Black Clover AU

Noelle hated the outdoors.

She did not see the point of spending a day under the heat of the scorching sun just to study animals and watch them rip each other apart. It was cruel and ill-mannered, a perfect example of human behavior. People were not as advanced as they wanted to believe. She knew that the alfresco had its benefits, but the costs were heavy and did not seem worth it.

That had not convinced her brother though, and he had insisted she go on a hunting trip over the span of the weekend. It would be good for to get some experience in the wilderness, he said, Noelle vehemently disagreed but he had not bothered to listen.

Thus, the oldest and youngest of the Silva family found themselves seated in their family car, their driver whistling a happy tune in the front. Noelle shifted her gaze to the window, the trees blurring past her as she tried to get a grasp of where they were. She had never been this out far out of the city, having been sheltered in the confines of their home.

"Where exactly are we headed, Nozel?" she felt the need to question and Nozel did not look at her as he spoke, his voice even.

"Hage, it's a calm area and has some of the best hunting grounds you can find. Think of it as a miniature savannah," he told her, his eyes still forward.

"So you'll be leaving me with a complete stranger," it was not a question, her tone containing no trace of hostility and this time Nozel looked over at her, feeling the need to clarify something.

"The person you got paired with is a licensed professional, one capable of taking care of you. I would not leave you there without having made sure it was safe," a smile tugged at his lips. "Besides…our driver is practically a stranger to you,"

"No he isn't, I've known him for at least three months," Noelle argued as she momentarily paused from the window and matched her older brother's gaze.

"Then tell me his name," Nozel frowned as he said it.

Noelle opened her mouth to dispute, to deny what he already knew. That was the fact that she did not know her driver's name. To be fair, it was not her job to know all the servants that worked at their mansion. House Silva was simply too big for such a thing. She had neither the will nor the energy to know them all by heart.

"Why are you even forcing me to go anyway?" she asked as she looked out the window once more. She did not want to be here. A grimace set in on her features as she noted the silence. She turned to see why Nozel had not answered when she noticed the faraway look in his eyes.

"Brother Noz-"

"It's what mother would have wanted,"

Instantly, the mood in the car dropped and even the driver stopped his whistling. Granted, he should not have been whistling in the first place. Noelle shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Their mother was a topic they rarely ever touched on. It had brought on enough damage to their family already. To Nozel, it was a reminder that he had not done a good job taking care of his sister and to Noelle, it was a reminder of what she never had. A mother's love.

Noelle rarely ever liked to dwell on the past as she was not too fond of her childhood memories. Yet there were times when she allowed herself to wonder what it would have been like to grow up with a mother's love and affection. What it would have been like to have someone to share things with. It was something she wished she could do with Nebra, but that was impossible. She was older now, more realistic and mature. She was supposed to take her brother's place as the Minister of Home Affairs in four years when she turned twenty-five, leaving her no time for such girlish things anymore. That time had passed.

"I'll give it a try…" she whispered and Nozel smiled gracefully as he felt the car slow down. The timing was perfect too. The driver walked out and unbeknownst to his to charges, he was having a mental dilemma. Was he supposed to start with Nozel as the older sibling or lady Noelle as his direct charge and for being a woman?

The choice was made for him when both stepped out simultaneously from either end of the vehicle. Nozel carried a look of indifference while Noelle was more curious about where they were. He sighed in relief.

"What now? Do we wait?" Noelle asked as she folded her arms over her chest. Nozel shook his head as he walked back to the car as he grabbed the handle by the door.

"No, you wait. The two of us will be heading home. I have a meeting to attend in a few hours. Your escort will be here shortly. We are a bit early," Nozel looked at the fancy watch on his wrist as if to make sure of his earlier assumption. "By at least ten minutes,"

Noelle gaped at him, her features contorting in surprise and extreme displeasure at what she had just been told. "You're leaving me stranded here in the middle of nowhere! Why did you even step out of the car then?" Nozel could tell his sister was displeased but he had to reason with her. He opened the door and placed one foot inside as he spoke.

"It would have been rude to stay inside. If your escort does not appear in the next twenty minutes, call me and I'll cancel my meeting to come back for you," her brother did not wait for her response as he instead stepped into the car and made his exit.

Noelle was left standing in the dust as she coughed in response to the mess made by the car and its exhaust fumes. The silver-haired girl stuffed her hands in the pockets of her white leather jacket as she looked around. The only thing present was the giant sign telling her this was the entrance of Hage's hunting grounds.

'Shouldn't there be guards by the entrance?' Noelle asked herself as she stared at the sign.

Part of her entertained the idea of simply walking in but the thought of running into some wild animal while in there was not a comforting one, especially if it decided she would be its next meal. Why was her escort taking so long?

Her escort. She frowned as she thought about him. All she knew was that he was experienced and would be making sure she enjoyed her weekend. Still, she knew virtually nothing about this person. What if he was a psychopath? What if he did something to her or killed her and pinned it on an animal. No, Nozel would not leave her without doing background checks on these people.

Her fears returned full force when she saw the car approaching her position, its wheels grinding into the ground at a ferocious pace. She gulped, her mind going into overdrive as she attempted to quell her nerves, but all the scenarios in her head would not allow it.

The dark car came to a halt as the dust took a few seconds to settle. Noelle coughed into her sleeve and let her eyes readjust to the sight before her. She heard the banging of a door and the shuffling of feet. He was approaching her.

"Hey, sorry about that, I kind of overslept and had to hurry here," Noelle blinked as she took in the form of the man before her. Ashen-blonde hair and bright verdant eyes filled with a myriad of emotions. He looked messy but it fit him, his appearance rough and unkempt. He was relatively her height, with broad shoulders and she was certain his arms could crush her if necessary. Noelle tried to ignore that little fact and failed miserably.

"You kept me waiting long enough," she turned her head and flicked her ponytail at him while she tried to appeared unaffected by his general presence. She had outgrown her favorite pigtails. She watched him glance at the watch on his wrist, not nearly as extravagant as the one Nozel had earlier.

"Really, I'm only late by four minutes," he told her.

"Fourteen," she amended, "I got here early,"

"Then isn't that your fault… oh wait sorry, it's never the client's fault. I keep forgetting that," he whispered that last part to himself but she heard it anyway. Was this guy really her escort?

"You are Noelle Silva, right?" he asked slowly just to make sure he did not have the wrong woman. His question irked her. Of course it was her, everyone in Clover knew who she was. Only the members of her family had that shade of hair.

"Yes…"

"Great, well I'm Asta, nice to meet you," he stretched out his palm to give her a hand shake and she was hesitant. Noelle looked up at his smile and eventually decided she would not lose anything by shaking his hand. It was large-larger than hers anyway-and warm, but she could tell it was also callous from the rough feeling it gave off. It was a stark contrast to her own, hers small and delicate, her fingers cool to the tips. Asta almost shuddered at the feeling.

He let go of her hand and directed her to the car a few paces away before following after her. He watched her ponytail sway with each step she took, a hypnotic movement that only added to her serene beauty. Asta figured there was no point in denying it. His client was attractive, with silk locks of silver hair and lovely amethyst orbs. He knew her skin was smooth from that one handshake, and he found his eyes examining her as she opened the door to his car. Company car really, but there was not much of a difference. She was exquisite, from the subtle flare of her hips to the gentle curve of her bust. The leather jacket was not helping him at all.

He walked to the other side and took his seat, one hand automatically going for the steering wheel. Noelle made herself comfortable and looked at the back seat. It was clean and she was not sure what she had been expecting really. She had never been in a guy's car, either driving herself or having the drivers do it for her.

The car roared to life, the thunderous belch of the vehicle surprising her. It was different from the smooth start of the cars at home, and Noelle decided she liked it.

"Here," Asta said as he thrust something into her hands. Noelle scanned it wearily till she realized what it was.

"A camera?"

"Most of our clients like to take pictures. I mean, I don't really get the point. The actual stuff is always gonna be better," he stated as the sound of the engine died down and the car rolled in through the gates with ease.

"It's to preserve the image. So that you never forget," Noelle whispered as her hands clenched around the camera and Asta saw her smile become wistful from the corner of his eye. Unbeknownst to him, Noelle had been referring to her mother rather than the animals. All she had of her were pictures. She did not even know what the woman's voice was like.

"Maybe you're right," Asta started as a grin spread across his features. "But I doubt you're gonna forget what you see around here,"

Noelle fiddled with the camera as she shook her head at Asta. Asta watched her struggle with it but said nothing. He doubted she would like it if he helped. Noelle seemed like the stubborn type. He figured she had never touched one in her life before and he understood why. She was rich. Her whole appearance screamed it. He heard a click and glanced at the woman in the next seat.

"So that's how it works," he heard her mumble in gentle awe and Asta had to resist the urge to laugh at her expression. She caught the way he was biting his bottom lip though.

"What's so funny?"

"You've never held a camera before this huh," he said as his hand reached out and shifted the gears of the car. Noelle did not sense any animosity or shaming in his tone, so she simply nodded as her fingers delicately tapped the camera lens.

"My brother Nozel thought there was no need. He's a fully grown man, a married one at that and he probably doesn't know how to use one either," she said before she caught her tongue. "Sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"It's alright," Asta waved off her concern and smiled. "It's my job to make sure you feel was comfortable as possible while you're here,"

She opened her mouth to speak when the sound of a trumpet blowing caught her attention. The duo's attention shifted to their left where an elephant came into view, the car slowing to a halt. It was huge, and Asta watched the look of genuine curiosity emerge across Noelle's graceful features. The female was simply too enraptured to notice. The youngest Silva had never seen anything like it in person. The massive mammal sighted them and turned.

This creature was majestic and she did not think something that big could move with such celerity. Her hand reached out as if to touch to it from the distance. Suddenly, the car jerked to life and they were moving again, with the elephant fading slowly. Thinking quickly, she snapped a picture and put the camera around her neck. She turned to Asta.

"I wasn't done looking," she huffed out and Asta raised his eyebrows at her behavior. "You got the picture didn't you and if we stayed there it would have been dangerous to let it come any closer," he told her as the car navigated past a bumpy patch. "Part of my job is to protect you,"

"I don't need protection," she propped her chin in her palm and looked at the wilderness. The car had no windows, natural for a safari like vehicle yet she was so used to being sheltered, viewing things behind a screen.

"I never said you did. Noelle, just by looking at you, I can tell you're a strong independent woman. Why else would you be here in the wild," Asta told her and her cheeks flushed a bit and she was suddenly grateful she was not facing him. He did not know that Nozel had originally forced her to come here, but she had agreed in the end, so technically it was her choice. She smiled softly to herself. Asta did not need to know.

"Thanks," she muttered, one of the few times she had actually done such a thing.

"Of course… plus I don't think I'd get paid if anything happened to you," he joked and Noelle playfully punched him in the arm. Soon the laughter died down. "I'm serious though,"

"Haven't you already been paid?" The woman asked. It did not seem like her brother to neglect such a thing.

"The money gets sent directly to our employers. We get paid once the client returns safely. Something about keeping us motivated," Noelle nodded her head in understanding and then she creased brow.

"Asta… what are we gonna be doing for the next two and half days here?" She had actually forgotten to ask that. All Nozel had said was that this was a hunting ground for paying customers to come to. Big spenders if you will.

"Dunno," the guy shrugged as he stopped the car. She noted how they were practically out in the open with nothing else within sight. Nothing remotely human anyway.

"What do you mean you don't know. You mean to tell me we've been driving around aimlessly?!" she raised her voice and she had half a mind to just throw Asta out and just go back, but she calmed down.

"Well yeah… We can do whatever you want. You did pay for the premium," Asta nervously laughed as he slumped in his seat and Noelle just shook her head. She wondered just how much this whole trip was.

"Well this is a hunting ground, so Asta… I'd like you to teach me how to hunt,"

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Asta was stumped. Noelle had just asked him to teach her how to hunt, something well within her right as a paying customer, a premium one at that. That had not stopped the surprise from etching onto his features.

He was used to having rich customers who often had many demands, but they never actually wanted to take part in the action, simply choosing to let him do it while they took pictures and recorded things. Noelle kept on surprising him.

"Are you sure?" he asked slowly, not wanting to rush her decision, but Noelle could hear it in his voice. She could see it on his face and feel it radiating off him. Asta was excited. By the prospect of hunting or teaching her, she did not know, but now her decision was affirmed.

It was a spontaneous decision, one she had not fully thought through. Asta had been nothing but kind to her and she had decided that she would at least do something he probably liked. Plus, she had no clue what other activities were actually done here so it was not too hard to think.

"Yes,"

"Great!" he did not try to hide his excitement at her answer and Noelle wondered what she signed up for. The engine started up again and Noelle found herself enamored by the sound once more. When she got home, she would be sure to purchase one specifically built for speed. It was rush and impulsive, but she did not care.

"What now?" she asked as Asta turned the vehicle and led them down a different path, one more narrow and enclosed. Had she been paranoid, she would think he was planning on kidnapping her.

"I wanted to start with something simple but not too easy, so I've brought us here," he looked forward and Noelle found herself following his gaze. There was a river just up ahead and it was surrounded by zebra and antelope. Over forty, she mentally noted as her eyes skimmed over them.

"Forty-three actually," Asta told her and she flushed a bit. Had she said that out loud? "That one there is giving birth," he pointed out.

Noelle found the sight grotesque and enticing at the same time. She realized she was unable to look away even if it disgusted her a bit. So this was nature. She turned as Asta exited and slammed his door shut. She moved to get out as well only to realize she was locked in. Asta noticed how she was not coming out and walked up to her window.

"What are you waiting for?" he mouthed and she frowned at him.

"You locked me in, idiot," her words were harsh but the glass in between them prevented him from fully feeling the effects. He scratched the back of his head nervously while Noelle rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips. She would forgive him for being such an idiot this time. She was unprepared for when the door suddenly opened and her hand was still wrapped around the handle, jerking her from her seat.

She could not stop her descent, and Asta quickly covered the short distance and caught her. His muscular arms wrapped around her waist and for the second time that day, she realized his arms could crush her with relative ease, but she was not worried about that this time. She felt safe.

"Um… thanks…" her breath was heavy and her chest heaved against him. Asta did his best to ignore the feeling as he set her on the ground and quickly turned. He moved to the back of the vehicle and popped the truck open. Noelle peered cautiously over his shoulder to see what was inside.

There was an assortment of things, the notable ones being the twin tents, the rifles at the far end and what looked like a chainsaw.

"Why the chainsaw?"

"Some of the people who come here wanna go back with the head of their prize," he told her simply as he pulled out the guns, holding both in his hands with ease.

He held one to her and she assumed he wanted her to take it, so she reached out and grabbed it. The moment Asta let go, she felt its weight and the tug of gravity. It was heavier than she thought but she managed to get a steady grip on it.

"Come on." Asta grabbed her hand and led her to a hidden area but really, the only thing she had been focusing on was the way his calloused hand encased hers. She shook her head clear of such a thought and turned back to the riverbank. The animals were a bit spread out now, relaxed and resting. She was suddenly questioning why she wanted to hunt if she was taking a life. Noelle tightened her grip on the hunter's rifle and steeled her resolve.

Asta laid flat on the ground and propped his elbows as he set up his rifle. Noelle wondered if she had to do that too but her worries were dismissed when Asta sat up and looked into the lens. She noted how the elbows of his jacket where dirty and she realized hers would be in worse condition. Noelle set the rifle down and undid her leather jacket, the sound of the zipper drawing Asta's attention. She noticed of course, and her cheeks burned with ripe embarrassment. She had never felt so self-conscious before.

Asta watched from the corner of his eye as Noelle slowly eased off her piece clothing. He had never thought that someone could make taking off clothes an art form, but Noelle seemed to excel at it. The female felt the cool air hit her and goosebumps threatened to form. She should have worn something warmer on the inside, something with sleeves. She stopped the shudder that nearly passed her lips and hung her jacket by a tree branch. She did what Asta had done, setting up the riffle. It reminded her of the times they had to take a family portrait and would wait on the photographer.

"Now what?" she asked, her voice coming out louder than she had ever intended.

"Shh…" Asta put a finger to her lips, and Noelle wondered if she should be offended. He pointed to the herd up ahead where one of the animals was standing straight and looking around, almost suspiciously. Noelle nodded her head slowly as Asta pulled his finger off. It brushed her bottom lip and her mind had briefly entertained the idea of sucking said finger. Her family would most certainly not approve of such thoughts, not that they would ever know. Asta nodded as well and she had never seen him so focused. She liked it, she decided.

She mimicked his movement and grabbed the riffle, her eye looking through the lens as all the animals came into view, only a bit more defined now. Her hands shook, unused to such actions and she found it difficult to steady her breathing. This was a new experience and the thrill of it was shooting through her skin. Her hand nearly lost its grip when Asta's wrapped around it to steady her.

Noelle suddenly realized where he was. She moved a bit, and she felt her back press against his hard chest. His hot breath blew past her ear and her own hitched, caught in her throat. Asta moved his other hand around her petite form and grabbed her smooth hand and placed it just under the gun, though still in contact. She suddenly found it easier to hold but her focus was elsewhere.

He was so close to her, their bodies meshing into one another as their skin met. Noelle did not move nor did she make a sound. Could this be considered as him making a pass at her? No, she decided, that was just her hopefulness. Asta was simply doing his job. He would not do anything inappropriate to her. She relaxed at the thought, her body easing into his, and she felt him tense.

Asta tried not to think much of it when Noelle relaxed into him. He had moved behind her to help her when he noticed she was having trouble with the riffle, something usual for the first timers. He had not thought much of being so close to her, having done this multiple times before but it felt different this time. He could smell the fragrance of Noelle's hair, mixed with the sweat accumulated from their day in the sun. He moved his hands to her shoulders to prevent himself from doing anything stupid but it did not help. His hand found Noelle's ponytail and he pulled the hair out of its knot, causing her hair to fall to her sides before he swept it all to one side. He only realized what he had done when he felt her shoulders tense. Noelle had most definitely noticed but she said nothing of it.

"Whenever you're ready," he whispered and Noelle felt her thighs tense at his wording as the heat between her legs rose unbearably even though she knew he was referring to her taking her shot. She squirmed and Asta struggled to get rid of the mental images forming in his head. Noelle would certainly not approve of it.

"R-Right," She whispered out and he slowly let go of her. Idly, Noelle wondered why Asta was not taking his shot. Truthfully, Asta had forgotten all about it and was solely focused on Noelle.

The woman narrowed her eyes as she looked at all the animals within her range, trying to pick an appropriate target. She zeroed in on the antelope that had its head dipped down in order to take a quick sip, one that may very well have been its last if Noelle's aim was any good. She exhaled loudly, her lips parting as she pulled the trigger. A loud bang resounded within the area, and the force of the shot made her rock back a bit. The sound alerted the animals and they broke out in a panic. Noelle had missed, the bullet whizzing past the antelope. That very same animal, looking very much frazzled, broke out in a run.

Asta had expected Noelle to miss on her first try and moved to help her when she shifted first, the force of her movement breaking the stand she had placed the riffle on. He watched with growing intrigue was she took it in her own hands, nestling it in her arms like a baby. She took aim once more, reluctant to let her query go so easy.

There was no err in her movement as she fired two shots in succession and this time she hit her mark, the first bullet going through the rear of the animal as it let out an anguished wail. The second bullet went straight through the gut and the beast tumbled down. Noelle would have felt bad had it not been for the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She felt free. A smile, soft and small, graced her features.

"I did it," the wonder in her voice was evident and Asta smiled. "You're unnatural," he whispered and she whipped her head to face him, her smile only growing. She stood straight and flicked her hair to the side, absently noticing how long it was when let down.

"Of course, what else would expect from someone like me," her haughty attitude was back, but that genuine smile was still on her face. Asta slung an arm over Noelle as his cheery smile washed down upon her.

"I kinda thought you would fail the first time and just give up," he was blunt with his words and she frowned. Was that what he thought? "But you are amazing and I knew you could do it, you just did it better than I thought," She relaxed as they turned back to see the other antelope surround their fallen comrade. They were mourning, she realized and she felt a bit of remorse, yet it was overshadowed by the thrill of the kill.

"We should do that more often," Noelle decided and Asta simply nodded, knowing how she felt. Suddenly, there was a vicious growl and they snapped their heads up to something coming in the distance. She felt Asta tense and she was suddenly being dragged away.

"What's goi-"

"We need to move," was all he said and she realized how serious his voice sounded. She ran with him and she realized the animals were doing the same. She hopped into the car as Asta carelessly tossed both riffles back. The car jerked to life and the wheels spun into the dust as it started. Noelle turned her head and then she saw it.

It was a leopard, female at that. She was ensnared by the swift movement of the creature, its strides contrasting to the sluggish and heavy footsteps of the antelope. It was graceful and agile and Noelle watched it pounce on an unsuspecting victim and crash its windpipe. It was a violent act, one of brutality and wild action, but she felt nature had never looked so beautiful. The image was burned into her memory and now she understood. Asta saw the look in her eyes and realized something, and he hoped he was wrong. But he was not wrong. Noelle had just picked her next target and it was on a subconscious level.

"I want that leopard," He knew what she meant and the idea sounded very bad and very stupid. She was not speaking of killing it, but of something ludicrous. She wanted to own it. To tame the creature as her own.

"Noelle…" Asta found himself groaning and she pouted at him. He found the action cute and felt she was cheating using that technique on him.

"Please… I can pay for it, just name your price,"

Asta had no doubt she could but did she know how dangerous this was.

"You can do it right?" she asked and he nodded albeit a bit slowly. As much as Asta knew it was a bad idea, a very bad one at that, he could see the appeal of what she was asking. The problem was all the paper work and time it would take, not to mention the effort. He turned to the woman and found she was already staring at the leopard once more as it dragged the corpse back to the one she had killed. Double the banquet for half the effort.

The car slowly made sure it was out of sight before Asta turned to see Noelle looking at the sky. The sun was setting and they figured they should get prepared and set up the tents.

"Are you sure about this?" her safety had to come first, but he would not try to convince her otherwise should she pursue the endeavor. She nodded and he decided that Noelle really was crazy, and he liked it.

"Then I guess we better get some sleep. Tomorrow, we have a leopard to hunt,"