Coco: Hello, hello, and welcome to the next chapter of Doll Eyes. I hope you are all doing well. In this chapter, Maryam will officially be meeting her new friends aka the Black Bulls. Though first impressions don't go so well with some, I'm sure they'll all get along...eventually.

But enough talk, let's get started!

Maryam stood beside Asta watching the chaos unfold. She wasn't sure how to take it on all. Sure, things at the church could get a big chaotic, but this was a whole new level.

"Well, they're at it again," Finral said while sounding exasperated.

Maryam, who glanced towards the taller mage, took that as this mess in front of them happened on a regular basis. Beside her, Asta took a deep breath.

"I'm Asta from Hage Village!" He shouted as he stepped forward. "I'm a Black Bull now too! Someday I'm going become the Wizard King!"

Asta went ignored though, which had Maryam patting his shoulder in a consoling manner as their new squad mates just continued their ruckus. As Asta hung his head in defeat, a stray shot of fire came at them again. Maryam and Finral managed to get out of the way in time. Asta, however, was hit head on.

"Ah, Asta, are you okay?" Maryam asked as she leaned over him.

As he gave gibberish in reply, he was hit with a bottle that had been knocked in his direction. Maryam turned to the two-tone-haired boy who's been the one at fault for hitting Asta this entire time. She was starting to get really tired of his stray shots hurting her little brother. She wasn't the only one getting annoyed as Yami was starting to get annoyed with all the noise and destruction being caused by the others too. He frowned at all of them as his hand clenched into a fist. He started raising his fist, which was covered in his mana. An action that Maryam noticed as she dragged Asta far out of the way of whatever bad might happen next.

"Alright, I've had enough," Yami began darkly before slamming his hand into what was left of the wall behind him. "Quit breaking stuff already!"

Maryam sweat-dropped due to the fact that Yami's fist broke the wall way more than the others had.

"Oh man, now it's way broken!" Asta exclaimed.

Maryam sighed as she had to agree. At this rate, her and Asta's new home was going to be destroyed before they could officially move in. However, Yami's actions seemed to finally silence the disorder around them as everyone in the building turned towards him.

"Ah, Captain!" Most of them cheered as they hurried forward.

Asta and Maryam would have been nearly trampled in the process if Maryam didn't shove Asta out of the way before jumping out of the way herself. She sat on the floor with Asta and watched with wide eyes as the older mages gathered around Yami.

"How was it?" The fire mage asked as he held up his fist. "Did you find us an arrogant newbie? I can take him down a notch or two."

He then grunted when he was shoved out of the way by the blonde boy with an excited grin.

"Please, sir," The blonde begged. "Can I go up against ya today? Come on! Don't hold back!"

He gave a laugh as he threw a few practice punches and bounced on his feet. Though before Yami could reply, the woman, who was wearing very little, pulled away his attention.

"Now, now," She hummed. "Forget about these little brats. Wouldn't you rather come out to get a drink with me?"

"Hey, hey!" The tinier woman interrupted as she held up a cupcake. "Try this! It's really good! Take a big bite! Go on!"

"I'm sorry," The man, who had been yelling about his sister earlier, said. "I can't take it anymore. Can I please go see my sister?"

The large man with black hair and smoking spilling out of his mouth just let out a grunt, which no one really understood. Asta and Maryam exchanged a glance. While neither one spoke aloud it was clear in the other's eyes that they were getting a bit concerned about this entire situation. Yami just let out a laugh with a grin on his face.

"Yeah, yeah, glad to know how much you missed me." He said before his expression and mood did a complete 180. "Now shut up, will ya?"

The group immediately sat down on their legs at his order with their hands resting in their laps.

"Sorry, sir," They all said.

Yami just huffed at them before gesturing to the two orphans who were sitting on the floor beside him.

"I'd like you all to meet our new recruits," Yami said then reached down to pick Maryam up from the back of her clothes.

She held onto Asta as he did so, which meant the ash-blonde was also pulled back to his feet.

"This is Pipsqueak and her brother Shrimp." Yami said as he let go of Maryam. "They're our other new members."

Maryam and Asta both looked to Yami curiously as his last statement sunk in.

"What do you mean other?" Asta asked.

Yami ignored his question though as he shoved Maryam forward, which nearly made her fall on her face.

"Go on," He said as he ignored Maryam's stink eye. "Both of you introduce yourselves. You first, Pipsqueak."

"Yes, of course," Maryam said as she gave a friendly smile to her new squad mates. "It's nice to meet all of you. My name is Maryam from Hage Village. I hope we can all get along."

She clasped her hands in front of her and gave a slight bow to the group seated in front of her.

"Now it's my turn!" Asta said as he stepped forward. "My name's Asta and I'm from Hage Village too! It's really nice to meet everyone!"

He said this with his usual boisterous voice, which had some looking at him unsurely.

"You're both from Hage?" Two-tone asked. "That's out in the middle of nowhere."

Yami then told Finral to start with introductions, which the man nodded in agreement to before pointing to the first person, which happened to be Gordon.

"You know Gordon Agrippa." Finral said. "Not always the easiest guy to talk to, but he's good people."

Finral then gestured the scantily clad woman with pink hair who looked to Asta and Maryam.

"Next we have Vanessa Enoteca." Finral introduced. "Tends to pick fights when she's drunk, but she's good people."

"Picking fights? I don't know what you're talking about." She denied before smiling at the two siblings. "Hage village? Way off to the outskirts of the kingdom?"

"Yeah!" Asta said with a grin.

He then stiffened when Vanessa got up close to him with her smile turning flirty. Her closeness and lack of clothes had Asta's nose comically spewing blood. Maryam looked at him in concern as Vanessa's smile widened.

"To make your way from a tiny, backwater village to a magic knight squad," she said. "You both must have worked so hard. Nice, Kiddos. What do you say that I giving you something nice as a reward?"

Asta just mumbled in coherently as Maryam shoved a few tissues up his nose to try and stop the bleeding. As Maryam tried to help the boy out, Vanessa ended up emptying the contents of her stomach at their feet. Maryam flinched as Asta freaked out at the sight.

'Should I be concerned for her?' Maryam wondered as she now offered a tissue to the older woman.

Said woman thanked her as she took the tissue to wipe her mouth while she remained hunched over.

"Alright, let's continue, shall we?" Finral suggested as if Vanessa hadn't just thrown up or still was throwing up.

"Hey, do me next!" The blonde boy, who shot to his feet, said.

Finral gestured to the boy who had a large grin on his face as he faced the two from Hage.

"Luck Voltia." Finral said. "A battle freak who's addicted to fighting, but he's good people."

"Nice meeting you!" He said.

He then jumped forward into Maryam's face, which had her sweat-dropping slightly.

"So, hey, do you like to fight?!" He asked as he looked between Asta and Maryam.

"Not really." Maryam said.

"Uh, sure?" Asta replied uncertainly.

At Asta's affirmation, Luck turned to Asta while throwing out one of his fists, which Asta raised his hand to block.

"Yeah, that's cool! I love it!" Luck said. "Why do you say? Want to go?"

Asta went to decline the offer, but he was saved from having to reply as one of the others stepped up.

"Hey," The man began as he held up a picture of an adorable blonde girl. "See her? My sister Marie…she's an angel."

"She is cute." Maryam commented.

Asta just hummed unsurely as the older male lowered the picture to stare intently at him and Maryam.

"Listen," he said. "If you lay a finger on her then you die!"

He got up in Asta's face as he spoke before he was pushed back by Maryam who put her hand in his face.

"And if you try to go through with that threat against my brother, you die." Maryam said with a not-so-friendly smile. "We understand each other?"

Asta looked between the two nervously as they glared daggers at each other. Before things could escalate, Finral got between them.

"Sorry about him," Finral told Maryam. "This is Gauche Adlai. Loves his sister a tad too much, but he's good people."

Maryam, who crossed her arms over her chest, snorted since she wasn't so sure about that one. Finral then moved things along as he pointed to the girl sitting on the floor and eating a muffin.

"This is Charmy Pappitson." Finral continued. "A big eater, but she's good people."

Maryam smiled at the smaller female as Charmy gave a cheerful greeting while still eating her snack.

"And this is Grey!" Finral said gesturing to the large man spewing smoke. "I don't really get him, but he's good people."

Maryam waved at the man as Asta gave a nervous hello. The two then looked to the two-tone haired boy who was giving them an aggressive look. Asta flinched at the look as he stepped closer to Maryam.

"Then there's Magna Swing." Finral said. "He's a street punk, but he's good people."

Said street punk literally growled at the two, which had Asta clinging to Maryam's arm. She patted him on the head as the two of them turned to look at Finral who pointed at himself with his thumb.

"And I am Finral Roulacase!" Finral introduced himself officially. "Lady killer! And finally, we have the Black Bulls' fearless leader! The great captain Yami Sukehiro!"

Said man didn't even say anything at his introduction as he turned to look at Maryam and Asta.

"Uh, really glad to be here, sir!" Asta said as he gave a bow.

"Yeah, thanks for having us," Maryam added.

Yami only grunted in reply as he lowered his cigarette away from his mouth.

"There are other members, of course," Yami told the two. "But the rest are out of missions, or on leave, or I don't know. Think you can play nice, newbies?"

Maryam didn't answer as she glanced at a few certain members of the squad. Like the sister lover and the street punk. She sensed conflict in their future, but as long as they tried to play nice, she would too. Though while she didn't reply, Asta did and loudly too boot.

"Yes, sir! We're going to get along swell!" He said bowed to the others. "LIKE I SAID BEFORE IT'S REALLY NICE TO MEET YOU GUYS!"

Maryam flinched as she rubbed the ear that Asta had accidently yelled into when he shouted. She was used to him being quite loud, but even her ears could only take so much.

"Ugh, is he trying to kill me?" Vanessa groaned.

"Right?" Magna agreed.

Yami frowned down at the ash-blonde with a sigh leaving between his lips.

"That's something that I noticed before," Yami said. "You're as loud as you are short, aren't ya?"

Asta went to reply, but to save him from any possible death threats or attempted murder by their captain, Maryam covered his mouth with her hand.

"Asta is just a bit spirited is all," Maryam replied for him.

Despite having his mouth covered, Asta nodded in agreement while mumbling something against Maryam's hand. Yami just snorted at the pair before looking to the senior members.

"Well, Gang, let's go." Yami said. "Give them a good workout. Try not to kill them."

Maryam tilted her head wondering what Yami meant by that as Asta just looked nervously at their captain. Magna was the first to stand as he looked at the two siblings with a smirk.

"Did you hear him?" Magna asked.

"Uh-huh." Asta said.

"Yami wants us to make sure you both get a good work out." Magna said. "That's just what I'm going to do."

While Asta gulped and looked unsure, Maryam's brow quirked in an unimpressed manner.

"You two are pathetic runts and from where? Hage?" Magna scoffed. "A village that almost no one has ever heard of before. And you, Tiny, don't have much mana either."

He pointed at Asta when he said this last bit, which had Maryam's eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

"And you two are the newest members of the Black Bulls?" Magna questioned. "You've got to be killing me. I don't know what some magic poor hick or his pipsqueak of a sister could have possibly done to impress Yami."

"It's really none of your concern on why the captain chose us." Maryam cut in. "We're here and we're not going anywhere. Also, you can insult me all you want, but there's no way in hell I'm letting some skunk-hair punk insult Asta."

"Uh, Maryam" Asta began nervously to try and calm her down.

However, he was ignored when Magna stepped forward and got in Maryam's face.

"What'd you say to me, Pipsqueak?" Magna growled. "If you want to be considered a true member of the Black Bulls and get one of these robes, you need to earn the approval of Yami's chief subordinate! ME! Magna Swing!"

Maryam scoffed as she got right back in Magna's face while placing her hands on her waist.

"I don't need nor want your approval," Maryam retorted. "I know my own worth and it isn't measured by any one person's opinion of me! Now, it sounds like you have some kind of tests or something you want to put us through, and that's fine. I'll take whatever you have to throw at me."

Magna looked between pissed and impressed at Maryam's spunk as he gritted his teeth and glared down at her.

"Fine, if that's how you want it." Magna said. "I was going to go easy on you because you're a girl, but if you're that ready to go, you can join in on this baptism by fire."

"Uh…wait…baptism?" Asta asked looking very confused.

"But I wanted to go first, Captain!" Maryam complained as Yami held her back.

Yami ignored her complaining as Magna was facing Asta a few yards off in front of them.

"You'll get your turn, Pipsqueak." Yami said he dropped her onto the couch that was brought outside, so she could sit between Charmy and Vanessa while Luck sat behind her on the back of the couch. "Gees, you sure have a lot of attitude for someone so tiny."

Maryam just threw him a look over her shoulder as Magna held up a Black Bull's robe for Asta to see.

"Alright, village boy," Magna said. "Let's see how bad you want this robe. You've got to earn it by completing every task I give you."

"I'm ready!" Asta said. "Let's do this!"

He was ready to get started though he did feel a bit bad since he knew how fired up Maryam was to get her chance. However, for some reason, Yami ordered for him to go first.

"Oh goodie," Vanessa said sarcastically as she yawned. "Yet another one of these ridiculous baptisms."

"Ahh, I want a baptism too!" Luck said then looked down at Maryam. "Hey, Maryam, maybe I can fight you instead of Magna when it's your turn!"

"Oh, no, I'm taking down that skunk-punk," Maryam said shaking her head. "But maybe we can spare another time."

This seemed to appease Luck enough as he gave a slight cheer before the group focused on Magna and Asta again.

"Here we go, go, go!" Magna shouted. "First, I want to see your physical prowess! 5,000 crunches!"

"You got it!" Asta said as he quickly dropped to the ground. "AHHH!"

He immediately started doing crunches and at an alarming rate to boot. He wasn't even fazed by the amount Magna ordered him to do.

"There's no way I can do that," Maryam said with a laugh as Magna moved onto pushups. "Only Asta can pull off that much physical stamina. Just what I'd expect out of my younger brother."

She said this proudly as Asta's shouting only grew louder with each new task that Magna gave him.

"That's right," Vanessa murmured. "The captain introduced you two as siblings. But you don't appear to be the same age, so you're not twins…that and you two don't look much alike."

The two did have blonde hair, but Asta's was ashy in color while Maryam's was a golden hue. That coupled with all their other differences left Vanessa a little stumped.

"Oh, we're not related by blood." Maryam explained. "Asta and I grew up as orphans along with several other children in Hage. Our brother Yuno is also a magic knight now, but he joined the Golden Dawn. Also, you're right when you said we don't seem to be the same age. I'm older than Asta and Yuno by two years, or that's the estimate at least."

Maryam, who held up two fingers, gave a shrug since it was still a mystery what her exact age is. Though Orsi was certain he guessed close enough to her actual age. If she wasn't exactly two years, she was close.

"If you're older does that mean that you've tried the magic knights' exam before?" Vanessa questioned as she ignored Magna who was shouting more orders at Asta.

"No," Maryam said shaking her head. "My magic was pretty unstable, so the Priest who raised us forbade me from coming to take the exam until Asta and Yuno could come along. That gave me two years to prepare, but in the case, something still went wrong, I wouldn't be by myself. That and the man was hoping I'd stay behind and become a nun instead of leaving the church to become a magic knight. Had Sister Lily make me a veil."

Vanessa laughed at that thinking that the girl was joking about that last part, but when Maryam's expression didn't change, Vanessa realized she wasn't joking. Which had Vanessa laughing even harder.

"I see," Vanessa said as she wiped her tears from her eyes. "Well, you might have gotten a late start, but it's still impressive for a small village girl to make it into the magic knights. So, you should be proud of your accomplishment."

Maryam smiled at Vanessa's words while thinking she was going to get along just fine with the older woman. The two women then looked forward when Asta cried out. Maryam frowned when seeing the boy, who was rolling around on the ground, holding his forehead after he apparently headbutted a large boulder.

"Not yet!" Asta said stubbornly as he got to his feet. "I'm not done!"

He headbutted the boulder again, and astonishingly it did crack in several places. Asta whimpered and cried as steam practically rolled off his forehead from the hit. Maryam's frown deepened as she wondered how killing their braincells by smashing their heads against rocks proved they were worthy to be in this squad.

'I wonder if any of the other squads have weird initiations like this.' She wondered as the others commented on Asta's physical prowess.

Said boy hurried up to Magna, who also complimented Asta's stamina, as Maryam wondered when her turn would be. She was getting bored just waiting.

"Okay, so I passed your tests, right?!" Asta asked Magna. "Now give me that robe already!"

He went reaching for it, but Magna pulled it back just out of Asta's reach as he frowned.

"Not so fast," Magna said. "You think it's that's simple. We're not done yet, Village boy!"

Asta looked at Magna in confusion since he couldn't think of what else there could be for him to do.

"There's one more test." Magna said. "The last and most important of your baptism. Using any skills at your disposal—whether they're magical or ordinary—

you must dodge or defend yourself against my attack magic."

He said this while opening his grimoire and casting a spell that put a ball of condensed fire in his hand.

"If you can manage that then you will pass," Magna told him. "You may consider yourself a true Black Bull, and I will give you your robe."

"Right!" Asta said. "I understand! I'll do my best!"

"Shut up!" Magna snapped.

Maryam just smiled as she leaned forward and cupped her chin into her hands. She had to admit that the punk's mana was pretty good. However, she knew Asta would be just fine. Finral didn't seem to share the same sentiment as he pulled out his grimoire just to be safe.

"You won't need that," Maryam told him. "Asta will be just fine."

Finral looked at the girl with a quirked brow as she watched on while her smile grew bigger. Yami let out a short snort of amusement at the girl's complete faith in Asta as Magna prepared to cast his magic.

"Okay," Magna said as the pages in his grimoire turned. "Grab your grimoire and get ready!"

"Yes, sir!" Asta said as his grimoire opened, which allowed the boy to pull out his anti-magic sword.

He held it out behind him as Maryam scooted forward to the edge of her seat.

"Wow~" Luck awed. "What's he got there?"

"So big," Vanessa added.

Asta swung the sword out in front at the ready as he waited for whatever Magna decided to throw at him. Said mage pulled a bat made of fire from his grimoire as he grinned at Asta.

"You ready?!" Magna called out to Asta.

"Ready!" Asta called back.

"Here we go!" Magna shouted as he prepared to hit the ball of fire.

"Let's see what you can do!" Asta challenged.

Magna gave a shout as he swung at the ball, which remained in air though a smaller ball of fire shot out from it. Magna kept swinging with more and more fireballs flying at Asta. The boy dodged the attacks, which had Magna frowning.

"Ha! You're pretty decent," Magna reluctantly complimented.

"Yes, sir!" Asta said.

He looked pretty confident from where Maryam sat, but the blonde girl didn't think Magna was done just yet.

"Alright," Magna said as he had the bat disappear. "The real battle begins now!"

He swept his hand over his grimoire, which had the pages turning quickly before stopping on whatever spell Magna still had up his sleeve. He reached his hand out behind him and clasped it around a ball of fire that gave off stronger mana than the last one he used before.

"Flame Magic," Magna began as he took a pitcher's stance. "Exploding Fire Fireball! Now, die!"

He wound his arm back and then snapped it forward at an alarming speed to send the fireball at Asta. Said both looked panicked for a moment, which caused Maryam to feel concern for a split second. Though it faded when she saw his body quickly reacting to the attack. His body shifted and he changed the grip on his sword, which he turned to the flat side to deflect the fireball right back at Magna. Before Magna could even blink, he was hit by his attack, which exploded and sent a pillar of smoke up into the air.

"Wow, he did it!" Luck said as Charmy laughed in amazement.

"I did not see that coming," Vanessa admitted.

She wasn't the only one. Finral, who closed his grimoire, was impressed and surprised as well.

"That's a first time in a while that we haven't had to rescue a newbie." Finral said.

"Told you Asta had it," Maryam said with a large grin.

Finral chuckled at her words as Maryam stood up and jogged over in the direction of Asta and Magna.

"That was pretty cool, Asta," Maryam said as her brother was looking at his sword in shock. "I knew you'd win."

Asta looked away from his sword to smile at Maryam. Though he was soon frowning in concern as he looked over at the pillar of fire and smoke.

"Uh, do you think he's okay?" Asta asked. "I mean that attack could kill someone."

"Oh, he's fine." Maryam said as she gave a flippant wave. "Don't you worry."

Asta blinked wondering how Maryam could be so sure, but he then noticed her grimoire floating beside her. There was then a noise that almost sounded like something was sucking in air, which had everyone turning towards the billowing pillar of smoke and fire. As it started getting smaller and smaller, Blazy was revealed. The plant was greedily eating up the flames as its vines held Magna, who looked a bit ruffled but overall fine, up in the air.

"He might have ticked me off earlier, but he's our comrade now, so I couldn't let him just die." Maryam said with a shrug. "Besides, I wouldn't get my chance to kick his butt if you offed him."

Asta chuckled at Maryam's words as the two went over to where Blazy was sitting down Magna. Maryam picked up the boy's glasses that had fallen and placed them on top of her own head as she grinned at the older mage.

"So, is it my turn or what?" She asked as she knocked the glasses off of the top of her head and onto her nose.

Coco: And that is the end of Chapter 6~ Maryam will get her baptism and settle down for her first night with the Black Bulls in the next chapter. I might have her fight Magna or not. Not sure yet. She wants to fight him, but Yami might throw a wrench into her plans like he did by having Asta go through the baptism before her when she had been so ready to go XD If she doesn't show her stuff against Magna, would you like to see her fight against?

And don't worry, I do plan for her to use different spell. One that doesn't summon Blazy. Blazy is just going to basically become a reoccurring character considering how often things to seem to catch on fire around the Black Bulls. And the flower will get even more screentime if I do pair Maryam with

But it's still early, so if you guys think maybe she'd be better with someone else, don't hesitate to let me know. I've already decided it's highly unlikely that I'll use Magna, who had been my first choice. JhotoLoraxius suggested that her and Magna could have a BROTP, which I really like that idea, so I'll probably use it.

Now, as always, stay safe out there, everyone, and remember to keep being your beautiful selves. And until next time~