Part 103: Into the shadow palace
Walking through the entrance to clover castle was two people invisible with the magic used by the former captain of the purple orcas, "What is that thing," Revchy said looking confused at the shadow palace.
"That is the shadow palace, from what ive heard there are multiple magic items and treasures inside," Gueldre said calmly.
"Were going inside, just how do we do that?" Revchy asked.
"Don't worry, I have a plan," Gueldre said. Not far from the former magic knights Charmys sheep cooks were making food for the black bulls while Mimosa was using her magic to heal Asta.
"Alright everyone eat up, you need to be ready to fight soon," Charmy said looking serious.
"Here Marie, have some," Gauche said smiling as he held out a spoon.
"No Im good," Marie said.
"Come on its good, you don't have to be shy around me," Gauche said before Marie turned away with annoyed look on her face.
"I'm good, you eat it," she said while Gauche looked shocked while Gordon sat behind him and held up a spoon with food on it.
"You don't have to be shy around me Gauche," Gordon said while Gauche still looked shocked from Maries response.
"I can feel my magic being beautifully restored," Kirsch said holding up a spoon while cherry blossoms moved around him. Near him a sheep cook was making pink buns.
"Wow thanks Mimosa I'm all better," Asta said siting up as he stretched his arms.
"That's good to hear," Mimosa said before Noelle handed her a bowl of food.
"Here you could use something to eat too," she said before sitting down on a piece of rubble, "Honestly Asta do you have to be so reckless sometimes," she said.
"Yeah sorry about that, but thanks to the final match back at the royal knights exam I'm able to bring out the dark form more then I used to," Asta said.
"Shes right you know, you gotta make sure to look after that body of yours," Sally said getting their attention. Noelle then looked surprised as she noticed what Sally was wearing.
"Asta," she said looking at her boyfriend with a serious look on her face, "Why is one of our enemies wearing one of your shirts," she said looking annoyed.
"Wait hang on its not what you think, when we ran into her the clothes she was wearing was a little destroyed," Asta said waving his hands with a nervous look on his face.
"He also told me I could run some expiriments," said Sally walking over while Mimosa looked surprised.
"Wait what experiments," she said.
"Asta," Noelle said as she held out her wand.
"Wait hang on I told her she couldn't do anything to hurt me because you would send her flying," said Asta.
"Don't worry I'm not going to hurt your boyfriend, but I would like to know how he was able to use your magic in that sword of his," Sally said.
"I thought it was through eye contact," Mimosa said looking confused.
"That is what happened back in the dungeon," Noelle said before looking at Asta who was looking down, "Asta," she said getting his attention.
"Oh sorry, but their leader actually took that sword from me and I got the other one to turn people back," Asta said.
"Why did he," Noelle said before Luck suddenly jumped up with a surprised look on his face.
"Whats going on?" Magna asked.
"Their coming, over there," Luck said looking towards the entrance to see two controlled magic knights flying over.
"We got you now," one said.
"This is the end for you," the second said as they both fired off attack spells. One used earth magic and the other used plant magic.
"This isnt good," Magna said before two people shot down from the sky. Both of them firing fire magic and destroying the attack spells. The controlled magic knights look surprised before they were hit as well.
"No way, its them," Asta said noticing Feugoelon with Salamander and Mereoleona standing on the ground, "Its captain Feugoleon and Mereoleona, their back," he said.
"Asta, its been a while, ive seen you gotten stronger," Feugoeleon said.
"Yes I have thank you sir and looks like you got stronger too since you have salamander," Asta said before looking at Mereoleona, "But shouldn't you be resting more captain," he said looking at the royal knight that was unconscious earlier.
"Not a chance, Im to strong for that," Mereoleona said smiling.
Nozel walked over to the edge of what was left of Solids room, "Looks like he made it back in time for the battle," he said calmly.
"Sir Nozel is amazing getting back up after just being healed," Papollo thought looking surprised as he continued to heal Nebra.
"Sorry I kept you waiting this whole time, I hope were not to late," Feugoleon said.
"Just make sure not to fall behind, even with Salamanders power you will never catch up to me," Nozel said looking serious.
"Will see," Feugoelon said before Magna spoke up getting everyones attention.
"Uh I'm not sure but does that hole look like its getting smaller," he said as everyone looked towards the shadow palace and noticed the portal was slowly getting smaller.
"We need to go now," Feugoelon said before a wall exploded revealing controlled members of the golden dawn.
"There you are humans," Alecdora said.
"Guess we have to take care of them first," Mereoleona said before Vanessa spoke up.
"No the captains should go in," she said as most of the black bulls stood ready to fight, "Leave this to the black bulls, with my strings and Charmys cooking we should be fine," she said.
"Yeah," said Charmy.
"This is definitely going to be tough though," Zora said.
"Asta you go with them too," Magna said looking at the anti magic user, "Their going to need your sword to turn some of them back," he said.
"Right, good luck everyone," Asta said looking serious before giving the salute.
"Just don't take to long because these guys are strong too," Magna said.
"Wait Asta ill go," Noelle said before Kirsch spoke up.
"Youll need a healer as well, Mimosa go with them," he said looking serious.
"Got it," Mimosa said nodding.
"Wait I'm going too," Noelle said before loud voice spoke up getting her attention.
"Noelle," Solid said.
"Solid," she said looking surprised.
"You go with them too, they'll need your strength," Solid said, "But you better make it back since your stronger then me I still have to surpass you, that's what I must do as your big brother," he said.
"Right," Noelle said smiling.
"Well lets get a move on," Fuegoleon said as he, Mereoleona and Mimosa got on Salamander. Asta and Noelle got on a mercury eagle with Nozel.
"We wont let you get past us," Alecdora said as the controlled golden dawn members jumped and got ready to fight.
"Your in their way," the magic knights who stayed behind said as they jumped in to fight. There was an explosion as the two groups clashed while the group going in flew into the portal before it got smaller.
When they went through the portal they found themselves in a dark place surrounded by green lights, "What is this place," Asta said.
"I cant get a good read on the magic here," Mereoleona said before Salamander vanished along with Nozels eagle.
"Whats happening, I cant control my magic right," Mimosa said looking worried.
"Will have to be careful," Fuegoleon said.
"The shadow palace, from what I understand its suppose to be a path from our world to the next," Nozel said.
"Wait then does that mean were going to die," Asta said looking nervous.
"This not the time to be talking about that," Noelle said before they saw another portal ahead of them.
"Ahh," Asta said as he fell onto the stone ground, "Where am I," he said getting up before hearing a female scream above him.
"Whoa," Asta said quickly putting his arms up as he caught Mimosa, "Good thing I caught Noelle earlier or I wouldn't have been ready for that," he said.
"Thank you," Mimosa said as Asta put her down, "So this is the shadow palace," she said looking around the area. They were on a stone path with steps leading up to another portal.
"Yeah but where is Noelle and everyone else," Asta said looking confused.
"Don't worry, Ill use Magic flower guide post," Mimosa said before a large plant appeared in front of her.
"Wow that really comes in handy," Asta said smiling before an image appeared above the floor. Showing paths that lead to large rooms.
"Looks like everyone was separated and sent to different rooms, were here in one of the paths connecting to one of the large ones," Mimosa said.
"Each room has someone strong in them, but the most powerful one is at the top," Mimosa said.
"Yeah that's probably their leader," Asta said looking serious before looking up towards the portal, "Will all just have to defeat the elves before meeting up and facing the boss," he said smiling.
"Are you sure," Mimosa said.
"Yeah, I know they'll be fine," Asta said.
"Still thought were up against the apostles of sephiroth, each one has more power then a magic knight captain," Mimosa thought looking worried.
In another room with Noelle, "Come on where is everyone," she said.
"Oh so its you I'm facing," said a female voice flying down on flame wings.
"Wait, why are you here," Noelle said looking confused.
"Sorry, but I'm not the same Fana you know," Fana the elf said smiling.
In another room, "So its you Kaiser I heard you had become a magic knigth captain, it pains me that we now have to fight on opposite sides," Feugoleon said.
"I have no problem since I never met you before," the controlled purple orcas captain said calmly.
"Yes I know because Kaisers magic is strong so I don't have to hold back," Fuegoleon said as salamander appeared.
In another room Veto was sitting on a step, "Well I didn't know I would be facing you, try not to make it boring," he said smiling.
"You little brat, looks like ill have to teach you some manners," Mereoleona said smiling.
"I may look young but I can still put up a good fight," Veto said.
Back with Asta and Mimosa, "Alright lets get a move on," Asta said before they moving up the steps and going through the portal.
"Wait," Asta said looking surprised. There were paintings of different places.
"These paintings, it cant be," Mimosa said before a male voice spoke up.
"Well looks like we meet again," Rill said from the the step he was sitting on.
"Its Rill," Asta said looking serious.
"No wrong again, I told you my names Lira," Rill said before standing up, "I'm waiting for the final magic stone to arrive so I guess I can fight you for now while I wait," he said.
"Or how about I wake you up and bring you to your senses," Asta said as he took out the demon destroyer sword.
"See wrong again, I'm awake as Ive ever been and look what I can do with picture magic," Rill said as snakes and stone golems made from the paintings moved towards the magic knights, "Once we have the final stone we elfs will create a whole new world without you humans in it," he said smiling.