Old Knight Becomes A Servant (Part 1)

3rd Person Pov:

Somewhere on a lush green field, a few dozen people were lined up before a woman dressed in green robes and a pointed hat.

The group standing before the woman was all in their teen years. The students all had varying characteristics. Some were short and tall, some boys and girls, some good-looking and others not.

There were two things that they all had in common, their blue uniforms and their desire to learn magic.

The girls wore grey skirts with a white blouse and a blue jacket.

The boys wore grey pants and white shirts with blue vests or jackets.

Pinned on the outerwear of everyone's chest was a small gold badge emblazoned with a tower surrounded by wands, books and stars. The proud symbol of the magic academy they belonged to.

Usually, when you have a group of kids clustered together in a group, they would mingle, socialize, create castes, and so on.

Right now, none of that behaviour was happening. All the students stood straight in front of their instructor, for today's course will be one that will forever impact their lives.

The green-robed instructor, a brown-haired, bespectacled gold-eyed woman in her early thirties with bored eyes, spoke to the class with a surprisingly high-pitched voice that differed from her tired expression and appearance.

"Alright, class. Although this is your second day, this will be an important day which may forever change your lives."

The instructor paused for a few moments before asking.

"Can anyone tell me why today is special?"

A petite blonde-haired girl raised her hand and jumped up and down excitedly.

Her large aquamarine eyes sparkled intensely with anticipation.

"Yes, Miss Shelly?"

The energetic Miss Shelly, who was full of energy, quickly and loudly blurted out her answer.

"Today is the day we make our first-ever contract with our familiars!"

"That's right. However, what makes the contract we are about to form special?"

Shelly excitedly raised her hand again, but the instructor promptly ignored her and chose another student. This time, it was a tall blue-haired girl with perfect body proportions, not too large and curvy nor small and flat. Just the right proportions, which could land her a job as a model if she wished. Her sharp purple eyes narrowed, pondering for the best possible answer before answering.

"Rather than finding a random magical creature out in the wild and forcing it to serve us against its will. We'll perform a ritual which summons a being most compatible with our magic, personality and soul. Depending on the person, it is possible for them to summon and make a contract with a powerful being like a dragon or a phoenix."

The instructor nodded in approval.

"Eighty-three out of a hundred, Miss Helen. The ritual we use will summon a being most compatible with the summoner. However, it is also a sort of test."

"This method of contracting a Familiar is known as a Summon Contract."

At the mention of a test, everyone started muttering among themselves.

"A test?"

"Are they going to fail us if we don't summon a familiar?"

"I heard that there are rankings in school, will the familiar we summon determine our rank?"

"That's not it. I bet they're-"

Having had enough of her students' chit-chat, the instructor cast a yellow magic circle that shot out a bolt of lightning, creating a ten feet radius crater in front of the students.

Seeing their instructor pissed off, the students smartly shut their mouths.

"Let me clear a few things. This test has nothing to do with marks or your treatment at school. Regardless of what familiar you summon, even if it's a mouse or some other random everyday creature, the school won't treat you any different, never mind expelling you."

"Likewise, for those that summon strong familiars like a dragon. Don't expect the school to give you special treatment. Instead, you'll be required to work twice as hard, and the penalty for misconduct and failure will be much harsher than regular students. Also, for students who think having a strong Familiar equals power and status. Just remember that the Headmaster, an Eighth-Circle Magician, has a slime for a familiar. As long as you have talent or are willing to put in the effort, everyone in this class can become a Fourth-Circle Magician at the very least."

The class muttered amongst themselves about how glad this test won't affect their future that much.

Seeing their chatter, the instructor silenced them with a lightning bolt.

"Alright, there are still a few more things you need to know about the Summon Contract. However, I can tell that I am losing your attention, and I really don't want to have to electrocute someone, so I will talk about the details later and skip right to summoning."

Cheers erupted from the class from learning they'll finally get to summon their first familiars.

"Now then, I'll prepare the summoning ritual."

The instructor closed her eyes and raised her arms in the air. Then she began to chant.

"Lady of The Stars, Creator of The World, Guide of The Lost Lambs, may you grace us with your presence and bestow upon us our fated companions who will walk alongside us in our journey."

"Altar of Destiny."

A pillar of light fell from the sky and landed right between the students and the instructor.

The students used their arms to shield themselves from the blinding light. After the light faded, everyone saw a short, 4ft tall, white marble pedestal holding a red cushion. Nestling in the center of the cushion was a clear glass orb half a foot in diameter.

"When I call your name, please walk toward the altar and channel your energy into the orb. A suitable Familiar will be summoned. After being summoned, you guys should know how to form a contract. We've already gone through this countless times this morning."

"Albert Belran."

A handsome, arrogant, red-haired and blue-eyed student stepped forward, smirking.

When he walked up to the pedestal, most of the girls among the students began to go crazy.

"Kya! It's Prince Albert!"

"OMG! He's so gorgeous!"

"I heard that when he was twelve, he became a Second-Circle Magician, and now he is nearly on the breakthrough to the Fourth-Circle!"

"That's amazing!"

"I want to date him!

"I want to marry him!"

"I want to **** *** with him!"

Everyone became silent at this remark.

The one who said it, a brown-haired female student of noble background, covered her face in shame and tried to fade into the backdrop.

Unfortunately, she didn't see where she was going and tripped over someone's foot.

"Kya!"

Before she could fall to the ground, an arm caught her and helped balance her.

"Are you alright, milady?"

The brown-haired student opened her eyes and found herself face-to-face with Prince Albert.

"A-a-ah!"

The brown-haired student combusted from such close contact with Prince Albert. Her face turned a deep shade of red, and steam erupted from her ears.

Prince Albert became amused by the sight of the girl's mental breakdown and leaned close to her ear and whispered.

"Pardon me, but I can't help but overhear your "Feminine Desire," I would be more than happy to help you out."

The red-haired womanizer gave her a piece of paper before walking towards the Altar of Destiny.

After placing his hand on the orb, the orb began to change colour and emitted a bright-red ruby colour. A flash of light burst forth, and a red magic circle, five meters in diameter, appeared beneath his feet.

The magic circle also emitted a bright light that temporarily blinded everyone's eyes. Lo and behold, what appeared after was a four feet tall bird clad in bright flames with a wing span of three and a half meters.

Despite being near the vicinity of the bird's flames, Prince Albert was unscathed and even reached out his hand to make contact with the bird.

Soon, the bird's identity was revealed by the class and the instructor.

"Hey..."

"Isn't that bird..."

"A..."

"Hmph, not bad. Didn't expect the first student to come up would summon a Phoenix."

The one who said the name of the legendary bird of Immortal Flames like getting a decent hand in a game of cards was none other than the instructor.

[Author's Note: The name reveal for the instructor will be in the next chapter.]

Hearing the instructor's confirmation of the identity of the summoned creature made the whole class buzz in excitement.

"Wow! I can't believe he summoned a Phoenix!"

"As expected of the Second Prince of Beland! Only someone with a royal bloodline like his could summon a legendary beast from legends!"

"Man! I wish that my familiar would be as cool as his!"

"Dangit! He's got looks, wealth, talent, a good lineage and a flippin' Phoenix from legends! Life is so unfair!!!"

"Man, how I wish I-"

*CRACK!!!*

(!?!?!) [The whole class]

A lightning bolt struck down from the sky and created a hundred feet radius crater behind the green-haired instructor, who was very pissed by everyone's chatter.

"Let me make things clear. I don't mind chatter in my class since preventing students from interacting with others is like trying to grow a field of flowers without water or sunlight. It's just impossible."

"But bear in mind that just because I don't mind chatter doesn't mean I don't have a bottom line. The next time you guys have such a lengthy and loud discussion amongst yourselves, I'll be smiting you all directly with my lightning."

After the class quieted down, the instructor spoke to Prince Albert.

"Prince Albert, to complete a contract, continue holding your hand out to the Phoenix."

The usually arrogant Prince was frozen mid-action due to the instructor's display of power but immediately snapped back to his senses and did as the instructor said.

When his hand was only a few mere inches away from the Phoenix, a red magic circle appeared between them. The Prince reached out to touch the magic circle, and the Phoenix did the same.

The red magic circle glowed when the two made contact with it. Then Prince Albert muttered something under his breath before a series of white chains bonded them together before fading away. Signifying the Familiar Contract had been established.

"Excellent, Albert Belran. You may stand off to the side."

"Next student! ---!"

One by one. The students all went up to the altar to summon a familiar.

Some had great success and summoned a magical being like a Spirit.

Others got a mediocre summon and ended up with a cat or an owl.

Then there were those with horrible luck who summoned a bug or some other disgusting creature.

There were also students that summoned very bizarre unknown creatures. One such student, the excitable Shelly, ended up summoning what appeared to be a one-foot-tall, pink fuzz ball with two large innocent brown eyes. This made quite a commotion amongst the girls due to its adorable and harmless appearance.

"Nice! I got a Wind Spirit!"

"Hmm, an owl? I guess it could be worse."

"Ew!!! A cockroach!?! Seriously!?! How are the ladies going to approach me now!?!"

"Kya! Miss Shelly, your familiar is so adorable! Can I pet him?"

"Sure thing!"

"Woah! Look at Miss Helen's familiar!"

"Helen? Do you mean Helen Belran? The sister of Albert Belran?"

"Wait! Are you guys talking about THE Helen Belran!?! The Jewel of Beland!?!"

"Isn't she currently a Fifth-Circle mage?"

"I've heard that she is being personally tutored by the Headmaster herself!"

"What enviable talent!"

"She's also got the looks to match!"

"Not only looks, I've heard that she was chosen to be the next heir to the throne!"

"Damn! Imagine getting hooked up with her! You'd be set for life!"

Prince Albert's eyebrows twitched at the praise being laden upon his sister, and was going to join in the conversation to talk smack about her when everyone heard a loud-

*ROAR!!!*

All the students turned to look at the source of the noise.

A large fifty-foot-long, blue-scaled serpentine creature with a frilled head and two fins halfway down its body floated mid-air above the students' heads.

Its large, yellow reptilian eyes stared down at all the students before resting upon a blue-haired girl.

The beast opened its jaws, and countless sharp white teeth, all at least a foot long, could be seen glistening in the sunlight.

Just as everyone thought the beast was about to eat them, it spoke in a deep and ancient voice.

<You there, the one with the blue hair. Are you the one who summoned me?>

While everyone was trembling before its presence, Helen calmly replied.

"Yes, I was the one who summoned you."

The beast inspected her with a judging gaze before speaking.

<You wish to form a contract with me, correct?>

"Yes."

<Hmm, interesting. I can sense a deep burning desire to obtain something.>

<Something you are willing to burn the whole world for to obtain.>

<Very well, I will form a contract with you. In exchange, you will show me what it is you wish to obtain.>

The serpent manifested a sea-blue mana circle that dwarfed Albert's by ten times.

<What is your name, child?>

"Helen Belran."

<Helen Belran, do you wish to form a contract with me?>

"Yes."

<Then I, Cetus, grant you my power. In exchange, you will show me your desire.>

<Do you agree to this contract?>

"Yes."

<Then let it be so.>

Just like with Albert and all the other students, white chains appeared and bonded Helen and Cetus together.

Unlike the others, the chains that appeared were longer and thicker. They were also covered in many runes and ancient symbols.

The chains, Cetus and Helen, began glowing. Soon after, the chains disappeared, and the glow finally stopped.

However, Cetus was nowhere to be found.

Helen was just as confused as everyone else and looked around to see where Cetus might have gone.

<I'm down here in case you were wondering where I am.>

Helen looked down and saw a mini-chibi Cetus who was currently only one foot long.

*Clap*

*Clap*

"Congratulations, it looks like you summoned a Named Familiar."

Everyone turned to the instructor.

"A Named Familiar?"

"That's right, a Named Familiar."

"Although I have said Familiars do not represent a person's talent or status. Named Familiars are the exception."

"Named Familiars, as suggested, are Familiars that have names. They are beings of legend that have existed since the creation of Lunara. However, records about their existence have been lost to time, and now we know very little about them."

"As a reference, one such Named creature. The legendary beast named Grendel destroyed several Vikar cities and came close to destroying the Vikar capital itself if not for the intervention of several warriors, including the Dragonslayer Beowulf, the Monster Hunter Abraham Van Helsing and the legendary and most beautiful Maiden of War, Brunhilde!"

"..."

Everyone looked at the instructor as though she had grown two heads. For the two days, they spent in her class. They had never seen her show such emotions.

The instructor sensed everyone's gaze and coughed before continuing, not bothering to cover up her sudden outburst and fangirling of Brunhilde.

"Anyways, for you, Helen Belran, to contract a Named Familiar from the ancient past shows you will have a bright future ahead of you."

"Although it might not be on par with Grendel, the fact that it has been around since the ancient era could provide you with a treasure trove of knowledge and experience that you could utilize to your advantage, especially in the upcoming Grand Chaos Tournament."

After the instructor finished praising Helen's Familiar.

Everyone crowded around Helen, wishing to give her lip service and congratulate her.

Prince Albert gritted his teeth in annoyance seeing everyone licking his sister's feet. His frown soon turned to a mean sneer when the instructor called the next person up.

"Next up, Lilith Sharon."

Silence fell upon the class at the mention of this person's name.

The crowd centred around Helen parted in two as a beautiful raven-haired woman walked past them.

Lilith shares the same blue eyes as Albert and Helen, and her beauty surpasses Helen's.

If Helen was a model, Lilith was a goddess that walked out of a fairy tale or myth.

Long waist-length black hair. Large eyes as blue as the clear sky. Strawberry red lips that you could taste the sweetness from. Beautiful skin as pale as snow. A slender figure with curves in all the right places. And a certain air of nobility or grace that not even Helen could mimic.

Despite her looks and the noble aura she carried, the whispers around her weren't friendly and were the complete opposite of Helen's.

"Did she just call up Lilith Sharon?"

"You mean the heiress of that disgraceful ducal house that insulted a goddess?"

"What's so bad about her? She's got looks and status. Plus, her house is related to the Belran Royal family."

"Her family insulted a goddess!"

"So?"

"Are you for real!? You seriously haven't heard the rumours!?"

"What rumours?"

"Due to an ancestor of the Sharon family insulting Hecate, the Goddess of Magic, the whole Sharon family can't use magic!"

"Actually!?"

"Yes! Their existence is proof of that! Not one member of the Sharon household is capable of using magic! Not even the branch families or distant relatives!"

"I've heard that several kingdoms purged nobles who had relations with the Sharons to prevent their inability to use magic from being passed on to their descendants!"

"That can't be true now! One of the King's concubines is a member of the Sharon family!"

"Ha! They're only alive because they paid a hefty amount to have the King spare them! If it weren't for their wealth, they would have had their heads put on spikes in the capital's city square!"

As the discussions and comments slowly became nastier by the second. The person who was the subject of their discussion remained unperturbed and walked up to the altar.

Lilith placed her hand upon the orb and closed her eyes, offering a silent prayer.

"Tch! Look at her acting all high and mighty! She's a disgrace to nobles!"

"I bet that with her inability to use magic, she'll summon nothing!"

"Hahaha! What a joke of a noble!"

"Quiet."

With that one word, everyone fell silent. The person who uttered that one word was none other than Helen Belran.

No one knew why Helen Belran wanted everyone to be quiet, and no one dared to question her.

Seeing everyone stop talking smack about Lilith, Albert attempted to reignite the conversation again but stopped when his sister glared at him.

Rarely does his sister get mad, but when she does, people better stay out of the way.

Underneath Helen's oppressive aura. Everyone quietly watched Lilith holding her hand out to the orb atop the Altar of Destiny, attempting to summon her familiar.

Lilith's POV:

"Tch! Look at her acting all high and mighty! She's a disgrace to nobles!"

"I bet that with her inability to use magic, she'll summon nothing!"

"Hahaha! What a joke of a noble!"

"Quiet."

(Finally, they stopped talking.)

How long have I and my family endured their malice for a crime our foolish ancestor committed?

Today is the day I finally free my family from the pain and shackles that have bound us for generations.

Should I summon a powerful familiar like Albert or Helen's, they'd have no choice but to acknowledge our family and finally leave us alone.

We could then rebuild and slowly become a powerhouse that many would wish to curry favour with.

Goddess Lunara, if you have any sympathy or pity for my family, grant me this one wish.

I placed my hand upon the orb Instructor --- summoned and closed my eyes, offering a silent prayer.

Third Person POV:

"W-w-what's going on!?!"

"AH!!! I can't see!"

"My eyes!"

"Is this Lilith's doing!?!"

"Could she use magic all along!?!"

A bright light blinded everyone's eyes, and everyone shrieked in surprise and agony.

Once their eyesight was restored, they all turned to look at Lilith.

The person in question was standing before the orb with disappointment written across her face.

"Ha! What were we worried for!"

"It looks like it was a fluke!"

"What were we expecting!? For a moment there, I thought the ground to suddenly split apart and reveal some ancient god of the past!"

"You're not far off."

The one who coolly replied to one of the students was the instructor.

(???)

Everyone understandably looked at the instructor with confusion.

"I suggest you look up, brats."

The students did as the instructor said and looked up.

What they saw made their jaws drop in a mixture of shock and amazement.

""WHAT IN THE NAME OF LUNARA IS THAT!?!""

The object of their shock was a massive spider web-like crack five times the size of Cetus. What was more shocking was that the crack was gradually beginning to widen.

Cetus, who rested upon Helen's shoulders, looked at the crack with interest.

(Oh? A being from another world? Hopefully, it isn't some annoying b*stard like Cthulhu.)

Lilith POV:

I've failed.

I thought with the Familiar Summon, I'd be able to contract a powerful being that would elevate my family's status.

It turns out they were right. Me and my family were just a bunch of laughing stocks who are only still around due to our wealth and my mother's marriage.

""WHAT IN THE NAME OF LUNARA IS THAT!?!""

Goodness, gracious! Can people not see that I'm depressed here!? Do I seriously have to put up with their insults right now!?

Suddenly, I felt a shadow cover me. I looked up to see something fall from the sky. As it got closer to the ground, I could hear screaming.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"

"MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!!!"

I quickly rolled off to the side just in time as the spot where I was standing previously was hit by the mysterious thing that fell from the sky. When it impacted the ground, a large cloud of dust filled the area and obscured the view of the fallen object.

Whatever it was, I could feel something tugging me towards it.

I somehow knew that within my heart, if I don't experience this encounter. I will regret this forever.

Ignoring everyone's outbursts of shock and the dust that filled the air. I made my way to where the fallen object lay.

Eventually, I was within arm's length of the object, which turned out not to be an object but a person.

Not any person, but an old man dressed as a knight.

[Author's Note: I might have accidentally said the instructor's hair was green. The instructor has brown hair. The Grand Chaos Tournament will be explained in a later chapter.]