0713MM: Hey guys! I welcome you to the 36th chapter of The Silver Valkyrie! I do not own Black Clover, nor its characters, nor the OCs that are used in this chapter. The OCs used in this chapter belong to guardian of the aura Aurasoul and Warmachine375. Chapter start!^^
Chapter 36
"So how's your boyfriend Ren dear?~"
"He's not my boyfriend!"
"Yes he is!~"
"No!"
"Yes!~"
"I swear to god, woman!" Ren groaned.
"Yay! I win!~" Queen Acier cheered.
"No you don't, woman!" Ren groaned out before sighing. "Anyway, where are we going? Shouldn't we be heading for the Royal Capital? Isn't that where Mereoleona will be waiting for us? You know, because I'm going to help select Magic Knights to be on the special squad known as Royal Knights."
"Yes, I did tell you that." Queen Acier agreed. "However, we're making a pitstop to Torbjorn's workshop first. He has some weapons he wanted to give to Asta and Noelle at the Star Awards Festival, but he didn't have time to make it there. So he sent me a message yesterday that I could come pick them up tomorrow. Which is today."
"Oh. Well that's good." Ren remarked. "Where exactly is his workshop?"
"We're nearing it actually." Queen Acier spoke. "Not too far from here now. Torbjorn set his workshop up away from the major shopping plazas in the Royal Capital. As for why, I think you can figure it out."
"Besides the attention he'd get? Probably due to how the Nobles and Royals acted prior to you taking the Clover Kingdom throne." Ren replied, frowning a bit.
"You're not wrong there." Queen Acier agreed. "Anyway, we're here." The 2 stopped and took notice of the building before them. Like Queen Acier said, the workshop's building was indeed out of the way. Despite this, the workshop of Torbjorn was large. Well, large for a workshop anyway. It bore some burnt bricks on the outside, but most of those were inside the workshop, as Queen Acier and Ren took notice of when they entered. Both on the inside and outside of the workshop, particularly on the far wall at the end of the main room and door's entrance, bore the symbol of the Crimson Lion Magic Knight Squad.
"Ah Lady Acier." Both Ren and Queen Acier turned there attention to the front counter of the workshop. Standing behind the counter, which had another room behind it, stood a dwarf with black hair that was tied into a ponytail. As well as bearing a long beard, and wearing the cloak for the Green Praying Mantis squad. "It's been quite awhile." He glanced over at Ren. "Ah, and a human-elf hybrid with you." Queen Acier nodded, gesturing to Ren with one hand, and the dwarf with the other.
"Ren, meet Thordin Ironcliff." Queen Acier told her. "He and Torbjorn, along with Julius Marx, both Fanas, and Mereoleona, helped me overthrow Royal House Kira."
"Pleasure to meet you, Ren." Thordin greeted. "Torbjorn should be out soon. He said earlier that he was finishing them off."
"Pleasure to meet you as well." Ren remarked before going into thought.
Dwarves… I've heard about them countless times. But to actually meet one. Ren thought. The 3 heard some grunting in the back, then a "Finally. Done.". Thordin stepped aside to let Thordin out. To Queen Acier and Ren's surprise, Torbjorn was carrying what appeared to be 3 weapons instead of 2. He then set them down on the counter.
"Just had to finish polishing these things before I handed them over to you, Lady Acier." Torbjorn remarked before pointing at each weapon individually. Starting with the gauntlets. "The gauntlets are the Anti-Magic boy, Asta." He then pointed at the staff. "The staff is for your daughter, Noelle Silva, Lady Acier." And lastly, he pointed at the sword in its sheath. "As for the sword, that's for-"
"Pardon me interrupting." Queen Acier spoke up. "But I didn't ask for a sword. Not that I'm complaining, mind you." Torbjorn looked up at the Clover Queen intensely.
"I was getting there, woman." Torbjorn retorted coolly, with a hint of irritation in his voice. He cleared his throat, then continued. "I made the sword for Ren." Ren blinked in slight surprise, as did Queen Acier.
"For me?" Ren repeated. "How come? Wait… Does this mean you knew I was visiting Clover?"
"I was unaware of you coming to visit Clover." Torbjorn remarked. "However, my Grandfather knew Licht. In fact, the swords the Anti-Magic boy in the Silver Eagles is using were created by my Grandfather for Licht." Ren opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out at first. After several minutes, Ren finally found the courage to speak.
"H….How did you….?" Ren breathed softly.
"Know?" Torbjorn finished Ren's question. "Grandfather told me about it. As such, he told me what materials he used to make the swords. Took awhile to find them, but I did." Ren slowly approached the counter and took the sheathed sword carefully, then began to unsheath it to feel it with her fingers. Queen Acier stood by Ren and put her right hand on Ren's shoulder.
"You alright Ren dear?" Queen Acier asked the bluette Elysia Elf Tribe Leader. A few tears hit the sword's blade, causing Queen Acier to gape softly. "Oh Ren dear…" After a few more minutes of silent crying, Ren sheathed the sword and held it close to her like a teddy bear.
"I….I'll take good care of it….." Ren spoke softly, looking up at Torbjorn and gave a bow of the head towards him. "Thank you, Torbjorn…" Torbjorn waved his hand dismissively at Ren's bow.
"You don't need to bow to me, girl." Torbjorn told her firmly. "I made the sword because I wanted to. Not because I was told to." Ren chuckled sheepishly.
"Sorry. The bowing thing is a force of habit." She admitted.
"It's alright." Torbjorn remarked. After that, Ren turned to Queen Acier.
"Acier, we should probably head back." Ren told her silverette woman. "Mereoleona is probably wondering where we are."
"Mmm true." Queen Acier agreed before nodding to Thordin and Torbjorn. "Thank you for making these, Torbjorn. I'm certain Asta and Noelle will love them." With that, the 4 gave their goodbyes. Then Queen Acier and Ren walked out of the workshop.
"There you are. Where have you been?"
"Told you." Ren gave Queen Acier a knowing look once they returned to the Silva house and being questioned by Mereoleona, who was waiting for them.
"We were at Torbjorn's workshop to retrieve a few things." Queen Acier told Mereoleona. "Once I bring these gauntlets and staff to Asta and Noelle, we can head out." Mereoleona crossed her arms before sighing.
"Oh fine." Mereoleona remarked gruffly. "But do it quickly. I won't wait too long. We're already behind." She held up her right hand before Queen Acier could go any further. "You have 5 minutes. That's it. If you're not back out by the time 5 minutes is up, I'm leaving you behind."
"Don't you mean grab us with fire paws?" Ren asked with a raised eyebrow. At those words, Mereoleona chuckled.
"Yes. That's what I meant." Mereoleona remarked, grinning like a female lion.
"Duly noted." Ren sweatdropped, holding her sword close. Queen Acier nodded, then flew up to Asta and Noelle's room to put the boxes that held the gauntlets and staff for Asta and Noelle respectively. While Queen Acier did that, Mereoleona looked at the sword sheathed in Ren's hands.
"A sword?" Mereoleona questioned. "And here I thought Yami was the only one that wielded a sword. Well in his case, a katana, but still. How come you have one? I don't recall you ever owning a physical sword. I know you make swords with your Light Magic."
"Torbjorn made it for me. His grandfather had made the swords that my grandfather wielded long ago." Ren said with a soft smile.
"So the real Licht is your grandfather, then." Mereoleona remarked. "Not this lookalike wannabe I've been hearing about recently."
"Oh god no." Ren scowled, shaking her head. "I swear once I meet him, I'm gonna slap him for using my grandfather's name."
"You're not the only one that wants to do that." Mereoleona agreed as Queen Acier flew back down. "Acier and the Captain of the Amber Phoenix Magic Knight Squad also want to do the same thing. Though for entirely different reasons." As soon as she finished, Mereoleona glanced over at Acier. "Well?"
"Asta and Noelle are asleep." Queen Acier replied. "Liebe decided to take the gauntlets, though."
"Pfft!" Mereoleona snickered. "I still can't believe you allowed a Devil into your house. Though to balance out that disbelief, I didn't think he'd take the position of being Noelle's guard dog with Asta." She paused, then turned on her heel. "Now let's go. For once, Julius is early. Which means we have to move it. Otherwise he might start without us."
"I'm surprised he hasn't already started." Ren remarked.
"You can thank Marx for preventing him." Mereoleona retorted before leaping up into the air. "Let's go. No more wasting time."
"Right." Queen Acier nodded in agreement, also flying up so she was next to Mereoleona.
"Right behind you." Ren said, allowing her wings of light to form and fly.
"Ah there you all are." Julius was smiling at Ren, Acier, and Mereoleona as they walked towards Julius who stood near the stage while many other Magic Knights were gathered.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Julius." Acier told him. "Me and Ren had to be somewhere this morning."
"I see many of the Magic Knights have come." Ren remarked, looking at the crowd.
"This is for the selection of who will be a part of the Royal Knights." Julius explained. "I would have done a tournament instead, but we are running short on time."
"Alright, listen up you lot!" Mereoleona shouted; her voice echoed throughout the entire arena; thus getting the attention of all the Magic Knights present and silencing any conversations that they have been having prior to her shout.. "Me and Ren will be randomly picking your names out of this hat!"
"Wait, that's how we're picking them? Then why not have Julius or Acier do it instead of me?" Ren questioned, confused.
"Because we wouldn't have fun watching the gaping Magic Knights?" Fay snickered. Julius and Acier couldn't help but snicker at Fay's words, while Mereoleona crossed her arms.
"I chose you to help me because you are a part of our incredibly large family." Mereoleona replied. "Plus Acier and Julius agreed to it."
"Of course they did." Ren remarked, then scowled at Fay. "And must you?"
"Hey, you're beautiful. They see it, I take advantage of it, and I'm not sorry." Fay smirked, making Ren facepalm.
"Oh and look, Yuno and Bell are in the front row." Acier chuckled, gesturing to Yuno.
"And he's glaring." Julius added with a grin.
"Now Yuno, you remember what to say while glaring at everyone else?" Bell asked with a snicker.
"...Yes." Yuno replied, glaring at every other male in the area. "That none of them can have Ren. Except me."
"Good!" Bell grinned. "Now say it again."
"Silence!" Mereoleona bellowed. That got everyone in the arena to settle down. Once that happened, Mereoleona took a breath, then spoke again. "When we call your name after pulling the slip of paper that has your name on it out of this hat, you will come up here with us." She turned to Ren and handed her the hat. "You start us off."
"Alright. And stop grinning; both of you when I know you're enjoying this." Ren glared at a grinning Acier and Julius.
"I have no idea on what you're talking about, Ren dear.~" Acier smiled.
"Me either." Julius added, still grinning like a moron.
"I'm gonna get you both later." Ren glared, before reaching in the hat and pulled out a name. "Mimosa Vermillion!" The Golden Dawn's in the arena, like Letoile, Klaus, and even Yuno, smiled a/cheered for her, Letoile giving the surprised vermillion-haired girl a gentle push towards the stage.
"Eh? Me?" Mimosa gaped in surprise.
"Yup." Letoile told her. "Now go on." Mimosa did so, albeit a bit timidly. Once she got onto the stage, she stood next to Ren.
"Congrats." Ren smiled kindly at her cousin. Mimosa looked over at Ren and noddedly shly, a light smile on her face.
"Th-Thanks Ren." Mimosa remarked.
"Alright. Your turn Mereoleona." Ren replied, handing the hat back to her. Mereoleona put her hand into the hand, then pulled out a slip of paper, opening it up.
"Oh. How funny. Klaus Lunettes!" Mereoleona declared. The Golden Dawn cheered again as Klaus went up to the stage. Ren took a slip next to read.
"Luck Voltia!" She called. Despite a lack of Black Bull members being present (Captain Yami of the Black Bulls, for example), the ones that were present (like Magna and Vanessa) cheered as Luck made his way to the stage. Valeria, Dazu, along with Friede and few others of the Amber Phoenix squad that were present listened intently.
"I wonder if any of our squad members will be picked." Friede wondered aloud.
"Hopefully." Kabwe remarked.
"It's not the end of the world if none of us are, though." Siona added. Mereoleona put her hand into the hat and pulled out another slip of paper. She turned it over and scoffed.
"Okay, who's bright idea was it to put Noelle Silva's name in here?" Mereoleona demanded.
"Who was in charge of putting the names in the hat?" Ren asked. Julius began to whistle, ignoring the glare from Mereoleona.
"What the hell Julius?!" Mereoleona grit her teeth. "You know Noelle is pregnant! Or did you forget that detail?!" Julius stopped whistling and turned to face Mereoleona. He laughed lightly.
"To be fair, I had this planned before Noelle got pregnant." He replied. "So I must have forgotten to take her name, along with Asta's, out of the pile of names."
"Yeah. You can blame Acier for that." Ren deadpanned.
"Every Mother has matchmaking skills!~" Acier grinned. "So I couldn't help myself! Plus Asta and Noelle are okay with it."
"Regardless, best take another one, Mereoleona." Ren sighed.
"Right." Mereoleona nodded, doing so. "Ah this is better. Kirsch Vermillion!"
"Oh no…!" Mimosa groaned, making Ren look confused.
"Vermillion. Is he a relative of yours?" Ren asked.
"He is." Mimosa twitched. "My brother. And a narcissistic prick."
"Prick?" Ren blinked. Mimosa gestured to the Vice Captain of the Coral Peacocks, Kirsch Vermillion, making his way over to the stage, flaunting his hair.
"He talks about beauty and himself way too much." Mimosa twitched again.
"However, he is no pushover when it comes to a fight." Klaus chimed in, adjusting his glasses.
"I see." Ren sweatdropped.
"Ah, it's wonderful to finally meet you Ren." Kirsch smiled, walking to the elf hybrid. "To think our family would have such a beautiful young lady without any of us knowing. Truly a crime to keep you hidden away."
"That is an exaggeration, I assure you." Ren quickly said.
"Yuno disagrees." Klaus pointed down at Yuno, who glared up at Kirsch.
"...If I didn't have to follow the Magic Knight code, I'd kill that guy on the spot." Yuno muttered angrily.
"Yuno for one, he's her cousin." Klaus sweatdropped. "And two, he's saying it in a way as saying the sky is blue. It's a fact."
"It's not." Ren hissed.
"See what I had to deal with growing up?" Mimosa sweatdropped at Kirsch's words. "Such a narcissistic moron."
"Anyway! I'll pick the next name." Ren quickly said.
"Run all you want. You can't deny the truth!" Fay called.
"Next you're gonna say I can't run from Yuno." Ren scowled.
"You can't." Fay and Bell said. At that, Acier couldn't help but snicker.
"Pfft!" Mereoleona snorted. "They got you there, Ren."
"I am not discussing my non-existent love life here." Ren scowled.
"Whatever you say, Ren dear.~" Acier smiled, trying very hard to stifle her laughter, but failed miserably.
"Sure 'non-existent' whatever you say." Fay smirked, making Ren glare at her spirit.
"Whose name will be picked this time?" Mereoleona wondered, snickering softly to herself. "Will it be Yuno's? Or someone else's?"
"Oh please, what are the chances I grab Yuno's?" Ren rolled her eyes, taking a slip and flipped it over. "...Oh come on!" If there was a table nearby, Acier would have pounded it with her hands. Instead, she hit Mereoleona's shoulder, laughing.
"Hahaha!" Acier laughed. "I'm sorry! But that's just too funny!"
"How did it get to the top of the pile?" Mereoleona wondered aloud while also snickering. "Well go on, Ren! Say his name!"
"You guys suck!" Ren hissed. "Yuno!" In a rush of wind, Yuno was on the other side of Ren.
"He wants to stake his claim again~" Fay whispered to Bell with a grin, making her giggle. Just as Ren passed the hat back to Mereoleona, Yuno spoke up saying this:
"Ren is mine. And no one else can have her." Yuno remarked. Ren blushed a dark red while Acier laughed louder.
"Stop saying that!" Ren shrieked at Yuno. Yuno turned to face Ren, a nonchalant expression on his face.
"No." He retorted plainly.
"Oi!" Ren hissed.
"Yuno at the very least, you should ask to court her properly." Klaus scolded.
"And not claim her until afterward." Mimosa added.
"Excuse me?!" Ren gaped red face. Yuno glanced at Mimosa and Klaus, his lips curving into a smile.
"I'll keep that in mind." Yuno smiled.
"Don't I get a say in this?!" Ren demanded, red face.
"Not really." Fay replied.
"Nope!" Bell grinned, sticking her tongue out at Ren. While Mereoleona pulled out another slip of paper, then unfolded it to read the name.
"Dazu Tayaku!" Mereoleona called.
"Eh? Me?" Dazu pointed at herself while Alice, Siona, Friede, and even Kabwe, began to lightly push her forward.
"Yes, you." Friede smiled. "Now go on up there." Dazu just chuckled sheepishly as her squad mates continued to lightly push her towards the stage. Soon thereafter, she got up onto the stage. Once she did, Mereoleona passed the hat back to Ren. She reached for a slip, turning it to read.
"Mariella!" Ren called.
"Oh?" Mariella looked up from sharpening one of her Ice Magic daggers. "Hmm… Very well. Though who's going to make sure Fanzell doesn't do anything stupid?"
"Heh. That won't be too much of an issue." Kabwe grinned.
"You've done it a lot lately. So let the rest of the squad have a turn." Alice added. "If only Captain Fana could see this.
"She and Mars are busy. That's why they're not here." Mariella remarked, standing up and going up to the stage.
After a few more name pickings from the hat, Mereoleona began to announce the plan in regards to the Royal Knights.
"There's around 16 of you. So 5 groups of 3, with 1 group having 4." Mereoleona explained. "Now I'm sure some of you are wondering why you got picked, or what the battle plan is. The battle plan is this." Mereoleona glanced at Acier, who stepped forward.
"The battle plan for the Royal Knights is to attack the Eye of the Midnight Sun's HQ from all angles." Acier began. "The ultimate goal is to reach the centerpoint of their base. What's there is a Stone Tablet that holds the magic stones the Eye of the Midnight Sun has collected thus far. Remove the magic stones from the stone tablet and return here. Once we have the magic stones, Patri will have to either surrender to us, or come up with something else. Does everyone understand?" Mereoleona then stepped forward to add onto what Acier was explaining so far to the Royal Knights.
"No doubt there will be Eye of the Midnight Sun mages and potentially Dark Disciples to stand in our way." Mereoleona continued. "Defeat them at all costs. And capture them if able. If not, then simply knock them out. Is that clear?"
"Right!" They all yelled.
"Good!" Mereoleona grinned.
A few hours earlier…
At the Elysia Elf Tribe, an anti-bird had made its way here. How it did so is unknown to it. As soon as the anti-bird flew into Elysia and perched on one of the trees to rest, a bright mana aura surrounded it. A confused and slightly irritated expression appeared on its already hard to read face. After a few more seconds, the anti-bird was gone. In its place sat a human girl with shoulder length black hair, red eyes, wearing a black dress. She wore a pouch around her waist area that held her grimoire. She blinked a few times and touched her face with her right hand.
"Wh...Where am I?" She wondered aloud.
0713MM: And that does it for Chapter 36! Again, I apologize for how long this took me to write. I had writers block plus was helping some people out with their own fanfics. This chapter isn't too short, but I feel it's not my best out of the other chapters so far. But don't worry! The next 4 chapters and up will be far better than this one!^^