Nero glanced up from his desk as Nel entered his study, drenched in blood from head to toe.
The grimy stains smeared her armor and cheeks, and a look of feral satisfaction shone in her eyes.
But his own reaction was far from admiration; instead, he sighed deeply, standing up and walking over to her with a frown of a grumpy parent.
"Honestly, Nel," he began, his voice gruff, yet a tinge of concern threaded through it. "Reckless killing like this—it's a wonder you didn't draw half the region's attention. Have you no sense of restraint?"
She blinked up at him, momentarily surprised, before an uncharacteristic sheepish smile broke across her blood-smeared face.
"It felt… natural, Captain," she confessed, letting him wipe away some of the grime from her cheek with a handkerchief. "When I used that bomb magic, I somehow knew all the spells—every last one of them. It was as if they were always a part of me. The power felt so… familiar."
A thoughtful silence settled between them as Nero continued to clean her up. For all her recklessness, there was no doubting Nel's incredible instinct when it came to magic.
It was rare, though, for her to speak about magic with such wonder.
"Surreal, was it?" he asked, his eyes studying her carefully. "Remember, wielding a new power is one thing, but mastering it requires discipline."
She nodded, her eyes momentarily softening.
There was a mutual understanding in their gaze, a teacher's guidance blending with a comrade's trust.
---
Years ago…
Nero had been surveying the Diamond Kingdom's borderlands, his gaze turned outward to the wilds that led toward the Spade Kingdom.
His purpose there had been one of mere reconnaissance, scanning for threats or notable mages within the borders.
He hadn't planned on finding her.
But fate had other plans. In the sparse woodland, just beyond the edge of the Diamond Kingdom, Nero found himself standing before a thin, malnourished girl of about thirteen, her body fragile, yet her gaze unbroken.
She looked like she hadn't eaten in days, her clothing ragged and barely able to shield her from the cold.
She shouldn't have survived in these conditions—yet there she was, staring up at him with wary eyes.
Nero observed her for a moment and then dismissed her as a poor soul destined to die.
But as he watched her, she did something… impossible.
She reached out with her small, dirt-stained hand, and—surprisingly—she touched him.
Very few people in this world have the capability to do that.
No burns, no scorches on her hand. Her skin didn't flinch.
Nero's eyes widened, though he concealed his surprise beneath a composed mask.
How could she do that? It wasn't raw power—no, she didn't have the overwhelming .
But there was something unique about her. He could sense an incredibly dense layer of mana skin on her , a barrier, though nearly invisible, clinging to her skin.
It was like his own —a control so fine-tuned and dense that the mana around her didn't repel but rather melded seamlessly with his own.
A rare talent, perhaps borne of constant danger and survival.
"Interesting," he muttered, crouching down to observe her more closely.
The girl's dark eyes didn't waver; she stared back, defiant but not aggressive, her silence speaking of a resilience he had not often encountered.
He extended his hand. "Come with me." he said simply.
She hesitated, but something in his gaze—or perhaps, a sense of opportunity she recognized—made her take his hand without further hesitation.
In her eyes, he saw more than fear.
He saw potential.
---
After thoroughly wiping the grime from Nel's face, Nero nodded approvingly. "Alright, you're presentable," he said, allowing her to dismiss the Grimoire Drive.
The armor began to shimmer, melting away like iron dissolving into air, until it vanished entirely.
Nero then reached over, unhooking the medallion from around her neck, and with that, the summoned bomb magic grimoire dematerialized, returning to the medallion as if it had never existed.
He settled into his own chair across from her, watching her sink into hers with an air of satisfaction after the bloody task she'd completed.
Nero leaned back, a contemplative look crossing his face as he asked, "How many gold stars have we achieved so far this year?"
Nel's eyes glinted with a hint of surprise as she answered, "About 37, sir. Could always be more, though."
Nero scoffed lightly, as if the number left him unimpressed.
He sat quietly for a moment, clearly pondering something, before he straightened and declared, "Alright, enough of this. Call the entire Soul Knight Squad, Nel. Every single one of them."
She arched a brow, half-smiling. "Even if they're busy with research… or, other activities?"
"Yes, especially if they're busy," he replied, his voice hardening. "I don't care if they're up to their necks in experiments or wasting time in bed with someone. I want them working, not lounging around."
He fixed Nel with a stern gaze. "Asta's going to be at the next Gold Star Ceremony and the upcoming War Merit Confirmation. You think I can show up there with a squad that looks like a bunch of lazy bums? My own son, Nel. I won't have him seeing us as anything less than the best there is."
Nel's grin widened, sensing his unyielding pride and determination to be the best in his son's eyes.
She gave a crisp nod. "Consider it done, sir. I'll make sure the Soul Knights know what's expected of them."
"Good." Nero's eyes sharpened with an edge that brooked no argument. "Let them know I want results. If they want to impress me, they'd better start now."
---
After thoroughly wiping the grime from Nel's face, Nero nodded approvingly. "Alright, you're presentable," he said, allowing her to dismiss the Grimoire Drive. The armor began to shimmer, melting away like iron dissolving into air, until it vanished entirely. Nero then reached over, unhooking the medallion from around her neck, and with that, the summoned bomb magic grimoire dematerialized, returning to the medallion as if it had never existed.
He settled into his own chair across from her, watching her sink into hers with an air of satisfaction after the bloody task she'd completed. Nero leaned back, a contemplative look crossing his face as he asked, "How many gold stars have we collected so far this year?"
Nel's eyes glinted with a hint of pride as she answered, "About 37, sir. Could always be more, though."
Nero scoffed lightly, as if the number left him unimpressed. He sat quietly for a moment, clearly pondering something, before he straightened and declared, "Alright, enough of this. Call the entire Soul Knight Squad, Nel. Every single one of them."
She arched a brow, half-smiling. "Even if they're busy with research… or, other activities?"
"Yes, especially if they're busy," he replied, his voice hardening. "I don't care if they're up to their necks in experiments or wasting time in bed with someone. I want them working, not lounging around."
He fixed Nel with a stern gaze. "Asta's going to be at the next Gold Star Ceremony and the upcoming War Merit Confirmation. You think I can show up there with a squad that looks like a bunch of lazy bums? My own son, Nel. I won't have him seeing us as anything less than the best."
Nel's grin widened, sensing his unyielding pride and determination for the squad. She gave a crisp nod. "Consider it done, sir. I'll make sure the Soul Knights know what's expected of them."
"Good." Nero's eyes sharpened with an edge that brooked no argument. "Let them know I want results. If they want to impress me, they'd better start now."
---
As the days rolled on, the Soul Knights became the talk of the entire Clover Kingdom.
It was as if a fire had been lit beneath them; members who once appeared absent or wrapped up in their secluded research were now throwing themselves into missions with unmatched vigor.
They seemed to be everywhere, tackling assignments in the farthest reaches of the Forsaken Realm to the heart of the Noble territories.
Their participation was so sudden and intense that even the Magic Knight Captains began to take notice, murmuring among themselves about the resurgence of Nero's formidable squad.
In the midst of this, the squad began to apply their vast research and unique skills in ways no one had seen before. Vergo, Nel's right-hand man and a meticulous tactician, devised a new surveillance system with the help of all the minds in the squad ,after being thrust into mission after mission in rapid succession and growing tired of them.
This system quickly became indispensable, providing unmatched awareness of threats and the movement of dangerous creatures across the kingdom's borders.
Utilising something Nero recognised as similar to sonar in application just in a magical version of it.
Unlike sonar it also did thermal imaging and magical analysis to distinguish humans and magical beasts or other things for that matter.
In both the Common and Forsaken Realms, villagers started noticing subtle changes; pathways became safer, bandits became a an endangered species which was being hunted to extinction , and strange warning signals appeared before storms or magical disturbances, all thanks to Vergo's and his team's ingenious methods.
The squad scrambled at first, surprised by the captain's sudden push for excellence.
For years, Nero had hardly given them direct orders beyond letting them do their own thing or individual missions.
This was the first time he had called on them to perform with all eyes watching, and they were determined not to disappoint.
Those who worked in research labs dragged their results out into the field; medical mages set up camps and other systems to effectively enahnce the general health of the country.
For this they had started a Local registration system which records all possible problems that could become a sort endemic or tracking genetically transferring diseases.
Every Soul Knight felt the weight of their captain's demand.
It was more than just a command—it was a mandate to showcase the strength, ingenuity, and the unparalleled nature of their squad.
Basically an open challenge for their egos.
All this change was so surreal and forceful that many began questioning the legitimacy of these actions.
Finding it hard to believe one squad could do so much within three weeks much less.
Word of the Soul Knights' relentless efforts spread, whispers turned into admiration, and admiration into awe.
They were no longer the mysterious, withdrawn unit that some dismissed as slackers.
Now, they were seen as the force that truly carried the kingdom's spirit, adapting, protecting, and improving the world for everyone in it.
---
Julius Novachrono walked into Nero's private quarters with a curious smile, his usual mix of regal composure and childlike excitement unmistakable.
News had reached him of the sudden, almost dramatic resurgence of activity within the Soul Knights, and he was here to get to the bottom of it.
"Nero," Julius began, studying the stoic mage in front of him, "I have to admit, this surge in activity from your squad has caught everyone's attention. I had to come see for myself what could have prompted such a...change of pace." His tone was light, but his eyes held a depth that suggested he was carefully observing Nero's response.
Nero barely looked up from the documents on his desk, his expression impassive as always. "Did it, now?" he replied in his usual tone, neither amused nor particularly interested.
He took his time setting aside the papers before finally giving Julius his full attention.
Julius, ever the perceptive magic nerd, waited patiently, the curiosity in his eyes never waning. "I mean, it's quite unlike you to rally the whole squad in this way, Nero. So I have to ask—what made you decide to push them all so hard, all of a sudden?"
With a dismissive shrug, Nero replied, "Well, I simply decided to put those slackers to use. Nothing more, nothing less." His voice was level, almost as if he found the question trivial.
Julius laughed softly, clearly not convinced. "Oh, come now, Nero. Surely, it's more than that. You and I both know how carefully you've managed them all these years, letting them stay secluded, only stepping out when absolutely necessary. But now, they're practically running the kingdom."
Nero merely raised an eyebrow, unfazed by Julius's pressing tone. "Is it so surprising? A little nudge, and they do exactly what they were meant to do from the start."
Julius leaned in just a little, reading the subtle cues in Nero's demeanor.
He wasn't about to get any deeper explanation than that; he could tell that Nero's motivations were far more than he was letting on. "Very well," Julius said, his voice softening. "It's good to see them showing their true potential. Whatever the reason, you're certainly bringing out their best."
Nero gave a faint nod, returning to his work. "If that's all, I have matters to attend to."
Nero wanted nothing to do with this double agent.
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Stones and Reviews please