The following day dawned, marking the final opportunity for preparation and training before the much-anticipated entrance exam for the magic knights.
Stella stood before a massive stone boulder, her chest heaving as she caught her breath, a triumphant grin illuminating her face.
Today, she had accomplished what once seemed impossible—she had shattered the formidable rock before her, sending fragments scattering across the training ground.
"Well done, Stella!" Luna, in her human-like form, applauded with sparkling eyes that mirrored Stella's elation. She stood proudly beside her, the warmth of their shared effort binding them together.
"I can't wait to tell the others back home how well you've done," Luna's voice bubbled with delight, her enthusiasm radiating through the morning air.
"Me too! I hope your majesty assigns all 12 of you. In fact," Stella's gaze intensified, resolute and bright, "I'll make it my goal to be the first one ever assigned all 12 zodiac familiars!"
"I couldn't agree more," Luna chimed in, her tone brimming with encouragement.
Just then Yuno approached, his footsteps light yet purposeful. "Hello!" he greeted, looking at the unfamiliar woman next to Stella, a curious smile on his lips.
"Wait, you can see her?" Stella's eyes widened in disbelief, darting between Yuno and Luna, the surprise evident on her face.
"You can see me?" Luna echoed, blinking in astonishment, her delicate brows raised.
"Am I not supposed to?" Yuno replied, a quizzical frown creasing his forehead.
"It's not that." Stella rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly, a hint of crimson coloring her cheeks. "I just thought I wasn't strong enough yet for others to see Luna in this form."
"So, is she one of the familiars you were talking about?" Yuno asked, and his interest piqued.
"Yes! This is Luna Brightshell," Stella beamed, pride swelling in her chest. "She's one of the 12 celestial zodiacs, specifically for Cancer."
Yuno squinted at her, a puzzled frown creasing his brow. "I thought you were a crab," he said, his voice a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
Luna's lips curled into a playful smirk. "Well, I can be," she replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She watched him intently, the corners of her lips twitching as a thought flitted through her mind. This boy must have a four-leaf clover. But then, her gaze caught the glint of a pendant hanging from his neck, and her heart skipped a beat.
"Oooo, shiny!" she exclaimed, stepping closer, her fingers itching to reach out and touch the dazzling piece of jewelry.
"What are you doing?" Yuno said, a hint of alarm in his voice as he swiftly grasped the pendant, instinctively stepping back from her. His brow furrowed in protectiveness, yet he still managed to keep his cool demeanor.
"Sorry! It's just so shiny! I love things that sparkle and shine," she gushed, enthusiasm radiating from her every word.
"Don't mind her, Yuno she means well," Stella said
"Anyway," Yuno said, shaking his head as if to clear the flurry of emotions, "I came to get you. It's about time for dinner, and Father told me to come find you."
"Alright, I finally finished my training for the exam, so let's go," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
As she spoke, Yuno noticed a glint of determination in her gaze, an intensity that hinted at the strength she had gained. He couldn't help but marvel at the sight of her effortlessly shattering the stone behind her. It piqued his curiosity about the depths of her training—she had been alternating her sessions between him and Asta, but this was something else entirely. What exactly was she learning? he wondered to himself, his brow furrowing in thought.
"Stella, you and I have both exhausted a lot of mana today," Luna said, her voice calm yet tinged with urgency. "Just remember, time flows differently here in the celestial realm. You probably won't be able to summon me until you reach the royal capital."
"Alright, I'll see you then," Stella replied, a wave of her hand and a bright smile lighting up her face.
"Farewell," Luna said, her tone warm, glancing back at both Yuno and Stella before disappearing into the shimmering light.
...
"Come on, I'm starving," Stella exclaimed, stretching her arms high into the air, her enthusiasm lighting up her face.
The walk back was peaceful, enveloped in a comfortable silence. Yuno wasn't one for small talk, and neither was Stella. However, unlike Yuno, Stella thrived with the presence of others, especially people like Asta.
As they ambled along the path, she couldn't help but wonder about Yuno's feelings regarding tomorrow—the day they would leave for the royal capital. It was a significant event, after all.
"Yuno, are you ready for tomorrow?" Stella asked, glancing at him with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"Yeah, I'll admit I'm a little nervous, but mostly ready," he replied, his voice steady yet tinged with uncertainty.
"Really? You being nervous? I never would've thought," Stella teased, a playful smile dancing on her lips.
"I mean, you're not, right?" he countered, raising an eyebrow. "It's the first time we'll be leaving Hage." Then, a fleeting thought crossed his mind: before Stella came to live with them, she had actually lived in the royal capital.
"Well, I guess it wouldn't be the first time for you," he said softly.
She looked away, her gaze dropping to the ground, lost in memories. "Well, I haven't been there in forever, so I guess I'm a little nervous about heading back, especially after everything that happened. But at the same time, I was young; it's not like I remember much of anything."
"Hage village is my home as much as it's yours," she added gently, her voice earnest.
"But on a lighter note, I wonder how Asta feels. I'm sure he's super excited," Stella said, her spirits lifting.
"I'm sure he's probably too excited," Yuno replied with a hint of a smile.
"Can you really blame him?" Stella laughed, the sound bright and infectious.
Before they knew it, they had reached the church. Luckily, some of the dinner was still being prepared, so Stella took the opportunity to wash up after training. Once she was all settled, she joined everyone in the dining room.
...
The room buzzed with awe and excitement, the table lavishly adorned with an array of pop potato dishes that promised a feast fit for royalty. The tantalizing aromas mingled in the air, enticing everyone gathered. Father Oris's hearty laughter filled the space as he announced, "Well now, Asta, Yuno, and Stella are all heading off to the royal capital tomorrow. I thought we'd send them off in style!" His eyes sparkled with merriment.
"It's quite a fest!" chimed in Sister Lily, her cheeks flushed with delight. "Father traveled to several villages to gather all the pop potatoes he could find!"
Asta and Stella exchanged glances, their eyes shimmering with gratitude. "Oh Father!" Asta exclaimed, his voice brimming with appreciation.
"Don't look at me like that," Father Oris replied, "It isn't just for you; I mainly did it for Yuno." His tone shifted slightly, betraying a hint of favoritism.
"Thank you so much!" Stella beamed, her eyes sparkling even brighter. But as she absorbed their father's words, an undeniable pang struck her—his favoritism for Yuno loomed large once again.
"Father," Asta said, a note of disappointment seeping into his voice.
"Really?" Stella echoed, her brows knitting together in confusion.
"Stella, you were just as much in my mind as Yuno was," he reassured her, his smile softening the moment.
"Father!" Asta raised his voice, feeling stung by the perceived oversight.
"It's true Yuno might have a chance of making it into the Magic Knights," Father Oris continued, looking fondly at Asta. "And Stella—well, she may make it too. It's never too late to change your mind about not going!" He added that last part with an encouraging nod toward her.
"Well, thank you for the support," Stella pouted, her lips forming a small frown as she tried to mask her disappointment.
Father Oris rose from his seat and placed a comforting hand on Asta's shoulder. "Listen, it's a tough exam, and there's no shame in failing. Not everyone expects you to pass," he said, his tone lightening, revealing a flicker of doubt beneath his usual confidence.
"I can't even tell if you're cheering me on or putting me down right now," Asta replied, his voice laced with confusion.
"You'll always have a place here," Father Oris insisted, his voice steady. "No matter what, this will always be your home—even if it's a crumbling dump."
"Yeah, and never forget it!" the other kids chimed in, their voices weaving a tapestry of camaraderie as they expressed just how much they would miss the three of them.
"You're going to say all that stuff to Yuno too, right? About how he can always come back and all?" Asta pointed, his brow furrowed in determination.
"Yes, well..." Father Oris turned away, clearing his throat. "Yuno, he'll be fine. And Stella has magic, so she's most likely going to be okay too, even though I'd prefer she didn't leave." He smiled at Stella, attempting to soften the blow.
"Hey, I'll be just fine! Besides, I'm going to become the Wizard King, and when I do, I'll come back for Sister Lily!" Asta proclaimed, confidence radiating from him.
Sister Lily gasped, stunned by his bold declaration. "So, Sister, will you please mar—" But before Asta could finish his sentence, Sister Lily swiftly used her magic, sending him crashing into the wall with a magical punch.
Chuckling, she then began to list all the delicious pop potato dishes prepared for their festive feast, each name more tempting than the las, their laughter echoing through the room, filled with warmth.
...
The next morning finally arrived—the day Stella, Atsa, and Yuno would embark on their way to take the Magic Knights entrance exam. They planned to leave early, and since the journey would take several days, there was one place Stella was determined to visit before everyone gathered to send them off.
She stood before her mother's gravestone beneath the sprawling oak tree at the edge of the vibrant flower field. With the dawn breaking, golden rays of sunlight spilled over the horizon, illuminating the dew-kissed petals surrounding her. Stella stared into the distance, a contemplative expression on her face as she took a deep breath, cradling a delicate flower in the palm of her hand.
"It's finally the day," she whispered to the stillness around her. "I'm beginning my journey, and I know I won't be able to visit as often as I wish. But you won't be alone. No matter what happens, I know you'll always be with me." Her voice quivered with emotion, and a gentle resolve filled her heart. "I promise I'll uncover the truth of what happened to you. No matter what, So then hopefully you can finally be at peace."
Suddenly, she turned at the sound of familiar voices in the distance.
"I knew we would find you here!" Asta exclaimed cheerfully, his face alight with enthusiasm. Beside him, Yuno smiled, his expression calm yet eager.
"Good morning, you two! What are you doing all the way out here?" Stella asked, her lips curling into a soft smile.
"I thought you both would still be preparing. We're about to head out soon," she added, tilting her head slightly in curiosity.
"We couldn't sleep! The excitement for today was too much, so we decided to get up early. We figured you'd do the same," Asta replied, practically bouncing on his heels.
Stella nodded, her smile warming. "Yeah, I wanted some time to say goodbye. We'll be leaving soon, and I probably won't be back for a while."
"Take as long as you need. We don't leave for another twenty minutes," Yuno reassured her, his tone steady as he offered her a supportive nod.
She turned back to her mother's grave, the morning breeze flowing gently through her hair, rustling the flower in her hand. "Well, I should be heading off now. Don't worry too much, okay? I have amazing people I can count on with me." Both Asta and Yuno exchanged bright smiles at her words.
"I'll talk to you later, Mom," Stella said softly, gently placing the carnation down and offering a farewell before the gravestone, a quiet promise lingering in the air.