Asta stood opposite of Luck and Captain Yami roughly behind the base. Asta had his back to the building but he didn't know how soon that could change. He didn't know how strong Luck was but he did know that Yami was extremely strong, being a captain and all. His blade was big and heavy, opposed to Yami's thin and quick blade. The next question was magic. Would he be able to use his magic or what? Were they doing the magic practice first or the sword one?

He has so many questions.

Yami took a puff of his cigarette and sighed, the smoke leaving his mouth like a mourning fog. Asta was anxious to hear what Yami was going to say or do.

"Alright brat. Pull out your sword." Yami asked. Asta nodded and pulled his blade from his grimoire. It felt.. slightly uneven but he assumed that was because he was only holding it in one hand and fixed that quickly. His blade was point at Yami and Luck as he prepared for what came next.

"Alright. Your goal is to land one hit on me." He said. Asta blinked in confusion. Land a singular hit? Seemed to easy of a task. There had to be a catch.

"What's the catch?" Yami smirked when Asta said that.

"I of, course wont be standing around and wait for you to hit me. I'll be moving around and defending with my own blade. Luck will attempt to hit you with his own magic. You can only dodge Luck, no retaliation or attacking him." Asta felt a mix of emotions. He was glad that Yami wasn't going to do any attacking, frustrated that this seemed near impossible for him to do but the strangest was a sense of sadness. He didn't know where the sadness came from so he shoved that down.

"Luck is only going to use his boots to keep you on your toes. If he hits you, tough luck. Get better." Asta sighed at his captain's 'Limit pushing nature' and his drive to make everyone stronger. It wasn't difficult to see and he did want to get stronger.

Power is all he wanted right now.

"Another thing. Me and You aren't allowed to use our magic in any shape or form. Only our swords. Got it?" Asta nodded in understanding. Luck had a crazed look on his face that didn't feel.. right.

"And Luck. Lets give him a chance. Uh.. attack every thirty seconds." Luck nodded and Yami looked at Asta.

Yami took out his cigarette, flicked it away and smiled.

"Begin!"

In no time flat, Luck's grimoire flipped through the pages and his boots of lightning manifested. Luck leaned forward before disappearing in a flash of lightning. Asta looked at captain. He only had 30 second intervals to attack him before he had to dodge Luck.

Wherever he was. He could appear from anywhere and he would be able to sense him because for some bizarre reason, even though he has magic he cant sense magic or use magic items. He exhaled, having already wasted a decent chuck of his time to attack. He sprinted forward and leapt over Yami's head, going for a downward strike.

Kaclang!

Asta was dumbfounded. Yami defeated his blade without even looking at him. He could have sworn he was going fast enough to land a good hit in.

"29, 30." Asta's eyes widened as Luck's foot rammed into his abdomen. He flew and slammed into the bases wall and looked back with a little spittle dribbling down his mouth. Luck disappeared and Yami was looking at him. Asta got back up and looked at him.

'I gotta attack from behind! He can't deflect it if I surprise him!' Asta smirked as he leapt up and used the wall as a springboard to launch himself over head and used a tree behind Yami to launch himself to Yami's back.

Kaclang!

Asta watched as Yami just moved to the side after swiping Asta's sword of course. His eyes widened as he stopped himself and looked back at the smirking Yami, who had his eyes closed as a way to mock him no doubt. How did he intercept those attacks? Was he that predictable?

No, there had to be something else at play. He made no noise nor can he be sensed with magic. There was no way a reasonable swordsmen would train himself to protect against those attacks or predict them.

"29, 30." Asta watched as Yami leaned his head and Luck flew be his head and drove his foot into Asta's pectoral. The feeling of electricity tingled and stinged. He was moved a few feet back and looked back up to see Luck had disappeared again. Yami looked at him blankly.

How was he able to sense were he was going to attack? Was it something he was doing? Asta thought for a second. He coulnt have been sensed using magic. So what else did he have?

Asta had a faint clue forming in his head. Yami wasn't sensing magic, but his body. He probably could hear his heart pumping, feel the heat from his muscles.

He was sensing his physical being, not magical.

Asta needed to learn this. There is no way this isn't a part of his training. He closed his eyes. Focused on hearing. His breathing slowed as he tried to focus on his heartbeat. The wind whistled. Birds chirped.

"29, 30." Asta was launched forward from his trance. Luck must have hit him in the back and disappeared again.

(The sword felt lighter as frustration set in)

He must have done something wrong. There was no other explanation as to why it didn't work!

"Sensing magic is difficult to get used too. You have to turn off your other senses in order to start to sense mana."

The memory of Sister Lily made Asta smile. He had to thank her later for helping him here!

And maybe marry her!

He closed his eyes, and focused on nothing. The world was black as he was blank. He concentrated, keeping his head clear.

Bzzt.

He heard it. He could see it! Electricity as it danced in the tree line. It was making a straight bee line towards the top of tree. Luck was going for a overhead kick. Asta ever so slightly shifted his foot.

"29." Asta relaxed and shifted more weight onto his foot and moved his blade downwards.

"30!" Luck lunged downwards and Asta leaped towards where he was putting his weight and dug his blade to rebalance himself and flip himself back into position. He pulled the sword out and rushed Yami. Yami was surpised at this revelation and prepare to counter Asta. Asta made sure to keep his focus on Luck however.

He felt Luck start to bend and Asta dropped as Luck soared over his head towards Yami. Asta quickly got back up and ran quicker towards Yami, as He just moved out of Luck's way. He brought his sword up as Yami glanced at Asta.

Kaclang!

Asta's and Yami's sword intercepted but this time Asta was ready to retaliate. He swung the blade and Yami intercepted again. Their blades became a almost mesmerizing dance. Asta was beginning to tire in this excerise. Luck didn't come back after that, maybe watching Yami and Asta go toe to toe. Asta was getting to tired to continued. He had to end this quickly.

He needed to disarm Yami. Somehow.

Asta let his instinct take over from that point on. He swung his blade at Yami's left shoulder with his right hand. It felt awkward but he had to use his left for something else. Yami lifted his blade to protect himself and Asta's hand shot out and gripped the blade. The edge cut his skin instantly and hurt like hell. He still had to do the worst part. He pulled with all his might, ripping the blade from the surpised Yami but making his finger injuries. He grabbed his blade quickly and finished his attack on Yami's shoulder. Yami collasped under Asta and Asta had quickly pinned his foot on Yami's chest and placed the tip of his blade on Yami's throat.

Blood dripped on his blade from his hand. His breathing was labored. He felt a emotion he never thought he would feel in a before.

He was excited, exhilarated. His blood was pumping. He felt like he.. like he was..

Alive.

The rush, the thrill. It was intoxicating. Like that was his true purpose. His eyes widened as he just realized what he thought. Did.. did he enjoy fighting Yami? Did he just get enjoyment from trying to kill Yami? He backed off from Yami and looked at his hand. He dropped his blade when he realized he had been holding his blade so intensely that his knuckles had started to turn white. His magic started to work the second he dropped the blade, fixing his wound.

"Kid are you ok? Your shaking" Yami got up and looked at him. Asta looked at him and then back at his hand. He was right. It was shaking profusely.

"N-No sir. Would you mind if I could go rest?" Asta asked. Yami sighed and nodded.

('The kid managed to read Ki without me even telling him it existed. He really is something else. But I should keep a better eye on him.')

...

Asta laid in his bed motionless. He had a small room but it was good enough for him. He stared at the ceiling, expecting a answer as to why he was like this would just come and slap him in the face.

Was it who he really was? He didn't think he ever acted like this before he joined the magic knights.

Wait, no that's not true. He did feel like that before he joined.

It was when Yuno was getting mugged by that man all those years ago. He attempted to try and get his amulet back but after he was knocked down the 3rd time.. it just became a rush. He enjoyed fighting the man and forgot about even getting the amulet. He forgot of the quiet town around him and Yuno. All his young brain was thinking was the man.

The fight.

That's all he could think off. Another punch, a push. Even through the injuries, he smiled. He was truly happy at that moment.

Asta closed his eyes and tapped his head with a closed fist. He reached over and grabbed his grimoire. He stared at the dirty cover and sighed. He set the book back on the drawer and got up. He opened his door and walked out of the walls. His hands were in his pocket as he sighed. He was going to have a difficult time readjusting to his time in the magic knights. He is going to be going through a lot of growth.

He hopes he doesn't lose his sanity in the process.

He traversed the halls and winding stairs. His mind was blank, subconsciously moving. His hands traced along dusty walls and cracks. His boots echoed along the stairs. A double pair of doors greeted him at the top of a stair case he found. He reached out and grabbed the handle and opened it.

Large walls of book shelves adorned the room. The covers collected dust as he dragged his hand on them, coating his own fingers with the dust. He glanced at the titles. Their topics varied or their titles were worn and gone from the leather covers.

He walked between the thick booked shelves. Cobwebs made his hands wipe his face more than once. He glanced to the side and realized something.

There was a singular book missing.

He walked over to the only other book next to it on the shelf.

The Holy War; A Victors History

He wonders what the book was about.