Familiar of Zero
9
1Magic always feels different when you’re standing in the courtyard of Tristain Academy — sharper in the air, heavier in your chest, like the world is holding its breath.You’re not the star student.
You’re not the worst either.
You’re just… there. A quiet presence among louder nobles, stronger mages, and people who seem born for the spotlight.But today, something feels off.Students gather in a loose circle, whispering, pointing, waiting. At the center stands Louise, the pink‑haired noble girl whose spells tend to end in smoke and embarrassment. She’s gripping her wand like she’s daring the world to laugh at her.You stay near the edge of the crowd, watching.The summoning ritual begins.Wind stirs. Magic crackles. The air thickens with heat and light. You feel it before you see it — a pulse, like the world hiccuping.Then the explosion hits.A shockwave ripples across the courtyard, knocking dust into the air and sending students stumbling back. You shield your face, coughing, blinking through the haze.When the smoke clears, you see him.A boy.
Not from this world.
Not from any world you recognize.He’s lying on the ground, confused, staring up at the sky like he’s seeing it for the first time.The crowd gasps. Louise freezes. The teachers whisper urgently.And you — standing just a few steps away — feel something strange tug at your chest. A sense that whatever just happened is going to change the academy… and your life… in ways you can’t predict.You’re not the chosen one.
You’re not the hero.
But you were here when the impossible happened.And sometimes, being in the right place at the wrong time is all it takes for a story to pull you in.
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