A Rose Between the Thorns

Chapter 16

Yami had me and Asta up early the next morning claiming that we had slept in and were the cause of being late, when in reality I was already up and getting dressed when Noelle came in saying that Yami had threatened to crush me and Asta if we weren't ready in the next minute.

The moment I was dressed, my hair in braid because I did't have time to take it out, and my grimoire it's bag around my waist I left heading to the main area of the hideout, I arrived just as Asta did and so I opened a portal that me, Yami and Asta stepped through, landing us at the entrance to headquarters. As the portal closed and we walked up I noticed Marx standing there waiting for us, then I realised I hadn't met Marx yet.

"Thank you for coming Yami Sukehiro of the Black Bulls, along with Asta and Rose." Marx welcomed us once we stopped in front of him. "Sorry what's your name?" Asta asked, as he stood to my right, with Yami on his right. "Right we've never talked before, I suppose I should have introduced myself, how rude." I just waved Marx off as he said that, not minding in the slightest and that wasn't only because I already knew who he was.

Before Marx could even continue Yami had already begun introducing him. "This here's mushroom head." He looked to me and Asta, saying it so plainly, no doubt he believed what he had said. "Thank you Captain I'm mushroom head-" He paused for a quick second. "That was both impolite and uncalled for Sir." He snapped. Marx was quick to stop himself once he realised what Yami had done.

The expression on his face was priceless though, he looked so annoyed and frustrated, but he soon calmed down enough to tell me and Asta. "My real name is Marx and it's my honour to serve at the Wizard King's side." He seemed far happier introducing himself to us and I could see the pride in his eye's when he mentioned serving Julius.

Of course Asta was excited to meet someone who served Julius, and to be fair I was excited to meet Marx to, I just wanted to comfort him with having to deal with Julius and his antics. Poor Marx. "It's been real nice chatting with you mushroom head, now where's the meeting?" Yami asked, still not caring to call Marx by his name, honestly Yami. I couldn't deny though that it was funny.

"My, name, is Marx Sir." He annunciated every word. "The preparation are going to take a little longer, please take Rose and wait with the other Captains." Both Yami and Asta looked at me when Marx said my name, but neither questioned him about it. "Now Asta if you would please come with me." And so Marx left to the dungeons with Asta and I left for the Captains with Yami.

I followed Yami and the whole way there I kept thinking that I'd soon get to meet all the other Captains, I mean I had already met Charlotte, Nozel and Jack, but now I also get to meet the others.

I guess I wasn't paying to much attention, because I soon felt my head hit a wall. It turned out it wasn't a wall, but the door to the meeting room. Yami opened the large door and stepped on through with me trailing behind him. Looking around I realised all the other Captains were already there and sat down, well all aside from William. Oh I wonder why. I thought sarcastically.

"Oh, who's that Captain Yami?" It was none other than Rill Captain of the Aqua Deer who asked. "Oh right some of you haven't met. Why don't you introduce yourself to the group." Yami said whilst walking over to his empty seat, sounding unfazed, great thanks a lot Yami. All their stares felt so heavy and so uncomfortable, but I pushed past those feelings.

Looking at all the Captains I began to introduce myself, keeping my voice calm and clear. "It's a pleasure to meet you all, I'm the newest member of the Black Bulls, my name is Rose Leggera and I'm nineteen." In a way it reminded me of how I first introduced myself to my squad, but this time was far more uncomfortable.

"So your the Black Bull who held off our fellow Captains, that's really impressive. Well it's nice to meet you Rose and it's nice to have someone here who's my own age." It was Rill once again, he smiled at me waving his hand from where he sat next to Yami at the other end of the table.