To outshine the darkness

Chapter 11

Leonora Vermillion P.O.V.

Naked I'm waiting for the hot water to fill the hot springs at Ultim Volcano - Mountain Trail. Mereoleona and I trained here many times before, and the hot springs is amazing. I cross my arms when I hear two pairs of feet land behind me. I look over my shoulder to see Yami and Charlotte behind me. I feel a jolt shoot through my body when I see Yami's rough exterior, compared to Nozel's fair exterior. Guess I have a type. "What are you doing here?" I ask, but before they can answer others land as well. "I guess I didn't tell you we were going to train here" Mereoleona says as she puts her robe around my shoulders before anyone else can see me naked but I can feel Yami's piercing eyes. "A heads up would've been nice" I say. Just when Asta wonders where the hot springs is, the water appears and before anyone else can say anything, I shake the robe off my shoulders and descend into the hot water. Soon Yami joins in, not caring for the others. "How've you been doing?" He asks but before I can answer, a large mud wall appears between us as some girl shouts that no man can see Charlotte naked. Annoyed I turn around to her. "That was mighty rude of you! Couldn't you see I was having a conversation!" I snap at her. I scoff annoyed and move the the other side of the bath. "Are you alright, Leonora-senpai?" I look up to see Noelle beside me. I smile. "I am, how are you Noelle-chan? It's been a while, how've you been doing?" I ask. "Good" she says. "You've been training hard?" I ask. "I have" Noelle says. "Good" I say, leaning against the side of the bath. "Has my brother been treating you well?" Noelle asks carefully. I chuckle. "He has. I've known your brother for a long time. He wouldn't dare treating me anything other than well, especially with my sister being back and all" I say. Noelle smile slightly. "Don't you worry about me. I can take care of myself" I say. I walk away, toward my sister and get out of the bath. "I'm gonna go. I'll see you tomorrow" I say. "Alright. Take care" Mereoleona says. "Leonora" she says before I can walk away. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you"

"Hey.." I hear Yami's voice behind me as I pull up my bordeaux red trousers. I look at him over my shoulder, to see him stand behind me with a towel around his hips. "Hey" I say, grabbing my white tunic before turning around. "Leaving already?" He asks. "I've been here a while. I'm getting tired so I better go before I won't get back" I say. "How've you been? How is married life treating you?" He asks though the last bit sounds forced. "You really want to know that?" I ask amused. "No. But I do want to know if bangs isn't treating you right" he says. I chuckle amused. "He wouldn't dare not to. But thank you for asking Yami" I say putting on the tunic. "How are you?" I ask. "Well..you know. Missing you in my bed" he says as he walks over and I feel a tug at my heart. "I doubt that" I say, trying to sound amused. "I'm serious" Yami says, pushing my chin up with his fingertips before pressing his lips against mine. I place my hands on his chest when I feel my knees getting weak. "So when can you fit me into your schedule?" He mumbles against my lips. "I don't know. Mereoleona is keeping me pretty busy" I whisper. "I see." He says pulling his head back. "Well, hit me up then" he says. I bite my lower lip hurt and grab his hand before he can leave again. "I will" I promise him. Yami smiles slightly. "I know" he says. He kisses me again. "You need to survive first" he says before he leaves. When he's out of sight I lean my hands on my knees and sigh. I groan softly before covering myself with mana skin and descending down the ultim volcano mountain trail. I get down pretty fast but as I make my way back to the Silver Eagle base, back to Nozel I keep going slower. I groan softly pressing both my hands against my forehead. "Why is my life like this?" I sigh when I drop my hands. "I knew I should've stayed in the mountains. I god damn knew it. But noo, No Leonora has to be self destructive" I scoff at myself as I continue my way back to the Silver Eagles. I sigh deeply as I look up at the mansion I'm now living in before walking in.

I throw one fire attack, after the other at Nebra which she is barely able to deflect or escape. I am so sick and tired of her snarky comments. I'm really enjoying the scared look on her face when a large dragon appears from my grimoire for my Karyū no Hōkō; fire dragon roar attack. Just when I'm raising my hand to attack her, Nozel lands between us. "That's quite enough" he says. I scoff and close my grimoire, making the dragon disappear. "You're lucky your brother appeared when he did, Imouto-chan. You wouldn't have survived this" I say. "This is exactly why I hate the royal society. All that holier than thou attitude of everyone! People's worth isn't measured by mana, but how good his heart is!" I say angrily before I turn around walk up the stairs. Before I disappear into the hallway, I look down to see that Nozel is reprimanding his sister. I scoff again and walk to Nozel's bedroom. I change into a bordeaux silk night gown before walking into the bathroom where I brush my teeth and hair. "What was that?" I look up to see Nozel leaning against the door frame. "That was me being sick and tired of your sisters snarky comments" I say. I put my brush away and walk past him back into the bedroom. "Why didn't you tell me she was bothering you that much?" Nozel asks. "Because I don't need you standing up for me" I say turning around. "I'm perfectly capable to take care of myself" I say. "I never said that you weren't" Nozel says as he walks up to me. "But she's my sister and it's my job as her brother, and her captain to keep her in line" he says. "That includes treating you with the proper respect" he says as his fingertips stroke my jaw. I press my lips together when I feel my lower lip tremble. Nozel pulls me toward him. "Tell me next time" he says. I nod slightly. I close my eyes when Nozel kisses me softly. "Did something happen up there?" Nozel asks. "No. I'm just a bit tired" I say. "Hmm" Nozel says as his thumb traces my lower lip. "You should take it easy then" he says. "How can I with the royal knights tournament coming up?" I ask.