Chapter Text
"Nanna! You shouldn't have to worry about that thief anymore! Ba-hah is taking him away," Astara states brightly while she sets down the giant bag of money next to the old lady.
"Ah... thank you, sweetie. I thought I had lost it for good!" The old lady speaks softly.
Astara smiles down at her. "Do you need any help with carrying it? It must be quite heavy for you."
"Oh, no, no. I'll be fine, sweetie. This is just a normal day of winnings, hehe..." The old lady laughs, patting the bulging bag. Astara blinks before she tilts her head.
Eternity. End. Time. Timeless. Renewal. Kindness. Endless love, and endless loyalty. Endless.
"Astara?" Vanessa's voice snaps Astara out of her reverie. Astara nearly collapses to her knees, but manages to tense her legs before she could fall. She gasps for breath, a nearly delirious grin growing on her face.
"You have such powerful mana!" Astara exclaims with starry eyes. "I've never seen mana that strong! Amazing!"
"Oh? You can... see my mana?" The old lady asks, more amazed than surprised.
Astara continues to grin with a small laugh. "I can see all mana. It's... quite a lot, but I'm used to it. Yours is... beautiful."
"...thank you, sweetie," The old lady says sincerely.
"We should be heading off now. The day's almost over," Vanessa says with a soft smile. Astara blinks before she smiles with a hum.
"Alright! Let me go get my bags! Stay safe, Nanna!" Astara states before she rushes back towards where Noelle had moved her bags.
"Thank you again, Magic Knights."
"Be careful," Noelle says with a slight wave.
"Live a long, happy life!" Vanessa smiles down at the old lady before turning to leave. "Now then, let's head home."
The old lady waves with a gentle laugh. She continues to smile as the three Bulls leave the alley.
"Magic negation... yet having no mana at all. That's something I have never seen before," The old lady observes before she is surrounded by a golden light. In her place is a tall man with short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. "Actually, is that even possible? To live without any kind of mana? What a fascinating kid Sukehiro took in."
This is the reason why he walks around in disguise. Discovering new magic, or the lack thereof, is what Julius Novachrono, the 28th Wizard King, strives to find.
A white screen suddenly bursts into existence in front of the leader of the Magic Knights. "I finally found you!"
"Uh-oh," Julius states, unsurprised to see the face of his advisor, Marx Francois.
"What in the world are you doing, Wizard King?"
Julius laughs good-naturedly. Marx should know this by now. How amusing.
As Marx continues to try and scold Julius for shirking his duties for the day, he spots an unfamiliar mana traveling through the air. He looks up and spots a silhouette of a Magic Knight standing on his broom.
"Isn't that the new kid from William's Squad?" Julius speaks to himself. He smiles slightly and begins to be surrounded by another yellow light.
"Well, I'm off to encounter even more new magic. I'll be back later."
"Wait, damn it!" Marx shouts, irate and stressed by Julius's continuous disappearing acts. What a magic nerd!
_____
The air felt calm and almost playful. It would have been a perfect evening to have a mock spar.
Yuno refrains from sighing out loud, knowing his senior would just use it as an opportunity to berate him, again. Especially with this being his first mission.
"I wonder if Asta's mission started out like this..." Yuno can't help, but think. He glances off to the side, silently observing the town they first traveled to for the entrance exam.
It's been around two months since they became Magic Knights. They haven't kept in contact, but Yuno heard about a mission for the Black Bulls' new recruits going wrong.
He was more than relieved when he heard there had been no severe injuries... but one of the new recruits said to be sensitive to mana had a "freak out" when the enemies killed themselves. Yuno knows it was Astara. No one is as sensitive to mana as his sister is.
"My first mission... I'm so nervous," The other new recruit, Mimosa Vermillion from the royal family, speaks up softly. "Klaus-san, Yuno-san, it's a pleasure to work with you."
Yuno blinks out of his thoughts. He thinks about not answering the royal... but she's been nice. Where everyone else either ignores him or insults him behind his back, Mimosa actually tries to treat Yuno like an equal; besides for the occasional oblivious or ignorant insult.
"...me as well," Yuno speaks shortly and somewhat genuinely.
"Don't let your guard down, Mimosa," Klaus says instead of agreeing with the royal. Yuno keeps his cool facade despite the stab of irritation in his chest.
"Y-yes, sir!" Mimosa exclaims quickly before turning her head forward with a nervously determined expression.
"That goes for you, too," Klaus states sharply.
"I know." Yuno keeps his cool facade despite the bubbling irritation in his chest. He continues facing forward, until he notices the noble heir they are guarding raises his hand. There's another stab of irritation while Yuno glances at the man–he never bothered to remember his name–through his peripheral and watches him lazily wave his fingers.
If Astara was here, she would have glared at the noble before scolding him for not using his words to bring Yuno over. By the Merciful Stars, Yuno wishes he could do that now.
Yuno, instead, carefully flies over to the side of the heir's carriage. He flies just barely out of arm's length, not trusting the noble one bit.
"How have you been enjoying the capital, Yuno-kun?" The heir asks sweetly, making the teenager's skin crawl. He stares at the heir for a long moment. Does he really have to answer?
"Don't look so scary. I requested you as my bodyguard to make sure you were settling in, in this magnificent city, well." The heir smiles kindly towards Yuno. "You're prowess in magic fascinated me at the entrance exam. And I heard you intend to become the Wizard King."
Yuno refrains from narrowing his eyes. "How do you know?"
"You were chosen by all of the captains. You could've joined any squad, and you ended up choosing the Golden Dawn, so I had a feeling," The heir, incorrectly, surmises.
Yuno swallows back a laugh, but can't manage to stop his lips from twitching. He turns his head in the guise of watching the sky to his left.
"I do want to become the Wizard King... but I didn't join the Golden Dawn because of it," Yuno says calmly, a small smile forcibly growing on his face despite his efforts to keep his cool mask.
It didn't matter if they were rivals; Astara will always want the best for Yuno. And the Golden Dawn is considered the best in the kingdom's eyes.
"Oh? Then, it must do something with that little peasant you fought," The heir states with a chuckle. "No matter. The more you achieve from now on, the more your name will spread throughout the kingdom. Yuno, the p–the one who bears the four-leaf clover grimoire."
Yuno's fingers twitch at the slight emphasis on the name which the heir called his sister. Derogatory and harsh, hidden behind a smile of political nicety.
"Don't start fights in my name, Yuno. It will only bring you harm and I do not wish that for you," Astara speaks harshly through a flitting memory after she had pinched Yuno's ear and dragged him away from two boys. Two boys out of countless other people who insult and verbally–sometimes physically–abuse the sweet and kind ash blonde who is his sister.
"‒may tell my children that the Wizard King himself took the time to protect me! Oh, how they'll say 'wow, daddy! You're so cool with even cooler friends!'" Yuno tunes back into whatever bullshit the heir was spouting. His face nearly pinches at the thought of this noble using this stupid mission as a way to brag. What a kiss-ass.
"We have some time before we reach the Heart Kingdom. Could you tell me a little bit about yourself?" The heir continues with his irritating conversation. "I won't pester you if you're not up for it."
"You're already pestering me," Yuno mentally retorts before he sighs heavily and closes his eyes.
"I'm from Hage Village," He answers shortly, hoping the questions will end here.
They don't.
"I've heard of it. It's a village in the Forsaken Realm, isn't it? I take it that you and that peasant grew up together there? I think that's where the legend of the first Wizard King who defeated the demons comes from."
Yuno rolls his eyes as he scans the left. "It's not just a legend. A giant demon skull sits just outside the borders of Hage. When the light hits just right, you can see the shadow of the first Wizard King's statue on top of the skull stretch across Hage."
"Oh?" The heir gasps in shock and awe. Yuno refrains from rolling his eyes again, but doesn't speak anymore.
"My, your parents must be so proud. Following the dream the first Wizard King left behind!"
Yuno can't help the full body twitch and clenches his hands. Parents...
"Maybe," The teenager speaks with a scoff in his tone. He doesn't say much more than that.
Sister Lily's warm blue eyes and Father Orsi's fiery personality flits through his mind. Yuno can't help but smile warmly at the memory.
While they weren't his parents, they still raised him like parents should. He doesn't think he can wish for anyone else, even his own birth parents.
"How amazing. Being so humble with your words," The heir speaks with his voice filled to the brim with sickly sweet awe. It makes Yuno's skin crawl, but he stays silent. He's talked way too much for this mission, and they've only just begun.
Yuno tenses when the wind shifts, bringing in a sharp and cold breeze from the southwest. Thunder booms faintly and Mimosa makes a noise of confusion.
"What's that?" Yuno turns and watches the vermilion haired teenager point up towards a cluster of nearly black clouds.
"Those clouds..." Klaus murmurs quietly, clearly suspicious.
"They're a little creepy," Mimosa continues nervously as they quickly get closer.
Thank the Merciful Stars. A way out of this awful conversation.
"I'll go check them out," Yuno speaks before flying past and up towards the clouds. Klaus shouts something behind him, but he ignores it.
He stops right before the clouds and watches with a narrowed gaze. He feels the wind shifts and something explodes out of the clouds.
Fire!
Yuno braces himself on his broom and swiftly flies out of the way of the barrage of fire magic. He doesn't keep his eyes off of the dark clouds before he hears maniacal cackling. A group of mages wearing cloaks flies down, ready to attack.
"Yuno! Protect the ship!" Klaus shouts from below.
Yuno forms wind in his hand, focused on the mages in front of him. "I intend to."
One of the mages, the one with the fire magic, shoots a fireball directly towards him. Yuno throws his wind and cancels out the attack before something blurs in his peripheral vision.
His mind screams in alarm, and he drops through the air and spins around, narrowly dodging a large spike of ice. His eyes narrow and he holds up both of his hands, quickly forming two hawks out of wind.
"Wind Creation Magic: Swift White Hawk!" The hawks launch through the air, spinning around and knocking off all of the mages from their brooms.
Yuno watches them fall, making sure none try and reach for their brooms. His eyes narrow when not a single one even tries, but he turns to focus on the storm clouds instead, using the wind to dispel them.
Yuno quickly twirls around without slipping from his broom and flies back over to the carriage and his team. The heir awes at the sight while Mimosa stares at him with a bright smile.
"That was amazing, Yuno-san!" Mimosa exclaims in awe.
"We're going to land for a moment. Make sure no one attacks again," Klaus states, already lowering the carriage.
Yuno follows after, landing gently in the grass. Klaus dissipates the carriage, closing his grimoire.
"You saved me back there. Well done, Yuno-kun." Yuno visibly twitches at the honorific. "I'm even more interested in you now. I didn't even have the opportunity to use my Lightning God Rising Salim. Do you remember seeing it during the entrance exam? It is quite the spectacle!"
Yuno blinks slowly while staring at the noble. The what now? This noble was in the entrance exam?
When Yuno doesn't speak, the heir simply chuckles and barrels on. "I know. Why don't you take me to your town? I want to see the place you were born, and meet the parents who raised such a powerful mage."
Yuno narrows his eyes before shaking his head. "I don't have–"
"Lord Salim, that's rather out of the way," Klaus interjects with an almost hidden sneer of disgust. Yuno refrains from snorting at the poor attempt to hide it.
"Besides, given what just happened, we don't know what else might happen along the way. So, we should head straight for the Heart Kingdom–"
"No matter who may come after me, you three will protect me, won't you?" The heir–Salim! That's his name–interrupts the other noble with a flick of his hand. Yuno narrows his eyes, his lips down turned in a frown.
"Well, yes, of course. But, for nobility to go to a peasant village in the Forsaken Realm–"
"It'll just be a quick stop," Salim interrupts again with an almost exasperated tone. Yuno's fingers twitch, but his expression stays blank.
"Right..." Klaus trails off, his shoulders sagging as he realizes the heir won't change his mind.
"I'm sure Yuno-kun would like to see everyone back home, too. Right?" The question was more of a statement that couldn't be declined.
"That's none of your concern." Yuno swallows, trying to abate some of the iciness in his tone. "Besides, we should listen to Sir Klaus. Those mages could mean–"
"Now, now. It might be better for us in the long run. We'll be in a village with other Magic Knights where they will be less likely to attack us," Salim interrupts with his weird smile.
Yuno can't help, but raise an eyebrow at the statement. Is he joking? There aren't any Magic Knights in Hage.
He glances over at Klaus and Mimosa before he sighs heavily. They can't really decline the travel to the village anymore. Great.
"We'll have to go due west. Directly towards the horizon," Yuno speaks tightly, clearly showing his reluctance for this matter.
He doesn't want to lead any trouble to the church, but it's clear the noble won't take no for an answer. He doesn't want to get in trouble on his first mission.
Why does this have to happen to him?
_____
The sun is halfway past the horizon when Yuno spots the looming silhouette of the demon skull. His eyes immediately trail further down and to the left, spotting the small church building.
"Oh, that's the demon skull!" The heir exclaims brightly. "And you're right! The shadow of the first Wizard King's statue does stretch across Hage! It looks like it's protecting it!"
"Wow! It really does! Who knew something like this was all the way out here!" Mimosa exclaims, unintentionally insulting the village. Yuno ignores it, knowing she isn't purposely trying to.
"So, where's your home?" Salim asks, turning towards Yuno.
"There," Yuno says simply, pointing towards the church.
"Oh? Is that a church?" Salim questions in confusion.
"I was left on the steps of the church with Asta. Sister and Father raised us and the other children," Yuno answers shortly as they lower themselves to the ground. "They're good people."
Yuno spots a black figure leaving the church and his entire posture perks up. Sister Lily.
"Yuno!" Sister Lily gasps in delight when Yuno finally lands on the ground. She runs over, carrying a basket of tatoes.
"Welcome back!"
Yuno smiles down at the young woman, inclining his head silently. "I'm home, Sister."
"By the Merciful Stars, you've grown so much!" Sister states brightly, bringing a hand up to the teenager's cheek. Yuno leans into the contact without complaint, completely relaxing.
It's been two months since he's had any physical contact with someone... By the Merciful Stars, he misses Astara. Not that he'll ever admit it.
"I haven't changed. It's only been two months since I left," Yuno retorts softly.
"Really? But... Yes. Your face has matured." Sister Lily smiles brightly as she lowers her hand to grab the basket again. "You look more like an adult... And your hair has gotten even messier... Well, what brings you here today?"
Yuno's smile somewhat sours at the reminder and he averts his gaze. "We're stopping by briefly during our mission."
Sister Lily smiles softly, placing a hand on Yuno's cheek once more as comfort. Without it even spoken out loud, she knows he's annoyed by the noble.
She walks around him and towards a grumbling Klaus, likely complaining about being in a peasant village. Yuno snorts quietly at the thought.
"Oh, um, hello. I'm Sister Lily, Yuno's foster mother," the Sister speaks softly and politely, giving a deep courtesy towards Klaus. "By the Gods and the Merciful Stars, I welcome you to Hage."
"I am Klaus Lunettes of the honorable Golden Dawn, led by William Vangeance. I'm a mentor to these new recruits," Klaus introduces himself primly, but politely, pushing up his glasses.
"At least he's polite towards a woman of the cloth, no matter where she's stationed." Yuno huffs quietly.
"Hello, Klaus-san!" Yuno twitches at the familiar title and his shoulder rise. "Thank you for looking after Yuno. I've heard of you from Yuno's letters!"
Shit.
"Letters? What did you write about me?" Klaus stares at the black haired teenager suspiciously. Yuno turns his head the opposite direction with a hum, totally not hiding his flushed cheeks.
"I'm Mimosa Vermillion, one of Yuno-san's colleagues. I thank you for your generosity, Sister," Mimosa introduces herself in genuine sincerity, giving a small bow towards the Sister.
"I've heard of you too, Lady Mimosa. You are as kind as Yuno writes," Sister Lily states brightly, making Yuno feel his entire face burn.
"I should have never written those letters."
"Oh! K-kind?! What else did you write about me?" Mimosa asks, somewhat flustered. Yuno keeps his head turned and hums again.
"Ah, what a beauty," Salim's voice makes Yuno tense. He turns his head with a narrowed gaze as the heir walks towards the young woman. He blinks in surprise when the heir kneels on one knee.
What the actual–
"I am from Hapshass Village. The son of Lord Hapshass and the heir to the Hapshass family, Salim de Hapshass." Yuno takes a step forward with a scowl when the man stands up to be directly in Sister Lily's face. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Sister Lily cries out and forms a Holy Fist of Love. Klaus chokes on air while Mimosa covers her mouth in shock. Yuno smirks before he quickly hides it.
"Oh! I-I'm so, so sorry! I just..." Sister Lily continuously bows towards the somewhat injured heir.
"N-no, it's alright, Sister..." Salim reassures the young woman.
There's a gasp of shock and choking noise from behind, making Yuno turn around. His face brightens despite not smiling when he sees the children. Oh, and Father Orsi.
"Yuno! It's Yuno! How are you?! Welcome back!" Yuno steps out of the way before the Father could pounce on him, making him trip and roll across the ground. The children, thankfully, stopped before they could tackle him.
"Aniki! What are you doing here?" Recca asks brightly.
"Woah, that robe's so cool, Aniki! That's the Golden Dawn's. It's the real thing!" Nash exclaims while he reaches up to tug at the fabric.
"Yay, it's Aniki! Yay! Yay!" Aruru jumps up and hugs Yuno's legs.
"Aniki! Aniki! Yay!" Hollo repeats after his foster sister.
Flowers start to form around Yuno. They called him Aniki again...
"Hey, where's Aneki?" Aruru asks in mounting excitement.
"Where's Aneki? Aneki?" Hollo repeats again.
Yuno smiles softly and bends down to grab both Aruru and Hollo, putting one child on each hip. Aruru squeals in delight and tugs at Yuno's robe, already climbing up to his shoulder.
"Are you keeping in contact with Asta?" Sister Lily asks brightly.
"No. We've both been busy–"
"Are you staying the night tonight? You are, right?" Father Orsi is suddenly there with an arm wrapped around Yuno's shoulders, still crying dramatically.
"Um..."
"Unfortunately, we're just stopping by. We have to hurry on our way," Klaus answers for Yuno. The children protest loudly, well most of them do. Aruru was still climbing all over the black haired teenager, now standing on his shoulders.
"Now, now. We don't have to be in such a hurry. We can spare an hour or so," Salim states with a wave of his hand.
"But–"
Father Orsi, already finished crying, gasps in delight. "In that case, I'll prepare some famous Hage tato dishes! And prepare some of our winter stock for the occasion!"
"No. There's no need for that," Yuno vehemently denies, louder than his usual quiet tone.
"Nonsense! It's your first visit back! We've got to celebrate!" Father Orsi exclaims, making Yuno scowl.
"We're already in fall. Harvest season's almost over. It's too dangerous to indulge before winter," Yuno argues with a shake of his head.
"Don't worry, Yuno," Sister Lily reassures with a hand on his cheek. "I promise we have plenty to spare."
She turns towards the other mages and gives a deep bow. "Please come in. We'll serve you all tonight."
"Wow, what a splendid church," Salim compliments as he walks in.
Mimosa smiles brightly as she stares up at the architecture. "I've never seen such a tiny church. It's so cute."
"Tiny?!" Yuno bites his cheek at Father Orsi's affronted shock.
"It's like a playhouse," Mimosa describes it with a kind smile.
"Wha–"
"Yuno-nī! Tell us about the Magic Knights! Asta-nē's letters are too messy and you never write enough in yours!" Recca states, grabbing Yuno's hand and dragging him inside.
"Yeah, tell us!" Aruru exclaims, hanging upside down from Yuno's shoulders.
"Us! Us!" Hollo cheers with a fist bump in the air.
Yuno smiles softly before he chuckles. "Alright, alright. Let's set up the table for Sister and Father and then I'll tell you about the Magic Knights."
"Yay!"
_____
Mimosa couldn't believe so many people could live inside such a tiny building. There was barely any space! It was so adorable!
What was even more adorable was how Yuno behaved around the children. Who knew he had siblings?! Also, why didn't he say anything about it?
Mimosa watches with a soft smile, only feeling a little discomfort with the... lack of formalities the peasants have, as Yuno allows the young girl‒Aruru, if she remembers correctly‒climb onto his shoulder and over his head to the other one with a small, but genuine smile.
She's never even seen a flicker of emotion pass by the teenager's face. Yuno's face was perfect for smiling.
"What's the Capital like?" The eldest boy out of the children, Nash, asks with a forcibly cool expression, but his voice slightly trembles with unbridled excitement and his eyes shine as he stares up at Yuno.
"Crowded," Yuno answers simply before he tilts his head up. He stays silent as an even softer smile grows on his face. "You can't see the stars like you can here and there's not a lot of flowers around, but it's beautiful in its own way."
"Asta-nē must be sad about that," Recca, the eldest of the girls, says with a small frown.
Yuno shakes his head with a small chuckle. "Her favorites are still bright as ever."
"Nash-nī's been teaching us how to forage the flowers around the village! Do you wanna keep some of the seeds?" Aruru asks, hanging completely upside down from Yuno's back while he securely holds her ankles.
"I haven't been able to find the right pots for any kind of flowers... I might have to find some clay and make my own..." Yuno mutters the last part to himself, thoughtful.
"Making your own pots for flowers," Klaus scoffs quietly in derision. "You had your day off a few weeks ago. There are plenty of florists around Kikka and the Royal Capital."
"They were all too big and... too decorative. The flowers wouldn't survive in them," Yuno retorts with a shrug and a small frown.
He likes to garden? How wonderful! She finally has something to bond with the peasant!
"Oh! I know the perfect place to take you! It's owned by a lower house of Silva whose main magic attribute deals with nature! I'm sure they'll have the flower pots you're looking for!" Mimosa exclaims in excitement. Yuno blinks slowly, staring at her with a narrowed stare. Mimosa feels her cheeks start to burn, but she doesn't avert her gaze.
"...thank you, Mimosa," Yuno says eventually, making the royal beam brightly at him.
"Of course!"
"I must say, it is admirable what you are doing for all these orphans, Sister," Heir Hapshass comments with an easygoing smile. Mimosa watches when Yuno's shoulders tense and he stares suspiciously towards their client.
"Oh, none of them are orphans. Not to us. The Gods and the Merciful Stars have blessed us with each child to foster and raise," Sister Lily says softly, smiling over at Yuno. Mimosa giggles behind her hand when Yuno's face turns pink, but surprisingly he doesn't hide, only smiling back at the Sister.
"It all started with our Yuno and Asta, of course!" Father Orsi states brightly, walking in with his arms full with plates of food. "They were left on the doorsteps late one night in October. Yuno was as quiet as can be and Asta, that girl screamed her heart out once the sun was up. Since then, children just kept popping up."
"Aniki! Aniki, that means your birthday's coming up!" Aruru shouts excitedly, making all the other children start shouting.
"Will you and Aneki come back to celebrate?! Please tell me you will!" The eldest of the girls, Recca, pleads with bright eyes.
"Come back! Come back!" Hollo, the youngest boy, calls out with a fist raised in the air.
"Now, now. Kids, settle down." Father Orsi places the dishes on the table. "We won't be able to eat if we're all so excited."
"Yes, Father!" The children exclaim before they are all rushing to get to their seats.
Yuno stands up with his hands outstretched to help, but Father Orsi steps away and walks on the other side of the table. The teenager scowls almost petulantly and glares at the pastor.
"You're visiting, Yuno. We would be bad hosts if we let you help us around," Father Orsi states with a small chuckle, making Yuno... pout?
He's pouting! Oh, how adorable!
Mimosa nearly squeals at the sight. She manages to control herself, but her cheeks still flush.
"Father," Sister Lily speaks with a raised eyebrow. The older man sighs heavily before he waves his now free hand once he sets down the last plate of food.
"Oh, alright. Would you like to say grace, Yuno?" The Father asks with an indulgent smile.
Yuno pauses and blinks before he tilts his head, cutely in Mimosa's opinion. "Are you sure, Father?"
"Well, Asta isn't here to fight you for the chance to say grace," Father Orsi teases, making Yuno's ears turn bright pink.
He clears his throat and nods silently, sitting back down. "Okay. Thank you, Father."
"Children," Sister Lily calls, holding out both of her hands. Yuno grasps her left and Aruru grabs her right. Nash helps Hollo grab Recca's hand before grabbing his other and Aruru's.
Mimosa glances over at Klaus, biting her lip nervously. Klaus doesn't lift his hands, mouth twitching into an almost sneer. Mimosa lightly nudges Klaus's arm, making him turn to face her.
She holds out her hand, smiling anxiously. They were guests of the Church. It wouldn't be proper if they didn't follow along.
Klaus sighs heavily and gently grabs her hand before turning to grab the heir's. Yuno sighs quietly before he tilts his head forward as he closes his eyes. Mimosa takes a deep breath and closes her own eyes.
"By the Gods and the Merciful Stars, I pray for the Good Faith, Hope, and Love of thy blessings to my family and this church. By the Gods and the Merciful Stars, I pray for thy benevolence and thy generosity as winter approaches and allow my family... and my squad to stay safe during harsh times. I thank the Gods and the Merciful Stars for watching over me and Astara. I give this offering to thou and wish for thine's happiness and peace," Yuno speaks eloquently, the most Mimosa's ever heard him speak.
"I give this offering to thou," The children, the Sister, and the Father repeat after the teenager.
Klaus is quick to lower his hands, but his expression takes a more pensive look rather than irritated or disgusted. Mimosa smiles brightly, but doesn't mention it out loud.
"He's warming up to Yuno-san!" She mentally cheers.
It made her quite upset when she observed the rest of her squad treat Yuno like... like some lowly peasant–even though peasants aren't lowly! But... it was hard to watch and not do anything. Mimosa doesn't think Yuno would have liked it if she tried to defend him. And what could she have done?
She is a royal, but she is a bit of an outcast. She didn't join the Crimson Lions despite it being tradition within the Vermillion Family. The members of the Golden Dawn treated her with respect, but they didn't try to get to know her.
She is a royal, after all. Why would she want to be friends with those below her station? It's horrible!
Mimosa can't even begin to imagine how Yuno feels. She's somewhat isolated, because people fear retaliation if they dare to reach past their station. Yuno's completely isolated, because he is a peasant among the most noble of Magic Knight Squads.
"He must be so lonely..." Mimosa bites her cheek as she stares at the... dry-looking food in front of her. "Loneliness... how awful..."
"I hope the food is to your liking, Klaus-san, Lady Mimosa... and Heir Hapshass. With winter just around the corner, we don't have much outside of our dried storage and tatoes," The Sister speaks softly, helping the youngest boy put food on his plate.
Klaus's mouth curls as he stares at the food in front of him, but he simply pushes up his glasses instead of voicing his obvious disgust. "I'm sure it will be... more than... adequate... Sister. Thank you for your generosity."
Mimosa bites back a smile, and she can see Yuno's mouth twitch, clearly amused. Out of her thoughts, she starts to load her plate up with food. It certainly looks... similar to food–like raw ingredients... but if the children eat this everyday, then surely it's edible... hopefully...
Yuno eats without a hint of hesitation or disgust, almost shoveling the food into his mouth if it weren't for his manners.
"Wow! It's so dry it takes all the moisture from my mouth!" Heir Hapshass exclaims over his bite of a fried tato. "So, this is what Hage's famous tatoes taste like!"
Mimosa squares her shoulders and cuts a piece of a fried tato and some dried carrots. She nearly coughs when the moisture in her mouth is almost immediately dried.
She covers her mouth, somewhat shocked. "Oh, this makes me so thirsty." And there's so much of it compared to the other food groups...
"Yes, isn't it wonderful?" Father Orsi states brightly and with teary eyes. "Both Yuno and Asta sent us money from their first pay as Magic Knights. And then... we were able to buy so many tatoes that we can... we can feed the children as much as they want every day."
"Actually, could you feed us something other than tatoes, too?" Nash asks, somewhat annoyed.
"Nash, don't be picky. The soil's too harsh for anything other than tatoes and wheat," Yuno scolds with a small look, making the young boy wince guiltily.
"That's right! And look how big your Aniki got from eating tatoes!" The Father adds loudly. Yuno turns his head to avoid looking at anyone and Mimosa giggles silently at the sight.
What an adorable big brother!
"Yuno-kun, it's wonderful that you're sending money home when you're just a newcomer," Heir Hapshass says sweetly.
Yuno averts his narrowed gaze, both embarrassed and still suspicious. "It's nothing. Father and Sister have done so much for me and Asta... this doesn't even begin to pay them back."
"Silly boy. You are a child of the Church. There's nothing you need to pay us back for." Sister Lily smiles softly, brightening up the room with her joy.
"You and Aneki just have to visit every chance you get!" Recca declares with a wide smile.
"Recca!" Sister Lily scolds, still smiling.
Yuno blinks and turns to face Father Orsi. "Asta's also sending money... How much is she sending?"
Both Sister Lily and Father Orsi glance at each other nervously, immediately clocking Yuno's rising competitiveness. Sister hums nervously and leans over to whisper in the teenager's ear. Mimosa stops herself from leaning closer in an attempt to listen in. Oh, how she loves gossip!
Yuno blinks, making a noise, before his expression turns stony with determination. He faces the Sister, his gold eyes burning bright.
"Starting next month, I'll send all of my pay."
"Preposterous!" Klaus exclaims while Mimosa gasps in shock. How honorable!
"Yuno! That is your paycheck. You need some money to live off of while in the Capital! You can't send all of your pay!" Sister Lily scolds with wide eyes.
Yuno's jaw clenches and he shakes his head. "I'll send it all. I have no need for the money."
"Yuno!" Sister Lily exclaims. "You will do no such thing!"
"I can do such a thing," Yuno retorts with his arms crossed and his expression–oh my! Is he pouting?!
Mimosa internally squeals. How adorable!
"Asta-nē's actually being smart, for once in her life, and is saving some of her money. She even wrote that she bought some fabric with some of it," Nash points out with a knowing grin. The younger kids struggle to hold in their giggles as their eldest brother twitches.
Yuno nods his head with his eyes closed, his hackles immediately lowering. "Saving some money can't hurt. But, I'm still giving you most of my pay, Sister."
"If you ever need Yuno to do something he doesn't like," Recca whispers as she leans closer to the nobles, "just mention Asta-nē! They'll turn anything into a competition against each other!"
Mimosa giggles, quickly covering her mouth with a hand when Yuno glances over. She swallows down louder laughter when he blinks and tilts his head in confusion.
"Recca! No gossiping at the table." Sister Lily can't keep all of the laughter out of her voice.
"How amusing!" Heir Hapshass laughs good-naturedly, immediately pulling Yuno's attention and turning it into suspicion. "Miss Lily, may I have some more water?"
Mimosa watches Yuno's entire face twitch at the title Heir Hapshass gave the Sister before his hands curl into fists. He opens his mouth to retort–or maybe even yell! Wouldn't that be fascinating–but Sister Lily beats him to it by standing up.
"Of course, Heir Hapshass," Sister Lily speaks with a small bow and the proper etiquette before she makes her way over to the amphora set off to the side of the room.
"Oh, it's empty..." Sister grabs the pitcher and turns around with a beaming smile. "I'll go get some more. Forgive me, Heir Hapshass."
"Oh, there's no need for that, Miss Lily," Heir Hapshass says with a dismissive wave.
"I'll do it, Sister," Yuno says, being the most polite Mimosa has seen in a while.
"I'll do it, Yuno. Sit down and eat. I won't take no for an answer." Sister Lily stares hard at the black haired teenager. Yuno stares back defiantly, only for a few seconds, before he sighs and plops back down into his chair. The beaming smile is back on the Sister's face and she turns back around to walk outside.
"Oh, one moment." Heir Hapshass stands up and takes off his shoulder cape. Klaus chokes on the sip of water he takes and it takes nearly all of the etiquette engrained in his mind since he could remember to not spray the water across the entire table.
Heir Hapshass places the cape over Sister Lily's shoulders with a soft smile. "It's chilly at night."
CRACK!
Mimosa glances over and blinks at the sight of a fork, snapped completely in half in Yuno's fist.
"Thank you very much," Sister Lily says politely before leaving the room.
"You're quite the gentleman," Nash states dryly, clearly unimpressed by the heir's... amorous nature towards his foster mother.
"It is quite... inappropriate." Mimosa smiles nervously before taking a bite of another tato.
An heir, especially an heir apparent, favoring a woman of the cloth? A scandal not even a royal could fully resolve.
"Oh, it's nothing. My body just acted on its own." Heir Hapshass shrugs with an easygoing smile. "It's just proper etiquette for a noble."
"Well—" Mimosa starts to speak, but Klaus places a hand on her shoulder, looking at the heir with just as much disapproval as Mimosa felt. She closes her mouth, biting her cheek worriedly.
She doesn't want these sweet little peasants to get the wrong idea... even though they seem to already know that it isn't... proper.
CRASH!
Yuno bolts up from his chair and sprint out of the dining room. "Sister Lily!"
Mimosa glances over at Klaus before standing up with him.
Did those men... follow them here?
_____
The amphora was shattered and the water already soaked deep into the ground. It has to have been forcefully dropped to cause it to shatter like this.
Yuno watches his fingers tremble around the piece of clay he held. The wind around him picks up before he clenches his hand around the shard of clay.
"Aniki!" Recca calls out worriedly as Yuno stands up silently.
"What happened?!" Father Orsi asks urgently. Mimosa and Klaus stop next to Yuno, staring down at the amphora.
"Where's Sister?" The question from Nash makes Yuno's entire body twitch. The edges of the clay shard pierce into the skin of his palm when he clenches hard.
Klaus bends down and picks up a somewhat glittering object in the grass. Yuno glares at it when he recognizes the shape.
A skull brooch.
"They followed us here," Yuno speaks tersely, a dark edge to his voice.
Stupid. How could he be so stupid? He should have gone after those assholes and made sure they were unconscious or restrained. And now...
"Yes. It's the same one the men who were after Lord Salim were wearing," Klaus agrees indifferently.
If Yuno was any less angry, he would be staring at the noble in surprise for not scolding him. But, he's beyond angry. He's pissed. So, the surprise will have to take a seat in the back for the moment.
"H-How awful!" The heir of whatever noble family exclaims, making every turn to focus on him. "Of course! It must be because I put my robe on her. Miss Lily was taken instead of me!"
"It's Sister Lily," Yuno almost sneers, but manages to catch his tone.
The heir didn't hear him or ignored him, because he collapses to his hands and knees in his sudden guilt. Too sudden...
"Yes, that must be it."
Yuno tightens his fist until he can feel the shard of clay snap. There's a sudden weight to his leg and a loud sniffle.
"Is Sister gonna be okay? Is she, Aniki?" Aruru asks wetly, tears gathering in her eyes.
"Aniki..." Hollo repeats after his foster sister, already crying.
Yuno clenches his eyes shut and takes a deep breath. He forces his shoulders to relax, releasing the shards of clay from his hand. Blood drips to the ground, and he hears a small gasp, but he ignores it all to turn around.
He crouches in front of his youngest siblings and places his uninjured hand on top of Aruru's head. He smiles warmly, moving his hand down to gently wipe away the tears before they could fall.
"Don't worry, Aru. I'll go save her. By the Gods and the Merciful Stars, I swear it," He speaks gently before glancing towards the demon skull.
He can feel the magic in the breeze from that direction. Sister Lily...
He gives Father Orsi a small look before he could make any stupid declarations. "And all of you will stay here. Sister will be worried if any of you get hurt."
Yuno stands up and holds out his injured hand, calling the magic broom to it. He ignores the twinge of pain and the blood smearing against the wood.
"Y-Yuno..." Mimosa stutters out nervously, staring at the injured hand.
"Wait," Klaus interrupts anyone else before they could speak.
Yuno breathes out deeply, keeping himself calm. He turns around and tries not to glare at his superior. The small look he receives tells him he doesn't quite succeed.
"Our mission is to escort Lord Salim." Yuno feels the world slow down. "We don't know when the enemy will come after him again. We must leave at once."
"You can't!" Recca shouts, angry and shocked and even more terrified.
"Hey, Four-Eyes!" Nash insults loudly.
"Who are you calling Four-Eyes?!" Klaus sneers down at the young boy.
"Um... Four—Er... Klaus-san—um..." Mimosa stutters, averting her gaze quickly.
"You stay out of this, Mimosa," Klaus orders before focusing back on Yuno. "Yuno, I'm sure you're worried about the Sister, but let's leave her to the authorities who have jurisdiction here."
Yuno barks out a harsh and cold laugh, making everyone pause. He turns to face Klaus fully, eyes bright with ice-cold fury.
"Authorities? This is Hage, you fucking idiot. There are no Magic Knights stationed here. We're the only knights who've stepped foot in this village in 20 fucking years!"
Yuno releases his broom from his hand and jumps on top. "This entire kingdom may have abandoned Hage for dead, but I will not. I am going to save Sister."
He harnesses the wind around him, breathing in, and pushes forward.