🚨Mentions of self-harm! Please read with caution.🚨

Reader POV

Shino happily snacked on the leftover cookies in the freezers of the base.

"Ne, Shino?"

He stopped what he was doing. "Hm?"

I looked down, taking off my hat. "I think I might change squads."

"Huh?!"

"Yeah...I'm clearly not welcome here, and I really don't want to hold you back."

"But...why?"

"Because. Shino, you're a great guy, you really are. It's just I hate being subject to everyone's hatred here. It's almost as if they don't care."

He grabbed my hands, worry in his amber eyes. "But I care! Damn it, you're my first friend! I don't want to lose you!"

"You won't," I said. "But I can't stay here anymore."

"Okay...but what squad would you join?"

I shrugged. "Anyone who isn't this squad."

"You really hate it here, huh?" He sat up and had a worried look in his face. "I heard about what happened in the library. Do you want me to talk to the captain?"

"I'd rather not. I'll just pay back the debt and leave." I said. "But I'll take missions with you, considering I'm just paying back anyway. Maybe I'll get a second job."

"Alright..." 

I left the courtyard and ignored all the rude mocking, blood dripping down my wrists as I gripped it tighly.

"Whoa, is the blood mage bleeding?" Someone snickerd. "You should just die. One less scum in the world."

"You're disgusting."

"Attention seeker."

I stopped in my tracks and looked at them, smiling weakly. "I know. Maybe you're right: one less commoner around, eh?"

I turned back around and walked to the upper floors where the captain was doing paperwork.

I knocked on the door. 

"Come in." He didn't look up.

I closed the door behind me. "Captain, I want to leave. But only after I pay off the debt-"

"You want to leave my squad?" He looked up at me, alarmed. "But why?"

"Pfft. Why, he asks. Why do I have to give you reasoning. I'm the most hated member in this squad."

"Yes, but-"

"But nothing. You said it yourself: I'm a filthy commoner. But I do have a question for you, Captain."

He placed his pen down, giving me his undivided attention. "Yes?"

"Why did you raise your hand?" I asked. "To chose me, I mean."

He shrugged. "You were powerful and blood magic is quite rare."

"Oh, I see." I looked down. 

"Wait. Come here."

I did as I was told and he grabbed my hand.

"I've noticed you're gripping your wrists every time someone says something mean to you. Why."

"It's the only way I cope," I said softly. Then  my voice hardened. "Why does it matter?"

"I'm just concerned since you have ugly scars."

"Oh." I pulled my hand away. "Then I'll do something about it. Good day, Captain."

I left his office and quickly bought myself a pair of black gloes at the market nearby, happy that they were long and extended to my elbows.

When I came back, people were whispering and I ignored them.

The next month was pure hell.

The mocking got worse, the jobs stacking up.

Yet as hard as I worked, my debt increased as the captain made sure to include my room and board, as well as other things.

I decided to leave the base, chosing to stay at a local inn so that way I didn't have to deal with the silver eagles anymore.

I made friends with people in multiple squads, my options open as I spoke to different captains.

At the end of the final week of the month, I went to the base and requested to speak with Nozel.

"Yes?"

"Captain, here is my remaining debt. Please don't load anything more on as I'm no longer a member of this squad."

He glanced at me and the robe on his desk. "You really are leaving?"

I nodded. "The wizard king wants to have you sign this paper. The sooner, the better, right?"

Nozel glanced at me. "You truly are leaving?"

"Why would I stay?" I said. "I have no one here."

"Not even Shino, Simon, and Curtis?"

"No. I can talk to them regardless of being in this squad or not."

"I see." He muttered something but snatched the paper. "Fine. I never wanted you in the squad anyway."

"Then why did you chose me?" I said.

He glared at me. "I simply raised my hand. You are the one who chose this squad."

"And I regret it." I looked away, not wanting to think about it anymore. "And here's a word of advice, Silva. Don't treat your members like enemies. You should be ashamed of yourself."

I walked out of his office

"Is this really it?"

I nodded, glaring at him. "I'm tired of you and the others treating me horribly because of what class I was born into. You have absolutely no right to look down on others because of who they are."

He listened to me as I told him off. I was almost 17, telling an almost 20-year-old male something he should already know.

"God, you are so rude! Why I even joined your squad for Shino is beyond me." I sighed.

"I'll sign the papers," he said quietly.

I nodded, wishing with all my heart that I just picked another squad instead of going to the Silver Eagles.

The next morning, the other members taunted me as usual.

Captain Nozel locked himself in his room and office, letting out random screams of frustration at any given time of day.

___________

"No! Don't leave me!!!" Shino clung onto me as I tried to pry him off. "Please don't go! You're my only friend, (y/n)! My best friend! Who else am I going to go on missions with?! No one! We're a team, (y/n)! A team!"

It had taken a week for everything to be finalized.

My heart ached for him. "Shino-"

"Fine. Captain!!" He let me go and ran over to Captain Nozel who was watching from the entrance with the other members. "Can I switch squads too?"

"Shino, no!" I protested. "You belong here! I don't!"

"I don't belong anywhere!" He insisted. "People expect so much of me because I'm related to the Wizard King! Only with you do I feel like I can be myself truly!"

"You would revoke your spot in the Silver Eagles for that scumbag?"  Griffin scoffed. "That's low, Adamina."

Shino said nothing but looked at Captain Nozel with pleading eyes.

"He is welcome to join my squad," Captain Charlotte smiled at Shino. "I don't mind at all. After all, I trust that he won't be a bother in my women-only squad."

Captain Charlotte had originally come to pick me up since I would be joining her squad.

Everyone looked at Captain Nozel. He looked really pissed off.

"You want to join that blood-mage in the Blue Rose Knights?"

The two captains glared at each other.

"Fine."

Shino jumped with excitement and quickly retrieved his things from his room, carrying it all in his bag. "Let's go!!"

We arrived at the Blue Rose Knights' base half an hour later.

"Wow! It's so beautiful!!" Shino and I gawked at the place.

Charlotte smiled. "I hope you two will be happy here."

She indeed knew how badly I was treated in Captain Nozel's squad.

"Also, get rid of those Silver Eagles robes." She threw us two Blue Rose Knights robes. "You're far more suited for this squad anyway."

Shino and I exchanged a goofy smile and did as she instructed.

Charlotte Roselei was around 19 years old, not much older or younger than Captain Nozel.

"I find that the roses give it a more refined aspect," Charlotte was saying as she leads us around the base.

The other members were whispering and laughing at Shino. There were a few males in the squad, but they mostly served as errand boys and servants.

"Hey!" My friend Fiona waved at us.

"FIONAAAA!!!!" Shino hugged his sister tightly.

She was surprised to see her younger brother in this squad. "Huh? Shino, what are you doing here? I thought you were a Silver Eagle?"

Charlotte glanced at us. "These two left on accounts of mistreatment of members. I will inform you later. For now, I will show you to your rooms. Shino Adamina, do you wish to sleep in the section where the other males sleep or...?"

"I want to stay close to (y/n)," Shino said as he got off his sister.

"I'm assuming you two also want to be part of a team?" Charlotte raised an eyebrow as the two of us nodded. "That is fine."

I knew that I was going to be happy here.

Everyone was so nice and didn't care that I wasn't of noble birth.

They all respected me because of who I am and my magic.

And soon, a day passed by quickly.

A day turned into a week which turned into a month, which turned into a year.

I was happy in Captain Charlotte's squad.

I had teamed up with Shino and worked my way up to the position as Vice-Captain of the Blue Rose Knights. My uniform matched Charlotte's in a way (without the hat) but it still had my own aspect. The cape was long and blue with the insignia of the Blue Rose Knights on it.

When we were all relaxing in the female part of the baths, another member named Sarah spoke up.

"Hey! Guys, the War Merits Ceremony is tomorrow! And Captain Roselei told me to tell (y/n) Kyoska, Fiona Adamina, Grace McLaren, and myself that we are going!"

I smiled and dove underneath the water, enjoying its warmth.

"That will be interesting," Fiona said quietly.

"Weren't you once part of the Silver Eagles?" Sarah asked me curiously. She had joined about two weeks after I did.

"Yeah," I said.

"That will be interesting." Fiona laughed. "Imagine seeing your ex-captain in the same room- and you're the Vice-Captain to the new squad you joined!"

The rest of the female members started to make fun of Captain Nozel and the other captains - especially Jack Ripper and Yami Sukehiro.

"Hey, what's this about the captain herself liking that Yami?" I asked Fiona one night over drinks.

Fiona snickered. "She won't ever admit it, but it's really obvious. Poor girl, that guy is so oblivious to the situation."

I looked down at that red string on Fiona's pinky that extended out to some unknown person. "I think I can help. Since I have blood magic, I can see the threads of fate."

"Oh, really?"

"Yep. Let's see...the star award ceremony will happen soon," I said. "We can get them together, or near each other. I'll be able to tell if they're soulmates or not."

"Aww! How romantic~"

Shino stuck his tongue out in disgust. "Ew! Imagine liking people."

"Shut up, Shino!" Fiona and I said in unsion before bursting out into laughter.

Nozel POV

I opened the door to the hallway outside of my bedroom.

I was constantly reminded of how (y/n) Kyoska left.

Even though it's been a year, I couldn't get her face out of my head.

Or the words she spoke to me.

"Brother, the War Merits Ceremony is tomorrow," Nebra said with a frown. "That scumbag will be there."

"Have some respect," I spat to Nebra. "She is a vice-captain now."

She narrowed her eyes. "I just followed what you did, Brother. You've never respected her."

I grew silent, knowing that she was right. "Nebra, I have a question. The first time I touched her hand, I noticed something on my finger."

"Scum?"

I glared at her. "No. It's a piece of red string. I noticed it on her pinky also."

"I don't see any string," she frowned. "Are you alright, Brother?"

"Nevermind," I said. "Gather Simon, Curtis, Griffin, and whoever else the list says to bring. And tell Solid that he's in charge of Noelle tonight. I'm not coming home, I've got paperwork to do."

My sister left, me leaving ten minutes later as I had to get something from town.

Then I overheard her voice.

"Ne, Shino? You think we should surprise the squad with this?" (y/n) asked, tapping on the glass to a sweet shop.

Shino thought for a moment. "Yeah! Hey, you and I should pool our money together and also get something for our families."

"Hm...I suppose."

"And especially that Yuno," Shino teased her. "He wanted to marry you, right?"

My eyes widened.

She already had someone who wanted to marry her?

I couldn't help but feel very jealous of this Yuno.

"Oh, shut up! It's bad enough Asta wants to marry a nun, but Yuno? Marrying me? Pfft. As if. As much as I love him, I can't see myself marrying him."

I rounded the corner and got a closer look at the duo, staring at them.

(y/n) was still wearing her black witches' hat and black boots with silver buckles, but her Blue Rose Knights Vice Captain cape and a silver heart clip she always wore in her hair.

"Ah, you've really gotta let me meet this Yuno," Shino sighed. "See if he's worthy of your hand."

"Pfft! Oh, he definitely is, dear Shino. However I don't see us more than best friends, despite the age difference."

So is this Yuno younger or older than her?

I walked past them, trying to hide my face.

"Oi! Silva!"

Damnit, Shino!

I stopped and glared at them. "Yes?"

Shino was about to speak when (y/n) glared at me.

"Greetings, Silva."

"To you as well, Kyoska."

Shino stuck his tongue at me. "Your hair looks more hideous today! What did you use to keep that fugly rats nest up? Toilet shit?"

Despite (y/n)'s eyes glittering with amusement, she covered Shino's mouth. 

"Shino! Don't disrespect him. If he wants to use crap to style his hair, let him." She bowed slighty. "I apologize for my subordinate's actions, Captain Silva."

"See that you do." I turned around. "I shall see you at the war merits ceremony, Kyoska." 

She ignored me, starting to roast me behind my back as she and Shino started laughing.

Indeed, I would like to see this Yuno.

If I'm not worthy, which I know I'm not, then what makes him so special?

_____________________________

Y e s .