The Vice Captain of the Crimson Lions

Hope is Never Truly Gone

"Over here!"

Noelle ran over to Xander with Mimosa hot on her heels,

"Please, Xander, please be okay. We can't lose you too,"

Mimosa places her hands next to Xander,

"Plant Magic: Princess-Healing Flower Robe,"

Noelle sighed in relief,

"Is he going to be alright?"

Mimosa nodded,

"We need to get him to Owen now."

Noelle nodded,

"Let's go,"

The two girls carefully lifted the unconscious adult and ran to the Castle. Nozel spotted them running and was quick to take Xander from them,

"I will be faster."

Before they could say anything, Nozel had already taken off running.

"Come on, you idiot. I will not be the one telling those hotheads that you died. They won't be able to handle it."

He barged into the room where Owen was finishing up stabilizing Fuegoleon,

"Owen!"

Owen turned quickly and gasped when he saw the brunette in Nozel's arms,

"Quick. Put him on the bed,"

Nozel laid him down, and Owen immediately summoned his octopus tentacles as he worked on finding out what happened,

"Did you see his battle?"

Nozel shook his head,

"No. As I stated, I was taken along with the others to someplace else. Noelle and Mimosa found Xander,"

Owen frowned and retracted his Grimoire,

"We must find out what happened,"

Nozel frowned,

"Why?"

Owen looked at Xander and placed a hand on his arm,

"Because. He was hit by a spell I had seen before. Years ago. He has broken ribs as well...but he will be fine with rest."

He softly lifted his pant leg a little bit and showed Nozel the discolored skin,

"Recognize this?"

Nozel's eyes narrowed,

"Dark magic,"

Owen nodded,

"Yes. Whatever or whoever attacked Xander did so with dark magic. The ones that attacked the Capital, did any of them have mana like this?"

Nozel shook his head,

"No...which means that there is another threat that we don't know about,"

Owen nodded,

"Inform King Julius right away,"

Nozel nodded and turned away,

"Owen?"

"Yes?"

"Make sure he lives...the Vermillions took enough of a hit today,"

Owen sighed when he left. He softly picked up Xander and quickly put him down in a different room to give Fuegoleon privacy again. He patted his shoulder,

"You are needed Xander, wake up today. Fight to come back right now, and your little brother needs you now more than ever,"

With that, Owen left the room, and he heard a commotion outside. He rushed out to see Leopold talking to Asta with a new mark on his forehead,