Double update!

Reader POV

It was 5:30 AM when I left the base of the Blue Rose Knights to go take a 4-mile run.

I tuned out the world, not really wanting to deal wth the stress withou coping somehow.

I waved to some of the early risers as I ran through the town, my hair tied back into a ponytail (if your hair is short, then do as you wish. If you don't have hair then-).

Running in the cool morning was the nice part of the day as it really got hot during the day and I disliked the heat.

When I arrived back at the base half an hour later since I decided to pick up some trinkets to give the people back in Hage, I saw the captain was up and talking to some people.

I waved to them and headed to the showers, not wanting to deal with the smell of sweat from exercise all day.

Once I was done, I picked a nice outfit, checking myself out before putting my blue cape over it.

"Damn," I whistled. "I don't look bad."

Closing the door to my room, I decided to go talk to the captain then go eat breakfast.

I smiled at the new members as I walked down the hallway to Charlotte's office.

"Come in," she said after I knocked. I went in and saw her putting on her helmet. "Is everyone ready to go at 11am?"

I nodded. "Yes, Captain."

Charlotte smiled. "Come on, (y/n). I've told you countless times. You can just call me Charlotte. You're my Vice-Captain."

"Yes, Captain."

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Whatever, Vice-Captain." Then her face got serious. "Are you going to be alright? You're going to see your past squad members."

Over the year, I made sure to avoid the Silver Eagles unless if it was Curtis, Simon, or Warren. 

Everyone else would just bring back bad memories.

Especially Nebra since she once poured an entire thing of tea on my forehead once when I had fallen asleep underneath a tree.

"I will be fine," I assured her.

She smiled weakly. "If you insist. By the way, you look lovely in your full uniform,"

"No, you," I opened the door for us. Charlotte treated all of us like her sisters and it really felt nice, considering I didn't grow up with any siblings- aside from the orphans at in Hage.

There were two male members going; Shino and Lukas. The rest of us were female.

When we arrived at the castle at 11 am, the guards saluted to Charlotte and I.

We walked into the Wizard King's office. He was standing up with a huge smile.

My blood ran cold when I saw Captain Nozel and the other members. None of them were Simon, Warren, or Curtis.

"You're fine," Shino said behind me as I walked beside Charlotte. "Don't worry, they won't dare disrespect a vice-captain."

Sarah glared at the people who were eyeing Charlotte in a maliceful eye.

"Ah, Charlotte! (y/n)!" Julius smiled at us. "How nice of you to join us. We're just waiting for Dorthy and her squad and then we'll be ready to begin."

I watched with a smile as the other members of the magic knights received their merits.

I cheered especially loud when Shino was promoted to a 3rd-class Intermediate Magic Knight.

When the ceremony was done, Julius invited everyone to partake in a banquet prepared.

I chatted with the other Vice-Captains and they congratulated me on being the very first Vice-Captain to achieve the title in less than a year.

Of course, the Black Bulls Vice Captain wasn't present, but I didn't care too much.

"It took me about 18 months," Kirsch Vermillion was saying. "I'm still surprised that you, a peasant, became a vice-captain."

I gave him a sickly sweet smile. "I'm surprised that you, an egotistical narcissist, can actually fight."

Before he could retort, I heard someone's voice that I never wanted to hear again.

"(y/n) Kyoska."

The vice-captains left me on my own to face Captain Nozel Silva. My ex-captain.

"I hope you are...finding yourself happier," he mumbled.

I frowned. "Wouldn't you like to know,"

"That's why I'm asking,"

"Why do you care?" I said. "It's none of your business."

"I just want to make sure my squad - even past members - are doing fine."

I rolled my eyes. "Riiight. Which I could really tell during that one month stay in your squad. What do you really want."

Noticing us, Shino and Fiona came over with frowns on their faces.

"(y/n), didn't you want to tell me about your new magic spell?" Fiona asked, giving me an 'out'.

I shook my head. "Not now, Fiona. I've got a talk to have with this captain."

The two stared at me.

"That's an order as your vice-captain. Please, go enjoy yourselves. Don't worry about me," I smiled at them.

They nodded and walked off to talk to some other magic knights.

"My pinkie. Do you see a string?" He asked.

I nodded. "I thought I was the only one who noticed,"

"You thought wrong." He frowned. "What does it mean?"

I shrugged. "If I knew, I'd tell you."

I indeed knew the answer. I had read about it in the Royal Libary and my grimoire also touched upon the subject.

"Well-"

"Well, well, well."

Both of us turned our heads to see Nebra and Griffin. Those two always went out of their way to torment me

"Looks like the standards of the Blue Rose Knights have gotten lower," Griffin said with malice in his aqua eyes. "It's a shame, really. Everyone in that squad- except you, of course, is beautiful physically, personality-wise, and magic-wise."

"Have some respect," Captain Nozel said curtly. "She is above you all in rank and will be treated so."

"Since when the hell did you respect peasant scum?" Griffin asked his captain. "Never. Why start now?"

I glared at him. "They're right, Captain. You've never shown me respect. Why now."

He struggled to find an answer.

"When you can answer that simple question, come find me. Until then, peace out." I gave a close-eyed smile, a peace-sign, and walked off.

"Wait!" Captain Nozel grabbed my wrist.

"Let go of me!" I tried to get his hand off me, but he shook his head.

"Is it a string of fate?"

I stared him dead in the eyes. "Yes. I know what you are going to say. I don't want to be your soulmate either."

I walked away from him, not wanting to talk to the silver-haired male anymore.

"(y/n)!" Charlotte called to me. "I have to go somewhere, can you bring the squad back and say goodbye to Lord Julius for me?"

"Certainly."

"Thank you." The blonde left, glaring at Yami and almost bumping into a wall.

I shook my head with amusement.

Damn, that woman really needs to get her thoughts cleared!

Otherwise, she'll spill the beans one day by accident!

Nozel POV

When my squad and I got back to our base, I couldn't get the look of disgust and horror on her face.

I don't want to be your soulmate either.

I eyed the string with a glare. "Stupid string."

"She's beautiful," Simon was yelling at Griffin. "Why would you say something like that to her?! Isn't it enough that all of you pushed her to the point where she joined another squad?"

I threw the doors open to the dining hall. "All of you. Come with me. Simon, Curtis, you don't have to. We are going to the Blue Rose Knights' base to apologize formally to Vice Captain (y/n)."

"Why bother?" Nebra and Griffin laughed as they sipped their beverages. "(y/n)-"

"Vice Captain (y/n)." I corrected. "I don't care. All of us will apologize to her. If you don't want to, pack your things and leave. I will not have any of my squad members be rude to a vice-captain."

It was more than high time for us to apologize.

Reader POV

"(y/n)!!!"

I looked up from my dinner in my office next to Charlotte's. "What is it, Sarah?"

"Captain Nozel Silva and the Silver Eagles have come to our base and they request your presence!"

I frowned. "Very well." I walked with her. She looked embarrassed to be close to the cool-hearted Vice-Captain, so she settled to walk behind me. "You don't have to walk behind me. I don't mind if you walk in front of me or beside me."

Sarah nodded and walked beside me. "Are you sure you want to see them?"

"What's the harm?" I smiled at her. "They won't dare disrespect me in my own squad. Unless they want to deal with Charlotte or my wrath."

I walked down the steps to the courtyard where the Silver Eagles were waiting by the fountain.

The sun was setting in the horizon and a gentle breeze graced us, making my long blue cape (it matched a captain's length) flow in the wind. 

My hair was done into low space buns with a braid in the front like Captain Charlotte's.

"Hello," I said cooly to them.

They looked to Captain Nozel who nodded.

"We're sorry for being rude to you," they grumbled.

I scanned them and saw that only a few really meant it. The others were just saying it to get Captain Nozel's approval.

"Hm, it's better than nothing." I shrugged. "I accept your apologies."

A male, one who wasn't really a mean person, just quiet always, spoke up. "Are you happy here, Vice-Captain Kyoska?"

"First, drop the title. I don't care for it. As for me being here? I'm very happy." I said.

Nebra refused to look at me. She and Griffin were staring at Charlotte behind me.

"What's this?" She asked as she stood beside me. "Why are they here, (y/n)? You aren't planning on stealing my vice-captain, were you, Silva?"

Captain Nozel shook his head. "No. We were just apologizing to her."

Charlotte glanced at them with a frown. "Well, that's fine. But what are you really doing here?"

"I came to talk to (y/n)," Captain Nozel said. "It won't take long."

"I'll be fine," I assured the worrisome blonde. "He won't try anything. If he did, I can defend myself."

_______

"So..." we were walking awkwardly around the town nearby.

"I'm your soulmate," Captain Nozel was looking up at the sky. The star Polaris shone extra bright tonight.

"I don't know how to respond to that," I said as I looked down at my silver shoes.

"Well, I guess I should start." He suddenly grabbed my hands and placed them in his bigger ones. "I am sorry for everything I did and said."

"Why apologize?" I frowned. "You already did so."

He sighed. "I know, but still. Can we start over?"

"I don't know," I looked away and slowly retracted mine from his warm ones. "You aren't exactly nice."

"I can," he insisted. "Please, give me a chance."

"Why do you even try?" I said. "I'm just peasant scum, Mr. Royalty."

"Damn it!" He seethed. "I'm just trying to amend things, (y/n)!"

I knew I was being stubborn, but if he wanted my forgiveness, he was going to have to earn it.

"I know," I said calmer. "But you want to amend things? Start by doing this. Don't judge people based on their status and if they are 'weaker'. We as magic knights have pledged ourselves to protect those who are weaker."

We talked for a bit, but it was a mostly awkward conversation. When we came back to the base, the other members were waiting for their captain.

"Where were you?" Nebra asked.

Skyrin, one of my teammates along with Shino and Fiona sighed. "I told you. They went to go talk."

"Yes, but-"

"We're going," Captain Nozel said. "Say goodbye."

The male members flashed winks at my own members and they either did it back or looked away in disgust.

"Goodbye, thank you for having us."

I watched them leave. Captain Nozel was last. 

He did a double-take and patted my head.

My eyes widened. "What are you doing?! Get your hand off me!"

"Sorry not sorry," he flashed me a somewhat smile. "See you later, soulmate."

"Whatever! Get out of here!"

I turned around to see my own members gawking. "What are you all staring at?"

"You two are adorable," Skyrin smirked.

I glared at the silver-haired female with blue eyes. "Yeah, we're adorable to some sleep paralysis demon. Trust me, I don't like him."

"But you're soulmates," Puli grinned. "I know you two will get together eventually."

I was about to say something when I noticed something different about them. "Why are you all staring with hearts as eyes!!?"

"We ship it!"

"Please, spare me the tea," I sighed. "He's a rude and arrogant noble. I'm not thrilled at all."

They made fangirl sounds and I had an irk mark on my face. "All of you! Go to the dining hall! It's almost time for dinner anyway!"

They laughed and did just that, teasing me along the way.

I glanced up at the night sky one more time before following them in.

Polaris shone brighter and brighter.

I knew Mother was looking at the same star. I decided then and there that I would take some time off to go visit Hage since I haven't been there since I left.

During dinner, Shino ended up confessing his undying love for orange-flavored soda.

"It's so good!" He insisted as he guzzled down the bottle.

The rest of us sweatdropped.

"Shino, you're going to rot your teeth with that stuff," Fiona sighed at her brother's antics.

Skyrin laughed and slapped his back. "If you die, we won't be able to go on missions with you anymore. It's bad enough that (y/n)'s hardly got time to do so!"

"Oh right." Charlotte pulled something out her bag nearby. "This arrived for you from Hage,"

I opened it and smiled. "Charlotte, is it alright if I take tomorrow and the next day off to visit my family? My friend Elina just gave birth to twins,"

"Of course," Charlotte approved. "Make sure to tell them congratulations from us."

"Will do."

It won't be long until I'm back, Mother.