Okay two things to apologise for.

Sorry for taking so long, it was the combination of writers' block and a lot of crap coming at me in my life.

I feel like this isn't my best chapter I kind of powered through the writers' block and may of stumbled a few times so I hope you don't judge me to harshly for it especially the more gentle scene between Asta and Noelle I'm not use to writing that I hope to get better and I hope I won't lose any readership over this chapter and the next one should be better.

"Anya?" Colt asked.

"Anya." Said Finral.

"Who the hell is Anya and why would she be such a big problem if the two captains made their relationship public?"

Mads had her head in her hands. Finral just let out a chuckle. "I think she figured it out."

0

"Papa!"

Asta turned around to see his little 5-year-old daughter that had her mother's silver hair flowing naturally and violet eyes, despite the girls royal and innocent appearance you can always tell when she gets up to mischief when she puts on her father's devilish smile. "Anya!" Asta leaned down and picked up the little girl with a twirl before bringing her in for a hug along with his wife.

0

"Nothing means more to Asta than Noelle and Anya." Finral explained "He works hard to keep his family together, but as he would say he won't give up."

"How exactly do they plan on keeping this a secret for the future, that girls going to grow up eventually." Mads asked.

"We try not to pry and prefer to leave them to their own devices, it's their responsibility. We're just here to help when they need it. So, we would appreciate you not asking those type of questions."

"That sounds fair. I'm sorry sir."

"It's okay, only natural to ask something like that. In fact, a rookie we picked up last year that's out on mission with a veteran member asked a question like that, ended up on beast duty for three months."

"Actually, I have a question." Colt said with his hand raised. Finral just looked at him waiting. Colt lowered his hand rather bashfully. "A friend of mine is a bit of a fan of all those rumours about the magic knights and the captains, she evens has a bunch of those stories people come up with and post on a board called fanfictions."

"Yeah, yeah we all do, got a section in the library for it."

A cheeky smile crawled on Vanessa's face, "One of my favourites was one where Finral, Captain Yami and for some reason Nozel Silva were competing over me, that author knows how to make a girl feel special."

Finral frowned. "Yeah and a guy feel like a schmuck, what's your question kid."

"Well she's a member of the Sea Dragon and she got curious about their relationship and asked the Captain about the relationship, which she denied."

"Makes sense, she would have to be nothing short of astounding for Noelle to trust a rookie with a secret like that right of the bat."

"Yeah that's not the question, she told me that her favourite story of the two included some mage with magic based off the moon or something. Apparently it had Asta saving Noelle upon some lake that perfectly reflects the moon or something which had some magic that revealed the truth of how they felt about one another and apparently that was where they kissed for the first time, now apparently that's regarded to the closest to the truth among people, is that anyway true."

All the Bulls just stared at Colt with a blank expression on their face.

Then they all burst out laughing. Except Lionel who just sat there shaking.

Finral managed to calm enough to speak while wiping away tears of laughter. "Oh man that doesn't get old, that couldn't be further from the truth, that story was actually some tale from the country of the former captain who just gave it a twist to include Asta and Noelle."

Luck managed to hold back his giggles long enough to say. "I remember when he came up with that story, we all thought it was from the top of his head."

Vanessa was next. "All the girls just swooned for the guy thinking he was a sensitive romantic, I even remember Captain Charlette and she practically fainted."

Finral managed to pull himself together. "Oh man, gets me every time some rookie asks me that, actually it was the combination of three things. One. The recent success at a dungeon where it was just the two of them which resulted in both having near death experiences. Two. Vanessa here reading Noelle's diary and reading all her fantasies. And three. Captains Yami's personal home-made brew, seriously one shot of this stuff will knock out the best drunk and trust me," He looked straight at Vanessa. "We checked."

Vanessa just giggled to herself. "The two always had problems expressing themselves, Noelle always liked Asta but her pride as a royal kind of got in the way and usually led to some hilarious outburst, while Asta was so oblivious you could write 'Noelle likes you' in the sky with fire magic and he still wouldn't get it. Plus, he had a thing for a nun at the church he grew up in." Finral shuddered. "Oh yeah Finral walked in on them when Noelle roleplayed as a nun and can't look at nun in the eye anymore."

"They didn't need to know that."

"She tells that to anyone that'll listen." Said Luck.

Colt and Mads couldn't help but laugh at Finral whose face was starting to go red. "Okay that's it, enough story time about the Captains life, Colt you need to start training with Jack, you may not be able to fight yet but he can start you off with some exercises."

"Wait sir, one more question. The Captains know about them and Anya, what about Wizard King Fuegoleon?"

A big grin crawled on Vanessa's face. "That man has actually been invested in those two since their beginning as magic knight. He found out about their relationship after having drinks with Yami and was so happy that he bought the entire bar a round that night, though it got tense because that was also when Nozel found out and as Noelle's older brother he got defensive then got chewed out by Noelle. Long story short about Fuegoleon he was the one that actually officiated their wedding."

Mads was shocked. "Seriously? The Wizard King officiated a wedding?"

"Oh yeah, they had the ceremony in Hage, everyone that knows about them attended including Captains who got subordinates to use transformation to make sure the capital didn't find out. Fuegoleon went to and it's a good thing to because the priest in Hage ended up getting so over excited he passed out just before the ceremony started. Thinking about it takes me straight back to that day."

Finral leaned back in his chair with a smile on his face. "Yeah. First time I saw Captain Yami in formal garb… and crying, that made my day. Any way that's enough, Colt outside with Jack now."

Colt got up. "Yes sir."

0

Asta sat with a small table with Anya and Noelle eating a lunch that Noelle had made. "You know, I'll never get over how good you're cooking is and that you spent three months practicing with Rebecca."

"Well we had a baby on the way what was I supposed to do? Leave the cooking to you? I've seen you set soup on fire, and that isn't even the most bizarre culinary mystery of yours."

"that's a cheap shot and you know it."

"Papa you almost burned the house down trying to make muffins."

"Yeah it's and no matter how hard you try you keep getting worse it's almost a miracle."

"Why do you guys have to be so mean to me?" Asta asked with a pout.

"Cause that's how love works l." Noelle said smugly. "Especially for bulls."

"Well it's hard to argue with that." Asta just stared at his lunch.

Noelle looked at Anya and saw she was done eating. "Sweetie why don't you go wash up and we'll go play."

"Ok Mama." The little girl ran off to the bathroom.

Noelle turned back to her husband. "Okay, what's up."

"That obvious?"

"Well seeing as how I've known you for almost half my life, dated and married you and bore your child, you can't exactly get much past me. Is this about that Magicless guy your squad found again?"

"I can't get it out of my head, I always thought that I was the only one without magic now I find out not only one other but a whole community, and apparently I am a traitor in their eyes. I never even knew about them, how am I a traitor? They could have found me, what was I hidden from them?" Asta stopped suddenly. "Was I hidden from them? Did these people know my parents?"

"Possibly. You never really looked into your past."

"Yeah and I get the feeling that I'm going to learn about my past in the coming days, times like these I wonder what Captain Yami would say."

Noelle reached over and took Astas hand. "He'd say 'shut up' call you an idiot and crush your head. I could do that if it helps."

"No, your hands are too small you wouldn't get as good of a grip, the guy had giant hands." Asta said with a chuckle.

Noelle laughed with him. "Well if I can't offer you a head crush maybe I can offer you this." Noelle stood up walked around the table, knelt down to eye level, put her arms around his neck and placed a chaste kiss on Astas lips, "If these people makes you face your past, no matter what, your future will always be here for you."

"You have no idea how much better I feel."

"As good as." Noelle leaned in next to Astas ear and started whispering.

Astas eyes started to get bigger along with the grin on his face, Anya walked back into the room, Asta started to panic "Child present, CHILD PRESENT. Heeeeeeey Anya let's go play outside." Noelle just laughed at her husbands red, panicked face.

0

Two months past, in a large hallway within the castle of the Clover Kingdom, a powerful man that exuded authority, with one arm and a dragon perched on his shoulder, walked with purpose. He walked through the door to his office finding a familiar face. "Hello Leo."

"Hey bro. How's the most powerful flame mage in the clover kingdom?"

Fuegoleon face went straight to a frown. "Don't think I didn't notice that you only started calling me that after Mereoleona ran off with that elf."

"Don't know what you're talking about." Leopold said with a huge grin on his face. "So, what do you need?"

Fuegoleon sat at his desk stacked with paperwork which he found difficult to do with an arm made of fire. "After the bulls encountered the man with no magic and a metal arm, there have been three more encounters with magicless people, each one possessing some unique piece of technology, two had taken their life before being brought in. However, during an encounter with the Mantis squad they managed to pursue the targets until they reached the Neutral Zone, they lost track of them there. There are currently two members still there hunting they sent one back to report to Sekke, these people too dangerous to just let loose but they need some assistance, so have Noelle and Asta select a few members along with some of your own."

"Don't you think we should also try Yuno's new kid with the four leaf?"

"I already asked unfortunately he's currently on a mission with Klaus and Mimosa."

"Wow off training with the Drill Sargent."

"Yes, Mimosa is a harsh trainer, but she has provided many decent members of the Golden Dawn."

"It's almost hard to believe that she was that timid airhead. Anyway, I got a few members that can help and Asta and Noelle got some newbies that could help. Asta will also probably want to send Lionel, that guy unnerves me, his face never moves."

"You just need to get to know the real him, anyway, go see Asta and Noelle I've got… Paperwork." Fuegoleon said with a heaved sigh.

"Okay bro, will we be seeing you and the missus for dinner tomorrow night?"

"Wouldn't miss it."

0

Colt stood in the middle of the open field behind the bull's hideout staring eye to eye with Jack barely moving, both had their hands up in a defensive position. They didn't even notice Asta, Finral and Mads watching from the back of the building. "When was the last time either of them blinked?" Asta asked.

"No idea, but its surprising how quickly Colt managed to pick up Jacks fighting style. I mean that guy is dangerous without magic. Looks like we're about to see how far Colt has come" Finral commented taking a sip of coffee.

Colt threw a punch at Jacks head which he evaded and begun to counter, soon they both became a flurry of magicless attacks seemingly perfectly in sync, however the trained eye could see that Jack was merely humouring Colt and could end the fight any time he pleased. "Okay so the kid hasn't gone that far but still kind of impressive."

"Eh not really." Finral and Asta looked down at Mads after the comment. "You do know most nobles have self defence training, to keep themselves safe before they get their grimoire."

"Ooooh." Asta and Finral turned their heads back noticing Colt on the ground clutching his chest. Asta's face fell "Aw I missed the good part."

"Well the shows over anyway Asta my old friend." Asta turned his head to see the pointy headed captain of the Crimson Lions. "The Wizard King has got an important mission for your squad."

Asta gave his old friend a smile and a handshake as they went inside to talk. "So, what's this big mission?"

"It's about those magicless guys that have been popping up lately, I'm going to take a guess that you have a personal interest in it."

"Yeah no kidding."

"Anyway, the Mantis squad is tracking some members that escaped to the neutral zone and they want to send some back up."

"Well Lionel is a definite for that he's the best tracker I got, and I can't send luck anyway cause without magic his sensing wouldn't be much help, though my two newbies might actually be of some help, my thief has an awesome mapping spell almost like the guy from the golden dawn, and the snake princess over there can have her little friends slither about the place. Oi Lionel you mind baby sitting the rookies." Lionel looked directly at him and gave him a thumbs up. "Also take Secre with ya, she needs to spread her wings." The bird on Astas gave him a massive peck. "Ouch, well there's my team."

"Yeah, I figured that was gonna be the result. Alright I need to meet with Noelle her team is participating too."

"Alright I'll brief my team," Asta looked up at Secre "Go grab the rookies," Secre flew outside.

0

Leo just left Noelle to decide on her team to send with Astas she looked out at her squad that were just hanging about their base wi5h little to do. She already had one in mind, but she had to at least get two more.

As she looked amongst her squad, she noticed her rookie sitting in the couch alongside her vice captain receiving tutelage. That made two, she continued to scan until she heard footsteps coming from the hallway. At 11:00 am number three just woke up.

"Erin, Sara, Desmond come here please."

0

"So that's the gist of it kids, alongside the crimsons, sea dragons and the mantis' you need to hunt these guys down. The teams will show up tomorrow to have Finral transport them as close to the mantis location as possible and you'll make your way from there. I don't know the teams but respect the seniority of the other teams, at the very least Lionel is in charge."

"Yes Sir." Said Mads and Colt as they saluted, Lionel just saluted with a little groan. "Can this guy actually be in charge." Thought Mads and Colt.

"I know those looks kids, don't worry Lionel is very capable you'll realise that when you get to know the real him." Said Asta.

"People keep saying that." Colt thought to himself.

"Anyway, kids get packing you leave at eight tomorrow morning."

"Yes Sir." The three went to their respective rooms to pack for the mission. As Colt was packing, he remembered that Captain said one of the teams was the Silver Sea Dragons. "I wonder if Sara is coming." Colt went back to work packing.

0

Colt got up, grabbed his bag and headed towards the mess hall for breakfast before he leaves, he would die for some of Charmys bacon, eggs and French toast. The mess hall was as lively as always and defiantly living up to its name with all the food that's being thrown around, and as always Charmys breakfast was amazing and Colt left with a full belly.

After breakfast he met up with Mads and Lionel outside the base waiting for their companions. They eventually saw red and silver on brooms on the horizon, as they got closer Colt saw Sara's familiar face, and a big smile crawled onto his own. As she landed, he noticed the other silver sea dragons alongside her, one a tall gorgeous woman possibly in her twenties in long black hair in a pony tail, the other was a man that looked almost a creepy as Lionel, tall, bald and so thin Colt almost ran inside to grab Charmy to feed him. Colt was about to turn to see who the three Crimsons that joined were but then he noticed the portal open before the squad.

"You guys can make all the small talk you want on the other side, you all know you mission to back up the mantis squad, a member should be on the other side waiting for you all to show up, now get moving."

"Yes Sir." They all said in unison.

"That Captain of yours likes to get down to business doesn't he. I've even heard Captain Noelle call him a workaholic." Sara said to Colt.

"Yeah. That's putting it nicely. C'mon let's go." Said Colt as the team left for their hunt.