Kyandi: Hey, everyone. Sorry I was gone so long.
Araceli: She's had a lot of up and down days. More down than up.
Kyandi: Bad news, depression and anxiety is kicking my ass. Good news, I had an idea to do with this story.
Araceli: Someone left a review on this story saying that they would have been surprised if my father was anyone but Feugoleon.
Kyandi: Yeah, my hints weren't subtle. I wasn't trying to make them so. That said, this person had a good point, so...just like I did with my Fairy Tail story, I'm going to have two story lines.
Araceli: Different choices I make, and, yes, who my father is, will change between the two stories.
Kyandi: I will post the second story line from the beginning of the story, because there are key details that change between the two.
Araceli: She also made it a little more difficult to figure out who my father is.
Kyandi: Trust me, you'll think it's one person and then another, and then you'll think it was the first person again. I'm doing it on purpose!
Araceli: If you guys haven't figured it out, she's a little spiteful.
Kyandi: But hey, it's challenging me to give you guys a better story.. So, with that, everyone enjoy and review.
Araceli: Kyandi-sama does not own Black Clover.
Chapter 9 Dungeon Diving
Life after that slowly returned to normal. Araceli joined Noelle in morning practice, fielded letters and presents from broth Feugoleon and Leo, and had a long argument, via letters, with Leo over his desire for her to call him, 'Uncle Leo'.
A request she declined for more than one reason.
A few days after she finally left her room, Yami approached all of them. "Heads up, guys. A new dungeon was just discovered."
All activity stopped for a moment before several people were talking at once. "A dungeon!?"
"Is that for real, Captain Yami!?" Magna demanded.
"Whooooooa!" Asta's expression went blank. "What's a dungeon?"
Araceli shook her head with a low laugh as Magna rounded on him. "Are you for real?! You don't know what dungeons are?!"
"Dungeons are basically ancient tombs, Asta," Araceli told him. "They have old relics that are, more often than not, guarded by powerful magic. They tend to have all sorts of magical tools and items in them, too. Because of that, they're dangerous."
"And because of the danger and so the relics aren't stolen for nasty reasons, the Magic Knights always explore them," Vanessa added.
"Especially this dungeon. It showed up near the border of a hostile country!" Yami told them. "This has to be done perfectly the first time so what's in there isn't stolen! By the way, 8in past dungeons, I hear people found magic items powerful enough to change civilization...and other became able to use ultimate magic."
Asta's hand immediately went into the air. "Let me gooo!"
"I'm interested, too, sir," Araceli added.
"Sure. Get in there kids." Yami held up a paper bearing both of their pictures. "Actually, the Wizard King specifically asked for you two."
"Us?" Araceli tilted her head to one side while it took a moment for Asta to process the news.
"Say whaaat!? The Wizard King!?"
"Dude, Asta, that's awesome! Did you meet the Wizard King somewhere?" Magna asked.
"No! Never!"
"I don't think I have either," Araceli searched her memories, but nothing came to mind. "But, after the display I showed at my exams, I would be surprised if he hadn't heard of me."
All of them could agree with her there. It had become well known among the Magic Knights what had happened in Araceli's one-on-one battle.
That aside, Yami assigned Luck and Noelle to go with the two, sending the four off on their mission. Before Araceli could exit the building, Yami grabbed her by the head, yanking her to a stop.
She looked up at him in questioning. "Captain?"
Yami stared at her for a moment before his hand came up to grip his cigarette between two fingers, hiding the bottom half of his face. "You good to go, kid?"
Araceli blinked up at him. Through the mana around him, she could feel his concern for her even as embarrassment in expressing that concern made him hesitant to voice it. It put a bright smile on her face knowing that he cared.
"Thanks for the concern, Captain, but I'm good. I might still have my moments of sadness, but I will be fine. I promise," she told him.
Yami hummed as he scanned her expression. Finally, he gave her head a pat. "Just don't bottle it up, runt. It's not good for you."
Araceli's heart swelled and she nodded. "Understood, Captain."
He let her go then, Araceli quickly joining her friends with a happy air about her. Even when Noelle and Asta argued the whole way about what to name the little anti-bird that had been following Asta everywhere, her smile never dimmed. In face, she laughed when it was Luck's suggestion of Nero that the bird seemed to like the most.
When they arrived at the dungeon, they made their way into the building. At first, everything around them was pitch black, making it impossible for them to see. Araceli and Luck, being the two who could sense mana the best, lead the way inside. They stepped into a room only to have light flood them. With the light came the sight of stone walls and falls of water that defied gravity. Araceli and her friends were amazed by their surroundings.
"It looks like the space got warped by magic," Luck remarked.
"The mana is far stronger in here, that's for sure," Araceli added, shivering as the natural mana around her set her senses on fire.
Noelle nodded in agreement. "I've never seen a place so full of mana before!"
Asta, oblivious to the energy around them, stared at them blankly. "Really?"
"Wait, are you telling me you can't feel all this mana?" Noelle demanded.
"Not at all," he replied proudly.
"Oh, Asta..." Araceli shook her head. "That's not something to be proud of."
Noelle stared wide eyed at Asta. "Don't tell me you don't even know what mana is..."
"Geez! I know what mana is!" Asta snapped. "It's what royals like you have by the truck load and what I don't have at all! The source of magic! That's it! That's mana!" Asta fell to his knees, banging his fist against the ground.
"Uh, Asta..." Araceli took a few steps away from him. "You might not want to do that there."
Asta looked up at her in questioning just before a magic array appeared on the ground under him. Ice sprang up from the trap, Araceli sighing. Asta quickly drew his sword and cut through the magic before it could harm him.
"Tha...that's dangerous!" Noelle exclaimed.
Luck called out to Asta, waving a hand as he pointed at the ground. "Oh! Here it is, Asta!"
"Huh? What where?"
"Asta, don't!" Araceli tried to warn him, but Luck shoved Asta onto another trap spell, setting it off.
"What're you doing?!" Asta demanded as he cut through the magic.
Araceli heaved a sigh as, ignoring them, Luck took off, purposely activating every trap he came across along the way. Due to her magical senses, Araceli was able to dodge them all while Asta and Noelle were left scrambling to keep from being caught up in them.
"This is great!" Luck called out excitedly. "That anti-magic weapon of yours is really something! Maybe that's why the Wizard King sent you? I'd like to fight you in two or three years. If you keep that thing out and ready, this dungeon won't give us any problems."
Araceli wasn't paying attention. Something had appeared on her magical radar. Two somethings. One gave her an icky feeling, making her skin crawl with alertness. The other was something familiar and had her perking up. As she opened her mouth to say something, Luck declared something had come up and took off without them.
Noelle turned to walk away, Araceli jumping toward her to stop her. "Not that way, Noelle!"
Araceli wasn't able to reach her before plant vines seized the both of them, tying them up and lifting them from the ground. Araceli was confronted with high level creation magic as a giant plant unfurled its petals to swallow them whole. Asta tried to help, only to be caught too. As she was lifted high into the air, tipping upside down, Araceli grabbed her skirt, holding it firmly against her thighs.
"Someone get me down, please!" she called, blood rushing to her head.
Her white knight, so to speak, appeared in the form of wind magic that destroyed the plant. The vines released Asta and Araceli, a cry of shock bubbling up in her throat. She braced herself to hit the floor, but a gust of gentle wind caught her, cradling her as ti carried her safely into the arms of her savior while Asta fell harshly to the ground below.
"And now...I've repaid that favor."
Looking up as she was carefully held to a firm chest, a happy smile curled her lips. "Yuno!"
Yuno smiled down at Araceli as she greeted him happily, Asta calling out to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he jumped down to join Noelle and Asta, placing Araceli on her feet as his two squad mates followed.
Yuno smiled down at her. "Hey, Araceli."
"Thanks for the save, Yuno. The blood was beginning to rush to my head," Araceli told him gratefully.
Before Yuno could reply, his male companion stepped forward. "Yuno, why did you save them?" The man, Klaus, peered down his nose at Araceli and her squad mates. "Our mission is merely to capture the dungeon. In other words, we must reach the treasure hall at the center as quickly as possible. We don't have time to bother with them!"
Araceli flinched at the sheer amount of contempt she felt from him, though she didn't need that ability to hear it thick in his voice. He obviously didn't think much of any of them. As a noble, she thought he would have better manners, but she had apparently been hoping for too much.
"Hey, Yuno! What's with the rude four eyes?" Asta demanded.
"Senior member," was all Yuno said in reply.
"Four eyes...you're the rude one! I'm a noble! Don't speak as if we're equals!" Klaus snapped.
Araceli sighed. She never did well when those around her felt hostility. It made her flinch as Klaus clashed with Asta. To make it worse, Yuno's female companion, Mimosa, approached Noelle. "My, my! If if isn't Miss Noelle! Good day to you. I haven't seen you since the royal family dinner party last year."
"Royal family?" Araceli felt her stomach twist, Noelle glancing at her because she knew why Araceli suddenly seemed uncomfortable in the face of the Golden Dawn girl. "You're a royal?"
"Yes. I'm Mimosa Vermilion," the girl introduced herself.
"Vermilion..." Araceli suddenly wanted to leave. She didn't want anything to do with this girl, no matter how sweet the mana around her was. "I see...nice to meet you."
Noelle stepped in front of Araceli, covering for the abrupt awkwardness in her friend. "Hello, Mimosa."
"I heard that the Black Bulls area barbaric group. Are you alright?" Mimosa asked, genuinely concerned for her cousin.
"What about you, Mimosa? Can someone as dim witted as you survive as part of the Golden Dawn?" Noelle asked.
"Yes, everyone's very kind. Thanks to them, I'm able to use my magic without worry. You couldn't control your magic at all, Noelle. How has that gone for you?" Araceli didn't feel any malice behind Mimosa's words, but Noelle took offense all the same. "The other day on a mission, the three of us received a star from the Wizard King!"
"Yeah, we got a star a few days back too!" Asta said proudly.
"Liar." Asta deflated in the face of Klaus's accusation. "As if mere Black Bulls newbies could get a star so easily. It's impudent of them to even give you this mission."
"The Wizard King asked for us directly!" Asta argued.
"Another transparent lie," Klaus insisted.
"I'm not lying!"
"Come to think of it..." Klaus looked between the three. "I heard there was four of you here. Where's the other one? Don't tell me he left you and fled home. Or has he already fallen prey to a trap spell? Either way, they're a pack of ne'er-do-wells who abandon their new members. The Black Bulls are a filthy disgrace to the Magic Knights!"
"Bring it on, you jerk!" Asta puffed up in anger. "The Black Bulls are gonna capture this dungeon first! Just you wait! You Gol – darn...no, uh...Solden...no, wait...um...you group with the weird masked boss!"
Araceli didn't know what to be more upset by...the fact that Asta was picking a fight or that he couldn't come up with a good insult. Either way, Klaus rose to the bait.
"Weird mask...? You scum! Are you mocking our sublime Captain Vangeance?"
Araceli heaved a sigh as Klaus and Asta started throwing insults back and forth. "This is just a wast of time."
"Hmm..." Yuno hummed in agreement with Araceli before he looked down at her. "How are you doing?"
Another sigh and a slight sagging of Araceli's shoulders was answer enough. "It hasn't been easy, but I'm making it...one day at a time." Feeling his hand gently squeeze her shoulder, Araceli gave him a bright smile. "I'll be alright. I've chosen to focus on work for now. Speaking of...what do we do about them?"
Yuno and Araceli turned to stare at Asta and Klaus as they fought. Thankfully, Klaus brought the name calling to a stop. "Fine, you fools! We'll show you the difference between the top Magic Knights group and you drags! Mimosa!"
Mimosa pulled out her grimoire, her plant creation magic creating a rough map of the dungeon. "Alright. I know the rough layout of the dungeon."
"Yuno!" Klaus called.
Araceli gave Yuno a parting smile, letting the boy step away to create a ship of wind to carry him and his squad mates away.
"And? What are we going to do do?!" Noelle demanded. "We don't have any tracking spells!"
"Just follow me, then," Araceli offered, taking off.
Noelle and Asta followed her as she led the way, making sure to follow her steps as close as possible in order to avoid as many traps as they could. Along the way, they encountered all sorts of anti-theft counters, including an area where the gravity went crazy.
"Is this really the right way, Celi!?" Asta asked.
"Yes it is."
It was then that Asta spotted a chest with legs as it ran by. Asta chased after it, thinking it was the treasure. When he caught it and opened it, however, he was confronted by the sight of organs. Araceli, Nero sitting on her shoulder, shook her head as Noelle yelled at Asta. Her attention was turned from the two when, in the distance, she could feel the clash of two enemies with first Luck and then Yuno's group.
"Guys, we have trouble." Asta and Noelle turned to look at her as she stared into the distance. "I can feel enemies in the dungeon...and one just went up against Luck."
"For real?" Asta exclaimed. "We've gotta go help!"
Noelle didn't agree. "I don't know if we really have to...he's only doing what he wants to, you know? Besides, if there are other people after this dungeon's treasure hall, we need to hurry."
"You have a point, but...I disagree." Araceli's eyes scanned the walls around them. "I can feel it, even from here...Luck is in trouble."
That was all Asta needed to know. He trusted Araceli's senses, requesting that she lead the way to Luck. They arrived just in time to save him from some smoke magic threatening to suffocate him. Asta cut through the smoke easily.
The man the smoke belonged to was a Diamond Kingdom mage named Lotus. He smiled a tense smile as he looked at Asta. "Here's another impetuous one. And what are you, hmm?"
Asta didn't hesitate. "His friend!"
Lotus scratched his chin, grin on his face. "Well, well. Friends to the rescue, hmm? Quite the problem for me."
"We're your opponents, Mister!" Asta declared.
Araceli didn't think Luck agreed. Even as he swayed on his feet, Luck wasn't ready to give up. "That guy is my prey! I'll do this alone!"
Luck darted past them to attack Lotus. Lotus was ready to counter, but was taken off guard when Araceli grabbed Luck by the back of his robe, yanking him to a halt while Asta cut through Lotus' magic.
"Fine, do whatever you want," Asta told him. "And I'll do what I want and save you!"
Luck looked up as Araceli leaned over him, smiling. "Sorry, but we won't abandon you and leave you to fight alone."
Asta turned to glance back at Luck. "I dunno what you think of me! But you're my friend!"
Araceli gave Luck's head a pat. "We'll always be here to fight with you."
Luck smiled as he got to his feet. "True. Fighting together sounds lots more fun!"
While Araceli was glad that Luck was on board, they still had a strong enemy facing them and from what Araceli could pick up, he wanted to end this fight as quickly as he possibly could.
"Yeah, this is not good." Lotus flipped the page of his grimoire. "If that's how you're playing, this old guy's going to have to get serious too!"
Araceli and her friends stood back-to-back as a prison of smoke surrounded them. Even as her friends begun to try to cut through the smoke, Araceli could tell that it would do no good. There was just too much smoke around them.
"I cut and cut, but there's no end to it! It just comes back!" Asta complained.
Araceli blinked down at Asta when he was knocked off his feet as the smoke basically suckered punched him in the face. "Be careful, Asta. This smoke is dense, it'll suck the air right from your lungs if you aren't careful."
As it was, the smoke was getting thicker and it was becoming harder to breathe. Both Luck and her could locate Lotus with their magical senses, but with the thick smoke, the old man would easily evade any attack. Lotus had to have sharp magical sense too.
Then it hit Araceli.
"Luck," Luck turned to Araceli as she jabbed a thumb towards Asta. He quickly caught on to what she was silently suggesting and grinned.
They quickly put together their plan. While Luck fired off lightning attacks to drive Lotus into position, Noelle used a burst of water to launch Asta at Lotus. Since Asta had no magic, Lotus didn't sense him coming until Asta hit him hard with his sword. Injured, Lotus decided to cut and run.
"Well...I suppose that's one way to end a fight," Araceli remarked.
"I would've liked to finish him off, but now's not the time," Luck gave a curt nod. "We've got to get to the treasure hall."
Noelle stared at him in shock. "You're saying that?"
"No, he's right." Her friends turned to look at Araceli as she stared into the distance. "As strong as that man was, there's an even stronger one here. I can feel him clashing with Yuno...and it doesn't feel like Yuno is winning."
Araceli took off then, Noelle calling after her. "Celi, wait!"
"Yuno needs help!" Araceli called back, hurrying away.
They quickly followed after her, Araceli leading the way through the maze of halls. They arrived just as a large, crystal sword swung down on Yuno's head. Asta jumped in to cut the structure in half before it could land.
"Yuno!" Araceli rushed to Yuno's side, her hands gentle as she looked him over. Yuno blinked down in surprise at the tears that were forming in her eyes. "You're hurt! You and Mimosa, both! Raphael!"
Araceli's grimoire snapped open, the pages flipping before Raphael appeared from a scatter of feather. The angel towered over Araceli, white wings spreading around her protectively. "You called?"
"Please heal them. Quickly."
Smiling at how much Araceli cared, Yuno took hold of her wrist as a warming light fell over him and Mimosa. He could already feel his wounds healing, the aching dulling as his fatigue slowly vanished.
"Thanks, Araceli, but I'll be fine," he told her, wiping away a tear from one of her eyes. He then turned to look at Asta, his expression deadpanning. "Why did you do that? I almost had him."
Asta rounded on him in astonishment. "Say what?! You liar! You're all beat up! You looked like you were gonna die!"
Yuno turned his eyes back to Araceli, making her wrinkle her nose as he wiped away the rest of her tears. "I was just about to unleash a furious counter attack, and now that Araceli is healing me, it'll be even stronger."
Asta's jaw dropped. "You're so completely lying! You always do that, you know! Fine then! Let's see which of us takes this guy down first!"
Yuno turned to look down at Araceli as he got to his feet. "Thanks. Focus on Mimosa, though."
Araceli nodded. "Raphael. Mimosa needs help."
"Of course. For you, boy," Raphael tapped Yuno's head with one finger tip. A rush of warmth spread through him as his most grievous of injuries were healed. "A blessing for one so deeply cared for by this child." Raphael laid a hand on Araceli's head.
Yuno smiled, nodding before he gave the tip of Araceli's nose a tap. He watched her nose wrinkle in an adorable way before he turned to join Asta. With Raphael right behind her, Araceli joined Noelle at Mimosa's side. "How are you feeling, Mimosa?"
"I'll be fine. I wish you hadn't seen this," Mimosa turned her eyes to Noelle. "It's just as you said. I'm slow."
"True. You've always been like that," Noelle agreed before casting a shield around Mimosa and Araceli. "I'll just have to protect you! Celi, help heal her."
"Of course," Araceli turned to Mimosa, smiling. "Don't worry, Mimosa. Raphael and your spell together will have you up and walking in no time."
"Thank you, Celi."
While Araceli stayed with Mimosa, Noelle defending them, Luck helped Klaus and Yuno and Asta faced the Diamond Kingdom mage, Mars. Araceli stared as Mars made hordes of crystal copies of himself. She didn't like the feeling she got from this Mars guy. Something about his magic just felt wrong. If felt like someone had stitched together two types of magics.
Mars found out quickly that no matter how many copies and over-sized swords he threw at Asta, the boy just cut through it all. When Asta sliced at him, butting through his crystal armor, Mars came back strong, surrounding his body in crystal to lift him up and above Asta's head. Even then, though, Asta knocked him on his back, rendering him heavily injured and unconscious.
Klaus used his magic to bind Mars, Raphael vanishing after Araceli thanked her for her help. Asta, munching on herbs, turned to Klaus. "Is that binding magic gonna hold?
"Of course it's going to hold! It's not so flimsy a wounded person could break it!" Klaus snapped.
"Fine, yeesh. Don't be so touchy," Asta replied.
Klaus adjusted his glasses. "We were competing to see who could get here first. We won. However, we'll let you enter the treasure hall as well, just this once!"
"Why're you so full of yourself, Four-eyes?!" Asta demanded. "Thank you very much, you big jerk!"
Araceli shook her head as the two paused their back and forth when they finally realized that none of them knew how to open the door to the treasure hall. Hearing her chuckle, they all turned to Araceli.
"It's magic, so just cut through it, Asta."
"Oh?"
Araceli laughed at the dumbfounded looks some of them gave her.
With an easy slice, Asta cut into the door, opening it for them. The room beyond was filled to the brim with riches. Araceli had never seen so many shiney objects gathered in one room. It had her inner glitter goblin foaming at the mouth and demanding that she stroke everything.
Everyone scattered to see what they could find, Araceli only scanning the area. She walked past several piles of gold coins and various bejeweled items. She knew that if Glycon was there, the dragon would have lost his mind.
"Araceli," Araceli turned when Yuno called her. She joined him as he turned to her, something in his hands. "Turn for me."
She didn't even question him. She turned to present him with her back, trusting him completely. Her eyes dropped as he hooked something around her neck and secured it place. Turning back towards him, she lifted the necklace he had just put on her. The pendant was silver and shaped like beautiful bird with long tail feathers, the bird wrapped around a moonstone.
"It's beautiful," she remarked, smiling at him. "I like it."
"Then you should keep it," he told her.
"Do you think it will be alright?" Araceli turned the charm, watching the light reflect off the stone.
"It's one piece. I'm sure it'll be fine."
Araceli gave him a bright smile. "Since you picked it out, I think I will."
Seeing her smile so brightly made him smile too. He was glad to see her happy after all he sadness he had picked up from her letter. He tilted his head when she perked up, turning as her smile slipped away. "What is it?"
"I sense strong magic." Araceli made her way through the piles of treasure following her senses. Yuno trailed after her until she came to a stop in front of a pedestal on which sat a scroll. "There's some kind of wind magic in it."
Yuno picked up the scroll, opening it to reveal strange writing. Both of them examined the scroll. Araceli jolted when the scroll suddenly lit up. When the light faded, the writing was gone.
"What was that light?" Klaus asked.
"I don't know. Araceli?" Yuno looked down at her.
"Sorry, I have no idea." Araceli flinched, reaching up to clamp her hands around her head as a sudden and intense wave of magic hit her on a wave of malice like none she had ever felt before. "No..."
Yuno laid a hand on her shoulder as she broke out in a cold sweat. "What is it?"
Araceli didn't answer. She whipped around towards Noelle and Mimosa. "Noelle, Mimosa! Run!"
She was too late in calling out her warning. With an explosion of crystal Mars burst into the room, crystals forming a reinforced armor around him. Yuno shoved Araceli out of the way as those razor-sharp crystals shot out, trapping him, Klaus and Luck.
Noelle stepped in front of Mimosa. "I'll put out those flames!"
"Noelle, no!" Araceli darted forward when Mars attacked her, splitting open the front of her clothes and her chest.
Araceli reached Noelle as Asta tried to attack Mars only to be knocked through a wall like he was nothing more than a fly. Mimosa quickly cast a healing spell on Noelle. With Asta down for the moment and the other three guys trapped, that left Araceli to stand between Mars and Mimosa and Noelle.
'Who should I call? Who could stand against him and not cause panic or mass destruction?' Araceli couldn't think of a good match. She paused when Harlequin's voice sounded in her head.
"Don't summon, Miss...become me."
'Become you?' Araceli's attention flew to her grimoire as it popped open, and entirely new spell appearing. "It's not a summons..."
As Mars towered over her, Araceli didn't question it any further. She had to act, not think.
"Mythic Magic: Synthesis...Faerie Queen!"
A mini storm of flower petals engulfed Araceli and when they scattered, her appearance had drastically changed. Her purple dress and Magic Knight robe had been replaced by a dark green, sleeveless leotard, light green pants with one leg cut off at mid-thigh, and dark green gloves, one reaching up to mid-bicep and the other only reaching her wrist.
Green, vine-like markings wove their way down her left side, as if they had been tattooed into her skin. The biggest change was the glittery, see-through, green and gold fairy wings that had sprouted from her shoulder blades.
"Wow," Araceli twisted to look at her wings as they fluttered, lifting her off the ground. "I really do look like Harlequin." Her eyes turned back to Mars. "Mimosa, focus on healing Noelle."
"What about you?" Mimosa asked.
Araceli squared her shoulders. "Don't worry about me." She looked over her shoulder at Mimosa and gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm harder to kill than a weed."
She turned back to find Mars glaring down at her. "I will kill you."
"We'll see about that."
Araceli darted forward, surprising even herself with the speed her paper-thin wings granted her. She dodged a swing of one massive, crystal arm. A whip of a razor-sharp vine lashed out from her hand, opening a cut across his face. A cut that instantly healed with his flame magic.
She dropped when he retaliated. Touching the ground, she yanked her hand up. Plant roots broke free of the ground, wrapping around the crystals to keep him rooted in place. Mars grew more aggravated the more the vines wrapped around the crystal, weaving between the jagged pieces. No matter how many times he ripped them or burned them, more grew to replace them. She knew he would eventually get through them, but she had to make time for the boys to get free.
"Araceli!"
Hearing Yuno's warning call, Araceli looked up as Mars swung one large fist down on her head. Her friends stared in concern, only relaxing when Mars moved the limb to reveal a barrier of plant life protecting Araceli from him.
Mars paused when a flower, large and pretty, bloomed on top of the barrier. It's petals opened wide and glowed as if sprinkled with glitter. As if hypnotized by the shining petals, Mars leaned in. All of the light gathered in the center of the flower...and blew up in his face.
With a roar of pain, Mars pulled away, briefly blinded by his own blood. As his flames started healing his injuries, Araceli popped up out of the barrier.
She winced when she looked at him. "That hurts."
Now really angry, Mars turned on her. "I'm fine on my own. I have vast magic. Those without magic are weak. The weak are not needed! The weak should vanish!"
Araceli braced herself as multiple crystalline blades formed, flying for her. Before they could touch her or Mimosa and Noelle behind her, Asta jumped back in, a new sword in his hand.
"Asta..."
She had no idea where Asta had gotten the new sword, but the smaller, thinner blade made it easier for Asta to dodge Mars' attacks. Event hen, though, with Mars' flame recovery magic, Asta's attacks were next to useless.
"What are you doing...Dorksta?" Araceli turned to find Noelle struggling to lift her head. "I'm a royal and...you...you're the first...commoner I...acknowledged. That guy's...nothing. Hurry up and crush him...Asta!"
The sword in Asta's hand started glowing then. When Asta, now encouraged by Noelle's words, attacked again, the sword unleashed a water slash. All of them were surprised.
"That was...that was Noelle's magic," Araceli gasped. "Did the sword borrow her magic?"
Whatever the cause was,t he water slash cut clear through Mars' crystal armor. Araceli jolted when she noticed a large shard of broken crystal that was buried in Asta's gut. "Asta!"
She rushed forward, catching Asta as he collapsed. She eased him to the ground, checking on him. A shadow falling on her made her look up as Mars towered over her, a large sword forming high over her head.
"Araceli, move!" Yuno yelled.
To everyone's horror, instead of running, Araceli stood, placing herself between Mars and Asta, arms spread wide. She wouldn't let Mars hurt her friends. Seeing that she wasn't going to move, Yuno panicked. Wind exploded the crystal away from him, freeing him, but he knew he didn't have a spell in his grimoire that would reach Araceli in time.
In his moment of refusal to let her or Asta die, it summoned forth a new spell, a small creature much like Araceli's Harlequin appearing before him. She yawned and blew out a single breath. The result was literally explosive.
Araceli was blown off her feet, rubble cover her as Mars' armor and sword was completely demolished. With Mars truly rendered unconscious, Klaus and Luck were freed. Mimosa ran to help Asta, Yuno racing to Araceli. Moving the rubble off of her, he found her unconscious, blood dripping from a gash in her forehead. She had reverted back to her normal appearance, her unconscious state unraveling the spell.
Yuno gathered her in his arms, looking up as the walls around them begun to break apart. "The dungeon...it's collapsing!" Yuno quickly cast his Celestial Wind Ark spell to carry them out. "Everyone, get on! We're getting out!"
Luck grabbed Asta, laying him down on the ark for Mimosa to see to. Asta, half conscious, tried to get them to rescue Mars, but they couldn't get to him without risking themselves.
Still holding on to Araceli, Yuno flew them out, Luck guiding them. When they were safely out, all of them could breathe easy once more.
A low groan had Yuno looking down at Araceli as her eyes fluttered open. It took her a moment for her eyes to focus. "Yuno?"
"Hey," Yuno heaved a relieved sigh. "How are you feeling?"
"It feels like there's a band of tiny people playing drums in my head, but fine otherwise." Araceli stared up at him dazed for a moment before her eyes went wide and she twisted in his arms. "Asta!? How's Asta!?"
"Mimosa's healing him."
Araceli grabbed her grimoire. "Raphael." The angel appeared a moment later. "Pleased help Mimosa." Raphael nodded, turning to lend Mimosa a hand with Asta's injuries. Only once the angel got to work did Araceli relax, her attention turning to Yuno. "Uh, Yuno...you can put me down now."
Yuno placed her on her feet, keeping hold on her shoulders until she was steady on her feet. "You alright?"
"Yeah. Raphael can heal this easily." Araceli reached up to touch the gash on her head. "That last spell of yous really packed quiet the punch."
"Sorry. Didn't intend to knock you out too." Yuno reached out, brushing her hair away from the cut. "But what did you think you were doing? Putting yourself in danger like that."
Araceli gave him a sheepish smile. "Sorry. I saw Asta and the girls in danger and all I could think of was losing someone else."
Any scolding that Yuno had planned to give her melted away in that instant. He really couldn't blame her for wanting to protect her friends. That said...they didn't want to lose her anymore than she wanted to lose them. "Next time, don't put yourself on the line. We'd hate it to lose you as well."
Araceli smiled sweetly. "Understood."
Araceli joined Mimosa at Asta's side then, Raphael laying a hand on her head to heal the wound to her head. The cut healed long before Asta finally woke up.
"Oh, I'm so glad!" Mimosa exclaimed when he finally opened his eyes.
"Just as long as you're alright, Dorksta," Noelle added.
Araceli smiled at him. "I'm glad you recover so quickly."
Yuno scoffed from behind her. "The guy's tough. That's his only virtue."
Araceli chuckled as Asta gasped in offense. "What was that, Yuno!? I've got lots of other virtues!" A smile curled Asta's lips. "Like I'd actually die before I got to be the Wizard King!"
Yuno smirked in reply. "I'm the one who's going to be the Wizard King!"
"What if I want to be the Wizard King?" Araceli asked, puffing out one cheek. Smiling, Yuno pulled on that puffed out cheek, making her make a face at him.
"You three..." The three of them turned as Klaus addressed them. "I'm so..." Araceli blinked in surprise as Klaus suddenly grabbed them in a hung, Araceli trapped between Yuno and Asta. "So sorry! I wouldn't acknowledge you because you were peasants. I'm ashamed of myself! You are all excellent Magic Knights of the Clover Kingdom!"
"Wait...you thought I was a peasant?" Araceli asked, pulling away from his hug. "I'm from the Cruxia family...a noble family."
Klaus stared at her, jaw hanging. "Y-you are?!"
Araceli chuckled as Asta and Yuno needled him. Whatever Klaus thought, she was just glad that everyone was alright. She would enjoy that as long as she could.
END
Kyandi: You know, I really hated Klaus at the beginning.
Araceli: And now?
Kyandi: Now he just creeps me out. He watches Yuno sleep, for crying out loud!
Araceli: But it's sweet...in a creepy way.
Kyandi: ….You heard it right?
Araceli: Yeah, I heard it as soon as I said it.
Kyandi: Anyway, the next chapter starts the big changes in choices and story line.
Araceli: Should be interesting.
Kyandi: We'll see. Everyone, enjoy and review.
Araceli: We'll be back as soon as we can.
Kyandi: Bye-bye!