Chapter Text
Unfamiliar, a [Prototype] and Familiar of Zero crossover.
"What is the measure of a man? What is the measure of a monster? How tell you between the two?" - attributed to Founder Brimir during the first opening speech of Tristain Academy.
It was a beautiful spring day in the land of Tristain. Indeed, it was the first spring day of the year, which meant that in the prestigious Tristain Academy of Magic, it was a special day. The day when every student summoned a familiar, just as the prophet Brimir had in ages gone past. To advance in the school, each student carefully etched the summoning runes on the well-worn summoning platform, just as students had in years gone by. Then, also as done by countless before them, they cast the ancient spell of summoning. The magic reached through the world and called to them the familiar most suited for the mage, showing the budding wizard exactly where their talents lay when it came to the prime elements.
There was one student, however, who had no talent. She was Louise de la Valierre, third daughter of the prestigious Duke Valierre and his duchess, the infamously powerful Karin of the "heavy wind", to use her runic title. Louise's pedigree was one of giants, the duke's finely-honed intellect and charisma mated with his wife's prodigious magical talent should have produced a child more formidable than any, save perhaps one of the royal line.
Yet Louise was branded by her classmates as "Zero", for that's what she was even to herself. A failure. She'd had yet to cast a single spell successfully. The springtime summoning ceremony was her last chance to prove to everyone that she wasn't worthless.
<***>
Louise trembled. She hated how she did, especially in front of her classmates, but she couldn't stop herself. This was it. She had to get this right. She had to prove she was a real noble. In a land where nobility and magic were practically synonymous, being without magic was like being untouchable, like a commoner suited only to farm the fields and clean the chamberpots.
But this was her chance. All she had to do was succeed here, succeed at the familiar summoning, and she'd finally prove to everyone that she was a real mage. She had to. She'd spent the past six months preparing everything. She'd stayed up late in the academy's library, learning every possible variation on the summoning ritual. She'd trailed her professors like a second shadow, always asking questions and plumbing deep into the theory behind the summoning, the better to understand how not to fail at this pivotal moment.
She'd even went to bed early and gotten a hearty breakfast beforehand, to ensure that nothing would go wrong.
Yet still she was shaking.
"Miss Vallière. It's your turn.” Her professor, Colbert, said. She liked Colbert. He was always helpful and supportive. He never clucked his tongue at her, as if to say “shouldn't you know all this already, like any true mage should?”
She glanced over to the other students. They'd been divided based on whether they'd had their turn at summoning a familiar or not. Her rival, Kirche von Zerbst, had somehow managed to summon a flame salamander; the kind of rare familiar that only a particularly powerful mage could summon and bind to their will. Louise's heart sank looking at that, yet there was still hope. Perhaps she'd get a dragon, or griffin. Or maybe even a manticore, like her mother had. The thought made her smile. If she did, maybe mother would even smile, and tell her how proud she was. Tell her that she wasn't just a piece of trash playing at nobility.
Then the realistic part of her mind reasserted itself. She'd be lucky to get anything at all, even a field mouse or an owl. She'd settle for anything, anything to prove she wasn't worthless.
“Miss Vallière, please approach the summoning circle.” Colbert spoke again.
Louise nodded and stepped forward. She carved her runes into the dirt, drawing a flawless pentagram within a circle, exactly as the ritual demanded. She rose, and extended her wand. She spoke the ritual chant and felt the magic flow through her. Her enunciation was perfect, her wand motions well practiced. She'd spent what felt like every waking hour to get to this point. It felt like her whole life had been leading up to this moment.
She cast the spell, expecting another failure to add to her tally… But secretly praying for a success.
The ritual circle exploded. Her heart sank; explosions were the hallmark of her failed spells.
Still, she hoped against hope that when the smoke cleared, she'd find some mighty magical beast sitting there, waiting to prove her worth with its simple presence.
The smoke cleared. She lowered her wand.
Her heart fell further.
Her classmates jeered and taunted, but she hardly heard them. She stared blankly at the empty summoning circle, as if sheer desire, sheer need could pull a familiar through the ether.
It was only Professor Colbert's hand on her shoulder that broke her from her stupor.
“Not everyone gets it on the first time. I'll give you another chance, once everyone else has had a turn.” He said.
He gave her that chance. And another chance after that. And one after that. And one after that.
After five more attempts, all failures, even he had to admit defeat.
By now, even some of her classmates, the same ones who heaped scorn upon her for being a worthless failure, were starting to cast piteous expressions her way.
She didn't want their pity. She wanted success. One crummy success, just one spell done right in her miserable life.
Colbert sighed and rubbed his glasses. “Well… Class is dismissed. Miss Vallière, I'll speak to Headmaster Osmond about your future here. Surely one from as prestigious a family as yours should be allowed to learn the theory, even if she can't use the practicalities of magecraft. Do you need help getting back to your dorm?”
“N-no.” Louise replied. “I-I'll get back on my own.”
“Very well. The academy grounds are safe enough. I'll allow it.” Colbert replied. “Alright, class! I'm sure you all have things you could be doing now. Go, meet your new familiars and prepare for class tomorrow.”
Only when they were all gone did Louise allow herself to sink to her knees and cry.
She couldn't tell how long she sat kneeling on the dry earth, now irrigated with her tears. It was dark, however, before she ran out of tears to shed.
She settled for glaring at the ritual circle after that, for it was far easier to blame than the true culprit. Deep down, she knew what was really responsible, but the inanimate circle was the better scapegoat.
Something inside the young teenager cracked then. Perhaps it was mania, perhaps she was half convinced that this was all a terrible dream, a nightmare she was having before the ritual. Or, perhaps she simply snapped like a twig with a crushing weight upon it.
She giggled an unhinged giggle as she set to work etching runes for another attempt. This time she didn't care about formality or perfection or sloppiness. Nor did she care about what she'd been taught, or what she'd learned. She didn't even care if the circle was a circle; really it was more of an oval this time around. It wouldn't matter, she knew it'd fail again, but this time by Brimir, she'd have her revenge on that stupid patch of dirt! If all her spells exploded, then she was going to cast the biggest spell she could at that damn circle!
It was childish, it was pointless, it was stupid, but she didn't care about any of that.
She stood and pointed her wand at the offensive piece of land. Her magic sang to her in a way it never had before, but she paid it no mind. She was far too focused on the circle to care even if she had.
The resulting explosion didn't disappoint her, even if it did almost knock her off her feet.
It also felt very cathartic.
She coughed, and surveyed the damage. She couldn't see the circle itself until the smoke cleared, but trees all along the outskirts of the clearing had been knocked down by the blast, and several had been turned into little more than wood mulch.
She squinted her eyes into the smoke, half-thinking she saw something and half-thinking she was simply losing her grip on reality. Either was likely at this point.
The smoke cleared further. A strangled gasp tore its way from her throat. Something was lying in the clearing, in the exact spot where she'd drawn her circle.
It looked like a man, though she wasn't able to tell much about his age beyond “older than her” and “younger than fifty.” His clothes looked odd and outlandish too, a black coat of some leather-like material, a white cowl, and blue fabric pants of a style and make that she couldn't even begin to identify… Yet none of that mattered because she had just summoned a familiar! It didn't matter that she'd summoned a human being, or that he looked to be unconscious!
Because she had just summoned a familiar. Successfully.
Thinking it was a dream, for success at such desperation only happened in stories and in dreams, she grabbed her wand and called upon the pentagon of the five elements to bless her familiar, before sealing the contract in the traditional manner.
With a kiss, that is.
Her familiar awoke as she did, leaving her staring at a pair of very blue, and also very, very cold eyes.
She watched him blink in obvious confusion, before his eyes flicked downwards to see her straddling his chest, for she was far smaller than he was.
His reply sounded angry from its tone, though she couldn't tell what it was supposed to mean. She got the gist of it and rolled to the side before standing up and nervously tucking some of her strawberry blonde hair behind her ear. The sheer elation of success was starting to cool down; still present, but not nearly as feverish as it had been.
Though she still wanted to dance, and holler her success to the world in a manner most unbefitting for someone of her social standing.
“I am Louise Francoise de la Vallière!” She exclaimed. “I summoned you here to be my familiar!”
“Where is “here” and why are we talking in French?” Her familiar replied, though his Halkeginian had a very strange accent to it.
“We are at the renowned Tristain Academy of Magic, in the nation of Tristain! I don't know what this “French” you're talking about is, but we all speak Halkeginian here.”
Her familiar looked around, taking in the castle, and the damaged clearing in which they stood. “Academy of magic. Familiar. You have to be kidding me-”
Then he looked up. “-Wait. Are there two moons?”
“Of course.” Louise responded. “How many are you expecting?”
“That's… This is the real deal, isn't it? You've really pulled me out of my world like this was some kind of Harry Potter D&D bullshit.” He replied.
“Your world? Of course not. Everyone knows that the summoning ritual can only reach over Halkeginia!”
“Obviously not, because I've never heard of that place and where I come from, there's only one moon.” Her new familiar sighed, rubbing his forehead with one hand. “Okay, why exactly did you summon me of all people.”
“I didn't summon you in particular!” Louise replied. “I was hoping for a dragon or a manticore… Instead I got a commoner. I suppose I'll have to make do.”
“Commoner?” Her familiar's lips twitched upward into a smirk, as though he was sharing a private joke with himself.
“Well, you're not a mage, so you definitely aren't a noble. By process of elimination, you're a commoner.”
“You know what? I'll go with it. So what do you want me to do, as your “familiar?” Her familiar asked.
“A familiar is able to grant its master enhanced vision and hearing. Though that doesn't seem to work with you for some reason.” Louise replied. “Maybe because you're human. Also, a familiar will retrieve items that its master desires. For instance, reagents.”
“Reagents. Components used in spells and potions.” Her familiar replied. “Okay, what kind of stuff are we talking about? Pickled Pig's Feet? Frog Legs? Blood of virgin lambs?”
“No. Who'd use stuff like that? Things like sulfur, moss… Though I'm rather surprised that you knew what reagents are at all, given that you're a commoner.” Louise replied.
“I had a few… Let's call them friends who played D&D. I must have picked up all that stuff from them. Sulfur you say? That's easy, I know how to find sulfur.”
Louise made a mental note to ask about this “DandD” later. “But most of all, a familiar exists to protect its master! This is a familiar's most important task, but you'll probably find that problematic. A huge magical beast would triumph over any foe… But you're just a human being. Without magic to help, you're worthless in a fight.”
His smile grew even wider at this, a grin splitting his features. Louise was reminded more of some kind of shark than any timid commoner. “If you say so.”
“Yes…” Louise said. “Well, come with me. I have to show you to my teacher as proof that I completed the ritual!”
“The Monster of Manhattan reduced to an exam grade. Oh how the mighty have fallen.” Her familiar muttered, just barely loud enough for Louise to hear.
<***>
“Professor Colbert!” Louise said, her voice girlish and excited as she pounded on her professor's office door.
Pounded in a restrained manner befitting one of noble blood, of course.
“Ah…” Her professor said as he opened the thick wooden slab that led into his office. Inside, she could see parchment on his desk. “Hello, Miss Vallière. I was just doing paperwork. Have to document all the various familiars for the bureaucrats in the palace. So, what can I do for you?”
“Well, you'll have to add my familiar to the list then!” She said, smiling.
“Oh? Succeeded have you? That's very good. So what is it?” Colbert asked, opening the door and leading her inside.
“Well… It's a commoner.”
“A… Miss Vallière, is this some kind of joke?” Colbert asked.
“No! Of course not!” Louise replied.
“I've never heard of summoning a human familiar. I'll need to see him or her in person before I pass you for this event. I'm not questioning your integrity, but I'm sure I'll be questioned by the palace when I write “human: commoner” on the paperwork.”
“I understand.” Louise nodded. “He's right beh-”
She turned, but he wasn't there.
“He was right behind me.” She corrected.
Colbert sighed. “I see. You've been under a lot of strain lately, and I can understand why you might invent something like this, believe me I do. It's completely understandable why you'd imagine something like this, after the misstep of your summoning. Young girls often have overactive imaginations, and I can see how your mind would invent such a fanciful tale after the events of today.”
“I'm not imagining it! I thought I was when he first appeared, but then I bound him and even talked to him!” Louise replied. “Please, you have to believe me. I'm not imagining this. I'm a real mage, I summoned a familiar… Please don't expel me.”
“So where is this familiar, Miss Vallière?” Colbert asked, looking like he wanted to believe her for his student's sake, but torn for lack of evidence.
Louise's eyes went wide, even as her familiar said “here” from behind Colbert.
Her Professor spun around. He didn't let out anything undignified like a squeak or a gasp, he simply spun and drew his wand in one fluid and practiced motion.
“Ah.” He said. “Impressive how you snuck up on me, not many can do that. I am Louise's Professor. You are her familiar, I take it?”
Louise's familiar nodded.
“Do you have a name?” Colbert asked.
“Mercer. Alex Mercer.” Her familiar's gravelly voice replied.
Louise wanted to slap herself for not even asking her familiar's name. Even if he was her familiar, like a dog or other beast, she shouldn't have to refer to him as “familiar” all the time. Except when he misbehaves.
Colbert nodded at her familiar's - Mercer's - reply. “May I see your hand? I need to confirm your status, and the familiar runes on your right hand should be the easiest way to do that.”
Mercer extended both hands, and Colbert looked at them with a critical eye. “Fascinating. I've never seen that particular arrangement of runes before. Then again, I've never seen a human summons before either. There's something familiar about these runes, but I can't quite place it. Hmmph. I feel I should apologize if the rune etching spell hurt, it wasn't intentional. It's just a side effect of the summon spell, I'm afraid.”
“A bit at first, but then I made it stop.” Mercer replied. “It wasn't an issue. It was more of an inconvenience waking up to a twelve year old kissing me. Where I come from, that's… Well, let's just say I'm not interested in that sort of thing and leave it at that.”
“Ah, yes… That's also a side effect of the summon spell. It must be sealed with a kiss. Again, I apologize on behalf of Miss Vallière if it's an inconvenience for you.” Colbert replied.
Louise puzzled at Mercer's answer, even as she made a note to discipline her familiar for daring to get her age wrong. How could you just make pain stop like that? Or was she reading too much into this?
“So… Have I satisfied your curiosity, Professor?” Mercer asked.
“Hmm? Oh, yes, yes. I'll fill out the paperwork tonight.” Colbert turned to Louise. “Miss Vallière, you should take your familiar back to your room and get him situated. Classes start in full tomorrow. If I find anything about your situation in my research, I'll pass it along.”
“Thank you.” Mercer replied.
<***>
“This is my room.” Louise said, ushering her familiar into the lavish suite that was her dorm room. As a scion of the Vallière family, she lived in one of the most luxurious dorms in the academy. “It's also where you'll live as my familiar.”
Most of the other girls were jealous of the accommodations, and they had every right to be, but Louise would have traded them all for the ability to do magic. To be something other than a zero.
“Speaking of which, you need to be disciplined. That was a very mean trick you played on me, and on top of that you got my age wrong. I'm seventeen, not twelve.”
“Disciplined? Oh, this should be amusing.” Mercer replied. “And what exactly did you have in mind?”
“I think twenty lashes should be enough.” Louise replied. She didn't really want to hurt her familiar, she just wanted him to know where they stood in their relationship. Namely, she's the master and he's the servant. There was nothing wrong with that. He was her familiar, she would beat him if she had to, until he learned his place.
“Mmm, better make it forty.” He replied.
Louise blinked. What, was he some kind of masochist?
“You'll see why.” He replied, a sarcastic smile on his face.
Louise grit her teeth. There was no way in hell that she'd let her familiar of all people laugh at her! “Sixty! And I'll withhold supper if you don't stop laughing.”
“Eighty. After all, there's a lesson to be learned here, right?” He countered.
“Bah, one hundred lashes you insolent dog!” Louise roared, reaching into her dresser and pulling out the bull whip she'd purchased beforehand as part of her preparations for summoning a familiar.
She cracked it once, then twice to make sure it was good. “I don't want to have to do this. But you need to learn your place.”
“No, I need to find my place. Subtle difference there.” He shot back. When she looked at him, she noticed that he'd removed his shirt and coat like a good familiar, though a quick glance around the room didn't reveal where he'd put the garments.
She paused for a moment to examine her familiar's bare chest. He was well-muscled, but not obscenely so. His skin was pale and otherwise devoid of distinguishing marks.
“Are you going to wait all night? Because if you are, I'd like a book to read.”
Louise's reply wasn't so much language as it was a primal roar of anger and frustration, mixed with a little hate, and distilled down.
She brought the whip down on his back with a sharp crack. But rather than cry out, or stiffen, or give any indication at all of the hit, he simply stood there. His back didn't even start bleeding. Didn't even have a damn welt.
Louise repeated the motion, to the same lack of effect.
“That's two. Only ninety eight more to go, “master.””
So Louise did it again. And again. And over and over again until it felt like her arm was about to fall off.
Still, her familiar didn't seem the least bit inconvenienced.
“Keep going! You're only halfway there!” He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Damn you!” Louise roared again, raising the whip once more, only to let it fall. “You're doing this on purpose.”
“Of course I am.” He replied. “Do you understand why?”
“You're doing it to humiliate me, and I won't stand for it!” She said back.
“No. Try again.” He replied.
“You're…” She paused for thought. “Trying to show me that I can't control you?”
“Getting warmer, but still not right. Think about it, and when you have the answer, you can tell me. There's a valuable lesson in this exercise, one that I want you to understand if we're going to be working together.” He replied.
<***>
That night, Louise's dreams were troubled. How couldn't they be, after such an upsetting day? Upsetting in how she failed, and even upsetting in how she succeeded. A commoner. A commoner who did whatever he wanted without regard for the way things were supposed to be between a commoner and a mage. Damnit, she was supposed to get a Manticore. Or a dragon, or a griffin… Some powerful magical creature that would prove to everyone, especially mother, that she wasn't a worthless piece of trash.
And what was up with the whip? She used it until her arm felt like deep fried rubber and there wasn't a mark on him.
And then there was the sleeping arrangements. He didn't seem to mind being on the floor like a dog, despite his obstinacy in nearly everything else.
Her eyes shot open, her ears catching a rustling and a sickening meaty squelch.
She looked over to where the sound came from - it was over by her vanity. In front of the large full body mirror she used to decide what to wear stood something, if indeed “stood” could be applied to the thing before her. It was like a blob of gelatin, crisscrossed with pulsing red-black veins or tendrils. And eyes, oh Founder, the thing had eyes of every natural color placed as if at random across its meaty form. Blue eyes, brown eyes, green eyes, and every shade in between. Thick, stubby tentacles extended then retracted from its form, waving and shifting in patterns incomprehensible to her sleep-addled mind.
In a way, it reminded her of one of her sister Cattleya's pet animals, after it was run over by the wheels of a wagon train. Repeatedly. It was about as unrecognizable.
Louise gasped when she saw the thing raise a deceptively human looking arm attached to its form and examine it, and in particular, the familiar runes inscribed upon its hand.
The blob “turned” to her, though the word can scarcely convey what the creature really did. Its body shifted, new eyes popping out of its sick red/black skin to examine her.
“You're having a nightmare, kid. You should go back to sleep.” The blob “said” in a thousand different voices from a thousand tiny mouths, all speaking at once though their volume was barely above a whisper.
Louise took the blob-thing's advice. It was just too much after the day's emotional peaks and valleys.