No long after getting back from the witch's forest and everything that had happened there. Yami after getting back from heading over the Magic Stone they got from the Witch Queen. He forces Asta to take a break from missions for awhile. Everyone else had also gone to look for ways to heal Asta's arms which had been damaged and had an ancient curse placed on them that made so that they could not be healed normally.
Though the idea was to find methods to heal Asta's arm what happen in instead was the other members of the Black Bulls had gone through a variety of changes themselves and even seeming gone a power up. Though upon seeing that Asta's arm were cured they just went back to their normal selves once again.
Though before he could wonder about what to do Asta and Noelle had been there with him the entire time was told about the Star Awarding Festival that was starting soon. An annual festival that celebrates the Magic Knights achievements and reveals the squads' rankings, based on the number of stars obtained during the year. Where people from every social status gather as they wait for the announcement.
After hearing about this and how it even got Yami motivated. Asta was really interested in seeing this festival though had request of Finral to go get two people for him. Though he could not have know at the time but there going to be some big and unexpected changes that would be happening as there were others that in similar state to what Asta was in when he did not have the usage of either of his arm. Though the 'cures' they were getting were vastly different and had much higher costs