p class="MsoNormal"Asta made a point of telling me I have to train. "If you wanna get stronger, you have to train to get stronger!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're right, Asta!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""So you should try doing a hundred push ups!" Asta exclaimed./p
p class="MsoNormal"emOh boy. I was never someone who could last very long doing push ups of any sort. I'm pretty sure that I was born having noodles as limbs./em/p
p class="MsoNormal""Uh, well Asta, I don't think I can…." He looks like he is so excited for me. He is just trying to help me. Besides, I've got wings and look really different, so maybe some other things about me have changed as well./p
p class="MsoNormal""Alright! Let's go train then! But take it easy on me with the physical training, ok?" I let out a nervous laugh./p
p class="MsoNormal""ALRIGHT!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Asta, don't get Y/n killed. Just because you can do a bunch of useless pushups, doesn't mean she should." Yuno spoke from a couple steps away./p
p class="MsoNormal"emHow long was even standing there?/em/p
p class="MsoNormal""Y/n, if you need more help.." He looked down for second before looking up at me again. "I will help you too if you want."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Thank you so much Yuno!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Wow Y/n. Your smile is as bright as the sun!" Asta said./p
p class="MsoNormal"emHuh?/em/p
p class="MsoNormal""Let me know if you need me." Yuno said as he turned to walk away./p
p class="MsoNormal"emHe always seems so cold. I'm confused, but really happy he offered to help me too. I'm really not alone anymore./em/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay Asta, let's start!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal""Asta…" I began. "Are you alright? You said to keep going until we are tired, but that was this morning. We've done pushups and situps. Everything you can think of. You look like you're gonna pass out now, which is understandable because it's almost dinner time now…."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'M NOPT DONE YET. I said we stop when WE are tired. YOU HAVEN'T EVEN BROKEN A SWEAT SO I'M GONNA KEEP GOING!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"emHe looks really tired. I'm worried that at this rate, he will be so worn out that when it's time to head to the capital, he will be too exhausted and miss everything./em/p
p class="MsoNormal""Asta."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I SAID I'M NOT…"/p
p class="MsoNormal"emI couldn't think of what else to do. He is overexerting himself and it's my fault. He wants to help me, but he's right. I've been working this whole time with him and feel nothing. I couldn't even do more than a few pushups in my world, but here I feel like I can go on forever./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"I held him in a firm hug./p
p class="MsoNormal""You should rest. Please. You're going to hurt yourself if you don't rest. I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm not tired. I promise I wasn't trying to outdo you. I just wanted to train with you."/p
p class="MsoNormal"emIf I had known he would dang near kill himself trying to be strong to the point of exhaustion, I never would have agreed to train with him. I wouldn't forgive myself if he got hurt because of me./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"I pulled away and patted his head with a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal""Let's go back now. Okay?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"He looked like he was shocked./p
p class="MsoNormal"emDid I offend him?/em/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're right!" He exclaimed. I smiled brightly before turning and running toward the orphanage. "Race you back!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Hey! No fair! You got a head start!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"emAsta convinced me to come with them to the Magic Knights exam./em/p
p class="MsoNormal""There's no way you won't get in!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"emBut I'm not so sure. It's the middle of the night and all I can think of are unanswered questions and heavily piled on doubts in my mind. It's one thing to be able to exercise, but that isn't even close to my normal. I was able to practice putting my wings away, but that statement alone gives me even more anxiety when I have no idea how I got this in the first place./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongemFreak./em/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"emWe leave in only a few hours and I can't stop thinking./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongemWeirdo./em/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"emEven now, I hear the same comments I've heard all my life. All I can do is stare at the ceiling with tears running down my cheeks. I'm trying so hard to be quiet as to not wake the others./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"I turn my head and look at Recca and Ru./p
p class="MsoNormal"strongemWeirdo./em/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"em"So pretty!"/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongemFreak./em/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"I felt a warm hand hold my own and realized Recca had woken up and was staring at me with concern in her eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal"emEven if I am a freak, at least I have people who care now./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"I gave a smile and a light squeeze on her hand. She smiled and moved closer to lay her head on my shoulder. I fell into a blissful and calming sleep./p
p class="MsoNormal"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"I woke up with a bit more pep in my step, which didn't go unnoticed by a very enthusiastic Asta./p
p class="MsoNormal""YOU READY TO GO AND BE THE WIZARD KING?!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"emHe is such a sweetheart. But, also, so loud./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"I let out a soft chuckle before answering, "I don't want to be the Wizard King, Asta."/p
p class="MsoNormal"His face fell a little like he was sad. It made my heart break, but I was quick to follow up on the reason I decided to even go./p
p class="MsoNormal"Yuno was waiting for both of us a few steps away and seemed to be listening, albeit with his usual look of disinterest./p
p class="MsoNormal""I want to help people. I don't want to be the Wizard King. But," I paused briefly to smile at each of them. "I will support you. Whoever succeeds, no matter which of you it is, I promise you can count on me to be there if you need me."/p
p class="MsoNormal"I was a little hurt when Yuno looked away, but Asta's smile came back even brighter than before."/p
p class="MsoNormal""ALRIGHT!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"As we started off and said our goodbyes, Recca ran up to me and gave me a tight hug./p
p class="MsoNormal""Promise you won't only let these boys write to us, but you'll write too?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"I hugged her back with just as much enthusiasm./p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course! I'm sure Yuno will show me how to do that. I would never leave and forget you guys. After all, we're family now!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"I heard Asta cheer out another yeah, but my back was still turned toward Yuno./p
p class="MsoNormal"Sister Lily didn't miss his soft smile that seemed to disappear when I faced him again to walk with them on a new adventure./p
p class="MsoNormal"emI know some of what's coming, but I am going to work hard to help and save everyone. No matter what it takes./em/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're right, Asta!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""So you should try doing a hundred push ups!" Asta exclaimed./p
p class="MsoNormal"emOh boy. I was never someone who could last very long doing push ups of any sort. I'm pretty sure that I was born having noodles as limbs./em/p
p class="MsoNormal""Uh, well Asta, I don't think I can…." He looks like he is so excited for me. He is just trying to help me. Besides, I've got wings and look really different, so maybe some other things about me have changed as well./p
p class="MsoNormal""Alright! Let's go train then! But take it easy on me with the physical training, ok?" I let out a nervous laugh./p
p class="MsoNormal""ALRIGHT!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Asta, don't get Y/n killed. Just because you can do a bunch of useless pushups, doesn't mean she should." Yuno spoke from a couple steps away./p
p class="MsoNormal"emHow long was even standing there?/em/p
p class="MsoNormal""Y/n, if you need more help.." He looked down for second before looking up at me again. "I will help you too if you want."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Thank you so much Yuno!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Wow Y/n. Your smile is as bright as the sun!" Asta said./p
p class="MsoNormal"emHuh?/em/p
p class="MsoNormal""Let me know if you need me." Yuno said as he turned to walk away./p
p class="MsoNormal"emHe always seems so cold. I'm confused, but really happy he offered to help me too. I'm really not alone anymore./em/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay Asta, let's start!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal""Asta…" I began. "Are you alright? You said to keep going until we are tired, but that was this morning. We've done pushups and situps. Everything you can think of. You look like you're gonna pass out now, which is understandable because it's almost dinner time now…."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'M NOPT DONE YET. I said we stop when WE are tired. YOU HAVEN'T EVEN BROKEN A SWEAT SO I'M GONNA KEEP GOING!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"emHe looks really tired. I'm worried that at this rate, he will be so worn out that when it's time to head to the capital, he will be too exhausted and miss everything./em/p
p class="MsoNormal""Asta."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I SAID I'M NOT…"/p
p class="MsoNormal"emI couldn't think of what else to do. He is overexerting himself and it's my fault. He wants to help me, but he's right. I've been working this whole time with him and feel nothing. I couldn't even do more than a few pushups in my world, but here I feel like I can go on forever./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"I held him in a firm hug./p
p class="MsoNormal""You should rest. Please. You're going to hurt yourself if you don't rest. I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm not tired. I promise I wasn't trying to outdo you. I just wanted to train with you."/p
p class="MsoNormal"emIf I had known he would dang near kill himself trying to be strong to the point of exhaustion, I never would have agreed to train with him. I wouldn't forgive myself if he got hurt because of me./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"I pulled away and patted his head with a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal""Let's go back now. Okay?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"He looked like he was shocked./p
p class="MsoNormal"emDid I offend him?/em/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're right!" He exclaimed. I smiled brightly before turning and running toward the orphanage. "Race you back!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Hey! No fair! You got a head start!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"emAsta convinced me to come with them to the Magic Knights exam./em/p
p class="MsoNormal""There's no way you won't get in!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"emBut I'm not so sure. It's the middle of the night and all I can think of are unanswered questions and heavily piled on doubts in my mind. It's one thing to be able to exercise, but that isn't even close to my normal. I was able to practice putting my wings away, but that statement alone gives me even more anxiety when I have no idea how I got this in the first place./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongemFreak./em/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"emWe leave in only a few hours and I can't stop thinking./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongemWeirdo./em/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"emEven now, I hear the same comments I've heard all my life. All I can do is stare at the ceiling with tears running down my cheeks. I'm trying so hard to be quiet as to not wake the others./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"I turn my head and look at Recca and Ru./p
p class="MsoNormal"strongemWeirdo./em/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"em"So pretty!"/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongemFreak./em/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"I felt a warm hand hold my own and realized Recca had woken up and was staring at me with concern in her eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal"emEven if I am a freak, at least I have people who care now./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"I gave a smile and a light squeeze on her hand. She smiled and moved closer to lay her head on my shoulder. I fell into a blissful and calming sleep./p
p class="MsoNormal"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"I woke up with a bit more pep in my step, which didn't go unnoticed by a very enthusiastic Asta./p
p class="MsoNormal""YOU READY TO GO AND BE THE WIZARD KING?!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"emHe is such a sweetheart. But, also, so loud./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"I let out a soft chuckle before answering, "I don't want to be the Wizard King, Asta."/p
p class="MsoNormal"His face fell a little like he was sad. It made my heart break, but I was quick to follow up on the reason I decided to even go./p
p class="MsoNormal"Yuno was waiting for both of us a few steps away and seemed to be listening, albeit with his usual look of disinterest./p
p class="MsoNormal""I want to help people. I don't want to be the Wizard King. But," I paused briefly to smile at each of them. "I will support you. Whoever succeeds, no matter which of you it is, I promise you can count on me to be there if you need me."/p
p class="MsoNormal"I was a little hurt when Yuno looked away, but Asta's smile came back even brighter than before."/p
p class="MsoNormal""ALRIGHT!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"As we started off and said our goodbyes, Recca ran up to me and gave me a tight hug./p
p class="MsoNormal""Promise you won't only let these boys write to us, but you'll write too?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"I hugged her back with just as much enthusiasm./p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course! I'm sure Yuno will show me how to do that. I would never leave and forget you guys. After all, we're family now!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"I heard Asta cheer out another yeah, but my back was still turned toward Yuno./p
p class="MsoNormal"Sister Lily didn't miss his soft smile that seemed to disappear when I faced him again to walk with them on a new adventure./p
p class="MsoNormal"emI know some of what's coming, but I am going to work hard to help and save everyone. No matter what it takes./em/p