Coco: Hey, everyone, here I am...with another new story when I already have so many I neglect. I want to blame a friend of mine for this one though. She's the one who introduced me to Black Clover. So, yeah, I'm just going to blame her to make myself feel better lol.
Anyway, if you're new to my work, and don't know me, I'm Coco and it's nice to meet you. I hope we can all get along and have fun as we follow the adventure of my latest OC Maryam as she starts her journey to become a magic knight.
Shall we get started?
As the sun shined over Hage Village, a young blonde girl, who appeared to be in her mid to late teens, walked down an all too familiar path back to her home. The girl smiled looking up at the beautiful clear sky as she carried the basket of tatoes she had managed to gather in her hands.
"It's such a beautiful day today," she said to herself as her smile grew.
Though her smile soon diminished as she dropped her head from looking up at the sky to blink in confusion when she heard someone yelling. However, she soon recognized the owner of the voice, and snorted in amusement as she adjusted her hold on the basket.
"Asta is at it again." She said as she heard her adoptive brother begging Sister Lily to marry him. "When is that boy going to give up?"
She shook her head as the church came into view. Her arrival bringing her home just in enough time to see Sister Lily use her magic to reject Asta once again.
"I'm so sorry, Asta!" The kind nun apologized after she realized what she had done. "I wasn't thinking. My magic just slipped out."
"There's no reason to apologize to him, Sister." The blonde told the gentle woman. "Asta just needs to learn that no means no."
Lily looked up a bit surprised to see the blonde since the nun hadn't seen her approach.
"Oh, Maryam, you're back." Lily greeted the girl then looked back to Asta. "But…I feel as if I took things too far."
Maryam looked down at Asta as well as the boy continued to lay in the watery crater made by Lily. Maryam was about to ask the boy if he was alright, but she was interrupted by the sound of clapping. She and Lily looked to see Recca and Nash had arrived on scene with the prior looking amused.
"Nice, Sister." Recca praised. "Way to go."
"Show him no mercy." Nash added with his usual indifferent expression on his face.
Lily went to protest since she felt terrible for what happened, but Asta, who apparently hadn't been as phased as they thought, jumped up from the small crater with a mighty shout.
"We're not done here!" Asta declared loudly.
Asta didn't get very far, however, as he was blasted down by a gust of wind curtesy of Yuno who arrived with the youngest of their little family; Aruru and Hollo.
"Really, Asta," Maryam said with a small sigh. "You need to leave poor Sister Lily alone."
Recca and Nash agreed with the older girl as Maryam stepped over the fence that went around the orphanage, but not before Yuno reached out a hand to help her. She gave him a grateful smile as Asta once again sprung to life with a shout.
"Why are you sticking your nose in this, Yuno?!" Asta demanded as he glared at the taller boy.
"That's simple, really." Yuno said. "Cause you're noisy. You're short. You lack both composure and tolerance. And there's nothing really about you that appeals to women."
With every point that Yuno, who was walking over to Lily, made, Asta seemed to flinch as if physically being struck. Maryam sweat-dropped at the scene as she thought Yuno could be a bit nicer to Asta even if the boy did need to leave Lily alone.
"Hey!" Asta shouted in annoyance. "Fifteen years of growing up together and that's how you talk to me?! You big handsome jerk!"
Yuno ignored Asta's shouts as the dark-haired youth asked Lily if she'd like some help with the laundry. Of course, seeing that Yuno was paying him no mind, only pissed Asta off even more.
"Do you really think you can just ignore me?!" Asta growled.
"Asta, nuns are women of the cloth," Yuno reminded Asta for the umpteenth time. "Which means they can't marry. Neither can fifteen-year-old boys, in fact."
Maryam nodded along with Yuno's words as she sat down, so to begin peeling the tatoes.
"Think you're so smart," Asta grumbled. "Well, I'll show you! Yeah, I will! You and me! Right here, right now!"
"Not today." Yuno declined coolly.
"And why the hell not?!" Asta demanded.
Yuno went to reply, but Maryam interfered by growing a thick hedge between the two boys. They both turned to look at her as she gave them a look.
"That's enough." Maryam said. "Instead of fighting, why not use that energy on the chores? We have wood to chop, laundry to finish, and dinner to start preparing, remember? And that's just naming a few things. If you have to compete, why not see who finishes chores faster?"
"Yeah, let's do that!" Asta agreed. "I'll get the chores done way before Yuno! Just watch!"
Asta went to hurry and chop wood as Yuno was already drying the laundry with his magic.
"You really know how to handle that knucklehead, Mary." Nash commented.
Maryam, who finished peeling the tatoes, let out a chuckle as she smiled at the boy.
"Well, I am you guys' big sister." Maryam said. "Big sisters are meant to know how to handle her rambunctious younger siblings."
She pat Nash on top of the head as she spoke before handing the tatoes off to Recca who would wash them. Maryam then chuckled as she listened to Asta shout as he eagerly started chopping would.
'That kid,' She thought as stood up.
Maryam came to this church not long after Asta and Yuno who were left here as infants. Father Orsi believes that Maryam is about two years older than the boys, but it was hard to tell since the three didn't know their birthdays. And since she was older, Maryam had already received her grimoire. However, due a certain stubborn priest, Maryam has yet to leave and try to become a magic knight.
Orsi claimed it wasn't right for a young lady to travel on her own and that he'd feel better if she left the village with Yuno and Asta when they came of age. That and the man was hoping she'd stay behind at the church and become a nun like Sister Lily. But she knew it was just more than that as well. He had been worried about her magic. But things were different now.
'Meaning it's finally time,' Maryam thought. 'Soon the boys will be getting their grimoires, and the three of us will head for the capital.'
Maryam pulled her grimoire from the pouch at her hip. She gently stroked the green cover where vine-like designs were around the edge and a large dark flower wrapped around a three-leaf clover could be seen.
'I don't want to be the Wizard King like the boys.' Maryam thought as she put her grimoire back where it belonged. 'But I still want to be a great magic knight, so to support the church and give the kids a better life.'
She came out of her thoughts when she heard Asta's angry voice shouting at Yuno again. She sighed looking up to see Yuno had gone to take over chopping wood for Asta using his magic, which the non-magic using boy obviously didn't appreciate. Maryam sighed once more while shaking her head as she stood up to go and stop the two. However, she needn't stop Asta as the front doors being slung open did the job for her.
"Yuno is the hope of this church!" Orsi cried as he stepped outside.
Maryam gave the old man a look since Yuno wasn't the only one capable of becoming a magic knight here. Sure, she wasn't as talented as her younger brother, but she wasn't some push over either. The two years she's been training since she got her grimoire has really helped her improve her skills. Which is the only reason she wasn't too mad about having to wait for Yuno and Asta to become old enough to get their grimoires…at least not has mad as she had once been.
Most who dreamed of becoming magic knights, would rush to the exams as soon as they came of age. However, taking those two years to train left Maryam feeling better prepared for the magic knights' exam, and she felt confident that she'd be chosen to join at least one squad.
"I'm here too, Father Orsi." Maryam pointed out. "And so is Asta."
She pointed at the sulking boy who was sat on the ground with his knees pulled to his chest.
"Yes, well, I still have time to convince you that your place is here with us, Maryam," Orsi said as he ignored the whole Asta-part of Maryam's comment. "It's not too late to take your vows and join Sister Lily as a nun."
"I'll pass," Maryam shut down that suggestion without missing a beat.
The old man gave her a sulky expression as he watched her go over to the sulking Asta. Maryam patted the younger orphan on top his head in comfort since she knew how much it bothered him to be outshined by Yuno, and for the others to so easily assume he'd fail trying to be a magic knight.
"Getting into the magic knights isn't just a silly dream for Yuno or even Maryam." Nash said. "They'll make it for sure."
Asta just sighed as he looked up at Maryam who crouched down in front of him. She gave him a kind smile as her hand rested on his knee.
"Come on, cheer up." She said. "Just ignore them. Sometimes our dear family can be a bit mean, I know, but you'll just have to prove them wrong when you get your grimoire, okay?"
Asta's gloomy expression lightened some before both teens looked up to Sister Lily who approached them.
"That's right," Lily said. "The awarding of the grimoires is coming up. When you have yours, things will change. Just wait and see, Asta. You'll be able to use magic in no time at all."
"Thank you so much, Sister Lily, Mary." Asta said to the pair of them as tears comically rolled down his face.
Maryam just continued to smile at him as she helped the young man back to his feet.
"That's right!" Asta said as he turned to face the statue of the first Wizard King that stood off in the distance with his fist held up in determination. "I'm going to get the strongest grimoire ever! I'll join up with the magic knights, and once I make a name for myself, I'll follow in your footsteps and become the Wizard King!"
Maryam's smile widened at his proclamation as she was happy to hear his dream was still as strong as ever. Asta might not have his own magic, but he's shown time and time again that he would never let anyone tell him his dream was impossible. He wanted to show even commoners like them could rise to great heights with enough hard work and belief in oneself.
"He'll never give up this nonsense, will he?" Nash asked with a sigh.
"And then I'll come back and rebuild this crumbling dump of a church!" Asta added as if Nash hadn't spoken at all.
Of course, calling the church a dump didn't sit well with Father Orsi who turned around to glare at Asta.
"Crumbling dump?!" Orsi shouted as he pointed at Asta. "That's taking things too far!"
Asta ignored Orsi's outburst as he turned to look at Yuno with a big smile on his face.
"Isn't that right, Yuno?" Asta asked excitedly.
Yuno turned to glance at the shorter teen as Asta held out his fist expectantly. However, Yuno ignored the gesture and just turned away from Asta to walk inside. As Maryam frowned at how Yuno brushed Asta off, the ash-blonde, who lowered his fist, looked down with a saddened expression.
"I'll show all of you." Asta said as his faced contorted into anger before he jumped the fence. "I swear! Just watch and you'll see, damn you!"
Sister Lily called out for the boy to come back, but Asta kept going and didn't look back. Maryam sighed knowing where he was headed, but she'd leave him be for now as she knew he probably wanted to be left alone.
"Tch, really?" Nash scoffed. "How am I younger than him?"
He then winced when Maryam flicked his forehead in retort. He looked up at her with a frown as Lily went to speak with Yuno.
"Don't be so mean to your brother." Maryam scolded. "We may not be related by blood, but we're family. And families need to support each other. Now, come on, there's still work to be done."
Maryam hummed to herself as she was sewing closed a hole that she had seen in Yuno's shirt the other day. Her siblings were still getting ready with Orsi and Lily's help, but Maryam had gotten up hours sooner for her morning training before returning to the church.
'Today is the day,' Maryam thought as she held up Yuno's shirt to take a look at her handy work.
She tugged lightly at the shirt to see if her stitching would hold. She nodded in satisfaction when it held strong.
'I never realized how big Yuno's gotten since we were younger,' Maryam thought as she lowered his shirt into her lap. 'He used to be just as tiny as Asta and such a little cry baby. He and Asta have grown up so much since then. Not the same little boys who used to follow me around and cling to my clothes.'
She then sniffed when she realized she was getting a bit emotional. She quickly wiped at her eyes before she could let herself cry.
'Gees, since when did I turn out to be such an emotional old lady?' Maryam thought. 'I'm only seventeen for crying out loud. Got to get myself together.'
After she collected herself, she turned her attention to the doorway as Yuno, who was ready for the day beside not having his over shirt, came outside looking at her expectantly.
"Sorry, looking for this?" Maryam asked as she held out his shirt. "It had a hole in it, so I thought I'd patch it up for you before we leave to get yours and Asta's grimoires."
Yuno's blank expression softened at his adoptive sister's kind act as he took the shirt from her hold.
"Thank you, Maryam." Yuno said.
"You're welcome." Maryam said as she stood up from the stump she had been sitting on. "You need to look your best since today is a special day."
Yuno smiled slightly at her words before he slipped the shirt on over his head. After he had it in place, Maryam gave his cheek a gentle pinch.
"Of course, my little siblings always look their best." She cooed teasingly. "Cause you're all so darn cute~"
She looked to Asta, who was coming out the door, as she said this as well, and the shorter teen beamed at her.
"To think my sweet little brothers are old enough to get their grimoires already." She said as she felt slightly emotional again. "When did you two become so grown up?"
She hugged them after asking this, and as Asta happily returned the hug with a laugh, Yuno sighed and had her release him rather quickly.
"You're barely two years older than us, Maryam." Yuno reminded her. "I don't see why you insist on babying us."
"The small age gap doesn't make me any less of your older sister." Maryam shot back as she released Asta. "And big sisters are supposed to baby their younger siblings."
She then fiddled with Asta's headband to straighten it as Sister Lily and Father Orsi came out with the younger children.
"Are we all ready to go?" Orsi asked.
Everyone gave a confirmation, so Father Orsi led the way to the Grimoire Tower with Sister Lily at his side as she carried a still half-asleep Hollo. Nash and Recca followed after them with Maryam right behind as she walked alongside Aruru who held her hand. Yuno and Asta brought up the rear with the latter chatting excitedly about what grimoire he might end up with.
Maryam stood at the edge of the crowd along with the others, who came to watch the ceremony, as she held Aruru in her arms.
"There's so many books," Aruru awed.
Maryam smiled at the young girl, who she had resting on her hip, as her free arm went around Nash to keep him close.
"There are." Maryam agreed. "And out of all these books, two of them will choose Asta and Yuno. And someday each of you will receive one as well."
Aruru's eyes lit up hearing that as her eyes tried to take in all the books around them. Nash just scoffed as he looked up at Maryam.
"What does it matter if we receive one of those grimoires?" Nash asked. "It's not like commoners like us can do much with them."
Maryam looked down gently at Nash. The boy never did think that commoners could amount to much. He wasn't happy about it, but he already accepted that commoners were just that…common…at least in the eyes of their society. Maryam sat Aruru down, so she could kneel in front of Nash to get closer to his eye level.
"That isn't true, Nash." Maryam told him. "Look at me, I could barely use my magic properly when I got my grimoire, but all it took was some hard work and perseverance to get where I am now. With what I can do now, even a little pessimist like you believes I can be a magic knight, remember?"
As she spoke, she gently tickled his side to show she was lightly teasing when she called him a pessimist. An action that had him squirming away as he frowned at her. Though the frown fell from his face as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"If you want something in life, go for it and fight for it with everything you've got." She told him. "If you do that, you can do great things and be anything you want to be. It's just like Asta says, even us poor commoners can be something great."
She smiled at Nash as she spoke, and the boy didn't reply as he looked off to the side. Maryam gave a small sigh though hoped he took her words to heart as she gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. She then stood back up and took Aruru's hand into her own as things looked as if they were about to get started. As the ceremony began, Drouot, who was the master of the Grimoire Tower in Hage, came floating down towards the crowd on what looked like a magic carpet.
"Welcome to Grimoire Tower, Acceptees." Drouot, who landed before the crowd, greeted as he used magic to amplify his voice. "On this momentous day, you'll take your first steps down a new path. I wish you integrity, hope, and love. For those of you who don't know, I am known as the Master of this Grimoire Tower. Now, never once has anyone from this region distinguish him or herself by becoming a magic knight, much less the Wizard King. I pray that one among you will have what it takes to become the most powerful mage in the land…Seriously, I mean it!"
Maryam held back a snort of amusement at Drouot's declaration since he said the same thing during her grimoire acceptance ceremony. The poor old man just seemed ready for someone from their region to do something extraordinary with their magic.
'Well, this is the year,' Maryam thought with a smile. 'Yuno, Asta, and I will become magic knights for certain.'
Maryam pushed those thoughts to the side for now, however, as Drouot continued speaking.
"Ahem," Drouot cleared his throat. "And now, to accept your grimoires."
At his words, the grimoires started to glow and fly from the shelves. Many gasped in awe as the grimoires flew around the room before flying to their respective mages. Maryam placed her hand on her own grimoire with a sense of nostalgia as she remembers the day quite clearly that it chose her. Many of the teenagers murmured excitedly as they held their grimoires, and while Maryam was happy for them, her eyes returned to her brothers to see if they were happy with what they had received. Yuno's expression gave nothing away, which didn't surprise Maryam, who gave a soft chuckle, in the slightest. However, as she turned to look at Asta, her smile dropped.
'Where's Asta's grimoire?' She wondered worriedly.
Asta stood expectantly as he stared up at the grimoires with his arms open wide. His own expression confused and looking a bit worried when nothing flew in his direction. Maryam felt a heavy ball of anxiety fill her stomach the longer Asta stood there grimoire-less.
"Uh, hey, uh," Asta spoke up finally, which grabbed everyone's attention. "Is my grimoire running late or something?"
Nothing was said at first as many stared at the boy in shock that he wasn't chosen by a grimoire. Drouot cleared his throat nervously the longer the silence continued.
"Uh…try again next year?" Drouot tried suggesting.
The old mage seemed to be just as confused as everyone else that Asta wasn't chosen. Or maybe perhaps he didn't want to tell Asta that him getting a grimoire was almost a one in a hundred chance of happening. Either way, Asta wasn't happy.
"WHAT?!" Asta shouted in disbelief.
Soon the laughter started with many poking fun at Asta who was still trying to wrap his head around what just happened. Maryam glared at the lot of them and looked ready to start throwing punches. However, Nash and Recca held onto her tightly to keep her back.
"I know you want to hit them, but please, don't, Mary," Recca pleaded as she held onto Maryam's arm.
"Yeah, I don't think Asta would like a bigger scene." Nash added as he had his arms around her waist. "I know I don't want one."
"I don't care." Maryam growled. "I'll kick all their damn asses for laughing at him!"
As Lily chided Maryam for speaking so violently in front of the other children, Yuno's grimoire suddenly glowed a bright golden hue. Everyone gasped turning to the dark-haired boy who didn't seem surprised at all by his glowing grimoire. Maryam, who temporarily forgot about kicking the asses of those who dared to laugh at one of her sweet little brothers, looked on in surprise when seeing Yuno's grimoire was marked with a four-leaf clover.
"That's…amazing," Maryam said.
Many others murmured their own shock when seeing Yuno had the same grimoire that the first Wizard King had been rumored to own. The grimoire finally stopped its glowing as it fell into Yuno's expecting hand, which had the room growing quiet once more.
'Yuno really is something else,' Maryam thought as Yuno firmly gripped his grimoire.
Yuno turned to address the people around him with his head held high and his gaze unwavering.
"I will become the Wizard King," He stated strongly yet so simply as if he was stating pure fact and not just declaring a wish of his.
This, of course, sent the room into excited murmurs once more as everyone spoke in hushed tones. Though they erupted into cheers soon, however, and those from the church were no different. However, though Maryam was proud and happy for Yuno, she was worried about Asta. She looked at said boy with a concerned expression as he knelt on the ground with his head held low. Maryam took a step forward with the plan to go and comfort Asta, but as the boy started to stand, she paused.
"Yuno, just wait…I'm hot on your heels," Asta began before whirling around to face Yuno. "I'll catch up to you. I am your rival!"
The room grew really quiet once more at Asta's declaration as the shorter boy stared at Yuno with that same burning determination his eyes always carried.
'Asta, even now you still don't give up,' Maryam thought with a smile.
However, the smile soon dropped when everyone started laughing at Asta as if he was some kind of joke. Her hands clenched into fists at their jeers as her anger returned. She was about to tell them all to shut up, but paused as she noticed Yuno start to walk forward. When he so casually brushed aside Asta, Maryam's eyes widened for the umpteenth time that day.
"Yuno…why?" She murmured.
Yuno used to be so close to Asta. The two were basically inseparable, but Yuno only seemed to build a larger gap between them every day now. Brushing Asta to the side as if he thought Asta wasn't worth his time.
"Well, everyone time to go," Father Orsi said. "We have a lot of preparations to make for the big banquet. Since today's special, you all get three tatoes a piece."
Aruru cheered when hearing that as she and Recca followed behind Father Orsi.
"Maybe we could have something different for a change." Recca suggested.
Lily gave a small sigh as she looked at poor Asta before she went to follow after the others with Hollo still in her arms. She placed her hand on Nash's shoulder to usher him along, but she paused when seeing Maryam wasn't following.
"Maryam?" Lily said to get the girl's attention.
She watched worriedly as Maryam sighed with her shoulders slumping ever so slightly. Lily was going to ask if the girl was alright, but Father Orsi pipped up from the doorway.
"Maryam, come along!" He called. "I'll need your help to prepare Yuno's congratulation celebration!"
Maryam frowned at his words as she walked over to Asta to grab her little brother's hand. He looked at her, and her heart clenched when seeing his saddened expression.
"Come on, Asta," she said gently. "You heard, Mr. Drouot…you can try again. Don't give up, okay?"
Asta just gave a small nod though looked as if his hope of ever having his own magic was no over. He let Maryam lead him along as she walked him out of the buildings while shooting glares at anyone dare even to snicker at Asta.
'This can't be how things end for him,' Maryam thought. 'His dream can't end before it even begins.'
Coco: Well, that is the end of the first chapter. I haven't really decided a pairing yet. I might not do one at all with this story, which will be a first with me. But it's just undecided right now. Maybe you guys can give me suggestions as we go along based on how Maryam interacts with the other characters.
Well, until next time, guys! Remember stay safe and keep being your beautiful selves!