Chapter 54: 7
Mora, Yuno, Klaus, and a noblewoman soared above the city through the sky. Klaus rode on his steel chariot along with Salim sitting behind him while Mora, Yuno, and the noblewoman rode on their flying brooms.
One of the Golden Dawn's newest members. Klaus thought. Yuno and Mora. The gifted youths sought after by every single squad captain at the Magic Knight entrance exam.
Klaus's eyes turned to the noblewoman. The noblewoman has a voluptuous build with long wavy vermilion hair with bangs on her forehead and yellow eyes. She wore a fancy, puffy long-sleeved cream-colored sweater with a brown corset over that is tied at the front with strings over another lighter brown-colored piece of fabric that has frilly edges, white puffy short pants, and tight lighter brown boots extending above her knees kept together by strings with frilly edges below the collars. She also wore her Golden Dawn robe over a dark red mantle that has a white lining and a pair of small, red jewel-like earrings on her ears.
And the squad's other newcomer, the royal Mimosa Vermillion. Klaus added. The first mission…acting as escort for Salim de Hapshass.
[Flashback]
Early in the morning, Klaus knelt before Captain William Vangeance, who was standing up on the stairs inside the Golden Dawn HQ.
"The son of the noble Congressmen Hapshass?" Klaus spoke. "And we are to accompany him to the Heart Kingdom. But why?"
"You're familiar with Congressmen Hapshass?" Vangeance asked.
"Only with his name." Klaus replied. "I've heard that he's considered a bit of an upstart. It doesn't seem as if he is very well thought of."
"Which gives him additional reason to worry about bandit attacks on his son, as the lad sets off to study abroad to the Heart Kingdom. Wouldn't you think?" Vangeance questioned.
"Yes, but surely the Hapshass family has plenty of powerful magic users in their employ." Klaus responded.
"It seems he'll only rest easy if his son is guarded by members of a well-known Magic Knight squad." Vangeance explained. "The congressman is quite generous in his annual donations to the Magic Knights' coffers, and serving government officials is part of our duty. Any objections?"
"No. None, sir," Klaus said abruptly.
"Carry out any missions you are given. The good of the Clover Kingdom must always be our priority." Vangeance instructed as he approached Klaus.
"Yes. Of course, sir." Klaus said.
Vangeance then walked past Klaus.
"Take Mimosa and Mora with you, as well." Vangeance added. "Accompanied by their teacher, those three should be sufficient. Look at our fledglings, Klaus. Dismissed."
[Flashback Ends]
Klaus became silently suspicious about the mission that William had assigned him and his group.
Salim de Hapshass lost to Yuno in their final portion of the entrance exam. As a result, he wasn't offered a place on any Magic Knight squad. What reason could he have for choosing Yuno to be his bodyguard? Klaus wondered with a frown.
"I'm so excited to be going on my first mission." Mimosa said excitedly. "Mora, Klaus, Yuno. We're in this together, right?"
"Right." Yuno said.
"You got it." Mora smiled.
"Hush, Mimosa. Stay sharp." Klaus said.
"Oh, yes." Mimosa said.
"And you, as well." Klaus said, looking at Mora.
"Yes, sir." Mora said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes.
"The same goes for you too." Klaus said as he turned his head to Yuno.
"Of course." Yuno said.
Cheeky little newcomers. Klaus thought as he looked back and forth at Mora and Yuno with an annoyed face.
Mimosa looked back at Mora.
"Oh, Mora. Were you nervous during the entrance exam?" Mimosa asked curiously. "I mean, you and Yuno got all the captains to raise their hands. And out of all the squads, you chose to join the Golden Dawn. No doubt you must have very strong ambitions since you wield a four-leaf clover grimoire."
"Why, yes. My dream is to become a Magic Knight Captain someday." Mora replied. "It's a long goal, but I'll make it come true one day."
"Oh, wow. That's definitely a passionate goal you got." Mimosa said. "And since we're squadmates, let's get to know each other. Where do you live?"
"I'm from a remote tower in a forest not too far from Hage." Mora said. "I live there with my aunt."
"A tower?" Mimosa gasped slightly. "I never have heard of it nor Hage before."
"We've lived there since I was a baby." Mora answered. "My aunt Anika is the only family I've known. I never knew my parents. I never once asked my aunt about them, but she raised me the best she could. I'm grateful to her all the way."
Clear so far. Klaus pondered as he was still suspicious about the mission. Still, there must be someone in the Hapshass family who can use Movement Magic. Why go to all this trouble? And with us as his only escorts, if there were a legitimate threat of bandit attacks, why wouldn't they increase the security detail? This mission is one mystery after another.
Suddenly, Mora's eyes went pure white. A strange vision projected through her eyes. In her vision, a group of mage bandits rode on smaller storm clouds and charged straight forward.
When her vision ended, Mora released a small gasp out of her mouth. She paid no attention to Yuno, who quickly noticed her surprised expression on her face.
What the?! Mora exclaimed.
Mora's ears caught the sound of thunder rumbling. When she looked up, her eyes widened in shock.
Oh, no! Mora gasped.
"Odd. What's going on up there?" Mimosa asked, pointing her finger upwards.
Klaus, Yuno, and Salim looked up to see a large black storm cloud looming in the evening sky.
"Odd, indeed." Klaus agreed.
"There's something so eerie about it." Mimosa said.
"I'll go take a look." Mora said.
"Me too." Yuno said.
Mora and Yuno floated towards the storm cloud.
"Hey! You two can't just…!" Klaus shouted. He then turned to Mimosa. "Guard up, Mimosa."
"Um, yes, sir." Mimosa said as her three-leaf grimoire hovered in front of her.
Mora and Yuno examined the storm cloud with keen vigilance.
Then suddenly, a barraging series of fireballs were launched from the storm cloud. Yuno and Mora's eyes widened as they quickly steered their brooms and evaded the barraging fireballs with swiftness. Then, they gasped when a group of laughing bandits emerged from the storm cloud and charged on smaller storm clouds.
That's the vision! Mora cried with narrow eyes.
"Yuno! Mora! Defend Salim!" Klaus ordered.
"That's the basic plan." Yuno said as he conjured swirling wind on one hand.
Mora cracked her knuckles and enveloped her fists in blazing flames.
The fire bandit launched a fireball directly at Yuno, who countered with a gust of wind. But another bandit quickly snuck up behind Yuno with a chunk of ice hovering at his will.
"Gotcha!" The ice bandit said.
The ice bandit tossed the icicle towards Yuno. Just as Yuno spun around with a gasp, Mora quickly stood in front of him and created a star-shaped barrier of fire to shield herself and Yuno. The ice chunk melted through the fiery shield, but it managed to send the shockwave-like impact that knocked Mora away on her broom while Yuno got knocked off his broom and descended straight down. Mora swiftly regained herself and immediately saw the bandits chasing after Yuno.
"Yuno!" Mora yelled. "Hold on! I'm coming!"
As Mora propelled down, Yuno manifested a white hawk-like bird composed of wind streams with one hand. At his command, the wind hawk soared forward and striked directly at the mage bandits all at once. Mora's eyes widened and she halted her broom for a minute as she witnessed the whole thing.
Klaus quietly caught a skull-shaped pendant around one of the bandits' necks.
Then, the storm cloud disappeared from the clear evening sky and all the mage bandits were defeated.
Yuno's broom flew down straight towards him, allowing him to land on it. He flew back to his squad just before Mora soared towards them on her broom.
"Oh, my!" Salim said in awe.
"Fantastic, Yuno." Mimosa smiled. "You too, Mora."
Interesting. It didn't seem like they were coming for Salim. Klaus thought to himself.
Afterwards, Klaus, Mora, Yuno, Mimosa, and Salim landed on the ground in the forest.
"Well done. You and the fire girl really saved me back there. So efficiently, too. Impressive." Salim commented to Yuno. "I didn't even have to cast my Holy Lightning Rising Salim spell. My interest in you is thoroughly piqued. Oh, wait, I have an idea. Why don't we pay a quick visit to that village of yours? It would be fascinating to see where you were raised. I wonder if, perhaps, it was the environment that you grew up in that made you so powerful."
"Pardon, sir. But that would require quite a detour." Klaus protested. "Also, the risk. As we've just seen, we don't know what's in store for us. Now, please. Let's make straight for the Heart King…."
"It doesn't matter who might attack us, because I have the four of you to protect me, right?" Salim interrupted dismissively.
"Well, yes. Of course, sir." Klaus protested again. "But still, a noble visiting a commoners' village…"
Mora rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Oh, here we go." Mora muttered.
"Oh, please. We're only stopping by." Salim said, turning his head to Klaus.
"Yes, sir." Klaus said.
Salim turned his head back to Yuno.
"Besides, after so long away, Yuno must be eager to see everyone from the church, right?" Salim said.
"That's really none of your concern." Yuno retorted calmly.
"Now, now." Salim said.
Yuno closed his eyes while Mora stared at Salim with a suspicious face.
Klaus, Mora, Yuno, Mimosa, and Salim finally arrived towards Hage. They flew past the demonic skull, which caught Salim's attention from the steel chariot.
"Oh, look at that. The skeleton, I take it?" Salim said to Yuno. "Well, it's certainly large, and I assume that the statue standing on its head is of the first Wizard King? How fascinating. Now, then. Where will we find your church?"
"Just over there." Yuno replied as he pointed her finger at the orphanage church.
At the orphanage church, Sister Lily just exited out while carrying a small bowl of Pop-potatoes in her hands. She gasped when Klaus's steel chariot landed on the ground as Yuno, Mora, and Mimosa descended their brooms.
"Oh, my! Yuno! Mora!" Sister Lily smiled. She ran over to Yuno and Mora. "Welcome back."
"Hi, Sister." Yuno smiled.
"Hey, Sister." Mora grinned.
"Just look at how much you've grown." Sister Lily noted.
"We haven't changed." Yuno said. "How different can we look after only two months?"
"There is something, though. Let's see. Yes. Your face, that's it. You look more grown up now." Sister Lily stated. "So, what brings you two here?"
"We're here on a mission. But Salim insists that we stop here for a brief visit." Mora responded.
"How did I let myself get dragged to this backwater village?" Klaus muttered as he closed his grimoire that made his steel chariot vanish into nothingness.
Then, Sister Lily approached Klaus.
"Oh, um, hello there. My name is Sister Lily." Sister Lily greeted.
"I am with Captain Vangeance's Magic Knight squad. The great Golden Dawn. Klaus Lunettes, in charge of the newcomers' education." Klaus greeted back.
"Klaus! Yes, of course." Sister Lily said. "I recognize your name from Yuno's letters. It's so nice to meet you! Thank you for everything you've done for him."
"Letters?" Klaus repeated. He turned his head to Yuno. "What exactly did you say about me?"
Yuno turned his head away with no response.
"I see." Klaus said.
Mora snickered under her breath.
"Hi, I'm Mimosa." Mimosa said. "I joined the squad with Yuno and Mora."
"Yes, I've heard about you, too." Sister Lily said.
"You have?" Mimosa asked. She then turned to Yuno. "What have you been writing about me, Yuno?"
Yuno didn't respond as he turned his head away again.
Salim twirled his bangs as he approached Sister Lily.
"Goodness, what a beautiful sight." Salim said. He stopped in front of Sister Lily and knelt on one knee. "Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Salim de Hapshass of Hapshass Village, son of the noble Congressmen Hapshass and Hapshass family heir. It's a pleasure to meet you." He stood up and moved closer to Sister Lily's startled face. "Really. Such a pleasure."
With a scream, Sister Lily immediately knocked Salim high in the air when she created an enlarged fist composed of solid water as an upward punch.
"I'm so sorry, sir!" Sister Lily apologized as she bowed.
"No, no. It's quite all right." Salim reassured as he stood back on his feet in pain. "Truly."
Mora covered her mouth, trying to contain her laughter.
Then, Father Orsi stepped out of the church. He gasped when his eyes saw Yuno.
"Yuno! It's Yuno!" Father Orsi cried out with a sobbing face. "Our dear boy is back!"
Father Orsi and the foster children began rushing towards Yuno.
"It's so good to see yo…!" Father Orsi exclaimed.
But Yuno moved aside and stood in front of his foster siblings, causing Father Orsi to trip away with shrieks.
"How's it going? You look good!" Recca smiled.
"Oh, wow! Check it out!" Nash smiled. "A Golden Dawn robe. It's the real deal!"
"Yuno's back! Yay, yay!" Aruru cheered.
"Yay!" Hollo cheered.
"Hey, Mora! You look good too!" Recca said with a smile as she turned her head to Mora.
"You're in the Golden Dawn! Congrats!" Nash smiled.
"Hooray for Mora!" Aruru cheered.
"Hooray!" Hollo cheered.
"Hey, what about Asta?" Aruru asked.
"Yeah, Asta!" Hollo said.
"Yes, of course, have you two been keeping in touch with him?" Sister Lily asked curiously.
"I haven't." Yuno replied.
"Same here." Mora responded.
"Are you going to stay the whole night here?" Father Orsi asked as he came up behind Yuno. "You will, won't you?"
"Uh, well…" Yuno spoke.
"Afraid not. Our visit will be quick." Klaus interrupted. "We have a time-sensitive mission to complete."
"Aw!" Father Orsi and the foster children pouted sadly.
"Come now, Klaus, we're not in that much of a rush to be off, are we?" Salim said. "Surely, it wouldn't be difficult to spare an hour."
"But sir…" Klaus protested.
"Perfect! Well, then." Father Orsi said with a bright smile. "This calls for a Hage feast! Pop-potatoes for everybody." He turned to Yuno, who looked away from him with a smile. "Whaddya think? Sounds good, huh?"
"Please, make yourselves at home. Come on in." Sister Lily said to Salim, Klaus, and Mimosa. She looked at Mora. "Oh, I forgot to mention, Mora. Your aunt is inside in the kitchen."
"Really?!" Mora grinned excitedly. She immediately hurried inside the church. "Auntie Anika, I'm back!"
"Thank you. What a marvelous church you have." Salim said as he made his way into the church.
"I don't think I've ever seen one this tiny before." Mimosa smiled. "It's adorable."
"Adorable?" Father Orsi repeated.
"Almost like a children's playhouse." Mimosa said.
Recca, Nash, Aruru, and Hollo began dragging Yuno into the church, leaving Klaus unhappy about the whole situation.
"How did I get myself dragged to some shabby church?" Klaus muttered.
With that, Klaus headed into the church.
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