The anime world is full of surprises, isn’t it? For fans of “The Familiar of Zero,” the thrill of magic, adventure, and unexpected summons is what makes the series so captivating. Many of us have dived into fanfiction, eager to explore “The Familiar of Zero” universe further. If you’ve been searching for a fresh take, especially one that plays with the familiar summoning trope in a unique way, you might be in for a treat. What if Louise the Zero, known for her explosive mishaps, actually summoned… a regular person?
An Unlikely Summoning
Imagine walking down a normal street, maybe a bit preoccupied with your latest tech trouble – like trying to overclock your laptop a little too much for gaming. Suddenly, reality glitches. One minute you’re in your everyday world, the next, a shimmering green portal appears out of nowhere. Curiosity, or perhaps a lack of good sense, gets the better of you. You reach out, touch it, and then everything goes black.
Louise the Zero’s Big Day
Meanwhile, in the magical world of Halkeginia, Louise Vallière, or as she’s less than affectionately known, “Louise the Zero,” is facing her biggest challenge yet: the familiar summoning ritual. Her classmates, like the confident Kirche with her fire salamander, and the quiet Tabitha with her wind dragon, have all successfully summoned impressive magical creatures. Louise, however, is notorious for her spellcasting failures, which usually end in explosions. The pressure is on, especially after some pre-ritual boasting.
“The time has come for the sacred summoning ritual,” announces Mr. Colbert, setting the stage for the nervous students. For Louise, it’s a moment of dread mixed with a sliver of hope. She dreams of summoning something amazing, maybe even a dragon. But deep down, she fears another embarrassing explosion.
Kirche, ever the teasing classmate, adds fuel to the fire, “All set Louise? I can’t wait to see what amazing familiar you will summon!”
Louise tries to brush off the comment, but inside, her anxiety is building. She’s the last one to perform the ritual. She watches as her peers show off their newly summoned familiars – fire salamanders, wind dragons, even more… peculiar creatures like moles and frogs. Doubt creeps in. “Will mine even work?” she wonders.
Mr. Colbert surveys the crowd, “Has everyone had their turn?”
“Not quite! Vallière hasn’t gone yet,” Kirche points out, drawing all eyes to Louise.
The Explosion and the… Boy?
Surrounded by expectant, and likely mocking, gazes, Louise steps forward. The whispers of “Louise the Zero” follow her. Kirche’s taunt echoes in her mind, “With all your boasting, you should summon something amazing, right Louise?”
“Well, of course,” Louise replies, trying to sound confident, while internally pleading, “Please work.”
She raises her wand and recites a summoning spell, one she admits she made up half of. True to form, there’s a flash, a bang, and an explosion of smoke and dust erupts. But this time, something is different. A roar echoes through the clearing, not like a magical beast, but something… else.
RROOAARR
As the dust settles, the students gasp. Standing in the summoning circle is not a dragon, not a magical creature at all. It’s a boy. He’s wearing clothes unlike anything seen in Halkeginia. He appears to be around six feet tall if he were standing fully upright, with (H/l) (H/c) hair and striking (E/c) eyes. The surrounding students murmur, some even calling him a peasant. Louise stares, her left eye twitching in disbelief and a dawning realization. She summoned a familiar alright, but definitely not the kind anyone expected. This was no magical beast. This was a “Familiar No Zero” in the most unexpected way.
