The Familiar of Zero

Summary

Familiar Zero started its life as a series of Japanese light novels written by Noboru Yamaguchi and illustrated by Eiji Usatsuka and was published in June 25, 2004 by Media Factory and an on going series currently spanning 17 issues. It was later adapted into an Animation series that was released by Animation Studios and was directed by Yoshiaki Iwaskai and was so popular spun onto a 2 series that aired the following year, This time directed by Yu Ko and then again in 2008 a third adaption was released by JC STAFFF and once again had Yu Ko at the helm. Media Studio released a manga version in Monthly Comic Alive in July 2006 written and drawn by Nana Mochizuki and is currently and ongoing series as well.

Plot

Familiar of Zero follows the adventures of the Louise and her familiar Saito. At her second year at at the Tristain Academy of Magic. The world that the story is set in is full of magic and those that can use it are Mages or Nobles, those who can’t are looked down upon by the magic users. She is given the nickname "Louise the Zero" by her classmates, due to the inability to use any of the four common magic elements, whereby a mage's power is determined by the number of elements they can use ranging from a single element. Early in the school year, the second year students summon their familiars; this is considered a special ritual where a mage summons their eternal protector and partner, which usually is some sort of magical creature. Louise manages to summon a human commoner named Saito Hiraga, leaving her totally humiliated. Due to the sacredness of the ritual, Louise is left with no choice but to reluctantly accept Saito as her familiar. She proceeds to treat Saito as any other familiar only worse, making him sleep on a bed of hay and beats him with a whip for little to no reason, among other things.

One day Saito challenges a noble who disrespects commoners (Guiche) to a duel. Saito is beaten badly at first, but once a sword was put in Saito's hands, he gained a mysterious power and with this power he is able to defeat the noble in the duel. Louise and Saito's relationship develops during the course of the story. Together they face many mysteries and uncover unexpected truths, including the nature of Saito's mysterious power, and the truth behind Louise's inability to cast magic.