Louise pointed to the floor, where a bowl had been placed.
“It's a bowl.”
“Yes. It is.”
“There's something suspicious in it.”
Louise propped her chin on her hands and spoke.
“You know, familiars are supposed to stay outside. You're only in here on the floor because I especially requested it.”
Thus, Saito found himself sitting dumbly on the floor, staring at the bowl sitting in front of him. In it were some sorry-looking scraps of meat floating around in a thin soup. On the edge was half a loaf of hard-looking bread.
Extending his neck, he peered over the edge of the tabletop.
He could only gaze longingly at the spectacular feast that was laid out on it. It was far beyond comparison with his meager bowl of scraps.
“Oh, Great Founder Brimir, and our lady, the Queen, we thank you for this humble meal that you have graciously provided us this morning,” the harmonious sound of a prayer sounded. Louise joined in as well, closing her eyes.
Just how is that a 'humble meal?' Saito griped, still staring at the food. That's more than a banquet. If anyone's got a 'humble meal,' it'd be me. I mean, just what the heck is in this bowl? This is worse than what you'd feed a pet. He wanted to protest. Even pets in Japan eat better than this!
Irritated at this mistreatment, he laid a hand on the tabletop, only to have it slapped away by Louise.
Saito looked up resentfully at her.
“What are you doing?”
“Give me some chicken. Just a little bit will do.”
“Jeez…” Grumbling, Louise stripped a bit of skin and dropped it into Saito's bowl.
“What about the meat?”
“No, I'm not going to help start a habit.”
Louise herself began digging enthusiastically into the grand feast.
“Ah, it's delicious. Delicious! I think I'm going to cry,” Saito muttered, while he gnawed on his hard bread.
The classrooms in the Academy of Magic were similar to university lecture halls. And like everything else, they were constructed from stone. The lecturing teacher stood at the lowest level, and the seats were arranged upward like stairs. When Saito and Louise entered, every student in the room simultaneously turned their heads towards them.
And then the laughter began. Kirche was there as well, surrounded by a group of boys.
I see, so she really does have them wrapped around her little finger. She's being treated like a queenby all of those guys. Well, it's not surprising with her impressive bust. I guess big breasts are big breasts, no matter where you go.
The familiars that everyone had brought along were a varied bunch.
Kirche's salamander was curled asleep under her chair. There were students with owls resting on their shoulders. From a window, a gigantic snake peered into the class. One boy whistled, and the snake withdrew its head. Other than those, there were also ravens and cats.
But what drew Saito's attention the most were the creatures that would've been considered fantastic monsters back in his world. He was suddenly excited. All sorts of amazing beasts were milling around him.
He spotted a lizard with six legs. That's gotta be… Saito tried to recall what little fantasy lore he knew. A basilisk! I've seen one in a game. There was also a huge eyeball floating gently in midair. What could that be? He decided to ask Louise.
“What's that freaky eye monster?”
“A bugbear.”
“Then what about that octopus thing?”
“A Skua,” Louise answered him in a sullen voice and sat down. Saito sat down beside her. She glared at him.
“What?”
“That's a mage's seat. Familiars aren't permitted to use it.”
Begrudgingly, he lowered himself to the floor. I wasn't allowed to eat breakfast at the table either. And this desk is really getting in the way. I'm not sitting here, he resolved, and sat back on the chair.
Louise glanced at him, but didn't say anything this time.
The door opened, and the teacher entered.
She was a middle-aged woman dressed in a voluminous purple robe and wearing a hat. She had a plump, round face with a friendly expression on it.
“Is that lady a magician too?” Saito whispered to Louise.
“Isn't it obvious?” Louise hissed back.
The woman gazed around the classroom and spoke with a satisfied smile.
“Well, everyone, it seems that the Springtime Familiar Summoning was a great success. I, Chevreuse, always enjoy seeing the new familiars that are summoned each spring.”
Louise cast her eyes downward.
“My, my. You've summoned quite a… peculiar familiar, Miss Vallière,” she remarked as she looked at Saito. The comment was fairly innocent, but the classroom exploded with laughter.
“Louise the Zero! Don't go around grabbing random commoners off the street just because you can't summon anything!”
Louise's long strawberry blonde hair billowed as she stood up. She raised her cute voice in anger.
“No! I did everything properly! He was all that appeared!”
“Don't lie! I bet you couldn't even cast 'Summon Servant' properly, right?”
The other students chuckled.
“Mrs. Chevreuse! I've been insulted! Malicorne the 'Common Cold' just insulted me!”
Louise banged her fist against the tabletop in protest.
“Common cold? I'm Malicorne the Windward! I haven't caught any cold!”
“Well, your hoarse voice sounds exactly like you've caught one!”
The boy called Malicorne stood up and glared at Louise. Chevreuse pointed at them with the wand in her hand. The two suddenly jerked about like puppets on a string and rigidly sat back down.
“Miss Vallière, Mister Malicorne. Please stop this unnecessary argument.”
Louise looked visibly dejected. All the vivacity that she'd shown just earlier seemed to have evaporated.
“Calling friends 'Zero' or 'Common Cold' is not acceptable. Do you understand?”
“Mrs. Chevreuse, I'm only called that as a joke, but for Louise, it's the truth.”
A few giggles broke out from somewhere.
Chevreuse looked around the classroom with a severe expression. She pointed her wand again, and, as if from nowhere, the mouths of the students who'd giggled were suddenly filled with lumps of red clay.
“You people shall continue the lesson in that state.”
This put a firm stopper on any further outbursts.
“Now then, let's begin the lesson.”
Chevreuse coughed heavily and waved her wand. A few pebbles materialized on her desktop.
“My Runic name is 'Red Clay.' Chevreuse the Red Clay. This year, I will be teaching you all the magic of the Earth element. Do you know the four great elements of magic, Mister Malicorne?”
“Y-Yes, Mrs. Chevreuse. They are Fire, Water, Earth and Wind.”
Chevreuse nodded.
“And combined with the now-lost element of 'Void,' there are five elements in total – as everyone should already know. Of the five elements, I believe Earth holds an extremely important position. This isn't just because my affinity is Earth, nor is it simply a personal preference.”
Once again, Chevreuse coughed heavily.
“The magic of Earth is very important magic that governs the creation of all matter. If it wasn't for Earth magic, we wouldn't be able to produce or process necessary metals. Raising buildings from large boulders and harvesting crops would also involve much more work. In this manner, the magic of the Earth element is intimately related to everyone's life.”