"Stella, my dear," she said, her voice as warm and soothing as a gentle summer breeze. "The stars are quite beautiful, aren't they?" Her eyes sparkled with delight, reflecting the twinkling lights above. "My love, remember to always look up at the stars." A tender smile graced her lips, and she leaned closer, her hands clasped together as if cradling a fragile secret.
The atmosphere wrapped around her like a warm blanket, a blissful embrace so peaceful and familiar that it seemed etched into her very soul—a feeling she wished could last forever. But just as swiftly as it bloomed, it withered, leaving behind an eerie drift that hung heavy in the air, a disquieting presence that made her skin crawl. The unsettling rustle of leaves whispered secrets through the trees, and she turned, dread bubbling in her chest as she realized she was no longer held.
In an instant, the scene shifted; the gentle serenity shattered with the sharp sound of glass shattering across the floor. Her small figure crouched behind a closed door, trembling like a leaf caught in a tempest, afraid to step into the chaos outside. Her mother's voice pierced the silence, faint and echoing as if it were funneled through a long, dark tunnel, desperately calling her name. The urgency in that voice grew, drawing closer, but so did the chilling realization that something was dreadfully wrong.
Then, the piercing scream shattered the air: "Stella, run!" Time froze as fear coiled tightly around her heart. A jolt, she awoke, panic flooding her senses. Her heart raced like a wild drum, and she gasped for breath, drenched in sweat, the remnants of her nightmare clinging to her like a heavy fog. The shadows of the dream still loomed in her mind, a haunting echo that refused to fade, leaving her trembling.
...
Stella's sister, Lily, burst into the room, her face etched with panic. "I'm so glad you're finally awake! Are you alright?" She stepped closer, her breath quickening as she hovered protectively over her.
Stella turned to Lily, feeling the frantic rhythm of her sister's heart echo in her own chest, gradually slowing her own rapid pulse. "I'm fine... It was just a dream," her voice trailing off into a whisper. But then, with a jolt, her eyes flew open wide, memories rushing back like a tidal wave. The final image that haunted her was the attack by a man named Revchi, and she felt a cold dread wash over her.
"Yuno! Is he alright?" she gasped, urgency piercing her tone. "And that man—what happened to him?" Panic seized her as she attempted to rise from the bed, only to realize she was back at the church in Hage.
"Whoa, slow down! It's okay, everyone's alright. Yuno is just fine," Sister Lily reassured her, gently pushing her back down onto the bed.
"Really?" Stella's voice held a note of disbelief, mixed with hope.
"Yes," Sister Lily smiled, the relief evident in her eyes. "Asta jumped in to rescue you both."
"Seriously?" Stella asked, the corners of her mouth quirking up at the thought, but then a shadow crossed her face as she remembered the mysterious figure who had appeared just before the darkness swallowed her whole. "Oh, right..."
Just then, both Asta and Yuno entered the room, their faces bright with relief.
"Stella! Oh, good, you're finally awake!" Asta greeted her with uncontained joy.
"Same here," Yuno added, his voice calm yet relieved.
"Finally! How long have I been out?" Stella asked, confusion knitting her brow.
"You've been unconscious for three whole days," Sister Lily informed her, concern lining her features.
"What?" Stella exclaimed, but just then, her stomach growled loudly.
"Yeah, we were starting to get worried, especially Yuno over here," Asta teased, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Stop that! Any normal person would be worried," Yuno replied, his tone defensive yet tinged with embarrassment.
"Yeah, but besides Sister Lily, you kept checking on her. In fact, yesterday you wouldn't leave her side!" Asta pressed on, his teasing relentless.
Stella felt a light blush creep onto her cheeks at the thought of Yuno's concern, but she reminded herself, as he had said, any normal person would act the same way.
"Come on, Asta, I'm sure Yuno would have done the same for you," she interjected, trying to steer the conversation away from Yuno's attention on her.
Yuno simply looked away, his expression closed off but a hint of warmth flickering in his gaze.
"Oh, come on!" Asta exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exaggeration. Both Sister Lily and Stella couldn't help but erupt into a strange, shared laughter, the tension in the room finally dissolving.
"Wait a second, wasn't I injured?" Stella asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. Anxiety flickered across her face as she recalled the sharp pain in her side—a memory of being pierced. She instinctively pressed her palm against the tender spot, an echo of the violence that had marked her recent ordeal.
"Oh, right about that," Sister Lily answered gently. "After Yuno and Asta brought you back, we checked you for injuries, but they had all healed as if you had never been harmed in the first place."
Stella's eyes widened with disbelief. "Wait, how is that even possible?" She glanced over at Asta, who bore an array of bangs and minor cuts marring his face.
"It most likely has to do with your grimoire," Yuno explained, his tone steady and thoughtful. "I noticed that at some point, it activated on its own."
"Did it really?" Stella turned her gaze beside her, landing on the bedside desk where her grimoire lay, a curious glimmer of anticipation dancing in her eyes. "Oh wait, whatever happened to Revchi?"
"Asta was able to stop him," Yuno replied matter-of-factly.
"Wait, so Asta really showed up? How did he stop a guy like that with no magic?" Stella pressed, her curiosity piqued.
With a cheeky grin spreading across his face, Asta laughed, "That's because I got myself my very own grimoire!"
Stella's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, really?" She sprang from the bed but stumbled slightly, her legs unsteady.
"Take it easy," Sister Lily cautioned, her tone soothing.
"I'm alright," Stella replied, mustering a smile to reassure them. She stepped closer to Asta, hope shining in her eyes. "I want to see it—let me see!"
"Okay!" Asta said, pulling it out with a flourish.
"Huh, it's so dirty! Is it really a grimoire?" she asked, tilting her head in disbelief.
"Yes, it is!" Asta assured her, his excitement infectious. With a sudden motion, he pulled a massive sword from within the book, causing everyone to instinctively step back, their eyes wide.
"Yeah, I wish you could've seen it," Asta continued, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "With this sword, he went flying, smashing into the wall like a home run!" His hands animatedly gestured as if he were reenacting the moment, a grin spreading across his face as he recalled the impact—a spectacle both thrilling and surreal.
"Asta, you shouldn't just be pulling that thing out inside, you know," Yuno chided, concern lacing his voice.
"Oh right! Sorry, got too excited." Asta sheepishly returned the sword to its resting place.
"Can I hold the grimoire?" Stella asked, her voice filled with eager determination.
"Yeah, but not for too long," Asta replied with a grin.
"Okay!" She beamed, her heart racing with anticipation.
She grasped the grimoire, and as her fingers brushed its weathered cover, a violent jolt of static shot through her like lightning, leaving her breathless. A suffocating, malevolent aura radiated from the book, thick and suffocating, pressing against her skin and threatening to wrench it from her grip. In that moment, the shadows around her seemed to twist and writhe, hungry for the darkness contained within, as her heart thundered in her chest, so potent that it nearly slipped from her hands.
"Hey, be careful!" Asta gasped, snatching the grimoire back and cradling it close to his chest, as if protecting a cherished child.
"Are you alright?" Sister Lily asked, her voice laced with concern as she studied Stella's startled expression.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Stella replied with a shaky smile, though the lingering dizziness from her prolonged unconsciousness and the gnawing hunger in her belly betrayed her calm demeanor.
A troubling thought crossed her mind: what was that malevolent energy? It wasn't the first time she had felt it; she had sensed a similar darkness. in her dream, an eerie feeling had haunted her before waking up in a cold sweat.
"Asta, what does your sword do?" she asked, curiosity sparking in her voice.
"I'm still trying to figure that out myself," he admitted, scratching his head. "But when I battled that guy Revchi, chains shot at me and I slashed them with the sword. They disappeared like his attack had been canceled."
"Wow, that's incredible! You can cancel out magic!"
"I know, right? Isn't it amazing?" Asta's eyes glittered with excitement, mirroring her own enthusiasm.
Speaking of grimoires, Yuno chimed in, lifting Stella's grimoire from the desk. "Yours is interesting too."
"Ah, yeah... I guess out of the three of us, you got the most awesome one," Stella said, sheepishly rubbing the back of her head.
"Oh, I never noticed—how come your grimoire is just blank and white? There's nothing on it."
"I honestly don't know," Stella replied, a hint of defensiveness creeping into her voice. "But it's a grimoire nonetheless."
Just then, a loud growl emanated from her stomach, echoing through the room.
Both Asta and Sister Lily erupted into laughter, while embarrassment flushed Stella's cheeks. A small smile spread across Yuno's face at the sound. "Come now, lucky for you, we were just about to sit down for dinner," Sister Lily beamed, starting toward the door.
"Are we having baked potatoes again?" Stella asked, a hopeful tone in her voice.
"You bet!" Asta replied enthusiastically.
"When have we ever had anything but baked potatoes?" Yuno smirked.
"True, but it would be nice to have something different once in a while," Stella mused, following them out of the room and into the dining hall. "Of course, at this point, I could probably eat anything—I'm starving!"
...
Once Stella stepped into the room, all eyes turned toward her, the lively chatter of children momentarily silenced. The faces of the little ones instantly brightened with uncontained joy; their expressions radiated warmth and excitement. Hollo and Aruru rushed to her side, their tiny feet pattering against the wooden floor. Stella bent down, scooping Hollo into her arms, while Aruru wrapped her small arms around Stella in a tight embrace.
"I'm so happy to see you!" Stella beamed at them, her voice light with affection. But the moment was fleeting; she gently lowered Hollo back to the floor. Just then, Father Oris approached, his eyes glistening with unbridled emotion.
"I'm sorry if I made you worry," Stella said, her voice softening. At her words, Father Oris's eyes brimmed with tears of relief. He enveloped her in a warm, steadfast hug, his heart bursting with gratitude.
"I'm so glad you're alright!" he cried, his voice thick with emotion. "I thought you were never going to wake up!"
"Uh, Father, I think you're squeezing her a bit too tight," Sister Lily chimed in, a teasing lilt in her tone.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Father Oris sniffed, hastily releasing her. He then ushered her to the table just as Asta was about to take his seat. In a flurry of movement, Father Oris graciously nudged Asta out of the way, causing him to stumble and fall to the floor.
Nash, seated across from them, burst into laughter, his mirth ringing through the room. Stella turned to Asta, a look of remorse on her face. She mouthed an apology as he got back up, brushing himself off and settling into the chair beside her.
Father Oris then began placing an array of steaming dishes piled high with potato delicacies in front of Stella—everything from hearty potato soup to golden baked potatoes. The plates seemed to multiply, each one more tempting than the last.
"Um, thank you, Father, but I think this is enough," Stella said.
"Of course not!" he boomed, a fiercely protective glint in his eyes. "You haven't eaten in three days! How else are you going to stay strong and healthy like Yuno?" He added more food onto her plate with a flourish.
"Hey, what about me?" Asta piped up, feigning indignation.
"Why would she want ugly muscles like yours?" Nash said nonchalantly, his teasing tone igniting a chorus of chuckles around the table. Asta crossed his arms, feigning offense at Nash's words.
"Here you go, Asta," Sister Lily said, sliding a generous portion of food in front of him. "I think you're just fine and perfectly healthy," she added with a kind smile.
"Thank you, Sister Lily! Will you please marry me?" Asta blurted out, his eyes glinting with hope
"No!" she shot back, laughter dancing in her voice as the jovial mood enveloped them all.
...
As the evening waned, laughter and the clinking of silverware filled the air, weaving a warm tapestry of joy around the dinner table. But beneath Stella's smiling facade, a tempest brewed in her mind, the echoes of her mother's voice lingering like a haunting melody: "My love, remember to always look up at the stars." The words spiraled through her thoughts, igniting an ache as vivid memories of their stargazing nights flooded back. Now, as everyone began clearing their plates, she realized she had scarcely touched her food—her father, Oris, had always piled her plate high with love, though tonight, it felt like too much.
She hadn't realized, her inner turmoil was etched across her face, the heaviness in her brow and the way her hands fidgeted with the hem of her shirt did not escape the notice of Asta and Yuno. Once the meal came to an end and everyone's laughter had softened into contented sighs, Stella found her gaze drifting to the window. The night beckoned, and as soon as the task of tidying up seemed almost complete, she seized her chance, slipping quietly out of the bustling room and through the church's front door.
Concerned glances passed between Asta and Yuno, and without a word, they decided to follow her. Stella wandered across the field, where the moon hung like a silent sentinel, and found herself at her mother's gravestone. She sank down beside it, the cool earth pressing against her palms, her knees drawn tightly to her chest. The night air wove through her hair, and the rhythmic chorus of crickets serenaded her isolation. She gazed up at the vast expanse of stars, each one a glimmering reminder of all she had lost. But soon, her reverie shattered; her gaze fell, and memories rushed back like a relentless tide, drowning her in self-doubt. "I could never be anything like them," she whispered, defeated.
"Looks like we finally found you," Asta's voice broke through the silence, startling her. She turned, her heart racing at the unexpected arrival.
"It's just you two," she breathed, relief spilling over her features as she saw Asta and Yuno approaching. "What are you doing out here?" she asked, watching Asta settle down in front of her, concern knitting his brow.
"We noticed you looked down during dinner, so we got worried," he confessed, his tone gentle yet resolute. Yuno knelt beside her, his expression softening the chill in the air. "Here, it's still March, so it's going to get chilly at night," he said, draping her grey, tattered robe around her shoulders with a tenderness that warmed her spirit.
"Thank you," she said suddenly aware she hadn't been wearing it.. She clutched the robe tightly, as if it were a lifeline. "I'm sorry... I really hate worrying you guys," she admitted, vulnerability seeping into her voice.
"It's okay to feel down sometimes," Asta replied, steadfast.
"You always have us to lean on," Yuno added, his presence anchoring her in the darkness.
"Well, if I'm being honest," she murmured, her gaze fixed low between the three of them, "I feel completely useless."
Asta and Yuno exchanged startled glances.
"Why in the world would you feel that way?" Yuno asked, his voice laced with concern.
"Yeah, there's nothing about you that's useless," Asta added, leaning forward slightly, his earnest tone cutting through the air like a lifeline.
"Are you sure? The two of you are always saving me, and I can never return the favor," she replied, her voice trembling as her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "All that happened to me when that Revchi guy showed up was getting injured and knocked out. I wasn't able to do anything then—or even back then either."
Asta placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, urging her to meet his gaze. "Don't ever blame yourself for what happened. It wasn't your fault."
"Yeah, but—" Her voice cracked, emotions swirling within her like a tempest, but Asta interjected before she could spiral further.
"There may have been nothing you could have done back then, but now you can. You can come with both me and Yuno to join the Magic Knights," he encouraged, his tone firm yet filled with warmth. "You can uncover the truth about what happened to your mother. It's entirely up to you. But never feel that you are useless; with your power, you could help so many people."
Yuno nodded in agreement, his expression earnest. "He's right. You might not remember, but because of you, I was able to get my grimoire back."
"I was?" she replied, the fog of memory clouding her thoughts, a mix of confusion and disbelief crossing her face as tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"Alright," she finally said, her voice steadying despite the tears. "I'll go with you and become a Magic Knight." But even as she spoke, a flicker of uncertainty weighed on her heart.