"Small steel plates held together by studs on a fabric?" He read the plans I had my for my armor. "Brigandine armor, not very common with full plate as a option." He said.

"Yes, but I don't have the time to make full plate, or the materials to do so, this is lighter and more flexible." I said as I placed the metal back in the forge, the coals burning hot as I washed them with flames and wind to heat the metal.

"Four more months, I don't think I'll be able to replace you." Eric chuckled. "You've basically able to run the shop on your own."

"I was only able to do that thanks to you." I smiled back.

He laughed. as he pushed his greying hair out of his face. "Any woman would be lucky to have you." He laughed.

"I slipped up while talking one time five years ago! Are you still going on about that!?" I shouted at him.

"Oh, I will until it stops bugging you Helen." He laughed.

I shook my head as I took the metal out of the fire bringing it to flatten out the curve in the metal.


Chapter 5: Traveling to the Capital

I sat at the table with the rest of the church, Nash and Recca digging into their potatoes as I picked at my food. "Tomorrow, Yuno and Helen leave for the capitol for the magic Knights exam." Father said.

"I'm going as well!" Asta yelled.

"R-right, how could I forget?" Father had been acting differently since Asta had gotten his Grimoire, I hid a small smile.

'So the old man dose care.' I thought as I stood up from the table. "Thank you." I said.

"Oh, Helen, you barely ate, is everything alright?" Sister Lily asked.

"I'm just not hungry today, and I'm way to exited for the exams, and even if I don't get in, I'll make my own adventures to send yul back home for you." I smiled.

"That is really foolish Helen." Father said, "You really shouldn't do that, if you don't get in you have a perfectly good job at the town blacksmith."

"I know, it's just... I've always brought more trouble to the town, like that day... nine years ago." I said as my head tilted down.

Father stood up and placed a hand on my shoulder, "We should talk." He said as we left the others to eat. We sat in the pews of the church. "Helen, what happened wasn't your fault, we still know so little about your past we had no way of knowing that would happen."

"I nearly destroyed the whole town Father, most people see me for what I am, a monster, had Wizard King Julius not been there, who knows what could have happened." I curled my tail around me. "Eric was kind enough to give me the job because he wasn't there when it happened."

He pulled me into a hug. "Helen, I know why you want to leave, to be around people that can contain you during your outbursts. Or to distance yourself from the towns, and so you pull pranks and jokes on people so they won't miss you. Just remember that you will always have a home here."

I hugged him back. "Now, you should get some sleep. You three are leaving first thing in the morning. I went to all the surrounding villages to get supplies for your trip, and I remembered no meat for you." He ruffled my hair.

"Stop it old man!" I playfully pushed him away, "I'm not a little kid anymore!" I protested.

"You'll always be one of my kids." He said. "So don't leave us behind." He said as he looked at me, "Because we will always be with you three no matter where you are."


At dawns first light I stood with Asta and Yuno in front of the church, my brigandine armor over a new dress that was a gift from Eric's wife, black fabric that matched well with the dark burgundy fabric that held the sheets of metal together. the armor fit my form well.

Father, Lily, and the kids were waiting to see us off. "Yuno, Helen do your best. Asta, come back to us safe." Father said.

"FATHER!" Asta and I yelled at him much to the amusement of the younger children.

"Hey, Asta." Nash said. "If you do get in, I'll believe anything can happen, alright."

I raised an eyebrow at this. 'Nash, that's new from you.' I though to myself.

"Helen, you know what you have to do during full moons." Lily handed me a white cloth. I took it and tied it around my bicep.

"Of course. I won't let that ever happen again." I said.

"What are you talking about?" the young Hollo asked.

"Oh, it's nothing to worry about." I knelt down to them, "Just know this, when us three start sending money back home, you'll have more pot potatoes then even I would be able to eat. And you know how much I like my potatoes."

"Hopefully Father will buy more then just potatoes." Nash said.

We had a laugh at that as we picked up our bags and turned to leave. But before we left Asta turned to sister Lily. "Sister Lily, when I come back I'll be the Wizard King." He said, "And I'll ask you again to marry Gak!" I grabbed onto his collar pulling him along.

"Love you all!" I waved with a goofy smile on my face making the little ones laugh. "I'll visit as soon as I can."

"Be safe you three!" Father called back as we left. Asta trying to break free to propose one last time. Me smiling from ear to ear, and Yuno with his usual calm demeanor.

Once we left the towns limits I let Asta go. "What was that for?" He asked/yelled at me.

"Asta, if you really want to make sister Lily happy, you have to find someone else. It only hurts her seeing you do that." I said.

"WHHHAAAAT! BUT YOUR ALWAYS ENCOURAGING ME TO PROPOSE!" I rubbed my ear as his screaming was causing it to ring.

"Remember who your talking too Asta, Helen takes very few things seriously." Yuno said. "She would only encourage you to get a laugh out of you."

"No! Helen wouldn't do that! She's my best friend!" Asta yelled as we walked along the road.

"Actually, Yuno's right." I smiled slyly. "Sorry Asta, but you never stood a chance."

"THAT'S NOT GOING TO STOP ME! I'LL BECOME THE WIZARD KING AND MARRY SISTER LILY!" He shouted.

'Maybe Yuno was right, I shouldn't have encouraged him.' I chuckled to myself. 'Oh well, he'll need that resolve during the exam.'


The days passed by quickly, the dust on the road getting kicked up as we raced each other, me taking the lead easily and having to wait well into the night for the other two to catch up. On the second day the boys caught a wild boar and butchered it right on the side of the road. I had to go behind a tree because of how... gross it was. "How can you eat that stuff?" I asked as we sat by the fire, the two of them roasting the meat as I dug into my fruits, veggies and cheese. Father had really gone all out for me for a change.

'Mhat? Dit's mice mand duicy." Asta said through a mouthful.

"A apple is juicy, meat is greasy." I scooted away from him as the 'juices' sprayed out of his mouth.

"Asta, don't speak with your mouth full." Yuno scolded him, "Helen's choice to avoid meat is a personal one. You should know that."

My brother swallowed hard as he choked down the meat. "Of course I do. It's just never made sense to me."

Me and Yuno sighed. "You are hopeless." We said together as we finished our meals.

"Well let's turn in for the night." Yuno said rolling out him bed roll as I did the same under a nearby tree.

"Goodnight." Asta said as he fell back on his bag.

"Goodnight." Yuno responded.

"Go-" I started to sing badly.

"No singing." The two of the said at the same time.


I had a strange dream, I was in a unfamiliar place that felt familiar, but everything seemed to be made of smoke. It was odd. There were mist figures around me, but I couldn't make out faces, and it seemed like they were giants... or was I small?

"Lord -." I turned to look at two mist figures. "You can't seriously believe that low class warrior." It sounded gravely and not human.

"That Low Class warrior, is stronger and smarter then most elites. I am getting off this rock now." He shoved the smaller figure out of the way.

"Lord -." One of the other figures stepped in the way. "We can't let you leave the world."

"I can do as I damn well please! Now get out of my way before I gut you like a fish!" He shoved the man out of the way. "I need to do something!"

"Stop him!" they threw up their hands and fired magic at the man, but he blocked it all with ease.

"You fools die here then."


I awoke with a start to the sound of Asta and Yuno packing up their stuff. "Helen, Lets get going." Yuno said as I stood up on shivering legs. "Was it too cold last night?" He asked.

"No, just a bad dream." I waved it off. "I'll be fine."


Hey there.