Chapter Text
“Magna, Luck... You were true men.” Yami watched as they fell at Vetto's feet, the thud muffled through Gifso's monitoring spell. Next to him, Gifso's eyes were wide with horror.
Gifso was right to be anxious. They hadn't put a scratch on Vetto. But Yami couldn't fault them for it when they'd given it everything. Fought on despite their injuries from the first strike, figured out the vulnerability of Vetto's attack, even shaped a combo attack despite Luck's spotty record with teamwork. They'd lost, but Yami was proud of them.
Vetto loomed over them, hand raised to deal death. Yami didn't flinch. He'd seen what Vetto, too focused on the kill, had missed.
No one in the arena could hear them without Gifso's communication spell. Yami didn't care. It made him feel better to talk, and in this shitty situation he'd take what he could. As Asta stepped onto the image, Yami told him, “You better stand strong too, kid!”
Asta was between Vetto and his seniors before the words even finished leaving Yami's mouth. Even better, he didn't waste any time pulling out his second sword. He wasn't going to go easy on Vetto like he had on Kiato.
Yami still felt a touch of disquiet when the slash across Vetto's chest didn't bleed much. It got stronger when Vetto didn't break a sweat under Asta and Kiato's combined assault.
Vetto tallying up Asta's weaknesses- weaknesses Yami knew- was just salt in the wound. Yami could hear his teeth grinding. Him too... He was motivated, so I let him train on his own too much. When we get out of this, I'm making all of them fight me until they drop.
The tension coiling tighter and tighter in his chest abruptly snapped when Vetto grabbed Asta and got bitten for his troubles. Yami laughed, harsh and breathless and probably a touch hysterical. Not that Gifso, hooting next to him with the same level of nervous energy, was in any position to judge.
The sudden hilarity gave way to genuine relief when Kahono's spell knocked Vetto and Asta apart. But Yami had mixed feelings about Noelle's appearance. She only mastered her control issues when she wasn't trying to fight directly. If she's a purely defensive mage...
*
Roughly twenty-four hours earlier...
Magna and Luck's impromptu fireworks burst against the backdrop of the nearly-full moon. Settled on a nearby rock formation, Yami took a drag on his cigarette, enjoying some well-deserved smugness at Noelle's success. You threw her away, Nozel. But your loss is my gain, asshole.
Yami glanced over when a portal formed next to him. An instant later, Finral stepped out, footing sure despite the uneven rock face. He wasn't wearing his Bulls' robe, but at least he had his tunic on. Yami reflexively quashed the disappointed flicker of his libido that wouldn't have minded more skin.
Finral was grinning, obviously just as high as the rest on Noelle's triumph. It made a pleasant change from how mopey he'd been after his failed date. The one Yami wasn't thinking about because the blend of jealousy and sympathy gave him indigestion.
Shutting the portal with a flick of his fingers, Finral said, “There you are. Not going to join the party?”
That brought back Yami's good mood. He smirked up at Finral. “In a minute. Someone had to hang back and tell Raque's town guards that the big explosion of water magic wasn't an attack.” Luckily being a knight captain was good for something. The guards had been happy to take his word for it, relieved it wasn't a kraken or sea serpent beaching in the middle of the night.
Just the Black Bulls' own Sea Dragon, Yami thought with pride.
Finral laughed. “It was pretty flashy!” He glanced back down to the beach where the Bulls were starting to really party. Magna and Luck shot more magic into the sky. Below the brilliant display, everyone ate Charmy's cakes and passed around Vanessa's wine. Finral's smile softened, gaining an edge of melancholy. “She really did it.”
Yami looked over at him. “Knew she would. I don't give people jobs they can't do.” Yami put a bit more emphasis on the words. “Doesn't have to be attack magic to make a difference.”
Finral paused, then sighed, sitting next to Yami and looking down at the party below. Yami watched Finral, waiting to see if he was going to actually say what he was thinking about.
After a moment, Finral said, “This mission... it's only a secret until Eye of the Midnight Sun is taken care of, right?”
Yami wasn't sure where Finral was going with this, but he shrugged. “Probably. No reason to keep it under wraps after that.”
Finral nodded. He was still smiling that soft, half-melancholy smile. “Good. I'm glad she'll get the recognition.”
Ah. Yami took a drag on his cigarette, mulling it over. Then he said, “Too bad for Nose-braid I don't share. When he comes crawling back trying to steal her for the Eagles, I'll just laugh in his face.” Still looking at Finral, Yami continued blandly, “Then I'll punt his baby-faced ass back to his headquarters.”
Finral glanced over at Yami in surprise, then looked away. But not before Yami saw the him fail to suppress a smile. Someplace between wry and affectionate, Finral replied quietly, “I don't think Captain Silva's particularly baby-faced.”
Yami smirked around his cigarette. That was better. “Hmm. Must have been thinking of another idiot.” Langris. “Same thing.”
Finral huffed a laugh. “Like that's going to happen... but thanks, Yami.” He stood, smiling back at Yami without the earlier melancholy. In its place was a mischievous light that tugged at Yami's groin and made him instantly pay attention in anticipation.
Finral declared, “Last one down there gets to explain the damages on the beach house bill to Marx.” The next second he was through a portal.
Yami cursed and leapt down toward the beach. Even with magic enhancing his speed, it was just far away enough that he was greeted by Finral's smug laughter.
Yami wasn't going to admit it, but he didn't mind losing.
*
Back in the present...
Kiato and Kahono were good. Yami had rarely seen a better set of synchronized fighters. Gifso was right to be proud of his grandchildren.
It didn't matter.
Yami saw the moment Vetto decided that killing them wasn't enough. He'd seen eyes like that too many times to be surprised, even when Kiato's leg went flying in a spray of blood. Kahono's throat was next. Noelle screamed her name as Vetto grabbed Kahono by the hair.
Without the need to make any room for shock, Yami felt nothing except dueling tides of fury and disgust, both caged by overwhelming frustration. When I get out of here...
But all he could do was watch. Cynically, Yami was grateful for Vetto's cruelty. Because of it, no one was dead yet.
Vetto reached for Kahono's shoulder. Yami braced himself for more blood. Gifso choked on a sob, his eyes fixed on his granddaughter.
The whole room- the whole Underwater Temple- suddenly shook with power. Yami tasted salt on the back of his tongue. It felt like the ocean itself was roaring under his feet. All at once, the tables turned.
Gifso was confused. Yami wasn't. He felt a smirk stretch his face, born from the same smug pride as yesterday.
Not just a defensive mage, then.
“You finally showed up, Noelle.”
Yami took off points for the way Noelle's eyes left her opponent to follow Kahono when Vetto tossed her aside. But Vetto was too overconfident to make use of the opportunity.
“Water Creation Magic: Sea Dragon's Roar!”