Next day the weather is clear and the sun shines on their hideout as Asta finishes his morning run and heads into the hideout 'heck yeah time for a bath!' he exclaims going through the door.
Millie relaxes on her usual branch reading a book.
It is calm today as birds are chirping their songs and just the occasional gentle breeze blows by.
Most of the black bulls are out on missions so the hideout is mostly quiet.
'phew, that felt great right Liebe' he asks. 'it was' Liebe utter as Asta opens the door.
He is met with a white and pale creepy face staring close to Astas face. His stature is taller than Asta and has black circles around his eyes.
'Hello Gorden may I help you?' he asks. His smile hiding that he was a bit startled by Gordon's demeanor.
'we have a mission, that actually will require us going to my home house, so would you accompany me friend?' Gordon says.
(I get the sense that I have no choice in the matter) Asta thinks to himself. 'sure Gordon let us go' Asta awkwardly states.
Millie stretches and looks to the door as it swings open.
She transforms and flies over to him as he and Gordon soar to the sky.
They travel for quite a while before they land by small dead-ish forest with trees without any leafs and the sound of crows and toads is heard nearby.
They walk along a path through the forest and they stop in front of a tall iron gate that is attached to a tall brick fence and one can see a 3 story house behind it which is also made out of bricks.
As Asta and Gordon walks through the Iron gate Millie jumps from Astas shoulder to the brick fence and watches the two knock on the door, that slowly opens
4 people who's faces looks the same as Gordon stands there.
'you came, wonderful' his father says. Wearing a black simple tuxedo.
'hello big brother' his younger sister says wearing a black simple Victorian dress.
'you boys must have had a long trip, you are just in time for lunch' his mother says wearing a similar black dress with white pearls around her neck.
'good to see you eh' his grand mother says wearing a black dress and a black hat covering half of her grey hair.
'voff, voff' they hear and a white dog bites Astas but. 'gah!, it has been a while since I felt that' he says and Gorden takes the dog off Astas butt.
'Sorry about that Asta' he utters 'it is fine' he says stroking his bum.
Roxan looks at the dog 'Nanalie seems to like Asta quite a bit' she utter.
'Voff'! the dog wags her tail.
His father lifts his eyes that meet Millies gaze who then turns around. Looking at the forest.
Nathan looks at her two tails before his focus goes back to Asta and Gordon
'Now let us head inside, it is cold out today' his mother says and the group goes inside.
they eat lunsh and catch up with gordon's family and Liebe is trying to get over the organs and half alive animals and bugs on the table.
After, they head up to Nathans workspace. 'wow it looks different than the last time I was here' Asta says.
'well yes, I took Gauche Adleys advice and made it a bit more presentable for people' he tells them.
'I can tell' Asta looks around all the different animal organs and limbs that are in jars as skeletons and plants are on proper shelves.
In the middle of the room is a wooden table with a few tools for handling different sorts of materials and ingredients and, in the middle of the table by a cutting board and a meat cleaver is a mortar and pestle.
'now the plant I need look like this one' he explains and shows them a sample.
'whoa it is bigger than I imagined. Plus the top of it looks like an average egg' Asta tells him.
'yes, and they can only be found in a cave within a strong magic region located here' he says while pointing at a map.
'woah cool, now I see why you want us to go' Asta says and looks at it.
'yes well we need another patch to make medicine that a village has requested a couple days ago' he tells them.
'I see so you want us to collect more so you can make the medicine' Asta says. 'correct' Nathan says.
Gordon looks through some more of the details and goes over them with Asta.
Meanwhile his father is looking out the window and at Millie who is surrounded by ravens which are screeching and nipping at her while she does her best to ignore them as they, peck and messes with her fur and tails.
'well we got what we needed, we will be heading out now' Gordon says. 'Right' Asta replies and their father escort them down.
The door opends and Millie looks behind her and sees Asta coming out with Gordon right behind him.
'All right off to the strong magic region!' he yells proudly.
Millie spread out her wings and flies over to his shoulder before he gets on his slayer sword and they are off.
They travel for a few hours ...
'Uh that must be it' he says, looking at tall mountains in the distance with big heavy clouds hanging over it.
'wait, it isn't a full moon, are you certain we can get to the destination?' Asta asks.
'It is going to be fine, we won't go that deep, and as long as we stick to the path we should be fine' Gordon explains.
'right' Asta replies.
'I hope' Gordon adds.
'you hope?' Liebe and Asta say together.
Sure enough the weather is rough as the mana currents are thick, strong and cold.
They fly close to the ground as the weather Is unruly.
'Man I can't see anything in this thick rain' Asta utter protecting his face with his arm. 'are we going the right way? I can't see the path!' he yells
'I am certain of it' Gordon says.
'sorry that does not sound reassuring' Asta replies.
'It should be around here, let us land' Gordon requests and they do just that.
'yes but it is really hard to see anything in this weather' Asta says as they keep looking.
The rain cuts past them like shards of glass.
Cutting Asta and Gordons skin. 'the mana here doesn't play does it' Asta says and looks at his wound.
Millie thinks it over but before she can do anything she feels her mana drain away and she jumps down from Astas shoulder.
'Thanks Liebe' he says 'sure thing' Liebe replies.
(he can in case them both with anti magic too) she wonders and follows behind them looking at Astas brown boots in front of her walking through the rough weather.
Gordon puts on his mana-skin, in order to protect himself from the weather.
'there it is, it must be' Gordon says and points. 'Right' Asta replies and moments later they walk to the entrance of a cave.
Asta waits for Gordon to light the lantern and they head into the dark cave.
'woah, this cave sure goes deep' Asta utters. Liebe turns full size and walks along side Asta.
He looks at the sealing with small dots of glimmer as the light passes the tiny silver gems. Looking down he sees Millie walking behind them in her cat form.
Asta looks at the sealing too and nearly walks into Gordon 'why did you stop?' he asks.
'oh no' Gordon exclaims. 'what is it' he asks and looks into the cave.
'well there is a lot more of the plants on the picture' he says and looks at the picture where the cave is filled to the brim with the plant.
He looks at the cave where there are just a few of them. 'I guess this is just what we will be able to collect then huh' Asta says and goes to grab one.
'We can't' Gordon says. 'what why? aren't we supposed to collect them to use in medicine' Asta asks, as Millie smells the plant closely while Asta looks at Gordon.
'yes but if you collect when there are this few then there won't be enough plants left to reproduce and make more naturally' Gordon explains.
'I see, what should we do that village still needs the medicine?' Asta asks. 'yes, but if we collect them when there is this few then we will never be able to make the medicine again at all' he says.
'That is really bad .What do we do then' he asks. 'I am unsure, hmm' Gordon wonders and brings out the map.
'maybe we can find more somewhere else' he thinks out loud. And Asta and Liebe crouches down to look at the map too.
*rustle, Crack, thud* hey hear moving of rocks and dirt.
'what is that' Gordon asks and Asta lifts the lantern up and they see Millie digging at the wall. 'Millie what are you doing' Asta asks.
'Master Asta, there are tiny holes in the wall and I can smell more of that plant, sir' she tells him.
'what really, are you sure' he asks her. 'yes Master' she replies.
Asta smirks and brings his sword out of his grimoar.
'Then out of the way, I got this' he says and Liebe grabs the fur at the back of Millies neck and picks her up and takes a few steps back.
'I am confused sir, what will you do' she asks. 'just watch' he tells her.
Hack, Slash, Crash, Wac! The wall yield to his intense strikes and with a punch the wall crumbles.
'That is amassing' she says in awe at his strength.
'hehe I know right' Asta smiles proudly.
Gordon walks up to the hole and he lifts the lantern up as they walk through.
'woah, there is plethora of that plant in here' he says. As the walls and ground is covered with them and small beam of light breaks through small holes in the sealing.
'We can gather what we need now right' Asta asks. 'yes certainly, I am surprised my family never discovered this part of the cave before' Gordon say as he starts to collect and put plants into the basket.
Millie goes into her human form and picks one plant up and Asta looks at her as she pulls out a claw and, cuts open the part that looks like an egg and, the plant reveal a yellow core.
'cool, it really is like an egg' he says and takes it out of Millies hand and looks at it. 'that it does' Gordon replies.
'the yellow part is actually edible' Gordon adds and goes back to their task.
'seriusly that is awesome' he says and puts it in his mouth. 'mhm mmmh it taste sweet' he says.
'sir it should not be eaten raw' Millie utters and Asta spits out something green. 'bleh! that was really bitter! what is that?' he asks.
'that is the inner most part which is used for the medicine' Gordon tells him.
'what seriously this little thing' Asta asks.
'yes it is quite potent so mixing one sample with some herbs and water one can make about 8 or 9 small glass bottles of medicine from that' Gordon explains. 'wow that is awesome from something so little' he says.
'Nothing is too small to make a difference' Gordon says and picks a few more plants up
'well we have got plenty now, time to head back' Gordon says and Millie hisses at the opening.
'uh Millie what is going on?' Asta asks. 'Something is coming, Master' she says and they all stand up.