Oblivion (A Black Clover Story)

Thirty

- 5 years before Iris and Julius met -

I sighed, laying on the ground in the middle of my favorite clearing out in the woods behind my house. There was a noble boy that I'd liked for a while that called me names today. He said that I was no better than a dirty peasant who lived in the mud and took dirt baths. Obviously that wasn't true, but... It still hurt. I just wanted to be alone out in the woods. What a way to spend the day after my eighteenth birthday...

After a while, I heard a rustling from afar, and because of the mana I felt reaching out to me, I knew it was a familiar Magic Knight. "Must you try to sneak up on me, O Vice Captain of the Crimson Lions?"

I heard a quiet laugh as he sat down beside me. "I wasn't trying to, I swear."

I sat up and snuck a glance over at him, raising an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Hah. Maybe I was trying to surprise you by finding you here." Gotcha.

"Well, it certainly is a surprise since you didn't visit me yesterday," I pouted. He'd missed my birthday.

He sighed. "I am deeply sorry for that. There was a mission."

I smiled to myself. "It's okay Mr. Vice Captain."

"You don't need to call me that," he frowned.

I laughed. "You know I'm just playing around, Leon. Loosen up. You're too serious!"

He inched closer and leaned in, ignoring my comment. "I heard about what happened today. Are you okay? You liked him, right? I remember you mentioning it once."

I looked away. "Yeah. It's fine though. It made me realize how much of an ass he was anyway."

"Good. I was never particularly fond of him, but you never listened," he scolded lightly.

"Ha! I'll be sure to trust your judgment of people from now on," I sighed, resting my head on his shoulder. He did nothing and put a gentle arm along my shoulders. "I guess I'm glad it turned out that way," I started again, "I wouldn't have wanted my first kiss to be with some prick." His body shook with a chuckle, most likely from the "prick" comment. Being the Magic Knight and Royal he was, I'm sure he knew lots of pricks. "But I guess you know a lot more than I do."

His laughter grew. "I sure do. But I've grown to like one in particular over the years. From another royal house. You wouldn't like him, though."

"Oh? Are you positive? I wouldn't mind if you set me up with someone," I joked.

He laughed again. "I'm absolutely positive. Iris... I hope you don't mind me asking, but... You still haven't had your first kiss yet?"

I leaned forward, and he removed his arm from me. "That's right. Have you had yours yet?" I asked. We frequently checked up on each other and our romantic endeavors. It was our way of making sure the other was okay and happy. I sure was lucky to have a friend like him.

Leon cleared his throat. "N-no."

"No? I'm surprised! You're twenty-two years old and haven't met anyone nice in the Magic Knights?" I inquired, finally looking over at him. There was a warm flush over his cheekbones, and it wasn't from his usual incredible body warmth. The man used fire magic, so he was always a nice source of warmth.

"No. But at the same time, I'm just focused on becoming Captain," he told, but then shook his head to himself. "I just want it to be with someone special."

"You want your first kiss to be with "the one?" You know that would most definitely be impossible, right?" I jabbed, getting another rise out of him.

He looked at me again. "I'm aware. What I meant is that I want it to be with someone special enough who deserves my first kiss. Not necessarily the person I'll marry."