Fate/Clover Chapter 6:

Archer blinked, his eyes dreary and his back sore. He grunted as the muscles in his back cracked. He tried to get up but a pair of strong, unyielding arms kept him locked. He relented to his fate, uncaring of the farm outside. Archer's meticulous nature made itself known in the way he ran his makeshift farm. It was almost entirely automized using this world's magic systems and his handy grimoire.

Archer was no master of runes, but the basics of the basics were doable by him. His Grimoire proved itself useful as an autonomous setting, like a computer program.

Speaking of which. Archer's grimoire floated next to him, the gears silently spinning as it controlled the entirety of Archer's systems. It was a fascinating tool, this grimoire, one that Archer enjoyed tinkering with. Then a fist punched his grimoire out of his room, smashing the window. The window itself was repaired quickly but Archer sighed, nonetheless.

"Was that necessary?" asked Archer.

Mereoleona, naked as the day she was born, snuggled into Archer's shoulder. Her snoring then resumed. Archer lifted the soft cool blanket and wrapped the two of them together. The poor man grunted as the bite and scratch marks still didn't heal, traces of Mereoleona's burning mana anchoring within his flesh. Of all the things a mana transfer could do…this was one Archer didn't expect. Still, her warmth was nice, and he began to curl his fingers down Mereoleona's legs, her scowl increasing as her eyes blazed open, a small growl echoing in the room.

"It's time to get up."

"Says who?" she grunted.

"Says me. We have chores."

"You have chores."

A fair point.

Archer untangled himself from his lover, ignoring the pointed look she gave his rear.

"Later," said Archer "We'll be here all day if we start now."

Archer also ignored the stupid grin she shot at him. It wasn't his fault damnit that she turned everything into a competition. Apparently giving a woman a few orgasms and not orgasming yourself during sex was…insulting. Who knew? Since then, Mereoleona had made it her mission to destroy him in every conceivable field of battle and love over the years. It was utterly exhausting, and Archer found that he didn't rightly care all that much. Having her here was a blessing in and of itself.

Getting dressed and making food was part of the course for Archer, the routine that he and Mereoleona had fallen into. He turned to the wall beside his kitchen, smiling at the maps and images that littered it. Every man zone they've visited. Most of them, he and Mereoleona were together. But there were a few where Mereoleona went herself.

Archer scratched at the stubble that wrapped around his jaw. A five o'clock shadow…an oddity. At first, Archer didn't consider himself the bearded type of fellow. Still didn't. But apparently, Mereoleona wanted to see him with one, so why not. Made shaving less of a chore that was for certain. Archer smiled as the smell of food brought Mereoleona down…however nude she may have been.

"Really?"

His lover smiled as she spread herself on the chair.

"Honestly you act like such a prude sometimes."

With a snap of his fingers, a familiar shroud wrapped itself around Mereoleona. To Archer, it was a near-divine sight. Mereoleona sighed as the somehow soft material just rubbed against her so good.

"This is heavenly" she muttered dreamily, "seriously what is this thing made of? It keeps me cool when it's hot, and hot when it's cool."

"It is a holy shroud from my world. It offers some protection against curses as well."

"Seriously? This is the tits."

Archer faltered on a pancake clip at the stove but kept it going. Mereoleona laughed. Soon her arms wrapped around him from behind. Mereoleona's hot breath tickled Archer's throat as she rubbed herself on his stubble.

"You're growing it?"

Archer smirked.

"Is there a reason I shouldn't?"

Mereoleona sighed.

"I don't want you growing it just because I'm curious."

"You're not the only one who's curious. In my past life, my body was…"

Memories assaulted him. He was used to it but Archer found that he wasn't too keen on describing the desecration that he wrought on his own body to Mereoleona.

"Archer?"

"Sorry" chuckled Archer seamlessly, "Just remembering a funny joke. No, magi couldn't grow facial hair very well in my past life. Some not at all."

"…I'll say this time and again. Your world was weird."

"It truly was. But I could say the same for your world."

Mereoleona chuckled.

"Fine. Then I'll keep my hair long."

"What?"

Mereoleona chuckled, Archer's shroud wrapped around her like a robe. She ran her fingers through her mane.

"I know you like long hair."

Archer stared at her; his surprise palpable.

"I never-I would never."

"Oh, shut up. Everyone has their preferences. Keeping my hair long is not the end of the world. Besides makes us even for the beard whether you keep it or not."

"…honestly woman you vex me."

She grinned, utterly uncaring of the surprises she wrought. Instead she nuzzled into him again, her nose brushing against his own.

"I've been thinking" she whispered.

"Oh?" smirked Archer, "of what?"

"Children."

CRACK.

Mereoleona smiled as Archer's face turned to stone, his favourite handmade skillet now broken in his grip, the metal twisted within his superhuman grip.

"I'm not sure yet if I want one or not…if children are even in the cards for me."

She shrugged, turning away from Archer…staring at something he couldn't see.

"I've never considered myself the mother type, you know? Even now I still don't have some overbearing urge to have kids. But…every now and again I think about it."

She turned to Archer once more, a small smile.

"I'm not sure one way or the other…but I want to talk to you more about it. Get your thoughts."

She stared at Archer, his unmoving expression. She grew concerned as the minutes passed.

"You all right?"

"I just…never thought of having one" stated Archer.

Could he even have one?

"I know. But it's something I've been thinking about, and I wanted to make sure we were both talking about it. Both are on the same page."

Archer nodded. He understood it.

"I…I want to talk about it more with you," said Archer, "after I've had some time."

"Sure. No rush anyways! I'm only in my thirties."

Ah, that little tidbit. The abundance of Mana in this world made youth an…odd concept. There were multiple ways to increase one's lifespan and youth in this world, all of them through benign means. Simply with the virtue of magic did a normal humans lifespan increase greatly. The average age for wizards in this world ranged from 100-150 years old depending on their magic. The window for children were much greater. Though that was a massive variable. There were some whose mana was weaker and thus didn't enjoy the same benefits. It was another more physical aspect that differentiated nobles from the peasants. Not to mention that the visible signs of age didn't translate to the physical signs. Someone could look like their eighty and move like they were twenty.

The world was weird.

"I…"

Her hand clasped his face, her smile…oddly sweet. She nuzzled his nose again.

"I know. There's no rush. I know for a fact that if you don't want kids… then I'd be ok with that."

"Truly?" whispered Archer.

"Yea. I don't even know if it's something I want for myself. Sure, is fun making one though!"

Archer's face turned blank as Mereoleona belted out laughing. She stole a pancake straight from his ruined skillet, eating the oddly sweet pastry without care.

"Speaking of children" muttered Archer, "How's the family? It's been what? Five years since we last visited them? During Leopold's ceremony, right?"

A coming-of-age ceremony the Vermillion's did. Some kind of permanent eye shadow of some sort. Archer didn't see the point in it but who was he to judge?

"Yea" she smiled, remembering her youngest brother's excitement, "we've been stuck investigating that stupid mountain range for Julius."

"Wasn't so stupid when we found that…dragon thing."

A strange golem made of metal in the shape of a dragon was not something that Archer was expecting when traversing a mountain. But with it destroyed the Clover Kingdom now had an abundance in minerals, creating a boom for the economy across all social classes. It was far from the power of the phantasmal that Archer was used to fighting, so he refused to call it a dragon.

"Doubt Leopold would even remember you" snickered Mereoleona.

Archer smirked, remembering the small eight-or-so boy that hid from him. Supposedly he had a "resting bitch face" as Mereoleona put it. It was more a boon than a curse though, as it kept the annoying rabble and nobles away. Still, he found it odd that Silva boy would still stare at him so much. He knew he had become a goal for the boy to surpass but still…why blush at him? Fuegoleon was an interesting fellow. The two of them rarely talked, Archer only having had one genuine discussion with the man. Conflicting schedules and Mereoleona's lack of tolerance for city life made communication between them sparse.

Still, Archer knew her parents appreciated the book Mereoleona used to contact her parents. Where was that thing anyways? Archer finished creating his food and was not surprised to find that Mereoleona's back was too him.

"You alright?" he asked.

Mereoleona said nothing and simply walked up the stairs, leaving Archer's shroud behind. Archer shrugged and continued making the food. However, once the food was on the plate he began to worry.

"Where is she?" muttered Archer.

Her mana was still present but it was dampened…slow. It was if something had doused the flames within her. Archer ignored his food, quickly pushing through his home. The basement, where he kept his aging wine was empty, the base floor was empty as well. Archer went into their bedroom, the disaster that it was, and found Mereoleona utterly focused on the clothes, throwing everything into some makeshift pack.

Archer turned to the witch's journal that Mereoleona kept and glowing on the pages was a single sentence.

"Your brother has been hurt. He's not waking up. Please come home."

Archer sighed.

"Leona."

She stopped and turned to him. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his face resolute.

"We have no time to waste."

She scoffed.

"It will take us days to get there. Even if I fly at full speed I'll still need to rest."

"And if it wouldn't take three days?"

She blinked.

"What?"

"Get dressed and meet me outside."

Before she could respond Archer moved outside, jumping out of the window. He admitted that he felt little connection with Mereoleona's family…but the sliver of connection that was there made Archer want to be there…to support them…to help in anyway. The rusted wheels in his reality marble moved slowly, a loud clanking with each segment moved. Slow…but steady.

Archer moved to the shed, the one that he never let Mereoleona use, and revealed his side project. The gift that he was making for her. There, in all it's augmented glory, was a motorcycle. It was a stupid thing, a concept that shouldn't have existed. Yet, there it was, a vehicle of his world…or at least the printed-out variant of it.

Mereoleona detested brooms because of how slow they were. At first, Archer was just building a better broom. From the countless shared decades of structural analysis, the blueprint was in his head for all sorts of magical staves. However, it wasn't until he got his grimoire that he was able to make any headway at all. His grimoire, for all its fancy skills, was good at one thing and one thing only.

It was a direct connection to his reality marble, a way to interface with his world without expending any mana at all. With it, it was possible to withdraw the actual weapons and other goodies stored within. To compare the two was rather simple. Archer was akin to a 3D printer. Tracing allowed him to recreate his inner world's weapons with nearly hundred percent accuracy. But the grimoire allowed him to pull them out. As they were brought out and witnessed by Archer, their blueprint was readded to his inner world, while the grimoire obtained a noble phantasm to store within its pages….kind of. It was insanity in its truest form as Archer didn't really understand it all that well. Were the pages sort of like a stored state?

A quick memory to help facilitate tracing. Or were the pages storing a copy of it? Archer didn't really care so long as it worked. There must have been some sort of expenditure obviously because surely…he did not accidentally delve into the denial of nothingness. He had enough insanity in his life (though if it were true, he knew Rin would quite literally explode).

As for the motorcycle. Even as complete as the design was the result was a massive scrap heap that wouldn't work…but the frame…the skeleton? That was another story. Hence, for the last so many years Archer had tinkered away at it, creating a monster of a mana vehicle…it was just sad that now was the time it was needed. As Archer wheeled it out Mereoleona came, emerging from the house like a vengeful spirit. Her face was stone cold, but her mana churning like a volcano. She wasn't one for long bouts of sadness. No…she was the vengeful type. She stared at Archer before landing her eyes on what looked so…alien to her. To Archer it looked more like a standard black Harley.

"….the actual fuck is that?"

Archer smirked.

"What will get us where we need to go. We can take the usual route but this vehicle should be able to get us there faster."

"….wait is this?"

"Your gift…yes."

"…It's uh…pretty…"

Archer would have laughed at any other time. But not now.

"Hop on and let's go."

Mereoleona rolled her eyes but sat down, nonetheless. It was a more awkward affair than even Archer was expecting as she tried to adjust herself a few times before finally just wrapping herself around him. Archer then roared the engine. Even in the midst of her hatred and anger, there was a spark of genuine joy in Mereoleona's mana. The rumble of the machine was enough for her to realize that this wasn't a weird-looking broom.

This thing was a monster in a class of its own.

"…ok" she smirked, feeling the rumble, "this I can get behind."

"I'd figured. Now hold on, the bike will take mana from us both."

"Archer, I've flown a broom before. Even if this thing is bEEEE!"

They rocketed through the air with powerful propulsion. This bike was nothing like the ones Archer had based it on. Memories of a golden rider hellbent on a need for speed echoed through Archer's memories. The baseline design of the propulsion system had come from that noble phantasm, though he lacked the ability to simply transplant it as such. The truth was for all of Archer's skill this was a bare speck in comparison to the original. But in this world? It was revolutionary. Using Mereoleona's mana as the catalyst the bike basically propelled itself through the air, using the same magic as the brooms to do so. The wheels were ablaze, using a bastardized version of {Flame} Mana burst to propel itself. The magic of the brooms was quite ingenious, though it was lacking due to the materials used in their make. Archer didn't have to care much for materials, after all his inner world created whatever materials, he needed for his tracing. The grimoire acted like a printer, ejecting raw materials as he needed them. In truth Archer supposed their was some kind of half-life to them, but with the bike now firmly imprinted into his grimoire, he could simply mass produce it as needed.

The only constraint was time. Certain materials could take months to fabricate properly. He once created a replica of Gae Bolg. It was the same quality as his tracing but seemingly permanent.

It had taken two years to create.

So no, Archer was in no hurry to mass produce his weapons…though there were a few that were created and now "Physical" rather than "Mystical". Deciding he had lived in his thoughts long enough, the bowman gunned the "gas" and the bike screamed like a wild horse. The flames became a pillar behind them as they tore through the skies. It did not erase the sadness, but Archer was happy to hear Mereoleona screaming all the same.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

-Three Hours later-

The bike was a smashing success in Archer's opinion. Mereoleona was almost frothing at the mouth to make the "metal beast" as she put it hers. He had, somehow, been convinced to allow her to try riding it midair. That…was a mistake.

CRACK! BOOM!

The issue wasn't control. Once in the driver's seat the bike flew even smoother, as it was designed with her mana in mind. Their speed increased as well. The issue was that she didn't know how to stop…even after six explanations.

"Made it!" grinned Mereoleona, smiling amidst the burning flowers of her mothers garden. The bike was no worse for wear, though the raging fire exploding out of the tires was a tad concerning for him. As a "rider" he was protected from the flames with enchantments and mana skin…the people around them not so much.

"Quite" grumbled Archer, lamenting the loss of the foliage, "now what's your plan again?"

"Find the fucker who hurt him, kill the bastard, then train up Fugoleon so he stops being a pussy!"

"…..Why did I even bother asking?"

Mereoleona revved the Engine loudly one last time for good measure. Even went as far as to pat the bike like it was a legit animal.

"Whose mama's favourite? You are!" she grinned.

Archer rose an eyebrow but ignored it. She could get this…cutesy mood every now and again. Reminded him of that random lion costume she had lying around. The burning bike slowly eased and fell into a stop. Archer sighed in pity at the horrified scream of the gardner.

"My apologies Bartholomew" he whispered.

"Ah he can grow it back".

Running out to meet them was Leowin, her eyes filled with tears.

"You! You made it so soon?"

There were no words as the daughter hugged her mother tightly. Archer stayed in the rear, unwilling to get involved in a family matter. He closed his eyes, beginning to think of a plan of action. What was it that he could do here? How could he assist Mereo-!

Archer stiffened as he opened his eyes, looking down as Leowin crushed him in her embrace. She was not a small woman by any means but her head rested on his chest.

"Thank you" she whispered, "for getting her here so quickly."

Archer nodded stiffly, not use to what accounted to motherly affection.

"Of course me-"

Leowin's eyes narrowed as she separated from him.

"Enough of that nonsense. You've been with Mereoleona long enough. You are family. Now stop with this distance and come along. We're meeting the others at the hospital."

"Is it that bad?" asked Archer.

"They don't know" she grumbled, "he's not waking up. Everything seems to be ok but…he just won't wake up."

Odd. Archer knew that this world had the means to simply scan for curses and other abnormalities. The idea that there would be something they could miss was unlikely.
"Where's Leopold?"

The distraught mother sighed, her age showing as she grimaced. The bits of her burning mane now had a small streak of white, the stress affecting her greatly.

"He's with Hunter. He didn't want the boy to be alone. He…he blames himself."

"Idiot," muttered Mereoleona.

"Not the way I'd put it, but yes. It's quite foolish."

Archer stayed silent as the two talked with each other. He focused entirely on what he could do in the here and now. Leowin…he admitted he had a fondness for her. Mereoleone's mother was a spitfire just like her and seeing that flame sputter so was...disheartening. Already Archer had ideas of what he could do. A combination of wanting to help and experiment fueling his radical ideas. But they would have to wait till the hospital.

No due to give false hope.

The walk was not silent, but Archer was. He ignored the way the townspeople stared at him. For Archer, he believed it had to do with his skin tone, as darker skin was not all that common here in the kingdoms. But alas he was incorrect. No, instead it was the idea that he was Mereoleona's lover. Gossip spread fast in the capital of the clover kingdom with most believing that Archer was a secret member of the Silva family.

"That guy is massive!" muttered one.

"He's so handsome!"

"Is he a Silva?"

Archer's focus was so deep that his usual use of Ki was restrained to the contours of his skin. Wouldn't do to hear everything around him at the moment now would it?

"We're here."

Archer scowled at the building. He already disliked the lack of fortifications on the building itself. Any competent general looking to end a war would aim for the medics first, rules of war be damned. He ignored the doctors and nurses who began talking with Leowin and Mereoleona. He was brought into a sterile room with strange constructs hovering over Fugoleon. Archer spent his time analyzing the fallen warrior. The teenager he met years ago was now a man. Well built, strong, but obviously missing his damn arm. Ki, when used correctly, could be an amazing tool no doubt. But when used in conjunction with magic though was where Ki shone at it's brightest. Archer wasn't entirely certain of the mechanics behind it, but Ki and magic were…different. Different enough that they could be conjoined in a spell for a greater focus and intensity.

In the case of structural analysis, it allowed Archer to analyze the body of a given target and freely see what was in it. It was like an ultrasound. A massive headache-inducing ultrasound that was in no way comparable to a genuine ultrasound machine. But it told him what he needed to know. There was something there with Fuegoleon, something within. Something magical.

"What did you just do?" demanded a nurse.

Archer ignored her as Mereoleona stared at him. Archer lifted his Grimoire.

"HEY!"

The gears spun as fire spewed from the grimoire, Archer narrowing his eyes at a strange presence that was attached to Fuegoleon. Archer closed his eyes, steam slowly forming off his skin. Golden particles began to flow from Archer to Fugoleon's fallen form. The sheath of Arturia, Avalon. The sheath was lost to Archer a long time ago, but the body of Shirou Emiya that had fallen into this world with him was used to create his new life. The sheath within the boy remained with Archer. Alone it couldn't do much. Even Archer could only use a bare fraction of the power held within it.

But…with the grimoire came another means to use it. Something that Archer had no chances to use yet. A hot breath escaped Archer's mouth as he dug deep, summoning the pages of his grimoire. The grimoire cracked as blue fire spewed between the gears, a holy light filtering through. Archer gritted his teeth, ignoring the once familiar pain coursing through his body. The light of Excalibur shone through the pages, empowering the sheath, if only slightly. Nothing could truly compensate for the lack of Arturia's mana, but Excalibur was likely the one true exception to the rule. If Archer could call on a mere fraction, then Excalibur could invoke 3 fourths.

Archer gritted his teeth but remained stalwart, letting the grimoire do what it needed to. Eventually, his concentration ceased, as the sheath rejected the mana. Archer was soaked in sweat, but he rolled his neck as if he had done nothing at all. Physical exertion of this level was normal for him once upon a time, it wasn't that hard to revisit such a habit. Golden particles flew from Fugoleon's chest, his arm regrown…but still he was unconscious.

"The actual fuck Archer."

Archer turned to his lover, a little surprised at her scowling.

"I regrew his arm. A little thanks would be nice."

"I appreciate it but look at you!"

Archer looked down, surprised to see a strange jellyfish-like construct healing his body. Bits of his skin were charred as well.

"Are the consequences here steeper?" thought Archer.

It would make sense. What Archer accomplished was like overclocking his own system. It was hitting his theoretical 100% that his body couldn't handle…and it would seem the consequences were more dire than a darker skin tone and damaged nerves.

"Ah, so you were the one keeping me cool," smirked Archer, turning to an elderly man.

The man wore a similar scowl to Mereoleona.

"I have never seen such disregard in my life! I didn't even think it was possible to push yourself that way! Are you insane!?"

"Fugoleon-"

"He is fine, yes. But you are not! Nurse, get me another bed."

"I'll be-"

Whatever it was that the counter guardian was going to say was stopped. For a flaming paw gripped his head and lifted him off the ground. Whatever strength he had was sapped by the strange spell.

"….this is new."

"Shut it you! Now where's this bed?"

"….I was expecting a thank you."

"Shut up!"

"….."

Archer turned as best he could to face Leowin. But even she was not impressed. Thankful, dreadfully so, but pissed off none the less.

"We'll be talking about such recklessness in the future young man!"

"….I'm thirty years old. I am not a child."

"AND?"

"…I'll be silent."

Archer stared into space, wondering how his life got to this point. The care was nice. Felt good…but honestly was it that bad?

-Three days later-

A hospital here, as it turned out, was throughout. Brutal even. And yes, it was bad.

"Your entire magic system was put through its paces in a way that I didn't even think was possible" explained the doctor whose name Archer never remembered. Archer stared at the flaming chains keeping him bound in the bed. He could have broken out…but Mereoleona wanted him to stay so he did.

"and?"

"That's biologically impossible. You're not a machine! You can't just…just overheat!"

"Well, he did so buzz off doc."

The doctor looked as if he would kill, but reluctantly left the room. Archer smirked but she was far from happy.

"You're a reckless tit you know that?"

"….thank you?"

"Look…I love that you would go that far for my family, I really do. But watching you literally steam away is not what I wanted. You know that."

Archer felt nothing at her compassion. If he had to kill himself a thousand times over for her sake than he would without a second thought. It wasn't healthy. Fuck, nothing about him was. But that was how he was…and there was no fixing it. There was only maintaining the façade of sanity.

"I understand."

The most powerful woman in the Clover kingdom merely sighed. Then she hopped right into bed with him, placing her head on his chest.

"I need you to do something for me."

Archer smirked.

"This is a first," he grinned.

"I'm serious."

"Alright. Shoot."

"What?"

"A saying from my world. It means ask away."

What she requested wasn't what Archer was expecting. Honestly, he wasn't a fan…but if that was what she wanted then fine.

-Three days later, Asta P.O.V-

"HOLY CRAP! This place is great!"

Noelle sighed, watching their resident meat head rush around the festival like a fool.

"Come on Asta, slow down. Is now the time to be running around like a child?"

"Hey! This is my first festival here at the capital! Give me a break here! Oooh! What's that!?"

Noelle turned and blinked at what had to be a…coloured cloud. The child was eating away at it with the most serene expression she had ever seen. Even the parents that were with the said child seemed to be enjoying the odd treat.

"Perhaps we can find?"

"HEY! WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE!?"

Noelle felt her eyes twitch as Asta just barged right at them.

"Asta we can't be wasting time! We have to go-"

The boy than rushed off, leaving his companion behind. Noelle sighed, rubbing her eyes.

"Mom just had to pick the Black Bulls didn't she."

Noelle lamented the practice her mother had for her and her siblings. Each of them, her eldest brother included, was sent to different magic squads for a few years at a time. To get a feel for the different squads and how they operate. It was supposed to make the silver eagles stronger, or so her mother mentioned.

Still…did she have to join the most violent and destructive squad in the Kingdom? To be fair she had learned a lot and even grew to respect Yami, her current squad leader. She was still excited to go back to her mother's squad next year though. With the grace of royalty, Noelle moved through the crowd. Thankfully Asta was going towards stands, right where they were supposed to be for the Wizard King's announcement. She knew that her current squad leader Yami had a bone to pick with the Green Mantis. As such she was prepared for their usual batch of insanity. What she saw was far from it though.

A strange man, with hair like her own, was standing in front of a strange stall. To the right was a machine that was making the cloud candy that she saw earlier. On the right was a pool of…liquid candy? She wasn't entirely sure what it was, but people were lined up like no one else. In the distance, several stall owners were weeping in the distance. Asta was somehow next in line, smiling away at the machines.

"What do you want?" asked the man, his baritone voice echoing seamlessly through the crowd.

"One of those cloud things please!"

"Colour."

"Uh…Black!"

Of course, the fool would pick black.

"Sure."

The man whipped out a stick, a stick of all things! He poured some strange black crystals and then began to swirl the stick within the strange machine. She felt nothing from the man, no mana, no sound. But seemingly without magic, the stick began to swirl and swirl as a black cloud began to form. Asta smiled and took the candy.

"How much!"

"Magic Knights eat free."

"REALLY!"

"Only one."

"Then can I get a white one for my friend!"

Noelle blushed a bit as Asta pointed out at her.

"Ah, a silva. Sure."

She blinked. She had a strange sense of familiarity with him…but she couldn't place where from. Was he a cousin of some sort? Another child came after Asta, pointing at the strange pool of candy.

"Shape?"

The boy tilted his head and then grinned.

"I want a unicorn with wings and a flaming mane!"

Noelle sighed, watching as the poor mother deflated at her son's desire. Yet, to both their surprise the man simply placed a stick inside the candy and as he pulled it out…there it was. A bright blue unicorn with a flaming mane. She could have sworn she felt magic then…but it was so faint that it might as well not have existed.

"Who is that man?" she muttered, "why is he here?"

"Dunno, don't care! This stuff is great!"

The royal girl sighed in frustration as Asta shoved the white cloud in her face. The sky rumbled as the wizard king appeared on stage. Noelle ignored her favorite idiot and focused on the matter at hand…though this strange candy was good.

"Welcome!" smiled the wizard king, "thank you to those who made it. Today we have a few special announcements before we declare the standings of the magic knight squads."

Julius gestured towards the woman to his right, clad in the crimson cloak of the lions.

"While her brother is incapacitated, Mereoleona Vermillion has taken the leadership role of the Crimson Lions."

Asta blinked.

"Who is that?"

Noelle, used to his stupidity, answered.

"She's lord Fugoleon's older sister."

"Seriously!?"

"Yes, seriously! She's the strongest magic knight in the Kingdom! She might even be the next Wizard King!"

"SERIOUSLY!?"

Asta stared at the woman. At first, he grinned, wondering how he could surpass her… then she locked eyes with him. It was as if a torrent…no a sea of flames had engulfed him in that moment, threatening to crush him underneath her. The pressure was insane, greater than his captains by a such a degree that Asta could state this without a doubt.

She was stronger. So much stronger that it wasn't even a joke. Asta just grinned wider. Mereoleona was the same.

"He's got balls," she thought, staring down the strange magicless kid in the distance.

"Now, along with Mereoleona is another roster adjustment. The Crimson Lions will also be under a new Vice-Captain for the duration of Lady Vermillion's tenure!"

Asta blinked.

"Come on up lord Archer!"
One could hear the obvious groaning. The strange magicless man stood up. Unlike the other knights he wore what was more like an overcoat than the cloaks the magic knights usually wore. Asta stared at the man…but it was like he wasn't there.

"….weird," thought Asta, "captain Yami might know better! I'll ask him later."

Archer stood beside Mereoeleona and Noelle's breath hitched.

"What's wrong?" asked her idiot.

"She's! Oh my god that's Archer!"

"…well duh the wizard king announced that."

"No that's ARCHER, her partner! He…he saved my mom…"

The poor boy blinked.

"But how he doesn't have any mana?" she muttered.

"Wait what!?"

Asta stared at Archer, a strange sense of fellowship forming. The idea that there was another like him. To the boy, he thought he was simply staring at Archer a little. To Archer?

"Why is that child staring at me?" grumbled Archer.

Leona simply grinned.

"What? Not comfortable with a kid staring at you like that? It is kind of creepy, the way he stares at you like you're his long-lost father."

"That is so absurdly specific."

"Ah bite me."

Archer just gave her a look. The poor woman blushed horribly in response. Thankfully they were far away from the populace for it to be too noticeable.

"So…you're ready?"

Archer shrugged.

"Not the first investigation I was a part of. Still think me being a Vice-Captain was unnecessary."

"Ah, killing two birds with one magic missile."

…so the adage was here as well? Odd.

"Either way I'll follow your lead on this."

"Thanks…hun."

"That was by far the most cringy thing you've ever said."

Mereoleona laughed as Archer shuddered at her words.

"We got this…you're sure Fugoleon will wake up?"

"I'm sure. Whatever is communing with him didn't show any hostility or malcontent. Your brother will wake up."

"Good. Now I just need to find these eyes of the midnight sun assholes."

Ah yes, that.

"You'll find them."

"We will…and thanks, for before, with the whole vice captain thing."

"You just enjoyed watching me."

"Baby you know it."

"ugh."

Poor Julius was there, stuck with hearing the two newest leaders of the Crimson Lions flirt away. The poor man just wanted to study Archer's magic, was that too much to ask!?

-END-

A short chapter, but I felt that trying to go further beyond this point would just inflate the chapter in horrible ways. The next update for Arcane Craftsman is coming soon. Rather than get the chapter ready (which it is done btw) I've decided to go a longer route and write ahead a bit. This is a rather new practice for me as I usually just release chapters as I complete them. The idea is I can get a Beta reader to review chapters and start creating a routine release schedule with a backlog of work. Not sure how that will work for me, but I'll keep you updated. As such I'll keep the chapter in for another two weeks before releasing it, as a test. Also due to the workload I'm experiencing timelines may be twisted along the way.

On another note, I will not create a for those who have pushed for it. I do not begrudge those that do but for me, this is purely a labour of love and fun and I don't think this is something I would like to be paid for, simply due to the extra stress and deadlines. I love your feedback and as always love your support! Till the next chapter!

Next releases: Supernatural Love & Arcane Craftsman (After 2 weeks)