Unlikely familiar - Chapter 1
Pairing: God Levi x Fem!Reader
Genre and tags: Magic/royal AU, fluff, romance, soulmates, falling in love, God Levi, wizard Hange, witch reader
Story concept: While trying to summon a familiar to help you, you accidentally awaken a destructive God and bond with him instead. Levi becomes your familiar but also reveals you are soulmates as told by the prophecy. While trying to learn magic and figure out how you feel about a lovesick and handsy God, you're trying to piece together Levi's past and discover if he really is as bad as old stories say. The more you love and care for Levi, the more his dark features begin to change back into his true God form. You slowly uncover the truth and lies linked to the mages of light and find out who the real evil is and try to clear Levi's name.
Chapter: You arrive at your new home and get to know your strange teacher of magic. After being teased by Hange for not having a familiar, you rush off and summon one only to summon an ancient God of destruction who adores you and calls you his soulmate.
AO3 link
Part 2
The rider shifted in his seat as an uneasy gloom seeped into his soul. He shivered when he moved closer to the imposing forest. He ripped the reins for his horse and fought the urge to look back and the beautiful lady in the back. It was a warm spring day, so his carriage was open to the elements. He wanted to just take one peek at her.
He slowly turned his head and gazed at the woman in the back, you. He eyed you in your figure-fitting dress with long boots. He’d never seen a dress stop just above the knees before, but he just summoned it up to you being a mage. He saw you wrap your cloak around you that looked like the stars in the sky before pulling your wide-brimmed witch hat down on your head.
He turned his head back to the road before you caught him staring. He let out a long sigh and stopped the carriage before he got into the forest further. He felt a fear creep through him as stories of this place fluttered into his head. People talked in the pub of a crazy mage and a cursed land with an ancient evil in a deep sleep under the ground.
He felt terrible for stopping and making a lovely lady like yourself walk, but he was too scared. He hunched up a little and tried to hide in his coat as he spoke to you. “This is as far as I go.”
You knelt up in your seat. “Really?”
He nodded. “I don’t dare go further. I’m sorry.”
You hummed in thought. “It’s okay.” You climbed off the back and slung on your side bag with your prized book in. You picked up a large sack of a bag and smiled softly at the driver. “Thank you so much for bringing me this far.”
You knew he had to be scared because the mage who lived here had called themselves a wizard instead and had defected from the main order. Plus, mages and users of magic were rare and treated as upper-class citizens. Most mages were close with the royal family, but not you. You didn’t want to be involved with the main academy or the head mage. You wanted to go off on your own and learn about your unique powers.
You pulled some gold coins from your purse and handed them over to the rider. “I appreciate your kindness. You were the only person willing to take me this far.”
He blushed at the amount of gold you’d given him. “You’re…you’re welcome.”
You waved to him. “Be safe!”
“You…you too.” He watched you walk up a path and into the forest. “I’m sure she’ll be fine…”
You hummed a little song to yourself as you walked along the path and made your way deeper into the forest to the castle. To most, it would have scared them having the trees closing in on them, but to you, it was delightful and cosy. You loved how much life there was. Birds fluttered and sang around you, bees buzzed and moved from flower to flower, rabbits hopped around you and deer walked around and enjoyed the gentle sun.
You frowned when the animals seemed to hurry off. You looked up at the sky and knew that something was coming. You held your hand out and felt a droplet of water hit. You rummaged in your side bag and pulled out your book. You smiled as it floated before and the pages flicked to a blank page. You watched letters and colours swirl to reveal what you wanted. You reached your hand out and in a mix of purple and red light a cover shot up above your head to protect you from the rain.
You hummed a little as the pages flipped. “Perhaps some light too?” You smiled as a lantern jumped out of your book and floated around you as your book slipped back into your side bag. “Perfect. Thank you both for your help.” You turned and saw a wolf gazing at you. “Would you like to share my cover? You’re most welcome to.” You petted his head and couldn’t believe how massive wolfs were. “You seem friendly. I should give you a name.” You thought carefully before the right name popped into your head. “Máni.”
Máni’s tail wagged at his name. You petted him once more and began walking along the path with your head down at the torrential rain. You moved as fast as you could but the rain stopped. You lifted your head and noticed you were standing in a perfect circle in the forest with no trees. Your cover floated to the side allowing you to inspect the circle full of flowers. You smiled at how calm and relaxing it was. Animals seemed happy here.
You strolled to the middle and saw what looked like a little stone circle as if there was a grave or this spot was sacred. You felt a tingle go up your spine as you became energised. You gasped as a glow emitted from your skin. You knew this place had to be sacred or have something special buried here. You made a mental note to return to this spot because the priority right now was to get to the old castle and meet your mentor.
You returned to the path and heard the rain hammering down on the cover above your head. You climbed up a little hill and walked out of the forest to see mountains with snow on the top of them, a vast lake with a little island in the middle and a welcoming simple and small castle with one tall tower. You smiled softly at the lights in the windows knowing this was your new home now.
You cast your gaze over at your new friend. “Well Máni, I think we’re home.”
You pushed the grand wooden door open and stepped onto the small carpet. Your eyes darted around the home. The stairs were made of stone and led up to the first floor. A chandelier using magic floated in the middle of the room. Moving paintings of moving landscapes adorned the walls. It was cosy and warm. You felt relaxed and at home here.
You looked down at the wolf at your side. “Seems nice.” You wafted your hand making your light and cover disappear. “Hello? Master Zoe?” You pouted. “Hello!?” You gasped when you heard someone sprinting. You frowned a little as your eyes locked onto the start of the hall. Your eyes widened when you saw a brunette sprint out of the hall and rushed down the steps. You flinched when she tripped up on the last step and fell flat onto her face. “Oh shit! Are you okay?”
She whined. “I’m okay.”
You hurried over to her and helped her to her feet. “Can I get you anything?”
She adjusted her glasses and grinned. “I’m perfectly fine! Oh!” She leaned closer. “You’re cute!”
You softly giggled at the energetic woman. You gave your name and grinned. “I am the mage you’re expecting, though I prefer the term witch.”
“I’m Hange Zoe! I prefer wizard to mage.” She pulled a face. “Mage makes me think of Heimdall.”
You shivered. “Not a fan of him.”
“Oh, you met?”
You shook your head as you thought about the mage leader. “No, but I have seen his propaganda crystals and posters. I’m just not interested. Plus, I’m not like him and his magic minions.”
Hange tilted her head as delight filled her. “Really?”
You nodded and pulled out your book. “I’m like you and master Erwin. I control magic differently.”
“May I see?”
You presented the book and let it go making it float in a purple and red soft glow. Pages flicked and fluttered until they landed on an empty page. Hange gasped in delight as words and colours swirled on the page to reveal flowers. The flowers grew out of the page and floated towards Hange. She grasped them and squealed in delight at the divine scent drifting from the bunch.
Hange inhaled deeply. “Incredible. Such ancient magic.” She moved closer and looked at your book as it floated. “This is incredible. I look forward to training you!”
You took your book and put it in your bag. “I heard you experiment a lot.”
Hange lifted her necklace. “My magic is in crystals!”
You gazed at the crystal with dancing colours inside. “So, you make up new crystals to increase your power?”
“Indeed, I do!” She put her hands on her hips. “I’m one of a kind! Like Erwin, he’s elemental.” She looked down to see a wolf next to you. “He with you?”
You petted the wolf. “His name is Máni. He met me in the forest. He, not yours?”
Hange shook her head and studied the wolf. “I have lived here for years and have never seen a wolf before. He has red in his eyes too.” She slowly stood up as the story of the forest came to mind. “Oh, this is interesting. It could be possible he’s linked to an ancient being of this land. It was said a God roamed these lands and became consumed with rage that he slaughtered the mages of light and their families, so they locked him away. They say the creatures of the forests protect his cell.”
You fussed Máni. “Well, I saw no cell there in the forest.”
Hange smiled softly. “Well, prophecies are fun and all but likely not true.”
You frowned a little. “Prophecy?”
She nodded. “They say he will awaken again and destroy the light of the land, or something.”
“Is there supposed to be someone who wakes him up?”
She blew a raspberry in thought. “Something about his soulmate, or love. I can’t remember. I don’t think it was clear.” She winked. “I like the story cause it means everyone leaves me alone. NOW! Let’s get you to your room. Máni can come.”
You looked down at Máni as he followed you. “So, this guy is a special wolf?”
“I’d say so.”
You hummed a laugh. “Well, I’m happy to have him.”
Hange led you down a dark hall before coming to a stop in front of a door. She pushed it open to reveal a large room with a desk, a large lit fireplace, a sitting area, a balcony and a four-poster bed. “This is all yours.”
“Cosy, I love it.”
She walked over to your window and yanked the curtains open. “There we go!”
You placed your bag down and smiled. “It’s perfect, thank you.”
“There’s even a spot for your familiar.”
You blushed a little. “Familiar?”
Hange stared at you. “Yeah, don’t you have one?” She clicked her fingers making a blue squirrel jump out of a white portal and land on her head. “Every person who uses magic has one.”
You whined a little. “W-Well I’m working on it.”
She smirked at you. “Most summoned them when they were a kid.”
You pouted a little. “I get it, I need one. I’ll summon one soon.”
“Good.”
Hange accepted her breakfast plate from you. “Got a familiar yet?”
You went bright red at her question. You’d been with her for over a month training hard to perfect your skills, but you had still yet to do something so simple. Summoning a familiar was a child’s spell and yet you could never summon anything when you tried. You were embarrassed that you couldn’t do something so simple and Hange was winding you up about it.
You sat down in a huff and eat. “No.”
Hange smirked as she watched you. “A month here and still no familiar, huh? You know, it’s interesting that you can summon weapons and energy to destroy, but you can’t get a simple familiar to help.”
You slammed your empty cup down and stood up. “I can and I will!”
Hange watched you run out of the room with Máni following. “She’ll summon something strong easily. Her powers are routed in emotions. I can’t wait to see what she can do.”
You trudged through the forest as anger bubbled away inside you. You huffed and flicked your gaze to Máni. “I know she’s done it to wind me up, but I will get a familiar!”
Máni jumped in front of you and stopped you from walking. He bit the bottom of your dress and tugged you in a different direction. You stumbled along and followed him through the forest and to the clearing. Máni released your dress and trotted over to the stone circle. He sat by it and stared at you as if he was waiting for you to do something that you should know, but you didn’t understand.
You walked closer and sighed. “I don’t know what you want me to do. I’m not very smart.”
Máni stomped his paw on the ground at you.
You pouted. “I know, but I don’t know what to do!”
Máni walked over to you and shoved his head in your side bag and pulled out your magic book, along with some salt. He dropped everything on the floor, along with some candles and gazed at you.
“Okay, I’ll give it a go here. I seem to be strong in this circle, so let’s give this a go.”
You made a big circle of salt around the stones circle. You added little runic symbols belonging to the elements and the ancient gods. You placed your candles in the four corners of the world and lit them. You placed your book in the middle and stood on the edge of your circle. You raised your hands and began chanting under your breath making the book rise, the candles glow red and the salt burned a deep red. The wind rushed around you as the floor cracked inside the circle.
You looked down at your chest to see a black light just above your breasts. You gasped as the light turned into a circle with symbols of your familiar connection to you. You placed your hands on your chest and accepted the link. You smiled as you felt warmth spread through you as your soul linked with such a loving and kind soul. You opened your eyes and saw darkness fill the area.
You fell out of your circle as the earth below you exploded causing dirt to rain down on you. You crawled backwards as your heart raced in your chest. You screamed as a hand shot up from the ground and slammed on the grass right between your legs. You opened your legs up and shivered as you stared at the sharp black claws and scales on the hands that slowly merge with the skin of the person on their arm. You squealed as the claws dug into the ground.
Black horns appeared followed by broad shoulders. You gazed into the darkness of the male down to see red eyes open up and glare at you. Their mouth opened to show sharp canines. Black smoke swirled around them, crows fluttered above and cried out and Máni moved closer as if you had awoken his master. You began to panic because you’d never heard of anyone summoning a familiar that wasn’t an animal.
You turned and pushed yourself up to your feet. You scooped up your book and sprinted away from whatever you had summoned. Your lungs burned as your ran for your life. You were terrified that you’d summoned something you shouldn’t have. You had let your emotions get the best of you and now you had a big problem on your hands.
You glance back behind you to see if it was following you and it was. You screamed when you saw a black shadow with red eyes, horns and canines flying for you. You felt a burst of energy inside you to get somewhere safe. You felt betrayed by Máni that he’d bring you to such a dangerous place. Your mind raced as your thought about Hange’s story of the God in a deep slumber inside a cell. You were beginning to think you were the one in the prophecy, his soulmate.
You slammed your body into the door of the castle. You twisted inside the hall and shoved the doors closed. You panted and backed up a little before turning to a confused Hange. “I fucked up!”
Hange tilted her head. “Fucked up? How?” She eyed your chest. “You summoned your familiar finally.”
“Yes! But. But. But.” You gulped hard. “It’s not an animal!”
Both of you turned as the front door creaked and groaned before obliterating making shards of wood fly inside the room. You flinched as you felt a piece cut your neck and another lodge itself into your thigh. You inhaled as the black figure launched at you and pinned you against the floor.
Hange ran towards you but shadows wrapped around her and yanked her away. She screamed your name. “Hold on! I’ll save you!”
You wiggled under the dark mass and whimpered a little. You gazed up into the red eyes as your heart raced. Your eyes widened as the shadows went to reveal a handsome man below. Undercut raven hair framed a charming porcelain face. The corners of his face had little black scales that faded into his hair. A black pattern wrapped around his neck, like he was wearing a collar which meant he was your familiar. Your eyes dragged down to see muscles peeking out from under his low-cut black shirt.
Your eyes flicked up to his face when he spoke your name in his deep voice. You whimpered at him. “Y-yes?”
He stared at your breasts. “Tch, you…” He blushed as he looked into your eyes. “You’re…” He gulped hard and punched the floor by your head making it crack. “Damn it!”
You gasped as he flew back into smoke and out the door. You slowly sat up and stared out at the land. Máni walked up and through the doorway. He stared at you a moment, before walking over and sitting in front of you. You stared up at the big wolf and felt a slight connection to him, meaning the man who had pinned you was using the wolf to keep in contact with you.
Hange raced over calling your name. “Are you okay!?”
You gulped hard. “I uh…was I imagining things, or was he really attractive?”
“Oh, he was fucking hot as hell.”
You blushed bright red. “Did he blush and get flustered by me?”
“Yes.”
You put your head in your hands and whined. “Fuck.”
Hange checked your neck and thigh. “I need to heal you.”
“Are you a healing wizard?”
“Afraid not.” She helped you to your feet. “What I can do is give you fast healing cream.”
You limped with her to the lounge and sat down on a chair. You pulled your dress up and stared at the wood in your leg as Hange left you. “Shit.”
Hange ran back with a few things in her arms. She carefully pulled the wood out and then cleaned the wound. She pulled back when you flinched a little. “Sorry.”
You let out a shaky sigh. “I’m okay. Thank you.”
She rubbed cream on your neck before binding up your thigh and neck. “You should get some rest, okay?”
You nodded and stood up. “Thanks. I will go rest now. I uh…” You touched your chest. “Hange, he’s my familiar. What in the world is he?”
Hange shrugged. “No idea, but he seemed powerful. Just, go get some rest please.”
You waved to her and limped away. “Sorry about the front door. I can summon a new one.”
Hange winked. “I got it. I’ll make a special one with my crystals.”
“Okay, I’ll see you later or tomorrow.”
Hange waved goodbye to you before turning to where the door had been. She let out a long sigh and connected to the crystal on her necklace. She raised her arms making the wood come together and form a door with a few crystals. She closed her eyes and envisioned the door she wanted. Her eyes fluttered open to reveal a wooden door before her with a slight sparkle to it. She smiled in pride and knew it was perfect.
She gasped when the door creaked and groaned. “WAIT! DON’T BREAK MY DOOR!” She hurried over and threw it open to reveal the man who’d pinned you to the floor. “Who are you and why are you back?”
He glared at Hange, she was simply someone in the way of him getting to the thing he desired. “Where. Is. She.”
Hange shivered at his tone. “Who?”
He stepped into the castle as shadows whisp and curled off his body. “My soulmate.”
“Soul…who are you? You’re her familiar, right?”
He walked closer to Hange. “I am. We are bound together. She is my soulmate. She freed me.” He looked up the stairs when he felt the link to you. “I am forever bound to her. My soulmate. My heart. My lover.”
Hange blushed hard. “L-Lover?”
He locked eyes with her. “Yes. She is my soulmate and my love.”
“What do I call you?”
“Levi. I am the great God who was locked away and punished for other people’s sins.” He snarled. “I hate the mages of light. They destroyed my people, slaughtered innocent followers and almost wiped out those who followed me.” He clenched his clawed fists and softly said your name. “I must protect her.”
Hange watched in awe as he moved up the stairs in a low-cut shirt, high-waisted tight trousers and a long coat. She blinked a few times as she processed his words. “The…the God story…it’s real?” She shot after Levi. “Wait! Levi!”
He glanced back at her. “Hurry with your questions, I have a lover to see.”
“You barely know her!”
“Our souls are linked. I know everything about her and she will slowly know me through dreams and visions.”
Hange followed him down the hallway. “So, you’re really a God?”
He looked back at Hange. “Indeed, I am. I used to take care of this land and care for people. Those who controlled magic around me were witches and wizards, but when I was seen as a wicked God by those outside then witches and wizards were hunted down.” He paused a moment. “I can still remember the blood and terror…” He clenched his clawed fist. “Leave me.”
Hange stopped in the hall. “Be careful with her. Don’t fluster her too much! Her power comes from her emotions!” She let out a long sigh. “A God is in my castle…” A smirk spread on her lips. “Awesome.”
Levi stormed down the hall as he followed your aura. His rage he had seething in him for years slowly ebbed away the closer he got to you. His shoulders relaxed as he stood outside your door. He pushed the door open slowly and peeked inside to see you wrapped up in bed sleeping soundly.
You were a vision to behold. Levi was drawn to you like a moth to a flame. He drifted over to you as if he was pulled by a magnet. He sat on the bed and reached towards you but paused a moment when he saw the bandage on your neck. He felt guilt wash over him when he realised that he had hurt you today. He pulled back and clenched his clawed fists tightly as rage towards himself seeped into him.
He flinched when he heard a gasp. He flicked his red eyes to gaze on you to see you were awake and sat up in bed clutching your duvet against your chest. He moved closer to you. “I hurt you.”
You reached up and touched your neck. “I’m okay. I need rest and I’ll heal fine.”
“I can heal you faster than some simple cream and a bandage.”
You gazed back at him. “Who are you? What are you? Why are you here?”
He shifted closer to you as his clawed hands gripped the inside of your thigh. “I am Levi. I am a God. I was trapped and locked up in my world for many years, but you freed me. My soulmate.”
Your cheeks burned. “I’m not…you…umm…”
He grabbed the duvet you held up and slowly dragged it down. “You freed me. You allowed me to walk again. Thank you.” He eyed your body in your white nightdress. “Though, I wouldn’t have expected anything less from my soulmate.”
You nipped your lip. “Soulmate.”
He gazed deep into your eyes. “Yes.” He leaned closer, his lips almost touching yours. He sighed causing his lips to heat your lips. “We are meant to be. I know everything there is to know about you. In time, you will come to know me with dreams and visions.” He placed his hand on your chest. “Our bond will connect us.”
You stared at his neck. You reached over and lightly touched the pattern on his neck that looked like a collar. “How can a God be a familiar? It’s not possible.” You pulled back and pouted. “I still haven’t made a familiar.”
“I’ll be yours. When others you don’t trust bother you, I will simply become a black cat.”
You gripped your nightdress and hummed. “Okay. Thank you.” You frowned in thought. “I still can’t believe I summoned a God of all things.” You lifted your head as he started unwinding the bandage. “May I ask something?”
“You can ask me anything.”
You sighed a little. “Máni, was he you?”
Levi folded up the bandage. “He is a part of me, yes. He was the only part of me I managed to get to stay out here. I kept an eye on the world that changed so much. Máni found you in the rain and sent a link to me so I could see you. I knew you were the one.”
“The one? You mean the one to free you. That’s all I am. I’m the key to the lock.”
Levi leaned closer and dragged his tongue up your neck. “You are so much more than that. You are my everything. You are the soul I love more than life itself. You are my world and I adore you. My sweet soulmate.”
You shivered at the feeling of his hot tongue against your skin, then his deep voice near your ear. “Le-Levi. What are you doing?”
He pulled back a moment. “Healing you.”
You gulped hard as his clawed hands wrapped around your thighs and parted your legs. “Healing? But you licked me.”
He lay down and gazed at the bandage on your thigh. “I could heal you through touch, but this way is faster.” He pulled the bandage away. “Plus, I enjoy making my soulmate feel good.”
You covered your mouth with the back of your hand as you moaned softly. Your legs shifted and toes clenched as the darkly handsome God between your legs kissed, licked and sucked at the wound on your thigh making it heal up. You gazed at the clean skin as if nothing had happened, but Levi kept showering his love on the spot.
You shoved your dress down as you softly whimpered. You blushed as Levi pulled his tongue back into his mouth and watched you a little. “I just…I’m…I’m sensitive.”
Levi slowly crawled up the bed towards you. “Such a delicious meal. You taste so sweet. I want to bite you so badly.”
You turned your head away before he could kiss you. “Slow down, please.”
“I have waited for hundreds of years for you and yet you wish for me to wait?”
You looked deep into his eyes as your heart raced in your chest. “I um…I won’t deny that there is a connection between us, but you are a God and I am just a witch. I am trying to process everything. Don’t get me wrong, I do want to do so many things with you that I know you are thinking of but I need a moment.”
Levi flopped onto his side and lay next to you. “Then waiting I shall do.”
You looked down at Levi. “You…you’re quick to obey.”
“Though I am a God, I am your familiar.” He tapped his neck. “You have control over me. You’re a very powerful witch to have a God at your every beck and call.”
You slowly lay down and sighed. “Do you plan on seeking your revenge? I heard you want to destroy the mages of the light.”
“In due time.” He reached over and played with your hair. “I made a promise to my people I would. I failed them once before, I will not fail again.”
You shuffled closer to Levi. “What happened?”
“You will see soon enough.” He caressed your cheek. “Sleep, rest and dream of sweet things.”
You relaxed a little. “Oh, may I ask one more thing?”
“Of course.”
You frowned. “Why the hell did you scare me when you woke up and why did you break our door down? Also, why did you run!?”
He let out a long sigh. “I did not mean to scare you. I was merely excited to meet my soulmate finally. When it comes to breaking your door, you did slam it shut in my face and all I wanted was to be with you. As for the running? Well, when I had you pinned I thought you were so beautiful it flustered me a moment and I needed to cool off.” He held your chin. “Are you satisfied?”
You rolled over so your back was facing him allowing you to hide your flushed face, but Levi knew due to your connection and he was a God. “For now.”
Levi placed his hand on your waist. “May I rest with you? As your soulmate and familiar, it is my duty to protect you at all costs.”
“You may stay.”
Levi hugged you from behind. “Thank you.”
“You’re awfully polite for a God. You’re asking for permission from me.”
“If you hadn’t put a familiar bond mark on me, things would be a little different. I respect the magic laws.” He ran his lips along your should and up your neck. “Though it is awfully tempting to break the rules.” He nuzzled the crook of your neck and inhaled deeply. “It is also the fact that you are my soulmate. I respect the eternal bond we share and I would never break that. I respect you. I am yours and you are mine.”
You put your head in your hands and groaned. “I can’t believe my familiar is a destructive God.”
“And soulmate.”
