Here's the next chapter guys! You get to meet the other half of the squad!

Let me know what you guys think!

Chapter 3- Magic Knight Exams

Present Day

Six months after Spade War

Clover Kingdom

Common Realm

Town of Kikka, Magic Knight Colosseum

Valance stood in one of the halls that led to the balcony that overlooked the arena of the coliseum, fiddling with the scarf around her neck. She was dressed in a sleeveless, white collared shirt paired with a short, high-waisted midnight blue skirt that had golden trimming and over the skirt, she wore two thin dark purple belts that crisscrossed around her waist. Around her shoulders she had on a short, midnight blue jacket that went down to her mid-waist, the sleeves just stopping at her elbows and the jacket too had gold accents and trimmings and was buttoned at the base of her neck. She also wore knee-high black socks and dark brown boots that had a slight heel. Over her jacket, she had on her celestial phoenix cape and over that, she wore a midnight blue scarf that had tiny crystal-like stars hanging on the ends.

What she was wearing was a version of the Ace Kingdom military uniform and she didn't feel like she deserved to wear it. It felt tight and like it didn't fit her anymore… but the Queen had thought differently:

A Week Ago

The Queen's Room

"You asked to see me, your Majesty?" Valance asked, looking at the beautiful woman who sat opposite her.

The Queen, Celande Dragomirnova Ace-Kira Clover had beautiful sun-kissed skin, thick warm brown hair that was piled high on her head, and brilliant eyes the color of melted gold.

She smiled at Valance, her pink lips turning up in an amused smile. "I told you many times before that when we're alone to simply call me Celande, Valance. Majesty makes me feel old." she watched Valance take a sip of her tea before continuing, a mischievous light entering her eyes. "Or… you can call me Auntie."

As she thought, Valance choked and spluttered on her tea, quickly wiping at her face as it turned red. "I couldn't do that, your Majesty! It would be highly inappropriate and you're not my Aunt."

Celande laughed, "Then Celande, Valance, please."

"If you insist…. Celande." Valance finally agreed. She took a sip of her tea and got back on the subject at hand, "And what did you need?"

"Well, the Magic Knight Entrance Exams are in a week and I thought you should wear something befitting your new status."

"What do you mean?" Valance asked confusedly, looking down at her clothes. "What's wrong with this?" The Captains all wore whatever the hell they wanted. But yes, most of them did make an effort to look professional, the only exceptions were Yami and Jack.

"I thought you could wear this." Celande clapped her hands together and an attendant entered the room, carrying an expensive-looking box. The attendant set it down in front of Valance before backing away to a respectable distance.

Valance rose a brow, "You really didn't have to your Majesty."

"Celande." She chided. "And I did. Open it before you say anything else."

Valance did as she was told, her brows shooting up at the uniform that was folded neatly into the box. "This is…."

"Now you can fully embrace yourself," Celande said gently.

Present Day

"I feel a bit like a fraud," She muttered to herself, tugging once again on her scarf. Was it really okay to wear an Ace Kingdom uniform in Clover? Apparently, it was approved by Julius and the King somehow but… while she was happy to wear it, did she even deserve to after her failures? "Especially this gold…"

"Hey! New girl!" She jumped at the gruff voice of the Black Bulls captain, Yami Sukehiro. "Are you ready? We're heading out now. Don't go spacing out on us." He inhaled from the cigarette dangling at his lips deeply before breathing out. "We have an image to uphold after all."

"You're the last person who should be talking about personal images Foreigner," The Captain of the Silver Eagles, Nozel Silva scoffed.

"Either way," Fuegoleon's deep voice sounded from Valance's other side, stepping in before either could start an argument. "It's time to make our way out." He then looked over at Valance, a warm smile on his lips, "You'll be between me and Yami."

Valance nodded. "Right." She said it would be the first time citizens of the Clover Kingdom got a look at her as an official Captain. Hopefully, she didn't accidentally choose anyone troublesome….

….. Who was she kidding? She was screwed.

Calleo Kohl lined up excitedly to check in for the Magic Knight Exams. She was average in height with fair skin, thick orange hair that went down to her shoulders with messy bangs and a few strands that framed her face, and large, dark charcoal gray eyes.

She was dressed in a deep-collared dark purple vest worn over a red shirt; both are covered by a dark brown shrug with a raised collar, three-quarter sleeves, and gold cuffs. She also wears close-fitting black pants tucked into calf-high dark brown boots that had golden trimming. Over her waist, she had a pair of dark red belts with gold accents that were crisscrossed.

She was so excited; she couldn't stop bouncing on her feet. She had waited for this for what felt like forever but now she'd finally be able to join the Magic Knights… if she was chosen.

No. She'd be chosen, she'd make sure of it. This was her dream ever since she was a little girl, she wanted to protect the kingdom and its people; Just like that Magic Knight had protected her years ago. But now… looking at all the people lined up Calleo couldn't help but feel anxious; surely, they all had great dreams of joining too, and that's when she remembered what her mother had told her: Don't get your hopes too high. Hundreds of people go through the exams each year and only a handful are chosen.

Well, she'd be one of those handfuls of people. She'd make it for sure!

"Next!" Calleo practically threw her pinkish-red grimoire at the registrar when it was her turn, causing him to clumsily catch it before it hit him in the face.

"Sorry…" Calleo said, blushing as the registrar registered her grimoire and asked for her name. "Calleo Kohl."

"Good luck Calleo." He said, giving her a smile and waving her on.

Calleo beamed back and moved towards the arena area where she saw hundreds of examinees already milling about. Many seemed like they had come with friends and those who had come alone seemed fine standing by themselves or finding others to talk to. Everyone in the arena had the same excitable energy, however.

She was so busy looking around that she didn't see the person in front of her until it was too late, crashing into their back and causing them to stumble. "I'm so sorry!" She said, blushing furiously as she apologized to them, bowing repeatedly. What was wrong with her today?! Maybe she'd be dismissed from the exams before they even began because she was so clumsy. Now that would be embarrassing.

The person she bumped into, a girl laughed, and shook her head, "Don't worry about it. It's not the first time it's happened today." The girl had an average and slim build with long blonde hair that had some braids, her eyes were gold with star-shaped pupils; she also had pale skin and flushed cheeks.

She was also wearing a scarlet red blouse, with star prints everywhere and a large one in the center and golden details. She paired the blouse with a royal blue skirt that stopped above the knees, and she had stockings of the same blue color. Above her blouse, she wore a red cape and lastly she wore black boots that had heels.

"It's exciting isn't it?" The blonde asked, giving Calleo a kind and happy smile. "Today is the first step towards our futures as Magic Knights!"

"Yeah... Do you think you'll get in?" Calleo asked curiously. This blonde held herself with a confidence that many of the others examinees lacked and Calleo didn't know how she did it. Wasn't she nervous?

"Yup! I've been training this whole year and I'm going to be the best mage the world has ever seen." She said, sounding like she didn't doubt her claim at all.

"That's a pretty big dream-" Calleo was about to say the girl's name only to realize that she never asked for it. "I'm sorry but can you tell me your name?"

"Dyna. Dyna Strelle." The blonde said, taking Calleo's hand and shaking it before the younger girl could even offer. "What's your name?"

"Calleo Kohl." She said, returning the older girl's smile and feeling excitement bloom in her chest once again, wondering if all examinees were like this. She glanced around again, "I hope I can get in."

"I'm sure you will!" Dyna reassured her. "What magic do you use?"

"Fire magic. Yourself?" Calleo asked.

"I use star magic. It's been in my family for generations." Dyna explained.

"That's so cool!" Calleo said, looking at her with awe, she had always thought her own magic was rather mundane. "Doesn't the vice-captain of the Golden Dawn use star magic too?!"

Dyna nodded, "I want to meet him, I've heard that he actually can use two magic attributes, wind magic and star magic which he later gained in the Spade War."

Really?! Calleo didn't know that; she was about to open her mouth and ask another question when a sudden hush fell over the other examinees in the arena.

"Looks like it's about to start," There was no hiding the excitement in Dyna's voice as she tilted her head up, eyes glowing with anticipation.

Calleo followed Dyna's gaze and saw ten mages walk out onto the balcony that overlooked the arena, all of them holding themselves with a confidence that she wished she had. "The Magic Knight Captains..." She said, unable to hide the awe in her voice.

She looked down the row of captains as they settled into their chairs, noting the ones who really stood out to her like the regal-looking silver-haired captain and the beautiful blonde woman; both a balance of beauty and power.

Her gaze then went to and stayed on the captain wearing a crimson robe, his hair was as orange as hers, but even from this distance, she could feel his warm and welcoming mana... it felt extremely familiar, but she didn't know why.

"Fuegoleon Vermillion, Captain of the Crimson Lions," Dyna said, noticing that Calleo was looking at the vermillion-haired captain.

"I see... Who's that next to him?" She asked Dyna, as her eyes moved on, only to stop on a woman with light purple hair and green eyes, she was wearing a midnight blue robe with silver trimming. Those weren't the colors of any squad she was familiar with.

"That's Valance d'Chevalier, she's the captain of the new squad, Celestial Phoenix," Dyna said a look of admiration on her face, "I also hear she's the former vice-captain of Aqua Deer."

"Really?" Calleo looked back at Valance again; the older woman must have felt her stare because she met her eyes across the distance, freezing her in place, and in that instant, Calleo could use only one word to describe Valance: Intimidating.

"She's a bit scary," Calleo said softly to Dyna who laughed.

"Trust me. They all are." Dyna laughed. "Make sure you don't let them know you're intimidated. That takes you out of the running for sure."

"R-right!" Calleo straightened her back and looked up at all the captains, waiting for the exams to start. It was like what Dyna had said before: This was the first step to the future they wanted. Now all she had to do was prove that she could earn it.

Kanna Levine looked around excitedly as she waited in the arena with excited eyes as she waited for the exams to begin. She was a young girl with an average build, dyed shoulder-length white hair, and lightly tanned skin. She had dark brown eyes and a splash of freckles across her nose. And her clothes consisted of a jumper-like outfit composed of dark brown leather shorts, a white hoodie-like top, blue stockings, and white thigh-high boots embellished with gold linings and symbols.

There were so many people, more than she had ever seen before and she couldn't wait to talk to them. But who to talk to first? Maybe she'd end up in the same squad as them.

Her dark eyes wandered around before landing on a person that was standing alone, face blank and disinterested with the people around them. For a moment she wasn't sure whether he was a girl or boy, but as she walked closer, she found that the person was indeed male.

He had black hair that was slicked back and cat-like amber eyes behind black-framed glasses. He had cream-colored skin and a lean build. He was also wearing a black turtle-neck sweater with an open white coat over it; the coat had black cuffs and black buttons. Lastly, he wore khaki-colored combat pants paired with black boots.

"Hi!" She waved at him as she walked up, meeting his blank amber eyes and giving him her most cheerful smile. "Why are you standing all alone?"

The boy stayed quiet, his gaze shifting away from her. "Wow, you're rude. Don't you know you're supposed to answer when someone has a question?" Kanna asked tilting her head up to look at his face. He was a good few inches taller than her so she had to tilt her head pretty far up.

"What's your name? My name is Kanna." She said, babbling on and not caring that he was ignoring her.

The boy sighed, looking at her with barely furrowed brows. "Daichi Etsuko." He said, his amber eyes staying on her in judgment as if he was waiting for a negative reaction.

"Oh! That's a strange name. I've never heard a name like that." Kanna said, smiling up at him as she met his eyes. "You know, your eyes are actually really pretty."

Daichi just blinked at her, surprise flickering in his eyes before he sighed and looked away. "Thanks," But his stance did relax slightly when he saw that she didn't seem to judge him on his name.

"What squad are you hoping to join? What's your magic?" Kanna was bouncing lightly on her feet as she asked her questions. Now that he had spoken to her, she was determined to continue their conversation.

"I don't really care what squad I join, as long as I get accepted into one. And I use storage magic." Daichi said, thinking it would be easier to talk to her, even if he wasn't used or comfortable with anyone outside his family talking to him so amiably. It was different. But not too bad.

"That's cool!" Kanna said, "I use... um..." she trailed off, looking uncertain for a bit before adding a bit less enthusiastically. "I use purgatory magic."

"What's that?" Daichi asked, he had never heard of anyone else using it before.

"If I had to describe it, it's a fire magic that absorbs other flames?" Kanna didn't sound certain and it was clear that she didn't want to talk about her magic, so he simply nodded, respecting that she didn't want to talk about it.

The two of them stood in silence until Kanna seemed to gain a second wind and then she was babbling uncontrollably again, "How many people do you think will get accepted into the magic knights?"

"There will probably be a few commoners just to show that not only nobles get in. But most of the examinees to be accepted will be nobles. The nobles are more favored than commoners and peasants. It wouldn't surprise me if all the nobles here have tried to bribe their way into the Magic Knights. We probably won't make it in."

A new voice answered before Daichi even could, surprising them both. They turned to see a girl of average height, but she was quite brawny for a girl. Her hair went to just past her shoulders and was straight, but messy and was a glossy white color. Part of her hair was tied up on each side into buns reminiscent of goat horns with her bangs falling down her forehead. Her eyes had a soft, gentle shape to them, and her irises are a warm brown while her skin had a healthy tan to it.

The girl also wore a thick, warm-looking sweater made from goat's wool. It is primarily colored white, but the hem, sleeves, collar, and waist are decorated with geometric patterns in various shades of green and blue. Above the sweater, she wears a brown, overall style dress made from durable material. She also wears sturdy, brown leather boots and knee-high black socks.

"...That's a rather cynical view. Why try to join if you don't think you'll get in?" Kanna asked.

"I joined to help my family." The girl huffed. "If I didn't need to join the Magic Knights to do it I wouldn't. I don't trust any of them. The only magic knight I'd trust is myself if I get in."

"That's really sad," Kanna said, looking between the new girl and Daichi. "You know, you're both rather gloomy people."

"And you have no filter," Daichi said back, crossing his arms and huffing. 'How can you talk so much?"

"I just love to talk," Kanna said simply, smiling at him. "What's your name? You haven't told us yet." She then switched her smile over to the girl who had interrupted them, "I'm Kanna and this is Daichi."

"Mirabelle." The girl said, nodding to them.

"Don't introduce me without permission." Daichi sighed, looking like he wanted to walk away but before he could, a hush fell over the arena and the Captains all walked out into the balcony overlooking them. "Finally."

"Oh! The captains!" Kanna said, looking up at them all in awe. "They all look so amazing!"

"Hmph," Mirabelle said, crossing her arms and looking up at them with wary eyes. Daichi had a similar look on his face. "Let the games begin I guess."

The examinees gathered in the arena listened intently as William Vangeance stepped forward and spoke to them, welcoming them to the exams and telling them about the tests that they would have to through, the last one being a dual between participants before the captains would choose the new Magic knights.

The tests began after his speech: the first test being how each participant would be able to fly on a broom; some examinees were able to fly smoothly and high off the ground while others were struggling to even float, clumsily falling back to the ground when they failed to stay on their brooms.

The next tests were various tasks such as firing blasts of magic at the wall, shooting their magic at a moving target, creating something with magic, and then pouring magic into a seed and letting it grow. Throughout all the tests, the examinees did better or less depending on what it was and all the while the captains watched, exchanging words with each other every so often.

As they did the exams, the more observant examinees could tell that the captain of the Black Bulls and the Captain of the Aqua Deer were constantly leaning over to talk to the new Captain, Valance. None of them knew what they were saying, but from the excited look on Rill's face and the amused smirk on Yami's face, they could guess that it wasn't advice. In fact, the new captain looked annoyed for the most part at what they were telling her.

Finally, once the seed test was done Captain Vangeance stood up again and told them that the last test would be a trial by combat. Examinees were to pick an opponent. Once it looked like everyone had a partner, the combat test commenced.

Daichi took to the combat arena, facing his opponent who was a noble who had asked to partner with him.

With just one look, Daichi knew that this noble was someone who hated his family, he knew who he was; a noble whose family lost money due to the casino that Daichi's family owned.

"Are you ready to get pummeled Foreigner?" The noble asked snidely, glaring at him. "You should have learned from your older siblings. Your family isn't wanted in the Magic Knights. They shouldn't have even let you try the exams."

Daichi glared back at him. "Don't talk about my family like you know them."

"Maybe your family shouldn't try to be what they aren't. You aren't nobles or royalty, you're family isn't even from Clover. What right do you have to gain riches from its people? Go back to where you came from."

"We're here to stay and I'll make you all realize that," Daichi said. Once their match was allowed to begin, he didn't waste any time. He immediately summoned his grimoire, "Storage magic: Imprisonment, Jack," A jack card appeared in his hand and he threw it at the Noble.

The card hit the Noble before he could react; there was a flash of light and once it disappeared the Noble was gone, the Jack of Clover card lying on the ground in his place.

Calmly Daichi walked over to the card and picked it up, looking down at the Noble who was now trapped and frozen within the card, his expression frozen in one of shock.

"People like you make me angry. You don't know my family. Don't talk about us like you do." He was announced the winner a moment later.

Dyna looked at her opponent, a blonde noble boy. They had grown up in the same noble circle and she could honestly say that she didn't like him. He had asked for her hand in marriage when he had come of age and thrown a fit when she had refused. She didn't want to become a trophy wife for another noble. Especially one like him; she knew he only wanted to marry her for her family name and connections and that was one thing she refused to do.

"Hey." The blonde said, "If I win, why don't you marry me? When you lose here, it'll finally be clear to you that you don't belong in the Magic Knights."

"I won't marry you no matter what," Dyna said. "I'm going to be the best magician in the world. That won't happen being tied down to you."

The blonde laughed, "Whatever you say." He said before their match was allowed to begin.

The blonde attacked first, sending a torrent of water towards her which she dodged by summoning a large star under her feet and surfing the waves his water magic created before leaping up and into the air.

"Star magic: Deneb," She formed multiple balls of starlight then fired them one after the other at the blonde, knocking him out on impact.

She grinned at him. "Fine someone who's willing to marry you know."

Mirabelle faced her opponent, and already he was mocking her when he really shouldn't. From what she could tell she was a commoner, so not much better than her in standing but he was acting like a stuck-up idiot.

"So, peasant, are you ready to get thrown around? Why'd you even come? Isn't your family embarrassing enough?"

"Don't talk about my family." She snapped. Yes, they were peasants, but they were a thousand times more hard-working than this commoner and a million times more than the nobles. Who was she to talk about her family like he knew them?

Once the match was allowed to begin, she didn't even give him a chance to attack.

"Goat magic: Billy goat's cloven strike," a giant spectral goat leg appeared over Mirabelle's opponent and stomped down at him, crushing him relentlessly into the ground but Mirabelle didn't feel too bad.

He had insulted her appearance and told her that peasants could never be any good as a Magic Knight. That they were no better than trash. He then went on to insult her family and that's what she wouldn't let stand. No one insulted her family.

She'd join the Magic Knights and help her family, anything beyond that she didn't really care about.

Valance sighed, the combat exams were finally over and now they could finally recruit the examinees. There were many good candidates this year. Chances were that she'd at least get one or two new members today.

"Are you ready for new members?" Eisen asked from his spot behind her.

"There's one I definitely want," Valance said, thinking about the blonde girl with star magic. She liked that her magic was similar to her own, especially since she had a star-obsessed stalker. It was selfish but she was definitely throwing this girl at Alex every time she saw him for as long as she could. Having her around would give her space to breathe which she needed.

"I think I know which one." Eisen laughed.

"Hmmm," Valance said, turning her attention back to the examinees just as their numbers were being called. Once the blonde girl was called, number 46, Valance immediately raised her hand, noting that Charlotte had raised hers as well.

"I choose Celestial Phoenix." The blonde said, causing Valance to sigh in relief. Well, that was one.

The next girl who caught her interest was the orange-haired girl who used flame magic in the shape of flower petals. Number 96. Three hands went up: hers, Fuegoleon's, and Dorothy's.

"A fire user?" Valance asked, glancing at Fuegoleon, she didn't think he'd want another one. Besides him and his brother, Valance knew there were a good few other fire mages in the Crimson Lions.

Fuegoleon nodded, "I think she's skilled. She can definitely grow in the Crimson Lions. I'd like to see more of her magic."

"Celestial Phoenix." Valance jumped when the girl called out her squad's name.

She gave Fuegoleon a sheepish smile. "Maybe we can come over and train with us sometime?"

She was expecting him to be a bit disappointed, but he smiled, nodding approvingly. "We can have a joint-training session between our squads. I'd like to see what the other members can do."

After that, no one interested her or the other captains for a while. "Number 154." A boy of Hino descent stepped forward, looking up at the captains confidently.

"Oh. It's the boy from the family who owns the casino." Yami's hand immediately shot up in the air. "I wonder if he can help me with my gambling debts..." He said rubbing his chin.

"That's horrible Yami." Valance gave him a dirty look. Shouldn't he want him in his squad because they both come from the same land? She knew she would have offered a place for anyone from the Ace Kingdom. She'd welcome anyone who didn't have strong roots in Clover actually, they needed a place to feel welcome after all. And not to be used to clear the debt that they bring on themselves. And with that thought in mind, her hand went up.

"Three for three... you're on a roll with these kids," Yami sighed, leaning back in his seat as he took a deep inhale of his cigarette. "I'll be needing access to him from time-to-time Valance."

"Or don't gamble Idiot." Valance snapped, pressing her hand against her face. If Yami started bursting into her Celestial Phoenix's base now for his gambling needs she'd throttle him.

The numbers were getting into the three hundreds when a girl with dyed white hair stepped forward, smiling up at the captains.

"I think you should take her Valance," Eisen spoke up from behind her, nodding at the girl.

"Didn't she have fire magic too?" Valance asked, looking at the girl and trying to see what Eisen saw. "Black flames, right?

"It's not the same as straightforward fire magic I don't think. Trust me on this one." Eisen said.

"You make it sound like I never trust you," Valance said, raising her hand. It was the only one that went up.

"You don't listen when it matters most." Eisen shot back.

"Because your advice when it matters most sucks," Valance said reasonably. That was four new members now. What the actual hell? Didn't she tell herself that she'd only get one or two? These people were going to cause her unnecessary trouble, weren't they?

The recruitment phase continued on, the sun setting over the horizon, and Valance had to stifle a sigh, they were in the six hundreds finally and she was glad. That meant it was almost over.

"Number 623." A girl with white hair done up in goat horns took a step forward.

Valance looked at her before raising her hand, much to the other captain's shock. "What? I think her magic has potential." She shrugged.

"Well, it's your squad." Rill said, "Maybe I should have raised mine since you see something in her."

Valance shrugged and thankfully there were only twenty more examinees after her, none of which were recruited for the Magic Knights. "Thank god!" Valance jumped to her feet and stretched once the rejected examinees started to file out. "Eisen let's go grab those kids and leave."

"You got more than I thought you would," Eisen said, still slightly shocked by her last pick. What was it that Valance had seen in that girl?

"I think she's a bit like me is all," Valance said surprising him, had he asked the question aloud?

"Like you?" Eisen asked. That girl did not remind him of Valance in the slightest and his face must have been something because she laughed.

"When I was younger." Valance clarified as she made her way down to the arena to gather her new recruits. She actually found them rather easily, they had gathered together and funnily enough, seemed to already know some of the others.

"Captain!" The girl that Eisen spoke up for hurried over to her. "Thank you for choosing me!" She enthusiastically shook Valance's hand.

"No problem." Valance pulled her hand back before examining the remaining four. "I'm Valance d'Chevalier, captain of the newly formed Celestial Phoenix squad. That's Eisen, he's my vice-captain."

"Nice to meet you," Eisen said, giving the younger group a smile. "I'm sure you'll get along with the rest."

"The rest? How many are in the squad?" The Hino boy asked.

"There are eight including us and now you five, which means there are thirteen members in general," Valance said, sighing internally, they almost rivaled Yami's squad somehow. This was way more than she thought. "You'll meet the others tonight."

"Before we go, can I ask your names?" Eisen asked, he had seemingly pulled out a clipboard from nowhere.

"I'm Kanna Levine!"

"Calleo Kohl. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Mirabelle Amnos."

"Dyna Strelle."

Daichi Etsuko."

Valance nodded, "Good, now let's-" She was cut off by a voice calling her name.

"Valance" She turned at the sound of her name, brows raising and threatening to disappear into her hairline at the scene in front of her.

The Captain of the Blue Rose was making her way over to her with a struggling young man behind her. The young man had curly light blonde hair that stopped at his shoulders and pink eyes. but what really stood out were the green vines that were binding his limbs and movements, he was struggling against them while being tugged forward by Charlotte's vice-captain, Juniper Childes.

"What are you doing?" Valance asked, looking at the older woman in confusion.

"I'm giving you another new squad member," Charlotte said like it was normal to make a magic knight switch squads against their will. "Meet Percival Arcaiun. He has unlimited potential but refuses to better himself no matter what I've said. All he does all day long is sit in our headquarters and read. Or he will simply sleep."

"Why the hell would I want someone who doesn't do anything?! I already have a few troublesome people." Valance said, thinking of a certain space-obsessed stalker.

"Yeah! She doesn't need me!" Percival insisted, looking frantic. It was clear he didn't want to lose his comfy, lazy life. "I won't- mph!" He was cut off when a few vines wrapped around his mouth.

Valance sighed, weighing her options; she already had five new members, which would be a lot to juggle along with the ones she already did have. And she did not want to chase this guy around to work.

"Fine, but you owe me Charlotte," Valance said. She then glanced at Percival, "Run and I make your life hell. Nod if you understand."

Percival whimpered behind the vines covering his mouth but nodded.

"Good." Now it was time to leave before anyone else tried to dump a new member on her. "We're leaving." She didn't even say bye to Charlotte as she bolted out of the area.

And no one complained as she made them run, silently counting the numbers in her head: Fourteen. Fourteen people in her squad. Why did she feel like her life was about to become one giant circus?

She mentally said goodbye to her peace and sleep. Things were going to get crazy, she just knew it.

And that's the chapter! Let me know what you guys think!

Honestly, this chapter was hard for me to write, so I don't really think it's my best.

Leave a review and tell me what you think!

Next up: Training with the Lions and bonding!