There And Back Again [Black Clover x BNHA]

Fifth Intermission

The atmosphere was incredibly tense and gloomy inside Julius' office, and everyone present looked horrible.

The Wizard King had finally informed the rest of the Captains about the situation, having found no more leads or answers. They had run out of options and possibilities with no new trails to follow. Those who had been present since the beginning fared the worst.

Nozel sat slumped in a chair, face thinner than normal, cheeks more hollow. He had become more agitated as time progressed, snapping at Solid and Nebra far more than ever before. He refused to tell them that Noelle was missing for fear of their reactions.

Mereoleona was rattled as well, although she was holding out much better than her little brother Leopold. The poor teen was an absolute mess, having his brother in a coma and his rivals gone, he didn't know what to do. If he clung onto his older sister, she said nothing about it.

Klaus, the mother hen, had started a horrible habit of biting his nails. He was worrying them away to bloody stubs, but he couldn't help it. He was losing sleep and feeling like the greatest failure. His Captain wasn't much better, although he always managed to look composed even if he was also concerned.

Charlotte would deny it to the grave, but she was terrified that she had lost her chance to ever confess to Yami. Not that she planned on it anytime soon, but the one man she actually respected was now gone without a trace. Sol, having been reluctantly informed, was worriedly flitting around the Captain, unsure of what to do.

The other Captains were not as distressed, but concerned nonetheless. Jack had found nothing and was agitated that there were no leads. Dorothy hadn't woken up, but Kirsch had stepped in and he was an absolute wreck over his little sister being gone. Even Rill, who had barely met Asta that one time, was afraid that they may never see anyone again.

The remaining Black Bulls had been locked into the building, none of them allowed to step foot outside. They were guarded constantly, never being let out of anyone's sight for fear they would vanish as well.

Charmy, the normally gluttonous beast, was barely eating, instead lying in a bed of cotton for most of the day. Gauche, who always stared at a picture of Marie, had cast it aside and instead stared out the window. Gordon, usually dark and quiet, had fits of anger where he lashed out at nothing, unable to comprehend his friends were gone. And Grey, the most shy girl in existence, was remaining in her own skin, not wanting to change into her dear members due to the heartache. All in all, the remaining members were a mess, and the fight that had originally blazed hot had been stamped out by the realization their family were truly out of reach.

Marx was doing what he could, but he had run out of ideas and more often than not he found himself locked out of Julius' office. The man had been blocking him recently, forcing him away. The aide was heavily concerned and was waiting to snap at the Wizard King, wanting to scream at him for the nothingness he had to go off of. Not that it was Julius' fault, but Marx's anxiety was tearing him apart.

And Julius...

The man had been tormented by portals opening like windows around him, showing him his beloved knights. And everytime he reached out to help them, he ran into a blockade, smooth like glass, preventing him from joining them.

He refused to tell anyone, afraid of what they'd say. Instead he bottled it up, letting it eat away at him, taunting him endlessly. He was a failure of a Wizard King, couldn't reach those he loved to help them.

Julius had seen them captured by villains, beaten to a pulp. He had watched as they fought a large crowd of people, taking them down one by one. He had watched as they played in a festival, laughing with other civilians. And he had seen them crying as they regaled stories of the past, haunted by the demons that still came after them.

And he couldn't do anything.

What a poor excuse of a Wizard King he was.

Julius suddenly slammed his fist down onto the desk, causing everyone in the room to jolt in shock and fear. The rage on his face startled everyone, never having seen anything but a smile on the man's face.

"Julius!" Marx cried, walking forward slightly. "What is the matter?"

"What is the matter?" Julius' head was bowed low, arms shaking. "What is the matter? The matter is that my knights are missing and I haven't been able to do anything! And no, listen to me before you say it isn't my fault!" Marx clamped his mouth shut, words dying in his throat.

"I have had those damned portals tormenting me for so long now! They appear before me but whenever I try to reach into one I hit only glass! I can't do anything, nothing my grimoire has to offer works." His voice cracked with emotion. "Instead I stare at the faces of those I've grown to care too much about and I can't do anything for them. I can only watch as they try and survive in some other world, one that I can't reach."

When he looked at the occupants in the room they were surprised to see a few tears trickling down the Wizard King's face. For the first time he looked like a man into his forties, lines of worry and fatigue etched into his skin. This was not the go-lucky man they admired. No, this was one who was helpless and grasping at nothing.

No one knew what to say, startled at his words, but understanding that there was nothing really to be said in return. What could they offer that Julius didn't already know himself? So they sat there in a melancholy silence, each lost to their thoughts as they idly wondered what to do.

A shadow, who had been waiting in the corner, slowly made its way across the floor, no one aware of its presence. With a sudden burst of speed it came beneath the Wizard King, portal opening into a wide, gaping hole.

Julius had no chance to call out or bring forth a spell before he was pulled into the portal, screams of panic ringing out above him. As he watched the portal close, he offered a small smile to the look of grief and fear on Marx's face.