To say that things were going badly was something of an understatement in the eyes of those on the soldiers on the Western Front. Things were extremely bad and only getting worse. What started out as a catastrophic failure from the upper levels of the OKW and OKH in terms of the positioning of armored support as well as the failure of the Luftwaffe in the west to even so much as help remedy the situation turned into something far worse.

On June 6th, the Allied Forces comprising of what seemed to be a majority of British, American, and Canadian troops, had landed in Normandy... All while major divisional and army commanders were either leisuring about away from their posts, attending war games, or even celebrating birthdays, all while the rest struggled to take command of the situation without any clear plan. For the case of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, he was simply at home celebrating his wife's birthday. It was then when early in the morning on June 6th, he received a phone call from his Chief of Staff in France, Hans Speidel, that paratrooper dummies were dropped in the Pais De Calais. He asked the Chief of Staff to update him further, but when no reply came... He called again later in the morning, only to discover that the invasion that he had been preparing for for months... Had begun while he truly, sat on his ass.

What followed next was nothing more than nerve-racking, annoying, and near fatal decision making and order giving to try and stabilize the front lines. But this came to nothing but a very fragile front held together by broken down infantry divisions and elite armored divisions who had no use or purpose within the thick hedgerows of the fields of Normandy. So what was he to do? The panzers held the British up at Caen while the siege that had held up allied resources at Cherbourg had ended merely 17 days earlier. Now all he could do was try to plan his next move... Whether it involved holding, pushing, or something else. And it all depended on the loyalty of his commanders.

The past few days had saw the Field Marshal negotiating his way through personal loyalties to ensure that his commanders on the field were loyal to him and Germany. Speidel had told him of the plot and he was against such an assassination as it would bring total civil war to Germany and see a collapse on every front. No... Hitler needed to be arrested and tried for the crimes he and his cronies committed against the German people and what had been rumored in the east. He knew he could count on Von Kluge and his own headquarters staff as well as commanders like Bayerlein, but the issue of the SS still persisted... Namely, Sepp Dietrich.

That was why he found himself in the middle of a field shielded by trees speaking with the SS General. Sepp Dietrich was a man that was... Interesting to say the least. To say that he was a capable general and an overstatement. The man had no sort of true intellect at all... He was honestly stupid in a sense. However, he was smart enough to surround himself with a good staff and kept good terms with the soldiers and most importantly... The Fuhrer. Needless to say, like all officers in the west, his view on the war became extremely pessimistic... And even a stupid man like him could understand the gravity of the War's situation and that it was going to end badly.

So Rommel asked if he could count on his own loyalty to follow orders even if they contradict the Fuhrer's, Dietrich replied with:

"You, Field Marshal, are my commander-in-chief, and I shall obey only you, whatever the order!"

He was satisfied... and promptly returned to his car. Only when his young driver, Corporal Daniel, closed the door to the large open top Horch did Dietrich come up to him for one final word with him before he left.

"You know, with all the Jabos about, I would highly suggest that you take one of the Kübelwagens and follow the back roads Herr Feldmarschall." The SS General advised, a look of concern on his face as he looked above into the sky.

"Ah, it is only a short drive back to La Roche Guyon, besides... with Corporal Daniel at the wheel and Sergeant Holke acting as spotter, we shall be fine. Isn't that right gentlemen?" The Field Marshal called out.

"Jawohl, Herr Feldmarschall!" The two young men called out.

And just like that, they were off. Rommel, taking his usual seat in the front next to Daniel while Captain Lang, Major Neuhaus (an aid he opted to bring along for this trip), and Sergeant Holke sat in the back, the latter with his eyes glued to his binoculars as he scanned the skies for the dreaded Jabos.

The drive down the French countryside road was quite at first... But the constant sounds of war and near endless aircraft droning up from above were still heard as the Field Marshal and his ragtag group of aids drove back towards their headquarters at La Roche Guyon. Occasionally, a group of French refugees would be driven past... Their faces soaked with a group of emotions only the French could ever truly show... Fear, hatred, disdain, and determination. Yes, only the French could ever put that onto one facial expression. But whatever animosity there ever was, Rommel could not help but feel pity for them. It was true... They were the invaders and at one point, he himself thought of him being apart of the liberators of Europe, but the war went on... And it became worse.

Caught in his thoughts, he did not notice Lang tapping the back of his shoulder until the Captain called out his name over the roaring engine of the Horch.

"How did it go with Dietrich, Herr Feldmarschall?" The captain asked.

"He is on our side Lang... That is all that there is needed to be said." Rommel replied.

"How were you able to convince him?" Lang asked, somewhat amazed that a man like Dietrich could be swayed.

"Men like Dietrich are simple. They may be blinded by words and possible prospects, but in the end... Reason comes through the clouds that blind them. I think Dietrich noticed that even before we had our discussion." Rommel answered, putting the captain into some form of deep thought.

It was true though... Simple men can be blinded, but are more likely to see reason when reality begins to bite back where it hits them. It is the ones who are blinded by optimism and ambition that become the trouble makers... The yes men and the ones who cannot see reality...

Once again, his thoughts were interrupted by what sounded like a low humming noise... A sound every soldier on the front feared.

Jabos.

"Aircraft spotted at our six o'clock!" Sergeant Holke called out as the sound of the aircraft engines began to increase.

Immediately, all thoughts were pushed aside as a deadly danger was chasing us. Looking around from within the front of the Horch, Rommel attempted to find an area where they could either pull around to escape the aircraft's line of fire or to ditch the Horch and hide within the bushes.

"We can hide in the brushes up ahead!" Major Neuhaus pointed out. Indeed, there was a large brush that they could take cover in. But whatever hope they had left... It all came crashing down as the first aircraft let out a burst from it's machine guns. Immediately, glass flew within Rommel's face as he heard the agonizing scream coming from Neuhaus and Corporal Daniel, who's arm looked like it had been sliced into, as the car began to veer off the side of the road.

And then... Silence took over as he felt himself be thrown up against the car's windshield.

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Pain... Pain was something that was a regular emotion that was felt. Each and every day... Every moment... All that was present... Was pain. It was never physical... Unless she caused a large explosion... But the emotional pain of it all was, excruciating.

Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Valliere, was... Zero. For all the months she had been at the Academy, she was always known as Zero to all the other noble students. Each and every day, she had to go through the torment of never being able to truly do anything right, much to the glee of the classmates who wished upon her hell... and much to the internal strife within her heart and her mind.

Today though... today was now truly life or death, in a sense. The Spring Summoning Event that the Academy held every year for all second year students so that they would be able to receive their familiars. So far, all had been successful... all but Louise. She wanted to hide, she wanted to go to her quarters and think herself to near death... but that was all impossible. If she didn't summon her familiar, she would've been expelled from the Tristain Academy of Magic as a whole... not only dishonoring herself (well... what little self-honor and dignity she had left at least), but that of her family as well. No doubt if she were to fail, her mother would lay upon the wrath of Brimir himself upon her till the end of times, if she was not killed before that happened.

So began the ritual... or well, the attempt of hiding away. If it hadn't been for that damned Germanian Red-Head... she probably would've been able to at least slip away. But still, for all the trouble Kirche caused her, this would be the only moment she would ever be thankful for the Red-Head.

Under the watchful eye of Professor Colbert, Louise slowly made her way forwards to the center of the courtyard, nearly flinching at the movement of anyone sitting there... watching her... waiting for her failure. Fear began to consume her conscious as she held her wand out... preparing for the inevitable.

What would she summon? A dragon? An elf? A troll? What would it be?

The thought of it all wracked her mind. Maybe all she would summon was a simple large explosion. If that were the case, she prayed to Brimir that such an explosion would kill her and wash her troubles away. The thought of it all was... pleasing in a sense, but still... what if she summoned something great? What if her familiar was to be something of legend?

The questions and thoughts of greatness seemed to have poured the deep depression she was in over as she now somehow felt confidence in herself. She now felt... Determination. The likes of Kirche and her cronies became targets... targets not for revenge, but targets to flaunt her greatness towards. Targets to finally prove, that she was not a Zero.

With her new found determination, she pointed her wand out and chanted the summoning words out with such ferocity, such... determination and strength, the students in the courtyard were somewhat shocked at the change in attitude displayed by Louise. Unknown to her, Professor Colbert also had a small grin on his face as he saw his student finally filled with determination and self-respect.

The words rang true, and as soon as the summoning spell had reached its last word... a large explosion had taken shape within the courtyard, covering the entirety of the area in smoke. For a moment, no one said anything until a student's voice rang out from among the crowd.

"You're still a Zero Louise!"

Louise probably would've nearly broken down at that point, but what soon followed was a large black object careening right towards her and everyone else behind, followed by two men in dark grey uniforms jumping as the metal object on wheels kept on cruising through the courtyard at an extremely high speed. If it had not been for it already reaching the edge of the courtyard and hitting one of the columns on its side, it would've surely flipped over.

The whole incident lasted roughly 45 seconds, no one moving or saying anything. it probably would've continued like that for another minute or so if it hadn't been for one of the men (who happened to be wearing all black and had some oddly shape glasses) getting up and taking off towards the black metal object.

"He'rr Feldmarschall!" he screamed as he made his way towards the object. No one... not even the Germanian knew what was going on until all eyes focused on the object. Inside, it carried 3... no, 2 unconscious and extremely bloody men while the other one who was behind the two unconscious ones began to stir and focus on the two men seated in-front of him. Together, both him and the bespectacled man began to pull both men out from the front of the object, all while everyone else stood there in silence and in shock. Soon, the other man who had jumped out from the black metal object began to stir and immediately when he saw the sight in-front of him, he got up and began to plea in Germanian.

"Hilfe, bitte helfen!" he said with desperation, nearly tugging on the hands of those around him.

As the injured man pleaded, no one dared move forward, not even those who understood Germanian. Even the normally bumbling and kind professor would not move an inch. His eyes were fixated not on the sight of carnage, but something else... the symbol on the man's clothing and cap. it resembled an eagle, but had some odd symbol right below it encased within a circular outline.

It was odd... but no one would think to look at the clothing of the man as soon... a shot rang out across the courtyard. It sounded like a musket... but it sounded more... combat and yet, more powerful. All eyes soon turned to the injured man who pulled himself out of the backseat as the bespectacled man compressed his hands on a gaping shoulder wound that had been inflicted on an younger looking man while the older looking man bled profusely from his left temple.

"Wer ist hier groß?" the man asked, his eyes filled with venom as he looked around the courtyard at all the students and back at the two men lying on the ground bleeding before them all.

"Das ... das wäre ich, Sir." Professor Colbert replied in nearly perfect Germanian.

What followed soon after, was a sight that never was truly seen before within the walls and confines of the Academy, and both students and teachers alike finally got out of whatever trance they were in and lifted the two bleeding men up and towards the Academy's medical facilities while the best water mages were called forth from Tristania as nearly everyone was drafted into saving the two lives of the extremely injured me.

Nearly everyone was the case as Louise simply followed behind, unsure of her place in all of this, and shocked from the events that had transpired over the course of merely a few minutes.

These... were her, familiars... it could not be right. But there all five of them were, summoned by her, and now forcing the entire Academy to help save the lives of two of their own... all while she watched. The significance of this day would not be dimmed by the medical care that they received and them eventually becoming her servants, but it would grow into something far more... interesting and... volatile, for not just Tristain, but the whole entirety of Helgekinia.