The next morning, in the Black Bulls hideout, everyone was waiting for the results. They felt sure they would all get their results today and waited very patiently. Even Asta was the most excited, so excited he couldn't stop talking about it and also, he wouldn't expect what was coming.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
That violent banging sound was coming from the front door. Magna grudgingly went to go open the door when...
CRASH!
The doors burst in, smashing into smithereens! When the dust settled, there, standing at the doorway was someone they all had met once before.
Their visitor was a woman with blue eyes, long orange colored hair, red markings around her eyes, and one sharp, pronounced canine tooth, wearing a long red robe with a red badge with bronze lining and bronze markings of a lion as a sign of her squad, the Crimson Lion.
"Is that Fuegoleon Vermillion's sister?!" exclaimed Asta in shock, earning a hard punch from her, so hard it had enough for to throw him back into the wall with a violent crash.
"It's Mereoleona to you!" shouted the woman.
Just then, Yami arrived, feeling disturbed from all the crashing noises while trying to nap. When he saw who it was, Yami was alarmed.
"Dangerous animal on the loose!" Yami called to his squad, earning a fiery hand to grasp his head, which strangely came from Mereoleona's palm before using another palm to summon another fiery hand, handing him a bottle of booze.
"I've come to give you this!" she roared. "It's my gift to you for visiting my brother! I'll kill you if you don't take it!"
"I worry that kind of stuff will kill me," he muttered.
Asta was relieved with what we were seeing. The last time he met her, he used one of her fiery hands to drag him into something and felt sure she wasn't going to do it again. But those thoughts were dashed when suddenly, one of her fiery hands did grasp his head. Not just his head, but Noelle's and Luck's too.
"I want you three to come with me," she said sternly.
"What for, you mad woman?!" exclaimed Noelle.
Magna chuckled seeing this.
"Ooooh, you three must've done something to make her really mad!" he laughed with amusement.
"Wrong!" shouted Mereoleona and stopped. "These three are those selected into the Royal Knights."
Everyone was shocked at this news.
"The Royal Knights? For real?!" asked Asta before growing excited. "So that means Yuno still isn't ahead of me!"
"Yay! Asta and I made it to the Royal Knights together!" thought Noelle in excitement before realizing what she just thought of. "Uhhh because... I'm just proud of him as a teammate!" she added, growing embarrassed at what she almost thought of next.
Mereoleona looked around.
"Say, wasn't there another Black Bulls member?" she asked aloud. "I was sure he also made the cut too."
Hearing this put everyone's thoughts on pause for a moment and looked at each other.
"Uhh, perhaps me maybe?" asked Magna hopefully.
"No!" said Mereoleona bluntly, much to Magna's misery. "Oh well, I'm sure that missing Black Bull will come sooner or later."
"Aw, tough luck, Magna!" smiled Luck. "By the time I'm done with the Royal Knights, you won't be any match for me anymore."
"I'll catch up, Luck! Just you wait" declared Magna before turning to Vanessa. "Say, would you mind training me?"
"Aw, I was just planning on drinking all day," groaned Vanessa, holding the bottle Mereoleona had given Yami. "But I guess I could make time for you, Mister Delinquent."
Satisfied, Magna turned to Asta, Noelle, and Luck as they were carried away. "Good luck, you guys!"
Yami looked around at all the smiles around the area before the selected three disappeared through the doorway with Mereoleona towing them with her flaming hands. Somehow, he felt sure things would turn out alright.
"Give them hell, you numbskulls," Yami said in his head with impression.
The entire time, a strange anti-magic bird watched the entire scene with interest while perched on a wooden support near the ceiling.
At the village of Konaha, Naruto, Sakura, and Sai were called in at the Hokage's office, waiting for their new mission.
The Hokage was a fair-skinned woman with brown eyes and straight blonde hair that parts above her forehead with shoulder-length bangs that frame her face and the rest reaches her lower back, wearing a grass-green jacket with the kanji for "gamble" on the back, inside a red circle, a grey, kimono-style blouse underneath with no sleeves, held closed by a broad, dark bluish-grey obi that matches her pants, open-toed, strapped black sandals with high heels, red nail polish on both her fingernails and toenails and soft pink lipstick. They call her Lady Tsunade.
She was sitting at her desk, looking at her recent report she had gotten from the ANBU, while her assistant, Shizune stood next to her, holding her pet piglet, Tonton.
Shizune is a fair-skinned woman of average height and slender build with onyx eyes and straight and shoulder-length jet-black hair with bangs that cover her ears and frame her face, wearing a long bluish-black kimono with white trimmings, held closed by a white obi, and open-toed sandals with low heels.
"What you're being assigned to is possibly a C ranked mission," Tsunade began. "Last night, Kakashi Hatake was last known out in the woods outside the village when suddenly, he mysteriously disappeared and is missing."
Naruto and Sakura gasped in surprise.
"Kakashi sensei is missing?!" exclaimed Naruto.
"Our ANBU members were watching him and marked the spot of his disappearance," Tsunade added. "Yamato will be guiding you for this, he knows where the location is as some of his former ANBU colleagues told him about the spot. But you won't be travelling with just him. There's someone we want you to take with you and keep a sharpfull eye out."
"And who would that be?" asked Sakura.
They soon found out as the door suddenly opened and the shinobi police force walked in with someone in tow with chained shackles.
It was a young girl at the age of 16 with crimson eyes, fair skin, and red hair in an unusual hairstyle, that being short and spiky on the right side, while longer and straight on the left side, wearing brown narrow glasses, a lavender uniform zipped to a point where it exposes her navel, short black shorts, and long black thigh high stockings with black sandals.
"This is Karin," said Tsunade. "I'm sure you all remember her."
Naruto and Sakura absolutely did, recalling the day on the bridge where they recently faced Sasuke. Sakura reached him first and confronted him, lying that she wanted to join Sasuke in his rebellion, planning to kill him before anyone else could. He only agreed on the condition to kill Karin, laying on the ground after Sasuke betrayed and stabbed her while trying to kill Danzo. That was when Sakura began to spring her trap, but Sasuke wasn't dumb and began to strike her before she got the chance, only to be saved by both Kakashi and Naruto at the last second. Then, after Sasuke escaped yet again, Sakura managed to heal a drained Karin and they carried her back to the Leaf Village, where she was arrested and thrown in jail.
None of the two were expecting to see her again so soon.
"With all due respect, Lady Tsunade," said Sakura. "But why exactly are we bringing her with us?"
"Because our ANBU scouts found at the time Kakashi disappeared, he was facing the sinister Kabuto, former assistant of Orochimaru." Tsunade explained.
"Kabuto!" Naruto snarled, remembering that guy's sinister look on his face and clenching his fists in anger.
"That being said," Tsunade said further, "Karin here also used to work for Orochimaru, which means she must have some connection to Kabuto, for it is likely that he might've disappeared as well. And if you find him too and apprehend him, we will finally throw him in a cell."
"Understood," said Sakura firmly.
"Good," smirked Tsunade. "But, while you're at it, don't let Karin out of your sight. We don't want her to escape."
"Oh please!" scoffed Karin in a cocky manner, "What's there to go back to anyway?" she added before being snagged on her chains to silence her.
"If anything goes wrong, please report to me and I will decide on what to do from there," Tsunade finished. "You got it?"
"Yes," Sakura nodded.
"You can count on us Granny Tsunade," Naruto smirked.
Sai only nodded.
"Good, then you must head out right away," said Tsunade in a serious tone. "We're counting on you. And make sure Kakashi is safe."
In the land of the mages, Asta, Noelle, and Luck were carried over to the center of the entire kingdom, the Royal Capital, where they were taken to the Clover Castle at the very center of the city, the Tower of Hope. There, they were having the Royal Knights Swear-in Celebration.
Mereoleona was standing in front of them, announcing roll call.
"Nils Ragus of the Silver Eagles!"
"Here!" called a man with a dark-colored hair in a bob style.
"Kirsh Vermillion, vice captain of the Coral Peacocks!"
"Here with my charming and beautiful name," smothered a young man with long side-parted hair tied back, a braid going across his hairline, and a thin band around his head.
"Puli Angel of the Blue Rose Knights!"
"Present!" sang an obese woman with her blonde hair pulled back into several tight buns.
"En Ringard of the Green Praying Mantises!"
"Yay," said a young, sickly and weak-looking man with long, disheveled hair with a green hue to it, wearing a pair of circle-framed glasses.
"Yes!" called out the mushroom standing on his right shoulder in a soldier-like fashion.
"Rill Boismortier, captain of the Aqua Deers!"
A young man with spiky, aqua-colored hair in a messy mound atop his head didn't answer, he just dazed off into space, drooling as if he was off in his own little world.
"Fragil Tormenta of the Aqua Deers!"
"Here," sighed a woman with black hair that goes just below her ears and blue-gray eyes, wearing a fuzzy white hat and a fuzzy white and black dress going just above her ankles. "I know you lost in the tournament, Captain. But please try to stay strong," she whispered to Rill.
"Oh yes, here," Rill said finally after Fragil's voice got his attention.
"Ben Benfunk of the Crimson Lions!"
"Here!" said a middle-aged man with blond hair and goatee with red eyes.
"Yuno, Mimosa Vermillion, Klaus Lunettes, and Hamon Caseus from the Golden Dawn!"
This was called on Yuno, a young man of average height with messy black hair, gold eyes and he has a lean build. Mimosa Vermillion, a young woman with yellow eyes and long wavy vermilion hair with bangs on her forehead, wearing small, red, jewel-like earrings on her ears. Klaus Lunettes, a tall man with slanted light fuchsia eyes, long, thin, and pointed nose with a large chin, and light blue colored short hair, wearing gold, hooped earrings and dark glasses with rectangular frames. And Hamon Caseus, a chubby man with a brushed back, blond hair with some strands spun and sticking upwards.
"Here!" they all said in unison, giving their salute of three fingers going across their chests.
"It's fair that they would want you on the team," muttered a tiny green fairy floating on Yuno's shoulder.
"Be quiet, Bell!" hushed Yuno, much to his fairy's chagrin.
"Asta, Noelle Sylva, and Luck Voltia of the Black Bulls!"
"Here!" said Asta, Noelle, and Luck in unison, giving her their salute.
Then Asta noticed Yuno in the crowd and smirked.
"Did you really think you would leave me behind, Yuno?" he boasted. "I'll always get up even after I stumble!"
"Only to stumble again," muttered Yuno, which earned a chuckle from Bell, which only angered Asta.
Noelle sighed, but Mimosa chuckled from admiration.
"Oh Asta, I'm so excited to work with you again!" she said happily yet bashfully.
"Yeah, must be fun," agreed Asta in a friendly manner.
Noelle watched the scene with silence, going green with envy yet blushing.
"Now for the rest of those up front!" announced Mereoleona. "Starting with myself, Mereoleona Vermillion, captain of the Crimson Lions and as of now captain of the Royal Knights!"
Then she looked to the rest of the others, standing beside her.
"Cob Portaport, advisor of the Wizard King."
"Hello," said a man with fluffy brown hair and blue eyes.
"Siren Tium of the Golden Dawn."
"Hm," muttered a large built man with brushed back and braided blond hair, narrow green eyes and no eyebrows.
"Nozel Sylva, captain of the Silver Eagles."
Hearing that name, Noelle looked to see a slender male wearing similar clothing to hers with fair skin, narrow purple eyes, small eyebrows, long and straight silver-white hair in a very distinctive style with long bangs styled into a braid hanging between his eyes and down to the tip of the nose, where a small House Silva pendant is attached. She glanced away from him. She knew her older siblings were always mocking her about her inability to control her water magic, but Nozel was worse. Every time they met, he always treated her with disgust and resent. And she was the youngest of the family, nobody in the family could ever show her love or courage after their mother died giving birth to Noelle.
"I recall you turning us down before," Mereoleona murmured to Nozel. "What made you change your mind?"
"I'm just acting on orders from His Majesty," Nozel replied bluntly.
Some of the other magic knights however were amazed to see him, a member of the Silver Eagles squad joining them on their mission.
"I'm glad he's joining us," said Ruben.
"Oh yes, what an honor," agreed Nils with a smile.
"And now," announced Mereoleona, "The Royal Knights are complete! I expect great things from all of you!"
"She's the captain?" asked Asta to Noelle in shock, jerking a thumb to Mereoleona.
"It's obvious she would be," Noelle corrected him bluntly.
"Is that a problem?" smirked Mereoleona threateningly.
"No-no-no! Absolutely not! No ma'am!" Asta quickly blurted out in fear.
"Good," Mereoleona said calmly. "You 16 were chosen through a cutthroat competition to be a part of this team. Unless there are any objections, I'll be your leader for this team until our enemy is finally defeated. As we know them... The Eye of the Midnight Sun!"
"Yes ma'am!" they all saluted in unison.
"Now we're still waiting for that missing Black Bull," Mereoleona continued. "We should be expecting him soon, but he should know that tardiness is something we don't take lightly."
"Sorry I'm late then!" said a voice coming from nearby.
Everyone turned to see a pale, punk-like figure in black clothing, piercings, and red, fiery crimson short hair standing on top of a ledge near the ceiling, looking down at them. What made him stand out from the rest of them were the leather straps wrapped around his lower face with openings for his nostrils and mouth. He made a smug, showing his sharp teeth before jumping down towards the group.
At the same time, Mereoleona extended her arm towards him and shot a fireball at him, only for a magical grimoire to appear beside him and a mysterious portal to activate right in front of him and making the fireball ricochet right back at her, who used her power as a backfire to cancel it before smirking with impression.
"Nice try, Class Clown!" she said as they watched the figure landed to the floor on his feet while deactivating his grimoire.
"If I'm going to be trusting my life to these losers, I'd be dumb not to know what they can do," sneered the figure sinisterly.
Asta recognized him immediately.
"Xerx Lugner?! I didn't know you were coming?!" exclaimed Asta before noticing a similar robe "Xerx" was wearing. "And... and why are you wearing a Black Bulls robe?!"
The man chuckled.
"First off, that monstrous captain of yours just gave it to me after giving me a beating, so now I'm one of you Black Bulls now," he explained with a scoff, much to Asta and Noelle's shock. "Also, you should know that my name was never 'Xerx Lugner' to begin with, that's just an identity I stole from one of those Purple Orca guys I beat into a bloody pulp just to get into the tournament. My real name... is Zora Ideale!"
"Why the hell did you do that?!" exclaimed Asta in anger.
"Cause beating up Magic Knights is my thing, for good reason," explained Zora uncaringly. "Besides, to fool your enemies, start with your friends, runt!"
Asta was so shocked his head started to ache.
"But hey, show that there's no hard feeling, here's this," said Zora, flicking something onto Asta's face.
It looked like a rainbow-colored bug, and the moment it made contact with its face, it gave a horrendous odor, much to Asta's horror and disgust. He really didn't like it at all, not the bug nor Zora.
"Not that stinky bug again!" cried Asta.
Everyone went to change into their new Royal Knights robes and came back shortly. Most of their new robes were long, stretching down to their knees with the crest of the Royal Knights, and was Mereoleona mentioned that they were designed for resistance from the enemy. They were all delighted with their new robes... except one.
"I don't like this!" grumbled Asta.
Noelle sighed.
"Asta, I get you're not used to new kinds of fabric, but I'm sure you'll eventually get used to-eh?!" she stopped herself when she turned and saw what Asta was talking about.
Asta's new Royal Knights robe was actually the same size as his usual Black Bulls robe, reaching down to his midriff.
"Why is mine so short?!" Asta complained.
"Why is yours the only one looking like THAT?!" screeched Noelle in shock.
"Hehe, half a man, half a robe," joked Zora, much to Asta's anger.
"Yeah, we ran out of fabric. Sorry," smirked Mereoleona.
"What a charming design for royalty such as me and my dazzling face?" charmed Kirsh.
"Dazzling enough to make me want to vomit," muttered Mimosa darkly, looking away from her annoying brother.
Just then, they were approached by another figure.
This man has short, golden brown hair, a handlebar mustache curling at the ends, and small, pointed goatee that also curls, wearing a striped doublet with alternating dark and light purple sections separated by white lines, long sleeves with lace at the wrists, a pair of trunk hose in a similar pattern as his doublet, a pair of white tights, dark purple shoes, a fur-lined, green royal mantle, and a yellow cravat. They all knew who he was. He was the King of the entire Clover Kingdom.
"Salutations everyone!" he announced as he entered, waving his staff.
"Ah, King Augustus Kira Clover XIII, what a surprise," said Mereoleona before calling to the others. "Let's all give him a warm welcome everyone!"
Augustus was startled after hearing his full name before regaining his composure.
"The Eye of the Midnight Sun is strong, so we're lucky to have the Magic Knight captains, especially the ones with royal blood," he said. "I mean that's why you are called the Royal Knights."
This brought offense into some of them, mostly Asta.
"That being said, do not tarnish the proud name of-" he added before Mereoleona inturrupted.
"Victory is our biggest priority!" she called to them. "The Eye of the Midnight Sun is a relentless and ruthless terrorist organisation. Given their attack on the Royal Capital, where Fuegoleon Vermillion, my fool of a brother had fallen and still resides recovery in bed!" she added with anger. "As we all know, their leader has appeared as a man named Licht with a four-leaf grimore. They managed to get three magic stones, intending to find all the seven so they can be reborn into their 'true forms' with incredible power. We have found two so far. So, if we don't stop them now, our nation will never know peace!
One of their groups, 'The Third Eye,' was defeated only recently, with two of them, Salamander and Vetto, but the last one, Rhya, the copy magic user, is still at large and both he and their leader, Licht are the most-strongest and most powerful enemies in their organization. Now their hideout is their last line of defense. And if we raid it, they are sure to come at us with full force. I promise some of you may die, but your sacrifices will no doubt lead us to victory in the end. So, keep in mind that every life in the kingdom is at stake. If you choose to back down, I'll save the enemy of the trouble of killing you myself! Are you ready!"
"Yes ma'am!" they all responeded, giving her the salute.
Then Mereoleona turned sharply back to King Augustus, still stunned.
"King Augustus Kira Clover XIII, any encourangement for them if you may?!" she called to him.
"Uhhh... well... do your best, Royal Knights! Dismissed!" he said with a sheepish smile and left, earning many weirded out looks from everyone before going into thought. "Still she tells me even after she rudely inturrupted me with such a lengthly speech, taking all the words I had out of my mouth!"
"Wait, where exactly is the Eye of the Midnight Sun's hideout?" asked Asta, raising his hand.
King Augustus stopped, knowing that even a commoner like Asta had a point. He cleared his throat and began to speak when...
"Their hideout is the floating dungeon in the Strong Magic Region, Gravitos Stones!" shouted Mereoleona, interrupting the king yet again. "In three days from now, once we're ready, we'll use Cob's spatial magic doors to reach their base immediately!"
Outside the perimeter's of the Leaf Village, Naruto and his squad scouted through the forest.
With them was a man with short brown hair and black, almond-shaped eyes, wearing a similar uniform as Kakashi's. This man was Yamato, who Naruto, Sakura, and Sai had met with at the gate before they took off. He was keeping a sharp eye on Karin, who was freed from her ankle shackles leaving only the ones on her wrists so she could still be chained to him. She was looking quite grumpy as she walked along with them.
"Listen, Karin, was it? I've been one of Orochimaru's test subjects for a while," said Yamamoto to the chained girl. "That being said, I think you and I might understand each other on the enemy we're both dealing with. So, why don't we say we show some cooperation so that we can get this mission done?"
Karin said nothing, she just continued to sulk for the rest of the journey.
The walk lasted for several hours, stopping only once for a lunch break. It was dusk when they finally arrived on the site. Naruto and Sakura gasped at the site of the battle's aftermath.
There was a big crator on the cliffside with part of it on the ground. Not only that, but inside the crater, on the cliff, there was what looked like an opening to a cave or a cavern inside.
"That's new," said Yamato, observing the cave's mouth. "It was never there during the battle."
"It's possible your sensei and Kabuto might be inside," spoke Karin.
Everyone looked at her. It was the first time they had heard her spoke all day since the meeting in Tsunade's office earlier.
"You certain?" Naruto asked.
"If I know Kabuto, he wouldn't be killed that easily," said Karin. "I'd say there's no doubt he would've taken him in there as a hostage as soon as the explsion opened it up," she added before sticking her nose to the air. "It's surprising, everyone calls you a hero after defeating Pain, and you can't even figure that out? Quite unexpected for an Uzumaki like yourself."
"Now what's that got to do with anything?" asked Naruto quizzingly.
"Duh, I'm an Uzumaki too!" huffed Karin before pointing at her hair. "The red hair is part of the clan, even morons like you should know that."
"Well I never had parents in my childhood, so they were never around to tell me that," said Naruto, turning away.
"Oh boo hoo!" mocked Karin. "They must've been weak to not be able to survive that fox's attack on the village. Maybe if only they were much stronger, they'd still be around today!"
Naruto's eyes began to twitch until Sakura grabbed his wrist tightly.
"Don't let her get to you," Sakura whispered. "She's just trying to get under your skin!"
Karin watched them and chuckled.
"Oh look at you two, it's no wonder Sasuke deserted," said Karin. "Why would he want to spend his time with two dorks when he could just be planning on how to get back at Itachi?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Sakura.
"Oh nothing, I'm just saying it like it is," shrugged Karin. "Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm defending him or anything! Why would I after he stabbed me?! Now if he even has the nerve to come back," she added before suddenly swooning, "I'd fall straight into his arms knowing how much he cars about little old me!"
Sakura was creeped out and cringed.
"I'd think you'd scare him away with affections like that," she muttered.
This got Karin's attention.
"You really think about Sasuke a lot," she said suspiciously before smirking. "Don't tell me you like him too."
Sakura blushed, trying to look away.
"Oh, so you do!" sneered Karin mockingly. "I should've noticed. Even so, I don't think he'd be interested in the someone like you, not when he could have someone more sexier and more charming... like me," Karin continued. "Just look at you! There's someone as tiny as you would even get anywone!" she finished, pointing at Sakura's chest laughing.
Sakura felt insulted.
"You should talk! You're as flat as the ground!" Sakura retaliated, pushing her hands against Karin's chest.
Karin recoiled and blushed, noticing how small her chest actually looks. Now it was her turn to be offended. Then the atmosphere darkened as both Sakura and Karin began glaring daggers at each other, staring into each others eyes, electricity contucting from one set to the other.
"Uhh, excuse me, ladies," Naruto said, trying to ease the tention, only for both Sakura and Karin to turn to him with a frightening snarl, telling him to stay out of it. "N...Nevermind!" he shrunk away as the two girls began glaring at each other again.
"Okay, that's enough, girls," said Yamato, breaking up the quarrel, "Instead of talking about boy troubles, we should start planning what to do next. I've already sent an Anbu on standby to send a message to Lady Tsunade of our discovery on this cave so that she'll tell us what our next move is. In the meantime, let's have some dinner. Naruto, will you start the campfire?"
Naruto agreed and went to find some firewood, leaving Yamato with Karin and Sakura, who turned away from each other with an angry, "humph," crossing their arms.
At the Clover Kingdom, Asta and Noelle returned from checking on Feugoleon and Finral to the Royal Capital before dark, where the Royal Knights had to stay to avoid any info being leaked out. For now, they were having a fancy dinner at the Knights Lodging. As they ate, they all showed their interest in the upcoming battle on the scheduled date. They all couldn't wait, their time was approaching. Ril tried to strike a conversation with Zora, but was only responded by a rainbow-stink bug. Kirsh tried to eat a mushroom, but it kept "moving away" from his fork somehow. Asta couldn't help but enjoy the food that was given to him as he scarfed them down while Mimosa wiped Asta's face, much to his delight and to Noelle's hidden envy. While he was eating, Klause approached him.
"You should be nervous, yet you're so calm," said Klaus, readjusting his glasses. "What should happen when the posibility of a spy somehow infiltrating us and finding out out attack? Recall those guys who bribed that Purple Orca member to open the gate for them into the Royal Capital?"
"Don't worry," replied Asta. "We'll be on guard,"
Had they not been so fixated on the celebrations, they would've noticed something strange in Asta's shadow, like a sinister grinning face within it.
There was a clanging sound of a fork hitting one of the wine glasses, getting everyone's attention. That came form Hamon.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Puli is going to sing something for us!" Hamon announced.
And she was as Puli stood in front of everyone, standing on top of a chair, sounding her vocal cords in preparation while everyone waited and watching. But when Puli started, she was somehow rather yelling her song than singing, which was so loud and off-key, everyone had to cover their ears as loud sound waves filled the room, even the part of Asta's shadow was annoyed and slipped away unbeknownst.
Out on the balcony, Mereoleona was looking over towards the distance, thinking of the upcoming battle ahead when she was joined by Nozel.
"So, what do you want to discuss with me?" Mereoleona asked.
"About those three days," Nozel said. "Don't you think it's too cautious?"
"Do you take me as some paranoid coward?" Mereoleona smirked. "I've already set a trap to learn the extend to which the enemy knows our movement. So, you have nothing to worry about. Everything's under control." She paused for a moment. "Oh yeah, and one other thing..."
She glared sharply down at her shadow reflecting on the ground from the moonlight above.
"Did you really think I wouldn't notice?!" she shouted.
Part of her shadow reacted fearfully and began to slip away again, panting frantically. But it didn't get far when a grimore appeared beside Nozel and a magical silver spear struck the shadow, sticking it in place. It couldn't move! Then Mereoleona stepped up to it and used her firey arms to pull the "shadow" from the ground, revealing it to be a frail, young man in long grey hair and a long white robe. He quivered fearfully at what was going to happen next.
All the others were still eating in the lodging when Mereoleona and Nozel returned and showed them their spy, all beaten and bloody from the firey woman's torture. They were all shocked.
"This man was working as a spy from the Eye of the Midnight Sun," Mereoleona said. "And apparently, he was using Asta's shadow to sneak around and follow us. After some questioning, it proves that the enemy still doesn't know our movement. Therefore, I'm changing the date of our attack. Instead of three days... we charge in first thing tomorrow morning!"
Everyone gasped again in horror. They thought they had three days to prepare. But now, there was no time left for that.
"Get plenty of sleep tonight," ordered Mereoleona before walking out with the unconcious spy in tow.
Once she had gone, all the others began chatting amongst themselves, bewildered that they now had to head out so soon, wondering if their captain had planned this from the start, and finding the spy should do it.
"Nice going, Dumbsta!" muttered Noelle angrily. "It's because of you we're now going in much sooner!"
"Like I said before," chuckled Zora. "To fool your enemies, you must fool your friends. That captain sure is something, eh Asta?"
But Asta wasn't paying attention. He was stuck in thought. He thought about his loved ones back at the foresaken land in the kingdom, in Hage village, where his little foster siblings were residing, including the young Nun who lives there.
"I will become the the Wizard King!" he muttered. "That way I will bring peace and freedom to the kingdom, where everyone is smiling! And I won't let the Eye of the Midnight Sun wreck our country! No way!"
"Try not to wreck our country by slipping up," warned Yuno.
"Oh, don't worry," smirked Asta. "I won't let you get the best of me as well."
"I'm the one who's going to best you," Yuno smirked back.
With that, everyone stood with determination, ready for what was ahead in the morning, because they were all going to put an end to what the Eye of the Midnight Sun had put them all through since they first appeared. And they will defeat them!