyone of their place. Clearly, Valliere has failed in her duties of disciplining her pet and I have taken it upon myself to do it for her."

"Remember commoner," said Guiche, meeting Sync in the eyes and smirking at him. "After class, outside at the Vestry field. Do not forget or I'll give you a far worse punishment, understood?"

Sync scowled and folded his arms but nodded. Guiche nodded back with a smirk, he banished the whip back into non-existence, and walked off. Kirche frowned at Sync before shaking her head and walking off too. Sync breathed in and out to relax his body before turning to see a tear stained Siesta looking down at the floor.

"I'm sorry!" shrieked Siesta, "I . . . I just froze! I was so afraid but I didn't move and you had to take all the lashes. I'm so, so sorry, Sync! This is all my fault."

Sync scowled. Siesta flinched. "How is it your fault? That idiot is the one who tried to hurt you because of his own stupid problems."

"But . . . if, if I hadn't frozen up and just stood there then you wouldn't be bleeding!" said Siesta, gazing up at him with her eyes reddened from crying. "You didn't need to . . . the whipping was meant for me. I just stood and watched and I couldn't muster up the courage to do anything!"

"Look, seriously, it's perfectly alright," said Sync, moving his arms to his sides. "I guess I just couldn't bring myself to watch someone get tortured in front of me for no good reason. You have nothing to apologize for. It was my decision."

Siesta ran towards Sync and embraced him in a hug. She cried into his chest. Sync froze. Oh shit! What the hell do I do? I've never had a crying woman hug me before . . .

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry . . ." said Siesta, repeating her apology. Her face buried on the crook of his neck.

Sync flushed and stood motionless as the nobles around him either laughed or left the cafeteria. Sync tried patting Siesta on her head. Maybe now she'll let go? Aw, damn it . . .

Siesta pressed her body more tightly on his chest and put her head to the side to cry. Sync looked around to see that most of the students had left. Some of the other maids and the cafeteria crew were coming to pick up the remaining plates. Some glanced their way and gaped or did double-takes. Sync sighed and proceeded to hug Siesta back.

Sync gazed around the room again to see that most of the other servants were ignoring them. They all quickly cleaned the cafeteria and ignored the pair. Damn it, at this rate, people will think that we're a couple. But . . . this feels really nice.

They stood in the cafeteria, hugging each other in silence, and only receiving occasional glances from the servants. When the servants were finally done, the kitchen staff and the maids walked over to Sync and Siesta. Siesta finally let go, wiping away the last stray tears, before turning to the crowd. Sync saw the rest of the staff bow heavily to him. Sync frowned. I'm guessing this is some type of expression of thank you? The only time I've ever seen this behavior is training regimes back in Auldrant.

"I speak for the entire staff of the school, and I'm sure for the rest of the commoners, when I say thank you, Lord Sync," said the head chef. Sync raised an eyebrow. Lord Sync? "Thank you so much for protecting Siesta. We're so grateful to you for preventing the noble from exacting his vengeance upon our beloved Siesta. She's a sweet girl and nobody deserves to be treated like that but I'm ashamed to admit that we've all been taught to look the other way when nobles wish to discipline us."

Many of the maids nodded. Some of the maids and kitchen staff walked over. Each of them took turns to hug Siesta. Sync sighed and crossed his arms.

"Would you mind telling me what exactly this noble and commoner business is all about?" said Sync frowning, "I was summoned from an entirely different world so I don't really understand this social or cultural custom."

"Ah, well, you see, dear boy," replied the head chef, "in our world, a noble is someone who has magic. They're granted all the privileges that befits their status for being born special. Children born into noble families who don't have magic usually have to be married off to prevent shame and dishonor on the family name. Meanwhile, we, the commoners, are the servant class. We live solely for the beck and call of the nobles. We don't really have rights beyond what we're instructed as our lifelong duties that the nobles bestow upon us from a young age."

So, people who follow a life similar to the Score - a life guided by orders given to them at birth, and people . . . who don't live for the sake of being guided at birth? That can't be right. That would mean the Replica's group was right all along. Oh, wait, the family honor nonsense. That must be something like the Score that the nobles follow. thought Sync, That seems to be the purpose of their existence according to the explanation. At any rate, I'll still fight that little shit to pay him back for what he did. The diplomatic route already failed and he keeps pestering me to fight so it'll be his own fault when I kill him.

"You should all know," said Sync, "I can do magic. However, because of my professional background, if I had used it then I could have potentially hurt more than just that brat and there was the possibility of bringing the entire room down or at least doing permanent damage. I thought you all should know so that I didn't pretend to be something that I'm not. Under the terms of what you've told me, I would probably count as a noble, if not for the fact I'm a familiar."

Many eyes widened. Some people bowed their heads while others looked away. Siesta bowed deeply and began sputtering apologies. Sync raised his hand.

"Siesta, please stop," said Sync, Siesta raised herself and frowned. The others stood silent. "I don't recognize these social differences and I come from a world that would find such a concept ridiculous. I know magic can help people accomplish far more, but I don't consider you inferior to me or unequal."

The group of servants gazed at him. Some gaped at him and others smiled while shedding tears. Sync walked over to Siesta. "Are you . . . er . . . okay now?"

This being nice crap is so weird . . .

Siesta smiled back at him and nodded. She took one of his hand's to hers. Sync stiffened. Siesta whispered. "Um . . . Sync, I remember you mentioned that Lady Valliere made you sleep on hey beside her bed. Well . . . if you like, I . . . I could offer you a place to sleep . . . I know of a room."

"Sure," said Sync smiling. It feels so strange to smile without needing to mock someone or pretend to appease someone else. I don't even feel like I need to prove myself because of the shame I always feel for being who I am. "that sounds good."

"We c-can talk about it l-later, okay?" said Siesta. Sync nodded. Siesta seemed to relax. Her hold on Sync's hand tightened. "Alright, so . . . let's get you to the hospital."

"What?" said Sync, his eyes widened. "Don't be ridiculous, I don't need to go to the hospital. I've endured far worse than this in the line of combat."

"Don't be absurd, Lord Sync," said Siesta, she motioned the other maids toward her and they each grabbed hold of Sync's body and began tugging in a specific direction. "We're going to get your wounds looked at. It's the least we can do. I'm sorry, but I cannot take no for an answer with you bleeding like that."

Sync struggled for a few seconds before relenting. Damn it, just my luck. I'm not going to fight back or I could end-up hurting them. They're all basically civilians and I'm not going to risk accidentally harming them.

The kitchen servants laughed as he was led to the hospital. Sync flushed. I don't know whether to feel angry or honored.

"Sync!" shouted a voice.

Sync turned to see a scowling Louise glaring at him. She stopped in front of him and grit her teeth at him.

"What the hell are you playing at?!" said Louise, Sync gazed back at Louise. His expression impassive and undaunted by her fury. "I learned from Zerbst! Zerbst, of all people, that you had been beaten up by Gramont! A large amount of students were there and now I'm the laughingstock of the entire school!"

Sync bit his lip to prevent himself from laughing. "Oh, really? You poor baby, having to endure such horrible pain while I was in the hospital."

"Don't give me that backtalk!" snapped Louise, she pointed an accusing finger at Sync. "This is entirely your fault for misbehaving! Now, you are going to come with me and we're going to go to Guiche to apologize. I'll explain to him that I'll do better in training you like a good familiar and to prove it, you will beg for his forgiveness."

Sync crossed his arms and snorted. Louise growled and took out her wand to point at Sync. "Do you understand me, Sync?!"

"Hard not to with all of your yelling," said Sync, scowling back at Louise. "but for your information, I'm not apologizing to that stuck up, sadistic little brat."

"What? Of course you are!" said Louise, her visage growing redder. "Didn't you just hear me?!"

"No, I refuse to apologize," said Sync, "and since he's so eager to battle me, I'll engage him. He kept pestering me in the cafeteria after he was dumped by two girls that he cheated on. If he's so eager to fight, then I'll give him one and I will kill him."

"W-what?!" said Louise, her eyes widening. She took a step back from Sync. "Y . . .you're joking, right? You can't kill him. He just beat the snot out of you earlier this morning. You can't win."

"Wrong, I didn't engage him in battle because my spells would have destroyed the cafeteria and I have more sense than to use my abilities in an open setting that can potentially endanger civilian lives." snapped Sync, Louise gaped at him. "The setting that he chose will be outside. I am going to murder him in front of the student body. The only reason I took those lashes from the whip was because after I rebuffed his pathetic whining, he immediately took his tantrum out on Siesta. He would have whipped her, if I hadn't ran in front and taken the blows for her."

Louise's eyes looked as if they would pop out of their sockets. She slowly began shaking her head. "Guiche . . . I know he's not the most polite of people . . . but he wouldn't -"

"He did," snapped Sync. Louise flinched and looked down at the floor. "I am not apologizing for what I did because all I did was prevent Siesta from ending up in the hospital with horrible wounds. For that matter, if you really think that I have no chance, then you have no reason to stop this fight."

"Look, maybe you accomplished great things in your world or whatever," said Louise, gazing up at Sync. "but you can't beat Guiche. What happened today in the cafeteria is proof that you're out of your league. I'm just trying to make sure that you don't get killed."

Sync narrowed his eyes further. Louise frowned but didn't look away at Sync's loathsome glare. "If you really believe that, then you're a moron. Don't bother interfering with the match, Louise."

Sync briskly walked past Louise. Louise watched him go and scowled. Once he was out of sight, she looked down at the floor and sighed.

I'm just trying to do the right thing . . . thought Louise, Maybe I should have phrased it better and tried a different approach. I thought it was just some schoolyard scuffle from the way Zerbst told it. I better go find Siesta and get the full story.

"Well, it looks like you didn't flee like a coward, commoner," said Guiche, sneering as Sync calmly walked to the center of the empty green field amidst a sea of laughter. "I don't know whether to call you brave or stupid, but no matter. I shall do a kindness for Louise the Zero and help train you to behave like a proper commoner among the noble class."

"Before we begin, I want there to be no misunderstanding. When I fight, I don't play games. I don't believe in friendly competitions when fighting." said Sync, crossing his arms. The students howled with laughter. "This is going to be a fight to the death. No childish take backs, no surrender, and there will be no mercy shown. I'm a trained killer and you better be prepared to either kill me or to die in this battle."

The crowd of students roared with laughter. Some began to insult Sync with taunts of their own. Sync paid them no heed and held Guiche's gaze with a neutral expression. Guiche frowned and looked at the crowd of students laughing at Sync before he relaxed his posture. He gazed back at Sync with a smirk.

"My, my, commoner, you must be incredibly delusional or have an overinflated ego," said Guiche before he laughed along with the crowd. "Very well, very well, I'll indulge your charade. Battle to the death, it is! Prepare to suffer for your japes, commoner!"

Guiche brandished his wand and cast a spell that sent three flower pedals onto the ground. The light flickered on the ground to summon three brass monsters in metallic knight uniforms and large metallic spears. Sync narrowed his eyes and shifted his body to his fighting pose. "Charge, my valkyrie golem warriors! Teach the commoner a lesson that he'll never forget!"

The three metallic mannequins charged at Sync. Sync ran toward the first one and punched it in the sternum. Sync's eyes widened as the metal cracked from the blow and the metallic warrior broke in two before crumbling into non-existence. Sync grinned. The crowd of students stopped laughing and stared in stunned silence. One of the students shouted: "L - lucky shot, commoner!"

Sync ran towards the next metallic golem. The metallic monster hefted it's spear to impale Sync, Sync moved his body into a crouching position with his left foot forward. He launched his body at the valkyrie and slammed both his hands to deliver a Dragon Shot on the chest plate of the monster. The valkyrie golem careened into the area and broke apart into chunks of metal before it hit the ground far behind Guiche and the onlookers. Some turned to see the mannequin's trajectory while others did a double-take. Guiche stared at Sync wide-eyed as Sync delivered a spin kick to the last valkyrie and split it in two pieces before it dissipated into nothingness.

These summoned monsters are completely pathetic, thought Sync, They're weaker than a typical rhinossus. A ligar could easily trounce these pathetic things in three hits or less.

"If that's the best you got, then this battle is over," said Sync, he laughed at Guiche. Guiche flinched and stared at the surprised faces of his fellow classmates. He turned back to Sync and glared. "Come on, at least give me a challenge."

Guiche's cheeks reddened and his eyes were wide but scowling. The spectators remained silent apart from a scant few people cheering for Guiche to get serious and teach the commoner a lesson. Sync walked towards Guiche in a leisurely pace. Guiche raised his rose wand and released four more petals. The petals flashed upon hitting the ground and four more valkyrie golems stood between the two combatants.

The four valkyries got in a battle position in a straight line. All four valkyries charged at Sync at the same time and ran in a line as Guiche slowly began backing away. Sync scowled, he placed an arm near his ribs, and began to cast a spell.

"O roar of the earth," chanted Sync, the majority of the crowd audibly gasped in surprise. Some gaped, others eyes widened when turning to Sync, and still others stood frozen. "bring forth the fangs of the mighty dragon . . ."

Sync raised his arm. "Ground dasher!"

A row of sharp mounds of earth in the shape of the back of a large dragon jutted out of the ground and pierced through the metallic golems. The golems instantly dissipated into non-existence upon being ruptured by Sync's spell. The crowd and Guiche screamed in surprise and whispers erupted among the crowd. Guiche fell on his ass and stared aghast as Sync moved towards him.

"He's a noble?!", "That spell . . . I've never seen anything so powerful!", "W-what is he?! He said he's an assassin back when he was summoned, right? Oh shit . . .", "He's not really going to kill Guiche, right? Oh Brimer, this is bad!"

"I - I give! I surrender!" said Guiche, his eyes widening as Sync grabbed his shirt collar and forcefully pulled his upper body a few feet off the ground. "P - please! Have mercy! You win! I forfeit! You're clearly the better mage! I surrender! Please!"

"No, I told you before, I don't play around. I fight until the other person is dead." said Sync, raising his fist. Guiche's eyes widened like saucers and he began to pee his pants. The crowd stood unmoving and watched. Many were unable to comprehend the events quickly unfolding before them. "I made myself perfectly clear, didn't I? You agreed to a fight to the death. Now, you die."

Guiche shook his head and began openly crying. "P - please! Please! I - I'll give you anything! Gold, an estate, perhaps some fine jewelry! My family will pay, I'm good on the money! I promise I won't cheat you! I - I'll keep my word! Please!"

"I already said no, my answer remains final." said Sync, he glared down at Guiche as he raised his free arm. "In my world, when I fight, I fight to the death. Unless I'm the one fleeing for my life, I make no exceptions. Battles in my world are all about life and death struggles."

"Please stop!" shrieked Guiche, snot coming out of his nose and his tears leaking faster. He tried struggling out of Sync's grip. The crowd still watched in shock and many remained rooted on the spot due to fear. "This is entirely senseless! There's no point! Why are you trying to kill me?! I'm sorry! I'm sorry for angering you! Please! Please, don't kill me! I'll do anything, please stop it!"

Sync remained impassive. "It's not about having good sense. This is just the way of the world that I came from. This is what it means to live and die fighting to survive. To have it otherwise is an insult to all who've died fighting for their own survival. I made it clear that this was such a battle so you only have yourself to blame. You were stupid."

"Yes, yes, I am stupid!" shouted Guiche, his voice becoming hoarse. "Please don't kill me! I'm begging you, please! I'm sorry for what I did!"

"Sync, stop it right now!" shouted the voice of Louise, Sync turned his gaze to see Louise with her knees bent and with her hands on her knees. She was breathing heavily. "I came as quickly as I could after I heard that earth-shaking spell! Sync, what do you think you're doing?! Let him go! You've already proven your point!"

"No, I told you before and he agreed before our battle," said Sync gazing at Louise with the scathing visage. Louise shivered but tried to keep her scowl. "In my world, people fight to survive. Even small children are forced to fight and kill other people just to eat and live on for the next day. Countless millions live as mercenaries to fight, steal, kill, and survive only to do the same the next day so that they have food to feed themselves, warm clothes to sleep in, and scrounge enough money to buy medicine when they get sick. They live on with diseases from poisons, appendages severed from war, and some even die of exhaustion or starvation. That's the harsh reality of the world that I grew up in. When you challenge someone to a battle, it is kill or be killed."

"Well, this isn't your world!" snapped Louise, "there will be severe consequences for killing him! I could get in trouble, the school could get in trouble, and well . . . it's just wrong, Sync! You can't just kill people as you please!"

"Why the hell did I live through all of that shit back in my world then?" said Sync. Louise stared in surprise and was taken aback by Sync's words. "I didn't struggle after being thrown in a fucking volcano just to let some snotty noble moron get a pass. I told him in no uncertain terms what he was getting himself into. He has only himself to blame."

Louise ran up to Sync and grabbed the arm holding Guiche's shirt. She tried pulling Sync's arm free. Sync snarled and began pushing Louise away by roughly bumping his shoulder. "Sync, you can't do this! It isn't right! It's morally wrong! How do you not understand this?!"

Tears began streaking down Louise's cheeks as she tried in vain to break Sync's hold. Sync kept jamming his shoulder into her thin body while Louise tried to hold on. A tearing sound could be heard as Guiche's shirt began to rip as he erratically tried to get away from Sync. The onlookers watched and didn't move to help either Louise or Guiche.

"What about when he tried to whip Siesta?!" shouted Sync, Louise tried to pry Sync's hand off of Guiche's shirt. The shirt ripped even further but Sync still held Guiche despite his rabid attempts to flee. "I guess it's just fine when a commoner gets assaulted, but a noble? Well then, there's legal consequences, is that it?!"

"That's completely different!" shouted back Louise. Sync gazed at her in utter revulsion. "I'm not saying it wasn't wrong! I'm saying that killing someone and assaulting people are two different things! You can't just respond to violence with worse forms of violence, Sync!"

"I can and I will! It's the only way to teach these maggots a lesson!" shrieked Sync, pushing her with his shoulder. Louise hissed and tried to keep her feet study as Sync moved a step back to slam her with his shoulder. "I'm going to murder him and there is nothing that you can do about it! He made his choice and he'll endure the consequences!"

"Sync, this is the wrong way to teach anyone about anything!" shouted Louise, she heard the shirt tear again. "You're being completely psychopathic! Stop it! Just stop it! This is absolutely unforgivable, disgusting, reprehensible behavior! I order you as your master to stop it! Siesta already told me everything! I'm sorry for getting angry at you! I promise to listen to you from now on and treat you with more respect! You don't have to do this!"

"If you're worried about the rules, then don't be!" said Sync, glaring at her. "There are no rules against it because I'm a familiar so you can't get in trouble because of a loophole!"

"Sync, that is not the fucking point!" said Louise, her visage turning red faced and her voice becoming hoarse from her shouting. "Do you really not get why this is wrong?! Are you damn stupid or what?! I order you to stop it at once! Stop trying to kill someone!"

I can't believe this fucking idiot! thought Louise, I can't believe I have to say that! How does he not understand that this is completely wrong?! What kind of fucked up world did this guy come from?!

The dress shirt completely tore apart. Guiche turned around and sprinted away. Sync snarled, he slammed his elbow on Louise's shoulder, and Louise fell to the grown. Louise cried out in pain as Sync ran toward Guiche and pulled him back by his blond hair. Guiche shrieked and screamed aloud. Sync used his other hand to grab Guiche by the front of his throat. Sync turned Guiche over in one smooth motion and hoisted him in the air. Sync grinned at Guiche's choked cries. Sync gazed in satisfaction as tears and snot ran down Guiche's fearful visage.

Louise looked up from where she sat. "Sync, don't! Please, please stop it already! You're scaring everyone! You're scaring me!"

Louise looked around as her heart was beating incredibly fast and her cheeks were flushed from yelling. She spotted Siesta walking towards the commotion.

"Siesta! Siesta, please do something! Stop Sync! He's serious about killing Guiche!" shouted Louise as tears fell down her cheeks, Siesta glanced at Louise with wide eyes before turning to gaze at Sync holding Guiche in a chokehold while hoisting him in the air. "Please! Siesta, tell him that he doesn't have to do this! Tell him the point has already been made! Guiche's learned his lesson! You don't want this to happen either, right?!"

Siesta hesitated. The crowd was still looking at Sync. Sync glanced back to Siesta and stood in silence.

Good! It looks like he'll listen to her! thought Louise, her body finally relaxing as she turned to gaze at Siesta. We can put this madness behind us and I can have a serious talk with Sync. Maybe I'll get Siesta to help, maybe he'll listen to her.

"Siesta! Please, tell him to stop!" shouted Louise, "You don't want him to kill Guiche, right?! He's a noble! Think of what will happen! Tell him it's wrong to just murder anyone that he likes!"

Siesta froze and glanced back at Louise with an odd expression. Siesta turned back to Sync and frowned. Silence descended on the group as Sync just stared at Siesta and Siesta remained silent. No one in the crowd made an attempt to help Guiche despite Guiche's desperate choked squeaks. Many gazed at Sync in fear.

Siesta licked her lips before shrugging her shoulders. "I don't know much about battles or duels, but as far as I understand, I don't know of any rules against a familiar fighting a noble. I don't know of any consequences for such an affair either."

Louise gaped at Siesta. She didn't . . . she couldn't . . . not sweet, kind Siesta. Why would she? How could she?! Doesn't she under -

Louise's thoughts stopped as the conclusion came to her. She turned her gaze to see a grinning Sync.

"Sync, no - !"

Sync punched Guiche in the face, Guiche's head lurched back and blood ran down his face, and pieces of his teeth fell to the ground. Louise and the crowd watched in morbid fascination as Guiche's nose was visibly smashed and broken in several pieces. Sync reared his fist back and smashed his fist into Guiche's face a second time. Guiche's head lurched back even further and Louise heard a loud snap as Guiche's head was bent all the way to his back before lurching upward. Sync dropped Guiche's body on the grass and Louise quickly got to her feet to run towards it.

Louise gasped and held a hand in front of her mouth as she saw Guiche's disfigured skull with the clear imprints of Sync's fist on the remains of his facial bones. She turned back to see Sync rest his hands behind his back and scowl at the crowd. The front of the crowd took a visible step back. Both boys and girls cried upon witnessing such brutality, some of the crowd vomited, others dry heaved, and some fled the scene.

"Let this be a lesson," said Sync, his expression neutral as he gazed at the students. "Any noble who mistreats the commoners shall receive the same treatment as him."

Sync pointed to Guiche's body. Louise's mouth rapidly moved up and down as she felt the need to say something but was too terrified to speak. Sync narrowed his eyes at the crowd. Some looked away and others flinched when Sync met their eyes.

"Let that pathetic moron serve as a reminder to you all of what I am capable of. If you continue to mistreat the commoners, then I'll kill you. Simple as that. Don't think your professors will make you safe from me."

Sync stalked off. Louise glanced at Siesta and could swear that she saw Siesta smile for a brief moment when Siesta gazed at Sync's back. Siesta ran towards where Sync had left. Louise returned her gaze to the corpse by her feet.

Guiche Chevalier de Gramont was dead.