Disclaimer: I do not own Warhammer or FoZ. Also, I probable don't know as much as I should about FoZ lore so if I bugger it up at any point feel free to give me an earful. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

A Pact with ancient Gods

Chapter 1: Forbidden Knowledge

The dawn sun rose peacefully over the horizon, birds began to awaken and release their morning song. Servants had already risen to begin the morning duties to prepare for the day's events.

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In the library a young girl had forgone sleep that night in favour of studying all she could on the ancient summoning ritual, determined too finally have a success. Louise was a mage at Tristain's academy of magic, though her peers didn't agree preferring to call her 'zero' for she had never cast a spell without it resulting in a powerful detonation.

Going over the book in front of her the theoretics seemed simple enough, draw the correct runes, chant the spell and with a wave of her wand she would get a familiar and everyone would have to accept that she was real mage all along.

'It is so simple even a commoner should be able to wrap their head around it, so I shall be fine' Thought Louise, but then that little voice in her head started talking again.

' But what if you fail, crashing and burning like you always do' Whispered the voice that started to sound like her biggest tormenter, Kirche Von Zerbst. That Germanian cow that has been nothing but a cruel bully since they first met at the academy.

"Shut up." Hissed Louise.

But then there was another whisper, although this time the voice sounded deep and much more guttural than her inner Kirche, and it wasn't in her head.

"Read the grimoire with the eight-point star, it holds the answers to your wish." The voice spoke.

"Wh-who's there!" Louise frantically searched around her position for the origin of the voice. After seeing nobody she turned back to the table.

Then she saw it. A book. A book that wasn't on her table before. And on its cover was an eight-pointed star. Slowly she reached out and took hold of it and brought it close to get a better view of it.

The book was bound in a very old strip of leather, but what caught here off guard was that Louise could practically taste the raw magic that flooded her senses the moment she touched it. She couldn't explain why but the magic felt old, as if this book had been kept in an ocean of ethereal energy for thousands of years. The feeling was intoxicating, she felt as if merely touching it was replenishing all the energy see lost studying the whole night.

Eventually Louise managed to break through the magical bliss and slowly opened the cover. At first it seemed to be filled with blank pages but slowly words started to form on the paper. To stop any more distractions to fall upon her, Louise chose to read aloud to herself.

"I have felt your great strength and have chosen to aid you in your summoning." This lifted her heart tremendously, someone believed she was strong, and wanted to help her with the ritual! But who were they? How did they know of her differently with magic?

'Questions for later I suppose'. Pondered Louise as she returned her eyes to the book and continues reading.

"Keep this tome with you always, for I will wish to speak with you in the future. Now you will add these symbols to your summoning rune...