"So what's up with you and red thread?"
Zora chuckles.
"None of your business kid."
"She's like a sister to me so yea it kinda is." Asta replied nonchalantly while keeping his focus on the path ahead. Zora sighs before answering him.
"... she's something else that little witch."
Zora looks up to the dark sky admiring the little stars he could see.
"She may be a drunk, but there's a lot of heart in that one. She's powerful, gorgeous, and loves to have a good time. What more can a guy ask for?"
Zora looks to Asta who seems unimpressed by his answer. He turns his attention back to their path.
"Listen man, I need a woman that can help strengthen me, where we build off each other, and someone who won't take shit from anyone, even me- no especially me!"
Zora laughs to himself.
"... she makes it very clear who's boss. And I love that shit. Guess I've slowly become a one woman man. Who would have thought.."
Zora shrugs.
"Shit happens."
Asta grins. That's the answer he was looking for.
"As long as you don't try to hurt her or anything, because I wouldn't hesitate to kill you. I'm watching you zipper face."
Zora laughs hysterically.
"Zipper face, really? God kid, you're funny!"
A loud thump can be heard in the house next to them. Both Asta and Zora turn their heads towards the house to the right of them where they continue to hear loud thumping noises.
"Seems like we found the party little Asta."
Zora smirks mischievously.
"Why don't you go in and introduce yourself, I got a couple of traps I'd like to set to secure the house and whatever is inside first before I make an appearance. Just in case."
Asta nods then begins to walk around the corner to the front door. Something feels a bit off. He doesn't even bother knocking due to the excessive noise going on inside. He twists the knob and pushes the door open to see an empty kitchen.
"Hello?"
He steps inside then begins to scan the area. The thumping seems to be coming from the far back of the house. Asta makes his way through the house until he comes to find a older women walking into a wall. She would walk straight into it slamming her head, back up then repeat it over again.
"Hey lady..."
Not even aware of his presence the woman continues to walk into the wall. Asta runs over to her then grabs her shoulders forcing her to look to him, but she can't her eyes are closed shut. She's sleepwalking.
"Shit."
He begins to sort of shake her a bit to see if that works.
"Hey lady... wake up!"
No budge. He lets go of her and she makes her way back to the same corner where she came from. She began to continue her repetitive behavior of walking into the wall.
"Yo Zora!"
"Oi!" He could hear him call out to him from outside the home.
"I don't think that trap's necessary."
Zora makes his way into the home to find Asta in the living room. He looks up to the woman who is walking into the wall. Confused Zora points to her.
" So what's her deal?"
"She's asleep. Won't wake up. Whatever spell they're under, its a strong one. My only question is, why isn't she dead yet? I mean I'm obviously relieved we found one not dead but, the spell forces them to commit suicide basically. She's not dead, just walking into that wall."
"What'd the wall do to her, sheesh." Muttered Zora sarcastically.
"So what's the plan kid? How do you suppose we go about this?"
"Hold on..."
Asta begins to run out of the building and to the house across from it. He busts open the door and runs throughout the house just to find two children doing the same. They're sleepwalking, but walking back and forth into a wall.
"Hey kid!"
He can hear Zora call out to him from outside but he ignores it and runs out of the house and to the one beside it. He opens the door and sees a man sleepwalking and doing the same as the others. His eyes wide in shock.
"They're all gone..."
He slowly backs out of the house and ends up on the dirt road he began on. Zora concerned slowly walks up to him.
"Kid, What did you see?"
"Sister Lily was right. The whole village is gone. They're all under the spell. They must have been like this for years... I left Sister Lily all alone. The villagers.. all alone. For all those years..."
Zora watches Asta as he begins to notice a black aura quickly surround him.
Shit already? Didn't expect his demon to be so easily triggered like this. It's getting stronger by the day... His emotions seem to be giving it strength. Needa calm his ass down, fast.
"Focus Asta, our main concern is why they're alive and who's behind it. We can save them, we just need a keep a clear head and focus."
Zora begins to back up from Asta a bit then pulls out his Grimoire.
Don't go all out just yet kid.
Before Zora can get a spell ready Asta is already engulfed in black flames and his eyes begin to flicker red.
Shit.
Zora spills out a spell. A clear orb begins to surround Asta like a ball, containing all of his flames within it. A sort of mist begins to slowly flood the ball.
This outta keep his ass in check, at least for a bit. Should of had Vanessa chaperon his ass instead. She's more powerful, especially with containment spells. This orb will last probably 5 minutes tops. I'm working with some weak ass holy water for crying out loud! This demon seems to be adapting to this shit... some basic holy water and small spells ain't doin' the trick anymore. Me and nessa need a step our game up...
The black flames that were surrounding Asta began to simmer down and Asta's eyes begin to return to their original color.
Close call.
Before he could finish sighing from relief there was a loud scream.
That sounds like Vanessa!
Both Zora and Asta turned to the noise. Asta's demon quickly reacted to the screech by activating the black flames once again, but this time they were raging and more out of control. The orb began to crack. Before Zora could react the orb broke open leaving nothing but disintegrated pieces of it laying on the ground. Asta's eyes went back to a deep ruby red before his infamous black wing began to flare from behind him. His blank expression said it all. That was no longer Asta. A sinister smirk slowly began to form on his face.
Shit. shit. shit. shit. shit!