It was a night like any other for Cacistus Allectus. The iron legion Having recently retaken the citadel gate from the accursed chosen had to begin to lay the ground work for pushing further into the samurai's territory, and so he was sent by his order to attempt to bring order to the nomadic tribes that dot the land, lest we have a bunch of chosen's agents hit us with our back turned.

Cacistus was one of the youngest in the order at the young age of twenty-three was given charge of this task, they had seen talent in the young lawbringer even before he entered into the order after he successfully defeated a warlord in a duel and so after the battle he was given the offer to join the order, feeling this was the best way to aid his legion he took the offer. He was whisked away outside the warzone of ashfeld and too the orders hidden temple where he began his training at the age of nineteen

But that was four years ago, and he now had his own expedition of knights at his disposal. Cacistus felt prideful as the several month-long campaigns to prep the lands for conquest had gone well, losing only a few of those under his command was certainly a feat in this day and age, too say that he was prideful would be an understatement, his masters had put him in charge of an expedition as a test of sorts, too see if he would crack under the pressure of command but when they hear of his feat he will surly advance further into the order.

"Sir, the citadel is about to come into view." That brought Cacistus back into reality, as he shook his thoughts he turned to the peace keeper that the voice belonged to. Opsia, although Cacistus was leader of the expedition, Opsia and her group of peacekeepers acted on their own, putting down resistances before they start.

"Thank you Opsia." Cacistus replied hiding his disgust. He never liked peacekeepers he knew why the legion needed them but the idea that the legion was that fractured in the homeland was concerning to him, he grew up being told tales of the steel resolve of the legion, fighting united to banish the chosen and warborn from their birthright. Cacistus always loved the tales his mother told him but soon after joining the order he found out first hand just how fractured the legion was, petty nobles vying for the king's favor trampling on their subjects and soldiers for glory and honor.

He griped his poleaxe tighter as he remembered how many legions were thrown at the chosen to try a liberate citadel. Thousands of husbands and sons died all so that some noble could snuggle up to the king.

"Dear god" Cacistus was pulled from his anger by one of his brother's gasp. Gazing forward Cacistus saw what he was looking at. The citadel gate was under attack. Looking towards the water down below, he could just barely see the outline of the warborns long ship's.

"Vikings" Cacistus muttered to himself. He turned to his soldiers too address them, they all looked exhausted from the expedition, but he knew that if they lost the citadel all their progress in the wilds will have been for naught. "I know you are all tired from the march, but in our absence, the warborn thought themselves smart by attacking us while we were away. But today is not the day the citadel falls, for if it does all of our effort and sacrifices will have been for naught. So, I ask all of you, will you let your fallen brothers die for nothing, or will you fight for the future of the iron legion."

The soldiers began to yell before running forward. As Cacistus running to catch up with his reinvigorated troops he saw his soldiers beginning to engage the warborn. Cacistus chuckled to himself as he saw some of the more surprised expressions on the warborn's faces, they had not been expecting to be flanked by a returning group of knights.

While charging the lawbringers gaze caught the sight of a Valkyrie heading to the dome, chasing after her he quickly climbed up the stairs and up the ramp leading to the dome's main room. Having noticed me she began but his pole axe was faster, stabbing her in the gut Cacistus began to push her towards the fire place in the center of the dome, knocking her into the center structure he unhooks his spear and begins to a large swing to her right.

The Valkyrie was fast enough to raise her shield parrying the wide swing with ease; knocking the lawbringer to the side she stabs her spear into the left side of his armor, it didn't pierce the armor but the force behind it was enough to stagger the armor-clad man. Attempting to keep pushing her advantage she tries to sweep his legs in order to throw him to the ground, he had fought enough valkyries dodged backwards to avoid it before charging forward using the staff of his poleaxe to shove the valkyrie back into the fire place before he brought his poleaxe down on her.

The sound of her collarbones breaking and her pained gasp was a sign that he had won the battle; he quickly pulled the poleaxe out of her collar before bringing it back. stabbing her in the stomach he began to lift the dying fighter until the pole was completely straight in the air, gazing up at the fighter, he saw the life begin to drain from her eyes as they began to glaze over. Satisfied knowing that she wouldn't be getting up he swiftly kicked the bottom of the pole freeing it from its purchase in the broken warborn.

With a loud thump the body landed, breathing heavily the lawbringer made his way to the balcony of the tower to gaze over the battle. He could see the central court yard where a mace-wealding conqueror was fighting a high lander claymore in hand, with the fight ever so slightly in the conqueror's favor.

A large bang caught the attention of the lawbringer. As he turned towards the sound he saw it. A giant battering ram was beating down on the citadel's gate, on top of that it looked like every other iron legion battering ram save for the shields nailed to the side. 'Barbarians stealing from us so they can more easily sack our cities' He thought to himself

Turning away from the battle he saw a young warborn captian trying to sneak up on him. As he readied his pole axe the apprentice charged holding his two-handed sword. The lawbringer only sighed bringing the bottom of his poleaxe up breaking his stance, the lawbringer brought his hand and clasped the young man's neck before tossing him backwards and off the balcony to his death.

'Captains, always too eager to prove themselves.' He thought before returning his gaze the battle field, he saw what remained of his force trying as hard as they could to stall the main warborn force to give the iron legion time to get their soldiers onto the field, he was proud that his soldiers could still fight after such a long expedition, but it saddens him that most of them wouldn't be able to see their families again. 'their sacrifices will be remembered' he reminded himself.

His gaze wondered over towards the soldier's armory, only to see the horrifying scene of a legendary raider decapitate a fellow lawbringer. This shocked Cacistus, the order didn't send that many of their men this far east, and the ones that were here he knew by name, which one was it he wondered. Without even realizing it his body was already in motion sliding down the ladder.

Knowing he couldn't get past the wall of iron legion troops, he ran through the warborn's wandering foot soldiers. Heading towards the ruins of a tower also connects to the armory via a bridge. The bridge however was being guarded by three foot soldiers all stacked up next to each other. Cacistus quickly cleaved the soldiers blocking his way causing them to fall off the bridge and into the chasm below.

Rushing over the armor the lawbringer was met with a grizzly site, the six-foot-eight monster of a man was standing in the middle of the broken bodies of his allies and enemies, among the dead was Opsia and her peacekeepers and that nameless lawbringer. The warborn seemed to have noticed his presence as he began to turn around shifting his two-handed axe over to his left hand as he turned. The lawbringer got a good look at the man's body, he was lightly armored his chest was only covered by two strips of leather that formed an x on his chest, his once pink skin was now slick with the blood of his enemies.

Before Cacistus could finish his exmination of his enemy the raider roared before charging. The lawbringer quickly brought up his pole axe to defend against the raiders attack, the raider leapt into the air bashing the lawbringer's helmet with the handle of his axe dazing him, catching a glimpse of the raiders next attack Cacistus parried the large swing to his right side. Using his momentum, the lawbringer stabbed the spear in the raider before shoving him further into the armory and away from the cliff face.

"I, Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, in the name of the great Five Pentagon Powers" this caused Cacistus's concentration to falter, this allowed the raider to grab his pole axe and head but the lawbringer away. The lawbringer shook his head trying reorient himself only to see a large man baring down on him with an overhead swing of his large axe, dodging to his right, the armored clad man gave a swift strike to the large man's abdomen, the raider grunted as a result but the assault of his axe didn't slow, seeing an opportunity he parried the large man's overhead swing and attempted a counter attack.

"following my fate, summon a familiar" the voice threw off his aim causing him to miss the heart. Too his surprise the raider looked confused for a second, before his instincts took over. Before the lawbringer could retrieve his pole axe from the man's chest, the raider broke the lawbringers stance before picking him up and carrying him.

He was tossed down only to be blinded by the sun. As he re-centered his gaze on the raider his axe was already being swung at him, Cacistus quickly rolled to the right to avoid being killed, as he recoved he found his pole axe near him, grabbing it he quickly blocked the next attack of the raider. Seeing an opening he flipped his pole axe shouting. "Nōn superstites!" He slid the axe under the raider before flipping him on to his back. The raider was recovering when the pole axe came down, digging into his torso with the sickening sound of bones being crushed. The lawbringer gave no quarter however yanking the pole axe free, he walked up to the raider as he stumbled forward, planting his pole axe in the ground the lawbringer brought both his armored clad and planted them on the warborn's neck. The lawbringer began to raise the raider into the air crushing his windpipe all the while, the raiders body went limp as the sound of his neck being broken was heard. he tossed his enemy to the ground retreving his axe afterwards.

Panting the lawbringer removed his helmet began to look over himself, 'armor's not pireced, not bleeding, concussion maybe. I best go clean my armor before it dries in the sun.' Cacistus thought for a minute, 'wait it was night time just a moment ago' he turned and gazed at his surrounding, the citadel was replaced with a large stone tower, the courtyard full of soldiers, was now full of teens with odd hair colors, all of the ones that weren't throwing up were staring at him. 'just where am I'.

Line break

It had been a long night for Louise de La Vallière the sixteen-year-old third daughter of Karin de La Vallière otherwise known as the Heavy wind, being daughter one of the most powerful mages in all of Halkeginia, she had a lot to live up to, but each and every one of her spells always end the same way, explosions, so she tried harder and harder spending more and more time studying in her room. This turned her into a genius of theory but no matter how hard she studied and trained she always got an explosion.

at first people attempted were sympathetic to her, but pride in her bloodline caused her to believe that she could fix this on her own she pushed everyone way. Taking the hint, everyone backed away from her leaving her alone and she was content for a time working hard attempting spells, but that changed when a daughter from her family's rival showed up, Kirche Zerbst. She had shown up a few months into the first year and wasted no time turning a majority of the class against Louise.

So now Louise was set against most of the class who had taken to calling her zero, this hurt in more than one area for Louise as she was *ahem* lacking in certain areas, but Zerbst never relented in her torment of her, neither did anyone else, she was the joke of the school that people ether found funny or were indifferent too including the teachers.

But right now, Louise lay awake in her room, praying to the founder Brimir that she would summon a powerful familiar, that she wouldn't be pulled from her school and married off to the noble with the biggest pockets. But most of all she hoped that it wouldn't end in an explosion.

After a few more minutes she steeled herself 'I'm a Vallière, third daughter of the heavy wind, a familiar summoning ritual has no element, I just need to focus and remember what I studied' she told herself. She took deep breath before attempting to fall asleep again. Louise slept peacefully for the rest of the night

Line break

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

"Mmf" Louise slowly stirred awake at the banging from her door

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

Louise began to rub her eyes as she slowly made her way to her door yawning on the way there. Upon reaching the door she slowly opens it to reveal a tall tanned woman wearing the academies uniform, a black skirt with matching clock and white blouse. "Zerbst, too what do I owe the displeasure." Louise says a scowl plastering her face.

Kirche only chuckled before answering, "just making sure my favorite fireworks display is ready for her big finally." She says with a wide smile

Louise's scowl grew into a face of anger "just you wait Zerbst I will summon a powerful familiar, one that will tower over whatever a skank like you could summon." Her face changed once again to one of pride.

Kerchi's smirk grew on her face at Louise's outburst "you know that's what I like about you Zero, you always get so prideful in the face of an insult," Louise seemed to have taken this a complement "but your missing one key thing, you have to actually be at the summoning ceremony to summon a familiar."

Louise's face turned to terror "what!" She said before running over to the window. Peering out she saw the courtyard where all of her classmates, as panic set in she rushed back over to the door to close it.

"huh, Zer-" was all Kerchi could get it before the door was slammed. Louise quickly jumped to the dresser and fished out one of her uniforms. Quickly she swapped her nightgown for her uniform before rushing down the tower and out to the courtyard.

As she was running across the court yard she caught sight of Guiche summoning his familiar. "I Guiche de Gramont, call upon the five elements of the pentagram to bestow upon me a familiar that represents my control over the earth," the summoning circle begins to shine a blinding light as Guiche finishes his incantation. After a few moments the light fades reveling an earth mole sitting in the center of the circle. Guiche walked up to his new companion and finished the contract before walking away with his mole.

Continuing her walk towards the rest of her class she caught of glimpse of what everyone had summon, creatures of various sizes stood a alongside their masters, she even caught a glimpse of a dragon, this caused her to audibly gulp.

"Is that everyone" this broke Louise from her trance, turning she caught the source of the voice. Her bald professor Jean Colbert.

Before she could answer though a voice from the crowd answered for her. "the zero hasn't gone." The mention of zero had caused Louise to flinch, but she quickly recovered and began moving towards her teacher causing Colbert to jump in surprise, "Ah miss Vallière, when you didn't show up in class this morning I assumed you were sick." Louise turned her gaze down in shame at having missed the first part of class, Colbert quickly continued, "but no matter you're here now are you not. Please draw the circle and attempt to summon your familiar."

Louise did as she was told and began drawing the circle constantly reassuring herself that everything was going to be fine. It took a few good minutes to set everything up. Now standing at the bottom of the star Louise looked to Colbert for reassurance, which he gave in the form of a nod. With that Louise took a deep breath before chanting. "I, Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, in the name of the great Five Pentagon Powers, following my fate, summon a familiar"

With her final words she saw what had frighten her for the past week, an explosion. Smoke quickly filled her vision as the sound went away. She was frozen in place, all her pride everything she work so hard to do, all for naught. She felt tears begin roll down her face, as the realization hit her.

"ARGHHH." A yell quickly broke her from her trance as her vision was no longer that of smoke, but of a large piece of metal. She felt something or someone grab her by her shoulder, pulling her out of the way. Glancing up she saw that it was Colbert that had pulled her out of the way of the metal, turning her gaze back to where she had just been she saw what it was that he had saved her from, two giant men, once clad in hard metal armor and one clad in leather, were fighting, the one with the leather armor had the advantage as the armored man was currently on the ground.

The class was stunned at the fight unfolding before their eyes. As the leather man brought his axe on the downed knight, the class believed that the fight had been won for the barbarian, but the knight quickly rolled out of the way before grasping an odd-looking weapon. The barbarian had not thought the knight could ready himself so fast as his next swing was parried, the knight shouted something in a foreign language. Before throwing the staff of his weapon between the barbarian's legs, before flipping him onto his back, but before the barbarian had time to recover the knight brought his "pole-axe?" Down on the barbarian digging into the collarbone bone with a sickening crunch, this caused the more Squeamish students to double over, losing their breakfast in the process. But what happened next shook everyone to the bone, the knight yanked his weapon from the barbarian's chest stabbing it on the ground as he walked up to the stunned man, placing both hands around the man's neck he began to choke him, putting more and more pressure on the neck till it snapped.

Louise looked on in horror as the knight tossed the limp body of his enemy to the ground, she felt sick, she wanted to puke at the sight but her stomach contained nothing, her legs began to tremble as she gazed at the broken body of the barbarian, she had summoned this monster in knight's armor. She began to become even more sick as she gazed at the man's armor that covered almost his entire body save for the legs.

Colbert tensed as the man brought his arms up, but his body soften as he finished bringing it up to his helmet to remove it. Removing his helmet showed that this giant had seen battle, the blue eyed bald man's face showed his experience, Colbert had seen this face before, it's the same face he sees when looking at his reflection, that of a man who had done unspeakable acts for his country.

The man moved his helmet to under his arm as he continued to gaze at his surroundings, but as his eyes met the dragon he tensed up dropping his helmet and raising his weapon, at this sight Colbert walked up and tried to reason with the bald man putting his body between him and the dragon. "qui es, et ubi sum ego?" Colbert was shocked, this man was speaking the language of the old empire of Romalia he quickly gazed back at Louise 'had she summon an ancient warrior of Romalia?' Breaking his thoughts Colbert quickly cast a translation spell. "qui es, where am i and why are you defending a dragon?"

Louise on the other hand felt another wave of nausea hit her as she gazed back at the body of the barbarian, the man her familiar had killed. 'or was he my familiar'. Louise's gaze drifted to her class mates, many of them where heading back to the school while Colbert "talked" with the knight, how he had been able to translate that language was beyond her. Her wondering gaze eventually made it to the sight of Tabitha helping Kirche as she tried to keep her last meal from coming up

Colbert called out to the guards, telling them to remove the body of the large barbarian before motioning the man to follow him, the knight paused for a second before following. Without even thinking she began to follow them as they entered the central tower.

Eventually the knight and Colbert made it into his lab, Louise had attempted to enter the room as her sense of curiosity got the better of her, but she found it locked. Louise waited for what seemed like hours, but as the lunch bell rang she decided to head down to the dining hall.

Line break

As Louise entered the dining hall her ears were assaulted the by the rumors being passed around about her summon. After grabbing her food, she sat near Guiche group of friends. "Guiche, you're in the zero's class what did she summon." One of the boys said leaning forward. Montmorency seemed to grimace at the mention of what Louise had summon.

Guiche gaze shifted towards his plate as he answered. "Louise summoned two people" this caused the people around him to gasp. "Two?" Guiche just nodded slowly "She summoned a barbarian wearing nothing but leather pants and shoulder pads and a knight in the biggest suit of armor I've ever seen welding what looked like a pole axe."

One of the girls at the table scoffed "Figures she would summon a commoner, but to summon two HA she really is a failure." Louise tensed at this, but Guiche quickly eased it. "I doubt that that knight was a commoner. He spoke ancient Romalian." This got more than a few surprised gasps "How do you know that Guiche?" Montmorency asked.

Guiche sighed. "When I was young my father told me all about the knights of the old empire and the battles they fought. I was infatuated with them and their tales of heroics, so I took time to learn the language so I could more easily read their texts and tales from the era." Guiche smiled slightly. "My father was ecstatic when he learned of my passion for the classics. Even paid for a tutor for me."

The group began to stare at Guiche. "what are you saying Guiche?" Montmorency said. "I'm saying that Louise may have summoned a knight from ancient Romania. Most likely during one of their campaigns to conquer Germania from the barbarians." Guiche answered. This caused everyone surrounding Guiche to go silent, Louise on the other hand was a stiff as a brick. Had she really summoned a warrior not only from a different location but through time.

She was pulled from her thoughts when Kirche slammed her hands on the table. "Louise, just what the hel did you summon!?" But before she could answer a kid from Guiche's group pipped up. "Guiche here thinks that Louise summoned an ancient Romalian knight, as for the barbarian, that was probably your ancestor." Kirche stared daggers at the kid before turning back to the young girl. "so, your telling me that you summoned an ancient knight of a dead empire as your familiar." Kirche pause for a moment before her gaze softens. "well, well, well zero, I'm impressed." She gave a smile as she walked away.

Line break

After lunch she returned to Colbert's lab to find the door was still locked, Louise took a deep breath before knocking on the door, she waited a few moments before raising her hand to knock again only for Colbert to pull the door away from her. "Ah Louise what good timing. I was about to go send someone to get you, please come in" Colbert said removing himself from the doorway

This wasn't the first time she had been to Colberts office, but today it seemed unusually messy today, she noted as she entered. As her gaze made its way around the room she finally saw the man she summoned, the knight sat in the center of the room near Colbert's desk his head was in his hands. As she got closer she noted maps and history books strung about on the desk.

As she got closer the knight seemed to notice her presence before raising from his chair to address her. "your professor has filled me in on my situation." He paused as he let a sigh escape his lips. "As much as I would like to leave and return to Ashfeld to defend my people, mister Colbert, after a long argument, convinced me I cannot return." He lowered himself onto one knee, "so until he finds a way to send me back, I Cacistus Allectus, pledge myself as your protector." Louise was surprised that he knew their language, but judging that Colbert was talking to him after she summoned him, he must have cast a translation spell.

Louise brought a hand to Cacistus's chin slowly tilting his head towards her, seeing his face up close she noted scars that adorned his face the tired look in his eyes, the one her mother had after coming home from war, she felt for him.

Louise began the contract "My name is Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière. Pentagon of the five elemental powers; bless this humble being, and make him my familiar" Slowly closing her eye's, she moved her face closer to his as she planted a kiss upon his lips, sealing the familiar contract. As she backed away she noted the confused look the knight had for all but a moment, before his serious demeanor returned.

Cacistus quickly rose to his full height and walked over to a table which held his helmet and quickly put it on. He turned back to Louise looking like he wanted to ask her something when he suddenly stopped, a pained grunt escaped his mouth as he franticly undid one of his gauntlets strap. As he pulled his right hand free a light began to fill the room as the familiar's runes burnt into his skin. As the runes finished their engraving the light died down. Cacistus pained grunts slowed down to heavy breathing as he watched his hand. And then he collapsed.

line break

nothing is set in stone for this fic, Cacistus may be a bit young so i might change it

this is my first chapter for the my first story on this site, and as such i am looking for criticism.