Season 2 Chapter 1. When Hell Came to Paradise


Late at night, Millie lies on her usual branch in her cat form underneath the cloudy sky.

Meanwhile, Liebe is lying on Asta's pillow in his small form, not really able to sleep as he thinks about everything that has happened up to this point since Millie came to be with them.

"It doesn't make sense," he thinks out loud as his mind remembers her scars and her trembling during dinner, as well as the display of power, seeing her disappear from the battlefield, reappearing by the devil Devea, the white flames, and everything that was being said...

(If she is that strong then what is she scared off really?)

He sighs and flies over to the windowsill and looks outside.

Millie is startled awake, yawns, and transforms into her human form. She then looks at the sky, stretches widely, and jumps down from the branch. She hears a window open from the base but thinks little of it as she looks at the woods in front of her and starts to walk.

"Wait a minute," she hears a voice behind her, and her chain becomes visible as she is pulled to the ground.

She gets on her hands and knees, shakes a little as footsteps surround her, and sees dark clawed feet in front of her. She looks up, meeting Liebe's blood-red eyes.

"May I be of any assistance, sir?" she asks, her tone gentle and accommodating.

His eyes slightly narrow as he looks her over. "You don't make any sense to me."

"Huh, um..." she utters, blinking in confusion. "I apologize, sir. I'm a bit perplexed. Could you please clarify what you would like to understand, sir?" Her voice is soft and tentative as she seeks to address his query.

He remains silent, thinking his words over for a moment before he opens his mouth. "How do you have so much mana?" he asks her.

"I'm not really sure. I was put under a forbidden spell that had me comatose for half a year, and when I woke up, the mana was there," she gently answers.

"Why do you usually hide it?"

"I have many reasons. The biggest reason is to avoid the power-hungry," she utters softly.

"The power-hungry?" Liebe cocks a brow.

"If I openly displayed the entirety of my mana to everyone I encountered and they approached to establish a contract, how many individuals do you think would do so with pure intentions?" she asks. But Liebe's expression doesn't change at all.

"Should that matter? I mean, you increase someone's powers regardless, right?" he asks.

"That I do, and the stronger the familiar, the bigger the boost," she answers, looking at him as he is not yet willing to buy her story.

"Would you not be tempted to use my powers as your own if you had something big you wished to accomplish?"

He assesses her words and looks at the chain that is keeping her close to the ground. (I suppose she has a point) he thinks to himself.

"Is there anything else, sir?"

"Explain to me your skill in battle. Did you really learn it all by yourself?" he asks.

"Not all of it, just the technique where I block someone's Ki circulation and movement," she explains as the chain keeping her to the ground disappears, and she sits up properly on her knees, folding her glove-covered hands neatly into her lap.

(She is a bit more straightforward, but her walls are still up... why?) he thinks to himself.

"Tell me, how did you disappear from the battlefield so completely?" he asks, and Millie brings her hand to her bell, and the moon blade comes out.

"Sir, I must tell you that it was mostly justluck that it was a new moon that night," she utters, and he looks at the sword being put into the ground between them.

"This blade has different effects depending on the moon phases, and to activate the moon's power, it requires blood. The new moon lets me slip into the outermost layer between this world and the next, so I went to Limbo, moved the correct distance, and struck."

(Something like that can be done with this blade? What even is that blade? The many letters along its sides do not look to originate from this world or the underworld...)

"Where did that blade come from?" he asks.

"Sir, I am uncertain. According to the legend, it was forged by an otherworldly entity and earned through the extraordinary accomplishments of a man in the distant past. However, other texts suggest that it was bestowed by divine forces themselves or maybe it was made by the elves or the dwarfs or maybe a different race entirely. I have diligently searched for reliable sources on the sword's origin, but thus far, it remains a perplexing mystery," she explains, as their gaze fixates on the sword, accompanied by ethereal, luminous letters gently swirling around its flat surfaces.

His eyes go back to her face, and their eyes meet as he sorts his thoughts.

(I got what I need for now) he thinks to himself. He strides past her. However, he halts abruptly, catching her glimpse of his long tail in her peripheral vision. "What you said to me on the first day we met," he reveals, his voice resonating with conviction, "still holds true."

"Understood, sir. I will continue to stay out of your path." A moment passes, and she listens as his footsteps fade, and his tail disappears from her sight, her gaze shifting towards the weighty sky above.

She stands up letting the quiet breeze pass and she heads for the woods in front of her, thinking about the battle with Devea. (Casimir has been avenged now, so he can rest easy) she thinks to herself, moving past bushes as she moves through the grass.

(Come to think of it, if someone had told me when I first met the devil Casimir that he and I would grow close, I think I might have actually resorted to violence. After all, the day I met him was the worst day of my life. It marked the beginning of the worst couple of years of my life when I met Mal.)

Flashback


Me and Meir were in the forest, and he put a herb into the basket. "That should be enough for grandmother for now," he said with a smile, and I nodded. "Come, let us go, Millie," he told me and extended his hand, which I took.

We walked through the forest, and as we walked, I took my Crystal Brooch off my light purple sweater and looked at it.

"You sure liked the gift I gave you," he said with a smile, and I turned my eyes to him. "Of course I do, it matches your eyes," I smiled as we continued walking through the woods.

(in this place I get to help people and be by Meir's side and defend the village and do different tasks together. the villagers are so kind and every day is filled with so much laughter, I never want this to end.) I contemplated in my own thoughts as the sun's rays pierced through the foliage, casting dancing shadows in the forest. The flowers swayed gracefully in the soft breeze, creating a serene scene that filled me with a sense of tranquility. (no I never want to this to end)

We moved past the forest and out into the clearing, looking at the path leading to the stone bridge. I remember getting chills, sensing sinister mana coming from the village. I transformed into my cat form and walked next to him.

"Master Meir, please be on your guard," I told him. "Uh, is something the matter?" he asked. "I sense trouble," I told him. But what I really wanted was to tell him to run, but that would mean abandoning the villagers and Meir's family.

We ran down and over the stone bridge, and Meir stopped in shock, seeing a black chain go through a man's chest. He gritted his teeth. "Meir, be careful—" I whispered, but he had already dropped the basket and taken out his grimoire and shot a water ball at the man in a dark purple cloak, who effortlessly deflected the water spell and turned towards Meir and me.

"It seems there is someone here who has a bit of fight in him," the man uttered, his cold blue eyes piercing right through us as we both stiffened. His black messy hair reached past his shoulders.

I looked around and saw a couple of bloody bodies and the villagers' horrified faces, as well as Meir's sister and grandmother defending each other near their house.

"What do you think you are doing here? What did this village ever do to you?" Meir shouted. "Nothing. The man simply refused to give up information," the man said with a lazy voice, and I readied myself for anything.

(What information does this man seek?) I wondered. "Why would they, after what you have done!" Meir shouted.

"Meir, we should—" I uttered. "Millie, get ready. I am taking this guy," he told me.

(No, we should give the information in exchange for our lives. We cannot beat this guy; he has so much mana), I thought to myself. But before I could say anything, Meir had already launched another ball at the man.

"Shadow chain magic: Dance of the Scorpion," the man uttered lazily, and the black chain moved sideways, deflecting the water, and shot straight for us. I put up a shield, knocking the chain back.

"Oh, so the cat beside you is a familiar, I gather. Is that why you dare to raise your hand against me? Hate to break it to you, but that one is far too weak for that," the man mocked.

"Master Meir, we should—"
"So what? I won't know until I try. There is no way I will let you get away with killing my friends!" he yelled and flipped through his grimoire, landing on a page. "Water-magic: Lake Pike!" he yelled and a pike formed out of his water spell as it got shot at the man.

"Master Meir!" I told him, but it was already too late as the chain easily went through the water Pike and headed straight for us. I put up another shield, but the chain went through it this time. I quickly transformed, grabbed Meir, and jumped away landing a bit away.

I placed him down carefully and stood by his side.

"You are quick on your feet, at least," the man smiled and walked towards us.

"Millie, let us do what we did when we fought those bandits," he told me. "Master Meir," I uttered and looked at him, but he had already made up his mind. "Understood, Master," I replied.

The man stopped as Meir flipped through more pages. "Water magic: Distorted Bubble!" he yelled, and the man was encapsulated in a bubble of water that spun around him. Bubbles ran all around the surface, creating a disoriented feeling inside.

"This is pathetic," the man uttered as his grimoire flipped to a page. "Shadow chain magic: Chain Break!" he uttered, and the chain extended all around him, swinging through the barrier. The chain went for Meir, and he jumped back.

"Life shield magic: Shielded Bullets," I whispered and sent a barrage of bullets from behind the man. Black flames erupted from the man's back, burning away my spell with ease.

"What the—" I uttered and with a back-flip, I jumped back. I saw the chain seize Meir in mid-air, and the man controlled his mana, flinging Meir up the hillside. I took to my wings, and the man snapped his fingers. Black flames formed in front of me, and a silhouette emerged from the darkness.

"Some more fun, Master Mal," the silhouette chuckled. Red glowing eyes appeared on the creature's face as the black coat disappeared, revealing his blood-red eyes and sinister grin. He sent black flames my way, and I dodged them. But little did I know, it was his intention to keep me away from Meir.

"GhAA!" I heard Meir yelp out in pain, and I looked over, seeing him on the ground near the top of the hill. Another chain went for him.

"No, MEIR!" I yelled, and the devil in front of me chuckled. I turned to him. "Life shield magic: Shielded Bullets!" I yelled and shot bullets from all around him, but he burned away my spell with ease. I flew over him, and as he moved his flames to see again, I disappeared and headed for Meir.

But the chain was shot as I lunged ahead. I was too late as the chain pierced through Meir and moved out by the time I got there. I landed by him and sat down on my knees, shivers going through me as my bell started to pulsate with magic and glow.

"Master Meir, this is wrong. You can't die..." I listened for his weak heartbeat.

"He should have known better," Mal said, his tone dark. The devil turned a little and flew over to his shoulder, and the man turned towards the village.

"Meir, you can't leave me... I refuse!" I pleaded as my emotions welled up, and my magic was released. "I refuse to just let you die!" I told him, and my bell glowed. Out came my spellbook, and it opened up to an empty page, filling up with writing.

Mal turned back to me without my knowledge as I uttered the new spell in my grimoire. "Life shield magic: Shielded Healing," I said, and a shield formed around him, beginning to heal him.

"It is really no use. The kid is dead any second now anyway," he said, and I heard him snap his fingers. I looked up to see a foot collide with my gut as I was kicked away, and the devil walked over to the man with my spellbook in hand, giving it to Mal.

"What are you?" I uttered in disbelief, getting up again as he flipped through the book's pages. "Hmm, you do not have many spells in here, but according to the book's size and thickness, you do have potential. Interesting," he told me, and I touched my bell, causing the book to go back inside. I went over to Meir to put up the spell again, but a wall of black flames came up between us.

Then a flame made a single line and formed into a rope that bound me and laid me to the ground. "No, stop! I have to heal him! Stop!" I yelled, but the flames only held me tighter.

"Man, you are annoying," the man said, and a black chain went into Meir's heart. His face turned to me, and I witnessed the life in his eyes fade. "No," I said, and the flames holding me went away.

I got my shaky feet under me and stood there in disbelief. "And an ugly sight, I know," the man said and snapped his fingers. I saw black flames shoot for Meir, and I ran over.

"Hmm," Mal uttered as the flames stopped, and he locked eyes with me.

"My, I had a hunch before, but your devotion and willingness to protect your master, even when he is dead, goes beyond just instinct. Interesting. Your spirit must be strong, at least," he told me. "Fine, you can have his corpse," he said and turned towards the village. "Now to get the intel."

"Intel on what?" I asked. "Where the Durge-lin cave lies. I have looked up and down the nearby mountain but can't seem to find it," he told me. "What do you want in there?" I asked.

"A special staff made by the dwarves long ago," he told me. "You ended people's lives for some staff? Seriously?" I asked in disbelief.

"And I intend to end more of them if I don't get what I want," he told me and turned to the village. My eyes widened.

"No, leave the village alone!" But he ignored my plea. ''I can bring you to the stupid cave just leave the village and its people alone'' I pleaded.

"Oh?" he turned to face me again. "This better not be some trick," he told me. "Please," I pleaded, and Mal thought it over. He sent a chain towards me, and I braced myself, but it stopped in front of me. The tip went above me, and he tied the chain around my stomach, forcing my hands to my sides.

"Get to work then," he ordered. About half an hour later, he stopped by a path between a couple of big stones.

"We have been here, and it isn't here," he told me. "Just look between those rocks and lift the hanging moss a bit, and you will find a symbol in the stone," I explained. He gave me a long, skeptical look and proceeded to do as suggested.

"Here it is, found it," he said and activated his magic. An opening in the mountain wall was revealed.

"But I will have to disappoint you as the staff isn't here. It's just an empty stone room that Meir and I found a while back," I explained.

"That is because you two don't know what I know," Mal uttered. He said a phrase and used his magic, and the wall illuminated, revealing another opening.

Mal walked inside, and small streams of running water ran alongside the walls. The small path led to a long, linear chest, and Mal smiled. Black flames appeared and burned away the locks.

"There it is, the staff of Demmi," he said with a smile and turned to me as I was still bound in his chains.

"Now, what do I do with you?" he asked, looking me up and down, locking eyes with me.

"My, you are clearly concerned, and yet you still have that look on your face like you want to defy me," he told me. He was right. I was scared, but I still wanted to find a way out.

He tightened the chains around me and smiled. He moved the chains around, and my right arm got loose. Then he brought forth a second chain and grabbed my free hand.

"What are you? Ach!" I yelped in pain as he forced my hand to my bell, and out came the Book of Contract, hovering over to him.

"Hm, I will have to change a few things," he uttered, flipping through the pages and altering the alternatives. he looked at me like he was assessing something. Then the book flipped to the signing page, and he placed his hand into the square with his mana. The book glowed and flew over to me. The first thing I saw was that he demanded half my soul.

(No, I am not strong enough for that yet. I will die...) A shot went through me, and I felt my soul tear in two. Mal's mana grew, and my body went limp. He undid the chains that held me, and I kept my eyes on him as I fell to the stone floor. "Those are quite the defying eyes. No matter, I will beat it out of you soon enough," he said as my vision grew blurry.

"Bring her with us. She might become useful," he ordered, and I looked up at the devil as he turned full size. On each side of his eyes were black flame patterns, and his two horns curled above his head from the sides. His white hair had a flame-like pattern, with a single hair protruding from his short, messy bangs.

He walked over to me, picked me up, and held me in his arms. I tilted my face and looked into Casimir's blood-red eyes, with a sinister smile crawling up his face, and everything faded away from my vision.


End Flashback

Millie's mind returns to the present, and she looks around herself and grabs her brooch. that day was when my paradise ended... she thinks to herself as the clouds move revealing a couple of stars.


Note: well Liebe still does not trust her and we got another snip-bit into Millie's past.

Before anyone mentions it I know that in the flashback Millie had a sense of direction, and there is a reason for her loosing it, but the explination does not come until much later, and I do not want to spoil the story by telling it right away :D

Like most fans of

Black Clover, I have watched the movie and intend to incorporate it into my ongoing fanfiction series. However, it will take some time before I can weave it into the narrative, considering there are numerous events and developments that I want to have happen before hand.

I look forward to any PMs or reviews.