Coco: Hello, hello~ Here I am with chapter three of Dolls Eyes. I know it's been fast updates, but I want to warn you now...don't get used to it. I just happened to have the first five chapters already done before posting the first. I'm terrible with updating. Though I assure you that I try my best.

Anyway, forgetting that for now, shall we get started?

"Father Orsi," Maryam called as she hurried towards the priest.

The graying man looked down at the girl with smile as he was rocking Nash in his arms.

"Yes, Maryam?" He asked her.

The girl smiled brightly at him as she held out a bunch of flowers towards the man.

"Look at what I gathered, Father," Maryam said happily. "Flowers for the church! So, it can look pretty."

Orsi's smile widened at the girl as he moved Nash to be cradled into one arm, so he could pat Maryam on top of her head.

"They are very pretty." He agreed. "Thank you for thinking about the church, Maryam."

"Of course!" Maryam said. "I love it here, so I promise to always take care of it and all of you too."

Orsi chuckled at her words as Maryam handed the flowers off to Sister Lily who said she'd find a vase for them. Orsi then watched Maryam go to the younger children. Asta was being loud and rumbunctious as always, which had Yuno fidgeting and looking on worriedly as Asta prepared to do something that would probably get him hurt. Maryam quickly tried to defuse the situation and have Asta calm down as Yuno clung to the back of her shirt.

"Maryam, is quite the helper, isn't she, Father?" Sister Lily hummed as she held Maryam's flowers to her chest.

"Yes." Orsi said. "She's a good big sister. I don't know what I'd do without her to take care of Asta."

Said boy was currently squirming in Maryam's hold as the girl was hugging him tightly. Refusing to let go until he calmed down. Orsi's expression softened at the scene as Maryam, who wasn't the same little girl who had been left on his doorstep, laughed and smiled with the other children.

"Father…Father Orsi…" A voice called out getting the man to blink in confusion. "Are you okay, Father?"

Orsi blinked turning to Lily who was giving him a concerned look as she carried the laundry in her hands.

"Yes, what is it?" He asked.

Lily chuckled at the man, which left the priest wondering what was so amusing.

"You're missing them, aren't you?" Lily asked. "Asta, Yuno, and Maryam."

Orsi blushed at her words, which left Lily to believe that she had hit the nail right on the head.

"What makes you say that?" Orsi asked as he tried to save some of his dignity.

"Oh, nothing much," Sister Lily hummed innocently. "It's just you're holding onto Maryam's old blanket."

Orsi's head snapped down to look at his lap where he was indeed holding onto Maryam's old blanket. The one she had been wrapped in when she was left here at the church. It wasn't anything too special. Just a simple purple blanket that had the girl's name sewn into it. It was old and worn and had a few patches in it that Orsi had sewn back when Maryam used to carry the blanket around with her.

When Maryam had first arrived at the church, she had been more of a crybaby than Yuno. And missing her family terribly. She wasn't like the other children who had been left here as infants. Maryam had once had a sense of what her family looked and sounded like. What they felt like, and she used to cry and carry her blanket around wondering why they left her. There had been many nights where Orsi stayed with her until she cried herself to sleep.

But then a couple of months in, she suddenly stopped crying. She still carried her blanket around, but she seemed to forget all about her parents and take more of an interest in Asta and Yuno. She tried her best to start helping Orsi with them and around the church—well, she helped as much as someone as small as she was at the time could. He had been amazed and proud of the change in her demeanor. Over time, she left the blanket behind as well. It was probably around the same time that Recca had joined their family.

He's watched all these children grow over the years, but something about how much his eldest has grown just stuck with him. He might not be their biological father…but he could understand how parents felt when their eldest takes their first steps out on their own. He hadn't been ready to let her go when she had turned fifteen two years ago. He had been worried that her unstable magic could hurt others or even worse herself. He had been worried something might have happened to her out on her own.

He hadn't been ready then…though to be honest, he still hadn't been ready this time when she finally did take her first steps away from their home…their family. And it wasn't just her. He hadn't been ready for Asta and Yuno to leave either.

"I'd say they're probably at the capital by now, don't you think?" Lily asked.

"Yes," Orsi said with a sigh. "They're probably just about to take the exam…Asta will probably be back soon…but Yuno and Maryam…well, I think we've lost them."

"Don't think about it like that, Father," Lily said. "They're following their dreams, after all."

She then walked off to hang the laundry as Orsi sighed and looked up at the sky.

"Good luck, kids." Orsi said. "Make us proud."

Maryam looked around in awe as she walked with Asta and Yuno through the capital. There were so many sights to take in and so little time. She didn't want to be late for the exam, but everything was so exciting and new to her.

"This place is so amazing." Maryam said before she tugged on Yuno's sleeve. "Look over there, Yuno. There are plants I've never even seen before."

Yuno looked to where she pointed to see a street merchant with bright and exotic looking flowers.

"Maybe after the exam we can stop by there to get you a few of them," Yuno said.

"Yeah, maybe that big red one!" Asta, who was chewing something, said.

He pointed with the stick in his hand at the large red flower with a bright yellow center.

"That's a nice thought." Maryam said. "But they're probably way too expensive."

"Then we'll get you some after we become magic knights and make some money." Asta insisted. "Now, where's this exam happening anyway?"

"Over there, I think." Yuno said as he looked to the side.

Maryam followed his line of sight to a large colosseum where many people, who seemed to be their age, were heading. Maryam felt her excitement begin to rise as she realized they'd soon be showing their stuff to try and get asked to join a magic knight squad.

"What is that?" Yuno asked as he looked at the long, purple noodle-looking thing on a stick that Asta was eating.

His question had Maryam look away from the gathering people to their shorter companion. She had been kind of curious too as to what Asta was eating. Said boy took another big bite from whatever it was before he smiled at his two companions.

"It's grilled violet snake on a stick!" Asta said. "It was super cheap. You guys wanna bite?"

Maryam made a face at his question while feeling a bit sick just watching him eat it.

"I'll pass," Maryam and Yuno said in unison.

Maryam does want to try new foods outside the tato dishes she was used to, but grilled snake didn't make the cut.

"Chalk full of nutrients that will keep you going," Asta said as if trying to give the two a sales pitch.

Maryam shook her head in amusement at the boy as Yuno just kept walking away.

"Yeah, sure." Yuno said. "Come on. It's this way."

Maryam smiled ready to go as she grabbed Asta's wrist to pull him along so he wouldn't get left behind. As they walked towards the entrance to the exam arena, many citizens came to call out good wishes to those participating. Of course, Asta responded to all the cheers as Yuno hurried along to create as much distance between himself and Asta as possible. Maryam chuckled at the embarrassed boy as she walked just behind Yuno and right in front of Asta. Keeping the two of them close enough for comfort. She didn't want them getting separated in such a big place, after all.

Maryam looked around at all the others who came to participate as she and the boys got into one of the three lines available. Some of those who came looked very high class. While others looked as if they might be from the countryside as well. Though she doubted any of them came from as far away as Hage.

"Next," The official at the beginning of their line called.

Maryam, who Yuno had let into line first, stepped up with a smile on her face.

"Grimoire, please." The man said.

Maryam pulled her grimoire out from her pouch to hold out to the man. He reached forward to touch it, and he stiffened the second his skin made contact.

'Why did I feel something move?' The man wondered as he looked between Maryam and the grimoire.

Maryam just continued to smile as she waited for the man to do what he needed to do.

"Your name?" He asked as the grimoire glowed underneath his touch.

"Maryam from Hage." She replied.

He nodded writing her name and village down as she was allowed to put away her grimoire.

"Maryam from Hage, got it." He said. "You're number 163. Next."

Maryam nodded her thanks to him before stepping inside the colosseum. She put up her hand to temporarily block out the blinding light before her eyes adjusted. As she looked around, a bird suddenly flew in her face causing her to jump slightly. It chirped at her before it decided to rest itself on top of her head. Maryam blinked though just shrugged in the end since she saw those little birds everywhere.

"What's up with these birds?" An examinee asked as three birds flocked around him.

"Anti-birds." Another examinee replied. "Main stays of the exam hall. Everyone knows the lower your magic power the more birds you attract."

The examinee he was talking to frowned since he had managed to attract another bird.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," he said then blinked. "Hey, look."

Many people turned at his words, and Maryam stiffened when she thought they were looking at her. However, when her bird flew off after someone brushed their hand over her hair, she looked back to see Yuno had caught up to her. And that it was him the other examinees were looking at.

"There are no birds anywhere near him." The examinee continued.

Many stared at Yuno with wide eyes as they murmured together. Maryam rolled her eyes at them as Yuno kept his hand on top of her head. It was like he was acting like her very own bird repellent.

"My little brother," Maryam said. "Gaining attention wherever he goes. How precious."

Yuno didn't comment as the two of them turned at the sound of Asta's laughing voice. Maryam's eyes widened slightly when seeing the mess of birds flying around Asta. Some were even pecking and pulling on his face.

"One of us is going to become the Wizard King," Asta said as if he wasn't being mauled by birds. "This is where our legend begins, right, Yuno?"

Maryam sweat-dropped at the sheer number of birds around Asta though her lips were turned up in a smile. It was kind of cute how much those birds seemed to like him.

"I've been training for this for the last six months!" Asta said. "Wait until you see what I can—argh!"

Asta finally cried out as the pecking and pulling became too much for him to ignore. He shook them off and took off running to get away, but the persistent little birds followed right after.

"Why are they trying to kill me?!" He shouted as he ran away.

"And there goes my other little brother." Maryam said as others laughed at Asta's expense. "Proving he can gain just as much attention without even trying. Don't know if I should feel proud…or concerned."

Yuno only hummed in reply as they continued to watch Asta try to escape the anti-birds. Though the amusing moment was cut short as Asta ran into some man. Maryam looked at the man in shock at his pure size as the anti-birds quickly flew away as if in fright. That put Maryam slightly on edge as Asta just smiled and turned to the guy he bumped into.

"Hey, sorry about that," he said.

Though his smile soon dropped when seeing the menacing glare, the large man was giving him.

"You got a death wish, boy?" The man asked calmly.

Asta inwardly shrieked as he paled and shrunk away from the large, muscular man. Normally, Maryam would have already run over to try and defuse the situation. However, the man's monstrously intimidating presence had her hesitating.

'Just stay calm,' Maryam thought. 'Maybe if Asta keeps a cool head and just apologizes again, the man will accept it and move on.'

However, luck was not on their side as Asta, who smiled and pat the guy on the shoulder, said the worst thing possible to the man.

"Wow, you look really old for you age." Asta said. "You must have had a rough life, huh? Haha."

It got extremely quiet after those words left Asta's mouth as Maryam looked at the boy in disbelief.

'Asta, why?!' She inwardly screamed.

It was no surprise when the man reacted negatively to Asta's words and reached out to grab the boy by his head. Asta let out a pained grunt as the man's grip became painfully tight.

"Looks like I was right about that death wish." The man said with the aura around him turning even more menacing and dark.

Asta screamed as the man lifted him off the ground, which had Maryam rushing in without thinking.

"Excuse me," she said getting the man's attention. "Please, put him down. Asta didn't mean to insult you. He just doesn't think sometimes before speaking."

The man glared at her coldly, which sent a chill traveling down Maryam's spine. However, she held her ground.

"And what if I don't put him down, Pipsqueak?" the ogre man asked. "What will you do about it?"

Maryam frowned up at the man with her own eyes settling into a glare. She knew she couldn't beat this guy, but wasn't about to stand back as he tormented one of her brothers.

"Then I guess we're going to have a problem," she said keeping her voice firm. "Put him down…now. I won't ask a third time."

The two just stared at each other unwaveringly even if all Maryam wanted to do was look away and run. She couldn't leave Asta to this guy, so she'd stand firm.

"Finally, there you are," A voice cut through the tension. "What are you doing down here anyway?"

Everyone turned to see who intervened. Maryam taking in the new arrivals quickly. Both appeared to be magic knights based on their cloaks. Her eyes zeroed in on their cloaks before looking back to the man threatening Asta. When she saw he was wearing the same cloak, she realized Asta managed to pick a fight with a magic knight. She wasn't too surprised since she could tell the guy wasn't an examinee the second, she laid eyes on him and felt his scary amount of mana. But still…a part of her hoped she had been wrong. Now she was even more certain that she'd lose miserably against this guy.

"Right now, getting ready to wring this kid's neck," The scary man replied to his companion. "Looks like the little girly is volunteering herself to go first though."

He glared back down at Maryam who jutted her chin out defiantly at him in return. For a brief moment, Maryam could have sworn she saw amusement flash in the man's eyes, but it was gone so quickly, she assumed she was just seeing things.

"Hey, is that who I think it is?" An examinee asked.

"Yeah, it's him." A female examinee replied. "Finral Roulacase; wielder of the rare spatial magic."

The girl's words caught the attention of said man who quickly forgot about stopping his companion.

"And who is this lovely lady?" He asked flirtatiously as he gave a wink.

The girl blushed at his inquiry as Maryam frowned at the guy. She would much rather prefer for him to get his friend than being flirting with examinees.

"A womanizer who spends more time flirting than doing his job." A male examinee scoffed.

"And that's Gordon Agrippa!" Another examinee exclaimed. "He's a hex magic expert! Word is that he's got some issues with communicating. Plus, he's scary."

Said man turned towards the one who spoke, which caused the examinee to flinch. However, everyone forgot about the two new arrivals when, when Asta grunting in pain, brought everyone back to the situation at hand, which was Asta about to be killed by the big, scary ogre.

"Hey, stop." The man—Finral—said. "That won't do at all. A squad captain can't kill an examinee."

'He's a squad captain?!' Maryam mentally screeched. 'Why of all people to piss off, Asta had to piss of a squad captain?'

As Finral was asking his captain why he was down here with the examinees in the first place, Maryam tilted her head and tapped her chin. The young woman trying to think of the best way to get her brother down and safely away from harm.

'Well, not much I can do,' Maryam thought. 'So, guess I'll have to turn to drastic measures.'

With that thought in mind, Maryam's grimoire floated to her side, which caught a lot of attention.

"You really going to fight me, kid?" The captain asked.

"If you insist on trying to hurt my brother, yes." Maryam said. "I might not win, but I'm sure as hell going to make it very hard on you to try and kill us."

The man scoffed as those around watched on with wide eyes and their mouths agape.

"Is she really trying to pick a fight with the Yami Sukehiro?" Someone whispered frantically. "He's called the God of Destruction!"

"Yami the captain of the Black Bulls?" A female examinee whispered sounding scared. "As in the squad of scoundrels who do more harm than good? Those Black Bulls?"

"There's not a single person on that squad who doesn't have a screw loose." Another person said.

Maryam ignored those whispers as she kept her eyes on Yami Sukehiro. She was ready to mutter a spell when Asta, gave a shout. She looked at him with wide eyes as the boy firmly planted his feet on the ground and gripped Yami's arm. His muscles bulged as he prepared to throw the man, but before things could turn even uglier, fireworks went off. It brought the trio to a pause as everyone else looked up at the sky.

"Well, look at that," Finral said. "The exam is about to begin."

Yami scoffed while releasing Asta who fell hunched over on the ground. Maryam was quick to kneel beside him in worry as Yami started walking off.

"That was a close one, boy." Yami said. "You got a second chance at life. Better do something with it, or I'll come back and kill you. The same goes for you to, Pipsqueak."

Maryam's head snapped up to glare at the man's retreating figure as her face flushed red in anger.

"We're not done by a long shot, Captain Scary!" Maryam snapped as she stood up and pointed at the man. "I'll see you after the exam to settle things!"

As many people looked at the girl as if she was a lunatic, Yami just kept walking, which made it impossible for Maryam to see the grin on his face. His two subordinates followed after him as Maryam stood there fuming.

'The nerve of that guy,' Maryam thought. 'Acting like he did us a favor! I just want to punch him.'

Though as she was thinking this, she knew she still didn't stand a chance against the captain. However, she couldn't stand feeling so inadequate…of knowing that she was weaker than him by a long shot. She hasn't felt this frustrated since Father Orsi told her she couldn't take the exam when she was fifteen. And the reason for that being that…she hadn't been strong enough at the time.

'Well, I changed that in the span of two years,' Maryam thought. 'It'll take me longer, but I won't rest until I surpass him. I'm a slow starter, but that hasn't stopped me before.'

It might seem childish. Deciding to hold a grudge just because he pissed her off, and it partly was. However, it wasn't just because he angered her. It was also because she saw him as her next hurtle. The first was to gain enough control of her magic to come here to accomplish her dream of becoming a magic knight. The next hurtle…surpassing Yami Sukehiro…Captain of the Black Bulls.

"Baha, is your head feeling alright?" A voice asked, which snapped Maryam out of her stewing.

Maryam looked to the one who spoke to see a boy with sandy brown hair and green eyes. Maryam didn't pay him much attention, however, as his question reminded her of Asta.

"Asta, are you okay?" She asked turning towards him.

He was rubbing the top of his head as if it hurt, but he nodded his head none the less.

"Yeah, that just wasn't a—uh—fun experience." He said. "Thanks for coming to help, Mary."

Maryam sighed since she didn't feel as if she helped at all. She should have reacted sooner, or not have given the man so many warnings. A voice being loudly cleared, had the two siblings turning their heads back to the boy who had spoken earlier. Maryam looked at him with a raised brow while getting a bad feeling off of the guy.

"Confronting Captain Yami of the Black Bulls without warning like that…I can't say I envy either of you." He said then pointed to himself. "Oh, I'm Sekke by the way. Sekke Bronzazza. It's nice to meet you, ba-ha."

Asta grinned at the boy in reply as Maryam just crossed her arms over her chest.

"Yeah, same to you." Asta said. "I'm Asta and this is my sister Maryam."

He pointed to the slightly taller teen who nodded a greeting to Sekke, so not to be rude. She then blinked when the anti-birds that had been sticking around, suddenly took flight. For a moment, she had been confused, but when she sensed strong mana getting close, she looked up to the viewing platform to see nine men and women walking out. Many awed at the sight of them as Maryam quickly realized who these people were.

'They must be the squad captains,' She thought while amazed by the mana she sensed from them. 'Eight other people…eight other people hold the same kind of power that Yami Sukehiro has.'

It was scary, but at the same time, Maryam felt a rush of excitement run through her.

'They're incredible,' Maryam thought as Sekke was telling Asta who each captain was. 'And today is the day…I get at least one of them to want me in their squad. I will impress them. I won't fail. Not after all the hard work I've done…I wonder who my future captain will be.'

Though as she was thinking this, her eyes locked in on Yami who took a seat next to the man that Sekke called Fuegoleon Vermillion.

Yami let out a yawn after taking his seat before he looked out at the examinees with a bored expression.

"Let's get this over with," Yami said. "The sooner we start, the sooner we'll be done."

"This exam is going to decide these youths' futures," William reminded him. "You really shouldn't be taking it so lightly."

"You take it seriously enough for all of us." Yami retorted.

He then blinked when he felt someone's stare. He looked down at the examinees to see that girl from earlier staring up at him with narrowed eyes. He felt his lips turn up ever so slightly. Noticing his look, Fuegoleon's brow quirked.

"Someone interesting catch your eye, Yami?" He asked curiously.

"It's just some brat who wants to pick a fight with me," Yami said. "Even though she said she wouldn't win, seems like she won't rest until she gets me back for pissing her off."

He gave a chuckle as he spoke, as Fuegoleon followed his line of sight to see a blonde girl frowning at the large, dark-haired man. The girl wasn't that tall. Fuegoleon would guess she was barely over five-foot, which made her very petite. She also appeared to be a commoner based on her way of dress. However, if Yami was showing any kind of interest in her, then perhaps there was something to her.

"All I've got to say is that she better not disappoint after saying she'd settle things with me." Yami continued as he rested his leg over his knee. "Or I might just have to kill her."

Coco: The end of yet another chapter, and things are starting to get interesting! Soon we'll be seeing more of Maryam's power as she tries to impress the magic knight captains.

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. And as always, stay safe and keep being your beautiful selves!