After everyone was through the portal, they handed over the prisoners, dropped their injured at old man Owens the knights went back to their respective hideouts as their captains made their report to the wizard king.

The Bulls walked into their home and crashed onto any soft surface they could find. "You know. It's funny how you don't appreciate simple inventions." Said Colt.

"What do you mean?" Grumbled Mads with her face planted in the cushion.

"Well take a couch. It's so comfortable, yet every time we leave a room, we almost forget its even here. But right now, this couch is my whole world. I would die for this couch. We should appreciate our couches." Colt started mumbling with the rest of the squad hearing the word couch every now and again.

Mads looked at him with a lazy smile on her face. "You alright over there, buddy?"

Colt continued rambling. "May the lord bless the person who looked at the solid surface and said 'this could be more comfortable.' For without the couch there is no life, for the couch is life."

Finral looked away from his book and looked down at his subordinate from over the back of the couch smiling. "You know, it's funny you should say that because Captain Asta would say a life wouldn't exist without that couch."

Colt let out a content sigh. "Yeah." After a few seconds his eyes shot open. "Wait." He then pushed himself up to look Finral dead in his eye. "You don't mean." Finral just shrugged his shoulder. "AAAAAAAGH." Colt rolled off the couch screaming in disgust, he shot up rubbing his hands over his bod like he was trying to scrub himself down, then he walked out of the room still screaming waving his hands around like a madman.

Mads just looked at Finral. "Is that true?"

"No." Finral shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know. He was in my spot." Finral then jumped over the back of the couch to lay down. "Though he is right. You should always appreciate your couch."

"Speaking of the Captain, where is he?"

"He's still at the capital, giving his report to the Wizard King. Though we shouldn't expect to see him tonight." He said in a somber tone.

Mads nodded in understand but felt like it had to be said. "Captain Noelle?"

"Yeah. I shouldn't have even questioned her, should have just opened the portal." Finral put down the book. "Whenever Nebra is involved you don't want to keep Noelle from Anya. Asta will be heading her way ASAP. But on the bright side the he'll probably relieve the members that are on watch and you haven't met them yet."

"Really? Who are they?"

"Well Marie's older brother and his wife as well as their twin future black bulls, god why did they have to have twins? Also the guy that was the rookie before you guys came along." Finral said going back to his book.

"Did all the bulls marry 'in squad'?"

"No not all of us. Hell, the former Captain, Yami, married the former Blue Rose Knights Captain."

"I know a few Blue Roses, that could not have gone down well."

Finral chuckled. "You'd be surprised."

0

Asta was still talking to the Wizard king Fuegoleon. "So the Perfect Cast are after these weapons like this Guiding Star, and they say that the people that made these weapons are the same people that made the dungeons. Any idea what their end game is?"

"No, I was too busy trying not to die."

Fuegoleon stared at him blankly. "You know, I remember when you were a polite young man, Yami rubbed off on you way too much."

Asta let out a chuckle. "I spent a year alone with the guy before he made me a captain, he rubs off on ya."

Fuegoleon shook his head and took a deep breath. "I can only hope he isn't rubbing of that much on Charlotte and Yori."

"I think Yori may be a lost cause, being his son and all. Aren't you worried about that sister of your?" the pair just stared at each other for a minute. Then burst out laughing.

"The only thing I'm worried about is that she burnt the country down, or at least broke that boyfriend of hers."

"Still can't believe she ended up with the hairy elf guy. Though it was cute how every now and again you could catch them purring together." Astas face then went dark. "Though there was the other activity… the howls… I can still hear the howls they made from the forest."

Fuegoleon face matched Astas grimace. "Yes, I remember. The sound haunts my nightmares. You could hear them in the capital despite them being in the forest. I can only imagine what Yami, Charlotte and the others are coping with Vetto and Mereoleona being… intimate." Fuegoleon shook himself out of the dark memories of sleepless nights. "Despite that, I wouldn't mind traveling out their way just to see them." Fuegoleon managed to calm down. "But alas the curse of being the wizard king. Can't do anything fun. He's probably there laughing at me for taking the job."

"You trying to talk me out of it?"

"I'd be doing you a favour if I did." Fuegoleon picked up all the reports. "For example. I need to discuss these with the King and let's just say Leo is getting the drinks lined up. Heavens above the man's an idiot."

"To get you to talk like that he must be. Isn't he gonna step down soon?"

"Don't know, but his successor is definitely ready for the throne. Though with these Servants and the Cast, it's quite possible that the moment when the King transfers his power will be a dangerous moment."

"Among others." Asta said with a smile.

Fuegoleon matched his smile. "You would be getting excited about the upcoming Magic Tourney, excited about showing off your new members?"

"Yeah and hopefully Colt will finally stop holding back. I've been wanting to see that boy's potential since I recruited him."

"His full potential? I thought you excelled at bringing that out in people."

Asta chuckled. "Well I try. But something is telling me that this kid is holding something back. But hopefully a cheering crowd and fighting fellow magic knights, who'll probably have an attitude problem, may bring it out of him."

"I trust that you know what's best." Fuegoleon sat down at his chair. "Though before you go." He reached into a drawer and pulled out a letter and handed it to Asta. "I'm sending the same thing to the other captains but since you here."

Asta took the letter and tore it open to read it. His eyes got their trademark sparkle in them. "Are you serious?"

Fuegoleon just nodded his head. "Now isn't there somewhere you need to be? And send her my best."

"Thankyou sir." Asta gave his wizard king a salute and left. As he left his cheery face dropped to something more solemn, he needed to get to Hage. Nebra didn't just effect Noelle, he wanted to get to get to Anya as well. He picked up his pace through the halls as his mind wandered back to his daughter and the worst night of his life, until his head knocked into something hard knocking him down on the ground. "Hey what's the big idea you jerk." He looked up to see a very imposing presence that always makes Asta nervous no matter how many times he saw him holding up his silver shield. "Oh Nozel, how are ya."

Nozel brows furrowed out of silent rage. "How many times do I have to tell you, just because you married my sister doesn't mean you get to speak to me so casually."

"Aww c'mon Nozel, why so cold." Asta stood back up rubbing the back of his head with a smug grin on his face. "After all we are brothers."

Nozels eyes squinted as his mercury made several spears surrounding Astas head. "And how many times do I have to tell you to not call me that. There are easy ways for me to remove you from my life."

"Yeah but not many that wouldn't leave Anya upset, and you can't have that can you?" Asta said with a smug grin, leaving Nozel very annoyed as he lowered his spears. "Now can you tell me what you want I'm in a bit of a rush."

"Fine, despite the tone. I understand that amongst those of the Perfect Cast members you captured was Nebra?"

"Yeah what about it?"

"How's Noelle?" he asked rather blankly.

Asta took a breath. "she's in Hage right now with Anya right now, I'm going to go check on them."

"Very well then, I shall accompany you."

Asta felt his heart rate rise for a brief second. "Oh, you don't have to trouble yourself with going all the way out to the sticks your royal highness."

"It's no trouble at all, being retired from the Magic Knight allows me plenty of free time. I wouldn't mind visiting my niece."

"Yeah it's just that…" Asta started to mumble.

"What?"

Asta sighed in defeat. "Nothing, let's go." The pair left the palace and begun to make their way to Hage. 'no matter how many times I bring this guy to the village he always makes everyone nervous and awkward. Especially father, the old man goes nuts every time a royal comes to the village except Noelle. Though he is Anyas uncle and despite him being a bit of a jerk he is good with her, it would make me even more of a jerk to keep him away from her.'

0

Colt was heading back to his room after the longest, hottest bath of his life where he scrubbed himself raw. He couldn't get the mental image that Finral gave him of his captain and the sea dragons captain on that couch out of his head. "Real or not I'm never sitting on that couch again. Can't believe that Magna says the Vice Captains used to have a weird confidence problem when dealing with people."

Colt made it to his room where he found his vest and scarf that his mother made that saves his life on his last mission. He also remembered he was seeing Sara at Corvins tomorrow night, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't excited about that.

He went over to his drawer and pulled out the letter his mother wrote him after he joined the Black Bulls to apologize for how they let him be treated poorly by other nobles after his Thievery Magic manifested. Since then they've exchanged a few letters trying to repair their relationship. It wasn't that he hated them, he just wished they made more of an effort. "the tournament starts next week, maybe I'll go for a visit after that. Have a nice chat."

He reached for the last letter they sent him; it was waiting for him on his bed when he got back from the caves. It was a response on his last letter, saying how cool his new spell sounded, she'd send him some new clothes she made and that they'd be attending the Novocrono Tournament to cheer him on. Colt couldn't help but smile, he remembers how excited and competitive his mother could get sometimes.

"Oh boy she's going to make a scene. Hopefully dad can keep her reigned in. though that didn't work very well at game night at Ryko's place."

Colt sat down and began writing the return letter saying he was looking forward to seeing them there. He went through a few drafts before he sent it off. A big reason for the re-writes was because he kept mentioning his most uncomfortable spell. He reached for his grimoire and flipped through all his blank pages by hand until he reached the page he was looking for.

"Thievery Magic: Black Palm." Colts hands was then covered in a dark aura. He sat there at his desk just watching his hand as the aura shifted as his hands moved. He knew for a fact that this spell was the reason his grimoire was so unique to others, why there were so many blank pages, why the cover was so bare of decoration. He knew that despite its appearance this was a very powerful spell, but it was also very dangerous. "No." Colt shook his hands and dispelled the aura. He will never use this spell.

He got up from his desk and went over to his wardrobe deciding what he should wear to Corvins tomorrow night.

0

Asta and Nozel arrived at Hage to check on Noelle. Asta noticed a momentary sense of excitement to his arrival that shifted to awkwardness when the people of the village noticed Nozel. Most of the people either returned to their homes or their work trying to avoid eye contact. Nozel looked around. "You know, from the stories you and Noelle tell me I always picture this place livelier. But it always feels like people try to avoid us."

'Well maybe if you if you just lightened up a little and try actually talking to people maybe they'd act differently.' Asta thought to himself.

The pair headed straight for his home where they found Noelle and Anya playing just out the front with Noelle making a miniature sea dragon with Anya chasing it. Noelle had the dragon fly near Nozel, Anya wasn't paying attention to where she was going and bumped into Nozel. "Uncle No-No!"

Nozel lightly blushed at the nickname while Noelle and Asta snickered at it. Though they find the nickname funny the most surprising part was that Nozel has never made an attempt to correct her. The only other person that knows of this titbit of information was Dorothy Unsworth. He picked up the young girl with a smile on his face. "Hello little princess."

Asta and Noelle watched as Nozel lifted Anya who was giggling uncontrollably in her uncle's arms. Noelle felt Asta take her hand. She turned to him to see the concern in his eyes. "Are you feeling better?"

Noelle took another look at her daughter in her brothers' arms. "I'm doing a little better. Nebra through me through a loop, if I stayed with you guys, I probably would have had a panic attack."

Asta pulled Noelle in his arms. "Yeah I get it. If you weren't there, I probably would have killed her. I made sure that she made it to the dungeons this time, she's locked and she's not going anywhere this time." Noelle let out a breath of relief.

Nozel walked to the pair and handed Anya over to Asta. "Asta do you mind if you take this young mage so I may talk with my sister." Asta took his daughter and walked into the house to find something to eat. "She's getting big. Any idea of her magic yet?"

"No, we keep thinking we have an idea but then it seems to change. We'll probably have to wait till she gets her grimoire… oh I'm going to be old by then."

"Oh, c'mon imagine me when she's fifteen. I'm already starting to get wrinkles." Nozel put his hands on his forehead feeling the age lines. "Maybe I should make an appointment with Gail."

Noelle's eyes widened at the statement. "Really? You really think you're at the point of your life where you need to see Gail?"

Nozel felt the sting of her words. "I said maybe. My vanity aside, I came to make sure you were okay."

"I figured you did. Nebra, she really does have an effect on me. As much as I would like to deny it I can't."

Nozel gave her a nod. "I feel the same way. There are some days I wake up hoping that everything she did was just a nightmare. That I could just wish it all away so I can sit down with my family, enjoy a meal, take a couple of jabs at Asta make him feel insecure." Noelle glared at him. "It's a joy I have as your big brother, don't take it away from me."

"Surely you have other joys."

"Of coarse I do." Nozel looked inside to see Anya sitting at the table having a small snack with her father.

Noelle followed his eyeline to see her daughter and husband. "Yeah that little bundle of joy and happiness is without a doubt the best thing to ever happen in my life. The fact that Sally was the one that delivered her still weirds me out but I'm glad she brought her into the world to make mine so much brighter."

"You weren't talking like that two months after she was born."

"SHE WOULDN'T GO TO SLEEP. She was a little monster that clearly has her father's energy 'cause somehow she managed to KICK THROUGH A WALL!"

"She does seem to have a limitless supply of energy, it'll do her well if she were to join the magic knights."

Noelle looked back at Nozel. "Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"I…uh. Probably should get back to the…"

"I'm cooking."

"Oh, I'd love to. I'm not in the mood for pot potatoes."

0

Sara sat in her room with her head on her desk. "Did he ask me out as a date or as a friend?" she said with a muffled voice. It wasn't until she got back to her room and laid down on her bed and let the adrenaline pass did, she realise what had transpired with Colt.

"Corvin's, our old hangout. God knows Corvin is going to have a field day, he always used to joke about us being a couple." The idea of her and Colt together popped into her head, the two of them holding hands, dating, kissing, coupley love. The Image of a shirtless Colt popped into her which caused her to start slamming her head against her desk. "Away earthly desires."

"Wow and here I thought Noelle was bad when she was young and in love." Sara turned to her door to see her long red-haired Vice-Captain.

"Vice-Captain Kahono." Sara stood to attention to her Vice-Captain. "What do you mean?"

"First of all sit down. You've had a long day." Sara sat back down and Kahono sat on her bed. "So who's the lucky guy? If you don't mind me prying."

"it's not like that, he's just an old friend I'm meeting for dinner."

"Oh please, I recognise the signs. You got it bad. You're just like Noelle was, and I don't really feel like playing sneaky matchmaker again."

"The captain would smack her head against her desk?"

"Well no, but she would somehow turn every glass of water in a room into a geyser. Boy the squad is still paying off those bills."

"It was over Captain Asta wasn't it?" Sara asked without missing a beat.

"Yeah, I'm not even going to hide. Though seriously don't make it public, or you will be so fired. So anyway, why don't you tell me about this boy."

Sara blushed as she began to talk Kahonos ears off about Colt.

0

And let's leave it there and we'll have the dinner at Corvins next update, and yes, the next arc is a tournament arc. Also just a little titbit the second when I saw Mereoleona and Vetto meet in the manga I ended up shipping those two wild animals so I just had to put it in. Next issue we'll pick up right where we left off, though just a heads-up TAFE is starting back up next week, and I've already got three projects to do outside of it. So, I'll try my best expect delay.