The morning sun crept over the horizon, casting its golden glow across the Black Bulls' hideout. Escanor stood outside, basking in its warmth. He closed his eyes, feeling the power of the sun awaken within him, a strength he was still learning to wield in this new world.
His grimoire—a thick, golden book adorned with a radiant sun emblem—floated beside him, its pages fluttering in the gentle breeze. The moment he had received it during the grimoire ceremony, he had known—his power was not lost. It had simply been waiting.
Now, as the sunlight touched him, his body responded. His muscles grew stronger, his magic pulsed within him, and his presence radiated warmth.
But he needed more control.
Escanor tightened his grip, glancing at the open pages of his grimoire. He had spent the last few days experimenting with the magic it granted him, but he had yet to unleash its full potential.
"Morning, Escanor!"
Escanor turned to see Asta, already drenched in sweat, swinging his massive anti-magic sword in rapid succession. The boy's enthusiasm was boundless.
"You're up early," Asta said, grinning. "Training?"
Escanor nodded. "Of course. A warrior must refine his strength."
Asta beamed. "Then let's train together!"
Escanor chuckled. "A fine idea."
Asta led Escanor through his intense workout routine, pushing their bodies to the limit. From weighted sprints around the hideout to hundreds of push-ups and squats, the training was grueling. However, Escanor noticed something different about himself.
Unlike before, his stamina was far superior in the sunlight. His strength increased at a steady rate, and his body hardly felt fatigue. The grimoire hovering beside him glowed faintly, as if feeding off the sun's energy.
Finally, after an hour of intense exercise, Asta grinned and raised his sword.
"Alright! Now for some sparring!"
Escanor smiled. "Very well. I shall not hold back."
He opened his grimoire, the pages glowing as he called upon its power. The words of his spell burned bright:
"Solar Flare: Radiant Palm!"
A golden light surged around Escanor's hand, heat distorting the air around his fingers.
Asta's eyes widened. "Whoa! That's awesome!"
Without hesitation, he charged forward, swinging his sword.
Escanor sidestepped, barely avoiding the blade, and countered with a quick palm strike. A burst of radiant energy shot forward, forcing Asta to skid backward.
"That was amazing!" Asta exclaimed, excitement in his eyes. "Your magic is really strong!"
Escanor lowered his hand, pleased but aware of his limits. His magic, while potent, still lacked precision. He needed more control.
And he would obtain it.
Before they could continue, a voice called out.
"Oi, you two! Enough messing around. We got a mission!"
They turned to see Magna and Luck approaching, their Black Bulls robes fluttering in the wind.
"A mission?" Asta perked up. "What kind?!"
Magna smirked. "A group of bandits has been terrorizing a nearby village. Captain Yami wants us to take care of it."
Luck grinned wildly. "That means we get to fight!"
Escanor's expression hardened. Bandits… the memory of the ones who had once attacked his village flashed through his mind. He had stopped them before—he would do so again.
"Then let us go," Escanor declared, determination in his voice.
Magna tossed them both Black Bulls' robes. "Suit up, rookies. We leave in ten minutes."
Escanor caught the robe and examined it. The fabric was rough, it proudly bore the Black Bulls' insignia. He draped it over his shoulders, fastening it into place.
"For my first mission…" he murmured to himself.
He smiled, feeling the warmth of the sun on his back.
"…I shall shine."