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Luck leapt down the stairs and into the common room of the Black Bulls hideout with his usual excitement and cheery smile.
It took some time after the war in the Spade Kingdom but it finally felt like things were getting back to normal. Most of the members of the Black Bulls were in the common room eating breakfast, talking, laughing and planning for the day. No one had been sent on a mission today and they all just got back from helping Spade with their recovery efforts, which meant that for now at least everything was pretty calm. Which also meant now was probably the best chance Luck was gonna get to ask Yami the favor he had wanted to ask ever since the battle ended a few months ago.
The moment Luck came skipping into the room everyone knew it was only a matter of time before he asked someone to fight him. Honestly it was one of the things that made things seem normal again. Especially for those who had stayed at the hideout during everyone's six months of training. It had been too quiet without everyone there. Asta's 'GOOD MORNING BLACK BULLS!!!' Noelle yelling at Asta for one reason or another, Finral complaining that no one respects him, Magna yelling about his pudding and Luck starting fights. Those are just a few of the things that make their base a home.
So, as Luck stood in front of captain Yami who was sitting in his chair, smoking a cigarette and reading his newspaper, everyone in the room just smiled at the familiar situation.
Just as Luck opened his mouth the captain immediately cut him off. "No. I will not fight you."
Luck pouted with an 'awww' before quickly shaking his head and said. "Wait! No, that's not what I was gonna ask!"
That got everyone's full attention. Even Gauche briefly looked up from the scarf he was knitting for Marie to see what could be wrong. Luck didn't seem to notice or at least didn't care that everyone in the room was now staring at him like he grew an extra head. He just smiled like always as he waited for Yami to allow him to ask his actual question.
"Alright... What's up?" Yami said, looking up from his paper.
"Can I have a couple days off, please?" He asked in a chipper tone.
It was then that the Captain put his paper down and leveled the lightning mage with a flat look. "You have been a Black Bull for going on 6 years and you ain't never once asked for time off. Hell, I don't think you've asked for anything except a fight. So, what exactly is going on that my battle fiend wants a vacation?"
"I wanna go see my mom." Luck said cheerfully rocking forward on his toes and back on his heels.
At that, everyone turned back to what they were doing before, to at least pretend to be doing something other than listening. Luck had only ever mentioned his mom a couple of times in brief side comments. So, no one wanted to make him uncomfortable talking about her now.
Yami just looked at him for a long moment. The boy's Captain knew a little about his upbringing and was pretty sure Luck hadn't visited his moms grave since she died. Which means whatever's going on in that manic brain of his must be pretty important.
"Yeah, okay. Everyone else is here in case we get any missions and we ain't scheduled to go back to Spade for another couple weeks so take all the time you need." He turned to put out his cigarette bud and pull out a fresh one.
"Great! Thanks Captain! " Luck jumped with joy and started skipping to the door.
"As long as you take someone with you." Yami adds, lighting his new cigarette.
Luck stops dead in his tracks and although his smile remains it almost looks strained for a brief moment. "Do I have to?" He asks. Eyes pleading with his Captain.
Yami raised one brow and said in a tone that no one would dare question. "Did I stutter?"
Luck stood at attention facing his Captain. "Well, no it's ju-" He was cut off as Yami stood to look directly into those blue eyes again.
"With everything that's happened lately I don't want any of ya running around alone. So, I don't care who ya take with ya but you ain't going until ya pick someone. Got it?"
"Sir, yes sir!" Luck gave the magic knight salute and as if on queue Magna walked out of the kitchen and into the main room. Luck immediately spun on his heel and turned to point at him. "Magna! You're coming with me!"
Magna looked very confused having missed the whole conversation. "Huh? What, we get a mission or something?"
"Or something!" Luck responded cheerfully as he turned back towards the door. "Now let's go!"
"Wait! What the heck does that mean? Hey, wait up!" Magna complains as he follows his best friend out the door.
"Well, that'll be interesting." Yami sighed as he sat back down and picked up his newspaper again.
Several of the other Black Bulls looked at the door for a long moment after their friends had left. Captain Yami was right. That will be interesting.
_________
"Seriously man! Are ya gonna tell me where we're going yet?" Magna asked from his crazy cyclone. "And what the hell are you doing?"
Luck had been using his lightning magic to fly next to Magna and just jump off the ground when he needed the extra momentum but now he had landed and was currently squatting down next to a patch of flowers.
"We are going to Yvon." Luck said standing up and walking over to where Magna was parked.
"And what's in Yvon? I don't think I've actually been there before."
"My mom." Luck smiled and hopped on the back of Crazy Cyclone.
"Oh, uh. Okay. So those are for her I guess?" Magna asked, pointing at the flowers in the blond's hand. For as long as he and Luck had been friends Magna doesn't remember the crazy lightning bug talking about his mom much. Or his hometown. Or anything really personal for that matter.
"Yep! And I don't wanna mess them up so I'm gonna ride with you!" Luck giggled as he made himself comfortable behind the fire mage.
"Wait a second! Is that why you dragged me with you?"
"No, I wanted to go by myself but Captain Yami said he didn't want anyone going out on their own after everything that happened with the devils and stuff. So, I figured I'd be the most okay with you being the one to come." He replied bluntly.
"Well, okay then." Not wanting to dwell on anything his friend just said so easily, Magna got them flying again and on their way.
The ride was quiet. Which was weird... Magna wanted to ask his friend and rival about his mom and why the blond wanted to go visit all of a sudden like this, but something told him he shouldn't pry about it. Luck was sitting on the back of Magna’s crazy cyclone kicking his legs and humming with that signature smile of his. He looked like his normal self but his best friend of several years could tell there was something off, he just couldn't figure out what.
A few hours later they could just barely see the small town of Yvon in the distance. It wasn't large by common realm standards but it was bigger than any town in the forsaken realm.
Luck had been spacing out, kicking his legs back and forth until he started to recognize some of the trees and hills. "Oh! We should land here!" He said and proceeded to hop off the broom before Magna had even processed what was said.
"Hey, wait! Damn it Luck!" Magna shouted as he slowed and brought his crazy cyclone below the tree line. "The hell is with you man?" He got parked and stomped over to where Luck was standing there waiting for him and laughing at how angry Magna gets so easily. "We aren't even that close to town. Why are we stopping way out here?"
"Haha stupid Magna! It'll be better if we just walk the rest of the way." Luck started walking as if he was leading a parade.
"For real, dude?" Magna growned. What was with him today? Magna thought to himself while grumpily following. Luck had been acting weird all day. He out of the blue wanted to visit his mom who he almost never mentioned. He was being vague and even more annoying than usual when it came to answering questions. And the most concerning oddity was that he hadn't challenged Magna to even one fight all day.
The fire mage stopped for a moment and just watched his friend as he remembered what Luck had said earlier that day. “I wanted to go by myself.” He didn't want anyone here with him. So, something really was bothering him. That being said he also said he was the most okay with Magna being here since he had to bring someone. Well, maybe that means the Cheery Berserk actually is nervous about something. If that's the case, then getting the little punk out of his own head was probably the best thing a friend and a real man could do at the moment.
"Fine then! If we're going on foot let's make it a race!" Magna shouted. Luck turned back to look at him and tilted his head, that undeniable competitive spark in his eyes. "Loser buys food!" The fire mage declared as he ran past the lightning mage.
"Haha! You're on!" Luck laughed and took off running as well.
Luck wasn't sure how but Magna always knew what to say to make Luck happy. Maybe just being with Magna in general was what made him happy but either way the lightning mage was thankful. So, he did his best to keep the flowers he had picked from getting damaged while they raced and let himself enjoy the familiar interaction with his best friend.
They raced through the trees, occasionally throwing a fire ball or small lightning bolt. They didn't really want to burn down the forest after all. Luck and Magna bantered back and forth like usual until the trees started to thin out and they could see the entrance to the town.
"I'm gonna beat you this time, you little punk!" Magna declared as he picked up the pace with one last push.
Luck didn't respond this time. He had unconsciously started to slow down at the site of his old home town. He hadn't been back in years and if he was being honest, Luck really didn't want to be here at all. The blond knew coming back might be uncomfortable but this pain in his chest was getting annoying. He looked down at the flowers in his hand and thought about why he had been planning on coming back here ever since fighting with that cursed guy who used body magic. He just needed to go get this done and over with. Luck hurried to catch up to Magna at the gate.
"OH HELL YEAH!! GUESS WHO'S BUYING FOOD YA LITTLE SHIT!!" Magna shouted in excitement at the stone arch way that marked the entrance to the town.
Luck ran up and shoved him playfully. "Yeah, yeah, okay. I'll get you something next time we go into town." He said laughing at his friends' antics.
"Next time? What ya talking about? You can get me something right now." Magna said with a giant grin as he swung one arm around Luck’s shoulders and started heading into town.
"What? Uh..." Luck was planning on going straight to the grave and leaving. He really didn't want to be here any longer than he had to.
"Come on, I haven't eaten since breakfast this morning and I don't want to be starving the second we get to your mom's place. Besides, this way you can show me around a bit first." It was then that he realized Magna had made two assumptions about Luck that were very incorrect. The first is that he thinks Luck’s mom is alive. And the second is that Luck has any positive feelings or memories attached to this place.
Luck couldn't help but laugh at the situation. "Umm Magna I think I should tell you something..."
"Unless it's where your favorite restaurant is I don't wanna hear it." He said removing his arm from his friend so he could look around.
The blond could only laugh some more and shake his head. Whatever. It was probably a good idea to get some food first anyway. "This way." He said, grabbing his delinquent friend's sleeve.
They wandered up and down streets until they made it to a small plaza with restaurants, bars and stores. There were a few street carts selling various things but most of the business was going to the bigger shops and restaurants that had their own buildings.
"This place looks... Nice.." Magna said standing next to the blond and taking everything in. The town looked a lot more gloomy than he had expected. Realistically speaking that makes sense for where the town of Yvon was located. It had the forest nearby but outside of that the area was pretty dry. They probably had trouble growing very much of anything here. So, most of their food definitely came from ranching and whatever imports they could get. But for some reason whenever Magna had imagined what kind of place Luck had grown up in, he couldn't help but think about sunshine, rainbows and fight pits. This place just looked too boring for someone like Luck Voltia the Cheery Berserk of the Black Bull.
"Haha if you think it looks boring you are not gonna like the food, Magna." Luck had not let go of Magna's sleeve and despite his warning about the food, the lightning mage began leading him to one of the small food stands farther down the street.
They grabbed something called a not-dog, that looked like a type of sausage on a stick... "What type of meat is this again?" The fire mage asked while inspecting the charred animal flesh on the small stick.
The two Black Bulls sat on a few foot tall brick wall that helped to divide the plaza from the residential area. Luck was watching the people in town go about their business. A few people had noticed them and he could hear them talking.
"What are the magic knights doing here?"
"Oh my God, is that the creepy kid that used to go to school here?"
"Shhh! He might hear you..."
"Look at those robes. Aren't the Black Bulls like the most destructive squad?"
"What is HE doing back here?"
Having people talk about him like this is nothing new. It's been like this his whole life. And even though the Black Bulls reputation has gotten a lot better overall, a lot of people still didn't think much about the squad of out casts and criminals. So, why was this bothering him all of a sudden? It didn't used to... Maybe part of him had gotten used to people actually thanking them. Ever since the underwater temple they had actually been able to help people. It was nice. Luck liked how it felt to do something meaningful and be praised for it. Especially when all he had to do was fight. And he's always loved a good fight.
"Luck?"
Luck was pulled from his thoughts by Magna getting his attention. He looked like that wasn't the first time he called Luck’s name.
The lightning mage put effort into giving his friend a smile but he knew it probably looked as fake as it felt. Weird, he used to never be about to stop smiling no matter how he actually felt. When did that stop?
"What's up man?" Magna asked with a concerned look on his face. "You've been acting weird all day."
"Haha, yeah, it's just weird being back." Luck looked at his food that didn't even have a single bite taken out of it. Then turned back to Magna with a mischievous grin. "So, what do you think?" He asked, looking at Magna's mostly eaten Not-dog. "Tasts like crap don't it?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure this would send Charmy on a rampage... What kinda meat is it anyway?"
"Yes." The blond snickered.
"Dude, that is probably the most concerning answer you could have given..."
"Hahaha! I know, right? They call them not-dogs because that's their only guarantee. It's made of all the scraps like liver, fat trimmings, heart, feet, ears, stuff like that, so it has pig, sheet, cow, chicken, duck, almost anything really."
"What the actual fuck, you lightning brat?!" Magna shouted. "Did you purposely get us the weirdest crap this place has to offer?"
"Yep, yep!" Luck replied cheerfully before breaking out into true laughter.
"You little shit!" The fire mage grabbed him by the collar and asked. "Ya trying to start a fight?"
Luck was about to accept the invitation to fight, it honestly sounded really fun. But the lightning mage stopped when he sensed a lot of eyes on them and he remembered where they were. "Nah, just wanted to see you make that funny expression haha." He placed his hands on Magna's, wordless asking him to let go.
Magna released the blond and looked around. They had definitely drawn some attention. People were talking about them under their breath and everyone had a look of disgust. Getting looks like that weren't out of the ordinary for the Black Bulls but these looks felt different somehow... More personal almost. When the fire mage looked back to his companion Luck had that very un Luck like expression on his face again.
Before Magna could comment, Luck took a large bite of his food and spoke through a mouth full of not-dog. "The restaurant over there." He said pointing with the stick from his food. "Is actually pretty good. Or at least it used to be the best place this side of town."
His friend raised a brow and in an irritated tone asked. "Then why the hell didn't we go there ehh?"
"Because, pretty sure I'm still banned, ha!" He tossed the stick into a bin for trash that was nearby.
"Oh? Let me guess. You picked too many fights?" The fire mage asked, doing the same.
"No, that's how I got kicked out of school." Luck replied. He actually seemed smug that Magna guessed wrong. "I'm banned from most of the restaurants and stores around because of stealing."
Magna laughed a bit at that. "Ha! And they call me a delinquent!"
The blond just stuck out his tongue with a small smile in response.
"I forgot you actually got to go to school. We got time for you to show me around?" Magna requested. Maybe if I get him talking about some fun memories I can get him in a better mood before we meet up with his mom. He thought hopefully.
"Sure, we have to go through the other part of town to get to mom anyway." The lightning mage said with a shrug as he started walking.
"Other part of town?" The fire mage asks as he stuck his hands in his pockets and walked next to his best friend.
"Yeah, where the nobles live and stuff. That's where the school is too."
"So, there's this side of town for people like us and then there's a nicer part of town for people who got born lucky?" Magna scoffed.
"Yep, pretty much. Is it not like that in Rayaka?" The Blond asked. His normal relaxed smile resting comfortably on his face. Luck still didn't like being back here but when he focused on Magna it was easier to just be himself.
"Ha! Hell no! The nice part of town there was the one building that had all its windows intact. I think it actually looks better now but that's because the Kingdom finally started paying attention to the smaller towns after all the attacks and crap."
They continued like that as they walked through town. Magna did not miss that Luck was intentionally getting him talking instead of talking about his home town that they were currently in. Every now and then the blond's attention would wonder and his smile would become sad or start to look strained. But then he would look back at Magna as if reminding himself that his friend was still there and that cheery smile would be back.
The fire mage would never admit that it was moments like that where his heart would pick up pace a bit and he could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. But It's not like the lightning jerk made him feel special or anything! Sure, he straight up said that out of all the Black Bulls he was the most okay with Magna being the one to go visit his mom with him. But that didn't mean Luck wanted him here.
“There's the school.” Luck pointed out with a flat tone.
It was a large stone building, there were a lot of windows but overall nothing remarkable about it.
As Magna looked at the school and surrounding area, Luck spoke with a small smile and though his tone sounded fond there was almost a bitterness to it as well.
“A few times a year there's a magic competition. Mostly sparring matches. It's normally just a chance for the nobles to show off how much more magic they have then others. You can enter as soon as your magic comes in, so the first year I participated, I was six. My magic had just come in a couple weeks before so I had zero control but I won all my fights. Haha no commoner had ever beat a noble at the school before.”
“Yeah, well, they had clearly never had someone like you before!” Magna said proud of his rival. He knew Luck was strong and a natural talent but to beat a noble right after getting his magic really was impressive.
“I didn't realize it at the time but looking back, I think I really hurt him. He was crying… A lot.” Luck sounded almost mournful.
“Well, yeah!” Magna said and placed a firm hand on the blond's shoulder to reassure him. “You were only six. And your magic had just come in a couple weeks before the fight. So, it makes sense that you hurt the other kid. Not your fault the stupid system didn't account for a kid with your kind of raw power.”
Luck just stared at Magna as he spoke. He didn't know what to say to that, but hearing it put so bluntly did help the uncomfortable feeling that had been bubbling up calm down. So, Luck just laughed and chose to keep moving. “Haha! You're funny, Magna.”
As the blond started to turn and continue on their way and before the delinquent could get out his retort, an older man called out. “Do my old eyes deceive me or is that little Luck Voltia?” The man in priest robes asked as he exited the school and walked towards the two magic knights.
Magna saw Luck's expression shift to his standard smile and watchful eyes. It took some time to figure it out but after years of being in the same squad as the Cheery Berserk, Magna had come to recognize that particular expression as his default. Not his neutral expression, just what his face does when the blond doesn't know how to act in the situation but feels he's supposed to act a specific way.
“Father pointy nose. Hi.” Luck said with a wave.
Magna held in a chuckle because yes, the man's nose was rather large and came to a sharp point. The priest's eyebrow twitched and his smile fell as he closed the distance and placed a hand on Luck’s shoulder. With a heavy sigh he said. “I see you have not changed young man… Although you are much taller than last I saw you.” His voice became a bit more fond at the last comment.
The lightning mage just laughed. “How have you been, Luck? I'm glad to see you became a magic knight after all.” father pointy nose said, removing his hand from the blond's shoulder before adding in a mutter. “Although I had hoped it would be a more respectable squad…”
Not missing a chance to brag about his friends Luck proudly states. “The Black Bulls are the strongest magic knight squad with the strongest and coolest Captain. Didn't you hear how we played a huge part in saving the Spade Kingdom from those devils?”
“Do you not have a member who uses the power of a devil himself?”
“Yup! Well, two actually. Asta is the one you've probably heard about and then there's our Vice-Captain too. They're both super powerful and care a lot about helping people. Even if Vice-Captain Nacht doesn't want people to think he's a good guy.”
Father pointy nose, clearly not expecting this response, was taken aback. “Well, maybe you have changed a bit after all.” He said in a fond, almost proud tone.
The blond tilted his head not sure what he meant by that but then he decided it didn't matter and shrugged turning to his friend. “Magna, this is father Chris. He was a teacher when I went to school here. He used to talk about the magic knights a lot and encouraged all of us to try and join them if we got the chance.”
“So, you do know my actual name.” Father Chris muttered with an eye roll before turning to Magna and extending a hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you young man. I see you too are a magic knight.” He said, referring to Magna's cloak.
The fire mage shook the priest's hand. “Yeah, and I'm Lucks friend.” Something told him he should add that. It mattered. Especially right now.
At that father Chris's face lit up. He had a genuine smile as he said. “Truly a pleasure indeed then.” He turned back to ask Luck. “So, what brings you back here? It's been quite some time now.” Then his eyes fell on the flowers in the lightning mages hand and he realized the reason. “Oh, going to see your mother after all these years?”
“Yeah, haha.” Luck scratched the back of his head. “We should actually be going now. But it's good to know you're still alive, father pointy nose.”
“I understand. It is nice to know you are still alive as well, little Luck.” The priest said with a smile and a wave as the two magic knights continued on their way.
Magna made eye contact with the old man for a moment before following Luck. His expression was a mix of emotions and honesty Magna couldn’t read them all. So, he just nodded his farewell and caught up with his squad mate.
The rest of the walk was uneventful. As they walked through the nicer part of town Luck pointed out where he had some decent fights, the restaurant he all but destroyed because they tried to restrain him when they found out he didn't have money. Then they'd fall into a comfortable silence as the two walked side by side.
The building started getting more run down and spread out, making it clear that they were getting to the edge of town. “So, how far out does your mom live anyway?” Magna asked because it looked like they were about to leave town, just a different way then how they entered.
“We're here.” Was all the blond said.
His response only confused the fire mage more because all that was here was the iron gate to a… graveyard.
“I’m an idiot.” Magna sighed. He felt so stupid. All this time his friend was going to visit his mother's GRAVE.
Luck turned to him and laughed lightly with a smile. “Well, yeah you definitely are, Magna, haha. But when it comes to this I really should have tried harder to tell you. Sorry.”
“Yeah, probably. But I get it. I mean you did say you wanted to come here by yourself so that makes sense.”
Luck opened the gate and made his way inside. He glanced back at Magna and saw that he hadn't moved. “I also said out of everyone I was the most okay with you being here. So, come on, idiot Magna.” He teased with a genuine smile.
Much like the town itself, the graveyard had clear segregation… There was a whole section of nice gravestones, statues and stone crosses. Then there was an area with simple wooden crosses on dirt mounds. Some didn't even have the wooden cross.
Luck stopped at one of the graves with a plain wooden cross not far from a large tree. “Hey, mom.” He spoke quietly, smiling softly as he sat down and placed the flowers he had picked earlier that day at the base of the cross.
Magna went to sit under the tree. Not far in case Luck wanted him close, but far enough that he felt like he was able to give his friend some privacy. The fire mage already felt awkward about being here at all.
“Sorry I never visit… I've been thinking about you a lot lately though.” He paused searching for the words. Luck had felt like he needed to come here and talk about what was on his mind but now that he was here it was hard to get his thoughts straight. “Not too long ago I fought a guy named Svenkin. He used this crazy body magic and it was a super hard but also really fun fight.” He smiled and remembered how it felt to push himself so far.
“But, when I asked him why he was destroying everything and hurting people.” Luck's voice was quiet as he looked up at the sky and continued. “He said it was for this crazy lady named Vanica that he loved. That was it. His only reason for fighting and hurting people was to make someone else love him. I realized he was just like how I used to be… And it made me sad. I used to think that if I kept winning on my own then I could earn your love. It didn't matter if someone got hurt or if I destroyed a bunch of stuff or if I got hurt and even died. All that mattered was making you happy.” Luck looked back at the grave and clenched his pants in his fists. “But, you're dead.”
“I don't fight for you anymore. And I haven't for a while now. I fight for my friends and squad mates. I fight to protect people. And, I fight because I want to. Not because I have to earn your love. You were wrong, mom. There are people who love me just the way I am. They don't ask me to act differently. We're all different or weird! Haha actually, you would probably not like them. To be honest I'm not sure you ever liked me… That’s probably terrible to say. You took care of me and gave me everything, that’s what killed you even. I just wonder if you did all that more because you felt like you had to, not because you loved me. But, that's okay, I know I was hard to deal with.”
Luck sighed this didn't feel like he wanted it to. He wanted to feel relief at getting to express what he was feeling. But, maybe he wasn't sure what he was feeling. The words just aren't coming out right. He wants to get this weight off his chest but talking isn't helping. It just feels weird. It's not like his mom is actually here so it's just a one sided conversation and it's just making Luck feel worse.
“I'm sorry I couldn't make you happy but thank you for all you did for me. I won't bother you again. You can just rest.” The lightning mage said as he stood and walked over to the tree Magna was sitting under.
“Let's go.” He said to his friend before walking out of the graveyard the way they came in.
Magna stood up and followed wordlessly. He didn't know what to say. It seemed like there was so much more Luck wanted to say to his moms grave but didn't. What the fire mage heard didn't sit well with him and he wanted to tell Luck just how messed up it is to make a kid feel like they have to earn love. He had realized not long after meeting the cheery berserk that Luck felt like he had to earn positive attention, and there was some reason he always had to do stuff on his own. Getting to understand even some of how the obsession with fighting started and why his friend took it to the degree that he did made Magna want to punch something.
Magna also didn't like Luck comparing himself to those psychos from the Spade Kingdom. Sure, the lightning maniac had his issues but he wasn't evil. When it came down to it Luck was a good person and Magna had seen him go out of his way to help people. And in those moments that crazy smile of his always gets just a bit softer.
As soon as they stepped past the iron gate and turned towards the town's edge, Luck kicked him in the side causing the delinquent to fold in pain. “Hey, Magna!” The maniac shouted with a bit too big grin. “You wanna see somewhere actually cool?”
“What the hell, you phyco?!” Magna shouted and coughed as he tried to catch his breath.
“Haha! There's this super cool cave not far from where we left your defaced broom. Let's go!” Then without any other warning Luck grabbed Magna's hand and ran out of town laughing as if he had just heard the best joke.
The fire mage got his bearings a few moments later and started running with his companion instead of being dragged by. It was some time after when they were past the town border, rushing past farms and livestock that Magna realized Luck was still holding his hand… Magna's face went red as he got flustered.
He didn't know what was weirder, the fact he hadn't noticed or the fact that Luck hasn't let go yet. Maybe he just hasn't realized either. Yeah, that had to be it. Magna thought but before he could do or say anything on the topic the blond turned to him and smiled. “race ya!” was all he said before letting go of his rival's hand and taking off. Now not hesitating to use his magic.
Magna grinned in return and was only a beat behind as he rushed to race his friend in earnest.
Seeing as they left town on the opposite side then they entered, they ran around the long way to get back to where they had left Magna's Crazy Cyclone. By the time they made it to the cave Luck was talking about, it was well past midday.
Admittedly the area just outside the cave was much nicer than most the rest of the area. There were large trees that grew around the entrance, almost framing it. The flowers were in all shades of colors and they made a half circle in front of the mouth to the cave. It was beautiful, yes but also really weird. Plants didn't grow like this on their own.
“You aren't gonna tell me this is actually the entrance to a dungeon are you, lightning boy?” Even Magna could sense the crazy mana coming from deep in the cave.
“Hehe! No! But, the mana does get weird the further in you go. And the cave system is pretty crazy.” Luck replied as he made his way into the cave. “One time I got lost in there for like a week. It's safe to spend the night though. And the sunset is really pretty from the entrance.” He was smiling but something still just didn't feel right.
Magna watched Luck move a large rock that was towards the back of the cave to reveal a carved out hole in the ground. Inside was a small burlap sack. “Haha! I can't believe this is still here!” He laughs and plops the bag down next to the fire mage.
“What the heck is that?” He asked suspiciously.
“Hehehe I used to come out here to train a lot after mom died. Sometimes I would stay the night in this cave and just go back to town for school. Until I got kicked out, that is, haha.” Luck opened the sack and pulled out a blanket, some bandages, a couple jars of some very questionable looking food, a pillow and kids clothes. “Huh, pickled things don't go bad right, Magna?”
“I'm pretty sure they can still go bad… But, I don't actually know for sure.” He crouched down and picked up one of the jars to take a closer look. Floating in the liquid was something that probably used to be a vegetable along with chunks of mold. “Yeah, I'm not eating this.” Magna said, making a face and putting the jar back down carefully. He did not want to know how that smells.
Magna's eyes then fell on the small bundle of blue fabric. He picked it up and unfolded it to get a better look. It was almost identical to the tunic Luck used to wear ever since they met, it was just much smaller. A question was nagging at him that he just couldn't ignore anymore. “Hey, Luck?”
“Hhm?”
“How old were you when your mom died?”
“Eight.” He chirped, not even pausing as he continued to shake out the blanket.
“So, why the hell were you sleeping in a cave instead of the orphanage or maybe even the school? It looked big enough to have dorms.” Magna couldn’t help the frustration building. He had a hunch on what his friend was gonna say and he didn't like it.
“Oh, I had a bed at school. But, none of the other kids liked me being around and most of the time it got way too boring there for me anyway so I would just train till I got tired and crash here.” Luck was smiling and talking like all of this was perfectly normal. “The only one who ever actually noticed or, well probably more so cared, was father pointy nose. He was always worried about something or someone though. So, when I started not coming back until the next morning he would tell me “it's too dangerous out there for a young boy” and “What if something happened to you.” Haha silly right?” Luck remembered the last of those conversations when he had replied to father Chris asking who would care if he died anyway. Father Chris had looked horrified and he couldn't even think of what to say to that. Luck had just laughed and walked away.
“That ain't silly! It's messed up that he was the only person in this whole crap town that cared enough to say anything about an eight year old alone in a cave!”
Luck stopped what he was doing and looked at his best friend. He didn't know what to say or how to react to that. It's not like Luck said anything that he thought would upset Magna. Normally Luck gets his rival all worked up on purpose. But, this time he wasn't totally sure why Magna looked like he wanted to punch someone.
While keeping eye contact, slowly, very slowly, Luck began to crouch down. As soon as the pillow was within reach he grabbed it and full speed, full force threw it at Magna's head.
The fire mage was knocked back and fell on his ass. Luck laughed and pointed as Magna yanked the pillow off his face and started spitting out feathers, dust and who knows what else that was in and on the old thing.
“OH! IT IS ON!” Magna declared as he threw the pillow back as hard as he could. When Luck dodged it the delinquent pulled out his grimoire and began bombarding the cheery berserk with grand slams.
It devolved into an all out match with both mages using some of their best spells. They had fought several times since their intense six months of training apart but especially after all the weirdness of the day It was nice to have something so familiar.
Moments like this made the two rivals feel as though they were the only people in the world. They knew each other's fighting styles and knew how to anticipate each other. That also meant they both had to keep getting stronger and come up with new strategies or their fights might get boring.
They fought for hours, both smiling ear to ear. Eventually their mana ran out, the two Black Bulls fell into the grass panting and looking up at the sky. The setting sun painted the sky with brilliant oranges, reds, yellows and purples. They stayed there for a long few minutes. Catching their breath and watching as the sky slowly turned darker. The forest was quiet, any animals in the area would stay away for some time after all the noise they just made and power they threw around.
“You really have gotten crazy strong.” Lucky's voice was so quiet Magna almost didn't hear it.
Magna rolled on to his stomach so he could look at his companion. “What was that?” He asked because he had to be hearing things. There's no way Luck just admitted that Magna had gotten a lot stronger.
The blond turned his neck to look at Magna with those striking blue eyes that were far too innocent for the mischievous smile that spread on his face. “hm? What are you talking about? I didn't say anything, fireball brain.” He giggled as he hopped up and began to walk back to the cave. “We should get some rest though. I bet you're real tired out after me beating you up like that.” He teased.
“You beating me up? Try looking in the mirror, lightning brat!” Magna grumbled as he dusted himself off and followed his friend back to the cave.
Once they made it back to the cave Magna went and picked up the old crappy pillow and said. “You can have the blanket, I'll take this.” Then he laid down next to the wall and tried to make himself comfortable. It definitely wasn't his idea of a vacation but they had slept in worse conditions. Part of Magna wanted to complain about them not just going back to town and staying at an inn for the night, but he had heard all those people talking as they walked through town. And noticed how fast Luck got them out of there. He wasn't about to ask his best friend to go back there.
Luck didn't bother picking up the blanket, it wasn't that cold of a night. He sat down just inside the cave and looked out at the forest he used to train in. The blond had always had trouble sleeping and it only got worse when his mom died. So, he would train until he was so exhausted that sleep was the only option.
Sparing with Magna was fun. For a while there Luck felt normal again. The uncomfortable feelings nagging at him just faded away when he got to fight his best friend and rival. But, now they’re back. Luck knew he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, even with him being worn out from that match. The lightning mage resigned himself to a night of looking at the starry sky and thinking about things he really didn't like thinking about.
“You gonna sleep, Luck?” Magna asked.
“Yeah, in a bit.” He lied, giving his squad mate a smile. After Magna gets some rest then we can just go back to the base. I never should have come back here. He thought.
Magna had been so tired after his match with Luck that he actually managed to fall asleep. When he half woke up a couple hours later and rolled over he saw the blond sitting in the same spot he had been in when Magna laid down.
He sat up and tried to rub the sleep from his eyes. “Luck?” No response.
The fire mage stood up and grabbed the untouched blanket. Walking over to his friend he made no point to be quiet, but the Cheery Berserk still didn't react. It wasn't until Magna was right next to him and placed the blanket over his shivering shoulders that Luck spoke.
“I think there's something wrong with me, Magna.” His voice was small and strained, as if he was trying to keep from crying.
Magna didn't say anything, he just sat down next to the blond and listened.
“The first time I ever cried was after my mom died. The next time after that was when I was possessed by that elf. Mom used to beg for me to cry or get angry, anything to get me to stop smiling. But, I never could. She got so frustrated sometimes that she would start hitting me but I still just smiled… She hated my smile… All she wanted was for me to be normal.” Luck hugged his knees to his chest, shoulders starting to shake, but not from the cold, blue eyes shining but still no tears fell.
Magna clenched his jaw and placed a hand on his best friend's back. He wanted to point out how fucked up so much of that was, but that's not what was needed right now. The blond doesn't get emotional like this often at all and seeing him like this made Magna's guts twist.
“Until that fight at school that is. When I told her about it she smiled and gave me a hug. I had finally made her happy and proud of me. She told me to keep winning. So, I kept fighting even after she died, and I had to win. She used to tell me that no one else could ever love me, that it would only ever be the two of us and no one would ever help us, so we had to do it on our own.”
Magna's blood was starting to boil at this point. How Luck used to act was making more and more sense.
“But… But, she was wrong. She died and I was alone. I still fought for her though. It's all that mattered. Just fight, win and someday die, then maybe she would be happy. I fought so hard for her for so long and now I don't even think she really loved me. I tried so hard to make her happy but I only ever remember her hugging me that one time. I honestly think I've gotten more hugs from you, Magna, than my mom.” Luck let out a weak laugh, it was bitter and sad.
“Maybe that's fair though… After all, I couldn't even stop smiling when she BEGGED me to. All I ever did was cause trouble for her so it makes sense if she didn't love me.”
“You cause a lot of trouble for the Black Bulls too but we still love you.” Magna said without thinking.
Those watery blue eyes turned to look at him for the first time since Magna woke up. Small tears starting to fall.
“You don't gotta cry, you don't gotta be happy or sad or angry. But you can. You can feel whatever it is your feeling and there ain't nothing wrong with it. There ain't nothing wrong with you, you're just, Luck. Parents are supposed to help you feel safe. Not make you feel responsible for their feelings.”
“I was safe with her.” He responded weakly, it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself.
“But, did you feel safe?” Magna asked bluntly.
Then there was a shift in Luck's expression. He looked like he wanted to be annoyed and fight Magna on this, but the tears still slowly falling down his face gave away the truth. A belief that Luck had clung to like a lifeline for so long was fading and it was terrifying.
“Yeah, she probably did her best, I'll give you that. But, that doesn't make how she treated you okay.”
“I deserved it though…” His voice was so weak and small.
“Like hell you did!” Magna lost it at that. Seeing his friend hurt like this was too much. He needed to figure out how to make Luck understand. Then a memory popped into the fire mages head and he forced himself to take a deep breath so he could continue with a calmer tone.
“You remember when Finral's brother tried to kill him at the Royal Knights exam?” The blond nodded confused as to where this was going. “Do you think it was Finral's fault that Langris lost control like that?”
It clicked in Luck's head, he squinted and hugged his legs tighter. “That's not the same.”
“Oh? From what I heard Langris blamed Finral for a lot of crap that happened when they were kids and ended up resenting him for a while. But you're right. It's not exactly the same. First Langris, while still being a total shit, has actually worked stuff out with his brother to some degree. The even bigger difference is that. You. Were. A kid.” Magna looked at Luck with a dead serious expression emphasizing each word. “It wasn't your fault and you didn't deserve to be treated like that, Luck.”
That was it. The floodgates burst and the tears started pouring down in earnest. Magna wrapped his arms around his friend and pulled him in. Holding him tight and burying his face in the blond fluffy hair. Luck cried into his chest, letting everything out that had been sitting below the surface for who knows how long. His body shook as he wept, grabbing onto Magna's jacket like it was the only thing keeping him afloat.
They stayed like that for a long time. As the tears started to slow and Luck's sobs became softer, Magna started carding his fingers through the blond locks. Luck wrapped his arms around his best friend returning the hug and squeezed tight. He didn't want this warmth and comfort to ever go away.
Safe.
Luck had never thought about whether he felt safe or not. He had been able to physically defend himself at a young age so it never occurred to him before. But right here, right now, Luck knew without a single doubt that he was safe. Not just physically but emotionally. He knew Magna wouldn't judge him for breaking down like this. Just like he has never judged Luck for being aggressive and ruthless in a fight. There were times when it felt like Magna knew him better than Luck knew himself. And yet the fire mage has never pushed him away.
After a while Luck sniffled and mumbled into Magna's chest. “How grumpy would you be if we went back to the hideout now?”
Magna shrugged and said. “If that's what you want, it's whatever. But, how long did Captain Yami say we had?”
The blond pulled away to sit up and wipe his face with his sleeve. Trying to rid himself of the tears and snot. “He said to take all the time I wanted, but I really don't want to be here anymore, Magna.”
The delinquent smiled at him, clearly a plan forming behind those eyes. “Just cause you don't want to stay here doesn't mean we gotta go back to the hideout now. I say we take advantage of the time off and have a little fun.”