The characters and the idea of Zero no Tsukaima do not belong to me. They are the property of the author of said work, Yamaguchi Noboru (Rest in peace)


So it wasn't a dream.

The bright light that came through the window irritated my eyes, which had barely been opened. I looked around for a few seconds. That was enough time to remember the events of the previous day.

Definitely, this is weird.

The previous day I didn't think about it, but I had taken the situation more calmly than I would've expected. Maybe because the magic wasn't something strange to me and I already knew the existence of another world, the impact of being summoned wasn't had been so big. Somehow, that was a fortune, but at that moment I didn't think in that reason, yet.

It should be the time.

I wanted to sleep longer, especially because I wasn't in a good mood. But since Louise told me to get her up early, I hadn't other choice. She seemed to be the kind of person who got easily in a worse mood than I was and preferred to avoid the hassle of having to endure that nuisance. It was true that Louise didn't give me an exact hour to wake her up. However, I had something I could trust for a situation like that. Usually, my instinct used to wake me up at the appropriate time to avoid any inconvenience. Taking that in consideration, I tried to lift me.

Yeah… this isn't good.

The bed was somehow similar to a cloud. I usually woke at the right moments, but leave the bed always was an issue. Obviously, the bed of Louise only aggravate the problem.

I can stay here for five minutes, right? She probably will unders… Or not.

I gave a big yawn. After that, I began to stretch my numb body. If it was because it had been a long time since the last time that I slept like a cat, it was something I was not sure. Once I finished my stretches, I went to the edge of the bed and jumped to the floor. I put my tail in a certain position and acquired the form of a human. Finally, I took a couple of steps to face Louise, who was still asleep.

"Hey, wake..."

A certain memory prevent me to finish that sentence.

Yeah, now that I think about it, she is supposed to be my master. What a nuisance.

The previous day, I had spoken to Louise in a way that I never thought I would speak. That's why it would be difficult to get used to it. Besides, there was another thing that I had remembered, the way she treated me.

To her, I'm practically her servant, right? I thought as I sighed lightly. It's going to be a bother to treat her like my master. I really hope these days pass fast.

"Miss Louise, it's time to get up."

I didn't get an answer, instead, Louise gave a soft snore. I would be lying if I said that wasn't cute in a certain way.

If only she was like this even when is awake.

"Miss Louise!"

"Ah! What? What happen?"

"It's the morning already. You should get up."

"Huh? Who are you?"

She's joking, right?

"I'm your familiar."

Louise stared at me. She was silent for a few moments before speaking again.

"Oh, right. Now that I remember it, I summoned you yesterday."

I gave a small sigh in response to her words.

Louise, after removing the sheets, got up.

"Clothes."

I looked around the room to find what she had asked for. Once I saw her uniform, which was folded on a chair, I walked to grab it. Finally, I approached Louise to hand her clothes.

"Here it is."

Immediately, I turned around, because I had a feeling of what was going to happen. After hearing the small sound of the nightgown being falling on the bed, I knew that my suspicion had ended being true. Just like yesterday, she undressed without taking me in consideration.

"Dress me up."

You must be kidding me.

"Miss Louise, can I ask if you are serious?"

"If there is a servant nearby, why would I dress myself?"

So she really see me as a servant.

I could think many reasons, but trying to avoid an argument, I appealed to her mercy and told her the most convincing excuse that I thought.

"I beg you to understanding, Miss Louise. I certainly accepted you as my master, but there are things that I would prefer to avoid."

I wasn't looking at Louise, but I still could feel her penetrating staring.

I guess in the end he won't be completely obedient. Louise thought. Or maybe he just needs more time to understand who is in charge. Yes, probably it's that.

"You're lucky to be a magician, because if it wasn't like that, dressing me would be just one of the many extra tasks that you would have to do." Louise said.

The student, by herself, began to dresses in her uniform. Once Louise finished, she spoke to me with her usual authoritative tone.

"Let's go to breakfast."

After heard that statement, I turned around to see Louise, who was already putting on her cape. I went ahead and walked to the door to open it. However, I didn't leave the room immediately. I waited for Louise to pass first, and then I followed her.

Along the wall of the corridor were three doors identical to the one belonged to Louise's room. As we walked, one of these doors opened and from this came a girl almost as tall as me. She was wearing the same uniform as Louise. Curiously, that was their only notable similarity. Unlike Louise, she had red hair and tanned skin. In addition, it had certain characteristic that made total contrast with Louise, a great bust, which was in sight because of the two buttons that she had left unbuttoned.

"Good morning, Louise." The girl suddenly said.

Louise, who had already turned to see her, frown and respond in no time.

"Good morning... Kirche."

Louise's negative attitude towards Kirche was something that I noticed immediately. Just seeing her seemed to be enough to put Louise in a considerable bad mood. That reaction didn't seem to affect Kirche, who, suddenly, pointed to me and made a question. Question that, curiously, wasn't addressed to me.

"Is he your familiar?"

A provocative tone could be noticed in her voice.

"Yes, he is."

"So he really is a human! Louise the Zero summoning a commoner as her familiar! Just as expected from your abilities!"

With those words I could understand the intention of her first question. It was a mockery towards Louise and also for me. Sincerely, that upset me a bit. My mood was already bad enough and hearing that comment wasn't a help. Although, that didn't prevent me to notice something.

Zero… they keep calling her by that nickname, isn't it?

Louise was silent. Despite the attempted provocation from Kirche, the face of my self-proclaimed master didn't express fury. Someone could deduce that the fact that I could do magic was the reason for her lack of reaction. Kirche had mocked her for summoning a simple commoner, but that, actually, was far from reality. I couldn't help but thinking how humiliating it could be to summon an ordinary human as a familiar.

Kirche spoke again. In his voice's tone, the mockery was replaced by arrogance.

"I also summoned my familiar yesterday and it was in the first attempt."

"Really?"

"If you have a familiar, then needs to be like this. Flame!"

In response to her call, a dark red lizard emerged from the same room where Kirche had come from. As the creature approached us, my body began to felt a certain sensation that I couldn't ignore, warmth.

I was genuinely curious and, also, a little uncomfortable with the presence of the creature..

"What is that thing?" I asked.

"Ohoho! Is it your first time seeing a fire lizard? Don't worry, he won't attack you unless I tell him to."

"Is that a salamander?" Asked Louise.

"Exactly! Look at the flame in his tail, it is an irrefutable proof that comes from the Fire Dragon Mountains." Kirche answered with evident pride in her voice.

"Good for you." Louise said with a clear disinterest.

"Right? It fits perfectly with the affinity to the fire that I possess. Kirche the Ardent! The one who causes the guys to fall at my feet wherever I go. Unlike you, right?"

Followed by those words, Kirche inflated her chest. That action, unlike before, caused a reaction from Louise. She was clearly upset and, addition to that, she imitated Kirche's action. Although, even if Louise made the same movement, the most marked difference between the two reduced considerably the impact.

"Unlike you, I don't have the time to flirt with everyone I see."

Kirche just gave a calm smile in response to Louise's words. Then, she turned her head to look at me.

"And what's your name?"

"Aztor."

"That's a pretty weird name. Well then, I'm leaving"

Kirche stroked her hair and proceeded to leave with her familiar. Moments later, after the redhead was out of sight, Louise raised her fist to the place where she had retired.

"That girl always irritates me! I'm sure she waited just to show off her salamander."

I gave an imperceptible sigh in response to her words.

I tried to keep her good mood for this? It will be a long day if I don't do anything.

"Don't let that make you angry, Miss Louise. After all, I'm not a simple commoner as she said."

Louise looked in me. After a few seconds, she sighed and give me an answer.

"You're right. She was able to summon a fire salamander, but I summoned a mage from another world. That certainly makes me much better than her."

I closed my eyes and gave her a smile to show my agreement to her words. Calm her down was a truly relief for me.

"That reminds me... Yesterday we went to sleep and you didn't tell me the spells you could do. I want you to tell me everything while we are having breakfast."

"As you wish."

I kept silent for a few seconds.

"By the way... Maybe I shouldn't touch this topic, but can I know the reason why the people often refer at you as the Zero?"

I received an immediate response.

"That's something you don't need to know."

She evidenced anger in her voice.

Ok, bad question. I need to be more careful.

"I understand. I apologize for my question."

After accepting my apology, Louise started walking again. For my part, I didn't wait too long to follow her.

The Zero...

I supposed it was a nickname, a nickname with the purpose of make fun of her. The first thing that came to my mind was an inability of Louise to do magic, but considering that she had summoned me, I discarded that option.

Well, the reason should be something like that.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious, but I didn't see a reason to keep thinking about it. Also, that nickname was something that provoke nuisance from Louise, so the better thing to do was avoid the topic.

I never thought I would be in a place like this.

The dining room of the academy was easily the largest building in the surroundings. In that place were three long tables placed in parallel of each other, which seemed to be assigned for a specific year. At each table, the color of the layer the students wore varied. Those who appeared younger had a brown coat, while those who seemed older had a purple coat. Finally, on an upper floor I could see those who seemed to be the teachers having breakfast.

We went to the table that was in the middle. Just a moment before we stopped, I grabbed a chair and pushed it away from the table for Louise.

He still need to be more obedient, but at least has a bit of initiative.

I stood behind Louise, who had begun to give thanks for her food. While we were walking, I couldn't help but contemplate the dining room. It was the largest and most luxurious place I had ever been, so it was a normal reaction. In fact, it was so big that I kept admiring it after Louise sat down. The decoration it wasn't the only thing that caught my attention, the exquisite food made a perfect match with the place. Coincidentally, just after I gave a quick look at every corner of the place, Louise spoke to me.

"Well, tell me more about your magic."

Uhm? Oh right.

"I'll do it, but before that, could you tell me what I'm going eat?"

In response to my question, Louise pointed to an empty bowl that was on the floor and that I had ignored until that moment.

You can't be serious.

"I didn't expect to eat on the floor. Also, forgive for my rudeness, but it's empty."

"As I told you yesterday, you're still my familiar. Supposedly, the familiars aren't allowed to be here. You can do it, but only because I made a request. Also, since you're a noble, I'll let you eat something from this table. I expect gratitude from you in return."

That doesn't change the fact that I'm going to eat in the floor. Something really humiliating, but…

I looked the food again.

I think that's acceptable. Seems like you can be quite considerate, isn't it?

The food seemed delicious. With that in consideration, I stopped to care about eating on the floor. Also, I began to look forwards to the other things that I maybe would receive if she kept mistaking me as a noble. A mistake that I also stopped worrying about.

"Thank you very much for your kindness, master."

It was very difficult to make a choice. All the food looked amazing, so it wasn't for less. After telling Louise what I would like to eat, she extended her hand for me to hand my bowl. She served me what I had asked for and then returned the bowl.

With the food in my hands, I thanked Louise again and then proceeded to sit on the floor. I almost made the mistake of using a chair. However, a somewhat harsh look from Louise made me remember my position. Certainly, I could have stay stood, but I felt that sitting was much more comfortable. Finally, I gave a bite to the food.

Delicious, delicious, why is this so delicious?

I tried to remember a time when I had a better food, but I couldn't. The exquisite flavor caused me to enter in a kind of lethargy. A few moments later, Louise gave a little cough.

Ah, right, the explanation.

"Is there a specific topic that you would like me to begin to talk?"

"What kind of spells can you perform?"

"There're thirty-three types of spells and I can perform eighteen of these. Flare, Water prison, Air cannon, Rock fall, Electrocute, Teleport, Illusion, Fly, Reduction, Transformation, Attraction, Reinforcement, Dark space, Blinding light, Paralysis, Headache, Repulsion and Vassalage. Some spells can be combined with each other to strengthen them, but that doesn't work well with all of them. For example, combining Flare and Water prison in a single runic paper creates an, practically, useless effect."

"I have an idea of what they do for the name. Some spells that can combine and be useful?"

"If we add Flare to the Rock fall, the rocks will be wrapped in fire. With using Dark zone and Electrocute together, the opponent will suffer an electric shock continuously until he leaves the area of effect."

"How do you made those runic papers?"

"If I remember correctly, yesterday I mentioned that was needed a special ink. The materials used for the ink varies from person to person and that is why a depth research is needed. The same thing happens with paper."

"Sounds like something tedious to do."

"I can't disagree. The truth is, it isn't the most attractive profession, but it can help one to earn a lot of income."

"As a mage, how good are you?"

"I'm not exceptionally powerful, but still considerably above the average. If I put a lot of effort probably I could get better."

The last part wasn't a complete lie. It was true that I usually said that to myself when things didn't go the way I wanted to, but that didn't eliminates the fact that I could improve a lot if I took things seriously. However, even if I did it, be one of the best still was an impossible dream for my, at least in my mind.

"Well then, you should began to put some of that effort, because I expect only the best from you."

"Understood, Miss Louise."

It's a shame. You're going to wait in vain.

Like the common people do, I didn't put all of my effort in the usual tasks. I didn't do it in my world and I didn't plan to begin either. The main reason, I lacked of the necessary motivation to do it.

Although on the other hand, there was something that want to investigate about the magic of this world. Is it possible to put the two kinds of magic together? Maybe I can get something useful if I can do it.

"By the way, is there any other way to do that magic of yours? Those runic papers seems impractical."

"Actually, there are other types of magic in my world. The runic magic is the more common, and then comes the alchemy. The rest are... not that popular, so I don't know much about them."

I made a little pause.

"As for runic magic, there are others two ways to use it without resorting to runic papers."

Well, at least the only ways worth mentioning.

"And those are..."

"One of them is by using runes that are inscribed in your body if you win a duel. For each victory you can use a spell without runic papers. If you lose, one of those runes will disappear."

"About those duels..."

"Two per week. I had seventy-six victories and had forty-five losses. In other words, right now I can use thirty-one free spells."

"And what is the second method?"

"Practice, a lot of practice. Some people devote themselves fully to runic magic and become capable to use a lot of spells without the necessity of runes."

Louise asked some more questions without great importance, some of these about the magic importance in my world. Because my comments of the previous day, she seemed to have some curiosity to know about that topic.

When we finished breakfast, both of us went to the first class that Louise had on that day. The classroom wasn't that far away, so it didn't take us too much time to get there. The room we entered made me remember the classroom of some universities. The teacher's desk was in the lower part of the room, while the students' seats ascended as if they were forming a staircase. At the time I entered with Louise, the other students turned to observe us. Immediately, all of them began to laugh. Kirche was also there, surrounded by a large number of boys.

Something that my attention wasn't able to evade were the familiars. There were creatures of all kinds: owls, snakes, cats, crows, among others. However, it was other types of familiars who ended up surprising me, those who resembled some mythological animals in my world and those who looked like creatures taken from the mind of a child with great imagination.

A floating eye, who would say that such a thing could exist.

I watched in amazement as I kept following Louise to her seat. Once she sat down, I spoke to her.

"Should I go to the back of the classroom?"

"No, stay here, but sit on the floor to not block the view. I learned a bit about the things you can do, so it's your turn to learn how magic works in Halkeginia. Also, you need to know that if you are going to protect me properly."

"If that's what you wish."

Actually, I didn't care about what place in the classroom I would be. Louise was more or less in the right statement. I was quite curious about the differences that had the two kinds of magic and there was no better way to learn about that than in a class. I would be lying if I said I was not anxious.

Suddenly, the door opened and through it entered the teacher, who seemed to be a middle-aged woman. She didn't take too long to position herself in front of the classroom. Once all the students sat in their seats, she began to speak.

"I want to congratulate all of you for having successfully performed your summon ritual. I, Chevreuse, always rejoice to see the new familiars who are summoned every year."

Suddenly, her sight fell on me.

"Miss Valliere, I should say that the familiar you summoned is quite peculiar."

After that comment, the whole classroom burst into laughter.

"Louise, it's not good to pick up a commoner and pass it as your familiar."

Louise ignored that comment.

"I bet you couldn't even cast the spell, right? That's so typical of Louise the Zero."

That comment made Louise strike her table and stand up from her seat.

"Mrs. Chevreuse, Malicorne the Cold has insulted me!"

"The cold? My name is Malicorne the Windward! I haven't caught a cold!"

"Well, with that voice so hoarse looks like you've caught one."

As an immediate reaction I let out a small laugh. It wasn't intentional and, fortunately, I managed to disguise it to prevent anyone from noticing it.

I can't believe I actually found that funny.

The boy who insulted Louise also stood. When the teacher saw that, she immediately pointed to both of them with her wand and made the two sit down suddenly by a pull.

"Miss Valliere, Mr. Malicorne, stop this unnecessary discussion. Calling your friends by nicknames is not correct."

"They can call me that way, but it's just a joke. On the other hand, but for Louise is nothing but the truth."

Some laughter could be heard somewhere in the room. The teacher made another movement with her wand to made laughter cease. From my position I couldn't see anything, but her next comment provoke me a little desire to stand up and see what she did.

"They will remain in that state for the rest of the class. Well, it's time to begin."

Mrs. Chevreuse waved her wand, which made a few pebbles appear on her desk.

"My runic name is Red clay. This year I will teach you everything that has relation with the magic of the Earth element. Mr. Malicorne, could you tell me the four great elements?"

"Y-Yes, Miss Chevreuse. They are Fire, Water, Earth and Wind."

"And all of them combined with the missing element of the Void form a total of five elements. The Earth occupies a very special position and I don't say that by preference or because I have an affinity with it. If the Earth element didn't exist, we couldn't produce or process metals or build buildings from huge stones."

I had my suspicions, since those able to use magic, the nobles, were at the top of society. However, it seemed that in this place the magic was much more influential than I thought.

"You must remember that the basis of Earth's magic is transmutation."

After saying that, Chevreuse waved her wand over the pebbles and whispered some words, instantly they began to shine brightly. After that brightness disappear, it was possible to appreciate that the pebbles turned into pieces of metal.

"T-That's gold, Miss Chevreuse?"

"No, no. It's only brass. Only Square-class mages can make that level of transmutation. I'm just a Triangle mage."

There was a tone of presumption in her voice.

"I suppose that a Triangle mage is one who can use three elements, right?" I whispered to Louise.

"More or less. It is the amount of elements that can be applied in a spell, they don't have to be necessarily three different elements. It's possible to use the same element twice in a spell."

"What is the benefit?"

"Reinforces it."

"I understand. So, how many elements can you apply to your spells, Miss Louise?"

Louise returned her gaze to the front of the class. There was some frustration in her face.

"Miss Valliere, if you have so much time to talk, why do not you show us your skills?"

"Huh? Me?"

"That's right, try to transmute these pebbles in a metal of your preference."

Louise didn't stand up. I turned to see her just to notice that she seemed worried and nervous.

"Miss Louise, is there something wrong?" I asked.

Suddenly, Kirche spoke.

"It would be better if you don't let her try it."

"For what reason?"

"It would be dangerous."

The majority of the class nodded after that declaration.

"Dangerous? What do you mean?"

"It's your first class with Louise, right?"

"Right, but I heard that she usually put a lot of effort. Now, Miss Valliere, it doesn't matter if you don't succeed on the first try. Failure is something natural for everyone."

"Louise, no!" Kirche shouted.

"I'll do it!" Louise exclaimed as she risen.

Without leaving that nervous expression, she went to the front of the class.

"Miss Valliere, visualize in your mind the metal in which you intend to transmute the pebbles."

Louise nodded and waved her wand as she moved her lips to recite the spell.

While i was spectating that, I noticed something strange, but it wasn't something coming from the pebbles. The other students began to hide under their tables

What are they doing?

I turned my head to see Louise again. As soon as do it, I saw how the pebbles expelled an incredible bright before they exploded. The explosion reached Louise and Chevreuse, throwing both of them against the blackboard.

The students began to scream, while the familiars created a complete chaos. Kirche got up and pointed at Louise.

"That's why she shouldn't have tried the transmutation!"

"Why don't you leave the academy?! At least save us from the shame!"

Chevreuse only was able to do little movements from time to time, so at least that indicated that she was still alive. Louise, on the other hand, was full of soot and her clothes were torn. She, surprisingly unfazed, rose slowly and pulled out a handkerchief to clean her face.

"Looks like I messed up... a little."

"That isn't just a small mess up, Louise the Zero!"

"Your chances of success are and always will be Zero!"

There was no way for me to expect that explosion, much less the power of it. A lot of ideas came to my mind, one of them, something that I thought in that morning.

So that's where the nickname comes from.

In the end, the first idea I thought was, in fact, incorrect. Her nickname it wasn't because she couldn't do magic, the explosions were magic after all. The reason was the constant failures from her.

The rest of the room continued to recriminate his actions. I, on the other hand, kept quiet, completely speechless.


3 AM. I should have go to sleep a few hours ago, but I was entertaining translating this chapters. I hope I didn't mess up with the translation in too many parts.

1. Theory of the runic magic done, now to the practice in the next chapter. Also, there is going to be more characterization, this time with action and not just with thoughts, so look forward it.

2. I thought "Translate this chapter or finish the chapter 48 from the original fic?" I have six thousand words in that chapter and I'm still in the middle of it, so… Yeah, somehow this was easier.

3. Oh, right. This is going to have at least one hundred chapters. Some of them with more than ten thousand words, so… it's going to take time to finish it.

4 .The next chapter it's going to be equivalent of the two first chapters together in length. Also, I want to submit it together with the chapter 48 from the original fic. Why? I don't know, just feel like I want to do it.

5. Finally, thanks to the person who added this to his favorites and the two followers, I appreciate your support.

Thanks for reading.