Darksteel

Chapter 35; A very merry Yuletide

When Asta got back to the mansion and tip toed his way upstairs, he was quite surprised to see his Guild mates already waiting for him in the room.

"Well, look who it is!" Jeremiah boomed, a bright smile on his handsome face. "We thought you might not be back in time for Yuletide's eve, my friend."

"Is it that time already?" he replied innocently, taking off his coat and hanging it in the wardrobe along with Adar's scarf.

"What kept you out so late?" Jin asked, "What, were you kidnapped by Monsters or something?"

"Well, that's the thing..."

"You're joking."

"You've gotten mud on my scarf!" Adar interjected, brushing past them to inspect the woolen fabric, muttering under his brreath.

Yet everyone ignored him and instead listened to what Asta had to say. And it was in this manner that he told them all about what the Monster had said; the relic, the Headmaster not ever letting them leave even AFTER Graduation, and, most importantly, what Asta was expected to do about it. 

When he was finished, Blue sat back and signed, 'So the fate of Tirus rests in your hands, then?'

Asta nodded.

"Well, in THAT case, we're all doomed." Adar snorted.

"Here now, just what makes any of you think Asta will be doing this alone?" Nico butted in. She gave Asta a determined look, "We will help you, whatever you need."

 It was quite sweet of her, but he had no intention of risking them in this twisted game he had somehow gotten himself wrapped up in. Still, it was the thought that counted.

"So what will we do after Graduation?" Jin asked, "Just let the Headmaster wipe our memories? Adar and Jeremiah will probably get sent home because they are royalty, but where does that leave the rest of us?"

"Simple." Asta replied, "I have a plan."

They waited expectantly.

"Or, rather, I WILL have a plan. I just... haven't thought about it much."

"Like I said," Adar smirked, "We're all doomed."

And while the comment stung, Asta made up for it by slinging a pillow at the prince's face, making him yelp-- which was quite funny until Adar threw the pillow back. Then Jin threw one. 

The chaos that followed was a massive pillow fight that Mr.Potter eventually came to break up, much to the boys' disappointment. 

In fact, the way Mr.Potter had broken up the fight was tossing a bucket of cold water over Adar and the others simply stopped in their tracks, all attempting to keep a straight face as the prince stood there, dripping on the rug.

"There are some of us that are trying to sleep." Mr.Potter said darkly then, "And I suggest that you do the same."

The fun was over rather quickly after that and soon it was just Asta, Nico, and Adar left in their room. And while Adar changed into a dry shirt, not seeming to mind that there was a girl in the room, Asta and Nico simply talked.

"You know, I always had a feeling that Graduation wasn't the end." Nico said softly as both she and Asta lay on Nico's bed. "I just had hoped that I would be wrong, that we WOULD leave."

"I'm sorry." Asta murmured.

She laughed slightly, "It's not as if it's your fault."

Turning to her, he looked directly into her eyes, "No, it's not. But I can make it better as well; I can make sure that we are free. I just don't know how."