[FlameSparkZ]

Ok, so here goes, Part 1 of Chapter 20!

Spoiler for Chapter 20: Knight's Ordeal - Part 1:

These last few days have been busy ones, not just for the Aces, but all involved in the JS Incident.
The trial of Jail Scaglietti and the Numbers was among those tasks they had to participate.

But thay day finally came...Koji's Knighting ceremony.

[MC 075 - September 28th]

[North Midchilda: Belka Self-Administrated Area - Saint Church]
[07:38 AM]

It may be early, but people already gathered around the Saint Church chapel as the time for the ceremony drew closer.
As the one who's being knighted, Koji is the center of attention.
While Koji is busy greeting people, Yui and Maren stood among several groups of people in the courtyard of the Saint Church.

"There sure is a lot of people here..." Maren commented.
Yui looked around, "Hmm...Most of them are knights in training and some colleagues from the TSAB." She stood by her side.
"Koji-sama must be excited about today." Maren smiled at Koji, who wasn't far from them, talking to the guests.
"Yes...today is the day Onii-chan becomes a full-fledged Knight." She smiled.

"Still...many people came to watch the ceremony." Maren looked around.
Yui nodded, "Even though Belka-style is becoming somewhat common nowadays, there aren't many Knights."
"Is that so?" Maren looked at Yui.
Yui nodded again, "Take Subaru-san and Ginga for example, she isn't considered a Knight, but a Belka Mage." Yui explains.
"I see..."
"Also...the Knighting ceremony is hard to pass because of the trial." She adds.
Maren blinks, "Trial?"
Yui nods once more, "We've been to a ceremony before, and it took over 2 hours to complete it due to the trial."

A person behind Yui coughed, "Ahem..."
"A-Ah..." Yui sweatdropped before she turned.
A guy stood a few steps away from them, "Talking behind my back?"
"Colt-san..." Yui tittered.

Maren looked at the man, tall, auburn hair and eyes, and a scar over his nose.
"Yui, who is this person?" Maren asked.
"Oh, this is Colthearts-san, the Knight I was talking about that took so much time to complete the Trial." She grinned slightly.
"...y-yeah." a tiny sweatdrop could be seen on the corner of Colt's forehead.
"I'm called Maren, pleased to meet you." Maren bowed slightly.
"Yes, nice to meet you..." He nodded. "Anyway, I heard about Koji's ceremony, so I came to take a look."

"Just you? Mari-san didn't come?" Yui asked.
"Mari is around, she's greeting the Wolkenritter."
"I see." Yui smiled. "Mari-san and Rein-chan get along quite well." She turned to Maren as she said that.
"Oh..." Maren nodded.
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As soon as Koji was free, he headed to Maren and Yui, and saw Colt with them.
"Aniki!" Koji shouted.
"Yo, 'Short-stuff'" Colt grinned.
"What did you call me?" Koji prepared a fist and threw at him.
Colt promptly blocked, "Not bad..." and smirked.

The two stared at each other, still with Koji's fist connected to Colt's palm, and laughed.
"So, today's the day, eh?" Colt asked.
"Yep." Koji smirked.

Maren looked at them and blinked, (What an unsual greeting...) She said to Yui.
Yui giggled inward, (They're always like this when they don't meet often.)
(Is that so?) Maren looked at Yui.
(Yes, they have a brothers/rivals-like relationship) Yui explained.

Koji turned to Yui and Maren, "Eh? Where's Treize?" He looked around.
"Treize is with Erio and Caro." Maren replied.
"I see..." Koji paused, "Have you been introduced?" he asked.
"Yeah..." Colt nodded.

"But Maren-chan hasn't met Mari-san yet." Yui added.
"Oh, Mari-san is here too?" Koji immediately looked around searching for her.
Colt sighed. "Just follow that intuition of yours..."
Koji started looking around a lot, "She's close..." He said.

(Y-Yui...what is Koji-sama doing...) Maren asked Yui, with a curious tone.
Yui tittered, (You'll soon find out...) Yui smiled.

"Over there!" Koji pointed a crowd and soon enough Mari emerged from it.
Maren saw a young woman, probably the same age as Nanoha or Fate, dressed as a maid and with a serene expression on her face.
"It never fails..." Colt commented.
Mari looked around, then spotted them, "Colt-sama~" She walked to them in a quickened step, holding the sides of her skirt.
Stopping a couple steps away from Colt, she talked, "I have returned, Colt-sama." She smiled.
"Welcome back." He replied.

"M-Mari-san." A deep crimson could be seen across Koji's cheeks.
Mari smiled, "ara, Koji-san, how do you do?" She bowed politely.
"The same as always!" He replied energetically.
"That's good to hear." She smiled, "Oh, and good luck on today's ceremony."
"T-Thank you!" He smiled widely.

Maren was surprised at Koji's behavior, (Y-Yui...) She paused. (Is something wrong?)
(Nothing at all...) Yui replied, (Onii-chan is always like this around Mari-san.)
(A-ah...) Maren nodded as she saw them talk.
(I told you before, didn't I? That Onii-chan has a thing for maids.) Yui reminded her. (This is what I meant.)
(I-I see...) Maren stared at Koji, who talked with Mari. (But why does this bother me? I felt this before...a long time ago...) Maren said to herself.

Then, Mari noticed Yui and Maren, "Yui-san, how do you do?" She smiled.
Yui pouted, "mou Mari-san, I told you not to address me like that..."
Mari brought a hand to her chin and giggled, "I'm sorry, Yui-chan, it's a habit I have." She corrected herself.
Yui nodded, "That's more like it." and giggled.

"And this person is?" Mari turned to Maren.
"This is Maren-chan, Onii-chan's girlfriend." Yui replied before Koji or Maren could talk.
"Ah..." Koji and Maren said in unison, and blushed.
"Is that so? I'm glad for you, Koji-san." Mari smiled at him.
Koji laughed embarrassed while scratching his cheek, "Y-yeah..."

"Then, allow me to introduce myself..." Mari held the sides of her skirt, lifted it slightly then bowed.
"Mirror of Illusions, Marience...please feel free to call me Mari." She smiled at Maren.
"Yes...pleased to meet you." Maren bowed, then blinked, "A title?"
Koji stepped into the conversation, "Yes, Mari-san is a Unison device."
Mari nodded, "That is correct." and smiled.
"I see..." Maren stared at Mari.

Koji then remembered, "Oh, Aniki, do you have any advise for me concerning the trial?"
"You mean the Knight's Ordeal?" Colt asked.
Koji nodded.
"I don't think they'll be of much use..." He replied.
"Why not?" Koji raised an eyebrow.
"It is said that the Knight's Ordeal varies from person to person. So far there hasn't been two trials alike." Colt explained.
Colt continued, "The cave where one takes the trial is a mysterious place that has been around since this area became self-administrated by Belka."
"Then I'll have to be prepared for anything..." Koji said serious.

"It'll be especially hard because you can't take your device." Colt added.
"Eh? But didn't you-" But Koji was interrupted.
"No, Knight Carim took it before I entered the cave."
"Then what'll I use to defend myself?" Koji asked.
"You'll be given a weapon of your choice and the ceremonial armor for the Knight's Ordeal."
"So, I'll be on my own..." Koji looked down at the ground.
"That's right." Colt nodded.

(Koji-sama...) Maren said to herself, worried.
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Yeah, that's it for now...

The trial will be in the following piece (part of it at least )
*runs*