The Clover Castle was a sight to behold. Its gray walls and vibrant red roofs mirrored the architectural style prevalent throughout the noble realm, perhaps serving as a symbol of the Clover Kingdom's unyielding unity. Yet, to Nalé, it felt like an encapsulated bubble—a fortress safeguarding the privileged while neglecting the needs of the less fortunate.
She stood at the base of the imposing staircase that led to the Clover Castle, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. Doubts plagued her mind as she questioned her own perceptions. "Am I overthinking this?"
"Oi, you coming up?" Her captain's voice snapped her out of her reverie. He had already ascended several steps and now leaned casually against the railing, a fresh pack of cigarettes in his grasp.
"Yeah, on my way," she replied, gathering herself and joining him on the staircase.
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"There's something I've been curious about for a while now," Nalé asked casually as she strolled behind her captain, showing no urgency to reach the meeting room.
Yami turned to look at his subordinate, raising an eyebrow inquisitively. "Go on," he said, prompting her to continue.
"I'm a foreigner," she stated matter-of-factly, her gaze fixed upon the older man.
"Yeah," he replied, acknowledging her observation.
"You don't necessarily know where I come from, nor do you seem to care, I think..." Nalé paused, choosing her words carefully. "But the Clover Kingdom doesn't appear to be as accepting as you and the rest of the Bulls are."
"You can say that again."
If anyone knew how hostile the Clover Kingdom could be to outsiders, surely it'd be Yami.
The captain wasn't much of a talker, especially not about his past, but she'd caught glimpses of it here and there when he'd gotten drunk enough on some nights and began to complain about how his pay never measured up to his miserable welcome in Clover.
She was thankful she never had to go through those things and glad that he'd created this sort of sanctuary for those deemed outcasts by the kingdom.
Thanks to the Bulls, she'd blossomed and gained many skills under her belt, which she'd now be using for the betterment of the forsaken realm.
"How the hell did you manage to convince the Wizard King to let me become a Magic Knight?" she asked, a mix of disbelief and curiosity in her voice.
He grunted, his usual grumpy demeanor evident. "It was a pain in the ass, let me tell ya," he grumbled. "But I made a case for ya, highlighting the quirks and unconventional skills you bring to the table. The Wizard King, for some reason, has a soft spot for oddballs. And don't worry, if you ever turn out to be a liability, the knights can handle your sorry ass."
"So, you basically told him I'm some kind of weirdo, and he went along with it?" she retorted, raising an eyebrow.
He let out a gruff chuckle, a hint of amusement breaking through his grumpy façade. "Well, not just any weirdo. I made sure to emphasize your unique qualities, gave him a peek of all the experiments you've been performing and so on. The Wizard King's always looking for something different, and you caught his attention, for better or worse."
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"Hey, Mushroom Head," Yami called out, greeting the blue-haired man who stood in front of the door they needed to enter.
"How many times have I told you not to call me that, sir?!" the blue-haired man fussed, his wild blue mushroom-shaped hair waving wildly.
"Yeah, yeah," Yami responded nonchalantly, scratching his nose. "Is the old guy inside yet?"
The blue-haired man settled down. "No, he's still got a few more documents to sign. You came here about 20 minutes early anyway, and you know he never likes to show up early for anything."
"True," Yami nodded in acknowledgment before a cough interrupted their conversation.
Turning to the woman behind him, Yami took the opportunity to introduce the two.
"Mushroom Head, meet Nalé. Nalé, meet Mushroo—"
"Actually," the smaller man interrupted Yami's greeting. "It's Marx, Marx Francois, advisor to the current Wizard King," he said, extending his hand to greet the taller woman. "Pleasure to meet you."
Impressed by his polite manner, Nalé took his hand, giving it a firm shake. "It's wonderful to meet you too, Marx. Being an advisor to the Wizard King sounds like quite an important job. How's it treating you?"
Marx stepped back, his shoulders sagging comfortably. "Oh, it's exhausting, but it has its rewards. And how about you? I believe you were the one who came up with the idea to change the forsaken realm. I can imagine it hasn't been the easiest task to undertake and plan."
She smiled and replied, "You're right, it hasn't been easy at all. But when you're passionate about something, you find ways to push through. Plus, I've had my fair share of breaks here and there."
Nodding in understanding, Marx could relate to the challenges of his own job. "I came here to greet a few important members of the government on behalf of the Wizard King, and they've all settled in nicely. So, I think it's time for me to return to my main duties. I'll see you in a few, Miss Nalé, and I wish you the best of luck with your presentation."
"Thank you, Marx," Nalé replied gratefully.
They waved to each other as Marx departed.
As she looked into the room where the meeting was supposed to take place, Nalé was surprised to find it much larger than expected.
"Just how many people are coming to this thing?" she muttered to herself.
Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she walked into the room.
Soon, it would be time for the meeting to commence.