"Mornings start early for Magic Knights. There are many things they must do. Like cleaning and doing laundry."
***
Prism didn't mind doing chores as much as anyone else, in fact she found it to be quite productive. To her it had been the perfect way to pass the time and to take her mind off of things if she ever felt troubled; in a strange way, it also made her think of home too, when she helped out her mother and father.
In her own way, she found it to be relaxing.
It was more then she could say for the others.
As she had been doing her portion of the laundry, she could see other than Asta, and Pluck, Feodora and Karasu looked to be tired and out of it. Sachiko had been nearby as she was playing a game of fetch with her and her brother's dog Yoshi.
Feodora groaned as she slumped over, "We've been at this for the last thirty minutes! How the hell do you people have so many clothes!?"
Pluck had told her as he was nearly done with his portion, "Don't ask me, ask my lil siblings who love roughhouse. Especially with a certain someone."
"Where's that damn know-it-all when I need him?" Feodora said.
"I can't feel my arms!" Karasu said, throwing his head back, "It feels like they're about to fall off…"
"Are you not used to doing this Karasu?" Prism asked curiously.
"Not since Sachiko and I were in our homeland." He replied, "I lost my touch when it comes to housework."
Pluck said while shaking his head, "You still should have found an alternative to wash your clothes."
"Here's an idea, you try to wash your clothes with nothing but sewer water for two years--" Karasu said, making Pluck cringe and gag, "--Then you can come and judge me."
"Okay, never mind." Pluck said. "Forget I said that,"
"Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it again!" Prism said with an encouraging smile as Adrien nodded, "I'm sure of it!"
"At least you have energy to do this kind of thing like--" Feodora said before gesturing to Asta. They looked over to him as they saw he had been letting out a war cry as he had been scrubbing down the clothes like there was no tomorrow.
"He's as energetic as ever." Prism said awkwardly.
"I don't know where the hell he gets his energy from but it makes me jealous sometimes." Feodora said casually.
Pluck looked awestruck at this, "I'm seriously amazed. You sure he's human, Prism?"
Prism replied with a nervous chuckle, "Pretty sure."
"Seriously, is he on adrenaline?" Karasu said.
It wasn't long before Asta stopped and he pulled out a familiar red bra making all of them freeze and their faces turn a bright red. Asta's nose immediately exploded as he fell back.
"ASTA?!" Prism exclaimed as she panicked as Adrien jumped.
"Isn't that Vanessa's?" Karasu said as he was trying to stop his nose from bleeding.
Pluck replied with a sigh, "Yes it is."
"Jeez--" Feodora said, "--I may be a girl but it's still embarrassing."
"Asta!?" Prism exclaimed as Adrien nudged him, "Asta are you okay!?"
Almost immediately Asta had snapped out of it, "My heart belongs to Sister Lily! I can't react like that!"
"You're still on that?" Feodora groaned as she rolled her eyes.
"Did he just say Sister?" Karasu said, confused.
"Isn't that forbidden?" Pluck asked.
"THAT WON'T STOP ME!" Asta shouted before he went back to it. Though the minute he pulled out another piece of clothing--They all turned even more red when they saw he pulled out a familiar color panties. Asta seemed to have fainted again.
"BIME I ELENA!!" Prism shouted as Adrien jumped.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?" Feodora yelled.
"I wish I didn't see that, I wish I didn't see that." Karasu said as he covered his eyes.
"Don't worry, you won't have to." Pluck told them as he said to Addeline. "Take those things somewhere, Addi. We don't want another repeat of last time."
"Quack!" Addeline said as she took the items away from the area.
Pluck said as he wiped the blood from his nose, "Seriously, Does that woman know any sense of decency?"
"Plu-Plu, your nose is bleeding." Prism said.
"Sorry, I sneezed earlier." Pluck told her as he wiped his nose with a handkerchief.
"That's a lie you perv." Feodora told him with a look.
Pluck immediately denied, "DON'T BE RIDICULOUS! I HAVE NO INTEREST IN VANESSA! BESIDES SHE'S OLDER THAN ME!"
"Stuck-Up, I didn't say you had a thing." Feodora said awkwardly making Pluck blush with embarrassment
"You're right! It's not her!" He said,
"You're just saying crap now." Karasu told him, "That makes you more suspicious."
Pluck had said with a huff, "Think what you want."
Addeline came back as she gave a salute, "Quack!"
"You took it elsewhere. Good duck." Pluck said as he gave a pat as he hid his face.
Prism let out a giggle, "Thank goodness you haven't changed."
***
"Some chores also include taking care of the beasts"
***
-The Beasts Room-
After going through any game of rock paper scissors, Feodora ended up taking the turn of feeding the Magical Beasts. Feodora had been scared to the point where she could feel every strand on her hair stand up as she shook slightly. She groaned as he looked at her hand, "Alright--That's the last time I use rock in rock paper scissors." She said.
"Don't worry Feo, you got this!" Asta said while giving her a thumbs up.
"Try not to get eaten." Karasu told her.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Feodora said sarcastically.
"Don't worry, I'm right here if you need me!" Prism said, giving her a thumbs up.
Pluck only told her as he read his book, "Try not to die or hurt them."
Feodora gave a sneer as she said "Haha, Stuck up. Very Funny."
Feodora soon stepped forward holding the large bone of meat in her head as they growled and clawed at the bars. She took a deep breath, "SIT!" Just like that the beasts sat themselves on the floor and Feodora had a confidant smile on her face.
"Good boys." She said before holding up the meat to them, "Want a treat?"
One of the beasts leaned over in the bar and went to eat the piece of meat. At least, that's what it looked like at first, until a beast nearly swallowed her whole, causing her to shriek and kick her legs.
"BIME I ELENA NOT AGAIN!" Prism exclaimed.
"NO SHE'S NOT FOOD!" Asta shouted as he grabbed her legs.
"SPIT HER OUT!!" Karasu yelled, doing the same.
"BAD BEASTS! BAD BEASTS!" Feodora yelled as she kicked her legs despite Asta and Karasu had been holding them.
Pluck said as he shook his head, "I told you so."
"I HEARD THAT, STUCK UP!!" Feodora yelled as she managed to get the upper jaw off her, though she ended up getting squished again.
"FEO!!" Asta and Prism exclaimed as they started to panic.
Pluck shook his head as he left while Addeline gave a huff as she followed him out.
***
"You must endure it--Even if you're on the menu for the beasts.
And… You must wake up the captain of the Black Bulls, Yami Sukihero."
***
While Karasu, Sachiko and Prism were hanging the laundry, and the triple A's taking care of this morning's breakfast, and Feodora getting herself cleaned up, Pluck and Asta had to take care of waking up their captain. They stood outside of his room as neither didn't seem to know which one should knock on the door first.
"So--" Asta soon said, "--You or your family never actually been in the captain's room once?"
Pluck replied casually, "No, I never see the point of it."
"Don't you guys go in there to clean it or something?" He asked
"And risk his 'wrath' no thanks." Pluck said as he waved, "I don't think my mom's even gone in there! Jubei tried to sneak in there once--" Pluck only held up one finger, "--ONCE."
Asta soon took a deep breath before he stepped towards the door. He soon gave it a knock, "Captain Yami sir?!"
Neither of them had gotten an answer after a few moments. Asta gave it a knock again, "Captain Yami sir?! It's morning!"
"Hang on--" Pluck said, moving him from the door before he gave it a ferocious knock. He soon yelled as he knocked, "CAPTAIN!?! ITS DAYBREAK! TIME TO GET UP!"
Suddenly a voice came through the door making the boys jump, "SHUT UP NOW OR I WILL KILL YOU!!"
As this was said, Asta and Pluck ran down the hall at full speed as if they were running for their very lives.
"YES SIR SORRY SIR!" Asta shouted as he ran, "Even though you were the one that told us to wake you!"
Pluck yelled as he ran ahead of Asta, "SERIOUSLY WHY MAKE THAT RULE IN THE FIRST PLACE?!"
"QUACK QUACK!" Addeline added as she was flying beside Pluck as she looked to be in a hurry too though she had been struggling to do so as Pluck seemed to pick it up.
***
"Magic Knights must also deal with unreasonable demands. Even when they seem to forget."
***
Prism could feel the gentle breeze as she had been at the highest point as she had been hanging the last of the laundry. She had made sure the knot had been good and tight before she set it on the end as she had been sitting on Adrien's head as he extended his hind legs. Once she was set she took a moment to look at the sun as it was making itself known high in the sky.
The little spirits made themselves known as they circled around her head as they enjoyed the view as much as she did.
"This is definitely going in the book." She told Adrien softly as he purred when she scratched the bridge of his nose, "When I get a new one that is."
"Prism!" She heard Karasu call out, "You finished up there?"
Prism responded, giving him a thumbs up, "It's all good."
"Then come on down here before you hurt yourself." He said, "Lord knows you do enough of that already."
"I can't help it if I'm trouble prone." Prism said as she tapped Adrien's head. He lowered himself as he allowed Prism to slide off his head. She fixed herself up, "Besides--I laugh at the face of danger!" She said as she did a pose.
"Yeah, no." Karasu said as he flicked her forehead, "You're not that kind of girl tater-tot."
"What is it with you people and flicking my forehead?!" She said.
"Can't help it if you're an easy target." He reasoned as he shrugged, making Prism pout.
Feodora, who had returned from the baths earlier and helped out with the laundry, had stretched her arms and legs. Asta and Pluck had joined them as well and they took the opportunity to take a breather. "That was a lot quicker then I thought--Despite the thousands of pieces of clothing we had to clean up." Feodora said.
"Man, we've been working till the crack of dawn again." Asta said as he wiped the sweat off of his brow, "Magic Knights sure have a lot of work to do, huh?"
Pluck replied as he stretched, "Get used to it, because you're gonna be doing this kind of thing for a long while."
"I'm used to it by now--" Prism said with a smile, "--It reminds me of the chores at home, and back in Hage! Right Asta? Feo?"
Asta and Feodora froze up at this before they threw their heads back with a groan as it took her, Pluck and Karasu back.
"Was it something I said?" Prism asked awkwardly.
"She's right!" Feodora said, "This isn't ANY different from our chores at the church!"
"What are Magic Knights supposed to do anyway!?" Asta exclaimed with confusion.
***
Everyone had soon gathered in the cafeteria as they were enjoying themselves with Yukiko and the triplets cooking. Well most of them were anyway. Noelle had her own serving though couldn't help but look at the entrees that were available to them as she ate her portion.
"There's nothing but meat for breakfast every morning." She thought, "How do they even live like this?"
"Hey Noelle!" Prism said, surprising her; she could see she was already on her tenth serving, "Isn't this food delicious or what?"
"Ye-yeah, I guess." Noelle replied.
"Hey!" Asta soon said, "How come you didn't help us with the cleaning and the stuff?"
"Don't tell me you broke a nail." Karasu said as he handed his sister her serving.
"Why would I do that?" Noelle said, "I'm royalty."
"You're a newbie just like us!" Asta argued.
"I've never cleaned laundry in my life." Noelle said, "Why would I start now?"
"You're bragging about being lazy!?" Asta exclaimed.
Feodora couldn't help but give out a laugh as it had taken Noelle back. "Seriously, that's the excuse you're going with?" Feodora said with amusement, "Honey, if I can get my hands dirty from cleaning a man's undergarments for six years and NOT tell some maid or butler to do it then you can too."
"Don't honey me, assassin." Noelle said, "You should have more respect for someone who has the same status as I do."
"I may be an assassin, but I ain't no royal Miss Drama-Llama." Feodora said smugly as she took a large bite from a piece of steak without so much as cutting a piece making Noelle cringe.
Pluck had told Noelle, "Feh, Typical Sliva. If you never experience hard work even if it hits you in the face. The kind of Royals who look down on working people are the ones that are truly wicked just like you."
Noelle scoffed as she said "Rich coming from a Royal who believes he knows it all."
"At least I admit that while I don't know a lot of things, I at least learn from my mistakes. Unlike you and your Rotten blood." Pluck said as he got in her face. "For a Sliva, you do like getting people aggistated. Why can't you be more like your siblings at the Silver Eagles. Oh wait!"
"Say that again, Barbados." Noelle said as she got in his face with a leer..
"H-hey, Come on. Let's not argue on Breakfast!" Aine said.
"Yeah bro!" Aidan added, "There's a certain atmosphere to breakfast, you know that!"
"If you ruin this for me I'll cut you!" Jubei threatened as she pulled out a knife, making Noelle and Pluck jump.
"Where do you keep getting those?" Karasu said.
"QUACK!" Addeline said, As she's telling Jubei to put down the knife.
"No, I'm not putting down the kn-" Jubei was interrupted when Addeline whacked her leg with the stick telling her to drop it now."
"Okay Okay!" Jubei exclaimed as she put it down.
"Mental note--" Aisling said to her siblings, "--Find out where she stashes them."
"Noted." Aine and Aidan said.
Pluck added, "After this we need to have a talk." he turned to Noelle as he said "As for you, Magic Failure. I suggest you watch what you say about other people when you're problematic yourself!."
Noelle flinched at his statement as she shook.
"PLUCK!" Yukiko shouted, making Pluck freeze, "What did your father and I talk about with you yesterday?"
Pluck replied as he twiddled his thumbs, while looking to the side "Respect your fellow teammates, feud or not...But Mom! She was just trash talking Feo-"
"No buts!" Yukiko said.
Cadfan added as he had a look, "It doesn't give you the right to be nasty to her!"
Pluck scoffed as he got up as he said "I'll eat this ESLEWHERE were I won't have to look at that Stupid Sliva. I might get her infectious personality rubbed on me."
Addline got up as she turned to Noelle as she stuck her tongue out and left, Following her partner."
"Don't mind Plu-Plu Noelle." Prism said, giving her a gentle nudge from her shoulder, "He just has one of his weird boy mood swing phases. I've seen it before. Just give him some time and he'll warm up to you."
Pluck had shouted to Prism, peeking his head through the doorway, "WHEN PIGS FLY, PRISM!"
"YOU SAID THAT ABOUT SAOIRSE AND LOOK HOW YOU GOT ALONG WITH HER DONKEY FACE!" Prism yelled casually.
Pluck flinched as he shouted "I'M IN NO MOOD TO ARGUE WITH YOU TODAY, DUMMY GIRL!"
"QUACK!" Addeline added
"You know I love you cow sule!" She said with a smile.
Pluck retorted, "LIKE HELL I DO, ROCH NIF TURD HERDER! I RATHER HAVE MAGNA TRAIN WITH ME THAN BEFRIEND THE MAGIC FAILURE!"
"Again, you said that about Saorise and even Rhya--" Prism said, "--You miog níf."
"That was ages ago!" Pluck said, "This is a feud! Try to understand that, Monkey Brain!"
"How are they so casual about this?!" Asta exclaimed in his head, "They just insulted each other!"
"How are they childhood friends again?" Feodora thought.
"SUCK IT UP BRO!" Aine yelled, "THAT FEUD WAS AGES AGO!"
"YOU'RE STILL A TERRIBLE ROLE MODEL!" Aidan yelled.
"YEAH, YOU'RE SETTING A BAD EXAMPLE TO US!" Aisling added, "WHY DO YOU THINK JUBEI HAS SO MANY KNIVES FROM WHO KNOWS WHERE?!"
Pluck merely huffed as he left while yelling, "THINK WHAT YOU WANT! ME AND THAT SPOILED SILVA WILL NEVER BE FRIENDS AND THAT'S FINAL!"
Noelle scoffed as she said, "It's just as he said it. I would never be friends with someone like Barbados. I'm glad that peasant and his rude pet left"
"Maybe it's stuff like that gets him and others to hate you more." Karasu suggested, "Just saying Miss Royal."
Soon enough Asta had a thought come over him, "Hey so uh--I've been meaning to ask, what does a Magic Knight do exactly?"
Almost immediately Pluck ran back into the room and Magna nearly spat out his food at this question. "I've been wondering the same thing myself." Feodora added after she burped.
"Same here." Karasu added.
"I'm still confused about what it actually is." Prism said awkwardly.
"You're seriously asking us that?!" Magna exclaimed.
"Please tell me this is a joke." Pluck said. "You mean to tell me you four just joined the Magic Knights without knowing what it is?"
"To be fair, I took the exams because I had nothing better to do." Karasu said.
"And you were bored." Feodora added.
"That too." He said while bonking her head, as he said sarcastically, "Thanks for that Feo."
"You're welcome." Feodora said, sticking her tongue out to him with a playful smile.
"Considering you four are newbies, that's understandable. " Pluck said as he scratched his head.
Magna soon grabbed hold of Asta as it had shocked them. "We protect the kingdom and handle security!" He told him, "It's the most manly job in the world, dumbass!"
"That doesn't explain anything." Karasu said, annoyed.
"Are you being sexist Street Punk?" Feodora asked as her eyebrow twitched.
"I'm still confused." Prism added awkwardly.
Pluck said while facepalming himself, "Too General, Magna."
"WHY DID YOU GUYS JOIN WHEN YOU KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT?!" Magna yelled.
"Well we didn't know anything about it a year ago." Aisling said, "Neither did Pluck, and compared to us he's the smartest guy in the room."
Pluck said as he nodded, "Till this day, you STILL didn't explain it to us."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!" Magna exclaimed "Of course I did."
"It still didn't make sense when you said it." Pluck told him
"Sorry sir!" Asta said before choking, "Stop, I'm gonna barf everything back up!"
"Um--" Prism said as she raised her hand, "--Can someone explain it better? Since we're going to be Magic Knights and all, we'd just like to have a better understanding. No offense Magna."
Magna sighed as he let Asta go, allowing him to breathe, "Alright fair enough. Show 'em what a Magic Knight can do, Drunken Witch!"
"Well--" Vanessa said as she poured herself another glass, "--We keep the citizens safe? Something like that right? You might even get closer to some noble when you're assigned to protect them."
"I see!" Asta said.
"I get it--" Prism said before adding, "--Well kind of."
Pluck turned to Magna as he asked, "Seriously, Again with that?"
"What?! If anyone can explain it better, it's her, Plucky!" Magna said with a shove.
"Never call me that." Pluck said as he wacked him with a wooden sword made of mana.
"Are you drunk, lady?" Karasu asked, noticing that her face had been red as well as the smell.
"Who the hell drinks in the morning?!" Feodora said.
Cadfan had said with a gasp, "VANESSA! IT'S TOO EARLY FOR THIS!"
"Oh Caddy." Vanessa said as she let out a hiccup while holding him. "How about you and I take a couple of drinks to start the day."
Yukiko said as she shook her head, "You need an intervention."
Luck soon said as he slid over to Asta, "It's a super fun job where you get to fight enemies all you want! If they're criminals, you can beat them up all you want and you won't get in trouble!"
"Uh--Okay." Asta said with an awkward laugh.
"Well there's a resemblance." Prism said softly as the little spirits around her seemed to have shivered slightly.
"Huh?" Asta said, noticing this, "Did you say something, Pri?"
Prism immediately shook her head, "Nothing!"
Gauche soon spoke up as he showed them the photo of Marie making Asta, Karasu, Noelle and Prism shiver when they saw his nose bleed, "Most importantly to protect people who are small and delicate like Marie. Isn't she an angel? I can buy her whatever she wants with my pay--" He soon had a glare making them flinch, "--But if you lay a finger on Marie I'll kill you!"
"ENOUGH WITH THE CREEPY SISTER COMPLEX ALREADY!" Pluck shouted.
"Shut it! You'll do the same if it was your siblings!" Gauche argued
"NO I WON'T!" Pluck retorted
"NO HE WON'T!" The triplets, Vandy and Jubei shouted.
"SEE?!" Pluck yelled.
"With respect--" Feodora said, "--You need some SERIOUS help."
Asta cleared his throat, "Wh-What about you Finral?"
Finral replied with a smile, and with a wink of an eye, "It's the best job in the world, since I get to save girls and be popular."
"So it benefits you more?" Feodora said as she looked pissed.
Pluck said as he gagged, "You really are scum."
"Come on!" Finral shouted at Pluck. "You always get the girls more than me!"
"In which I turn down because I'm not interested." Pluck told him.
"Explains a lot." Noelle said as she took a piece of her breakfast before she was hit with Pluck's wooden sword.
"Who said you can t--?" Pluck told her.
Yukiko soon kicked Pluck in the ankle hard causing him to drop his sword and nearly drop his food. "Just for that you're grounded from your study sessions, young man." Yukiko told him casually.
Cadfan added, "And you're getting double the chores for chore duty tomorrow."
Pluck groaned as he said while rubbing his shin, "Stupid Sliva."
They soon looked over to Gordon who was still mumbling; All but Prism couldn't help but flinch back and shrink. They soon heard a cry from Charmy as she had been sitting across from them as she looked to be in distress.
"What is it?" Prism asked.
"I'm--" She whimpered, "I'm--"
Asta, Prism, Karasu, Feodora and Noelle leaned forward as they wondered what she was going to say. Although--
"I'M OUT OF FOOD!" She exclaimed, causing the five of them to faint on the spot.
Pluck slapped himself in the face as he said, "Is that ALL you think of?!"
"Pluck, I told you! Food is essential! It's necessary!" Charmy cried.
"NOT TOO MUCH OF IT!" Pluck retorted
She soon sniffled before she had gotten out her grimoire, "I'm nowhere near full--Cotton Creation Magic: Sheep Cooks!"
Just like that set of sheep cooks appeared almost out of thin air. In almost an instant she had a dozen plates of food put in front of her as it had been practically a mountain as it had taken them back. "Thank you for the food!" She said before stuffing her face in the plate. She soon grabbed a stick of meat, before taking a bite out of it, "As long as you're a Magic Knight then you'll get plenty of food!"
"That doesn't sound too bad." Prism said.
"That still doesn't explain anything." Feodora said.
"Are y'all just generalizing crap?" Pluck asked.
"This is literally the same thing you told us a year ago!" Vandy exclaimed.
"Can someone ELSE explain it differently?" Karasu said.
Grey soon stepped behind them as they noticed he had taken out his own grimoire. In a puff of smoke they saw that he had turned into Asta in a blink. "Well basically it's a good job!" He said in Asta's voice, "I'm looking forward to working with you on a mission!"
"Ri-Right." Asta said nervously.
"Likewise." Prism added.
Pluck bonked Grey on the head as he said, "NOT YOU EITHER!"
"Ow..Pluck. Not so hard!" Grey in Asta's voice said before he changed back.
"Not gonna lie--" Asta said, "--That didn't explain anything at all."
"They're all weirdos." Karasu said.
"Here, here." Feodora said.
Noelle couldn't help but have a look as she had been that of uncertainty. "Should I really be in this squad?" She thought, as she looked over to Prism who seemed to have paid no mind, "Should me and her really be in this squad for that manner?"
"Oh hey Prism!" Jubei said as she hopped up onto the table, "We're gonna go pop into town later!"
"You should join us!" Vandy added, "We can give you the grand tour and show you one of the best bakeries and toy stores!"
Prism let out a burp before she spoke up, "You know I would love to but, I have lessons with Mr. Nozel today."
"My brother is in charge of your lessons?" Noelle asked her.
Prism nodded, "He's supposed to teach me the history of your kingdom."
Pluck rolled his eyes in response to that as he turned while grumbling to himself, "They could have just sent Dad to do it, He's been around the Kingdom better than a braid face."
"Pluck--" Yukiko said sternly, "--You know perfectly well why the Captains are assigned for Prism's teachings. If there is just one person that knows about her existence it's best to have someone the Wizard King trusts to make sure she's safe."
"Ma, Dad's a royal too." Pluck told her. "He's just as strong as ANY magic knight captain! Plus he's been around the kingdom too. Why not him?"
"Son--" Cadfan told him, "--I understand your concern, but that was five centuries ago. Times change. And we've been over this, you know why I turned down that role as a captain."
Noelle spat out her breakfast as she exclaimed, "W-WHAT?! HIM?!"
"WAIT YOU WERE ALMOST A CAPTAIN?!" Asta exclaimed to Cadfan, causing him, Yukiko and Pluck to jump.
"They really give that to you, Uncle Cad?" Prism asked, shocked.
"They did--" Cadfan said as he held on to Yukiko as he gave her a kiss., "--But I respectively turned it down. If it were any other day I would've taken it but I couldn't leave my family alone. And someone has to take care of the kids while the wife is away."
Prism couldn't help but smile, "That's fair. Family always comes first."
Yukiko soon told Pluck as he looked a bit displeased, "Pluck, you know for a fact Zeid and Alma aren't here to protect her anymore, nor is Lemiel and Licht. And these people are on the same level as your father. Some probably surpassed him. The Wizard King knows what he's doing."
Pluck sighed as he said, "Yeah I know… I just wish--"
Prism patted him on the shoulder as she said to him, "It's okay Plu-Plu. If Julius trusts them, then I'll trust them too."
"Your lessons--" Feodora soon said, "--It's over at the Magic Knight headquarters right?"
"Usually." Prism replied, "Though since I told them about the incident with that rogue magic knight I have to have an escort."
"Is it Pluck?" Aisling asked.
"Surprisingly no." Prism replied, as Pluck this time nearly fainted on the spot.
"WHAT?! WHY?!" Pluck exclaimed.
"I don't know." Prism replied, "They just told me that after you left the room when we went to get Asta, Feo and Yuno."
Pluck groaned as he said "Why do I have a feeling, this is HIS doing?"
"Does that mean you'll get escorted by a magic knight from their squad?" Karasu asked.
"No--" Prism replied, "--Yami said it would be some people from this squad, unless he's the one taking me."
Pluck merely fainted from this again as he yelled, "I KNEW IT!"
"That should be interesting!" Aine said, "And hey, maybe we can hang out with Fafanar again!"
"Yeah, he's a cool dude!" Vandy said.
Pluck said with a growl, "Cool but he can be a bit much. I'm gonna have a talk with Yami when he--"
BAM!
Most of them jumped at the sound of the door being kicked down; of course they could see that it was done by Yami, as usual, though they could see that Pluck had retreated behind the table as the atmosphere changed suddenly. "Let's go Magna." Yami soon said.
"Yes sir Mister Yami!" Magna said.
"Huh?" Asta had said confused, "What's going on?"
Magna soon stood up before he replied, "There's a mission."
"A mission. Really?!" Asta said as his eyes sparkled, "Hang on, I'll come with you!"
"Me too! Me too!" Prism said as she stood.
"No!" Magna said, making them stop "We can't bring kids along in this. This is a VERY important mission for us adults."
Asta and Prism looked equally worried as they both stayed where they were. "Alright we're off." Magna said as he went to join Yami.
Yukiko simply said to her husband, "They're going to THAT place again?"
Cadfan sighed as he said, "Yep, I suppose I should come along just in case things go crazy as usual."
Yami said, taking a puff from his cigarette, "Realx, Don't be a worrywart like your son here. I'm sure nothing bad will happen."
"You say that all the time." Cadfan and Yukiko replied in unison.
"Regardless, I'm coming too." Cadfan said, "Whether you like it or not."
Yami groaned as he rolled his eyes, "Yup, I can see where he gets that personality from." He looked over to the group, "Hey! Don't break everything while we're gone!"
"Okay, have fun!" Vanessa said with a wave.
"Captain!" Luck said, "Will you fight me when you get back?!"
"Come back soon, I'll be waiting." Gordon mumbled.
"Come back for dinner!" Charmy said, "Munch~"
"Can I go see Marie soon?" Gauche said as his nose still bled, "I'm having withdrawal symptoms."
With that the three of them left the room, leaving only the rest of the group. Feodora couldn't help but have an amused smile as she looked under the table where Pluck had been hiding and his body had been shaking a little.
"So--" She said in a teasing voice, "--That was a pretty good talk right?"
Pluck merely responded, "S-Shut up!" He got up as he dusted himself. "I had nervous jitters, that's all." He turned as he said. "I'm leaving. To do my work."
"Yeah, you just tell yourself that Stuck Up Kiss Ass." Feodora said.
Pluck added, "Don't you have chores to do,Miss Fros--?" Pluck immediately stopped himself when he saw that familiar cold glare from Feodora as she growled.
Pluck simply took a deep breath as he said, "Forget I said anything." He walked away.
"That's what I thought." She said as she went back to eating.
Addeline turned to Fedora as she stuck her tongue before leaving with Pluck
"Asta?" Prism soon whispered, "Is it just me or is Feo being more hostile than usual?"
"I know she's really sensitive when it comes to people calling her the R word or even when people call her names related to ice but--" Asta said before he noticed the scowl she gave as she was eating, "--I'd hate the idea of her hurting someone. It kind of makes me wish Yuno was here. He's usually the guy that keeps her calm."
"Seems to me like she's got some issues of her own." Karasu said, "Though I can't say I blame her."
"Trust me, you don't know the half of it." Asta said to Karasu, "She went through a lot before she came to the church Yuno and I stayed."
Karasu let out a sigh, "I guess I'll ask about it--That is if she cares to share."
"Yeah--" Asta said with a sigh, before he looked over to the door, "--Though aside from that, Captain Yami and Magna looked really serious just now."
"I guess it must be a really important mission." Prism said, "I wonder what kind of mission it could be." She soon had a worried look on her face, "I hope it's not something dangerous."
***
-Local Casino; Castle Town Kita-
Everyone had been enjoying themselves in a game of cards and rolling for a seven. Yami and Magna seemed to have a certain level of intensity to them as Cadfan's face had been buried in his hands as he looked to be defeated. Just across from Yami and Magna there sat an old man with short gray hair and a small gray mustache and goatee with a simple red vest and a light green collared shirt with simple brown khakis as he had been smiling.
"This is bad--" Magna thought as the man laughed, "--This is really bad!"
"And now--" The man said, "--You're both finished."
Cadfan had told Yami and Magna desperately, "Look you two, let's just go. He's not worth it."
"No!" Yami said, "We got this!"
The three of them stared at one another intensively and each and every one of them had been ready to make a move. It hadn't been long before--
"Flush!"
"Two pairs."
"Nothing."
As it had turned out, they were playing a simple game of cards, and Yami and Magna had both been as naked as a newborn baby; or at least now they were as they had tossed their only clothes they had on them. Cadfan couldn't help but bang his head on the table as he let out a groan of defeat; the older man couldn't help but laugh.
"Why?" He said as he ruffled his hair, "YOU HAD TO BET AGAINST HIM DID YOU?!"
"He got us sir." Magna said.
Cadfan couldn't help but yell, "YOU THINK?!"
The man laughed, "This feels great!"
"Damn it…!" Magna said, "... And that was six months worth of pay too!"
"I told you not to make that bet!" Cadfan told him.
"I got to hand it to you, you still got the touch Magna!" The old man said, "You too, Captain. With this kind of haul, I can get some great gifts for my village on the way home."
Cadfan said to the man as he stood, "You're enjoying this, are you? Well thanks for the game but we really must be--"
"Wait--" Yami said sitting back down, "--One more game."
"EH!?" Cadfan exclaimed. "ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!"
"Dead serious." Yami told him.
"Captain Yami, seriously!?" Magna exclaimed.
"Now hold on--" The man said, "--You have nothing else to bet with. Not even underwear."
"It's true, he took everything we had sir!" Magna said.
Cadfan added, "Seriously just give up now!"
"No--" Yami said, "--There's still more." He soon looked at the man, "Hey gramps! Let's do one last round. If we win, we get everything back."
The man looked intrigued, "Oh? And if you lose?"
Much to their own surprise, they saw that Yami had taken his grimoire and slammed it right on the table. "This!" Yami said.
"Captain that's--" Magna said, shocked.
"So let's do it!" Yami said.
Cadfan had shouted, "THIS HAS TO BE JOKE RIGHT NOW!"
"Um--" The old man said, "--You're better off not betting that."
"Exactly Captain Yami!" Magna said.
"Yeah, you can't go betting your grimoire!" Cadfan added.
"Shut up!" Yami said, making them both shrink from his glare, "Use this moment to go beyond your limits!"
The old man said with a sigh, "But you know--" It hadn't been long before he had thought of a compromise, "--Alright, how about this? If I win, how about you do anything I ask."
"Anything you say?" Yami said.
"Seriously?" Magna said, "Of course Captain Yami would never--"
"I'll do it."
"Captain Yami has accepted! I'm in! Old man Seyhe, say your prayers!"
"JUST LIKE THAT?!" Cadfan shouted before he slapped himself, "Good grief, this can only end badly…" He soon stood up from the table as he announced, "I'm gonna get a drink. I honestly can't deal with you right now."
Cadfan soon went over to the bar that was available in the local casino. "One drink please."
Just as the bartender went to get his drink, Cadfan couldn't help but freeze up when he heard a very peculiar conversation.
"Hey, did you hear? About the halfling roaming about the kingdom?"
"No way, that's just a rumor going around isn't it?"
"I'm telling you, this is for real! This person is said to be between a human and the Ancient Race, like the one in the stories!"
Cadfan could hear the man laugh, "Alright now I know you're just joking around. That's only something you hear in a children's fairytale!"
Cadfan's face paled as he realized who the men were talking about. Though he had to make sure for certain it was who he had thought they were talking about as he slid over to them.
"What's this I hear?" Cadfan told them, "I mean I've been around the clover kingdom but this is new to me."
"You mean you never knew?" The man said surprised, "They say this person is supposed to be both a human and the Ancient Race, you know the elves!"
Cadfan couldn't help but gulp and as he sweated he asked the men, "Where did you hear this exactly?"
"It's going all around." He said, "I even heard someone is willing to pay a huge sum to whoever can bring them in."
Cadfan's eyes widened, "Sum? What sum?"
The man soon took out what looked to be a written poster, however Cadfan could say there wasn't any picture, just a written document of some kind. "I found this when I was in the black market the other day."
Cadfan took the poster as he read what had been written on the paper. It had read, "WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE. HUMAN-ELF HALF-LING; DESCRIBED TO HAVE SMALL POINTS ON THE TIP OF THEIR EARS. IF BROUGHT TO THE CRAZY JESTER DEAD NINE THOUSAND YULES WILL BE AWARDED. IF BROUGHT TO THE CRAZY JESTER ALIVE: SEVEN-HUNDRED MILLION YULES WILL BE AWARDED."
Cadfan's face paled as he said under his breath, "Shit."
"What do you think?" The man said, "It's a pretty good payday right? With seven-hundred million yules you'd be set for life."
Cadfan had said nervously, "Y-yeah, pays really well." As the bartender served him his drink he soon stood as he took the poster, "Sorry, do you mind if I keep this?"
"It's no problem." The man said, waving it off, "Go ahead. You just make sure you grab the bounty before anyone else does!"
Cadfan had told the man with a smile, "No problem, thanks friend." He soon looked at the poster in his hand again as he couldn't but have a worrisome look.
"This is bad." He said to himself as he picked up the pace, "This is REALLY bad!"