Part 44: The teacher
The man Noelle and Finral had gone to see in hopes of finding a way to heal Astas arms, was named Fanzel Kruger and its someone Asta has known long before he joined the magic knights and gotten his memory of Noelle back.
Their meeting happened in Hage village before Asta and Yuno set off to take the magic knights entrance exam, Asta was camping out in the forest under the giant demon skull as he practiced swinging his sword around.
"AHH," he yelled slashing his sword into one trees and then doing it again to another tree before he almost tripped over because of the swords weight, "Woah, this is thing is difficult to swing around and I don't even know if I'm doing this right," he said swinging the sword around with a confused look on his face.
Even after taking down the chain magic user he still needed to learn how to properly use his sword. But he was brought out of his thoughts as the ground began to shake and he heard the sound of a man screaming.
He looked to see a boar chasing a man with red hair and the man was naked, "Hey if I were you I would start running," the man said with a frightened look on his face as he tried to run away from the boar.
"Then don't come this way," said Asta looking surprised by the situation before he held his sword sideways, "Just get ready to jump to the side alright," he said. The man kept running and jumped to the side before reaching Asta. The anti magic user then struck the boar with his big sword and it sent the angry animal flying.
"Well that was close," said Asta putting his sword down as the man who was running stood up from where he was hiding.
"Thanks for the save there, my names Fanzell but you can call me Zell for short, I'm sort of a nomad these days," said Fanzell stepping forward from behind the cover.
"Uh my names Asta," Asta said nervously since the man was still naked.
"I hate to ask this, but are those yours," he said pointing to a fire Asta had made earlier to cook some hot potatoes. The mans stomach then growled and a few moments later he was eating two potatoes at once.
"Hmm these are good, I haven't eaten anything in days so this like a big relief," Fanzell said with a smile on his face while Asta was just sitting down.
"So uh, why are you naked?" He asked.
"Oh I was just trying to catch some fish and I must have accidentally entered boar territory and they got real mad," he said rubbing the back of his head before going back to eating.
"That still doesn't answer my question," Asta said looking confused.
"I didn't want any of my clothes to get wet and by the way what are these, every time I take a bite they suck the moisture out of my mouth," he said before looking like he was struggling to get a bite down and Asta passed him his canteen.
"Their hot potatoes, a special from my home village," Asta answered after Fanzell took a drink and then looked disgusted.
"This stuff is sour, what is it," he said only for Asta to smiled as he stood.
"Is my special energy juice that boosts magic power," he said excitedly.
"Is that so, well Asta I should probably get dressed now so why don't we head back to my place," said Fanzell.
After walking through the forest the two of them stood in front a small house that was next to a small lake, "Whoa you live here," said Asta looking at the place.
"Actually I'm more like squatting here, you see I'm kind of waiting here for someone and I'm staying here till they get here," said Fanzell, "Ill get dressed and then ill be back out," he said before walking inside.
A while later he walked out wearing black pants, a white shirt under a long green jacket. He watched as Asta took out his big anti magic sword, "A sword that can nullify magic, that's an impressive weapon you got there," Fanzell said looking impressed.
"Yeah this sword may not be much but its whats going to get me through the magic knights entrance exam," said Asta smiling at the sword, "Still I never expected places like this to be out here and an old man like you staying in it,".
"I'm actually not that old since I'm only twenty eight years old and you'd be surprised of the places you find when you move around," said Fanzell.
"Wait your only twenty eight, but you look so much older," said Asta looking surprised before he sat down on the steps in front of the house next to Fanzell.
"So Asta your only camping out right, how about you stay here instead while your training?" Fanzell asked.
"Wait really," said Asta before he thought, "Wait is this really a good idea,". An image of Yuno flashed through his mind.
"Don't be ridiculous this guy is a total creep, staying with him would be a bad idea," the image of Yuno said.
Asta however shook his head, "Alright old man you got it," he said.
"Greta so lets divide the chores, how are you with cleaning and chopping wood," said Fanzell.
"Wait what," said Asta looking confused.
The next day there was a fog surrounding the house while Asta was practicing swinging his sword again, until he almost fell over again, "Damnit," he said looking annoyed when the front door to the house opened revealing Fanzell.
"Your doing it all wrong, your having trouble doing a second strike after your first one correct?" He asked and Asta nodded yes in response, "Well theres a way to fix that, face your toes towards where your going to attack and take a half step forward when you strike," he instructed.
Asta followed his instructions and he was able to bring his sword down twice, "Haaa," he said swinging his sword sideways easily with the same technique, "Wow I did it, wait how do you know such much about swordsman ship?" He asked Fanzell looking confused.
"Just give me a minute and ill show you," said Fanzell walking back in the house so he could get dressed. He came back out dressed in the same outfit from yesterday and was swinging a stick around.
"Alright now play close attention," said Fanzell holding the stick up as his grimoire floated in front of him, "Wind creation magic, emperor of slashing wind," he said as a wind tornado formed around the stick before forming a blade of a sword around it.
"That's so cool," said Asta looking excited, "Wait if you could do that why didn't you take care of that boar yourself," he said.
"Its kind of useless if I don't have a stick or sword on me and its not really a sword, it's the emperor of slashing wind," he said swinging the wind sword around, "But I call it slashy for short,".
"Your good with thinking of names to, you have to teach me everything you know," said Asta looking determined.
"Sorry but I don't teach anymore," said Fanzell.
"Cmon ill work really hard," said Asta.
"Fine but you'll have to promise me something, Asta why do you want to get stronger," Fanzell said looking serious.
Asta however smiled as he held up his fist, "So that I can become the wizard king," he said.
"The wizard king huh, sounds like it would be difficult," said Fanzell smiling which surprised Asta.
"Wait your not gonna laugh," said Asta looking confused.
"Why would I, nothings impossible if you work hard for it," said Fanzell before standing a bit away from Asta, "Asta I want you to promise me that youll only use what I teach you to achieve your dream and not to threaten or bully people," he said.
"Of course," said Asta looking determined, "Why do I feel like hes not the first one to laugh at me for my dream," he thought when he heard a female voice in his head say.
"I hope you achieve your dream," she said. Asta shook it off and went to go train with the person who would teach him how to use a sword.
A few days passed as Asta continued to train with Fanzell. Fanzell would use a wooded sword during practice that was the same size as Astas sword, "Your good on offense but you need to work on your defense," instructed Fanzell.
"Yeah I got it," said Asta bringing his sword down but was blocked by Fanzell who moved his sword up and accidentally pushed Astas headband up.
"Sorry about that Asta," said Fanzell rubbing the back of his head before noticing the scar that was now visible on Astas forehead.
"What is it?" Asked Asta noticing the confused look on Fanzells face.
"That's some scar you got there, you okay with sharing what happened after training," said Fanzell.
"Yeah sure," said Asta pulling his headband back down as they went back to sword training.
The two of them sat around a fire where Asta cooked up more hot potatoes, "Amnesia huh," said Fanzell after Asta finished telling the story.
"Yeah and its really annoying because I feel like I'm forgetting someone important," said Asta rubbing the back of his head with an annoyed look on his face.
"Well if their important I'm sure you'll remember them and now as for practice you have good offense and defense and your movement is really improving," said Fanzell before taking a bite out of his potato, "Ive had over a hundred students and I have to say you would make the top three," he said.
"Really, so what are the other two like?" Asked Asta.
"Well one of them actually doesn't use a sword like your suppose to, so actually you might be in the top two," said Fanzell putting a finger under his chin before noticing Asta get up with a smile on his face.
"Alright theres more to learn so lets go," he said before going to grab his sword.
"What we only just started eating," Fanzell said, but he ended up smiling at the boys attitude to learning more.
Another few days gone by and approaching the house was someone in a black cloak who jumped from tree to tree. Asta and Fanzell were eating outside when the person landed on the ground in front of them, "Whos that," said Asta.
"Oh there you are Mariella, did you find anything out for me," said Fanzell smiling as the person pulled their hood down revealing a young woman with short black hair and she had a calm look on her face.
"Wait you know her old man," said Asta.
"Shes one of my students whos been helping me with looking for my Fiancé," said Fanzel as Mariella began to walk over to them.
"Oh well if that's the case I guess we both learned under the best huh," said Asta smiling when Mariella spoke up.
"Your saying it wrong, this man may be old but your calling him old man the wrong way," she said and Fanzell smiled nervously.
"Actually I'm not that old," he said but he was ignored when Asta argued back.
"Whats the proper way to call him old man, I mean he is old," said Asta looking annoyed.
"Yes this man might be old but he deserves much more respect and deserves to be call old man the right way," said Mariella looking annoyed before Fanzell spoke up.
"Would you two stop, your not helping my self esteem by calling me old," he said before standing up, "So Mariella, what did you find out about Domina?" He asked. He then looked surprised when Mariella had a sad look on her face.
"I'm sorry to say this, but Domina is dead," she said.
The three of them sat on the steps in front of the house as Fanzell told Asta his story. He along with Domina were once part of the diamond kingdom army and after seeing the army's methods the two of them decided to leave. But during their escape something happened that resulted in the two of them separating. Fanzell knew he had to go into hiding so he asked for help from Mariella to help find Domina because he knew the diamond kingdom would still be looking for him. Thats how he ended up at the house and would spend his time waiting for news.
"Are you really sure about this, that shes gone," said Fanzell.
"Yes, heres her wand," Mariella said passing Fanzell a purple magic wand, "I found it in an area surrounded by blood, theres no way she survived," she said.
"I'm sorry old man," said Asta looking at Fanzell who simply stood up holding his fiancés wand in his hand.
"I need to be alone for the moment," he said before walking inside. He ended up in a room with a window that had a view of the front of the house, he spun the wand around as a small tornado formed next to him. In the tornado a shadow figure formed in the shape of a woman, while Fanzell continued to look out the window the tornado slowly vanished.
"Do you have a moment," said Mariella entering the room.
"Sure, go ahead," said Fanzell without looking back as one of his students approached him.
"Do you remember the day we all escaped, you, Domina and the rest of the students?" She asked.
"Ha, how could I forget," he said smiling at the memory, "Where are they all these days?" he asked.
"Their all dead, accept for me of course," Mariella said with a smile as she stabbed a crystal dagger into her former teachers side making him look surprised. Fanzell quickly turned around but Mariella jumped away before he could do anything.
"What are you doing," said Fanzell before mages weaning the robes of the diamond kingdom jumped down from the ceiling and through the windows.
"I'm the diamond kingdoms assassin, I do the dirty work they cant and were here to bring you back," said Mariella as two of the mages restrained Fanzell.
"What do you mean, I'm not going back," said Fanzell looking annoyed.
"That mage is reaching the final stages and we need you to make sure hes ready for when the time comes," said Mariella when Fanzell looked up at her with annoyed look on his face.
"His name is Mars, don't about him like he's some kind of weapon," said Fanzell.
"Well I guess this is goodbye then," said Mariella before the door was kicked in by Asta who was wielding his big anti magic sword.
"Is everything alright in here," he said before noticing what was going on.
"Asta," said Fanzell.
"You, how could you do something like this, after everything he's done for you, don't you have any respect for your teacher," he said pointing his sword at Mariella.
"I do have respect for him, that's why I have to do this," said Mariella calmly.
"Asta get out of here," said Fanzell.
"But old man," said Asta.
"Remember the promise you made me Asta, you said you would only use what I thought you to achieve your dream," said Fanzell before smiling, "Don't worry I wont get taking down this easy,".
Asta looked annoyed before he sighed and began walking towards the door.
"This how its suppose to be, I'm sorry Domina," thought Fanzell looking down as an image of his Fiancés face flashed through his mind. But before anything else could happen Asta rushed back into the room and struck one of the mages holding Fanzell with his sword.
The diamond kingdom mage fell to the ground while Fanzell looked towards the ground, "What are you doing, I'm done with this Asta, I have nothing left to live for," he said before Asta yelled.
"SHUT UP, YOU THINK THINGS WE LIVE FOR COME EASILY TO US, ITS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR,". Then two diamond kingdom mages sent blasts of fire at Asta and the anti magic user easily destroyed them with his big anti magic sword.
Fanzell then grabbed Dominas wand with his right hand as he shook, "Hes right, I cant run from my past anymore, its time I stand up," he thought as he began to stand while Asta faced the diamond kingdom mages.
Asta was standing ready to fight when wind started to move around the room before Fanzell spoke up"Wind creation magic, emperor of slashing wind, wind shot," he said as multiple blades shot out from the wind sword at the remaining diamond kingdom mages in the room. All of them falling to the ground.
"This allows me to fire multiple slashys, I call it the flying one," said Fanzell smiling at the name he came up with for his spell, but then he noticed Mariella standing behind Asta, "Look out," he said as Mariella fired a crystal dagger at Asta.
Asta saw it just in time and shattered it with his anti magic sword, "Do you really intend to fight, one of you is still injured," she said calmly.
"You can try but Im done running and I know your lying about Domina, I know shes still out there," said Fanzell gripping the wand in his hand.
A diamond kingdom mage stood behind Mariella, "Gathered the injured, were retreating," she said making the Asta and Fanzell look surprised.
"Wait your giving up, just like that," said Asta.
"When your attacking your opponent make sure to bring three times the forces, if they take down most of your forces you must retreat," said Mariella looking towards Fanzell, "Its something my teacher once taught me, but this isn't over," she said turning around, "Ill be on your trail for the rest of your life if I have to,".
"Good luck with that, I plan on sticking around for a long time," said Fanzell.
"Yeah your going to have to put up with this old mans stink for a long time," said Asta smile while Fanzell looked down from what he said.
"Your starting to say old man better," said Mariella before leaving.
The next morning Asta and Fanzell stood in the middle of a clearing in the forest, Fanzell was now carrying a large bag on his back while carrying Dominas wand by hand, "So your really leaving," said Asta.
"Yeah, now that I know Dominas alive somewhere out there, its time I go find her myself," said Fanzell as he looked down at her wand smiling, "I'm done hiding now, from my past, from the things ive done and with my life I could be moving around for a quiet a while,".
"Well take care then, I hope you find her," said Asta smiling when Fanzell patted his head.
"Make sure you achieve your dream Asta and I know you'll remember that important person someday," said Fanzell as he began to walk away.
Asta waved goodbye until he was out of view, "Well I guess ill head back to the village now," said Asta when the ground underneath him began to shake and he heard a familiar voice speak.
"Actually one more lesson, please take care of this thing for me," said Fanzell and Asta looked back to see him being chased by another boar and he was naked again.
"How are you naked again, did you go fishing and I know you can take care of it yourself," said Asta looking annoyed.
"Just help me," said Fanzell looking frightened.
"No stay away," said Asta as he began to run away as well.
But this wouldn't be the last time Fanzell and Asta would meet before Astas arms needed to be healed. The next time they would meet would be after Asta joined the magic knights, regained his memories and Noelle becoming his girlfriend. This would lead to the two of them helping Fanzell reunite with Domina.