Zach stared blankly at Yanael after her curt answer.
"...What?" Eventually, he managed to open his mouth and question his familiar.
Since she could talk, was sentient, and had her own thoughts, it was obvious she could say no if it was something she didn't want. But Zach didn't see why Yanael wouldn't want to answer his questions.
"My apologies, Master, but I can not answer those questions."
"Can not or will not?" Zach squinted as he looked at Yanael's apologetic face.
"I can not answer."
"Why?"
Yanael just shook her head.
Zach looked at her for a few more moments before relaxing his gaze and sighing.
"So, it's all a secret and it's a secret why it's secret."
Yanael nodded.
"Can you at least tell me how to unlock those secrets?"
Yanael hesitated at Zach's question.
"Yes?" Zach noticed her hesitation and prompted her to open up.
"I've heard leveling up can give you more authority."
Zach tilted his head.
"Leveling up?"
Yanael nodded.
"If you take a look at the summoning interface, you will see that you are currently a Level 1 Summoner. It is almost the same as having no authority. The only reason I can even say this much is due to my rank boosting what little you have. But with every level and every familiar you gain, your authority increases little by little."
Yanael's jaws snapped shut as soon as she finished. Zach's eyebrow rose slightly.
"I guess that's the limit of what you can tell me for now?"
Yanael nodded.
It wasn't much, but Zach wasn't disappointed. If anything, he was more excited than before. He had a pretty solid goal to work toward. He didn't know how much he had to level up to be allowed to learn about the secrets of the art of summoning or Yanael's secrets.
But secrets were the tastiest when they were well-kept.
Zach turned to Nora, who had started and almost finished packing his clothes into the wardrobe.
"Nora, any ideas on how to level up?"
Nora frowned at Zach as if she couldn't believe he was asking her that.
"Why the f—Why do you think you're attending this Academy, Young Master?"
"To make friends."
Nora scoffed.
"Good luck with that."
"I've already made a friend, actually." Zach didn't let Nora's skepticism get to him.
"A real one?" Nora didn't even look at Zach as she finished up and closed the suitcases before sliding them under the bed.
"Yes. You also saw him, right, Yanael?"
"If you're referring to Julius Hersko, then yes, I also saw him, Master."
Zach turned to Nora.
"See?"
"Whatever." Nora shook her head slightly. "Go to bed, Young Master, you have a long day ahead of you tomorrow."
"Fine, but I'm bringing Julius over tomorrow after class so you better have some snacks ready."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Great." Zach smiled and got ready for bed.
"Yanael, come here." Zach raised his duvet and patted the bed next to him, gesturing for Yanael to lie down next to him. She began walking toward the bed, but Nora stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.
"Nope."
"Tch. Cockblocked by my own maid."
Nora scowled at Zach.
"Don't harass this poor girl you've known for less than a day. Besides, it's not like she would let you do anything."
"I wasn't going to try anything, either. I just wanted her to lie down next to me."
"Yeah, that's not happening. Yanael, you're coming with me."
Nora grabbed Yanael and hauled her off before Zach could protest. Yanael looked at Zach while Nora carried her. If he had given any signal, she would have fought back.
But Zach just gestured that it was fine and that she should follow the pushy silver-haired maid into the servant's quarters next door. They were close enough that the only threat to Zach that the two maids couldn't react in time to was Zach's own misfortune.
'Divine Luck, my ass.'
Zach fell asleep while grumbling about the inaccuracy of his innate skill. Like always, his fortune and misfortune came hand in hand, but he was still left feeling like he lost out. He summoned an otherworldly beautiful angel in a maid dress but he couldn't even have her sleep next to him without Nora getting in the way.
It was a tough world to live in. He had greatness in front of him, but he could only look at it from afar.
Zach eventually fell asleep. He dreamed of maids.
The next morning, Nora and Yanael woke Zach up with breakfast ready to eat and a bath already heated. The luxurious life of having two maids was beginning to show.
Zach scarfed down breakfast and got dressed before he and Yanael wandered around until they found the classroom where he would have the first of countless classes in the Academy.
"Being late on your first day is not a good sign, young man." The dark-haired instructor glared at Zach as he entered.
Zach bowed apologetically.
"My bad. I got lost on the way here."
The instructor hummed lightly.
"Alright. I'll be lenient since the Academy is big and it is your first day, but I expect you to be on time from tomorrow onwards."
"Of course."
"But your servant will have to stay outside."
Zach glanced back at Yanael before looking at the others in the class who had brought their familiars along. The classroom was large and the desks were placed far from each other to allow even larger familiars to fit inside.
"Instructor, this is my familiar." Zach looked at the instructor with an honest expression.
"Nice try. If you want special treatment, find it somewhere else."
One of the students raised their hands.
"Excuse me, Instructor, but that maid is his familiar. We saw him summon her yesterday."
The instructor looked at the student for a moment.
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
The instructor shrugged.
"Well, we're doing a rank assessment today, so we'll be able to tell for sure whether she is a familiar or not. Now, take your seat, young man."
"Sure thing:"