Shorter chapter this week guys. Enjoy!

Alvasa Out!_!

“It was like no magic I’ve ever seen,” Magna tells Yami. “I mean I’ve heard of foreign language and spells that use strange names before but this was something else. HE DIDN’T EVEN USE HIS GRIMOIRE!” He flails about.

Yami pulls his cigarette from his mouth and lets out a stream of smoke, “And on top of that he took down held his own and beat a pretty strong opponent while thoroughly exhausted.” He looks out the door and down at the party going on downstairs. “I strange kid with two grimoires able to wield two types of magic and a stranger magic with miraculous power. I don’t think I need to be the one to tell ya to keep this to yourself, do I?”

“Not at all sir,” Magna salutes with a familiar three-finger chest gesture. “Asta told me the same. We told the villagers it was a new experiment type of magic item and to keep it to themselves as a military secret.”

“I don’t like being sneaky but that is for the best,” Yami rub the back of his head. “Does he know you’re telling me about this?”

“He told me to tell you sir and he knows I can’t keep a secret from you,” Magna vigorously nods. "He said he speak with you about when you called for him."

“What about Noelle?” Yami looks back at Magna.

“She did pretty well in that fight actually,” Magna crosses his arms, “But the real clincher is-“

“Is what that merc said,” Yami sighs.

Magna nods once. “Asta having killed a lot of people before without even batting an eye. If I hadn’t seen the look on Asta’s face at the time I would’ve never believed it myself.” He looks at Yami revealing one of his eyes through his sunglasses. "It was like he was a totally different person. Not the happy kid that faces down his problems without magic that he's been saying he is. Do you think there is any truth in what the creep said?"

"That kid has faced some stuff that's for sure," Yami nods once as he thinks. "He's a good kid overall but I think he's done some things that have bloodied his hands. Yea I know for a fact he's seen and dealt his fair share of bloodshed before but I don't think it was for the wrong reasons. What really catches my attention is the sword you say he used and some of the phrases too. You're certain he used a katana and said Qi?"

"Without a doubt," Manga nods again. "The same exact type you use."

"A few more things we'll have to discuss then," Yami sighed. "For now, let's just leave him be for now. They did a good job so let them have a good time. You should be down there too," He lifts Magna by the collar, "Cause I gotta take a serious dump!" He yells as he tosses Magna down to everyone else.

Meanwhile, Asta walks outside away from everyone, a familiar little anti-bird was sitting on his head.

"Alright," He says, "That's enough of your playing dumb birdy little girl."

The bird immediately opens its eyes and spreads its wings before Asta quickly grabs her.

"You're not getting away," Asta says knowingly. He holds up a gem with a symbol in it and the bird's eyes widened. "Knew you'd recognize it. It's what those bastard ice mages wanted to get after all. I can tell you this," he glares, "I won't stand for any of your pecking bs, Secre Swallowtail."

The bird froze.

"That's right I know all about who you are," He says as he set her down on a rock nearby, "Fricai onr eka eddyr.(I am your friend.)"

The bird's eyes started to water a bit.

"No need for tears. It's nice to see that elvish is not totally lost in this world," Asta sighs as he sits down. "I'm not from this place Secre. I don't belong in this world but I can't go home until I do certain things. Things that involve you, your friends the elves, Licht, and your king, the first Wizard King. I promise to help you if you help me in turn. Alright?"

The bird stares but then nods once.

"Good," Asta stands up. "For now, you keep the stone. Build a nest in my room and keep it there," He sets the store down next to her. "We have to gather more of them but that will be the future. I will tell you about myself personally when we can have some alone time with someone dear to me. For now, just play the part of the clingy little birdy."

He walks away leaving the bird alone.

A couple of days later...

"PAY DAY!" Yami yells, "Line up front and center!"

Everyone comes down immediately in a rush.

"One for you, One for you, One for you, One for you...." Yami passed everyone their pay. "And you all have tomorrow off so go spend it anyway ya want. I'm going to the can," he remarks as he walks off.

"So, what ya gonna do with yours?" Vanessa moves in but Asta jumps back slightly and she stumbles into Noelle, thoroughly burying the teen girl in Vanessa's boobs.

"I'm going to send about half back to the church and keep the rest," Asta nonchalantly tosses the bag around.

"Did you really have to let her smother me with her chest?" Noelle protests as she pushes Vanessa off.

"I know a good way you could easily triple that," Magna smirks.

"Yea, like I'd take gambling advice from the guy that lost everything except grimoire in a game of poker, and even after still lost," Asta deadpans, "Seihi needs money but it's not my job to provide for your friend and his village with my pay. That's all, you buddy." He turns to the girls. "Didn't have to but at the same time, I'm not one for playful flirting with a girl I have no feelings for other than friendship. Sorry, Noelle."

"Okay, so who wants a ride to the capital to send their money tomorrow?" Finral asks and everyone raised their hands. "Yep," he sighs, "That's exactly what I was thinking..."

The next day...

"Alright out now," Finral points as everyone exits his portal from the hideout to the capital. "You're on your own to get back," he proudly walks off.

"Let's see here," Asta says as he pulls out a list. "I can get a good bit of these cheap in the outer front stall. I can also stop by Pop's place to see if he has any of the extras of the tools I'll need."

"So ah," Noelle looks at Asta, "What do you think he's got that list for?"

"No telling kiddo," Vanessa shrugs. "Oh, I know. How about I take you two to a really good place where you can get great stuff on the down-low and for cheap too?" She winks.

"This place wouldn't happen to sell items to help with mana control, would it?" Noelle embarrassingly asked.

"No better place actually," Vanessa winks, "Hey Asta... Wha... Where'd he go?"

"Over there," Noelle points as Asta walks on without a second thought. "Should we stop him or something?"

"I think we'll just play follow the leader for now hun," Vanessa giggles. "I wonder what kind of secrets or boy scout has?"

"Yea... hehe... Secrets..." Noelle looked down, a bit nervous as she recalled the events from a few days prior in Sosshi. The look in Asta's normally cheerful and warm eyes had turned stale and cold.

"Don't let it get to you Noelle," Vanessa says. "Even if what you heard in that village is true, I don't think Asta is a bad person. He led a life alone for years trying to survive. In the type of world he grow-up in it was kill or be killed."

"But to think he killed people when he was so young...." Noelle hesitates.

"Even if he did Noelle, he's not someone to kill without reason," Vanessa says while they follow Asta into the lower parts of the city. "You saw it yourself. Even if he wanted to, he held himself back. The evidence was in front of you with those mercenaries, wasn't it?"

"Yea," Noelle looks to the side. "But still..."

"I can say without a doubt he would never harm any of us or those he cares for consciously or without a very good reason to," Vanessa smiles. "The look in his eyes when you three got back. It wasn't just the joy I saw from that boy but also a great deal of pain. He's hurting a lot Noelle, from a great many things in fact, but most of them he either won't or can't tell us, at least not yet anyways. But if and when he does want to open up about it we'll be there fr him. It's what squads do for each other after all."

"Right," Noelle nods, "But ah.... where are we exactly?"

"The lower part of the city in the industrial area," Vanessa looks around. "What would he come here for?"

"Hey, he stopped in front of a shop!" Noelle points at Asta as he takes in a deep breath and then rings a bell.

"Hey, old man ya die in an explosion yet?!" Asta yells.

There was a massive explosion that proceeded with the girls just looking puzzled at the scene.

"I'm okay!" A gruff voice calls out. "Who's out there?" a short buff older man with white bread and hair tied in a bun steps out in a leather apron and green smoke-filled goggle with a large hammer on his shoulder. At his full height, he was just at Asta's chest line.

"Oh, Asta good to see ya lad." There was a brief silence before the old man start to slap Asat on the back, "So ya made it in aye. I had my doubts after I didn't see nor hear from ya after ya packed up your last day here. Good for ya, but what're ya doing here? Need to forge a new sword?"

"He can forge?!" Noelle and Vanessa said dumbstruck.

"Actually, yea, in a way at least. I am looking for a few things to help with a couple of future projects," Asta hands him the list. "Anything you can spare as far as tools and or materials on this list would be a great help. I just got my pay in so-"

"Don't even think about paying me," The old man says. "You brought back my fire and brought in new customers and apprentices," he laughs, "They all try and outdo those scrap pieces of yours I kept. Never seen young ones so motivated."

"You seriously kept those pieces of crap," Asta sighs. "Anyways the list?"

"Let's get ya all set up," The old man waves. "As long as ya come here you're money is no good, most of the time, hehe! And you bring in a new piece every now and again to show off to the newbies..."

"Hai-hai," Asta sighs while the old man leads him in.

"What should we do?" Noelle asks.

"I honestly think we should shop," Vanessa remarks. "One thing I know is that if a man is working on a special project it's either something for himself or someone else and either way, they doesn't like people to know about it. We'll play the coincidence card and bump into him. How about that?" She winks with her tongue out.

"Project for someone else..." Noelle says with a bit of worry.

"Or you could just stand in the middle of the street," came a familiar voice behind them.

"Yes, or we could just stand in the middle of the street," Vanessa repeats and immediately wilts.

They both turn to see Asta with his items in hand and on his back give them a deadpan stare.

"You both really need to work on your sneaking," He walks through the two women as they stare ashamedly.

"I knew you were both following me from the start," He remarks. "You're not very quiet when you talk only about ten feet back from someone, also you stand out like a red sore thumb and reek of alcohol," he points at Vanessa who was nervously chuckling.

"So ah... what was with the shop?" Noelle interrupts.

"I worked for the old man as a part-time smith while I stayed in the city while waiting for the exams to occur," Asta shrugs. "Had to make money to stay in an inn somehow after all as he walks on."

"So, you went to him because you had history," Vanessa looks up, "Makes sense. Was he a dwarf?"

"Not a full dwarf," Asta tacks on. "More like a partial partial dwarf."

"So he's a descendant of a dwarf," Vanessa nods. "But he got more of the gene than some of the others I've seen before."

"Excuse me but what's a dwarf?" Noelle raised an eyebrow as Asta led them through the alleys.

"An ancient and very magical race of craftsfolk can that live for exceedingly long periods of time," Asta remarks. "Not a lot is known about them as they generally kept to themselves, even in the past they weren't overly friendly. They're known very well for their ability to make magic items of just about any kind. Nowadays like you most people don't even know about them," He turns and looks at Noelle. "I'm not surprised you know about them Vanessa with you being a witch. Anyways," he turns and saunters on, "These days you can really only find their descendant like pops back there, but every now and then you can meet a truer dwarf, like Charmy," he stops in front of a restaurant and the see Charmy stuff her face through the window. "Of course, she doesn't reflect the crafter part of er dwarf side at all. She is only half-dwarf but at the same time she's proof they're out there hiding somewhere."

"How about we get the rest of my shopping done then I can take you two to a really special place," Vanessa claps.

"Be my guest," Asat shrugs. "But I'm carrying your stuff for you."

The breaking of glass was heard in Vanessa's mind as part of her plan had been shattered to pieces.

"I have a few more things I need to look into while I'm in this part of town anyways," Asta turns.

Noelle looks at him and then to Vanessa, "Go on hun I can see you two need some time together," Vanessa winks. "I think you're the only one who can help him through his strife right now anyways. You don't have to talk just be there at his side. I'll meet up with you two at this intersection later," she points in the distance.

"Okay," Noelle nods before running after Asta.

"Ah," Vanessa sighs, "Young love. They're both so clueless though," she giggles before doing her own shopping.

Later...

"Follow me you two," Vanessa motions.

"Where are going exactly?" Noelle crosses her arms.

"The Black Market," Asta nonchalantly responds causing Vanessa to trip and fall on her face.

"The what now?" Noelle raised an eyebrow.

"I'm surprised you know about a place like this Asta," Vanessa chuckles as the trio enters through a miraged entrance. "The black market is a place where you can find all sorts of items and powerful artifacts for a reasonable price."

"Yea. I stumble across this place when I was working for the old man as a smith while looking for martial one day," Asta nods. "I came here to get materials for my smithing. I recommend you look for a stand run by a woman by the name of Code. She makes all kinds of stuff, but be sure and look into the wands. I think you'd really benefit from it. Just be careful as she's rather... big on the Inflation of her prices"

He starts to head off.

"And where are you going?" Noelle abruptly asks.

"To say hi to my old supplier and see if he has what I need," Asat waves without even looking back.

"Well, as long as he knows what he's doing," Vanessa shrugs. "But yea we should check out of these stands here and I know the woman he was talking about. If anyone can help with what you need it would be her, t but he's right about her being somewhat greedy."

In the gambling sector...

"Come again sonny," An old hag chuckles.

"Huh ha..." Zekke sadly remarks, "The old bat cleaned me out... Oh well better get back to patrolling. At least I get to see the city instead of being stuck behind a communications desk... huh ha..."

Zekke throws a coin on the table and walks away towards Noelle and Vanessa who were examining magic suppressing jewelry.

"Hey, what about this one," Vanessa points. "It's pretty strong."

"Yea but..." Noelle says with a disgruntled look. "It's so ugly."

"So what," Vanessa shrugs. "If it works it works. Why not put it on and try casting a spell?"

"Well alright," Noelle sighs as she put on the ugly necklace and forms a smaller waterfall than usual and shoots it but it veers off and hits Zekke dead on. "Well, ah... you shouldn't have chosen to stand there..." she flicks her hair.

'Huh ha... Jackpot...' Zekke thinks to himself as he gets to his feet. "Well hello, ladies. You know this isn't the best of neighborhoods to be in. Perhaps_"

"Can it bug boy," Asta interrupts as he walks up. "They're the last ladies that need any sort of protection around here, especially from someone like you."

"Ah... Asta... hello... how are you doing today?" Zekke nervously chuckles, 'The best longing women here and they have to be with this guy! Of all PEOPLE! HUH HA!'

"Your face is just screaming 'oh no not this guy why this guy... huh ha'," Asta deadpans before turning to the girls. "Find anything interesting?" He looks to the girls completely ignoring the bug man.

"Well, we found this," Noelle lifts the necklace hesitantly and then her face heats up as she realizes the view she is showing off."

"Try this," Asta holds up a wand to Noelle.

"Unfortunately, Code caught a cold and so in turn her stall wasn't really open but she was there and more than willing to sell this in exchange for some extra incentive and some medical advice on her cold in the form of an herbal remedy," He hands the wand over to Noelle.

The girl takes it, a bit shocked by the gift, "Why did you get me this..."

"You're my friend for one thing and is also an apology for the way I looked at you in Sosshi," Asta rubs the back of his head.

"I'm not the nicest person when it comes to my friends and those, I care about are put in danger because someone is targeting them or if they have evil intentions in general. I can get very, very... scary... I don't like that side of me but at the same time, I can't help it cause that's the way I've always been. I zero-in on the things that've caused the harm and want to harm it back, usually till it's nothing more than a steaming pile of flesh on the floor."

"The fact that you don't act on those impulses says a lot more about you than you realize kiddo," Vanessa cuts in. "You really have a good heart."

"Thanks," Asta smiles with a bit of red in his cheeks.

Suddenly a man in a hood stalks the old gambler hag and knocks her over and takes her winnings while riding on a cloud.

"STOP THIEF THOSE ARE MY WINNING!" She yells.

Asta sighs, 'And there goes the moment' he thinks as he pulls his slayer from his grimoire and turns it with the flat facing the ground. The thief speeds up and starts to head upwards but Asta jumps up and effortlessly slices the cloud causing the thief to fall on his face.

He looks up at Asta, "How did you-" Asta punched him in the face giving him a black eye and also knocking him unconscious.

"Lucky we were here granny," Asta takes the winning and hands then back to the old hag. "We'll leave this guy to you Huh ha. After all," He smirks as he throws the thief on Zekke, "It's our day off and you're on patrol, so your jurisdiction," the girls giggle.

"Later," he waves as they depart leaving a confused Zekke with an out-cold would-be robber and a gambling hag.

"Huh ha?"

The trio departs, leaving the old hag behind as Zekke sighs and drags the would-be robber along on the ground.

As soon as everyone was gone the old had transformed into a tall man blonde man in a royal red cape.

“Well, that was most exciting,” he smirks.

“Though I wished he would’ve used his Light and Dark magic too,” he looks off in the direction that Asta’s group went. “Still, it was worth coming out just to see that sword of his,” he smiles. “Ah, new magic! How I adore them!” He gushes as he spins around dramatically. “I must see more!“

He starts to walk off but a glowing circle with a young man with blue mushroom-shaped hair ops up in front of him, “There you are sir,”

“Oh, hello Marx,” the man waves.

“Sir where have you been?!” Marx exclaims.

“Out and about discovering new magic,” the man smiles innocently.

“Please sir this is in no way something for the likes of someone of your position of power to be doing,” Marx tiredly sighs. “The wizard king should not be out golfing off when there is work to be done.”

“Yes well, when new magic stops being born then Julius Novachrono will sleep,” The wizard king proclaims, “Until such a time occurs, I will continue on my much need research trips.” He looks up to see a flying chariot accompanied by two knights. “Oh, and there the other four-leaf wielder that William recruited.”

“Sir, please come back,” Marx begs.

“In a little while,” Julius waves off. “I’m going to give these new Dawn members a test, later Marx!” He waves.

“Sir wait-“ Marx didn’t even finish before the king leapt off.

Later…

The black bulls soon returned to the hideout. Asta surfs on the Slayer while carrying his totes. Vanessa rode her broom accompanied by Noelle.

"So, tell me," Vanessa says quietly. "What're your thoughts on our dear Asta?"

Noelle's face suddenly lit up, "W-w-what d-do you mean by that?"

"Oh, you can't hide it for me hun," Vanessa chuckles. "I've seen the way you look at him. You like him."

Noelle hides her eyes embarrassed, "Maybe a little..."

"I can definitely see why," Vanessa looks out of the corner of her eye. "He's strong, not just magically but also physically. He's a hard worker. And not the bad looking either. Most of all he's kind and caring."

"I know all that but..." Noelle says, "But there's more to him than that to..."

"The village incident?" Vanessa looks back.

Noelle nods, "I just can't stop thinking about it! I know what the man said about Asta and him being the same and I don't want to believe it but that look in Asta's eyes when he looked at me... I don't know if it's the truth... or..."

"So, what if it is true," Vanessa remarks. "I'm not going to deny some of what I heard from Magna as I know it's the truth. At least some of it..."

"But how?" Noelle asks shocked.

"The look in his eyes and the feel of the aura he gives off. When as you go along in this world and even ore in our profession you pick up on center things just but the air someone give off alone," Vanessa hides her left eye under her hat, "He's killed people before yes, but not for the same reasons the mercenary has. Asta was alone after his parents died and had to get on in the world by himself so he did what he had to in order to survive. In fact, he gives off an eerily similar vibe to someone else we know."

"Who?" Noelle asks confused.

"Yami," Vanessa says sternly, "He and Asta give off a very similar atmosphere. Look, Noelle, if it's really bothering you that much just go up to him and ask. If he doesn't answer then ask him if he can at least tell you why. If you still can't get any answers then just tell him he can come to you whenever he needs to talk."

"What if he doesn't though?" Noelle asks.

"Then either leave him be or force him," Vanessa says. "At the end of the day just let him know he can trust you and that you'll be there for him whenever he needs you or not. It was obvious that he cares about you a lot more than he lets on. The wand he got you for example. Code isn't one for making deals. She charges out the ass for her stuff, in the end, it's well worth what you'll pay but even she isn't one to cut a deal for just a cold."

Noelle reaches down and pulls out the wand that Asta bought for her then smiles.

'That a girl,' Vanessa smirks.

"Hey we're here," Asta says getting their attention.

The group all flew down to the hideout. Vanessa and Noelle dismount the broom and start to head inside. Noelle stops and notices Asta still on his sword as he turns in the opposite direction. She quickly runs after him.

"Hey Asta," Noelle calls out.

"Hmm..." He stops and turns back around. "Yea what's up Noelle?"

"You're not coming in?" She asked.

"No," He shook his head. "I got the all-clear from the captain earlier and am heading out for a couple of days."

"Oh..." She looks down. "Alright but ah... I want you to know that if you ever need someone to talk to about anything or just listen that..." She swallows hard and looks up as her cheeks flush, "I'm here for you, okay?"

"Sure," Asta smiles, "You know you're really cute when you're embarrassed like this, hahaha!"

Noelle's face becomes even redder and she pulls out her wand and starts firing off water balls as Asta flies up and dodges them.

"I'll see ya in a few days!" He calls out as he flies away.

"Idiot, Hmf," she flicks her hair and turns around a small smile on her face, "He called me cute..."

Much later...

Asta lands in the forest outside Hage Village amidst the ruins of the old village.

He takes in a deep breath, "Ahhhhh.... fresh air and no one screaming their head off," he says as he walks. He then hears a low ting. "Hmmm...." he peeks around a corner.

There he saw Nick swinging the sword that Asta had given to him. The kid had worked up quite a sweat letting Asat know that he'd been out here practicing for a while

"Hey, there kid," Asta says as he comes out.

Nick jumps back and points the sword at the knight before realizing it was his older brother, "Asta! What are you doing out here?"

"I'd like to ask you the same thing but seeing as how your all sweat and holding a blade I have my answer," Asat chuckles. He takes a look around and examines some of the training equipment he'd left set up. He runs his hand down the side and notices the coloration differences. "You've been coming here for a while." He remarks with a turn.

Nick nods, "Ever since you gave me this sword," He held up the weapon, "I come out here and train whenever I can. But you never answered my question, why are you here?"

Asta thumbs to the bags of materials he brought, "I'm here to forge myself a pair of new swords."

"Well," Nick looks down at his sword, "If you need a sword you-"

Asta quickly bonks him on the head, "That's your sword now kid, not mine. No I'm here to forge two all-new swords just for me," he walks over to a bag and pulls out a hammer with a small head and long handle as tall as himself. "One that I can us with my grimoire. And seeing as you're here," Asta stabs the handle into the ground in front of the kid. "You can help. It'll be a part of your training. A swordman needs to know how to maintain his sword as well as use it."

Nick still rubbing his head looks up. He takes a hold of the hammer, "If you say so..."

"Alright, let's get started then," Asta returns to the bags.

"Wait, you mean right now?" Nick said abruptly.

"I only have a few days off and we have two separate swords to forge," Asta confidently remarks as he hands Nick a wooden box with a piece of metal in it, "So we have a lot of work to do and not a lot of time to do it. This is called Tamahagane, or jeweled steel. It's what we use to make swords in my homeland. It's much stronger than normal steel and as an added bonus I found it conduct magic rather well."

Asta used his dark magic on his finger and touches the steel and the metal immediately turns solid black.

"While we're forging, I'm going to use my magic on the hammers and other tools I'll have in hand to better infuse my magic into the sword's very core thus changing its nature of being slightly, thus making it stronger and a much better conductor for my power," Asta pulls his finger back and walk over to an old house and pushes a brick in.

Suddenly a trap door opens not far away and up from the ground raises a forge already smoldering.

"Let's get started shall we, "Asta smirks as he lifts his bags and brings them into the newly arisen structure with Nick closely following him in awe. "First we have to heat the steel," Asta says. "Throw it in the fire Nick."

"Ah uh, what?" The youth snaps out of his stupor. "Oh, yeah right," he says tossing the steel nugget in his hands into the fire,"

"While we wait for it to heat, we can get started with some of the handle work," Asta smirks as he pulls out a couple of wooden blocks. "Let's keep up this pace."

Into the evening...

Asta once more struck the superheated billet on the anvil of his forge with his hammer that he'd infused with his dark magic sending purplish-black spark out. Nick watched in awe as his older brother beat the red and yellow metal drawing it out and then proceeded to fold it over on itself. Asta told Nick it was a process called layering that made the sword's tensile strength with each layer, whatever it meant Nick chalked it up to making the blade stronger. He'd been repeating this process over and over several times until the color of the billet had changed to that of a solid light consuming black, the exact opposite of his earlier forging.

He'd already done this same work before but with his light magic to create a billet of metal the shined nearly as bright as the sun to the point he'd covered it up in order to see the heat of the current billet.

Once he was stratified with his layer count Asta then started to draw the billet out again but this time he shaped it into a shape that looked very similar to that of Nick's sword but with more of a curve in the blade. It was also noticeably nowhere near the width of Nick's blade either.

"Alright," Asta let out a strong huff as he holds up the second of his creations.

He looks it over and then quenched it a barrel of oil he'd had here already. Though it was black you could still feel the heat coming off the sword and hear the loud hiss it made when Asta dunked it into the pulled it out quickly partially out of the oil. There was a small plum of fire that ignites as the still superheated part of the sword made contact with the oil the cascaded of the blade only to be quenched with another dunk in the oil.

"Nick, just like before," Asta called out.

"R-RIGHT!" The boy reacts and quickly runs over and placed a wooden board on the table next to Asta.

Asta pulls the sword from the oil and placed it on the board and Nick sandwich it with another broad as Asta then tightly ties a rope around the sword sandwich.

"Woo..." Asta lets out a relieved hoot as he steps back. "Good job," he smiles as he places a hand on Nick's shoulder.

"I had no idea making swords was such hard work," Nick let out a tired huff of his own.

"Yeah well, we got most of the hard work done with this," Asta proudly ats the two sword sandwiches on the table. "Tomorrow is more hard work too but it won't be as strenuous. We'll also be working on the hilts but that doesn't require heat."

Nick looks at the sky, "I didn't realize it was so late! I need to get back to the church!"

"I'd take you back to my house but there's no point with us being so close to town," Asta yawns. "Seeing as it's my fault you're still out I'll take you back. It'll also give me the chance to say hi to everyone and have dinner with them too."

"Are you going back to your base?" Nick asked.

"Too far away," Asat shook his head. "I'll just stay at the church while I'm here. It's easier than flying all that way and back, especially with how much time I can devote to our pet project here." He and Nick walk out of the forge and Asta hit the switch in the wall lowering it back into the ground. "Let's go," he says as he pulls his slayer from his black grimoire.

"Ah... Asta that's a sword, not a broom..." Nick points.

"Yes, it is but it can still fly," Asta smirks but then something in the trees catches his attention, "Nick get behind me!" he calls out forces the youth behind him as he used the sword to block incoming darts.

Nick stared in shock while Asta reached out with his sense.

'Four...' he mentally counts. 'No only three with hostile intent.... that's right I remember now...'

"If you bastards want to keep breathing then I suggest you leave me and my charge alone," Asta calls out. "If not then I won't guarantee your survival!" He roars as light and dark magic waft off his body and then erupts from his sword completely covering it.

He senses some of them shaking as he exerts his bloodlust and murderous intent, yet they still don't back down.

"I'm disappointed in all of you," Asta glares as he raised his sword above his head while the assailants carefully move into him a Nick, the boy cowering in fear as he clung to his older brother. "You can all burn in hell then!" the light magic spewed from the sword while the dark magic gathered in the core.

"Light/Dark Magic: Light of Darkness Spiral Destruction!" He yells and brings down his sword send a golden spiral of magic out the changed into fark magic as it spiraled outward.

The only thing that was left in the wake of the attack were golden flames laced in black edges. Nick stares in awe at Asta's actions. Along the flames lay three individuals twitching in pain.

Asta walks up to one of them and points his weapon right at his throat, "You have to the count of three to tell me why you're here and why I shouldn't add you blood to my quenching barrel!" The man shakes, "Now talk!"

Suddenly a horizontal tornado heads straight for Asta. The knight quickly infused his drained sword with Anit magic and cuts through the tornado's side as he rushes in. He then stops abruptly as the weapon's edge found the neck of someone very familiar.

"Yuno?" Asta raised an eyebrow.

"Asta?" Yuno returns the expression.

"Well, that explains the tornado aimed at me," Asat sigh as he backs off and props his sword on his shoulder. "What the hell are you doing out here?"

"I could ask you the same thing but first as long s your here I could use your help, though," Yuno leans over, "You seem t already done more than excepted."

"I have some time off and I had some projects I wanted to get done so I came out here to get them done, or as much as I could before I had to return back to base," Asta throws up a hand. "I ran into Nick before I started and rope him into helping me in the forge," He points at the still frozen lad, "Anyway, what do ya need?"

"That actually helps wrap up a good bit of what I needed," Yuno says. "I took out a good few of these guys on my way in but locked them all out. They took sister Lily. We thought they also had Nick when he didn't come back to the church by sunset."

"There were four of them but one f them was smart and turn tail," Asta points with his sword. "He's the only one not out called." He looks over to the trees in a distant house struck, "Sister Lily is over there. I can smell her perfume and pot potatoes."

"Yuno!" a man calls out and soon Klaus appears from above. "You should've waited for me!? He scolds them looks around and spies Asta. "And who are you?"

"Try introducing yourself first," Asta walks away. "I have my family to deal with first."

"Hey wait you can't just-" Claus was cut off with a sword's tip right in between his eyes.

"Magic knight or not," Asta glares. "I'm off duty so I don't have to answer to you."

Klaus looks down and spots the Black Bulls robe and then sees the two grimoires, his eyes drawn to the four-leaf clover on the lighter book.

"You're the other on of the...."

"Yes, I'm one of the other three that got a four-leaf clover grimoire," Asta scoffs. "I'm also the one that turned dawn every Magic Knight Captain in favor of the Black Bulls because of the magic and status bigotry that you oh so high and mighty nobles give yourselves. The same wielder that one my status through hard work and physical prowess over magic. I don't have time for this."

He walks off and fetches sister Lily with Nick leaving Klaus staring in shock as he looks at the aftermath of the battle. Yes, it was true he won his match with physical power. See what lay before him though, there was no denying the fact that this knight that just held a sword to his throat had the conviction and magical power to back up what he's said and done.

After Sunset...

Everyone stood in front of the captured noble ringer leader and his goons.

"What do you want to do with them?" Klaus asked Yuno.

"Let them go," Yuno glares, "As long as they never come near Hage."

"You bastard," Salim. stands up. "This was supposed to have you de-"

He was shut up was a blast of water magic from Sister Lily, "Shut your filthy mouth! There is a child present!" Sister flowers down at the noble, "You should be ashamed of what you've done here!"

She proceeded to scold and berate them all while everyone else had nervous smirks on their faces.

Klaus turns to Asta."Thank you for your help in apprehending these fools," he says and holds up a hand, "I'm sorry for what I said earlier and admit I was wrong. I've been a fool to have kept that mentality and am going to follow Yuno and Your example from now on. Commoners or not, you're both a credit to the Magic Knights and examples of what we should strive to be."

Asta looks out of the corner of his eye and then shook Klaus's hand, "Its alright bud I wasn't in the best mindset either. I can get a bit more defensive and negative f the situation presents itself and trust when I say it did. Sorry for pointing my sword at your throat to<" he chuckles.

"What did I just hear you did young man?!" Sister Lily yells.

Asta turns his head rather mechanically, "I'm in big trouble now aren't I?"

She just glares at him and then pulls him off by the ear off to the side, Asta screaming in pain the whole time.

"Yes well," Klaus adjusts his glasses. "I do believe we'll be taking these fellows in. I'm sure your father would love to hear about this along with the rest of the nobility Salim."

"You can't do this!" Salim countered. "He's nothing but a commoner! All of them! Those three don't deserve the four-leaf grimoires! nor do they deserve to be magic knights!"

"Shut up!" Klaus demands, "Yuno and Asta are both accredits to what knights stand for and should strive to be! I've seen what they can do and theirs no way you would stand a chance to either of them!" He glares, "Honestly, if you were truly a noble you would've accepted your defeat with grace and honor, and yet here you are throwing a tantrum because someone was better than you!"

Time passed and everyone decided to stay for supper at the church where Asta met the third member of Yuno's party, Mimosa Vermillon.

"So you're Yuno's brother?" She asked Asta as he rubs his ear.

"Yea we grew up together," Asta winces in pain.

"I also heard you have a four-leaf grimoire," She stares with stars in her eyes. "Is it true you can wield both Light and dark magic!?!"

"It's right here and yea," Asta bluntly says and holds up his grimoire. 'She might be as bad as Twilight about this sort of stuff...'

Mimosa then noticed the other black grimoire, "Wait you the one with two grimoires! the one who got into the knights with weak magic spells and overwhelming physical power!" She stares star-struck.

"How about we have some dinner I can give you details there," Asta nervously chuckles.