Chapter 11
What Hides In The Snow

"Ok, I think we should be okay over here." Finral came to a halt, taking a seat on a stool with a clear view down below to the lower levels of the casino.

Abel took a seat on the opposite stool, hands resting on the small table."So, what did you want to talk to me about?"

Finral took a deep breath, thinking on what to say."Listen, I know what it's like to be under the shadow of your brother. I've been there before."

"Oh, right. You once mentioned you had a little brother. He's in the Golden Dawn, same as my brother."

"Right. Much like your brother, Langris was handpicked by the Golden Dawn. Compared to me, he's on a whole other league. No matter what I did, I could never beat him. And honestly, I came to accept that as time went by. Eventually, he was the one picked to one day represent our household. I...I ran away from home and I abandoned him in the process. Sometimes I can't help but feel guilty about that. He's my younger brother. I shouldn't have just left."

Abel remained silent, allowing the spatial mage to take his time."But honestly, I guess I was just tired of always feeling inferior to him. My parents never praised me or loved me as much as they did him. I wasn't jealous. I knew I stood no chance. But you know, I guess I'm kind of glad I did leave. Because I was able to meet such a wonderful group of people like the Black Bulls. Regardless, deep down...I know I still live under Langris' shadow. And...it kind of hurts, knowing full well I could never get out of there. But unlike me, you still have a chance."

"Huh? Finral, you're giving me way too much credit here." Abel sighed, leaning back and nearly falling back, forgetting he was on a stool."Listen, I'm nothing special. Sure, I try to be, but I'm not. Why do you think no one else rose their hands when I took my exam? Cain and I are on just different levels. I can't even compare. You and Langris have Spatial Magic, right? Well, Cain and I are different in that regard. We have similar magic, but he specializes in long-ranged and I in close-ranged. He's cool and I'm not. Hell, I think he even got himself a special lady now."

"Well, if that's what you're concerned about, then I can introduce you to some lovely ladies." Finral playfully winked at him."But seriously, the point I'm trying to make is that you don't have to give up as I did. You can keep pushing forward. And I want you to know that I'll support you all the way. I know the others will too."

"Finral..." Abel smiled at his senior."Thank you. And you know what, screw it. Let's do it together. I know you might think you can't surpass your brother but I say let's try anyway. You and I. Starting from today, we're partners." Abel stood up, stretching his hand out, taking him by surprise.

"Huh?! B-b-but I can't! Langris' Spatial Magic is way superior to mine! And I'm okay the way it is!"

"Come on now, you can't go about preaching me like that to not take your own advice." The Yin Magic-user grabbed his hand and shook it, flustering Finral even more."I got you. We'll get stronger together and surpass our respective siblings. It'll be fine, trust me."

"Are you sure...?" Finral meekly asked, his confidence suddenly gone."I'm not sure that's possible for me..."

"You said it yourself, right? We got our friends to back us up." Abel gave him a confident smirk."With their support, we can do anything."

Finral was unsure of what to think, but he recalled his time with the Black Bulls. Asta and the others were pushing forward every day and not letting their limits define who they are. Hell, he realized that Asta, who had no magic, was trying way harder than he, someone blessed by mana, was. Even someone in similar circumstances as him was willing to try his hardest. As their senior, he couldn't let them down."I'll do it. No, we'll do it. Together."

"You betcha." Abel pulled Finral up as they properly shook hands."We should head back. Let's see what the Captain is up to."

"Well, taking into account that we haven't heard any noise from there, they probably persuaded him with alcohol."


"So..." Yami took a seat on the opposite side of Ray's desk, folding his legs."Are you going to tell me your story? You haven't said anything for a minute."

"Oh, right." Ray coughed in his hand, a sly smile on his face."I wanted to make things a bit serious with a dramatic pause. Make things a bit more mysterious." The young entrepreneur wheeled his way over to a small container, opening it up and grabbing a bottle from inside."You see, dear Captain, I'm a sucker for entertainment. I think of life as a stage where people are the actors and we make a performance. Be it for ourselves or whatever superior force there exists. So, I like to make things as fulfilling as possible. I am willing to answer your inquiries, but what exactly do you want to know? Do keep in mind that some things are unknown to me or classified. Well, as classified as a 19-year-old nobleman can know, of course."

"That's oddly specific." Yami hummed in thought."Okay, the obvious question is, what happened in the Ace Kingdom? What caused it to seclude itself from the rest of the world for so long?"

Ray glanced at Xander, suppressing a chuckle with his hand."Surprisingly enough, I can actually answer that for you. As you know, the Ace Kingdom is located closest to the Clover Kingdom, but not bordering it like the other ones. So for the most part, it was pretty easy to prevent spies or invaders or anything like that since we're separated from the rest. Five or six years ago, our kingdom fell into a crisis."

"What kind of crisis?"

"An economic crisis." Xander clarified."Stock markets collapsed and inflation went through the roof. We had to switch up our currency and use something else since our coin was losing value pretty fast. People were rioting, businesses lost money and the monarchy was pushed against a wall. This went up for a few years and we had to come up with ways to stabilize the economy. In the meantime, the monarchy had to control the supplies and distribute them. Just when we got back on our feet, ideas were proposed to get our economy back on track. So the idea of a casino was thrown."

"Why a casino, though?" Yami quirked a brow, wanting to know more about their reasoning.

Ray shrugged nonchalantly."It seemed interesting. Plus, King Ace approved of the idea and was ecstatic about it. Plus, I invested in the project. Of course, we had to get the okay from the Clover King, but he didn't seem to mind. He's a gambling man himself, it appears."

"I still don't get why you never came to the Clover Kingdom for aid sooner." Yami folded his arms."Why wait all those years? Surely any other kingdom would have been glad to give you a helping hand. If I recall correctly, you trade resources with the Clover and Heart Kingdom."

"Mmmm. I wonder, why indeed." Xander rubbed his chin in thought, his smirk still present."We don't know the answer to that."

"You don't know or you can't say?"

"I'll leave that up to your interpretation, Old Sport," Xander replied, much to Yami's annoyance. He tried concentrating on their ki to see if they were lying, but he was shocked upon seeing the result.

'This is weird. I don't think they're lying...or at least, I can't tell anything with their ki. It's blurry, almost distracting.'

"Everything okay, Old Sport?" Xander broke Yami from his thoughts."You've been quiet for a bit."

"Just trying to process this story, is all." Yami lied, scratching his head."It just seems a little convoluted. What even caused the economy to fall in the first place? Also, why did it take you so long to build it back up? Had you gone to another kingdom, no doubt you'd gotten help. Also, why a casino? I understand the idea but surely this wasn't the first thing to come to mind to get some money."

"There's a lot of factors that we either can't say or just don't know." Ray concluded, putting down the bottle of alcohol."Anyway, the specifics are kinda boring in my opinion. Overall it was a pretty nasty time for the Ace Kingdom but we finally managed to recover. I'm sorry. But we simply don't know anything else."

Yami sighed, setting his cigarette down on an ashtray."Then I guess we're done here. Not much I learned that I hadn't already deduced, but thank you for your time."

"Let me ask you a question, my dear Captain." Ray interrupted him before he could get up from his chair."Are you suspecting us of any foul play?"

"And what made you think that?" Yami furrowed his brow.

"It's just I can't help but feel as though you were interrogating us." Ray shrugged."I don't mind, of course, but I can't help but feel there's some level of mistrust between you and us."

"Mistrust? Hardly. Everyone seems to be on board with your idea and the Wizard King even gave you his blessing as well." Yami then rose his head slightly, glaring down at Ray."But I can't shake this little feeling that I have that you're hiding something more. There's more to this story and you don't want to reveal it. But...of course, that's just my opinion on the matter. I could be wrong, of course."

"Aren't you a bold one, Old Sport?" Xander whistled, amused."For merely having a hunch, you sure know how to press people regardless if you're right or wrong. Unlike the other Captains, your moral compass is completely out the window."

"No, I just have my way of doing things." The burly man waved the comment off.

"You say that, but this is just like I said earlier during our brief conversation." Xander stood up, hands behind his back as he walked around the room."People's lives are controlled by their desires. Temptation is but what comes naturally for anyone. Now, what could you possibly desire, I wonder? You don't strike me as someone who would enjoy fame and fortune or recognition. You wouldn't be leading the Black Bulls if that were the case. So, what could you want?"

"Me? I don't want anything, honestly." Yami didn't meet the Priest's gaze as he stood behind his chair."I just do whatever I come up with at the time. But I don't have anything I would fall to temptation for, if that's what you're asking."

"Maybe not you, but surely your dear subordinates do." Xander drawled, continuing to walk in circles around the room. Ray remainder impassive, folding his hands and he let Xander talk his heart out."They are young and in need of guidance. People of all sorts of backgrounds, if what I heard is correct. What would you do the day they fall to their temptations and stray off the path that you want them to walk on? What if one of them did unspeakable things, just to reach their goal? Would that be justifiable?"

"You're crossing a dangerous line, Xander." Yami suddenly got up, grabbing the Priest by the collar of his shirt. If the man was intimidated by this, he didn't show it in the slightest. Instead, he kept his shit-eating grin."My subordinates are many things, but they're not weak-minded. If they encounter an obstacle, they'll bulldoze right through it and break past their limits. They are who they are and I believe in their capabilities. They will not falter."

"Interesting." Xander commented, chuckling as he grabbed Yami's hands in an attempt to pry them off of him."And finally, I see your true colors. I suppose a man with no goal or desire is just a mad dog after all. How sad. I was expecting a bit more from you, Yami."

"Don't act like you know people just because of what they want, Xander." Yami narrowed his eyes, tightening his grip.

"We're back!" Finral announced, opening the door and allowing himself and Abel inside."Captain?! What are you doing?!"

Abel rushed to get in between Yami and Xander, separating them."Come on, no need to do that."

"I see that they're at least more civilized than their Captain." Ray muttered, hiding a smirk from the rest."Well, if you're all done in here, you are welcome to leave or stay. But you'll have to wait until late at night since we don't open early. But before you go! Anyone interested in buying...this!"

Ray set a silver cat statue on his desk, proudly presenting it to everyone in the room."I bought this recently at a hefty price but I don't want it anymore so I'm selling it. Anyone interested?"

"Nope." Yami, Finral, and Abel stepped inside a portal Finral created, disappearing from the premises.

Xander let out a sigh, hands on his hips."What an interesting man. He certainly makes things more fun."

"Glad you found someone to finally entertain you instead of coming here whenever you're bored." Ray cheekily said."Still though..."

"Yes, I know." Xander cut him off, closing his eyes."But everything is fine. So far, at least. Now, let me see that cat thing again."

"Captain..." Finral addressed Yami once they closed the portal and made it back to their base."Why were you choking the Priest?!"

"Doesn't matter." Yami shut him down, going off to his room."I'm going to nap. Don't bother me."

Abel and Finral exchanged puzzled looks, shrugging."Guess he doesn't want to talk about it."


"Not this again..." Raiden gasped in horror as he continued running in an endless dark path leading to hellfire. Behind him was an indescribably being that he wouldn't dare to look at. He never saw it or even hear it. But he could feel the hot breath behind his neck closing in as he continued running. He knew that fire would consume his body and burn him to a crisp but if he stopped running, he would just be torn to shreds by whatever was chasing him.

"But this is nothing...compare to..." Raiden couldn't finish his sentence as he felt a tongue wrap itself around his torso and before he knew it everything went black.

"FUCK!" Raiden yelled as he sat upon the bed he was laying on.

"Holy-!" Gauche jumped, startled by his sudden yell."What happened? Why did you just scream?"

Raiden took a few seconds to calm himself, scanning the room he was in. Rebecca had been kind enough to let them use one of the guest rooms and decided to keep Gauche and Raiden separated from Asta for good measure.

"Just...a bad dream." Raiden panted, wiping the sweat off his brow."What are you doing? It's the middle of the night. Why have you dressed already?"

"I was going to go kill Asta in his sleep." He nonchalantly replied as if it was the most casual thing in the world. A loud bang was heard, followed by footsteps rapidly approaching."But from the sound of things, you woke him up."

"What happened?! Who was screaming?! Is everyone okay?!" Asta frantically yelled, rushing to Raiden's side."Did something happen?!"

"You're too damn loud," Raiden grumbled, looking in the opposite direction."And no. Everything is fine."

"You sure?!" Asta realized he was being loud again, lowering his tone."That sounded like you were startled by something."

Raiden groaned, not wanting to explain himself to his squadmate. He folded his arms, glancing at Gauche."Well, he's here."

"Yeah. I guess I'll kill him now." Gauche opened his Grimoire, creating a mirror and shooting a beam of light that Asta barely managed to dodge.

"What was that for?! You're going to break something!" Asta exclaimed, exasperated as he kept dodging Gauche's attacks. Raiden was beginning to regret his decision of letting them kill each other since he now had multiple holes around the wall behind him and the noise would make it impossible for him to fall asleep. Not to mention that the breeze going in was killing him.

"It's cold as fuck all of a sudden." Raiden grabbed his robe, which was neatly folded on the floor, and put it on in hopes of feeling warmer."Can you guys stop making holes in the damn wall?! It's freezing in here now!"

"Now that you mention it, it is kind of-AHHH!" Asta screamed as Gauche managed to get him by surprise, launching him out the window.

"It doesn't matter." Gauche announced, walking to the edge but realizing that something was off."Snow? No wonder it's cold. But why now?"

"All of a sudden too." Raiden noted, making his way to his side and admiring the eery yet calm scene."It wasn't snowing when we went to be earlier, right?"

"No, it wasn't," Gauche confirmed his suspicions. Rebecca rushed out of the house, telling Asta that the children were missing. On cue, more people came out of their houses yelling for their kids' names in distress.

"What the hell?" Raiden muttered in disbelief."What's going on here? Too many things are happening really fast."

"Whatever. I'm not finished killing Asta yet." Gauche prepared to launch another spell, but Raiden grabbed his shoulder."What? Now you want to stop me?"

"Just chill out for a second." Raiden tried to reason with him."This is too weird. There has to be someone behind this. I don't know if you've noticed, but there's magic in the snow."

Gauche frowned, holding his hand out."Now that you mention it, you're right. Someone is causing this." Both boys jumped down, joining Asta and Rebecca, and an unexpected person.

"Noelle? What are you doing here?" Asta asked, flustering the royal.

"W-well, I just happened to be in the area is all!"

"Really? You just conveniently happened to be in the same part of the kingdom, in the same town, in the same area, just in the right moment." Raiden narrowed his eyes, leaning forward and causing her to back up.

"Yes!" Noelle pushed him back."It might seem like one big coincidence and that I was intentionally in the area but I assure you I was not!"

"Right." Raiden relented, but a small smirk formed on his face."Anyway, Noelle, do you have any idea what's going on?"

"No. I'm just as lost as you guys." Noelle confessed."Who is this lady over here?"

"Oh, this is Rebecca." Asta introduced them."Rebecca, this is Noelle. A squadmate, just like Raiden and Gauche."

"Nice to meet you." Noelle reluctantly bowed.

"Likewise." Rebecca was less rigid and smiled at her.

"Back to the matter at hand, I saw a bunch of children go up the mountains earlier." Noelle informed them."I...I'd imagine you guys don't have some kind of festival at night that involves children marching silently through the streets, right?"

"I'm afraid not." The Sister from before caught their attention, surprising even Gauche."There is magic at work in the snow. Magic that can control others. I deduce that given the circumstances, it affects the children whose magic hasn't matured. A number of ours were taken as well."

"What?!" Gauche snapped, taking firm steps towards the Sister." Repeat that, you old hag! You better not be telling me Marie was one of those "taken", you hear?!"

"That's what I'm saying, unfortunately."

Before Gauche could manhandle the nun, Raiden stepped in between them, holding Gauche back."Calm the hell down, Gauche. I know what you're thinking and that's not right."

"What the hell do you mean it's not right?!" Gauche, tired of Raiden constantly stopping him from speaking his mind to the Sister, grabbed his arms back."She let Marie get abducted!"

"And other children too. But it's not like she could help it." Raiden argued back."Look around you and look at all those families who JUST found out their kids are missing. It happened while everyone was asleep. Be rational and save up that rage for when we find the bastards who are behind this. Then you can beat the shit out of them if you feel like it."

Gauche thought his words over for a second, begrudgingly nodding."Fine. I can wait to beat someone up I guess. But we're going right now."

Without saying another word, Raiden and Gauche rushed back inside the house, grabbing their brooms and jumping on them to fly in the air."Old hag, you coming?"

"I'm not losing to you kids just yet." Sister Theressa chuckled, already on her broom by the time they got back. Asta grabbed onto Gauche's broom and hung from it, leaving Noelle down below.

"Where's your broom?" Raiden asked her, unaware of her inability to properly fly alone.

"She can't fly alone like Asta, since she doesn't have proper control. You're gonna have to take her with you." Gauche told him.

"It's better if she stays." Sister Theressa chimed in."The town might be attacked again. It would be wise to leave someone behind to protect it."

"Right." They all agreed, flying off outside the town. Raiden noticed Sister Theressa and Gauche often shot each other glares, leaving Asta and Raiden in a very awkward situation.

"Say..." Raiden spoke up in an attempt to break the silence."Are we sure we're going in the right direction?"

"Most certainly." Sister Theressa nodded."I sense strong mana up ahead."

"Sure, but how far?" Asta inquired, seemingly not troubled of hanging from Gauche's broom."We don't know exactly when the kids left their homes. It could have been hours ago."

"I doubt that." Raiden shook his head."They're kids. Unless there's a spatial mage involved in all this, then they shouldn't be able to get very far. But like you said, this could have happened hours ago so they have a decent headstart."

"Regardless, we'll catch up so I can save Marie," Gauche announced with determination.

"Don't you mean save all the children in general?" Asta meekly asked.

"I don't care about the rest of the children." Said Gauche in a matter-of-fact tone."My main and only priority is Marie."

"How can you say that?" The Sister narrowed her eyes at him."You're a Magic Knight for crying at loud! Your sister is not the only kid who has been taken away!"

"Yeah, but she's my dear sister. And she's all that matters to me." Gauche folded his arms, leaving no room for argument."I don't care what you say. Or anyone else for that matter. Once I find Marie, I'm taking her back to safety."

Before things could escalate, Raiden decided to step in."Look, you can do that if you want. Aasta and I can handle ourselves and with the Sister's help, we'll be just fine."

"Why are you constantly excusing his behavior?" The Sister turned to Raiden with a disapproving glare."You can't keep-"

"I'm not." Raiden cut her off, sighing."I just don't think this is the time or place to argue. Besides, Gauche's attitude right now is justified. If any of our family members or someone dear to us were in Marie's position, we would be acting the same. It's just human nature."

"I wouldn't!" Asta waved his hand."I would also try to rescue the other kids too!"

"But not everyone is as naive and overly optimistic as you are." Raiden growled under his breath."Look, whatever. It doesn't matter. We go in, take the one or ones responsible for this and rescue the kids."

"Fine." Everyone agrees to disagree, resuming their awkward ride.


"I already told you I'm here...because I was bored." Tobias deadpanned as he leaned back on his chair. Sekke and he were assigned to assist at the Magic Knight Headquarters for the night. Dull work, mostly due to not many knights being on duty at the moment but their Captain gave them a choice. It was either this or cleaning duty around the base and that's the last thing anyone in the Green Mantis would want to do.

"Yeah, I get that! But it's rare for you to want to do something with me, bah-ha!" Sekke proclaimed, yawning."Maybe you're taking my advice of getting out of the base more when we're not on a mission. Why are you always locked up in your room?"

"There's nothing better to do." Toby drawled, scanning around the room. It had all sorts of screens that showed different locations of the Clover Kingdom, making it easy to watch different places at the same time. Books were scattered around a wooden table along with a communicator that they were given in case an emergency happened. Toby reached a book and scanned through its pages. He had several books stacked up on his side of the desk and was planning to read through them as the night went by.

"Which is why I brought you here with me." Sekke said, coughing in his hand."That, and out of everyone in our squad, you're the most reliable person I know..."

"What was that? I didn't hear you." Toby quirked a brow, prompting Sekke to shake his head rapidly."I guess this place is not...so bad...It's interesting."

"Now that I think about it, Toby, you never told me where you're from, bah-ha." Sekke pointed out."We must take the opportunity to bond, isn't that right?"

Tobias rolled his eyes, crossing his arms."I fail to see how that's any of your business."

"Aw, come on. Don't be like that. We're friends. Speaking of, are you interested in any girls right now? I know I am but I have so many to choose from I just can't decide."

Toby snickered at Sekke's antics."No. I'm not interested in anyone. So no, I'm not going to help you get a girlfriend after I get one for myself."

"Huh?!" Sekke yelped, panicking."W-what do you mean you won't help me?! Come one, why won't a guy like you want a girl when all the girls are practically throwing themselves at you! At least leave some for me!"

Toby didn't answer, prompting Sekke to continue."Now that I think about it, why don't you want to get hooked up with a girl? I mean, you got looks, power, and brains. Won't you tell me? I genuinely want to know."

With a sigh, Toby crossed one leg over the other."I doubt you'll understand...but in this tainted world, there will never be such thing as love."

"What do you mean?" Sekke tilted his head, confused.

"The way the world is now is too impure for love to exist. Evil lurks around every corner and takes over people's hearts in the form of desire and temptation. A lovely couple could be ruined by simple opposite opinions or by one cheating on another, and that's because, like the rest of the world, they are corrupted. Nothing is set in stone. Because...as long as people have darkness in their hearts, they will always be evil."

He stood up, glancing down at his hand."That's why the world needs a hero to fight for justice. Someone who can shoulder the weight of people's wishes and fight in their name. Because a hero fights and exterminates evil by any means necessary. Someone who isn't afraid of sacrificing one for the sake of many more. It goes a little deeper than that, but that's the gist of it."

Sekke stayed silent for a few seconds, absorbing the information he just received."Dude..." He pointed at Toby."Who hurt you?"

"Come again?" Toby's eyes shot open, facing his squadmate.

"Yeah, who hurt you?" Sekke repeated, rolling his chair closer to him."It must have been quite the breakup if it left you inside of a literal shell. A girl broke up with you? Broke your heart? It happens to the best of us, no need to be ashamed."

Toby remained emotionless, simply giving him a blank stare as they shared an awkward pause.

Before they could continue arguing, their communicator went off. Sekke stood up, grabbed it, and walked around the room. Toby hated to admit it, but he was curious as to who he was talking to. His curiosity quickly died down when he noticed how flirtatious Sekke was trying to be and deduced it had to be a girl, who clearly wasn't having any of his nonsense. Realizing this was going nowhere, Toby stood up and easily snatched the communicator off of Sekke."Magic Knight Headquarters."

"Hey! No fair!" Sekke protested but Toby held his finger against his mouth, shutting him up.

"Finally someone competent!" Noelle sighed, seemingly relieved to not have to talk to Sekke anymore."There's trouble in Nean. Snow is covering the whole town and we believe this is being caused by a mage! Some members of my squad went to go look for the one responsible and the missing children that suddenly disappeared. We need help."

"Understood. Your squad name, please?"

"Black Bulls. My name is Noelle Sylva." Upon hearing that name, Toby rose his eyes slightly but went back to his emotionless expression.

"Very well...Rest assured, the Magic Knights are on their way." With that said, Toby turned off the communicator and grabbed his robe."Let's go. Go get the Black Bulls...let them handle themselves. I heard they're...capable people..."

"The Black Bulls, seriously?" Sekke cringed at the squad name. He had no time to complain, however, since Toby was already exiting the room."Hey! Where are you going?!"

"I have some manners to attend to. I'll meet up with you soon enough."

"With your plants? Won't they freeze?"

Toby didn't acknowledge his question and shut the door close, much to Sekke's dismay."Guess I'll have to get the Black Bulls...bah-ha..."


"Do you guys sense that?" Gauche narrowed his eyes once he noticed a cave down below them."I sense mana."

"It must be coming from that cave." The Sister deduced."The children must be inside."

"Look!" Raiden pointed at the ground. Down in the snow was a child, seemingly unconscious.

"That's..." Asta gasped in horror."Gauche, let me down for a second!"

"Not my problem." Gauche didn't bat an at the child on the ground."My only problem is Marie and that's it. But if you want to jump off...I wouldn't stop you."

Asta, realizing Gauche was serious, let go of the broom and fell down several feet in the air. A hand grabbed him, stopping him from possibly falling to his death."Huh? Raiden?"

"I was going to try and save that kid as well." Raiden helped Asta up to his broom."But you jumped and that surprised me. Are you crazy? You could have died. Look how high we are."

"I don't care. I have to keep my promise to Rebecca and save her siblings!" Asta cried out, glad that they were descending at a decent rate.

"I see..." Raiden muttered, closing his eyes."Guess you're not so cut and dry after all. Fine. Let's save those children together then, Asta."

Once they were close to the ground, both boys jumped off from the broom and rushed to the boy's side."Marco! Raiden, can you use your fire to warm him up?!"

Raiden knelt, grimacing."It won't work...my inferno fire is not like regular fire. It will toast him alive before warming him up. I can't risk it. Plus, I don't have any healing spells." Upon further inspection, Raiden noticed he was covered in bruises. Glancing back to the cave and taking note of a hole in it, he concluded someone must have tossed him out here.

"Let me take care of this." The Sister grabbed the young boy, noticing his lack of reaction."I see..he must be under a spell..."

"I'll handle it." Asta pulled out his sword from his Grimoire, giving him a tap on the head that canceled out the spell.

"Your Anti Magic does wonders," Raiden muttered, more to himself than to Asta.

Marco's eyes were filled with life once again as he looked around."Asta...Sister...? It hurts..."

"Just a second." Sister Theressa opened her Grimoire up."Flame Recovery Magic: Sacred Healing Light." A great number of candles surrounded Marco, giving off warmth and helping him heal his injuries.

"Impressive recovery spell." The raven-haired commented.

"Yeah!" Asta agreed."I can't believe you can even heal injuries, Sister!" The Magicless knight knelt in front of Marco."We have to go save your sister and the other kids. Think you can wait in the cave by yourself?"

"But I'm scared, Asta!" Marco protested, tears threatening to fall from his eyes."Please stay with me!"

"But your sister is in danger!" Asta reasoned, removing his robe."You're a man too, aren't you? Sometimes we have to have courage, even if we're scared. I'll let you borrow my Black Bull robe! As long as you have it on, you'll be perfectly safe. It's full of Magic Knight courage. And trust me, that helps me a lot. But don't forget you have to give it back! It's the only one I have!"

Raiden observed with great interest how Asta handled the situation. He didn't know what to say other than maybe...just maybe...he was wrong about Asta. Perhaps his naive yet comforting nature drew people closer to him and make them feel safe. A great trait for a Magic Knight to have. Even the Wizard King. With a chuckle, he removed his bandana and tied it around Marco's face, surprising Asta.

"Raiden?"

"You're a good kid." Raiden eyed him with a small smile."Anyway, it's cold as hell out here and I'm assuming it'll be cold in the cave too. This won't completely help you, but with a bit of luck you'll be warmer."

"Uh...thank you, mister." Marco gratefully accepted the gesture.

"Don't mention it." Raiden ruffled his hair, coughing in his hand upon seeing Asta giving him a goofy smile."A-anyway, we should get going. Gauche is probably deep inside the cave by now and we don't know how many enemies there are."

"Right." Asta nodded, turning to the cave."Let's get the children back to their parents."


Glad I finally manage to complete this chapter. It took a bit but finally, I was able to finish it up for the week. School has been rough as well as work so I barely had time to write this story but I'll continue to write whenever possible and make sure the chapters keep on coming. Hope everyone's been having a great day and feel free to review. I'm open to criticism and any ideas that can make the story better!