The Past Knight

Chapter 4: Magic Knight Exams

"What's that?" Asta asked while staring at the robe. "Here in Clover, these represent what squad you're apart of." Julius explained. The boy became lost in his thoughts, thinking of what he should do. "Julius, what are you doing?" A voice said, appearing out of nowhere. "Sir Kogia!" The Clover mages exclaimed in surprise. A black-haired man stood with a serious look. He wore a black long sleeve and pants, with a red robe over it. They held up a salute and bowed at his presence. "Who's he?" Asta asked. Before any of the junior mages could speak, "I am Kogia Yhom, Wizard King of Clover." The man introduced himself. Asta now bowed, knowing who he was. "But, the question is who are you?" Kogia asked. "It's a long story." Asta said while rubbing the back of his neck. "Well give me the short version, I don't have all day." Kogia said with a threatening tone. "In that case, I'm Asta Staria, former heir of Ace. And due to a recent ambush of Spade, Ace is no more." Asta explained while fighting tears. "I see, Spade has had many victories lately due to new tactics." Kogia muttered, "Well, I suppose I cane let you become a citizen of Clover," He continued outloud, "But, you need to take part in the magic knight exams." Julius approached the man and pulled him to the side, "Why does he need to take the exams? Yami didn't and he's a foreigner." Julius questioned Kogia. "To be fair, you allowed Yami in your squad without telling me, now I have caught you in the act so what I say goes." Kogia replied sharply and walked back to the boy. "Any questions?" "When are the exams?" Asta asked. "The exams take place in six months, enough time to train with your grimoire." With that, the man disappeared, along with The Grey Deer members. "What are you gonna do?" Elline asked Asta. "Well, I'm defiantly becoming a magic knight, the only problem is I don't know where I'm going to stay for the next six months." Asta explained while in deep thought. The group of girls turned around and formed a circle. "He's staying with me." They all said in sync. "I am the most noble one here." Charlotte argued. A snore was heard, indicating that Dorothy fell asleep. "Well she's out." Mereo began, "He should stay with me, since I'm apart of the royal family." She said smugly. "I am too." Acier said with a pout. "Speaking of royalty, where's Elline?" She asked. The group looked up to see Elline walking away with Asta by her side. She looked back, smirked at the group, and grabbed the boy's hand. "I'm going to kill her." The girls said with a deadly aura.

"Is it really necessary to hold hands?" Asta asked with a light blush across his face. Elline nodded, "You don't want to be separated, do you now?" she asked. Asta nodded in agreement. "So, I decided that you'll stay in the biggest castle in Clover. As the royal family with the most power, I can do almost anything. Also, I have a spoiled brother so be warned."

TIMESKIP

The months flew by quickly as Asta rose from his bed, but was stopped by a weight on his chest. He laid back down and glanced at the window. "Good thing I wake up a hour before my training." He said in his thoughts while caressing Elline's hair. She slowly woke up and snuggled against the boy more, "Do you always have to wake up this early?" She asked in a sleepy voice. "You're the one who wouldn't give me my own room." He said sarcastically. "It's more comfortable this way." Elline argued. "Now if I can go," Asta said while carefully removing her from him, "I need to go workout." She groaned, sat up, and rubbed her eyes, "I'll be out there in a few." The boy quite literally jumped out of the window, landed on the ground without a sound, and ran into the nearest forest. Elline leaned against the window, "Oh Asta, you dense brick. Someday you will be mine."

TIMESKIP

"996, 997," Asta yelled in a tired voice while punching the air, "998, 999, 1000!" The boy yelled, then collapsing to the ground. "You shouldn't push yourself so hard. It can lead to bad  consequences in the future." Elline said while laying on the floor and playing with animals made of light. "If I don't train until failure, then how can I be strong enough to protect the weak?" Asta said while setting himself down on a tree stump. "Wise words," The princess said with a sarcastic tone, "But, seriously. The Exams are today and you're gonna be sore." "Easy for you to say, the Wizard King is forcing me to take the exams." He argued while chugging some water. A fire ball was sent his way, but a portal opened in front of it, right before the ball could hit Asta, and was sent back at the direction it came. A thud was heard, "Damn you!" A rough, but feminine, voice declared from deep within the forest. A familiar Vermillion ran into view, covered in ash. Mereo grabbed Asta by his shirt and was face-to-face with him. He rubbed some ash off of her cheek with his thumb, "You got a little something there." She blushed red and let the boy go, "Tch, bastered." Mereo muttered. "Why do you always have to run off?!" A another feminine voice yelled from the forest. The same silver haired mage from before, came running out of the thick woods and breathed heavily, "You know I'm not the athletic type!" She scolded her cousin, "Oh, hello Asta." She said, just barely noticing the boy, "A-Asta!" Her face flushed red. Mereo ignored her, "We were told to come find you, so that you could head over to the exams." "I still can't believe I'm the only one that has to take the test!" Asta complained. "That's the Wizard King's words, not mine." Elline said while walking over to the group. "Fine," The boy groaned, "I'll go get ready."