Chapter 6 - The Formal Meets the Feral


A/N: I do not own the Black Clover Franchise or any canon characters mentioned below.

I do own Lucia Flurris, and any other OCs mentioned.

WARNING: This story will contain death, violence, blood/gore, angst, loss, trauma, and mentions of sexual themes.

Hey guys, I FINALLY got this chapter finished! I had so many chapters to plan out over my four stories that this took way longer than I'd have liked! Thankfully, I'm now writing fanfic three times a week rather than just once, so hopefully chapters will come out a little faster now!

Enjoy!


All was quiet during the early morning hours in the usually bustling city of Raquey. Many of the noble families who called this place home were nestled in their sheets, enjoying their plentiful rests with little to no interruptions. Except for one woman, of course.

Lucia was sat on the end of her bed, one knee nestled against her chest as she tugged on her jogging shoes and tied the thick, durable laces together, securing them to her feet. While the rest of the world waited for the sun to rise, Lucia had gotten into the habit of waking up before sunrise to take a long jog. It was something she had done for about four months out of the six she had been part of the Magic Knights, and honestly, she found it necessary if she wanted to focus throughout the rest of the day.

With one last pull of the laces, which now rested against her shoe, tangled together in a secure knot, she stood up and stretched her arms above her head. After a second, she let out a content sigh and dropped her arms to her side, before she grabbed her broom and walked from the room, fully prepared to leave.

However, as she passed the nursery, she paused for a moment, before she let a soft smile curl her lips and peeked her head inside the room to see her two baby siblings sleeping soundly in their cots. Her heart swelled with love, and she let out the softest of chuckles, as she entered the room and snuck over to the two sleeping toddlers.

"Be good while I'm gone, okay?" Lucia whispered, leaning down as she pressed a kiss to each of their foreheads, watching them stir, but ultimately remain asleep. She then straightened up and left the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

'Maybe when I get back, I can spend some time with them...' The eldest daughter thought as she walked through the manor and out the front door. As soon as the cool breeze brushed against her cheeks, she closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath.

There was nothing she loved more than the quiet brought about by the sleeping world around her.

"You really shouldn't be working yourself so hard during your time off, Lady Lucia..."

The lilac-haired mage jumped a little and spun around to see Piercely standing there. "Oh, Piercely." She said, relieved it had been him, and not her mother, who would scold her far more than the young butler ever could. "You startled me..."

"My apologies, I didn't intend to surprise you." The same-age servant bowed his torso politely, eyes closed as he placed a hand to his chest. "I was just concerned that you're overworking yourself during your time off, that's all. Don't you think your month-long vacation should be spent relaxing, rather than training, Lady Lucia?"

The Magic Knight shook her head with a small smile, picking up her broom from its place against the pillar holding up the roof of their overhanging entrance. "While I understand your concerns, Piercely," she started. "Believe me when I say this isn't training. I take these morning jogs to wake up and prepare for the day, it has become something of a tradition for me as of late, and I find it rather soothing; especially during my vacations when I have more time to really absorb my surroundings."

Piercely nodded as she explained herself, then stepped back into the house to grab something, before he approached her once again with a flask in hand. "Then at least take this." He said, holding it out for her, which she took with appreciation. "It's filled with the finest spring water we have. I'm sure it'll be more than adequate for your morning needs."

"Yes, this is perfect." She stated, tucking it into the small bag she carried when she went on these little adventures. "Thank you Piercely. I'll be sure to return before breakfast, until then, would you ensure the twins don't run my parents ragged?"

The butler chuckled and pushed his glasses up his nose. "Of course. I'm more than happy to keep Young Master Hailan and Young Mistress Hailia company in your place." He tilted his head to the side, arching a brow. "But if I may be so bold... May I ask where your jogging route will take you?"

Lucia turned away from Piercely and walked out of the entryway into the patioed gardens surrounding their estate. "Well, there are some forests on the edges of the Noble Realm that lead to the Strong Magic Regions." She explained, unlatching the gate, unaware of the shock plastered across her friend's face.

"B-but, my lady, those forests are rife with dangerous beasts and bandits!" He took a step forward as concern flashed across his features. "Would it not be safer to restrain your route to the areas around the city? I'm sure the fields would be more than adequate for your needs!"

Lucia turned to face the butler, who went silent at the stern expression she shot him. It was rare for her to look at him so coldly, so he knew he had to listen. "While I understand your concerns, Piercely. I have improved leaps and bounds since I joined the Magic Knights." Her expression softened out of the stern frown she had presented him with. "Trust in my skills, I have traveled through the forests many times over the past couple of months, and I have never found myself in grave danger. If I do happen to walk into the den of some fearsome beasts, you can rest assured I will do the utmost to return unharmed."

"..." The young servant let out a breath and nodded, bowing his torso once again. "Then I hope you have a pleasant and invigorating jog, Lady Lucia." He said, smiling as he straightened up and linked his hands behind his back politely. "But do return before breakfast is served, I imagine your parents would worry if you were gone all day."

Lucia giggled, nodding her head as she finally left the gated gardens and stepped out onto the streets of Raquey. "Yes, they would be quite displeased, that's for sure." She positioned herself atop her broom and gripped the handle securely, as she slowly began to lift off the ground. "Now, I must make haste if I want to begin before the sun rises completely. Goodbye Piercely."

"I will be waiting here with a towel and a fresh cup of tea upon your return, my lady."

The usually rigid young woman nodded at that, and flew off towards the forests, leaving her friend and butler to stand in the doorway, concerned for her well-being.

While he knew she was more than capable of looking after herself, he still felt worry eat away at him when he remembered that she couldn't completely control her magic. However, he knew better than to disrespect her position by reminding her of that fact.

She was more than a simple heiress now, after all, and if she truly believed she could take care of herself, he had to have faith that she would safely return.

With that, the young man turned and walked back into the huge manor, closing the elegantly carved wooden doors behind him.

Meanwhile, Lucia watched as the buildings that zipped by finally left her immediate environment, fading into the distance as lush fields of green grass and wildflowers rushed by beneath her. It was still a fair distance before she reached the forests near the borders, so while she watched the beautiful scenery pass her by, she allowed her mind to wander toward the recent events that took place after her promotion, three months prior.

Since she was promoted to an Intermediate knight, she was given far more difficult and dangerous missions that she completed with her squad. Each mission proved harder than the last until finally she was given the title of the most promising recruit in the Grey Deer Squad by Julius Novachrono himself.

The swell of pride she felt when she heard those words leave her leader's lips was not something she would forget any time soon. However, in the exact same moment, she was told that she would have to keep working hard if she wanted to best the recruits that earned the same title the year prior. When she asked why she hadn't met them yet, he explained that they were constantly sent on new missions, and had little time to relax at the headquarters and meet new recruits.

Thanks to their busy schedules, all she had were their names and reputations among the other members of her squad. One was called Yami Sukehiro, a rash and reckless commoner who hailed from another land. While the other was William Vangeance, the illegitimate heir of a nobleman, whose strong sense of honor and kindness set him apart from the other noble recruits that had joined that year.

Both their reputations and records exceeded expectations, and she wondered if, with time, she too would be seen as a powerful force among her peers. This thought sent her mind down the path of analyzing how her own squad perceived her, and she scowled.

Well, according to many of her comrades, she was hailed as 'The Ice Queen of the Grey Deers.' It was a foolish and insulting nickname that Dante had granted her and stubbornly passed along until it became her official moniker. Sadly, despite her protests, people continued to use it even to this day, and she had no choice but to accept it.

However, that didn't mean that she liked it. While others considered her 'icy,' she saw her attitude as a means of keeping her father's and family's reputation from being tarnished. Of course, she also kept up the front for the sake of her own comfort, but that was beside the point. She refused to allow that icy wall to crumble unless she was around those she deemed worth her kindness and care. It was a mantra she had followed since she was fifteen, and it would be one she took to the grave if she had to.

However, at that moment, the Wizard King's words whispered in the back of her mind, interrupting her stubborn musings.

"You're just like your father, even down to your eyes." The Wizard King commented, seeing her shock, though her expression barely changed. "However, you take your father's cold detachment to another level... Trust in your teammates and open your heart to them, otherwise you may find yourself alone when you truly need their help."

Lucia's frown deepened as she slowed to a stop atop a small hill. Once she was hovering only a few feet off the worn dirt path to the forest, she landed and stepped off her broom. Though, even as she tucked her broom away into the bushes to avoid potential theft, she was still thinking over the Wizard King's advice.

While she had sworn to reflect on his words, part of her knew she had made little to no effort in treating her squadmates any differently. She was still the same cold and ruthless woman she had always been.

Part of her couldn't help but question if the Wizard King's teachings were the right call. The Flurris family was well known for their cold nature and even colder magical attribute. If she were to change how she acted around others, wouldn't she risk sullying their reputation?

Knowing she would only continue to stress herself out, she let out a heavy sigh and pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind for the time being. She did some routine stretches, gripping one arm with the other and extending it to the side a few times before she bent down to touch her toes then the sky above once or twice. Only then did she feel ready to begin her morning jog.

Without waiting another second, she kicked off at a moderate pace towards the treeline, taking in the sounds of nature around her as she leveled her breathing and allowed herself to succumb to the peace she felt whenever she took the time to forget about the stress surrounding her title, status, and rank within her squad. No one would understand how much she cherished these moments, nor how important they were to keep her mental health from declining.

Despite her cold nature, and confident demeanor, she had a lot of doubts weighing heavily on her mind, and they took a toll the longer she sat on them. Cleansing jogs like this were the medicine she needed to keep a clear head during her missions, and kept both herself and her annoyingly competent squadmates safe.

Lucia looked up when the area darkened and she entered the treeline, shrouding herself in the shadows of the overhanging leaves. Only small beams of light shone through the gaps, and it made for a beautiful backdrop. 'Looks like the sun finally started rising.' She thought contently, closing her eyes as she took a deep breath and let her stress melt away.

When she opened them again, she had a small smile on her lips. Though she risked jinxing herself, she truly started to believe nothing would ruin her pleasant mood, the woods were calm, there wasn't a person in sight, and the sun was glowing warmly through the gaps in the trees, leaving a beautiful and mysterious backdrop for her to admire.

Of course, as per usual, she had jinxed herself, and her mood wouldn't last.

Suddenly, there was a loud, unholy, roar from within the trees and Lucia faltered before she slowed to a stop, listening for any more strange sounds. However, she was soon startled when the bushes in front of her almost seemed to tear as a large and vicious boar with fiery tusks came barrelling out of the thicket towards her.

"Ah!" She cried out in surprise, diving to the side in a roll as the beast charged past her. As she rolled into a crouched position, she stared at the creature as it went into the lush greenery opposite where it started, rampaging out of sight. If she hadn't dodged when she saw it, that beast would have trampled her to death in an instant.

Slowly, Lucia got back to her feet, only to tense up when the boar's roar echoed once again. Without even seeing it, she quickly tugged her grimoire out of its holster and opened it to the first page, prepared to counter the large beast once it returned. However, she underestimated the intelligence of the swine as it burst out of the bushes once again, followed by two other boars of an equally formidable size. "Oh sh-!" She started, only to stop and grit her teeth as she thrust her hand outwards. "Dry-Ice Magic: Shard Barrage!"

The ground shook and before the beasts could get too close, a large wall of ice shards in the shape of natural crystals burst out from the dirt below, forcing the pig-like monsters to tackle it instead of her. They staggered back in their surprise, but soon roared once again and slammed into it repeatedly.

'They're far more aggressive than usual.' She thought as she clenched her fist, forcing a fair bit of magic power into the wall to ensure it would not crack easily. The Ice Queen was so engrossed in keeping the wall up, that she jumped when she heard another sound behind her and snapped her head to the side to see three more boars slowly trot out of the greenery where the original had come from.

As soon as the beasts spotted her, they snarled and charged toward her. She quickly threw her grimoire into the air, where it began to float and thrust out her other hand, forcing another cluster of shards to burst out of the ground, forming a second wall which the beasts tackled in her place. "Tch, I must have encroached on their territory...!" She ground out, clenching both her fists tightly as cracks began to form in her frozen structures.

With the way they had attacked, she had more-or-less trapped herself within a circle of icy pillars; and without her protective gear, she knew she would not be able to stay there long, nor climb out without risking severe burns. She surmised that the boars were protected from the freezer burn effect of her magic thanks to their thick fur and fiery tusks, so she knew they would outlast her, even if they didn't manage to break past her defenses.

She had to think fast, or she would end up dead. Her eyes darted from one fractured point to the other as she tried to come up with some sort of escape plan.

Then an idea struck her in time with the sound of the ice cracking once again, and her eyes widened. She could create a staircase of ice, so to speak. If she packed the shards together tightly enough, it would be harder to destroy, and she would be able to elevate herself far enough to escape the circle and in turn the forest itself.

However, this plan would be risky. Not only would she have to outrun the boars once she landed on the other side, but if she made one wrong move, she would be impaled by her own magic.

Though at that point, she didn't really have a choice as a large chunk of the clustered wall around her fell and the top half of the original boar came into view.

Knowing she was on borrowed time, she let out a curse and slammed her hands into the ground as her grimoire glowed brighter and flipped to a new page. Her shards burst out of the ground as the ones protecting her began to crumble with ease, since she was no longer reinforcing them with magic power.

With every new shard she created, they packed together tighter and tighter until they were basically rough blocks of practically indestructible ice. Just as the block finished building and a second began to form, the page that had opened glowed brighter and filled to the brim with black text, a new spell for the new mage.

She felt the ground beneath her tremble and it forced a small smirk to tug at the corner of her lips. "Dry-Ice Creation Magic: Unbreakable Pillar!" And with those words, the ground beneath her split, and she cried out in pain as a large block of smooth ice lifted her away from danger, burning her hands which came in direct contact with the dangerously cold material.

Thankfully, she had acted in the knick of time, as she was lifted above the wall just as it crumbled under the intense assault of the boars. They looked around, confused at her sudden disappearance, but when she went to remove her hands she yelped as she peeled off a layer of skin against the frozen scaffolding; the beasts snapped their attention upwards and let out a mighty roar before they began tackling the pillar itself.

Oh, that's just great!

Now she was stuck on a platform above the beasts and had no way of getting down. The stress of the situation clouded her mind and made it hard to focus, so she knew creating more pillars would only put her at risk further. She had to figure out a way to get down, now!

That is when the largest of the swines, the one that attacked her first, scraped its trotters off the ground before it barrelled towards the support beam at full speed. It slammed into the pillar so hard it shook from bottom to top, the sudden tremors caused Lucia to slip against the icy surface and she toppled over the edge. A shrill scream tore through the once peaceful forest as she plummetted down towards the waiting monsters below.

'Dammit! I don't have a choice!'

With what little concentration she could muster, she gripped her grimoire and thrust her hand out towards the pillar. When she clenched her open palm into a fist, an icy platform seemed to grow from the one she had initially created, before it extended beneath her, forcing her to land on its hard surface to avoid a fatal fall into the tusks of the large pigs.

Of course, the moment she landed, her bare arm made contact with the ice, causing the woman to cry out once again as she felt the stinging, intense pain of sheer cold shoot through her nerves. While she had stopped herself from falling to her death, the pain she felt made her acutely aware that she was still in danger.

With a grunt, the woman opened a single eye and leaned over to look down from her platform. The boars were still attacking the base of her pillar, and by the looks of it, small cracks were starting to form. If they continued their primitive headbutting, she would soon find herself within their grasp, and would never see her siblings, or her parents, again.

'I refuse to die here...!' She thought stubbornly as she gritted her teeth and pulled herself up, tearing off some skin as it had fused to the frigid block. Once she was on her feet, she gripped her arm and hissed as both her injured palm and bicep screamed in pain, causing her entire form to buzz from the adrenaline she felt rushing through her.

'C'mon, think, think, think!' She felt the entire platform shake and looked down to see a larger crack forming at the base of her only means of safety. Perhaps her only options were, to continue building the platforms down until she reached the floor, then run? Or use her Shard Barrage to impale the boars and end their senseless territorial aggression once and for all?

Either way, both options were risky in her current state, and she knew one way or another, she would end up needing urgent medical care since these were the situations that usually lead to her impaling herself with her own magic in the process.

But what other choice did she have? It was either risk it all to escape, or let the boars end her life there and then.

'It looks like I'm out of options.'

Just as she positioned herself to send out a flurry of ice shards, she heard the sound of trees falling and turned around to see a strange fireball burst out from the foliage and into the air. At first, she thought it was one of the other boars trying to join in her demise, but as she continued to watch the small flame move, she realized there was actually a person inside it.

"Dante...?" She mumbled, only to wobble and drop to her knees when the pillar beneath her cracked once again. One more hit and she was done for!

The flame bounced from tree to tree before it jumped up high in the air, revealing the person inside was not her squadmate, but a woman who looked similar to her in age. Her red hair was tied tightly in a ponytail, and she wore a loose-fitting blue jacket with yellow trims, a white shirt, and white pants that lead to a pair of black and yellow boots.

Before Lucia could even question who the woman was, she used mana to change her directory mid-fall and dove down towards the boars, punching one of them into the ground with a growl. She then went on and fought every single swine that had threatened the Ice Queen's life.

The boars roared and charged at her, but the woman only laughed as she reared back her fist and slammed it into the boar's skull, sending the poor beast flying backward into one of its buddies before the two of them continued on the first boar's original trajectory back into the shrubs they came from.

'Who is this woman?' Lucia asked silently as she watched the strange female fighter take on another boar, grabbing it by the tusks as it rushed towards her. She skidded to a stop and the two remained there, stuck in some strange sort of strange wrestling position. However, the icy mage's eyes widened as she noticed the final boar, the original one, sneaking up on her nameless heroine without the other woman noticing. "Look out!" She yelled down, causing the stranger to perk up.

However, just as her redheaded savior punched the one boar away, only to turn and confront the other one, an ice shard burst out of the ground and impaled the beast, causing it to cry out as it fought against the painful burns searing against its internal organs before it flopped down dead from the overwhelming agony. Both women stood there as the dust settled, both breathless and sweating from their tussle with the native wildlife.

Silence seemed to pass between them for a moment as Lucia stared down at her unknown heroine. Just who was this woman, and why had she so easily bested the beasts Lucia had struggled against?

Was she even human?!

"Hey!"

The woman's deep voice jolted Lucia out of her mental musings and she focused on the woman beneath, who stood with her hands on her hips, looking up at the ice mage with an arched brow and a fang poking out of her curious pout. "You alright up there?"

Lucia blinked back her amazement and nodded, only to realize she was a bit too far away for her silent affirmations to be seen properly. "Yes, I'm fine!" She called back but made no move to get down.

Her body was still trembling, she could not risk forming any more ice at that moment. All she could do was keep the pillar steady with her mana and hope she would be able to maintain it long enough for her pain to ebb even a little so she could concentrate. She did not like the idea of being rescued, then accidentally killing herself with a mishandled shard.

That would be utterly humiliating.

When she made no attempt to get down, the woman's brow perked up a little higher, though it was hard to tell, given the distance. "Then why don't you get down here? A pathetic bunch of swines like that shouldn't have drained your mana too much, you should have plenty to get yourself back on the ground!"

Lucia felt her cheeks begin to burn as she pouted and averted her gaze, still gripping her injured arm. "I'll have you know, those boars were far more formidable than you made them appear! I'll be down once my mana recharges a little."

The woman huffed, only to notice the large crack in the pillar and smirk. Lucia saw that mischievous look in her eyes, but before she could question the woman's actions, she swiftly punched the breaking base with her flaming fist, shattering the tightly packed ice with ease.

Lucia let out a shrill scream as the entire structure tilted and fell like a tree being cut from its roots. She slipped off her platform and began hurtling towards the ground below. However, before she could even register the fall, or how she would stop her imminent demise, a large paw made from flames shot up and curled around her waist, gripping her tightly and halting her descent.

"There!" The woman stated proudly, hands back on her hips as she grinned up at the very confused and positively terrified recruit. "Problem solved!"

Lucia's cheeks only darkened as she was lowered to the ground and set down on her feet beside the redhead who had so brazenly assisted her twice already. Once the shock had worn off, she realized she was still being held by the paw and began to struggle out of the hold, giving the woman the cue she needed to release her. Only once the fiery limb had let her go completely, did it shrink back into the flaming aura around the woman, which simmered down into nothing. "Such a rough solution wasn't necessary..." The icy noble grumbled, glaring up at the taller woman with a stubborn pride that rivaled even that of the Crimson Lion Kings.

The woman merely shrugged. "Well, you're on the ground now, so it shouldn't matter how you got there." She let one of her hands drop as she placed all her weight on one foot. "As long as you're alright at the end of it."

The ice mage grumbled but begrudgingly nodded along. The stranger had a point, she had saved her from a long wait, and did so without causing her further harm. So it seemed fair that she received some sort of recognition for her efforts. "Well, I believe gratitude is-." However, before she could say anything else, a sharp twinge of pain shot through her arm and she grunted, gripping it tighter with her injured hand.

The fiery young woman noticed the other woman's discomfort and glanced at her arm, then her hand, then the other hand that rested at her side. She saw intense burns and even some peeled skin along her palm and bicep. Without giving Lucia time to recover, the woman grabbed her good arm and started dragging her towards the thicket. "Come with me." She stated simply, not bothering to elaborate further.

"What are you doing?! Unhand me!" Lucia complained, trying to wriggle out of the other person's grip. However, her hold was strong, unbelievably so. How much power did this one young mage possess?!

They reached a clearing, with the other woman clearly ignoring Lucia's protests, and the icy rookie simmered down in surprise as she looked out at a large, luxurious hot spring surrounded by leafy plants and even a cobblestone wall that had crumbled along the edges. Had a spa once resided here, left to rot after tensions between the four kingdoms began to rise?

"This Hot Spring is connected to Yultim Volcano, and despite the distance and impurities that have made their way into this vein of water, it still has the restorative power needed to soothe your burns." The woman explained as she lead Lucia to the warm pond and finally let go of her wrist, leaving the woman standing there, still surprised as she glanced down only to see a faint mark where she had been held and dragged.

So not only was this woman blatantly rude for ignoring her but some sort of superhuman too? What fresh hell had she landed herself in now?

Lucia pouted at the mark and watched as the woman crouched down and pulled a cloth from the satchel she was carrying. After allowing the fabric to sink under the clear pool, she picked it up and wrung out any excess fluid to ensure she didn't soak the injury. "There, this should be more than enough to ease your pain." She said as she stood up and turned, holding out the soothing towel for Lucia to take.

Lucia looked at the cloth, then at the stranger. "Thank you for assisting me back there..." She said though she looked anything but grateful. She detested being helped by others, and it showed in her expression. "However, I believe your method of...securing my descent onto the ground was rather unnecessary."

The woman laughed and crossed her arms, flashing the lilac-haired noble a fanged grin. "Oh yeah? It looked pretty necessary to me! You were standing there like a helpless squirrel in a tree, it was only a matter of time before a hawk swooped down and snatched you up."

This made the noble bristle, and she opened her mouth to retort as she went to grab the cloth. However, as soon as her hand made contact with the fabric, she hissed and dropped it, feeling an intense surge of pain from her fingertips to her wrist. "Agh!"

The redhead's thick brow arched upwards as Lucia gripped her wrist. Her sharp, royal blue eyes inspected the red and blistered skin on the other woman's palm for a moment, before the stranger crouched down and scooped up the cloth. Before Lucia could really do anything, or complain; her wrist had been grasped and pulled towards the older mage, who began to carefully dab the injury with the cloth, which in turn made Lucia want to curse as small dapples of pain sprinkled over her nerves.

"Look, I don't need-" Lucia started, only for the other woman to interrupt before she could really protest.

"Did the boars do this to you?" She asked, finishing with one hand before she took Lucia's other arm and began dabbing the wound over her bicep. "I knew their flame magic was strong here, but these burns are far too intense to be inflicted by such a simple beast."

The noble woman's cheeks almost exploded with a red blush as she glared down at the ground. She refused to explain her sudden embarrassment, and at first, the stranger's eyebrows knitted together curiously, before they shot up in realization.

Her ice magic...? Had she burned her own skin?

"Your magic did this?" The stubborn heroine asked, carefully moving on to the injury on Lucia's palm, which made the embarrassed noble jump a little as her sensitive nerves complained. "For ice to become so cold it'd burn the flesh... Only a fool would use such a skill without proper training."

Those words made the short-haired rookie scowl as she yanked her hand out of the other woman's grip and crossed them, so insulted by her words that she hadn't realized that the agony she felt was subsiding. "How dare you!" She seethed, glaring up at the taller woman. "To criticize someone so casually... Just who do you think you are?!"

"You want to know my name?" The stranger asked, her lips curling up, allowing her singular fang to poke out from her top lip as she too crossed her arms. She felt amusement bubble up inside her, and when she spoke again, that energy flowed out into her voice, giving it a booming volume that scared birds out of trees. "Very well. I am Mereoleona Vermillion, a Clover Kingdom royal, and the first-born heir of House Vermillion!"

As soon as that name left Mereoleona's lips, Lucia felt her blood run cold as shock slowly settled across her features, smoothing away her anger. This made the royal before her bark out a laugh and forced the noble's blush to return full force as she averted her gaze, seething silently.

She had just snapped at one of the Clover Kingdom's most promising mages. Not only that, a royal, no less!

Talk about sullying her family name... Now she'd really messed up.

"Oh? What's the matter?" The royal heir asked, tilting her head to the side as her eyes danced with glee. This new person was fun to tease, that was for sure. "Does my name intimidate you so much that you cower like a little mouse before a mighty lion? Where's that fire I saw in you a moment ago?"

Lucia's lips curled back as she clenched her jaws tightly together. She was angry at both herself and the Vermillion woman who had rescued her. How could she allow herself to get into such a serious situation? Piercely was right, she should have stayed home!

Mereoleona watched as the noble woman's expression shifted into a serious frown and she lowered herself onto one knee with a hand against her chest. This made the feral mage's brow twitch upwards, and her smile fell.

"My apologies, Lady Mereoleona... If I had known I was in the presence of such a well-respected member of House Vermillion, I wouldn't have raised my voice so carelessly." Lucia stated, closing her eyes as she kept her voice neutral if not a little softer to seem more respectful. "My name is Lady Lucia Flurris, the first-born heir to House Flurris. It is an honor to finally meet you in person."

"For a noble, you have poor mana control." Was the first thing out of Mereoleona's mouth after a beat of silence, and it made Lucia bristle, though she tried to keep herself from retorting by biting her tongue.

"Yes, the magic my family commands tends to argue back on occasion." The ice mage ground out as she slowly got to her feet once again, crossing her arms as she stood there, locking eyes with the royal. "And I am but a fledgling Magic Knight, with time I will conquer the trials of my magic and gain the same control my father is known for. Now, if you don't mind me asking..." She looked around at the empty clearing occupied by only them and a soothing hot spring. "Why is someone as well-respected and valuable out here near the borders alone? Shouldn't you have guards with you?"

Mereoleona barked out another laugh, and the booming volume almost caused Lucia to jump in surprise. "I don't need guards to slow me down!" She announced, relaxing her stance as she placed a hand on her hip. "Nor do I have the patience for cramped castles and stuffy events. No... My home is here, among the beasts of the forest and the relentless challenges of the Strong Magic Regions!"

The woman she had met was loud, boisterous, and very difficult to understand. Much like her squadmate, but the energy she exuded was far more dominating, confident and almost feral in nature.

Perhaps that was why she was recently hailed as the Uncrowned, Undefeated Lioness because she exuded the unmistakable aura of a proud lioness in a field filled with prey. She ruled over the land, and it in turn provided her with what she needed to grow stronger.

Mereoleona then glanced down at the cloth she still held in her hand, spotting only a small spattering of blood upon the white fabric. The burns had been so intense they had cauterized the wounds, she had heard that the Flurris family commanded magic that caused such intense cold it seemed to burn the flesh of those who touched it, but she had never seen such magic used in person. "So you use dry-Ice magic, like your father?" She asked, stuffing the cloth in her satchel, planning on cleaning it later, when she wasn't in the middle of training.

"Yes, it is an unforgiving form that spews out a toxic gas to any who inhale it." She looked at her pink palms and her arm, where they were healing quite nicely, but still looked very sore. When she looked up again, she swore she saw a glint of excitement in Mereoleona's eyes but continued anyway. "As such, I usually wear protective clothing while using my magic in battle. I never expected to run into a pack of boars this close to the border, so I was prone to burning myself if I used my magic in my current attire."

"I see." The royal woman said, looking Lucia up and down for a moment, causing the younger noble to shift where she stood, uncomfortable under her scrutiny. However, without missing a beat, Mereoleona went from intensely staring, to clenching her fists as she allowed her flames to engulf her, surrounding her in a burning aura that had Lucia staggering back in surprise. "Alright! Let's see what you're made of!"

"Wh-what?!" Lucia gasped, lifting her hand in front of her face as the heat of the flames licked at her cheeks. "What did you say?!"

"I said, let's spar! I want to see what you're made of!"

"Are you sure that's wise?!" Was this woman insane?!

"Why not?" The mad woman grinned, eyes wide with a wild excitement Lucia had only heard stories of. "I've wanted to fight your father for a long time, but his duties made it impossible to approach him! This is perfect, now I can experience dry-ice magic firsthand!"

The Ice Queen almost dropped to the floor in shock as she felt sweat slide down her cheek. 'Yes, she is definitely mad!' She thought, eyes wide as her mouth parted slightly. 'Does she really think she could take on my father, a Grand Magic Knight, at her current level?!'

"You can't be serious..." She said, shaking her head as she slowly lowered her hand from in front of her face. "Do you have a death wish?!"

Oh hell, she didn't mean to say that out loud!

However, her embarrassment over the slip-up was short-lived as her question made Mereoleona laugh. "I am serious!" She roared, scaring yet more birds from their perches among the trees. "I have never feared death! Those who are willing to jump headfirst into the flames will emerge stronger, and I will fight any magic sent my way if it means I will reach the peak of my potential!"

The level-headed young adult had to admit that her hot-headed superior had a point. She only ever made rapid improvements when she was struck with a life-or-death situation. Whether that was a mission or a boar attack, it didn't matter. When she had to fight to survive, she found wells of strength within her that she never even knew existed before.

Perhaps a spar with a royal heir would be another stepping stone for her to unlock her own potential.

It was certainly worth a shot.

Lucia hummed and rolled her shoulder, then clenched her fists, pleasantly surprised when she realized that the pain in her arm and hands had subsided completely. The restorative waters Mereoleona had used seemed to work quite well. She wondered how well the Yultim Hot Spring soothed burns if the tainted spring on the edge of a forest did this much already?

"Very well." Lucia finally relented.. "I'll accept your challenge, however..." Her eyes hardened and Mereoleona arched a brow. "Under no circumstances are you to touch the ice with your bare hands. You've seen how intensely they burn the flesh. I will not sleep well tonight if I cause you irreparable damage."

"Do you doubt my abilities?" The redhead asked, her lips curling into a toothy, confident grin. "My magic has been enhanced many times since I gained my grimoire at fifteen, I assure you, your ice magic will do little to waver my strength!"

'Of course, she'd say that...' Lucia sweatdropped, pinching the bridge of her nose as she felt a headache forming. 'Is this really Mereoleona Vermillion? She's far more... exhausting in the flesh than they make her out to be in the rumors.'

"There's a clearing to the north that should suit us well..." Mereoleona said, slowly simmering her flames back down as she turned and walked away from the hot spring. "Show me what you've got, and don't hold back."

"Yes, Ma'am." Lucia nodded, quickly jogging to catch up to the rather fast lioness.

Soon they entered a clearing that was large and circular, perfect for such a simple, yet heart-pounding sparring session. Mereoleona stood on one side of the clearing while Lucia walked to the other side and turned to face her temporary training partner.

"The first one to take a hit loses the match." The royal stated arms crossed as she smirked and just... stood there. Was she even taking this seriously?! "And since I'm feeling generous, I'll let you be the first to attack. If you hold back, I'll make you regret it!"

"I had no intentions of doing so, prepare yourself," Lucia said, before she pulled her grimoire out of its holster, opening it up to the page she used most. "Dry-Ice Magic: Shard Barrage!" She thrust out her hand and Mereoleona watched as the ground shook before large spires of ice burst out of the Earth, breaking through one-by-one in a straight trajectory towards her standing form.

That is when the redhead's smirk twisted into a crazed grin and she uncrossed her arms, palms up as she allowed her mana to spill out of her, engulfing her in flames once again. However, unlike the last time, she kicked off in a run towards the shards, and easily jumped over them as one tried to burst out beneath her feet.

Lucia's eyes widened and she quickly formed a wall of icy shards as Mereoleona reared back to punch her square in the face. However, to her horror, the crystal-like barrier shattered almost immediately as the fiery royal's fist burst through the solid wall with ease.

And the worst part was, there wasn't a single burn on the woman's knuckles or fist. Her flames had protected her from any damage.

Seeing that she was in a bind, Lucia cursed and ducked down, slamming her hands into the ground as Mereo rushed at her once again. "Dry-Ice Creation Magic: Unbreakable Pillar!" With that, she was lifted into the air by a large, compact block of ice, forcing the other woman to grin madly as she kicked off in a mad dash up the perfectly vertical surface. "Wh-what?!"

"Is that all you've got?!" The royal asked, her grimoire finally making an appearance as she neared the startled younger woman. "Let me show you real power! Flame Magic: Calidos Brachium!"

Lucia felt the air around her singe from the heat of the woman's fist, but she refused to allow herself to lose a fight that quickly. Instead, she clenched her stinging fist tightly and Mereoleona made a noise of surprise when the pillar started to extend horizontally, forcing her to leave her fighting stance and regain her balance as distance was put between the two.

"I will not be bested so quickly!" The lilac mage spat, glaring at her stronger peer as she thrust her hand out once again. "Shard Barrage!"

The platform she stood on began to spike and rise, creating stalagmites of ice that quickly headed towards the other woman. Mereoleona huffed out a laugh and kicked off the smooth pillar, free-falling towards the faraway ground below. This shocked the ice mage, who quickly stepped forward as if to help the woman who would be fatally injured if she made contact with the dirt.

However, she didn't get the chance to do anything before Mereoleona flipped in the air and her fiery magic surged, expanding the fireball surrounding her. Then suddenly, the ball grew small in size as the flame user was shot forward, now hurtling upwards, straight towards the icy mage who worried for her safety a mere moment ago.

Lucia gasped and quickly staggered back to avoid the woman, only to fall off her own platform. But she wouldn't be bested, not yet. "Unbreakable Pillar!" She called out, clenching her fists towards the ground as she watched a large block burst out of the earth and rush towards her. She managed to turn herself enough that she landed on one knee against the ice, but her palms still made contact, causing her to hiss as they immediately stung from the burns they already had and were receiving.

Gritting her teeth, the Ice Queen glared up at Mereoleona who managed to change her trajectory in mid-air and was now falling towards Lucia once again, a wild glint in her royal blue eyes. 'Not yet!' The younger woman thought as she got to her feet. "I won't lose!"

"Then show me what you're made of!" The redhead reared back as she clenched her fist tightly, grimoire open behind her. "Show me what makes your magic special!"

Lucia smirked and dropped her hand to her side, while the other remained closed against her chest. "Allow me to give you a demonstration!" And with that, she relaxed her fist, and Mereoleona watched with mild surprise as the ice pillars began to dissolve, quickly surrounding both Lucia and Mereoleona in a mist that was almost impossible to see through.

Mereoleona slammed her fist into the space that Lucia had once stood on, and pulled her knuckles free of the ice, just as it crumbled beneath her. Once the redhead landed carefully on the ground below, she turned as she felt the mana in the air surge behind her, and spun around in time to see Lucia standing with her hand outstretched.

"Shard Barrage!"

Ice spikes tore from the ground below, quickly approaching Mereoleona who laughed and got into her usual fighting stance, ready to block and evade every projectile sent her way. "This is more like it, I want to see what makes House Flurris stand out among the other nobles!"

However, before Lucia could retort, one of her shards burst out of the ground at a backward angle and sliced deep into her shoulder, causing her to gasp as pain shot through each and every nerve in her right arm. Mereoleona's excited expression melted into surprise, and Lucia's magic dissolved around them as she gripped her arm with her burning palm and staggered back, away from the melting ice that injured her.

"Dammit...!" She ground out, one eye squeezed shut as she tried to fight through the waves of pain. According to Mereoleona's rules, the first person to take a hit loses the match. Her own lofty control had cost her one of the most exciting sparring sessions she had ever taken part in.

"I'm impressed!" Mereoleona called out, getting Lucia's attention as the royal heiress slowly walked towards her. "Not many can counter my attacks, or surprise me the way you did!" She pulled the white, stained cloth from her satchel, which thankfully still held some moisture inside. "Most would have failed within the first thirty seconds, but you managed to last at least one minute against me."

The Ice Queen scoffed, glaring at the Lioness as she extended her hand out, offering the younger woman the cloth. "I'm fine." She stated stubbornly, looking away as she held her arm tightly. She could feel a small trickle of blood, but the wound had cauterized itself against the ice, so she knew it would only be a matter of time before it healed naturally.

That was another scar across her flesh to remind her of her failure.

Her refusal caused Mereoleona to arch a brow, and her smirk fell into a frown, her fang poking out from her top lip. "And why would you say that? You allowed me to help you before, don't you need my help now as well?"

Lucia felt her cheeks darken a little as she made a note of her raw palms and cut shoulder. While she knew she needed help, she once again refused. "At the time, I was unable to tend to my wounds alone, therefore I deemed it necessary to request your aid. This wound is merely a cut, so I don't think it needs any urgent attention." She swallowed the dryness in her throat left from her gaseous ice as the smog slowly dissipated around them. "I don't make a habit of asking others for help, I see no reason to burden others with my health when there are far more important things to worry about during a mission. I am not weak, so I will not fall in battle."

She felt the lioness' gaze remain on her for a moment before she glanced back and felt her blood run cold at the intense irritation she could see spreading across the older woman's features. She half expected the hotheaded mage to send her flying across the clearing, but instead, she only jumped in surprise when the redhead set the cloth alight, burning it to a cinder.

Of course, that was more terrifying than the idea of being punched across a forest. That cloth had been dampened by the waters of the hot spring. Usually, damp objects didn't ignite, so how hot did this woman's flames have to get to not only evaporate the water but ignite and cremate the cloth she held?!

Lucia was glad none of Mereoleona's attacks had hit her. The burns from her magic would be pathetic in comparison to the damage the Vermillion royal could have inflicted.

"I was wrong about you," Mereoleona stated, her tone as cold as her blue eyes. "It looks like you're just another fool, too busy relishing in the glory of battle to tend to your own wounds."

The younger, less-experienced mage stepped back, feeling a sting in the royal's words.

"You were offered help, but refused it like it was optional." Mereoleona crossed her arms, glaring down at Lucia as her lips curled back into a snarl. "Only arrogant imbeciles would continue to fight without tending to their wounds! Do you want to die, to leave your friends to wallow in your loss while they fight to save their own lives? What if your next injury is far more serious than a cut, do you intend to refuse help from a healer, to let yourself bleed out and die for nothing?!"

Lucia felt each word hit her like a sharp dagger, and her own stubborn expression faltered slightly under the intense scoldings of the older mage. Her words stung because they were far too familiar for her liking. While they were different in execution, the message was still the same.

Mereoleona was giving her the exact same advice the Wizard King had given her, the same advice she had debated on following as she headed off for her morning jog.

The royal huffed as she saw the change in Lucia's expression, good, her words had gotten through to her, even just a little. Finally, the cloth fizzled out in the redhead's hand and she dropped the charred remains on the ground below before she dusted the soot off her hands. "...Why did you become a Magic Knight?" She suddenly asked, once again taking her younger peer by surprise.

Honestly, Lucia had no idea how to respond to Mereoleona's question at first, taken aback by the suddenness of the ask. However, the more she thought about her response, the more guarded she became, which Mereoleona could see, plain as day. "So you won't tell me?" The woman asked, arching a brow as if bemused by her stubbornness.

This made the ice mage bristle as she forced back the blush she felt rising. "My reasons are mine alone!" She stated, crossing her arms despite the wince of pain she felt. "However, I can tell you this... I may be considered a fool in your eyes, but my resolve will not waver. I will do what I can to reach my goals, whatever it takes, whether that means I have to accept help from others or not, I will not let something so trivial stand in my way!"

With her declaration filling the air around them, a silence seemed to engulf the area, and Lucia felt a drop of sweat slide down the side of her head as Mereoleona stared down at her, analyzing her words and expressions with the intensity of a lioness observing her prey. For a second, Lucia felt the need to brace herself, in case the woman suddenly started yelling at her again for refusing to answer, but she was surprised when Mereoleona's frown twisted into a smirk.

"Perhaps you're not such a fool, after all." She said lightly as her blue eyes locked with Lucia's orange ones. "I knew there was a fire in your eyes!" She shrugged as she crossed her arms. "Whatever your reasons are for joining the Magic Knights, I can see that you have the guts to face all hardships head-on to achieve your goals."

Lucia was surprised that Mereoleona took her refusal to elaborate so well, and she watched as her temporary training partner looked up at the sky for a moment. "There's nothing stronger than a determined woman." She continued, before returning her gaze to her icy acquaintance. "I can hear your conviction, and I believe you have what it takes to reach your ambitions, whatever they may be."

Upon hearing those words, something in the younger woman's chest began to flutter. Despite not knowing what her goals were, Mereoleona said it with such confidence that she too couldn't help but believe it. She felt respect blossoming for the older, yet far more reckless mage, and she wondered just how many others had been inspired by her odd mannerisms and powerful speeches.

However, she didn't get to dwell on that for long, as Mereoleona spoke again, and once again, at a volume that scared the birds from the trees. "Since you can't control your magic, I'll just have to train you!" She blurted out. That sentence caused Lucia to short circuit a little. First, she was helping her, then she was fighting her, then she was scolding her and now she wanted to travel with her.

If Lucia's brain had been a machine, sparks would be flying out of her ears from the mental gymnastics she had to perform to understand the older woman's erratic behavior.

"Join me in my travels." Mereoleona continued, punching her own palm as she felt herself swell with energy at the idea of a regular sparring partner. "With a little time and an intensive training regimen, I can have you shifting mountains with the strength of your magic power!"

While the noble knew that was an exaggeration, the way Mereoleona said it made her wonder if she had actually achieved such a feat herself.

However, she still shook her head. "While I hold the utmost respect for you and your power, Lady Mereoleona, I only have a month's vacation-."

"That's perfect! A deadline will only strengthen your resolve and speed up your progress!" The woman's grin only widened as she began to get excited over the prospect of a training session with the daughter of the famous Wintre Flurris. "I won't take no for an answer, by the time I'm through with you, you'll be the strongest rookie in your entire squad!"

Lucia felt the futility in her refusal, and let out a heavy sigh as she looked down at her jogging gear. 'So much for a short jog...' She thought, before she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them to reveal the fire that Mereoleona had seen prior to their battle. "Alright, I accept your offer, Lady Mereoleona!" She clenched her fists, ignoring the sting of pain she felt from her raw palms. "Please teach me how to utilize my magic so that I may continue to serve the Clover Kingdom with pride!"

"That's more like it!" The fiery Vermillion clenched her fists as well as she extended her arms a little, taking on a more aggressive, yet energetic stance. "We'll leave immediately!"

This caused the icy mage to falter. "Wait..." She started, causing her new mentor's smile to fall as she quirked a brow. "Is it possible for me to delay our departure long enough for me to inform my family? They're already waiting for me."

"Hm." The woman's fiery aura died down and she straightened up, crossing her arms as she smirked a little. "I don't see why not. Alright, we'll meet by the hot spring at sundown. Don't be late!"

Lucia saluted the woman, slamming her hand against her chest with three fingers pointing outwards. "Yes, Ma'am!"

She had to admit, Mereoleona had a way of firing people up.

With said fire raging within her, she spun around and began jogging back out of the forest, no longer bothered by the pain in her arm and hands. If she could grow strong enough to reach her goal, then she would take as many ice shards to her skin as she could, she would endure it all until she stood tall, protecting the future generation so that they could build a better world.

She glanced behind her as she slowed down, just in time to watch as Mereoleona ignited herself once again and kicked off, diving high into the air before she fell back down, vanishing within the thick brush around them. A small smirk twitched against Lucia's lips, as she did a one-eighty and continued until she returned to the dirt path where her broom was hidden away.

Only a fool would give up the opportunity to be trained by a royal, and she was no fool.

~CR~

"Are you sure this is a good idea, Lady Lucia?"

Lucia stood in her large room within the Flurris manor, strapping a folded tent onto the large backpack she had bought specifically for her trip. Once she had returned home, she told her family about her training opportunity, and immediately began preparing for the trip, even going so far as the skip breakfast.

Thankfully, her butler had at least convinced her to stop for long enough to eat some lunch, and now, in the late afternoon, she was making the final adjustments to leave before the sunset.

"While I agree that the Vermillion family are among the strongest magic users within the country, you'd be giving up your rare break just to work yourself to the bone!" Piercely stated, standing in the doorway as he continued with his concerned ramblings.

Lucia sighed and stopped for long enough to meet the concerned butler's eyes. She had a softer than usual expression, but the warmth in her eyes wasn't from kindness, but determination. "I'm sure, Piercely." She said simply before she went back to tugging on the straps keeping the tent in place. "I would be an idiot if I didn't take this chance! Any magic knight would be lucky to be offered the opportunity to train with a member of the royal family since their magic is at the highest level among the people who call this country home."

Finally, she clipped the straps in place and slung the bag over her shoulder, now garbed in her usual attire, minus the Grey Deer cloak she usually adorned. While she had considered taking it originally, she didn't want it to get damaged or dirty. It was a symbol of pride, after all, she wasn't about to tarnish it outside of a serious mission. "I understand your concern, considering the rumors floating around Mereoleona's name, but you don't have to fret, I am sure my ice magic will provide a good blocker for anything she throws at me."

Piercely's frown deepened as he watched her walk past him and out of the room. He knew he couldn't stop her, and sighed as he turned to follow her, only for the two to falter when they saw Gracia and Wintre stood at the end of the hall.

"Mother, father..." Lucia piped up, a little surprised by their sudden appearance. "Is something the matter?"

"We're just here to bid you farewell, Luci," Wintre stated, while Piercely had been concerned, he was glowing with pride, though his expression remained mostly neutral.

Gracia let her motherly smile tug against her lips as she walked over to her daughter and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "Oh, we're going to miss you, Dear." She said, placing both hands on her shoulders. "Be sure to listen to everything Lady Mereoleona says, I'm sure her advice will be a valuable asset as you rise in the ranks! Maybe you'll even outrank those commoners you're working with, hm?"

While she heard the joke in her mother's tone, the way she said 'commoner' almost seemed to rub Lucia the wrong way. It was strange, considering only half a year ago she was using that same word as an insult. Apparently, her distaste over the word was noticeable, because the older Flurris woman immediately waved her hand dismissively.

"Oh, I'm only teasing!" She giggled. "In all seriousness, I've long since stopped caring about a person's social standing. Your father spoke greatly of your actions during the Distinguished Service Ceremony." She glanced at her husband who nodded, still smirking. "Those three have been a blessing in disguise! I just hope you can grow to stand on equal footing to them so that you can all help each other during your many, many missions!"

"I'm sure she will, Gracie." Wintre confirmed, nodding his head swiftly.

Thank you, mother, father." The softening ice mage said, giving them both a gentle smile that almost perfectly mirrored her mother's. "I'll be sure to take mental notes during my training."

"Good." Gracia continued, pulling the younger Flurris into a tight embrace. "I do wish you could stay for your birthday, we had such a wonderful party planned for you!"

"Gracie." Wintre started, getting his wife's attention as he shook his head. "Don't make her feel guilty, she is doing what must be done to improve herself so that she may one day be the protector of our children. A birthday party seems trivial in comparison, does it not?"

Lucia let out a quiet laugh, which made her mother pout. "Oh hush, you two." She whined, crossing her arms as she stepped back. "A mother wants to experience all her child's milestones, and a birthday is one of them!"

"Yes, but my next milestone isn't until I'm twenty-one. The twins' birthday comes before my own in regards to importance."

"Oh yes, I wanted to ask you about that." Gracia tilted her head to the side. "Will you be able to make it to their birthday party? Your schedule is always so packed, I worry you'll miss out on this important moment."

Lucia shook her head. "Trust me, I wouldn't miss it for the world." She said, walking over to the maids, looking at her baby siblings who cooed and reached out to her. "They'll be one in four months, I want them to see me then, just like they did the day they were born." She gently kissed the two toddlers on their foreheads, before she stepped away and looked back at her parents and trusted butler. "But for now, I must head off, otherwise Mereoleona will likely leave without me."

Wintre chuckled. "Yes, many tell tales of her impatience. Go, we will see you on the night of your return."

"And we'll be sure to have a cake ready for you! Even if we can't celebrate on your birthday itself, I want you to have some sort of party, even if it's just us."

Lucia's soft smile only widened as she turned and began to walk down the steps towards the large entryway. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

She then opened the doors leading out to the gardens and grabbed her broom that was resting against the wall. With a deep inhale, and a steadied resolve, she climbed atop the straw-tied branch and flew off into the sky, leaving behind her mother and father who stepped out and waved as she vanished within the clouds.

"Oh. I do worry about her Wintre..." Gracia said, hugging into the man's side as he put an arm around her shoulder.

"As do I." He admitted. "However, we have nothing to worry ourselves over anymore... She has been an adult for almost a year and has already done us proud, as long as we continue to support her, she will grow into a fine Magic Knight and an excellent heir to the Flurris title."

Gracia smiled and nodded. "You're right, and even if she doesn't, I'm proud of what she has accomplished already."

"Exactly."

And with that, they turned and walked back into the house, closing the door behind them as they returned to their daily lives, eager to hear of their daughter's return and the adventures she would surely find with the heir to the Vermillion name. Who knows, maybe Mereoleona would teach Lucia something so valuable, it would turn the tide of the girl's future, allowing her to reach even greater heights.

They could only hope that was the case.

~CR~

Lucia slowly made her descent at the entrance to the forest as the sun's vanishing rays began to dim towards darkness. She carefully climbed off her broom and slotted it into its compartment within her expensive camping bag. While she found herself feeling a little nervous over the promised training, she was excited as well.

Mereoleona had a reputation, and if she trained under her, even if it was only for a month, then she would undoubtedly come out stronger in the end. Though, that did mean she would have to endure some of the harshest training methods known to man since the redhead was also very well-known for that as well.

She swallowed the fear in her throat and took a deep breath before she entered the forest, able to steel her nerves by the time she reached the clearing where the hot spring was located. Mereoleona stood in front of it, facing the water with her arms crossed and a red cape billowing out behind her. When Lucia approached, the older woman turned slightly and looked at her over her shoulder, her frown twisting into a smirk when she realized who it was. "I was wondering when you'd show up."

"My apologies, my family wanted to say their goodbyes before I left."

"Hm, I was starting to think you weren't going to show." Mereoleona laughed as she spun around and walked over to meet Lucia in the middle of the clearing, uncrossing her arms as she approached.

"And miss out on the chance to train with one of the country's best mages? I would be a fool to deny myself that opportunity." The Ice Queen stopped in front of her temporary mentor, then turned her attention to their surroundings. "Though I must admit, camping near a hot spring seems far more comfortable than I expected, considering the rumors behind your unorthodox training regimens."

This made the lioness laugh, a booming sound that filled the clearing. "Oh, we're not camping here!" She turned and pointed to the summit of a faraway mountain. "We're going there!"

"Wait, you mean to tell me you want me to carry my heavy equipment up an entire mountain." Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened. "Just to set up camp for one night?!"

"Exactly! Consider it your first lesson!" Mereoleona planted her hands on her hips, grinning boldly. "This will not only improve your stamina and strength but your survival skills as well! Aren't you excited?!"

And with that, Lucia's nerves returned with a vengeance as sweat slid down her cheek. She stared at the faraway point of the mountain and estimated the length of time, and energy it would take to scale it.

'I wonder if it's too late to change my mind.'


A/N: Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, if you did, or have some criticisms for me, please leave a review. Any and all comments help me grow as a writer, and I welcome them all!