Paladin of Zero
"Today just isn't my day" Ragnos Highvalor mumbled as he batted aside blow after blow."Five days straight holding a fallen god back.. at least we have won. Even if I fall Lloth won't be able to reach them before her end" his strength was spent. his chances of living through this? yeah not likely between his wounds and the blood loss it was a miracle he was still breathing let alone holding his ground even as Lloth battered against him he stood firm. The drow and demon army she had brought forth was dead or dying around them the field once lush with flowers stained red-purple and black with blood and death but yet they had won even with the losses Lloth would fall this day.
His companions had been channeling the ritual for days soon Lloth would be sealed away and he could rest, His shield and armor was battered and scarred from her fury his holy avenger was shining with radiant energy each swing unleashing holy fire upon his foe, they were in a deadlock the holy defender and the fallen goddess neither wanting to lose "I call to thee" a feminine voice ringed in his head "My servant that exists somewhere in this vast universe" again he heard the voice in his mind could it be avandra or the raven queen? "My divine, beautiful, wise, servant" well he was a paladin but beautiful? not likely "I wish from the very bottom of my heart accept my guidance and appear" his vision blurred and he felt himself being engulfed in a odd magic it was warm comforting yet odd he heard a hiss from Lloth as his vision went black
#summoning grounds, Tristain academy of magic, Halkeginia#
If anybody asked Louise what her least favorite season was, it would be spring. The reason is obvious.
It was the Springtime Familiar Summoning. This was the special day where the second year students were allowed to summon their own familiar. Familiars usually came in the form of "basic" animals, though if you have enough skill you could end up summoning a powerful creature like a dragon or a griffin."Alright, has everybody already summoned their familiars?" Professor Colbert, a bald and middle-aged teacher, asks all of the students present in the field. Suddenly, Louise wished she was smaller than she was (and that is pretty small) so that she could just quietly sneak away without being seen "Sir, Louise still hasn't gone yet!" Kirche, a voluptuous red-haired and tanned skinned girl declares loudly as her eyes lock on to the retreating pinkette's form.'Damn it.' Louise swore in her mind as she turned around rigidly. A number of groans echo throughout the crowd of students."Really, the Zero?" Cried one of the students "She'll just make another explosion anyway." said another.
The indirect insults continue as Colbert smiles at Louise. "Ah yes, Miss Valliere, please step forward and begin your summons."Louise wearily approached the small section where a summoning circle was drawn and sighs. 'Here it goes. My chance to prove them wrong.' She thinks as her resolve is steeled. Her right hand is raised in front of her, a wand being held tightly."I call to thee" She starts to chant. Amongst the crowd, the blue-haired Tabitha raises her head from her book to look at Louise. "Altered chant," She says in a blank tone "My servant that exists somewhere in this vast universe" Louise chanted "Her summoning is definitely going to fail if she changes the chant." The blonde haired Montmorency huffs out with a scowl."My divine, beautiful, wise, servant" Suddenly Louise's voice seems to develop a small echo as her figure glows lightly and her hair starts to wave around. "seriously?" Kirche asks in shock as the air turns a bit heavy and the wind starts to pick up."I wish from the very bottom of my heart accept my guidance and appear" she finished "Oh Founder, hit the deck!" Kirche shouts at all the students and their familiars try to find cover, just as Louise finishes the incantation.
The air stilled for a moment before a vast explosion erupted from the summoning circle. Bright golden flames scorched the ground in front of Louise as she gets flung back a bit by the force of the blast. Even professor Colbert seems to have trouble just staying in place."Watch it Zero! That could have killed us!" one of the student's screeches "Louise the Zero strikes again!" The students laugh and jeer as Louise just sits there limply on the ground. Her eyes begin to tear up as she clutches her sides. The bald professor gives her a pitying look and moves to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. Slowly the students peer at the smoke and then at Louise before bursting into laughter.
*SMASH*
Until the crater erupts into a bigger cloud of dust and smoke as something smacks into it. The students watch nervously as something begins to move in the smoke. There was a clanking sound, almost like metal. Colbert uses a small wind spell to blow away the dust and smoke. Finally, the explosion dies away, leaving a smoking crater. standing in its center was a humanoid shape armored in heavy plate wielding a shield and a fiery sword almost as long as the armored figure was tall his face was haggard and tired with blood dripping from one corner of his mouth floating above his head a crown of glowing gems the armor sharing the same glow to a lesser degree despite the wear and tear of a long battle "the Zero summoned a knight of some kind?" one student shouted "And she practically injured it through summoning it!" another shot back "That armor doesn't look Tristainian"one of them observed indeed it was nothing like any of them had seen before "Nice job Zero,you practically killed a knight!" Louise ignored all the students. Her eyes were locked on to the man in the crater. Something about him stirred a very strong sense of safety in her. And fear in everyone else
Ragnos Highvalor coughed as his eyes opened the first thing he noticed was that he was in a crater of some kind the next was the young pink haired girl in front of him then he looked around as he stood and couldn't help but frown "Where am I.. this isn't the field outside of Daggerford I was in before" when all he got was puzzled looks he reached into his satchel on his hip and drew out a thick tome " Let's see ... ah here it is" he flicked his wrist before mumbling something in an old tongue then an orb the size of a small ball appeared and lit up a moment later he spoke again "Perhaps you can understand me now?" at the nodding of heads he smiled "then perhaps someone can tell me where I am and which diety rescued me?"
The resounding gasps from the statement caught his attention and upon looking around he saw none of the gods or goddesses present he did notice a bunch of young men and women in robes of some kind and a myriad of creatures what really caught his eye was the small blue dragon that seemed tame "That is one small dragon" to which everyone's eyes widened he then looked down at the small pink haired girl before crouching and speaking to her "Was it you that brought me here?" Louise nodded and he chuckled "To have enough magic at you're the age to move a being of my standing is impressive little one. Perhaps I should introduce myself?" Louise then smiled and began to stand he then spoke "I am High General Ragnos Highvalor of Daggerford Highlord of the Order of the Astral Shield and Duke of the kingdom of Fjordsvain" with each word everyone's eyes grew bigger as they realized they were in the presence of not just nobility but a duke meaning he was related to his kingdoms royal family.
Louise's eyes grew wide and she panicked her familiar held the same rank as her father "And who do I owe for saving my life ?" as she heard those words panic left her for the most part "I am Louise Francoise de la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere" at this point Colbert coughed before speaking "as much as the rules say you must you can not finish the ritual" to which Louise spluttered before blushing "what ritual" ragnos asked and Colbert proceeded to give him a explanation to which ragnos chuckled "So I was brought here to be her shield in combat?" ragnos then burst out laughing before saying "mages here must be primitive but i do owe a life debt so i suppose I can offer a alternative instead" Louise looked between the two before noticing he had crouched down again a smile on his face "Would you like to learn the spells and abilities of a paladin" Louise proceeded to mumble and blush as she nodded quickly before backing away her face almost beet red ragnos chuckled before pulling his gauntlet off and shook her hand "Just to prove what i can teach is worth it i'll give a demonstration tomorrow" he then smiles brightly "Now for some rest" ragnos mumbled before passing out
The next day
Ragnos woke with a yawn before chuckling he was in little more then his small cloths he could sense his armor and weapons nearby as well as the new Master he stood and proceeded to dress leaving only his helmet off. As he walked around he memorized the layout of the school and grounds. he noticed a blonde boy insulting a maid and moved to step in grasping the boys wrist as he went to strike the girl, "And what pray tell do you think gives you the right to lay hands on a woman brat" the crowd gasped as they heard guiche cry out in pain before he was casually tossed a good twenty feet into a wall before the armored man turned to the maid "Please forgive my lateness and his foolishness" He then lashed out a golden chain forming as it reached out to wrap around guiche's neck and with a quick yank guiche was pulled back to his previous location "Now apologize, boy, before I show you what real power is." guiche quickly complied as everyone else had sweat drops forming as he ran off crying "Now if you ladies will excuse me I need to speak to the headmaster"
