Here is the tenth conversation since Noelle realized that she loved Asta but this one is a little different from the others for some reason though it is a reason Noelle fully approves of. I have fully drafted the next two conversations which at this point are going to be the last two in this collection, at least for now but of course I won't say anything about them here. As with the last two conversations, this one is set 150 and episode 152, so there may be spoilers for the anime arc prior to the episode so y'all have been warned. That is all I have for now which means that it is time to sit back and enjoy Noelle's latest conversation.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to the Black Clover franchise.

Summary - Noelle has survived her ordeal with Mereoleona Vermillion and earned her favor. Now she is back at the hideout recovering as the rest of her team continues to train and prepare for the coming invasion when a sudden, familiar, pounding on their front door begins. Who could that be and why does it fill Asta with fear? Wait, not you, not again!

Pounding Sense Into a Thick Skull

Asta groaned as he sat down at the table in the Black Bulls common room and immediately perked up when one of Charmy's sheep placed a plate of delicious smelling food in front of him and Asta instantly began to scarf it down. While he had no mana so her Top Chef's food couldn't restore it, it was still the best tasting food he'd ever had and Charmy's sheep knew how to cook food that was perfect to regain energy and stamina so that Asta could work out again real soon. With the temporary move to the Heart Kingdom imminent Asta was working hard to be ready for it.

That was why he, and all his teammates were constantly training these days. Even the ones not going to the Heart Kingdom were pushing past their limits as much as possible to be ready because in 6 months they launched a preemptive strike on the Spade Kingdom to defeat the devil there. They all had to be in top shape, so they had all being doing group and individual training for almost 6 months.

They'd had some adventures during this period, most notably the incident with the Devil Believers, but for the most part it had been a relatively uneventful time since Asta, and Nero's farce of a trial inadvertently set things into motion. Sure, he'd been kidnapped by Mereoleona Vermillion twice, been to Hage, had a mixer, went to the Underwater Temple, met Gordon's family, survived a Charmy related food incident, and had another run in with Sally but those had all been minor things. Now, Asta was ready to get to the Heart Kingdom and see what training they had in stall for him there.

That wasn't for a few days though so for now Asta was just enjoying the last bit of time he had with his teammates as many weren't coming to the Heart Kingdom with him so he wouldn't see them for half a year. Right now, most of the team was in common room as it was lunchtime, so they had gathered here for it, though only Gordon and Charmy were currently eating with Asta, the others were scattered around the room. Nero was in her bird form and on his head, so she was kinda with him but not talking.

Captain Yami was in his usual spot reading the paper and smoking while Finral sat near him ready to send Yami to the bathroom when the Captain's frequent need to have a constipated shit arose. Grey was in a corner hiding herself while next to Gauche who was busy painting a Marie doll while bleeding from the nose and smiling as he worked.

Meanwhile, Luck and Magna were as usual arguing about who ate Magna's desert while hyping each other up to get stronger while Vanessa was passed out drunk on a sofa already nearby. Henry was in his usual place so that he could be with them while not draining their mana. The last one present was Noelle.

Asta's closest friend on the team was not at the table with them but sitting on one of the sofas relaxing and apparently just taking a breather from their constant training. Asta didn't blame her though, she'd clearly been busy recently. The week before, Noelle had left the hideout on her own saying that she needed to do some solo training to perfect her techniques. Asta had of course wanted to go with her, but Noelle had politely declined saying that this was something she needed to do alone as she wanted to work on Mana Zone related stuff and that was the area Asta didn't excel in.

He'd understood of course and wished her luck as she set off not noticing how upset she was at not being able to be with him, but this was Asta, he didn't notice those kind of things. He was just proud of her at how strong she was getting and her willingness to continue to push herself past her limits in order to get better and told her as much as she left, completely missing the blush it caused.

She'd been gone for about a week until she returned the night before looking exhausted, drained, but with amazing skin for some reason. Asta had said as much to her, and she'd blasted him through a wall with water for that though he wasn't aware of how touched she was by the complement. She'd then collapsed at the table and eaten as much as he would normally though at a more dignified pace befitting her royal status before going to bed.

Asta had missed having Noelle around for the week, they had been together almost every day since joining the Black Bulls on the same day, so it was odd not being near her. She was like a bossy sister to him and had even come to Hage with him when he'd visited so not having her around had felt different.

Sure, some of the team were away for a while, Zora wasn't even present at the moment which was usual, and during these last few months various members had gone off on their own adventures but when Noelle went on hers it was different. The only other person on the team like that for Asta was Nero but she was different due to her bird form and lack of any family besides the Black Bulls.

Still, Asta had known it had been for her own training and he'd never get in the way of that. Besides, they were going to be in the Heart Kingdom together, so some solo training in areas they couldn't help each other in was good for them. It wasn't like they were a couple after all, Asta's heart was set on Sister Lily, so he didn't think of any other girl like that, and as such time away from each other was good.

Of course, Asta was completely unaware of how Noelle felt about him. She'd been in denial about it herself for a long time before finally being confronted on her feeling by, of all people, Charlotte Roselei and realizing that she loved him. Since then, she'd spent the last few months confronting her rivals, learning who was and was not a rival or even in one case creating a rival in the process, and having a few other select conversations with important people.

It had been the last few select conversations that had been why Noelle was away. She had needed to speak to her brother, Sister Lily, and lastly Mereoleona Vermillion about her feelings for Asta. First to tell Nozel that she was going to pursue him with or without approval though she got it much to her surprise. Then to seek advice from Sister Lily while also confirming that Asta did indeed have feelings for her that he needed to move on from as she would never reciprocate them. Lastly, and where she'd been for 4 days, to get a favor from Mereoleona.

That favor had cost Noelle a lot. She had been forced to train with Mereoleona, at her level no less, for 4 straight days at the volcano the woman favored. The plus side was a hot spring each night, so Noelle's skin was better than it had ever been and Asta had even noticed earning a blasting while Noelle blushed and gushed on the inside at Asta noticing how good she was looking. Even if her insecurities caused her to attack him, Noelle still loved getting compliments from Asta.

Thankfully, she had survived the training and the several battles she'd had to fight with Mereoleona where the older woman owned her but helped her improve at the same time and Noelle had paid her end of the favor. Now it Mereoleona's turn, and Noelle knew that was coming soon. She couldn't wait because it was first and foremost for Asta's sake.

That was why she'd gone through with all this to begin with. It was her love of Asta that had kept her going throughout Mereoleona's brutal training and the knowledge of what was to come. Soon, she should finally have the chance to begin winning Asta's love the way he'd won hers.

Asta, of course, knew none of this as he ate his food and began thinking what he wanted to do that afternoon. Likely some strength training followed by sparing with Noelle or whoever else wanted in on it before finishing with more strength training. Pretty typical but with only a few days to go before heading to the Heart Kingdom there wasn't much to do. It wasn't like he was about to have a last-minute adventure or anything.

Almost as soon as he thought that though, a loud, heavy, banging on the front door of the hideout that startled everyone. He looked up from his food to the door with an unease feeling in his gut at the sound. This sounded familiar and he instantly wanted to flee but stayed put, a Magic Knight shouldn't flee at the sound of a simple door knock.

"Alright I'm coming." Magna yelled heading towards the door as he was nearest. "We've already had a crazy lady knock this door down 3 times, we don't…"

Before Magna could finish the door was blasted off its hinges from the increasingly forceful knocking and into him as he reached it, flattening him and creating a cloud of smoke that everyone present recognized at once. A second later, Mereoleona Vermillion strolled into the hideout, walking over Magna as she did, and grinning as she entered as if she owned the place.

"Wild beast alert!" Yami yelled as soon as he saw her and grabbing Finral as he turned to get away from the crazy woman. "Code red, flee! If not play dead. Finral, get me out of here now."

Finral didn't need the encouragement and created a portal that Yami leapt through leaving his team at Mereoleona's mercy as Finral followed him and closed the portal. The others too had begun to flee. Magna had run out of the open door and into the woods before he could be noticed, Charmy was already running into the hideout using her sheep as a shield and Gordon right behind her. Gauche had grabbed his Marie doll and used his mirror magic to get way while Grey transformed herself into a bug and scurried into the wall to hide from the impending kidnapping.

The only people who hadn't moved were Asta, Noelle, Nero, Vanessa, Henry, and Luck. The last of them was because he was excited and in a flash of electricity he had leapt towards Mereoleona eager for a battle.

"Let's fight." Luck said gleefully. "Your really strong lady lion, please will you fight me."

"Not today." Mereoleona said dismissively as she created a cat's paw of flame and batted Luck away and through a wall though he was laughing the entire time. "I have a specific target for once. Also, you guys really need to do something about that weak ass door of yours, I keep destroying it."

As she spoke she had locked eyes with Asta, and he was frozen in place at the intensity of her gaze. She was here for him this time, like she always seemed to be, which meant that this wasn't good. Vanessa was drunk so was ignored as she was useless, and Henry had a natural defense against Mereoleona. Only Noelle seemed unphased by the situation though Asta didn't notice that.

"There you are." Mereoleona said a cat paw extending and grabbing Asta's head, Nero flying off it at the last second like she did whenever someone went for Asta's head and lifting him up before pulling him towards her. "You're coming with me shorty."

"What have I done now?" Asta complained as he struggled in vain against Mereoleona's hold. "And don't call me short."

"You have been selected for some special one on one training with me." Mereoleona said simply ignoring his complaint. "So, let's get moving."

"But I'm going to the Heart Kingdom soon." Asta protested.

"I know, in 4 days' time." Mereoleona said with a cackle. "Which means that for the next 3 days you're mine. I'll have you back in time to leave and you will be a better person, so long as you are still in one piece by then."

"Wait, what about the others." Asta said desperately as Nero flew down and landed on his shoulder to accompany him, she wouldn't leave his side especially not to be alone with this woman's idea of training would be considered torture in any civilized society. "Usually you grab at least Noelle as well."

"Nope, just you this time." Mereoleona said shaking her head as another cat paw appeared and plucked Nero off Asta's shoulder. "And I mean just Asta, you are staying here as well little lady."

"I am coming whether you like it or not." Nero said as she transformed back into human form but remained in Mereoleona's grasp as the woman had been expecting the attempt and didn't let go. "I don't leave Asta's side unless it is to sleep or bathe. Someone has to be with him to prevent him doing something stupid."

"And that someone is me this time." Mereoleona said to the defiant girl. "You aren't Asta's girlfriend now, are you?"

"No, I'm his bodyguard and I don't consider Asta being alone with you safe for his health or anything you do to be sane." Nero said crossing her arms while Noelle let out an involuntary squawk at Mereoleona's statement though Asta didn't hear any of it as he was still struggling to free himself. "You're idea of training will probably kill him."

Mereoleona growled at the stubborn girl. Usually, she'd enjoy the challenge of breaking her, but she had to get Asta away and to work as soon as possible as it was going to be a monumental challenge to set him straight. She needed to persuade Nero of the truth and thankfully she knew that Nero was in the know about Noelle so she could cut to the chase with the strange girl. She just needed to get rid of Asta for a moment which she did by tossing him behind her and out of the front door to land in a heap on the ground.

"Stay there for me and don't even think about running away, I need a word with this bird first." Mereoleona called back to him before pulling Nero in close and lowering her voice so that only Nero could hear her. "You aren't coming because this is a favor I'm doing for Noelle. She came to me a couple days ago asking for help getting Asta over Sister Lily, I am sure you know why that would be."

"Yes." Nero said understanding now where Noelle had been and what she'd done. "She told you everything then."

"Yup, I'm part of your little club now." Mereoleona said with a grin that Nero did not like at all. "And I have a job to do so that all of you little ladies have a fair shot at the hunk behind me so be a good girl and stay put. I know how important Asta is to the coming war, I'll bring him back in one piece, mostly."

"Very well." Nero said still not happy but realizing she couldn't do anything about the current situation. "But I don't like this."

"I don't care." Mereoleona said as she extended her fiery paw and then dropped Nero in the seat next to Noelle to add to the fun. "Don't follow me, I will be keeping an eye out for you and if I do see you in either of your forms I will not have any mercy, understood."

Nero just nodded and Mereoleona smirked before turning and walking out, grabbing a protesting Asta by the head as she passed him before he could get up and heading off. She had a lot of work to do with the boy and not much time. This was going to be fun.

Back on the couch Nero looked over to Noelle next to her. The royal had been completely unphased by this and as Nero looked she saw the smile on the girl's face that Noelle wasn't even trying to hide now that they were effectively alone as Henry couldn't hear them and Vanessa was out cold.

"So that was where you were these last few days." Nero said to the royal. "Making a deal with the unhinged lioness."

"What can I say." Noelle said her smile widening. "I needed a favor and she's probably the only one with the strength to get through his thick skull. I also went to Hage to see Sister Lily before Mereoleona so that is why I knew what I need from her. You aren't upset, are you."

"Not in the way you would be if Asta was taken without your prior knowledge, at least I don't think it's like that." Nero said her uncertain feelings for Asta in that regard kicking in again. "I just like looking out for him because someone has to always look out for him, that's all. I believe in him, and my nature is to be by his side, so I don't like it when I'm not."

"Poor Nero, well you just have to trust Mereoleona." Noelle said not sounding sad at all and really starting to annoy her. "I do and it will help me when he returns a clean slate."

"Well, just remember this." Nero said feeling herself grin, a rare expression for her especially when it wasn't Asta's fault. "Mereoleona has no shame and if she's going where I think she's going then they may end up bathing together."

"What!" Noelle exclaimed her eyes wide. "I didn't think of that."

"Don't worry." Nero said still grinning. "I doubt Asta will be in any shape to perform after she's done with him so his virtue will be intact."

"It had better." Noelle growled. "Mine belongs to him and only him and his will be solely mine."

"I think I'll leave you with that." Nero said before turning into a bird and flying up to look at Noelle. "I'm going to the forest for a bit, don't follow."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Noelle said as Nero flew off though she did have a pang of jealousy as Nero's actions as they weren't those of someone who liked Asta as a friend in Noelle's opinion, she was going to have to keep an even closer eye on the girl from now on. "Go and pout little birdie, I'll still win Asta."

Noelle knew that to be true, she was going to be the one with Asta, but she needed Mereoleona to do her part first and hopefully not do what Nero had put in her mind. However, one thing was certain, Mereoleona and Asta were the two most stubborn people she knew but when two diamonds met, one always broke, and Noelle knew that Mereoleona was the harder one. It was time Asta finally got over Sister Lily.

"Here we are." Mereoleona said as she dropped Asta on his ass just before the ledge that was between them and the base of the volcano so just out of range where Mana Skin was a necessity. "We will be here for a while as you can't hold that black form of yours all this time so the important stuff will be where you won't die from the heat."

"Huh?" Asta said getting up and looking around. "Where here again? Why are we here?"

"Yes and it is time for your special training." Mereoleona said turning to Asta her grin bordering on feral as her sharp canine glinted in the light. "Now tell me, what does Sister Lily mean to you?"

"She's the most amazing woman in the world." Asta said loudly with stars for eyes as his infatuation kicked in at the question. "And I intend to marry her someday."

"Wrong." Mereoleona yelled as a flaming cat paw hammer fisted into the top of Asta's had driving him to his knees before he could even register it. "That is not the answer you should be giving."

"Ow, what was that for." Asta complained but before he could grab his head Mereoleona had already grabbed it in a flaming cat paw and lifted him off the ground again to face her. "It's the truth, I will marry her."

"You can't marry a Sister of the Cloth." Mereoleona said as she pulled Asta close to her. "They are bound by vows to never marry and remain chaste once they take them."

"I'll make it work." Asta said defiantly. "She's the only woman for me, she's been that way since I met her. I will persuade her eventually. Once I become the Wizard King then I know she will finally say yes."

"No, you won't." Mereoleona said as she savagely slapped Asta across the face. "And that is why you are here; you are to get over your unhealthy obsession with your mother figure and move on so that you can be with a woman who wants to and actually can be with you. It's time you grew up boy and unfortunately it is my job to ensure that."

"Sister Lily is the one for me." Asta said still defiant and ignoring the pain in his cheek. "Everyone will see. I know I will marry her."

"No, she isn't." Mereoleona said slapping him across the other cheek and grinning at his defiance, this wouldn't be fun without it. "But I can see that this is going to be a challenge so I'm going to have fun with you. Been a while since I had such a challenge but by the time I am done with you, you will be over her."

"I will never forget her." Asta said no longer registering the pain as he held his ground. "She is the only woman for me."

"I'm not telling you to forget her." Mereoleona said slapping Asta again though that was more for his stupidity than anything else. "She's effectively your mother and that is the relationship that you have with her, I am here to get you to see that. She will always be part of your life just not how you want it and the sooner you realize this the better for everyone. There are others out there for you."

"No there aren't." Asta protested showing how dense he was. "I'm not like Yuno, I'm not some lady killer with good looks and unbelievable magical power. Besides, even if I was, I will always remain faithful to Sister Lily."

"Ha, you are really stupid aren't you." Mereoleona said cackling as Asta looked at her confused. "You are a lady killer boy, and you don't even know it. I am aware of several women who like you the way you like Sister Lily and in purer, healthier ways."

"Wait, what?" Asta asked his brain starting to hurt at what Mereoleona was saying. "That's a lie, no girl has feelings for me, but I will win Sister Lily's heart once I am the Wizard King."

"I won't say who as that doesn't matter." Mereoleona said going with a little obfuscation to avoid giving either Noelle or Mimosa an advantage once she was done. "But suffice it to say that some of them have asked me to beat some sense into you so that they can have a chance which shows how much they love you because they came to me for this favor. That is what I am doing for the next 3 days. By the time I am done with you, you will be over Sister Lily as a wife and able to be open to someone who actually loves you as a partner and not as a son like the good Sister does."

"Even if that was the case, and I don't believe you on that, I wouldn't give up." Asta said defaulting to his motto. "I never give up; I will marry her."

"No, you won't but keep being stubborn, this is fun." Mereoleona said with a laugh and another slap for good measure. "Been a while since I had to break someone this defiant. The sooner you realize that you will never marry her the better for everyone."

"Wait." Asta said as something hit him, well other than Mereoleona's hands though the slaps had slapped something into his mind but everything she was saying was jumbling his poor brain and he'd only just figured this out. "How do you even know about Sister Lily?"

"You forget that me and her share something in common." Mereoleona said going with her excuse for this so that Asta didn't try and question who put her up to this in the first place. "Sister Theresa was a mentor to both of us, Fire Magic for me and the Sisterhood for Sister Lily. Sister Theresa told me of that connection and of your unhealthy obsession for Sister Lily when I asked about your connection, so I decided to help out Sister Lily as a way to help Sister Theresa and to make amends for being a fool at that party."

"It's not unhealthy." Asta said though he believed that this was the reason why Mereoleona was attacking him like this as he knew Sister Theresa and didn't put it past her to be blunt and honest with Mereoleona when asked about something like this. "I love her, that isn't unhealthy."

"No, you don't, you are obsessed with her because of when she came into your life and some other messed up psychological shit that I don't understand." Mereoleona said with another slap. "She is your mother figure, and you should love her as that and nothing more because that would be weird, just like how that creepy teammate of yours loves his sister. There are girls out there who love you for who you are, and they deserve a chance to be with you and not to be heartbroken as you won't give them the time of day because you are obsessed with what you will never have."

"Who loves me?" Asta countered, if he could learn that then he could refute it and prove that he wasn't some lady killer with several girls into him. "I have friends sure but there isn't a woman who loves me the way I love Sister Lily."

"You're right, none of the women who like you love you that way." Mereoleona said shaking her head. "They love you in a purer, better way. I won't tell you who they are though, that would make things too easy and in the game of love things have to be hard fought."

"Then I won't believe you." Asta said simply. "I haven't seen proof of it, and I know I'm no lady killer, so I know you're lying."

"Fine, that's not my problem to deal with, they can deal with your density when I'm through with you." Mereoleona said, at least this meant that once she cleaned Asta's mind of Sister Lily then the others would have a clean slate to work with even if it would be an uphill battle with this boy. "I am here to get you to reevaluate how you see Sister Lily and that's all, you can choose to believe whatever you want to believe."

"And I keep telling you that I won't change." Asta said. "No matter how many times you slap me I will remain faithful to Sister Lily."

"Oh, this is going to be so much fun." Mereoleona said laughing as she slapped Asta again just because he'd mentioned it. "You're as stubborn as me so I am going to really enjoy breaking you."

"Do you worst." Asta said and he meant it, he could withstand whatever this crazy lady threw at him. "Nothing will get me to stop loving Sister Lily."

"I intend to." Mereoleona said with another slap keeping her habit of alternating cheeks. "I have healing items so you will be fine. Also, I never said to stop loving her, just love her the right way. She's your mother, not your future wife."

"I…" Asta began but was slapped again, Mereoleona realized that she needed to keep him from digging in if she was going to get a point across.

"No, no more talking just listen." Mereoleona said with another slap to keep him silent as she went into details thanks to what Noelle had said to her over the last few days and what Sister Theresa had said in her letter explaining what she knew so that Mereoleona was fully prepared for this training session. "You are an orphan who didn't have a maternal figure until you were young and at a key developmental age. That caused some strange wiring in that tiny brain of yours, and made you think that your love for her is romantic, but it is familial."

"I…" Asta again tried to say but Mereoleona slapped him silent once more.

"No talking remember." Mereoleona said. "Over the years you grew up with Sister Lily as the only constant mature or older female figure in your life and didn't meet another one until joining the Black Bulls, at least that was your age and not Sister Lily or one of the orphans with you. That can have issues and you and Yuno both have them but in polar opposite ways it seems. You need to break that now; it is not healthy and will not end well. She is a Sister of the Cloth and cannot marry due to her vows and she is your mother. Start seeing her like that."

"My mother." Asta said as his head began to hurt more than his cheeks.

"Good, we are finally onto something." Mereoleona said with a sigh, that was a little faster than she'd expected. "I take it as an orphan you see your fellow orphans as your brothers and sisters? In fact, I know you refer to them as your siblings thanks to what Sister Lily has told Sister Theresa."

"Um, well, yeah I do." Asta said surprised Mereoleona knew this but then again this was Mereoleona Vermillion, she denied any expectations that were rational so he shouldn't be surprised by anything she said. "The other orphans are my brothers and sisters. Yuno and I agreed years ago, because we don't have family then our friends should become our family."

"Good and I take it that you see the Black Bulls as such as well." Mereoleona said with a hint of respect in her voice, it was a good mentality to have especially when they went into battle. "And my brothers and all the Magic Knights you've come to know."

"Yeah, the Black Bulls are my family as well." Asta said which Mereoleona realized might cause Noelle problems if Asta saw her as a sister but that was for Noelle to deal with not her. "And anyone else like Mimosa, sir spectacles, Leo, Fuegoleon, even you, are all family to me. You're like the crazy old aunt I never had."

"I'm not old." Mereoleona said slapping him for that. "But good, you are starting to get it."

"And Sister Lily will be my wife." Asta said ruining his progress spectacularly.

"NO!" Mereoleona yelled slapping him twice for that. "If the other orphans are your brothers and sisters then that makes her your mother and the father of the church your father. They are the ones who raised you so see them properly."

"Oh, he's more like a grandpa with his age." Asta said thinking about Father Orsi and how he now called him gramps. "I even said as much to him once back during that elf incident."

"Ok fine that is good." Mereoleona said, she didn't care how Asta saw the Father of his church so long as he understood what she was getting at. "And that means that Sister Lily is your mother. She raised you and the other orphans as if you were her own so that is what she is."

"But…" Asta began before receiving another slap to shut him up.

"No buts." Mereoleona said. "She is your mother, and you need to start seeing her like that, the sooner the better. She is very important to you, one of the most important people in your life, and you need to see her correctly as what she is. She cannot and will not be your wife, that is final, but she is your mother, and you will treat her like that. Do you not respect the Sisterhood?"

"I do." Asta said loudly. "I am always respectful, ask Sister Theresa. She can vouch for me in that regard."

"I did but I wanted confirmation from you." Mereoleona said. "And if you respect the Sisterhood then you should respect their vows which include chastity and to not marry."

"But…"

"What did I tell you about buts!" Mereoleona roared with another slap to stop Asta running his mouth. "Show that respect to Sister Lily and respect her vows. Treat her as your mother just as you would treat Sister Theresa as your grandma."

"I don't know if I can do that." Asta said still unable to break his feelings for Sister Lily. "I love her."

"No, you are unhealthily obsessed with her." Mereoleona said with another slap. "That isn't romantic love. You do love her as your mother though, and you should keep doing that, but you don't love her as a partner. You don't understand that because of your upbringing but you need to purge that idea from your mind. Have a clean slate and open your heart and mind to another. There are women who actually love you like that, and I know that, I have seen the lengths they will go for you even if you are too dense to notice them, so I know that their love is pure."

"I…" Asta began but wasn't slapped as he sounded unsure. "I have love Sister Lily for so long. I can't just forget her."

"I'm not asking you to forget about her." Mereoleona said. "Just to love her the correct way. She is your family and will always be an important part of your life. You will keep seeing her and being part of her life through letters and what not, but you won't marry her, and you need to understand that."

"Then how?" Asta asked he wasn't going to give up just yet, but he may as well as how. "How do I move on from someone I've loved for so long."

"You are going to the Heart Kingdom soon." Mereoleona said glad to see she had finally cracked his density; with a few days she knew she could break it in the end, and she knew it. "Use that as the time to start thinking of her differently. View her as she should be viewed, as a mother. I'm not saying don't contact her, write to them as they will want to hear from you, but while you are away for 6 months work on viewing her differently while working on yourself as well. Think of it as just another part of your training."

"My training?" Asta asked confused but not sounding as defiant as he had at the start.

"Yes your training." Mereoleona said grinning as she tried to widen that crack she'd made. "You like training don't you? You're like me in that regard."

"Yes I love training." Asta said loudly. "It's great to get stronger."

"Good then make this part of your regime." Mereoleona said as she tried to explain it in a way he'd understand, she knew enough slaps would eventually get through. "Part of growing up is seeing things for how they should be, and it is time you finished growing up you little cub. Start seeing Sister Lily properly and not unhealthy. Who knows, you may start seeing another girl the way she sees you or at least notice if she likes you and doesn't she deserve a chance to be the one to make you happy the way you make her happy?"

"I guess." Asta said his head hurting and cheeks from all of this. "I could give it a try, but I don't want to give up on Sister Lily."

"You aren't giving up on her." Mereoleona said seriously. "Just viewing her correctly and she would appreciate it a lot more if you did start seeing her as she should be, as the mother she is to you."

"She will?" Asta asked hopefully. "Maybe then…"

"No." Mereoleona said forcefully with another slap. "No regressing when we are so close. You are going to do this and trust me, by the time we are done here in a few days you will use your time in the Heart Kingdom to better yourself in this regard and properly view Sister Lily."

"I…" Asta began but wasn't slapped so he continued. "If it is for her then maybe I can try to start seeing her differently, but it won't be easy."

"Well, that is a start for today." Mereoleona said with a sigh knowing that it was near time to stop and let her message and slaps sink in as any more might not work at this point. "But we will resume this tomorrow and the next day so that by the time I am done with you it will have sunk in. It had better though, you don't want to deal with me if I learn that you relapsed."

"I am not promising anything." Asta said as Mereoleona reached into a pouch and pulled out a healing herb. "I…"

Asta didn't finish as Mereoleona shoved the herb into his mouth to shut him up so that they could move on from this and onto something that Mereoleona would find equally as fun, beating Asta to a pulp in a battle. Asta reluctantly chewed it and swallowed, feeling his pain immediately begin to recede as soon as he had ingested the herb.

"Enough of this for today, we will resume tomorrow." Mereoleona said tossing Asta backwards to land on his ass. "Now we are moving onto the next stage of training with me."

"Next stage?" Asta asked.

"Yes, did you think that this was all we'd be doing here?" Mereoleona asked with a grin that was defiantly feral this time. "Take that devil form of yours, draw your swords and come at me with all you got. I have been wanting to face you like that for a while so make sure you don't hold back as I want you to give me a good fight. We will resume your Sister Lily training tomorrow, time for your other training."

Asta just grinned as he drew two of his 3 swords from his grimoire and went into his devil form while Mereoleona burst into flames at the sight grinning at the thrill of the coming battle with the boy who could wield anti-magic. This was part of her payment for her favor, the chance to face the only person who could truly negate her magic.

Asta still wasn't fully sure of what Mereoleona had been saying to him, but he was beginning to see things differently for some reason. He could dwell on those thoughts later though. For now, he wanted payback for all the slaps and was going to try and get it. With a yell, Asta launched himself at Mereoleona Vermillion.

I think I will leave it there. Y'all will find out the results of Mereoleona's training in time, there are only two more conversations to have. I hope y'all enjoyed this special, different conversation. I initially hadn't thought about this but with the final two I realized that this was a crucial one to have, plus I felt like having some more Mereoleona fun even if it was at Asta's expense. Anyway, that is all I have for now so as always, please let me know what you think in your reviews and PMs as I do like hearing from y'all and don't forget to follow and favorite my work.

Stringdog