Chapter 9 - To the Summit
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 finished the three chapters I've been working on, which means I'll be moving onto the Pokemon story I'm working on next! I'm really happy that I got these three out so quickly after each other, and that they're high quality enough for me to feel comfortable enough to share them!
Enjoy!
The sky, which had been inky black only hours prior, started to transform up as the sun slowly peaked out from behind the dusty horizon. The beams of warm light illuminated the area from its place behind a series of rocky peaks that were a staple of the Strong Magic Region that Mereoleona and Lucia had chosen to be their most recent campsite.
Unlike the previous one which was full of life and bursting with natural mana, this one felt ominous and intense, as if the sky itself would rain fire upon them. The intense heat in the area meant that barely any animals made a home there, and as a result, the survival part of their training became far more difficult. In fact, they had worked tirelessly into the night to find anything worth hunting for their supper. Thankfully, in the end they were successful and as a result, Lucia was completely exhausted and slept through the night without stirring.
Even with the harsh sun blanketing her face with warm, bright light; she didn't move in the slightest. It was rare for Lucia to sleep past the sunrise, and if she had been even slightly conscious, she'd probably take one look at the dawnlit skies and roll over to get just a few more hours of rest.
However, that serene lie-in wasn't in the cards, as a strong hand roughly shook her shoulder, causing her deep slumber to break as she groaned and stirred under the incessant shaking. "Hey!" A familiar voice said, breaking through the tranquil silence of their campgrounds.
"Whassat?" Lucia slurred out, opening her eyes and lifting her head to see Mereoleona crouched by the door of the tent, fully awake and dressed, something the Ice Queen rarely saw given she usually got up before her hotheaded mentor. "Mereoleona...?"
"You're finally awake, eh?" The way Lucia spoke had the woman smirking, it was odd to see her so... informal, especially when using her name. "Get up, it's time to start training."
Of course, the young woman groaned and covered her eyes with her hand to block out the sun as she dropped back onto her side, her go-to sleeping position when sharing a tent with the Lioness. "Now?" She asked, her voice thick with sleep. "We were up until midnight trying to hunt for our dinner, can't we sleep for a bit longer?"
"No." The redhead's tone was absolute, and the sleepy noble opened her eyes, looking utterly done by this point. "You can sleep when you're dead!"
"Which will be sooner, rather than later... Given your training methods." Lucia sighed. "Alright, I'll be out in just a moment."
"Good, you've got five minutes. If you're not in my line of sight before then, I'll drag you out myself!" Mereoleona closed the tent door and straightened up, walking away with heavy footfalls against the dusty stone below. It had been nearly a full month since Lucia joined her royal ally on this intense training excursion, and much to her surprise, she'd actually survived up until the last two days of her trip.
All of tomorrow would be spent returning to the capital, given their distance from the Clover Kingdom as a whole. As a result, this would be her last full day of training before they prepared for the journey back. Obviously, this was going to be the hardest one yet given Mereoleona's love for intense battles and hardcore workouts, but despite being overwhelmingly exhausted; Lucia was curious about what her temporary tutor had planned.
It was that curiosity that gave her the strength to turn and sit up in her sleeping bag, wearing only her nightshirt and underwear, given the intense heat of the region. She wished she knew more about this desolate landscape, but after they arrived three days ago, the Clover Kingdom Royal was very vague about the details.
"This will be a true test of your strength and how much you've learned over the past month!"
That was the only explanation she got when she asked for details.
And perhaps, if she wasn't a naturally curious and stubbornly brave individual; she would have turned tail and ran, especially given the difficulties she'd faced already.
Just how much worse could it get?!
The younger noble finally got out of her makeshift bed and dressed for the excursion. She regretted wearing her thick fur-lined uniform for this trip, but given her volatile magical power, she knew it was a must if she didn't want to risk intense burns. Thankfully, while they were still within the campsite, she could get away with her shirt, pants and shoes until the time came for them to get moving.
After a moment, she emerged from the tent and stood up to see Mereoleona hovering by the campfire, stirring the pot as she made their breakfast. Thankfully, they always had spare meat left over from their hunts, so while they had to painstakingly search for any scraps of food in this arid environment; they made it last using Lucia's ice to preserve it, and Mereoleona's fire to cook it to perfection.
"Good morning..." The tired mage said, covering her mouth as she let out a yawn and wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes.
The Lioness glanced at Lucia from over her shoulder, and the sight of her dishevelled, but dressed form made the older mage grin. "It only took you four minutes to get ready, I'm impressed!"
"Hm, while I'd prefer to get more than four hours of sleep, I'm not foolish enough to risk your temper by refusing your orders." The younger woman stepped to her mentor's side and glanced into the pot, which was filled with stew and smelled divine. "Especially since you made me run laps last time I was late for anything."
"Hah, it worked didn't it?"
"...I suppose, though it wasn't appreciated." She arched a brow at her mentor's choice of meal. "Stew for breakfast? How difficult is this training going to be that it requires such a heavy meal so early in the day?"
The fiery redhead's excited grin was only outshone by the gleam in her deep blue eyes. "This'll be your last lesson with me, so I'm pulling out all the stops!" She spun around and clenched her fists as glee bubbled up inside her. "You're going to need to build up your energy and use everything I've taught you if you want to claim victory!"
"So this will be a life-or-death trial then?" She sighed and plopped down on the charred log that made up their campfire seating. "Can you at least share the name of this location? You may have earned a sliver of my trust during this month, but I'm not keen on the idea of going to an unknown, potentially lethal, destination without at least an inkling of what I'm getting myself into."
"And ruin the surprise, where's the fun in that?"
"The 'fun' will not be dampened by something as meaningless as a name, I assure you."
Mereoleona's lips dropped into a slight pout, her fang poking out as she mulled over her decision. "Fine." She finally relented, taking a moment to taste the meal to ensure it was good, before she finally continued their discussion. "We're going to the Hot Spring Training Camp."
"The Hot Spring Training Camp?" Lucia growled in annoyance. "Lady Mereoleona, jokes are not appreciated-."
"Who said I was joking?!" The woman's grin returned full force, and she planted her free hand on her hip as she shot her student a sideways glance over her shoulder. "This training camp may sound easy, but it will test everything I've taught you over this past month, and you won't come out alive if you don't follow my orders to the letter!"
Honestly, Lucia had no idea why she assumed Mereoleona was joking anyway, given their interactions up to this point. Yes, she threw the occasional joke or jab her way, but never when proving one's strength or testing one's mettle was involved.
If there was one thing the Ice Queen was certain of, was the Uncrowned, Undefeated Lioness' insane thirst for danger and battle. There was no doubt in the younger student's mind that the name was misleading and she would end up fighting for her life over something like a pool of acid, or even lava.
When it came to Mereoleona Vermillion, anything was a possibility, and she had better brace herself for one Hell of a final test.
Lucia sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I will never truly understand you, will I?" She glanced off to the side with a huff, crossing her arms.
"You're not the first person to ask me that!" Mereoleona said right back, turning her gaze to the task of stirring the stew once again. After a moment, she reached down and collected the two lunchboxes they used as bowls since the start of their trip, filling each of them with a generous helping of delicious meat and scarce vegetables. "But you already know the answer don't you?" She turned and handed the 'bowl' to Lucia, along with the spoon she carried with her lunchbox. "You're the same, after all."
Well, the Lioness certainly had a point.
Over the past month, the two women had grown closer, and as a result, are more aware of each other's unique quirks that make them stand out to others in their respective circles. Mereoleona was obviously a feral woman with a deep-seated obsession with danger and self-improvement. But underneath that, there was a calmer, compassionate side that just liked a lazy lie-in and a bit of post-training meditation.
Meanwhile, Lucia was the exact opposite on the outside, she was cold and stoic at the best of times, opting for punctuality and precision throughout her many daily tasks. However, beneath that facade, there was a kinder side that enjoyed their outdoor adventures, from the small hikes to the intense sparring sessions among dangerous gemstones that could reflect magic.
As a result, while Mereoleona outwardly relished in the more dangerous adventures, Lucia felt a small thrill from the fear of the unknown and as such, would follow her tutor into the fire without hesitation.
Although she made it apparent she wouldn't do so without complaints, which did nothing to dampen the older warrior's spirited nature.
"Regardless of my thoughts on the matter, I will accompany you to this 'Hot Spring Training Camp.'" Lucia said, tucking into her meal, while the redhead plopped down beside her and did the same. "You've proven to be a reliable teacher, no matter how taxing your company may be. Even if this task reveals itself to be fatal, what you have taught me will prove more valuable if I surpass your final trial and claim 'victory' as you so aptly put it."
This made the Lioness bark out a laugh, while her student ate a spoonful of the stew politely, looking annoyed that her tutor made such a loud noise beside her. "So you finally admitted it!" She patted Lucia's shoulder a little too hard, startling the poor woman into nearly dropping her meal. "I wondered how long it'd take for you to finally appreciate my training methods!"
"Don't let it go to your head." The Ice Queen snipped, shooting her annoying ally an orange-eyed glare. "As I said, you're company is downright exhausting, and if this were any other situation, I would have left a long time ago."
"Hah, yeah right!" The redhead moved away a little and got back to eating. "We've had plenty of bad 'situations' over this past month, and you've never turned back! You've already admitted that my training is effective, just admit that you like my company too!"
"You're delusional, maybe you need to sleep a little more?"
"Not a chance, once we've finished eating, we're going straight for the training camp!"
"I can't even shower first?"
"There's no point!" Mereoleona's countered once again. "What part of 'hot springs' did you miss?"
It was obvious that Lucia's patience was wearing thin, given everything she suggested they do was shot down with a quickness only the feral royal could accomplish. So after a deep breath, she exhaled in defeat. "It seems I don't have a choice..."
"I knew you'd see things my way!"
"I don't, but I know you won't accept anything less."
"Trust me, you won't regret it!"
"Oh, believe me... I will."
This back-and-forth banter continued for the duration of their meal, but once they were finished, the two packed up their belongings and made the trek deeper into the craggy cliffs covered in soot. Where they were going was a mystery to Lucia, and her mind reeled with all the dangerous possibilities. There was no way this camp was as it first seemed, and the Ice Queen of the Grey Deer Squad knew better than to drop her guard.
But just like Mereoleona observed, there was a small part of her that looked forward to the challenge ahead and how she could prove herself by completing it.
~CR~
She knew Mereoleona wasn't the type to take her to an actual hot spring...
Lucia's skin paled at the horrific sight before her as she stood among black, soot-stained rocks that overlooked a large mountain overflowing with bubbling lava. The sky was painted black with the smoke from the dangerous summit, and the only light that came from the sky above was the bright magma of falling rocks that were practically launched from the lethal core of the volcano's fiery wrath.
Mereoleona stood a few feet in front of the stunned Magic Knight, her smirk apparent as she carried half of their gear on her back; not even slightly winded, despite the heavy load. "Didn't I tell you it was worth the wait?" She spun around and clenched her fists in front of her mildly terrified student, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "This is the Yultim Volcano Trail, one of the many Strong Magic Regions that cover the land, and by far the most dangerous!"
"I can see that quite clearly." Lucia finally piped up, swallowing hard as the scalding heat permeated the air and made every breath burn in her lungs. "I knew this 'Hot Spring Training Camp' wasn't going to be quite like its namesake, but I never expected this!"
"Don't let the lava fool you! At the peak is one of the largest and most luxurious hot spring in the four kingdoms!"
"Lady Mereoleona, the heat here is immeasurable." She tugged on the fur-lined cape she adorned, cursing her ice magic and the layers she wore to protect herself from its cold fury; it felt like she was suffocating in her own clothes! "Even at this distance, any water that touched the ground here would evaporate immediately. I doubt there's a hot spring at the peak where the lava is post prominent."
"You'll see," Mereoleona said simply, before her flaming aura burst out, causing Lucia to jump back, as the added heat only further tormented her delicate skin. "Alright, let's begin!" She pointed at the peak as her booming voice overpowered the erupting volcano. "I want you to get to the summit before nightfall, or you'll be repeating the trail again tomorrow!"
"Wait, you expect me to scale an erupting volcano while carrying heavy camping gear?!" Lucia stepped back once more, completely shocked by the redhead's extreme demands. "You can't be serious!"
"Does it look like I'm joking to you?" Mereoleona started, only to vanish when her younger peer blinked. Before she could react she felt movement behind her and started to turn, only for her quick-footed mentor to shove her hard from behind. "I don't care about your excuses, get moving!"
Lucia was caught off guard by the older woman's rough push and didn't have time to catch her footing before she stumbled over the edge of the cliff that served as their viewing platform overlooking the Yultim Volcano. "Tch!" The Ice Queen clicked her tongue as she managed to angle herself in such a way that she slid down the steep incline, rather than fall and potentially land face-first in magma. "If this is your final trial, then fine!" She shouted up as she neared the bottom of the small slope. "I'll take it on without hesitation, but if this hot spring doesn't exist, you won't hear the end of it!"
"Just you wait, when night falls, the restorative waters at the summit will have washed away any aches and pains you'll undoubtedly endure!" The redhead smirked and crossed her arms as Lucia finally stopped her descent. "But don't think I'll make this easy for you, I ensured everything was timed perfectly so you can feel the true might of this region's power!"
"Trust me, I expected nothing left from someone such as yourself." Lucia swallowed the discomfort the suffocating heat caused and removed her backpack, before tossing her Grey Deer robe upwards, where it was swiftly caught by Mereoleona. "I don't intend to lose! If I've taken anything away from these lessons, it's that an unwavering determination is key to my ambitions, so I will treat this as I do any other mission and succeed!"
"Then show me what you're made of!"
Lucia nodded and grabbed the backpack once again, slipping it on, since it was also part of her trial. With a deep breath, she kicked off towards the volcano, her eyes locked onto the summit intently. She knew this wouldn't be an easy task, especially with the molten magma flying through the air thanks to the eruption at the peak.
In fact, she'd be lucky to make it out of here alive.
However, there was a small part of her that got a thrill out of the dangerous side of Mereoleona's training, and she knew if she succeeded here, as she had with all her other lessons; then she'd be one step closer to becoming the Magic Knight she wanted to be.
The protector of the Clover Kingdom's children!
The icy mage noticed a crack on the ground ahead of her filled with bubbling lava and vaulted over, leaving beads of sweat to sizzle away in the air where she once stood. She swiftly landed on the other side and skidded to a halt, only for the force of her landing to fracture the brittle stone before her, causing a plume of scalding hot steam to rise up into her face with little time for her to react and avoid it.
Her reaction was immediate as she stumbled to a stop and covered her mouth to cough as the scalding smoke rushed into her lungs. She tried to wave away the heat and took a step back, only to wobble as the sole of her foot teetered off the edge of the platform she'd landed on. Quickly, she caught herself before she could fall and turned her head to glance back at the bubbling lava behind her.
With the insane heat coming from the front which assaulted her senses, and the simmering lava behind which blocked her escape, she was trapped!
What kind of psychotic final test was this?!
"What's the holdup?!" Mereoleona's booming voice echoed, breaking through the rumbling eruption to reach Lucia's burning ears. "Do you really think you'll reach the top at this pace? You're wasting time!"
This angered her younger student and she clicked her tongue before she spun around. "That's easy for you to say, it's almost impossible to breathe in this heat!" She snapped back, spreading her arms out as magma spewed up into the air from the crags all around her. "How can I hope to reach the summit if I can't withstand the temperature?!"
"Another pathetic excuse! I don't care what you're reasons are!" Mereoleona gritted her teeth as her flaming aura flared up and she glared down at the younger mage with disgust written across her features. "You better think long and hard about your abilities, because this is nothing compared to a real life-or-death mission!" Lucia went to argue back, but Mereoleona's voice only rose, forcing her to remain silent. "If you can't do something as simple as scaling a volcano, then you can go home and forget about protecting anyone!"
Then, without giving her student time to respond, Mereoleona ducked down before she kicked off into the air with said flames trailing behind her; like the arch of a shooting star moving through the sky. All this while Lucia watched on in silent shock, unable to speak after hearing those gut-wrenching words.
The Lioness had originally invited her, and while she'd given her the choice to go home numerous times, those cruel words stopped as the two became closer during their travels. To hear her say that now, especially the part about her giving up on protecting the younger generation, hurt so much more than they ever did during the earlier days.
The Ice Queen glared after the woman as she clenched her fists tightly and dropped her gaze to the ground in frustration, her teeth clenched tightly together in her anger. 'It's easy for her to say that...!' She thought. 'She can just surround herself in mana and-!'
That's when it clicked, and her eyes widened as she snapped her gaze back up at the fireball in the sky. Mereoleona was at the centre of that blaze, heading straight for the summit, where the lava would be plentiful and intense. Not only that, if Lucia remembered correctly, her mentor had been unaffected by the heat even before that, despite also wearing heavy layers and a backpack filled with supplies.
It was funny, with a little extra scrutiny, Lucia could've sworn her body had a soft red aura around it... Similar to the glow of her flames, but with none of the intensity. At first she assumed it was the glow of the volcano's lava reflecting off various metal objects, or Mereoleona's excitement spilling into the atmosphere, like her flames... But it seemed different, intentional.
As if her mana had wrapped around her body, like a second skin.
"That's it!" Lucia exclaimed aloud, a small smirk curling against her dry lips as she stepped forward, not caring about the steam anymore as her final thought brought clarity in its wake. "Mana Skin!"
Mana Skin was an advanced technique among Magic Knights which allowed them to use their mana as a barrier to protect themselves from extreme weather. While she knew about this ability, as it was a fundamental skill for a Magic Knight, the only person in her family to ever pull off Mana Skin was her father; anyone else who tried was either injured severely by the sheer cold this Mana Skin brought or outright failed to even form the protective layer in the first place.
She had been one of the latter.
In any other situation, Lucia would have left, knowing it would be impossible for her. But Mereoleona once told her she could surpass her father and the usually frosty noble couldn't help but feel empowered by the Lioness' confident words! This was only bolstered by her own desire to prove her goals were reachable, and that she would stop at nothing to see them to fruition!
What's the worst that could happen if she tried? An ice burn was a lot less painful than falling into bubbling lava due to passing out from exposure, after all.
'I refuse to give up, not after everything I've accomplished so far!' With her courage reignited and her stubborn desire to prove herself, she straightened up, let out a shaky breath; and closed her eyes to concentrate.
She can do this, she had to do this!
Meanwhile, Mereoleona landed on a ledge near the top of the lethal crater and glanced down to see a small, soft glow of sapphire blue around Lucia's still form. A smirk spread across her lips as she huffed in amusement, then kicked off once more to reach the summit, this time with a bit more spring in her step.
The sounds of the rumbling mountain faded away as the rookie mage's focus shifted to the task at hand. In her mind, she traced her form with her mana; like drawing an outline of herself on paper. As she did so she used what little control she had to actually apply it on her physical self.
Each time the Mana Skin started to appear, it immediately fizzled away, which gave Lucia a chance to take a breath, before she tried again.
Every attempt she made seemed to increase the duration of her fragile barrier, and after what felt like hours of agonizing work, but had really only been a few minutes, her mana finally wrapped around her body completely and warded off the heat surrounding her form.
The Ice Queen snapped her eyes open, slowly lifting her hand to look at the glow around her palm and fingers. She was utterly amazed by the sight of her newfound skill, but was even more impressed that her body temperature didn't drop into the negatives, instead, her temperature remained stable and comfortable. That fact alone forced a confident smile to spread across her lips as she clenched her glowing fist tightly and snapped her gaze to the summit of the Yultim Volcano,
All that was left was to scale this mountain and claim victory!
With a newfound sense of confidence, Lucia took a step forward, preparing to kick off in a run towards the summit. However, the moment her foot touched the ground the Mana Skin she conjured practically burst away from her skin, leaving her to tense up as the wave of intense heat washed over her once again. "Wh-what?!" She gasped, quickly covering her mouth with her arm as she coughed, her lungs burning with each breath.
'What happened?' She thought to herself as she opened a single eye. 'Why did it just vanish like that?!'
With a sharp curse, Lucia dropped her arm to try again. With a little more concentration, she managed to rebuild her Mana Skin and took a deep breath of cool air to centre herself and calm her thumping heart. 'Concentrate...' She exhaled slowly before she kicked off once again.
However, this time she only made it two steps forward before it dissapated once again, leaving her to stumble until she caught herself by planting her hand against a scalding hot rock.
With a hiss she yanked her hand back, glaring at the black smudge across her leather glove. Thankfully they were thick, so the heat wasn't intense enough to render her immobile. With a click of the tongue, she lifted her head to glare up at the summit, where Mereoleona's intimidating form could be seen, staring down at her student with her arms crossed. "What am I doing wrong?!" She called out, only to get no response.
Of course, she was on her own for this, it was the final trial, and Mereoleona did say she wouldn't make it easy for her.
Lucia inspected the area, then noticed a small trickle of flowing lava at the base of the mountain. That's when she took note of just how different the mana in this region was to that of the Clover Kingdom's.
While the air in Raquey flowed and remained consistent throughout the day, the mana here danced and moved without rest, darting and weaving through the skies like small insects near light. No matter how hard she tried to follow it and predict its next move, she never could.
But that gave her an idea.
"I swear she wants to kill me." Lucia sighed, though she huffed out a laugh as she closed her eyes with a small smile playing on her lips. "Bringing me to a place like this when I can't control my magic... She really is trying to push me to my absolute limits."
The cool-headed mage lowered herself until she was set to kick off once again, but this time she didn't have Mana Skin activated. She knew from her own limits that she couldn't control it and move quickly through the mountains while attempting to predict the mana's next move, so she had to improvise a little.
She would move through the mountains without it, and target areas near the lava pools, where the mana was stabilized by its unmoving state. When there, she could use the more stable mana of that area to reactivate her Mana Skin and give herself a small reprieve from her suffering before she continued her trek. If she followed her theory correctly, she'd reach the top with plenty of time to spare.
"Don't think something as simple as weak control will stop me!" She shouted, knowing her teacher could hear her roaring volume. "I will show you just how solid my resolve is!" With that, she kicked off without her protective magic, ready to grab her water bottle from its holster the moment she landed.
She swiftly jumped over gaps and small lava streams, before using her ice to elevate herself up the mountains, all while she felt the burning heat begin to overwhelm her senses once again, making her dizzy. She darted her gaze from left to right until she spotted a lava pool and used her ice pillar to kick off and launch herself over the gap, where she landed beside the bubbling magma.
Despite the unbearable proximity and looming heat stroke, she quickly pushed all the focus she could into creating Mana Skin, which enveloped her with ease, allowing her a moment to gasp out a heavy breath. She took that opportunity to grab at her backpack, only to freeze in place when she felt the loop, but nothing inside.
Lucia yanked the bag off her back and searched for her flash before she realized she was carrying all the heaviest stuff, while their essentials were strapped to Mereoleona's back.
Of course, she'd forget to collect her water bottle before she set off, It's not like she had time to really prepare before she was pushed into the deep end, after all!
With a curse, she knew she couldn't afford to wait any longer and shrugged the bag back on. Once it was situated, she ducked down and launched herself into the air as her Mana Skin vanished, leaving her to do everything in her power to reach her next rest stop.
All the while, Mereoleona was watching from her perch atop the mountain, a large grin plastered across her thin lips, unaware of her student's struggles.
"So that fire in your eyes wasn't a fluke after all..." The Lioness said, though there was no hope of Lucia hearing her as the rumbling volcano only grew louder near the chasm atop the peak. "It's only a matter of time before it lights a fire in your heart as well," She cracked her knuckles as her own cobalt blue eyes sparkled with excitement. "And then, not even your own magic will stand in your way!"
The hotheaded woman relaxed a little, though the grip on her bicep tightened as her smirk turned into a proud and almost gleeful grin. "And you better believe I'll be there to witness your victory, whether you like it or not!"
Now that she'd seen Lucia's true promise as a Magic Knight, she had no intentions of severing their ties once her student returned to the capital. Lucia would remain under her wing until the Lioness herself decided her mentorship was no longer required.
No matter how long it took.
The hours ticked by slowly for the Ice Queen as she grasped the stone at the very top of the volcano and pulled herself up. Her skin was flushed red and soaked to the bone with sweat. There were dark circles under her eyes and her breath came out in ragged gasps, accentuated by her shaking limbs. Her lips were as dry as the dust below her gloved fingers, and the world around her was blurred from exhaustion.
However, as she got to her feet, with intense difficulty, she stood atop the volcano, having succeeded in reaching the peak with at least an hour to spare.
"So you finally made it, eh?" Mereoleona asked, arching a brow as she smirked down at her barely conscious student who planted her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. "I was starting to think you weren't taking this seriously!"
"Tch... don't underestimate... me..." Lucia gasped, glaring up at her mentor as she focused the little energy she had left into conjuring Mana Skin. The heat at the peak was far more unbearable than at the base, and as a result her dehydration-induced haze only worsened. "I need... a drink..."
"A drink? Where's your water bottle?"
Lucia pointed at Mereoleona, who frowned with knitted brows for a moment before she realized what her student was trying to say. Quickly, the redhead took off the bag and spotted two bottles strapped to the side of its bulging contents. "You scaled the volcano without any water? Are you trying to die?!"
"Just give... it to me."
Mereoleona tossed Lucia her water bottle and watched as her student proceeded to chug down the contents with reckless abandon. This made the redhead chuckle before she turned to look at the bubbling lava pool within the crater. "You've got guts, climbing a volcano without water, that kind of determination will get you far! Now we just need to-"
Suddenly a heavy thump echoed behind her, and the Lioness was quick to snap her attention to the younger noble, who had collapsed suddenly, her bottle rolling away as the water sizzled into steam against the hot stone. Immediately, the older woman's smile fell as she used her foot to stop the bottle and huffed, her fiery aura spilling out from the Mana Skin she adorned. "You fool." She growled as she crouched down by her unconscious peer.
Of course, she'd pass out from a heat stroke. The Ice Queen was a force to be reckoned with at the best of times, but she was also stubborn to a fault thanks to her pride.
Just like the unorthodox royal who invited her.
~CR~
It was odd, all Lucia could remember was watching Mereoleona turn to the volcano's core before the world tilted and everything went black. Then it was like the heat surrounding her, overwhelming her weakened senses just disappeared. Instead, a cool touch licked her skin, before it enveloped her like a gentle breeze on a hot summer's day.
Now she felt as if she was suspended in a void of tranquil darkness, soothed by the silence and comfort it offered. Part of her started to wonder if her final trial had been a dream, conjured up by her many memories of similarly dangerous adventures with Mereoleona and that she'd soon wake up to her mentor making a delicious meal to aid them in their training that day.
Whatever the case, the peace she felt more than made up for the uncertainty it carried.
"..."
Hm? What was that?
"... ey..."
The icy noble strained her ears, certain she'd heard something within the darkness.
"... ey...!"
Was that a voice? It was getting louder.
"... ake...!"
There was no denying it, that was a voice, Lucia felt the floaty atmosphere change as gravity took hold, sending her plummetting down towards the warm embers of a fire below.
"WAKE UP!"
Immediately, Lucia's eyes snapped open as she gasped and lurched forward into a sitting position. A flaming aura that once surrounded her vanished into flickering embers that faded as they floated away. She was sat atop a red cape with a backpack behind her, once acting as her pillow. Only a few feet to her left, Mereoleona stood over her with her arms crossed, looking very annoyed. "It's about time!" She grumbled, turning her attention to the crater at the centre of the mountain's peak. "While you were having a little nap, the lava subsided. We should see the Hot Spring any minute now."
Nap?
It took the Ice Queen a moment to really process and understand what the Lioness was saying, and after scanning her surroundings, it finally clicked in her clouded mind. They were atop the summit of the Yultim Volcano, the goalpost of Mereoleona's final test.
However, despite this realization, she wasn't happy... How could she be?
Yes, she had pushed her mana control to the absolute limit in hopes of maintaining her Mana Skin during her short resting periods as she scaled the towering spire while battling the elements... But that achievement was sullied when she realized early on that she had forgotten her flask was attached to Mereoleona's pack, leaving her to struggle her way up without a single drop of water to keep her hydrated.
That small mistake caused her to collapse atop the summit, she'd failed just as she was about to step over the finish line, and it was soul-crushing.
The frown that settled on Lucia's face was all Mereoleona needed to see to know what was going through her mind. The feral warrior stared at her student for a moment before she turned her head away and closed her eyes as the cool night air brush through her vermillion locks.
"I must admit... You surprised me."
Those words and the soft, yet strong, tone of the older woman's voice caused Lucia's eyes to snap open as she raised her head and directed her gaze at the mentor she'd grown somewhat amicable with.
The royal Lioness took a second, then glanced down at the younger Magic Knight with a smirk. "You kept moving forward, no matter what stood in your way! Everything I threw at you, you faced with unwavering determination!" The redhead spun around and clenched her fist. "You faced your hardest challenge with grit, even when the odds were stacked against you!" She held out her hand, flashing the aloof noble a fanged grin. "You proved your mettle, and if anyone tells you you're weak, think back on this journey and all you've accomplished!"
A beat of silence filled the air as the weight of Mereoleona's words settled on Lucia's shoulders, she'd passed the final test.
A smirk crossed the ice mage's lips, and she huffed, taking her teacher's strong hand. "As if I'd let anyone make me think less of myself. I am Lady Lucia Flurris of House Flurris, I am as unmoving in my convictions as a glacier, and as cold as the ice I control." She said confidently, though she had to admit, she was quite relieved.
Her training was complete, and she'd lived to tell the tale. Honestly, she was more surprised by that than her ability to use Mana Skin at the end, even if it was sporadically.
"Good! Don't lose that confidence, or I'll beat you down myself!" With a firm tug, Lucia was pulled to her feet without difficulty, allowing her to take in her surroundings properly, now that she was conscious with a clear head.
Despite the disaster she'd walked into that morning, the mountain was no longer caked in a dark fog of soot, and fire didn't rain from the sky. In fact, the sky was perfectly clear; a deep expanse of cool blue dotted with vibrant, shimmering stars. The volcano itself was no longer erupting, and any magma or lava that once bubbled and spilled from the peak had hardened, leaving new Earth to fill in the crevasses that split through the land during the devastation.
It was no longer a death trap waiting to swallow up another victim, but a serene landscape that begged to be rejuvenated with life.
"Admiring the mountain, I see!" Mereoleona piped up, stepping up to Lucia's side and gazing out at the rocky silhouettes in the distance that were perfectly accented by the constellations above. "During the day, the mana in this region is out of control." She crossed her arms, her fang poking out from her smiling lips. "But for some reason, when night falls, the mana stabilizes, leaving any lava outside of the central core to harden and repair the damage caused by the eruption... This cycle continues each day, which is why the Yultim Volcano Trial is famous for those who seek a challenge."
"Yet you're the only one stubborn enough to scale it." Lucia arched a brow and shot her mentor a bemused look.
"Last time I checked, you made it to the top as well!" Mereoleona countered.
"I didn't have a choice, you did."
This made her mentor laugh and she planted a hand on the smaller shoulder of her ally. "Complain all you want, you had fun!" She spun around and planted her hands on her hips as she locked eyes with the empty crater carved into the centre of the mountain's peak. "And what better way to finish off a long journey than a dip in the most luxurious, restorative waters in all four kingdoms!"
"You've said that a couple of times since we began our journey this morning..." The rookie Magic Knight started, arching a thin brow. "Yet I see no water."
"Hmph, you'll see~!"
"See what? All I see is an empty-."
The rumbling beneath their feet suddenly intensified, causing the ground to shake violently. Lucia let out a startled sound as she tried to keep her footing, all while Mereoleona didn't move an inch, still smirking as she watched the empty bowl atop the mountain intently.
Then as quickly as it began, it stopped when a large geyser burst forth from the very centre of the crater itself, spilling into the air like a fountain. Lucia, who had attempted to speak beforehand was stunned to silence as she watched the beautiful, crystal-clear water rain down. The redhead saw her awestruck expression and immediately felt pride swell within her as she walked forward and spun around to face her student, her fist clenched tightly in front of her as her toothy smile widened. "Welcome to the Hot Spring Training Camp!"
As the last of the water filled the bowl at the centre of the stone platform, turning it from an empty crevasse into a large bath fit for hundreds of people, Lucia couldn't help but let out a barely-heard laugh. "You truly are insane." She commented, looking around for their supplies, noting that Mereoleona must have removed the bag she had been carrying after she collapsed. "I see why you were so excited about this."
"Didn't I tell you it was worth the trip?"
"Hm, I still would have preferred a less... fatal adventure."
Mereoleona laughed, stepping over to the two packs sat side-by-side. She opened the heaviest of the two and pulled out a bottle and some cups before she stepped down into the bowl, using the uneven stones as a staircase into their cosy reward. "Where's the fun in that?" She placed the cups and bottle on the rocks and stripped off her clothes. "The water's excellent as always... Hurry up, you've only got one night to enjoy this to the fullest!"
Lucia went over to the lighter pack and collected a set of spare garments from the innermost pocket. "Do you happen to have any towels?" She asked, glancing up, in any other situation, the sight of Mereoleona's naked back would have shocked her, but given the many times she'd almost caught the woman naked before, it barely phased her anymore.
Especially given they were about to share a hot spring.
"Hm, what happened to yours?" The shameless redhead asked, tossing her clothes to the side. Then she scooped up the bottle and cups as she waded through the shallows to the deeper parts of the spring, which only went up to the waist but was still far more comfortable than the brisk night air.
"If my memory is correct, I left it in the meadow when we helped that little boy from before." Lucia straightened up and looked at Mereoleona's pack. "Would you mind if I searched your pack for one?"
"Hmph, go for it, most of the stuff in there is yours anyway."
"Ah, yes. I forgot that your policy on privacy is a little more lax than my own... And that you hardly bring anything with you on your travels." Lucia rummaged through the heavier bag, only to pull out a small face towel and a larger towel that she recognized easily. "Lady Mereoleona, did you take a towel into the spring with you?"
"No, think you can toss me one?"
Of course she didn't. When she had hot springs on her mind, nothing else seemed to matter.
Lucia's lips twitched upwards a small fraction in her amusement, as she gathered her items and turned in time to see Mereoleona sinking into the water with a pleasant sigh and a wide smile across her face. If the water was so good that it made her unpredictable teacher relax for once, then she wanted to experience it for herself.
Of course, that meant she had to strip down.
Immediately she paused at the top of the makeshift steps. Despite being comfortable in Mereoleona's presence while she was naked, due to their sleeping arrangements, she had never been naked in front of the Lioness before, for good reason.
And now she was in a bit of a predicament. Did she really want the experienced mage to see her naked? Would that even be appropriate, given her status as a lesser noble?
Did they even have separate hot springs for royals and nobles, or did they all just share, only separated by gender?
Mereoleona noticed her student's hesitation. "What's the matter?" She asked, closing her eyes as she let her head drop back and the cool breeze brush through her messy hair. "Haven't you ever been in a public bath before?"
"Of course I have," Lucia said, shaking off her hesitation as she finally descended the steps, removing her clothes carefully as she did so. She didn't want to toss them haphazardly into the wind like her mentor had. "Raquey has a well-known bath house near the beach, I went there often with my mother when I was younger."
"Then this shouldn't be an issue for you, now get in here before the water gets cold!"
"Hm, I doubt that'll happen, given it sprang from a literal volcano, but alright." Lucia placed her folded clothes onto a rock before she stepped into the shallow pool and was surprised by the pleasant sensation the hot water gave her. It soothed the aches she had in the soles of her tormented feet, and as she stepped further in and the water rose, that same soothing sensation spread throughout her other aching muscles as well.
By the time she was waist-deep, she no longer cared about being seen naked and immediately sank down until her nose was just shy of the water's surface.
While she despised the cold, a warm bath had always been one of her favourite things to experience. And while she hated to admit it, Mereoleona was right, the wait was worth it, as her achievements made the water feel so much better on her skin.
Mereoleona didn't hear splashing anymore and raised her head, only to laugh at the sight of the upper half of Lucia's face peeking out from the water. "See? These restorative waters are by far the best in the four kingdoms, and no one can convince me otherwise!"
"Hmmm, while I tend to disagree with you on many things..." The younger mage started, standing once more as she walked over and sat down within reaching distance of her mentor, leaving enough room to be respectful of her space; but close enough for conversation. "I must admit, finding this spring atop an erupting volcano was quite the surprise." She let out a gentle sigh. "The water is lovely."
This had the Lioness brimming with pride, as she draped her arm over the ledge behind her, all while her eyes locked onto the twinkling stars above. "And the view ain't bad either!"
Lucia hummed and looked up, smiling at the sight of the dark blue skies glittered with plumes of purple and pink, with speckles of glittering stars strewn throughout the canvas of colour. "You're right, maybe this adventure really was worth it."
Mereoleona glanced at her student and saw the small smile. It reminded her of a simpler time when she would come here with her own mentor. "Hah, so there are a few things that can move that glacier, eh?"
"Don't get used to it, I'm tired, I'm bound to agree with you more."
"That's as good an excuse as any, I guess." Mereoleona suddenly turned and grabbed the bottle and cups she had placed on the flat surface behind her. "How about a drink?"
"A drink?" Lucia arched a brow, only for both to rise up in surprise when her mentor showed her the label which clearly read 'SAKE.' "Lady Mereoleona, that's alcohol!"
"So?" The toothy grin on the redhead's shameless face as she shook the bottle would have been amusing in any other situation. "What's the matter, can't handle it?"
"Neither of us are legally allowed to drink!"
"Tch, you really do sound like that idiot brother of mine." The blue-eyed Lioness opened the beverage and poured a generous amount in a green cup for herself. "Don't you think you deserve to unwind after all that work?"
"Yes, but I will not devalue the laws of our kingdom in the process." Lucia sank down until her nose was just above the water again, closing her eyes as her brows knitted together with obvious irritation.
Mereoleona knew that was a blatant 'no' on the drink situation, so she shrugged her bare shoulders and lifted the cup to her lips. "Suit yourself, more for me then." She smirked behind the rim of her drink. "I bet you couldn't take it anyway~!"
Lucia lifted her head out of the water and scoffed. "You can mock me all you like, I will not touch a drop of alcohol until I'm twenty-one."
"Alright, I'll hold you to that!"
The Ice Queen sat up and blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?" She asked, turning to look at her mentor, whose curled lips took on a devilish twist.
"When you turn twenty-one, we'll scale the volcano again and have a drink to celebrate!" She raised her glass. "And then we'll see just how much you can handle!"
After a second to process the woman's playfully insulting, yet amusing words, Lucia actually let out a small snicker of laughter; which only further bolstered Mereoleona's mood. "You're impossible. No, you're completely and utterly mad!"
"And? Like I give a damn! I'm the Uncrowned, Undefeated Lioness, if I wasn't a little feral, no one would take that title seriously!"
"Hm, you have a point." The lilac noble leaned back against the rocks and looked up at the stars. "I will accept your invitation to get drinks on the day I become twenty-one... But not for the alcohol itself."
"Oh?" This had the redhead lowering her glass before she could take another swig, arching a bushy brow at the woman beside her.
The icy mage glanced at Mereoleona and flashed her a small smirk, making it obvious that she was actually comfortable around her unpredictable mentor now, something she wouldn't have done only a week or two prior. "Though it'd make your insanity a bit less exhausting, I find you rather... tolerable, even without it's influence."
"Hah, you finally admitted it!" The feral royal chugged her drink, before she let out a heavy gasp, then placed her cup down to relax against the rocks; mirroring her younger ally. "I guess that means you wouldn't mind joining me on my adventures more often then?"
"Hmmm, I'm open to the idea," Lucia admitted, after a moment of contemplation. "I could use the tutoring if I'm being completely honest with myself. Your lessons may be questionable in regards to their extreme nature, but they are efficient." She nodded. "If you were to invite me again, I'd see no reason to refuse."
"Alright then, I'll hold you to that!" The redhead slung an arm around Lucia's shoulder, startling the woman as her mentor flashed her a jovial grin. "Maybe I'll take you into the volcano next time, and we can fight the beasts inside to find whatever treasure they're guarding!"
"Are you insane?! My Mana Skin isn't fully developed yet-!"
"So? Maybe if you complained less and actually took action, you'd get the job done!"
"You are-." She groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Is it too late to change my mind?"
"Yep, you're stuck with me now, Ice Queen!"
With that, the month-long excursion came to an end, and the two women fell into a bout of slight bickering and playful banter, all while the stars twinkled in the beautiful skies above. Lucia wouldn't admit it out loud, but she truly was enjoying Mereoleona's company, and with every interaction, those icy walls she kept around her heart began to thaw, much like they had with her squadmates.
Though she wasn't aware of just how intertwined their lives would be, and all the adventures such a friendship would bring with it.
And yes, it really was too late for her to change her mind.
A/N: And that's the end of the chapter! Thank you for reading, if you enjoyed it, or have some criticism about my work, then please leave a review as it all helps me improve with my writing!