0713MM: Hey guys! I welcome you to the 59th chapter of The Silver Valkyrie! I do not own Black Clover, nor its characters, nor the OCs that are used in this chapter. The OCs and spells used in this chapter belong to guardian of the aura Aurasoul and Warmachine375. Chapter start!^^
Chapter 59
It's been a couple weeks since the scare of Ren nearly going Dark Elf. As such, Queen Acier was in her office within the Clover Kingdom castle, humming to herself as she continued to work on paperwork.
"So much to do, so little time." She said to herself. She got so into doing the paperwork in fact, that she had forgotten about a meeting she had scheduled for all of the Magic Knight Captains, as well as the rest of Clover's allies, to decide who'd be going to Spade, and who'd be staying behind to defend. Suddenly her door swung open, making her shriek and quickly look up to see a deadpanning Ren who pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Why am I not surprised you're still cooped up in here?" Ren wondered.
"Hey, this paperwork won't do itself." Acier pouted.
"And because of it, you forgot the meeting that you planned." Ren deadpanned. Acier opened her mouth, then closed it.
"Fair enough Ren dear." Acier conceded. "Alright, I'm getting up." Except….she just turns around and gets back to work. "After I finish these 2 packets." As she does so, she doesn't hear that not only is someone else with Ren, but that someone with Ren whispers to grab her ear and drag her out of the office. To which Ren full heartedly agrees, striding up to Acier and grabbing said ear. This of course got Acier to yelp.
"Owowow! What the hell Ren?!" Acier pouted even more.
"Meeting time missy." Ren deadpanned.
"Five more minutes!" Acier tried again. The someone with Ren merely shook their head in amusement and slight disappointment. While Ren merely rolled her eyes and pulled Acier by the ear and completely out of the office chair.
"No. Now." Ren pulled her along. "I swear, forget the triplets. You're giving me good practice for when I give birth."
"E-Ehhh?" Acier gaped. "W-Whaaaa….?!"
"You heard me." Ren stated. Acier on the other hand merely shook her head and struggled in Ren's grip.
"Stop struggling Lady Acier." Zenon, who was the person with Ren, spoke up. "You'll just make this more difficult otherwise."
"Listen to my son fledgling." Ren smirked. "He knows what he's talking about."
"E-Ehh?!" Acier shrieked. "So you're the one who told Ren to do this?!"
"Yes." Zenon confirmed, a small smile on his face, to which Acier merely struggled more.
"This isn't fair!" Acier pouted. Zenon merely rolled his eyes in amusement at how childish the Clover Kingdom Queen was acting. Not that he was mad by it.
"You set this meeting up." He reminded her. "So you have to be there."
"This is what happens when I leave you on your own. You go back to being a workaholic." Ren sighed.
"At least I'm not avoiding work like Julius is!" Acier countered, still pouting like a child.
"Doesn't mean you work till you drop." Ren replied. Acier continued to pout, eventually conceding to the fact she's getting dragged to the meeting by the ear by Ren.
"Oh fine." She spoke in a defeated tone. "Are we almost there at least?"
"Just about." Ren nodded.
"Oh good." Acier sighed. "And I'm also glad that you're helping me with this. Especially considering everyone knows that you're going. Not that I or anyone else would stop you, but still."
"Yeah." Zenon mused. "Anyway, we're here now."
"There you are Miss Queenie Silva!" Yami remarked. "Was starting to wonder if you've forgotten about us."
"Heh. I would never." Acier remarked as she entered the room with Ren and Zenon.
"Uh huh." Ren deadpanned. Acier turned to Ren and pouted before she went to stand next to Julius.
"Hey." She pouted before her facial expression became serious. "Anyway, do all of you Captains know why you're here?"
"To discuss invading Spade, right?" Charlotte asked.
"Yes, that's right." Acier confirmed. "And to decide who's-"
"I'm going." Fana interjected, slightly surprising Acier.
"Because of Morris." Ren stated knowingly. Fana looked over at Ren and nodded.
"Yes." She replied. "Both me and Mars are. And no doubt Evanora will want to join me and Mars."
"Fair enough." Ren shrugged.
"If I may." William spoke up, with Alina next to him. "How many from each squad will go?"
"That depends on the Captain." Nozel responded. "I myself will want to send Asta's brother, and yes a Devil, Liebe. I would send my other brother-in-law and Noelle, but…" He shook his head. "I'm not a fool, and I know that'd be an unwise decision."
"Before I reveal my picks, I need to ask something." Yami spoke up. "Hey Goldie."
"Mm?" William mused.
"How come your personal nurse is here?" He asked, while not being able to hold in his snickering. "I mean, I know that she's helping you recover and all, but don't you think this is a bit much?" William opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. Or rather, he didn't know how to answer Yami's question.
"Oh it's quite simple, Yami." Alina smiled 'sweetly' and William blinked to see a sunflower grow and curl almost protectively around him. "I take my job as a healer very seriously on both the mental and physical aspects. Which is why if anyone tries to make William do something he shouldn't or doesn't want to, I will wrap you in sunflower vines and bury you in the bottom of the ocean." Fana and Rill felt shivers go down her spine, Yami merely shrugging, Mereoleona and Jack snickering, while Kaiser, Nozel and Charlotte looked at each other, William chuckling awkwardly, and Dorothy…continuing to sleep.
"And the reason you haven't claimed him as yours is because?" Ren questioned, making Fay snicker.
"I don't know. Why did it take you so long to hurry up and court the prince of Spade?" Alina shot back, making Ren gap and Fay laugh.
"E-Eheh…" William stammered out. "Can we get back to the meeting at hand pl-please?"
"Yes. We should before Mother and Alina start a cat fight." Zenon agreed.
"Hey!" Alina and Ren snapped. Zenon put his hands up in surrender.
"I'm just saying." He remarked.
"He's got a point!" Fay snickered.
"Quiet you." Ren scowled.
"We can start, yes." Acier agreed. Just before they could start…
"You're all fools if you think that you can defeat the Zogratis and stop them." They quickly looked up to see four individuals that made Julius, Acier, and the Captains gasp while Ren grew wide eyed, for one of them was very familiar with the Clovers, while the other three were vaguely familiar to the elf hybrid.
"Impossible…!" Nozel gasped.
"But how?!" Kaiser stood, shocked.
"Well, well today is full of surprises." Ren remarked with a raised eyebrow. "A good morning to you 27th Wizard King Conrad Leto."
"Figures out of them all you would not be surprised Ren Silvamillion Clover Ombra." Conrad smirked.
"Oh don't get me wrong, I'm fully surprised." Ren replied lightly. "Especially when the supposed deceased 11th Wizard King Princia Funnybunny, 16th Wizard King Jester Garandros, and 20th Wizard King Edward Avalanche are with you." They all grew wide eyed at this as Jester laughed.
"Haha! Leave it to the century old lady to know who we are!" He laughed.
"The tribe likes keeping track even if we don't live by Clover." Ren smirked, glancing to see a familiar sword in Conrad's hand. "Ah now I see. Makes sense. But last I recall, Julius here had sealed you away and had the kingdom believe you died from illness. Did you actually learn a new spell to escape?"
"You could say that." Conrad retorted before narrowing his eyes. "Alas, you people have no idea who Julius Novachrono truly is."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Nozel frowned.
"Even if he told you, you wouldn't believe him." Princia retorted coldly.
"How do you know that?" Fana asked. Princia glanced over at Fana and scowled.
"A former Diamond Kingdom mage as a Captain? Pathetic." She said coldly. "Honestly, is Clover this desperate to survive?"
"Isn't that type of thinking what got you killed in the first place? Bunny-chan?" Ren hummed, Fay choking.
"No you fool." Princia retorted. "And even if it was, it's irrelevant now." A tick mark appeared above her head. "And don't you call me Bunny-chan."
"Oh yes, of course it's irrelevant with your situation now Bunny-chan." Ren replied with a shrug, Alina and Fay looking at one another. "But I digress, this one has no ties to Diamond except the Grimoire she possesses and with the Fire Spirit who was anyone to say no to. Especially when this is an all out war Bunny-chan. You take what you get or else you're dead."
"That's it you!" Princia snapped, but Jester held her back, laughing.
"Oh come now Prinica!" Jester told her. "No need to start now."
"Humph!" Prinica grunted. "Alas, I fail to see how anyone in their current state can defeat the remaining Zogratis. If you could deal with them, you people would have done it already."
"They must think of the people first and foremost, Prinica." Edward frowned.
"Yes, listen to your elders Bunny-chan!" Ren smiled. Prinicia only growled in anger and frustration. Before Princia could launch an attack on anyone, Conrad raises a hand.
"No need to start violence." Conrad told her. "Still, we came here to warn them of what they're getting themselves into. If they don't want to listen, that's on them."
"What do you mean we can't trust Julius?" Rill asked in confusion.
"He isn't who he says he is." Conrad responds cryptically. "He's something more than what you see him as." He turned to face Acier. "You. I remember when you were just a Magic Knight. Now look at you, the Clover Kingdom Queen. At least this is better than the idiot Kiras. But still, not good enough."
"Elaborate." Acier frowned.
"Your goal is admirable, but foolish." Conrad answered. "You and Julius want to eliminate discrimination and prejudice, but that's impossible. Especially when one of them is more of an extremist in regards to this goal."
"Extremist?" Charlotte frowned.
"Acier isn't an extremist." Mereoleona remarked. Conrad merely rolled his eyes.
"Not your precious Queen, Julius." Conrad corrected. "He's the extremist."
"Those are bold accusations, Conrad." Julius remarked coolly.
"Is there any proof to your claims?" Ren asked calmly. "Face value means nothing without proof you know."
"You want proof?" Conrad repeated. "I'll give you proof. Are you aware of the Magic Knight squad, the White Serpents?"
"Your original squad?" Ren questioned.
"Yes." Conrad answered. "It got ambushed completely out of nowhere by mobs of Clover citizens and killed everyone in it. My wife included." Conrad grit his teeth and clenched his hands into fists. "And I know that Julius, or someone like him, is responsible for it." While everyone listened to Conrad, no one noticed that Julius's lips curled into a small, yet also dark, smile. It vanished as quickly as it came.
"Why my squad was massacred, I do not know." Conrad continued with resentment. "But I will avenge the fallen before I destroy the Clover Kingdom."
"Destroy….the Clover Kingdom?" Acier repeated slowly.
"Yes." He answered.
"You sound counterproductive." Ren remarked. "You wish to destroy Clover to rebuild it, but how is that any different than being an extremist you claimed Julius is?" Conrad stared at Ren for a few seconds before replying.
"That depends on one's views." Conrad remarked. "I don't wish to destroy Clover to rebuild it. For it will not be rebuilt once I'm done with it."
"In other words, to so-call avenge the fallen, you wish to destroy everything that you claim took everything from you. How is that different from the Zogratis then?" Ren asked.
"For it is, elf." Prinica chimed in. "The Zogratis will destroy everything. Losing Clover by us is a minor setback in the grand scheme of things. You know the saying, sacrifice a few to save millions."
"But what of the 3 other Kingdoms and citizens?" Ren asked. "Due to the situations of Spade and Heart, the only stable Kingdoms at the current moment are Clover and Diamond. And even then, Diamond is making ends meet due to having re-establish everything from the ground up thanks to Morris's influence on the Kingdom. Not only that, but it'll take time before we can free the Heart Kingdom from Megicula's clutches that haven't already been experimented on by that Devil. By destroying Clover, you will be destroying a stable enough economy for citizens who will then have no place to go. For once Spade is free, they too will need to be rebuilt from the ground up due to Eva's rule. If you would send those lives to the Diamond and Spade Kingdoms you will be adding a too heavy load hall on those Kingdoms that they will not be able to carry and in time collapse them as well. And what would you do then? Would you truly risk the foundation of those kingdoms entirely?" At that, they all stared at Ren shocked and speechless, Conrad clutching the sword in his hand tightly as Ren stared at him.
"You wish for vengeance, but you will be causing a different kind of destruction, yet same end goal as the Zogratis." She informed him. "Will that be your legacy? The sin you will have to carry on your soul in life and in death? For history to desecrate your very self?"
"Enough!" Prinica snapped. "All that you said is irrelevant, elf! It's as I said before, if Clover must fall to save millions, I'll be more than happy to do it. And considering that you all will be going to your deaths anyway, it'll make our job easier. What happens to Spade, Diamond, and Heart due to our actions doesn't matter. All that matters is the result. All you're trying to do is confuse Conrad from what needs to be done. If that's your viewpoint, that's fine. But we have our own. I would say it's a shame that our viewpoints create an impasse, but alas, they do."
"It's not a viewpoint, it is the facts." Ren frowned, her eyes glowing, making Princia gasp. "You fail to see the bigger picture in the grand scheme of things that will affect not just millions but billions, maybe even trillions of human lives. You're thinking is shortsighted to think of the butterfly effect that one's actions can cause. One simple act will cause an impact that could very well affect the very foundation. If you continue to tread a path of sacrifice, then you will have nothing but barren and emptiness. A void of life." Princia stared at Ren, her own eyes glowing in response.
"...Then so be it." Princia snarled. "Since you're all going to die soon anyway, we'll leave you to your own devices." She turned on her heel and began to leave. "Conrad?"
"Yeah, I'm coming." He responded, following her. "I don't care what Jester and Edward do. If they aid you, fine. But I will continue on my path. Your words won't deter me. Shame that you people see Julius on face value rather than what's truly beneath his mask of kindness." They watched Conrad and Princia leave and Ren hummed.
"Ah the cons of youth." She sighed. She then blinked, looking up and sweatdropping at all the gaping expressions on everyones' faces. "What?"
"Heh! The way you handled that was pretty good." Mereoleona snickered.
"When the hell were you philosophical?" Yami demanded.
"I raised a Queen you know. so I had to teach her these things." Ren sweatdropped, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"You could've been a Queen yourself a long time ago." Alina muttered, making Ren glare at her.
"Ren dear's too modest for that." Acier laughed lightly.
"Plus she's gonna be a Queen already once this whole mess is over." Fay snorted, and yelped when Ren flicked him. Ren grumbled a sigh before looking at Jester and Edward who could only stare at her.
"I know the sword Conrad possesses, and I do know you two are loyal to him so we won't ask you to fight with us, but at least help those two see what is beyond." She replied. "Trust your judgment and take my words to heart."
"Even if we might become your enemies?" Jester asked with a knowing smirk, which only made Ren smirk back.
"Then we will fight back and show you the results of this generation." She replied. This got Jester to laugh again while Edward smiled.
"Good to hear." Edward answered. "And you know that us 4 didn't become Wizard Kings of Clover by sheer dumb luck."
"Oh come now, I know my history." Ren chuckled, crossing a leg over the other. "But let's just say the Knights of this era are full of surprises themselves. You might just be impressed."
"I knew there was a reason I liked this one." Jester smirked.
"I can see why you'd say that." Edward remarked. "Though I am curious. With your lineage, why did you never think to claim the Clover throne? You would have every right to do as the Royal Family would." Ren blinked, snickering before full out laughing, clutching her sides as she did.
"Hahahaha! I-I'm sorry! Y-You're just the first person to e-ever ask me that haha!" She giggled.
"I'm honestly surprised by that." Jester snickered.
"W-Well there are numerous reasons hehe." Ren snickered. "Like for one, I hated Royal etiquette back in the day; it made my skin crawl. Oh I remember the first time I walked into the Heart Kingdom's castle, I wanted to book it the moment I stepped in! If it weren't for my predecessor grabbing me by the scruff and dragging me inside. Plus even if I did pop right in, the Royal Courts here they wouldn't believe me for a second. I was the granddaughter of Lady Tetia Silvamillion Clover. Especially with my elf traits. Back then, they believed the elves were monsters and if I made an appearance, that means they would know the existence of others and would try to hunt them down to steal their mana just as their predecessors did. Even without a Devil manipulating them, I wouldn't dream of risking my tribe like that. I had no desire for a crown, so I kept to myself and only had faith in Lumiere's bloodline." Ren jerked her thumb at Acier with a smirk.
"And as you can see, I made the best move." She replied.
"Eheh." Acier smiled sheepishly. "Thanks Ren."
"You're making yourself a more likable tribal leader lady, quit it." Yami scoffed but was smirking.
"Don't know how." Ren shrugged.
"You just do, Ren dear." Acier smiled. Edward smiled and bowed.
"Well if it's any consolation, it would've been my honor to serve you." He admitted. Ren smiled standing and curtsied.
"The honor would have been all mine Father." Ren replied, using his old priest title.
"Heh." Edward chuckled. "It is a shame and unfortunate that it's not meant to be."
"Indeed. But for now we must live with the cards we are dealt with." Ren shrugged. "Or in your case, semi live."
"Heh." Edward chuckled. "True enough."
"In that regard, we will also take our leave." Jester remarked. "We pray that you all survive this."
"Same to you." Ren nodded. Jester and Edward nodded before they too took their leave. Once they left, Acier turned her attention back to everyone else present.
"Now then, shall we continue?" Acier asked. The Captains and Julius nodded, to which she smiled. "Good. Oh! Before I forget," She turned to face William and Alina. "I'm going to need William, as well as Patri, for something important."
"Me?" William repeated. "Why?"
"Fight fire with fire." Ren remarked. "You're calling for the heavens." Acier turned to Ren and nodded.
"Yes, that's right." Acier smiled. "That's what I've been looking into with Julius recently. If I can bring the Angels here from the heavens, we can stop this before it gets completely out of hand."
"What's this have to do with William?" Alina frowned. At that, Acier laughed sheepishly.
"Eheh… Let's just say that his World Tree Magic is needed to make the Tree of Kabbalah, as well as Patri's Light Magic. I would have used someone else for the Light Magic, but there really isn't a suitable one for that is willing."
"And why not me?" Ren raised an eyebrow.
"You're going to Spade to fight Eva, remember Ren dear?" Acier told her. "That, and I'll be making the tree when the people in Spade are distracted dealing with our friends and allies."
"Now I get it. You'll take advantage of the chaos we'll make in Spade so you can make that tree." Mereoleona remarked.
"Yes, exactly Mereo." Acier smiled.
"Absolutely not." Alina snapped.
"Oh boy here we go." Fay muttered, flying back on Ren's shoulder.
"Alina." Ren began.
"Don't Alina me. You saw how William was when that bitch Eva drained William of his magic and now you want a repeat of that?" Alina demanded.
"Would it help if you were there?" Acier asked Alina. "I have no qualms with that if it puts you at ease." Unfortunately, this didn't work, as Alina wasn't interested in budging on the matter with this.
"That's not the point. Even if I have been helping him recover his mana, a repeat is just asking to-!" Alina stopped to feel a hand hold hers making her look at William.
"Alina, it's okay." William told her, a light smile on his face. "This is to ensure that we all survive in the end. So if it means I have to go through a repeat of what happened to me before, I'll do it."
"This might kill you William." Alina scowled. "It was a miracle you survived last time."
"I know." He told her. "But if doing this means that we can stop the Devils, and by extension Eva, then I'll do it. I care about Clover a lot, so please Alina. Let me do this."
"I'm not letting you die." Alina frowned.
"Then come to the ritual site for the Tree of Kabbalah." William told her with a light smile, holding her hand.
"William." Alina began, but William beat her to it.
"You are my healer, right? And I know you'll be there to help me when I need it." He smiled, to which Alina twitched at that. She looked at him for a few moments before she sighed.
"You seem to know how to make me cave recently." She remarked.
"Probably because he has a thing for you." Yami snickered.
"Yami. I will make you a vine mummy if you don't stuff it." Alina snapped.
"I'm just saying Willaim's personal healer." Yami smirked. And with that he yelped as sunflowers wrapped tightly around him and he fell off his chair. "Oi oi!"
"She did warn you Yami." Ren deadpanned. Acier couldn't help but giggle at the sight.
"Oh dear!" Acier laughed lightly.
"Now that Yami's all tied up, let us continue." Mereoleona smirked.
"A-Ah, agreed." Fana nodded shyly.
"Fine with me." Nozel smirked. Dorothy merely nodded in her sleep. The other Captains also nodded in agreement to Mereoleona and to continuing the Captain's meeting. While the Captains and Acier talked, Julius smiled again, chuckling inwardly, but not knowing the exact reason why.
Later after the meeting, Alina sat on the bedside reading as her sunflower shined down on William, recovering his mana. After a bit, William looked up at Alina.
"Alina?" William spoke up.
"Yes?" She asked, not looking up from her book.
"I understand why you were against me going for that ritual, given that you're my healer and all, but… A-Ah…" He found himself stuttering a bit, but he didn't know why. "Is the reason bigger than that? Or am I just overthinking it?" Alina blinked, looking up at William for a moment and closing her book to fully stare at him. William immediately took notice of her staring and he felt like shrinking into his bed, mainly out of fear that he overstepped something.
"A-Ah, forget what I said…" He mumbled. But Alina reached out to touch William's cheek.
"You know what captivated me the moment I saw you?" She asked.
"Wh-What?" William asked shyly.
"Those eyes of yours." She replied. "They were a dull purple that had given up on life and I wanted to know if they shined like gems when they had light to them. I'm glad to know I was right." William felt his cheeks turn pink at her words.
"My eyes…?" He repeated softly. "Do they really shine like gems? I…..I never noticed…"
"Yes, your eyes are like amethysts when they're full of light. It goes well with your fluffy white hair." She hummed.
"Wh-What…?!" William stammered.
"It's true. Your hair is so fluffy and soft to the touch." She hummed, reaching up and stroked his hair. "I could run my fingers through it all day." William meeped in response and tried to shrink more into the bed, but felt that he couldn't, or rather, didn't want to, given that Alina was stroking his hair.
"Alina…" William spoke softly.
"Is it so hard to believe?" She asked.
"Y-Yes." William stuttered. "Considering what my childhood was like, I….I just…." He shook his head. "I don't know why… I just find it so hard to believe…" He found himself on the verge of crying, not realizing that it was the case. But then he felt lips at the corner of his eye, realizing Alina kissing his tears away. "A-Alina…?"
"I love amethysts. How the purple coloring calms my nerves. You do the same thing for me too and it makes me want to hold you close and protect you from everything." She said softly.
"S-So I was right in my guess that you were against it for something more…" William spoke softly.
"More than you realize." She smiled gently, holding his hand.
"Why me…?" William asked her curiously.
"You're lovely, you're adorable." She smiled, kissing his cheek. "You're kind, you're gentle, I can keep going." William's cheeks turned a darker shade of red and opened his arms out to her.
"C-Come closer please?" William asked her softly. Alina blinked in surprise, but smiled and went in his arms. Once she did, William held her close, resting his head on her chest.
"Th-Thank you…" He spoke softly.
"Of course." She smiled, stroking his hair.
"And you'll stay here with me?" William asked her, slight uncertainty in his voice.
"Always." She promised. William smiled happily, holding her close, not intending to let Alina go.
"Hey Alina?" William asked her after a bit of silence in holding her.
"Yeah William?" Alina asked. At that question, William felt himself freeze up. He knew what he wanted to say, but he wasn't sure how to, nor did he feel he should.
"I…..I umm…" William started, feeling himself freeze up. "I…. A-Ahh…. Should I even say it…..?"
"Hey, hey it's ok." She cooed softly, rubbing his back. "Take a deep breath and relax." William did exactly that, taking a deep breath and slowly relaxing.
"Thanks Alina." William smiled softly. "Maybe I should use actions to tell you instead of words. Given that I think I'll just be an emotional mess trying to use words."
"Heh. Whatever makes you comfortable William." Alina smiled gently. William looked up at her, his lips formed a small smile in thanks. He shakily raised his right hand up to touch her left cheek and stroke it gently. After that, he shakily moved his hand down to her chin and used it to gently push himself up a bit and kissed her on the lips. Alina blinked in surprise, but she relaxed, holding William closer as she kissed back. After around 10-20 more seconds, William moves back. His face is an even darker shade of red in the aftermath and he goes to look away out of shame.
"S-Sorry.." He mumbled. "Maybe I should have used words to tell you… B-But based on my action, wh-what do you think I was trying to tell you…?" Alina smiled and pulled William in her arms to lay his head on her chest.
"I love you too William Vangeance~" She cooed softly.
"O-Oh good…" He stammered, yet held relief in his voice. "I was so worried to tell you, given you've been my personal healer for the last several months, among getting to know one another, I just…. I just worried that you wouldn't see it that way. And I would be okay with that and understand it." He felt relief that Alina felt the same way about him, but ultimately still worried. "Even so…are you 100% sure about this? I'm an emotional wreck, as you've come to notice over the past several months." Alina leaned down, kissing his ear as sunflowers grew around them.
"Of course I'm sure. I love you just the way you are." She cooed.
"Y-You do?" William asked.
"Absolutely." She smiled. His lips formed a tearful smile.
"Th-Thank you Alina…" He spoke softly, resting his head on her chest. Alina smiled, kissing Wiliam's head as she held him close.
"Alright everyone listen closely! Because I won't be repeating myself!" Ren stood in front of the mages chosen to fight in Spade, all uniformed in the newest black war attire given to them. Ren adjusted the cuff of her own after being told by Acier to wear it.
"The 11 of us have been chosen to storm Spade and stop Eva and Morris in opening the Gates to the Underworld with the Tree of Qliphoth. They along with Dante are now the biggest threats within the Spade castle along with Disciples and possible Devils they have brought to this world as well." Ren continued. "But stopping that won't be our only goal. For we will also be keeping them distracted in order to give Acier and Julius time to open the Gates to the Heavens and call upon the Angels to assist us should the worst come."
"Distracting them?" Mereoleona repeated, arms crossed. "Will that be enough?"
"It should be, yes." Zenon spoke up, standing next to Ren. "As long as they are distracted, M-Eva will not be able to sense the rising of the Tree of Kabbalah. If Lady Acier is successful, the tide of this war will shift in our favor." He glanced over at Mereoleona. "You are free to disagree, but this is our strategy."
"And I agree to it." Tyson spoke up.
"Especially when we got the biggest and best bait to distract Eva Zogratis." Fay smirked, motioning to Ren, who scoffed.
"You mean Ren, me and….Zenon." Yuno corrected Fay, still saying Zenon's name with distrust, but no form of disgust was present in his tone.
"No Yuno, Fay has the right idea." Ren sighed. "Eva Zogratis hates me. And I do not say this in general, I mean this as a fact. Especially when I know for a fact she knows it's because of me Zenon is on our side for good. She wants to kill me. I know she does and the feeling is very much mutual." They jumped to feel the menacing mana emanating from Ren as she gave a savage smirk.
"You boys will stay clear unless I give an order. Am I clear?" She asked. Zenon shook his head at her words.
"No Mom." Zenon retorted. "If you're going to fight her, then I'm going with you. And we both know that Yuno will not take no for an answer and sit on the sidelines. And you surely know me better than that. I won't sit on the sidelines either. We will take Eva on together." His sharp blue eyes stared into Ren's emerald green; determination, as well as stubbornness, shone through his. Ren looked at Zenon and then giggled to Zenon's surprise as she patted his cheek.
"Ah there's that stubborn bright light I remember. Haven't seen that since you were a babybones." She smiled, Fay giggling. Yuno blinked, while Tyson laughed and Zenon felt his cheeks turn pink from embarrassment.
"M-Mom…!" Zenon groaned. "N-Not in front of everyone present…!"
"Honey you're my son; this is part of the territory." Ren smirked. "And if you and Yuno must, you two can provide support, but Eva is my prey. I told the Captains this and I'm telling the rest of you."
"D-Do as she says. She is the one in charge." Captain Fana voiced with a nervous laugh and sweatdrop.
"Y-Yeah…" A shy Calamity mumbled, standing in between Mars and Fana. Zenon wanted to retort, but Yuno beat him to it.
"Very well Ren." He responded. "But if we think you're in trouble, we're stepping in." Zenon was surprised at Yuno using the word "we", meaning Yuno and him, instead of "I", meaning just Yuno. Ren also noticed this surprise as well.
"Why Ren, I do believe your star is growing up." Fay breathed.
"Indeed he is." Ren smiled. "Alright Yuno, that's fine with me."
"Good." Yuno smiled. "Now then, shall we take our leave?"
"I was about to ask the same thing." Mereoleona grinned, cracking her knuckles.
"Yes, you all know the game plan at this point." Ren nodded, taking a deep breath. "You are all Magic Knights of the highest order that this Kingdom is lucky to have produced in this generation. I see each and every one of you hold the aspects of the Clover: integrity, love, and hope and even the rare four leaf good luck. Fight with the honor and valor you hold for yourselves, your squads, and your kingdom and we shall claim victory for everyone!" All the Magic Knights present cheered, as well as cheering for the team sent to head to the Spade Kingdom to end this once and for all.
"You always did know how to give a good speech." Fay muttered to his master with a smile. Ren only gave a light smile, touching the magic stone under her cloak as she nodded to Nacht who opened a portal of shadows.
"For all of your sakes, you better not fucking die." Nacht gave a slight disturbing smile when he spoke. "For if you do, I'll be sure to give you a far more proper judgment."
"Yeah yeah." Mereoleona rolled her eyes. "Keep telling yourself that Faust."
"Like we need you to tell us that." Ren smirked, a hand on the handle of her sword as she led her team.
"Just go already, lest I close this Shadow Magic portal on you all." Nacht smirked back. Ren scoffed as they all went in through the portal.
0713MM: And here it is! The preparations chapter before the invasion force from the Clover-Heart-Diamond Alliance makes it way into the Spade Kingdom. That, and we get introduced the 4 previous Wizard Kings that were in the Black Clover Movie: Sword of the Wizard King! I've been in discussion with Warmachine375 and then pitched the idea to aurasoul from there about these 4 characters and the 3 of us found a way to include them in this story. As for what role they'll inevitably play in this fic, I'll have to figure that out.