"Here you go—" Julius presented the young lioness her bracelet, and instantly Muku emerged out of the charm.

The young beast encircles himself around his human and lets out loud purring from missing her company.

A week have passed since the attacks, and Kana has been held as a prisoner all days. She constantly had her memories look onto and interrogate for hours on every passing day.

She was released under Julius's order, seeing that no loophole or shreds of evidence show that Kana was a part of the Midnight Sun or associated with the enemy.

The Wizard King won't speak out loud that the lioness released wasn't taken lightly by most people, including the Clover Kingdom's current king.

Augustus Kira Clover XIII was among those who didn't agree over her freedom. Still, Julius succeeded to be soft-spoken with the king, and to supports his words, some citizens sided with the redhead as she been around saving them instead of attacking the city.

Much to the king's distaste, he agreed to Julius's suggestions knowing that he wasn't his people favourite, and if he did punish the girl who had been called as their lifesaver, he might be ousted.

"Someone seems happy." Kana delightfully nestled onto Muku's rough scales and held the whimper of pain. She offers a grateful smile over the Wizard King, who was silently blooming at the sight of their reunion.

"He misses you. Muku has been fighting around with the guards and even his feeder. Bless those guy hearts." Julius chuckles, recalling the frightened look on Muku caretakers.e

"Lucky for him, I miss him too!" Kana willingly let the young beast cling around her body and prompt his head on her left shoulder. "I can't thank you enough for everything you have done for us." Her expression turns sombre, making Julius frown. "I wish I could help to seek for the people behind all this."

Julius pats her free shoulder reassuringly. "Please don't blame yourself for what happened to your captain. None of us can foretell all this. He is a strong man and a great fighter. So, whoever this attacker is, they must have something up their sleeve that they can win over the great lion."

Kana nods understanding. "Captain is a strong man. He will get through this, right?"

"I believe he will. Now go back to your base; your comrades must be worried about you."

"I highly doubt that—" The flame user shakes her head, disagree. "They might not welcome me back to the base after all this. I failed to save our captain. Hell, I even get away without a scratch, and Captain almost die!"

Julius grins, eyes glimpsing past the young girl as they have been standing in front of the headquarters' front yard pathway. "I don't think they blame you for any of those."

Noticing that the man no longer looking at her, Kana follow his eyesight and jumps at the sight of several people crowding by the end of the path. It was unlikely not to recognize any of them as she could see her squad's signature robe on their shoulders.

Additionally, Leopold waved at her like a mad man with a vast grin painted on his face.

"K-A-N-A—C-H-A-N!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Leopold shouts, causing the other to beam. "WE HAVE COME TO BRING YOU BACK!!!!"

The gentle breeze wash sweeps around her making her hair tossing all over her head. But, her eyes did never leave the sight to behold in front of her, genuine smiles painting all across her teammates' lips, waving at her.

No cold icy glare,

No fingers pointing,

No curses,

No attack,

Just a sincere smile and gentle welcome.

Now being scolded by Randalf after jumping all around like a wild monkey, Leopold suddenly starts a quarrel with few others who don't notice the single tear flowing down the girl's eye.

"I told them about your release." Julius appears by her side, scratching Muku's chin which makes the beast sways his tail in delight. "They were glad to hear the news and chose to wait for you."

"They have been.... Waiting for me?"

"Of course they did! You are one of them, after all!"

-Flashback-

"You seem to be liking this place."

Kana, who has been zoning out after getting a rest from training, finally notices her captain standing near the bushes. "Captain?" She looks at him bewilderedly, mutely asking what the hell he's doing here.

Fuegoleon calmly approaches the young lioness while the wildlings are obviously watching his every step. They recognize the male human as someone who helps bring the young human back safely to the base, but they are still wary of his presence.

"They are rather fond of you." Finally, the man voices out the obvious, glancing at Muku, who rests his head on the girl's lap while gladly petting the creature.

"I think they more fonds of my lunch than me—" Kana adds, glancing over at a group of raccoons and foxes battling over her lunchbox.

Fuegoleon hums, entertained by the scene, making a flicker of a smile appear on his lips. "No wonder Yuko-san has been inquiring extra funds for food supplies."

"Geck!" Kana is pale at his words and quickly look away, terrified of facing her captain's eyes.

Those requests actually didn't bother the man since he came from a royal family, and money had never been a problem for them. The Wizard King was more than happy to help fund the Magic Knights to add to those matters.

Fuegoleon eyed the burn marks painted the ground, scorching trees, crates etc. "You have been training." Then, again, he stated the obvious.

Kana looked up from where she had been lounging under tree shade. "I need to get stronger."

"Why?"

The girl's eyebrow twitched, annoyed by his question when she knew that he knew. "I just—do—"

"Was it to get revenge for your village?" Fuegoleon throws another jab.

"Why do you ask when you already know?"

Her captain didn't respond, he just gazed at the red-haired girl, but there was no distaste or nasty meaning behind those looks, only sorrow.

"You have met your squad. What do you think of them?"

Kana frowns at his change of subject. "What does it matter how I think of them? I just here because the old man swore that if I join as a magic knight, he will help to search for those behind the attack."

'Old man', Fuegoleon silently repeat, sweating at her nonchalant attitude over Julius. Then, coughing softly to remove the previous names from his thought, he slowly lowers himself and sits beside the girl. "You grew up at a church back at Hage village alongside few other children. Is it the truth?"

The female flame user tilts her head but nods as an acknowledgement.

"What do you think of them?"

"I think they are kind?" She asks rather than answering his sudden question before continuing. "It was another villager who found me and brought me over the church. Father gladly accepted me, and Sister Lily has been by my side for as long as I can remember. You remember the four-leaf clover and the manaless candidates during the examinations?"

Fuegoleon nods, remembering the four-leaf clover chose to join Golden Dawn after receiving an invitation from all captains and the latter one recruited by Yami. "I heard that they also came from Hage village; I assume that they're from the church too."

"They are." Kana smiled brilliantly, cherishing the two of them alongside the others back at the church. "We all been around each other since we were little. Asta and Yuno were the earliest children that had been taken care of. Later on, I came in and then Recca, Nash, Aruru and Hollo. We all end up being a family we never thought we would ever have."

"Ku~" Muku whines as he also remembers Main, his tiny human, and how happy he was when they played with each other.

Kana pats his head, drawing a loud purr and observing the growing beast snuggle closer to her stomach, making her chuckle as he acts like a puppy.

"Why did you decided to call them family when none of you shares the same blood?" Fuegoleon bluntly asks, knowing that he may hurt her feeling, but his question was necessary.

Sighing out loud, Kana narrowed her eyes at her captain, who didn't flinch at all. "I used to ask those questions too, but Sister Lily told me that family isn't about blood. It's about those who are willing to hold your hand when you need it the most. Blood makes you related; loyalty makes you family."

"What's the difference between the squad then?"

"Eh?"

Fuegoleon smile warmly, hand gently rest on Kana's head, making her eyes widen in awe. "Why can this squad be your family too? Of course, these people aren't perfect, but they are like a family that I learn to love. You are one of us now, which indicated that you are a family to me."

The picturistic sight of her captain's expression was a rare sight as she could see how proud he was with his underlings, and never had she ever thought that a noble royal could found themselves to care for peasant-like her.

"Captain—"

"Captain—" Kana sobs, tears are falling down her face nonstop.

Julius was shocked by it, but his expressions softened as he took a step back and watched with a warm smile.

He watches the members of the Crimson Lion took off at where Kana is, wailing loudly and worriedly check her around for any injuries.

It was a spectacular sight; sadly, the king of the lions and the lioness wasn't there to see how much his leadership affected his squad.

"You should be proud of them. You have been a great leader for them." Julius look back at the tower where Fuegoleon is resting.

Kagaya surprisingly hugs the young girl with tears gathering at the corner of her eyes. "Stop being a cry baby, you annoying peasant! Just be glad that you are alive!"

"B-b-but—Captain—"

"Kana." Randalf pat the red haired's head, a gentle smile painted his lips. "Captain is a strong man, and he knows his duty. Don't beat yourself too hard. None of us blames you for what happened." His smile is slowly turning into a frown. "We know that you protected him until the end and if it wasn't for that— who knows what happened."

Leopold nods furiously, appearing by Kana's side in a blink. "I was there too, remember?! So stop being a cry baby and get stronger! Nii-sama will be disappointed if you act like this!"

"Ku~~~" Muku screech loudly, causing a few of them to cover their ears from the loud noise.

"Muku agree with me too! Ain't that right scaly?!"

The beast puffs his chest out from on top of Kana's shoulder and huff, making smokes fly out from his nostrils.

Seiji, another senior with pale skin and straight, dark teal hair, swept from the sides with one spike coming down onto his face and bright crystal-like eyes. He has scars running down from his left cheek down to his neck that he got during one of his earliest years as a magic knight.

"Let go home. Yuko-san have been worrying sick of you." The man sweats, chuckling awkwardly, remembering how furious the old lady was when she heard that Kana was taken as a prisoner.

Few members chuckled along as they were among those who had to hold her from attacking the headquarters.

Leopold shivers, cold sweats appearing on his forehead. "That woman can be so scary when she mad. Scared the hell out of me!"

"Leopold-san—" Kana sniffs, wiping the tears that straying over her chin.

The called boy brightened up upon hearing her calling him by his name.

"—I see that you are still scaredy-cat despite all the big talk for someone with a small body."

"I'm your senior! Show some respect!"

"Never."

"Kana-chan, so cold!!"

"So loud—"

The whole squad cackle watching those two bickerings with each other, and Randalf couldn't help but be glad that they managed to stay together despite the misfortune that had fallen to his squad. 'Captain, please be well. I will do my best to take care of them as much as I possibly can. We will be waiting for you.' He watches with a warm heart, his squad smothering Kana with hugs and reassuring words, knowing how much the attack affected her. 'She beginning to open her heart—' 

A/N: I wrote half of this chapter weeks ago, but I suddenly have no will of writing, and my mind goes blank. I suddenly hate writing and lost my confidence, but I'm slowly trying to heal my thought, so I apologise for making all of you waiting.

I hope you guys like this chapter, and thank you so much for all your supports.

https://youtu.be/5gkZY5fpv7I