As I was doing Louise's washing, I heard a faint voice.

"Sir…"

"Hmm?" I said, looking around.

"Sir." I felt a poke on my cheek, and turned to see a tiny Alphan hovering next to me.

"Ah!" I jumped back in shock.

"I told you I had a surprise for when you woke up." Alphan giggled.

"Oh, I see…" I said contemplatively, until I realised. "Wait, isn't this going to drain my mana?"

"As a matter of fact, no." Alphan said. "You stretched your magical abilities enough to be able to do this without consuming your mana, which is good. Next is to let other people see us."

"Oh, I get it. It's like a level up system. As I get better at magic, and stretch myself further, I'll be able to do more cool things with my magic outside of battle."

"Exactly."

"Awesome! Now, when I'm tired of dealing with Louise, I can talk to someone besides Siesta. If she's working I wouldn't want to be a nuisance, after all."

"Of course."

"Anyway, Alphan. I'll finish this up, and we can chat whilst I get it done."

"Great."

So we talked as I washed Louise's clothes. We mainly went over strategies, but we also did some people-watching, and talked about the Big Guy of the Super Quant team.

"I really hope I don't have to summon him to knock some sense into a noble." I said.

"I hope so, too. There's no telling what the collateral damage would be."

"Let's just pray it doesn't come to that." The big guy was strong, and I wasn't sure if I could handle that much power at the level I was at.

After I had finished the laundry, I saw a group of students walk out of the main building, with their familiars. One had an armadillo, another had some kind of purple reptile, and some even wackier creatures for the other students. They looked over at me, and immediately started talking excitedly to each other, probably about my duel with Guiche, and how I was some unranked noble. A lot of students were theorising about my true identity. My gaze returned to their familiars.

"I'm in the same boat as all of those guys, huh?" I sighed.

"Not exactly. You have your magic." Alphan reminded.

"That's true. Thanks Alphan."

"You're very welcome sir. Now, I should be getting back. The layers are in the base alone, and I really don't want them to trash it."

"Smart. See you later."

"Bye, sir."

As I wondered when I would be able to get home, I felt a sharp tug on my ear, causing me to flail my arms about, and heard Louise say, "How much longer are you going to spend on laundry, instead of escorting me to class?! You really are useless."

"Hey, let go! Ow!"

She let go of my ear, and ordered, "When the laundry is hung up, come to the classroom immediately!"

"Fine, fine." I said, but then I had a dastardly idea. After she had turned to walk away, I activated "Spark Blaster", and shot one round into her cloak, one into her shirt, and one into her skirt. I would bide my time, and then my revenge would be sweet.

In the class, the teacher, Mrs Chevreuse, was going over the types of magic, and what it meant to combine magic elements. I found out that mages who could only use one element at a time were Dot mages, two at a time were Line mages, three at a time were Triangle mages, and four at a time were Square mages. The girl who stood up to answer the question was Montmorency, the one who Guiche had been cheating on. She was in the row behind me and above, like in a lecture theatre. As she sat down, I realised the chance that was presented to me, so I leaned over a slight bit, to try and view the unviewable. "Just… a little… more…" I thought, but that was stopped when I felt a shoe drive itself into my stomach. I looked at the foot, and along the leg, up the torso, to the face, and saw a displeased Louise, with her arms crossed. Buzzkill!

"I believe most of you can handle one element at a time." Mrs Chevreuse said.

With that, the bitchy red-haired girl from before stood up, and said, "Mrs. Chevreuse, I hate to say this, but a student that can't even use one element, with a success rate of zero percent, is among us." All eyes fell on Louise. Even mine. In that moment, I understood.

I smirked evilly, as I concocted a plan in my head, remembering the static charges I placed on Louise.

After class, Louise and I were walking through the hallway, when I decided to put my plan into action.

"I finally understand why they call you Louise the Zero. Zero elements, Zero magical success…"

Which is technically not true, since she was able to summon me.

"But you're still a noble! How wonderful!" I said, swaying as I walked.

I saw Louise's shoulders tense, and I knew I'd riled her up, and had her exactly where I wanted her.

"You know, I could try and help you with your magic." I said. Louise turned around at that.

"Really?" She asked.

"Sure, it's worth a shot. Although our magic types may not be compatible, due to their different origins. Let's try anyway." I said, holding out my arm with the duel disk on it, hoping she would take the bait.

She reached out, and touched the duel disk. In my head, I jumped for joy. Finally, a taste of her own medicine!

As she touched it, I felt a slight shock, and knew that my plan had worked.

"Aaaahhh!" I heard her scream. I closed my eyes, wanting to savour the moment.

As I opened them, I saw a sight that I will never forget. Louise's hair had completely frizzed up, she had anime burn marks on her skin, her clothes were very slightly burnt, and she was smoking. I dropped to the floor with laughter. I was rolling around, clutching my stomach. I actually started crying with how hard I was laughing. It was bloody amazing!

I laughed so hard that I didn't register the spike in killer intent from right in front of me.

"This familiar… HOW DARE YOU!"

"Ah." I said, immediately ceasing my laughing fit. "Did I make you angry? Or worse?"

"One meal taken away for each second you just laughed!"

"Eh? That's like five meals!"

"No exceptions!"

My stomach growled as I knelt by the table, completely famished. True to her word, Louise didn't let me eat lunch or dinner, and I really felt it. I didn't even have the energy to activate a spell to feed myself.

"Uhhhhhhh…" I sighed.

"No."

"I didn't even say anything."

"You've only missed two meals. You still have three left."

"You're counting?"

"Nightgown."

I put it on her, and she walked towards the window. I crawled over to my bed, tired from the lack of sustenance, and mumbled, "For someone who's a Zero at everything, you'd think she'd be a bit more accommodating to those around her. Damn flat-chested noble."

I instantly regretted not saying that in my head, as I felt the killer intent spike a few feet away from me. I mechanically turned my head towards her, and saw that I had made a big mistake.

"Two more meals missed! Plus you will sleep outside tonight!"

"Ehhhhhh?" Crap.

As I lay on my bed of straw in the hallway, I sneezed.

"I think I'll freeze to death before I starve to death."

I was shivering, waiting for the sweet release of death.

I heard footsteps come towards me, and looked up, to see Siesta.

"Mr. Carlton?"

I jumped up out of my bed, and hugged her with everything I could. I was weak from the lack of food, and it was showing.

"What's wrong, Mr. Carlton?"

"Please, Siesta. Food…" I managed to get out, before the world went black.

I awoke when I smelt the most delicious aroma enter my nose. It was easily the greatest smell since I'd got to this world.

I opened my eyes when I realised what it was. Food!

I grabbed a spoon, and ate like my life depended on it. At this point, it felt as though it did. As I shovelled it down, I felt my strength returning, and I realised that the reason I hadn't blacked out earlier than I did was because my body was using my mana to try and stave off my hunger until I could get proper food. Magic really has its perks. Once I was back at max mana, I was still hungry, so I kept eating, and I finally felt well enough to make conversation.

"So they have food this good all the time? No wonder they have no humility."

"It's just the leftovers from the snobby nobles, but eat as much as you want, Our Sword!" the head chef said.

"Our Sword? What does that mean?" I asked.

"That's right! Like us, you're a peasant, but you have amazing power, unlike the snobby nobles, and even used it to put that snobby noble boy in his place. You're the pride of the peasants, Our Sword!"

"You know, my power is magic, although I am still a peasant."

"I don't care what your power is! It's what you use it for that matters. You used it to stand up for yourself after you'd done a good deed. I'm sure you would stand up for us, so I'll stand up for you."

"Wow, thanks! If you guys ever need any help, let me know, and I'll see what I can do."

The head chef let out a hearty laugh. "As expected from Our Sword! Selfless, with the needs of the many on his mind. Completely different from those stupid nobles!"

I took another bite. "Man, this is really good! I've never had a stew this delicious!"

The head chef came and roughly slapped me on the back, "When it comes to me, Marteau the head chef, anything will end up tasting exquisite! This is my own magic!"

"It's truly something else."

"Carlton, you really are a good man! I like you, Our Sword!"

I turned to Siesta, and she smiled at me. Damn, that smile could light up the night sky!

"Please come again. Every one of them is a fan of yours, Mr. Carlton." Siesta said.

I sweatdropped a bit at that.

"Thanks to this, I know that I'll be able to survive here. But my blackout the other day was kind of scary," I said.

"Mr. Carlton, when you had fallen unconscious, we were all worried about you, but the doctors said that you were just exhausted from overworking yourself. Please be careful." Siesta asked.

"Sure thing," I said, giving her a thumbs up.

Feeling a bit adventurous, I decided to take a leap.

"Say, Siesta? Are you a fan of mine?"

"Eh?" Siesta said, taken aback, with a blush on her face.

"Well, it's just that I would like to have someone as cute as you as my fan." I said, hugging her. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to be careful. Goodnight, Siesta. Thanks for dinner!" I waved, walking away.

"Goodnight Mr. Carlton," she said, snapping out of her daze, and giving me a slight bow.

I walked back to the hallway with my hands in my pockets, thankful that I had told Siesta how much I appreciate what she's done for me. "Ah, she's amazing," I said, as I approached my bed.

I heard a noise from the end of the hallway, and opened my eyes to see a large red lizard with a flame on its tail. I instantly recognised it as the familiar of that bitchy redhead. It then started crawling towards me, very quickly, might I add.

As I turned to run away, it jumped up, and headbutted me in the back, sending me to the floor. It then grabbed my jacket in its mouth, and carried me away, walking on its hind legs. I struggled to get out of its grasp, but it proved to be stronger than me, as I was taken away from my bed of straw.

When the lizard finally put me down, I realised that I was in someone's room. It was dark, and there were only a few candles lit, so I couldn't really see much.

"Welcome," I heard a familiar feminine voice say.

I looked at her, and recognised her as the bitchy redhead. "You're…"

"Welcome to my room, Carltonjohn Son. Or was it Carl Tonjohnson?"

"Just call me Carlton."

"Alright. Carlton." She said, putting on a seductive pose.

At this second, I realised what she was wearing. She was in her nightclothes! And they were the most frustrating nightclothes I'd ever seen. Her shirt was tied around her bust, but open going down, and she had on panties. They were purple, and I swear to Holactie, had I never met her before, I would've jumped her. Thankfully, I remembered her personality, so I was able to restrain myself from my urges. With extreme difficulty, might I add.

"I know this is something that shouldn't be. But my runic name is Kirche the Fever. I tend to burn like a torch," she continued.

"Uh, I see." I managed to sputter out, trying to control myself, and thankfully, succeeding.

"You still don't understand? I'm in love with you!" Suuuure. Didn't I see you with some third year like three days ago? "Love always comes so suddenly."

"It's certainly sudden." I said. Before now, this girl had never spoken a word to me, and now she's in love with me? This was screaming something at me, which I will omit for the sake of being proper, but it rhymes with 'door'. And 'floor'. And 'shore'.

"You looked so handsome when you defeated Guiche! Your flames radiated with my heart, and Kirche the Fever became Kirche the Passion…" She leaned in towards me, looking to steal a kiss.

"U-um…" I sputtered.

"Kirche!" I heard a new voice say.

She stopped leaning towards me, and turned to the voice. "Oh my, Styx?" It was the guy that she was with when I was running from Louise on my first day here.

"I came by because you didn't show up at our promised time."

"Then change that appointment to two hours from now." Eh? Appointment?! OK, that's it. I need to get out of here.

"That's not the deal we had!" Styx shouted.

Kirche pointed her wand at him, and the flame from one of the candles rose up into a fire snake, and shot itself at Styx, causing him to fall. Wait, fall?!

It was then that I realised that he wasn't at the door. He was at the window, probably using some levitation spell to hover. Awesome. Except for the fire snake part.

"That was…" I began.

"Just a friend. Right now," Kirche turned to me, "The one I love the most is…"

"Kirche!" I heard a new voice say. Looking at the window, I saw a different guy, this time a blondie, who looked pissed. "Who is that man?! Tonight, I want you to burn up with me…"

He was also sent tumbling by a fire snake.

"Another friend?"

"That's right." Kirche turned back to me, and leaned in. "In any case, the night is short, and I don't want to waste any time with you!" Eh? At any rate, I need to get out of here! My hormones are kicking into overdrive, and I need to vacate before I do something I regret!

"Kirche!" I heard three people say in unison.

"What are you doing?! You said that you didn't have any particular lover!" they said, fighting to get past each other.

"Manica… Ajax… Gimly! Well then, in six hours."

"But it'll be morning by then!"

Kirche stood up, and pointed to them, saying "Flame!" The salamander stood up, and shot a flamethrower at the trio, sending them tumbling down.

I decided to turn on the charm, and hopefully woo my way out of this awkward situation. I quickly stood up, with my arms around Kirche's waist, bringing us right up to the window. Time to test how far she was willing to go with this.

"My dear, your flames have truly lit up my night. For that, I thank you."

"Why, Darling, it is only natural that I would burn up in my passion for you. Enough to light up the night sky!" Kirche responded, being led on by me.

"Your flames are truly astounding. But…"

"But?"

"But I fear that your flames will burn out before mine, leaving me alone, in the cold, harsh darkness. These other fellows lining up are prime examples of that."

"Oh, Darling. My flames will never burn out. My love for you is eternal. Compared to what I felt for them, my love for you burns like the sun in the sky!" Jesus, she was really making this hard!

I decided to take a bet on fate, and dive in. "Well then, I guess I have nothing to fear." I said, leaning towards her, acting like I was about to kiss her. With the way the moonlight made her look, I was damn close to doing just that.

Then the night took an interesting, for lack of a better word, turn. I felt a hand grab me from behind, and pull me, with an irritated male voice saying, "I won't let you have Kirche! Your fancy words mean nothing!"

I was kind of glad to be out of the situation, but then I felt the wind rush past my face, and remembered what was happening. I was falling from a third-storey window! Thinking quickly, I pendulum summoned three monsters. I can't remember which, it all happened so fast. I then tribute them all, in order to do a summon I would never forget.

"Darling!" Kirche cried out, as she saw her love fall from the window. All the other boys she'd sent down could fly, or at least levitate with basic wind magic, and she knew that Carlton could too, but he probably wouldn't be able to draw the cards in time. She started tearing up, as the man she'd come to love so suddenly, was just as suddenly ripped from her.

Then a tornado of fire shot up from the ground.

I rose up in a swirling inferno, my body covered in gold plated armour, my hands outstretched to my sides, as I quickly hit the boy that threw me out of the window with one of the most devastating right hooks I had ever unleashed. He went flying, eventually landing at a spot on the other side of the campus. Taking a look at myself, I realised that the summon didn't go exactly as I'd planned it.

Rather than summon 'The Winged Dragon of Ra', I equipped it as armour!

I looked very similar to the Balance Breaker from Highschool DxD, except it was gold instead of red, with red crystals instead of green. I had a red visor, with what looked like a bird beak coming from the front. I had massive golden wings, similar to Archangel from X-Men, and I emanated a heat like I had never felt before. Now this was power I could get used to!

Taking a look at Kirche, she was completely dumbfounded. I suppose my heat resonated with her too. I hovered over to her, and she put her hand out, to touch my armour. I gently grasped her hand, and brought it to my helmet. My helmet actually opened up, and allowed me to kiss her hand.

"Until next time, my Fever."

"Darling…"

And with that, I flew off, back to Louise's room.

When Kirche saw Carlton fall from the window, she felt as though her heart had shattered into a thousand pieces.

When she saw the swirling mass of flame rise up, she had a fleeting hope that it was him.

When she saw the radiant golden armour, she somehow knew instinctively that it was.

When she felt the heat his armour produced, it was like she'd fallen in love all over again.

That was when she realised that she did truly love Carlton.

She didn't just want him as a bedmate.

She wanted him as a husband.

I flew over to Louise's window, knocking on it, since it was closed. Just then I felt my mana run out, and my armour fizzled out of existence. I didn't realise how tired using Ra's power would make me. She opened the window just as it happened, so I was able to grab onto the windowsill before I fell to my death.

"What are you doing? You're meant to be sleeping outside." Louise said, annoyedly.

"Nice to see you too." I replied, sarcastically. "I was in Kirche's room."

I saw Louise tense up at the mention of the redhead's name, so I decided to climb into the room before she made an explosion that actually killed me.

"And what, exactly, were you doing in there?"

"Her familiar came and grabbed me, and brought me to her room. She tried to make a move on me, but I was able to play the situation right, and leave before things went too far…" I'd noticed a spike in killer intent in front of me, and decided to stop my sentence there.

"Then why are you out of breath?"

"I used up a lot of mana to get back here. My magic is quite physically taxing." I said, giving a weak chuckle. "Hehe… Louise?"

She was looking down, her bangs covering her eyes, and I couldn't read her emotions at all.

She then looked straight at me with anger in her eyes, shouting, "You're just like a dog in heat!"

I jumped from the sudden outburst, before bracing myself for the explosion. "Sorry! Let me explain!"

But she walked past me, and opened up a drawer, taking out what's inside. "What's that?" I asked.

"It's a crop, used for horseback riding."

"Crop? Why do you have it out now?"

"I was wrong… for accidentally treating you like a human! To think, you were wagging your tail at a Zerbst, of all people! Dog!" She shouted, striking the crop against the ground, causing me to jump backwards.

"Miss! Please calm down, put the crop away, and let me explain…"

"I was spoiling you. If you're a stray dog, I have to treat you like a stray dog!" She stalked towards me threateningly, tapping the crop against her palm.

I backed up until I was against the door, and decided to try talking again, "Wait! First, calm down… Let's talk…" Then she hit me in the face with the riding crop.

Then she hit me again. Why wouldn't she listen?

And again. Now I was getting angry.

And again. At this point, I was so angry, it didn't even hurt.

As she went to hit me the fifth time, I reached my hand out, and caught the crop mid-swing.

"That's enough! I'm tired of this tsun-tsun attitude!" I shouted, my voice sounding a bit distorted. This caused Louise to step back a bit, in fright.

"Never, and I mean never, raise your hand, or any weapon, against me like that. If you do, I will make sure that you suffer. Do you understand me?"

Louise recovered from her fright enough to say haughtily, "You're just a familiar, yet you have the audacity to order your master around? How dare you!"

"How dare I? How dare you! You know why you treated me like a human being? Because I am one! You kidnapping me, and forcing me to become your servant doesn't change that. Just because you're a Zero, and your familiar has greater magic than you, doesn't give you any excuse to treat me in such a way! If you ever strike me again in this manner, I am going to make you experience true pain. Then I will banish you to the Shadow Realm to live out an eternity of suffering. No one will miss you. You're just a Zero. Do you understand?" I hissed.

Louise gulped.

"I asked you a question!" I roared at her.

"Yes, yes, I understand!" She said, on the verge of tears. I didn't care. I was trying to break her spirit.

"Good," I said calmly. "Now go to sleep before I feed you to my dragon."

Louise gave me a quick nod, as I let go of the riding crop, and she dropped it to the floor, and then ran into bed. I collected my straw bed from the hallway, and brought it back into Louise's room, in case Kirche sent Flame back during the night. Actually, that might not be such a bad thing... wait, what? Regardless, I'm tired now, so sleep comes first. After I'd spread the straw out on the floor, I collapsed onto it, falling asleep instantly, satisfied with how I'd humbled Louise. Why was I so angry anyway?

[Louise's POV – Right before she hits him]

This dog needs to be taught a lesson. I'll discipline him so much he'll never look at Zerbst again!

I raised my crop to hit him, and brought it down. I didn't care what he was trying to say, he needed to be punished!

I hit him until eventually my arm stopped moving. I looked up, and saw that he'd caught the crop before it could hit him. So he couldn't even be punished properly? What a joke.

Then I saw that dark aura rise from him, and knew that something wasn't right.

"That's enough! I'm tired of this tsun-tsun attitude!" His voice had changed, and the way that he shouted at me was chilling. I was caught completely off-guard. I took a step back, out of pure shock.

"Never, and I mean never, raise your hand, or any weapon, against me like that. If you do, I will make sure that you suffer. Do you understand me?"

He's just a familiar, less than human, a peasant, and he has the nerve to order around me, his master, a noble?! I'll not tolerate it!

"You're just a familiar, yet you have the audacity to order your master around? How dare you!"

"How dare I? How dare you! You know why you treated me like a human being? Because I am one! You kidnapping me, and forcing me to become your servant doesn't change that." B-But, I'm his master. It's his destiny to serve me, isn't it?

"Just because you're a Zero, and your familiar has greater magic than you, doesn't give you any excuse to treat me in such a way!" That stung, and I felt the malice he put behind each word as he said it. It's true, my familiar is more magical than I am. I started tearing up.

"If you ever strike me again in this manner, I am going to make you experience true pain. Then I will banish you to the Shadow Realm to live out an eternity of suffering." What? He said that there was no way that he could access the Shadow Realm! Did he lie? At any rate, something's wrong with him. Or is this how he truly feels? I'm so confused!

"No one will miss you. You're just a Zero. Do you understand?" It's true. I'm a Zero. I can't use my magic for anything good. I might as well not have it. I gulped, trying to keep my growing sadness down.

"I asked you a question!"

"Yes, yes, I understand!" I was trying really hard not to cry now, but everything he said hurt me in some way. And it was all true as well. I am just a Zero.

"Good, now go to sleep before I feed you to my dragon." What? He has a dragon? And it eats people?

At this point, I dropped everything, and ran into bed, trying hard to keep the tears from flowing. I heard the door open and shut, and I heard straw being moved on the floor. I guess he wants to stay in here. I won't stop him. I don't want him to make good on his promises. Once I heard him snoring, the tears fell, and I couldn't stop them.

What's wrong with me?

Hello people!

I actually originally had planned for Carlton to escape from Kirche using 'Makiu, The Magical Mist', but I decided against it, so I could open up the possibility of Carlton ending up with Kirche, which would definitely be interesting to write.

Until next time!