Reunions

A grand sunrise shined through the massive clearing and Meadows which surround the Coral Peacocks home base. Just as the sun and it's light broke the darkness, a giant bird-shaped flame was charging through the sky. On top of it rode the young blonde Vice-Captain of the Black Bulls, Kai Elio wearing his usual attire, including his long black cloak.

"*Normally I tend to avoid her...but that's not an option with what I feel like may come.*" He thought to himself, responding to the Sun Spirit. "*She's strong, tactical, a warfare and general combat genius with the magic power to make the most of said talents.*"

"*Then what's the problem exactly?"* Azoth asked before dodging a few large birds.

"*She's...an ex-girlfriend of mine.*" Kai struggled to say as the two drew closer to the base. "*Let's just say things could've ended better between us...*"

Suddenly basis of condensed magic power began firing from the nearby trees below! Azoth quickly dodged the attack before five more were shot at the duo!

"*What's shooting at us!?*" Azoth asked before dodging even more attacks!

"Golems, security Golems. Similar to the one's found in the Witches Forest but instead of being fueled by a single person..." Kai pauses and looks ahead, using his magic sensing abilities he can see multiple types of magic power coming from the castle and to the golems. "The base itself takes fraction of the magic power the members in there."

Back inside the massive base of the Coral Peacocks there was a single pink haired young woman giggling to herself. She wore her peacock tunic over a full body black leather suit. "My...it's been quite some time, hasn't it? My sweet Kai." The pink haired woman said out loud as she watched the duo evading the attacks. "I wonder, what is it that brought you here?" She then placed her hand on the crystal ball and began feeding it her own magic power.

Suddenly the golems began to float up from the trees and began firing much more intense and faster blasts! These attacks moved at an incredible speed and despite her best efforts, the sun spirit failed in evading all of them as it's left was struck and destroyed!

"Damn! Seems like she noticed us already." Kai said out loud before he placed a hand on the spot where the wing was missing and fed his own magic power to the spirit to heal the injury. "Azoth! Lower down, we'll use the trees as cover." Kai ordered as his sun spirit quickly followed the orders.

The two then dipped down into the trees and began to serpentine around the trees as the golems chased behind them and fired away. Despite their best efforts, the golems were missing each shot, as the phoenix picked up speed, charging toward the base. Just before they could really close the distance between their targets, the golems stopped dead in their tracks as the duo escaped the trees and reached the clearing where the base was located.

"Return Azoth," Kai ordered as he jumped off the Sun Spirit, his grimoire opening wide for the blazing phoenix to return into. He then landed on the grass in front of the base's front door. "You really didn't make it easy to get here, Bianca." Kai said out loud as he put his grimoire away in his pouch.

Before he could knock on the door of the base a brilliant light, almost like a blinding flare shot into the sky. Kai looked up but before he was anything, a finger booped the tip of his nose as a gentle laugh followed behind it. "It's been awhile, hasn't it...my little Kai." The same woman who had been monitoring him earlier appeared before him.

Kai responds by pulling both hands together and politely bows before speaking, "it has been quite the while, Bianca." He then picked himself back upright and locked eyes with the woman. "I didn't expect for such a welcoming. Tell me, do you greet all your guests in such a way, or just the ones you can't forget." He says with a playful yet cocky smile and tone.

"I just wanted to make sure being the Vice Captain of the worst brigade of them didn't dull your fighting abilities. I remember you had great pride in those." She says in a tone equal to his. "What's brought you all the way out here and away from those thugs you're a part of."

His eyes then grew slightly sharpened as he locked eyes with her. "I've unlocked a few new attributes to my magic affinity, with one of them being Light. This means i now have access to light magic. Its new to me, but i don't have much time to master it. Figured i go the best light magic user i know for help."

"Oh? The mighty **Ace of Hearts**, the **Sun's Champion** has come to the woman he left for assistance? Hmph, pathetic. You wasted your time, Kai. I'm not in the mood or looking for a student." She then turned her back to him only to have Kai grab her shoulder.

"You're a magic knight aren't you?" Kai asks and pulls her back to face him as he takes a step forward. " when your asked for help, you help. Set your pride aside and understand, this is bigger than your petty feelings. From one Vice Captain to another, you know I'm not doing this, I'm not asking for myself. I'm doing so for my men. So i can better myself an in turn better my men."

Inside the base, a figure looks out the window and sees Kai standing there with his hands on Bianca's shoulder. Figures eyes turned into bright stars indicating their fascination towards this subject and dashed towards the door. "Oh hey Kai sweetie!" A voice was heard from the entrance of the base catching both their attentions. A woman with long pink and blonde hair that's kept in a pony tail with pink eyes wearing a revealing bikini top and long pants with a red marking on her chest running down to her abdomen came running out the building towards them. "Long time no see cutie." She shouted as she dashed towards them with her arms flailing up and down.

Kai places his hands together and bows down to the approaching woman. "It has been a while Captain. As always it's an honor." He then picked himself up and looked towards her.

The woman placed one hand over her mouth and waved her other hand forward. "Oh common Kai, you know you don't have to be so formal with me. Just call me Marin, how many time do i have to say?" She insisted with a chuckling grin. She then leaned in over to her vice captain Bianca and began poking her arm. "So what have i caught you two cute love birds in the middle of?" She asked loud enough for both to heard while bugging Bianca about it.

Bianca blushed in the very moment of being called a love bird. "C-c-captain!"

"Actually Captain Marin, I uh, my heart belongs to another actually. But i came here to ask Bianca for some help on my newly found magic attributes."

"And i was telling this annoying man that I refuse to do so. Even if he wishes to get deep and personal about things."

Her ear facing Kai twitched upon hearing that he loves another. Her eyes turned into stars with a wide, devious grin. She pressed her arms together close to her chest and clinched her fists "Oooo. Do I sense a love triangle going on?" She said with excitement. "Bianca." She called out with starie eyes remaining "you can take the rest of the day off. I want you to use this free to train him in what he needs to know." She then slid over behind her and nudged her elbow against her back. "And maybe you'll find the perfect opportunity to get ahead of that competitor he has eyes for." She said with a confident yet devious tone

"Captain! Please stop!" Bianca demanded as her face remained the same crimson red with blush. "A-anyway. I guess as i now have the free time, i guess i can instruct you for the time being. I guess it can't be helped, now can it." She then looked away from the two. "*She, she does have a point. Maybe doing some training like we did when were together.*" She then instinctively began to twirl her hair for a split second with her finger.

Kai smiled and looked back at the captain in front of him and bowed down again. "Thank you captain, I appreciate the assistance." He then looked back and thought "*Is she hoping this plays out in some weird real life romance novel? I swear Captain Marin is weird sometimes."*

Marin waved them off "Take care you two." She said with a friendly gesture before switching back to her devious grin and dashed back to base.

The two vice captains ventured out into the deeper section of the woods that surrounded the base. Slowly the sight outside of the treeline was too far to see. The walked in silence as neither spoke or even looked at each other.

"First things first, you need to remove your cloak Kai before we can move any further." Bianca demands as she breaks the silence and looks at Kai.

"You know I don't take it off unless its needed. I'm just looking to train my new attribute, i can still use it with my cloak on." Kai retorts.

"One of the most important things about light magic as with wind magic is the sensation of freedom. Wearing something that literally suppresses your power to the point you just barely have the strength to match Vice Captains will hinder any progress we could make."

Kai looked away from Bianca and removed his cloak, removing the seal over his magic power as a sudden spike in magic power was released! The air around him got thicker, almost choking, the power made the air dense almost completely solid.

"*There's no doubt, Kai has only gotten stronger since the last time I've seen him.*" Bianca thought to herself as she felt Kai's magi power push her back despite her releasing her own Magic Power. "*He's as strong as any captain in pure magic power. This is the strength of the boy who trained in Grand Magic Zones, who tackled dungeons on his own, the strongest of the Vice Captains.*" Her very knees began to shake for a few seconds before his magic subsided and no longer raged on.

"Shall we begin then?" Kai asked before taking a breath of the fresh air around him.

"Ye-yes, of course." Bianca replied to Kai's request with a slight shade of blush on her cheeks. "First we'll focus on the general sensation Light Magic demands. The biggest focus is for the need to be completely relaxed, almost one with your own magic power." She then clasped both hands together and takes a breath of air before suddenly appearing behind on tree then move to another.

"Hmmm, like this?" Kai asked before mimicking Bianca's speed.

"H-how?" She asked in disbelief of Kai's ability to catch up with her. "I know you're good but, but. Ahem." Bianca grasped herself and adjusts herself. "Alright, this time try to keep up." Bianca quickly moved from one tree to another then picked up the speed even leaving behind after images.

Kai observed her movements, he used his magic sensing to see her movements and so he attempted to mimic her speed but came out slower. When she was swift enough to leave after image and move with extreme blinding speed yet still gracefully.

"*What am i doing wrong?*" Kai thought to himself in a struggle. "*Every step i take, she's already taken three or five!*" Kai thought while attempting to keep up with Bianca.

"**Maybe stop thinking so much with that stick up your ass.**" A deeply corrupted voice from within him spoke. "**Jeez you'd think someone like you could understand about being free, the blonde idiot who left Heart to live in Clover.**

"*Oh great it's you,*" Kai thought to himself as he kept chasing behind Bianca. " *What do you want?*"

"**Light Magic is all about freedom just like Wind Magic, if you keep overthinking you'll keep getting punked by your ex.**"

"*Shut up and let me think you idiot.*" Kai responded as he closed his eyes. He began to soak up the sunlight and let a breath of air out. He began to feel Bianca's movements despite his eyes failing him. "*Dont try to control it, dont try to over power it, allow the mana to remain. Melt with it...melt your being into the mana that surrounds you...*" Kai began to chant to himself.

"**Oh? The chant those Heart Kingdom bastards used to chant to you. Ahaha! You ran away yet here you...**"

"*There...*" Kai thought as he suddenly appeared next to Bianca.

"*He's caught up?*" Bianca thought to herself as she turned to light and appeared a few feet away but bumps into Kai's chest. "*Wha-*" she then began to rapidly switch places running from him. "*He's fast.*"

"*He allowed him self a moment to pause and breathe. He's not trying to control the mana. No...he's melting into it. But its taking a lot out of him. He can't focus at this level and fight. Still though...impressive.*" The dark voice thought to itself.

This continued for hours upon hours of just Kai and Bianca went back and forth, appearing and disappearing, constantly all over the woods that surrounded them. Neither capable of shaking the other. Slowly Kai began to appear just before Bianca did. This would continue constantly until it was just an hour or two before sundown.

Both mages laid their backs against a grand tree, each panting and dripping with sweat. Bianca panted for air as she looked upward. "*I'm so low on Mana.*" She then looked over to Kai who despite dripping with sweat still had magic power. "*Seriously, he's like some monster. Seriously, not fair.*"

Kai looked up at the sun which was just a few hours past high noon, "*I've never needed so much concentration yet also a sense of freedom. But that feeling...that 'melted' state...i need to master it. It felt almost like...it felt like i was slowly melting but couldn't fully meld into it.*" He thought to himself as he closed his eyes and took a dragged out breath.

After a few minutes of having his eyes closed, Kai silently fell asleep. almost as though he were dead, he remained silent and still with a deadly calm breath. Bianca looked over and smiled as she adored his peaceful face. "*You weren't always so bad you know.*" She thought to herself. "*You're doing this for your friends aren't you Kai? You want to get stronger faster for them, for the kingdom. You place the weight of just about everything you care about on your shoulders.*" She scooted a little closer to Kai and rested her head against his arm as he slept. "*No matter what, you always made anyone...my self included, feel safe.*"

After just about an hour the sun began to slowly descend. The sky's began to dim down as the sunlight began o dissipate. Slowly turning from a sunny to and orange sunset with a pink sky to follow along. As the two slept the sound of boots was heard stepping over grass with the cold sound of a sword being drawn followed along.

"It's been so long, you dim sun asshole. Bloody traitor." a a young adult of tall stature and athletic build. He has long bright yellow hair with red streaks with two shoulder-length bangs and two chin-length bangs on the side of his head, black forked eyebrows, and golden eyes that fade to red with white pupils.

"Time for you to finally get what you've deserved." A rapid flame enveloped his sword and runes began to appear around his feet as he suddenly rushed in! At an incredible speed he drew closer and closer to the two resting mages before suddenly a pillar of flames blocked him from getting closer. "What the hell!?" He shouted as he stepped back.

"Well, well. If it isn't the flame that lived in my shadow. How have things been?...Little Leo." Kai asked as the flaming pillar began to take shape of a flaming bird which rested itself on Kai, covering him with it's wings as a cloak.

"Here I thought I was going to get an easy victory, but I guess I an work just a little harder." The man named Leo says as a flame returns to his blade.

"I bet you didn't expect for me to have the Sun Spirit did you?" Kai asked as he felt his stamina being restored steadily. **Sun Magic: Diedad Del Sol!**" Kai called for his spell as flames wrapped around his hand, feet, knees and elbows, ending with a single flame lit on his head.

The two rushed in and the power of the two flames was truly immense. Bianca woke up and used her light magic to get some distance. The dust kicked up by the force of their clash reached her nose, causing it to tickle and eventually sneeze. Her hair turned from her brilliant blonde to a darker shade, her innocent look became much more conceded and cocky.

"I'm so low on Magic. Dumb girl spent so much training..."Him"." Bianca said out loud before charging a light to her hand.

"So tell me! How is it that some foreign dumbass actually managed to rise to the position of a Vice Captain of their Magic Knight Squad? Who's dick did you have to\_" Before Leo could Continue Kai shifted his weight to make Leo lose his balance, Slamming an intense kick in Leo's face!

It was then seen Leo had runes covering his entire body. "suck to reach such a rank?" he asked as he ran the hilt of his blade into Kai's gut knocking the air out of him! "Come on, show me you were worth them sending me here."

A swarm of runes quickly wrapped around his arms and covered his blades and they quickly turn to flames. "**True Fire Magic!: Luna Rossa!**" Leo called for his spell as he swung his blade back and then forward! the flames it created were truly immense and pure!

Kai placed his hands up and to protect himself using a mix oh his golden mana skin and runes to tank the attack! "*D-damn! Mana Method from the start? He wants to finish this fast.*" Kai thought to himself before shoving Leo back! "I'm guessing you decided to attack me as the sun faded and while i slept after countless hours of training? Wow Little Leo, never did i think you were that afraid of me." Kai said mockingly as his strength continued to return to his body thanks to his spirit's flames.

"That big talk coming from the one who can't use the Mana Method's true power?" Leo asked as he stepped closer. "The prodigy who couldn't use tr-"

A blast of light magic shot out rom behind a tree, causing Leo to block it with his flaming rune covered sword. "Hm? So that light magic user is still close by? Heh, guess that just means more fun for me."

"Bianca," Kai began as he stepped forward towards Leo. "This is not a fight you want to be a part of." he says as more magic began to rush from his body. "*Even if i have to hit the bottom of my reserves...I won't lose to Leo.*" He thought to himself.

"Shut up!" A much louder and more out spoken voice was heard as Bianca stepped forward with a taunting laugh. "Stop putting the height of everything on yourself. You may be strong, but i am a Vice Captain myself. So don't go thinking you're tough shit." She then walked over to Kai, swatting her hair back and then winks at him. "It's been a while, my golden sun." She then grabbed his arm. "Let's give him a quick ass kicking." She said as she locked eyes with Kai.

The sun mage pulled his arm away and looked upward. "Umm. L-let's just do this." Kai says as his grimoire flew in front of him.

"You be the muscle, I'm the brains?" She asked as she charged her light magic in both hands. "Just like back then?"

"**Fire Magic!: Uccello Ardente!**" Leo interrupted the two by swinging his blade and creating a large sparrow made of flames charged at Kai and Bianca, "For the glory of our homeland, you will return with me Kai!"

As he drew closer to them with their guard down and swung his blazing sparrow sword up to strike them, a heart-shaped wave flew past Kai and Bianca above them from behind and washes over him before he could swing it down. The intense pressure of the wave almost pushed him back as he tried to fight against it causing him to slide back until it was too strong to endure and was eventually launched back. Once the attack subsided and Leonardo started to recover from the attack, a strange sensation began to wash over his body.

"Captain!?" Bianca exclaimed as she recognized from the attack earlier the captain had arrived.

As everyone was confused as to what had just happened, footsteps were heard approaching the Vice Captains from behind. "My my. It was getting late so I decided to check up on you two." A voice said as they both turned to see who the new arrival is. "You kids have worked hard enough." They turned to see Bianca's captain Marin walking up behind them. "Ill handle our little visitor here." She said as she walked by between the two and approached Leo. "Hello there." She said him as she leaned down, resting her hands onto her knees to talk to him face to face. "Your from the Heart Kingdom arentcha? You'll be discussing your business with me from now on. Mkay?" She said a with cute smile followed by a wink.

"Please Captain Marin...this is my battle. My fatigue has been taken care of." Kai says as his grimoire flew over to him.

"That's alright Kai, you just let me handle this. It's all under control." She assured to him without even turning away from Leonardo.

Leonardo kicks himself away from the Captain and sheathes his sword, taking a quick draw stance. "You let some woman fight your battles for you? You traitorous bastard!" He asked as he began to pull his magic power to his feet and arms. "Tell me woman, what do you know of the abomination behind you?"

"Oh my, so violent." She gasped as she leaned back up and rested her right hand onto her hip. "So Kai's your target hu? I'm afraid not. I don't pry into peoples life." She answered back to him.

"Will you stop lying!" Bianca yelled while blushing and thinks to herself, "*All she ever does is pry into my love life.*"

"*This woman...Kai...they're both Stage Zero mages, that much is for sure. That light magic user, she's stage two.*" Leonardo thought to himself as he charged back at Marin and drew his blade! As he appeared in front of her and his blade gree closer, it stopped and it's flames were shut off.

"Wh-what the hell?!" Leonardo asked out loud. "My spell, my sword..."

Marin remained still, completely unflinching with a confident smile she's had since she arrives remaining on her face. "Oh deer! How frightening!" She pretended to panic moments after he stopped. "Well since you so thoughtfully stopped your attack, lets talk about you now." She reached over and pinched his jaw with her hand tightly. "You must be aware that you are a Heart Kingdom solider trespassing into the Clover Kingdom and has seeked to harm members of the Magic Knights, such actions in not tolerated to in our kingdom, you are aware of that correct?" She pinched his jaw tighter as she slowly start to loose her friendly expression into a serious one. Towards her feet a piece of grass was ripped over the ground and sent flying. "Therefore we have no other choice but to assume this is an act of invasion, and thus a declaration of war." The ground beneath her feet started to tremble and crack, the air itself vibrated fiercely as a large stream of pink glittering magic power exploded out of her, towering the trees that surrounded them as it took the form of a large peacock looking down onto Leonardo. "Therefore I'm going to take into custody for interrogation." She said in a vicious tone as she glared at Leonardo with a evil scowling expression as if a devil was glaring at him.

"Hahahaha! Quite the tough talk from such a fowl woman." Leonardo said as he threw off his white cloak and suddenly his magic power shot up! The air became incredibly hot around the two. It was though both the air and the magic power he was releasing was so dense it could choke most nearby. The sheer power swatted the captain's hand away from his cheek. The grass around him was turned to ash as his power grew. His magic power took the form of a grand tiger staring back at her peacock.

"Now, if you're done acting like a stupid teenager you hag, prepare to fight for your life." Leonardo says as he points his sword at Marin. "*Something about her power...her personality...it gives me a similar feeling to Kai's...*" He thought to himself.

"*First Kai, then Captain, now this guy!? All of them have magic power that makes mine look like a mere kitty cat in front of a trio of giant beasts.*" Bianca thought to herself as she felt her low reserves of magic power drained.

"Captain, whether you're okay with it or not, i must join." Kai says as his magic power began to push the force from both fighters back. "This is my mess I will also be a part of this fight."

The power the three was truly overbearing. The trio standing their ground as neither wished to take a step back as all their of their magic powers were pushing one another around. The air around them was being pushed around in rapid gusts.

"So...Sun Demon. Will you come back with me? Or will you have this hag protect you?"

"I am a magic knight Little Leo i cannot order a captain to stand down. But, i myself can disobey an order, as you know all too well." Kai responds as he looked over to Marin. "Don't look down on him Captain or it'll end with one of us dead."

Marine turned towards Kai with her friendly, welcoming expression she had before with her magic power dissipated instantly before she even turned towards him. "It's ok Kai sweetie. Just leave everything to me." She smiled sincerely. She then turned towards Leonardo. "This Spirit Guardian may talk big but deep inside he has the heart of a teddy bear. Am i right Leonardo Fiamme" She said tucking her arms under her cleavage making it puff out while giving him a cutesy smile followed by winking at him with a heart flying out. Having discovered who he is. "You Guardians are so strong and tough looking. Do you really want to hurt me? I noticed you said something about my age earlier, does that mean you like mature women?" She said adding more to cutesy charm.

Leonardo slowly and cautiously put his sword away while taking a few steps back. "*Both of their magic power is at Stage 0. Not just that but if the Captain could appear what would prevent any other nearby members.*" Leo thought to himself pick up his cloak.

"Silence you crone." He says to Marin's constant flirt and taunts. Leo then looks over to Kai. "The Sun Demon will return to heart one day, it's all you were born for Kai. There's no point in running or making friends."

Kai took a step forward and with eyes gone complete white with rage and a monstrous roar asked, "**Who's running you little shit!? Come here and let me-**" Kai then stopped himself and quickly placed his cloak on.

Multiple runes appeared over Leonardo's legs before he takes off at a tremendous speed! Quickly making great distance between both parties.

"Take care!" Marin waved goodbye as he flew off. "Well that was fun. Whatda say we go back to the base for a drink?" She turned back to ask Kai and Bianca.

"Umm, I, uhh." Kai looked away after hearing Marin's offer.

Bianca walked over and wrapped an arm around Kai's neck, bringing him down to her level. "Sorry Captain but as big and thought my little Kai is, he doesn't drink. No real tolerance."

Kai blushes and pulls away from Bianca's grip after feeling his cheek pressed against her breast. " I...i should be headed home soon anyway."

"Aww to bad, we'd love to have you stay some more. Oops i mean Bianca would love to have you stay some more" She giggled.

"I mean..." Bianca looks to Kai with a slightly blushed face. "Would that be so wrong?"

Kai took a step back a little thrown off from both the captain and Vice-Captain. "Umm well honestly not being at the bade all day makes me feel like I may get home to either a mountain or paperwork or leveled base...which would lead to more paperwork. So I should be -" Kai was the interrupted by Marin before he could get on his broomstick.

"Kai wait." Marin called out before he could leave. She looked at him with such a serious look just like Korag gives him when he takes a situation seriously. "Keep your guard up at all times. If their willing to cross enemy boarders and risk the possibility for war between our kingdoms to reobtain you, then there's no length their not willing to cross to get you. Our nonaggression treaty can only prevent so much, its not an all purpose barrier. Keep that in mind." She then turned to Bianca. "Bianca when your done here, Mobilize a group squad members and send them to the town near the Heart Kingdom boarder that keeps a look out of our boarder and investigate how he got through our defenses. I'll be heading to royal capital to report this event to the Wizard King and join them shortly. If we can seal off how he got through, we'll lower their chances of attempting it again" She then turned back to Kai. "You better report this to your captain as well when you return. He needs to know this." She then started walking away, heading back to Peacock base.

"*...Yeah she's definitely just like that drunk!*" Kai thought to himself as he smiled and bowed. "Of course Captain. Thank you for the help earlier today."

Bianca bowed after receiving her orders. " I'm on it, Captain." She says before disappearing, headed towards the base.

Kai laid his back on his broomstick and took off flying. Just as he got some distance between them he then thought. "*Leonardo...If he came over here...who else would?*" Then the image of a group of mages, all appearing in a monstrous silhouette. "*It's been a minute since I've thought about home.*"