After all the excitement outside, Finral was kind enough to teleport everyone back into the hideout, though Yami still made him open one extra portal leading directly to the bathroom before letting him rest. Once Asta and Emilia had gathered their belongings, the group prepared to split up for the night.
"Rasta, you're with me. Armor Girl, go with the drunk," Magna ordered, jerking a thumb toward Vanessa.
The pink-haired woman's eye twitched. "Are you looking for a fight, virgin boy!?"
Magna immediately got in Vanessa's face. "Oh, so scary!" he mocked, "What are you gonna do!? Barf all over me!?"
Vanessa's expression darkened. "Oh, that's it!!"
Their grimoires floated up beside them almost simultaneously, pages beginning to turn as mana stirred in the air.
Before either of them could make the first move, Finral hurried between them with both hands raised. "Guys, guys, come on! Let's all calm down! We still have to show the new members where they're sleeping, remember?"
Neither Magna nor Vanessa backed down, both continuing to glare past him at one another.
Finral swallowed. "...And if anything else gets destroyed tonight, Captain Yami is going to lose it."
That warning finally brought them to a reluctant halt, and they went their separate ways, though their glares still remained glued to each other.
Luck, however, only looked more excited, his smile widening at the thought.
"Please don't, Luck..." Finral pleaded.
"Aww, you're no fun!" Luck pouted. Lightning suddenly crackled around his legs, wrapping over his feet and calves to form a pair of glowing armored boots. "Well, it was nice meeting you two!" he said cheerfully, looking toward Asta and Emilia. "I'm going to bed now! Goodnight!"
Before anyone could answer, he launched himself through a set of large red double doors, blasting them open as he disappeared down the hallway in a streak of blue electricity.
Finral stared after him for several seconds before releasing a long, exhausted sigh.
"A-Anyway..." Finral turned back toward Asta and Emilia with a renewed smile. "Before you two head off, my owl should be making the rounds tonight. If either of you has letters you want delivered, just hand them over when he stops by your windows. He'll take care of the rest."
Asta's eyes immediately lit up. "Really!? That's perfect! I've got a TON of stuff to send back to the church!" He grinned and slapped Finral hard on the back. "You're a real pal! Thanks, Finral!"
Finral lurched forward with every smack, forcing a strained smile as he reached back to rub the sore spot. "N-No p-problem... ow." Massaging his back, he opened a portal beside himself and gave the group a tired wave with his free hand. "I'm heading to bed before someone else decides to destroy the hideout. I'll see you all in the morning." With that, Finral stepped through the portal and vanished.
The moment he was gone, Magna grabbed Asta by the arm and started toward the open and now slightly cracked red double doors. "C'mon, runt," Magna grumbled, "Move it before I decide to leave you here."
"I-I'm coming!" Asta shouted, stumbling after him before scrambling to catch up.
As Magna stomped down the hall, Asta twisted around and threw one arm high into the air.
"GOODNIGHT, EVERYONE!!!" His voice boomed through the hideout, echoing off the walls long after the two of them had disappeared from sight.
"Bastard," Vanessa muttered, glaring after him. "Who does he think he is? I'm pretty sure I outrank him."
She hiccupped before turning to Emilia. Her irritation vanished almost immediately, replaced by an easy smile. "Anyway, let's get you to your new room. Follow me, and stay close. This place is a mess, so it's easy to get lost," she warned.
"Right," Emilia replied with a nod, keeping pace beside her.
The two walked through the same large red double doors the boys entered, going deeper into the hideout. Its dusty tan-brick corridors seemed to stretch on forever, twisting and branching without any clear order. Old lanterns hung at uneven intervals along the walls, casting warm pools of light across the worn wood and stone.
After walking for some time, they turned a corner before Vanessa suddenly stopped and extended an arm in front of Emilia.
"Everything alright?" Emilia asked, confused by the sudden stop.
Vanessa glanced back at her with a smile. "Yup. Just need to deactivate the traps before we go any farther."
"Traps?" Emilia repeated, raising an eyebrow. "What for? Are there pests around here?"
Considering the condition of the hideout, she wouldn't have been surprised if the walls were crawling with them.
"You could say that," Vanessa replied with a knowing smirk. "Sometimes the boys can get a little too curious, so we put these up to keep them from wandering where they don't belong."
Emilia studied the corridor more carefully. Several thin tripwires stretched across the hallway, barely visible as they caught the faint lantern light. Farther down, she could make out the silhouettes of several blades suspended overhead, each one angled downward and ready to drop on anyone foolish enough to trigger them.
"Do you have a way to get past all this?" Emilia asked, eyeing the corridor warily.
"Just give it a second," Vanessa replied casually.
Almost on cue, a glowing tan magic circle appeared beneath their feet. Its light washed over them, and a second later, the hallway reacted. The suspended blades slid back into hidden compartments, the tripwires slackened and withdrew into the walls, and the magical circles scattered farther down the corridor flickered out one after another until the path ahead was clear.
"That sigil checks the gender of whoever steps onto it," Vanessa explained as she started forward. Emilia followed close behind her, making a point of remembering how everything worked. "As long as you let it scan you first, you can walk through without setting anything off."
She gestured toward the doors lining both sides of the hall.
They continued farther down until the corridor opened into another section lined with rooms. Vanessa led her toward one of the doors near the far end and stopped in front of an old wooden door reinforced with tarnished iron fittings. The wood was cracked and worn with age, and when Vanessa pushed it open, the hinges answered with a long, painful squeal.
Beyond it was a cramped room coated in dust, clearly untouched for quite some time.
"Sorry about the mess," Vanessa said, stepping inside. "Give me a second, and I'll make it a little more livable."
Her grimoire floated open as several strands of pink thread slipped into the room. They wrapped themselves around scraps of fabric scattered across the floor, lifting them into the air and using them like cleaning cloths. Dust vanished from the dresser, table, bedframe, and walls in a flurry of movement. Vanessa then pushed the window open, letting the thick cloud of dirt and debris drift out into the night.
Once the dust finally settled, Emilia was able to get a proper look at the room. An old metal-framed bed sat against one wall, its joints spotted with rust and its pillowless mattress yellowed slightly with age. A worn dresser stood crooked near the center, while a small wooden table and chair had been shoved haphazardly into one corner. Nearby, a cracked lantern lay on the floor, looking as though it had been dropped there and forgotten.
Vanessa's threads quickly set everything in order. The dresser slid neatly against the wall, while the table and chair were placed beside the window, where pale moonlight spilled across their scratched wooden surfaces. Lastly, she set the lantern atop the dresser, its warm glow making the worn room feel a little less dreary.
Now that everything had been organized and cleaned—or at least made as clean as it was likely to get—the room really wasn't bad. More importantly, it was hers. Having an entire room to herself felt almost luxurious after growing up at the church, where privacy had been practically nonexistent.
Vanessa placed a hand on her hip and admired her work with a satisfied smile. "There we go. All cleaned up."
"You didn't have to do that," Emilia replied.
"Ah, it's no problem," Vanessa said with a dismissive wave. "But before you call it a night, wanna wash up? This place may be a dump, but the baths are amazing."
That immediately caught Emilia's attention. She tossed her belongings onto the bed, her ears twitching before she could stop them.
Vanessa's smile widened at the reaction. "Fair warning, though. Once you get in, you might never wanna get back out." She beckoned toward the hallway as she stepped out of the room. "Come on. This way~."
Emilia abandoned her things without a second thought and hurried after her. "W-Wait for me!"
They passed several rooms before turning down another corridor. Vanessa continued leading her through the hideout's twisting halls until they stopped before an entrance concealed by a large white cloth. Painted across its center in bold black brushstrokes was a symbol Emilia recognized as kanji for woman—女.
"Here we are~ Heaven on earth," Vanessa announced, lifting the cloth aside.
A thick wave of steam rolled over them the instant she opened the way. Pleasant heat surrounded Emilia, seeping through the gaps in her armor and loosening the tension in her tired muscles. After the exhausting day she'd had, the warmth beckoned her inside.
Inside was a modest changing area lined with wooden cubbies, with a long bench stretching along the wall beneath them. Steam curled lazily from two cloth-covered entryways, slowly leaking more steam into the room. As Emilia looked around, something in one of the cubbies caught her attention—a neatly folded set of white clothing trimmed with what looked like feathers.
"Oh, looks like our other new member already found this place," Vanessa remarked, eyeing the clothing with mild amusement. "Hope she doesn't mind company, because I could really use a wash."
"Was she in the baths the entire time we were outside?" Emilia wondered. Another thought quickly followed. "And how come she got to skip the baptism? Is she special or something?"
Her armor and clothes slipped from her body piece by piece, each being placed into the nearest empty cubby. Thankfully, there was still enough room for all of it, though she grimaced the moment she caught a whiff of them.
"You guys have somewhere to do laundry?"
"That'll be our next stop. Today it's only a few feet down the hall," Vanessa answered as she began removing her own clothes.
"Today?" Emilia questioned.
The moment Vanessa glanced toward Emilia, she paused, her eyebrows lifting appreciatively. "Wow, you're pretty built. You must put a lot of work into your body."
"Thanks, but today showed me it's not nearly enough," Emilia replied, raising one arm and clenching her fist. Her bicep tightened as her expression hardened. "I could barely get that boulder off the ground, while Asta made it look like a joke. I need to get bigger."
"I thought you did amazing," Vanessa said, waving off her concern. "Most of us probably couldn't even get the thing to budge. Even that virgin punk, with all his yelling and showing off, wouldn't get very far without his magic."
With that, she stepped through the inner curtain, her curvy figure quickly disappearing into the thick steam. Emilia followed close behind, eager to find out whether the baths truly lived up to Vanessa's praise.
Beyond the curtain was a spacious washing area with several low stone stools arranged before a row of mirrors. A wooden basin and pail rested beside each station, accompanied by combs, brushes, folded washcloths, and other personal belongings. There wasn't any soap among the shared supplies, however, making it clear that everyone was expected to bring their own.
The first station Emilia noticed was cluttered with brightly colored hair ties, a small hand mirror, and several poorly concealed food wrappers stuffed behind the basin.
"That one's Charmy's," Vanessa explained. "Don't touch the snacks."
Emilia wasn't sure how anyone could keep track of food in such a mess, but she decided not to test it.
Another station had two wooden partitions blocking it off from the others.
Vanessa's gaze lingered there briefly before she continued walking. "She likes her privacy. You'll meet her when she's ready."
Emilia raised a brow at the vague answer but didn't press her.
Near the end of the row, they came across a station that looked newly claimed. Aside from a hastily folded washcloth, it was almost completely bare. An empty soap box had been left beside the basin, while a used comb with a few strands of white hair caught in its teeth and a bathing brush rested nearby.
Vanessa glanced over, then reached down and picked up the discarded soap box.
"Looks like our other new girl borrowed my soap." Her eyes narrowed in irritation. "She's lucky I don't mind sharing."
Just beside it was a much fuller station holding a wide-toothed comb, a soft bathing brush, several neatly folded washcloths, and an assortment of floral oils and hair products. A half-empty bottle of wine had also been tucked behind the basin, placed within arm's reach.
"This lovely little corner is mine," Vanessa announced, sounding quite pleased with herself.
She then gestured toward the completely empty station beside it. "You can use this one if you want."
Vanessa glanced down at Emilia's empty hands, then back up at her. "You didn't bring any soap either, did you?"
Emilia paused. "Uh, it's still in my bag," she said, sweatdropping.
Vanessa smiled, picked up her own bar, and held it toward her. "You can share mine tonight, if you don't mind using the same one."
"That's fine," Emilia replied, accepting it without hesitation. "The bathing room at the church was a lot smaller than this. All of us girls shared soap plenty of times."
"Then that makes things easy," Vanessa said with a smile. "Just don't use it all. The good stuff isn't cheap."
Overall, the washing area itself was fairly ordinary, not unlike the one at the church, except for its size. However, what lay beyond it made Emilia stop in her tracks.
The bathing pool was enormous—easily the largest she had ever seen. Steam drifted in thick clouds across its surface, while several stone beast heads protruding from the far wall continuously poured hot water into it, keeping the pool hot and full. After the exhausting day she had, the sight alone nearly made her drool.
Strangely, Emilia couldn't see anyone else in the bathing area besides Vanessa. When she focused, however, another presence became immediately apparent. The amount of mana was enormous—far too large to conceal completely. Emilia glanced toward one of the mirrors and caught the faint outline of someone keeping carefully out of sight.
"Must've just finished up," she noted, quickly turning her attention toward something far more important.
As she washed herself, it took every ounce of restraint she had not to rush. The steam drifting over from the pool kept teasing her with the promise of hot water, making it difficult to focus on anything else.
"You know, you should probably buy yourself a sports bra," Vanessa remarked, glancing toward the pile of bandages. "It'd be a lot more comfortable than wrapping yourself up in those things. They look rough."
"I've never minded them," Emilia replied as she bathed. "Besides, the clothing shop in Narin never carried anything in my size, and what they did have wasn't sturdy enough for the amount of training I do."
"There are shops in the capital that make specialized clothing for female Magic Knights," Vanessa explained as she continued washing herself. "If you want, I can show you where I get my bras and panties. Their stuff is strong and really comfy. It's where I got my stuff from." She glanced toward Emilia's bandages again. "It has to be better than wrapping yourself in that sandpaper."
Emilia worked the soap through her hair, considering it for a moment. "Well, if you're that confident in them, I'll give it a try."
Vanessa smiled knowingly. "Oh, trust me, sweetheart. Once you wear something that actually fits, you'll wonder how you ever put up with those things."
With that, she began rinsing herself off.
Emilia followed suit, dumping a bucket of water over her head and shoulders. She barely waited long enough for the remaining soap to wash away before setting the bucket aside, springing to her feet, and hurrying toward the pool.
"Careful you don't slip," Vanessa warned with an amused chuckle, watching her rush away.
She stopped at the edge and cautiously dipped one toe into the water.
"Holy fuck..." The words slipped out before Emilia could stop them.
Whatever hesitation she'd had vanished almost instantly as she sank deeper into the bath, letting the steaming water close around her. She lowered herself until only the upper half of her face remained above the surface, then simply floated there, allowing the heat to carry away the tension in her body.
Her eyes grew half-lidded as warmth seeped into her aching muscles, slowly loosening every knot and soreness she'd built up throughout the day. For the first time since arriving at the hideout, Emilia felt completely relaxed.
"It's good, right?" Vanessa asked as she finished washing herself, taking considerably more care than Emilia had.
"Hell. Yes."
Soon enough, Vanessa was easing herself into the pool and released a long, satisfied moan. "That's the stuff~ Nothing beats a nice hot soak when you're hungover." Vanessa leaned back against the stone edge of the bath, looking entirely at peace.
For a while, the two sat together in comfortable silence, letting the steaming water soak into their tired muscles. Emilia nearly drifted off when Vanessa finally spoke again.
"For a while, I wondered what became of you," Vanessa said softly. "After the state we found you in back then, I was afraid you might never recover."
Emilia lifted herself slightly from the water and settled against the stone wall beside her, a faint smile forming on her lips. "I was wondering if you remembered me." She rested her arms along the edge of the bath. "You don't have to worry anymore, though. I got past what happened a long time ago."
"How could I forget?" Vanessa's expression softened. "After an attack that horrible..." She trailed off and looked away. "Sorry. I probably shouldn't be bringing that up."
"No, you're fine," Emilia said, dismissing the concern with a small wave of her hand. "There's no point avoiding it. Besides, I'm a hell of a lot stronger than I was back then."
Her faint smile faded as her eyes hardened.
"The things I said to you that day came from someone weak. Someone who had already given up." Emilia leaned her head back against the stone. "But I'm not that person anymore. I'm more determined now than I've ever been."
Vanessa remained quiet as Emilia closed her eyes.
"I'm going to hunt down those bastards in the white robes," Emilia continued. "I don't care where they're hiding or how long it takes. I'll find them, and I'll make them pay for what they did." Her voice remained calm, but the hatred beneath it was unmistakable. "You can trust me on that."
Vanessa's brow furrowed. "White robes? I don't remember seeing any of the raiders dressed like that when we arrived. They were wearing the same filthy scraps bandits usually crawl around in."
Emilia turned toward her. "I take it Yami never bothered mentioning what I told him."
Vanessa gave a small, knowing sigh. "Even as great as our captain is, sometimes he can be a little forgetful."
"Well, the people I'm talking about weren't with those bandits," Emilia explained. "They came before them. There were two—a huge man named Vetto and a purple-haired bitch who followed him around."
Her shoulders tensed as the memories resurfaced.
"They were strong. Far stronger than any of the trash that came afterward. They were looking for some kind of magic stone."
Her fingers curled beneath the water.
"Once they had it, he didn't even care about leaving. He just wanted to start killing people, and then he—"
Emilia stopped abruptly.
Her throat tightened as the memory threatened to drag her back into that room. She quickly looked away, unwilling to say what had happened after—or what they had forced her to do.
"Anyway," she continued, her voice rougher than before, "some strange black portals appeared. Another one of their people appeared and took them just before the raid began."
Vanessa's expression grew more serious.
"Those bandits were probably hired to kill whoever survived and make sure there was no one left to tell the story. And they would've succeeded if you guys hadn't shown up."
Vanessa leaned back against the stone, her usual brightness fading as she considered everything Emilia had told her.
"I see," she murmured. "Then there was a lot more going on than we first realized. I'll make sure Finral updates the report we sent in. If they destroyed an entire village just to get their hands on that stone, they're probably planning something nasty."
"Exactly," Emilia said. "And whatever it is, I'm going to stop it. For all we know, Narin wasn't the first village they hit—or the last."
Her eyes hardened.
"I'm going to the Grand Archives in the capital tomorrow to see if I can't dig anything up on them. Now that I'm a Magic Knight, I should have permission to enter. At least, that's what I've been told."
Vanessa nodded. "You do. Only Magick Knights or high-ranking nobility can enter the castle grounds."
"Figures they'd be the exception... Anyway, quick question: you haven't run into anyone like them during your missions, have you?"
Vanessa tilted her head and searched her memory. "Sorry. I can't say that I have. Mostly just the usual bandits, thieves, or idiots who think picking a fight with a Black Bull is a clever idea."
Emilia's expression fell slightly.
"But people like that never stay hidden forever," Vanessa added. "Sooner or later, they'll make another move. When they do, we'll be ready." She gave Emilia a reassuring look. "If I hear anything about mages in white robes, you'll be the first to know."
"I really appreciate it," Emilia said, smiling.
The two fell quiet after that, allowing themselves to soak in the warm water. Some time passed before Vanessa finally broke the silence.
"There is something I've been wondering about."
Emilia had her head resting against the stone wall, eyes closed. She cracked one open and glanced toward the pink-haired mage beside her.
"You said you use Light Magic," Vanessa continued. "I've never actually seen Light Magic up close before, but yours almost looks like Frost Magic. You nearly froze the rest of us during Magna's little 'Baptism.'" She chuckled at the memory. "Though, considering how it went for him, I think he was the one getting baptized."
Emilia smirked and lifted a hand from the water. A small orb of misty blue light flickered to life above her palm, its glow soft but intense. Wisps of cold vapor immediately began to spill from it and curl down toward the water's surface. "My Mom told me it's because of her Ice Magic and my Dad's Illumination Magic," Emilia explained, staring into the orb. "Somehow the two mixed together and made this."
As she explained, the temperature around them dropped. Vanessa's shoulders tensed as the cold mist drifted over her skin, though she was still smiling. "I-I can definitely feel the Ice Magic part..."
Emilia closed her hand, and the orb vanished.
"Well, you're definitely going to be popular around here once summer hits," Vanessa said with a laugh. "This place has terrible insulation. Half the hideout turns into an oven."
"I'll try my best," Emilia replied with a chuckle.
"And another thing, why did you choose our squad?" Vanessa asked. "With magic like that, I'm sure you had plenty of captains eager to take you."
"And what? Spend every day surrounded by stuffy nobles?" Emilia scoffed. "Yeah, I'll pass. I've dealt with enough of those people looking down on me," Emilia continued. "I'm not interested in joining a squad full of them. The Black Bulls were the only real choice."
"That's certainly true of a few squads," Vanessa admitted. "But they're not all like that. There are some decent people scattered around."
"Maybe, but like I said, the Black Bulls are where I belong." Emilia's expression tightened slightly. "You were the ones who saved, the only ones who bothered to set foot in the Forbidden Zone. And even though there were only three of you, you completely wiped the floor with those people. So I already know this squad is better than the rumors make it sound."
"Rumors?" Vanessa repeated, a sweatdrop forming at her temple. "So, I take it you've heard about our infamous reputation?"
"Oh, yeah. Once I decided to join you guys, I researched the hell out of this squad," she chuckled at the memory, "and everyone I asked had something negative to say." Emilia shrugged. "That didn't matter to me, though. If anything, it made me want to join even more. Besides, who knows how much of it's actually true?"
Vanessa laughed awkwardly and leaned farther back against the stone. "W-Well, I can't exactly say all of it is wrong. We can be pretty careless sometimes."
"Oh, well. You guys never hurt anyone besides the bad guys, and all the damage gets paid for in the end."
"Yeah, with our own money..." Vanessa added with a weary chuckle.
After soaking for a while longer, Vanessa finally rose from the bath, water trailing down her body as she stepped out.
"You're getting out already?" Emilia asked.
Vanessa stretched her arms overhead and let out a long yawn. "Yeah. It's getting late, and after sitting in there this long, I'm about ready to pass out."
Emilia blinked. "Late? We've only been in here for, what, twenty minutes?"
Vanessa glanced back at her with an amused smile.
"Try over two hours, sweetheart."
Emilia's eyes widened. "Two hours?"
"Mm-hm." Vanessa chuckled as she reached for her towel. "Time has a funny way of disappearing when you're soaking in there."
"R-Right, I'll be right behind you."
After drying themselves with the white towels stacked on a small wooden table beside the cubbies, the two wrapped themselves securely in bathrobes and set off.
The laundry room was filled with large piles of clothing, loosely separated into several messy heaps. Washing bins lined one side of the room, with worn washboards resting nearby.
She tossed her dirty clothes onto the nearest pile before turning toward Vanessa. "So, do you guys have someone who handles the laundry, or are we expected to wash our own?"
Vanessa smiled as she added her clothes to a different pile. "Yeah, we got someone for that not too long ago. You'll meet them soon enough."
"Right..." Emilia glanced down at the armor tucked beneath her arm. "Well, I'm keeping this with me. I clean my armor myself. I don't trust anyone else to touch it."
Vanessa's eyes drifted toward the armor with renewed curiosity. "Speaking of that armor... did you make it yourself or...?"
"Nah, nothing that sentimental. I found these in a bargain bin at a thrift store," Emilia explained. "Narin doesn't have an armorer, so it was the best I was going to get."
She glanced down at the worn pieces with a small smile. "But even if it's cheap, low-quality armor, it's never failed me once."
Gathering the remaining pieces, Emilia carefully piled them onto one arm before following Vanessa back through the twisting halls. They continued until Vanessa stopped in front of one of the many doors lining the corridor.
"This is my stop," she said, resting a hand on the handle. "Have a good night, Emilia. I'm looking forward to working with you~," she finished with a wink.
"Same here," Emilia replied with a small smile. "Goodnight."
She watched Vanessa slip into her room before turning and continuing down the hall alone. She passed several other doors along the way, balancing the pile of armor against one arm as she searched for the room she had been shown earlier.
Just as she was about to stop in front of it, the door beside hers creaked open.
Slowly.
Cautiously.
A girl with long white hair peeked through the narrow opening. She looked to be around Emilia's age, but the moment their eyes met, she immediately ducked back inside.
"Guess that makes her my neighbor, I wonder if she's just shy?" Emilia thought as she stepped into her new room and closed the door behind her.
She set her armor beside the small round table near the window with a heavy clunk, then changed into a loose pair of light tan pajamas. Emilia moved to the table and arranged her Chest armor, her single leather shoulder guard, and the reinforced shin guard. Pulling a brush, cloth, metal polish, and leather oil from her bag, she quickly set to work. Around fifteen minutes later, the armor looked and smelled almost as good as new.
"Much better," she nodded to herself, setting the armor aside for tomorrow.
Returning to her bag, she retrieved her feather and ink. Thankfully, a few sheets of paper had already been left in the table drawer, though they were slightly browned with age.
She selected the cleanest one, dipped the feather into the ink, and began writing about everything that had happened so far.
She recalled the Magic Knight Entrance Exam and how easily she had moved through most of its trials, finishing with her fight and the selection ceremony that followed. She also mentioned Kazuya's performance, though she made certain not to make him sound too impressive.
From there, she detailed the brutal initiation she and Asta had just endured, along with all the insanity that had greeted them before it.
Magna is a punk.
Gauche is Gauche
Luck is clearly insane.
Vanessa drank far too much.
Finral is a womanizer.
And Captain Yami is every bit as intimidating as she remembered.
Still, as Emilia neared the end of the letter, a small smile tugged at her.
The Black Bulls were chaotic, violent, and almost completely lacking in dignity. Yet for all their craziness, not one of them had looked down on Emilia for being a commoner or treated her as though she didn't belong. They had accepted her without hesitation and, strange as they were, seemed genuinely happy to have her there. More than that, they looked like they would be fun to be around. With Kazuya and the kids back in Narin, things had felt noticeably quieter lately, so maybe a little chaos wouldn't be such a bad thing.
A light tapping sounded against the window.
Emilia looked up and found Finral's owl perched outside. The small bird was covered in warm brown and tan feathers, its pale face bordered by darker markings while wide golden eyes glimmered faintly beneath the night sky.
The old window gave a loud squeak as Emilia pushed it open, letting the owl hop inside. She smiled and gently stroked the feathers atop its head, the bird lowering itself slightly beneath her touch.
"You're a cute one, aren't you?"
The owl answered with a quiet hoot.
Emilia held out the folded letter. "Here you go. Make sure it gets to Narin in one piece, please."
The owl hooted again before carefully taking the letter in its talons. It adjusted its grip until the paper was secure, then spread its wings and silently lifted from the windowsill.
Emilia watched it disappear into the night.
Just before it could travel out of sight, a small gray portal opened directly in its path. The owl flew through without hesitation, and a moment later, both it and the portal vanished.
"Huh. That's handy." Emilia continued staring through the window, curiosity settling across her face. "I wonder how it's able to do that..."
Pushing the thought aside, Emilia stretched her arms above her head as a tired yawn escaped her. She crossed the room and dropped onto the bed, far too exhausted to care about the lack of a pillow or the uncomfortable mattress beneath her. After everything she had endured that day, simply being able to lie down felt incredible, and within moments, her eyes drifted shut.
Morning sunlight crept over the Black Bulls' hideout, bathing the crooked structure and the surrounding forest in a soft golden glow.
Emilia stirred beneath the covers, her eyes slowly cracking open. For several seconds, she remained perfectly still, reluctant to abandon the comfort of the worn mattress. Eventually, she forced herself upright and dragged her feet onto the floor, releasing a long yawn as she stood.
"Man, that might've been the best sleep I've ever had. That bath is incredible. Moleface is going to be so jealous."
The thought brought Kazuya to mind, and she looked out to the morning sky.
"I wonder how he's doing. Knowing him, the Crimson Lions probably already have their hands full." She chuckled quietly to herself.
After dressing and replacing her bandages, Emilia strapped on her gear, grabbed her toothbrush, and opened the door. The instant she stepped out, she slipped forward, barely catching herself against the opposite wall before she could tumble face-first into it.
"What the fuck was that!?" Emilia yelled, twisted around, and stared at her doorway.
Her eyes widened as she saw that her room now sat slightly higher than the hallway floor. When she glanced toward her neighbor's room, she found that it had risen as well—and somehow shifted farther down the corridor.
Her brow furrowed. "Did the rooms move on their own overnight?"
It wasn't just the rooms that had changed. Several columns now lined the far wall, and a long rug stretched down the hallway where there hadn't been one before.
"Just what the hell is this place?" Emilia wondered.
Then and there she made a mental note to stay alert when walking about the base. The last thing she wanted was to get blindsided by another sudden change—or worse, get completely lost inside the maze of samey-looking hallways. Thankfully, she managed to find the baths without much trouble, and even better, they were empty. She wasn't in the mood for small talk, not today at least, so she quickly freshened up, brushed her teeth, and left her toothbrush there for later.
Once finished, Emilia returned to her room, grabbed her broom, and headed for the exit.
Finding her way back to the main lounge took a little more wandering than she would have liked, but eventually, she managed to reach it. And there, already munching away at a towering pile of eggs and pancakes, was Charmy. Her sheep scurried back and forth behind the bar counter, disappearing into what Emilia assumed was the kitchen before returning with even more plates of food.
The smell was incredible. Still, she had more important things to do than sit down for breakfast.
As Emilia walked past, Charmy noticed her and raised a tiny hand.
"Mornin'!" she called with her mouth full, crumbs spilling from her lips. "Have shome eggies an' cakes!" She patted the seat beside her and shoved a plate in Emilia's direction.
"Thanks, but I'm in a hurry."
Emilia had barely reached for the door when her stomach betrayed her with a long, obnoxious growl.
She froze.
Charmy grinned. "Sounds like your tummy has other ideas!"
Before Emilia could argue, two of Charmy's sheep hurried over and flanked her from both sides. Each gently took one of her arms and began steering her back toward the table.
"Hey—wait a second!" She could've blinked away, but the smell of the food made her hesitate as they brought her closer and closer.
Putting her in the empty seat, Charmy's smile widened. "There we go!" she chirped as Emilia was seated beside her. She immediately pushed a stack of pancakes closer. "Here! Try these! They're super buttery and fluffy!"
Emilia stared down at the plate. She wanted to resist. She really did. But the smell of warm butter and syrup was making that increasingly difficult.
"Having a full stomach will make it easier to focus anyway."
That was enough justification for her. She grabbed a fork and dug in.
Charmy beamed, already chewing another massive bite. "Good, right!?"
"Mm-hm. The besht..." she mumbled through the mouthful before immediately taking another bite.
Once she'd finally eaten her fill, Emilia pushed herself away from the table and stood.
"Thanks for breakfast, Charmy."
"Mhm! Shee ya!" Charmy waved, still happily stuffing her face as though she hadn't already eaten enough for several people.
One of her sheep suddenly emerged from behind the counter carrying an enormous tray piled high with sizzling bacon.
Charmy's eyes lit up. "Oooooh!"
Emilia chuckled under her breath and headed for the door before she could somehow be dragged into another round of eating.
A few seconds later, she was airborne.
Her broom cut through the morning sky as the Black Bulls' hideout steadily shrank behind her, and by afternoon, Emilia was flying over the towering outer walls and into the capital, passing above the crowded streets and tightly packed buildings below. Farther ahead, the royal castle rose high above the city, impossible to miss even from a distance.
She had never been to the Grand Archives before, but Sebastian had described the place to her some time ago. According to him, it was housed within three large towers near the royal castle, nearly matching one of its tallest spires. Reports of major incidents from across the Clover Kingdom were sent there to be recorded and cataloged, along with countless other records collected over the years.
If there was anywhere that might contain information about similar attacks, strange magic stones, or those white-robed mages, it would be there.
Emilia tightened her grip on the broom as she continued toward the castle district.
Before long, Emilia spotted the Grand Archives rising above the surrounding buildings.
Three enormous towers stood together beneath the afternoon sun, their pale stone walls catching the light and shining against the clear sky. Each one climbed high over the surrounding district, with the central tower nearly rivaling some of the royal castle's tallest spires farther in the distance. From above, Emilia could see that all three were connected by a shorter main structure at their base, spreading outward in a shape that vaguely resembled a clover.
She descended toward the broad stone courtyard in front of the building. Once her boots touched the ground, she wasted no time and started for the large, massive pair of clover-adorned double doors of the central building. Standing guard on either side were two mages dressed in familiar blue cloaks, much like the officials she'd seen during the Magic Knight Entrance Exam.
Both immediately noticed her approach. Their eyes first moved to Emilia herself, then slowly dropped toward the Black Bulls robe hanging from her shoulders. The two exchanged a look.
"Not exactly welcoming." Still, neither of them stopped her. The robe was proof enough that she had the right to enter.
Both guards raised a hand toward the entrance. Blue magic circles appeared in front of their palms, glowing brightly as mana spread across the enormous doors.
With a deep rumble, the heavy doors slowly swung inward on their own.
One of the guards stepped aside, though the wary expression never quite left his face.
She crossed the threshold into the Grand Archives. Once inside, Emilia deposited her broom in the basket next to the door and crossed the sizable lobby. Stopping at the front desk, a tired-looking mage in blue robes sat, his long brown hair sticking to his glasses as he looked up at her. His eyes then drifted toward the Black Bulls robe hanging from her shoulders.
His expression sank. "Just what I needed today," he muttered under his breath. "A Black Bull..."
Emilia's eyebrow twitched, but she pretended not to hear him. "Hey," she said, stopping at the desk. "I need access to the records on the Forbidden Zone archives. Can you let me through?"
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I can," he replied slowly, "but the real question is whether I should." He leaned back slightly in his chair and gave her robe another suspicious look. "The last time one of your people came through here, they left such a disaster behind that it took us weeks to properly recatalog everything."
He adjusted his glasses.
"So forgive me if I'm hesitant to let another Black Bull wander freely through the archives. Your squad doesn't exactly have a great record with obeying the rules."
A vein throbbed against Emilia's forehead.
She inhaled slowly. "Don't freak out. Don't yell."
"I'm sorry about whatever happened there," she said through slightly clenched teeth, "but I literally joined the squad yesterday. I had nothing to do with it."
The archivist remained unconvinced.
"All I want to do is look into something," Emilia continued. "I'm not here to destroy anything, steal anything, or throw books all over the floor. I'll follow your rules, and I'll put everything back where I found it. Okay?"
The man narrowed his eyes at Emilia and held her stare for a long moment before finally letting out a tired sigh.
"Fine. But if I hear even one complaint, I'll throw you out myself."
He reached beneath the counter and produced an old metal pass, its edges rusted and worn from age. A faded clover sigil had been stamped into its face, though years of use had made it barely recognizable.
Emilia snatched it from his hand. "Yeah, sure thing."
"Go ahead and try throwing me out. See how that works out for you."
With the pass in hand, she moved around the counter and entered a wide, curved hallway beyond it. Three enormous wooden doors stood spaced apart along the wall, each one bearing a large Clover insignia forged from a different metal.
The nearest door, positioned farthest to the left, bore a dull copper emblem. The center door's clover sigil gleamed with what appeared to be pure gold, while the furthest door to the right carried a polished silver crest.
Emilia studied them for a moment.
"Going by the quality of the metal, I'm just going to assume copper means the Forbidden Realm."
With that reasoning settled, she approached the copper-marked door.
The instant she drew close, the metal pass in her hand began glowing blue.
"Huh?"
A matching blue magic circle spread across the door's surface, illuminating the old wood. A heavy click echoed from somewhere inside as several unseen locks released one after another.
Then, with a deep wooden groan, the massive door slowly began to open on its own, revealing the vast chamber inside.
Rows upon rows of towering wooden shelves stretched upward through the cavernous interior, with narrow landings and walkways built between the higher levels. But unlike the grand exterior, everything inside looked painfully neglected.
Dust coated nearly every surface. Scrolls had been shoved carelessly into overcrowded compartments, some sticking halfway out while others had already tumbled onto the floor. The shelves themselves sagged beneath the weight of whatever had been crammed onto them, and the sparse magical lights hanging overhead flickered weakly, leaving large sections of the room buried in shadow.
At the front of the sprawling archive sat a small, boxlike desk surrounded on three sides by counters. Slumped behind it was an exhausted-looking mage with greasy, unkempt shaggy black hair and a thick five-o'clock shadow.
Stopping at the desk, the man slowly looked up at her. "Did you need something?" he asked groggily, rubbing one eye as he struggled to stay awake.
"Yeah. I'm looking into some people who like to wear white robes with strange symbols on them. You know where I should start?" she asked, glancing past him at the chaotic maze of shelves and scrolls beyond.
The mage released a long yawn. "Well, that'd be me. Gimme a second, and I'll narrow it down for you."
He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
A dark green grimoire floated into the air beside him, its pages flipping open on their own.
Emilia raised an eyebrow.
A faint green glow suddenly spread throughout the chamber.
One by one, every scroll and book lining the shelves began shining with the same light, until the entire archive was washed in an eerie green hue. The mage remained completely still, concentrating as the glow pulsed around them.
After several moments, most of the lights faded away. Only a scattered collection of scrolls along one distant shelf remained illuminated.
Emilia looked around, impressed despite herself.
"What kind of magic was that?"
The man opened his eyes and scratched lazily at his cheek. "Search Magic. Lets me pick out certain words or phrases from any book or scroll within range."
"Oh." Emilia glanced toward the glowing shelf. "So can you tell me where the most recent sighting was?"
"Nope."
She looked back at him.
"...No?"
He shrugged. "My magic ain't that convenient. All it tells me is where those words show up. There're a bunch of references to white-robed people in the records still glowing, but whether they're the ones you're looking for?" He waved vaguely toward the shelves. "You'll have to read through 'em yourself."
Emilia stared at him for a moment before sighing.
"Fine. Thanks."
"Mm-hm."
He was already beginning to fall asleep in his chair as Emilia walked around the desk and headed toward the still-glowing shelf. "No wonder this place is such a mess. Lazy bastard."
Standing before the shelf, Emilia watched its green glow gradually fade as she scanned the mess in front of her. It was crammed tight with old, filthy scrolls, some shoved in at odd angles while others looked ready to tumble onto the floor at the slightest touch.
"Where the hell do I even start?"
For a moment, her eyes moved from one scroll to the next as she tried to find some kind of order among them.
Then she sighed.
"Screw it."
Reaching down, Emilia scooped an armful of scrolls from the bottom shelf and carried them over to a nearby wooden table coated in dust. She dropped the bundle into a messy pile, pulled out the chair, and sat down.
Taking the first scroll from the top, she unrolled it across the table.
"Alright. Let's see what we've got."
And with that, she began her search.
Scroll after scroll, pile after pile, Emilia tore through the records with surprising speed.
Every so often, a mention of bandits wearing white robes would catch her attention, only for the description to go nowhere. In most cases, it seemed to be nothing more than a random clothing choice—something they had bought, stolen, or simply happened to be wearing.
Hours passed. Eventually, Emilia shoved another worthless scroll aside and leaned back in the chair with an irritated groan. Her head fell against the backrest as she stared up toward the distant ceiling.
"I should've figured there wouldn't be anything..."
She stayed there for a moment before forcing herself upright again. She grabbed another scroll from the dwindling pile. Emilia unrolled it and began skimming the report.
Then she stopped.
Her eyes moved back up the page.
"Wait..."
She leaned closer.
"Several unidentified individuals were spotted during a raid on Higgins Village, far east on the fringes of the forbidden forest, wearing strange white robes..."
Emilia's exhaustion vanished almost immediately, and she continued reading.
"Witnesses described unusual eye-like sigils marked across the robes... possible cult activity?"
Her eyes widened. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face. "Fuck yes." She pulled the scroll closer and reread the passage to make sure she hadn't imagined it. "Finally. My first real lead."
As tempting as it was to leave right then, Emilia forced herself to finish going through the remaining scrolls. If one useful report had been buried in the mess, there was always a chance another was hiding nearby. But nothing else came close. Still, Emilia wasn't disappointed anymore. One lead was more than she'd had when she walked in.
Once she was finished, Emilia gathered the scrolls and returned them to the shelf. Unlike how she had found them, she actually took the time to arrange them neatly—or at least as neatly as possible considering how crumpled and worn most of them were.
Satisfied enough, she headed back toward the entrance while the mage at the desk continued snoring away without a care in the world. Before long, Emilia returned to the main lobby and walked up to the front desk, placing the old rusted metal card down in front of the archivist.
He picked it up, then looked at her with mild surprise. "Huh. You actually kept your word." He leaned back in his chair. "Maybe you Black Bulls aren't all as hopeless as everyone says."
Emilia's eyebrow twitched.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" he asked.
"Barely." Emilia crossed her arms. "That place is a disaster. And you were worried about me making a mess... Just because those records are from the Forbidden Region doesn't make them any less important."
The man groaned and rubbed at his temple.
"The last thing I need is a Black Bull lecturing me about keeping things organized." He waved her away tiredly. "You got what you came for, didn't you? Now go. You're giving me a headache, girl."
Emilia stared at him for a moment.
"You people are unbelievable," Emilia shot back before turning away and grabbing her broom.
Outside, she had just stepped into the late-afternoon light and was preparing to take off when one of Finral's gray portals suddenly opened a few feet ahead of her.
His head poked through first.
"Ah! There you are!"
Emilia blinked. "Finral?"
He stepped fully through the portal. "The other rookies went out on a mission while you were gone, but they still haven't come back. Captain Yami wants you to go check on them."
Emilia's expression tightened. "What?"
"Magna took Asta and Noelle to Sosshi Village this morning to deal with some infernal boars," Finral explained. "It should've been a pretty easy job. Magna can handle a few boars without much trouble, especially with those two helping him."
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking uneasy.
"So the fact that they're still not back is... kind of worrying."
"Yeah, alright. I'll go see what's going on." Emilia shifted the broom beneath one arm. "But couldn't you just open a portal to them and send someone closer? What about Captain Yami? He's still at the hideout, right? I'm all the way in the capital. It'd take me longer to get there."
Finral shook his head. "No, he left not long after assigning them the mission. Said he was taking his monsters out for a walk."
Emilia blinked. "Monsters?"
"H-He collects them. It's a hobby of his." Finral gave an awkward smile. "But right now, you're the only one free to go, and I need to get back to Captain Yami soon to help him put them away. Sorry."
"Wow..." Emilia paused, still trying to process that particular bit of information. "Okay. I'll go, then."
"Great! I can at least get you closer."
Finral's grimoire floated open beside him, its pages turning as another gray, shimmering portal formed in the air.
"This'll put you a few miles southeast of Sosshi Village," he explained. "There's a spot overlooking the mountain range where the village is tucked away. Really beautiful view, actually. Very romantic. Perfect little getaway for a date."
Emilia stared at him.
"...Right. I'm going now."
Finral blinked, then quickly cleared his throat. "R-Right! Of course. Good luck, and stay safe!"
Emilia gave Finral a quick wave before stepping through the portal. The world shifted around her, and a moment later she emerged atop a broad hill overlooking a vast mountain valley. Jagged peaks stretched into the distance on either side, while far below, a deep river wound between them. Wasting no time, she mounted her broom and took off, following the river northwest toward Sosshi Village.
She pushed the broom as fast as she normally dared, the cool early-evening air rushing past her as the mountains rolled by beneath. As she flew, Yami's earlier comment about her speed came back to mind. Emilia had never really considered pouring more mana into her broom than necessary. The last time she had tried that was when she was first learning to fly, and the memory still made her uneasy. She had pumped too much mana into the wood all at once, causing the broom to burst apart beneath her. Splinters had gone flying in every direction, one passing close enough to her face that it had nearly taken out an eye.
Since then, she had always kept her mana output restrained whenever she flew.
But that was years ago.
She was stronger now. Her control was sharper, and she understood her mana far better than she had back then. Emilia hesitated for a moment before taking a slow breath.
"Alright. Just a little more."
She increased the flow a bit more.
The broom immediately accelerated, enough that she felt herself shift backward slightly before tightening her grip. She held the new amount steady for several seconds, paying close attention to how the wood responded. No shaking. No cracking.
So she added a little more.
The wind grew louder around her, tugging harder at her clothes and hair as the landscape below began passing by much faster. Emilia kept her breathing slow and focused, adjusting her grip as she felt out the balance beneath her.
Still stable.
Emilia carefully increased the flow again, and a soft blue glow began to appear along the wood, faint at first, then stronger as more of her mana settled into it.
She kept the mana exactly where it was for a while, allowing herself to grow accustomed to the new speed before trying anything further. Gradually, she relaxed her posture, leaning forward as the broom continued to carry her faster than it ever had before.
Then, once she felt confident she had the balance under control, she pushed just a little harder.
The broom surged forward.
Emilia's eyes widened as the wind exploded around her, forcing her to lower herself closer to the handle. The mountains and forests below blurred together as she tore through the valley, her broom glowing pale blue beneath her while a thin trail of cold mist and glittering frost followed in her wake.
Before long, something unusual appeared in the distance.
Emilia narrowed her eyes and gradually began reducing the mana flowing into the broom. Even lowering it slowly, the sudden change in speed left her momentarily lightheaded. She blinked several times and steadied herself, allowing her senses to catch up before looking ahead again.
Her eyes widened.
Sosshi Village lay in the valley below, but nearly the entire settlement had been swallowed beneath a massive dark-gray smog. It stretched from one side of the village to the other, leaving only the outer walls visible around its edges.
Emilia's expression hardened. "I've got a bad feeling about this. I'd better hurry down there."
Without wasting another second, she angled her broom downward and descended toward the village's front entrance.
Once on the ground, Emilia leaned her broom against the outer wall and approached the strange gray barrier. The mist rolled across itself in slow, heavy waves, swallowing the village beyond after only a few feet.
She raised a hand and cautiously pushed it through.
A sharp pressure immediately crawled across her skin.
Emilia stopped.
The air beyond the barrier felt thick and charged, pressing against her hand from every direction. Her eyes narrowed as she slowly drew her hand back, faint traces of the gray haze curling around her fingertips before fading away.
"To have this much mana..." Her gaze traveled up the towering wall of mist. "Someone powerful created this."
Before she could examine it any further, a scream ripped through the haze.
"RAAAAAAAHHHH!"
Emilia's head snapped toward the sound. "Asta!?"
She didn't hesitate. Emilia broke into a sprint and plunged straight through the barrier, the gray mist swallowing her whole within seconds.