Chapter 40: Attack on Kiten: Part 1 - New Faces

It was a slow day at the Coral Peacocks base. It had been almost 4 weeks since the raid on the smugglers base, and the Coral Peacocks had, surprisingly, not received many missions, so a lot of them had just been on cleanup or patrol duty around the southern sector of Clover. Oda, Sharya, Theresa and Lars were all lounging around on the couches and bean bags scattered around the common room, Yul was training, Amaryllis was in the library poring over some ancient tomes, and Russell and Lilian were doing…

…errr, let's leave it at that.

As Lars blew the fringe of his hair (that he'd been growing) out of his eyes, he heard a voice, a yelling female voice from beyond the door. It grew louder and louder. Lars raised an eyebrow in interest. The mind energy emanating was something that he hadn't sensed before, almost like it felt rough and earthy. Lars got up from his lazy position on the couch and went to the door. Oda, who had by now realised what was happening, raised a hand to interject. "Lars, I don't think you want to be in the blast zone."

"What blast zone? Quit talking nonsense, Oda," Lars said, opening the door.

He was then knocked into the cold, hard stone floor by a figure. She came to a stop, stamping on the ground to create a wall to stop her momentum carried by the lump of earth she'd been riding on. Lars, who was still cradling his head, groaned on the floor.

"The greatest Earth Magic user of all time is ba-ack!" the girl said in a sing-song voice, with such finality and passion that it couldn't be refuted by anyone in the room. She struck a pose, doing a peace sign around her eyes and showing off her muscular frame.

Oda stuck his head into a portal, which appeared in the training room where Yul was. Yul stopped his training with a surprised grunt.

"You-know-who has entered the premises. I repeat, you-know-who has entered the premises. Do not engage," Oda said.

The steel mage's blood ran cold. The last time he had seen her, she had given him a beating that he would never forget. She was always so arrogant as well, and lacked manners despite her family's high social status (the manners part was rich, coming from Yul). They were like oil and water together. Needless to say, Yul got on his broom and flew away, to somewhere he was sure that girl would never find him.

Back in the common room, Lars (who was still on the floor) got a better look at the tanned girl. She was short, about the same height as Amaryllis or Theresa, but she had a presence that unmistakably made her seem powerful. Her clothes were rough, worn down by many battles. She wore a simple brown tunic and black leggings with a skirt over them, with a fur jacket over her tunic. Her hair was cut short, barely brushing the tops of her ears, with wild, uneven layers that looked like they'd been trimmed with a knife rather than scissors. Strands of dark brown hair framed her face, adding to her rugged, untamed look, as if she cared little for appearances and more for practicality.

Lars's eyes widened. Beside her floated a four-leaf clover grimoire, dark brown and overflowing with mana. Even he, who couldn't sense mana all that well, could feel it pouring off of her in waves.

"You simply must be more considerate, Ximena," another voice rang out, with almost a musical quality to it.

The large man standing just behind Ximena had an unmistakable presence of his own, though it was of a very different nature. He was broad and heavy-set, with a round face dominated by a pair of keen, hooded eyes that watched the room with a mix of calm curiosity and subtle amusement. His outfit was simple yet tailored to fit his frame, with simple white tones that matched the shades of his grimoire, which hovered dutifully by his side. Despite his size, his movements were unhurried and surprisingly light, as though he carried his weight effortlessly. A slight smirk played on his lips, and the others in the room might have felt that he knew something they didn't, as though he held secrets beneath that calm exterior. He pointed at Lars, drawing Ximena's attention to the mind mage on the floor.

The two identical figures who followed him moved with an eerie synchronisation, like mirror images caught in motion. Both had wiry, athletic builds, with sharp features and eyes that gleamed with intensity. One seemed to radiate warmth, his hair a fiery shade of auburn that flickered like embers in low light, while the other had a cool, pale complexion, his ice-blue hair flowing in neat waves that reminded one of frozen streams. Their grimoires hovered between them, seeming to shift between icy blues and heated reds, with faint trails of frost or smoke marking its path. Standing close together, they looked like two halves of a single being, each one's contrasting aura enhancing the other's.

Their expressions, though different in their elemental nature, held the same energy—a sharp, penetrating gaze that assessed everything in the room. The fire-eyed twin held a smirk that was almost mischievous, a spark of challenge in his eyes, while the ice-haired one wore a more restrained look, an air of calm, almost detached calculation. Both seemed ready, at a moment's notice, to act in harmony, and the way they instinctively mirrored each other's movements made it difficult to imagine one without the other.

The girl who the fat man had referred to as Ximena looked down at Lars, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks, then turned her head away, scoffing.

"If these newbies can't handle me, they don't deserve to be in the squad," she said, crossing her arms and closing her eyes.

The fat man sighed, addressing Lars and helping him up. "She's always been a bit of a free spirit. My name is Ezequiel Caeseus. The girl you bumped into, or rather, the girl that knocked you flat, is Ximena Laird. The two twins behind me are Malakai and Elijah Thidias." He said all of this in a businesslike and brisk manner.

The fire haired twin smiled. "Everyone just calls us Kaijah, however. I'm Elijah, by the way, and he's Malakai. My twin's a bit antisocial, so forgive me if he's a little…COLD to you. Get it? Because he uses Snow Magic?"

Sharya let out a little snort at that one, and got up from where she was currently sitting to greet the others.

Malakai sighed, shaking his head, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "Always the comedians, aren't you two…"

Soon, the common room was alight with talk. Amaryllis, Russell, and Lilian entered the room, and soon the mind mage and poison mage found themselves talking to Ximena.

"So what's your magic? And why is your mana so low?" Ximena demanded, pointing a finger at Lars.

"I use Mind Magic," he said calmly. "It's a magic that relies on the energy produced by your brain-"

"Booooring," Ximena yawned. "Are you strong? I've never heard of anyone with Mind Magic before. Can we fight?"

Lars smiled. "You're speaking my language, lady," he said, heading to the door to go and retrieve his naginata. However, before he could open it, a soft voice whispered in his ear.

"You can fight after you finish the task I have for you," Dorothy smiled. Lars did a double take.

"The captain's awake?" he yelled. Ximena slung an arm around the captain, slapping her on the back like they were good old friends.

"Hello, Captain Dorothy! I'm sure you're happy to be in the presence of the great Ximena once again, so let me say, I'm happy to see you too!"

Lars and Amaryllis sweatdropped. One mutual thought ran through their minds.

How can she address the captain so casually?

Dorothy chuckled. "Alright everyone!" she said, clapping her hands. The Coral Peacocks immediately stopped what they were doing and stood at attention in front of their captain.

"The Diamond Kingdom are attacking Kiten again, and as we have an easy way to get there," Dorothy stated, turning to Oda, who waved his hand awkwardly, "the Wizard King has requested that we head there as soon as possible. Any objections?"

No one spoke up. Dorothy nodded and continued. "I wish for Russell, Lilian, Oda, Lars, and Theresa to go on this mission. Oda, is your new spell ready?"

The spatial magic user nodded. "Wraith's Haven is ready to be used. I've been refining it over the past few weeks."

"I'm going too!" Ximena yelled. "I don't care if I was just on a mission, I wanna fight someone strong!"

Dorothy, knowing that she couldn't possibly dissuade Ximena, sighed in exasperation. "Alright then. And one more thing, where's Kirsch?"

Lars's face turned green, remembering what Kirsch had said to him. "Give me a moment," he said, and rushed to the toilet.

…

Kirsch and Frida were enjoying themselves at a restaurant in Kiten, on what could only be described as an unofficial date. Both of them liked each other, but both were too proud to concede to the other. It was simply a case of whose chicken cracked first.

As Frida put down her cutlery, raising her head to stare at Kirsch, who was absentmindedly picking at a cherry blossom, a habit that he himself found most unbeautiful, she sighed.

"We haven't said a word to each other this whole time," Frida said, pushing her hair behind her shoulders. "Kirsch. Make yourself useful and answer my question."

Kirsch raised his eyebrow in curiosity. "Do tell, dear Frida," he invited, his gold eyes coming to rest on the Silver Eagles' vice captain.

"Do you think my hair would look better tied in a ponytail? It keeps getting in the way while I'm battling," Frida said, with the casualness that their conversations had lacked ever since they had grown closer to each other. She held up a hairband and started to lump her hair together.

Kirsch huffed. "Obviously, the most beautiful style would be to wear it in pigtails," he dramatically declared, with a flourish of his hand. The amethyst mage did not listen.

Frida finished tying her hair up, and with a slight blush, she looked at Kirsch. "Well?" she asked. "Does it look good?"

To Kirsch, it was like all the beauty that he had seen in the world had been trumped by this angel before him, and he would never see someone so great again. A furious blush rushed up his cheeks as the normally composed Vice-Captain lost his cool, and he turned away to hide it from Frida.

"Jeez! If it was that bad you could have told me, you know!" Frida sulked, the pink colour in her cheeks becoming more crimson by the second. She reached up for the hairband, aiming to return her hair to its natural state.

Kirsch hastily regained his composure and shook his head, catching her hand in its movement towards the hairband. "I'm sorry," he conceded, almost like the words would kill him if he said them any louder. "I was…overwhelmed…by your beauty."

Frida smiled; she knew she was winning in the game of chicken. "Stay whelmed, Kirsch Vermillion," she smiled, pinching his cheek and getting up from her seat. As she did, the telecommunicator given to her vibrated in her pocket violently.

"Captain Nozel?" Frida asked, picking up her captain's call outside the restaurant.

"Mertens, listen very closely. There are Diamond Kingdom forces en route to Kiten. Six out of nine Shining Generals are there as we speak. I want you to focus on getting people out of there. I'm sending Nocturne, Oltzt, and the two miscreants to come and help you."

"Kian and Armand?"

"Yes, the two miscreants. Voss and Creel. And one more thing… I would come there myself, as usually a threat like this requires a powerful hand on deck, but you're there, so I will not be joining you."

Frida's chest swelled with pride. It was a compliment that meant a lot to her, especially coming from the prideful Nozel Silva.

"I trust that you will lead with prudence and power befitting of a Silver Eagle," Nozel said, with a finality to his tone that made it seem like an order.

"You know me too well, Captain," Frida smiled, hanging up the telecommunications device and walking briskly into the restaurant.

"So sorry to cut our little excursion short, Kirsch," Frida said, "but I have Vice-Captain stuff to do. Later."

With that, she rushed into the streets of Kiten, awaiting her squad's arrival.

Kirsch, who was still in a stupor, watched her run out of the restaurant with a giddy expression. He put a sack of gold onto the table, a lot more than he had been planning to pay in the first place. "Keep the change," he mumbled, rising from his seat.

"T-thank you, M-master Vermilion!" the waiter who was serving the two stuttered, prostrating himself before the Coral Peacock. Kirsch said nothing, and simply walked out of the restaurant.

…

"These guys can't even maintain a simple barrier," Hugo Vance scoffed. "They aren't worthy of the power that comes with being Magic Knights. Now we Aqua Deer are on cleanup duty."

"Just focus on the mission, Hugo," Fragil Tormenta sighed.

The Aqua Deer were one of the squads that had been called to help in the fight against the Shining Generals and the evacuation effort, something that the younger Vance brother absolutely loathed.

"I don't want to be a part of evacuating commoners, so you, Vivianne, and Cesc can handle the dirty work." Hugo's hands crackled with mana. "I'm going to gut some Diamond fish. White Sand Magic: Spherical Flight!"

The Aqua Deer Vice Captain flew off on a ball of silicone sand that gyrated intensely.

The child he referred to as Vivianne was a short child, with the same black hair and gold eyes as a certain Silver Eagles member, but it was arranged with two double buns on the side of their heads, and with two long strands of hair falling to the bridge of her nose. She wore the signature robes of the Aqua Deer, and she had the same carefree look on her face as Kian.

"Such an annoying guy," Vivianne sighed, holding her hands up behind her head. "Let's just get this over with. Come on, Fragil, Cesc."

"Fine by me," Cesc shrugged.

"Why are you ordering your seniors around?" Fragil muttered, running after her. "Captain Rill put me in charge of this mission…"

A/N: Cesc is one of the Magic Knights who Kirsch fought in the first round of the Royal Knights Selection Exam.

…

The four Blue Rose Knights soared toward Kiten on massive ink-drawn wings, a creation of Zoe's Ink Magic: Calligraphy. Each wing bore the kanji for "flight," glowing faintly as they sliced through the sky. Dana held on tight, glancing at the dizzying heights below, while Captain Charlotte maintained her usual calm. Lucia, however, looked especially energised, her face lit with barely-contained excitement.

"Do you think Lars will be there?" Lucia asked, trying to keep her tone casual, but the eagerness in her eyes gave her away. "He was nearby for his last assignment, wasn't he?"

Zoe rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "We're on a battlefield mission, and that's what you're focused on?" She shot Lucia a sharp look. "Honestly, I'd rather we didn't run into any Coral Peacocks at all."

"Oh, lighten up, Zoe! I'm just hoping everyone's alright," Lucia replied, unfazed by her teammate's tone.

The fourth knight in their group chuckled softly at the exchange. Elda Thornheart was a recent addition (and by recent I mean at the last magic knights exam) to the Blue Rose Knights, known for her Glass Magic. She was tall and graceful, with long, silvery-blonde hair that shimmered almost like glass under the sunlight. Her pale eyes had a reflective, crystalline quality, giving her an almost ethereal look. Glass Magic gave her control over transparent, razor-sharp barriers and constructs; she could form intricate weapons and delicate shields that could both defend and cut through opponents. Though she was quiet, a faint smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth as she watched the lively dynamic unfold between Zoe and Lucia.

"New faces, old rivalries," she said with a soft laugh. "Seems like this mission might be more lively than expected." With a flick of her wrist, she formed a transparent, almost invisible blade along her forearm, giving it a light tap to ensure its sharpness.

As they approached Kiten, the city's smoke-streaked skyline came into view. Shouts and distant clashes echoed faintly, even from high above. Kiten was under siege, the Shining Generals already wreaking havoc.

"Prepare yourselves. Things are worse than we thought," Captain Charlotte announced, her voice tense as her gaze fixed on the chaos below.

Lucia clenched her fists, her worry for Lars now heightened by the sight of the destruction. Zoe, despite her earlier irritation, looked just as serious, her usual calm replaced by fierce focus. Elda adjusted her glass blade, her eyes narrowing as they prepared to descend.

As they dove toward the city, a few Diamond mages spotted them, launching attacks. Charlotte drew her briar blade, effortlessly deflecting incoming spells, while Elda stepped up beside her.

"Glass Magic: Clear Barricade!" the glass mage said, summoning shields around her teammates to stop them from

"Stay sharp, everyone!" Elda called, her shields glinting as they absorbed the attacks. "And keep close—we'll need each other in this mess."

Lucia's gaze stayed on the city below. If Lars was in Kiten, she'd do everything to help him. With her teammates beside her, she knew they could make a difference. The Blue Rose Knights, wings blazing, plunged toward the battlefield, ready to join the fray.

…

"Golden Dawn," William Vangeance commanded, "make these interlopers regret stepping on Clover Kingdom soil."

"Yes, sir!" the Magic Knights squad said, clover-saluting their captain before jumping off of the roof of the building they were on. As Yuno descended gracefully, his mind for some reason flashed back to the day he had met Lars.

"I wonder when I'll get to see that guy again," he mused, calling on his Swift White Hawk to fly up into the sky.

…

Lars and the others took their positions as Oda conjured a spatial portal with practiced ease, and one by one, the Coral Peacocks filed through. On the other side, Kiten's bustling streets and towering buildings awaited them—but today, an uneasy tension hung in the air. The townspeople moved with hurried steps, glancing over their shoulders as if anticipating the worst.

Russell tightened his grip on his grimoire, his usual laid-back attitude replaced with steely resolve. Lilian, standing beside him, glanced up at the sky, watching the approaching storm clouds of conflict.

"Stay sharp, everyone," she murmured, her Prism Magic already flaring faintly around her, catching hints of sunlight in colorful displays.

In the distance, a faint rumble grew louder, accompanied by the sound of marching feet. Diamond Kingdom soldiers, led by Lord Kivn, no less, were advancing toward them.

With a deep breath, Lars focused his mind, feeling his connection to his Mind Magic grow sharper. This was it—an opportunity to prove himself, to protect his friends and his kingdom. Beside him, Ximena rolled her shoulders, her four-leaf grimoire glowing in readiness, as her earthy, potent mana surged around her.

"Apologies for my lateness, everyone," Kirsch said, descending gracefully from the sky on a bed of cherry blossoms while taking a bow. "But at least I made my entrance beautiful!"

The stage was set, and the Coral Peacocks, Golden Dawn, Silver Eagles, and Aqua Deer were ready to defend Kiten.

A/N: I'm BACK! and with a shorter chapter than last time. Don't worry, things get longer, here I'm just setting the stage for the ensuing conflict.

A random thing that I thought of, but whenever I write Frida battle scenes, I always have Farandole by Georges Bizet playing in the background. It's like a perfect theme for her. I do the same with Sharya and Vs Susie from Deltarune.

What would the themes of other characters be?