Chapter 1: New Beginnings
Louise awoke from her dreams with a start.
She let out a sharp cry and sat up. Gasping for breath, clutching her chest that felt like it was about to explode. She had wondered what had gotten into her dreams lately. Normally her dreams are filled with marvelous visages of her displaying her new found magical prowess to everyone that has ever put her down because of her inability to do proper magic. Even her mother is there, moved to tears telling everyone that would listen "That's my daughter, that's my Louise."
The reality of the matter was far different than what her dreams would have her believe.
Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière could not perform magic. One would think that is perfectly normal; however that is not the case in a society that the nobility can all bend the elements to their will.
To be fair, Louise could perform magic, but only one kind regardless of what spell she tried to cast; Explosions.
It was quite sad really, to see the daughter of a renowned house of Tristain fail to perform even the simplest magic.
She was the eternal shame of her mother Karin of the Heavy Wind, a renowned hero of the country. Karin had made sure to show Louise her displeasure on numerous occasions, from brutal training regiments, to attempting to marry her off to another noble old enough to be her father and was also known for depravity of the worst kind.
If not for the intervention of her beloved sister Cattleya, she may have very well been the toy of a creepy old man at that moment, not safe behind the walls of the Tristain magic academy.
Louise shuddered. She tried to tell herself it was because of the dream, but wasn't doing very well of convincing herself.
Instead, she thought back to her recent dream, taking place in a land far, far away. Farther than any maps even show. In her dream she watched as a lonely demon was met by a Hero in black. The hero approached the Lonely one, asking if he could consume the demon, gaining his power to break free of his curse and continue his slaughter of the land.
Louise was taken aback at this at first with the directness of the request, and then shocked when the Lonely one smiled happily, and went on telling the Hero in black that he is so happy for finding a friend that needs his help at last, and that he would be glad to help the Hero.
She watched in horror as the Demon was quite literally devoured by the Hero.
She couldn't stomach the thought of being betrayed like that, and allowing yourself to be eaten, let alone by someone you considered a friend.
Louise decided the she hated the Mad Hero, and felt some kind of pity for the demon. She couldn't stand thinking about it any longer, so she got out of bed and started pulling on her uniform.
Then she suddenly froze up.
Today was the day where students will summon their Familiars. Today is the day that would make or break Louise Valliere.
She felt her legs give slightly and was forced to sit on the edge of the bed. Well "sit" is not the best way to describe it, it was more like "fell in such a way that it appeared that you just went to sit down."
She suddenly started shaking uncontrollably, almost sobbing. In her thoughts all she heard was the sound of the cracking wind and the image of her mother's disapproving face. Louise hated the wind.
"Cattleya…." She murmured in between sobs. She squeezed her pillow in an attempt to simulate the embrace of her beloved sister.
Cattleya had always made Louise feel safe, warm and loved in that frigidly cold house. Her father had nothing to do with her, and when she did see him, it was always regarding marriage or other important matters. Much like her enrollment to Tristain academy, while filling out the papers he gave a snort of contempt, as if to say "I don't know why I am wasting my time with this, it's a waste of money anyways."
It was Cattleya's plea to their father and mother that convinced them, but whatever it was, that night she came to Louise's room full of tears, telling Louise now she will be safe while learning magic in a proper place. It was rare to see her sister in such a state, let alone in front of Louise.
Whatever the agreement was, it had convinced their father to enroll her without saying a word. Not one word. Cattleya stood behind Louise's chair with a white knuckle grip during the whole process, and at the end her father handed the paperwork to a servant and it was done.
Cattleya was the only one to come say goodbye to her, the both promised to write to each other as much as they could, and still do as evident by the neatly piled stack of letters on Louise's desk.
After a few more squeezes to the pillow she got up and went to the adjacent bathroom to wash her face. Looking at herself in the mirror, she noted the bloodshot eyes from her crying, but decided to pass it off to lack of sleep, which was mostly true. Louise had spent the last week and a half studying the summoning ritual tirelessly, sometimes barely even eating in preparation for today.
This probably had something to do with her strange dreams she thought. She had read many books in the past few days, books of dashing heroes summoning amazing creatures to ride into battle, books of noble dragons and majestic griffons. Books of evil villains and ruthless heroes, and several books she probably shouldn't have read from the teachers forbidden library.
The tales she read hard probably caused her mind to come up with the Mad Hero, or at least she hoped. Louise recalled a rumor about some books in the forbidden library were able to posses the ones who read them. She was sure that was started by some teacher in hopes of trying to get the students to stay out of trouble.
Walking down the hall to the stairs Louise was so lost in thought; she didn't see the wall of meat that came out of a nearby door.
*Thump*
"Ah…"
She looked up at the obstacle that seeming appeared out of nowhere and was unsurprised to find a well endowed red headed woman with tanned skin peering down at her you a smirk on her face.
"Are you enjoying burying your face in my cleavage Valliere?"
"Zerbst." Louise said, then blushed and took a step back when she realized what a position she was in.
"You will never get my bust even by eating me." Kirche Zerbst said teasingly, then placed a hand on her hip "No matter that certain books may tell you."
Louise froze at that last part. Its true she read in at least one of the books that said that you can gain your enemies power by eating their flesh, and its also true she just had a very similar dream, but she never once thought of actually trying it!
"H-h-how do you know about that?" Louise demanded.
"You aren't the only one who enjoys midnight strolls Valliere." Kriche stated with a smug look on her face.
It took a moment for Louise to register what she said, the blushed redder than the other woman's hair.
"Y-y-y-you indecent woman!" Louise stammered "How can you admit to committing such acts so openly?"
Kriche folded her arms in such a way that her already considerable bust appeared even bigger.
"Germania is far more liberal in the arts of passion than Tristain it seems." She gave a sigh "Which is understandable because little Tristain lives in the shadow of the mighty Romalia."
She paused and as if she thought of something, gained a wicked smile on her face. She leaned down close to Louise, so close that it was very easy to to see down the top of her already very revealing blouse.
"I could show you, you know." She whispered in a sultry voice "Just stop by my room any time and I'll show you how passionate a Zerbst can be."
It wasn't possible for Louise's face to go any redder than it already was, so instead her mind went blank and her body reacted in the only instinctual manner it could; RUN LIKE HELL.
The Valliere and Zerbst family have always had a feud going on, something about a Zerbst stealing away someone's suitor, or vice versa. For whatever reason, exchanges between to two of them did happen, but Kirche had never gone so far as to hit on Louise.
"What is that woman thinking?" Louise muttered to herself after she finally stopped running. If there is anything her mother's training regiment gave her, it was endurance and stamina, as she reached the outside of the castle and was halfway to the summoning ground in under 5 minutes in what would normally be a 10 minute walk.
Walking the rest of the way, Louise thought about the significance of the Familiar. Not only did it show what element the summoner was most powerful in, a familiar was also invaluable in gathering regents for potions and other tasks as well as being a lifelong companion. It was Louise's hope that successfully summoning her familiar would help her figure out her magical affinity. She hoped it was something like a dragon, or griffon.
Walking up to a balding man with glasses and a staff and announced her arrival.
"Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière, I am here to take the summoning exam, professor."
Professor Colbert looked down at the small determined girl and a warm smile spread over his face. Checking her name off the list, he looked back at her.
"Very well Miss Valliere." He said with a smile "please get in the line, we will start as soon as the others have arrived."
Colbert had heard about the girl from her other teachers, commending her for her studious attitude but then sharing their annoyances that she had no competence in magic whatsoever. He shared a smile with himself; it should be a pleasure to have such a student in his class. With his help, he may even be able to help her overcome her magical problem.
But such things would have to wait; it was now time for the summoning.
They lead Ryner down the stone hallway to the stairs up to the surface, to the sky that had been oh so elusive to him these past years. He was ecstatic that he would at least he a chance to bask in the warm sun again after so long, and wished they would let him take a nap under a tree somewhere. With nothing but a gentle breeze and sprawling green fields under free skies, what he wouldn't give for one more chance.
He had considered running at first, incapacitating the knights would be easy enough, even without magic. But then they had chain his hands to his feet, making movement very limited. Ryner had noticed that they attached the shackles with extreme delicacy, trying incredibly hard to no touch him. They were terrified of him. The steel helmets they wore did not betray their feelings however.
And they breached the surface.
Ryner winced at the sudden light which was more than he was used to.
The feeling Ryner experienced was something someone who lived the life he had, had much trouble explaining.
It was a cloudless sunny day, with the bluest sky Ryner can remember ever seeing, made all the sweeter by the season he had stumbled into. It was fall, giving the air a sweet crisp smell, and was just cold enough that he could see his breath. The trees where numerous shades of brown, red and gold and he could smell ripe harvest on the wind.
He had never liked the fall until now. It was a rather fitting season to die in; he should thank Sion for his sense of irony.
Looking ahead, he noticed the roofs of some buildings that hadn't been there before, as well as a paved stone path leading out of the forest clearing. Roland was growing.
He looked over to the house of the guard, and noticed it now sported a small garden, as well as a barn. The Wife and child stood outside, seeing their charge off on his final trip.
"I see you have been doing well for yourself." Ryner said with an honest smile on his face. "Take care of each other now. Oh and before I forget, can you make sure to look after my friend back in the cell? He used to be such a tiny spider before I started feeding him bits of meat and bread."
The Guard just nodded, and the wife just stared.
The Child on the other hand, looked at Ryner who was in chains and up at her distressed parents.
"Where are they taking big brother?" She asked "If you are worried about him, I can go with him and hold his hand."
With that the Guard furrowed his brow and looked away, the child's mother knelt down hugging the child trying to explain what was going on while holding back the tears.
Ryner supposed they were kind of like a family. A strange dysfunctional family, that locks the eldest son in the basement because he is difficult, but a family none the less.
Watching the spectacle, Ryner noticed something completely out of place drift past his vision. Green. Looking harder, he noticed that there was not just one, but several green leaves floating around. As one drifted into his hand, he clearly heard a voice, a compelling that reverberated his every being.
COME.
He glanced around in wonder, trying to figure out where the voice came from. No one else present seemed to have heard it. Then he heard a noise coming from the wagon that was waiting to take him to his fate. The horse was obviously very disturbed by something, and the driver was trying to calm the beast to no avail.
Then Ryner saw it.
Well, it's what he didn't see.
A strange oval shaped distortion was forming a little ways away from the wagon.
In what could only be called a dead man's last will, Ryner gazed upon the oval with the Alpha stigma.
The Alpha stigma told Ryner many things. The most useful and none deadly being complete understanding of magic; in seconds of seeing an enemy case a spell he could cast with no training at all, that coupled with his natural quick casting speed, Ryner had earned the title of Roland's strongest magician.
Right now the Alpha Stigma was telling him one thing.
"Portal."
Ryner would have laughed out loud at the improbability of the situation, had it not been for one of the knights noticing the vermillion red glow in his eyes. Now Ryner had two choices, die here, or plunge into the unknown.
The choice was obvious.
"HEY!" One of the knights bellowed "The monster is using some kind of magic!" He never managed to reach for his sword before Ryner rammed his elbow into the unprotected side the knights armor.
The other, noticing what happened took a little slower than he should have and soon found himself on his rear.
Ryner finally took note of how many knights there were. Counting the two he just took care of, there were 6. Ryner barely had time to think before an arch of lighting winged past him. "Great, they have a mage." He thought. Only one way to do this, but if he misses, it's all over. He would have more of a chance if not for his limbs being bound.
"I offer up this contract, to unleash the magic beast of light which dances through the skies!" Ryner's legs surged with power, and he leapt, over the cursing knights and the blasts of lightning. Ryner cried out in pain as a bolt struck him "Dammit, who would have thought they would actually have good aim!" he lamented.
And with that Ryner plunged into the portal of nothingness.
"Miss Valliere! I have to ask that you stop!" Colbert waved his arms frantically.
It was already the girls 6th time trying the summon, if she tries anymore she may risk killing herself.
"It's alright professor, I know I have it this time." The girls calm voice was betrayed by the look of utter despair on her face. "This time I will be sure to summon a dragon or something just as amazing, because I am the daughter of Karin of The Heavy Wind." She started giggling uncontrollably at something at something funny in she found in her own words.
The Flame Snake knew that if she continued, he life would be endanger, but if he so carelessly interrupted the ritual, terrible results could happen, endangering the entire student body. The only way to stop her was to wait until she was done this ritual, then he would have to incapacitate her for own safety if she was still conscious. He had several spells in mind just for this, he just had to wait for now.
"I Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière command my strong and noble familiar somewhere out there in depths of the universe to make himself known!"
She was putting so much willpower into this spell it would probably be her last if she was unsuccessful.
The serpent cursed; there is no way to save the girl. He was forced to look on at a sight the he was so used to seeing
Energy cracked and arch outwards from the circle, the ground rended itself apart around her but still Louise chanted away. She will summons something, she must.
Most of the student body had already fled, save a few; A tall redhead, a short girl with blue hair and glasses, a flamboyant blonde boy, and a girl that clung to his side. They mattered not to Louise, all that mattered was her familiar.
Ryner drifted for what seemed like an eternity. His wound stopped burning long ago yet seemed like he had just received it. He had realized that time is not flowing normally anymore. Past, present, future, none of that mattered, there was only a destination. Ryner had first wondered what would become of him, and worried that he would run into himself at one point. Which he did eventually, after aeons of drifting he had finally come to the place where all the other travelers of the abyss arrive. He was not surprised to see several of himself there, for he had been here already. He seemed to gain some kind of collective knowledge of all their experiences, memories, sensations. All was known to him in a brief moment that stretched out eternally.
Then it was gone, for he had just arrived and none of that had happened yet.
Upon reaching his destination, Ryner realized that he had been standing there almost instantly after jumping through the portal. "What the hell was that all about….AH?" Ryner clutched his seared side and noticed the shackles were still bound to him.
Still confused by both pain and disorientation of the summon, it took Ryner to notice that he was in the company of a young girl, far younger than himself and that they were standing in a sizable crater. The girl looked incredibly pleased with herself, but was pale white, had bloodshot eyes and was covered in sweat and grime. She said something barely audible, and with that her eyes closed and she fell forward.
"Hey!" Ryner caught the girl who slumped into his chest, paying mind to not smack her with the shackles. He gingerly laid her on the ground and started calling for help.
"IS ANYONE THERE? THIS GIRL IS IN TROUBLE!" He noticed a robed man sliding down the side of the crater and rushed up to them. He wore a serious expression, and the chains only caused his eyes to narrow when he saw them.
Then he started waving his arms around frantically in a language Ryner did not understand at all. The bald man caught on that Ryner couldn't understand him after making the necessary gestures. He then indicated to the girl, then to him.
"What?" Ryner didn't understand fully. He could guess that the girl was a mage of some kind, and was the cause of the portal, but he didn't understand what the bald man was trying to say.
Time was running out, she needed medical attention, but right now they needed to create the contract or else she would die without the link between mage and Familiar.
Colbert gestured again, this time more carefully this time, indicating the shackled man, than Louise then pointed to both of their lips.
"Ah." Understanding reached Ryner. "A contract needs to be established, with a kiss it looks like."
For the first time in five years Ryner felt embarrassed at his disheveled appearance. His jet black hair was long and unkempt, he had a considerable beard, he was in rags and he was fairly sure he smelled rather badly.
"So much for the knight in shining armor kids your age dream of." He said to the unconscious girl.
"I am Ryner Lute, responding to your summons and accepting your contract…" he paused at least he is alive and free "…Master."