𝖲𝖤𝖫𝖤𝖭𝖮𝖯𝖧𝖨𝖫𝖤, william vangeance

3

-

it has been three weeks since the captain asked you to join his squad as a magic knight. at first, you had no idea what a magic knight was or what they did. you had never thought about anything so deeply before, and your mind was overwhelmed with 'what ifs.' just when you thought your brain might burst from the confusion, you found some clarity.

the traveler spoke with such pride and reverence that everything he said became fascinating, or maybe it was just your growing interest in the captain. "it was captain vangeance and his squad who saved us... he's our hero," the traveler had said. you learned a lot from him about the role of a magic knight.

according to the traveler, magic knights are the most powerful mages in the clover kingdom. there are nine squads, each led by a formidable captain. "a magic knight exam happens every year, allowing those with potential to join a squad and help protect our land. as a father, i'm very proud to say that my only son will be joining the exams!" he said with excitement, while the villagers cheered him and his son on.

-

you stared at the moon, listening to the gentle flow of the water and the whisper of the wind through the leaves. it was peaceful. you loved this—feeling the calm embrace of the moonlight, which brought you warmth and tranquility. you had been contemplating joining the exam, and you were certain that the captain's invitation was genuine, as described by the adventurer.

"captain vangeance is a man of charisma, coming from a noble family and leading the most esteemed knights in clover. he's very collected and calm in public," a woman who traveled with the adventurer had once told you.

you sighed and stood up, determination setting in. "okay," you murmured. "i'm joining the magic knights. i'd better start training. i don't know how strong the people in the capital are, so it's best to improve myself."

-

you woke up and went through your usual morning routine.

after grabbing your broom and grimoire, you locked the door of your house and mounted your broom, channeling magic into it as it lifted off and headed towards the river where you practiced.

as you neared the river, you sensed an unfamiliar presence. your heart raced, fearing it might be one of the bandits. you dismounted your broom and approached the figure cautiously.

he was sitting by the river, clad in a robe and mask that seemed oddly familiar. though you felt a pang of recognition, you couldn't place it. your courage waned, and you hesitated to confront him. you cleared your throat repeatedly, trying to get his attention.

after a few attempts, you finally managed to draw his gaze. to your surprise, it was the captain who had invited you to join the magic knights.

"miss diana?" he asked, his tone firm. you trembled at the sound of his voice, realizing he was the captain of one of the most prestigious squads in the clover kingdom.

he continued to stare at you, and you did your best to avoid meeting his eyes directly, feeling awkward and unsure of what to say. "is it really you, Y/N diana?" he pressed.

you nodded, too anxious to speak, fearing your voice might betray your nervousness. the thought of embarrassing yourself in front of a captain was daunting.

"nice to meet you again. would you... sit with me?" he asked, his tone softer now. you looked up to meet his warm gaze and smile. the morning light illuminated his lower face, making his skin and mask glow. he looked almost angelic under the dawn, and it suited him perfectly.

you sat down beside him by the river. though you had many questions, you decided to keep them to yourself for now.

"have you given any thought to joining my squad, like i asked you, Y/N?" he asked, his eyes fixed on the flowing water. you smiled at him. "you don't have to be so formal with me, captain vangeance."

william looked at your smiling face, feeling a swirl of emotions. he couldn't quite understand why he felt so excited and affected by your presence, especially when you had only met twice.

"and yes, i'm planning on joining the magic knights—" you began, but were cut off by his swift response. "then you're welcome to my squad, miss—"

"m-no, wil— captain vangeance... i've decided that i'd like to attend the magic knights entrance exam as a normal citizen," you said, seeing his eyes sadden slightly before he replaced it with a small smile.

"as you wish. and don't be too formal with me either. call me william," he said. you frowned, puzzled. he could see the hesitation in your stare, and even he himself was left confused of his words. it was unusual for him to ask you to use his first name, especially when even his fellow captains did not, with the exception of yami.

"p-pardon?" you cleared your throat after realizing your voice cracked. "ah, yes... although you may only call me by my name when we're alone." his tone had turned commanding.

'dangit,' he thought.

you chuckled, "alright then, sir william."

you both spent a few hours chatting and learning about each other, but everything had to come to an end. william needed to return to the capital, as his squad required his presence.

you bade each other farewell and promised to see each other at the entrance exam. with one last wave and smile, you watched as the captain's figure disappeared from sight.

you sighed, feeling genuinely happy. you hadn't realized how much time had passed and completely forgot about your training. at least you got to know him as you wanted—he was indeed the person every adventurer had described.

a warm, soft-hearted, kind, and fancy captain.

but one thing still bothered you: why did he spend all his time talking with you, a girl who lives in a cursed village and whom he had only met twice?

⋆*･ ﾟ ☾ ﾟ ⋆*･

i just finished black clover and i'm crying. i can't wait for the movie. 😭
-lexi