Disclaimer

Familiar of Zero is owned by Noboru Yamaguchi

Destiny is owned by Bungie

Snapping jaws, green-flamed claws…

My servant that exists somewhere in this vast universe...

…rumbling laughter, demented thunder…

My divine, beautiful, wise, powerful servant, heed my call!

…the darkest Light, the brightest Dark…

Come forth, and serve your master!

Lumo felt the Hive's magic fade from his body, and he took a shuddering breath. The totem he held turned to ash, and he swore he could hear it scream.

"Ghost." He croaked out.

"I'm here, Guardian! Just take a breath, we're safe! We're safe…" The Ghost hovered in front of its Guardian's face. Lumo took several deep breaths as his shield regenerated and his wounds healed. He moved each of his limbs experimentally before going into a crouch. He looked up…

…into the terrified face of a young girl.

"…Hello. Where am I?"

The girl flinched back, and a bald man walked towards them. Lumo looked around as he approached.

'Strange fauna. Earth animals, some supposedly extinct. And… ahamkara? No, lacks feathers. Castle, made of stone, odd. Children? Some lost colony, perhaps, or a hidden settlement...'

"Ghost, where in the Traveler's Light are we?"

The Ghost went into 'orb' mode, being silent a moment before speaking, "No idea. I'm not reading any transmissions. Not the City's, not the Awoken's, not even Fallen chatter."

"We are far, then. Which brings me back to my previous question; where are we?" Lumo looked at the bald man, who was now conversing heatedly with the pink-haired girl. Lumo stood and dusted off his robes, stooping back down to pick up his rifle. He checked it over and saw no major damage. As for his helmet…

"Ghost, please tell me you can fix this?" Lumo gestured to the helmet fragments around him.

"Don't worry about it." Ghost said as the pieces were transmatted.

The duo heard a sigh and turned to see the girl approaching. She frowned before pointing down at her feet. Lumo scratched his short grey hair, and the girl shouted before pointing down again, adding a stomp. The crowd of children behind her laughed, and some of them said what he assumed were derogatory comments.

Lumo frowned, "I won't kneel, child."

She growled, and pointed a stick at him and started chanting.

'Huh… that feels like Void energy-'

BOOM!

He fell back, clutching his now charred face and letting out several grunts and growls of pain. The world was dark, his eyes having been destroyed along with his nose and lips. It felt like something worked its way into his mind.

"Guardian, move your hands!" He followed Ghost's orders, and he heard several people scream. In seconds the flesh on his face regrew, and he felt his Solar energy pouring off him as he stood. The pinkette looked up at him in fear.

"You have thirty seconds to explain yourself before I make sure not even your ashes are left."

The girl looked at him for a few more seconds before she brandished her stick a gain and put on a brave face, despite her shaking knees.

"I-I am your master! You will-"

He waved his hand and the girl was now holding a handle with a small charred stump.

"Twenty-four seconds."

"W-wait!" The bald man rushed in front of the pinkette, hands raised defensively.

"Twenty-one seconds."

"It's not Miss Valliere's fault you were summoned! The Summoning Ritual summons the best possible familiar for the mage!"

"…You're telling me she was the one to pull me from the Dreadnought?"

"I'm, I'm not sure what a dreadnought is, but yes."

Lumo stared at the duo before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. The flames died out, and when he opened his eyes he frowned.

"The only reason you are alive right now is the fact you may have inadvertently saved my life. Now, explain this ritual to me."

The man breathed a sigh of relief, "The ritual allows a mage to summon a familiar, a creature that serves as their eternal servant and companion. It also represents the summoner's growth into a full-fledged mage."

"And what's to stop this creature from going rampant?"

"A secondary spell binds the familiar to the mage that summons it, making it unquestionably loyal to its master."

"…You kidnap people from their homes, from friends and family, and force them into being slaves?" Flames started to cloak Lumo once more.

"Of course not!"

"Yet here I am."

"Only animals have ever been summoned-"

"So you see me as an animal, then?"

"N-no, that's not what I meant-"

"Yet you still allowed her to try?"

He opened and closed his mouth for a moment, before he sighed deeply, "…I'm… I'm so sorry we summoned you."

"Then send me back."

"We can't. The Summoning Ritual is one way."

"Then find a way." Lumo took a deep breath, the flames dying once more, "Bring me to whoever leads you. We have much to discuss."

The man nodded, "Of course. But might we bring Miss Valliere? She… will need to speak with the Headmaster as well."

"…Fine."

Osmond dragged himself back into his chair after his assistant gave him a completely unjustified beating. After all, he was an old man, why not let him have his pleasures? Sure, that pleasure was having his familiar spy up his assistant's skirt, but was that really so bad? If anything, it should be a compliment that she was beautiful enough to peek on! Osmond was brought out of his ramblings when the door to his office opened, and his eyes went wide.

'Grey' was the only way to describe the person that entered. Grey skin, eyes, and hair, white markings around the eyes being the only other color. He looked to Colbert, who looked surprisingly serious. The bald teacher explained the situation, and Osmond stroked his beard in thought.

"Hmm… Is there a reason you cannot simply find transportation home? A ship perhaps, or-"

"If it were that simple I would not be here. I'm not even entirely sure we are in the same dimension, let alone galaxy."

The words were lost on Osmond, but he understood what the stranger meant, "So, what are your intentions, then?"

"I require living arrangements until I devise a way to return home… if I ascertain that is not possible, then I will attempt to find my own lodgings."

Osmond continued stroking his beard for a moment, then nodded, "Very well, I will allow you stay here, but only under certain conditions."

He nodded, and Osmond continued, "First, you must swear not to attack or endanger any of the students or staff here."

"So long as they do not antagonize me, there will be no issue."

"Good. Secondly, you will have to be monitored during your stay here. Colbert, could you…?"

"Of course, Headmaster."

"Excellent. Now, the final condition: I would like you to pose as Miss Valliere's familiar as long as you remain here."

The man tilted his head, "…I would do this why?"

Osmond sighed, "Without a familiar, she cannot remain here-"

"While I am sure that is terrible for her, it has nothing to do with me."

Odmond frowned at the interruption, but continued, "Seeing as you owe her a life-debt, it has everything to do with you."

They could hear the man's fists tighten, "…Very well, but only for as long as either of us are at this academy. And I am making this clear now: I am not her friend, I am not her servant, and I am not her slave."

Osmond nodded, "And I'm not asking you to be any of those things, Mr….?"

The man frowned deeply, "…Lumo. Lumo Nes."

"Well, Mr. Luminous-"

"Mr. Nes." Lumo growled, and Osmond swore he saw the man blush slightly.

"Apologies, Mr. Nes. Now, if that is all?" When his guests replied in the negative, he dismissed them. After waiting a few minutes, he pulled out his pipe, and desperately reached for it as Miss Longueville floated it away from him.

"Oh, come now, Miss Longueville, I just had a very stressful meeting!"

She only raised an eyebrow before speaking, "Headmaster, are you sure it was wise to allow that… thing to remain here?"

Osmond chuckled, "Tell me my dear, what did you notice about Mr. Nes? Aside from his appearance?"

She put her thumb and forefinger to her chin, "Well… he was well-spoken, and his voice was… cultured, for lack of a better word. Like a noble's." Her eyes lit up, and Osmond nodded.

"I believe Mr. Nes is a noble, wherever he comes from. His pride and honor will demand he follow the conditions of his stay. If that helps Miss Valliere avoid the scorn of others, then that is a pleasant bonus, isn't it?"

The next few hours found the trio in the school's library, Colbert teaching Lumo and Ghost how to read, then scouring all the sources they could find in regards to the summoning ritual.

Which amounted to two books and a scroll.

"This is all?" Lumo turned to Colbert, who could only shrug.

"I'm afraid so. The only other place to get information in regards to Brimir's magic is the church, and getting them to give up information is… difficult, to say the least."

Lumo sighed, "A matter for another time, then," he grabbed what little they had and looked down at the pinkette among them, "To your room, then, Miss Valliere."

"W-what!?" Louise's cheeks flushed red.

"I will be guarding you until my debt is paid, and that includes guarding you as you sleep."

"O-oh."

"Ghost, check the stars and see if you can find anything familiar."

"On it." Ghost flew off, and the duo made their way through the halls. They ignored the glances and whispers as they walked by, right until they passed a blond boy and brown haired girl.

"Well, well, well, I'm surprised you're still here, Zero. Or are you just going to get your things?"

Louise whipped around, ready to say something-

"Pathetic."

Louise looked up in shock at Lumo's frowning face, and the blond laughed.

"See? Even your familiar believes you're-"

"I was referring to you."

"W-what!?"

"What makes you so superior, hmm? What great deeds have you committed that entitle you to act as so haughtily?" Lumo looked down at the boy in both senses.

The boy spluttered for a moment, before his face turned red and he shouted, "I am Guiche De Gramont, son of General Gramont-"

"I did not ask what your father did, whelp. I asked what you did, or do you truly believe riding your father's coattails gives you his skills?"

Guiche growled, "I am more skilled than some, some freak, and I'll prove it to you in a duel! Tomorrow at noon, at Vestri Court! And when I win, maybe you'll learn your manners!"

"Manners? You're the fool shouting while others are trying to sleep."

Guiche looked around to see the hall had, in fact, been filled with students in their sleepwear.

"Ahem."

He turned around to see a blond girl staring at him.

"M-Montmorency, my love!"

"Guiche, who's this?" She stared at the brown haired-girl beside him. The brown-haired girl beside him gasped.

"Lord Guiche, you said I was your only love!"

"Katie, my dear, I can explain!"

Lumo raised a brow, "An unfaithful fool as well? Did your father send you here as punishment for lusting after your servants?"

"Silence! I have never betrayed my love!"

Lumo looked between the two girls, "Which one?"

Guiche growled, and so did the girls.

SLAP!

"You liar!" The girls shouted in unison after they slapped him. Both ran off in tears, and Lumo turned to Louise.

"Let's continue on our way Miss Valliere, and leave this cretin to deal with his mistakes." The crowd parted as they left, and soon they were moving down an empty hallway.

"…Why did you do that?" Louise asked quietly.

"I dislike you, Miss Valliere," she winced, "I dislike arrogant fools more. And a word of advice? Do not let others see that they can rile you. Stupidity such as his feeds off it, like a parasite."

Tap-tap-tap.

They turned around to see a blue-haired walking towards them, staff in hand.

"Tabitha? What are you doing here?" Louise asked. The girl ignored her, silently looking up at Lumo.

"…Don't kill."

Lumo scoffed, "I have no intention of doing so. But make no mistake: I will be teaching that ponce a lesson."

She merely nodded, and as she walked back down the hallway Ghost rounded the corner.

"Oh, hello Tabitha."

She nodded to Ghost, and the two continued on their paths. Lumo tilted his head when Ghost stopped in front of him.

"You two have met?"

Ghost 'nodded', "When I was taking scans, she was on the roof. We talked a little… Seems nice."

"And the stars?"

Ghost was silent, and Lumo sighed.

"At least we know, now." The trio made their way, and Lumo remembered something, "Ah, I have a duel at noon, by the way."

Ghost stopped, and then sped up to reach them, "Didn't the Headmaster say you weren't allowed to hurt anyone?"

"I also said there would be no problem so long as they didn't antagonize me. He did." They continued on in silence, and when they reached Louise's room Lumo sat beside her door and opened one of the books he had. She gave him a mumbled 'good night', leaving the two to study.

Lumo shut 'The Earth Mage's Guide to Enchantments', and set it aside with the rest of the books he had taken from the library. He had breezed through what little he had, and spent the rest of the night going back and forth from the library to learn what he could about this world. Maps, history books, and of course, books on magic. He would definitely be experimenting later, for now though, he had to return what he had borrowed. He got to the corner, intending to let whoever was approaching pass…

…And then caught both them and the basket they were carrying as they turned the corner and bumped into him. He pulled the maid in his grasp into standing position, but she immediately went into a bow.

"I am so sorry, my lord! I-"

"I am no lord, and I am not angry." She slowly stood up, and her eyes widened when she saw his face.

"…A-an Awoken…" She said quietly, and Lumo was immediately alert.

"You know what I am?" She nodded, "Who told you?"

"M-my great grandfather told stories about-"

"Is he still alive? I need to talk to him."

"I'm sorry, b-but he passed on years ago."

Lumo bit back a curse, "…What is your name?"

"S-Siesta."

"Siesta, I have to speak with you at another time. It's a matter of utmost importance."

She merely nodded, and he handed her back her basket then collected the books he had dropped before making his way to the library.

"I don't think I've ever seen this amount of food for an average meal." Lumo looked at the massive amount of food at each table.

Louise had woken up shortly after Lumo and Ghost returned from the library, and had brought them to the dining hall for breakfast.

"…Well, when you have the opportunity." Lumo had Ghost scan the food, then grabbed a plate when he learned everything was edible. He ignored the shocked whispers and shouts from the people around him as he dug in. Being a Guardian meant long periods of going with little to no rest or nourishment, so any chance to do so was always taken advantage of.

"Hmph. Figures some foreign beast wouldn't even say his prayers to Brimir." He heard Guiche comment, and he turned around.

"No, whelp, you are a beast, a mongrel chasing after every bitch that comes your way. How are the two girls whose hearts you shattered, by the way?" Lumo kept himself from smiling at Guiche's red face and stuttering, and turned back to his food, "You're certainly eager for our duel, aren't you?"

"What!?" Lumo turns to see Osmond rushing towards him, "This breaks-"

"If you'll recall, Headmaster, the agreement was that I wouldn't attack anyone that didn't antagonize me. He," Lumo nodded towards Guiche, "insulted my charge, myself, and broke the hearts of two unfortunate girls."

"Duels are not allowed-"

"Between nobles, Headmaster, but I am not a noble, am I? I have no intention of killing him, if that's your worry."

"I FORBID YOU FROM-"

"Forbid?" Lumo stood straight, allowing Void energy to start building around him, "Headmaster, do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks. I have fought beings beyond mortal comprehension weekly, if not daily, for years. If I so wished, this Academy would not even be ash. I will be dueling the boy, and I will be teaching him the difference between a mongrel and a wolf."

The two stared each other down, the hall dead silent. Eventually, Osmond sighed.

"…You will not cause Mister Gramont grievous harm."

Lumo dispelled his energy, "No broken bones, I assure you."

Osmond nodded and returned to his seat, Lumo doing the same…

"Headmaster, what are you thinking!?" Colbert frantically whispered to Osmond at the teacher's table.

Osmond sighed, "Colbert, we cannot defeat him."

Colbert leaned back in shock.

"Do you know what I saw within his eyes, Professor Colbert? Power, restrained only by his will. I have no doubt he could make good on his words. We merely have to hope he keeps his word…"

Lumo looked around the courtyard as he sipped his tea, "I'm surprised I haven't heard of a betting pool yet."

The courtyard was crowded with students waiting for the duel, all of them sitting with food or drinks. Servants wheeled carts around filled with sweets and tea, and Lumo waved down a familiar looking maid.

"Hello, Siesta. I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. I am Lumo." He gave her a soft smile.

"Wait, why you let her call you by your first name?" Louise questioned, and Lumo's smile disappeared as he looked at her.

"She did not incinerate my face?" Louise winced, and shrunk back, "She did not try to make me a slave?" Siesta gasped quietly, and Louise shrunk further, "She is not an arrogant, petulant child?" Louise face was red, and she had tears pooling in her eyes. Lumo turned back to Siesta.

"So, what is the feel of the crowd, Siesta."

"The feel?"

"Who do they believe will win?"

"Oh, w-well, everyone thinks Lord Gramont-"

"He is the lord of nothing… besides broken hearts, of course." He adds after a moment.

The crowd starts whispering and pointing, and Lumo looks towards the approaching Guiche. Lumo stands and meets him halfway. Osmond and Colbert stand a short ways away, ready to intervene if necessary.

"Ghost? My helmet, if you would." The familiar weight settled around his head, "Use your strongest spell."

"Hmph. As if I would have to-"

"Listen well, mongrel. I want you to understand your folly. Use. Your. Strongest. Spell."

Guiche growls, "FINE!"

With that, he begins a long chant, and the petals fall off the rose in his hand. From them, a suit of armor rises, at least ten feet tall, holding a massive sword.

Guiche smiles, sweat pouring off him, "Ha, how do you like, huff, my Valkyrie? It-"

"Are you truly so desperate for female attention that you had to make something like this?" The students around them laughed.

"ATTACK!" Guiche pointed his rose towards Lumo, and the construct charged forward. Lumo's hand shot forward, and the wave of Void energy completely destroys it. Lumo puts his hands behind his back and starts walking towards Guiche, who frantically backs up. Lumo continues walking, and Guiche's back hits the wall.

"Now do you understand?" Lumo asks as he gets closer and closer, "You were never a threat."

Guiche slides down the wall, one hand up to defend him as Lumo looms above him.

"You are not even a nuisance. You are just a cowardly, arrogant, weak, unfaithful waste of an existence." With that, he turns and makes his way to Colbert, "I found someone who may be able to give us information," he gestured for Siesta to come forward, and both she and Louise did so. Lumo raised a brow at Louise, but said nothing and turned back to Colbert, "Do you have someplace besides the library we can discuss this?"

"I… have a lab we can use." Colbert nodded slowly, still in shock.

"Shall we, then?" The group made their way through the crowd, leaving Guiche where he sat…

"You are just a cowardly…"

"Do not dare hide the next time you're supposed to be punished, son."

"…arrogant…"

"You're proud of this lump of misshapen mud you call a golem?"

"…weak…"

"You'll never be like father! Now pick up your sword or I'm hitting you again!"

"…unfaithful…"

"You liar!"

"…waste of an existence."

Guiche clutched the grass in a death grip as tears dripped from his eyes. What did he care that others saw him crying? How could his pride, no, his soul, be wounded any more than it was?

He didn't care about the whispers and finger pointing…

…he didn't care about the dirty or sympathetic looks…

…he didn't care that he smelled the perfumed of the one he betrayed…

…and he didn't care about the oh-so familiar voice desperately calling his name…

AN: …So…MC's… kind of a prideful jerk… more on that, and what he was doing before he got summoned, next chapter. The last part is Guiche having flashbacks of his home life with his brother's/father, and of course the 'incident'. For those wondering why Louise seems less confrontational: would you argue with a flaming man who regenerated his destroyed face and disarmed you before you could blink? Gear wise: Sunbreakers, Bindcaster helmet, robes, and boots, Ebonthorn Bond. Weapons are Tlaloc and Susanoo, no heavy.