Darksteel

Chapter 34; Truth hurts, especially when one is knocked in the face with it.

Asta sat back in his chair, trying to process all that the Monster had said.

Especially that last bit.

It was HIS fault that Asta was trapped at Adalain until Graduation! It was HIS fault that he couldn't find his family, or even remember them most of the time. Yet while Asta wanted to feel angry, enraged even, all he felt was confused and tired, very, very tired. 

The Monster, to its credit, did look rather sorry. "I didn't want to take you away from your family, but once I received word on what the Headmaster was planning, I knew I had to find a Monster Lord as soon as I could. I had heard stories of Adalain, about how they won't let the boys leave.. I never wanted to take you there, but it was where the relic was."

"No." he replied numbly, "They let us leave after we pass Graduation."

The Monster shook his head sadly and Asta had a feeling that he was about to hear more things he wouldn't like.

"The Headmaster has no intention of letting you leave. Once you Graduate, she will wipe your memory clean and either send you off to be a Monster Slayer or a teacher at the Academy."

By the gods... it couldn't be true, could it?

A sudden realization dawned on the boy then; Mr.Potter. Everyone had said he had changed after Graduation and perhaps now Asta knew why. Still ever sceptical, however, he narrowed his eyes and said, "How do you know all this?"

"Let's just say that there are humans on our side as well and a few of them happen to be students at Adalain."

Asta hesitated for a moment, "So, if I help you defeat the Headmaster, I will be able to leave and see my family again?"

"Assuming you don't fail and the Headmaster releases the entirety of my realm into Tirus thereby destroying everything we hold dear, then, yes, you may."

Well, it was a start at least.

So it was up to him then. To save Tirus. Though truth be told, seemed like quite a lot of work-- nevertheless, he was starting to enjoy a bit of a challenge here and there. 

He still had one question, however.

"How will I know when the time is right to destroy the relic?"

The Monster smiled, "You'll know."

"That's not very helpful."

"Perhaps not. But if you ever need the aid of the Monsters, simply call out to us. We shall answer." the beast lowered its great, furry head, "I fear that this will not end without a battle."

Asta perked up then. He would get to be in a battle? He wondered if he would have awesome armor like the heros in the legends of old. THAT would be something! Imagine how impressed Nico would be.

But despite the prospect of a battle and possibly the apocolypse, eventually, the Monster stopped rambling on and on and hoisted Asta over its shoulder once more, only to begin treking back to the Academy. 

To be sure, Asta could have WALKED back, but he liked the warm, fluffy feeling of the Monster's fur instead of the harsh, crisp, cold of the forest around them. Besides, HE wasn't going to complain about not having to walk somewhere.

"If I DO help you," he said after awhile, "Can you promise that the Monsters will stop attacking humans?"

"Only if the humans can stop attacking Monsters."

"Fair point."

It was silent after that, and Asta watched the forest around them begin to grow dark-- the distant hissing of shadow Monsters echoing from the branches around them. Thus, not wishing to be eaten just yet, Asta summoned his Ancient magic and warned them to stay back, which they did, though they were not pleased.