[Black Clover characters' belongs to Yūki Tabata]
[I'm also on AO3 with the same username]
CHAPTER 2
The Tower
Fuegoleon P.O.V.
The feeling of having your body taken from one place to another was, to say the least, very strange. I had never tried spatial magic before, but Mrs. Theresa had already warned me that when I joined a squad of the Magic Knights of the kingdom I would have contact with people with that magical attribute and would have to make good use of it.
So I'd better get used to the nausea feeling right away.
As we were growing up, the most Corinna said she could do was to open little portals to throw stones on the roofs of the city when her father allowed her to leave the mansion. I never thought she would develop so fast and without formal training.
- When did you learn that? - Nozel was the first to ask, he looked a little dizzy, but it was trying to look strong in front of Corinna.
- At home - she replied, kicking a rock that was under her shoe - my father does not trust magical instructors, so he's teaching me himself.
Nozel and I didn't say anything, just stared at each other in silence while Corinna squeezed our hands tightly.
Of course he was teaching her. Corinna's father worked in the Magic Parliament as every member of her family before him. He expected nothing less than perfection from his daughter.
- Spatial magic only works if you see the location first, doesn't it? You mean that...
- I came here yesterday and went up the hill alone to be able to make this surprise - she said calmly, like she was explaining to us some simple homework - it was better than being alone at home.
- Corinna! - Nozel started to throw a fit. I think Corinna knew he would do that, because she let go of his hand and curled up closer to me—That was dangerous! You could have fallen and ended up getting hurt!
- Now it's no use fighting with me - she replied, chin up - it's already done, and you didn't need to make an effort today carrying me on your back, everyone won!
Nozel swallowed the rest of his complaints. He didn't have the heart to tell Corinna that he actually liked to carry her whenever she got tired.
- Now look at this - she pointed to the building that appeared behind Nozel as the mist dissipated.
- It's a tower - I said.
- Yes - Corinna nodded - my father said it is a very old building that it's here even before the Clover Kingdom existed.
- And why is it still here? - Nozel asked - No noble family wanted these lands?
-There's a story behind that tower, that's why I brought you here today - said Corinna, by the smile on her face she must have planned this for a while - they say the tower is cursed by the spirit of a woman.
- Cursed? - I laughed - That's not possible, if there was a cursed object or building here the magic knights already...
- Quiet, Leon - Corinna put her hand over my mouth - you're taking away all the fun.
- Yeah, shut up Leon - Nozel repeated with a smile, but then he looked worried - still, are you sure it's safe?
- If the outside is harmless then the inside should be too - Corinna said, sounding pretty confident - and if anything goes wrong I'll bring us back to the entrance, let's go.
- That's not how things work in the real world - I said - have you ever heard of dungeons?
I tried to change her mind for a while, but it was impossible to argue with Corinna when she already had a plan, and she seemed really excited to be outside, to be with us, her friends.
"If something happens I have a grimoire", I thought, "I will be able to protect them".
Being a stone tower in such a secluded place I expected the entrance gate to be more fortified, or perhaps enchanted, but Nozel only had to push with one hand for the wooden door to open. Its lock was old and nearly falling off the frame, and the wood creaked until the door was fully open.
I read that in dungeons we could sense the magic that was hidden in the place, but here, in the tower, there was nothing.
- See? - Corinna was the first to enter - Harmless.
Nozel followed close behind, his navy blue cape sweeping the dusty ground. There was almost nothing in the room apart from an antique table, a few cups full of cobwebs and a staircase in the corner.
- Maybe this was a lookout spot. - I said.
- I wonder what's upstairs... - Corinna said, probably disappointed by the lack of emotion in the room.
- I'll go ahead - I got in front of her before Corinna stepped on the stone steps - after all I have a grimoire.
-After all I have a grimoire... - Nozel imitated me and rolled his eyes until Corinna punched him in the shoulder.
The tower wasn't very tall, but the stairway looked dangerous as some of the steps were decayed. As soon as we got upstairs Corinna took the lead again as we had found her treasure, a room full of antique objects.
- Don't touch everything you see - I tried to warn her, but of course Corinna didn't hear me, she and Nozel were already rummaging through the drawers from a nightstand beside a huge red bed, like two curious mice.
- This isn't a lookout spot at all - Nozel said - it must have been the hiding place of some nobleman's mistress.
- That's why the rumors talk about a place haunted by a woman - Corinna said, finally excited to be connecting the story points, but then her expression changed a little - what a sad story, she must have been abandoned here.
I moved a little closer to see what was in the drawers they were rummaging through, but all I noticed were some papers that were too old to fall apart when touched.
- And what did you expect? - Nozel said - Nobles shouldn't be with commoners, it must have been just a silly adventure.
- And how do you know she was a commoner? - Corinna said, her brown eyes lost a little of their sparkle.
- If not, then why would she hide in a dirty place like this?
Nozel continued rummaging through the drawers, not noticing that Corinna flinched a little and walked away to the other side of the room, where there was another dresser, as well as a large mirror near the wall. My gaze was so locked on Corinna that if she hadn't moved to the other side of the room I wouldn't have even noticed there was more furniture.
I could have kicked Nozel in the butt for scaring her with the horrible acts some nobles commited, but then we would fight again, and I didn't want that.
I walked away from Nozel silently and til the other side of the room, where Corinna was scratching on the dresser, writing words in the dust.
- Don't bother with what Nozel said - I whispered, he's just too direct sometimes.
- But he speaks the truth - Corinna said - and now I feel bad for being here.
I tried to think of something nice to tell her, anything, but my mind always got fuzzy at times like this. I peeked a little through the broken window to focus on something other than Corinna and her soft grass hair when I realized she was already far away from me again, staring at the mirror that was against the wall.
- What's it? - I said - Did you like the mirror?
-You don't... - Corinna seemed about to tell me something, then she seemed to give up - Nevermind, I must be seeing things.
She smiled a little, then turned away from the mirror and walked back to the dresser, where there was a small jewelry box.
- So your father still likes to tell you horror stories.
- He thinks that this way I'll be afraid of the world and I'll be content at home.
- Don't you like living here?
Corinna hesitated, as that had become a difficult subject for her over the years. I really don't know why I asked that.
- Not much, you know that.
- At least you don't need to worry about neighbors, or the noise of the capital… - I tried to say some positive things, but at the same time I felt like I was only making it worse.
- But here I am alone - Corinna sighed - there is no one but the servants, who can barely say anything, and my father. I wanted to live close to you two, it would be more fun this way and you wouldn't have to fly that far to see me.
She smiled for a moment, as if imagining how different things would be.
- But now with the portals you can go anywhere! You can visit me whenever you want!
- Really? - Corinna's eyes lit up a little.
- Of course! We can explore the castle together, and you can see Leo more often.
Corinna nodded in agreement. Her hands had already opened the jewelry box, but there was nothing there but an old necklace made of black stones, like tiny pearls.
- But what if I transport myself to your room and you are...
- You're not going to his room! - Nozel suddenly appeared, his hands full of golden trinkets - I forbid you!
Nozel placed the trinkets in Corinna's hands, making a body barrier between me and her, which didn't work since I was taller than him.
- What is all this? - Corinna asked.
- I think they're golden flower pins, I got them for you.
- I don't need all this - she replied, her eyes still on the necklace.
- Okay - Nozel took the pins from her hand - is that what you want?
Nozel pointed at the necklace and Corinna smiled, he then took the pearls and placed them carefully around her neck.
For a minute it was like I wasn't there, and it hurt, but I didn't say anything.
- I think we better go back now - Corinna said - my father must be looking for me.
As Corinna had already marked the hill we didn't even have to leave the tower for her to open a portal for us.
- I hope that everything goes well with your mother Nozel, and that your sister is born healthy.
- I'll be gone for a while - Nozel said in a hurry - but I'll be back soon, I promise.
Corinna smiled, and I suddenly felt uncomfortable with that small gesture, until she looked at me.
- See you later, Leon - Corinna lightly touched the mark on the center of my forehead, the one that represented my vow to become the next Magic Emperor.
A portal opened behind her, and i saw the flickering image of her room, so Corinna disappeared inside it, leaving Nozel and I alone again.
A silence fell over us, as it always did when she left, as if we were, for a moment, trying to understand what we were feeling.
- I like her - Nozel said, breaking that moment.
- What? - I pretended I didn't understand.
- I like her - Nozel repeated - as you know there aren't many daughters of nobles of our status, so I talked to my mother, and after she gives birth we will make a marriage agreement with Corinna's family.
- Hmm - I nodded, hoping I sounded disinterested enough.
Nozel took a step toward me as I struggled to keep my expression under control.
- Then that's it? - He said - Aren't you going to fight me? No Hot-Blooded Tuesday?
I almost smiled when he mentioned the incident I had with Mereoleona.
- If I were to fight you, I would win.
Nozel clenched his fists, I felt the anger that had taken hold of him, but I didn't react. I couldn't control his actions, nor the way he reacted to my words, but I was pretty sure I didn't want to break the bond we had, or what I thought we had. I didn't want to put Corinna in the middle of a selfish fight.
Besides, I wasn't even thinking about marriage right now. I was the oldest of us, but there was a path I wanted to follow, and it would take a lot of hard work and time to achieve my dreams.
- She's just a friend - I lied - A friend that I love and I want her to be happy.
The last part was true, and Nozel knew it, so he ended up accepting.
- Even if you change your mind - said Nozel - I won't allow that you take her from me
- She's just a friend - I repeated.
- Keep lying to yourself, Leon - Nozel sighed. He knew how to act arrogant when he wanted to.
He walked casually away from me while I sat in silence under a tree.
My path had just began, but the sacrifices were already too big.