As the days slipped by after Stella made her fervent decision to become a magic knight, the weight of anticipation settled over them like a thick fog. In just six months, the exam would arrive, a daunting test that compelled her, Asta, and Yuno to train tirelessly, honing their magical skills in preparation.
At this moment, Stella stood across from Asta, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. "Hey, Asta," she gasped, taking a step back and wiping the sweat from her brow, her cheeks flushed with exertion. "I think we should take a water break."
Asta, with his usual boyish enthusiasm, shrugged off her suggestion. "Really? But I'm not tired at all!" His bright eyes sparkled with determination, yet his boundless energy was almost infectious.
"Well, I am," Stella replied, surrendering to fatigue as she sank to the ground, her legs trembling beneath her. "I can't go on like this."
He glanced at her with a mix of concern and encouragement, then sheathed his sword back into his grimoire. "Alright," he conceded, nodding his head with a smile that radiated warmth.
"It looks like you're really getting the hang of your sword," Stella noted as she settled down beside him, her tone a blend of admiration and camaraderie.
"Yeah, that's thanks to old man Fanzell" he admitted, a glimmer of gratitude in his eyes.
"That's true. He helped me learn how to properly wield my celestial shield, even if using it against you seems pretty pointless," Stella remarked, a teasing lilt to her voice.
"True," Asta agreed, a playful grin stretching across his lips. "But you're also really good at dodging my attacks, too. And with that new healing spell of yours, your injuries heal faster than I can hit you!"
"Yeah, that's true," she replied, a light laugh escaping her, brightening the mood. Then she stood, brushing dirt from her training clothes. "I'm going to get some water from the well. Do you want some?"
Asta shook his head, a mischievous smirk on his face as he pulled out a container. "Nope! I've got my Morlog juice!" He tilted the container back, taking a hearty swig as the tangy beverage flowed down his throat.
"Well, alright then," Stella said playfully, rolling her eyes as she walked off, the sun casting a warm glow around her as she moved toward the well, their laughter lingering in the air.
...
Humming softly to herself, she filled her water jug, the cool liquid glinting in the sunlight. Once replenished, she made her way back to the training ground where she and Asta had spent the morning honing their skills. But as she arrived, her heart sank—he was no longer seated in his usual spot.
Scanning the area, her brow furrowed in confusion. Without any magical aura, it was impossible to sense him nearby. "Asta?" she called, her voice echoing slightly in the stillness, but only silence answered her.
Where could he have gone? she mused, rubbing her temples as she considered their long hours of practice. It was their first break, and perhaps he'd stepped away for a moment. The thought that he might simply need to relieve himself lingered in her mind, but unease began to brew.
Shrugging off her worries, she decided to utilize this brief respite to study her grimoire, particularly a new spell that had piqued her interest. Settling into the lush grass, she grasped the grimore, the earthy scent of the ground mingling with the pages as she carefully opened it to the fourth page.
There it was: "Lunaris Canceris." A thrill of excitement coursed through her as she absorbed the details, but something caught her eye in the margins—percentages and a strange name. "Lumen Crustaceum," she read aloud, her voice curious yet cautious. Suddenly, a radiant glow emanated from the grimoire itself, startling her. The light pulsed with an otherworldly power, and with a gasp, she dropped the book and sprang to her feet, her heart racing.
Once the glow went away there was a luminous crab about the size of a teacup. Its shell is a pearlescent white that seems to glow with a soft, silvery light. It's eyes are large and expressive, shimmering with an otherworldly blue hue. It's claws looked delicate and translucent
"What are you?" Stella asked, her hand reaching out cautiously, wary of the sharp claws poised before her.
"I'm a crab," it replied, its voice surprisingly clear.
Stella blinked in disbelief, eyes wide. "Huh? Did you just talk?" She glanced around, half-expecting someone to jump out and answer for the creature.
"I'm using my magic to communicate telepathically," it explained, a hint of pride lacing its tone.
"So, you're a talking crab?" she marveled, watching as it scuttled into the palm of her hand, its tiny body warm against her skin. "You came from my grimoire, so what exactly are you?"
"I'm a celestial being from the celestial realm," it proclaimed, a flicker of starlight in its eyes. "I was assigned to you the moment you summoned me."
"It took you a while, though," it added, its tone teasing.
"If you're assigned to me, does that make you like a familiar or something?" Stella asked, curiosity dancing in her voice.
"Indeed," it replied, its voice now grave and resonant. "With you in charge, you may ask me to take on any appearance or shape you desire."
"Really? Do you have a human form or something?" She leaned in closer, excitement bubbling within her.
"Certainly," it said. With a swirl of shimmering blue light, Stella gasped as she instinctively released her grip on the crab. In a graceful arc, it landed softly on the ground, transforming into a figure that shimmered with ethereal beauty.
...
Her appearence was a unique blend of human and crab-like features. She looked about 5'4" with a slender build. Her skin has a soft, pearlescent sheen that seems to glow with a silvery light. stella took in her look the most striking features were her large, expressive eyes that shimmer with an otherworldly blue hue. Her hair is long and flowing, with an iridescent quality that shifts between shades of white, silver, and pale blue, reminiscent of moonlight on water.
Her arms are adorned with small, shell-like patterns that run from her shoulders to her wrists, giving her skin a subtle armored appearance. Her fingers are slightly elongated and more flexible than average, with sharp, retractable nail-like claws that looked useful for delicate work or self-defense. On her back, she has a small, decorative shell-like structure that changes patterns based on her mood and the phases of the moon.
"You look incredible," Stella breathed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. The words hung in the air like vibrant confetti, each syllable bursting with enthusiasm. "My name is Stella, by the way."
"Luna Brightshell," the familiar replied, her voice smooth and melodic as she glided around Stella with an elegant grace, each step reminiscent of a soft breeze dancing through the trees.
"Hmm," Luna mused, a thoughtful smile playing on her lips. "It is a pleasure to be at your service, my lady."
"Oh, you don't have to be so formal," Stella chuckled, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Just call me Stella."
"Alright then, Stella," Luna replied, her tone warm and inviting.
"So, how exactly did I summon you?" Stella's curiosity flared as she glanced at the grimoire, its ancient pages whispering secrets waiting to be uncovered.
"Through the spell you recited," Luna explained, her voice carrying an ethereal quality. "You said 'Lumen Crustaceum.' That incantation officially brought me forth from the celestial realm."
Stella blinked, processing the revelation. "Ah, I see. But you mentioned that I took a while. What did you mean by that?"
Luna's expression softened, her eyes glimmering with understanding. "Some time ago, during your battle with that magical knight, I was assigned to your grimoire the moment you were pierced through your side. That event led me to you, Hence you being the rightful owner of this grimoire and myself your familiar."
Stella's breath caught in her throat. "But... since you were assigned while I was injured, I never got to officially summon you?"
"Correct," Luna nodded, her gaze steady. "The only option was to heal you with my own celestial magic. I admit, it was a formidable challenge to navigate through your grimoire, but in the end, we triumphed."
"Wow, that's amazing!" Stella exclaimed, awe washing over her. She marveled at Luna's power, feeling a rush of gratitude stir within her.
"Wait," Stella's brow furrowed with realization. "If you are one of the Zodiac, does that mean I'll eventually have more?" Her voice danced with anticipation.
"Indeed," Luna replied, a glimmer of excitement igniting in her eyes. "There are twelve other Zodiacs that can be assigned from the celestial realm." Stella leaned forward, her heart racing. "How can I summon them?"
"That depends on the growth of your mana and magical ability," Luna explained, her tone turning serious. "It is rare for someone to amass enough magic to be assigned all twelve. The highest anyone has achieved is ten out of twelve."
"Oh, I see," Stella murmured, contemplating the implications. "Does that mean there are others like me who can wield this type of magic?"
"Your celestial type, not specifically," Luna clarified gently. "But others exist who have similar abilities—those whose magical attributes resonate with the celestial realm. However, it is quite uncommon."
Luna's expression grew nostalgic as she continued, "In fact, the last time I was assigned to someone was ten years ago. So, I am truly grateful that Her Majesty allowed me to be assigned to you." A satisfied smile graced her lips.
"Who's Her Majesty?" Stella asked, her curiosity sparkling in her bright eyes.
"She's the ruler of all celestial beings within the Celestial Realm," Luna replied, her tone imbued with reverence. "She commands all twelve zodiac signs, assigning them to those she deems compatible."
Stella's face lit up with excitement. "Wow, I have so many questions! I want to ask you everything," she said, stepping closer, her breath warm against Luna's cheek.
But Luna's slightly pointed ears twitched, alerting her to vibrations rippling through the ground someone was approaching.
"Hey, Stella, I'm back!" rang a boy's voice, bright and cheerful.
"Oh, hey, Asta!" Stella waved, her gaze shifting toward the approaching figure.
As Asta got nearer, Luna felt her mana begin to ebb and flow, flickering like a candle struggling against the wind. *Looks like my time limit is up* she thought, frustration bubbling within her. She longed for more time, especially after the exhausting training session earlier. She had tapped into her celestial powers to heal herself, conscious of the shimmering shield she could summon. It wasn't just any magic shield; it belonged to one of the other zodiacs.
Suddenly, she vanished in a swirl of starlight.
"Huh?" Stella's eyes widened as a heavy wave of mana drained from her, sending her crashing to the ground.
"Whoa, are you alright?" Asta rushed to Stella's side, concern etched across his freckled face. "Was the training earlier that draining?"
...
Once Luna re-entered the celestial realm, a soft sigh escaped her lips, heavy with the desire to share her experiences with Stella.
"Looks like you're back already," a deep voice echoed, warm yet teasing, cutting through the shimmering aura around her.
"Oh, are you here to welcome me back?" Luna retorted with a playful tilt of her head, a glimmer of mischief illuminating her eyes.
"No, but did you really have to expend so much energy taking on that human form of yours?" he replied, his brow furrowing slightly as he crossed his arms, concern etched across his features.
Luna shrugged, her expression shifting to one of mock innocence. "You speak as if this isn't my natural appearance at all."
"You know every time we enter the human realm, our appearances change. We can't transform into any other form unless our master permits it," he reminded her, his tone a mixture of exasperation and understanding.
"I guess you're right," she conceded, her shoulders drooping slightly.
"That's why you should have been more careful to explain that being summoned draws much more mana and energy from the caster than using your own magic." he spoke
"Sorry, I sort of ran out of time," she admitted, a flicker of embarrassment coloring her cheeks a rosy shade.
He sighed, his gaze drifting back to her, the weight of the conversation hanging heavy between them. "So, how was it? Who were you assigned to?" he asked, curiosity piqued.
"A young girl named Stella," Luna replied, a smile breaking across her face, illuminating her features. "She's actually quite delightful to be around. Who would have thought Her Majesty would assign me to her?"
Luna couldn't help but notice the uncanny resemblance she shared to someone she had held dear. the same wild curls, the vibrant color at the ends of her hair.
"Besides, you should already know; she was able to manifest your shield. I'm surprised Her Majesty assigned you to her before she even received her grimoire, Aries."