.

.

Quinn didn't sleep very well, to be honest. She couldn't help but feel like she had just left those villagers down. Frankly, though, she couldn't tell what was worst: leaving those people to fend for themselves after they had just saved them, or only saving those poor civilians exactly thirty-three years after they had gone missing. Eighty-seven people, adults and children alike, had mysteriously disappeared over the last three decades, and no one had bothered to look into it. And yet, as soon as a few Knights suffered the same fate, an overpowered rescue party was instantly sent after them?

Quinn called bullshit. Unfortunately, though, it wasn't her call to make, and it was already too late: what was done was done, and there was nothing she could do to change what had happened. However, if she couldn't change their past, it didn't mean she couldn't change their future.

I'll see what exactly happens with the formal procedures, she decided, putting down the quill she had been using to write down a bunch of ideas. It surely won't be much, knowing the greedy-ass nobles who are in charge. However, even the smallest amount of money will be useful. I already have a few ideas to help out with the reconstruction of Kiba, but I'll need a lot of money, and I'll also need to consult with Chenoa-san and the villagers to figure everything out…

She had four free days each month. Usually, as Helena explained to her, the Knights decided to have them once a week, and she had been planning to do the same, but this situation wouldn't be fixed if she only confronted it half-heartedly. So, she'd use the last four days of each month to handle it, in whatever way she could do so.

I was planning on visiting the kids in Hage, but I'm sure they'll understand, she reasoned, glancing out the window. I don't really have a choice, either. Traveling to the Yume Forest and back will take me almost two days out of the four. It'll be a tight schedule. Though, if I can get my hands on a Spatial Magic user, maybe—

"Oi!" Loud knocking pulled her out of her thoughts. "You up in there?"

"Come in!" called Quinn, quickly putting away her papers. She'd rather not have anyone else involved until she had a more soundproof plan. "What is it, Debra?"

"The Captain wants to see you," answered the woman with a small grin, leaning against the doorframe. "Congratulations on succeeding in your first mission, by the way. I heard you were pretty amazing out there!"

"Wow, news travels fast around here," mused Quinn, grabbing her cloak. "We only got back a few hours ago."

"Yeah, well, Randall always has a drink after a mission, and he's the chatty drunk type," chuckled the blonde, patting her shoulder. "You know the way to the Captain's office or do you want me to take you?"

The girl shook her head. "No need, I've got Astel's map. Hey, random question: do we have a spatial mage in the squad by any chance?"

"Uh? Well, we do. His name's Warrick," confirmed the woman. "He should be around, he returned from a mission just a day ago… Do you want me to fetch him for you?"

"Really? Oh, that'd be great!" gasped Quinn, overjoyed at the news. "I've gotta go see the Captain right now, but do you think you can arrange a meeting later today?"

"Sure thing. Though, you'll owe me one!" laughed Debra.

"Oh, trust me: if things go as planned, I'll owe you quite a few," replied the girl, stepping out. "I'll see you later, Debra! Thanks!"

On which she ran off. The blonde watched her leave, amused, before thinking back to the odd request. She wondered why Quinn suddenly needed a spatial mage…

Oh, well. I'll surely find out soon enough, anyway.

After the few hours of sleep Quinn had managed to get, her mind had cleared up a bit. In the end, she felt that her anger had been justified, and she simply couldn't regret what she had said, but she did admit to herself that she could have been a tad more delicate about handling the whole situation. She had completely lashed out at Leopold and Ruben, and she did regret having been so harsh on them when they were just as exhausted as she had been at that moment. So, as soon as she saw them coming up the opposite way, she did the only appropriate thing she could do.

"Leo, Ruben-san," she called out, quickly joining them. Much to their surprise, she bowed. "I apologize for how I acted yesterday. While I can't apologize for my words, I am sorry about being so… unreasonable. I was out of bounds and I shouldn't have taken out my anger on you."

"… No, you were right." Quinn's head quickly snapped up, startled. Leo lowered his eyes. "I, too, was angry at first. However, the truth is a sharp blade—that's why it hurts when you hear it. I first felt like you were wrongly accusing me, but I then thought over what you said, and realized that you were right all along: I should be the one apologizing for my carelessness!"

"You two…" The teens looked at Ruben, who sighed. "Quinn, I understand what you were saying yesterday, and I agree—hence why I bear no grudge for what you have said. However, while honest, you have a rash character, and I'm afraid your ideals might clash with more than a few of our members'." She seemed about to protest, but he lifted his hand in a soothing gesture. "I am not saying you should lay low and always refrain from saying what you are thinking. However, I do strongly suggest that, in the future, you deliver your thoughts with a tad more… tact, or delicacy. I believe that, if you learn to control that temper of yours, you could make much more of a difference."

"… I understand. Thank you, Ruben-san." Shaking her head, she then changed the subject before it could get awkward. "Anyhow, why does the Captain want to see us?"

"As the mission leader, Randall handled the written report, but all of the team has to be here when he hands it over in order to ensure no detail was overlooked," explained Leopold. They began walking again. "Names, times, locations—often enough, nii-san will ask us what we thought of the situation, or asks us how we could have handled some situations better."

"Constructive criticism in order to help us learn from our experiences," understood Quinn, rather impressed. "Truly, nothing gets past him—it kinda feels like the title of Captain was made for him."

At that, Leopold beamed. "Right? My brother is amazing!"

Ruben simply held back a groan as the boy launched himself into singing his brother's praises once more. Once he got started, there was simply no shutting him up, and it would seem Quinn was about to learn that lesson the hard way.

"Mission report."

Randall straightened up a bit. "The Purple Orcas Knights have all been safely retrieved, along with the noble merchant they had first been sent to rescue. The Diamond spies were arrested and are currently kept in custody in the Royal Capital. In addition to this, the magical artifact at the origin of the curse of the Yume Forest was recovered and handed over to the Magic Investigation Department in the capital. This also resulted in the rescue of eighty-seven civilians, most of which were villagers from the Kiba village that had disappeared thirty-three years ago." Quinn clenched her fists slightly at that but, otherwise, she didn't let anything show. "All of the members of this team made it back uninjured and in full health, with one day to spare on the time limit we were given. That is all."

Fuegoleon nodded, picking up one of the papers neatly piled on his desk. "I have received the report on the magical artifact you have recovered just an hour ago. According to the specialists studying it, that artifact is the long-lost 'Seed of Life', which disappeared over fifty-years ago after the Knights who had first found it were attacked and killed. It was believed Diamond spies had taken it back to their kingdom, but it would seem like it had actually fallen in the Yume Forest."

"The Seed of Life?" echoed Leopold, surprised. "Isn't it said that this seed is what the Queen of Witches uses to maintain her alleged immortality?"

"Yes, hence why so many sought it," confirmed his older brother, putting the report away. He then reported his attention to the two teens. "On to another matter, I was informed of the important involvement you two had in the destruction of the threat. Leo, from what I've understood, you have far surpassed your limits when it came to your mana control. It was always something you struggled with in the past, but it would now seem you have grown and overcome this weakness. Good work."

"Thank you, nii-san!" grinned the boy overjoyed.

Fuegoleon then looked at the girl beside him. "Now, Quinn… Before anything, I would like to ask: why did you request for Leopold to go with you, and not one of the more experienced members of the party?"

"You just mentioned that Leo had always struggled with mana control, right? But, with all due respect, sir, I believe you were wrong on that point," she answered bluntly. He had asked for an answer, and she'd give him one. "At first glance, anyone would assume the more experienced members are the most powerful, and it would usually be true. In Leo's case, though, I already knew he possessed incredible mana control thanks to our sparing match. You see, not just anyone can enhance their physical abilities with pure mana, but he did. And, even without using my sensory ability, I could already tell he had better control than Randall-san, Ruben-san, and Forte-san."

"When you mentioned how my power kept on leaking out…" realized Randall.

She nodded. "You all possess great power and, obviously, great control, but Leo's mana reserves are much bigger than yours, and yet he unconsciously kept them tightly close. I believe that keeping his powers on a leash is a habit he developed through rigorous training due to his Fire affinity, and that's why I chose him."

"I see," nodded Fuegoleon, somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected to be wrong about his own brother, after all, but he couldn't deny he was pleased to hear it. He always knew Leopold would grow up to be an exceptionally powerful Knight, after all. "I would seem I have greatly underestimated your sensory ability and your analyzing skills, Quinn. I must admit, I was mildly reluctant when Randall first asked me to include you in this mission, but it appears I had nothing to worry about: you have gone beyond expectations and the mission was a success. I can only congratulate you—all of you, for a job well done."

They all saluted at once. "Thank you, sir!"

Nodding with a small smile, the Captain then opened one of the drawers and pulled out an average-size wooden box. Opening it, he revealed five rather large pouches. Almost instantly, the others walked up to his desk, each Knight grabbing one of the pouches. Quinn tilted her head in mild confusion until Leopold handed her the last one. Her eyes widened as she almost dropped the pouch, startled by the sheer weight.

"What's that!?" She peeked inside, dramatically paling at the sight that greeted her. "Gah! There's so much money!"

"That's our pay for the month," chuckled Randall. "Rookies don't usually receive any for their first month, but since you've gotten involved in a rather dangerous mission already, it only makes sense for you to receive one."

"But- but there's so much!" she replied, honestly taken aback. She checked again. "There's at least 200,000 yuls in there!"

"200,500 yuls, actually," corrected Forte, obviously amused.

"Higher pay also comes with higher ranks," added Randall. She easily noticed how his pouch seemed much heavier than all of the others. "Though, it's not that much, still. I understand the first pay can be a bit overwhelming, but there's no need to be so dramatic."

"Dramatic!? I could buy at least two years' worth of tatoes!" she protested. They obviously didn't understand what she was talking about, though. "Oh, nevermind." She then offered a small smile at Fuegoleon. "Thanks, Captain."

He simply nodded. "Hard work deserves to be rewarded. Now, run along: you all have the day off, so make the most of it."

"Yes, sir!"

Tucking away her money pouch, Quinn then left the office along with the others. As they began heading for the mess hall, though, she couldn't help but wonder why they had an extra day off, and so she asked.

"It's because the mission we were sent on was a C-Rank, but it turned into an A-Rank as soon as we confronted the ancient artifact and the Diamond spies," explained Forte. "It's not unusual for missions to be misranked, but when the difficulty and risks increase, we usually receive some form of compensation for the trouble."

"Sometimes it's a little extra money, other times a free day so we can take the time to recover," specified Randall.

"And just to make sure, during our free days, we can basically do what we what?" She needed to be sure. She didn't want to needlessly get in trouble, after all. "I was planning on going back to the Castle Town as soon as possible, so might as well go today."

"The Castle Town?" echoed Leopold. "What for?"

"I need to buy some supplies," she answered, rather vaguely. "I saw a few interesting shops selling magical tools, too, when I went there to pass the Entrance Exam. Since I've got the money now, might as well check them out."

"There's no problem at all," assured Forte with a small smile. "More often than not, Knights visit their families or go out to unwind a little. As long as you come back in time for the next day, everything's fine."

"And you can always ask for permission to leave for longer if needed," added Ruben. "The Captain is an understanding man. When we ask for more time for one reason or the other, there's usually no issue."

"That's good to know—"

"Oi, Quinn!" At the call, the five Knights stopped in their tracks and turned around, only to find Debra and another Knight coming their way. "I found Warrick, like you asked!"

"Oh, right!" Quinn smiled, extending her hand to the man in question when he and Debra reached their little group. "I'm Quinn, though you've probably heard of me."

"A little hard not to," he replied, half-jokingly. "I'm Warrick. Debra said you needed the help of a spatial mage…?"

"Well, not help, exactly," corrected Quinn, pulling out her grimoire. "I don't know if you're aware of all the details concerning my abilities, but I don't possess any particular affinity: I actually have mana weapons that allow me to control the elements." For example, she summoned her Wind Fans. "One weapon, one element. How I get those weapons, though, is by touching the grimoire of another person who has a different affinity. I hadn't met a spatial mage up until now, so I was wondering if you'd let me try it on your grimoire?"

"You want to see if you can get a spatial-affiliated weapon?" mused Debra, intrigued.

"Pretty much."

"Well, I don't see why not," smiled Warrick, pulling out his grimoire. "Now that you've told me, I have to admit that I am rather curious. Go right ahead."

"Thank you!"

The man handed her his grimoire while the others gathered around them, just as curious to see what would happen. Hoping it would work, Quinn let her Wind Fans vanished and placed her palm over the man's grimoire while holding her own. Much to her delight, her grimoire instantly lit up, glowing for a few seconds before the light died down.

"Did it work?" wondered Leopold.

"Well, let's find out!"

Impatient, she opened her grimoire and quickly found the new page dedicated to her brand-new spatial weapon. She summoned it without hesitation and, next thing she knew, she was holding a large hunting knife.

"A knife?" blinked dumbly Debra. "I mean, it's neat, but I don't really see how you can use it for Spatial Magic."

"Plus, the blade is blunted," pointed out Forte, examining it closely. "It won't be very useful in a fight, I'm afraid."

Warrick, however, tilted his head in wonder. "Why don't you try wielding it?"

She shrugged, and they all stepped back a bit in order to let her move around freely. Biting her lower lip, she spun the knife in her hand before slicing it down—

"Holy crap!"

—and stumbling backward as a large rip suddenly appeared before her. It was like she had sliced open space itself. After getting over her surprise, she took a better look at her knife, while the rip vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

"Oh, I know!" exclaimed Debra, growing excited. "Think of your room and cut it again!"

Nodding, Quinn sent her mana into the knife, and an eager smile spread on her lips when it sliced once again some sort of glimmering, dark opening. She cut a large rectangle as if she was just drawing a door, before peaking through. After a few seconds, she pulled her head out.

"It led to my room," she confirmed with a grin. She spun the knife a few times, before making it vanish. "As long as I have a clear image of where I want to go, I can cut open a door that'll lead me there. Thank you so much, Warrick-san! You really have no idea what this means to me."

"Well, I'm always happy to help," he replied sincerely. "I have to get going, now, though. I'll see you around!"

"I should probably get going, too," mused Quinn, summoning the knife once again. "I'll probably come back late, so don't worry if I'm not back in time for dinner. Later guys!"

Before any of them could even volunteer to accompany her, she had stepped through a new spatial door and disappeared. Staring for a moment at the now empty space, Debra then grunted, running a hand through her hair.

"She's been rather fidgety ever since you guys came back from that mission," she then remarked, glancing at the other four. "She probably thought I wouldn't notice, but I know she's been up for almost the entire night—I saw the light under her door. Did something happen?"

Randall shrugged. "Everything went smoothly—almost too smoothly, even. She did look rather eager to get out of here, though. Ruben, Leo, did something happen after Forte and I left?"

"Well…" Ruben exchanged a glance with the boy, then sighed. "There was a little altercation right after you two left. She said it was irresponsible to leave the civilians in the forest and that we should have stayed with them."

"Well, it's not like we could have dragged them all back to headquarters, anyway," pointed out the Vice-Captain, frowning slightly. "We removed the Seed of Life, though, so the forest's safe now, isn't it? There's nothing to worry about."

"Or so we assumed." Surprised, the others turned to Leopold, who looked more serious, for once. "I didn't understand at first either, but I believe Quinn is right: we should have seen this through."

After what, on this rather vague statement, he also left. The older Knights all exchanged mildly confused glances, saved for Ruben, who better understood the situation since he had been there. He honestly wondered what exactly Quinn was planning to do, but if she hadn't shared her plans with them, it surely meant she had no idea herself.

.

.

"Chenoa-san!"

The old woman startled, turning around. Much to her surprise, the young girl Knight from the day before was already back, cheerfully waving her way.

"Lady Quinn," she greeted with a small smile. "What a pleasant surprise. When you promised you'd come visit us, I didn't think it'd be so soon. I'm afraid offering you even the most basic hospitality isn't a possibility right now."

"Oh, don't worry about formalities," chuckled the girl, rubbing the back of her head. "And I'm not a lady, either. I'm from Hage Village!"

"Hage…? Yes, that does ring a bell… Though, I was unaware that those not from noble descent were now allowed to become Magic Knights," she pointed out, curious.

"I'm afraid a lot more has changed during the time you and your people were trapped," sighed Quinn. She glanced around, easily noticing how they had already started cleaning out the ruins. "Do you truly intend on rebuilding the village in the middle of the forest?"

"Kiba is our home. We didn't leave it when the forest threatened it, and we won't leave it now that the forest has swallowed it," assured firmly the elder.

"Do you not want to reconnect with the rest of the world?" wondered the girl.

"How long has it been since the forest took us, child?" mused the old woman, unperturbed when the teen flinched. "I can easily guess it has been much more than a decade. So?"

"… Try three of those," winced Quinn. "Thirty-three years, exactly."

Chenoa simply sighed resignedly. "Returning now to a world that is three decades older than our own would simply be too hard on us. We wouldn't be able to cope with the changes or keep up with the times, and the nobles certainly won't help us settle down. The same can be said for the travelers who were caught throughout the years, and who've decided to stay with us. In this forest, though, we can start anew. We can still live out our lives, build back everything. The children will grow up as they should have and we'll find some way to teach them about this unknown world, so when they decide to leave, they won't be caught off guard. We simply need to keep a slow pace until we're fully functional again."

"I understand," nodded Quinn, unable to disagree with that logic. Just throwing those people out into that brand-new world would end up being more dangerous than leaving them be in that forest. "But no matter how you look at it, you'll need support to build back everything—help from the exterior world. You'll need to gather knowledge and tools, get together more people. And you'll need money, too—loads of money. You'll need help."

"No people able to help will be willing to," she pointed out, a tad more bitterly. "Nobles could not care less about the likes of us—"

"But I'm no noble," replied bluntly Quinn. Chenoa startled, and the teen grabbed her hands firmly, determination lighting her gaze. "What happened to you shouldn't have happened. To leave you like this was cruel and, as a Magic Knight and as a person, I feel responsible."

"You've already done enough—"

"I didn't pull you out of a troublesome situation just to leave you to deal with the aftermath," she scoffed. "I intend to help you all out as much as I can, and I have the means and the time to do so. To be honest, I've only just become a Magic Knight. Not even a week has passed, in fact. However, I don't intend to treat this situation as some sort of pet project." She straightened her spine and offered the woman a firm salute. "I swear on my honor as a Magic Knight, I will give it my all to help you and your people gain back the life that was stolen from you. I will not abandon you like the Magic Knights who came before me, and I can only hope to atone for their failure and their uselessness."

Chenoa stared at her for a long moment, before sighing deeply. "I know that look, child—that stubborn glint in your eyes is the same as my own." She then smiled slightly. "But who am I to deny such an eager heart?"

"Great!" beamed Quinn. "Then let's get started! I've got the day off, and I was already thinking of finding supplies in the castle town. So, tell me exactly what you need."

It took them about thirty minutes to come up with a thorough list of what they'd need. The priority was food, medicine, and clothing, obviously, but Quinn would also try to find gardening tools and construction materials. But, of course, she was first going to the Management Bureau to figure out what exactly they were planning to do with the people of Kiba. So, it was armed with determination that she stepped through her spatial door and appeared in one of the less busy streets of the castle town. In a few minutes, she had reached her first destination.

"Oh, Lady Knight!" greeted merrily the assistant working at the front desk. He had obviously taken one look at her cloak and assumed she was of some noble descent. "How may we be of help today?"

"I believe a report concerning the mission conducted in the Yume Forest was brought in a day ago," she stated, straight to the point. "I would like to meet the one in charge of handling the matter."

"Of course, right away." He quickly checked through some of his papers. "The report you are talking about was handed over to Sir Oswald. He is currently in his office. I'll take you there immediately!"

"If you'd please."

The cheery man led her down a richly decorated hallway, straight to the biggest and most extravagant office she had ever laid her eyes upon. While her Captain's was elegant, this one looked like the guy in charge had spent every single yul he had into making the walls smell like money. And, of course, the mentioned "guy in charge" looked every single bit like the kind of person she hated the most: arrogant, conceited, and who looked down on anyone whom he couldn't use for his benefice.

Now, Quinn knew that judging someone based on their appearance alone was wrong, but she couldn't help herself. She had met her fair share of people like him, in this life and the others, and she knew he wasn't going to be any better.

"Ah, Lady Knight!" he greeted, eagerly shaking his hand. "I am Oswald Price, the man in charge of the Management Bureau. How may I be of help today?"

"Mr. Price—"

"Please, just Oswald, my dear."

"Mr. Oswald, then," she relented. I'm so gonna take a bath later, ugh. "If I've understood correctly, you are the one to whom has been handed the report concerning the mission led in the Yume Forest by Knights from the Crimson Lion Kings squad, correct?"

"Most correct, indeed," he confirmed, pulling out said report. "I received it just yesterday, and I was very interested in the discovery of the Seed of Life. What an amazing find, truly! It's—"

"With all due respect, I'm not here to talk about the artifact, Mr. Oswald," quickly cut Quinn, not wanting to hear a greedy rant. "Rather, I'm here to talk about the civilians who were rescued."

His cheerfulness died down somewhat. "What about them?"

"Well, what is going to be done?" she specified, already annoyed. She could tell it was going to be difficult. "Many civilians were the unfortunate victims, and no measures were ever taken to rescue them. They spent the last three decades frozen in time because nothing was done by the investigation team that the Management Bureau was in charge of at the time." She narrowed her eyes. "If you look into it now, I'm convinced you will find the report about the vanished village of Kiba and its people. And, you see, I've done a little research about the Bureau. You're in charge of all of the investigation teams when it comes to non-military business, meaning you are in charge of handing the reports to the different Knight squads in order to relegate the duty of handling them." She crossed her arms over her chest, easily noticing how he had begun to sweat. "Now, if the investigation team had properly done their job at the time, the report would have been brought to the Knights and one of the squads would have led a more thorough research in order to rescue the villagers. However, that wasn't the case. For one reason or the other, that report never made it past the walls of this very building. Why? I can only suggest two answers: either you didn't care, either someone paid you to make it disappear."

"No- nonsense! I wasn't even in charge at the time—"

"But your father was," she retorted, unperturbed by his sudden outburst. "And who was in charge at that time doesn't matter anymore. What does matter is who is in charge now, and what will be done to correct the past's mistakes."

"Why do you even care!?" he snapped, no longer sucking up to her. "They're just some peasants! Dead or alive, they're useless all the same!"

"I care because that's my job, just like yours is supposed to be," she scoffed derisively. "But obviously, I had too high expectations for you. You're just a man who got his job thanks to daddy and who sucks up to people with money in order to gain favors and live a comfortable, sheltered life. Well, you know what?" She leaned over his desk threateningly. "I don't care about your name, your status, or your reputation. You're just a greedy asshole who can kiss his little throne goodbye because I'm bringing up this issue right now to the Wizard King himself. We'll see what he has to say about your incompetence!" She then offered him a sharp grin. "And who knows? Surely we'll find a lot more interesting, non-delivered reports in those files of yours once we start digging."

"You're bluffing," he gasped, pale as a sheet.

She simply lifted an eyebrow. "Am I?"

If there was one thing Quinn absolutely loathed, it was pulling strings. Or rather, it was using her connections in order to get what she wanted. Now, she was doing what was necessary, but she hated feeling like she was using her friends for her benefice. However, she wasn't playing around, and she wasn't about to give up so easily. So, she pulled out of her pocket the golden seal her old friend had given her so many years ago. He had given it to her in the hopes that it'd help her get out of trouble, but he surely he wouldn't mind if she used it to help some people.

Sir Oswald instantly paled at the sight of the star engraved in the seal.

"That- that's the Wizard King's personal seal…" he breathed out, now genuinely terrified. "I- I get it! Alright, I get it! What do you want!?"

"What I want? I want compensation for those poor people," she retorted, putting the seal away. "Fortunately for you, I'm not a complete bitch either. From what I've gathered, the usual policy the Bureau follows when a village is stricken by a natural disaster, or when it is destroyed during an enemy attack, is that you either offer each villager 100,000 yuls, or you pay for the reparations of the entire village in full. Now, let me tell you that the village is situated in the Yume Forest, so building it up will require a lot of resources, a lot of time, and a lot of money. So, I'll leave you the choice: the people, or the village?"

"The- the people!" he almost instantly replied. He cleared his throat. "We- we have to think of the people first, obviously."

That little bitch is dumber than I thought, after all, he laughed internally. Most of the villagers must be dead already, so it'll obviously cost less to pay for each of them—

"Very well." She offered him a pleasant smile. "In that case, I would like to immediately withdraw the 8,700,000 yuls the Management Bureau now owes Kiba Village."

"W- what!?" he exclaimed, his hands slapping on his desk loudly. "This is ridiculous—"

"There are exactly eighty-seven villagers. Had you actually read the part of the report about them, you would have known," she replied smugly. "But you know what? I just thought it over, and carrying all of this money by myself might be a bit troublesome. So, I'll ask that you simply hand me a quarter of it, and keep the rest of it until I come back to collect it. I'm sure that is a feasible option, yes?"

"Y- yes…" he choked out, visibly shaken. Had she immediately withdrawn such an amount, the Bureau would have gone bankrupt! "I- I'll have the money delivered right away."

"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Oswald." With a mild bow of the head, she then made her way out. As she reached the door, though, she stopped. "Oh, and, sir? Next time you feel like badmouthing the hardworking people of Clover, please keep in mind that not all Knights are from noble houses." She smirked his way. "Contrarily to you, I didn't need to buy my title. Now, I bid you a good day! Pleasure doing business with you."

As she closed the door behind her, she didn't need her sensory abilities to tell the poor man had just collapsed as she returned to the main hall to wait for the money. Just as she reached the lobby, though, a commotion drew her attention. Walking faster, she finally reached the entrance, just in time to see the assistant from earlier literally throwing a poor man down the stairwells and back into the street. Just as he was about to go over and kick him, Quinn stepped in, eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Hey!" she exclaimed, making him freeze. She quickly reached them. "What the hell do you think you're doing!?"

"My- my apologies, Lady Knight! It's just that this man—"

"I shouldn't be the one you're apologizing to," she snapped. She then pointed to the man still sitting on the ground, and who was now staring at her in shock. "Apologize to the poor man instead! No matter the situation, there's no need for such mistreatment!"

The assistant gulped, quickly mumbling out an apology before running back inside. Quinn sighed, before turning to the man and helping him back on his feet.

"Are you alright, sir?" she asked, worried.

"I- I'm fine. Thank you, Lady Knight," he replied, dusting himself. After a moment, though, he looked back at her, and she was frozen by the sheer desperation in them. "But my daughter isn't. She's been taken, and the Management Bureau refuses to investigate!"

"How so?" she frowned.

"My poor Winry… She was taken by that damn Count!" he exclaimed angrily, drawing some attention from the passerby. "I beg of you, Lady Knight! Please, save my daughter!"

Well, looks like I'll have a real busy day, uh?

Quinn had managed to make Elric calm down and, after receiving her money, she took him to the nearest restaurant. He looked like he hadn't eaten in days and the darkness creeping under his eyes worried her. So, hoping he'd gain back some strength—which was ironic, considering his impressive built—she had decided to buy him dinner while he explained the situation. She didn't eat, though, knowing her hunger would vanish as soon as she heard the dreadful tale.

"I'm a blacksmith and, though I'm from no noble family, I managed to settle down in the city in order to sell my services," he started off. "My wife died many years ago, leaving me with three children: Edward, Alphonse, and Winry. My daughter, she's the youngest one, but she's got the same character as her mother, you know? Stubborn and strong-headed… A few weeks ago, now, a messenger from Count Ido came by to order a dozen of long-swords. My children have taken after me, so the four of us worked day and night to finish up in the requested time—and we did! But when the Count came by to check up on the swords himself, he saw Winry and… and…"

"Let me guess: he wanted her to become his wife or concubine?" huffed Quinn, disgusted. It's not like it was the first time she saw that scenario. "Despicable."

"She refused, obviously. Offended, the Count took the swords and left without paying, saying he was generous enough to let the offense slide and that we should take it as payment," he growled, his fist clenching. "That bastard… We decided not to do anything, though. What good would it do? We were just peasants, after all. But then…"

"But then he came back," she guessed somberly.

"When I came back from the market, Edward and Alphonse were knocked out, and Winry was nowhere to be found," he nodded, gritting his teeth. "I know it's him! I know it's the Count, we all do! And I've been coming to the Bureau each day since that happened, but they've done nothing! They keep saying that, without proof, they can't justify an investigation of his property… Tche, we all know the Count paid Sir Oswald so he'd keep a blind eye on it!"

Quinn's frown deepened. "How long has it been, now?"

"Exactly a week. I can't wait any longer, Lady Knight! If I do… If I do, who knows what'll happen to my dear Winry?" Tears glistened in his eyes. Then, without warning, he threw himself on the ground and kneeled, placing his forehead against the floor. "I beg of you, Lady Knight! I beg of you… Please, save my daughter! Save my poor Winry…"

It certainly wasn't how Quinn had expected her day to go, but it's not like she could refuse: her heart was much too tender. She knew all too well the pain of losing the people you loved, she had experienced it more times than she cared to remember, and she wasn't cruel enough to let another suffer as much when she could help it.

"Please, Elric-san, there's no need to kneel or beg," she gently replied, pulling him back up. "I will be more than happy to help. Simply tell me where the Count's property is, and I'll definitely bring your daughter back to you."

Sometimes, it really was troublesome to be the hero. But, whenever she saw someone's eyes lit up with sheer, raw hope, it made all the trouble worth it.

She had made Elric go home, then headed directly to Count Ido's mansion. It was obviously very big, and large gates blocked the entrance, but it wasn't as impressive when compared to the Lions' headquarters. She was extremely tempted to burst in there guns blazing, but then thought back to what Ruben had told her earlier: she needed delicacy. If she simply broke in and caused a ruckus, it'd get her in trouble, and probably Elric and his family, too. So, she had to be smart about it. Thankfully, she knew her cloak and the emblem embroidered on it would at least get her inside without any hassle.

"Hello? I would like to request a meeting with Count Ido," she called out to the guards further away.

"Who asks for him?"

"Quinn, a Magic Knight from the Crimson Lion Kings squad."

"One moment, please."

As expected, though, the mere reputation of her squad was her free ticket inside. She was led through a few hallways, before reaching a salon. Inside, a blond man with an old-fashioned mustache and two ladies attached to his side was comfortably sitting on a satin couch, while a third woman served him some wine. They all looked rather reluctant, though.

Ugh, pig. How many women has he taken already?

"Ah, Lady Quinn!" he greeted jovially. "Please, make yourself comfortable. Eliza, bring more wine for my guest!"

As Quinn settled down, a young, blonde girl walked inside. The teen was instantly stricken by the resemblance between her and Elric, and the unusual silver eyes were a dead giveaway about her true identity. Why did the Count call her Eliza, though?

"Now, what can I do for you, Lady Quinn?"

"Well, I'll go straight to the point," she replied, shaking her head when Eliza tried to pour her some wine. Stars, she looked barely older than her! "One of my friend's daughter has gone missing, and I believe you might be able to help me."

"Why would I be able to help you?" he replied, instantly on guard.

"Well, I've heard of your accomplishments in this city, sir," she replied innocently. "I know you possess great wealth and influence, and that you have connections with almost every important person who lives here, if not all of them. Your reputation is well-earned."

The praise instantly calmed him down, and she almost scoffed. Like giving chocolate to a child.

"Ooh? And you believe my power and influence might be able to help you?"

"I do, actually," smiled the girl, holding back a cringe when she felt his eyes roam all over her. First Sir Piggy, now that jerk: I definitely need a bath. "Or rather, I did. It would seem the rumors about her being in your company were true, after all. How are you doing, Winry?"

The blonde stiffened, and the Count went pale. Was that commoner girl actually friends with a Magic Knight, and one from such a renowned and well-respected squad at that? Had he known she was affiliated with that Lady Knight, he'd have thought twice before bringing her home.

"That- that is to say—"

"Your father is very worried about you, Winry," remarked Quinn in a softer tone. Hope seemed to rise in the girl's eyes. "But I'm reassured to know you were in such good hands, really. Thank you, Count Ido, for taking care of her. Unfortunately, I believe it is time for her to go home."

"W- what!? She can't!" he protested. He instantly bit his tongue, though. "I- I mean, she—"

"Oh, my deepest apologies," replied Quinn with a sugary smile. "I was under the impression that Winry was staying here of her own free will." Her smile turned a little darker, a little more threatening. "Is that not the case?"

The Count instantly jumped on the opportunity. "Of- of course! Why, what an unpleasant jest, ah, ah! Of course, dear Winry is free to leave whenever she wishes."

"Of course, of course. Just like those other ladies accompanying you, right?" insisted Quinn, not about to let go so easily. "I'm certain their families are eager to hear some news. Ladies, you ought to be ashamed of yourselves, really! I understand the Count is a wonderful man, but you can't just leave without a word." As the other women exchanged mildly confused and hopeful looks, Quinn reported her attention to the Count. "I'm very sorry for interrupting your pleasant time, sir, but I'm afraid I will have to take these ladies home so they can properly apologize to their families for needlessly worrying them. Surely, you won't bear a grudge against them, will you?"

"Of- of course not, my dear," he choked out, obviously struggling not to protest. He then pushed lightly the two women clinging to him. "You heard her, then. Don't you cause any trouble for the Lady now, girls. I'll see you later."

Had Quinn actually believed his act, she probably wouldn't have noticed how ominous this goodbye seemed. Frankly, though, it was hard to miss the barely hidden threat. However, she kept a pleasant smile plastered on her face as she gestured to head for the door. Still unable to fully grasp what had just happened, Winry and the three women were however more than happy to obey, and quickly left the room. Serene, Quinn rose back to her feet and bowed.

"You have my greatest thanks for your understanding, sir," she stated, swallowing back a cringe at how she sucked up to him. "You can count on me to take them home safely."

"R- right…"

Smiling, Quinn then also left without another look back. She passed by the four women awaiting her outside but barely spared them a glance, simply gesturing for them to follow her. Seeing her leave accompanied put the guards on edge but, since no one had stopped them before and they obviously weren't trying to run away, they let them pass. It's only once the gates were closed behind them that Quinn cursed loudly.

"Damn that pig!" she spat, her hands shaking slightly. "I'll have his head on a silver plate before the end of the week!"

"E- excuse me…?"

Quinn turned around to face those she had just rescued and smiled. "I'm Quinn, a Magic Knight. I was sent to help. Are you alright? Did he hurt you, or—" She cringed, not really daring to say it. "Or… you know?"

"He didn't force himself on us," assured calmly the red-haired woman. "I'm Ariella. Thank you, for getting us out of there."

"It was no problem," smiled Quinn. She then turned to the other girl. "Winry, I was sent by your father. I'll take you home, just as promised. And you guys too, of course. Now, come on! Let's not make your families worry any longer."

The smiles she was granted were so bright she almost thought they had swallowed the sun.

Cindy was the first to get home, since she lived the closest. Her mother and her father cried in relief when seeing her in one piece and profusely thanked Quinn. When they tried to pay her, though, she refused. Instead, noticing they owned a bakery, she asked that they repay her in flour, sugar, salt, and some non-expensive spices. She also paid them for an extra ten dozen loafs of bread. They instantly agreed, eager to thank her properly, and got to work as soon as she told them she'd come by at the end of the week to pick everything up.

Next up was Jemima. She lived alone with her younger sister, who cheerfully greeted her and tightly hugged Quinn to thank her. When Jemima asked how she could thank her, Quinn simply asked her if she could make exactly fifty blankets by the end of the week. The black-haired woman had scoffed derisively, retorting that any self-respecting seamstress of her caliber could make a hundred, with time to spare. Quinn had simply laughed, assuring she didn't need that many, and she paid her half of it in advance in order to make up for the work time she had lost because of the Count. Jemima tried to refuse it, but Quinn had insisted, before pointing out that if not for her, she should take it for her sister. She gave in after that and, the deal done, Quinn and the other two moved on to the next house.

Ariella was the oldest of their little group, something Quinn figured out when the woman's husband, Eric, and her daughter, Meredy, welcomed her back with delight and relief. Just like the others before them, Eric insisted on thanking Quinn. It would seem that, contrarily to nobles, the commoners who had managed to build themselves a life in the city knew how to appreciate earnest help. They knew the importance of repaying favors, something to which Quinn could deeply relate, hence why she didn't try to outright refuse their gratefulness. So, it was with a command of five boxes of the best ale their inn could offer that the Knight finally left with her last companion.

When they finally reached Winry's house, Elric was outside with two other men, whom Quinn guessed were his sons. As soon as she saw them, Winry's emotions became too much to handle, and she took off to join them as fast as possible.

"Dad!"

The man's head snapped up and the sons spun around at once, their eyes wide. Their shock instantly wore off as Winry launched herself in their arms and, soon enough, new tears spilled and new laughs filled the air. Quinn simply stayed a little further away, not wanting to interrupt the sweet moment. After a minute or so, though, the family turned to face her.

"Thank you, Lady Knight." Elric bowed deeply. "I can't possibly repay you enough for saving my daughter from that wretched pig!"

"I can't possibly deny help to those who seek it," she pointed out with a shrug. "I was happy to be of aid, truly."

"Is there anything else you might need?" asked earnestly Winry. "We're a family of blacksmiths. How about a sword? Or a new armor? I insist on making something for you!"

"There's no need, Winry," assured Quinn with a shake of her head. "I already possess many weapons of incomparable quality, though I do appreciate the thought. However, I wonder if you might be selling tools and the like?"

"Tools?" echoed Elric. "For gardening?"

"Amongst others," she nodded. "Gardening, building, hunting… I could also use more general objects, like knives, pots, and pans. And, of course, I'll pay for all of it. So? Can you do it?"

"Most assuredly," answered the tallest son. "We—"

His incoming boasting was cut off as Quinn's stomach suddenly rumbled loudly. A faint blush graced her cheeks, and she offered them an embarrassed smile.

"I'm afraid I didn't get the chance to eat," she apologized with a chuckle.

"Then come inside, come!" beamed Elric. He looked much younger now that his worry had left him. "You have treated me to dinner earlier, and I can only repay your kindness in doing the same. Please, come in and eat with us."

She thought it over, before shrugging. "Well, don't mind if I do."

.

.

"I see. So you're looking to help them rebuild their entire village, uh? That's why you're in need of so many supplies," understood Alphonse, looking closely at the list she had handed them.

While eating, she saw no problem in explaining why exactly she needed so many tools. At first wary when hearing about the Yume Forest, they then relaxed after hearing about how the curse had been lifted and how the rescued people actually wanted to live in it. It also made them realize just how serious Quinn was about her role as a Magic Knight and, while she had earned their gratefulness for saving Winry, she now earned their respect.

"I understand it won't be easy," she sighed, leaning back in her seat. "They've been frozen in time for over three decades, and catching up on the times will be a hard task. I'll need to find some people to teach them how to use the modern tools, for example. However, I'm ready to do all I can to ensure they can return to a normal, prosperous life."

"Not many Knights would go that far," mused Edward, reading the list over his brother's shoulder. "Most don't really care about commoners like us, let alone peasants from the Forsaken Realm. All dumb jerks, those nobles—"

"Ed!" warned sharply Elric.

But Quinn simply laughed. "I know, right? They're pretty dumb. Fortunately enough, in the small time I've been a Magic Knight, but also thanks to many people I've met in the past, I've seen with my own eyes that they're not all like that. They've got a lot to learn, but I think lessening the rift between nobles and non-nobles isn't as farfetched as many seem to believe."

"The way you talk of nobles… Are you not a noble yourself?" wondered Winry, confused.

"Ah, no way!" she snorted, startling them. "I'm a peasant from Hage."

"And- and you got into one of the top-three squads?" gasped Alphonse, amazed. "It's said that only nobles and royalty can make it into the Crimson Lions, just like the Silver Eagles and the Golden Dawn!"

"From what I've gathered, I'm the first of non-noble descent to make it into that squad," confirmed Quinn in a nonchalant tone. "My adoptive brother, Yuno, made it into Golden Dawn, though. There's also my other adoptive brother, Asta, who was picked to join the Black Bulls. And he doesn't even have any Magic, too!" A smile spread on her lips. "My boys really are amazing like that."

Edward snorted. "You're starting to sound like our father."

She simply raised her glass to the man in question. "I'll take that as a compliment. Now, since we've eaten well, how about we move on to business? I'd like—"

"Forget about ordering anything."

"U- uh?" Dumbstruck, she turned to Elric, startled. His children also looked at him with wide, confused eyes. "What do you mean?"

Uncharacteristically serious, the blacksmith crossed his arms over his chest. "I said forget about ordering anything: we won't make it."

"What? You can't do that, dad!" protested hotly Winry.

"Alright, let me rephrase that: there's no need to order anything." His serious expression finally broke, and he offered her a tired, but determined smile. "We'll go ourselves to Kiba and make everything the people might need over there."

"… beg your pardon?" gaped Quinn.

"Well, you did say you needed to employ people to teach those from Kiba about the modern world," understood Alphonse, he and his siblings calming down. "And it certainly would be less complicated to simply forge and make everything there instead of shipping it out."

"We can certainly find new minerals in that forest," mused Edward, thoughtful. "A forest that's been overruled by mana for decades… We're bound to find some interesting materials."

"And it'll surely be more peaceful than this city," remarked Winry, warming up to the idea almost instantly. "No capricious nobles to deal with… It'll definitely be better than here!"

"W- wait just a second!" replied Quinn, getting a tad overwhelmed with the new development. "I couldn't possibly ask you to actually move out! Do you understand that you're talking of setting up shop in one of the most remote and isolated areas of the kingdom!? And while capricious, nobles are those who'll pay you best for your work!"

"That is, if they pay at all," scoffed Edward. "Most of the time, they pay us barely half of what was first agreed on."

"Most importantly, though, I'm afraid that what happened this week might happen again," then admitted Elric, grabbing his daughter's hand. "My wife and I worked our entire lives in order to be able to set up shop in the Castle Town, thinking it'd give our children a better life and a greater future… But there's no point if they end up having no future at all." His eyes hardened slightly. "I was blind before, but not anymore: this is but a golden cage. While pretty, we're powerless inside of it—and that's not the kind of life I want for my family."

"… I understand." Quinn exhaled deeply, before offering him a tentative smile. "I can see trying to convince you to stay would be pointless, now. Frankly, though, I'm overjoyed about your decision. Kiba can definitely use skilled blacksmiths like you." She then glanced outside, guessing it was a little past noon, now. "I still have a few shops to check out for some more supplies. Do you wish to leave by the end of the day, or do you want me to come back in a week to pick you guys up along with the other supplies?"

Elric exchanged a look with his children, before deciding. "We'll be ready to leave by the end of the day, Lady Knight."

"Great. I'll see you then," nodded the teen, rising to her feet. "And thanks for the food, by the way! Also, drop the title, would you? The name's Quinn, so feel free to use it!"

With a casual wave, Quinn then headed out, mentally cheering. If she kept up that pace, Kiba would be rebuilt in the blink of an eye!

ALRIGHT! TIME FOR SOME CANON TALK!

Quinn is Fate's Champion. While I'm not going to expand on all of the details right away, it does mean the following: Fate is on her side. As such, while it is up to Quinn to protect the Chosen One(s) and ensure that the story follows its rightful path (something Fate cannot do themselves since they can't directly interfere with the different worlds, hence why they need a Champion), Fate CAN interfere with Quinn's path.

Quinn's soul is not originally from this world and is bound to Fate. As such, while Fate cannot guide the storyline, they can guide Quinn, which is why she will usually find what she needs when she needs it. For example, while Quinn will need to work on rebuilding Kiba, Fate made it so her path would cross with those of the people she met in this chapter, thus giving her new connections and ensuring she'd get the help she needed.

There's still the matter of the free will of the characters, of course, meaning everything still depends on how Quinn handles the scenarios offered. Had she refused to help Elric, for example, then she wouldn't have gotten the connections she needed. Fate is just giving her opportunities, but it's up to Quinn whether she takes them or not, even unknowingly.

THIS IS A CANON ABILITY!

I like to imagine it's kind of like Domino's mutatation (from the X-Men comics). Domino's powers allow her to unconsciously control probabilities, thus giving her "good luck" while giving her opponents "bad luck". It's not the same as Quinn, of course, seeing as there's an exterior force at work, but it's still very similar.

THIS IS A CANON ABILITY!

Alright I think I've said it enough, ah, ah. And, before it comes back to bite me in the ass, let me make things even clearer: Fate only offers Quinn different paths, but Quinn is free to choose whichever she wants to follow. In other words, that means Fate can't directly interfere with the aftermath of Quinn's decisions. So, for example, if Quinn suddenly started falling off a cliff for one reason or the other, she wouldn't just start levitating out of nowhere and gently lend on her feet.

Whew.

Rant over. If you still have questions, though, feel free to ask! I'd be happy to answer!

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On another note, yes, I made up the Management Bureau, its policies, and all of the intricacies of the politics attached to it. Since the author of Black Clover never expended on what goes on behind the scenes of the Magic Knights, I figured I might as well make the most of this opportunity and make up an entire system. Be warned, this is NOT the last addition to canon that'll you'll find.

Also, congrats to anyone who found the numerous references in this chapter, ah, ah. Be sure that many more will pop up over time!

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Alright I'm done. Long Author's Note, but it does get the message across. Make sure to leave a review, I'd really appreciate it!