Clover Kingdom's Champion
"Mmmm, morning of the twelfth day on the Black Bulls Squad." Kali yawned as she stretched out her stiff arms and back, getting up from her bed. "Mmm, I should probably do some of the housework since the tavern is closed today. But first..." Kali looked herself in the mirror, and struck a pose, the morning light shining through window blocking view of her bear chest, at least as much as the thin light could. "Gotta put a shirt on. Can't be flashing the girls for everyone to see."
After putting her normal top on, Kali went walking through the Black Bulls hideout, Kali found that most of the cleaning and chores had already been done. The only thing that hadn't been done yet, was the feeding of the beasts, and hanging the laundry to dry.
"Might as well do what's left of the chores before I start on breakfast." Kali smiled, taking the Beasts food down to the Beast Room. There, the three savage animals inside, were trying to break through to get to the food.
"Hey newbie. You feeding the Beasties today?" Magna asked.
"Yes. It looks like someone has already done most of the other chores, only leaving this, and hanging the laundry to dry, left on the list. Figured I might as well finish it off before I start on cooking breakfast." Kali exclaimed.
"Good luck feeding those monsters." Magna laughed.
Kali stepped up to the cage, with a piece of the food for the beasts in hand. She held out the meat, and with a wave of magic energy, and a stern look on her face she spoke one word.
"Heel." Kali said, with enough respect demanding authority in her voice.
The beasts listened.
"Roll over." She exclaimed.
The beasts listened.
"Speak."
The beasts listened.
"Play dead."
The beasts listened, and even used fake tombstones.
"Good, here's your breakfast." Kali said, tossing the meat into the cage. "Play nice and share it equally."
Magna just starred in shock, seeing how a newbie had managed to tame the Beasts in the Beast Room, with just six simple words.
"You are a goddess." Magna exclaimed.
"No, I'm an apex predator." Kali exclaimed. "I've lived in the wild on my own from my earliest memories, to when I joined the Black Bulls. I was on the run from the Purple Orcas for the last ten years, but usually I'd find myself back at Hage with my Church family."
"Wow, that's so amazing." Magna exclaimed. "A real wild child, both figuratively and literally."
Kali chuckled. "C'mon, I think Asta might have beaten me to hanging the laundry, so I'm gonna get started on making breakfast."
"Sounds good. Yami says your cooking is to die for. I can't wait." Magna smiled.
A short while later, everyone minus Yami, was in the dining hall, where Kali had just set down her last dish she cooked up for breakfast.
"Dig in everyone." Kali smiled. "I made plenty, so no need to hold back."
"Wow, this looks so amazing." Asta smiled. "You're cooking is always the best Kali. Father Orsi tried to cook up some of your recipes back at the church, but he kept burning the food. Eventually he even burnt down the entire church."
"Oh dear. It probably took every last coin in the church's budget to rebuild the place. I'll be sure to send them some of my earnings when we get paid." Kali sighed.
"You know, you seem to act a lot like a mother Kali." Vanessa exclaimed, drinking a glass of wine.
"You have no idea." Asta smirked. "Back at the church, Kali was the mother hen to all the younger children whenever she was around. She even took it upon herself to take care of the babies that were left at the church. One time, Aruru, one of the younger children at the church, even called her mommy for several months."
"Asta, quite embarrassing me." Kali said with a blush. "It doesn't matter anyway, not like I'll ever get to be a mom with every guy running for the hills because of my magic power."
"Oh that's just so adorable." Noelle giggled.
"Geeze for a royal, you sure don't act like one." Magna exclaimed, looking to Noelle.
"Well, thanks to working at Kali's tavern as an employee, I actually learned it can be a lot of fun to work hard. I even got over some of my insecurities when I was waitressing, so I'm more comfortable with being myself around my squad mates."
"Good for you Noelle." Asta smiled. "But would it have killed ya to help with the chores this morning?"
"Asta, you were the one who did them all before anyone else had a chance to help. I was barely able to get one off the list before cooking up breakfast." Kali exclaimed. "So don't go blaming her for being an overachiever."
"Yes ma'am." Asta said, sounding scared.
"What's with him?" Finral asked.
"Whenever Kali gets on my case about being an overachiever, I usually end up with a black eye or a lump on my head. But that's because I end up doing something to piss her off, so I'm going to avoid any head trauma for now. I don't want to lose anymore brain cells to her than I already have." Asta explained. "So, I've got a question."
"What's up Rasta?" Magna asked, calling Asta by the nickname he gave him.
"What is it exactly that we as Magic Knights do?" Asta questioned.
"Huh? Seriously?" Magna asked, about to get all up in his grill, before Kali stopped him by putting a hand up in the, stop, sign.
"Asta, we as Magic Knights, are responsible for the lives of the people living in the Clover Kingdom. Whether it be in the Capital, all the way to the edge of the borders, or anywhere in between, it is our job to put our lives on the line, and keep the innocent people of this kingdom, safe from harm." Kali explained.
"An' she nailed it in one go. Not surprising from the rookie who beat Captain Fuegoleon's nephew in the Entrance Exams." Magna smiled.
"I didn't beat him in that fight Magna, he managed to make me yield, so it was Asura who won. Nothing more." Kali said, before the door was kicked in, with Yami walking into the dining room.
"Magna, it's time." Yami said. "You to Kali, we'll need you on this mission as well."
"Uh, a mission?" Kali asked.
"Yeah, c'mon."
"Wait, I'm coming to." Asta said.
"No you're not." Magna said. "You're staying put. This mission only requires three of us, and it's gonna be nasty."
"What? But why does Kali get to go, and not me?" Asta asked.
"Just deal with it Asta." Kali sighed. "Just hold the fort until we get back. I have a feeling we'll be gone for a while."
"Uh, right." Asta said.
"Listen up, no breaking anything while we're gone." Yami exclaimed.
"Wait, I had a lesson planned with Noelle today." Kali said.
"It's fine Kali, just go. The Captain is ordering you, so you can't really refuse." Noelle said. "I'll just practice what you've already taught me."
"Have Asta with you watching. His anti-magic will be able to stop you if you go out of control by accident." Kali said.
"Right." Noelle and Asta said in unison.
"Bye captain." Vanessa called out.
~Casino Hours Later~
"I still can't believe this was the mission you two dragged me out here for." Kali exclaimed, holding her cards to her face, covering her eyes. "An' you're literally down to nothing but your underwear. Have you no shame?" Kali questioned, her face flushed red.
"All right you three. Read 'em and weep." The old man, Seihi exclaimed, throwing down his cards. "Full house."
"Royal Flush." Kali said, throwing down five cards of the same suit.
"Damn it. We're getting our asses handed to us by Seihi and our newbie." Magna exclaimed as he and Yami threw their underwear in Seihi's winning pile, while tossing the last of their money in Kali's.
"I know, and she's barely lost anything. The only thing she lost when betting with, was her vest. She still has all her money." Yami exclaimed. "Even won all of ours. Those were over half a year's earnings we just lost to her."
"Well, I must say little lady, Lady Luck certainly is on your side." Seihi exclaimed.
"Thanks. I've always been good at poker." Kali said. "All right, now that Yami and Magna have lost their underwear to us, and their dignity, we should be going now."
"Hold on." Yami said. "Deal us in for one more round."
"Captain are you serious? We've got nothing left to bet with." Magna exclaimed.
"He's right." Seihi chuckled. "You even lost your underwear."
"Which is something I wish I could unsee." Kali groaned with an exasperated sigh.
"If we win, then we get everything back you won from us."
"You have nothing left to bet with. What would I gain if you lost?"
"I still have this." Yami said, setting down his Grimoire.
"Captain Yami are you crazy? You can't bet with that. There's just no way." Kali exclaimed.
"She's right. I can't take that." Seihi said before he began pondering. "How about this. If I win, you have to do any one thing that I request."
"There's no way that Captain Yami's gonna agree to something so…"
"I accept your wager." Yami said.
"The Captain agrees to the terms of the bet." Magna said.
"Simping for the Captain. How depraved can you be?" Kali sighed, shaking her head. "Count me out on this one. I've had my winning streak, and I'm gonna quit while I'm ahead." Kali said.
"Smart girl." Seihi smiled, before the dealer set out three sets of five cards. "Let's see what you two got."
~The Following Morning at the Black Bulls Hideout~
"Easy there beasties. Want a meat treat?" Asta questioned, holding out some food to the beasts for their morning feeding.
One of the beasts reached out to grab the meat, but broke through the cage, and pulled half of Asta into its mouth, along with the meat. Asta forcefully pried its mouth open and keeping up with the strength, turned to look back at Noelle.
"Don't just stand there. Help me." Asta exclaimed.
"Do I look like I feed animals?" Noelle asked. "You're lucky I even came down here. You should be thanking me."
"Not gonna happen." Asta said, before his upper half was back in the beast's mouth. A while later, he pried himself out, and got free of the deathly bite. "I thought I was dead for sure. Man, when Kali's not around you're totally a prissy princess."
"You truly are very strong." Noelle said, almost sounding like she was impressed.
"That's because I train hard." Asta said, before the echoing of laughter could be heard. The both of them turned to see Magna and Yami.
A blush crossed Noelle's face before she quickly turned around, as both men were wearing nothing but their Grimoire Carriers, and their Black Bull robes, while Magna still wore his sunglasses. Both of them were just laughing like idiots as they got closer to two of their three new recruits.
"That hand, I didn't see it coming." Magna exclaimed.
"That old man. He actually pulled out a Royal Flush. It was one thing for Kali to do so, but for Old Man Seihi, oh man what are the odds?" Yami laughed. "An' we had to spend all night walking home. I'm not even mad about that."
"Guess we did go a little poker crazy back there." Magna exclaimed before noticing Asta and Noelle. "Oh hey there Rasta, Nono. We're back. Guess what, I got some news I think you're gonna like. It's time for your first mission."
"Huh?" Asta and Noelle asked, before Noelle turned back around, a blush on her face, seeing both Magna and Yami in their birthday suits.
"Wait, where's Kali?" Asta questioned.
"She's already gotten a head start to the mission. We'll be meeting up with her in a bit." Magna exclaimed.
~At the Same Time~
"Well, here we are." Seihi said as he flew on his broom, with Kali beside him, flying without a broom as his village came into view. "Welcome to Saussy Village young lady."
"It sure looks like a quaint little village." Kali smiled, adjusting the large package on her back. "I think I've actually been here before, a few years back."
"Oh really? When would this have been?" Seihi asked.
"Mmm, I can't say for sure, I've been to a lot of villages while on the run from the Purple Orcas." Kali exclaimed.
"Wait, you're a fugitive and you're part of the Magic Knights?" Seihi inquired.
"Technically no." Kali said. "See the Purple Orcas have been hunting me down since I was a kid. They wanted to sell me on the black market, because I'm able to use all four base elements of magic. Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. I was valuable to them, so for ten years I was on the run to avoid getting sold into slavery."
"Well that's a damn shame." Seihi said. "You seem like a nice young lady to."
"You're too kind." Kali smiled. "But your compliment is appreciated. I'm just doing my duties as a Magic Knight."
"I mean it. You were kind enough to carry my purchases for me so I wouldn't strain my broom." Seihi exclaimed.
"I should be thanking you, for returning my vest to me." Kali said.
"I wouldn't have gotten anything for it, plus you said it was a custom job you made yourself for the design. You spent hours sewing that emblem into the fabric, so I couldn't bear to see you part with a precious project of yours." Seihi smiled.
"That's kind of you to say?" Kali said, as they landed at the entrance to the village, neither of them noticing the fog over the hill behind them, rolling in. "So, I'll help you to distribute these to everyone, then I'll get started on the boar hunting."
"Oh no. After you've helped me distribute these products, I insist you sit and have a drink at least. Some of the children would actually enjoy it if you played with them a bit." Seihi exclaimed.
"Well if you insist, I'm not gonna argue." Kali chuckled.
"Grandpa, Grandpa."
"Hey there are my two little rascals." Seihi smiled, crouching down, and pulling two children, running at him, in for a hug. "Have you been behaving?"
"Yeah, we have." Seihi's grandson said.
"We've been real good." His granddaughter smiled, before looking to Kali. "Who's she grandpa?"
"This is a Magic Knight. She's teammates with Magna, one of his newest teammates actually." Seihi exclaimed.
"Big Brother Magna? Did something happen, is he okay?" The grandson asked.
"Everything's fine Nick, Anna. Magna is fine. Kali here is just helping me with some things I bought for the village at the Capital. All in the bag on her back." Seihi said.
"All right here." Kali said, putting the bag down, with a big bang from the impact.
"That's gotta weigh a ton." Nick said in awe.
"It's not all that bad." Kali smiled. "It was actually kinda light for me."
"She's super strong." Nick and Anna said together.
Kali couldn't help but smile at their wonder of her strength, before her eyes widened, and she immediately brought her Grimoire out.
"Earth Creation Magic: Stone Wall." She cast the spell, bringing up a barrier that blocked a barrage of icicles coming from behind her. "Seihi, get everyone to town square right now."
"What? How come?" Seihi questioned.
"What's going on?" Nick questioned.
"The village is under attack. I don't know why, but if everyone is in town square, I can put up a defensive barrier to protect them." Kali said, as the barrier lowered.
"Right." Seihi said. "Nick, go sound the bell. The people should gather in the square from there."
"What about you grandpa?" Nick asked.
"I'm gonna help Kali defend the village." Seihi said. "Now go."
As Nick and his sister ran off, Seihi stepped up beside Kali, cracking his knuckles, ready for a brawl as his Grimoire came out in front of him.
"You sure about this Seihi?" Kali asked.
"This is my village. I'm not gonna be known as a disgrace of a leader by running for safety. I'll stand my ground with you." Seihi said, creating dozens of swords with his magic.
"Then should this end in our deaths, it's an honor to fight alongside you." Kali said.
"The same goes for me, you Black Bull." Seihi smiled, as several enemy mages came towards them with a fog rolling in.
"It appears there's an unforeseen obstacle in our way." The mage in the center spoke as they stopped in front of Kali and Seihi. "No matter, I had planned for if this happened, we're still on schedule."
"I know that voice." Kali said, as the fog began to clear around the intruding force.
Standing in the center of the intruding mages, was a slender man, dressed similarly to a military uniform, consisting of a black jumpsuit, black jumpsuit covers his entire body with two belts strapped around his neck. On top of it, he wears a light blue shirt that has elbow-length sleeves and that extends down to his knees. The shirt also has a short cape that only covers his chest area. The cape has circular ornaments at the circumference and a hood. Strapped around his torso, he also wore a three-way belt, in addition, to the three black belts he wore around his waist, where he also places the pouch to carry his Grimoire with a pair of black boots to complete his look. On the right hand side of his forehead, he has a scar, which elongates to his left cheek.
"Heath Grice. A bounty of 50,000 Silver." Kali said.
"An' you know this how?" Seihi asked.
"Before I was a Magic Knight, or ran a tavern, I chased bounties for a living." Kali exclaimed.
"You were a bounty hunter?"
"I prefer Bounty Huntress, but yeah. Heath was one of the targets I could never apprehend. He's a former Magic Knight, Vice Captain level of strength." Kali explained. "An' he's a stickler for keeping a schedule."
"Well, let's see if we can't knock his schedule off course just a bit." Seihi said.
"Futile attempts, certainly. But go ahead and try. We do have time." Heath said, before the bells began to ring across the village.
"That a boy Nick." Seihi smiled. "Let's do this."
Seihi and Kali went running towards the intruding mages, both of them ready to fight with defensive and offensive spells. Kali reached her hands into her Grimoire, and when she pulled them out, she was wearing the clawed gauntlets, making her feel more feral and primal, both mentally and physically.
"I'll handle the small fries, you take out Heath." Seihi said.
"You sure?"
"Trust me, I've handled worse."
"Don't die on me old man." Kali called out, jumping over the subordinates, and landing on the ground, lunged at Heath, swiping at him with her claws.
"I see you've gotten your Grimoire since our last encounter." Heath said, dodging her attacks with ease.
"That's right, and lucky me, I don't have to worry about anymore interruptions from the Purple Orcas, since I joined the Black Bulls." Kali stated.
"Not that it mattered. You're still weaker than me, and a waste of my time." Heath said, slamming a knee into Kali's stomach, forcing her to bend over, and clutch her stomach as she stepped back. "Oh look at that, your tail is gone. Pity, it would have made for a nice belt."
"Just shut your mouth." Kali growled, charging at him again.
"Still letting your temper get the better of you, like the last time I humiliated you." Heath sighed, stepping back, and avoiding Kali's attacks with ease. "Your anger makes your moves, so predictable."
"Fire Creation Magic: Flame Emperor." Kali cast the spell, causing a large fire ball to form in her hands, and continue to grow until it was the size of the Hage Church. "How's this for predictable?" She questioned, glaring at him.
"That is interesting. You're able to use multiple elements of magic." Heath said. "But you do know, if you use that attack on me, you'll destroy half the village you're trying to protect."
"That's why I'm not using the whole thing at once." Kali smiled.
Launching Flame Emperor into the air, Kali clapped her hands together, and the giant fireball broke apart, into hundreds of smaller attacks.
"Fiery Rain." Kali cast as the smaller orbs of fire began descending down on Heath in a straight line, hitting only where he was standing as he dodged each attack.
"Cleaver. You broke it up into tinier pieces to minimalize the damage, to the surrounding area. The Black Bulls really lucked out with you as part of their team this year." Heath exclaimed. "Unfortunately, this spell of yours, leaves you wide open, for an attack." He stated, as he grew ice claws on each of his fingers on his right hand. "An' that, is where our abilities differ, and why you'll never catch me." Lunging at Kali as he made his way through the barrage of flaming rain, Heath managed to get close to her, and with a swipe of his icy claws, he sliced open Kali's stomach. The force of his strike, added to the momentum of his lunge towards her, caused Kali to be sent back, and the shock and pain of being cut open left her stunned.
"Kali." Seihi called out, as she fell to the ground.
"No matter who you are, if you're in the Black Bulls, you're never gonna be able to truly call yourself, a Magic Knight." Heath exclaimed, his icy claws disappearing, as he raised his foot over her head. "But not to worry, you'll die just as swiftly as the rest of these pathetic, weak villagers."
"Get away from her." Seihi called out, swinging one of his swords down at Heath.
"So, you wish to die quickly to." Heath said. "A bit ahead of schedule, but no matter."
"I will not let you harm my village, or take the life, of this Magic Knight." Seihi exclaimed. "Sword Creation Magic: Blades of the Sun." He called out the spell as multiple blades with glowing edges formed around him.
"Seihi, no don't..." Kali groaned, forcing herself to stand up, while applying pressure to the wound. "Get to the square, I'll form the barrier."
"Just stay down, I won't let any more harm come to you." Seihi said.
"No." Kali exclaimed. "I'm the Magic Knight. It's my job to protect the people of the Clover Kingdom. I'll keep fighting."
"A nice sentiment." Heath said, raising a hand, with icicles forming around him. "But I'm afraid, it ends here for you."
Shooting the icicles out at Seihi and Kali, Heath intended to finish them quickly. However Seihi wasn't gonna go down so easily, and using his blade to shatter the ice, while Kali forced herself to stay standing and countered those shot at her, with bullets of fire shot from her hands.
"You'll not get the best of us. We will defend this village to our last breath." Seihi growled.
Looking around her, Kali say Seihi had managed to disperse of the other three mages, by locking them up in chains and locks. Turning her attention back to Heath, Kali went running towards him as well, but both magic users were stopped, when an icicle came from behind, and pierced Seihi through his back.
"NO." Kali cried out as she saw the old man fall to the ground.
"Don't worry." Heath said, before punching Kali in the stomach, causing more intense pain to reverberate through her body. "You'll all die together." He exclaimed before Kali passed out from the pain.
~A Couple Hours Later~
"Ow." Kali groaned, opening her eyes. "What happened?"
"You're alive. Oh thank the Gods." A woman said.
Kali looked to the woman, then to where her arms were, and saw she was using healing magic on her.
"Try not to move. I've managed to stop the bleeding, but too much movement could open up your wounds again." She explained.
"Where's Seihi?" Kali questioned.
The woman just looked sadly at Kali, then looked over to the side. Kali followed her gaze, and her eyes widened when she saw the old man, lying on the ground, Nick and Anna by his side, crying their eyes out.
"Seihi." Kali said, forcing herself up, and crawling towards him.
"No wait." The woman who'd been healing her said.
Kali managed to make it to Seihi's side, and saw he was still breathing, bearly.
"Seihi, don't you die on me old man." Kali said.
"I'm... sorry Kali..." Seihi wheezed out. "But it looks like this is... the end for me and my journey..."
"No, you can't die yet, you can't. Magna and the others still have come with that hoard of boars he promised we'd take care of." Kali said, putting her gauntlet hand on his chest. "I have healing magic, I can save you."
"It's too late... for that Kali..." Seihi said.
"No, it's not. Just hang on." Kali said as she began to use her healing magic on Seihi, with the gauntlets glowing a soft ocean blue. 'This is my first mission as a Black bull damn it, I can't have someone die on me, I won't let it happen.'
"Nick... Anna... take care of one another, and... behave for the villagers..." Seihi said. "I'm sure, one day... you'll make a fine village leader... Nick my boy... Anna, chase your dreams... and don't let anyone stop you from fulfilling them..."
"Grandpa." Anna cried.
"Grandpa no you can't die on us, hang on." Nicked pleaded.
"Just hang on a little longer Seihi." Kali said.
"I pray... the others will come... and help protect the village, when they see something is wrong..." Seihi said, as his eyes began to glaze over.
"No, Seihi you can't die. Not on my watch." Kali grit her teeth, fighting through her own pain to use her healing magic on Seihi.
"Goodbye... my wonderful... village..." Seihi said, before he closed his eyes, and his chest fell, for the last time.
"No. Seihi. Don't give up on me now Seihi." Kali cried out, not noticing how the ocean blue hue of her magic, changed to a metallic silver.
"He's gone." Nick cried.
"No. He can't be gone." Kali said gritting her teeth. "The mission wasn't supposed to turn out like this. No one, was supposed to die, or even get hurt. It was supposed to be a simple boar hunt. Why did it all have to go so wrong? There wasn't supposed to be any enemy mages. Just some magic wielding boars."
"Pathetic." Kali froze as her blood ran cold when hearing Heath's voice. "Crying over the death of a miserable beast. You call yourself a magic knight, but you're not even smart enough to abandon these cattle to save your own life?"
"What?" Kali questioned, as her blood began to boil, with her power rising around her. "Is that what you think of commoners?"
"Of course. Commoners in comparison, are nothing but animals who can't use tools, because their magic power is so weak, they can't even join the magic knights." Heath stated. "But look at yourself. You're powerful enough to not only make it into the Magic Knights, but to wield multiple elements of magic. Yet you choose to protect those who can't even protect themselves from the most basic of magical beasts, such as the Hell Boar. A member of a prestigious and noble family, such as the one you come from, should understand the hierarchy in the way I'm describing it."
"You think, just because I have strong magic, I came from a family in the common realm or the Capital?" Kali questioned, forcing herself to stand tall, as the air around her, began to grow hotter. "I come from a church filled with orphans in Hage Village. Twenty five miles to the east of here. I am nothing but a poor commoner. So no, I don't see your logic, and I can't condone what you've done here today."
"How disappointing." Heath sighed. "I had such high expectations of you. Guess they were nothing but a wast of time." He exclaimed. "Commence execution."
Up above the group, there was a large number of giant icicles hanging over their heads. Once Heath had said those two words however, they began to fall rapidly down towards them. But to Heath's surprise, Kali's anger could be seen as an uncontrollable fire, and a giant set of draconic wings, completely comprised of fire, sprouted from her back, and enveloped all the villagers, protecting them from the ice as the deadly frozen water melted away upon impact with the wings.
With the last of the ice gone, and turned to steam, the wings began to recede and the mist surrounding the village began to evaporate. After receding back to Kali, the wings were still spread wide as Kali was now in what looked like dragon scale armor, with a dragon skull helmet and mask surrounding her head and face as she glared at Heath.
"I'm sorry Seihi. I couldn't protect you, and I couldn't save you." Kali said, looking back down at Seihi's body. "But I will make it up to you, by protecting the village you care so much about."
"KALI."
Kali turned to look behind her, to see Asta sword in hand, with Magna, and Noelle running for town square, all of them, having worried looks on their faces.
"Kali what's going on. What's happened?" Magna questioned. "Where's Seihi?"
"I'm sorry Magna." Kali said. "I couldn't save him. I tried using my healing magic to keep him alive, but I couldn't."
Magna looked to Kali, then down at her feet, his eyes widening when he saw Seihi's unmoving body.
"Kali, who did this?"
"It doesn't matter now." Kali said, marching forward. "I need you three to keep the villagers safe. Guard them with your lives. I'm going to take care of things."
"You think that just because you got a new set of armor, and your magic power got a boost, that you'll be able to take on all four of us now?" Heath questioned, getting to his feet. "You've thrown us off schedule, and for that, I will make your death, an agonizing one. I was trying to be merciful by taking you all out quickly, but I guess the slow and painful option is more your speed."
Heath brought out his Grimoire as it glowed with magic power, and prepared his attack spell. A giant boulder of ice formed in front of him, with a sharp, pointed end, aimed directly at Kali and the rest of the villagers, before he sent it at them.
'Damn, I don't have enough power.' Magna thought.
Kali just glared and held up one of her armor clawed hands. Without wasting any time, Kali gripped the giant boulder of ice, causing her to be pushed back several feet, before she pushed against it with all her might, stopping it from hitting Heath's mark, and saving the people, before she pulled her other arm back, and slammed her fist into it, causing the whole thing to shatter to tiny shards.
"I won't let you." Kali declared. "You already took Seihi's life. I'm not about to let you decimate the village he cared so deeply for."
"The Black Bulls. The roughest, most undisciplined, most heretical of all the Magic Knight Squads." Heath said. "Dealing with this riffraff would be a waste of precious time, just like how it was a waste of my time to deal with you in our little encounter earlier Kali."
"Why you…"
"Five minutes." Heath stated. "Now we will dispose of these useless villagers in a manner befitting of their station. An' then we'll find what we came for." He declared as his three subordinates began to use their mist magic to spray mist everywhere.
"What is this?" Noelle asked.
"Ice and mist compound magic. Endless ice cage." Heath exclaimed. "Do you imagine you can still protect your herd of beasts like this? I have never been particularly fond of doing things slowly but surely, however this would seem to be the most effective method." After sending the icicles at the villagers, Asta deflected them with the flat of his blade, sending the frozen water particles back at Heath and his men. "Thaw ice. So it can not only cut through magic, that sword of yours can reflect it as well. But you're a fool if you think that will defeat me. I can create wave after wave of icy fangs. Go on, let's see you protect them."
"Asta, Magna, fend off as many of those ice shards as you can. Noelle, I need you to put up a water barrier. Once Noelle's done that, you two take care of Heath's subordinates. While I take care of Heath himself." Kali exclaimed.
"Right./On it." Asta and Magna said at the same time.
"Hey wait a minute, I'm your superior, don't go giving me orders." Magna exclaimed.
"But Kali I can't, you know I…"
"You're stronger than you think Noelle. I know, you care about people and want to protect them. I know you can do it. It doesn't have to be for long. Just for a few minutes." Kali said. "That's all I'll need to take Heath down."
"Kali…"
"She's right Noelle. Give it everything you've got." Magna encouraged as he joined in.
"Listen Noelle. We're up against four men, powerful enough to be Magic Knights. An' believe me when I say, Heath, hasn't even begun to scratch the surface of his true power. If you create a barrier of water around the villagers, it'll give us some breathing room, to fight without having to worry about protecting the innocent people." Kali explained. "You just have to believe."
"Such fragile beasts, unable to protect themselves. Forsaking them will be your salvation Magic Knights. Leave now to live another day." Heath exclaimed.
"Like hell we're gonna abandon them." Kali shouted using her earth magic to make a temporary barrier.
'What's wrong with me? The only friend, I've ever had, is putting her faith in me, and I'm doing nothing. Even though I'm royalty, even though I have more magic power than anyone else here…' Noelle stopped as Kali, Asta and Magna got in front of her to block a barrage of attacks oncoming towards them.
"Stay behind us Noelle." Magna called out.
'I'm just holding them back. I can't do anything.' Noelle thought, before the words Heath spoke, rang in her ear. 'That's right, I am royalty. I can't just die in some backwater village. I'll go. I'll leave and…'
Noelle stopped when she felt someone grab onto the bottom of her dress, and looked down to see a scared innocent little girl's face, covered in tear stains and bruises.
"Please Miss Magic Knight. You have to help us." She pleaded.
'This little girl, is looking me in the eyes, and begging me for help.' Noelle thought as her Grimoire began to glow, from a new spell writing itself down. 'I have to protect them.'
"Do it Noelle." Kali called out, feeling her friend's magic power rising.
'I won't run. Never.' Noelle thought, as she slammed her hands down on the ground, taking a knee as a dome of water began for circle and form around all the villagers, and herself. "Water Creation Magic: Sea Dragon's Lair."
(Cue Music… Centuries: Fallout Boy)
The swirling vortexes of the barrier shredded the icicles until they were nothing but water, adding to its defences, increasing the density of the dome surrounding the villagers.
"I will protect them. I am royalty, what's more, I am a member of the Black Bulls." Noelle said proudly.
"Asta, Magna, the barrier is up now. Let's move." Kali called out.
"Right." The boys said at the same time.
Running through the barrage of icicles launched at her, Kali used her clawed gauntlets to shatter several, and send clawed shaped waves of energy at Heath, who was forced to either dodge or block the attacks, as Asta and Magna held his subordinates at bay to the side.
"I wasn't expecting you to have grown so powerful, just because of the death of one useless animal." Heath said, creating a sword from ice, and using it to swing at Kali.
"Seihi wasn't some animal. He was the leader of this village, the grandfather to Nick and Anna, and an all around honorable man." Kali said, parrying the icy blade with her clawed gauntlets. "The Clover Kingdom has lost a good man today, and you're the cause of it."
Jumping back, Kali moved to the side before lunging at Heath and spun forward, hitting him with an axe kick to the shoulder. Turning his head to look up at Kali, Heath saw the rage burning in her eyes, and that rage could be seen represented in the flames of her armor, burning brightly.
Pushing back and up with her leg, Kali sent Heath to the ground, and with a back spin, landed on the ground, making grooves in the cobblestone, before she lunged at him again, ready to try and skewer him with her claws.
"I will show you, how weak you commoners truly are." Heath said, his emotionless expression breaking into one of annoyed rage.
Before Kali knew it, her momentum turned against her, as she felt the piercing sting of a the head of a sharp tipped iceberg, piercing her armor, and reopening her already damaged stomach. Falling off the tip of the iceberg, and hitting the ground, Kali's armor dissipated as she began to fall into the darkness of unconsciousness once more, her Grimoire falling a distance behind Heath.
"Now you see the difference between our strengths. A pathetic beast like you, could never hope to defeat a mage as powerful as me." Heath stated, preparing his sword of ice to take Kali's head.
"No." Kali groaned, forcing herself to stay conscious. "I'm not done yet. I'm not giving up."
"Useless futility." Heath exclaimed. "Just accept your death with what grace you have."
"I'm not done." Kali said, reaching out for her Grimoire, with a blood covered hand. "I'm not done. I'm not gonna give up, not until I've reached my dream…" She growled, as her Grimoire began to glow. "I'm not gonna die, until I've surpassed my mortal limits… AN' BATTLED GOD HIMSELF."
Kali's Grimoire sprung up off the ground, opening to a blank page, shining with a bright silver light, before a new spell had written itself on the pages, and something came out of the pages, flying to Kali, and past Heath, knocking him over as it slammed into his hip, before the item flipped over, and embedded itself in the ground in front of Kali.
The girl's eyes widened when she saw that it was a large, black and red edged claymore sword, with a gold, silver, and blue hilt guard, and the hilt wrapped in a leathery material. The blade itself was a little longer than a normal claymore blade, and looked more like it was forged to have the blades of both a claymore and a broadsword.
"Wait hold on. That can't be real." Magna said, spotting the sword.
"What's wrong Magna?" Asta questioned, pinning their opponents to the ground with their counter attacks.
"That's Seihi's magic. His most powerful spell." Magna said, as Kali reached her hand up, and grabbed the hilt of the weapon. "It's the spell that would have gotten him into the Magic Knights if he'd actually attempted to take the exams. Sword Creation Magic…"
"Sword of the Gods." Kali growled, using the sword to pick herself up, and pulled it out of the ground, the blade glowing with power. "I will make you pay for what you did, and I don't care what it takes. You won't get away with the crimes you've committed."
Pulling the sword back, Kali went running towards Heath, just as he picked himself up.
"You're reign of terror ends here." She cried, slicing down diagonally on Heath's chest, knocking him back.
(End Song…)
Sitting up, with his body in pain, Heath tried to get up, but his body froze up on him, and he suddenly found his body restrained in metal bindings.
"What's happening?" Heath questioned.
"If my understanding of Seihi's spell is correct, the sword reacts to the will and intent of the wielder, and Kali's will was to restrain you, and render you powerless. So it looks to have done just that." Magna said, before knocking Heath out, with a roundhouse kick to the face.
"Hey Kali, how were you able to pull that sword out?" Asta questioned, as Magna used his magic to bind the others, with adding another binding to Heath.
"I… don't know…" Kali groaned, before falling forward, passing out.
"Kali, hang on." Asta panicked, grabbing Kali as Noelle disabled her spell, causing everyone to get soaked.
"One heck of a time to lose focus on your protection barrier Noelle." Magna said.
"Magna, do you have any healing spells?" Asta questioned.
"No, sorry can't say that I do. Though with this level of injury, she's gonna need some serious medical attention. A healer from the capital." Magna sighed.
"Excuse me…"
"Hmm?" Magna, and Asta turned to one of the village women, and saw her coming forward.
"I know some healing magic. I can use it to stabilize her long enough for you to get her to the Capital." The woman said.
"If you can, then please do." Asta said. "I can't lose my sister."
"I'll do my best." The woman said.
~Sometime Later~
"Oh man, my head is killing me." Kali groaned, opening her eyes. "What happened? Where am I?"
"Ah, good to see you're awake."
Kali turned her head to see a middle aged man with short light colored hair, and rimless glasses, sitting in a chair, wearing a white coat over his clothes, sitting at a table mixing something in a cup.
"I'm glad you're alive. How do you feel?" He asked.
"Like I got hit by one of the Hell Boars I was supposed to be hunting." Kali groaned. "Where am I? Who are you?"
"My name's Owen, I'm a doctor serving under the Wizard King, and the Magic Knight Captains. You're in a break room in the royal palace. Your teammate rushed you here as fast as he could. He seemed worried about your survival." He said, bringing the drink over to her. "Here drink this, it'll help with the soreness you feel."
"Thanks." Kali said, sitting up with a painful groan. "How long was I out?"
"Hard to say. Magna said you'd been unconscious since Saussy Village, and it was easy for me to treat you, so I'd say about six to eight hours." Owen said.
"Magna must have really pushed himself to get me here huh?" Kali asked.
"More so than you'd think." Owen chuckled. "Not long after he got here, he passed out from overtaxing magic exertion, while he was still carrying you in his arms. He's in the other room. He's most likely recovered enough to be able to move. Captain Yami's also here waiting on you as well. He refused to hear the report until all of you who were present there, were in front of him."
"I gotta find a way to repay them." Kali chuckled sipping from the drink she was given. "This is kinda bitter, but I guess good medicine isn't supposed to be tasty."
"I'm glad you understand." Owen said, before taking on a somber tone. "But I'm afraid I have some bad news for you."
"What's up?" Kali asked.
~Black Bulls Hideout 2 Hours Later~
"Oh man, sounds like you all had your hands full on that little excursion." Yami laughed.
"Um, no offense sir, but is it really appropriate to be laughing at a time like this?" Asta asked standing side by side with Noelle, Magna, and Kali, as she was back on her feet.
It was clear to see she'd taken damage from that mission, given how she now sported several scars on her abdomen, right below her belly button, shaped like claw marks descending from a nova star.
"Someone died back there after all." Noelle said.
"It's fine Asta, Noelle." Kali said. "Crying won't bring Seihi back. An' even though I didn't know him, I can imagine he wouldn't want us to be sad over his death."
"You especially Kali." Yami said, calming down from his laughter. "You tried to save him, so I'm sure he's grateful to you for that, and I'm sure he wouldn't want you to be upset over his death. Seihi was always the type of man who was constantly telling people to look more towards the future, and forget about the past. So forget about not being able to do anything, because he wouldn't want you to feel responsible when it wasn't your fault to begin with."
"We're back." Finral said, as he and Vanessa walked through a portal.
"So, what's up, what did you find out about our Heath friend?" Yami inquired.
"Not much. But we do know that the pocket watch Kali used to claim the bounty on his head, is one not just anybody could get their hands on. It's one of only four ever made, and all of them were given randomly from the Wizard King before King Julius." Finral explained.
"Judging from the way he talked about Commoners. I'd say he was of Royalty or Nobility." Kali exclaimed.
"Unless he stole that pocket watch from a member of the Noble Family who had it, he wasn't a royal. That much is certain. All four pocket watches were given to families of Nobility. None of the Royals got them whatsoever." Vanessa exclaimed.
"Guess that's the best news we're gonna get." Magna exclaimed.
"An' better news all around. The Wizard King was very inspired by your show of power, and strength in that fight, he gave us two stars."
"Whoa really?" Kali asked. "So, how many stars are we away from getting out of the negative and catching up with the Golden Dawn?"
"Wait, you already know about the star system and competition?" Magna inquired.
"Yeah, when I'm a tavern owner, Captain Yami is my number 1 patron, and came on a daily basis. He figured out I was wanting to try out for the Magic Knights, so he gave me personal lessons on how the Magic Knights work, and what sorts of things go on between squads, like the star system competition." Kali explained.
"Oh cool." Asta smiled.
"To answer your question Kali, we're now at negative 29, only 99 away from catching up with the Golden Dawn, since they have 70 stars." Yami explained, putting the two stars up. "An' now, it's time for something that comes every month." Yami smiled, pulling out a stack of coin filled bags. "It's time for your monthly wages."
"All right, our first payday of the month." Kali smiled.
"An' to top it off, Wizard King Julius has granted those who helped in the Saussy Village incident, a leave of absence to properly recover from the ordeal." Yami said, handing them all their wages. "He especially insists it for you Kali. You suffered the most from that event, so take some time to yourself to do whatever you need to."
"Right, thanks."
"Now, as a personal bonus. Julius has offered to pick up the tab for us from any bar we go to if we choose to go, so let's go partying to celebrate everyone's safe return." Yami said.
"Oh man. That sounds so awesome. You wanna join in Kali? It could be a good payday for your tavern." Asta said.
"You go on ahead and enjoy the party." Kali said. "I'm just gonna turn in for the evening."
"Hmm? If you're sure about it, then good night I guess." Asta said.
"Good night." Kali said, leaving to return to her room.
"Hmm? What's got her so down?" Vanessa asked, noticing her downtrodden mood.
"I think I might know." Yami sighed with a puff of his cigarette. 'I got her medical report from Owen and read it before she woke up. She's gotta be devastated.'
In Kali's room, everything was quiet with the moonlight shining through her window, and the whistling wind blowing through the open frame. The silence was disturbed when Kali opened her door, and closed it behind her, leaning against it, before sliding against it to the ground, curling her legs to her chest and burying her face in her arms, remembering what she'd been told by Owen.
~Flashback~
"Is something wrong Doc?" Kali questioned Owen. "I'm getting the feeling something's wrong."
"There is something I need to inform you of. But before I do, let me ask you… have you ever wanted to start a family of your own someday? I ask this out of professionalism, I promise you I'm not some pervy old creep." Owen exclaimed.
"I actually do. I've wanted to be a mother for as long as I can remember. I've always been excited to experience pregnancy, and raising my children, even as a single mother if that were the only option for me. I became a Magic Knight for a couple reasons. One, is because it's my dream to surpass my mortal limits, and one day challenge god to a battle. The second, is so I can have plenty of stories of my adventures to tell my children someday when they're old enough to understand me. Seeing the looks of wonder on their faces, would make me feel like the luckiest mother alive, I just know it." Kali answered. "Why, would any pregnancies I have in the future end up being complicated because of my injuries?"
There was a moment of silence, where Owen just shut his eyes, and turned his head to the side with a bow, knowing this response from her was gonna make breaking the news, that much harder to do, before he started to speak.
"It's with a heavy heart that I have to tell you this Kali." Owen sighed. "I'm afraid the damage you sustained from your fight against Heath Grice was rather extensive. I did the best I could to heal your wounds. Your scars won't fade, they'll be there permanently."
"I'm fine with that." Kali said.
"But, I'm afraid that's not the worst of it. I wasn't able to save your Uterus." Owen said. "Your reproductive system was badly damaged. I did what I could to repair it, but I'm afraid, you're never gonna be able to experience motherhood the way you want to."
"Wait, are you telling me that my injuries…"
"I'm afraid so. They've left you barren. You're unable to have children of your own. I'm sorry." Owen said with a heavy sigh as he got up from his seat. "I'll give you some time to process what I've just told you."
~End Flashback~
"I'm never gonna be able to have children." Kali cried. "Stupid Heath. If he wasn't already dead, I'd kill him myself."
For the rest of the night, Kali just sat in her room, crying herself to sleep, unaware, or just ignoring, Yami as he stood outside her door, a somber look on his face as he heard the echoing sobs of Kali's crying.
"Finral better have been to Hage Village." He sighed, letting out a puff of cigarette smoke. "Otherwise this will be a long ass trip I'm gonna make."
A/N: Please leave a review. No flames please.