Chapter 3
A Mission
Nova wasn't thrilled to be woken up to Asta yelling as he cleaned the Headquarters. She had been up all night reading one of the books she found in the library. Nova headed down to the dining hall to eat and read as she sat with her fellow knights. All the food was meat and more meat. Nova couldn't complain the food was really good. Noelle sat next to Asta as they ate. Nova was next to Vanessa and Magna.
"Hey. Noelle." Asta said. Noelle looked at Asta. How come you and Nova don't ever help out with the cleaning and stuff?" Asta said.
"The cleaning? We're royalty, you know." Noelle said. Nova looked up from the top of her book.
"And new recruits!" Asta said.
"We've never done any cleaning or laundry in our lives." Nova said, honestly. Noelle nodded.
"Why would we start now?" Noelle asked. Asta points at the sisters.
"Are you bragging about being lazy? Come on, we're on the same squad here. Ever heard the tearm team effort?" Asta said.
"I am royalty." Noelle said it slowly as if spelling it out.
"Yeah, and you won't let us forget it." Asta said. Nova snorted and went back to reading with a glare from her sister.
"Silence, insect." Noelle said.
"Just leave him to it, Noelle. He is right." Nova said.
"And you like to do some cleaning?" Noelle asked.
"We aren't back home and might as well help out around here if we want to live here. I would love to learn to cook." Nova said.
"I can help with that." Charmy said. Nova smiled. Magna put an arm around Nova's shoulder.
"You will fit right in here, Nova. Probably more then your sister." Magna said, making Nova blush a bit with the touch and she pulled away. Noelle glared at Magna. Asta looked at Magna.
"Hey, uh... Just wondering, what exactly does a Magic Knight squad do?" Asta asked. Magna stood up.
"Huh?!" Magna said. He walks towards Asta. "Are you seriously serious right now?" Magna grabbed Asta by the cape and brought him off the chair. He shoved Asta into the wall. "We protect the country, you idiot! Keep the people safe. It's the manliest job in the world! Why did you even wanna join up if you were so freaking clueless, huh?! Well, answer me!"
"I'm sorry! I just wanted to be the Wizard King!" Asta said.
"Why did you even take the exam if you don't know what we do?!" Magna asked. Nova went back to reading as the two bickered. Magna walked away from Asta.
"Geez. Will someone tell him what a Magic Knight squad does? How about you, wino?" Magna asked as he sat down next to Nova as Vanessa finishes her glass of wine.
"Well, uh... We, like safeguard the citizens safety. You know that sorta thing." Vanessa said. She fills up another glass of wine and finishes it.
'Geez and its not even the afternoon and she's drunk.' Nova thought.
"And, as a bonus, you can get to know some marvelous gentlemen while you're on guard duty." Vanessa said. Asta sits back down on the bench.
"Oh, Okay." Asta said. Noelle looked away.
"If you ask me, the best part's all the people you get to fight. You can spend hours beating up a criminal and nobody will even think twice about it!" Luck said as he punched the air like he was fighting someone. Asta laughed nervously. Gauche held up a photo of his sister Marie.
"More than anything it's an excellent career. One that makes my sister proud. See her? Marie." Gaunche asked. His nose started to bleed. "I use my wages to buy her nice things." His eyes widen. "Remember, if you lay a finger on her, then you die." Nova got lost in reading and didn't listen to what the others wanted it for.
"Nova." Nova looked at Asta. "What about you?"
"I want to see the Kingdom and help defend it. That's why I joined. It gives you a chance to see the Kingdom for the beauty it is." Noelle rolled her eyes.
"Her and her books." Noelle mumbled. Nova kicked her sister under the table. Charmy started shoving food in Asta's mouth. Nova smiled as she looked off. The door was kicked open and Yami stepped in. Everyone turned and looked at him.
"Magna. We're going." Yami said.
"Yes, Yami, sir." Magna said. He stands up.
"What's going on?" Asta asked with his mouth full of food. Nova looked up at Magna.
"There's a mission." Magna said. He walked towards Yami.
'Wonder what kind of mission those two are doing?' Nova wondered.
"Hold on. I'll come to." Asta said standing up. Magna stops.
"No way! Can't bring a kid along. This is an important mission." Magna said. Nova raised an eyebrow.
"Can I come?" Nova said out of curiosity.
"This isn't something a Royal should be doing. Only grown up men allowed." Magna said. Nova and Noelle shared looks.
'What are they doing that a Royal and a kid shouldn't be doing?' Nova wondered.
"Okay. We'll be back. Bye." Magna said.
"Listen, gang. No breaking stuff while we're gone." Yami said.
"Okay! Have fun. Bye!" Vanessa said. Luck jumped to his feet.
Hey, Captain. Will you fight me when you get back, pretty please?" Luck asked. Nova lifted up her book and tuned everyone out as she read as Magna and Yami left to go where they were going.
Later that day. Noelle and Nova decided to help Asta feed the Captain's Beasts. Asta grabbed some meat and approached the cage. The Beasts watched him approach.
"Okay. There, there. Who's a good beastie? Meat treat?" Asta asked. He held up the meat. One of the beasts stuck his head out of the hole with his mouth open. Nova flinched as the beast Chomped down on Asta's head making him yell. Asta pries the mouth off of him. "Don't just stand there. Help me!"
"I think I'll pass. I don't want to be eaten." Nova said, backing away.
"Do I look like I feed animals? You're lucky we even came down here. You should be thanking me." Noelle said.
"Not gonna happen!" Asta said. The beast tries to eat him and Asta stops him.
"Hey." The Beast turns to Nova who held some meat up. "Want this and not the small fry?"
"Small fry!" Asta said. The beast let Asta go and Nova tossed the meat into it's mouth. "Thank you, Nova." Yami and Magna laughing came. The three turn to see the Captain and Magna coming towards tehm.
"Man that hand." Magna said.
"Captain Yami and Magna." Asta said.
"So, then. The mission must be.." The trio gasped. The two were naked almost with their Black Bulls capes on. Nova turned red at the sight
"That old man! He actually pulled out a royal flush. Ha! Incredible. Shoulda known!" Magna said.
"We didn't stand a chance against old Seihi." Magna said.
"He was motivated to beat us today, that's for damn sure." Yami said, laughing. Noelle and Nova turned their heads as they got closer.
"Hey, there Rasta. No-no. Princess. We're back." Magna said. Yami was still laughing. "Guess what? I got some news I think you're gonna like. It's time for your first mission." Noelle and Nova turn to look at Magna and gasp. Noelle turned away. Nova kept her eyes on Magna's face.
"Really?" Nova asked.
"Let us get dressed and meet in the mess hall and we'll explain." Yami said.
"Yes please." Noelle said.
The mess hall. Yami sat on the couch with Magna standing next to him as Noelle, Nova, and Asta stood in front of him.
"So what's going on?" Nova said.
"Like I said, we've decided to put you in the field." Magna said.
"Alright, our first mission." Asta said.
"Here we go." Noelle said.
"So, what are we doing?" Nova asked.
"I assume it's somethign befitting royalty such as myself and my sister." Noelle said.
"Yeah, it's a real honor. Go to Saussy Village for some boar hunting." Magna said.
"Huh?" Asta asked.
"Hunting boar?" Noelle said.
"Sounds like fun." Nova said. Noelle shot her a glare.
"Wow. That is a terrible mission." Noelle said.
"No, its not! You take that back. Least your sister sounds like she's interested in doing it." Magna said.
"I can bring down a boar with my bare hands, easy." Asta said.
"No, you can't. Don't even think about trying! Those things are pure evil. They got beady eyes, huge tusks, and they charge for no reason!" Magna said. Yami sighs as he puffs out some smoke.
"We lost to teh chief of Saussy Village. Now we gotta pay the price." Yami said.
"Huh?" Noelle asked.
"How did you do that?" Nova asked.
"The two of you lost in a fight? That doesn't even seem possible." Asta said.
"How powerful was this man?" Noelle said.
"We lost at poker." Yami said. Nova facepalmed.
'Gambling. Of course.' Nova thought as Yami laughed.
"He literlly stripped us of everything we had." Yami said.
"Including half a year's wages!" Magna said. Nova put a hand to her face. She never understood gambling but she heard it was known in the Black Market.
"That's not all. We also promised we'd do any one thing he requested of us. And that turned out to be getting rid of some boar." Yami said.
"There's been a herd of them hanging around near the village. Trampling fields and causing trouble." Magna said. They all stood in silence looking at each other. Nova stood with her arms crossed. Asta's hand shot in the air.
"Ooh! Ooh! Can you explain what this has to do with us?" Asta asked.
"Yes, exactly. You were the ones who lost. It was none of our doing." Noelle said.
"So why.." Nova started.
"You idiots! Do you seriously expect Yami to clean up his own mess?" Magna asked.
'Well he has a point.' Nova thought.
"Yami doesn't deal with these things. That's what he's got us for." Magna said. Yami stood up and looked at the three rookies standing in front of him. He breathed smoke out of his mouth as he stared them down.
"Either go or die. Your choice." Yami said, glaring at them.
"We'll go." Noelle, Nova, and Asta said. Yami walked out the door onto the grounds.
"So what if it's boar hunting? We're finally going on a mission. I'm getting pumped now! YEAH!" Asta let out a yell.
"I still don't see why he should be sending me." Noelle said.
"I think this will be fun." Nova said.
"Come on! Do you ever do anythign but complain?" Magna said, glaring at Noelle.
"Actually, that wasn't intended as a complaint. It's just..." Noelle said. She looks down. "Given that I can't control my magic power, should I really be going on a mission at all?"
"Our brother is in you head again. Stop listening to them and actually believe in yourself. The Captain wouldn't be sending you if he didn't trust you." Nova said. Noelle looked at her sister.
"Listen to your sister. Cause she's right. How do you expect to get better if you aren't willing to try." Magna said. Noelle gasps. "Besides, we're not sending some wet-behind-the-ears recruits out there alone. I'll be around to keep an eye on you three." Asta smiled.
"Wow! You're such a manly man, Magna!" Asta said. Magna turned with a smrik on his face.
"Aw, enough of that, Rasta. I'm blushing." Magna said.
"Well. If you insist, I suppose I would be willing to accompany you." Noelle said. Magna bowed.
"Really? Wow, thank you!" Magna said. He shot up. "Wait a minute! How come you're always looking down on us, Huh? Your sister treats us much better then you do." Nova rolled her eyes.
"It isn't that I choose to look down on you. You just always happen to be below me, so what else can I do? And Nova has always been an odd ball of the family with treating everyone equal." Noelle said.
"Hey." Nova said.
"What kind of logic is that?" Magna said. Nova sighed.
Finral came over to them when Magna calls him over.
"Do your thing." Magna said. Finral didn't look impressed. "Use your Spatial Magic to send us to Saussy Village."
"Saussy Village? Mmm. No can do." Finral said.
"Come on, it's not like I'm asking a lot." Magna said.
"Now, now." Finral said, putting a hand in front of Magna's face. "I can go distant places, but only if I've marked them with my magic power before."
"Huh?" Magna asked.
"In other words, you wanna go somewhere I've never been? Sorry, can't do it." Finral said. He gave Noelle and Nova a flirty smile. Nova frowned as Finral walked away. Magna rubbed the back of his head.
"Well, that was a wasted of time. Fine, we'll have to go by broom, then." Magna said.
"Um, Magna, sir." Asta said, raising his hand. Magna looked at Asta.
"Yeah, what is it?" Magna said.
"I... can't fly on a broom." Asta said, bringing down his arm.
"Um.." Noelle said, raising her hand.
"Yeah, what is it?" Magna said.
"What he said." Noelle said. Magna groans. He grabs Asta by the cape.
"Are you two kidding me? You're so completely incompetent that you can't manage something that freaking simple?" Magna said. He starts to shake Asta. "Flying is pretty much the most basic skill a mage has!"
"I don't have any magic power, remember?" Asta said. He starts to laugh.
"Why do you look so proud?" Magna said.
"And since I can't control my magic power, flying a broom is out of the question for me. Obviously." Noelle said.
"And why are you being so arrogant?" Magna looked at Nova who had been silent. "What about you, Princess? Can you fly? Or you like these idiots."
"Hey!" Noelle and Asta said.
"I can fly. I got a broom." Nova said. Magna sighed.
"Fine." Magna said as he walked away. "We'll just have to ride together." Magna turned to looke at Asta and Noelle. "Are you ready to meet my baby?"
"Your baby?" The Trio said.
Outside. Nova stood with a broom in her hand as they stood in front of a broom that looked like a skeleton and huge. It had a Black Bull Flag on the back of it as well.
"Here it is. Introducing Crazy Cyclone!" Magna said. Asta had stars in his eyes.
"Whoa. So cool!" Asta said. Magna laughed.
"I know, right? Awesome, isn't it?" Magna said.
"Yeah! Way awesome." Asta said.
"You'll have to give me a ride on it sometime." Nova said.
"Of course, Princess." Magna said.
"Stop calling me that." Nova said.
"Try lame." Noelle said. Magna pointed at Noelle.
"Excuse me? Are you blind that you can't even reconize beauty when you're staring right at it?" Magna asked. Noelle turned and gave Magna a cold stare.
"It's lame." Noelle said. Magna and Asta stared at her.
"Just get on it, Noelle, because your not riding with me because of that comment." Nova said. Noelle sighed.
"Fine." Noelle said. Magna sat on the broom, growling. Noelle got behind him then Asta.
"Yeah! Take us up, Magna!" Asta said.
"You can't do it, can you?" Noelle asked. Nova was floating above them on her broom. Magna yells.
"A man never goes back on his word!" Magna said. He gripped the handles that were horns on the broom and they glowed. "Let's do this thing! Fly." An explosion comes from behind the broom. "Nova. You better keep up." Magna called as they took off. Nova shot off after them. Asta was cheering as Magna took off up above the trees. Magna looked back to see Nova coming up to the side of him. He sent her a wink and Nova looked away as her checks heated up. "There, ya see? Crazy Cyclone does just fine even with three riders." Noelle yelps.
"Hey, be careful. Are you certain you've flown this thing before?" Noelle said.
"Whoa, newbie?" Magna said as the broom started to swing.
"Silence, you mohaweked punk." Noelle said as Magna tried to get control of the broom.
"Now's not the time for name calling!" Nova said. Magna hits a button and speeds off.
"Yeah! This is amazing, Magna! I've never felt anything like this before. We're one with the wind up here!" Asta said.
"Rasta! You trying to die or something? Hold on!" Magna said.
"Right!" Asta said. Noelle yelps as Asta grabs onto her. She starts to yell at him. Nova ignored her sister. She was excited for their mission as they headed for the town they were suppose to help with the mission. They didn't know what they be getting into.
AN: New chapter up. Wasn't gonna make it to long. Till next time.
