Chapter 2

Colt stood in the middle of the arena staring at a knocked-out Aaron who even lost a few teeth from the strike. Despite his fine showing in combat and victory, peoples face showed nothing but terror all he could hear were their whispers.

"What the hell was that?"

"Did he just steal that guys spell?"

"Thievery magic what kind of crap is that? That's criminals magic."

"And the Wizard King there's no way a creep like that can obtain something like that."

"Yeah even if he is nobility no captain would want a magic like that on their squad."

"He probably just wants to steal one of the captain's magic anyway."

Despite the whispers and faces of terror there were three faces that had smiles, one of fascination, one of arrogance and one of admiration and only Noell was the only one that saw one of them. "I haven't seen a look like that on your face since Anya."

Asta looked at her with a big smile on his face. "Well, it's just that this might actually be an interesting year for recruitment."

Cole left the centre of the arena to make room for the next combatants and he couldn't help but notice the smile of arrogance coming from a tall man with, long blond hair wrapped in a braided pony tail, forest green eyes and wearing a yellow cloak but that wasn't the most distinct feature. "An impressive showing from the Creepy Colt." Despite his nasty words there was no animosity in his words.

A smile crawled onto Colts "Wondered where you were, there was no way you of all people wouldn't take a chance to stand in a spotlight Ryko Shimrick."

"I'm just performing my civic duty as a powerful mage and this grimoires wielder." Ryko held out his grimoire revealing it's fourth leaf.

"Yeah, yeah your grimoire has little extra sparkle, you know I wasn't surprised that you got a four-leaf clover, it turned more eyes on to you."

"Yes, well beggars can't be choosers, and now it is time for me to show off a little more." With that Ryko walked off to his battle.

Despite their harsh words there was no hatred between Colt and Ryko, just a little irritation on both sides. Ryko was a fellow noble and a powerful one at that his only problem was he was a little too up himself, even as children he had to be the centre of attention during other children's birthday parties which usually led to heated arguments and cakes thrown in people's faces.

Ryko took his place with his opponent who Colt recognized from the house of Bamilton, a pompous little brat named Augustus, both Colt and Ryko were going to enjoy this. "Well now Augie shall we give our spectator's a show."

"Won't be much of a show Shimrick no way a pathetic creature like you can stand against a mighty Bamilton."

"Show me a mighty Bamilton and we'll see." Augustus face went very red. Colt knew for a fact that a Bamilton cannot handle criticism, rejection or any form of insult, they think overly highly of themselves, Colt knew how this was going to end.

Augustus pulled out his grimoire to start the match. "Water Creation Magic: Sea Fairing Canons." Six canons made of water fired highly pressurised water balls at Ryko.

Ryko pulled his grimoire. "Solar Magic: Sun Gods Dwelling." Suddenly Ryko started to glow and then the cannonballs hit a wall and evaporated, Ryko was using a defensive spell that mimicked the sun itself. "Solar Creation Magic: Sun Gods Arrow" A blinding beam of light launched straight at Augustus causing a small explosion leaving a charred Bamilton with smoke coming out of his mouth.

Yuno's stoic was momentarily broken with widened eyes "Impressive at such a young age and he's already attained a magic that could make him untouchable."

Asta stared at the victor. "Is anyone else feeling déjà vu or is it just me."

Noell looked at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Never mind anyway with a four-leaf clover and magic like that this kid is probably going to be this year's prime candidate."

"Yes, indeed his magic is rather lovely, and it won't be hard to stand out if he shines like the sun." Kirche remarked

Sol stared at Ryko "Well if you ask me there's something off about him"

Sekke turned his attention to Sol. "Is it because he is a man, because I tend to see a pattern with you" Sol just stared daggers at Sekke.

Ryko moved aside and watched the rest of the potentials battle it out. Some where very impressive though some were very out of their element. Nobles showed of their power while commoners showed off more ingenuity in their magic but then an applicant that took both Colt and Ryko by surprise, though Ryko had a sly smile crawling on his face and he moved over to Colt.

"Well, well would you look at that, the great shining princess of the nobles has decided to join the magic knights, now correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't there something cute going on between you two when you were little." Colt stomped on Ryko's foot. "OUCH… That was uncalled for."

"Not to me it wasn't. And there's nothing between me and Sara it was just a little game as kids we were six."

Sara was of medium height with pure white hair and sky blue eyes that Colt didn't realise were looking at him, despite her appearance as almost the perfect noble and her high standing her clothing was on the more unkept side with long black pants with a torn pattern with here grimoires sleeve, a sleeveless top that showed her stomach as well as a pair of leather wrist gauntlets and a pair of sandals, despite being noble Sara hates social standing more than anything and how critical nobility were of actions and decisions that meant almost nothing to people who live in the common realm. Her strong will against criticism was something that Colt always admired, though her opponent, Oren, a tall scrawny man with greased up hair and only missing a pencil moustache. "I must say your appearance is very unbecoming of someone of your station."

Sara gave a light chuckle. "that kind of attitude is exactly why I took your offer as an opponent, I like smacking around, snobby, stick up the butt, assholes like you."

"Good God, a woman speaking in such a manner, it seems that it falls to me to show you your place."

Silence.

The Captains turned to Sol who was not happy it was clear it was taking all her strength not to pummel this guy herself, given from the fact she had ripped off the arm rests of her chair.

Colt and Ryko were just staring at Sara who just had this dark look in her eyes and an evil smile on her face. Ryko broke the silence.

"Did he just say that?"

"He did."

"Is going to die."

"Doubt it but he's going to need surgery after this."

"Think she'll finish him of with just one attack."

"Doubt it she'll want to toy with him first."

"Yeah you're right, if this doesn't capture the attention of the Blue Rose Knights nothing will."

Sara was just staring down Oren who began the fight. "Flame Creation Magic: Blazing Whip" A long stream of fire appeared from his hand and came crashing down on Sara. Though despite the impending attack Sara didn't move an inch then the attack landed covering the arena with dust and smoke. "And that is why such a creature should remember her standing in the world and shouldn't mouth off to one such as myself."

"Well sue me for being honest." A shocked expression appeared on Oren's face, as the smoked cleared he could see the outline of the woman that insulted him, but something was different, and it didn't become clear until the smoke dissipated, and her skin was a shiny metal. "Platinum Magic: Platinum Skin." Sara's entire body including her cloths. "Sorry pal, guess you're just not hot enough."

Sara began to walk towards Oren as he continued to blast at Sara but she was unfazed, when she got close enough he grabbed his outstretched hand, threw him in the air over her then forced him to the ground, she then picked him up by his scruff then threw him past the parted crowd in to the wall, after Oren got back to his feet he managed to notice Sara flying at him with her leg outstretched to kick him, he managed to roll out of the way but struggled to get back up, Sara started to try and stomp on him but he kept rolling, and she kept stomping. Eventually Oren got back to his feet, but Sara jumped and flipped in the air with her leg raised and slammed her platinum heel down on his shoulder sending him down to the ground again, Sara picked him by his lapel and brought him eye level to face him. "I think I know very well my place, and you would do well to mind yours little man." Sara headbutted Oren knocking him unconscious then letting him fall to the ground.

Colt and Ryko were off to the side. "Well that went as expected don't you think Colt."

"I thought it would over sooner, he really must have pissed her off."

"Actually, she has been putting up with a lot less crap lately it's been a real pain for her parents trying to get her to be lady like, she actually broke a potential suitor's nose from the heart kingdom that her father setup."

Colt looked right up at him. "Wait what."

"Yeah, her parents have been giving her a real hard time lately, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't actually know she was here. They've been scouting potential boyfriends for her, not that they ever last long. You never heard?"

Colt looked back to Sara with a solemn expression. "It's been a while since the last time we talked." Colt remembered the last time ended with a lot a yelling two years ago. Just then he noticed Sara looked at him with a soft smile that he hadn't seen for a very long time, one that used to make his day a little easier.

"What happened between you two."

"Honestly I have no idea."

Up with the captains Asta was really impressed with what he saw. "Wow that girls impressive. Even without long range magic she makes up for it in speed and agility, she definitely has potential as a knight." He then felt a light tap on his shoulder, when he turned, he saw Sekke smiling at him.

"Sorry buddy but I think they already called dibs."

Asta turned and noticed both Noell and Sol looking at Sara with stars in their eyes. Asta just sat their and said. "Yeah that's about right."

The day continued and eventually as the sun began to set, and the final battle concluded, and the selection began, Colt was terrified. Numbers were continually called and on the rare instances people were selected for a squad. Eventually Ryko's number was called as he stood there, with a four-leaf clover and powerful Solar Magic Colt figured this would be a very rare instance where all the captains would raise their hands. But it wasn't, only the Golden Dawn, Coral Peacocks, Crimson Lions and the Aqua Deer raised their hands, Colt wondered why that was it even he could see that he was the cream of the crop. Ryko chose the Golden Dawn as his squad.

After a few more numbers were called eventually Sara was called as she took to the stage and to Colts surprise again only the Silver Sea Dragons and the Blue Rose Knights raised their hand, though looking at the captains he could tell all the others were trying to avoid eye contact, Colt smiled figuring that they were to scared of the female captains to try and recruit such a promising female candidate looking at Sara, it wasn't hard to tell she was having a tough time deciding her legs were really shaking, until she pulled out a coin and flipped it in the air. Colt slapped his forehead. "Yeah that's about right." The coin resulted in her in joining the Silver Sea Dragons, you could see the disappointment in Sols eyes.

Eventually it was Colts turn, it took all his strength just to move his strength just to move his legs eventually he managed to make it the front and present himself in front of the captains. C'mon please I need to join a squad any squad I don't care, I just can't go home, I can't go back knowing what's waiting for me. But to his horror none of them were raising their hands. Colt was devastated but for some reason he refused to move.

The people behind him were starting to get restless and started calling out at him.

"Move it you creep."

"You're not knight material with magic like that get over it and move."

"Get of the stage you crook."

Colt looked back at them with dark eyes, suddenly feeling a surge of frustration and anger. "No, I won't move not until I get what I came for, not until…"

"Well how about that, the little outcast has a backbone." Colt looked up and saw Asta standing out of his chair. "What say we put that to the test, huh." Suddenly a dark aura started enveloping Asta's body and gathering around his back until a pair of large, dark wings appeared. In one flap of the wings Asta seemed to disappear and reappear right in front of Colt scaring the crap out of him, despite that though Colt didn't budge. Then the black aura began to gather around Asta's head turning his eyes red, fangs growing and his hair turning to horns and he continued to look at Colt with a sinister smile. "Yelling I'll become the Wizard King is a bold statement kid, one that shouldn't be made unless you got the guts to take on not just something like me but all nine monsters that make up the Captains and even more than that kid. You can't hope to become the Wizard King with half a spirit and no guts speak of, and yet you looked like you were about to piss your pants when you bumped into me earlier what do you have to say about that little thief."

Despite what he was seeing he couldn't feel a drop of magic from him, he could tell this man was nothing short of a monster, but he knew that if he backed down now he would regret it for the rest of his life, and he knew exactly how to respond, he mustered all of the anger, frustration, conviction and spirit he had. "If you think I'm going to back down now, after everything I've been through, you got the wrong read on me. I'm not the only one like me, I know you helped the kingdom by challenging the ideas of social hierarchy but you still don't see the whole picture, sometimes it's an individual that suffers, people look at him with fear or disgust just cause he wasn't born like everyone else and then condemned for the rest of their life to be an outcast or a criminal to be completely alone. Well I for one won't be like that, I will become the Wizard King and show the world that how I was born will not define the man I'll become. AND NOT EVEN THE BLACK DEVIL OR ANY CAPTAIN WILL STAND IN MY WAY."

Asta looked right at the kid in front of him as his Anti-Magic skin faded then began to laugh harder than he has in a very long time. "Wow kid that is some back bone. I guess that settles it then you're joining my squad."

Colt Just looked at him confused. "Wait who's joining what now?"

"Come on kid where's the spunk from before, I'm letting you join the Black Bulls, not like you have other options." Asta looked at the other Captains and noticed a few smiles. When he turned back his eyes were piercing red again. "And if there's one thing to no about me kid I don't handle rejection well, so you don't want to say no."

Colt took a deep breath "Okay."

Almost instantly Asta grew his wings and ended back up with the other captains. Yuno's eyes followed him. "Well that looked familiar."

"I just needed to see something now I get why Yami did it."

Eventually all the numbers were called, and the exam was over, and everyone left the arena. Colt managed to meet up with Ryko. "Hey Ryko."

"Hey Colt, the Black Bull." Ryko gave a light chuckle before becoming rather serious. "I have to ask where has all this big talk come from, you were always so timid and well somewhat depressing, now it's all I'll become the Wizard King. I know it's been a while since we talked but jeez talk about one eighty."

"Yeah well, I guess all that whispers and judgement finally made me snap."

"That wasn't a snap, that was an earthquake." Colt turned around to find Sara behind him.

Ryko began to back away. "Well congrats on getting in to a squad Colt I better get going see ya around." Despite Colt mouthing for him not to go Ryko was practically running away.

There was nothing but an awkward silence between the two both just trying to figure out what to say, Colt managed to break the silence. "That was a great showing, those close-combat lessons definitely paid off."

"Yeah, they have, I still can't use any projectile magic so it's all I can really do. I'm still surprised I got in a squad let alone the Sea Dragons."

"Well they're really lucky to have someone like you." Suddenly he could hear Asta's voice.

"HEY KID GET YOUR REAR IN GEAR OR WE'RE LEAVING WITHOUT YOU."

"Sorry Sara I got to go, it's been great seeing you again. Who knows, we might be working together in the future."

"I hope so, might be fun now that you're using your magic. I'm happy you've past that issue."

"Not sure if I've moved past it but it's a start. Great talking to you again. Bye."

"You two. Bye."

Colt finally managed to pull away from the awkward situation with his heart pounding until he heard behind him. "Oh, and FYI you got yourself a rival for the title Wizard King. I'll see you at the finish line." Now Colt knew for certain this wouldn't be the last time he sees Sara Patari again. Then he ended up staring right up against his terrifying captain who was not happy.

"One more thing to now about me kid I don't like subordinates to keep me waiting, even if he is scoring a date."

Colts face went red. "It's not a date sir, she's just a friend."

"Yeah sure, c'mon I want you to meet someone." Asta lead Colt to a man clad in green, with brown hair with green highlights and a sabre at his waist. "Kid this is Finral Roulacase, the spatial mage of the bulls that can get us anywhere, anytime."

"How's it going newbie, Asta I already sent the other newbie ahead, we should get going." Finral opened a portal.

"Okay kid time to go." Asta pushed Colt through the portal and Colt found himself in the middle of the forest looking at a large mansion like building that looked like it was made up of shuffled houses. "Welcome to the hideout kid go on in and meet your new colleagues."

"Yes sir." The door was already cracked open Colt remembered that there was another recruit that must have just entered. Colt walked right up to the door ready to introduce himself. He then opened the door when suddenly a pale face with murderous eyes appeared at the crack the of the door. Colt had begun his new life with only one reaction. He screamed.