Halkeginia, a land of fantasy and magic, a place where humans who could manipulate the elements of nature to their advantage with the simple usage of wands, mages, exist.
A land where these people are revered as forms of nearly unquestionable authority, being beneath only the Ruler of their respective countries and "following the same laws" as commoners -those who cannot do magic in their majority- do.
Our story takes place in this Continent, more specifically, in one of Halkeginia's Nations; Tristain, and its most famous establishment; Tristain's Academy of Magic.
A sort of school where Nobles send their children to grow up not only as better mages, but also as better Nobles. Constructed of five towers in the shape of a pentagon, with an extra building in the middle, it was the best place to send a child to learn. The academy promised to make the most incompetent mage into a master of their natural element.
Under this belief, parents from all over the continent got their children in as soon as they could. All of them have huge expectations on the younger generation of Nobles so it's only normal that they are sent to the very best academy in the world!
This causes the entrance exam to be one of the most difficult ones to pass in all the World. A theoretical quiz with a duration of three hours, and then a series of magical tests. But hey, for those that got through that and went in, then they would be under the care of various top tier Mages the Nation has to offer.
Of course, for every give, there's a take. The parents expect their children to graduate from the Academy as excellent magicians, or at the very least, as a Noble worthy of being looked up to. This all changed depending on the family they belonged to, and what their position in their own homes are.
But even with some of the harshest families putting high expectations on their children, this is still technically a school, a place to hang out with friends you make, which would one day become future associates in deals and trading perhaps.
It's the one place no one would be saddened to be in… however, even if someone couldn't be sad about being here, that didn't mean they'd all be happy.
And that could be seen even before classes began, as many spoiled children would have to part ways with their families for months alone for the first time in their lives. Sure, some might be allowed to take one of their personal servants with them, but that couldn't replace the warmth of their actual families.
Headmaster Osmond knew this very well and as such had made sure to ask every Teacher to go easy on the first year students. Some of them no doubt would do that while others would treat them like the spoiled brats they are and that need to be shaped into proper Nobles.
They were once kids too and therefore they have a good idea of how to treat them.
Standing on the inside of the Academy, a wide wall of almost ten meters of height surrounded the whole place, and in front of the wide double door entrance, the old Principal watched as by his side, the teachers of his school stood, all of them ready for the man's speech of introduction.
"Headmaster, if I am being completely honest with you, this is unnecessary." And so came the voice of his newest secretary, recently hired less than a month ago. None of the teachers knew how Osmond found her, but given her beautiful green hair, pretty eyes with glasses that gave some sort of reflection to her precious irises, and a more than attractive body, they didn't have to think too hard on how she got here.
"I know." The older Man replied almost immediately, and upon seeing her look of disappointment, he forced himself to continue; "Miss Longueville, even if the incoming students are Nobles, we are an Academy of Magic… and as far as I'm aware of, it is perceived as something showy and magical."
The newly-arrived secretary didn't finish looking convinced but then sighed. Sure, that's probably the way a child will see it, one who hasn't grown tormented by the dangers of it at least.
Finally, Osmond looked up and saw the sun up to an Angle that, if he was correct, it should be seven am. The hour breakfast is served, and thus the hour students were to get up.
He held his long and thick staff quite tightly as he began murmuring quietly. "Oh, humble vent qui couvre la terre et l'air, permets-moi de planer dans les cieux comme tu le fais. Lévitation!" The tip of his staff glowed momentarily… and his feet separated from the ground swiftly, as if the wind raised him high.
A couple of teachers began murmuring under their breaths about Osmond being a show off, and the many ways the chant could be cut short and how he raised his voice just so the people on the other side of the double doors would hear him.
Said old man did not bother to reply to them as his body elevated over the double doors and over the walls protecting the whole Academy. Soon, he could see the crowd of first year students who looked up at him in some wonder.
They didn't know Levitation could take them so high!
Osmond cleared out his throat and raised his voice as he descended down on the group, being considerably close enough for them to hear him.
"I welcome you all younglings into the Academy, as the new generation for the upcoming years, where you'll grow, as do I as the Headmaster of this Academy, Osmond, will open this gates for you to learn your great potential.."
He swung his staff in the air as he aimed at the double doors, and giving a quick and quiet chant down his breath, a gust of wind practically blasted onto the entrance, forcing the doors opened little by little… until the many students could see a high number of servants ready to guide them all to their rooms and then give each of them an individual guide through the installations of the whole Academy.
One by one, Osmond watched as the many Maids and Butlers approached the students and began helping them, some of them stopped by a personal servant of a few students that were already there doing that specific job.
A small smile formed on the old man's lips as he watched them go in… and began examining them all by the papers of their profiles from the entrance exams results.
Blonde hair and a body language that screamed of vanity, the youngest son of General Gramont, Guiche de Gramont, was easy to spot, especially as he seemed to be flirting with the maid who was clearly trying hard to not get illusioned by his kind words, no Noble would actually make a move on a Commoner after all. He did mediocre in his test to get in, but passing grades are passing grades.
Blonde long hair tied in twin drills and a much more 'Noble' look on her expression, and Montmorency Margarita la Fère de Montmorency became also easy to spot. A girl who boasted about being a Line Mage already… he'd be there to see the validation of her words. Her entrance test sure seemed to agree with her though.
Red hair and beautiful dark colored skin alongside a body blessed by the Founder himself, a girl one wouldn't find in Tristain so easily, Kirche Augusta Frederica von Anhalt Zerbst is the first Germanian to come in exchange here ever since their latest war less than three decades ago. Having gotten the highest grade in the magical test and completely failing the theoretical part of the test, she'd be an interesting addition.
The last that caught his attention was a blue haired small one who-... he really wasn't sure why he had even accepted her into the Academy. Her background is a complete mystery, her family name is seemingly inexistent, and she's only here because of the recommendation of a high ranking Duke from Germania, which sadly allowed her to skip the entrance test.
He had every right to turn her down… but he chose against it. Why? He wasn't entirely sure himself, but deeply, he felt it may have to do with the fact he enjoyed mysteries and what could turn out of them~
In any case, he'd simply have a couple maids keep an eye or two on this Tabitha character and get back to him if something ever came up.
With the number of students going into the Academy, the old man prepared to fully descend down to the ground to have his secretary "help him" back into his office… until he noticed the one that would change his life, and everyone else's, forever.
It began as a small dot in the distance. Then he noticed the dot was moving far faster than he could have predicted it to. Almost by instinct, he began thinking of a spell to take down whatever was heading for his Academy at such a speed.
When it reached a distance where he could see more than a dot, he realized his worries were for nothing. The magical energy incoming was one he had felt many times, mainly in his last years as Knight Commander of King Henry.
He watched as 'The rising star of Tristain', as some had called her back then, arrived towards the Academy's entrance while riding on her Manticore, her Familiar, the woman carrying a beautiful dress on herself while wearing a less than amused expression.
Sitting behind the woman, a young girl had her arms wrapped around her tummy before finally letting go of it and slowly getting off the magnificent beast, which had a suitcase strapped to the lower part of the saddle. The girl was a near perfect copy of her Mother, except with longer, and fluffier, hair… and a much more insecure body language as she removed the tying of her suitcase off the beast's saddle.
Well, Osmond already knew who made the greatest first impression, even if he doubted that this was in any way a part of Karin's plan. The older woman told something to her daughter, at which the girl only nodded before the beast along its Master turned around and flew away.
He remembered reading about her in the list of people who were to get into the Academy.
The only student who scored a perfect in the theoric test to get in, but managed to score a perfect zero in the magical test. Truthfully, he wasn't supposed to let her in after she ruined the zone the test took place… but he didn't want to risk earning Karin's wrath, besides, she scored a hundred in theory, which is something many of these brats underestimated in what would await them in the real world.
Truly, Louise Françoise Le Blanc de la Vallière was a special case, the one in a million he hadn't ever expected to meet… but was glad to have done so. Whether it'd be a good or bad influence she brings here, she'd make his days anything but boring for sure.
After all, she can't be as bad as the reports made her out to be, right?
"Agh-!?" Tripping as she lifted up her suitcase instead of using a Levitation spell for some reason, the girl fell hard on her butt as a couple of servants moved in to help her out, a small chorus of chuckles and giggles of light mockery prevenient from the students watching the scene.
Yep, Louise de la Valliere truly made a first impression that would last until the end of times.
This day began in the worst way possible.
Apparently she had messed up the dates. She could have sworn the entrance was next week, at the start of the sixth month.
She had been sure to ask the Butlers of her home to remind her of it three days before next week so they could help her make her suitcase.
It also didn't help that her Mother had to go out to talk with a lesser Lord about various whinings she had been getting from sudden mass increases in taxes from various villages.
Her father had also been absent, having accompanied his eldest Daughter to her own institution as a back-up teacher, since the Wind teacher there had caught a cold and couldn't give classes.
So of course, when her Mother arrived at five in the morning and found her daughter wasn't only sleeping tightly on her bed still but also had nothing prepared… Well, at least she didn't use a whip to wake her up and tell her that the entrance was today.
She didn't get a chance to grab anything! Just the bare essentials and get on top of her Mother's Manticore to arrive as soon as possible… she even skipped breakfast for lack of time!
Tempest wasn't fond of being called to work so early in the morning, much less having a heavy bag strapped to his body, however if his Master said to do so, then he knew better than to refuse.
Of course, he made sure to growl at his Master's daughter, making her squeal in some panic as she thought he'd actually toss a bite at her.
Then the trip began and Louise swears that if she hadn't held onto her dear Mother for life she would have genuinely fallen off the moment they took off.
The trip was then spent in silence almost all the way through, and Louise wasn't sure if that had been a good thing or a bad thing. Her Mother wasn't even mad at her, she was just disappointed… as usual.
"... Do you have a spare for your free days?" Karin broke the silence at long last, desiring to know if her daughter at the very least could do that much by herself in the little time she had to get her clothing.
Louise nodded slowly after pressing her head against her Mother's back.
"Did you bring your toothbrush?" another nod from her daughter, "Back-up underwear?" a more shy nod, "A thousand Ecu Gold?" again, a nod, "And your medicines?"
She could feel Louise's hold on her waist shaking a little at the question, and Karin was about to sigh deeply and turn around before getting another nod at the last moment.
"... Good." And silence returned right after that.
Mother and Daughter spent a good hour like that before, all the while Louise could feel the stomach of her Mother rumbling as she too skipped breakfast just like her… truly, she didn't have to do this, and part of her wondered if she did it to keep up a good image on the family name… or if Karin really did this to help her out.
Whichever the case was, they finally saw the outskirts of the Academy, and Tempest began lowering in height.
Finally touching the ground, Louise and Karin could see the gaze of practically every student, servant, and teacher, on them. The smaller of the two got off her Mother's Manticore and reached out for her suitcase with slumped shoulders.
"..." Looking at her daughter without a pinch of pity, the woman spoke again, "Louise." her daughter's head jerked up as she unstrapped her things off the Familiar's saddle, and the small girl watched as Karin gave her one last piece of advice. "Don't blow this up."
"..." For her part the young Valliere wasn't sure if to take those words as her Mother "joking" or if to take them as actual criticism. So she did both and pretended to be fine with them; "I-I won't let you down."
"Don't aim so low, Louise." Karin replied softly with a more tired tone.
Looking down at Tempest, the Familiar didn't need to be told anything as it rose itself in the air and took off back to the Valliere state at great speeds. Louise watched them go with still an insecure expression, one she quickly shook her head to replace with a confident one.
This is the start of her true life as a Mage. All she did before was mere training!
She'd make her entire family proud!
Holding her suitcase, she lifted it with both arms and-
"Agh-!" Immediately fell back onto her butt at the thing's weight.
Maybe she added a few too many things in it, and as the servants approached to help her and she began hearing the sounds of her classmates making fun of her, it became clear that she already began blowing things up… and she had yet to try casting a spell.
What an excellent start of her student life.
"Guh!"
What a horrible way to start his High-School life.
Lying on his side while covering his head with his arms to avoid any blow there, in fetal position in the deepest part of an alleyway, and several of his classmates kicking him like there was no tomorrow.
He didn't have to be here, he could have skipped this all too easily.
"Hey, isn't your sis that black-haired whore who works in that underground pub?"
He just had to let them blackmail her. She probably deserved it.
He didn't remember the number of times he's walked near her room only to cough at the smell of tobacco. At some point he began pondering if it was only that or something else, something less legal…
She needed money, and if she asked for more than her allowance from their parents they were going to start suspecting about her "hobbies".
No work place that paid more than the stupid things' worth would allow an underage to work for them, so she had to really seek out with her 'friends'. One of them certainly had connections to a place with good pay and all she had to do was serve drinks and sometimes be a waitress… while wearing one of the skimpiest outfits he had ever seen in his life outside of actual adult videos and mangas.
He nearly thought she was a stripper the first time he walked in on her wearing it!
Thankfully, their parents work from morning to night, letting them be alone for practically all day and do as they pleased… even getting work in places where they're not even supposed to be at.
She begged him, dearly so, to not tell their Father and Mother; she promised to be a 10/10 student, to leave that place when the time came, and to go get some help for herself.
Of course, he believed in her… and she hasn't made any progress in the last 6 months, and her grades are just a tid above average.
He had entered High-School, the same one where his Sister was a year ahead of him… and some of his classmates of course had to recognize her. Truthfully, it'd be a good lesson for her to realize actions have consequences.
They'd probably demand some money in exchange of not telling anyone… or they'd take her away from prying eyes and make her theirs, doing whatever they wanted without a cinch of mercy, pure teenage hormones that lead them to going into that pub to see her in the first place.
And no matter how much his sister deserved a strike of reality, she was still his older sibling, and no way would he let her on her own. She'd do the same for him, right?
"AGH!" He got another hard kick on his stomach before his classmate spat on him while holding a small stack of bills in his hand.
"You said you'd give us ten thousand Yen each week and there's barely five thousand here." The greedy and perverted boy spoke with disdain in his voice, "I suppose you really want your sis kicked out of the school after all…"
The eyes of the kicked boy widened as he sat up with fury in his eyes, a fury that soon calmed down as a pain in his gut forced him to remember his position. "... Just give me three days, I'll have the rest of it."
The eyes of his three classmates turned to each other before shrugging with casualness. Guess they were fine with this.
"Alright, Saito Hiraga, we'll be waiting then~" One of them began and threw one last kick at him, this one hitting one of his knees and making Saito groan in pain before the group walked out of the alleyway, leaving their classmate behind.
With the three of them gone, Saito finally let tears dwell on his eyes. Tears of pain from the beating he got, tears of impotence of being unable to do anything about this situation now that he got in it, tears of despair from pondering where to get said cash, and tears of rage.
He had better things to do, better things to invest that money, dammit!
He had been starting to save for a better laptop!
Managing to put a hand against the wall, he slowly rose to his feet-quite painfully so-and put and then leaned his whole body against it, gasping and then panting deeply.
"..." His gaze downwards, Saito didn't need her to speak to know someone she's at the end of the alley, watching him with insecurity of what to do. How did he know she's there?
Only she reeks of having smoked so hard and so shortly after school. It was a scent he was so used to.
As Saito walked out of the alleyway, he felt her wrapping one of his arms around her shoulder to help him stand better.
"C'mon, let's go home. I already called for a taxi." Setsuna Hiraga spoke softly as the siblings waited by the sidewalk, near the alley and as far from public eyes as possible.
They didn't say anything, mostly deciding to remain quiet and wait for their transport to arrive.
It didn't take long for Saito to start groaning as the adrenaline wore off and now only the pain remained; "I think I am mature enough to look after myself, you know?" she tried to play it off as though her brother was at fault.
"And I think we both know-ngh… I ain't letting you deal with this alone." He replied with a bit of a smirk, causing Setsuna to rub her temples. Her brother had definitely watched too much manga and anime when growing up. But at the same time, she supposed it was one of the reasons she could trust him with her secrets.
"... Monday, I'll start going to help sessions, promise."
He had heard that far too many times now, so Saito simply nodded mindlessly. He wanted to think this time was for real, he wanted to believe she was actually going to do as she said and start little by little helping herself out.
But… deep down, he knew how wrong he was.
"... Setsuna." The girl in question turned to his younger brother, "Want to watch Sonic X when we get home?"
In turn, he got a stare of nearly a minute before the black haired girl chuckled quietly, "Sonic X, really?"
"Hey, it's a cool show, and it portrays one of the best versions of Sonic."
The girl pondered on the words of her brother. Truly, almost no one in the school was Team Sega, and those that were turned out to be the loners of the school. No doubt Saito had no one to recur to~
"Fine, fine~ Just this one time, Sai~" The boy nearly cringed at the horrible nickname. He didn't have anything against Naruto or its fans, but holy… that character ended up more butchered than their chances of a bright future.
And then they spent the next ten minutes talking about everything except the problem at hand. Why talk of it when it was something they'd rather not think about?
It'll still be there no matter how much they beat their heads over it. They just have to pretend it's not there publicly and deal with it when no one, their parents especially, is looking.
After all, it made them much happier to just ignore the problem at hand and be happy for the moment. They sure earned it.
Sadly, it was also this specific reason that they'd never be able to solve any of their problems and never have to deal with them ever again.
Truly, the start of a horrible first year.
But hey, it couldn't get much worse… right?
Hello, people of Internet, Shadic here to proclaim I am still alive and writing a fanfic instead of the Novel I already planned out.
What can I say? When you make a plan, sometimes it just goes in the opposite direction.
First of all, I can imagine some questions some of you, those that know me, might have, so let's check em out.
"Where did this come from?" Honestly, I have no idea, I just know that one day I found out about FoZ via a Hyperdimension crossover, fell in love with the world building and Louise, so I then went to the series solo fanfics and then proceeded to fall in love with the characters, the dynamics, Tabitha, Derflinger, etcetera.
Then I checked the manga... and almost every panel made me cringe badly. XD
No, seriously, I tried to continue reading it, but every time I went on I just couldn't help but want to smack Louise, Saito, and even Derflinger who seemed like a real cool comic relief. Afterward I checked the wiki and what happened after the 16th Manga chapter just cause I couldn't continue... and realize it didn't go all that bad, and yes, I know what happened to its original Author, so no, I don't want to say his work is crap or anything of the like. If anything, I respect the man.
He created an isekai that caused a revolution if you ask me, because after this one, the rest of isekai's followed a similar formula, MC is teleported to other world, gains an OP power of destiny or just hacks (althought Saito's seems a little more balanced sometimes), harem that follows the MC to the end of times, almost every male other than the MC is evil or not a threat to the harem, etcetera.
This is THE show that started this trend as far as I'm aware of, and I gotta give my respects to mister Noboru Yamaguchi for it. It was a good show for the standards of its time because this seemed like something fresh, and besides, the show was a comedy, and we know Japanese tend to exaggerate it to its outmost... which I think is my problem here. Cause this here had the potential to be so much more... and I began thinking how, and then those thoughts didn't let me sleep, and then I began RPing with my own take on the show... and now I had this urge to make it a fanfic.
One thing certainly leads to another, huh?
So yeah, I wanted to try my own take into FoZ, see if I can put add a grain of sand to what this fandom has to offer.
If you're expecting a retelling of the Original Story then you'd be wrong up to a certain point, characters aren't simply more than what their template says, but, you'll see when we get there. Thanks for reading my work, and I'll see you next time I manage to upload a chapter, and hopefully I won't leave this project behind. xD
That is all for my part, have a wonderful day people of the internet. ^_^