Yeyy here we are chapter four! In the future, I'll try to make the fighting scene more... fluid? Is this right? :D Anyway, enjoy!

"I was waiting for this moment, you boorish peasant girl! I'm going to teach you your place in this world!"

She turned around to see a simple face with cropped blue hair and a rather taunting look.

She definitely met him before. Was his name Eli-something? Well, she just had to not call him by name. If the satisfaction and the eagerness pouring out of him were any indications, he was raring to go against her. And he was actually the only one, by the look of it.

"Better play it nicely. I really need an opponent!" Aurora internally nodded to herself. If he looked eager, then she'd have to play along too.

"It's you…! I knew you would make it this far. I was waiting for you too!" she pointed her finger in his direction.

"You-you were?" The familiar blue-haired guy replied, surprised. Did she lay it a bit too thick?

"Yes, I was." She clenched her fist to show her determination. She smirked to even more added effect. "Fight me if you think you have what it takes!"

"That's my line! You shall regret what you said to me in our encounter earlier that day. I swear it on the Bescherel name!" Blue-haired guy declared grandiosely.

"So that's where I met him…" Aurora thought. She honestly couldn't remember what they talked about. "Whatever, he looks like he's raring to go, good!" She cheered. She hoped his magic would make the duel enjoyable. She didn't feel or smell anything substantial about him as a person, but as a magic-user, she could easily feel his strength. She should definitely not underestimating him. That would be the one mistake to never make.

Besides, it was stating the obvious, but nobles are known to have more mana than your regular folks. That meant he had to be someone with stronger than average spells, at least.

"I'm in your care!" Aurora bowed to the guy.

"…Tch! When this is over, I'll make you grovel, mongrel. Insulting me was insulting Clover's nobility." He contemptuously spat.

Aurora just sighed. Looks like he wasn't much of a good guy after all. Looking at Yuno, it seemed they were stuck in the same position. And Asta… Well, he was already with the other guy, and apparently, during the time Bat-Something came to her, they went to start their fight. The shady guy Asta faced bent down a little to whisper something in her friend's ears before retreating to take position.

It probably was a taunt, given his expression.

"Oh? Is that one of your friends? He was the one who couldn't do anything but shouting like an idiot during the exam, wasn't he? Such a pathetic little peasant. I look forward to see how he's going to humiliate himself." Commented her future opponent with a scoff.

"This guy is far ruder than I pegged him." Aurora thought, already a bit annoyed with him.

"BEGIN!" the referee let his arm drop to signal the start of their duel.

"No holding back, all right? Let's do this, Asta! Fuh-ha!" "Fuh-ha?" His grimoire started glowing. "Bronze Creation Magic: Sekke Magnum Cannonball!"

A mana dome of greenish taint formed around Fuh-ha. He was quickly surrounded by a mana sphere of his own creation.

Aurora's eyes sparkled.

"How cool! Looking at the canons and the dome, it's a perfect mix between attack and defense! That's so neat! Come on, shoot with your cannons!" Aurora thought giddily. She wanted to see more.

"Haha! Look at this, peasant girl! He's definitely going to learn his place!"

"You're talking about Fuh-ha? Because if he doesn't attack right now, Asta's going to destroy him." Aurora argued, sure of her. If Asta's foe didn't take the initiative right now, then he had already lost.

"His opponent, while a commoner, looks far more promising than your weakling friend," replied Blue Hair. He smirked, looking at her.

Aurora's eyes twitched. Forget about her; he was the one laying it thick. "Focus on the match."

Unfortunately, it looked like Fuh-ha just goaded Asta to attack him. He probably wanted to show his defense before finishing Asta off with his cannon.

"I won't see the cannons, then…" Aurora ruefully thought as Asta summoned his grimoire. Simultaneously, in a show of physical prowess, he bent his knees, cracking the ground the pieces as he rushed his opponent. Moving incredibly quickly, he drew his sword from his grimoire like it was a sheath rather than a book and brought it down on the mana dome in one swift blow.

Like it was made of glass, the spell actually broke, and Fuh-ha was slammed in the ground by Asta's hit. The ground actually cracked again under the strength of the blow.

The captains and examinees looked dumbfounded at the result. In one blow, the "superior" candidate in the mind of nearly everyone had been knocked out. He was even foaming from the mouth!

But Aurora wasn't surprised at all by the result. Yuno neither, if the smile on his face was any indication. They both knew for a long time Asta's strength. Now, it was the kingdom's turn to experience it.

The winner shouldered his sword, looking at his fallen foe with something akin to determination.

"I'm not joining the Wizard King to have a good time and avoid working hard," Asta stated while staring at his downed opponent. His powerful voice was echoing through the silent arena. "I'm going to work my buff off and become the Wizard King!"

"Wha…"

"What the heck is this peasant from the boonies saying?"

"Must be embarrassing, being a delusional idiot."

Again with the jeer. Seriously, do these people have nothing to do but that? Can't they realize the crushing victory they just saw wasn't a coincidence?

"See, I told you. Asta's crushed him. In one blow. Not so bad for a peasant from the boonies, right?" Aurora smiled lightly.

To not lose his calm nor his heart despite all the taunts thrown his way… Asta was really awesome.

"Ah! His opponent wasn't really that much. Besides, he must have been a fluke. Against someone like me, he wouldn't have lasted five seconds!"

But she wasn't Asta, and Aurora was getting tired of the same bullshit this guy and those around him have been whispering all day at her friend.

"What's so noble about this kind of behavior?"

After Fuh-ha had been carried off in a stretcher, the battles continued. And Aurora totally forgot about her anger for a time as she marveled at all the magic used.

"Earth, fire, water…" Her eyes were sparkling. "Even some used, rare type like sand or even wood! Uwaaaaaaaaa!" Her eyes were sparkling. Magic indeed was the most incredible thing ever.

Or at least, she thought she had forgotten. Those damn whispers were still here—still the same pompous people watching Asta or Yuno and literally saying everything they wanted. Blue hair next to her was amongst the worst, commenting on everything her friends have done during the previous tests.

True, nobles were far showier and made a more significant impression than the commoners or the peasants. But to write off Asta as a small fry and Yuno as a fraud had really irked her far more than she thought. He was ruining her day, dammit! And there was so much incredible magic to see!

It was probably his plan. To provoke her and to utterly humiliate her after.

Aurora was suddenly struck with a 'perfect' idea to deal with him and the others in one blow. "I'm going to unwind a bit with him. And after that, I'll still have a lot of magic to see… Let's do this! Now it's me who's going to pick a fight!" Aurora internally growled. Even though this was probably not such a good idea, she wouldn't be deterred. Shutting up people had never been high on her to-do list, but she would make an exception for today.

"Right, let's do this, noble," Aurora said seriously to the blue haired guy next to her, all trace of cheer gone. "I'm kinda angry right now, and I need you to make a statement to the rest. Come on."

For some reason, she realized her opponent looked at her with an unbearably cocky air, and it gave him a really punchable face. Besides, he was amongst those stupid enough to badmouth her friends. The more she thought about it, the less qualm she had about what she wanted to do to him.

"Don't get too confident. Your friend with the sword had been lucky. People from the boonies should just learn their place and stay away from here. You're better off working off the field like the peasant you are. A noble cannot lose against the likes of you people!" He proclaimed haughtily. Again with the jeer towards her friend.

"See, it's this very mentality. It's this mentality I have a problem with. I'll beat that out of your head, at least!"

"Ah! Be thankful there are healers here. You probably don't have enough money to go to one by yourself. Tell you what, if I win, I might consider making you my personal servant. You're not much to look at, but you could always entertain me. And I'm sure you'll need the money anyway." He smirked, looking really pleased with himself.

"I hope these healers will be able to make you some new teeth once I'm done with you." She could feel the mana flaring in answer to her growing anger. This guy was indeed the worst. If all the nobles were like that, she'd definitely show her strength here.

Aurora didn't wait for his answer and walked straight to the referee. Her opponent followed her.

She saw Yuno and another guy coming too. Aurora blitzed past them.

"Sorry, Yuno, lady first."

He was about to answer something witty before seeing her face and relented. "Don't kill him; you won't be chosen otherwise." He simply stated before turning back. Seeing Yuno backing off, his opponent chooses to do the same, apparently. But the overwhelming pride she could feel from him was disgusting. And the smile he shared with her opponent. Was this a hidden competition amongst them to see who could be the worst?

Aurora took place in the middle of the fighting area. Breathing in and out slowly, she focused. She could feel the mana wrapping around her, forming a mana skin. After she'd be done with the guy, perhaps people will avoid her. Possibly the Captains will refuse to choose her. "Some of them look pretty partial…" She thought while glancing at Nozel Silva.

But right now, that didn't matter, as she needed to kick some ass. And to watch magic after. Right.

"Oh, look! It's Eloi!"

"From the Bescherel family! I heard their Earth magic is absolutely superb!"

"Isn't her opponent that blond girl? The finger weirdo!"

"I didn't see her grimoire yet; what is it?"

"Whatever, against that Eloi, she's done for. No matter her results before."

After her opponent pulled out his grimoire in preparation, she summoned hers.

He came floating from her little pouch she used to store him, his pages lazily turning.

"What kind of joke is your grimoire?!" Her opponent laughed loudly. "I'll take pity on you and end this quickly. I won't make you grovel. Hahaha!"

Aurora did not respond. True, her grimoire was weird. But the good kind of weird. This guy would learn it soon.

The Captains had already understood that fact. In fact, some of them looked really surprised.

"That grimoire…! This is, without a doubt…!" Fuegoleon couldn't hide his surprise.

"Yes, the same as Julius-sama. Time magic is incredibly rare, though…." Vangeance remarked.

"Could they be related?" asked Gueldre.

"She apparently comes from a village in the forsaken realm. Even if Julius-sama has family, this is not our concern." Charlotte replied curtly.

"I knew it... That girl…" Yami mumbled.

"Yami-san?" asked Finral curiously.

"No, never mind. Let's see what she got." Yami deflected the question.

Her grimoire, her excitation with new magic… She is exactly like him… Except right now, I can really feel her anger through her ki…." Yami thought to himself.

"Are you ready? Begin!" the referee shouted.

"This match is over, peasant!" Eloi gloated, his grimoire glowing with a brown radiance. "Allow me to show you the difference between us! Earth Magic: Eloi Titanic Reinforcement!"

Suddenly, multiple thick slab of earth materialized from his grimoire. It immediately went to the caster, sticking to him. And Eloi himself seemed to quickly grow in size as the spell progressed quickly. In about five seconds, he was about the height of the arena and nearly half as wide.

It looks like he could control the creation he just made as if it was an extension of his body. What's more, if the face of the design was to be trusted, he could definitely see from its artificial eyes.

He somehow gained a body at least ten times bigger than his own. If she wasn't her opponent and not so angry, she'd be definitely gushing about such a spell.

In a show of power, he flexed his hand before bringing it down on Aurora as if to crush her like an insect. But Aurora felt the attack coming through her focused senses. His threads were vibrating, and when she focused on both the vibration and scent of it, she had a flash. The mana itself showed her what he would do.

Muttering a quick acceleration speed, she deftly avoided his strike as it impacted.

The impact was so huge that the ground shook and cracked in all parts. Gusts of wind rose from the impact, and some examinees shouted in surprise and fear. A massive handprint was barely visible after the resulting chaos.

"Hahaha! I did say I wouldn't make you grovel, but I did not say I wouldn't flatten you! Are you still alive, peon? I have no use for you dead, after all!" His voice came from the mouth of his armor to the shock and awe of many people.

"He sure looks happy. It looks like he is talking from the mouth of his creation too! I wanted to see a bit more, but… Looks like he needs a lesson too."

She aimed at the massive golem and focused on the threads of her opponent coming out from pages of her grimoire started to turn wildly.

"Behind you." She simply answered back, smirking.

"Time Stopping Magic: Tempus Substito!" As soon as the chant was intonated, her opponent was frozen as he was turning. Because of his size and power, it was more taxing than usual...

She quickly moved to be on his right before focusing on his threads again. She could see it, the chunk in his magic.

This is going to be tiring…

"Time Annihilation Magic: Tempus Excidio!"She summoned two powerful balls of pure time magic in her hands before throwing it precisely where she intended.

When Tempus Substito's five seconds ended, Tempus Excidio immediately struck Aurora's opponent in his weak point, his nape. As her spell impacted, she could see the armor's thread being erased, and the rest was slowly crumbling too.

A creation-type spell was like a chain. Target the weakest link, and it would break pretty quickly, losing its form. The same could be said here. By destroying the mana she felt from the nape, it unraveled its thread and erased it completely.

"Guargh!" He could only let out a painful cry. One second he was flattening the mongrel; the next, he heard her voice behind him somehow before being directly hit in his weak point?!

And what happened after that was even more incomprehensible.

He could feel his armor being erased. And he could not reverse the process. It was like someone had directly it the mana emanating from the armor! Such a thing couldn't be possible!

He was left there, panting on the ground, as if his spell was never casted. The only proof of it was his tiredness and the handprint he was kneeling in the middle of. He glared at Aurora, who didn't look much winded.

"What did you do, mongrel?! What is your magic?!" He shouted at her.

"Time," Aurora answered simply. "Just remember that: I could've erased you along with your spell." She added bluntly. Her grimoire was calmly floating beside her, its pages never stopping turning. It was a lie, but he did not have to know that.

"Erasing me?! What kind of nonsense are you spouting now?! The one who's going to disappear is you! "

His grimoire started to glow as he was prepared to counterattack but never did. He simply blinked. He felt his eyes blink. And suddenly, she was right before him. "How? Reinforcement Magic?! "Was the only thing he could think of before Aurora struck. She fired a spell at point-blank range at him before he ever had a chance to finish his. He was projected to the opposite wall, where other candidates had barely the time to avoid the human projectile who crashed against it. His body slumped against said wall, twitching, a well-matched image to illustrate his defeat.

Nobody could speak as Aurora approached the downed boy. All the other examinees moved out of her way.

"You speak too much while you fight… Also, you didn't take me seriously at all. Well, with a spell like that, it was obvious why." Aurora huffed tiredly. Well, at least she had predicted it. And as expected, she won.

"But to be honest, this one spell of him was amazing. The Captains sitting upstairs should have seen it as well as everyone. I was right to stock up on time before coming here…" She thought to herself. Now, she was free to do what she wanted with him. She wouldn't win any points with the Captains with what she was about to do, but whatever. Whether they approved of it or not, that was not her problem. She could still try again next year in the worst case.

"Now, I did tell you should wish for the healer to be able to reattach your teeth, right?" Aurora summoned her grimoire once more, floating before her. Her clear voice resonated in the quiet arena. And yet, despite the apparent aggressivity she displayed, no one dared to stop the young girl in her warpath.

"And I told you I could erase everything I wanted, RIGHT?" she said the last part ominously. The more people looked at her, the better.

Once she was before the downed boy, she started to focus magic on two-finger of her right hand. They began to shine before being encompassed in a white glow.

She took hold of his head and pushed her fingers in his mouth, touching his teeth.

"Stop the match!"

"What is she doing?!"

"She's going to kill him!"

"Why isn't a referee calling the match?!"

"Stop it. Aurora isn't a killer." Yuno proclaimed loudly. Aurora smiled without looking at him. Looks like he was a bit more pissed than he let on, after all.

She focused. Time to give him back the time she stole from him. Literally.

"Time Annihilation Magic: Tempus Excidio!" She pronounced the spell and felt the energy coming towards her fingers like a bit of a prick. She quickly released it and controlled the output.

She felt rather than see the energy disappearing. When Aurora was done, she quickly checked his mouth. Erasing a human was something out of her reach. But not a tiny part of one.

The four foreteeth and bottom tooths had cleanly disappeared, leaving a massive gap.

Aurora sweatdropped. "Ah, I just wanted to erase the two central foreteeth. Welp, I gathered too much power." She sweatdropped.

"Good luck yapping with this." She stood up made her way back to the referee, who finally called her victory.

No one dared to move after such a demonstration. A peasant just beat a noble. No, she crushed him.

Aurora could feel glares coming her way. She quickly glared at those who watched her. They quickly diverted their gaze, surprised—time to end this charade. And to go back to watching more magic.

"Are all the nobles of this kingdom like you moron, all bite and no bark?!" She said to her unconscious opponent, knowing full well she was heard.

"Aurora…" Yuno and Asta looked at her, a bit concerned. She did not get easily angry back at Hage, but they knew everyone back in the village. Here, getting surrounded by nobles who didn't think of them better than insects must have made her snap.

"Their funerals." They mutually thought.

"What is this peasant is saying?"

"Does she have a deathwish?!"

"She is crazy!"

"Stop thinking you're that special! The Magic Knights here do not exist to make you feel good about yourself or boast about your useless self. I was told they have been created to shield those who can't defend themselves! To be a spear that crushed those who would attack the powerless! What good are they if the very candidates are already thinking about killing another person from their own? What good are they if they look down on the people they are meant to protect? Nothing! So stop being a dumbass, and show us, commoners and peasants, why we should be proud of our country's nobles!" Aurora proclaimed to her downed opponent angrily. He couldn't hear her, but the others certainly could.

The silence was absolute. To the others examinees, that girl just went over the line. Judging by the deaths glares she was receiving from other peoples, anyway.

Before anyone had time to retort anything, Aurora turned towards the Captains and bowed.

"I'm sorry for my outburst! I beg your pardon!" She also bowed to the referee and went on her way. She bumped into Yuno again. He smiled at her as if proud of what she did.

"Hey," He called out to her, clapping her shoulder in the same beat. "Nice. It's my turn now." He added as he went back to his opponent.

While she was making herself scarce, healers came, and just like Sekke, he was taken away in a stretcher.

"Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea, after all… I got too riled up and ended up blurting a lot of nonsense… Ahhhhh!" Aurora thought, putting her head in her hands in despair. She couldn't see two of the captains hiding their smile and one other looking at her thoughtfully in her current state. Nor she could see the others looking more disappointed. She was too preoccupied right now.

She could turn back time, right? After all, time is her ally! She just needed the right spell. "Grimoire-san, pleaaaaaaaase!" Aurora focused all her willpower on that thought.

But nothing happened!

"Aurora! That was awesome!" She heard Asta coming her way. She spread her fingers and saw Asta looking at her directly. "Where did he come from?" His eyes were shining. "You totally told them! Remind me when you were scolding Nash and the others too!" He was smiling happily.

"A-ah. Thanks, Asta. Hehe." It felt good to be praised anyway. "I think I made a lot of enemies today… Perhaps I won't be chosen in the knights after all…."

"Yaaa, don't worry about that!" Replied Asta. "You were incredible; everyone was looking at you! You were shining! And the way you defeated him! Even though he used awesome magic, it was like you toyed with him!" He continued, unbothered by the stares they were receiving.

"Hehehe. Thanks, Asta. You were amazing, too! You crushed him in one blow! Everyone was so surprised!" She complimented him.

"Ah! Now, we just have to wait and see! Oh, look! It's Yuno's turn!"

"Oh yeah, he did tell me while I was coming here that it was his turn to fight now… Should we cheer him?"

"Nah, Yuno's got it. He saw what we did, so I'm sure he doesn't want to be the one left behind!" Asta chuckled.

"… You really believe in Yuno, eh? Oh, it's starting." declared Aurora, turning toward where the voice could be heard. Indeed, the referee just called at the beginning of the match.

"It looks like Yuno's opponent is also a noble. And from the looks of it, he looks pissed off." The blond girl declared. She could feel his anger pulsating through his threads. It was also directed at her. "How generous."

"That's probably because of what you did, Aurora! Haha! S'nothing for Yuno, though!" Replied Asta.

As usual, Yuno seems unfazed by his obviously angry opponent. "Maybe Yuno's cool is fueling the anger of the other too?"

His opponent, a boy almost as tall as Yuno with shoulder-length hair, made the first move.

"You should know that it's an honor just to be able to fight the great Salim de Hapshass." He stated haughtily. "You can tell the tale for the rest of your life when you go back to your village! Nobles will always be the superior one!" he declared while Yuno was just staring at him, thoroughly unimpressed. "I'll at least treat you to an ultimate noble attack: The God of Lightning Rising Salim!"

"What's with this guy? He too actually added his name in his attack! Is this a noble thing?" said Asta in disbelief.

"Yuno, kick this guy's ass!" Aurora shouted at his friend.

As she did with her opponent earlier, Aurora was forced to admit that while they were morons, they were very strong morons. This guy may very well be even the strongest of the lot. This spell was absolutely amazing. A massive ball of electricity which grew in size until it was stabilized.

"A control precise enough to stabilize the energy and the actual mana to cast such a spell… So strong!" She could even taste his mana! It was predictably disgusting, but it was definite proof of this guy's power.

"I'll pay for your trip back home," he sneered arrogantly before sending back his spell straight to Yuno."

"He would have been a shoo-in in the Knights just by his strength alone, really," Aurora commented.

"Unfortunately for him, his opponent is Yuno," Asta finished cheekily. They shared a smile.

"Wind Magic: Towering Tornado!"

Yuno's spell, a massive tornado in the making, collided with the ball. Because of the nature of his spell, Yuno managed to trap the ball into powerful winds and stop its course. Evidently, the winds picked up until the mid-haired guy was knocked off his feet and shouted in utter pain, getting caught as he was into such merciless winds.

Yuno merely watched until his spell ended and his opponent crashed on the ground, defeated and unconscious. Once again, everyone was staring at him, and even the Captains looked mildly impressed.

He had defeated, no, overwhelmed a powerful opponent in one blow, after all, but all Yuno did was simply put his grimoire back in his pouch before going back.

However, Asta and Aurora did not miss his satisfied air, not the little smile he wore.

"Impressive!" Asta couldn't help saying, a complicated expression on his face.

"Hm! His wind was super amazing! Hey, Yuno! Good work out there!" Aurora had stars in her eyes. Nothing better to cheer her up than Yuno and his fantastic magic.

"Aurora," he called her calmly, "This is how you hold back. You don't see me vaporizing his teeth or anything, right?" He lectured Aurora, who stopped cheering and looked sheepishly at him, already reminded of her 'fantastic' idea, while he was jerking a finger behind him in the same beat, pointing to the still unconscious guy he fought getting carried away on a stretcher. "You told us to stand out, but there's a thing such as too much. Well, as usual, everything is Asta's fault." He nodded to himself. As expected of Yuno, he never forgot to add Asta in the mix whenever there's a chance to diss him.

"Hold up! How is this my fault?!" Asta protested hotly.

"You were the one who got excited when we first arrived here. And ever since we're little, every time you two were doing something stupid, it was a hundred percent your fault anyway. Your record speaks for himself."

"What?! You were always with us anyway! You even broke Father's favorite mug with your magic!"

"I didn't." "You so did!" "No way. I never touched this mug anyway." "Because you used your magic!" Asta was fuming while Yuno was simply deflecting everything back to him. The familiarity of the scene, the nonsensicality of it, brought her a powerful feeling of comfort and joy.

"Hahahaha!" she couldn't help the laugh out of her mouth. Other participants were fighting, powerful and exciting magic was used, and she was distracted by her two childhood friends, who shared unbeknownst to her a complicit smile.

They successfully managed to dispel whatever grim feeling she had. Seeing her full of mirth, laughing to the point of holding her stomach, was always worth it.

Their sister has the cutest laugh, after all.

After a while, and many duels later, The Magic Knights Entrance Exam was finally coming to an end. The sun was setting on the horizon, and Aurora had been absolutely elated. Many magic has been used, come creatively, some used through sheer power. Anyway, now was the time. The moment everyone waited if the restlessness she heard through the mana was to be heard. Even Yuno and Asta seemed tense. Not that she was any better. It had been a very long day.

And it was not over.

"This concludes the Magic Knights Entrance Exam!" Vangeance announced. "Now, candidates whose numbers are called, please step forward."

"The Squad Captains will raise their hands if they would like you to join their squads," Charlotte Roselei explained. "The candidates will decide if they would like to accept or decline, and if they are chosen by more than one Captain, they may choose which Squad they'd like to join." The Captain of the Blue Roses described the simple process.

"But!" Fuegoleon Vermillion continued, "If no one raises their hands, the candidates will not join the Magic Knights."

"And you will leave immediately," Nozel Silva added. "Probably to avoid complaining. Well, he does not look like he's kidding." Aurora thought while looking at the severe face of the Captain.

"Candidate #1! Step forward!"

"Lucky them! There is so much interesting mag-person to pick!" Aurora mused.

...

"Looks like we don't have the same definition of interesting. Turns out I was really naive." Aurora thought ruefully. Seventy. Seventy people and not one had been picked. Aurora did not remember all the faces, but she remembers some of them using incredible magic! The Captains were far harsher in their selection than she thought.

Finally, it was the number #71, or rather the Captain of the Purple Orcas, who asked him to join his Squad, who broke the circle. After that, the Captains raised their hands more frequently, but not by that much.

Putting her aside, she was getting worried for Asta too. The Captains were really no-nonsense, and all that mattered were apparently the magical ability because every people picked was amongst the strongest. Or perhaps each captain had his own list of criteria and magical strength just happened to be the most important one… Well, she was worried about herself too anyway, or more like there was a high probability no one wanted her.

"Well, there's always next year!"

Then, it was finally Yuno's turn.

"Next, #164!"

"Yes!" Yuno stepped forward. The peasant who beat a noble made a solid showing all in all. The four-leaf Clover's chosen. Everyone looked with attention at him. The only question in everyone's mind was: "How many?"

The answer was simple. Everyone.

"What?"

"Seriously?"

"All of the captains raised their hands!"

"Th-That's amazing."

"I thought only royalty and nobles could join the Golden Dawn!"

"Woaaaaah! Look, Aurora, everyone wants Yuno!" Asta said in disbelief. His rival definitely made an impression.

"Amazing! Even the Silver Squad, by the looks of it! But that's only because they don't know how black his heart is." Aurora answered, nodding to herself.

"Ohhh, now that you mention it, they don't!"

"These two, there are saying whatever they want…." Yuno thought, a bit annoyed. "Well, I'm here to take the best path possible to become the Wizard King."

"Please, allow me to join the Golden Dawn!" Yuno declared to the captains.

Vangeance nodded, smiling, clearly satisfied.

Yuno turned back and walked towards them, looking clearly satisfied. Aurora went to congratulate him, sending him a smile and a thumbs-up. He answered with a thumbs-up.

"Next, #165!"

Asta was called. He walked with determination towards the place where his fate would be sealed.

Aurora and Yuno looked on with attention. Aurora, in particular, couldn't help but be worried. Asta was totally an unknown. He proved nothing essentially because he had nothing to prove. These exams were not tailored to someone like him.

"But if any of these people have any insights… Please!"

"I'm ready!"

Unfortunately, no one raised his hand. Not one Captain. Aurora couldn't see Asta's face, but he probably was distraught. Again, all his work was denied. She clenched her fists. "Not even one person is going to give him a chance?!" She thought in despair.

"Go on, scram!" Someone started to talk. "Stop."

"Let's move on already!" "Stop talking."

"You're a disgrace!"

"N-no… I'm not…." She could easily perceive the despair in Asta's voice, pushing her over the edge.

"Shut the he-"Before she could finish, she felt a powerful aura flaring from the podium where the Captain was seated. A familiar aura. She turned her eyes toward the tribune, and here he was, standing up and seizing Asta.

"Well, that's not a surprise." Yami Sukehiro said clearly. All eyes were following up to him now. Once again, Aurora couldn't predict what he was about to do. Was he going to humiliate Asta one last time? "No matter how high your combat skills are if the source of your power is unknown, no one wants anything to do with it."Cause they are morons." Aurora thought quickly. "In the end, the only thing desired from a Magic Knight is their magical powers!"

And then, it happened suddenly. It was like Aurora could feel and taste the absolutely monstrous aura coming from him. It felt like he had decided to release the brake he had on his powers. The aura he released was enough to put a chill in every examinee and for the ground to shake under the sheer pressure of his power. Aurora saw the unmissable thick and dark threads of Yami wiggling and pulsating with ominous dark energy. It was terrifying and mesmerizing at the same time. She never saw, nor feel, so much power before. It had a weird taste, but it was pretty addictive.

Apparently not done, Yami decided to jump from the podium, landing gracefully near Asta. His subordinate with the spacial magic called out to him but was promptly ignored.

Yami instead closed the gap between him and Asta, looking down at him in the eyes. His expression was the most terrifying thing Aurora ever saw. When he released a bit of killing intent, she could see his threads taking a rather dark red taint. She couldn't help the shiver coursing through her body.

However, behind that, she caught a whiff of a different intent. Yami intended to do something with Asta, and it was not involving killing him. Yet.

"Since you have no magic power, no one wants you," he stated darkly. "That's the cruel reality. I heard you earlier; you said you wanted to become the Wizard King, didn't you? Which means you're going to surpass the nine Captains here, right?" His glare became even more ferocious. "He really is an ogre, after all!" "Though, now that I'm standing here before you, do you still have the nerve to say that you're going to become the Wizard King, even without any magic powers?"

"Ahhhhh, so that's it!" Aurora thought with relief. She could feel it now, coming from Yami. "His intent to challenge the shrimp on his beliefs… Eh?" It was like she could tell his thoughts, only it was over in a flash.

She turned to Asta, seeing him sweaty and clenching his fists. Of course, the brunt of this aura was directed at him, and Asta had no way to know it was a challenge. And yet, he perceived it as such.

"E-Even if I can't join the Magic Knights today… No matter how many times I fall, no matter what anyone says to me…." Asta raised his head and met Yami's glare with his own. "I'M STILL GOING TO BECOME TO WIZARD KING SOMEDAY!"

A heavy silence followed. Aurora felt the intent disappearing and the thread and the mana around Yami calming down. Instead, she felt others things coming from the Black Bulls captain. Through his mana, she could hear the surprise, quickly replaced with… Cheerfulness?

Her interrogation was quickly answered by the boisterous laugh he let out.

"You're funny, kid! He exclaimed. Yeah, he was happy. "Join my squad!"

"…Eh?" Asta looked dumbfounded. Looks like he didn't understand the intent behind the bigger man's action and just spoke from his heart. Yuno and Aurora looked more openly pleased. Especially the latter.

"As expected from Asta, he really is amazing. But Yami Sukehiro… He sure is a hard man to read. However, looks like I was wrong about him. He is an ogre, but a kind one?" Aurora thought while looking at the still smiling man. "I'm telling you I'll let you join the Black Bulls," he explained, taking a puff from his cigarette. He looked at Asta with a dangerous air, smirking. "By the way, you can't refuse. I'll make your life so miserable in the Blacks Bulls you'll be torn to shreds. So be ready for that." He let out another mighty laugh.

"EHHHH?" Asta was totally lost now.

"And then, someday…." Yami's smile became slightly kinder and his voice softer. "Become the Wizard King."

Asta was legitimately stunned. He could only look at Yami with wonder before letting out a large smile.

"Yes, sir!" He answered, his voice wavering with emotion.

Yami nodded at him, satisfied, and cast a quick look at Aurora. She looked back and, without meaning, let out a "So cool!" Because he was. He was the only one who gave her hero a chance. So just that made him stand so much higher in her books. Had it been part of his goal?

It didn't matter. The fact that Aurora genuinely found Yami cool right now was indisputable. Yami smirked at her before walking to his seat on the podium, laughing all the while. His joy was contagious because she felt smiling too, forgetting she was coming just after Asta.

"I'm in, guys…! I'm in the Magic Knights!"

"Congrats, Asta! She presented her first to him to bump, which he eagerly reciprocated.

"Aurora, we're counting on you to send our wishes to the others back at Hage." Yuno said, "Good luck going back!" he added with a slight smirk.

"Uwah, your lack of faith is hurting me, Yuno-kun…."

"Next, #166!"

"Go for it, Aurora!" "Good luck!" Asta and Yuno cheered her. She walked to the front, stopping before the tribune, just like Asta.

She wasn't scared anymore. No matter what would happen today… She raised her head and looked at the nine Captains.

"All who wish to offer, please raise your hands."

"Here we go… Eh?"

One hand. Two. Three.

"What?"

"That many?"

"No way! Look!"

"Ehhh?" Aurora couldn't understand. She was sure she was out after what she has done to the other guy!

The Green Mantis. The Blue Roses and the Golden Dawn.

"The Golden Dawn itself wants a second peasant?!"

"The Roses and the Mantis too?!"

Jack the Ripper. Charlotte Roselei and even William Vangeance had raised their hands. Aurora looked dumbfounded and a bit moved that so many people still wanted her. And yet, after what she did witness, she was sure of her. There was one Squad she wanted to join more than the other.

But, Yami didn't raise his hand. After what he did for Asta, Aurora thought he would give her a chance too. But he didn't. He was staring at her, almost like a challenge. Even then, his hand stayed down.

She couldn't join the Squad she wanted. "Looks like I misread the ogre again…" Aurora thought, a bit disappointed.

"#166, please choose a squad." The referee reminded her. The crowd quieted. The other outlier was about to choose her Squad.

She raised her head and looked straight at the Captain she chose.

"Please, let me join the Golden Dawn!" Aurora announced, locking eyes with Vangeance.

"…"

A clamor amongst the examinees erupted. Apparently, her decision was a big deal, not that she cared. Vangeance nodded at her, smiling softly. He looked satisfied.

Aurora bowed once more before heading back to her two friends. Others were looking at her as if she was not human. Asta was absolutely ecstatic, and Yuno was smiling softly too. They both looked glad for her, and Yuno nodded at her. Joining the rumored best Squad couldn't be such a bad deal. Being in the Golden Dawn would open her many doors, it seems, even if her reason was selfish. But no one had to know that for now.

After all, only her two brothers knew her objective wasn't the title of Wizard King.

"Hey, Vangeance," Yami called his fellow Captain. The others Captains looked surprised. Yami called the other Captain properly. Usually, it's always with a weird nickname. "I'm counting on you here."

"I know. You can leave her to me." Vangeance answered with a thin smile.

"Something we ought to know?" Fuegoleon interjected, curious.

"Nah. Just something between former members of the Grey Deer. Don't you worry."

Yeah Golden Dawn! Fite me! I think it's an interesting choice and I wanted to develop more Yuno, Mimosa and co. Also, I already have an idea about the ending (and the next arcs too), and the Golden Dawn was a good choice for me. No worries, Asta and the Bulls will appear frequently too. They are simply too awesome!