Creation began on 04-28-19

Creation ended on 04-28-19

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Grimoire of Evangelion: Impress Me

Water Magic, one of the four primary forms of magic associated to the four elements of the universe, and Shinji just found himself sinking to the bottom of the lake beside the Black Bulls' hideout because he offered to be Noelle's sparring partner.

I didn't call her out on it, he thought as he looked up at the glossy world around him. I wouldn't call her out on it, either. But whether she owns up to it or not is up to her. I expect nothing but honesty from her. Arrogance and vanity, those can be bad if taken to the extreme, and Grandmother says that the majority of the nobility in the Clover Kingdom possess both in excess.

Shinji didn't say it to her, but Guardian had confided something else to him about Noelle, and that was how she longed for the acceptance of her blood ties, something that he could relate to a degree to. He could understand a little about how acknowledgement from one's relatives made a big difference to one's self-esteem or performance, how they could either encourage or support one to continue to reach a certain goal. He used to want his father's acceptance, but after the discovery of how his and his mother's goals were disturbingly similar regarding the use of the Eva that had been turned into a spell inside his grimoire, Shinji knew then that he needed to stop seeking what he was never going to obtain from Gendo, which meant there was no point in even thinking about him. But Noelle…reminded him of how much he had desired such because she wanted the same thing from her family, those three elder siblings of hers that gave him the creeps because of their faces and behavior.

Guardian says to put my faith in Noelle's ability to decide what the right outcome shall be, he continued to think as he sank, now starting to feel slightly light-headed, and I do trust her to make the right choice. Whatever choice she makes will be the right one. I trust you, Noelle Silva.

-x-

"…So what are you going to do about this?" Guardian asked Noelle as she looked at the lake where Shinji sank. "A human can only hold their breath for so long before oxygen deprivation causes harm to their brain, even with magic, since Shinji is waiting for you to decide what you're going to do."

"What?" Noelle went. "You're not going to save him?"

"Shinji instructed me not to," Guardian told her. "That would defeat the purpose of your sparring session…and he actually wants to trust in your judgement."

"Trust in my judgement?! But he doesn't even know me! How can Shinji trust me to do something that will save him from drowning when he doesn't even know a thing about me?!"

Guardian walked out onto the water and turned to face her.

"Because Shinji knows what you're dealing with," he told her. "Silver or lead, Ms. Silva, silver…or lead. Shinji doesn't know the whole thing, but I told him of your difficult situation that you've been placed in concerning your family, and despite this revelation, he refused to question or call you out on it. This…is his silver or lead challenge regarding you in your goal to become a better witch. Seeking to be friends with you, the only member of House Silva that he would dare to call a friend, that is his silver…and risking death itself, which is his lead. Which will you choose for him? Will you be his silver…or will you be his lead? Will you save him…or let him die…just for the acknowledgement of people that disregard you? Either way, I doubt Shinji will find it within himself to hate you over this predicament. Since, in a sense, his death would set him free from a fate he needs to be free from."

"What do you mean? What would Shinji's death free him from?"

"A false destiny, one that is too cruel, even for him to endure. Still, whether he lives or dies now…is up to you. You decide…and see how you both end up rewarded in the end."

Noelle looked at the water, unable to see Shinji, but unsure of what choice to make. To be his silver meant saving his life with her poor control over her magic, and even if she did save him, there was a chance that he could still die, meaning she'd end up as his lead.

"He believes in you," Guardian told her, "just as he believes in every member of this squad of people he sees only the barest echoes of people from his past that brought him to you. No matter how reckless you are, no matter how difficult you can be, no matter how flawed, he chooses to believe in each of you. Whether you know it or not… Whether you believe it or not, all of the Black Bulls, including you, have impressed him. Believe in him…and the belief you have within yourself…will be greater than you can possibly imagine."

He believes in me, Noelle thought. He believes in me, in all of us. What was I thinking? Why did I do this to him? Why did he let me do this to him?

Her grimoire opened up…and a new spell formed in its pages.

-x-

Shinji reached the bottom of the lake and looked up at the glossy world above. With only a few precious seconds of air left in his lungs, he decided not to blame Noelle for her hesitation if she chose not to do anything; she was placed in a difficult position, and the pressure of any difficult position could make anyone hesitate before doing something.

At least I got to see the winter season, he thought, unwilling to let negative emotions be his final thought as he felt the onset of oxygen deprivation begin.

Flash! Something bright lit up the world above for a second, and Shinji thought he saw something like a giant snake coming towards him.

-x-

Burst! A water dragon emerged from the lake and held an unconscious Shinji it its left claw, having pulled him from the water.

It set him down on the ground in front of the Guardian of the Void, who used his tail to turn him onto his back.

Noelle, drenched in water herself, got on her knees and shook Shinji, trying to get him to revive.

"Shinji?" She spoke, hoping that he could hear her. "Shinji?"

But he didn't stir.

Her grimoire turned a page…and another spell formed in the pages. Looking at it, she widened her eyes at its properties.

"Water Healing Magic," she uttered, "Mercy of the Sea Goddess."

A tall, feminine figure in a flowing gown and wielding a large staff made of water appeared in front of them, and she raised her staff up before placing its bottom atop Shinji's chest, causing a small, blue glow to appear for a few seconds.

A gurgling noise came…and Shinji opened his eyes and rose up to spit out some water that found its way into his throat.

Cough, cough! He coughed as he refilled his lungs with air.

"What happened?" He asked, looking around and seeing Noelle, Guardian, and a woman made of water with a staff. "What? Noelle, is this…is this one of your spells?"

"Yes," she answered him. "A Healing Magic spell, Mercy of the Sea Goddess."

"Thank you."

He slowly got up to his feet and slumped against a tree.

"You knew?" She asked him, referring to her family predicament. "You know that I could've just let you drown in that lake, make it seem like an accident…and you did nothing to stop me?"

Still catching his breath, he turned to face her and said, "If I went and told you, do you think that I'd be able to trust you, knowing that you could've did what you said you could've?"

"Why?"

"I rather earn your trust than simply demand it. Your status as a noble…means nothing to me. I want us to be friends, Ms. Noelle, meaning that I should be able to trust your judgement, regardless of what others believe…and that you can trust me to do the same. And it doesn't change that I'm willing to help you train more to control your magic…if that's what you want because, in the end, if I had to do this all over again, knowing what would happen…I would."

Noelle couldn't believe this! Shinji had risked his own life, his own future…on a leap of faith with her. He chose to risk it all…because he believed in her, that she would make the right choice and save him from dying.

"My family…hates your family," she revealed to him. "I don't know why they do, but they do. My big brother, Nozel, contacted me last night, and suggested that I should make it so that you and Suki were in some sort of accident. I thought if I did that, then they would start to accept me, but then…you…you were putting your trust in me, that I impressed you, and…"

"Impress me," he cut her off. "Present tense, because you still do."

"Why?"

"Where some can see the Black Bulls as a group of the worst mages imaginable, I have to see something that is likely overlooked, and that is the squad's potential to prove everyone wrong about them. And I believe you can prove your siblings wrong, too. So, my next question to you is…are you still up for training to control your magic…and are we friends, Ms. Noelle?"

Noelle sighed…and extended her right hand to him.

"Friends," she uttered, and he shook her hand.

"In the end, you both got the silver," Guardian expressed.

To be continued…

A/N: Okay, I didn't expect to get through this at around the same time I made it, but I guess that's what happens when you have motivation to do so. What do you think of Noelle having obtained two new spells, including a Healing Magic spell? I would say that this puts her almost on par with her siblings, if only by a small amount.