March… When firefly dandelion fluff starts to dance through the air, all of Clover Kingdom fifteen year-olds are gathered, and an awarding ceremony is held where they receive their Grimoire.
***
Soon the next day came as they had gone to the Grimoire Tower just as they had planned just as the crowd had started to form. Prism had been in awe as she watched the dandelions flutter into the air as if they had been fireflies, as the crowd of people increased. There were a few times where she had stopped and looked around to all that had surrounded her; even the many different people she had seen around them as she approached the tower along with the residents of the Church.
"Wow!" Asta said just as in awe as Prism had been, "What a turnout! I didn't think there would be this many people!"
"Is everyone here from Hage?" Prism asked curiously.
"Yup." Feodora replied, "Everyone that's turned fifteen come from all around the Village to gather at the Grimoire Tower to get their own book to increase and stabilize their magic. It's basically routine every year. I'd honestly be surprised if the crowd was a lot smaller. I'm sure other places are like this too."
Prism let out a sigh, "I hope you're right about getting my magic back Asta. I really want to get some practice in."
"Don't worry, it'll happen!" He reassured her, "All you need is to have a little faith!"
"Try not to get her hopes up." Yuno said to her, "And don't your hopes up either Asta. We're not even sure if this is going to work."
"I'LL GET MY MAGIC, YOU'LL SEE!" Asta yelled.
"You're really that confident Dum-Dum?" Feodora asked.
"Let's hope the meeting with Drouot goes well." Father Orsi said, "I'll take you to see him."
"Thank you, I'd appreciate it Father." Prism said before she said to the group, "I'll see you guys inside."
"Likewise!" Asta said with a smile.
"See you soon big sister!" Aruru said as she waved.
With that said Prism broke off the group along with Father Oris as they went ahead inside the Grimoire tower, going up a staircase towards what Prism had assumed was the study of where Drouot had been. He gave the door a couple of knocks.
"Drouot?" Father Orsi said, "It's me, Father Orsi."
She could hear a voice come from the inside, "Ah yes, come in."
With that, the two of them entered the room, and Prism saw the mast of the Grimoire Tower. The man had been elderly man who had a thick white beard and looked to be wearing wizard robes. She could only assume the man had been Drouot.
"So that's him?" Prism thought as she had a small smile, "Funny, he kind of looks like that nice man in my Village."
"Father Orsi." Drouot said, "How nice to see you again, on the day of the Ceremony no less. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I'd thought I'd introduce you to a new member of our little family in our Church." Father Orsi said, putting both of his hands on Prism's shoulder, gently ushering forward, "I'd like you to meet Prism."
"Hello sir." Prism said as she bowed her head.
"Well now." Drouot said as he stood from his desk, "This is a surprise and a rare sight. And how did this one find her way to your doorstep?"
"She ran into the others a couple of days ago and helped them out of a sticky situation." Father Orsi explained, "And I'm afraid, she can't remember her way home, so she's staying with us for the time being."
"I see--" Drouot said, before he looked over to Prism, "--And what brings you here then young one?"
Prism took a deep breath as she said, "Well, I was wondering if I could participate in the Awards Ceremony today?"
Drouot looked a bit surprised, as he looked her over, "Forgive me, but you still seem young to participate in such a thing."
"I understand that Master sir." Prism replied, as she twiddled her thumbs, "But it's just, I have had a large amount of mana since I was born. With each passing day the magic only grows stronger, I believe if I receive my Grimoire now, I can have better control and an understanding about the kind of magic I possess."
"And, what kind of magic do you possess child?" Drouot asked.
"Oh it's--" Prism started to say but she had been surprised when she stopped herself.
She felt her head go fuzzy and her vision blur up slightly when she tried to think of an answer. Though surprisingly enough--
"I--Don't remember…?" Prism thought to herself as she shocked herself, "But--How can that be?"
Drouot noticed how distressed she looked before he told her, almost as if he knew what she had been thinking, "You don't have to force anything young. Now, let me get a look at you, let me see those hands of yours."
"Okay." Prism said, as she held out both of her hands towards him.
Took them as he looked along her palms as he had been examining thoroughly. "My, my you have the hands of a warrior child." Drouot said, "Is it from your father?"
Prism laughed sheepishly as she replied, "My mother actually. A lot of people say I have her warrior spirit."
Drouot gave a laugh, "I don't doubt that."
Drouot examined the lines along her palms as he had been thinking to himself of what she had been asking. He closed his eyes as he tried to sense the mana she spoke about. Though he had been taken back when he couldn't sense any.
"This child doesn't possess any mana?" He thought to himself, "She's like Asta? How interesting."
Prism had soon noticed the look in his eyes, "Um… Master Drouot? Is everything alright?"
"Oh please, Drouot is just fine young one." Drouot said with a friendly smile, before he took his hand away from hers, "And I see no reason why you can't participate in today's Ceremony."
At this Prism's eyes brightened, "Oh my gosh, really?!"
Drouot nodded as he replied, "You seem more then capable of receiving a Grimore, if you think it'll help you better control your magic then I won't stop you.."
Prism smiled at this before she bowed her head, "Thank you so much Ma--I mean, Drouot sir!"
"I'm honestly surprised you'd agreed." Father Orsi had pointed out, "Usually you're more strict about this kind of thing."
Drouot had said, "I can see she has potential in her, and it couldn't hurt to allow her to try."
"I really appreciate this Drouot!" Prism said, as she shook his hand, taking by surprise a bit, "If there was a bigger word for gratitude I'd say it right now!"
Drouot laughed, "My, my, you certainly have a lot of energy."
"Alright now Prism." Father Orsi said, calming her down, "Why don't we go join the others downstairs?"
"Oh yes of course!" Prism said with a smile before she bowed her head to Drouot again, "Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity Drouot!"
"No worries." He said to her, "I wish you the best of luck."
Prism nodded before her along with Father Orsi as they both went out the door. Though as they did, Drouot noticed something about the young girl that he didn't see before and it had been her ears; his eyes widened in shock as he had noticed that her ears had two small points.
Everyone had gathered within the main hall of the tower as many of the fifteen year olds had been taken back by the tower of books that had been laid within. The book shelves had reached up practically to the sky as a single window laid overhead, allowing the rays of the sun to come through the window.
Feodora let out a whistle, "That is a lot of Grimores."
"There's so many!" Asta exclaimed as he looked to all that surrounded them, "I wonder which ones are mine!?"
"Just shut up and be patient, Dum-Dum." Feodora told him, pinching his ear, "We're gonna find out soon!"
Asta cringed slightly at this, "Owowow! Okay Feo, I get it! Let me go!" Asta managed to pry himself away from Feodora before he looked to the Grimoires again.
"Once I get my Grimoire, I'm sure I'll be able to use my magic too!" He thought to himself, "I'll catch up to Yuno in no time!" He soon thought about a certain silver haired girl as he remembered their talk from yesterday, "I hope it all goes well for her too. I really want to see the kind of magic she has and the kind of tricks she learned!"
"Asta, Yuno, Feodora!"
The three of them noticed Prism had been among the crowd as she had been coming towards them. "Prism!" Asta said as he waved to her, "I take it that Drouot gave you the all clear?"
"Yup!" Prism said triumphantly, "Honestly, it worked out better than I thought it would."
"Hey, good for you!" Feodora said, giving her a pat on the shoulder, "You'll be joining us for the Ceremony after all!"
"At least everything worked out in the end." Yuno said with a smile.
Prism smiled back, "I'm glad too!" She soon gave a sort of questioning look, "So--How does this ceremony work exactly? I must admit, it's a different custom compared to home."
"Don't worry." Feodora said, "We'll know that soon enough."
Neither of them seemed to notice in the crowd that they had a couple of onlookers; most likely they had been the residents of the Village as they had been looking over the Grimoires. "I guess today's the day I become a full fledged mage." One of them had said.
"Hey, look over there." His friend said, as he had gestured over to Asta's group as they had just been talking with one another, "Pathetic, isn't it? They shouldn't give Grimoires to dregs like that." His eyes soon wandered to Feodora, as his look changed slightly, "Especially to an outsider like her."
"You said it." The young man replied.
His friend chuckled a little, "Don't tell me they're planning on taking the Magic Knights' entrance exams too. Only nobles born with immense magical power or ties to the royal family can get in."
"I heard that shrimp can't even use magic!"
"Wow… Then we need to take GOOD care of him."
The two of them chuckled before they noticed Prism. "Oh, what's this?" He said, "I've never seen her around here before. I wonder if she's new."
"Who cares?" His friend said, "All that matters is we got some new meat."
Soon enough, Drouot had come into view as he had used his magic to enhance his voice; he cleared his throat up slightly. "Welcome young men and women." Drouot said as he lowered himself onto the stand that was set above the crowd, "Today is the day, you will all begin a new journey. I wish you all faith, hope and love. I am Drouot, the master of the Grimoire Tower. We've never had a Wizard King from this area nor anyone who's actually achieved the greatness of the Magic Knights. I sincerely hope one of you will become the Wizard King someday."
Prism couldn't help but look uneasy at the mentioning of the term Wizard King again; she rubbed her elbow a little as she looked to the floor.
"Everything okay?" Asta said, noticing how she looked.
"Ye-yeah." Prism reassured him as she stammered slightly, "I just had a sudden thought… That's all."
"Hey, if you're nervous than don't be." Asta said as he gave her a pat on the shoulder, "Everythings gonna be fine."
"Thanks Asta." Prism said with a small smile, though the moment he turned away her smile fell from her face as she looked saddened again.
"Now then--" Drouot said, "--It's time to reward you all with Grimoires!"
As this was said, everyone saw several books start to light up and fly from the shelves as it took everyone back. Each one possessed a different color of aura as they floated above their heads for a moment, before the books started to float towards the crowd of people.
One of them had been a silver-white book that floated towards Feodora, as it had three clovers; the book had been small yet thick with pages as it floated in front of her.
"Whoa!" Prism with awe, "What a pretty color!"
Feodora took the book as the aura disappeared, "So this is my Grimoire huh?" She said as she looked over, feeling the cover that had a three leaf clover in the middle, "Funny I thought it would be bigger."
"Maybe it's because your brain is so small." Yuno teased.
"Oh, go suck an egg, Know it All!" Feodora said as she flipped him off.
Prism looked up to the shelves as she had been anxiously waiting for one of the Grimoires to come to her. She waited and waited, though unfortunately… Not one book came to her.
She let out a sigh, as she looked upset again, "... I should've known…"
Yuno and Feodora noticed how she looked as they both patted her on both of their shoulders. "It'll be okay." Yuno said.
"Yeah… At the very least you tried." Feodora reassured her.
Prism's smile returned on her face as she looked to the both of them, although--
"Um--"
They looked over and saw Asta had been on one knee as his arms had been open wide. "--My Grimoire's not coming."
The crowd looked a bit shocked as did Yuno, Feodora and Prism.
"Er--" Drouot had said, "--Try again next year."
"EH!?" Asta exclaimed.
Soon enough the whole crowd had started to burst out laughing as Asta just looked plain stunned.
"What the heck!?"
"That's actually amazing!"
"That's way too funny!"
"Seriously!?"
"If we competed to see who was the most pathetic, we'd be no match for that guy."
"Hey!" Feodora shouted to the crowd as they continued to laugh, "Lay off him ya assholes!"
Everyone had been taken back by a light green light as it made them all jump; Feodora, Asta and Prism were quick to realize that the glow had been from Yuno as his own Grimoire. "Holy--" Feodora said before she noticed the cover on the Grimoire, "--Wait, is that--?"
Prism's eyes widened as her expression changed again, when she saw what had been on the cover. "A… Four leaf clover…" Prism said softly as her expression softened.
The crowd soon started to converse on this as most of them had been shocked.
"A four leaf!? You mean the legendary--!?"
"You mean what the first Wizard King received!?"
"That Grimoire is said to be filled with immense power and good luck!?"
"Him!? That peasant got it!?"
"That's amazing!"
The book fell into Yuno's hand as he soon turned to the crowd"... I'm going to become the next Wizard King."
At this everyone cheered while Asta looked dejected as his arms fell to his sides; Prism on the other hand looked distant as her eyes remained on the book. Her arms shook slightly as she had thought of someone; she rubbed her elbow slightly as she looked nervous. Everyone cheered while Feodora clicked her tongue. "Of course you'd say that, Mr. Know-It-All."
Asta soon stood as he held his head down.
"Yuno…" He started to say, getting him to turn to him, "... Just you wait. I'll catch up to you in no time! Because I'm your rival!"
Most of the crowd had looked dumbfounded at this as Prism looked to Asta with awe. Though she could hear the crowd talking about him again.
"Did he just say rival?"
"He didn't even get a Grimoire. What is he thinking?"
Yuno's expression changed slightly though he did something not even Feodora had been expecting. He had simply walked by him as he uttered only two words.
"Not possible."
***
-Later that Day-
As the sun started to set over the horizon, Asta didn't feel like returning to the church. He had been hanging upside down on a branch with one leg as he had been having mixed feelings about the whole thing. "Man…" Asta said, "... I thought once I got a Grimoire I'd be able to use my magic but… I never thought I wouldn't even get one…"
"Asta?"
Asta flinched slightly as he saw below it had been Prism who had been looking around searching for him; she had been riding along Adrien's back as he had been sniffing the area as well and Feodora had been walking beside them.
"Asta? Are you here?"
"Hey Shorty? Where are you?"
"I'm up here!" Asta called out, getting them to look up, "Hang on a second!"
Asta flipped himself over up on the tree before he leaped down with ease, just as Prism got herself off of Adriens back. "Is everything okay?" Prism asked Asta, "You kind of ran off after we got out of the Grimoire tower."
"Oh yeah, I'm fine!" Asta reassured "no need to worry about me."
"Really?" Feodora said looking skeptical, "Tell that to the guy that even avoided Sister Lily like the plague after the ceremony."
Asta laughed nervously at this, "O--Oh! Did I do that!?"
Feodora said as she clicked her tongue, "Okay, you're acting weird even for you, shorty."
Asta sighed as he let out a groan as he said, "I know, I know! I just have a lot on my mind right now."
"You know--" Prism said, "--I have a friend who acts like you, whenever he gets upset."
Asta gave her a quizzical look, "Wait, seriously?"
Prism nodded her head, "Pluck would often try to wave it off like a tough guy, he may be a genius but even smart guys like him can get upset. Though I can see right through him."
Asta let out a sigh as he said, "Like me, huh? Am I really that obvious?"
"Yep." Prism said, "You'd be surprised how easy it is to read him. Though now that I think about it, he might actually like you!"
"Look, the point she's trying to make is--" Feodora said, "--You need to talk about what happened? About you not getting a Grimoire?"
Asta rubbed the back of his head as he didn't answer; instead he avoided eye contact as he looked to the floor. Prism soon placed her hand on his shoulder making him flinch slightly, "If it makes you feel better--I didn't get my Grimoire either. I'm no step closer to getting my magic back."
"Aw man--" Asta said as he face palmed himself, "--I'm so sorry Prism! You must be--"
Prism shook her head as she still had a smile on her face, "Don't apologize Asta. We'll find another way to get our magic. We just gotta know where to look."
Asta's look changed at this as he saw the look in Prism's eyes; it had been comforting and encouraging almost like she had been silently communicating with him. Suddenly it seemed as though all his thoughts and doubts went away as the feeling had been replaced with a bit of warmth. It made him remember a particular snowy day, when he made a vow.
At this he smiled before he spoke again, "You're right! Like Hell I'm going to give up!"
He soon turned to the sky before he shouted, "DO YOU HEAR THAT FATE!? DON'T YOU DARE UNDERESTIMATE ME! I'LL SHOW YOU! EVEN IT TAKES ME ONE, TWO, TEN, OR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, I'LL KEEP WORKING HARD TILL I GET MY GRIMOIRE! I'LL BECOME THE WIZARD KING AND PROVE TO EVERYONE THAT ANYONE CAN BE AWESOME EVEN IF THEY'RE JUST POOR OR AN ORPHAN!"
Prism's expression had been in awe, while Feodora had a certain look in her eye as she just stayed silent. Though it hadn't been long before she spoke her mind, "... You lost me at awesome."
"IT WASN'T MEANT FOR YOU FEO!" Asta immediately shouted.
"WELL I'M SORRY FOR JUST ASSUMING CRAP SHORTY!" Feodora shouted.
"DON'T CALL ME SHORT I'M JUST AS OLD AS YOU ARE!"
"AND YET YOU'RE ON THE SHORT SIDE DUMBASS SHORTY!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME?!"
Prism couldn't help but giggle a little as she watched them argue with another. It reminded her of a certain family she knew when it came to fighting over a toy or something that would be considered trivial to others. Her smile soon fell from her face once again as she herself couldn't help but have a thought.
"Everyone in the Village must be worried sick." She thought as a creature looking like a lizard with butterfly wings made from that of water, soon appeared as it flew around her before making itself comfortable on her shoulder, "I can't say I blame them, I disappeared after that storm and was gone for awhile… I can't imagine what mother and father are thinking, or even uncle and auntie. If only I knew where I could find home then I could get back to them."
Adrien suddenly became alert as he started to smell something in the air as he became somewhat agitated. The three of them had noticed how Adrien's body posture had changed as he sniffed around the air. "Adri?" Prism said, as she patted him on the neck, "What's wrong bud?"
Adrien suddenly picked Prism up and tossed her on his back before he took off. "He-Hey!" Asta exclaimed before he ran after them.
"Where the hell are you going!?" Feodora shouted as she ran after them.
Prism nearly had her head get ripped clean off as she had to duck from the oncoming branches that came in her way as she nearly let out a scream. Though that didn't stop her from getting whacked with a series of leaves. By the time they had come to a clearing, Adrien skidded to a halt before Prism went flying off with a scream as she tumbled into the grass.
When Prism had sat herself up, her hair had been littered with leaves as it looked ruffled.
"Adri!" Prism said, as a few spirit guides appeared, as a couple of them resembled that of weasels and some had been badgers, "I told you not to take me out on a surprise joyride!"
Adrien made a noise of some kind as she noticed how twitchy he had gotten. His tail soon pointed behind her, and she had been taken back by quite a sight.
She saw what looked to be remains of a battlefield as there had been remnants of blasts from mana that had been made like craters, as a lone shredded flag, had been standing on a broken pole. There looked to be a ruined house as half it looked to be burned down.
Two sets of graves looked to be buried just away from the house as it had a set of crosses just at the end.
She saw the logo on the broken flag, as she found it all too familiar.
"The… Diamond Kingdom…?" She said, shocked.
Asta and Feodora soon came through and onto the clearing; the look on Feodora's face changed slightly as she looked towards the graves in particular. Seeing this, Asta placed his hand on her shoulder as his way of comforting her.
Prism had turned to the two of them, "What… Is this place?"
"It's--" Asta soon said, "--A bad memory for Hage Village. This is one of the sites where the Magic Knights fought invaders from another kingdom. The fight would have reached our Village if it wasn't for them."
"Invaders?" Prism said, shocked, "What do you mean by invaders?"
Feodora soon stepped forward, "... Six years ago, a few refugees escaped from the corruption plaguing the society and crossed into the Clover Kingdoms borders. There are two kinds of rules that exist in the Diamond Kingdom. You're either with them, or you're against them. The penalty for being against them however is an execution."
She soon gestured to what had remained of the house, "The refugees hid in that very house, hoping it would be a safe haven till their end of days, though they ended up finding them here and beated them before they finally killed them. In a cruel twist of fate, the Magic Knights arrived after they stole away their lives."
Prism saw Feodora walk over to the two graves, as she placed her hand on one of the wooden crosses as she had caressed them.
"Those refugees… They were my parents." Feodora said as her expression softened, "Their names were Jeremiah and Ezra Helmet. Our bloodline may have been that of assassins, but we were considered nobles in the Diamond Kingdom, but--They abandoned that in order to protect me and start a new life.
One where their child wouldn't be infected with what they had to offer." She soon took the jewel around her neck as she played with it for a bit, "Now this is all I have left of them. The family jewel that once belonged to my mother. Those guys, people that they knew and were acquainted with killed them in cold blood. All because they wanted to live their life in peace."
Prism had been processing the whole thing as they noticed she had a look of disbelief. She had grasped her head as she ruffled her own hair as if she was trying to keep herself together.
"Okay, hang on--" She said, "--Back up a minute! This! All of this has to be some sort of mistake!"
Asta and Feodora looked a bit surprised at this sort of thing. Prism told them, "I have friends from practically everywhere! My village, the Spades, Hearts, even the Diamond Kingdom! There's never been some conspiracy, or corruption! And they DEFINITELY wouldn't kill their own people for not siding with them!"
Asta and Feodora looked to one another as they both seemed to have come to a certain conclusion.
"Hey, Prism?" Asta said, getting her attention, "Exactly how long do you think you were inside that tree?"
Prism looked confused before she gave it some thought. "Well--" She said, "--Considering the state of my hair before Sister Lily cut it all off, I'd say… A few months?"
"Prism--" Feodora said, "--I--Or rather we think… It was five hundred years ago."
Prism looked stunned at this, before she started to give out a laugh; Asta and Feodora's gaze couldn't help but soften at this.
"Okay, now I know you're pranking me!" Prism said with a smile, "I mean that's just ridiculous! Five hundred years!? No one in the world, not even my people, can live that long--Unless you're the Queen of Witches or something."
"Prism, think about it!" Asta said, "It all makes sense! Elves haven't been seen for a long time, and Magic Knights have been around since the first Wizard King! You're the only one who doesn't know about them."
"I'm not sure how but--" Feodora soon added, "--You were inside that tree the whole time. It's the only other explanation."
Prism's eyes widened in horror and realization. Her face paled at this, as she fell to her knees suddenly which made them jump.
"Prism!?" Asta exclaimed out of worry.
Adrien went to her side and curled his body around her, while the spirit gathered around her. The weasels in a different color and a couple of them possessing wings went to comfort the young girl as did Adrien as he nudged her body with his own head, being careful of his small horns.
"Five--Five hundred years?" She said in disbelief, "I've been gone for five hundred years?"
Tears began to form in her eyes, "Does that mean--My family--My friends--Everyone in the Village is already—?"
Prism couldn't bring herself to finish her sentence as she started to sob horrifically; Asta and Feodora's gaze couldn't help but soften, as they looked to her sympathetically.
Asta soon went to her side; he stepped over Adriens tail before he kneeled in front of her just as she continued to cry.
"Hey--" Asta started to say, "--I know this is a lot to take in, and I know it's upsetting but…" He sighed, "... I don't know, maybe there's a bright side to all of this?"
"How the hell can there be a bright side to this shorty?" Feodora said.
Prism rubbed her eyes a little before she turned to him. She had a small smile on her face despite her tears. "I…" She started to say, "... Guess… Adrien and I weren't alone when we woke up… I… Got to meet all of you…"
Asta had smiled back at her, though they both started to laugh when Adrien got between them and nuzzled them both with a purr making a tickling sensation. Feodora couldn't help but have a smile on her face as well as she sat between the two graves.
"Guess you guys got nothing to worry about, don't you?" Feodora said, giving the patches of dirt a couple of pats, "I'll make it right for us, when I become a Magic Knight. Just wait and see. I'll make you both proud."
***
Yuno had been the last one to leave the Grimoire Tower as he had decided to look into something; it had been regarding Prism of course. Luckily the tower had a library as well as he had been doing research. Something about how she responded to him the other day couldn't help but bother him a little.
He had often heard stories about the lost heir of the Clover Kingdom that had been born among the ancient race five hundred years ago. He could tell by the sound of her voice she sounded off. He had read the story of the elves since he was a child, about how they were demons that possessed powerful magic. More powerful than that of the Wizard King combined.
The lost heir had been said to be the one to bring peace between the elves and the humans, though they had vanished before it could be so.
Something about the way she had answered him on the first night, had been off putting to say the least. He could sense the fear and worry in her voice that night, though as to why… He wasn't quite sure.
He stepped out of the Grimoire Tower as he couldn't help but have a thought, "It's no good. None of the books here are talking about the lost heir. There's no name, no description, not even so much as a picture or a sketch. It's like they were erased from existence. For that matter--"
He thought about Prism's words, or well the way she had phrased her answer.
"I know OF him, and, I knew people that knew him but--I've never actually met him… Sorry."
"--Prism…" He thought, "... I know she's not necessarily a bad person but--I can't help but feel like she's hiding something."
Yuno soon stopped in his tracks when he saw two people in front of him; though just from the looks on their faces, he could tell it wasn't exactly for a friendly meet up.
"H-Hey!" His friend said, "You don't have to go that far!"
"We should've been the stars today!" He told him, "And yet… This PEASANT receives a four leaf clover Grimoire?!" He soon took out his own Grimoire, "I'll just--"
"Wait no--!"
"--Have to turn it to ash!"
Flames soon appeared at his feet before they headed towards Yuno. Yuno had been calm, as with just a flick of wrist, he made a dome out of wind as he split the wall of flames down the middle leaving him completely untouched.
By the time the fire had vanished the ground except for where he had been standing had been completely burned, as only small flames remained.
"He--" The teen exclaimed, "--He held back my flames without even using his Grimoire!?" He clicked his tongue before he turned to his friend, "Hey! Do something!"
"Bu-But--!" He stammered.
"Just shut up and do it!" He told him.
Before anything could happen, chains had suddenly emerged from the walls as it had trapped Yuno's attackers, making him jump slightly. A tall man with a lean build soon stepped forward; he had long wavy messy black hair. He looked to have a burned scar on the left hand of his face; he had worn a black bodysuit with a pair of belts and a pouch around his right thigh as he had a red cloak around him.
A set of chains looked to be floating around his body as he looked to have an ice blue Grimoire.
"So sorry." He said, "But I can't let you burn that Grimoire. Don't bother resisting. My Creation Magic: Binding Iron Chain restricts the magic and movements of the one it captures."
Yuno had his guard up as he looked to the man, "Who are you?"
"Up until recently, I was a pretty well-known Magic Knight called Revchi of Chain Magic." He replied, "But I got kicked out because I'm a wretched little thief. So--"
Chains soon emerged from the ground as they wrapped around Yuno's body suddenly wrapped in a set of chains before he could act. His own Grimoire flew out of his hand and the chain had caught a hold of it before it brought it to him.
"Revchi, was it?" Yuno said calmly, "It's pointless for you to steal that. The only one--"
"--The only one who can control it is the person the Grimoire has chosen." The man named Revchi had finished for him, "However, underground collectors are buying Grimoires, with four-leaf clovers for insane prices." He gave the cover a couple of taps as he said, "A four-leaf may have chosen you, but you only just received it. You're still a little chick."
The book soon fell into his hand as he gave a chuckle. "How unfortunate for you that I happened to be in the neighborhood." Revchi said, "I tracked someone of value here to your little village, but I found something even better."
Yuno's eyes widened at this, "Someone of value?"
"How unlucky for you." Revchi said, "Your legend is going to end, before it even began." He soon noticed the pendant that had been around his neck, "Hey now--That pendant looks like it's worth something too. I guess I'll be taking that--"
"GET AWAY FROM HIM, YOU ASSHOLE!"
Out from the bushes just above their heads, a familiar girl had jumped out; she possessed familiar ice claw gauntlets as she attacked Revchi head on though he was quick to block her.
"Feodora!?" Yuno exclaimed.
Feodora clicked her tongue in annoyance before she leaped back, gaining some distance between her and Revchi.
"Damn--" She said, "--That didn't work"
"Oh?" Revchi said, "Is this a friend?"
"HEY!"
Asta soon leaped from up top though hit the wall hard before hitting the floor making them look at him awkwardly.
"Seriously?" Feodora said, smacking herself in the face.
Asta soon stood up before he shouted, "What do you think you're doing!? I've to sav--"
Asta stopped himself when he saw the examinees from earlier had been tied up in chains. Feodora gave him a look as if to say really.
"WHO ARE YOU!?" Asta shouted as he pointed to Revchi.
"Oh NOW you noticed the guy with chains." Feodora said sarcastically, before she shook her head, "You dum-dum."
"Hey!" Asta shouted as he noticed what he had been holding "That's Yuno's Grimoire! Why do you have it, you thief!?"
"Oh my God, why am I friends with you?" She said in a disdainful tone of voice.
Revchi soon looked over the two of them as he had recognized them by appearance. "Wait, I remember the two of you." Revchi said, "You're the kid that didn't get a Grimoire, and I heard you're an outsider."
"So you know us." Feodora said with a glare, "That's nice you little thief."
"Yeah sure, I'm a pathetic little brat!" Asta soon said, "But a Grimoire is precious to those who receive it! Give it back to Yuno you jerk!"
Revchi couldn't help but laugh at this as he had a wicked smile on his face, "The outside world is a place where crooked deeds like this can be overlooked. But you two--" The Grimoire soon turned a page as he chuckled, "--Will be dead before you find that out yourselves."
The Grimoire glowed as Yuno's eyes widened in realization.
"Asta! Feo!" Yuno shouted, "Get out of here!"
Feodora cracked her neck twice while Asta got himself ready. "I'm not gonna run away--" Asta soon charged at him, "--From a disgraced loser like him!"
The chains soon thrusted towards him and Feodora as she was quick to follow his lead. The two of them evaded their spikes as Fedora went at his front while Asta got behind him.
With a cry they both went to attack him on both sides, though the chains soon grabbed a hold of them. A pair of them wrapped around Fedora's arms while a set had been wrapped around Asta's waist and stomach. The moment the chains touched Feodora, he ice broke apart.
"The hell--!?" She exclaimed, as she tried desperately to break free, "--My magic!"
"I'm not done yet!" Asta yelled as he pulled himself towards Revchi.
"No." He said, "You're finished."
The chains soon came from above him as with the restraints on him, he couldn't move. The chains hit him hard leaving a couple of gashes on him, causing Yuno and Fedora's eyes to widen in shock and horror.
"Creation Magic: Dance of the Pitless Viper!"
"ASTA!" Yuno and Feodora shouted.
Asta cried out as the chains thrusted towards him as it sent him crashing into the wall as it had formed a dust cloud; Asta coughed out blood as he fell to the ground.
"Wha--What a heavy blow… So… This is the power of the mages from outside of this town. There's no way I can beat him with just my physical training."
Revchi stepped towards him, "Was that your attempt to rescue your friend?"
The expression on Asta's face changed slightly as Revchi stepped towards; he didn't even so much as flinch when he put his boot on his shoulder.
"Thanks for that you useless struggle brat." Revchi said.
"No…!" Asta said, "Not yet…! I'm not finished…! I'm… Going to be… The Wizard King…!"
Recvhi put more pressure on his boot, causing Asta to cringe a little, "You? The Wizard King? I have the ability to find out just how much magical power one has with these chains. And you--You have no magic whatsoever!"
Asta's eyes widened in horror at this.
Recvhi gave a laugh, "It's no wonder you didn't get a Grimoire! You must've been born that way! To think that you lack even an ounce of magic! In this world, magic is everything! What a priceless find!"
Asta had paled at this as his vision became fuzzy all of a sudden as he looked to the floor.
"Huh? Wait… Does this mean… No matter how hard I try… I won't use magic? At all? But… No… That can't be… Right…"
Recvhi chuckled as he said, "Don't worry little brat. I'll put you out of your misery."
A set of chains soon floated above Asta's head, making Feodora and Yuno have a look of horror and realization about what was going to happen. Feodora struggled harder against her restraints not caring if her wrists and arms opened wounds.
"Asta!" Feodora exclaimed, "Asta, what are you doing!? Move it!"
"Asta!" Yuno cried out.
Asta didn't budge, as he remained lifeless like that of a doll; Recvhi gave out a laugh as he readied to deliver the final blow.
"ASTA NO!!" They both shouted.
Right before the final blow could be met, they had been taken back when an arrow had gone through the loops of the chains, getting them stuck to the wall; the three of them jumped at this as Asta picked up his head.
"What!?" Recvhi exclaimed.
He suddenly found himself getting kicked off to the side making him stumble and fall onto the floor. He managed to pick himself back; the moment he did, a young girl had leaped from above and landed just in front of Asta as he just looked surprised to see her as she stood armed and ready. He saw that she had been the one responsible for firing the arrow.
She set her bow on her back as she readied herself to fight.
"Leave my friends alone." She said as she had a certain look in her eye.
"Who do you think you're--" Recvhi started to say, before he cut himself off.
He looked over the young girl's appearance; at first he thought she had been a foreigner because of what she wore, though it hadn't been long until he noticed her ears. It seemed unnoticeable to some, though he could see it plain as day.
Her ears may have had human traits, but he saw small points on the very top.
"No--" Recvhi started to say with his wicked smile returning, "--No way!"
He started to laugh which had taken all of them back; all except Prism who had remained calm. "You're the one!?" Recvhi said, "You're actually her!?"
Asta, Feodora, and Yuno couldn't help but wonder what he had been talking about. Though what he said next, had shocked them all.
"You're the Princess of Clover?!"
Yuno and Fedora's eyes widened at this newfound information while Asta's jaw just dropped as he looked at the girl in front of him.