OoOoOoO

Part VII

Yami wrapped his arm around Mary Sue's shoulder with a tight grip. "I thought I told you to learn a damn attack spell. What are you, slow?" He taunted in her ear.

Mary Sue barked a laugh before dipping out of his hold. "Say that next time when you don't need my defense god shield," she countered in a haughty tone. She slipped away from his harsh gaze to join Dreggo at the dining table. They were finally back to the base. She was starving and in no mood to deal with Yami's further bullshit.

Dreggo eyed her curiously. He brushed the dark bangs from his face to stick behind his right ear.

"Do you like it here?" Dreggo asked her, a casual indifference to his question. Her spine straightened, surprised by his attention. He usually chose to blatantly ignore her.

"The only thing I like here is the food," she replied. Then she smiled a little. For some reason adding in Julius and her teammates were also on the tip of her tongue. She didn't want them to know how much she was warming up to them. But then again, it would annoy Dreggo, so she was going to lay it on thick. "Well, actually-"

OoOoOoO

Mary Sue thrashed around in her bed. The sheets she kicked off her bed were soaked in sweat. This familiar, agonizing pain had returned. And she doesn't understand why this was happening. But she knows the result will be the same. She will lose another leaf on her clover tattoo. After losing two before when with the Grey Deer, she had hoped the process would stop. The origin of her tattoo was still a mystery to her, and for some reason she was losing her leaves. And it was effing painful. Like her skin was set on fire before being peeled off to permanently erase the ink on her skin.

Why was it put there to only be taken away slowly and painfully? She had yet to discover that connection. The timing between each removal was not on a regular schedule. It almost seemed to occur at random.

When the pain finally subsided and her body became still, her memory seemed to piece itself together and allowed her to recall the dream she was having before. With her former squad mates of the Grey Deer. It was an odd feeling, missing them.

Perhaps the feelings were stirred up for the impending battle ahead where her new squad, the Crimson Lions, would be paired with the Grey Deer to take on a group of rogue knights from the Diamond Kingdom. Over the months, their attacks on the Clover Kingdom had increased in occurrence and brutality. It took time, but after discovering their main base it was time to put an end to their evil tirade.

Since she had left the Grey Deer, she had not learned any new spells. But at least she was getting stronger and more accurate with her current defense spells. The only reason the Crimson Lions were appealed to let her join.

Mary Sue traced the outline of her tattoo. The former two leaf clover now reduced to just one leaf. What did it mean though when the last leaf dropped? Was she out of time? Did she level up? What did it all mean? She never discussed her missing leaves with anyone before. Even Julius who never prodded her further on the tattoo's origin. She shook her head, attempting to physically dislodge any thoughts of her former captain from her brain.

Thinking of him was a line she told herself she would stop crossing. She needed to stop. Stop right now. Missing his stupid smile. His misguided praise. His endless optimism in her capabilities. His ridiculous purple eyes that constantly held mischief. When he touched her for no reason. Why would she miss him?

She must ask herself this at least twice a week and it often ends in tears as she works hard to deny it. These emotions about him that have accosted her heart unjustly.

Why does she miss him? Why does she miss someone that has a date with death in the future before living to see old age? Just like her friends did in her last life? She had done the right thing. Rejecting his feelings, all while being ignorant of her own. Mary Sue wasn't sure what any real impact she would have on this world in the grand scheme. Could a story really deviate from its fate? Would Julius always die? And that is how it was supposed to be, right? So he could save everyone? William Vangeance would bring the 'Evil Elf Arc' into play despite her small kindnesses to him. Yami would help put Asta on his path to become a force to be reckoned with as an anti-magic user. And Julius would die.

Julius would die.

His stupid smile would be no more. His bright optimism would be winked out. His love for her…well, no. It wasn't love. But whatever he felt for her, real or not real, would be erased. And despite knowing that, there was nothing she could do. Because it was his fate. And no one else but Julius would ever be a match for Licht in the future.

Mary Sue grit her teeth and stood up from her bed. She looked over to her window to find dawn breaking in the sky. She would train. Now. Like she always would on these early mornings when her emotions tangled up her heart into a pit of useless feelings. Feelings wouldn't save her in a battle. Only her wit and strength. Plus, the distraction to train was always welcomed. Anything to escape these moments when she remembered what Julius was to her.

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The battlefield was a chaotic mess as the Crimson Lions joined the Grey Deer in battle. Traps were sent and an ambush occurred due to a miscount on how many rogue knights the Diamond Kingdom actually had. It was a rare time that Mary Sue actually found their current situation to be a blessing in disguise. Her focus on aiding the two squads with attack enhancers and defensive shields squashed her nervousness from before. To see her old squad.

She turned left and right, scattering her magic in all directions as she swished her hands in the air. Boosting knights in a close enough distance. "Luck magic: Amplify," she shouted, as she aided those knights who needed the boost. The extra luck in their favor for their attacks.

Her heart skipped a beat when not in the too far off distance she caught sight of Julius. He was zipping around in rays of gold light, holding off the enemy. While Julius was powerful, he was yet at his Wizard King peak and was against a magic item user. He could handle himself. But it wouldn't be an easy win, that was for sure. And without thinking on it, Mary Sue sprinted towards him, casting that same boosting attack spell in his direction. Perhaps it would be too weak to help him. But it didn't matter. She still had to try. When the rainbow arc of her magic disappeared into his back, despite his lightning-fast movements, she released a sigh of relief. A smile flickered on her lips as he doesn't even acknowledge her aid. Perhaps he was ignoring her. Or perhaps he was busy. Probably too busy. Even to wave. Or turn and wink. But for some reason it pleases her rather than making her bitter. He has moved on and that is a true relief. That only one of them is stuck with feeling something more.

Mary Sue moved on to a different sector of the battle to aid a group of the Crimson Lions. As she drew near, she watched in horror as a trap magic spell ensnared most of her squad mates. They sunk into a pit in the earth as a hoard of metal weapons were shortly summoned, hovering over the hole and ready to drop on their targets.

It was an easy choice. Summon defense god to save them, if she could time it quick enough. But as she was making this split-second decision, her eyes locked on steel javelin heading straight toward her. She can't hesitate or waste a second on casting that spell. It was a sacrifice she was willing. "Luck magic: Defense God," she roared while breaking her necklace to throw the bead high into the air. If luck was her mistress, it was time it showed its colors by enacting that barrier quicker than normal.

The same moment the javelin impaled her stomach, rainbow light catches through the bead before it falls to the ground. Next to the crimson pool in the grass. Mary Sue keels over, blood spurting from her smiling mouth as she watches the rainbow shield protect her squad mates – buying them time to free themselves from the trap.

She fights to keep her eyes open. If only for a few seconds. To make sure they stay safe. And in fear the shield will fail if her heart does too. She wasn't ready to give up.

Apparently, someone shared that same line of thinking too as Julius appeared at her side. Or that is what her hazy vision seemed to believe.

"Mary Sue," he called to her as he bent to the ground on his knees, his voice soft. "Hold on."

Gold light shimmered around her body as Julius commanded time to reverse on her wound. The wound receded shut as her pain ebbed away. As if she never made a sacrifice.

"Smart girl, casting that when I was nearby. You always impress me." His voice was now shaky, and it was clear to Mary Sue that Julius knew she was not aware of his proximity when she had cast her spell. She had risked her life.

"Stay. You did well. It's almost over," he commanded her as if he was her captain. She leaned up to protest, but his hand gently pressed her back down to the ground. "Stay," he reiterated with more authority. "Please," he added softly.

She nodded in acceptance, ignoring the unspoken questions in his eyes. She closed her eyes after he left, accepting her uselessness with her magic depleted.

She woke up, processing she actually fell asleep in battle. A quick scan of her surroundings and she could confirm she was not in her room or at the Crimson Lion base. The colors of decoration were all wrong. The room was covered in varying familiar shades of gray. She sat up out of the bed, scrambling off the lumpy mattress. Her steps were unsteady and she ignored the painful throbbing in her head as she made towards an exit. She thrusted open the door before gasping. Julius and her Captain stopped talking to turn and face her. She now recognized her familiar surroundings. They were in the hallways of the second floor Grey Deer base. Just peachy.

"Get back in bed, Luck," her captain commanded, annoyance clearly in his voice.

"Captain, sir!" Mary Sue saluted before bobbing her head down each end of the hallways. "Why are we here?"

"Do I look like I answer to you?" Eyebrows raised, he challenged Mary Sue.

Mary Sue shook her head before bowing and doing as her captain commanded. She spent a few hours back in bed, sleeping off and on. When she was tired of resting and ready for answers, she dared to open the door again. Before she could clasp the doorknob in her hands, someone was knocking on the other side of it. Each thud caused her to take a step back towards the bed.

"Come in," she answered once sitting on top of the bed, her legs dangling off the side.

Julius entered and closed the door behind him. He didn't come any closer but seemed to assess her appearance. "Our base was closer as some more of your squad mates weren't as lucky with the recovery of their injuries."

The answer she had wanted earlier.

"This isn't my old room."

"No, it's mine."

Mary Sue took another look around. It was plain and simple, more like a spare room than the captain of the top Magic Knight squad.

"Why yours?"

"I figured it was better to have the only female around with her own accommodations, and Dreggo took over your room when you left."

"I am better. I can give it back to you," Mary Sue insisted, hastily rising from the bed.

"No, rest." Julius hesitated, but still managed to take a step forward.

"Don't do that. I am not weak. If I say I am okay, I am okay."

His forehead wrinkled, and Mary Sue knew he was now irritated.

"Okay? You could have died out there," he pointed out. This conversation tangent was a stretch for Mary Sue, but she could infer this was the real conversation Julius intended on having with her anyways.

"You would have done the same; sacrificing for the greater good," she reasoned, casting a withering stare in his direction. How could he not expect her to do the same as he would in the future?

Julius glared. "But that's me. Not you." Mary Sue's eyebrows snapped up in surprise.

"Why is it any different?" Her voice cracked, not understanding his resistance. Why was he not proud of her instead?

"Because I don't want to lose you!"

Guilt gnawed at the tightness spawning in her chest. His feelings had in fact not disappeared. This was no good. Her lips pressed together into a slight grimace before shaking her head. "Julius, we have not spoken in over a year. You still haven't let go of your crush on me?" She asked flippantly, her patience waning. She made the sacrifice to leave the Grey Deer because of this deviation in how the future would unfold. Julius needed to let his fake feelings go. Especially if she couldn't.

"Love is not a crush," he replied, his words rough. Mary Sue noticed how his mouth pinched, forming a sour expression. She had offended him. Good. If this was who she needed to be to eradicate his 'misguided crush', so be it. She could be the villain in order to ensure he remained the hero. While her feelings were real, his couldn't be. So his use of the word "love" hadn't moved her in any way. No way whatsoever.

"It's not love, Julius," she rebuked, feigning annoyance and gazing at him with sympathy.

"You don't get to tell me how I can feel." His response was petulant, a side of him she noted only seeming to come out in her presence.

"Why are we even doing this?" She groaned, exasperated. "I will be leaving with my squad soon." Mary Sue walked past Julius to the door. She paused mid-step when Julius reached out his arm, blocking her exit.

"Tell me why you think my feelings aren't real. Give me one good reason and I will give up." His desperation was a pitiful site for the future Wizard King. And it broke her heart to see him in this state. Over her.

"How about this instead? I don't feel the same," she lied.

His jaw set. "That's not true either."

The weight of the unspoken truth crushed her. It had been crushing her secretly since the second time they met. His future. It was a ticking time bomb. She had been successful at suppressing herself from dwelling on it until a few days ago. Of course, everyone died. But the knowing; it was futile to have feelings for someone on borrowed time. Yet she did, despite knowing when his time would be up. It was not just that though…

She swallowed before speaking. "I am not good enough for you," she admitted, letting a hint of truth slip out for once. His magic superiority and the luck that swindles him to see her differently hurts more now than it had before- when she willingly ignored it.

"What?" He asked, incredulous. The confusion and pain on his face gutted her. She regretted letting a crack break through her façade.

"Damn it, Julius. Are you going to make me repeat myself?" She released a short, broken laugh.

"Explain," he demanded, his purple eyes blazing.

But she could not.

She pushed past Julius and strode over to the door.

A tight grip ensnared her wrist and halted her movements forward. She attempted to shake her arm free, but it was pointless.

"I have been patient with a lot of things, Mary Sue. Your stubbornness. Your lack of drive. Your determination to get in your own way. But I knew there was something more to you, so I pushed you to realize your own potential."

"Those are good reasons to not like me. They should deter you from having feelings for me. Why would you like someone like that?" She asked scornfully while pulling at her hair. It was her damn luck, and he was blinded by it.

"Because you're funny. I enjoy your wit. You deny it but you have a good heart. You try when no one is looking. And when I am with you…" Julius hesitated. "I don't feel the weight of our kingdom on my shoulders. With everyone, they expect something from me. I am their captain, or I am a magic knight of the top squad. But you, you just look at me for me. You treat me like I am just another man."

Mary Sue didn't allow his touching words to break the armor around her heart. Instead, they only dented it, so she could stubbornly persist on.

"No, Julius, you're wrong. You're more than a man. I know this more than anyone. Your future…without a shadow of a doubt I can foretell you will be the next Wizard King and a remarkable leader of magic in this kingdom. You will be the beacon of hope for other magic knights. The feelings you have for me…" Mary Sue swallowed the lump in her throat. "They don't align with your path." Mary Sue took a deep breath, preparing for her lie. "My fortune has been long foretold. I don't have a happy ending and I will be set to part ways for this ending soon."

Julius furrowed his blond brows and then released them. "What? I don't understand…" His grip on his wrist loosened and she used this to her advantage to move away from him.

"It's better that you don't," she snipped, a hard edge to her response as she felt the dent in her armor cave into a crack.

OoOoOoO

Mary Sue walked away from Julius and the magic knights service that day. She was leaving behind a world where she was never meant to fit in. Instead, she had one focus in mind. One spell to discover. And that would be what she would focus her life on now.

Because despite everything she had told herself. Fate be damned. She was saving Julius or would die trying.

Because she loved him too. Even if she could never be with him.

OoOoOoO

Note:

LOL. I didn't expect to post this event between them so soon. A bit more in the romance territory of it now between these two. At least Mary Sue is in touch with her feelings now though :) and what plan is this girl coming up with now? will Julius really just let her disappear? and what is up with that Tattoo? O_o

~pixelephant