NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: 001
Clover Kingdom.
This Kingdom is situated in a world where magic thrives everywhere. The people here all around the world are able to use magic. Since their birth, they have been capable of using magic, but they show these characteristics when they are below 10 only, but an instrument that actually plays a significant part in channeling this mysterious energy.
Grimoire.
Grimoire is a book that chooses people at the age of 15. Through this book, people can use spells that they would have been otherwise incapable of using in the absence of the grimoire.
And right now, in the Royal Capital of the Clover Kingdom, a ceremony was being held. The Royal Knight selection ceremony.
The Royal Knights were a group of people who wielded grimoire and were tasked with the noble goal of protecting the Clover Kingdom from the threats, both inside and on the outside.
…
The Magic Knight selection ceremony was now currently being held. People from all walks of life, whether they have noble or humble origins. All of them were standing in a ground on ground below as the Captains of Magic Knights Squads were standing on an elevated platform, when William Vangeance, the Captain of Golden Dawn, walked forward from the line where the rest of the captains stood, and spreading his hands wide open, addressed the crowd.
"Everyone, I am pleased to welcome you to the Magic Knights Ceremony.
Thank you for waiting.
I will be administering this year's entrance exam.
With that said…
Magic Tree's Descent."
As he uttered the spell, the clouds darkened the sky suddenly, which caused unrest to arise amongst the participants. Then suddenly…
"What!?! A tree is coming from above!"
…defying any logic, tree roots sprouted out form the top of the clouds. The branches reached out to every single participants with brooms on each end. Absent mindedly, most of the participants took the broom from it.
"Broom? Are we supposed to fly for the first test?"
"Must be. It is rather obvious."
"But how is it supposed to test us. Every one of us has magic, we all are able to fly. It will only differentiate between nobles and us commoners who have not flied one before."
Every one realized the test and started to have valid question amongst them. Immediately after, ignoring the voices with question, William continued, "You've waited long enough.
The time has come. Let the entrance exam begin.
In just a few moments we'll begin the first in a series of tests.
The nine Magic Knight captains will be serving as your judges.
And when the exam is complete, we will choose the individuals we want on our squads.
If chosen, you are in.
If more than one squad chooses you, you will decide which you would like to join.
However, if you are not selected by any squad, that means you have been deemed unqualified to join the Magic Knights.
As now for you first test.
You must use the brooms you've been given to fly.
A mage who is in control of his or her magic power can do it on instinct alone.
It is our most basic way to get from one place to another.
If you can't fly on a broom, then you are not worth our time.
Enough talk. Now, begin."
As those words fell, every participant was filled with unseen vigor as they started to slam the ground hard and tried to jump themselves off of the ground, but of course this did not work. And as expected, this action was being done by the commoners since majority of them were unknown to flying broom, but was not the case for nobles, who flew off to the sky with little to no effort.
"Hahahaha~ As expected of commoner trash. They are just plain useless. I don't know why are they even allowed to take Magic Knights Exam. These things should only be reserved for people of better pedigree"
"Umm~Hmm~You are not right. There must be someone to take care of cleaning our quarters."
"Hohoho~I almost forgot about it. I withdraw half of my original statement."
Such pompous and clique words being spouted from the nobles and royals which were unfortunately was not the thought of the minority. As if used to hearing this, commoners avoided talking or retorting at such words. Paying mind to their own task, they tried to copy what the nobility did and slowly but surely they were able to take flight, seeing which most of the Magic Knights Captain nodded internally, other than 3, one of which was a crook, other a die-hard noble supremacist and last one who was fast asleep.
Hmm…everyone is now able to fly other than a single person. The talent is good this year.
Thinking this, William Vangeance stood up from his seat, walked forward, and said, "Everyone! The first test is concluded! Now we will go on to the next test. You will have to shoot your magic, first at a wall and then at a moving target. Understood?"
"YES!" All of them shouted in unison as they still floated on their broom and touched the ground once again. Then this time, instead of William another man from Purple Orca walked forward with an open grimoire and spoke, "Earth Magic: Brick Wall"
*RUMBLE RUMBLE*
With a rumble sound, the ground in the distance began to shift and deform following which multiple brick walls started to sprout from the ground, their numbers equaling the people on the ground.
"Everyone! Get in line according to your registration number and fire your magic when you are told to." The man who created the brick wall said, but instead of this, in the minds of multiple people, whether they be noble or commoner was one thing. How am I supposed to fire my magic when it is suited for closed-range?
While the number was less, it was still a good part of the demographic and this test seemed like it was made to cause them disadvantage in this regard. But not having enough courage to challenge the decision of the Magic Knights Captains, they decided it was better to hold their peace.
Just like the person instructed, everyone stood in the designated line and those who can do the projectile based magic attack did so, while the rest just stood their ground and tried to think of the ways to pass this exam.
"The examinees this year look very promising, right? Won't let me have the first pick." Rill, the captain of Aqua Deer said, at which Nozel, captain of Silver Eagle replied without delay with a firm face, "No."
Not the one to take offense and let himself down, Rill said, "Please! Please! Pretty please!"
"No. Shut up and stop disgracing yourself in front of others." Nozel chided him harshly without holding back in response to which Rill decided to get back at him like an adult.
By making faces at him, and changing his hair to look like Nozel's, "Here~Look at me~ I am Nozel Silva and I make my own hair braids because I am shy to ask a maid to do it~"
"Pfft! Hahhahahaha! He got you with this one."
"Shut up, outsider."
Nozel said in an irritated tone to Yami who laughed at him with tears in his eyes. Ignoring them, Fuegoleon, the captain of Crimson Lions replied, "Yes. Especially those two with four-leaf clover grimoire."
Following this, Jack, the captain of Green Mantis chimed in.
"Kekekeke! They look like they will be fun to cut!"
With a weirded look, Yami said, "What is with you and cutting everything? You creep me out!"
"You want to get sliced up kekekeke! I would not mind." Jack said with a face that not even a mother could love.
"Hey! What type of magic is that?"
Rill said suddenly breaking the conversation. Seeing the place where he was pointing, all of them turned to see a target that was a solid wall moments before it broke into glass.
"Glass magic?" Charlotte, the captain of Blue Rose suggested but then with a contemplative face, William said, "But it did not control or shoot glass, instead it turned a wall into a glass."
"A property-changing magic then?" Charlotte followed.
"Hmm…it might be. And this contestant also happens to be the owner of the 2nd 4 leaf grimoire his name is…" Fuegoleon said as he skimmed to find the name of the person in question. "Ah, there it is. Wilhelm Sylvesterus Diluc Rothchilde. Contestant 89."
"Ho…a noble?" Gueldre, the captain of Purple Orca asked at which Nozel said firmly, "I have never heard of any noble family by the name of Rothchilde."
"Heh~Maybe if you take less time braiding your hair you would."
"Kekekeke!"
Yami commented at which Jack chuckled and veins bulged on the head of Nozel who started to trade insults with them, and the rest of the captains ignoring them kept their eyes on the series of tests that were progressing on until the final test arrived.
Combat test.
***
The stage was set, and the fight was about to begin. One by one a pair of people were to appear in front of the Magic Knights captain to duke it out within themselves. But of course, who will be part of the Magic Knights squad will completely depend upon the Captains and they can pick one, both, or no contestants in a fight. Due to this reason, many try to pick an enemy of their own or above caliber so that they can show their potential better,
So the fights were decided and finally, we reached the fight…
#23
Ruel vs Laplace Grimm
On one side of the corner was a young man of humble origin with dirty blonde hair and on the other side stood a person who looked to be the textbook example of the word, noble. He was wearing the finest of garbs and had a confident air surrounding him, completely opposite of the one of nervousness that was around Ruel.
Looking at Ruel who was shaking at his feet in the eye, Laplace said pompously. "Huh! Don't worry Gruel, I will go easy on you~ Just be a good peasant and prepare yourself and thank your stars for you will personally witness the power of a noble."
"Pfft! Hahahahahsahaha! He said it! HE SAID IT!!"
Before the domineering atmosphere that would impress the Captains according to Laplace, was broken by laughter from a source unknown. Hearing this, Laplace got rightfully annoyed and shouted, "WHO IS IT!?! WHO DARES!?!"
"…"
"Tell me! Who is it?!"
"…"
Having enough time wasted, William stood up from his seat and said,
"Let the match begin!"
Without wasting time, Ruel attacked Laplace who was still in the midst of finding the person who dared to laugh at him.
"Ice Magic: Down Cold!"
With a bellowing shout, cold winds seemed to cast a shadow over the eyes.
Laplace quickly moved his gaze to the source of the shivering cold but…
"WAH!"
…he was a bit too late and got hit by it head-on.
'Did I get him?'
Ruel thought as he gazed intently at the cloud of cold mist when the mist soon cleared to give a view of Laplace who was shivering on the ground, his teeth grinding on each other with an intensity as if they would break. Seeing it, William shouted, "Ruel wins!" and then sprouts a tree from the ground which seems to suck the cold in.
As the thin layer of ice that was formed over Laplace melted, he erratically stood up from his feet and glared at Ruel with no small amount of anger and shouted, "YOU DAMN PEASANT! YOU DARE TO CHEAT!!" and hurled numerous rocks at Ruel who was about to defend himself when…
"World Tree Magic: Tree Birth"
From a single command from William, the tree sprouted from the ground and blocked all of them without a single scratch on them. Seeing the stump of wood in front of him, Laplace moved his gaze to William and shouted pointing at Ruel.
"He cheated!"
Looking at him as if a toddler, William replied, "Ruel did no such thing."
"Then how can he beat me!" Laplace argued.
"He was able to beat you, not because of his competence, but because of your incompetence."
And hearing those words Laplace looked like he heard something wrong. His entire world shifted from beneath his feet.
'No! No! No! No! This can't be happening! This is a dream!
No! Why are you looking at me like that!?!
I can prove myself! I am better than this bastard!
Don't look at me like I did something wrong!
Captain William! How can you take the side of a commoner against a noble?
They are beneath us.'
"Laplace…leave."
And those words from Willaim broke the camel's back.
With a lost look, Laplace looked at Ruel with dead eyes that had only one murderous intention behind them.
I.Will.Kill.You.
…
Soon, the Magic Knight selection ceremony was over. One of the boys with the four-leaf grimoire that used wind magic went to Golden Dawn while the other one went to Coral Peacock. The curious thing was that one boy with no magic who was only capable of using a rusty sword capable of cutting magic was selected in Black Bull.
But the most curious thing was the scene of a seething Laplace following behind Ruel who was head over heels because he got selected in Purple Orca.
He continued to shadow behind Ruel, to see his place of stay to…deal with him.
He followed him to the diner where he celebrated by drinking his heart out and then finally to the place he was staying.
'So this is where your filthy self Is staying. How fitting, but don't worry, I will make sure that you never leave this place…alive.'
Laplace thought with a deranged expression, as he carefully waited for the perfect time to strike. The dusk gave way to a moonless night. A night where many stored were still open by 2 am since it was a day of festivity, and such was the case for the place Ruel was staying, but having a plan in his mind, Laplace moved beneath a window where Ruel was staying which was on the ground floor that was obviously the cheapest. Peeking from the window, Laplace checked inside the room, and seeing the slumbering figure of Ruel he thought-
Good, sleep peacefully. Not that you would be capable of doing anything else when I am done with you.
Then he opened his grimoire and used a spell without shouting out loud.
Stone Magic: Stone Pillar
Slowly a very small pillar of stone arose and lengthened behind the window and right below the latch where the window was locked and pushed up the small pencil-sized pillar until it opened the latch and unlocked the window. Carefully, he pushed the window apart making sure it did not create much sound even though it creaked a lot.
'Damn it! This filthy place does not even have proper windows!'
He berated the place internally but entered the room from the window after opening it, one foot after the other. In a moment of carefully spent seconds, he entered the room. Finally, his hateful eyes rested on Ruel who was sleeping soundly with his grimoire kept beside the table.
Then he opened his grimoire and with a grin that marred his face, he said, "Stone Magic: Stone Lance!"
*SQUEALCH*
With the sound of tearing the flesh apart, the stone lance protruded from the ground and pierced the heart of Ruel whose eyes wide opened and a breathless gasp escaped his face and blood started to flow from his mouth.
Looking at Laplace with a terrified gaze he managed to say choking on his own blood, "W-*cough* wh*cough**cough*…wh…y?"
Seeing, Laplace smiled with a sadistic pleasure coursing from his body, "Because I can."
And those were the final words Ruel heard as he passed away.
"Hmm…his grimoire is also fading away. Then he truly is dead."
Laplace commented as he knew that when one passes away, their grimoire ceases to exist as well.
"*Sigh* This is what happens when peasants forget their place."
With that, he turned around to leave when he found that-
"Where is the window?"
-in place of the window. There was a door.
A red door.
Hurriedly he turned around to Ruel's corpse but-
"Where is his corpse!?"
He said out loud with panic visible in his tone.
Not only the corpse of the Ruel was gone, but so was the bed, the side table, the carpet, and everything else. The room instead of its previous look was replaced with a room that was covered in moss from the bottom to the top, with some black substance dripping over them from the roof which looked liquid instead of solid.
And then the only thing left in the room was a door.
A bloody red door.
"WHO IS IT? SHOW YOURSELF?!"
Laplace shouted with a wild look as he spun around at his place. Finally, he stopped when found no answer coming. Keeping his grimoire afloat, he opened the door a smidge and took a peek outside. Moving his gaze around, he found the corridor was completely white. As if enamored by it, he walked out to it, leaving the room behind.
*Click*
As the sound came, he seemed to wake out of his stupor and he snapped his head behind to find that the door…was no more.
Instead of it, there was a mirror in its place reflecting him in a dingy washroom, that looked absolutely disgusting to the point that one would not wish to use it even in the most trying of times.
'Wait, I was in a white corridor…'
Such thought crept into his mind as he looked behind once more, and he to his relief did not find himself in the washroom but to his absolute terror, he saw that the white room was not so white anymore.
One.
Two.
Three.
Three hundred.
Three thousand.
An uncountable number of eyes sprouted from the white background that were an all-consuming shade of black with a terrorizing red in them.
'God…where am I?'
He spoke.
He tried to at least.
But he failed in this endeavor of his since he found it humanly impossible to speak…
…without a mouth that is.
'Where is my mouth!!?! Where is my mouth!?!'
He screamed internally gripping the patch of skin where his mouth previously was.
Then his eyes landed on IT.
He saw IT.
He wished he did not saw IT.
But he saw IT.
He regretted IT.
He begged IT.
He cried in front of IT.
He went unconscious in front of IT.
…
*THUD*
With a thudding sound, Laplace's body crashed on the ground in front of the Magic Knight Captains.
"What happened?"
"He fell on the floor as soon as the match began."
"I know, right? Did Wilhelm do something?"
"His grimoire is floating in the air so maybe he did something."
Such voices were spread all around when the captains themselves housed contemplative faces.
"What did he do?" Charlotte asked as she could not register what happened. As soon as the match began between Laplace and Wilhelm, Laplace instantly crashed onto the ground.
"Which magic does he use?" Fuegoleon further asked.
"It says illusion magic." William asked as he looked at the sheet in his hands that the person from his squad hurriedly brought over.
"Hmm…Illusion magic. Does it mean that he used it in an instant to defeat Laplace?" Gueldre asked with no small amount of greed just imagining what he could so with such power by his side.
"Seems like it." Yami asked as he scrutinized Wilhelm who was poking the downed Laplace with a stick.
Then turning over to William he said, "Let's vote already."
"Okay." He said to Yami and then turning to address the rest, he said,
"Wilhelm Sylvesterus Diluc Rothchilde wins this match. With this, our final battle is over and then you will be called over now. Captains will then decide who will they would like in their squad. In case if multiple captains choose you, you will decide which squad you want to be in.
If no captains choose you, that means you will have to leave.
With that said, we will first begin with #1…"
This way, the people from different teams started to be sorted out. Most were rejected while the rest few were selected. Most offers were made from Green Mantis, Purple Orca, Aqua Deer, and Crimson Lions. For women, Blue Rose was a more prominent choice. Though everyone was given offers from the Black Bulls, they did not give it another thought due to its bad reputation.
Such was the case until finally, it was Contestant #89, Wilhelm himself.
"#89, Wilhelm Sylvesterus Diluc Rothchilde, step up."
William called him out, hearing which the people all around stilled, and looked at Wilhelm with baited breaths. Under the scrutiny of so many eyes, he walked with his back straightened up and stopped in front of the place that was equidistant from all of the captains.
As his movements stilled, William began speaking.
"Those who wish to accept Wilhelm in their squad, raise your hands up."
And instantly, all hands shot up from the captains, other than from the Coral Peacock, whose captain was fast asleep. Instead of her, the person she had bought with her raised his hand up representing her.
"Since all the captains have given you the offer, you may choose your squad." William said following which people behind began to murmur between them speculating which squad Wilhelm will join.
"Which squad will he join?"
"Golden Dawn, of course!"
"Maybe he will join Silver Eagles since he is a noble."
"Nah! Golden Dawn is better!"
"Silver Eagle is not bad too."
"Hey! At least we know which squad he won't be joining. Black Bull! Hahahahahaha!"
"Hahahahaha~you are right!"
"I will join Black Bull"
"Pfft!"X30
As his words fell, people spat out. They could not believe their ears. Everyone, from Captains to the people who were contesting to be magic knights, none of them are able to hide the surprise on their faces. But the person who was surprised the most was none other than Yami himself. He looked at Wilhelm, pointing his finger at him and spoke, "Kid…you are talking about joining my squad?"
"Yes, Captain Yami!" Wilhelm replied curtly.
Hearing this, Yami's face stilled and then he mechanically turned to face the rest of the Captains and then…"Hahahahahahahaha! He joined my squad over yours, you freak and lady braid man!"
His words caused damage to Jack and Nozel whose veins bulged on their forehead and they retorted with glare, "Shut up! You filthy foreigner!"
"Kekekekeke! Try saying that with a cut tongue."
"Calm down. We have to keep a dignified and united front in front of everyone." William said at which the Yami nodded with a huff and with a hmph Nozel took his seat while Jack continued to glare at Yami.
And in that way, the examinations ended.
The conclusion was that, # 164 Yuno got into Golden Dawn, #165 Asta, and #89 Wilhelm Sylvesterus Diluc Rothchilde got into Black Bull.
…
{Wilhelm POV}
The first step is complete.