Knights

1

"Mom, I'm off to join up with my squad," I called trying to get out of the house before she could leave her room and come downstairs. My Dad wasn't letting me. "Dad, please," I begged quietly. "You two don't have to come with me."

Dad shook his head. "This guy found you on one of your walks and asked you to join before you even got your grimoire. That sounds suspicious to me."

I scowled. "He's the captain of the Gray Deer. That's literally what he's supposed to do."

"Why do you want to go to this squad? There are plenty of others you can join."

Okay, he was getting on my nerves but I was only fifteen. "You two are going to humiliate me," I grumbled finally giving up. I didn't tell him that I had a feeling the Captain was going to become something important.

Mom came downstairs. "Let's go."

I groaned. "Fine." We got in our carriage and started off. 

"Now, remember you are a noblewoman so remind your teammates of it a lot. Otherwise, they might forget," Mom said.

I wonder how mad she'd be if I told her I wasn't planning to remind them at all. I never really had friends because Mom thought I was too good for it. The only friend I had was William and we only got to talk through letters. Even after he moved out of the forsaken area. "If I do that, they'll hate me," I told her calmly.

"Only stupid people would hate a noble."

My jaw clenched but I forced myself to calm down. "Only a stupid person would make her entire squad hate her," I replied. Okay, maybe my anger hadn't disappeared or shrunk enough that I could ignore it. 

Mom opened her mouth to reply but, thankfully, we had arrived at our destination. I opened the door before the driver could and practically ran over to Julius. Who was waiting at the door. He smiled. "Hello, Y/n."

"Hi," I replied. Then I lowered my voice. "My parents insisted on coming and I couldn't change their minds. Sorry."

"Ah. That's alright. I've wanted to meet your parents."

Oh, right. I forgot. He told me he wanted to meet them any time they weren't busy. I had quite simply shut that plan down by never telling him when they were home. I never wanted them to meet. Mom and Dad came over. They both just looked at him. "Mom, Dad, this is Captain Julius Novachrono of the Gray Deer. Captain, this is my Dad, Octavio Clover and my Mom, Susan Clover," I said.

"It's nice to finally meet you two," Julius said holding out a hand.

Dad shook it. "You know, we're related to the king but our ancestors did something to anger him and we got bumped down to nobles," Mom said.

I ground my teeth together. "Can I go to my room?" I asked Julius. I so didn't want to be here as she lectured him.

He nodded. "Of course."

I grabbed my bags and hurried inside. Julius had shown me where I'd be staying when he first found me at thirteen. I unpacked quickly and then flopped onto the bed. "I'm finally here," I said filled with relief. Now I can start living my life the way I want to live it. I got up and put my uniform on. Then went exploring. 

I was turning a corner and ran into someone. I went down while he remained standing. Lucky. "Oh, I'm so sorry," he said. I froze and looked up. He was wearing a mask but I'd recognize him anywhere. I saw shock slide into his eyes. "Y/n?" He said quietly.

I nodded and smiled. "I didn't know you had gotten into a squad, William."

He pulled me to my feet. "I didn't know you had gotten into one either."

"Hmm, I wonder why we kept that from each other," I said frowning.

"I don't know. You never mentioned it so I didn't tell because I was worried you hadn't gotten into one."'

I snorted. "Julius found me when I was thirteen and recruited me.

He blinked. "Thirteen?"

"Yeah. When did he recruit you?"

"Thirteen."

We both stared at each other and then I laughed. "Guess he had been busy."

William smiled a little. "I guess." He touched his mask. "He made this for me."

I studied it a little more. "Tacky."

"That's what I said."

"Ah, I see you've met one of your squadmates, Y/n," Julius said coming up behind us.

I nodded. "How did you get away from my mom?" I asked curiously.

"Oh, I just let her talk until she was done. Then your father reminded her they had an appointment to keep."

"Ah."

He looked at both of us. "You two seem to know each other."

William nodded. "We met when we were five."

"Then stayed in contact through letters for the rest of the years," I finished for him. "He's the only friend I have because my mom scared everyone else away."

"And you know why I don't have any friends," William added.

I frowned. "You mean you didn't make any friends after you became a noble?"

He looked away. "The scars..."

I narrowed my eyes. "Seriously? They stayed away from you because of that?!?"

He glanced at me. "I told you people don't talk to me because of it and my stepmother...hated me for them too."

I could read under the lines that she had also pushed him around and probably beat him. "Alright, I'll go kill her for you." I turned on my heel but he grabbed my arm. I looked at him. "I can't go do it with you holding me," I informed him.

"I don't want you to do that."

"She hurt you."

He smiled a little. "I don't care. I have my best friend by my side now. I don't need anyone else."

And that melted my heart. I mean, I knew I had a crush on him but damn. Those three sentences and I was in love. But I hid it so he wouldn't notice and sighed. "Fine." I paused. "You're the only one I need too." Did that sound too mushy?

To my surprise, he hugged me. "Good."

I hugged him back and saw Julius smile at us. "Well, then I guess you two will be a team then."

We let go of each other. "We can? Really?" William had hope in his voice.

I smiled. "There's nothing Julius can say that will make it so I'm not by your side, William."

"I was planning to pair you two up anyway," Julius said.

I looked at him and realized he had known all along that we knew each other. I narrowed my eyes at him so he'd know I figured it out. He inclined his head and then walked away. My life as a Gray Deer began.