WARNING: I strongly suggest y'all get caught up in the anime and manga. Later there will be elements of the story that will involve things that have yet to be mentioned in the anime so READ THE MANGA! This warning also involves the fangirl rant beneath about the recent episodes.

Now before we begin... HAVE Y'ALL SEEN THE NEWEST OPENING TO BC????! I just caught up with the latest episodes and guys I am screaming! The most recent episode was amazing. Love the Golden Dawn and Langris' character development really makes me proud. I got plans for him and Delphia and it will be so fluffy that I can't. 

^^^ALSO THE OPENING WAS SANG BY TOMORROW X TOGETHER! First their Haikyuu inspired MV and now this! I DIDN'T THINK THIS SONG WOULD BE FOR AN ANIME! They actually sang an anime OST! They living their weeb dreams y'all! My two worlds are colliding in the best ways possible! Okay enough. Sorry for the wait, but here's the chapter! 

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Black Clover Trivia #12: Kahono is based off Honoka Akimoto, a fan of Black Clover and a member of Team Syachihoko (a Japanese female idol group).

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"Hey, senpai! We're here for another visit!" Asta cheered as he entered the quiet room. Noelle frowned as she berated him for his horrible manners within the healing ward. The ash-blond laughed nervously as he placed a melon by his vice-captain's beside.

"We brought you a melon!" He grinned, "I told my family back in Hage that someone in my squad got hurt, but don't worry, I didn't say who, so everything's still hush-hush! Anyway, Sister Lily told me that when we visit someone like this, we should bring a melon! I'm not sure why, but we got one that's should be nice and juicy, so wake up soon, and we can all have a slice!"

Noelle sighed at her partner's usual loudness but let him be as she took her time to take care of Delphia's hair. The Silva smiled to herself as she recalled the days she would spend the night at the Rotta Manor, having her own hair brushed under the gentle ministrations of the older woman. Those simple routines are always accompanied by stories the violet-haired woman can recall or has been told of Acier's antics and her adventures with Vale and their friends.

"You're missing a lot, senpai," Asta frowned as he plopped down in one of the chairs, "We met the strongest mages of the Eye of the Midnight Sun and even their leader Licht. We really could have died! But it's a good thing the Captain of the Blue Rose, Silver Eagle, and Green Mantis showed up! I even learned a new technique during the battle! I can sense ki now—"

Asta continued to rant before he was eventually interrupted by a knock on the door. The two teens frowned as one of the guarding mages suddenly peaked his head in.

"I'm sorry Black Bulls, but your squad is outside waiting for you. Captain Yami has given orders for you to join them now."

Noelle sighed as she put the brush away, squeezing her idol's hand in reassurance.

Asta filled with determination as he stared at his sleeping vice-captain.

"We're off Delphia-senpai! Wish us luck at the Underwater Temple!"

As the duo left, they failed to notice how one of the crystals monitoring Delphia fade from green to amber.

* * * * *

What is this?... Another vision?... A memory?...

She couldn't breathe. Couldn't speak. She could feel nothing as she floated in the abyss, a white noise ringing in her ears. Her sense of identity was lost as spectres smothered around her, drowning her in whispers and screams. Both too loud and quiet for her to make out, brushing past her as swiftly as the wind.

She could only suffer in silence as vision after vision consumed her, eating at her sanity as it left her dazed and confused, lost between what she believed were memories of the past or visions of the possible futures.

"—are you? Ah! Found you! Hm..? Napping again? Wake up!"

She looked off vacantly as she took a moment to just breathe. She took in the sensation of the grass beneath her, tickling her exposed arms and neck as a light breeze caressed her skin. She winced as the sun peeked out behind the foliage of the trees, blinding her momentarily before gaining a moment of reprieve as a figure suddenly loomed over her.

The rays of light formed a halo around the individual, obscuring their features. She could barely make out the exasperated frown on the figure's lips as they scrutinized her.

"You should stop wandering off to nap. You're late again."

She could only stare blankly as the figure— a boy from what she can deduce from his voice and physique— reached down to haul her up onto her feet and began dragging her off. Her eyes remained trained on the boy's vermillion locks and the significant height difference between the two.

Her eyes trailed down to her hand, which the boy kept grasped in his own. Despite the firm grip, it was gentle and warm.

They twisted through the thicket, soon navigating themselves though stone pathways before reaching an open courtyard. There, tapping his foot rather impatiently, was a silver-haired boy she guessed was around the same age as the vermillion-haired one. She could discern nothing else as the boy stood with his back to them.

She frowned as the sun seemed to blind her from seeing the boy's face as he whirled around, the sound of their footsteps gaining his attention.

"You two! Hurry up! We're wasting time!"

"Patience is a virtue, you know."

"Tch."

"Come on, before he decides to stomp off on us again."

"I do not stomp off!"

She blinked as the hand gripping her own suddenly disappeared, leaving only the phantom touch of their warmth as her only clue that she was ever with them. She stared silently at the place the silver-haired boy once was... waiting... waiting for her... She cradled her hand against her chest as if to preserve the warmth lingering around it.

"You'll be left behind if you continue to daze off."

Breath hitching in her throat, she tilted her head back to look over her shoulder, eyes snapping to the violet curls of the woman holding out a hand to her. Staring at the pale hand, she twisted on her heel, nearly stumbling as she placed her tiny hand in the woman's own. She shivered, a chill going down her spine as she tucked her face in the bulky scarf wrapped snugly around her neck.

"Where?"

The woman hummed as she glanced down at her. She frowned as she took in that secretive, knowing smile dancing across the woman's lips.

"It's time you meet some old friends of mine."

Her leather-clad feet trudged through the layers of snow as her short strides pattered to match the woman's longer ones. Before long, she found herself tilting her head back, gazing up at the imposing stone walls surrounding two grand doors. She watched as they seemingly opened on their own, allowing them entrance.

Her hand squeezed around the woman's as they made their way inside, stopping in front of a couple. Her brows furrowed as she stepped forward almost unconsciously towards the lady of the couple, whose hands cradled her stomach in an almost reverent way.

Her companion smirked down at her as she moved past her to greet the couple. She couldn't help the way her hands shook at the gleam in the woman's eyes as she motioned her closer. She followed the unspoken order with hesitant steps, nodding her head in greeting as she surveyed the couple, her eyes straying to the pregnant lady's stomach once more.

"Can you feel him?"

She blinked, frowning minutely as her hand rose. She tilted her head in question as it hovered over the lady's belly. A smile was her form of assent, and she gingerly rested her hand on her stomach. Her eyes widened, her mouth forming an "o," feeling the baby's mana pulsing beneath her fingertips, reaching out for her own.

"The blood is strong in her to be forming a bond before the baby's even born."

"She's my daughter, after all."

She took a step back beside her companion, quickly reaching out to grab her hand despite something inside her telling her to go as far away as possible. Her ears rang as they spoke. She winced, cradling her head. She barely noticed the woman tugging at her hand as she led her out. Looking over her shoulder, her eyes widened, seeing the blank tendrils trailing over the couple. They continued to wave them goodbye, seemingly unaware of their predicament.

Not them!

She yanked her hand from the violet-haired woman's as she ran, reaching out for the couple, only to pass through them like smoke and crash into a hard chest.

"Oof— maa maa~ slow down there. What's the rush?"

Her breathes escaped her in panicked gasps as she clutched onto white robes. Her hands shook, her heart pounding against her chest as she tried to make sense of what was happening. Her head snapped up, barely avoiding butting the man's chin as she pushed herself out of his grasps.

"Hey— Hey! What's wrong?"

The man asked, his hands reaching and hovering, unsure of his next actions.

"I... I—"

Her eyes watered as she allowed gravity to pull her onto her knees. Her body trembled in fear, but for what, she was unsure. She heaved a sob as she cradled her head in pain and shock.

"...Come on. The others are waiting..."

She sniffed as she felt the man bring her to her feet. As he let go of her hand, she reached out to clutch onto the back of his robes before he led her off. She wiped frantically at her face as she sensed the presence of multiple individuals just ahead of them.

"There they are! You're late again!

Peeking out from behind the man, she waved almost sheepishly in greeting. Many could only sigh helplessly while the others laughed at their latest additions.

"Come now, at least they're here. Take a seat and join us!"

The fear that once pervaded her body ebbed away, her heart aching at the man sitting at the head of the table. Her hand reached up to rest against her chest in confusion, brows furrowing as the pit of her stomach churned with dread and regret.

"Y'know we could always sneak off if you aren't up for this? I don't think they'd mind."

Glancing at the man who had accompanied her, she shook her head. She wanted to stay here... here with them... for as long as she could.

Not yet.

Breathing deeply, she composed herself and took a seat.

"That's right! Now, just do what you did backwards and repeat. If you can do it without any mistakes ten times, we'll move onto the next exercise."

Her hands moved as if they had a mind of their own, running along the keys of the grand piano. She froze midway, letting out a breath as her surroundings grounded itself once more.

"Hm? Did you forget the next key?

She blinked as silver entered her vision. The woman smiled gently as she patted her head, hand kind and comforting. At her touch, she could only close her eyes and lean into her, her heart filled with longing and regret.

The woman's laughs rang like bells in her ears.

"No time to sleep! You can nap later, alright?"

She nodded slowly as she returned her focus on the piano before her and redid the exercise. The woman hummed beside her, swaying to the beat of the metronome.

"Do you like the piano?"

She didn't deign the woman with an answer as she finished up the scale. She sat in silence, the only noise being the monotonous beat of the metronome. Staring at the black and white keys, she closed her eyes as her fingers danced across the keys once more, no longer carrying the hesitance of an amateur as she played a nostalgic melody.

"Here again?"

A man. Silver hair.

"You're playing has improved."

Vermillion locks. A proud smile.

"I'd love to listen to you play again, little one."

Proud eyes. Brown hair.

"Uwah~ Play it again, please!"

A child. Silver braids.

"As beautiful as always!"

Dirty blond hair. Purple eyes.

"Eh? You can play? Show me!"

Blond hair. Sparkling eyes.

"Waaa~ I wanna play!" "Teach us, please!"

Identical cyan eyes.

Her eyes fluttered open as her fingers pressed on the final key, the note ringing through the empty room.

She didn't bother to take action as the walls began to crumble, inherently knowing she would not get hurt. As the floor saved beneath her, her heart never wavered as she fell. Sitting up, she coughed, smoke filling her senses as she was surrounded by burning buildings. She squinted her eyes as a blast came from her right. Her arm rose to cover her face from the wave of heat and aftershock. Pushing herself up on her feet, she stumbled back as glowing figures destroyed the two and killed innocents.

Gritting her teeth, she ran. She ran and ran, ignoring the burning in her legs and the ache in her chest. Pass the bleeding citizens. Pass the destroyed buildings. She ignored the screams and cries. She ran past them all. She panted, clutching her wounded stomach, ignoring the red dying her hand as she entered one of the many estates. Her breathed hitch as she found them, only to witness their impalement by several weapons.

Her eyes widened as she stumbled forward, falling onto her knees. She could only crawl to their mutilated form, pressing on their wounds in desperation. Her jaw clenched as her hand stained with their lifeblood. Her surroundings crumbled and burned as she could nothing but cry and scream her frustrations. She was always too late.

Sleep! Sleep! Just sleep!

Her eyes were empty as she stared fixedly at the woman lying on the bed. If she didn't know any better, she would have thought she was sleeping almost peacefully, but she knew it was anything but. Crystals glowed subtlety as they surrounded their defenceless form. She ignored the hollowness of her chest as arms wrapped themselves around her, dark chuckles reverberating in her ears.

"It's time to wake up, dearest."

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Chapter Title [ Toska (n.) a dull ache of the soul, a sick pining, a spiritual anguish ]

... I'm back? Sorry, online school is kicking my ass. But I guess I've gotten the hang of it now so I should be posting regularly again. Chapter was shorter than usual, sorry. I had a lot of ideas, but they didn't really fit with this rather confusing chapter. I promise we'll be seeing more baby Leon, Noz, and Phia in the future. 

Question: How y'all doing? 

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UPDATED: 24/09/20