Chapter 3: Crimson Twilight

At a border station between the Clover kingdom and Diamond kingdom.

Forte Gris, a man with short, shaggy hair, and a scar beneath his right eye, was looking out through a spyglass at the surrounding area. The station he was positioned at was a shabby old fort of wood. The most it could house were two people, and those were the aforementioned Forte, a magic knight from the Crimson Lion squad. The other was a man named Verrater Geld, a man from the Coral Peacocks, a bald knight with intricate designs tattooed on his head as if feathers took the place of his hair.

"Hey there Gris," called Verrater, "All quiet on the homefront?"

"Yeah, seems like we aren't going to see any action today."

"Ah shame, I was hoping I could take down a Diamond general today and earn myself a nice little permotion."

"Heh, wouldn't we all."

Handing the spyglass over to Verrater, Forte started to head off.

"Hey, mind if you take watch while I go take a leak?"

"Yeah, no problem."

With nature calling, the knight from the Crimson Lion left the room, while the knight from coral peacock started to look through the spyglass. That is, until he was sure his companion left the room. After his suspicions were confirmed, he fished out an object of stone and glass from his pocket that started to glow with magic.

"Come in Diamond kingdom."

Shezu had just left the building along with the rest of the 15 year old children in the area. Rushing off to the nearest isolated part of the forest, he kept looking for a place where he could fully investigate his new grimoire. He came to a perfect spot, where a small stream was crossing the ground, and a few rocks lay strewn about.

"Alright, let's see what my grimoire can do," Shezu thought to himself.

Pulling out the black velvet book, he leafed through the pages...only to see that everyone was blank. Grimoires housed the spells that were at their master's disposal, and there were none to be found in Shezu's.

"Okay, maybe...maybe I just need to practice a bit to get some."

Closing his eyes, he started to focus. Feeling the warm energy surge through him, he started to manifest mana at his hands. Opening his eyes back up, he could see the energy at his disposal. With all his might, he envisioned shooting out fire like his mother, and shot out one hand while holding his grimoire with the other. Nothing came out. He tried again, even harder...but once again, nothing.

"Alright, maybe...maybe I have water magic like my dad!"

Looking to the stream, he tried the process once again. Gathering mana at his hands, he pointed one at the stream, trying to get the water to move. Once again...no response. He tried again and again, summoning as much mana as he possibly could in order to manipulate the water in front of him. When the endeavor seemed hopeless, he tried creating water instead out of thin air. He imagined it's features, it's wetness, how it felt to just dip your hand in it. Once again, nothing.

"No, no, no...this can't be happening!"

The boy's worst fears were starting to come true. He might be one of the many who's best magic was making objects float and move with his mind, an ability that would not even be half of what was required to become a magic knight. Looking at the rock to his side, the boy once again summoned his mana, and pointed a hand at them. He needed to see if this was the extent of his abilities. Putting in every ounce of will he could muster into trying to move the smallest rock, he gritted his teeth and made every sound of exertion humanly possible. Put once again...it was all for naught. Shezu couldn't even do something as basic as move an object with his magic. He slowly lowered his arms, and let his grimoire slip from his grasp. It hit the ground with a thud, just like his dreams.

At a flour mill, Eurale Ichor was taking a break on a bench, taking a drink from a wooden barrel of water nearby. He was sweating a good bit from all the work he had down for the day.

"Hey Eurale," called one of his coworkers, "Your boy Shezu gets his grimoire today right?"

"Yeah he does," he replied with a jovial, "can't wait to get back home to see what it looks like."

Eurale continued to converse with his fellow workers, talking about the events of the day, and taking bets on what power Shezu would manifest.

"Hey Eurale! You're up!"

Hearing the call of the foreman, Eurale realized break time was over. Getting up and over to his station, he stood on top of a platform that was over a water wheel, switching out with the previous worker. Pulling out his grimoire, he casted his best spell.

Water Creation Magic: Pushing Stream

A rush of water came out in front of him, and started to fall on top of the wheel, starting to rotate it. It started slow at first, but as momentum built up, it went faster and faster. The excess water was led out of the building and drained to the nearest lake.

"Alright Eurale, you got 30 minute till the next switch out."

"Yeah...good to know sir."

Camilla Ichor was at a tavern in the middle of the town, working her heart out. Using her flame magic, she was cooking all manner of food to serve to the customers. She was currently roasting a nice stake, crating flame magic with one hand to cook it and pouring wine on it to season. Her grimoire, on the other hand, was simply floating in the air. While her attention was focused on the food, a part of her simply couldn't help but worry.

"Shezu...I hope you get the grimoire you deserve."

Back at the border station, Forte and Verrater were trying to pass time while on duty. The sun was starting to fall down, casting orange light over the land. Verrater suddenly felt the object of stone and glass start vibrating in his pocket. Knowing what that entailed, he eyed his companion, who was simply leaning back in his chair with eyes closed.

"Oy, Gris," he said, snapping his companion awake.

"Mind checking the storeroom? I saw some mouse droppings earlier, and I have a sneaking suspicion that they may have gotten into the bread. Besides, you look like you could use something to do."

Forte, rubbing one eye, had a look of compliance on his face.

"Yeah, might as well. Mouse hunting is a good way to pass the time after all."

"Eh, at least you get to fight something," quipped Verrater, "I'll keep lookout and holler if I see anything."

"Alright then."

After his companion left the room, the bald man got out the object once again.

"What are you doing calling me," he hissed?

"Hey man don't be such a sourpuss, just need to make sure the information you gave us on Kietan was solid," replied a jovial voice full of vigor.

"Look, you're paying me a good amount for this info, so I'm not going to lie to you. If there is one town that is the most vulnerable, it's Kietan, so…"

"Verrater, what the…"

Recognizing the voice, the man turned around to see Forte staring at him with a look of disbelief on his face

"Uh oh, someone got cauuught," said the voice from the object in a sing songy tone, before disconnecting from the other end.

The two men stared each other down, before the coral peacock broke the silence.

"So Forte, what are you doing back here so soon?"

"Forgot the key to the storeroom," he replied in a stone cold manner, summoning his grimoire in front of him, preparing for battle.

He responded, almost laughing at the absurdity of it, and summoning his own grimoire as well.

"The key huh...you think I would catch that."

Shezu was sitting down by the stream, holding his legs to his head. He hadn't moved an inch from the spot after discovering what his magic was capable of. He was absolutely depressed. All his hope of joining the magic knights seemed to just shatter right in front of him. After a long while, he slowly looked up at the sky, watching a stray hawk glide through it. Looking back down, glancing at the grimoire to his side, he picked it backup and gave it a good look.

"Well, it may not be the grimoire I wanted...but at least it's mine."

It was his best attempt to try to find a silver lining when everything seemed gray. Noticing that the sun was starting to set, he picked himself backup, and started to head home.

"...Better get back home before mom and dad get worried."

Forte was running through the woods, panting, sweating, and bleeding profusely. He had long since abandoned the border station, since staying there would mean his death. Stopping to rest behind a tree, he grabbed the left side of his stomach, which had a gaping wound.

"Oh Forteeee, come out and plaaaay!"

The Crimson Lion could hear the mocking voice of the traitor closing down on him. The man was starting to sweat. He could feel the jaws of death starting to close around him. Bringing out his grimoire he casted the last spell that could bring him any hope.

Fire Creation Magic: Fire Falcon

A bird of fire appeared before him, and shot into the sky.

"Hope the captain sees it in time…"

Suddenly, from behind, he heard his attacker exclaim with a poisonous delight, "there you are!"

Shezu was taking the long way back home, trying to stall as much as possible the eventual talk he had to have with his parents. The talk in which he had to say that not only had he not inherited one of his parents magic, but he couldn't even use the simplest form of it. On his way, he was taking a back road that led around the village, with a forest to his right. Suddenly, the boy heard a rustling in the bushes. Looking at the commotion the boy expected a rabbit to dart out, or something else of small stature. Instead, what came out was a large man, bleeding. Shezu looked in shock at what he saw. He quickly started running towards the man, dropping his Grimoire.

"Hey! Are you okay," he called out?

Noticing the robe that he was wearing, Shezu thought, "a magic knight?"

"Damn," Forte cursed under his breath, "thought that the guys from the coral peacocks would be pushovers...guess I'm eating those words."

Hearing the calls of Shezu, the man looked up and saw the boy running towards him.

"Hey, get aw…"

"Well, well, well, got yourself a friend did you?"

Suddenly, both Forte and Shezu looked over to who the voice belonged to. Verrater came sauntering out of the forest, as if he owned it, without a single scratch on him.

"Shame, seems like I'm going to have to kill two people today."

Shezu looked at the traitor with the drawn grimoire, and felt a chill run down his spine. While the man looked and dressed very flamboyantly, the boy could feel the cold malice coming from the man. He could feel that he was telling the truth when he said that he would kill him. Forte suddenly sprinted off of the ground and past Shezu

"Crap, if I run fast enough, maybe he'll chase after me instead of focusing on the boy…"

But that hope was dashed as a spike of hardened jade pierced his leg. Falling to the ground, Forte groaned in pain. Shezu on the other hand just stood there in shock. He had no idea what was going on, and he had just seen more blood come out of a single person than he had seen in his entire life.

"Ah shame, was hoping to get you in the back with that one."

Shezu looked back to the attacker, and around him was a group of jade spears, as if they were poking out of the ground.

Jade Creation Magic: Javelin

Rolling his wrist in a warm-up, "well, good thing I have spares," he said with a smirk. Plucking another jade spear out of the ground, he then eyed Shezu, standing still like a statue.

"Heh, don't worry, I'll get to you next."

Shezu felt the chill in his spine turn into ice. He was paralyzed, while a thousand thoughts raced through his head.

"What should I do? Should I run? Should I yell? If I run, won't he just stab me in the back? What should I…"

But before he could continue, he saw Verrater rear back his arm getting ready to launch the spear at Forte. But what stood out to him more was the look on Forte's face. He was holding a hand in front of his face, like it could stop what was coming. But behind that hand, were eyes that were filled to the brim with fear, and it was that that reminded Shezu of what he dreamed of. The reason he wanted to become a magic knight in the first place. To be someone who could get rid of that fear that suffocated and crushed people. To be able to erase fear itself. Rushing forward, he placed himself between Forte and Verrater. This surprised both of them, but for the Coral Peacock, it was only momentary.

"Well, seems like you want to die first...HAPPY TO OBLIGE!"

Rearing back his arm once again, he prepared to launch the javelin.

"Run," yelled Forte!

But Shezu stood firm, closing his eyes and placing his hands out in front of him, like he was trying to will the man to stop. Verrater launched the spear, and it was in that moment, the grimoire that Shezu tossed to the side flipped open, and letters began to carve themselves into the book. Mages obtain knew spells through either training or intense emotions, and the moment that Shezu was experiencing was pretty intense. It was then, that the jade spear that was launched snapped into pieces. Forte and Verrater both looked in shock at what the boy just created, and as the boy slowly opened his eyes, he too experienced the same feeling. What blocked the spear was a giant shield of hardened blood, that came from Shezu's own wrists. Everyone their looked in disbelief at what just happened, but it was only a momentary pause.

"Well, if THAT won't work," thought Verrater, "how about THIS!"

Slamming his hand to the ground a dozen of jade spike burst from the ground.

Jade Creation Magic: Green Forest

Forte suddenly grabbed Shezu from behind and knocked him out of the way, barely missing the attack. The shield that Shezu summoned suddenly turned back to liquid, splattering the ground with blood. The momentary relief both Forte and Shezu felt suddenly flew away.

"Heh, you might have caught me off guard with that little trick of yours, but that doesn't change the fact that both of you are about to DIE!"

"Really? Is that how you think this is going to end?"

Suddenly, an unknown voice cut through the air. Everyone looked to see who it belonged to, and the person it belonged to, was Fuegoleon Vermillion. He was a tall man with long straight red hair, purple eyes with red markings around them, red earrings, and a diamond marking in the middle of his forehead. He was the captain of the Crimson Lions, and fittingly, he was atop of a lion made out of fire. Stepping down from his ride, he then walked up straight to the traitor, with waves of mana coming off of him. It was like an ocean of magical power was contained within one man, and everyone there felt it. Slowly approaching the traitor, Fuegoleon began to speak.

"So, it seems like Forte was right in calling me. I, tend to give people the benefit of the doubt, but since you were attacking someone who couldn't defend themselves and a defenseless boy, I'm willing to guess that you're in the wrong."

As Fuego got closer, Verrater got more nervous, as if at any moment he was about to be incinerated.

"So tell me, are you going to come along peacefully, or are you going to make this hard?"

For a moment, the tension was thick in the air. Was the man going to come along peacefully, or was he going to die. After a few tense seconds, Verrater lowered his head in defeat, and with that his grimoire fell to the ground.

"I'll...I'll come along peacefully."

"Hmph, wise choice," stated Fuegoleon. Suddenly a mass of lion paws made out of fire surrounded the traitor.

Flame Binding Magic: Lion's Paw

After securing him, Fuego went over to where Forte and Shezu were on the ground.

"Well, well, seems like you got yourself into some trouble, eh Forte?"

"Heh, seems that way captain."

Giving him a shoulder to lean on, Fuego helped his injured subordinate up. He then proceeded to whistle with two fingers, and the fire lion he came riding on leaped over to him. Putting the man atop of it, he then focused his attention to the boy on the ground, who was just looking open mouthed at everything that was happening around him.

"You alright boy," Fuego said while offering a hand. This seemed to snap Shezu out of his stupor

"Uh, yeah, thanks," he replied, taking the hand and helping himself up.

"I saw the magic you used to protect my subordinate, have to say, it's...interesting to say the least."

"Well, yeah...uh, thank you sir."

"Do you plan on taking the magic knights exam?"

"Well, uh….yeah, I do."

"Hmph," Fuego smiled, "well, I hope you do your best."

Hoping back onto the fire lion, he then went over to Verrater, and had his mount pick him up in his teeth like a bone. With that, he then ran off with his subordinate and traitor in tow, leaving burnt grass where the lion stept. With that Shezu was all alone.

"Well...that was an experience."

It was only after that thought that Shezu felt a sharp pain at his hands. Looking down, he noticed that his wrist were still bleeding.

"Oh shit! If I don't stop the bleeding, I'm going to die! I gotta…"

But as the thoughts crosse his mind, the blood that spilled from the shield suddenly flew into the air and returned into Shezu's wrists. Along with the blood, his grimoire that he'd dropped earlier closed itself and returned to float in front of its owner. Grabbing it out of mid-air, Shezu looked back down at his wrists to notice that the blood had hardened.

"Man, this day is just getting stranger and stranger…"

But, leafing through his grimoire, he saw the one spell that he had. The one spell that helped him save someone's life.

"...but all in all, not a bad one."

Eurale was at the kitchen stove stirring the stew, while Carmilla was knitting a scarf at the table. As the day was getting darker and darker, they both started giving each other looks of concern, as their son hadn't returned yet. But as soon as their concern started to turn into anxiety, Shezu came right through the door.

"Son," they both exclaimed with glee. Rushing towards him, they started to bombard him with questions.

"Where have you been?"

"Are you okay?"

"How did the ceremony go?"

"Did you get your grimoire?"

Gently smiling at the genuine concern his parents had for him, Shezu broke their bombing of question with one of his own.

"Well, where should I start?"

Notes: Well, finally done with the introduction. Now we can start getting to the actual meat of the story.