Zero´s Partner

 - Earth - Japan - Tokyo -

In a simple and serene dojo, a teenager trained with dedication, the wooden blade cutting through the air with precision at every movement. The sound of the impact against the air and wood echoed throughout the space, as if each strike carried his soul. Hiraga Saito, a 16-year-old boy, was already considered a prodigy. Since he was 11, he had given himself entirely to Kendo, a discipline that shaped not only his body but also his mind. With each strike, he felt a stronger connection to something that seemed to transcend his current form.

It was as if something inside him, a memory he couldn't quite grasp, guided him. He knew that the life he was living now was not his first, but he couldn't understand whether it was reincarnation, or something more complex. But one thing he was sure of: something was missing. He needed more. More training, more challenges. His mind was full of unanswered questions, as if he were on an endless journey.

"Saito, it's time for dinner. Mom's calling!" Akemi, his older sister, appeared in the doorway of the dojo, interrupting his training with her usual impatience.

"I'm coming!" Saito replied quickly, removing his Kendo helmet and letting his wooden sword rest on the mat. The sight of his sister, so vibrant and full of life, seemed so distant from the whirlwind of thoughts that filled his mind.

As he turned to walk towards the door, before he could take more than a few steps, an inexplicable phenomenon occurred. A blue energy sphere floated before him, shimmering with an ethereal glow. Saito stopped, his instincts immediately alerting him to danger. He had faced complicated situations before, but never anything like this.

"What the hell is this?" Saito muttered, taking a few steps back, ready to distance himself from any imminent danger.

But it was futile.

Before he could react, the sphere pulled him with an irresistible force. The world around him dissolved into light and darkness, as his body was sucked into the unknown, drawn in by its unstoppable pull.

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 - World of Halkeginia - Tristain Academy of Magic -

Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière's walk through the academy's corridors was a blend of grace and arrogance. Her soft steps showcased an air of nobility, as though the world around her didn't deserve her attention. Her light pink hair floated gently around her face, an aura of detachment emanating from every movement.

But, as always, the murmurs of the students followed her.

"Look, it's Zero, the one who can't cast a single spell properly!" one of the students remarked mockingly, causing others to laugh.

"She can't even keep a spell under control. I wonder what she was doing in the headmaster's office. I bet even they realized she has no talent," another voice sneered.

Louise, already used to such cruel words, made no move to react. She simply continued her path, her steps steady, but her thoughts boiling with the desire to prove to everyone, one last time, that she was not a failure.

'Tomorrow, everything will change. I will summon the best familiar in the whole academy, and everyone will see that I am capable!'

She had no idea that her fate was about to intertwine with that of a certain swordsman from another world...

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(Louise)

Today's the day, it's here, Louise, you can do this. It's just a simple summoning spell, your intention and will are no less than anyone else's. I've been telling myself this since I woke up.

But, as always, insecurity was present. Others had already summoned impressive creatures. Zerbst, a fiery salamander, Guiche, a mole that resembled his own cowardly personality. And Tabitha, with her dragon. A dragon, something worthy of legends.

"So, Louise, where's your 'familiar'? Is it invisible?" Zerbst teased, laughing.

The laughter around her grew louder, and Louise felt her frustration rise with every second. She knew what awaited her: another failed attempt, another reason for everyone to laugh at her. But at the same time, something inside her lit up. She was going to prove them all wrong.

She moved to a larger space, where everyone could see the ritual. Raising her wand, she prepared to recite the words that would summon it. The power she felt inside her burned with an intensity she had never experienced before.

"My faithful servant, beautiful and powerful, who exists somewhere in the universe! My blood calls for you, and my destiny summons you! Answer my call and obey my command!"

...

"Well, at least she didn't blow up..." One of my classmates starts to say, laughing softly, but before he finishes his sentence, an explosion happens right before me.

 * BOOM *

And then, the expected happened... or rather, the unexpected. A burst of magical energy enveloped the space, raising a curtain of smoke that obscured everyone's view.

...But this time, I didn't feel the usual failure. Before the explosion happened, I felt... I saw... something had been summoned. I had finally done it.

As the smoke begins to dissipate and everyone around me coughs and backs away, I finally got to see. My familiar. My loyal servant, for life, was...

...A PEASANT?!?

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The explosion illuminated the air, and as the smoke slowly dissipated, a figure emerged from the center of the magic circle. Saito, dressed in Kendo armor, was now at the center of that world, completely out of place, but with his green eyes fixed on the new surroundings, stunned.

Saito Hiraga, a Japanese student and reincarnator in his second life, looked around, confused.

"What... where am I?!" Saito asked, disoriented. He took hesitant steps, trying to understand the situation. There were no signs of his home, nor anything familiar. Only an unknown landscape before him. To make matters worse, no one could understand what he was saying.

The students around him observed the scene and soon began to murmur and laugh, mocking the situation. Louise, arms crossed, tried to maintain composure, but her eyes narrowed in frustration.

"Hahaha! She summoned a peasant!" One of Louise's classmates mocked loudly.

"Seriously? He's not even magical! Just an ordinary human!" Another student continued the mockery.

The laughter grew louder, and Louise felt her face redden with embarrassment. She had prepared for something grand, for a summoning that would prove her skill. But instead, what she got was... an ordinary human, out of place and with no apparent powers.

Professor Colbert, always calm, observed the scene with sharp eyes. He felt the remnants of spatial magic on the peasant before him. There was no doubt: despite never having seen anything like it, that boy was indeed Miss Vallière's familiar.

While the professor analyzed the situation, Louise stared at him anxiously, hoping he would give her a second chance.

"There's no mistake, Louise. He is your familiar." Colbert's words shattered any hope she had left.

"But professor, this must be a mistake! Please, let me redo the ritual. I'm sure I..." Louise pleaded, her voice filled with desperation.

The professor sighed, visibly patient but firm. "Of course not, Louise. The familiar ritual is sacred, and there have never been any recorded failures. The peasant is now your familiar, without a shadow of a doubt." He paused and then added firmly, "Now, finish the ritual so we can end the class."

Louise tried to suppress her frustration, but the professor's words only irritated her further. How could she justify this to the others? And, more importantly, who exactly was this human?

Unfortunately, there was no escape. Reluctantly, she walked toward Saito with her usual noble and elegant posture.

Despite her dissatisfaction, she noticed something intriguing: he instinctively assumed a combat stance, like a trained swordsman. This surprised her and eased some of her frustration... Plus, he was very handsome, which did not go unnoticed.

"Ahem, you should feel incredibly lucky that I'm doing this, peasant." Louise declared as she approached, her eyes lingering more than they should on Saito's lips. Her expression was one of authority, but something in her gaze revealed a hint of curiosity and perhaps, a bit of attraction.

Saito, still cautious of everything around him, felt his guard falter as he saw Louise move closer. There was something in her expression that left him speechless.

On tiptoe, Louise placed her hands around Saito's neck and pulled him into a kiss. Their first kiss. Surprised, Saito dropped his sword and held Louise gently by the waist, closing his eyes and surrendering to the moment. The emptiness he had felt in both of his lives seemed to diminish.

The atmosphere became so tense that even the students and the professor felt out of place. Absolute silence reigned until Saito fell to his knees, clutching his hand in pain.

"Shit, shit, what the hell is happening..." Saito muttered under his breath as glowing runes appeared on his skin.

Louise watched him with a mix of concern and something else... a touch of desire. After all, that had been her first kiss. And she was old enough to think about things beyond that.

Professor Colbert furrowed his brows, deep in thought. 'These runes... I've seen them before.' He then composed himself and said aloud, "Class dismissed, everyone. You may go to your rooms."

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In Louise's luxurious room, the two young people finally interact again, although there is still a barrier between them.

"What was that?! That hurt!" Saito mutters, rubbing his hand, trying to ease the burning sensation. "This can't be happening... Did I get thrown into another world again?!"

Louise, with a triumphant smile, ignores his complaints. "Now you're my servant. Obey me!"

She seems to regain her confidence suddenly, treating Saito as her property. He, still disoriented, tries to communicate, pointing to his own ear with a doubtful expression. Louise quickly understands: her familiar is an idiot who can't even speak the common language. A damn foreigner.

Remembering a simple translation spell, Louise pulls out her wand, concentrating. Her focused and determined gaze has a curious effect on Saito – there's something about her that intrigues him. However, his instincts warn him of a possible danger. He tries to step back, but isn't quick enough: Louise's magical explosion hits him squarely.

She yells in frustration. "What the hell!"

"What's going on?! I barely got here and I've already been attacked twice!" Saito grumbles, shaking the dust off his clothes. He points at Louise indignantly. "Listen here, girl, just because you're the most beautiful I've ever seen in my life doesn't mean you can do whatever you want with me..."

"I can understand you." Louise interrupts, surprised.

"Oh, you speak Japanese? Why didn't you say so earlier?!"

"I'm not speaking that... thing. You're the one speaking French!"

"French? It sounds a bit like it, but it's not exactly the same as I know..."

"Peasant, that doesn't matter. First, tell me your name and where you're from," Louise demands, trying to maintain her noble posture, but feeling uncomfortable addressing him directly.

Saito sighs, still dealing with the pain and confusion. "My name is Saito... and I come from a place without magic." He looks at Louise, his frustration evident, but something in her makes him soften his tone. Her light pink hair and intense eyes have a strange effect on him.

Louise observes him closely, trying to understand if he's lying. The idea of a world without magic seemed absurd, but his strange language and the way he appeared left no doubt that he was different.

She straightens up, trying to regain her composure. "Hmph. So, Saito... now that you're here, get used to it. You're my familiar now. My servant. Servant of Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière."

Saito raises an eyebrow and smiles ironically. "Alright, Louise... go ahead. But let me know beforehand, okay? I'm not really good at obeying without understanding anything."

Louise stares at him, challenging, but inside, something starts to change. He doesn't see her like the others. He doesn't fear her authority, nor does he flatter her. And that intrigued her more than she would like to admit.

The night progresses, and while Louise tries to sleep in her luxurious bed and Saito on the hard floor, both, without realizing it, think of each other. Something inevitable had begun to form between them, something neither of them could predict.

The room was quiet now, the only light coming from the soft candles illuminating the space. Louise adjusted herself in bed, trying to hide the strange feeling of having Saito so close, even though he was on the floor. She turned to the side, feeling her eyes beginning to close, but couldn't push the image of him from her mind.

He... Saito... He wasn't like everyone else she knew. He didn't treat her like a noble, he wasn't afraid of her authority. And although he was clearly confused and frustrated with the situation, there was something about him that fascinated her. His gaze... His light green eyes, so penetrating, seemed to observe everything around him, but in a cautious way, as if he was trying to understand everything and everyone. It was strange, but she felt more... alive realizing that he didn't just see her as a distant mistress.

'I never needed anyone... But he... he is different,' Louise thought, her mind wandering as she stared at the ceiling. 'He's so... unpredictable. And handsome. I can't believe I'm thinking this about a peasant.'

On the other side of the room, Saito lay on the floor, his eyes fixed on the ceiling as he tried to relax. The feeling of being in a completely strange place, with a girl he barely knew, was unsettling. However, despite all of this, he couldn't push the image of Louise from his mind. Her light pink hair glowing softly in the candlelight, her impassive face, but with a determination he couldn't ignore. It was hard to deny, but something about her attracted him.

'She... is so beautiful. But so authoritative. How can someone be so dominant, and yet so... charming?' he thought, his eyes slowly closing, but still thinking about her. 'I really don't understand anything about this world, but... she, at least, made me feel something. I can't deny that I'm intrigued.'

Both, even without meaning to, were thinking about each other as the silence filled the room. The physical distance between them was clear, but something in the air seemed to connect them, a subtle attraction, still shy, but present.

Louise closed her eyes, trying to push thoughts of him away, but curiosity and admiration began to grow inside her. She didn't know what the future held for them, but she couldn't deny that Saito's presence in that moment made everything a little more... interesting.

Saito also began to fall asleep, his mind filled with questions about the new world, but at the same time, a little more at ease. Deep down, he knew that this story, this journey, was just beginning, and somehow, Louise would be part of it, even if she was a difficult girl to deal with.

As both drifted into sleep, a strange and promising sensation lingered in the air. It was the beginning of something neither of them could predict, but that was already unfolding silently, yet irresistibly.

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Hey guys, AbelWizard here.

I miss you guys, well... that's right. a new fic.

It's the usual, wish me luck and if there's any error let me know.

Thanks guys,

-Abel Wizard.