'Thoughts'
"Dialogue"
15TH OF NOVEMBER
Winter. The white season of the year filled to the brim with cloud-darkened skies, wet roads, and mushy rooftops was just around the corner. An odd time of year that brought about its fair share of hardship to those moiling to survive, just as it contrastingly served as a much-needed lullaby to those going through a phase of retrospect and slumber. Love or hate it, you couldn't rewrite the workings of this world to your liking. Winter was coming.
However, there still remained some time of normalcy in the year; fall was not past just yet in the Clover Kingdom, there remained leaves to be crunched upon. This one human world could continue its wonted everyday cycle without change for a little longer.
End-of-fall expectant mothers could finally see their children's faces; husbands get to become fathers. Children could attend school for another year and make new friends. Easy experimentation and development of new spells are possible. Young men and women get yet another chance to join the Magic Knights and serve their kingdom. The world continued to move forward nonetheless.
Creature
Chapter 1: Royal Born
06:00 PM – EARLY EVENING
"I can hardly believe it. Yet another year has passed and so quickly too," said a slim and elegant blond-haired woman in a fancy crimson cloak. She sat on a comfortable-looking wooden chair, a circular table ahead of it, in what seemed to be a busy grand hall of sorts with lots of noise.
"Ha, right? It's crazy to think that just yesterday, we were enjoying more delectable food than this filth!" Said a plump man with a mustache and wavy gray hair, also in fancy-looking garments. He sat just ahead of the woman.
"Indeed. These royal-elected chefs are as competent as a sack of peasants. Even little party girl over there looks disappointed," said the woman. The two then simultaneously broke out into a fit of contained laughter.
Soon after, loud clinking sounds echoed throughout the space, gathering the attention of the masses. Everyone ceased talking and turned their attention towards the head table at the forefront of the hall, awaiting the impending speech of the tall and slender woman standing behind it.
The woman's figure was that of an hourglass. She possessed purple eyes; and long, silky silver-colored hair wrapped up into a ponytail which reached down to touch her shoulders, with her center bangs slightly covering her forehead.
She wore a long-sleeve, backless black dress that reached down to cover just above her knees, showcasing her neck and collarbone with its v-neck and revealing just enough cleavage to charm its beholder while maintaining control.
To complement it, she wore a custom-made, sleeveless, silver-colored blazer. It had a backless design with a rounded tailcoat with frilly edges that extended down to her knees, closely resembling the shape of eagle wings. Additionally, she wore black stockings that also featured frilled edges. She stood in silver heeled boots and had cross-like silver pins attached to her blazer near the collarbone area. The onlooking majority of people thought she looked marvelous.
"Ahem…"
"Greetings everyone! I thank you all for so kindly attending this evening. As you all know, today is a special day, with special feelings, for a special someone that we've all grown to look forward to each year; an anniversary, a ceremony. It is a day that blesses us all, recalling years of bygone memories to our minds and rejuvenating us with a glittering hope for the future of our kingdom," the woman said, halting in her speech as she bent a little and reached her left hand down to a little girl. A bashful-looking child; that would undoubtedly be mistaken for her if not for the big difference in height and form.
The little girl, though not looking to her right, but instead resting her small head atop her frail arms on the wooden table, with luxurious food and braided silver locks to either of her sides, took note of the crowd's intent stares. Her constricted eyes widened ever so readily as she gently pressed her lips and lifted her head. She struggled in getting off her chair, which towered over her waist-high point of view.
Realizing that the girl didn't notice her reaching down to help her, the woman initiated physical contact. She gently took hold of her hand and aided her in the leap off of her chair. The girl's face seemed to get red at this; she stood on her feet and further lowered her face.
The woman smiled softly before clearing her throat and continuing her speech, "there we go."
"I, Acier Silva, am delighted to announce that today marks the seventh anniversary of this young child; my beautiful daughter and fourth born, Noelle Silva, who as of now is seven years old! Please, everyone, eat and drink to your heart's content as we of the House Silva have prepared you all this grand celebratory feast!"
The crowd didn't waver to clap and cheer as the woman known as Acier went on to sit, gently planting her daughter back on the chair. Noelle remained silent throughout, her posture illiberal as she focused her gaze on her hand-covered thighs and left her mother to start the conversation.
Acier warmed her daughter's shoulder before speaking. "How are you feeling, Noelle? Do you feel happy?" She asked. Noelle lingered a moment before responding.
"Y-Yes."
Acier was left temporarily speechless before regaining her composure.
"I-Is that so? Well, how about you try some of this food then, hmm? It was specially prepared by the best chefs in the kingdom, just for you!" Acier said, holding a spoon full of meatball spaghetti with tomato sauce to her daughter. It looked professionally made and gave off a mouth-watering aroma that smelled of garlic and onion powder.
With little hesitancy, the young girl accepted her mother's kind offer; and quietly munched upon the food, earning her an equally vivid expression in return. This humble mother-to-daughter interaction seemed to be the final needed trigger to melt the wall of ice Noelle felt between her and her mother.
"Y-You're right! It really is tasty!" Noelle said in between finishing crunches. She adored the cushioning warmth she felt while interacting with her mother and knew she wanted more. She decided to try something similar herself.
"Mother! Here try some of... this..."
"I got it. I'll be over in a minute. Huh...?"
Acier had just finished talking with a man in a teal shirt beneath a silver-winged cloak a few feet away when she thought she heard her daughter's voice. She saw her holding a spoon of food while looking at her; her mouth was slightly agape, as were her eyes wide and open.
"Noelle…?"
"Uh… N-No, it was nothing."
"I see. Well then, have a good time, okay?"
With that, Acier gave a quick smile before she grabbed a similar cloak to the one the man wore from a nearby empty chair as they both left together, leaving Noelle with her three siblings alone at the main table and in charge of the event. Noelle continued to observe the now-closed back door for a few seconds before returning the spoon of food to its appropriate dish and reverting to her original position, hunched over the table with her head atop her arms.
"The food wasn't that good, after all," she mumbled to herself.
A few minutes passed. Noelle sat on her chair, but it felt as if its wood had vanished. She was awake, but she only saw deep-reddened skin and the occasional blue streak beneath it that fogged her mind; she heard sound, but couldn't make anything of it. And for every two times her lungs demanded air, she realized it only once. The attending throng of noblemen gave the girl and her siblings brief looks of varying emotion before breaking eye contact.
The sixteen-year-old Nebra, the second offspring of Acier Silva, who sat at the leftmost edge of the same table, couldn't help but take note of her sister's demeanor; it synergized all too well with the crowd's increasing stares. Abruptly, she shifted focus straight to her sister across the table, in a direct line of sight; her kid brother, to whom she was talking, was startled at this sudden change in atmosphere. From warm eyes and a welcoming smile, none would expect the timeless transition into furrowed eyebrows and stern looks.
"Noelle, behave yourself; people are looking at us! You're ruining our family's reputation!" She said.
Noelle acknowledged her sister's words. She proceeded to follow them. She raised her back up against the chair once more but continued to hang her head, though.
"Right. I am sorry, Sister. I wasn't thinking."
Nebra shrugged her shoulder and turned her attention elsewhere; she looked irritated.
"Elder Brother Nozel, please," Nebra said courteously. She took a quick drink of water before continuing the conversation with her ten-year-old brother, Solid.
"Anyway, Big Sister, could you please tell me what it's been like doing missions in the Magic Knights alongside Elder Brother Nozel?!"
…
The eldest Silva sibling let out a prolonged gust of air, loud enough to be audible to his kid sister, Noelle, who sat to his right. He turned to face her side as she hung her head and began to talk.
"Noelle, is this about Mother leaving?"
He received no audible response but perceived a subtle flinch in her body language.
"Noelle, Mother has important work to do. She strives to make sure you and everyone else can live safely. I thought you knew this alre-"
"I know. I know Big Brother. It isn't about that. I am… I am just... tired is all."
"Then why aren't you eating? You haven't eaten anything since breakfast. Is the food not good enough for you?"
"I am… not hungry."
Upon saying that, Noelle bit her lower lip. Her brother ceased talking. Her peripheral sight of the crowd turned into that of long strands of silver.
'W-What's wrong with me?! I am making everyone worried on my birthday!' She thought.
Several seconds passed. Nozel continued to observe his sister silently and contemplated what to say. He always had difficulty expressing himself throughout his life. Unlike most people, for him, it didn't come naturally. Watching his sister like this while he sat there helplessly reminded him of that; he felt a tightening knot in his abdomen.
As he watched her head sink even lower, however, he felt a sudden lump gather in his throat. He knew he had to say something, anything, even if it meant demeaning his self-image in the eyes of those around him. Realizing this, Nozel found a powerful strength and was about to speak once more. However...
"Noelle, your hair is all over your face. That's no good!" A feminine voice called out, sounding to have come from just ahead of Noelle. She confirmed this to be true when she felt a follow-up warmth brush against her forehead to lift her bangs.
Someone already took his chance.
Noelle felt her heart expand tenfold compared to how strangled it felt just moments ago. Warmth and desire emanated from the voice and into her ears, circling throughout her constricted body. Without looking, she immediately knew who it was; the familiar feeling converted into words as she complied and raised her head.
"M-Mimosa…?"
"Yeah, that's me, Noelle!"
…
"Huh… Why do you look surprised?! I-I know I am late, but you think I wouldn't visit my own cousin on her birthday?! I am not-"
A sound of scrape and a thrust to her chest were the last things Mimosa heard and felt before she found her cousin wrapped around her. The sudden collision seized the attention of the people.
"N-Noelle...?" Mimosa said, her eyes wide in question.
Noelle opened her eyes to see her sister glaring at her from behind the table; she quickly realized what she had just done and proceeded to let go of her cousin, who only pulled her back in.
"I am sorry Mimosa! I just-"
"It's okay Noelle; you don't have to explain yourself."
Mimosa returned the gesture, and the two remained intertwined for a long moment before separating. Noelle's gaze couldn't help but break off of her sister's and look at the girl in front of her. A smile crept to her mouth just as her stomach growled, at which she lowered her now-reddened face.
Noelle heard a brief chuckle before a tender hand held her own; she looked back up.
"I thought you weren't coming… Idiot."
"Well, I am here now. Let's eat, Noelle."
…
The two cousins ate, talked, and laughed together, but the night grew cold and dark; it was time to say goodbye. The sight of vermilion soon turned into that of an emptying yet increasingly spacious grand hall for Noelle. She would later turn around and walk out with her siblings as well.
10:00 PM – FEAST END
"Those two are beautiful… Ah!"
'B-Blood?'
"Hey, Finral! Look at the mess you made! Careful where you swing that knife!" Said a man with short blond hair and a mustache. He wore a dark green coat with light green stripes and matching pants.
"Honestly… I can't believe you're older than your brother. And to think you are supposed to be joining the Magic Knights in two years… Just clean that disgusting blood of yours off the table!"
Finral proceeded to wipe the blood off the table before wrapping his finger with the same tissue to ease the pain and bleeding. The woman sitting next to his father, ahead of him and his brother, went on to speak, making him grimace deeply.
"Magic Knights? Don't flatter yourself Ledior, my dear. Unlike my little Langris here, this failure of a son would be lucky just to get a job, isn't that right Langris?"
Langris smirked in response before turning to face his brother next to him.
"You hear that, Big Brother… Hey! Mother is talking to you, so don't ignore her!"
"Just leave him be Langris," the woman retorted. "He's obviously too busy thinking about two royal girls half his age. Let us go home, okay?"
"Tch... Don't get too fat eating this dirt you seem to enjoy so much, Brother."
With the final attending noblemen leaving, the royal ceremony concluded. Finral watched as the Silva siblings, as well as his own family, stood up to leave. He intended to stay a little longer and eat, though he didn't feel hungry anymore. With heavy steps, the boy stood and trekked behind his family. Droplets of blood trickled on the floor as he walked through the now-hollow brick castle.
To be continued …
Thank you for reading this chapter. Consider leaving a review of your thoughts and favorite if you liked it; doing so keeps me going and may help improve my writing.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Black Clover. This is simply a story using the same characters and world for entertainment purposes only. Please support the official release.
Spoiler Notice: As of the time of writing, the 170 available anime episodes cover up to chapter 272 of the manga. Later chapters of this fanfiction will contain spoilers for certain parts of the canon story beyond manga chapter 272.
Author Notes: I plan to continue this story. Noelle is one of my most favorite characters in the entire series, and I think it's really interesting how even a single change in her canon story can cause a chain effect of reactions and make for an equally intriguing plot. I will try my best to deliver; it won't be anything close to perfect, but I hope to learn something from this experience and have fun with it.