Coddiwomple Trivia #7: It was Acier who taught Delphia how to braid. Not being able to see the back of her head, Delphia braided her hair to the front, which led to Acier being inspired to create Nozel's signature hairstyle.

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| Clover Kingdom Royal Capital |

Delphia yawned as she trudged behind her rookies as they made their way to Headquarters. As she looked over her paperwork, she focused her visions on her current path so she could continue working while avoiding any obstacles. A rather unconventional use for her clairvoyant abilities, but a necessary trick she learned back when she was a new recruit to prevent backlogs.

"This is awesome!" Asta cheered in awe, "It's this huge up close?"

"Could you calm down? You're embarrassing me," Noelle huffed.

"So awesome!"

"Hey!" Noelle blinked, a light blush coating her cheeks. I'm alone with Asta.

Delphia watched the two with a quirked brow, mirth alit in her eyes. I have a feeling that my presence has been totally disregarded. The fortune-teller chuckled, her eyes catching sight of familiar uniforms walking ahead of them.

"Well, hello! If it isn't the members of the Golden Dawn!" Asta greeted.

"Ah, it's been a week, Asta." The light blue-haired man acknowledged, "Are you here to give a report, as well?"

Delphia stayed back, tilting her head in interest as her eyes lazily drifted over the trio. Their senior was Klaus Lunettes if she remembered correctly. She could vaguely remember his own Magic Knights Exam. He was quite clever in his use of magic and battle strategy. He was one of the recruits that she had suggested to William when she realized the potential he would grow into while within the Golden Dawn.

She hummed in interest, eyes glowing subtly as she nodded approvingly. Klaus had yet to reach his highest potential, having been held back by the prejudice between the social classes, but it seemed that that wouldn't be a problem anymore.

Turning her eyes on their only female member, Delphia blinked in surprise. Mimosa was always a talented mage, mainly as a healer, but it seemed that meeting their magicless rookie has ignited the spark within her to further her own growth.

With proud eyes she switched her gaze to the final member of the trio. Her eyes widened minutely as she gazed at the boy, a near breathless gasp escaping her lips. A few visions danced across her mind's eye as her fingers twitched, a sense of longing suddenly weighing heavy on her chest.

This feeling...

Reigning herself in, Delphia breathed out slowly as she finally allowed her magic to settle.

"Have your wounds completely healed?" Klaus asked.

"Yeah!" Asta assured, "My stomach still hurts a little, but I ate lots and slept lots, so I'm fine!"

"What are you, a kid?" The ravenet jibed.

"Who are you calling a kid?!"

"You."

"You're the same age as me!"

Delphia bit back a snort at the brothers' bantering and watched on quietly as her juniors interacted, brow quirking with interest at the suddenly flustered states of the two royals. Eyes switching between the two girls and the ash-blond, she hummed in amusement.

Delphia blinked as she found herself staring into amber eyes.

"This is...?"

"Oh yeah!" Asta grinned as he motioned towards the tarot user, "This is my vice-captain, Phia-senpai!"

At the introduction, the violet haired mage nodded her head politely in greeting. "Delphia Rotta."

"L-Lady Rotta!" Klaus saluted in acknowledgment of her superior rank and role within the kingdom, "I apologize! I did not realize you were here!"

"No need for that," Delphia waved her hand lazily.

"Delphia-san~" Mimosa giggled as she hugged the taller woman, "It's nice to see you again. How are you?"

"Hello Mimosa, you've certainly grown."

"Oi Yuno, Phia-senpai is like really important!" Asta boasted, "She's the Wizard King's trusted advisor!"

"Is that so." Yuno mused, staring at the woman rather blankly, though his eyes held a spark of curiosity.

Delphia returned his stare as the others looked between the two in confusion.

"We should move along," Delphia sighed, returning her attention to her work, "Please lead the way, Klaus."

"Y-yes ma'am!"

Unnoticed by the others, amber and cyan met once more, an indiscernible emotion hidden behind their blank eyes before they followed after their squadmates.

* * * * *

"I believe headquarters is this way."

"I guess there are things even you don't know, four-eyes."

"Indeed, there are."

Delphia quirked a brow at the steel user's easy acceptance to his nickname from Asta.

"We don't often get to come to Headquarters." Klaus reasoned.

"Asta," Delphia called, gaining the boy's attention, "Not many knights get summoned to Headquarters. Most reports are written by those on the mission, which are then given to the Captain. Though it is usually thought to be a lower rank knights' work, it is the vice-captains that handle the delivery of our mission reports to Headquarters."

"Eh? But why? It shouldn't be that hard." Asta frowned in confusion, "Can't you just mail it?"

"If you just look at it like that, then your words hold some truth," Delphia agreed, "But mission reports hold sensitive information. In the wrong hands, our enemies could gain a decent image of our mages and create countermeasures against us. Do you understand, Asta?"

As he took in the information, the young teen nodded, his fellow rookies and senior also taking the vice-captain's words to heart.

Delphia perked up, tilting her head back, waving lazily at the figure that stood at the entrance stairs.

The rest of the group stared in shock at the figure.

"Y-Your Majesty!" Klaus gaped before quickly moving to kneel before the man, "I never expected you to welcome us yourself.

Delphia watched on in amusement as Noelle and Mimosa followed suit while the two peasants stared at the unexpected guest in confusion.

"Who's that flashy old guy?" Asta wondered.

"You fool! That's the current Wizard King, Julius Novachrono!"

"What?!"

Delphia snorted behind her papers, shoulders shaking minutely as Asta was forced to kneel. Never had anyone called out Lord Julius in such a disrespectful manner besides the captains and Marx. Composing herself, she saluted before making her way to Julius' side once he had acknowledged her.

The group watched in awe at the natural interaction between the Wizard King and his most trusted.

So these two are...

The Wizard King and his Counsellor.

* * * * *

Delphia stood beside Julius, having joined them after handing in some reports to the missions office. She looked curiously over the man's shoulder at the ancient script, easily deciphering and understanding its contents.

"Well done acquiring this," Julius complimented, "This magic was probably the most important relic in that dungeon."

"You can read that?" Yuno inquired.

"Somewhat. I'm sure Delphia can easily translate it, right, Delphia?"

Delphia only shrugged. While she could, it would be best to leave the boy to discover the power inscribed within his grimoire.

"The most important relic! So cool!" Asta admired.

Delphia sighed, shaking her head ruefully as Julius fell into his fanboy phase. Please show some restraint, Lord Julius...

He's so excited. Klaus sweatdropped, pushing his glasses up as he observed the Wizard King. I guess the rumours about the Wizard King being a total magic nerd were true.

"Hey, would you try using this magic?" Julius practically begged, eyes sparkling, "Please?!"

"I'm sorry," Yuno began hesitantly, "I think it activated in the dungeon once, but... I haven't been able to use it since."

"What? I see... Aw, that's too bad."

Delphia rolled her eyes fondly as Julius' face dropped in dejection at not being able to see such unique magic. Her eyes strayed to the grimoire, her magic humming beneath her skin.

Sylph, the Wind Spirit of the Four Great Attributes... so she chose him, huh?

"All I can say for now is that the spell will grow with you and one day become an extraordinary power." Julius explained, "Take good care of it."

"Yes, sir."

Delphia nodded approvingly. She couldn't have said it better herself. She sweatdropped as Asta pushed Yuno aside, holding his own grimoire open for Julius to inspect.

"Wizard King! My grimoire has some weird scribbles in it, too! Please look at it!"

"Hey, you're being rude!" Klaus scolded.

Delphia tilted her head, quite puzzled as she moved closer to examine her squadmate's grimoire. Luck and Noelle had mentioned that Asta had gained a new sword, but she had not realized that it was a spell that inscribed itself into his grimoire, having thought it was just another magic tool.

At first glance, Delphia would have thought it was written using Yami's homeland's language, but there were many scriptural differences. She frowned as she felt that the text was familiar before blinking, realizing it was similar to some of the script symbols in the journals she had researched with William last week.

"Lord Julius..." Delphia trailed off.

Julius nodded in agreement, "This is..."

Asta's eyes sparkled as he gazed at the two expectantly.

"This is?!"

"Something we can't read at all." The two shrugged in unison.

Asta anime fell.

"I've never seen this writing in any documents. Can you shed some light, Delphia? This is your area of expertise."

Seeing the hopeful look in her junior's eyes, Delphia regretfully shook her head, not wishing to give the boy false hopes.

"While I have come across a similar script, there are differences between the two. It could be a difference in dialect or a mistranslation on the pieces I have gathered," Delphia explained to Asta, "If you'd still like to know what it says, I could cross-reference it to my own notes on the script, but I can't promise anything."

Asta's eyes sparkled once more as he nodded eagerly, making Delphia sigh fondly.

"Oh! This thing pops out of it! Take a look!"

Delphia watched in interest as Asta summoned his sword. It was always interesting to watch the young magic knight summon his swords despite his lack of magic. Quietly, she'd wonder how this anti-magic worked when it was mana's natural enemy but still held some of the same concepts as summoning spells used with mana.

"Ah, a second anti-magic sword!"

"I got mine to work," Asta smirked as he turned to his rival to gloat.

"A-Anti-magic... C-Can I touch that?"

"I wouldn't suggest that, Lord Julius." Delphia drawled as she read over the written report of the dungeon mission she had recorded while the members said their piece.

"B-But Delphia..."

She knew it was a mistake, but she couldn't help but peek at her king. Her shoulders slumped as she sighed heavily, waving a hand in consent much to the man's joy.

The others sweatdropped. It was as if watching a mother enable her child.

"Go right ahead!" Asta presented the sword, once his vice-captain gave her permission.

"Thank— you?!" Julius gaped as he struggled to hold up the sword, "It's so heavy!"

"Are you alright?! Wizard King!"

Julius just laughed it off, assuring them of their unfound worries. "I'm amazed that you can actually swing this around."

Delphia sighed, moving her own hand around the hilt to help Julius. Even if she knew she wouldn't be much help, she could at least offer some assistance. Though she mainly wants to avoid a lecture from Marx if he gets wind that she didn't bother to help their superior save some face.

Delphia hid a flinch, eyes trained on the sword. Our magic... it's being absorbed. She was quick to release her grip.

Delphia's magic had a unique property to it. She had no idea what the sword would do with it, but she wants to avoid it. While she can trust Asta, she still felt wary around such an unknown element.

"Thank you," Julius moved to return to the sword to its owner, "You can have this back now."

"Yes, sir!"

"This is beyond my abilities. It appears you're able to wield it because you have no magic."

"How did you know I don't have any magic, sir? And about my sword that cuts through magic?"

"That's an excellent question."

Delphia sweat dropped beside Julius and his attempts at acting mysteriously. My reports aside, you found out because you snuck away from Marx with your disguise again.

"Well, anyway, you all did splendidly. Good work," Julius commended.

"U-U-Um, d-d-do you have a moment?" Asta stuttered.

"What is it?" Julius wondered.

"H-How..." Asta began.

"...do you become the Wizard King?" The brothers asked.

Delphia paused in her work, eyes gleaming as she stared at the two boys. Oh... these boys really are interesting.

Julius laughed, impressed by the two rookies' gall. "I see. So you both want to become the Wizard King. Any magic Knight should have that aspiration."

"I can't believe you guys would be so tactless to ask that of the current King!" Klaus reprimanded, "Listen, the Wizard King is someone with a benevolent heart that has the trust of the citizens-"

"That's not true," Julius cut him off, "It's results."

Delphia nodded in agreement, eyes filled with respect as Julius continued his lecture. This is why Lord Julius is our King.

"You can't protect anyone with just pride. Trust comes after you've proven yourself with results. There is only one thing people want from the Wizard King... Results that prove they are the best. Produce results. Continuously gaining merit is everything. Anyone who can't do that doesn't deserve to be anywhere near the top."

"That's what I was hoping to hear!" The boys declared.

Julius just smiled in pride and laughed. Delphia watched beside him in a fond reminisce.

They remind me of two other pairs... William, Captain... Fuegoleon, Nozel...

"Now then, we're actually holding a decoration ceremony today for the Magic Knights who've been awarded an outstanding number of stars," Julius informed.

Delphia tensed up, paling as she could already guess who was attending. Ah.... That's today?

"Deco...?" Asta blinked.

"Decoration ceremony," Julius repeated as he grabbed Delphia's wrist to stop her from sneaking away, "It's a ceremony where we award those who have done exceptionally well and honour them."

"Wow..."

"I would love for all of you to join us."

Delphia slumped against Julius in defeat, knowing her fate was sealed.

"Huh?"

* * * * *

"I wonder what decoration ceremonies are like," Asta wondered as the group trailed behind the Wizard King.

They stared in confusion as Julius kept a hold on Delphia, while the woman seemed to be almost dragging her feet.

Noelle sweatdropped at the uncharacteristic actions of her idol, though she also had a feeling of foreboding. I have a bad feeling about this.

"Do you think... You'll be able to produce more results than them?"

Delphia frowned beside Julius as she regained her composure, watching as the doors swung open.

Cyan eyes darted around the room. Blue Rose, Golden Dawn, Silver Eagle and Crimson Lion, huh... William is missing... She frowned, having hoped to at least have her friend keep her company during the banquet later.

Delphia's shoulders tensed as she felt two sets of eyes piercing her. She sweatdropped, avoiding said gazes as she trailed after Julius, ready to assist in the ceremony as she had done many times before.

.... damn you, Lord Julius.

"Now then... let us begin the decoration ceremony."

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A/N I updated! I know I said the alias would be mentioned in this chapter, but re-reading it I thought it seemed a bit out of place, so instead it will be in the chapter after the next! So voting will continue until my next update! I'm so excited for this arc! Things are about to go down!!!! ^-^

Let me know what you think! Thank you for all your support and your anime suggestions! I hope you continue enjoying the story! 

Question: Besides anime and reading, what have you all been doing to pass the time? (I need something else to do)

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UPDATED: 07/06/20