In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
Shattered Grimoires is the work of the mind(s) of Ardere & Shattered Grimoire's staff. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. Black Clover is owned by Yuki Tabata and published by Viz Shonen Jump. All images belong to their original owners. The theme you are currently viewing was made by Eliza of ElizaCodes exclusively for Shattered Grimoires.
Post by Cecile Iris du Ange on May 2, 2020 2:20:58 GMT -5
To say that she was having a rough time was an understatement. Sure, she had emancipated herself, declared herself no longer swearing fealty to the guild. Yes, she openly informed them that she would outclass them all, that she would be the master among masters. And yes, she told them that she would do it on her own! Had she expected retaliation? Yes, yes she did. Had she expected it to be global? To be harried beyond Spade Kingdom's frozen wastelands and deprived of her contacts? No, no she had not. For the fallen angel of spade kingdom, Cecile iris du Ange was doing her hardest to tough this out.
She breached through the border of that northern expanse, into the continent-wide forest that was home to those that called Baba Yaga their deity. The thicket of those gifted with magic. The femme fatale focal point. The Witches' Forest. Between the past several months of being smuggled in, she dealt with witches trying to convince her to stay, to hone her craft for them, like a tool. Cecile was not some kind of tool! Demure at the worst of times, and a boisterous blowhard at the also worst of times. Did she have the best of times? Hard to say really, when you are gifted with the power of the heavens themselves, and you suffer from a duplicitous complex of inferiority and superiority, there was little to no middle ground for the redhead.
About two months prior, the borders were opened, the barrier was broken, and the people could immigrate and emigrate as they pleased through the forest. Trundling to and fro out of the bark gilded thicket. Cecile was one such person today, as she was chased down by several Spade Kingdom mages!
"After her dammit!" "Well land a spell for once!" "Maybe if you weren't busy ogling her bathing--" "Shaddap! I was tryin' to get a good shot!" "Pervert," said the other two in unison before they all launched a variety of spells Cecile's way. A cascade of elements breaking through the branches before they were whisked back by the witches themselves!
Cecile tumbled her way out of the frying pan and on to the skillet. Arm cut open and bleeding profusely. They wouldn't be held back for long. They were elite members of the Thieves' Guild after all.
Still, she needed a moment to heal up. With her grimoire opening, the pages revealed themselves, even pages black, odd pages white. Gilded ends and golden text. With an aura surrounding her book, she gained a magical circle with four-pointed spikes sticking out of it like a halo, hovering above her head. From her back sprouted large black wings, feathers hovering over through the gentle breeze as she put her right hand over the wound on her left arm, and a gentle light started to work on healing it.
"Pissing fire, that stings. Dammit." She swore while hissing in a sharp breath. She was still not a master at healing, especially considering her weird angelic magic being tainted by the umbra of darkness.
Artemis had been tasked to checking the recent activities that had been happening within the borders of the Forsaken Region. The Outer Lands was a place where lawlessness prevailed, and Artemis, as a Magic Knight, did not even dare to venture out there alone. Without any true purpose, a visit to the Outer Lands might just be suicidal and really very pointless. There was nothing there that was previous save the life that you bring with you. No, for the most part, the Outer Lands was a place bets avoided.[break][break]
Today, however, something was amiss. Artemis was not one to dilly dally within the taverns of the Forsaken Region when designated to patrol the border. Unlike her Magic Knight colleagues, she rather liked being out and about. The Forsaken Region and its menacing, yet captivating, flora and fauna had always calmed Artemis. Therefore, on her days spent here, she made sure to take a gander around the border itself, where most of the vegetation was wild, untamed, and held a beauty that is unrivalled. She supposed that she could be described as crazy by some, but amongst the Green Mantises, she was most likely the one who could defend herself the best from any type of ambushes.[break][break]
Mana. Artemis could sense it a mile away. Mana was being used in large quantities. It seems that some sort of fighting was happening. Artemis herself perked up as she tried to take stock of the situation remotely. The epicentre seems to be close by, and Artemis needed to see what was happening. The mana signatures were more than just one, and from the interactions of the different mana within a single area, it could only mean one thing: battle.[break][break]
As quickly as she could, Artemis sprinted towards the location. She would not stop for anything, and from what she knew, she could be entering into a skirmish. There were only a few things that bordered the Forsaken Region and the Spade Kingdom. One of them was the Witches’ Forest. From what Artemis knew so far, there was Ki love lost between the Clover Kingdom and the Witches’ Forest. However, the presence of the Spade Kingdom should not be ruled out as well. From what Artemis knew, they had also been active recently. Not enough to warrant attention, but enough to keep some of the Magic Knights Squads on alert. This was more important for the Green Mantis, whose base was located within the Forsaken Region. If all of these information were added together, there were only a few possibilities as to what is happening. First, it could be that Spade is harassing villagers who had gone deep into the forest, which truly was unlikely. Second, Magic Knights were warding off an attack by the Spade Kingdom, which was also unlikely since there were no reports of any such activities and hostilities. Third, and the most likely suspect, a clash between the Witches and the Spade Kingdom. All of the scenarios were not really good for Artemis, though she had a duty to check anyway.[break][break]
What Artemis saw, however, resembles the third scenario. It seems that some Spade soldiers, at least they looked like Spade soldiers, were chasing after a young woman. There were witches in the fray, though they seemed to be in a pinch. Artemis, at this point, had two choices. The first she could leave, this was not her fight, though technically it is within her right to stop them, especially they are within Clover territory. The second option was, well, to fight. The young woman seemed like she needed help, and Artemis could never leave a civilian unaided when they need it. While she was a Green Mantis, she still had some duties that pertained to protection and aid. As well, she might be a Mantis, but she did have a heart for those in need.[break][break]
A quick decision later found Artemis’ Aphrodite bow in her hands.[break][break] “Get down!” Artemis would yell to the young woman and the witches, before whispering, “Aphrodite, fly true.”[break][break]
Three arrows were sent towards the Spade soldiers. In succession, they would catch the men by surprise, killing three while catching the others by surprise. However, it seems that there were at least a handful more than were now aware of Artemis’ presence. The woman would curse, before barking out, “You all better start running if you don’t want to get caught in this. If you can’t, try to stay behind me. I will try my best to protect you, especially the one healing up.” Artemis pointedly looked at the young woman who seemed to have an interesting type of magic. She would worry about that later, for now, she had a few more Spade soldiers to kill. [break][break]
Name of Spell: Aphrodite[break] Elemental Type: Water[break] Rank & Spell Type: Senior | Attack Creation & Sensory (Illusion)[break] Range & Speed: 80 meters | 50 m/s | 70m AOE[break] Mana Cost: 30 | 15[break] Stats Effected: Power +9, Blinds, -9 Sensory[break] Applicable Perks: Area of Triumph, Battle Knight, Master Illusionist, Quick Shot[break] Description: Aphrodite is a bow made of Artemis' element, water. When the string is pulled back, an arrow made of water appears and can be shot by Artemis. Through ammo rules, Artemis is able to create more than one arrow at a time per draw and shoot. The Bow itself can be used in a physical fight, though its main use is for ranged combat. The arrows can either pierce an enemy, or it it hits solid materials like ground or walls, it bursts into sharp water needles that hits in an AOE manner. At first hit, opponents are blinded by the water that hits their eyes. The blind effect only happens once per opponent. The arrows, as well, are coated with an illusion, making them very hard to see, hear, and detect with mana, and finally are able to home in on their intended target because of the user's Sensory. Those hit by the spell will also have their sensory debuffed, following on debuff rules.[break]
Post by Cecile Iris du Ange on May 6, 2020 1:42:39 GMT -5
"Come on! I can sense her already! We're nearly there!" Shouted one of the men from Spade as they hunted their charge. They were seeking to get to Cecile before anyone else could approach her and lend aid, however, it seemed that some witches were involved as well already, lending a hand in getting their fallen angel comrade out of their forest and to the sanctity of Clover's Borders. What they sought was only one person, however.
"What do you mean? There's like four of them!" "Yeah, are you a moron?" The two berated their cohort while the first one just rebuked them both, "Who's the sensory specialist here? I can track specific signatures!" "That why your attacks suck so much?" "Shut your mouth before I send a homing bolt your way asswipe!" They fought each other more than they fought their target, which was in Cecile's favor at least. When they breached through the forest line they were able to make a mad dash for their hopeful easy kill, no dice for the gents it seemed.
They were going to be met with a green mantis, a magic knight of Clover Kingdom! "Dammit! Why now of all the times?!" One shouted as they all tried to ready themselves for a fight, while the witches were running, Cecile was still there, unable to move as she tried to heal herself, those black wings sprouted from her back as the turning black halo hovered above her head.
Three arrows swiftly flung true through the air, piercing the three men and pinning them to the ground dead, like some kind of insect display box. The remainder of the forces were already slowing their approach. They had to stop, they were not going to throw away too many good men at one simple girl, well, they would, just not in this case while she was being guarded by a magic knight.
"Oh, I--thank you very much for saving me." Cecile said while the presence of the remaining thieves started to retreat back into the treeline.
"They, they shouldn't come back. For now, at least, I hope." She stuttered, hissing in pain as she tried to heal herself, it was always such an annoyance to heal herself when her magic was suited to lending her aid to others. But alas, she was doomed to get injured more herself than other people getting injured around her. The curse of being a fallen angel.
Artemis would watch as the Spade soldiers decided their fate. She did not care one way or the other. They could refuse to give up their chase, trample into Clover Kingdom territory, and in essence, be trespassers. This allowed Artemis to use all force necessary to dispatch them. Even then, since they were already on the outskirts of the Clover Kingdom, they had technically trespassed. Artemis had the right to kill or capture them, though she preferred to kill. It was, after all, much harder to capture enemies, and have to drag them back to the nearest town. Even then, she would have to call for back up, and transport. More worse, she would have to fill out paperwork. So, when she saw the Spade soldiers, or whatever they were, slow their advance, Artemis would breathe a sigh of relief, only because she did not want the hassle on her part. [break][break]
Slowly, they turned. Artemis could hear them still argue. Something about not wanting for this to be a hassle. Or maybe it was something along the lines of Artemis being too strong. Better yet, she could hear them arguing over the fact that there was a weak member in their group that had made them weaker as whole. Typical. Artemis could never understand the pack mentality that some soldiers had. Always following, never leading, and in the end, blaming others for their misfortunes. She was almost tempted to send another barrage of arrows, if not a wide area spell that would deal with them forthwith. However, she squashed that desire down. Artemis stood there at attention until they were out of sight, and out of her sensory range. They were mostly low tiered goons, at least, the way they acted made them seem so. For the most part, they should not be able to bypass Artemis’ sensory skills. However, she herself did not want to risk it. The people behind her should be safe, but she wanted to give it a few moments to make sure it was not a set up for an ambush.[break][break]
It took a few moments, and then they were all in the clear.[break][break]
Artemis would look back towards the young woman. She had half expected the witches that she had seen be there as well. Though, for whatever reason, the witches seemed to have ran away. That would pique Artemis’ interest. If they were all witches, why would they leave one of their own alone? Better yet, why would the witches not stay and defend their kin? She supposed it might have something to do with survival. The witches can be cruel sometimes, even to their own. Artemis had heard of stories revolving around witches and how they treat those who leave their forest. The Witch Queen, at least those in the stories, was a cruel mistress. Artemis could definitely see the reflection on those that left their comrade behind. The decent thing to do is to help out your fellow, but Artemis supposed that decency can easily be thrown away at a moment’s notice, especially in times of danger.[break][break]
Speaking of the young woman, Artemis found herself drawn to her magic. It felt like healing magic, though the black wings felt odd in some form. It almost felt like it was cursed for some odd reason. This intrigued Artemis further as she let her latent sensory ability to check the young woman’s magic.[break][break]
There.[break][break]
There was definitely an anomaly. Artemis herself was not astute in these matters, and she knew little of the type of magic this young woman had. For the most part, healing magics were light in colour, though there were some deviations. [break][break]
“Your magic.” Artemis would start as she knelt on one knee and looked at the young woman with concern, “Are you alright?” She would ask. Artemis rarely showed kindness, though this young woman evoked an instinct within her. Caring. Well, she supposed that she did have a caring side somewhere deep down the bowels of her psyche. [break][break]
Artemis would then glance backwards. A habit for those who had seen combat. “No, I don’t think they will be back.” Spade soldiers would not be caught dead, at least en masse, crossing the border. Though, she did have a three bodies to account for. If she reported this, it’ll be the same excuse of patrols going further than they should by accident, or maybe even citizens who wandered off too far and got lost. [break][break]
“Will be fine?” Artemis would once again address the young woman, before reaching into her pouch, something she carried on her at all times, hanging on her belt. A long cloth was pulled out and handed over. “Here, use this to cover up any injuries you might have. Just to make sure it doesn’t get infected.”
Post by Cecile Iris du Ange on May 16, 2020 0:31:55 GMT -5
With the witches having retreated, the remnants of the Spade Forces scattered, it left two people here, a thief from a foreign land and a knight that had a rap sheet for being in "that squad". She inquired about Cecile's magic, if she was alright, and if what she said that it will be fine was true or not. Cece just turned her attention to the stoic knight from the assassin squad, offering a thumbs up while those black wings were spread out behind her back.
"Thanks." She said while taking the cloth offered to her, wrapping it around her closed up wound, having healed most of it on her own. "So, you're probably wondering a few things! I'm happy to answer some questions! You saved me from those guys, so, I have a lot to thank you for at least." Cecile said as she stood herself back up, grasping on to her grimoire, slamming the pages shut while those wings dispersed into fading feathers on the ground, blending into the shadows. Meanwhile, that halo stopped revolving before breaking into tiny little shards of mana.
If Artemis inquired about her magic, she would explain it in as much detail as she can, "Well, as you know, witches tend to have weird magical effects tacked on right? I'm supposedly gifted with angelic magic, but it's fallen. My grimoire, half of the pages are white, the other half is black. All the writing is golden, at least for the pages that have spells in them. I was told by the Baba Yaga that in my passing through the forest my magic harbors a great deal of power should I learn to harness it. As far as I know, I have two main angels in my book: The Angel Nuviel, and the Archangel Stalviel."
If she was asked about her attachment to the witches, or what it was she had been abandoned by them for, "I was simply trying to get passage through the forest, point A to point B. I'm doing my hardest to get away from Spade."
"And about Spade, I have ties to them I'm trying to sever. Not the army or any nobles from the cold North. It's more like...A Guild. That's all I can say without dragging you into being hunted!" She declared while striking a dramatic pose, an arm thrust over her eyes to keep her sight obscured from being locked on to.
"As for my name, I am Cecile Iris du Ange! And mine is the task of becoming she who will surmount even the highest peaks! I will trounce the greatest names of the infamy of the world, by taking that from which they have ill-gotten! I will be the master of masters, the phantom thief herself!" She....was really grandiose.
Artemis would pause a moment. The danger was past now, and she made sure that they were by using her latent sensory. Their signatures were gone, at least within the vicinity, and she made sure to check thrice. It was always good to be very careful, after all. The Spade Kingdom can be petty in everything, and their soldiers even more so. She expected the soldiers to double back, or at least, they seemed like soldiers. Armed to teeth, looking like Spade soldiers through and through. Though, truly, she could have been wrong about it. In the end, she was quite sure that the Spade contingent of men would not be back.[break][break] “No thanks needed,” Artemis would respond. “It was my task to patrol the borders of the Clover Kingdom, at least, this area.” It was very lucky that she had been close enough, and that she had been a sensory type of Magic Knight. Anyone else, anybody at all that had been posted here as patrol, and they might not have caught this young woman being pursued by the Spade scum. “As long as you’re fine, that is all there is to it.” Artemis kept vigilance, though she would listen as the young woman would start to explain her magic. [break][break]
“Angel magic?” The Green Mantis mage would look with interest. She had never heard of any such magic, at least , had never met one in person. She had thought that Angelic magic was all lost. Artemis had read the tomes and manuscripts of old. One of which was the piece of parchment that had taught her the magical technique of Ki sensing. The others outlined old and obscure magics, and one of them was Angelic. “Cursed? How so?” She would ask further. A grimoire with two separate portions. Artemis had only heard of this type a few times in her life, mostly with the people who have two elements. “I’ve only heard of grimoires have two separate sections, and those are mages who were gifted with two different elements.” She would finally respond, “Do you think that might be the case for you?” It was possible, though Artemis was wary of a curse. [break][break]
And then she talked of escape, of a new life. Of a thieves guild, one that Artemis knew by name and by trade when she was still stealing for the pleasure of it. She remembered them well, and she remembered being approached. She did not say yes, though she remembered them well. Artemis would watch the young woman explain, and in the end, introduce herself. [break][break]
“I know of them. The thieves guild.” She would finally respond. “Only by name and reputation, and some of their members.” Artemis needed to know everything there was to know about the criminal underworld, after all. She was a Green Mantis, and of course, was also a criminal herself once. “They are vicious, vile, and very dangerous to those who might cross them.” Artemis would look to the horizon, “The best place for you is here in the Clover Kingdom, though you still must be careful.”[break][break]
She would gesture towards the young woman, Cecile Iris du Ange, “Whatever your goal is, you must first stay your hand. Keep safe, and watch your back.” Artemis lingered for a moment, “The question is, where do you go from here?” The Clover Kingdom was vast, and the angelic mage would soon realize that it can be both a blessing or a curse.
Post by Cecile Iris du Ange on May 30, 2020 1:20:02 GMT -5
She continued to bow her head and offer her thanks, even though she was not asked to give the thanks she so draped over Artemis. She did not desire to put herself on the same level as Artemis, she was much better than she was to offer help to a stranger and those who were harried and chased away. But that melted away, inferiority to everyone and everything in existence faded away as soon as she had her magic praised, standing up tall with her nose turned upward to the sky, "But of course mine book is naught the sullied and tattered pages of some amalgam aberrant abomination, mine is a book simply standing second to none from on high." Her personality just did an entire one-eighty.
"Cursed with the malefactor of the umbral dark of the horizon beyond our reach, my angelic aura is dampened only to be given a black coloration and dark air about it, however the further the spells will go, the closer to true light it shall be. For there is nary a soul who shall compare to the herald of the hierarchy of angels. With my two golems Nuviel and Stalviel, I shall lead myself into greatness to trample the very people who sought to tread upon my person!" She spoke with such confidence and superiority, it was kind of scary.
Though, it again took a one-eighty when Artemis bespoke ill of the Thieves' Guild, a group of gangsters she once called comrades in arms. Lowering her gaze and turning her head to the side, she cleared her throat, face overcast by the shadow, the literal shadow, of doubt and self-loathing. [cololr=teal]"Ah, forgive me, I know not my place. Please, forgive me for even a sentence of death is not good enough for one as low as I. I too was one a part of the party of pilfering punks you so deign them to be. Brazen was I, so bold as to attempt an egress from their employ and emigrate to this great nation of yours. Unworthy as I am, I had hoped beyond the scope of my grasp to find footholds of safety within these borders."[/color]
This girl was one big weirdo, wasn't she? WC: 375 1750
Artemis could only nod as the young woman seemed to have turned her personality quite a bit, if not fully. The first indication Artemis had was the young woman’s speech patterns. Where once it was a young woman who seemed to be more scared than anything else, it was now replaced by a speech pattern that was more sure of herself. There was an air of confidence around the young woman that had caught Artemis off guard. It was unnerving in and of itself, though Artemis decided to just roll with it for now. [break][break]
In all fairness, Artemis knew nothing of the young woman. So this behaviour might be something that was common to her. What struck her was the tone she took when describing her grimoire and her magic. There was reverence, yet also regret and sadness laced in it. At least, that was what Artemis took from how she had started talking about the tome. [break][break]
“Of course, your grimoire’s magic is definitely a very special one, and I suppose so are your spells.” Artemis nodded, trying to find semblance in the young woman’s spiel, “One’s magic is special to their own, even mages who use the same elements could never have the same type of magic. They will all be different, in terms of how they feel to a sensory mage, and how they manifest in terms of spells.” Artemis herself had quite a number of dealings with other water mages, whom all used their element in myriads of ways unlike her own. It was always an interesting experience, and she made sure that it was a learning one as well. [break][break]
Artemis continue to listen to her spiel, however, though had nothing else to say about the two names that were dropped. Nuviel and Stalviel. Artemis was sure she had read those names somewhere before, though she could never be sure these days. The problem was that she had been sent all around Clover, and she had less time nowadays to occupy herself with her books at the Somerset library. One day she will need to reacquaint herself with the family’s library, maybe even try to find the book where she had read those two names, or at least names fairly close to those names. [break][break]
“A new life in the Clover Kingdom,” Artemis would finally start, hearing the young woman talk of her past, and of the lack of direction she had now, “is not as easy as you might think.” She would pause, trying to find the right words, before continuing, “The people here are sometimes too afraid of outsiders, with the recent developments around our borders, and of course the war with the Diamond Kingdom had been a catalyst as well.” She would think of the countless dead, and those affected. The landscape of the Clover Kingdom had been socially changed somewhat, starting with the Magic Knights and the Captains that were lost. New talent always rose from the ashes of the old, surpassing the previous generation, and that was what kept the Clover Kingdom going all these years. “But, there is always hope for those who are looking for it. The Clover Kingdom is a vast place, one where a new life can be found. You might need to work hard for it, but I am fairly sure that it is not impossible to find.” Artemis then looked towards the horizon, “Atone for whatever you have done from the past, find your peace,” She paused now, looking towards the young woman with a softer gaze, “Then come find me.” She offered.
Post by Cecile Iris du Ange on Jun 9, 2020 3:53:58 GMT -5
As Artemis responded in kind to her own words, Cecile took a moment to turn her gaze away, still overcast by the shadow of self-doubt, literally obscuring her face somewhat with a shadow. She attempted to lift her chin and look back to the woman who spoke of her magic, and the magic of others, "Alas, it was presumptuous of one, cast down as I am, to glean a shred of humility from the realization of the breadth of arcane anomalies and all other forms of uniqueness within this great world. Though not deserving of it, I pray you shall look upon one so debase as myself, in hopes of attaining some semblance of forgiveness." Even her volume of speech was toned down as if she were casting herself deeper into the shadows of her magic.
She seemed to shirk down, wincing with a grimace splayed across her face. "Again scorned as I am, I meet naught but further trepidation. Foolishness is my name, as I have come in without permission, I have breached the border for my own selfish service. There is not a single person more deserving of animosity as I." She clutched her chest with one hand, the other grasping her grimoire firmly.
As she was told to atone for what she has done, Cecile turned, the orange-haired fallen angel looking at Artemis, her demeanor changing the moment Artemis offered Cecile to come and find her. "OH HO HO HO HO! So you have seen the true worth of what I may be able to do. While I am not some common level thug or thief, I am but an unpolished diamond within the rough! For it is I, I alone, who shall form a great team. It will be me, she who will cusp over the top of the mountain of fame and infamy, balanced precariously upon the edge like a razor. It shall be myself that shall be the greatest of all thieves to ever have or shall live!" Did she really just say that in front of a magic knight?
"it will be my personal goal to show the way to properly be an expert thief. I shall see to it that the master thieves of the world are mastered themselves. By stealing that which they do not deserve. Their precious trophies, their ill-gotten gains, and their coffers shall be pilfered! How is that for atonement?!" She planned on stealing from the masters and giving back to those that deserved it? Well that was a good idea to start supposedly.
Artemis would shake her, with both amusement and silent admiration for the young woman. She was someone who was on the run, yet had set sights on such a lofty goal that was almost impossible to achieve for a commoner. To be able to compete with the Thieves Guild, that was something that was impossible in and of itself. There was a reason why the Thieves Guild has existed for this long, however. They were not only numerous, but they also has mages that were quite strong in their own rights. Truly, to be so wanted by the Thieves Guild that was within the Diamond Kingdom meant that this young woman was someone important. They would not send a party to chase after a nobody, after all.[break][break]
“Well, the invitation is open.” She would nod, “A thief you may be, and a master thief you may want to be, but I would say a better life is a better choice.” Artemis would shake her head. “To live a life doing something other than what is expected of you, that is something to strive for. You don’t have to be a thief, after all. Your magic showed potential, and with the Green Mantises, I can definitely see you prospering.” She would personally look after the young woman, maybe even take her under her wing. “You have talent. If you’re willing, let me help you soar higher heights.” Artemis would then look towards the direction of the Green Mantis base.[break][break]
“One day, when you’re willing and ready, I will be waiting.” [break][break]
Artemis then left. She had things to do, and a report to file. The young woman need not reply, nor did Artemis expect her to make a decision on what she wanted to do with her life. Truly, she would be a great addition to the Green Mantis squad. Well, one could hope.
