The evening breeze kept Oriana from leaving her warm seat in the boat. Sugawara invited her to sea-sighting, but Oriana was content with the view from her window. The calm waves drifted her mind. The glimmers of light in the blue sea brought back memories she held dear, but considered them forgotten. It's coming all back to her in mists of nostalgia. She would be lying if she said she didn't miss using her magic. The same magic she once considered a curse, she would find the joy on it once again.
Oriana hoped she could see her Miyagi friends when things were better. When peace reigns once again, she will be able to go back. Even if she didn't stay that long in Miyagi, a bond is never lost. That bond would bring her back and allow her to hold onto memories.
"I was against bringing you back." Zora's voice boasted, snapping Oriana into reality.
Glancing at him, Oriana spotted him in Suga's seat right beside her.
"Am I supposed to appreciate that?" Oriana grunted.
"If you ran away, it means you didn't want to be a magic knight anymore, am I right?" Zora brings his hands to rest under his head. "Why bother to come and get you to do a job you don't want to do? That's what I thought."
Having no response from Oriana, Zora continued,
"Of course, that was before I found out more about the enemy. We really need stronger mages and you are one of those who is likely to reach level 0. You have that kind of potential."
"Are you praising me?" Oriana scoffed.
This was one of those very, extremely, stupidly rare moments that Zora wasn't reprimanding her, but the contrary.
"Yeah, whatever." Zora boasted. "I didn't even think I could convince you to come back."
"Why is that?"
"I'm better at belittling royals than I am at being a messenger boy.." Zora bragged. "I told the old man to get Finral or Vanessa to do it instead."
Little did Zora know that Finral or Vanessa would have failed to bring Oriana back to the Clover Kingdom. He was the only one for the job and captain Yami recognised that.
Turning her attention to the small window, Oriana noticed it just as it was coming into view. In the distance she could see a very small portion of land, but immediately recognised it as the north continent. So close to home, her heart skipped a beat. Up until this very second, she didn't even know what to do once she was back. She had no clue what awaited her. In a few minutes, they would be announcing their arrival to the Clover Kingdom port. Biting the inside of cheek, Oriana avoided the noticeable trembling of her fingers as she kept one hand in the pocket of her jacket and the other clutched into a tight fist holding her suitcase.
However, upon setting foot in the magical north, the welcoming mana made Oriana drop her shoulders. She could feel the mana replenishing inside of her, she could feel the natural mana around her, even if it was so sparse in that area. As she breathed deep, taking all the oxygen her lungs could take, Oriana felt refreshed, her senses were sharpened and she could feel the powerful mana inside her. Turning to Sugawara, he was also with a delighted look on his face.
"I know, I feel it too." Sugawara said, smiling at Oriana.
Oriana smiled too, a weak and sad smile, but she was smiling to Sugawara nonetheless.
"Is it time to go?" Oriana asked.
Sugawara embraced Oriana in a hug. Smelling the Miyagi scent in her friend, the embrace felt like it would be the last for a while. Oriana could not remember a day in Miyagi when she wasn't with Sugawara. Ever since she arrived in the unknown city, Suga was the one who helped her fit in with welcoming arms. As tears swelled Oriana's eyes, Sugawara held her head in his shoulder,
"Don't be a stranger, okay?" Suga spoke softly.
Oriana agreed with a nod, letting Suga leave her arms as they parted ways. Cleaning her tears, Oriana turned to Zora who was leaning on a nearby tree with crossed arms. The first thing he did once the arrival to the Clover Kingdom was announced was to retrieve his mask and robe from Oriana's suitcase and give back the lended grey sweater. The sun was close to the shore line and the moon was already visible as they made their way back to the Black Bulls headquarters together.
"It sucks to walk." Zora spoke.
At that time, it stroke her,
"What happened to your broom?"
"It's back in your place. I forgot about it."
Oriana tried to hide her scoff, turning her face the other way. It was funny to her how Zora's priorities were his mask only. She was surprised he remembered to bring his robe with him.
"Don't laugh at me. Where is your broom, huh?" Zora scolded.
"In my room in the Black Bulls headquarters." Oriana said. "There was no way I would fly all the way to the south."
A brand new start was what Oriana was hoping for, a new chance to be better, but now she wondered if her broom was actually still in her old room, or if the room still belonged to her at all.
"I mean, at least I left it there." Oriana murmured.
"It's still there." Zora spoke. "Henry locked your room and only allowed Asta to go in and keep it clean in case you came back."
Oriana dropped her shoulders, mustering up the courage to ask the risky question in her head.
"Does that mean…." Oriana started.
"There is no way you could fuck it up even more, so don't worry about it." Zora interrupted, like he knew exactly what Oriana was going to ask. "Everyone misses you and they will be happy to see you. You just have to come and stay."
Oriana fought the sting in her eyes, with no words to say. They headed ahead through the evening deem light. It was a long way back and a lot of catching up to do. Zora kept it plain and simple, not much had changed whatsoever, but Oriana was eager to see it with her own eyes, to feel it with her own heart. Her Black Bulls family.
Oriana and Zora arrived at the Black Bulls headquarters by nightfall. In the dark forest surrounding the building, Oriana could already smell Charmy's delicious food and the warm heat from a bonfire that was lit outside. Right in the courtyard, Oriana was welcomed by the beautiful scene of familiar faces lit by the bonfire, chatting and laughing together. She could hear Magna and Luck arguing for a piece of meat, Asta's loud shouts and Vanessa was trying to get Gauche to share a drink with her. Everything was exactly as she had left it.
"Are you coming or what?" Zora asked, in the brims of the bonfire light.
Oriana wished she could just stay there for a little while longer, just observing, but her longing expression and eager heart wished for more.
"C'mon, let's go." Zora insisted, giving Oriana a gentle push.
Suddenly, they weren't in the shadows anymore, but surrounded by the same warm heat as everyone else. What indescriptible the sensation of being so close to them once again. Then, all the attention turned to them, to Oriana specifically. In the few seconds of silence, Oriana took a deep breath.
"Oriana!" some screamed in unison.
Vanessa was the first to come to Oriana and immediately enveloping her in a nostalgic and sluggish embrace, following pursuit was Noelle and Charmy. Not after long, the whole squad was surrounding her and that's when she held Vanessa close to her and bursted into tears.
"I'm home!" Oriana shouted as loud as she could.
As weeks went by, the days got busier. Between training to face the demon in the Spade Kingdom and the ordinary missions of Magic Knights, there was barely any time for anything else. This was no time for breaks and the Black Bulls would be scolded either by Yami or Mereoleona if they were caught slacking off anyways.
Oriana was expecting cold looks upon her arrival to the capital, but instead, she was a nice surprise for most of the mages that thought her dead. Mereoleona's reprimands and Captain Nozel cold glances aside, Oriana and Sugawara were well received and started working and training immediately as they were behind in comparison with everyone else. Within four days of intense training, Oriana managed to get her full power back. All she had to do now, was to surpass her previous limits and reach level zero. Which is easier said than done.
Oriana thought she forgot how to be a mage, but it was like riding a bicycle. You never forget it. Her relationship with her squadmates didn't change whatsoever, as they were the same chaotic squad they always were. As for her relationship with Zora, it eventually started from the beginning, following step after step in that complicated ladder full of twists and turns has it has always been between them.
Although, as matters started to settle once again, Oriana woke up one day to receive terrible news. If things start to seem too good to be true, it's because they really are.
In that cold morning, Yami requested Oriana to accompany him and Finral to the Royal Capital. Captain received a notice earlier to bring Oriana along to the Magic Knights headquarters to speak to the Wizard King's assistant She was surprised by this, she returned almost three months ago, so why would she be called now? That Oriana could remember, she hadn't caused any trouble.
With Finral's spatial magic, it was a matter of seconds until they stepped foot in the Royal Capital. The lively streets weren't enough to distract Oriana from wondering what the meeting could be about. When the Wizard King summons a specific mage, it normally means trouble. However, something else did catch her eye. In the corner of her vision, headed the same direction as her group, were a trio of mages wearing pink robes that Oriana recognized as being the Coral Peacocks. One of them had very familiar fluffy grey hair and immediately Oriana forgot all about the meeting with the Wizard King's assistant.
"Suga!" Oriana's voice was booming, surprising Yami and Finral as she ran off.
"Where is she going?" Finral wondered under his breath.
Sugawara turned to the crowd upon spotting Oriana, a large smile grew on his face as he opened his arms to receive his friend.
"You're here too?" Suga asked with excitement in his voice.
"Yeah, I'm headed for the Magic Knights Headquarters."
"Really? Me too." Suga pointed to himself.
"You must be the other mage from the Coral Peacocks Julius summoned." Yami approached them with his intimidating presence.
Immediately Oriana felt Suga's hands squeezing her arms as he nodded.
"Let's get this over with then." Yami said, biting on his cigarette. "What a bother."
The group of black and pink robes followed together to the headquarters, but Sugawara and Oriana hanged behind so they could talk freely.
"Is that your captain?" Suga whispered to Oriana.
"Yes, I spoke about him before."
"You did, only you forgot to mention he is really scary."
"He can be intimidating for sure, but you get used to it. Besides, he takes good care of us."
As their animated conversation continued, their peers kept silent, not having anything to say to each other. However, taking a few glances at the two friends who were reunited for the first time ever since arriving in the Clover Kingdom, smiling fondly at them. Even if they hadn't noticed themselves, Oriana and Sugawara were the ones that changed to most, and seeing them excitedly chatting, made their squad mates relieved.
They had forgotten just how beautiful the Clover Kingdom was and there was a lot of catching up to do, but that had to wait for later, as they arrived at the meeting room and Marx Francois awaited for them on the other side of the door.