"An excellent familiar, Miss Zerberst. Next, Louise de la Valliere."
Up stepped a young girl with pink hair. She was not as developed as many of her peers, both in physical and magical terms. Every spell she ever tried always ended in explosions. Her peers quickly learned of this and began to give her a cruel nickname, "Zero," or at least cruel in her eyes. Not that she let that stop her from trying, however. She tried endlessly, pouring hours and hours into figuring out what she was doing wrong; why couldn't she do any magic?
She stepped up to the summoning circle, unable to stop the slight tremble in her hand or the sweat on her brow. She'd show them she'd show them all! She'll prove them all wrong. She will show them that she is a real mage. And when they see the familiar that she would summon, they will grovel at her feet and acknowledge her for the great mage that she was. That she hoped she was, knew she was, had to be.
A deep breath, then "My name is Louise Francoise le Blanc de la Valliere. Pentagon of the five elemental powers, heed my summoning and bring forth my familiar," Louise intoned with a flourish of her hand.
An explosion followed, and out of the smoke...nothing.
"What was that?!"
"Good job, ZERO!"
"Wow, your familiar suits you, Zero!"
"Please, allow me to do the ritual again. There must have been some mistake!" Louise said to Colbert.
"Louise, this is a sacred ritual..."
"Please!"
"...Alright."
With a deep breath, Louise chanted again, "I, Louise Francoise le Blanc de la Valliere, in the name of the Five Pentagon Powers, as is my fate, summon a Familiar!"
Another explosion, then...nothing. Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing nothing nothing...
"Louise...I must insist."
"Please! Please, let me try again. Please, one more time!"
"Louise..."
"Please!"
"Very well, one more time, Louise."
Her whole world was crumbling down around her. She just wanted to be a mage, to prove that she could do magic, that she wasn't a zero. A nobody, a nothing, left to go home in shame. This was her only chance, her last chance.
"My servant that existed somewhere in this vast universe,"
Please
"my divine, beautiful, wise, powerful servant, heed my call,"
Please, someone, help me
"I wish from the very bottom of my heart,"
Save me
"and add to my guidance and appear!"
Another explosion.
Ayeka Masaki Jurai was folding laundry. She was never one for doing chores, though it grated her pride as a princess that a guest would burden the host so. That is what she was in the Masaki household. Just some time ago, she was hunting the great space pirate Ryoko. Now, she was folding laundry with said pirate lounging about just a few paces from her. And who could have guessed that both of them could love the same man?
Tenchi Masaki, the young man who won her heart, housing her when her ship crashed, caring for her when she was injured, saving her when she was in trouble. He listened to her, he cared for her, he didn't leave when she needed him the most. Just thinking about him sent her heart pounding.
She lovingly sighed into the shirt she had in her hand. Sending a glare towards the sleeping Ryoko, she put the shirt back into the pile. And that monstrous woman thought that she could corrupt Tenchi with her savage ways. Ha! As if he would fall for a woman that slacked off! Getting drunk and leaving a mess behind for poor Tenchi to clean up(Even though she got just a drunk a well, she was tidy drunk, not a messy one like Ryoko).
A voice called out in the kitchen, "Lunch is almost ready! Would somebody mind getting Tenchi; he said he was working at the temple today," Sasami, Ayeka's younger sister said.
This statement caused Ayeka to perk up. An excuse to see Tenchi? She would be a fool to pass this up.
Ayeka made haste to the front door, and just as her hand closed on the doorknob, another hand encased hers. It was Ryoko's, and she was thinking the same thing.
"He's mine!" Ryoko said.
"Don't you even think about it!"
"Get out of my way!"
"Never! I won't let Tenchi be hassled by a ruffian such as you!"
"Then catch me if you can, PRINCESS!" Ryoko cried out before phasing through the door, rushing towards the temple.
Ayeka was now left to fiddle with the door, jerking it open violently. She tore through the yard, pouring strength into her legs as she attempted to close the distance.
Ayeka saw Ryoko glance behind, eyes widening when she noticed how quickly Ayeka was closing the distance between them.
"Darn, how'd you get here so quickly princess," Ayeka just barely heard up ahead.
"Never underestimate a Princess of Jurai, Ryoko!" Ayeka was huffing now. She wasn't used to this type of exertion, but if it means showing up Ryoko, she'd give it her all.
They were nearing the temple complex now. Ryoko was just ahead of Ayeka, though the distance was closing rapidly. Unbeknownst to both girls, a green portal was opening up on the steps leading up to the temple.
Ryoko flew ahead of Ayeka as she charged up the stairs. She wouldn't let Ryoko get away with this! She put more effort into scaling the stair as fast a possible, skipping steps and speeding up to best that Ryoko.
She suddenly felt her forward foot sink into the ground, reminding her of the sand at the beach. But why would there be sand on the temple steps? She was struck with vertigo as she sunk further downwards into... a portal? Was this one of Washu's tricks? Her foot was stuck fast in the portal, with the rest of her body slipping further and further down.
Why is it always me this has to happen to?
"Washu, cut it out!" She was almost entirely in the portal. Her heart was pounding like a drum; she couldn't get out!
"Heeeeyyyyy! AAAAHHHHHHHHH!" The portal had swallowed her whole. Swirls of light surrounded her, confusing her already frazzled mind. She was floating in this strange space; time seemed to have no meaning here. She didn't know how long she was in place, but already her heart was racing. Reason and rationality had left her a long time ago; now, there was only terror and panic.
She wanted out! LET ME OUT! Let me go! LET ME GO LET ME GO LET ME GO LET ME G
Suddenly she was falling; she couldn't contain the scream building in the throat before she hit the cool, rough surface. For a second, she couldn't breathe as smoke filled her lungs.
Ayeka coughed and waved the smoke from her eyes. With her vision restored, she began looking at the unfamiliar surroundings. Where could she be? This couldn't be Washu's doing, could it? She wouldn't be one to create such an elaborate scheme. Oh, who was she kidding? Of course she would, that madwoman would stop at nothing if she could make someone's day miserable.
"Curse you, Washu." She secretly hoped that Washu slipped on a banana. Then face plant into a soup filled with chili, fall into a lake, and have her rear end get eaten by sharks.
Ayeka was shaken out of her fantasy by the sound of voices. She began to truly notice her surroundings, which included the beings around her. They seem to come in all shapes and sizes, from a blue reptile to a large brown furry creature that could be a relative of Ryo-Ohki. Where ever she was, it seems to have a large variance of fauna. The citizens of this planet also wore large dark cloaks with pins on them with a strange symbol on them.
Her attention shifted to the two who were making the noise, a bald man and a little girl with pink hair.
"Please! Let me summon again! There has to be a mistake!"
"Absolutely not!" He certainly sounded like the authority figure here, "The familiar summoning ritual is a sacred ceremony; what you summon is to be your familiar for life."
Ayeka cleared her throat, "Excuse me, sir, could you please tell me where exactly I am?"
"But...but they're just a commoner."
"What's done is done."
A tic mark formed on Ayeka's forehead, "Excuse me."
"But..."
"Louise, please, this has gone on long enough. Please complete the summoning ceremony."
Another tic mark formed, "Excuse me."
"With them?"
"Yes, Louise, now please complete the familiar binding ritual."
"EXCUSE ME!" Ayeka finally got their attention. Both looked surprised by her presence like she wasn't even there!
"Ah, yes, sorry ma'am. I was just discussing something with one of my students. What do you wish to know." The balding man said, adjusting his glasses, which had been blown off by Ayeka's yell.
"Well, first of all, I would like to know where I am."
"You are in the Tristan Acadamy for Magic."
"And where is that?"
"In Tristan."
"And where.."
"Enough!" The pink-haired girl had rudely interrupted Ayeka's conversation with the balding man. "This is ridiculous, you commoner, stop asking such silly questions! You should be honored to be summoned by a mage!" Ayeka couldn't believe this little girl's rudeness! And what's with this commoner thing? She was far from common!
"Just you are you to tell me what to do?"
"Your soon-to-be master, that's who!"
"Master?! Are you delusional? Why would I serve an insolent, boorish little girl like you?"
"INSOLENT, BOORISH! LITTLE GIRL!" Ayeka didn't think someone so young could have a face so red. "How. Dare. You." The little girl drew out a stick with a violent flourish. Pointing it at Ayeka's forehead the little girl intoned, "Pentagon of the Five elemental powers, grant you blessings upon this CREATURE and bind it as my FAMILIAR!" Ayeka's brows rose in confusion. What was that supposed to do? So confused was Ayeka that when the little girl darted towards her lips, Ayeka just stood still like a fool.
All of a sudden she felt a pair of lips on hers, their warmth startling her. She'd never been kissed before; is it normal for electricity to shoot through her body. Was her pulse supposed to quicken; oh dear she was blushing, wasn't she? Was this what kisses were like? Would this happen when she kissed Tenchi? Wait a minute... her first kiss was for Tenchi!
She made to push the impudent little imp off of her, but the ruffian already moved away. She had an irritating smirk on her face that put Ayeka on edge. There was something wrong, what was it that they were talking about earlier?
A piercing pain ripped through her left hand. It was like it was on fire, and it was spreading throughout her body. Pulsing waves of pain originated from her left hand, intensifying until her body let loose a scream. It felt like two forces were warring within her, an invader facing the defender. It was like a virus, spreading throughout her body, and her body's immune system was fighting it off. The resulting clash between the two resounding through her body in the form of immense torture. Then, as soon as the agony reached its peak, it ended. Cool relief spread through her body as she investigated the origin of the event she just experienced.
Her eyes widened as she noticed the strange inscriptions that marred her skin. She fiercely scrubbed the skin on her hand, but it wouldn't come off! It seems to be...inscribed in her skin.
"What did you do to me!?" She asked the miscreant who caused all this. Said miscreant let out a triumphant laugh and the bald man sighed.
"Well done, Louise, you failed the summon servant ritual three times, but you managed to complete the servant binding ritual once. Now, everyone returns to your dorms, the familiar summoning ritual has ended." Familiar binding ritual? Familiar summoning? Was this some sort of cult that she got wrapped up in?
Ayeka watched as the group dispersed, or rather, flew away. It somewhat reminded her of the way Jurians used their power to fly. Though in her opinion, Jurians did it more elegantly. Jurai, her home planet; she hasn't been there in ages. She wondered how far this world was from her own. Looking up at the sky, she searched for her home planet. The two moons reflected in her eyes as she realized how far away from home she was, both of her homes.
Louise looked at her new familiar with disappointment. She had asked for a beautiful, divine, powerful familiar! Instead, she gets some random commoner. She might as well have summoned nothing at all. And the attitude of this familiar acting like she was royalty! Ha! As if a commoner could even equate to the lowest noble.
She noticed her familiar looking around her room. Probably admiring the room, of course, this simple room would be too much for a commoner. They'd probably never seen something so grand in their life.
She turned around as her familiar cleared her throat, "And where are my accommodations?" Her familiar even dared to cross her arms.
"Hmph, over there." The hay that the servants put in her room was meant for a creature, but it would do. Did commoners even need a bed?
The familiar looked at the pile of straw with a confused look. Louise went back to undressing and getting ready for bed. Maybe she could get her familiar to do the jobs that the servants do. Why bother with servants when you have a loyal familiar right there waiting to serve. That's all a commoner familiar would be good for anyway. Why didn't she get a dragon like Tabitha; it would be grander and serve her better than some measly commoner. She could get one of them off the street; they weren't unique. Even that Kirche got something better. She didn't want to admit that it was because she couldn't do magic, that a commoner would be the best thing to describe her. It couldn't be, it must be a mistake!
She was interrupted from her thoughts by her familiar, "Are you serious?"
Louise turned to face her familiar, "Is there a problem?"
"Yes, there is. Do you really expect me to lay in hay!"
"Of course."
Her familiar's eyes widened, "I am NOT some animal!"
Ha. "No, you are my familiar. Be glad you are even getting this; with such defiance you've shown your master so far, I'm starting to reconsider allowing you such a privilege."
"Privilege!? And what is this nonsense about master and familiars? You haven't even told me what all this is about, what have you done to my hand, how did you bring me here, why did you bring me here, and how in Tsunami is it a privilege that I have to sleep in a pile of HAY!"
Louise sighed, " I see I've summoned an imbecile. All right, I will tell you in a way that even an uneducated peasant like you can understand. You have been summoned as a familiar, a being meant to serve their master until the end of their days. Familiars are eyes and ears for their masters, but it seems that isn't the case for you," Louise studied her familiar, "And they are supposed to protect their master with their life, though I doubt you can do very well in that category. You're more like a glorified personal servant. Those runes on your hand are proof of our contract."
"Wh-wh-WHAT!" Her familiar's eyes widened to the size of dining plates, her jaw dropping to the floor in a fashion that pleased Louise.
Some time passed before her familiar pulled herself together, "S-s-so, what you're saying in that you kidnapped me to enslave me as your trophy? Why, why me, and what power in the universe gives you the right to do this?!"
"My divine right as a mage of the founder Brimir, and I didn't ask for you! I would have gladly traded you for something better!" Louise couldn't believe the audacity, like this commoner could even understand the trouble she had to go through to get to this point.
Suddenly her familiar appeared in front of her and fiercely gripped her shirt. Louise didn't even see her move!
"Now see here little girl," how rude! "I don't know what kind of dribble you are using as a justification, and I don't particularly care. Now, I want you to take these things off of me," Her familiar gestured to the runes on her left hand, "and send me back home. If you don't do that, I will become very angry, and I might do something that you won't like at all." W-w-was her familiar threatening her?! Louise couldn't believe it; as if she could be threatened by a commoner. But..the commoner moved so fast. It would take time to cast a spell that could subdue the commoner if it didn't end up in an explosion.
"Th-T-They weren't meant to be taken off. H-Hey, let me go, let me go now familiar! I command you!" Her familiar's face became more and more agitated. And Louise, for the first time, started to fear her familiar just a tiny bit.
"And why should I," Her familiar's face was now so close to hers that she could see just how red her familiar's eyes were.
"Because, because, because...because you must!"
Her familiar let out an intimidating growl, "That's not a reason!"
"What other reason do you need?!"
Her familiar's eyes looked murderous now. The commoner walked over to the window with Louise, who struggled and wiggle in hopes that she could get out of its grip. Oh, why did she have to leave her wand on her desk?
"What are you doing?!"
Her familiar didn't say a word, just opening the window and holding Louise against the frame. She could feel the cold wind against her back as the only thing between Louise and the outside was the stone that made up the tower. One push from her familiar would send her over the edge to the hard ground below.
"Let me go!"
"Take these things off of me and send me home!"
"I can't!"
"Why not? You were the one who put these on me, you're the one who brought me here. You should know how to put me back!"
"I don't know! I-I-I don't know how! I just- I, I was just, I just want a familiar. I-I-I just want to prove I can do magic! That I'm not a zero!"
The world stood still, her familiar was just staring at her. Watching her as she broke down in sobs. She was a Valliere she's supposed to follow the rule of steel. She wasn't supposed to cry, yet here she was, sniveling like a child at the first sign of adversity. She was a disgrace. To be killed by her own familiar.
Her familiar had an unreadable expression on her face. Time passed by at a snail's pace; each second Louise's trembling and crying got worse and worse. Finally, after an eternity, her familiar let out a sigh and walked over to Louise's bed before putting her down.
Louise quickly scrambled to her wand, pointing it at her familiar and trying to hide the fierce tremble in her hands. However, her familiar had her back turned now. Facing the doorway her familiar's shoulders were hunched, and her hand was on the door, fist clenched, head hanging. The only sound now was Louise's harsh breathing.
Eventually, her familiar turned around to face her. There was a melancholy look in the familiar's eyes, and if Louise was any less scared, she could have sworn that the familiar looked sorry.
Calmly, her familiar went over to the pile of hay and sat in it. Her eyes never left Louise, as did Louise's eyes never leave the familiars.
"I.." Louise startled, firmly pointing her wand at her familiar, "I'm..sorry, for scaring you so." Was her familiar..apologizing? "Please," Her familiar made a motion towards Louise's bed, "Rest, It's, it's been a long day." Louise didn't move.
"Would you be more comfortable if I left?"
"N-n-n-n-no!" Louise couldn't show weakness, not after the humiliation that happened earlier. She was in control now; her familiar had acknowledged her authority. Now she needs to capitalize on that opportunity.
She made sure to pour all the confidence into her voice as she said, "No, stay there. I will go to bed, and we will eat breakfast in the morning." She was reluctant to put her wand down and even more reluctant to turn her back to her familiar. However, her familiar stayed in the pile of hay as snuck glances while she undressed. Louise got into bed, making sure her wand was in arm's reach just in case. But her familiar remained in the same spot, gazing off to the side with a somber expression.
Louise had some trouble sleeping that night. But when she finally went to sleep, those red eyes haunted her dreams.