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02 The Trials

Coddiwomple Trivia #1 : Delphia has no siblings and is the heir to the Noble House of Rotta.

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"We will now have you all take several tests," William began, "The nine of us will evaluate your performance, and then select the candidates we would like to add to our squads. If you're chosen by more than one squad, you may join the squad of your choice. On the other hand, those who are not chosen by any captain are not qualified to join the Magic Knights."

The tension was palpable as the examinees realized that it has finally begun; every action they make from that moment on would be scrutinized by the captains they admired greatly and determine their futures.

"For the first exam, we will have you get on those brooms and fly."

Worried whispers erupted from the crowd, many having not experienced flying before.

"Mages who can control their magic powers should be able to do this instinctively. It is the most basic way for mages to travel. If you cannot fly a broom, you're not worth looking at."

William glanced over his shoulder, meeting Yami's eyes. Taking a long drag of his cigarette, he rolled his eyes, nodding at his fellow captain's silent inquiry. The masked man smirked, returning his attention to the examinees.

"Besides the captains, there will be one other examiner that will be evaluating your performance. Lady Rotta?"

"Oh no..."

"Isn't she just the vice-captain of the worse squad? Is her evaluation even valid?"

"That may be true, but her magic is one of a kind. She can practically see into everyone's future with her abilities. I heard even the Wizard King goes to her for counsel."

"It's not well known, but after her first year of service, she's become a vital part of the entrance exam. If she doesn't even give you a glance, you can bet your chances of becoming a Magic Knight are slim to none." 

Delphia yawned, stepping up beside William. Her eyes gleamed, her mana surrounding her lithe figure before releasing in a wave. The candidates shivered at the feel of her mana passing through them. It was strangely comforting as if someone was gently coaxing them to relax and tell them about themselves.

"With that, let's begin."

With her magic circulating and her intent clear, Delphia's eyes were slightly out of focus as she saw what others could not. Her gaze flicked in several directions, the captains noted each examinee her eyes remained on before moving on. Delphia's magic at work narrowed down the possible contenders, as the mana drew her towards the mages with the highest potential.

Her usually half-lidded eyes were wide as she studied the mages before her. Feeling her magic urge her, she withdrew a deck of cards from a drawstring pouch strapped to her waist, catching the attention of the Magic Knights around her.

"A reading? Phia's never done one during the exams before!" Finral gaped.

"It seems we have some outstanding candidates this year." William mused, half his attention on the examinees and the other on the violet haired mage.

Endued with her magic, Delphia slid her hand in an arc, the cards following, flying to hover facedown in front of her. She picked out three cards with her magic guiding her, humming as she deliberated over the cards' interpretations and their relation to the other cards.


Six of Wands. Death Reversed. Four of Swords Reversed.

Success and victory that will bring change that will be difficult to accept.


"Those boys..." Delphia whispered, eyes misty as she lost herself in the magic before she rose her voice for the others to hear, "Adversity lies ahead. A great change will come to the kingdom. Success and victory bring difficult acceptance."

The captains frowned at the rather ominous fortune, but one thing was clear. This batch of examinees was intriguing enough to trigger the Augur's sight, which said enough about their potential.

With Delphia reigning in her mana, the examiners returned their full attention to the hopefuls.

"What's the meaning of this?" Fuegoleon frowned as he examined one candidate struggle to fly, "No matter how low his magical aptitude, he should be able to get at least a little lift-off."

"Is that so?" Delphia's voice was meaningful, her eyes flicking towards the boy, "I think he's someone to look out for."

Despite their doubt, the captains couldn't help how their interest rouse at the knowing look in the woman's eyes.

"Oho?" Yami stared down the boy he nearly killed, quirking a brow.

This one, huh?

"If you don't mind Lady Rotta, can you do a reading on the boy rumoured to have a four-leaf grimoire?" William pointed out to the examinee standing on his broom.

Delphia nodded, hand flicking, forcing the cards to shuffle. Focusing on the boy, she snapped her fingers, ten cards arranging themselves in a spread to face her. Reading them, she tilted her head, eyes alit in fascination.

"His magical prowess aside, he's a formidable candidate. Stubborn, blunt and keeps to himself, but determined to reach his goals with a fever only rivalled by Lord Julius' need to discover new magics," Delphia's lips quirked. 

The captains sweatdropped, recalling the many times they were summoned only to be left waiting for the adventuring Magic Emperor.

"His potential is extraordinary," Delphia's eyes glow with power as she took in how the mana flowed around the boy, "He will reach great feats in his future and flourish tremendously in the coming year."

"Ne ne, which squad would he be best in?" The youngest captain, Rill, questioned, bouncing in his seat.

Her lips quirked, peeking at the captains as she summoned the cards to her palm, tucking them back in her pouch.

"Which squad indeed?"

William hummed, eyes locked on the candidate he wished to join his squad. He leant back against his seat, now satisfied.

"Thank you, Lady Rotta. Your words are of great worth to us."

Delphia eyed the masked man, nodding slowly. Yawning, she returned to her place next to Yami. Leaning against the stone chair, her eyes drooped as the fatigue weighed on her once again.

* * * * *

The next trials passed by quite quickly, this year's batch holding quite a few outstanding candidates, with the four-leaf grimoire user standing on top. The captains couldn't help but feel that Delphia had gotten a reading wrong for once as they watched the ash-blond examinee continue to fail to show any magical aptitude.

Soon, it was time for the final trial.

"Well then, the next exam will be the last one," William informed, "You will engage in actual combat."

"You'll be battling!" Delphia jumped, waking up from her dozing state as Fuegoleon addressed the crowd, "You will pair off and fight your partner. You may use your grimoires to attack. Fighting is our duty! Show us your true abilities!"

"As soon as one of your yields or becomes unable to fight, the exam will be over. There will be mages who can use healing magic on standby." William assured.

"So fight to your heart's content!"

Delphia stretched, humming in satisfaction she felt her back pop.

"Sleep well, Phia?"

Yawning, she peeked around the chair to meet the purple eyes of her fellow squadmate.

"As much as I always do, Finral. Did I miss anything?"

"Not much. They'll be sparring now. You might want to stay awake for it."

"I've seen their potential in the cards. Only two here have my attention."

Jumping off the armrest, Delphia shuffled over to the Captain of the Aqua Deer, sighing happily as she nestled against the younger mage's fluffy hair. Rill laughed, unbothered by the sudden affection, pulling the woman to sit on his lap, so she'd be more comfortable.

"Eh hoo hoo hoo~ you must be exhausted if you're this affectionate, Delphia-san~" 

She shushed the boy, running her fingers through his hair soothingly, legs swung over the arm of the chair.

"Would you two stop your shameful display?" Nozel hissed, "You are heirs to your respective houses! Act like it!"

Delphia frowned, snuggling further just for the sake of defying the Silver Eagle Captain.

"Ya know, braid freak, if I didn't know better, I would think you're her dad or something." Yami quirked a brow at the man's insistence to preserve his vice's noble facade.

Nozel glare hardens on the Black Bulls' Captain. "It seems an execution is needed. I'd be happy to oblige," His grimoire glowed ominously as his mana seemed to manifest around him.

"Nah, don't waste your magic on a hopeless captain."

Delphia hummed, her magic humming within her as she saw Asta step up with some high and mighty candidate that sent her all the wrong vibes.

Her eyes gleamed as the boy annihilated his opponent in one fell swoop, the stone of the floor concaving from his physical prowess alone.

"I'm not joining the Magic Knights so I can have a good time and avoid working hard," Asta declared, "I'm here to work my butt off and become the Wizard King!"

"Heh, how interesting~" Delphia mused, ignoring Rill's insistent pokes to tell him what she sees in the strange boy he sensed no mana from.

"Well, well," Yami hummed, now understanding why his vice-captain was so interested in the boy. He was definitely a unique character.

"Was that creation magic?" Final puzzled, "Judging from the previous tests, it didn't seem he had much magical power."

"He's not using magic."Actually, maybe it's more like he doesn't have any in the first place.

Delphia ignored the other spars. No doubt were many of the candidates were strong, considering many were of noble lines, but none showed enough promise to be of notice to her. That was until the four-leaf grimoire user stepped up with one of the nobles as his adversary.

She was unimpressed by the spell invoked by the nobleman. For a lightning spell, it was quite slow. The captains weren't just looking for members with large mana stores. The amount of mana was of little importance if you didn't know how to utilize it effectively.

The conjured tornado, on the other hand, was a sight to see. It was powerful and didn't only overpower the opponent's spell but manipulated it to work with the castor's own to create a compound magic counterattack.

Seeing the battle was done, Delphia hopped up to her feet, ruffling Rill's hair as she passed.

"Captain, I'll be heading back now. I still have work to do, and I have to stop by headquarters to hand in these reports."

Yami grunted, giving his consent as he kept his eyes on the examinees, only a few catching his eye.

"Leaving already, Lady Rotta? Why don't you stay until the squad selections? Your magic would prove quite insightful."

Delphia paused, looking over her shoulder to meet the violet eyes of the captain of the Golden Dawn. With a tired smile, she shook her head.

"Apologies, but I have reports to be completed by tomorrow. I'm sure the captains' observations would be more than sufficient for choosing your candidates. Good day everyone." She bowed before crossing through the portal Finral had produced for her.

"Hmm... shame she didn't choose my squad, Yami."

"Hey hey, don't go pouching my vice-captain, goldie."

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Yeah... my obsession with Black Clover is making me write faster. I knew it was gonna happen 'cause I read the manga but I'm still not over the recent episodes T^T It's not fair~

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UPDATED: 23/08/19

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