Season 2, Chapter 4. Grumpy
It is a little late in the Black Bulls' hideout, and the group gathers in the back as Magna fires up the grill. "Here we go!" he yells, and the grill lights up, the coals getting nice and toasty warm.
"Yeah, I have already prepared the meat," Charmy tells everyone, placing different kinds of meat on the grill, from sausages to steak to short ribs and more. She eagerly waits for it to cook.
"Aw man, this is going to be so good," Asta says, drooling almost as much as Charmy. "I know, and it will be ready any moment now," Charmy replies.
"You two sure are-" Finral starts to say, but Yami comes up to him. "Finral, a portal to the capital now," he orders.
"But I was just about to-" Finral tries to explain, but Yami sends him a death glare, and he gulps. "Right, I will be right with you," Finral nervously says and opens a portal for Yami. Yami walks through it, and Finral goes along with him.
"What was that about?" Vanessa asks. "Do you think they found something by the border?" Magna wonders. "I don't know, but we will see soon enough," Vanessa says and looks at the unopened bottle of wine. (Maybe I should keep my head clear just in case) she thinks to herself. "Meow," the red cat on her shoulder utters.
"Well, in the meantime, wanna fight over this piece of meat?" Luck excitedly asks. "What? No, I don't." "Aaw," Luck replies.
Meanwhile:
Sky and Dylan land in Neon Village and dismount their brooms. Dylan looks at Sky as she still seem so avoidant. "Sky?"
She ignores him and is about to move away.
"Hey, what's with you today? You've been avoiding me like the plague," he asks, and she spins towards him, stopping in her tracks.
"Because of that look on your face, I don't need anyone feeling sorry for me."
"What! I am just looking out for you," he tells her.
"I said to stop it. I don't need to be treated like some sorry little victim, okay? Ever since that night, you have treated me like one. It is suffocating and infuriating. I already know I am weak, so stop it," she tells him, and he looks at her.
"Sky, I didn't mean it that way."
"Dylan, just stop, okay? Today I needed to be with a friend, not a hero," she tells him, and he stops, thinking her words over.
"Sorry, I didn't realize," he fumbles with his words, and Sky blushes a little.
"Well, see you, I guess." "Right," he replies and watches her head inside the church.
Back at the Black Bulls' hideout, they are all engrossed in their meals while chattering and bantering.
Millie sits on a branch in a tree looking at the stars and her gaze goes to the group as Finrals white portal appears and Yami comes walking out of it and he stands looking at the group.
After him walks a guy with grey hair and a light blue hoodie, keeping his hands in the pockets of his dark blue pants.
And lastly, Finral walks out of the portal before it closes.
"Listen up, everyone. We got a new member today, after all," Yami tells them, and they all turn their eyes to him.
"What! And it is you!" Magna and Asta say in unison, while Luck laughs, "Great, this means there is going to be a battle," he says with excitement.
"A what?" Haze asks.
"That is perfectly fine by me, time for a good workout!" Magna says, igniting a flame in his hand.
"Workout?"
"Yeah, show the squad what you can do and earn your robe," Yami tells him, and Haze sweat-drops for a second.
"Follow me, punk, to the field," Magna tells him, and they walk a bit away from the grill and to the open field.
They stand on opposing sides, and Haze takes out his grey grimoire with purple smoke clouds surrounding the clover in the middle, and the book floats with his light blue-tinted mana.
"Okay, you better be ready 'cause here it comes! Exploding fireball!" Magna yells, and Haze flicks through the pages of his grimoire, running to evade the blasts.
"Mist magic hidden field!" he exclaims, and the area fills up with mist, hiding him quickly. Magna looks around. "Wanna play hide and seek, huh!?" he yells.
"Now mist magic mist balls," he utters, and Magna senses the mist balls and shoots fireballs to cancel them out.
"So that is how you wanna play!? Well, fine by me!" he yells and flicks through his grimoire, and it lands on a page.
"Timed firebomb scatter shot!" he yells, and an array of fireballs is flung around in every direction, but nothing happens. At the same time, Magna shoots out some regular fireballs.
(Is this guy crazy? He might end up hitting himself in all of this) Haze dodges a few more balls, and then he senses mana expanding. "What the-" and he is blown out of the mist field, and it becomes undone.
"Hehe, is that all you got?" Magna teases, and Haze wipes the dirt off his face. "Not even close," he replies before he gets to his feet and does his mist field spell again.
"You think the same trick is going to work again?" Magna yells.
"Not quite, Mist binding," Haze says, and Magna looks around in the grey mist as it begins to swirl around and close in on Magna.
"Huh, like I will fall for that, it is too slow!" he yells and takes out his bat and creates a fireball in the air. He swings the bat rapidly. "Grand slam!" he yells, and with intense heat, the mist is forced away.
"What-" Haze utters, and his eyes dart to the side, seeing fire. He ducks forward, and his eyes widen as a fist collides with his face, and he is knocked back.
(This guy actually went for a physical blow. I was not expecting that) Haze thinks to himself and wipes the blood from his nose as he stands up again.
(This squad really is crazy). "Mist magic pursuing hyenas," he utters, and hyenas form out of the mist and run for Magna.
"You seriously think that will be enough?" Magna teases and shoots fireballs at the hyenas as Haze makes more.
He casts a glance at Yami, and he grits his teeth, remembering what Yami told him earlier, "If you want to be a magic knight this badly, then fine, but you will have to show me more than cheap tricks and a grumpy attitude." Yami's words ring through him, and he looks at Magna. He increases the magic behind the hyenas as his grimoire flicks to another page. "Mist balls!" he yells and performs a dual casting.
"Oh shoot, I better , I better be on my toes," Magna thinks to himself and shoots off more fireballs. He makes a grin, and Haze blinks. He is surrounded by fire that blasts him, and he is knocked back.
Millie jumps down from her tree and walks over to Haze's unconscious body.
''Man, is he okay? I think you went a little overboard, Magna,'' Asta tells him. ''Guuh, maybe,'' he mutters, and Millie crouches down to Haze. ''Life Shield Magic: Shielded Healing,'' she utters, and a shield forms around Haze while she heals him.
His wounds slowly heal up, and he opens his eyes. (This mana is so...) he sits up and looks at her, and she undoes her spell. He looks down in defeat.
Yami smiles with approval. ''Well, it would seem that you can give it your all after all.''
Haze's eyes shoot up to the rest of the gang, and he gets up. ''What?'' he asks dumbfounded, and the glasses-wielding mage comes up to him and claps his back. ''You are stronger than you look, welcome to the team, buddy.''
''Welcome?'' he asks again, and Vanessa walks up to him. With her pink-tinted mana, she floats the Black Bulls robe over to him, puts it around his shoulder, and knots the button.
''My, that suits you well,'' Vanessa says with a smile.
''Right now, Magna, give the rookie a tour of the base, and you two better hurry before the food is gone,'' Yami tells him.
''Yes, Yami, sir,'' and Magna looks at Haze. ''You heard the captain, so let's go, and put some pep in your step,'' Magna tells him, and Haze nods.
''Sure, I will,'' Haze says and follows along.
Magna shows him the common area, the mess hall, the communal bath, the wreck room, the library, the bathroom, and lastly, he opens a door into a small cramped room with barely any room for the bed and a desk by the window.
''This will be your bedroom. I know, right? Tiny and filthy, but with some washing, it will be as good as new in no time,'' Magna tells him. (This is tiny compared to what I am used to) Haze thinks to himself, and Magna claps his back once more.
''Well, that is that. Let us head to dinner before everything is gone. Knowing Charmy, it will happen faster than one thinks,'' Magna tells him, and Haze lets out a sigh. (This is so not ideal, but at least I am in, which means I can finally get some more progress on finding out more about-)
''Hey, are you coming, pal?'' Magna asks, and he is snapped out of his thoughts. ''Right, sure,'' he replies and goes with Magna. They arrive with the rest of the group, and he sits down by the grill.
''Oh, you're back. Here,'' Charmy says and hands him a big plate of food. ''Oh,'' he utters, a little surprised.
He is mostly quiet and looks at the Black Bulls as chatter is heard around the grill he looks at Astas black arm and to Liebe in his tiny form whom is relaxing on Asta's shoulder.
(that must be the devil that the rumors have been about he is way smaller than I thought) he thinks to him self taking another bite of food.
Haze looks off, and he sees Millie sitting underneath a tree, looking into the forest.
''Uh,'' he utters, and Asta turns his gaze to him. ''Something the matter, there, Haze?'' he asks.
''Why is she sitting by herself over there?'' he asks.
''Oh, you mean Millie. she ate a little while ago with us. And I have asked her why she doesn't sit with us longer, she told me that she just isn't used to it,'' Asta explains and looks at Millie. He remembers how she is still showing signs of nervousness and worry, especially the night by the beach when she was shaken so badly. (I get a feeling there is more to it, but she is trying to stay a little longer each time, so I am sure I will find out once she is more comfortable) he thinks to himself.
time moves forward into the night and Haze keeps himself closed off from the conversations and instead watches the gangs friendly interactions and banter.
Millie, sitting alone under the tree, occasionally glances over at the group, observing them from a distance. She seems curious but hesitant to join the lively gathering. Asta, who notices her actions, understands that she might still be adjusting to the group dynamics and decides to give her space and time to get comfortable.
Haze looks at his food (this is actually really good) he thinks to himself and looks at the group. (wonder what tomorrow will bring?) ...
