Save me.
Louise found herself inside a black space.
Who is that? Where am I anyway?
Her surroundings faded into a forest.
Mages wielding their wands were casting spells against another race who were wielding strange contraptions in their hands which Louise couldn't figure out what.
Before they had a chance to use that contraption, the mages had already killed all of them through a fire hurricane almost as huge as a castle tower, burning the surrounding trees into ashes as well.
Are all the mages here Square class mages?! Th-That's incredible!
"At this rate, Academia will soon be ours." A mage chuckled as they moved on towards the chaos in front of them.
Louise realized that the strange contraption in question were something known as guns. But it was something that existed only 4000 years ago before the fall of Academia.
Tanks could be seen firing rounds from their large cannons which shook the ground.
The mages brought up a shimmering, translucent blue barrier which protected them from the impact, and the other mages from a distance conjured geysers which flipped them upside down like pancakes, unable to move anymore.
Just like in the textbooks, Academia suffered a crushing defeat when Halkegenia invaded them to expand their land further.
Have I been mysteriously transported back in time 3000 years ago?
Before Louise had time to figure this out, an earthquake knocked her to the ground. She got up and leaped behind a tree for cover.
She had almost forgotten she was in the middle of a war, though a rather one-sided war.
Help!
It was the same voice from before, and louder as well.
How I can help you if I don't even know where you are? And where am I anyway?
Right after Louise closed her eyes, lying in her soft, luxurious bed, she found herself here.
What should I do?
The only option was to hide behind the tree and wait.
Peeking behind the tree, Louise spotted an unconscious blonde-haired girl being dragged away by the mages. Her most defining feature was her melon-sized chest almost as large as her annoying classmate Kirche.
"He-Help me..."
Louise swerved behind to see an injured man from Academia dragging himself close to her.
Instinctively, she took out her wand from her skirt.
I'm in my uniform?
She fell asleep wearing pyjamas, but her attire was different now.
White uniform, grey skirt, and even her black cape. Just like her attire in school.
Just when she wanted to cast a healing spell, Louise stopped herself.
But I'm a 'Zero'. None of my magic has never worked before.
She clutched her wand, already high up in the air, struggling with a decision.
The explosion caused by her spell failing could kill this guy. But at the same time, he would die anyway if treatment wasn't given in time.
Ahh! To hell with that! I'll prove to myself once and for all that I'm not a 'Zero'!
Louise muttered the spell and waved her wand a few times before swinging it towards the dying man.
An explosion occurred.
Her world went black when Louise saw the man blown into pieces.
Louise blinked.
Eh?
She turned to her left and squinted her eyes to the bright sunlight streaming through the window.
Back in her familiar and comfortable bed. Back in her pink pjyamas. Away from the horror moments ago.
It was all just a dream.
Louise shrugged her shoulders, and took out a set of uniform from her cabinet.
Yesterday is over, and today will be a new day.
After putting on her uniform, Louise stepped out of her room, chest sticking forward with a confident smile like what how a noble should be.
"Oh hey, it's Louise The Zero."
"Morning, Zero."
"If it isn't the Zero again."
She found her confidence shrinking faster than ice placed on running water.
The dream made it worse. Her spell actually killed somebody because she couldn't cast a healing spell properly. It may have been just a dream, but the fact that she never succeeded in casting one spell properly remained the same.
Zero, Zero, Zero. I'm so sick of it.
After climbing the winding staircase, Louise reached the classroom, ready for her first lesson.
Today is the day where I will stop being a Zero.
She took a seat near the top row, and took out her notes, studying them with great focus. Sometimes, Louise wondered if it's really because she wasn't cut out for magic at all. No matter how hard she tried understanding and chanting the incarnations properly, the spell would still end up as a failure.
But I'm a noble, not a commoner! I definitely can cast magic. I just need more effort... that's all.
Especially as a noble from the illustrious Vallerie family, it is especially disgraceful for Louise to be that pathetic compared to a struggling mage who could at least get one spell right.
Students poured into the classroom, and soon the rows were all filled.
A plump teacher in a purple robe stepped inside, and smiled.
"Good morning students. I'm Miss Chevreuse. My Runic name is 'Red Clay' and I'll be teaching Earth magic for the year."
A blonde-haired boy with a rose in one hand emphasising his naccrastic aura stood up and bowed.
"Good morning. I'm Guiche De Gramont. My Runic name is 'The Bronze' and I happen to be of the same element as you. Pleased to meet you."
Chevreuse nodded, "Oh, if it isn't the Gramont family. Pleased to meet you as well."
She waved her wand, and a few pebbles materalized on the desk beside her.
"Now then, let's begin the lesson. Mr Guiche. Do you still remember the four great elements of magic?"
Guiche did a dramatic cough, "Of course. It's Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth."
"That's right. Together with the lost element known as Void, we have five elements in total."
Kirche, a red-haired, busty, tanned girl whispered to a boy beside him.
"Isn't it amazing how the people in Academia now still insist that there is 118 elements in the world when there is really only five. Apparently, gold is considered as an element to them as well. All of them are lunatics. No wonder they get treated even worse than a commoner."
Chevreuse pointed to the pebbles with her wand.
"Class, remember that the basics to Earth magic is transmutation. While all of you have went through this during your first year, but it is important for us to review it again."
Twirling the wand, she muttered an incarnation and the pebble glowed bright yellow and shook strongly.
The shaking stopped, and the pebbles turned into sparkling metal resembling gold.
Kirche leaned forward, amazed. "I-Is that gold?!"
"Unfortunately not. It's only brass." Chevreuse sighed, "Only Square-class mages can do that. I'm only... a Triangle mage."
Mages in Halkegenia were ranked based on elemental stacking when casting a spell. For example, a Dot-class mage can only stack one element, a Line-class at two elements, a Triangle-class at three elements and the highest, Square-class at four elements.
Stacking an element upon itself makes the spell stronger while stacking different elements gives more flexibility to the spell.
Louise was a Zero-class mage. Unable to stack even one element. A level reserved for her because she was the only noble alive who couldn't stack even one element.
"You, you over there. Miss Vallerie is it?"
A voice broke Louise's focus. She looked up from her notes. It was Miss Chevreuse.
"Yes madam?"
Chevreuse twirled her wand, and a few more pebbles materialized.
"How about you come down and change these pebbles into a metal of your choice?"
"Eh?"
This elicited a huge response from the class.
"Please find another person other than the Zero!"
"You'll endanger the whole class if you choose her!"
"Why is that so?" Chevreuse said. "I know that Miss Valliere isnt the best, but she has always been putting in the effort to improve. One will not improve if one is afraid to make mistakes."
Louise stood up, "I'll do it! Please let me do it!"
"Don't do it! You know what's going to happen! Please! " Kirche said.
"Just be quiet, okay?" Louise said while walking down the stairs.
Kirche clicked her tongue in annoyance. How can she still be so arrogant at this point in time?
"Miss Chevreuse. Please reconsider! Louise is dangerous!" Kirche said.
The class echoed in agreement.
Chevreuse slightly shook her head and chuckled. "Don't be silly class. How can casting a simple transmutation spell be dangerous?"
"Miss Chevreuse. I can't focus with all the noise." Louise said, with her wand prepared.
Kirche pushed down her urge to send a few fireballs in Louise's direction.
The class kept quiet as they watched in fear.
Tabitha, a blue-haired bespectacled girl wielding a staff left the classroom. Whatever that is about to happen isn't going to be pretty.
Louise raised up her wand.
Right. I can do this.
Today shall be the day where Louise Francoise Le Blanc de La Valliere is no longer called Louise The Zero.
"In. Ran. Yen."
The pebbles glowed brightly and shook. Just like before when Chevreuse casted her own transmutation spell. A good sign.
Please!
Louise prayed with all her might.
The pebbles exploded.
Louise and Chevreuse received the impact head on and got blown away towards the left and right respectively. The desk turned into scrap wood, and all the windows shattered.
Chevreuse laid unconscious on the ground. From the occasional twitching, she was still at least alive.
The students got up from their cover under the desk.
"See what I mean! Your success rate is always zero!" Kirche said.
Louise took out a hankerchief, rubbing the side of her head. "It was just a little mistake, that's all."
Beneath her calm appearance, she felt immense shame while looking at an unconscious Chevreuse.
Tristain's Academy of Magic.
An world-class academy throughout Halkegenia. As a result, many powerful and rich families chose to send their children to study magic here in Tristain instead of Albion or Gallia.
This was the academy where Louise studied in.
As she stood in a lush, green plain with a group of students, Louise started doubting if she was still worthy enough to be in this academy.
If I screw this up, I'll definitely be expelled.
For Louise who has never succeeded in getting a spell right, the threat of failing the 'Summon Familiar' spell became very real to her.
The Springtime Familiar Summoning was a sacred rite which enables one to advance to the appropriate courses for that element. If she could not clear that rite of passage, she could not advance to her second year lessons, and so, expelled.
Kirche tapped Louise from behind.
"Oh~ I wonder what will our beloved Zero summon."
Louise shrugged her hand away and folded her arms. "Isn't it obvious, definitely something better than yours."
Kirche placed a hand near her mouth, pretending to be in shock.
"Oh my. I can't wait to see what you'll summon."
A student called out for Kirche. It was her turn.
Louise thought as she watched Kirche preparing to summon her familiar.
That bitch will probably summon a tiny fire-breathing snake. Nothing to be worried about. Even I can summon something better than that.
It was an impressive looking red salamander. A bright flame burnt from the tip of its tail and it sometimes breathed out small puff of smoke.
Kirche strutted towards Louise with her salamander following behind.
"Well Louise. Can you beat that?"
"O-Of course I can! I'll summon something even more better than everyone else! Just you watch!"
"Miss Valliere. It's your turn now." Colbert said.
Colbert was a bald, middle-aged man who happened to be the supervising teacher for the summoning ritual.
Louise clutched her hands, shocked.
So fast?! I haven't even had time to prepare myself!
"Good luck. You'll definitely need it."
Kirche let out a loud chuckle.
Louise took quick steps towards the centre of the crowd where everyone was watching her.
In one swift movement, she took out her wand.
Will I end up as the first noble in history who failed to summon a familiar.
Louise closed her eyes.
Please Great Founder Brimir. Please at least let me succeed in this spell.
Having confidence that her founder had given his blessings through her prayer, Louise opened her eyes, wand lifted, and she started chanting.
"Somewhere in this world, my wise, divine and beautiful servant. Heed my call as I summon you into this world!"
The impact of the explosion created a small tremor, knocking down some of the students. Thick smoke filled the area.
Did she succeed in becoming the first noble to fail the 'Summon Familiar' spell?
I'm definitely going to get expelled.
Just when all hope was lost, something could be seen lying on the ground when the smoke cleared.
"I-Is that my familiar...?"
Louise blinked.
It was a human.
Specifically, a boy with spiky, black hair wearing a white uniform top and black pants.
"Did Louise The Zero just summon a commoner?"
"I don't think he's a commoner. His clothing is strange... but where have I seen that type of clothing before?"
Students started murmuring about the mysterious familiar whom Louise summoned.
And then it dawned upon them what Louise had just summoned.
Colbert said, "Miss Valliere. Your familiar seems to be a boy from Academia 3000 years ago."
Everyone burst into laughter.
"As expected of Louise The Zero!"
"You've certainly exceeded our expectations."
In the textbooks, about 4000 years ago Academia was a continent who relied on roundabout and inefficient methods to get things done. The people were lunatics who constantly spouted incomprehensible things broadly referred to as Science.
Worse, they were not capable of magic like commoners, and their so-called weapons, while not entirely useless, a Square-class defensive magic barrier could defend against almost anything from them.
Halkegenia only took two months to conquer all of Academia.
Louise had just summoned a familiar who was a lunatic and most importantly, weak.
The black, spiky haired boy regained conscious and slowly sat up.
"Wh-Where am I?"
There was no doubt. This boy was speaking in a language unique to the people in Academia.
"Well then, please continue with the ceremony, Miss Valliere." Colbert urged.
"Please let me have another try in summoning the familiar!"
"You know that's not possible. A mage can only summon one familiar, and complete the ritual. While it may be strange that you summoned an Academian 3000 years from the past, but the rules remain the same."
"But... he's an Academian! He's not even a commoner!"
"No buts Miss Valliere. Academian or commoner, he's going to be your familiar."
Louise moved towards the boy with a bright red blush on her face.
"B-Be honored that a noble is doing this for you. Normally, you'd go your whole life without a noble doing this to you."
She closed her eyes and waved her wand.
"My name is Louise Francoise Le Blanc de la Vallière," she declared. "Pentagon of the Five Elemental powers, bless this humble being and make him my familiar."
The black, spiky-haired boy named Kamijou Touma paid no notice to his surroundings.
He was supposed to be dead.
So why was he here in such a weird setting?
Am I in Heaven or Hell?
Louise leaned forward and kissed Touma on his lip.
Perhaps a random girl kissing you out of nowhere could be considered as Heaven.
And then the searing pain consuming your body afterwards as Hell.
Unfamiliar letters were forming on his right hand. A bright flash signified the end, and the pain rapidly dissipated.
Touma leaped up, looking at the weird pink-haired girl who kissed him out of nowhere just moments ago.
"Who are you?! Why am I here? Is this Heaven, Hell or some underworld which I have no idea what?"
"Ugh. I can't speak Academia at all."
Louise waved her wand again to cast a translation spell.
Surprisingly, there was no explosion. The rune carving on Touma's right hand glowed, and he started speaking in a language comprehensible to Louise.
"Answer me. Hello? Who are you?"
"I'm your master." Louise said.
"What is this nonsense all of a sudden?"
"The rune marking on your right hand represents the contract we've made. I'm now your master, and you're my familiar."
Touma looked at his right hand. There was a rune marking on it.
"So there was a price to pay for that kiss. Hey, you were the one who kissed me all of a sudden! I didn't choose to be your familiar!"
From what little Touma knew about familiar, it definitely meant something related to slavery in this context.
"I didn't choose to be your master as well! Why would I want a pathetic Academian from 3000 years ago from the past like you as my familiar?"
"What Academian? What 4000 years ago? I don't understand anything at all!"
"Did you lose your memory as well? You're so troublesome. I thought you might just be a tiny bit useful with your history knowledge 4000 years ago." Louise said.
Just as Colbert noted how strange the rune markings on Touma's right hand were, a maid from a distance had also noticed that. What caught her attention more was his clothing.
"I never thought that I would be able to do my job as a scout here." The maid muttered.
Nothing special had been going on since the first day she infiltrated this academy until today.
She would transmit the information to her leader, and wait for further orders.
We will reclaim everything that's ours.
The boy might just be the key to that purpose.
Author's Note: Just a concept which I just felt that it'd be a waste not to at least put it down into paper... no, e-paper. May or may not update. We'll see how things go.
If you're wondering, this is a Kamijou Touma who got his Imagine Breaker after he entered the portal. So before that, he's truly just an ordinary high-school boy. There. No fucked up debates about Imagine Breaker negating the portal.
If you have anything to comment or questions, just leave them in the review box below.
I haven't written in a long time, so the quality might suck.
Hope you liked it.
See you.
