Today is the day. It's finally here. I can't screw this up. I have to do this.
The date is the 21st of Seedspring, 6000 A.C. A.C is Anno Creator, Romalian for Year of the Founder. It was a rough translation, I'm a little too stressed out to argue over the specifics right now. The 21st of Seedspring is an important time for me, and for many other young aspiring mages; the Springtime Summoning Ritual is about to be performed, and...and I'm summoning! Or...or at least I will! I mean it! It won't blow up on me! I'm not letting it!
...ahem. My apologies. As I was saying…
The time is around...midday, maybe? All I'm really aware of is that the ritual is next class and lunch is happening and I'm too nervous to eat but I won't be able to focus if I don't so I'm forcing a serving of steak into me slice by slice and I vaguely hear that Germanian cow trying to tease me but it isn't working because I'm too nervous to hear her and-
Wait.
...the Germanian cow is trying to taunt me.
ME.
...she always does this. Everyone else, too. I wish they would just all shut up and stop laughing at me. Just...ignore her, Louise. Focus on the meal.
...My name is Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière. The youngest heir to the Vallière family, a Noble of distinct value...and that's essentially all I have going for me. Despite my age, I'm short, my pink hair makes me look even more childish, and I don't have any notable growth...on my chest. What's more...all my spells explode. It's...honestly kind of sad, but...this is me.
...sorry about that. You want to hear about that day.
The setting is currently the Alviss dining hall, the meal center for the Tristain Academy of Magic. It's the most reputable magical school in all of Halkeginia! There's no other place a Vallière could go! After all, we are the elite of the elite! ...well...most of us.
The hall was honestly really noisy today. All of my classmates were talking about what familiar they would get, what others would get...then someone asked what I would get and I was very unhappy that I started paying attention around then.
"Wonder what Louise is going to summon."
"Heh. Louise, summon? You know what's going to happen. She's going to summon an explosion again! You remember yesterday?"
"Poor Mrs. Chevreuse."
"You know, Louise the Zero here had something to say about that…"
Her. That's her. Kirche von Anhalt Zerbst, Kirche the Fever. The red-headed, cow-chested Germanian floozy that seems to make me her favorite teasing target. And no, I do not mean teasing in an...indecent manner. The very thought repulses me.
"She seems to think she'll summon a divine, beautiful, and powerful servant, better than anything any of us can conjure. Imagine that."
After a few moments, it became clear that her final two words were a request, and the few people who thought about that snickered...which was drowned by the other idiots and their full-on laughter. Among the thinkers, I noticed, to my surprise, Kirche herself, as well as that insufferable flirt Guiche de Gramont, Guiche the Brass, Montmorency de Montmorency, Montmorency the Perfume...heh, try saying Montmorency de Montmorency 5 times quickly...and Tabitha...huh, I don't actually know her last name...Tabitha the Blizzard. I honestly expected Tabitha to be one of the thinkers, as she never joins in on the teasing, but Guiche and Kirche? They were two of my worst torturers, why would they even entertain the possibility that a Zero would be able to do something? In fact, why was I even still here!? I needed to get myself prepared.
"Hm. Yes, I did say that, and I absolutely meant it! You'll see just how much better my familiar is than yours! All of you!"
I was near a breaking point. If I stayed any longer, I might explode on them, and though I mean I'd explode in anger, I wouldn't mind sending a failed spell their way. So I abruptly stood up, gathered my notes, and left the dining hall, ignoring all of the laughter and cries of "Zero!" heading my way. After all, that would only be the breaking point. No, I must keep calm. Calm like mother, sturdy like steel.
The great doors of the dining hall slam shut behind me, and still, I keep walking. Out of the main building, through the courtyard where in a short 30 minutes I will be summoning my familiar...a powerful one, strong enough to prove to everyone I'm a mage of worth! ...and into the tower where the student rooms were.
I could hear the soft echo of my footstep as I walked up the spiral stone staircase on the interior of the tower, directly in its center. There were other staircases, of course, but this one was the quickest way directly up or down. My room was close to it as well, so I was essentially making a beeline for my room. And when I got there...I needed to practice my incantation once more. I was certain this would provide the best possible familiar.
I looked over the words, beginning to mumble the start of it.
"I beg of you…"
And just like that, my senses flared for a moment. Everything seemed painfully vivid. It was as though I could see each little drop of ink on the paper instead of the words they made. A lock of my hair got in my eye, and it was almost like I saw white light shining onto it, and pink light bouncing off of it into my eyes. I could smell everything, I could hear my heartbeat, loud and speeding up, and I could feel every bit of friction between my body and everything else.
And then I saw something else. A dirty white floor with square patterns on it. A strange glass mug containing a brown liquid...somehow my nose worked here too, it was too strong to be tea. Larger, more masculine hands clutching the mug. I could feel a back that wasn't mine hunching over, and I got a look at...the strangest clothing I have ever seen on a man, commoner or not. I highly doubted whoever I was seeing was a noble, based on the room itself…
I didn't get much further in my observation when I was suddenly pulled back into myself. My room, my body, my normal senses. What...what was that? It...it was like I was using another person's senses for a moment.
...the strangest commoner I'd ever seen. Glass mugs, the strangest blue fabric for his shirt, depicting...a blue turtle standing on two legs. The turtle had a blue tunic on, and was holding a sword that looked positively radiant. Behind it, a gold symbol, of 3 triangles each meeting another at a point, as though the bottom two were balancing the third.
...utter nonsense. Perhaps the bullying had finally stolen my sanity.
"The day has finally come for the Springtime Summoning Ritual!"
Yes, Professor Colbert, we know. Please stop reminding me.
My entire year was out in the courtyard once more. Of course, I was there too. I really wish I hadn't boasted last night, but...that only makes me more determined to show them!
I tuned out everyone else, even Kirche the Candle. Of course, if I were to stop to realize that, the concentration would break, so my achievement would go unnoticed by myself for now. Instead, I had to focus. Remember the chant. Remember it. Remember.
"I beg of you, my servant that exists somewhere in the universe…"
And all of a sudden, it happened again. Everything was so vivid. All the different lights bouncing off of people and objects and right into my eyes and everyone just shifting was too loud why can't they just stop and the wind whistled a piercing scream into my ears against the grass and the smells oh Founder the smells Kirche and that one person Pallas or something smell like each other oh Founder why Guiche and Montmorency have the latter's perfume on the smell is too much please let it stop!
And just like earlier, suddenly my senses were not my own. I was in a cramped space, a seat of some kind, I couldn't tell you what it was made of. At the bottom of my vision I could make out a black...robe?...over the blue shirt from before. It was the same strange commoner again...but the rest of the vision had me freaking out. There seemed to be a window that the peasant was looking out of...and I saw rows upon rows of...whatever they were. Larger than about 30 Headmaster Osmonds, with wheels on the bottom, like carriages without horses. They were all making a low rumbling sound, as though something was within them, powering them. Perhaps a mage? And they were all this...plain, yet hideous yellow, as though they were literally made to be looked at. And...and this commoner...I...was inside of one as well!
"...re? Miss Vallière! Wake up!"
And suddenly I was back in the courtyard. The smells, sounds, and senses were all normal again. I'm not sure when I hit the ground and curled up, but it had to have been during the vision. If I had landed on the grass when my senses were flaring, I probably would have screamed in pain…
My eyes shot open, and I took in a large breath, sitting up and looking around. Everyone around me was laughing...let them. They didn't see what I saw...if this happens every time I continue the spell, I'll have to do it all in one attempt.
"I'm fine, Professor. Please continue."
And just like that, the ceremony continued as though nothing happened. Kirche, after her turn, walked slowly over to me after she had summoned her servant, a Fire Salamander. Lucky.
"Are you okay, Zero? Is Summon Servant too difficult for your body to even try?"
Hm. As if. I can do this. "I'm fine, Zerbst. After all, if this spell tires even me, you'd be killed even trying to get a familiar as powerful as mine."
I didn't look to see her face at the retort, but there was a notable pause before she responded. "Hmhmhm. Well, I suppose we'll see just how much of a Zero you really are. You don't even have a proper runic name."
A name isn't going to change the results, cow. It only advertises your skillset.
A few minutes had passed, I had kept myself focused on my wand, drowning out most noise again. In my head I was psyching myself up. This is it, Louise. You're about to prove them wrong after all this time. The day has finally arrived.
'Not quite, sir. Ms. Vallière hasn't had a turn yet."
Ah! They almost skipped me! No fair! And...and...SHE brought the attention to me. I sent her a scowl, mostly because I hated being indebted to her for this, before I walked forward, wand already pointing at the sky.
"I beg of you, my servant that exists somewhere in the universe…"
Needless to say, my haste drew many eyes, and those who tormented me backed away quickly. Faintly, I could hear Kirche the Lust and Guiche the Rust whispering about my homemade incantation. I did the research and everything, this was guaranteed to work! Their doubt only made me stronger.
"My divine, beautiful, and powerful servant!"
For God's sake, woman, don't shout in my head, I need to focus!
"Oh, sorry...ahem…"
Wait. He just spoke back to me...meaning there's already a connection? Yes! It's working!
No, wait, focus, I need to focus. One mistake and I get expelled…
"Wait...who did she just apologize to?" Oh no, I said that aloud, didn't I? No, Louise, focus. Public embarrassment means nothing if you prove them wrong!
The senses flared again. I screwed my eyes shut in response, as I kept feeding my magic into the wand, and the air around me. Despite how painful every touch was, I kept myself standing and chanting.
"I wish and desire from the bottom of my heart…"
Wishes are nice and all, but if you could stop tugging at my head to do them, that'd be nice!
No, Louise. Don't listen to the plebeian in the strange walls on the porcelain throne. Don't look at the world around him, feel the magic within me!
"...heed my call and answer my guidance!"
Hell no! You aren't even...real…
In front of him/me, I saw a green, ovular portal appear. In MY hearing, I could hear several students gasp in amazement, and something along the lines of "She's done it! The Zero actually cast a spell without it exploding!" or a rather petty "Well, it's only Summon Servant. She's still lousy with everything else."
The commoner took a step away from the portal...what?
Hell no! I'm not stepping into the glowing green thing!
"I...what?" I'm sure my mouth dropped open in the real world. The murmurs stopped again, likely in confusion as to why I was talking to presumably a portal.
You heard me. I. Said. No!
"How...how dare you! I am your master, and you are my servant!" I was absolutely livid. I had completed the summoning spell, the result was clear, and this peasant's obstinance was the last stubborn obstacle between me and recognition among my peers and family as a mage! "Now get over here!"
You can't make me! That was it, the last straw. I couldn't hold anything back. Not the strength of the spell's physical attraction from familiar to master, and not my utter scream of rage, drowning out any laughing that might have been directed at me...and not my cry of pain as soon as the oaf started screaming. Why was he screaming so loud, anyway? And why couldn't anyone else hear it? I was practically on the ground as it was, for a solid minute.
"Why's she covering her ears? I don't hear anything."
"Maybe her familiar's screaming at her. To annoy her!"
"Hah! Zero can't even control her familiar!"
"Her familiar isn't even here for her to control yet! It's refusing to come to her!"
I wasn't listening to any of that. I could see colors, and I could feel his body falling through all of them. It was...mildly painful. The colors were too vivid. Maybe...if I focus…
My senses became fully my own again, and I shakily stood up, glaring at everyone around me. "Oh, don't you worry. My familiar is on his way, and even though he's only a commoner, he's better than anything you all summoned! I can feel it!"
This was only marked with laughter, until Professor Colbert broke it up...I never noticed how dull he looks. "Now, now, everyone. Settle down. Louise, what could you mean by your familiar 'being a commoner' and 'on his way'?" Of course he would ask that question.
"Professor, as I practiced and performed my spell, my senses shifted to someone else's. I'm assuming that commoner I saw through the eyes of was my familiar. I watched him through his own eyes as I pulled him through the portal, but it is taking a long time for him to get here...he must truly have been a far way away."
"Ms. Vallière, the Summoning Ritual is usually instantaneous. Why do you say this delay is based upon distance?"
"Professor, I created that incantation myself. It was designed to bring my perfect familiar to me. I didn't dare specify the amount of time it would take, I know my limits."
Colbert was satisfied with my explanations, though my schoolmates met expectations with their scoffs, even as I glared at them. To only further my proof, I pointed to the emerald portal above them. Now they couldn't possibly make fun of me!
"...did we all just conveniently forget that Louise herself admitted she summoned a commoner?" And of course Kirche found a way to do so anyway. "It fits perfectly! She fails at most spells, and commoners don't even have magic!"
"Zerbst, if you don't care enough to wait and see, why don't you just prepare for whichever pig you're seeing tonight? Styx, maybe?" I'd love to say that my retort actually offended her, but the smug smile only showed that my words had the effect I did not want.
"Oh? Are you spying on my life? That was actually correct. You must be jealous if you know what boy I'm seeing tonight."
"Hmph. Lucky guess." I turned away from her, feeling rather stymied, but Kirche finally relented, the rest of the class being dismissed.
The sun had moved quite a bit since the rest of the class left. It wasn't quite evening, but close. As expected, nobody but one of the teachers had come to check up on me, patiently waiting to see my familiar reach me. We'd been having a...less than pleasant mental conversation. Sure, I'd had a few common maids check on me, bring me some light food and drink, but it was just me, nature, and my familiar's voice in my head. At last, he had calmed down a little.
So, may I ask who just kidnapped me?
Okay, maybe he wasn't fully calmed down. "And why are you so interested all of a sudden? Just hurry up and get here!"
I'm on my way. Your green glowing portal seems to have a lot of distance being covered, given how long I've been falling. Tell me something I don't know. However, I decided to play clueless. After all, I wasn't going to tell this ungrateful commoner what awaited at the end of his fall.
"Falling? Familiars fall when summoned?"
How would I know? Maybe you're just a special case, or you botched it a little or something? WHAT!? BOTCHED IT? How...The nerve of him! I did not botch my only successful spell!
"Wha-How dare you!? Don't you ever say that I can't use magic again! I will whip you!" I would, too. Multiple times for each offense. My riding crop was ready in my room and everything. I will not allow my familiar to be so insolent!
...I never said that. Are you okay? For a figment of my mind, you're awfully developed. That's it, he's getting a lashing when he gets here.
"Figment of your-I am not a figment of your mind!" I could feel a large amount of heat in my cheeks, mostly because of the insulting context of being imaginary...though I'll admit, there's a small part of me that imagined other meanings for 'developed'. "I am Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière, a noble, and you will show me proper respect!"
Funny. Mom was a Noble by birth. Wait, what? My familiar was the son of a noble!? Oh...oh no. This could be really bad, actually. Married my dad, though. Now she's stuck being a Rudolf. Noble's a much better last name. ...what? Noble...was just his mother's last name? His land used Noble as something as simple as a FAMILY NAME!?
I may have scared whatever maid was right behind me then, as I gripped my hair and let out my frustration...before it transformed into a scream of fear as my familiar landed on the ground in front of me, creating an explosion as he hit the ground. The last thing I saw was the chunk of rock coming right at my forehead.
I guess I still caused an explosion this time. At least this explosion meant success.