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.
Time wasn't really a concept that Aeila understood, but then she didn't understand more than what she was told. It had always been that way for the teenager, she was little better than a child in a grown woman's body. She was walking silently along side the man that she and Kurai had met near Ssoshi, due to her sensitivity to the light she was wearing her veiled hat once more. She was able to follow competently due to listening to the white haired males steps on the ground. In her arms she hugged her grimoire to her chest while in her left hand was her red spider lily. She had no idea what they were doing, she didn't know if leaving Kurai behind was the right thing to do but Jin had told her that Kurai had given him information on where her target was.
She was curious as to why Kurai wasn't going to be with them but said nothing, Jin had told her he had recieved further orders that he had to persue on his own. She wasn't about to question something that could be true, especially where her father was concerned. She tilted her head up after a momet as she heard something hitting the hat part of her veil. Slowly she moved her hand out her hand felt something cold and wet touching it and quickly brought her hand in, it had started raining and even though she didn't know it, it looked like it was going to get stormy really soon. This made it harder for her to be able to keep up with Jin as when the rain hit the floor it drowned out his steps and made her worried that she was going to make him angry for falling behind.
She bit her bottom lip, she wanted to raise her veil but wouldn't dare, the last time she had her hands were broken. She wanted to cry due to the situation she was in but didn't dare do that either, it wasn't like she could call one of her wraiths she was told not to do it unless there was an emergency by Kurai. She was in a predicerment that no matter what she done she believed that she would be in the wrong and punished for it, the worst thing was she didn't even understand which punishment would be worse to recieve because they were all painful in one way or another. She moved her hand out to see if she could at least feel the fabric of his clothing, she believed that he wouldn't mind that so much just so long she didn't touch him. She believed that this would be the lesser of all evils so longs he was a kind caretaker... then again she feared he would end up being one that looked for any excuse to punish.
Word Count: 480
I can end and prolong the life of all, but I can't change the fate of those who fall. I can't turn back time once death has arrived...
Not part of the plan, none of this was. A and K meeting them getting wrapped up in whatever there business was, simply was not part of the plan. Jin had intended to find out more from the two, especially the one called A the young frail women. She was odd not in a bad way just in a different way. She didn't speak much at all, and if she did her words patterns were broken and incomplete. He didn't think much of it till now randomly on how or why she spoke that way. The silver haired rogue was leading her somewhere, just some place away from K. The gold armored young man he meant well that was easy to tell, but the answers Jin wanted he would never get from him. He had a better chance with the girl who could barely speak.
Jin of course lied to her in order to separate her from K. He had no issues with lying at all it was came with the job, evening lying to A was simple. But even though he lied to didn't plan on taking advantage of her, his lie was simply a means to an end. This young women seemed almost incapable of being on her own, that wasn't safe for her at all. Normally Jin wouldn't care for such things, but this one felt different. It started to rain a bit, Jin didn't really slow down his steps not realizing the girl behind him was struggling. With the rain coming down he was heading to someplace inside, luckily he already 'arranged' for a place for them to stay. It wasn't a Inn or hotel but a home that used to belong to someone else, but now it belonged to Jin till he felt it was time to move on.
He felt a soft hand touch his forearm and then he stopped walking, for a moment the rogue realized since he's been on his own no one had touched him. His permeation magic allowed him to phase through literally anything he desired, with limits of course but he was so precise and conscious of those limits he'd been able to complete jobs without even getting his clothes dirty. No one had yet to land a hit on him, be it spell, weapon, fist, nothing. But now a small soft delicate hand laid there on the jacket sleeve of his arm, he looked at it for a bit before turning his head up his piercing blue eyes staring back at A. His mind reverted back to the last time he let someone touch him, they also had small soft delicate hands.
His next move which would probably come as a surprise, he lifted his arm that she was holding onto and reached out his hand for her to grab. Basically signaling that she could hold his hand if she needed to. If she did he would gently hold onto it and walk with her to the location, if she didn't he would shrug and place his hand back in his pocket and keep walking at the same pace. No matter which decision she would make they would get to the place he acquired in only a few minutes, he would open the door and let her enter first closing the door behind them.
The place did have a homely feeling to it, it was a warm and decorated well. Of course he himself didn't decorate it and set up all the furniture, but he walked around the place as if it was his own. There was a big couch in the living room, next to a large table with some chairs.
"Sit. Make yourself at home, I'll grab you a towel." Jin said looking around. "If I can remember where I saw them." the last part was more of a whisper to himself. He looked around and eventually came back in a few moments with a towel for her to dry off. He would toss it to her, if she caught it or not was completely up to her. He would turn one of the chairs around and sit in it backwards, leaning his arms on the back rest of the chair. His piercing eyes looking at A for a few moments before finally asking a question. "I need to ask you somethings. Firstly what is your real name? and where are you from?" he for straight to the point, he wanted to know more about her and he was going to be direct about it. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he felt this odd connection to her. As if they were similar but at the same time completely different.
Notes and Spells
"Speech #1e3875" Battle summaries and cool spell stuff here
She blinked under her hand as she felt a stronger hand take her own, that wasn't what she was expecting her initial instinct was to pull her hand back and call on a wraith, it was a defence mechanism that had been instilled within her since she gained her grimoire. After all, with her veil down she didn't know friend from foe and her father was paranoid enough to believe that someone would try and use his weapon against him, so made sure it wouldn't happen even if it cost him others. She had initiated the contact and he hadn't tried to hurt her so she guessed it was okay and that he was an ally so moved her hand to hold his, though she was very obviously shaking.
At that moment in time, it could have been put down to the fact that she was cold from the rain, in fact, it was because she was afraid of him and the outcome of her actions. She had no idea that she had been lied to, she had no reason to doubt the other's words as it wasn't uncommon for her to be passed to several people during her time away from home. She walked with the guidance of the other, she could hear her main wraith's disapproving voice at the back of her mind, at the same time if he was willing to guide her to get them out of the rain quicker she wasn't going to argue with him. Soon enough they stopped, she listened as a door was opened and awaited permission to enter. When it was clear she was to enter first she did so, she noticed it was warm from the moment she walked in and that caused her to shiver a little due to her wet clothing clinging to her petite frame.
She had no idea where they were or why they were there in all honesty, she just thought it belonged to him and so paid it little mind, she had learned her lessons in regards to being overly curious and didn't want a refresher course. She listened to when the door closed, remaining completely still as she held onto her grimoire and red spider lily as she awaited what she wanted him to do. Due to her veil still being over her face she had no idea where he was or how the place was decorated, she was sure it was nice though and had everything that he would need. Hearing the words 'sit' she did just that without the rest of the words even reaching her ears. The thing was she sat down on the floor cross-legged on the exact spot she had been standing.
She hadn't attempted to move her veil so she could see anything nor remove the hat that it was dawned on, she hadn't even set her belongings down. She had heard the last part that he had whispered, not because she was meaning to but her hearing was quite astute as it was the sense she relied on the most as she spent most of her time in the dark or adorned in her veil. She didn't speak about it, after all, it was clearly not meant for her to hear; then again even if it was she wasn't about to accuse him of stealing the house or killing the people inside of it. For all, she knew he was a noble and he didn't know where his staff kept such things or that he had just moved into the place, there were so many factors.
When he returned with the towel and lightly threw it at her she had no idea that it was coming, so even though it was thrown lightly it still hit her before falling to the ground. She remained completely still for a moment "Sorry for bad, I be better." she said her voice quiet yet level though he would hear a faint fear in the undertone. She thought she was being hit due to touching him, all be it lighter and softer than what she was used to but this could have been leading her into something worse, she just remained still and quiet allowing what was going to happen to do so. It was what she was used to in her life and so she resigned herself to it. She still had no idea where he was standing until she heard his footsteps moving closer before what she assumed was him sitting down on something.
Everything was silent for a few moments before Jin finally broke the silence, he asked her what would normally be two simple questions for a normal person to answer. She, however, wasn't a normal person everything was decided for her and she was kept in a broken naive state out of fear, greed and the want to control her. The first one was an easy question but she was unsure if he was testing her as Kurai had apparently done previously before he convinced her that their leaving was at her fathers orders. "I called A." she wasn't going to go against what Kurai had said was her name at current, he had told her his words were as good as her fathers and that meant no arguing with them, if he said her name was A then that's exactly what her name was until told otherwise.
The second one was far more difficult as she couldn't answer it, she didn't know the name of her village as it had never been spoken of in front of her and when she left she was always escorted with her veil on so couldn't even give directions. Under her veil, she bit her lip knowing he was unable to see and so she couldn't be punished for the action even if she was actually a true caretaker for her. "Not know." she said finally her voice was calm but the undertone showed clear panic and fear, she knew there was no way she could answer that question truthfully but she had instances of that happening and she still got the backlash. There were other times she had given an answer and been hurt for lying so to her this was a no-win situation, she still had no idea if this was a test but she was hoping he was kinder than others that had looked after her that was for sure.
Word Count: 1,075 Total Word Count: 1,155
I can end and prolong the life of all, but I can't change the fate of those who fall. I can't turn back time once death has arrived...
Jin had looked at her for a few wondering why she was sitting on the floor, he told her to sit but he wasn't really specific as to where. He shrugged though the choice was really up to her on where she sat. If she wanted to sit on the floor that was completely her choice. The towel he tossed to her had lightly hit her head and fell to the ground. She apologized for it, stating in her broken speech she was sorry for being bad and will be better. The blue eyed rogue did find this quite amusing, it more than obvious that A was not a normal girl. Her speech and it seemed her inner thoughts were broken. Truth be told he didn't know what to think of her yet, he needed more.
"Don't apologize. You can sit on the couch you know? Instead of the floor." he finally said to her not really changing his position much. She still had that veil on her head, for whatever reason he could not tell why. It seemed to be more of a hinderance to her, cause she couldn't see properly with it on. She was able to follow his voice, but it was pretty obvious she didn't know where he was exactly from the start. Which for Jin was normal, the rogue relied on stealth heavily for his jobs. But this time he wasn't trying to hide his presence from her. "Your veil. This." he said pointing to her veil. "Why do you where it? It doesn't seem to help much."
So A was going to stick to what Kurai had stated earlier, so she wasn't an idiot. She had some sense of smarts that was beneath the delicate child like behavior. She was going to stick with A, which Jin knew wasn't the entire truth. But that also meant she was willing to lie, and if one is willing to lie about one thing that most definitely means they will lie about another. So Jin wasn't to sure if he believed her when she said she did not know where she came from. Also her tone of voice was obvious of panic and fear, she was scared of something. But Jin had a feeling it wasn't him she was afraid of, cause she came along so willingly. It was something else that she was afraid of, perhaps it was home.
Jin remembered being scared when someone else outside of his family asked about home when he was younger. He was not aloud to speak of it to strangers outside the family, and if word ever reached his father that he did. A punishment would ensue and it would be severe. Even at a really young age Jin had to learn when to speak and who to speak to. He looked A up and down again, before asking her another question. Maybe she could answer this with a little more detail. "A. What is home like? What did you do there?" he asked genuinely.
Notes and Spells
"Speech #1e3875" Battle summaries and cool spell stuff here
She listened to his words, she had no idea what a couch was, he had told her to sit and so that was what she had done without a second thought. She didn't know how to take being told that she didn't need to apologise, she had been told that if there was ever an issue then it was her fault. She had become accustomed to it, so much so, that she just accepted it and apologised as she had been taught to do. It was a new experience to her, she nodded twice to show she understood but made no other movement or sound. He was kind at least at the moment but experience had taught her that kind people could be the most ruthless when angered. She didn't want to anger him, she was afraid that Kurai would find out and in turn, her father would, making it that much worse.
Soon enough however Jin had brought up her veil, it was true it was a hindrance, after all, she couldn't see the world around her while it was on her. It was used to control her as if she didn't know the world around her she couldn't run away and it would mean that she'd need to rely on her caretakers while out. Of course, there was one slight kindness to it, she had been kept in the dark for most of her life making her sensitive to light even dim light. "Father, have wear when out, no runaway. When out, need support." she said truthfully, it was clear she wasn't lying to him even in her broken speech "Kindness..." she said quietly "Always dark, light hurt." she seemed almost afraid to admit that the light hurt her, but then she feared the worse, that he would take the veil off while it was light to punish her. "Not allowed lift, others do." It would be clear that her veil was used to control her in more ways than one.
"I hear to move well... hard water fall." she explained the best way she could that she relied on her hearing but it was hard when it was raining, after all the was many more sounds especially if it was torrential rain where it could really mask the sounds she needed to help her. When the subject of her home came up, she didn't know what to say after all she didn't know a lot about it or even where it was, she remained quiet but her left hand started to stim her middle and ring finger tapping against her palm as if she was anxious. "I not know." she finally said to the other, she sounded petrified that she couldn't help him with that information. She hoped this was just a test and she was passing it but she was unsure.
"I stay room unless train." she said simply, it was the truth, this part she had no issue in answering because it was about her "Room always dark, I sleep floor, bound alway. Book, flower out reach remain unless train or take on task." she continued trying to give him as much information as possible with the little language she understood worked with each other. "Helpful?" she inquired, she instantly realized a mistake and gripped her skirt shaking a little "Sorry, not ask" she said apologizing for asking if she had been helpful to him, she knew it wasn't her place to ask questions and now believed that she would be in terrible trouble for breaking one of her most basic rules.
Word Count: 597 Total Word Count: 1,752
I can end and prolong the life of all, but I can't change the fate of those who fall. I can't turn back time once death has arrived...
Jin listened attentively as she answered his questions the best way she could. Her speech was obviously broken, but her mind was still intact. She could understand things, at least somewhat and respond accordingly. It was probably possible to teach her how to speak properly, though ti would take some time. She answered his question about the veil, her father made her wear it outside so she couldn't run away. "Hm." a slight hum came from the rogue as he knew that that was like. For 'fathers' to find creative ways to stop you from running away. Jin's wasn't a veil but a blindfold, one that he actually still used today every so often. She continued to say the veil was also used a support, the light hurt her eyes which would make sense after wearing a veil for so long. It was going to tough on her, but she was going to have to do without the veil for a while. But Jin wasn't going to press that matter yet. She also was not allowed to lift the veil, something else they would have to work on.
She relied on hearing to get around most times, and when it rained it was hard to do so. "You should use all your senses, your eyes, nose, ears and your mana." Jin said to her pointing to each body part, and when he said mana he simple pointed upward since mana could be detected in the air. "All senses should be strong." he added. If Jin was going to show her how to live and survive on her own, it better start now. Cause she was obviously lost without some kind of guidance. She did not have an answer to his next question, and from her body language and voice she was petrified because of it. Jin knew that feeling as well, when father would ask a question and he did not have an answer or refused to answer that meant ten lashes. The rogue was gathering that him and her lived very similar lives before all this, he couldn't outright confirm it just yet. But he was getting close, even the questions she didn't have an answer to gave him something.
"Relax. I'm not going to hurt you." Jin said to her his eyes piercing, but he meant them honestly. Depending on the person that line was usually a lie but not this time. He honestly had no plans on laying a hand on her, she wasn't a threat to him. And he wasn't into torturing people for no reason. She continued to try and answer his question the best way she could, stating she was bound away and only came out to train or complete a task. And that confirmed it. They did live similar lives, almost too similar. Memories of the rogues past started to come to his mind, of when he decided to not follow command he would be separated and isolated. Grueling training after training, mission after mission. Kill, steal, murder, torture, efficiently, no mistakes. No errors. "No mistakes. No errors." he said quietly to himself, she probably heard him though. Jin's face was buried in his arms and he started to chuckle. This had to be fate.
His chuckle turned into a light laugh as his head finally came up, his face visible again. "It's ok. You can ask. Matter fact anytime you have a question you can always ask me. Ok?" Jin said to her. This was another way he could begin to teach her. If she had a question about anything he would willing to provide an answer. She's been isolated from the outside world for so long, she was bound to have questions. The only way she was going to learn was if she asked for answers. "I just have a few more questions. K. Do you know K well?" Jin asked resting his head on his arm now looking at A. "Also what do you like to eat?" the second question would probably catch her off guard.
Notes and Spells
"Speech #1e3875" Battle summaries and cool spell stuff here
Aelia remained still on the floor still drenched to the bone, the towel was on the ground in front of her but she made no movement for it. She continued to hug her grimoire and the red spider lily to her chest her veil still shrouding her face completely. She heard his hum but didn't understand why he did such a thing and it wasn't like she was about to ask them about it. That was his business and as far as she knew he was the person she currently had to try and not piss off or it could end badly for her, after all, it may have not been intended to be taken such a way but in her mind, she had been hit even though it was soft. She still believed it was because she reached out for him due to the rain making it hard to navigate.
"I use..." she said not seeing his movements "Not always" she said trying to get him to understand that she does use them all but she wasn't always allowed to do it. She was kept on a leash so short she would likely be choked if she moved wrong, that much was clear. Her veil, bad education, constant supervision and other mannerisms showed she was raised so she'd never been able to survive too long on her own. He said for her to relax and that he wasn't going to hurt her, she didn't believe him she had fallen for that line to often when she was younger and she always got hurt by that person eventually. It was even harder for her to believe him given he had thrown something at her that actually did hit her. It was fluffy and soft but she knew no better, to her a hit was a hit, it meant the same thing.
"Done wrong... do again... do right... not stop... not right" she continued from his words her hands clenching her grimoire tighter, though she moved back when his chuckle moved to laughter, she was startled and it often meant something bad was about to happen. She remained quiet as he said she could ask questions she didn't know how to answer that because as far she was concerned this was a trick question and she was going to be in trouble no matter what she said or done. She decided that in this case, the safe bet wasn't to say or do anything on the matter as it at least showed she understood that she shouldn't try and step out of her station as a tool to her father. It was then the conversation moved to Kurai and how well she knew him.
"No." she said simply, she didn't know him well she had only seen him a handful of times at most, the next question she couldn't answer she just ate what she was given and it wasn't always fresh but it was still food. It often made her sick in more ways than one but she knew better than to waste what she was given. There were times she was given decent food but the carers would find new and sadistic ways to ruin it and she was still expected to eat it or be punished. "What given." she said because that's the only way she could answer such a question, how could she know what she liked to eat when she was never allowed to choose. She was only really given good food if her father was pleased with her and that was a stupidly high bar for her to achieve, yet another way he controlled her.
Word Count: 610 Total Word Count: 2,362
I can end and prolong the life of all, but I can't change the fate of those who fall. I can't turn back time once death has arrived...
The white haired rogue suddenly stood up with a chuckle in his voice. "I'm sure you do, trust me I'm sure." he replied to her stating that she does use all her senses. If his thoughts were correct she was trained to be a killer like him, so she definitely used all her senses. It was just a shame her sense of sight was so sensitive. His thoughts were starting to come to light, when she not only heard his sentence but continued it in her own version. He did stop to look at her for a few moments, trying to see if she was maybe raised in the Zhongli family he just never noticed. But that was impossible Jin knew all of his brothers and sisters faces, they were etched into memory.
But he did come to the conclusion that there may have been other places like his home. People training children to use their magic abilities to kill, surely his father wasn't the only vile man in Clover. "A. I think we are very similar..." was all he said as walked into the kitchen. He assumed as much that she knew next to nothing about K, even if she did she probably wasn't going to tell a stranger. He just didn't want K showing up again causing trouble for him or her. For now he could leave that situation be.
From the kitchen he would raise his voice so she could hear him. "It's not 'What given.' The proper way to ask is. What is for dinner." he noticed her speech was entirely broken. Which was odd cause she was smart, very smart. He couldn't tell but it seemed that no one bothered to teach her proper english, which was a shame. Cause using proper english with his witty mind was one of Jin's favorite things. Perhaps he could teach her how to speak properly. "So what's for dinner is!....Soup and rice!" he said with a light jingle in his voice.
After a few he came back and placed a bowl of soup and a small bowl of rice on the dining table. Then reaching into his pocket and dropping a small pouch of coin on the table. "Ok A. I have work to do. My home is your home, eat and make yourself comfortable. You can also go and buy yourself something nice if you want from one of the markets. When I get back we'll start talking about how to get you home." he said walking towards the door. He gave her a nod and a smirk, before heading out and closing the door behind him.
[Exit]
Notes and Spells
"Speech #1e3875" Battle summaries and cool spell stuff here
Aelia remained on the ground her veil completely covering her face, she had no idea what the other was doing but she heard him chuckle lightly as he assured her that he believed her when he said that she did use all of her senses. Even though she was isolated and lived without access to most of her senses a good amount of time it didn't mean she didn't train them when she had the chance to. It was just that her sense of hearing was overdeveloped as that was the only sense she always had access to, there were even times she was deprived of her sense of touch, it meant when she had it again it could go one of two ways, she cherished the sensations or she found herself in pain due to the harsh punishments that followed soon after just to get points across.
She didn't understand why he was chuckling but it came to an end when he said he believed that they were different, she wasn't entirely dumb, she was smart in some aspects as it came with what was expected of her but she honestly couldn't fathom why he would say that he believed they were similar. As far as she knew every child went through what she did, it was just the way of things so couldn't comprehend why he would believe they would be different from one another. "Abandoned. Need home." she said, it had been the first time she showed fear verbally since they had met, she was without a caretaker for the first time in her life outside of her home and now didn't know the way back. All she knew was that the closest village was Sosshi but even that bit of information would only get her so far.
She heard him move of his chair and away from her, she remained still and listen to what he said to her, it made no sense to her. He had asked her a question, which she had answered honestly but he had corrected her telling her the correct way of saying it. The problem was it was answering a question with a question, she really didn't understand what she liked to eat had to do with her asking what was for eating. "You ask, I answer" she said trying to show she didn't really understand but she was trying and failing at it. "Sorry be stupid. Worthless." she said putting herself down like she believed she was expected to when she couldn't understand something, she was told that it was because she wasn't smart enough and should just do as she was told. She didn't ever question it.
Soon enough he gave the answer of what she would be eating that night, she didn't move even when he came out of the kitchen and placed the food on the table. She was still hugging her grimoire and red spider lily to her body. She heard something else being put on the table but it didn't seem like the bowls. She was told that he had some work to do but that his home was hers and she should eat and make herself comfortable, she was also told she could go to the market and buy herself something nice. The issue was she was completely illiterate so couldn't tell the difference in numbers, then there was the fact that she had never even held a yul before so she had no idea what currency was. She was told that when he got back they'd talk about ways to get her home and with that she was content.
The thing was when he got back she would still be in the same spot but asleep curled on the floor, her grimoire and red spider lily were out of her reach. The food and yul on the table hadn't been touched, purely because she had only sat at a table once before and that's when Kurai allowed her to do it. She honestly believed that it was some sort of test and so had just curled to sleep shortly after he left so she wouldn't get into any trouble.
[Exit]
Word Count: 697 Total Word Count: 3,059
I can end and prolong the life of all, but I can't change the fate of those who fall. I can't turn back time once death has arrived...
