Then came March, a month when fifteen-year-olds from every corner of the Clover Kingdom would gather to finally receive their grimoires.
As Stella walked alongside Asta and Yuno, their hearts raced with anticipation, each step echoing with the promise of magic as they approached the towering Grimoire Tower, an impressive structure that loomed majestically against the bright blue sky. The golden spires glinted in the sunlight, promising secrets and destiny within their walls.
"Looks like we're finally here," Stella said, her gaze fixed on the tower, which seemed to pulse with a life of its own.
"Wow, I'm so excited! I'll finally be able to use magic!" Asta exclaimed, his eyes wide and sparkling with youthful enthusiasm, his fists clenched at his sides.
Stella managed a smile, her expression fluttering between hope and doubt. "Well, hopefully..." she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty, yet maintaining an optimistic lilt for Asta's sake. Inside, however, an unsettling nervousness coiled tight in her stomach, and she couldn't quite grasp why.
"Come now, everyone, let's go inside before it starts!" Father Oris called out, his cheerful tone resonating with warmth, while Sister Lily and the children from the church joined them for support. His joy was palpable, though it was likely for Yuno's sake as much as his own.
"Let's do this!" Asta shouted, his voice rising in excitement, and together they stepped into the tower, which teemed with the buzz of other eager kids their age. The sheer scale of the place left them awestruck.
"Wow, are those all really grimoires?" Asta asked, his mouth agape in wonder, his feet planted firmly as he looked around, trying to take in the vast sea of books stretching endlessly in every direction. "Which one is going to be mine?"
"There are so many books..." Stella breathed, her eyes scanning the hundreds upon thousands of volumes that surrounded them, each one whispering tales of power and possibility.
...
Stella stood beside Asta and Yuno when a pair of voices pierced through the air, dripping with disdain.
"Look what the cat dragged in. Could they be any shabbier?" one of them sneered, his tone laced with mocking laughter. Stella's stomach twisted as she turned to see two young men, their polished attire betraying their noble status. The contempt in their gazes was unmistakable, a judgment not just on their appearance but on their very existence as commoners.
Her expression soured at their taunts; anger simmered within her.
"We should just hand grimoires to anyone who walks in off the street," the second noble scoffed, a cruel grin spreading across his face. Laughter erupted around them, sharp and biting.
"You don't think those pathetic creatures would be foolish enough to attempt the Magic Knight entrance exam in six months, do you? Only nobles and royals have enough magic power to pass," the first one jeered.
Stella's blood ran cold as the mockery continued. "See the shrimpy one? I heard he can't use magic at all."
"Oh wow, we better take extra special care of him! I mean, he's one of a kind- the only person in the entire country who can't use magic!" Their derision hung in the air, each word a spear piercing Stella's heart.
Then, just as she thought it couldn't get worse, the ugliness turned toward her. "And you see the frail-looking pipsqueak next to him? I heard rumors that ten years ago, her mother froze to death in the winter, leaving the poor girl all alone in front of that shabby church. Not sure if it's true, but I heard she was a Magic Knight."
The second noble continued, "I mean, by the tattered robe that pipsqueak has on, I guess her mother must've been a Magic Knight- but she must've been super weak to die the way she did." Rage bubbled up inside Stella, overwhelming her senses. The world around her faded as the need to confront them surged. But before she could take a step forward, Yuno's hand shot out, gripping her robe firmly to pull her back.
"Yuno..." she said, looking back at him, her cheeks flushed with anger.
"Just ignore them," he urged quietly, his voice steady and calm against the storm within her.
"Fine," she grumbled to herself, forcing her feet to remain planted beside him. But just then, an announcement cut through the tension, drawing their attention away from the nobles and back to the matter at hand.
...
Welcome to the Grimore Tower, Accepties! On this momentous day, you will step onto a new path. I wish you integrity, hope, and love. An announcer glided down a magic carpet, landing gracefully in front of a grand podium.
"For those who don't know, I am the Master of this Grimore Tower," he introduced himself, his voice resonating with authority.
"Never has anyone from this region distinguished themselves by becoming a Magic Knight, much less the Wizard King. I pray that one among you possesses what it takes to become the most powerful mage in the land."
"Seriously, I mean it!" he shouted, his commanding tone echoing through the chamber. A moment of silence, then he cleared his throat, preparing to continue.
"And now, to accept your grimoires," he announced, his voice filled with anticipation.
At that instant, the shelves lining the walls burst to life as books of every shape and size began to glow brilliantly. Vibrant shades of orange, blue, green, purple, and white swirled through the air like a kaleidoscope before soaring toward their chosen owners. The room thrummed with gasps of awe, excitement, and anticipation. Stella felt her heart race with eagerness as she awaited her grimoire.
As her hands reached out, a book adorned with a radiant white light floated gracefully toward her, landing softly in her palms.
Taking a firm grip on the Grimore, she wondered what kind of clover she would receive. Based on the descriptions she had heard at the church, she had expected it to be the average three-leaf clover. However, she certainly didn't anticipate what awaited her. As the white glow dissipated, the grimoire revealed its true form-a blank cover.
"Huh?" she exclaimed, flipping it over to examine both sides, as if something magically might change. "My grimoire...it's just white! There's nothing on it!" she cried out in disbelief.
As the words escaped her lips, the air thickened with whispers and snickers, curling around her like a noxious fog. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the two nobles, their faces twisted in amusement.
They laughed openly now, their derisive glances piercing through her like daggers.
"Look at her," one of them sneered, the contempt dripping from every syllable.
"A blank slate for a talentless fool."
"I mean what more could you exspect from a poor little commenor" Their laughter echoed in her ears, a cruel symphony that drowned out her own anguish.
While she never expected to obtain the legendary four-leaf clover, receiving no clover at all left her feeling embarrassed under the weight of their eyes. But her moment of discomfort was short-lived as attention shifted to a certain someone kneeling with his arms raised high, waiting for his grimoire to come.
"Asta..." she murmured, watching him tremble, his body quaking with anticipation.
"Hey, uh... is my grimoire running late or something?" he questioned, a blend of hope and desperation in his voice.
"No way," Stella whispered to herself, her heart aching for him as she observed Asta's shaking form.
"Uh... try again next year," the headmaster of the tower said with a hint of pity.
"What?!" Asta shouted in complete disbelief. Laughter erupted around the room, the sound like a wave crashing against the shore.
"At least he got us beat in one area-complete and utter uselessness!" The same blonde-haired noble jeered, his laughter ringing cruelly.
Stella glared at him, indignation bubbling within her, but soon her attention, along with that of the entire room, shifted to Yuno as his grimoire appeared.
Stella's eyes widened in shock-the book glowed with an intensity that took her breath away.
"It's the four-leaf clover!" she gasped in awe.
Yuno turned to face the crowd, his expression determined. "I will become the Wizard King!" he proclaimed.
A chorus of cheers erupted around him, everyone reveling in his moment of glory, except for Asta and Stella, who stood solemn in the midst of the jubilation. Asta rose to his feet, fire igniting in his eyes.
"Just you wait, Yuno! I'm right on your heels! I'll catch up to you!" he declared, his voice ringing with defiance.
"I am your rival!" he shouted, his determination clearly seen.
"Asta..." Stella said, a note of pity woven into her tone, as laughter rippled through the crowd once more, drowning him in ridicule.
Yuno, unfazed, walked past him without a second glance. "No," he said coolly, his voice steady, as he made his way out of the tower.
And so, the grimoire awarding ceremony drew to a close.