The three of them made their way back down to the church, where a small crowd had gathered to bid them farewell. The air was thick with a bittersweet mixture of excitement and sorrow, as friends and family prepared to send them off.
"Take care, you three," Father Oris said, his voice a blend of authority and warmth, his eyes softening as he regarded the three of them.
"Yuno, you'll write to us, won't you?" Rekka asked, her brow furrowed with concern as she leaned forward, a smile on her face.
"Of course," Yuno replied, a reassuring smile spreading across his face, bright and genuine.
"You two, Stella—make sure to write to us," Rekka urged, her gaze shifting to Stella, who stood nearby, a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.
"Definitely," Stella replied, her lips curving into a smile that lit up her face, dispelling any doubt.
"I hope you guys have fun," Arulu chimed in, her tone light but her eyes filled with earnest hope.
"But come back soon, okay?" Hollow added.
"Asta will be back soon enough, don't you worry," Nash said, attempting to mask his concern beneath a veneer of indifference, his nonchalant posture betraying the tension he felt inside.
"Come on, Nash," Asta urged, but Nash stepped closer, a serious expression overtaking his youthful features.
"But listen," he said, his voice low and earnest. "If by some tiny chance you actually manage to join the Magic Knights, then I'll start believing that dreams really can come true. Maybe someday I can join the Magic Knights too," he added, his eagerness creeping into his tone, eyes glinting with hope.
"I'll be waiting," Asta smiled, a spark of determination igniting in his chest, even as Nash shrugged off the moment as insignificant.
"Come on, let's get going," Yuno said, turning away and starting to walk, a mix of excitement and anxiety threading through him.
"Hey, Yuno, wait up!" Asta called, hastening his steps to catch up. Stella was about to follow when Sister Lily stopped her, her voice gentle yet firm.
"Stella, wait."
"What is it, Sister?" Stella turned, curiosity dancing on her face. Sister Lily took a breath, her gaze drifting away momentarily before she took Stella's hand and placed something delicate into her palm.
"It's so pretty! Where did you get this?" Stella asked, her eyes widening as she stared at the bracelet.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it sooner," Sister Lily began, her voice filled with emotion. "But it belonged to your mother." Stella's heart raced, memories flashing in her mind, before she could respond.
"Before she passed, she asked us to promise her to protect you," Sister Lily continued, her voice softening. "Now you're heading off, and we won't be around like before. I thought it would be the perfect send-off gift for you." A fond smile spread across her face, filled with affection. "Please be careful, and do your best," Sister Lily urged, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Thank you, I will," Stella replied, grasping the bracelet tightly, feeling its warmth against her palm.
"Hey, Stella, come on!" Asta called out, his voice full of cheer. "I'm coming!" she yelled back, turning to the gathered crowd.
"Goodbye, everyone!" With a burst of energy, she ran after Asta and Yuno.
"Goodbye!" they all replied, voices mingling in the cool air.
"I'm sure she'll be just fine," Father Oris reassured, watching them go. Sister Lily turned her gaze to him, a mix of hope and worry etched across her features.
"Yes, I believe so too. She has both Asta and Yuno with her, after all."
...
As they walked a considerable distance from the village of Hage, Asta broke the silence.
"What do you think it's going to be like?" he mused, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I wonder if we'll meet the Wizard King."
"I hope so! I'm really curious about what he's like," Stella replied, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. "Honestly, I'm super excited to see all the different kinds of magic!"
"First, we have to pass the Magic Knights entrance exam," Yuno reminded them, his tone serious yet encouraging.
"I'm sure the three of us will pass!" Stella said confidently, a bright smile lighting up her face.
"Awe man, I can't wait!" Asta exclaimed, practically bouncing on his feet, the eagerness radiating off him.
"You can't wait? Aren't you nervous?" Yuno raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk making its way onto his lips.
"Huh? About what?" Asta replied, his brows furrowing in confusion.
"Yep, that's Asta for you," both Yuno and Stella chimed in unison, shaking their heads with a laugh. Yuno then noticed the delicate bracelet adorning Stella's wrist.
"Where'd you get that?" he asked, curiosity glinting in his eyes.
"Oh, this?" Stella looked down at it, her heart warming. "Sister Lily gave it to me. She said it belonged to my mother and handed it over as a parting gift."
"Really? Why didn't she give it to you sooner?" Yuno inquired, tilting his head slightly.
"Not sure," Stella shrugged, her brow furrowing in thought. "But I'm glad she held onto it. Back then, I was always losing things. She probably noticed and decided to keep it safe for me."
"You're not worried about losing it now?" Yuno pressed, concern creeping into his voice.
"Now that you mention it, a little," Stella admitted, glancing at the bracelet thoughtfully. "Maybe I should put it in my bag... or should I just keep it on?" she pondered aloud.
"I can hold onto it for you," Asta offered, grinning widely.
"Absolutely not!" Stella declared, crossing her arms defiantly. "You'll definitely lose it!"
"Alright, alright," Asta relented, an amused sigh escaping him.
"I'll put it in my bag then. For some reason, I have this feeling it could fall off while we're out here. At least I know it's safer inside," she said, tucking it securely away.
"Come on, you two! We've got a long way to go," Asta urged, his competitive spirit igniting as he sprinted ahead. "I've got to be the Wizard King like yesterday!"
"It doesn't matter when you get there; it won't make you the Wizard King any sooner," Yuno scolded, trying to keep up with Asta's energy.
"Once I do become the Wizard King, I'll come back for Sister Lily, and then we'll fly off on a magic broom together!" Asta exclaimed, picking up a stick and pretending it was a broomstick, his eyes gleaming with imagination.
"Can you even fly a broom, Asta?" Stella asked, wonder filled within her voice.
"With no magic," Yuno continued, joining in.
"Yeah, sure! I'll make it work!" Asta declared confidently.
"Will you now?" Yuno shot back, a playful challenge in his tone.
"Totally!" Asta winked with determination. "I'm sure my trusty grimoire will help me. As long as you don't give up, you can do anything!"
"Come on, let's move!" he shouted, sprinting off again. "Do you want to be left behind? The training doesn't stop until we reach the capital!"
"Sure we will!" Yuno called back, exhilaration coursing through him as he chased after Asta.
"Wait, you two! Shouldn't we save some of our energy to get there?" Stella called out, her voice laced with worry. But Asta and Yuno preoccupied with their race didn't hear her, and not wanting to be left behind, she hurried after them, her heart racing.
...
After running for a while, Asta and Yuno collapsed, panting heavily on the ground, their chests rising and falling with every breath. Stella, not far behind, finally caught up, worry etched on her face.
"Please, you two, we need to be smart about how we travel to the capital!" Stella urged, her voice strained as she tried to catch her breath.
"No! I'm not done yet!" Asta insisted, his determination fueling him as he sprang back to his feet, throwing himself into another sprint. Yuno, ever loyal, matched Asta's pace beside him.
"Come on, give me a break!" Stella cried out, exasperated, but she soon followed them, her pace slowing as exhaustion set in. Soon, they reached a rocky area, where Asta and Yuno finally halted, gasping for air. Stella lagged behind, unable to maintain their frantic speed, and was relieved to find she could catch up with them without too much trouble.
"Asta, stop this! We have a long way to go!" Yuno said, breathless but firm, desperation lining his brow.
But Asta, stubborn as ever, continued on, his eyes focused on the path ahead. Yuno, fed up with Asta's recklessness, sat up suddenly and grabbed the back of Asta's bag, holding him back with surprising force.
"Asta, please stop being so stubborn!" Stella pleaded, sinking onto one of the large stones to catch her breath.
"Not yet! I'm still going!" Asta panted, undeterred.
In a sudden moment of frustration, Yuno yanked Asta back again, this time throwing him against one of the jagged rocks, the impact echoing around them.
"That was pretty harsh," Stella remarked, a worried smile on her face.
"It's what he deserves," Yuno replied, his tone resolute.
Stella quickly got to her feet, rushing to help Asta up. With a gentle flick of her wrist, she used her magic to soothe his bruises.
"Thank you, Stella," Asta said gratefully, glancing at Yuno. "Why can't you be nice like her?"
Yuno ignored him, turning his gaze away, his expression unreadable.
Their journey continued, stretching over rainy days and tranquil nights spent by the crackling fire. Asta fought boars in the forest, while Stella skillfully set up the fire to cook their meals.
"I wish everyone back home could try this," Asta said, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
"It's really good," Stella replied, savoring each bite.
They trudged through foggy days that clouded their vision, but Yuno's wind magic guided them safely through the haze. They faced falling boulders, which they broke apart, and on some days, they caught fish from nearby lakes, filling their bellies with fresh food.
Nights rolled by, where they slept beneath a blanket of stars, dreaming of the adventures awaiting them. As they crossed deserts, Asta noticed Yuno growing parched and offered him some of his Moguro juice a gesture that was met with Yuno spitting it out in disgust.
Stella quickly stepped in, handing Yuno a canteen of water she had brought along, ensuring they had plenty for the three of them. Days passed, and as they climbed to a high plateau, Yuno stopped abruptly, staring out into the distance.
"Why did you stop?" Asta asked, catching up to him, with Stella by his side.
"We made it," Stella breathed, her eyes wide with awe.
"Oh wow, it's huge! The capital!" Asta exclaimed, his face alight with determination. "That's where the Wizard King is!"
His expression filled with fervor, Asta raised his fist into the air as if capturing the spirit of adventure itself. "Here we go!" he yelled, charging ahead. "Time to do this! I will become the Wizard King!"
Stella and Yuno exchanged smiles as they witnessed Asta's enthusiasm, with her tightening her grip on her mother's robe. A mix of nerves and excitement swirled within her as they pressed onward, the Royal Capital looming ahead, ready for what awaits.