"Asta, your awake!" Asta's eyes were halfway open trying to make out the blurred object in front of him.

"Asta!"

His eyes shot open and his vision began to clear he could see Noelle hovering over him with a wide smile.

"Asta!"

Before he could even react he was bombarded with a hug from Noelle. She had a very tight grip on him barely giving him enough air to breath. She could hear him struggling to breath and quickly let him go.

"Oh shit, I am so sorry Asta. I was just so excited, I was a fraid you wouldn't wake up or that even if you woke up you wouldn't be you and-"

Asta quickly placed a finger on her lips and smiled wearily.

"I missed you too Noelle."

She smiled as he positioned himself to the end of the table with his feet barely touching the floor as he rubbed his eyes and began to stretch letting out a loud obnoxious yawn.

"So, what happened? Did we get the bastard or whoever it was?"

Noelle's face softened to the question. She took awhile before answering.

"No, we um... we lost him."

"What?!"

"He'll be back for sure but for now we had to let him go. You're demon was out of control from what I heard-"

"What do you mean from what you heard? Where were you?"

Noelle couldn't even answer his question. She stood there in shock for a moment really taking in the fact that she was dead just an hour ago.

Telling Asta would only make this demon situation worse. Keeping him in the dark about these things are my only options for keeping that little demon tamed for now. It's not like I have Vanessa or Zora to help conjure up a spell so I need to watch my step with him.

"I was just trying to call Captain Yami for back up that's all. Wasn't really paying attention. You know, there was so much commotion going on I had to hide. You know how it is. "

Noelle chuckled nervously. Asta couldn't help but give her a questioning look.

She's lying...

"Uh.. ok. " He hopped off the table. Then began to rub his stomach as it growled at him.

"Charmy make breakfast yet? I'm fucking starving."

Hage Village...

Both Zora and Vanessa begin the journey to Sister Lily. As they approached the church, Vanessa couldn't help but admire it. The church had lost its touch, it was no longer and bright and vibrant place it used to be years ago - which made it even more creepy to be around. Vanessa had a weird thing for being in creepy places like this, so coming back for a second time was something she was looking forward to.

"Think we'll bump into that handsome fella today?"

Zora couldn't help but scoff as she giggled at her own comment.

"I hope the fuck not. Don't have any interest in that as of now. My concern is how the hell that nun survived all this. Makes no sense."

"Hmm... yea that is kind of weird. Pretty sure she's got a few spells up her sleeve to help protect her."

The couple stop at the church's main doors where Sister Lily is usually already anticipating their arrival and is waiting to greet them. Not today. One side of the door seemed to be slightly open. And it was completely silent. Even though Sister Lily was by herself here at the church you would at least see her out in the garden, hear her washing dishes, or even overhear her humming a sweet song to herself; but there was nothing. Not one sound. Intrigued, the two slowly made their way into the dark church. There were only dim lit candles offering a little bit of light. They looked around to see no one in sight.

"Sister Lily! It's the black knights."

No response.

"Sister Lily!"

Don't tell me they actually got her.

There was the sound of footsteps drawing closer. Sister Lily made her way into the chapel from a nearby entryway. Startled by the two she dropped her bowl that was in her hand. The bowl shattered as it hit the floor letting the contents within it spill onto the ground.

"Oh, Kids. What a lovely surprise."

She bends over and began picking up the shattered pieces. Vanessa and Zora quickly make their way to her to help assist.

"Shit, I'm so sorry Sister Lily!"

Vanessa looked to the shattered bowl where it once held what smelled like burnt pixie dust.

Is that burnt pixie dust in her bowl? Weird..

Trying to ignore the smell she began to help pick up the pieces.

"I didn't see you in the garden and the door was opened. I just thought something must've happened is all..."

Sister Lily looked up to Vanessa with a warm smile and softly giggled.

"Of course I'm fine."

She held all of the broken pieces in both hands and tossed them in the closest trash can to her.

"But how are you two doing? Especially after the loss of your teammate... what was her name again?"

Both Zora and Vanessa turned to each then back to Sister Lily with a quizzical look.

"Noelle is uh.. she's fine actually-"

"Yea she survived with the help of a this bad ass little witch we got."

Zora smirked looking over to his companion. Vanessa couldn't help but smirk but kept her attention on Sister Lily.

"But how did you know what happened to her? Weren't you hiding out in the church the whole time?"

Sister Lily chuckled.

"I have my sources." She stood quiet with a smile that came off slightly creepy. Seeing as her question wasn't going to be answered by the nun she continued.

"Anyway, we came to stop by to bring you to the Captain."

"What for exactly?"

"He wanted to speak with you on this sleeping spell and how you've made it so far without being victim to it. We've found most of the villagers still alive but under a trance of some sort. We're going to try to find some sort of antidote."

As Sister Lily's smile grew wider it became more creepy. Sister Lily stayed silent while her smile was stuck in place. She took a few moments before answering.

"Hmm. Well, it's not like I have anyone waiting for me here. Let me just get some things and then I will gladly come speak with your captain."

Both Vanessa and Zora nod in agreement as Sister Lily disappears back into the entryway she came through. Vanessa looked over to Zora with a more stern look and began to whisper to her companion in fear that Sister Lily would over hear.

"So what's with the pixie dust? Tell me you smelt it too..."

"Pixie dust? Is that what was in that bowl.. but isn't pixie dust just something that pixies naturally give off of their body? Heard it gives off good luck or protection or some fairy shit like that."

"Well, yes and no. There are two different types. One is the one you are speaking of but the other is a dust that is literally made up of the pixies themselves. As in its the ashes of a pixie burned alive-"

"I'm ready."

Shocked the two look up to see Sister Lily standing a few feet from them with both hands holding on to a small cloth bag. They both smile nervously.

Asta sat in the field not to far from the palace. He just watched as the wind blew through the trees and watched the grass and leaves dance with it. Behind him there were a few of the new comers practicing outside with Magna and Luck. Due to his last incident he wasn't allowed to fight with the others, they were in fear that he might lose it again. But they offered for him to watch. He loved teaching the others new techniques but it looks like he had to take a step back until he became more in control. Lost in his own thoughts, he was soon disturbed by someone who tapped him from behind.

"Huh."

He turned to see Sister Lily standing there with a wide sweet smile on her face. Behind her stood Vanessa and Zora.

"Hello little Asta."

His face completely lit up to the sight of her. He quickly jumped up then indulged her in a big hug. Surprised by the hug she began to chuckle and give in to the hug, dropping her bag and wrapping her arms around him. He pulled away to to show a big smile across his face.

"You don't understand how good it is to see you in one piece still. You sure are a trooper Sister Lily! How do you do it?"

"Well, that's why I've been brought here. I have a meeting with Captain Yami today to discuss my methods that I used to survive all this time."

"Really?! That's great..."

Asta trailed off as he looked at his comrades and noticed that their facial expressions weren't as giddy as they usually were especially when they were together but it looked like they seemed a bit worried. Eager to leave Vanessa nudged Zora in his side with her elbow so that he could speak.

"Really Nessa.."

He muttered as he winced and rubbed his sore side before speaking up.

"Anyway Asta, feel free to stay out here with Sister Lily for a bit. We're going to find the Captain and see if he's ready to speak with her."

Asta nodded and the two were off to find their captain. Asta turned back to Sister Lily then exteneded his hand over to a nearby tree that provided a decent amount of shade for the two.

"After you Sister Lily."

She smiled, picked up her bag that she dropped earlier then made her way to the tree with Asta not too far behind her. They both sat underneath the tree looking over to the others practicing in the field.

"So how's your demon doing?"

Sister Lily asked sort of demandingly while keeping her eyes to the others. Asta quickly turned to Sister Lily shocked by her persistence. He looked back to the field taking a moment before answering.

"Not good from what I've been hearing."

"Hmm."

Sister Lily began to shuffle in her bag before pulling out a small glass bottle with a dark powder inside.

"Here."

Asta opened his palm to receive the bottle from her. He began to analyze the dark powder that had subtle hints of what looked like glitter inside.

"Huh... what's this?"

"A secret weapon. It'll help you stay in control of your inner beast. Your a strong minded man Asta, but this demon is smarter and more powerful than you; You need a little assistance. And lucky for you I have just the concoction to help you out a bit. What do you say? It'll feel amazing I promise..."

Since when was Sister Lily the peer pressuring type?

"But Zora and Vanessa have been helping a lot-"

"No," She had to interject, "They've only been helping calm you down after you go berserk, not help you control it. They use you for your demon when its most convenient for them. Why not be in full control for once."

"How do you-"

"Listen, you need someone like me who actually knows about demons Asta. They are magic wielders that only specialize in magic. Demons are on a completely different level. They don't use magic, they're naturally powerful and can do way more damage than magic ever could."

His eyes began to widen as he began to understand what she was insinuating.

"Its time you embrace him to his full potential Asta."

"...Him?"

"There's something off about that nun Captain Yami."

Both Vanessa and Zora were in the main common area where Captain Yami usually was. He was sitting down glued to the newspaper with a lit cigarette in his mouth. Without looking to the two standing in front of him he replied.

"Oh yea, how odd?"

Vanessa angrily grabbed the newspaper from him and crumbled it up before throwing it to the ground.

"Captain, you need to take this seriously! There is something really off about her."

"Yea," Zora said more calmly than his companion, "The broad is definitely off."

Captain Yami sighed before pulling his cigarette from his mouth.

"Listen, the lady's been by herself for a few years now probably having conversations with her self all day. She was bound to lose it at some point."

"No, her aura was off this time. I can't put my finger on it but she came off as super creepy. And the power she was emanating was more powerful than before. Something's up I just know it! Plus she knew about Noelle's incident too. How the hell do you explain that?!"

Vanessa yelled towards her captain. Even though she was below him on the ranks she couldn't help but talk down to him at this point. Something was really off. Zora chimed in.

"Dude, the broad's walking around with dead pixie ashes. Not the dusty shit that comes out their butt but like a dead pixie kind."

Vanessa couldn't help but look to Zora with a 'what the fuck' look written all over her face.

"Out their butt?"

Zora looked to his woman and simply shrugged. Captain Yami's eyebrow rose to the odd statement.

"Dead pixie ashes? That sounds like the use of dark magic ...or even anti magic. Those ashes can be used for either source... As weird as it sounds it can drastically enhance the use of a dark magic user as well as a anti magic user. Its so simple too, just pour the pixie dust in the users Grimoire and wala there you go; like a virus, it'll slowly spread infecting its host. Well I should say its more like poking a bear with a stick until it unleashes its rage... Long story short, that shit is dangerous, its only used for malicious intent."

Vanessa's expression quickly softened to a more concerned look. Taking a moment to think he quickly stood up.

"Wait, where's Asta?"

"We left him with Sister Lily..."

Without a word Captain Yami was off. The couple looked to each other with concern before following their captain.

Noelle was in her room sitting at a table looking straight into her mirror. Her expression was completely blank. She traced her fingers over her cheek and down her neck. She noticed that her veins were becoming more visible and darkened almost completely black.

What's going on with me...

She began to slowly pull the twist ties from both ponytails and let her hair fall to her shoulders. She began to run her fingers through her hair with both hands unexpectedly pulling a good chunk of hair as she did so. She looked to the tangled strands in her palm.

What...is going on?

Even more intrigued she leaned in more to get a better look in the mirror. All she could see were black veins that were slightly visible on her face. Disgusted she pulled back then quickly got up putting her hair back in one ponytail. She walked over to the window to see the other new comers practicing outside with Magna and Luck. Not too far from them she could see Asta sitting under a tree with Sister Lily. Noelle couldn't help but get a rise just from looking at her.

Why's she here? That nun doesn't even trust Asta, why would she come by to visit?

She looked down to her chest for a brief moment to look at the rosary beads that were previously given to her from the nun. She gripped the cross in one hand before looking back out the window to the two sitting underneath a tree.

She did say I was playing with the devil now... What am I saying, Asta isn't the devil or even a demon. From my point of view it just looks like there's just a demon assisting this poor magic-less kid when needed. Demon may have some anger issues and frequently tries to take over his body but still.. its just a little demon. Can't believe I kept this stupid thing anyway. Wait, what's she doing...

Her thoughts began to trail off as she began to concentrate on the two. Sister Lily could be seen handing him a glass bottle.

Hmmm.

She could see Asta's Grimoire begin to glow and appear in front of the two open and ready to use. He opened the glass bottle then poured all the contents into the book. The book slammed shut as soon as the last bit of powder was dropped and began to slowly fall to the ground before being swallowed up by it. As she continued to watch the two she seen a large black figure appear behind the tree Asta and Sister Lily were sitting at. The dark figure wore a wide mischievous smile as its eyes beamed bright red. The figure also had a sharp tail that was dancing effortlessly behind it as well as two horns crowning its head. The figure slowly began to fade as the wind blew. Even though Noelle was pretty high up in her room she noticed Sister Lily turn to her direction. She couldn't help but get shivers, she knew somehow that she was watching them.

What's that nun up to?