Like I said, child Asta for the next chapters. Only like two chapters, but I felt like there had to be some 'family time' and mystersious events in these. Hope you enjoy
A six-year-old boy was running around in front of the Black Bulls hideout. His ash-blond hair was wild and untamable, even for his mother. He was told to not go into the woods alone. They said it was to dangerous for him.
He protested every time, wanting to explore the area. His mother was mad at him sometimes, when he came back with his clothes torn and full of mud. Not like he wanted to annoy her, but he was just a bit reckless. Maybe a bit to much.
Asta was, both his parents had learned that early, a bundle of energy. He would run around all day as soon as he had discovered how to walk. Which he did early. And when he got the hang of it, he was everywhere in the large house.
He was laughing while running around, trying to hide from his parents. His father would laugh at his mother trying to catch him again. He only stopped when he fell down the stairs breaking his leg.
His mother forced him to stay in bed until it was healed. Why she didn't get the healer, he didn't know. After that, he was a bit more careful. Mostly because both of his parents had been pretty mad at him.
But what fascinated Asta the most about the world, was magic. To him it was the most beautiful thing in the world, and he couldn't wait to get his own. His mother had explained that everyone got their own kind of magic at some point, and everyone was unique.
While his father didn't like showing his magic to the kid, his mother was eager to entertain him. She always made roses for him, and only for him. Asta noticed how cold she was towards his father sometimes. And to most other man.
He didn't understand what the problem was, but he didn't ask either.
All he cared about was the nature around him, as he sat in one of the trees beside the house. He may be only six, but he knew very well how to get onto a tree. Grabbing onto the branches and pulling himself up wasn't hard. And getting down was even easier.
"Asta!" he heard himself being called.
Looking down, he saw his mother standing in front of the tree where he was watching the horizon. She didn't like how high up he was in the tree, he could tell.
"Please come down from there. You'll break something" she begged.
"But Mom" he whined. She knew how he loved to watch the horizon from high up. It gave him a better view.
"Asta" she said more sternly.
"Fine" he huffed, climbing the tree down again. He was careful with his mother watching him. If he just jumped down like usual, she would get a heart-attack.
When he reached the ground Asta thought she would scold him again. But nothing like that happened. Instead, she scoped him up from the ground, holding him like she used to when he was a baby.
Asta still liked the sound of her heartbeat when he pressed his head against her chest. It was calming him every time he heard it. Her blond her fell past her shoulder as she brushed it out of the way.
Since the day she started staying at the Black Bulls hideout, Charlotte began to leave her hair open more often. Now she was doing it almost every day. At least when she wasn't in a battle or in a meeting.
Asta noticed the way she was behaving. Today something was different. He could feel it but didn't know what it was. He could just hope that he didn't do something wrong again. Usually, she would tell him right away, so he was sure that this wasn't it.
"Something wrong?" he asked, not daring to look up.
Charlotte sighed, walking back inside. This was one of the rare days where she would stay home and not go to her own squad. Both of his parents had told him their job and that Charlotte had to leave now and then.
It was to many times in his opinion, but he accepted it. He got used to it and spend a lot of time with his mother, when she was home. She sat down on the couch, placing him down in her lap.
"Asta…" she brushed some hair out of his face. She almost decided not to tell him. These past years have been great for her. She started to love the kid after a few days, never letting him out of her sight. But it was better for all of them.
This was what they had agreed on, on the first day. She would stay until he didn't need her anymore. And now that he could take care of himself, climbing trees and running like a champion, it was her time to leave.
She had already talked with Yami, who agreed that it was time. That he could take it from here on. But it hurt her heart to see how her son looked at her with those big green eyes.
"Your father and I have come to the agreement that I should go" she said.
"Go where? Are you going on a big mission again?" the kid's eyes were shining with glee. How much he adored her, even though she wasn't his real mother. And she wished it didn't have to come to this. But it was better. One day they would tell him the truth.
"No" she smiled, caressing his cheek. Why did he have to be so lovable? Even though his magic hadn't developed yet, she knew he was able to defend himself just fine.
"Listen Asta. I love you very much, but your father and I don't get along anymore. We decided it would be the best for us if we get divorced" she smiled sadly.
They weren't really married but it was the best way to explain it. Every Captain of the magic knights knew about the agreement. They played the married couple for their son. And a fake divorce was the way to get out.
She would just tell him at some point that the divorce was done and that would be it.
"Is it because of me?" Asta asked.
Charlotte felt her eyes widen. "No, of course not. What makes you think that?"
Asta looked down, playing with his fingers. "I don't have my magic yet. And both of you are so strong. So I thought…"
"Listen Asta" Charlotte gently grabbed his chin, turning it back up to face her.
"You have nothing to do with this. It will never because of you. Sometimes people just lose their love for each other. It happens to a lot of people. And we don't want to fight anymore" she explained.
"You'll visit, right?" the child asked, looking up at his mother with worry.
Charlotte smiled. "Of course I will. You are still my son nothing will ever change that. Always remember that. And I won't leave tomorrow. It's still a few weeks until that happens."
Nodding eagerly, Asta leaned lightly backwards. "Can I go back outside now?" he asked.
"Alright. But don't go to far" she put him on the ground and the bundle of energy ran outside once again. Charlotte followed, leaning against the entrance. She sighed.
"I expect you take good care of him" she said, not even turning around to face Yami.
"I will. Never thought I'd get so attached to the kid. I'll make sure he doesn't go and kill himself" he chuckled.
Charlotte took a deep breath. "I mean it Yami. The demon hasn't come back yet. But I know he will one day. He wants him and I want you to be there to protect him when that happens. I may not be there when it does."
Yami hummed. Indeed, the demon hasn't come back in six years. None of them knew where he went, but they were searching for him everywhere. Every Captain of the magic knights has been searching for him since the last time they had seen him.
They had yet to find out what he wanted from the child. Asta seemed to be a normal kid in their eyes. Well except for the fact that he had yet to get his magic. He was getting older, and it was time he got his. He was at the right age for it.
It would probably happen soon enough. He'd get his magic and then he could defend himself even better.
"Have you ever thought about what his magic will be?" Charlotte asked, smiling at her child running in the yard.
"If I had to guess I would say something with fire. He has to much energy. Would fit" Yami grinned, eyes following the kid as well.
The blond woman laughed. Yes, he was right. That would fit perfectly. And it would probably be his magic. He was good at guessing these things.
"I wish we didn't have to tell him" Yami suddenly said.
Charlotte blinked in surprise, looking back at the other. That was sudden. Usually, Yami preferred to not talk about his feelings. He never said something like this.
"About his mother?" she asked.
Yami sighed. "That too. Everything. His real parents, how his mother was killed. Us. All of this is a lie."
"People get adopted all the time" she meant.
"Yes, but his mother wanted him. You know that. And if I have to be honest, I'm still worried about that demon. Who knows what he wanted from him? We won't know until he shows up again" he shook his head.
"I don't want to think about that" Charlotte mumbled, crossing her arms.
In the past years, she has become softer. She knew it. And it was fine. She was a mother now and mothers are soft, until their child was in danger.
Charlotte turned back to watch her child again, only to notice that he was gone. She walked outside, just in front of the door.
"Asta!?" she called. No answer. Yami followed her outside.
"Asta!" Yami called out too. Still no answer.
Charlotte walked into the field of grass that surrounded the area. She looked up in the trees, hoping to find him in one of them. But even then, he would've answered. He always answers. Only when he couldn't hear her, he gave no reply.
But by now he should know better than to wander to far. But who was she kidding? This was Asta. He always went to far. His curiosity must've gotten the better of him once again.
Charlotte turned and turned around herself, trying to find her boy. How far could he have gotten. Not too far, right? It has been a minute, maybe two. Even while running he couldn't have gotten far. He was six and still small. His legs couldn't carry him far away.
She was about to run into the woods to search for him, when he came around from behind the house, dirt all over his clothes, and a book in his hands. He came running towards them, confusion written all over his face.
"Asta" she sighed in relieve, sitting down in the grass in front of him. She hugged him close, her fear getting the better of her. She picked him up with her when she stood back up.
"You're not supposed to go that far" Yami reminded.
Asta seemed to pay him no mind as he inspected the book. It was dark red with black spots all over it.
"What's that sweety?" Charlotte asked gently, hoping to catch his attention.
"I dunno" Asta shrugged, running his tiny hands over the cover. It was only now that Charlotte noticed the five-leaved clover in the middle of the cover.
"A Grimoire" she gasped.
"But he's only six. He can't even use it yet" Yami raised an eyebrow, just as confused as her. It was true. People usually get their Grimoires when they turn fifteen. Asta was far away from that age.
He didn't even have his magic yet, so how could he get one?
"Honey, where did you find it?" she asked, concern showing in her eyes.
Asta was still only looking at the book, not looking up once. "Didn't find it. He gave it to me. Said it was mine" he muttered.
"Who gave it to you then?" Yami asked as calm and gently as he possibly could.
Finally Asta looked up at them, green eyes shining as usual.
"The black man"
Yeah, demon Daddy came back. Zagred won't be around for the next ten chapters or so, and that chapter will not be with the elves so be prepared. If you liked it, show me by leaving a comment ;)
