Clover Kingdom
Noble Realm
Magic Knights Headquarters
Captains' Meeting Room
Just After Kirsch arrived from the University, Afternoon

When he arrived, Kirsch was shoved between Captain Charlotte and Mimosa. Levi dragged Captain Dorothy here, so he was there. The Captains and Vice-Captains were both worried and annoyed to have to come all the way back after they just had meetings. Except, Kirsch noticed that Asta and Finral were not there and that didn't bode well.

"Alright, everyone settle down. There's a situation," said Fuegoleon. "I'm letting Yami explain."

Kirsch felt nauseous as he remembered that Finral said Zora went on a mission this morning. But it didn't mean that something happened with Zora. Anything could have happened.

Yami stood next to Fuegoleon. The Captain of the Black Bulls took a drag of his cigarette and said, "My squad member Zora sent me a call for backup, but the message got dropped and from what I heard, it was some trouble. I sent Asta, Magna, Luck and Finral immediately to where Zora should have been for his mission. We're just waiting to hear back from them."

There was an ache in his chest as he tried to control his emotions. Of course, Zora was in trouble! Then, as Kirsch evened his breaths, Levi asked who could have possibly been savvy enough to catch Zora off guard. Zora, after all, was one of the most clever and sneaky Magic Knights. He was thankful to have Mimosa grab his hand under the table, but also Charlotte grabbed his wrist. It didn't surprise Kirsch that Captain Charlotte knew that Kirsch loved Zora, since Kirsch and Captain Charlotte had been stuck in the infirmary together during the Unrequited Love Curse Incident.

Logically as a Vice-Captain, Kirsch knew that Zora was a strong Magic Knight who had worked on his own for years before making himself known to everyone during the Royal Knight Exams.

"Zora's mission was to track down some people posing as Magic Knights who were extorting money and food out of the small towns," explained Yami.

"It was a trap set specifically for Zora," said Sal, interjected. "Over the years, Zora had gone out of his way to get rid of corrupt, bad Magic Knights, so they were probably former Magic Knights who wanted revenge on Zora. Hence why they were convincing the town mayors."

Kirsch knew from his past conversations with Zora that not every Magic Knight Zora had deemed unworthy were kicked out. But still, the number who had been kicked out had been way higher than Kirsch thought. Kirsch said, surprised that his voice wasn't shaking, "So these cowards teamed up in such a high number that it caught Zora off-guard."

"What I guessed," said Yami, shrugging. To anyone that knew Yami, you'd know that his nonchalance actually hid how much he cared about his squad. Kirsch wasn't offended by the shrugging and non-panic.

Asta was on it and Zora wouldn't lose so easily to some cowards. In fact, Zora was fine. Kirsch had to repeat it in his head that Zora wasn't hurt and that he'll come home safely.

"Be it as it may," said Fuegoleon. "Sal, take Mimosa, Mackenzie and Lerola to the archives and find out the names of those Magic Knights that Zora revealed as corrupt.

"Lord Fuegoleon," shouted Marx, entering the room. "We got a message from Finral. They found Zora's last location, but all they found was signs of a struggle. Luck is tracking Zora's mana as we speak but it could be some hours. I've instructed them to continue with their search, as per your orders."

Fuegoleon nodded. "Very good. I'll send Bennett to help with the tracking." Marx nodded.

Kirsch was trying very hard not to freak out in front of all of his superiors and fellow Vice-Captains. Some people captured Zora and that fact sat in the pit of Kirsch's stomach like an anvil.

"Everyone is dismissed. Ah, Kirsch, could you keep Dorothy behind for a moment," said Fuegoleon.

Mimosa squeezed Kirsch's hand one more time before leaving him behind with his sleeping captain. Captain Charlotte gave him a stern look that he didn't know how to decipher as she left. Soon the Captains and Vice-Captains were gone, leaving Kirsch in the room with a sleeping Captain Dorothy and his cousin, the Wizard King, Fuegoleon.

"I suppose you don't actually have to talk to Captain Dorothy," said Kirsch, wryly and feeling sick to his stomach. Sal had picked up on Kirsch's feelings quickly and he doubted that Sal kept anything from her husband, who just so happened to be the Wizard King and Kirsch's older cousin.

"If I need to speak to Dorothy, she'd come to my dreams, as she does," said Fuegoleon, giving him a kind look.

Kirsch nodded. Captain Dorothy liked getting permission from people to enter their dreams, though she didn't necessarily need it. However, this meant that Dorothy spoke to Fuegoleon and most likely about Kirsch's upcoming marriage and Krisch's feelings for Zora. Captain Dorothy did so out of her love for Kirsch and wanting him to be happy. "So, are you gonna lecture me?"

"Do you know why I asked you and Zora to go and help Sal?"

Frowning, Kirsch replied, "Because you are the Wizard King and cannot play favorites with your Magic Knights."

"Yes," said Fuegoleon. "But you know how I am on the battlefield. As all Vermillion are trained." He gave Kirsch a pointed look. Mereoleona had been trained by Acier Silva. Fuegoleon and Bennett had been trained by Theresa Rapual. Leo had been trained by both Fuegoleon and Mereoleona. Theo and Nat were trained by Aunt Tarian. Kirsch and Mimosa had been trained by their mother.

Logic over Emotion. Stay calm. Think things through and you will prevail over the enemy.

"I've seen you two fight alongside each other before," said Kirsch, attempting to make some sort of point.

"Yes, we can do that," said Fuegoleon. "Just as many couples in the Magic Knights can fight alongside each other on the battlefield. It's always a risk, of course. I don't think I'd keep my temper in check if Sal got hurt."

Kirsch clenched his jaw shut and knew what Fuegoleon was trying to tell him. If Sal was in danger like she had been at Grimmtowne, Fuegoleon wouldn't have been able to remain his calm and collected self.

"Stay put, Kirsch," said Fuegoleon, which was not a suggestion, but an order.

"Yes, sir," said Kirsch.

He helped his sleeping Captain stand up and guide her out of the Captains' Meeting Room to meet up with Levi to go back to the Coral Peacock Headquarters. Fuegoleon was right to remind Kirsch of his duty as a Magic Knight Vice-Captain. Not only would Kirsch get into trouble with Captain Dorothy and Fuegoleon, but Zora would get mad at him too. Zora would get mad if Kirsch shirked his duty as a Magic Knight to rescue him.

So, Kirsch would have faith in Asta and the other Black Bulls and prayed for Zora's safety.

Location Unknown

Zora was bound in magically chains, stuck in a carriage with seven men glaring at him with their grimoires at the ready. Blood dripped down from a wound on his head, his torso ached and he was pretty sure that he had been poisoned by something that was making him woozy. It was not one of his finer moments in life. The enemies were transporting him somewhere, possibly outside of the Clover Kingdom borders into the Neutral Zone.

It'd be harder to track his mana in the wild of the Neutral Zone, so his squad-mates had better hurry up with the backup. In the meantime, Zora was going to have to come up with a plan to escape if help didn't arrive.

This sucked.

~to be continued