Emilia and Kazuya pressed through the forbidden lands, navigating shifting landscapes, scorching deserts, dense forests, and snow-blanketed peaks. They only stopped when storms made flying impossible or if Kazuya got too whiny, not wanting to fly too long.
Eventually, as they soared over a vast stretch of forested mountains, the capital city came into view. Grand towers rose above the horizon, glinting in the afternoon sun.
"There it is..." Emilia said under her breath, eyes locked on the distant spires. "The capital."
Behind her, Kazuya's voice cracked through the wind. "A-Almost there! Thank goodness!"
Emilia glanced back. He flew higher than usual, but not comfortably, his knuckles white around his broom handle, his body locked in an awkward, rigid posture. The idiot still hadn't gotten over his fear of heights.
Smirking, she called out, "Race you there!"
"Wha—wait, no—!" he shouted, panic creeping into his voice.
But she was already gone, slicing through the air with ease, her laughter trailing behind. Emilia zoomed toward the wide, inviting gate, weaving past other travelers on brooms, who turned to watch her streak by in surprise.
As her boots hit the stone just past the entrance, she skidded to a stop, then froze.
Her breath caught in her chest.
From where she stood just inside the towering main gate, the capital unfolded before her. The street stretched ahead in a gentle incline, lined on both sides with sturdy stone buildings stacked close together, their brick walls trimmed in dark wood, laundry flapping from second-story windows. Signs in elegant script hung above bustling storefronts—cafés, blacksmiths, clothiers, and food vendors spilling their scents and voices into the streets.
People moved in steady streams, Magic Knights in uniform, merchants pulling carts with magic, lower nobles in embroidered cloaks, and civilians weaving through it all, the sheer volume of foot traffic buzzing in her ears.
Far in the distance, the city climbed up the mountainside in structured layers, each one rising higher than the last. Though the upper levels were still too far to see in detail, Emilia could make out glimpses, gleaming rooftops, tall towers, and the faint outline of the grand castle looming above it all like a crown.
But down here at street level, everything felt alive. She could taste spices in the air, feel the cobbled road still warm beneath her boots, and hear the chatter of hundreds of people blending with the sounds of distant bells and flapping flags.
Her eyes widened. "So this is the capital."
"W-Whoa—WHOA!" Kazuya wobbled as he landed beside her, nearly stumbling off his broom before catching his balance at the last second. "That race didn't count, I wasn't..."
The moment he looked up, his jaw dropped to match Emilia's. "Ready..."
Emilia blinked, snapping out of her trance just as he turned to her with a wide grin.
"So? Where should we explore first?" He said quickly, giving the armored girl an eager grin.
"Oh no you don't. We've got a test to take, remember?" she said, grabbing his arm and marching forward and into the crowded streets.
Kazuya stumbled after her. "Do you even know where you're going? This place is much larger than Narin."
"I—I'll just ask someone!" she replied, not slowing down, though her voice betrayed a flicker of hesitation.
"Excuse me!" Emilia called out, reaching out to gently pat the shoulder of the nearest passerby.
The mustached man with a bowler hat turned with a polite smile. "Yes?"
"Do you know the way to the Magic Knight Entrance Exams? We're here to take the exam today," she said quickly, yanking Kazuya's wrist to her as he tried to sneak away.
The man looked confused for a moment before he chuckled, making Emilia blink in confusion. "Did I say something funny?"
He waved a hand. "Not at all. It's just... you're a little early, kiddo. The exams aren't until tomorrow."
"Oh..." Her face flushed.
He gestured down the bustling street, pointing toward the heart of the city. "When the time comes, head for the colosseum in the center of town. Can't miss it, it's the big round one rising above everything else."
"Thanks," she said, flashing a small smile.
The man tipped his hat and continued on his way, disappearing into the crowd.
"Hah!" Kazuya chortled, puffing out his chest. "Told you we had plenty of time! There was no need to rush here after all!"
"Shut up, Moleface!" Emilia shot back, "You were only saying that because you hate being on a broom too long. Always needing a break... I still can't believe you're still scared of heights."
"Hey now—I've gotten better since we left the church!" he said, pointing at himself. "I've reached my highest point yet!"
Emilia gave him a flat look. "You barely flew 50 feet off the ground."
"Ah!" he exclaimed, raising a triumphant finger. "That's several feet higher than when we started!"
He grinned proudly. Emilia just shook her head. "A real beacon of courage."
Before Emilia could react, Kazuya grabbed her wrist and charged into the crowd. "Come on! Now we've got plenty of time to explore!"
"W–Wait, you idiot!" she shouted, stumbling after him.
She barely stayed on her feet, nearly tripping as he barreled ahead, dragging her along with all the force of a runaway cart.
Stop after stop, Kazuya grabbed anything that caught his eye: trinkets, snacks, and souvenirs.
"The kids back home are gonna love this!" he declared, shoving a handful of Yul at a vendor as he snatched up a plush toy shaped like a tiny salamander.
Emilia followed behind with a growing sweatdrop. "Just try not to blow all your savings, alright? We still need a place to sleep tonight, and I might not have enough to cover it."
Eventually, once he tuckered out, they walked upon a sizable hotel tucked between two tall buildings near a noisy intersection—The Silver Clover Inn.
Without hesitation, Kazuya marched through the doors and straight to the front counter like he owned the place.
Emilia trailed after him, only stopping to yank her wrist free the moment they reached the desk. She rubbed it with a sigh. "We need a room for the night."
Behind the counter, an elderly woman glanced up from her logbook. "Here for the exams?"
"Is it that obvious?" Emilia asked.
The woman chuckled. "You're not the first to show up early for the big event. Most of the city's already booked up with magic knight hopefuls."
She flipped a page in her ledger and jotted something down. "One room. That'll be 1,200 Yul."
Emilia's eyes widened. "That's almost all the money we have!"
Kazuya, completely unfazed, swung his bag onto the counter and popped it open. With exaggerated flair, he dumped his coin pouch out in front of her. "Boom! That should cover it!"
The woman raised a brow and waved a hand over the small pile. A soft glow flickered from her fingertips as the coins quickly arranged and counted themselves.
"You're still 800 short," she said bluntly.
Emilia groaned, slinging her own bag off her shoulder. She dug into a side pocket and retrieved her coin pouch, slapping it onto the counter with a quiet clink.
The woman finished counting the coins, nodding to herself before sweeping them into a small lockbox. She turned to the wall of keys, plucked one from its hook, and handed it to Emilia.
"Room 306," she said. "Upstairs, all the way at the end by the window with the blue vase. Numbers on the door."
"Thanks..." Emilia murmured, slipping the key into her bag while casting a long, mournful look at her nearly empty coin pouch.
As they climbed the stairs, she glanced over at Kazuya, who was now half-carrying, half-wrestling with an avalanche of trinkets, plush toys, and boxes teetering out of his bag.
She sighed. "Where are you even going to keep all that? You're not heading back to the church anytime soon, not unless you fail, which isn't happening."
Kazuya grunted as a stuffed dragon slid off his shoulder, and he caught it one-handed. "Relax. I'll figure it out, I'll buy a bigger bag or stash it wherever I end up posted."
"With what money?" she deadpanned. "You just spent everything. You're broke."
"These are for the kids," he said defensively, adjusting a tottering pile of wooden trinkets. "They'll be thrilled. Besides, I'll get more money soon enough once I'm a magic knight!"
She rolled her eyes. "You're lucky I saved up so we didn't end up sleeping on the street."
As they walked toward the end of the hall, Kazuya gave her a closed-eye grin, all pride and zero shame. "I knew you'd be prepared all along! My rival is always ready, be it in battle or budgeting!"
Emilia resisted the urge to elbow him in the ribs, jamming the key into the door with a sharp click.
"Keep talking, and you're sleeping in the hallway," she muttered.
Inside, a spacious two-bedroom greeted them. On the left, two beds rested against the far wall with a good stretch of space between. At the foot of each sat a large wooden chest.
Kazuya wasted no time. He stomped over to his and dropped everything inside in one chaotic heap, causing a plushie to bounce off the rim and roll across the floor.
Shaking her head, Emilia walked over to her own chest and packed her things with more care, all except for one.
She paused, reaching into her bag to retrieve the small, black leather notebook Marie had given her.
The last of the day's sunlight filtered in through the window, casting a gentle glow across the room. Lanterns flickered to life down on the street below, and the quiet hum of the capital evening buzzed faintly through the glass.
Meanwhile, Kazuya was happily gorging on his snacks, tearing into them like he hadn't eaten in days. Still, he was quick to offer some.
"Here! Have some fried nuts!" he said through a mouthful, tossing a handful across the wooden desk where Emilia sat, just as she dipped her pen into the inkwell.
"Oi, watch it!" she snapped, shoving him back with one hand. "I don't want sugar and grease all over the notebook Marie gave me!"
"Oooh! Lem meh shee!" he said with his mouth full, already lunging in again.
Emilia caught him mid-reach and shoved him back harder this time. "What did I just say?!"
Kazuya staggered a step, laughing as he popped another snack into his mouth before he began to undress.
Refocusing on her notebook, Emilia dipped her pen and began to write her first entry.
After jotting down a quick summary of the day, Emilia left the notebook open on the desk to let the ink dry.
Behind her, Kazuya had already stripped down and crashed for the night, snoring loudly and sprawled out across his bed like he owned the place.
She glanced over and quietly chuckled to herself.
With a tired sigh, Emilia began unfastening her armor, piece by piece. She undressed without hesitation; Kazuya being in the room didn't bother her. He was like a brother, nothing she hadn't seen before. They even bathed together for a time, that was until the nuns found out.
Once in bed, she blew out the candle and let the weight of the day pull her into sleep.
The moment the sun rose from the horizon, she and Kazuya were up and out of the hotel in a flash, scrambling to gather their things and head out the door.
They weren't the only ones getting up early. Outside, the city buzzed even more than the day before. New faces flooded the streets; some browsing, others shopping, but all gradually drifting in the same direction: toward the towering colosseum in the distance.
Adjusting her bag, Emilia shot a sidelong glance at Kazuya. He stood beside her with his ridiculous new burden: a makeshift satchel cobbled together from a burlap sack and twine. The innkeeper, taking pity on him, had handed it over free of charge after watching him constantly drop things as he attempted to follow Emilia. Now it bulged awkwardly with snacks and trinkets, nearly as wide as he was.
"You're lucky she was so nice. If it had cost anything, you'd be stuck carrying all that junk on foot because I know your ass isn't flying with all that." Emilia commented.
"Hah! Even if I did, I could push through that crowd no problem! I navigated us well enough yesterday, didn't I?" he declared proudly.
Her brow twitched. "We were lost for hours because of your shopping spree," she replied flatly, swinging a leg over her broom. "Anyway, we need to hurry. Try not to fall behind."
With a sharp kick, she rose into the air, the broom carrying her smoothly over the street. Below, Kazuya scrambled to follow, wobbling slightly as he tried to balance both himself and the overstuffed bag dragging behind him.
From above, the city was in chaos. Hundreds of examinees and onlookers jammed the streets in a flood of bodies and noise, all funneling toward the colosseum like a raging river.
"Good thing we took our brooms," Emilia muttered as she weaved gracefully through the traffic of the skies. "We'd never make it in time down there."
She cast a glance behind her. Kazuya managed to give her a goofy grin, despite clutching his satchel like it was trying to pull him out of the sky.
Along with them, other examinees soared toward the arena, better dressed, well-groomed, their polished grimoires gleaming at their sides. Some glanced at Emilia and Kazuya as they passed, surprise flickering across their faces. Commoners with brooms were an uncommon sight, and the idea of them flying at all seemed to puzzle and irritate more than a few.
It wasn't too long before they landed before the massive structure, their eyes wide as they took it all in.
The Royal Capital Colosseum, massive and ancient, carved from pale stone that shimmered faintly in the morning light. The circular structure stretched impossibly wide, its high walls fortified by enchanted marble and reinforced towers that stood like silent sentinels. Dozens of entry points lined the perimeter, though only one was being used on this day. And above it all, tall banners bearing the symbol of the Clover Kingdom rippled in the breeze.
"This... is it," Emilia whispered, feeling the weight of it settle in her chest.
Kazuya nodded beside her, eyes sparkling with excitement. "The proving ground of legends."
Entering the long line at the coliseum's entrance, Emilia and Kazuya waited eagerly... then waited some more... and then some more, until Emilia was practically vibrating with impatience.
"What in the hell is taking so long?" she hissed, craning her neck to see past the sea of heads in front of them. "We've been here since sunrise and haven't budged an inch! Are we even in the right line!?"
Adding to her irritation, excited spectators crowded along the edges of the path, cheering as if something exciting were happening.
"Usually you're supposed to cheer when something actually happens..." she muttered, rubbing her temples. "We've literally just been standing here."
Kazuya hummed thoughtfully, standing on his tiptoes for a better view. "Hmm... looks like someone's holding things up near the front. Fancy clothes, big attitude, definitely a noble."
Emilia growled. "Figures. I've half a mind to go up there and—"
"Ah-ah," Kazuya cut in with a grin, patting the top of her head. "No need for violence, Shortstuff. Lucky for you, I've got the high ground. I'll keep watch while you stew."
She swatted his hand away, glaring. "Only by an inch."
"Say what you will," Kazuya said, smugly crossing his arms, "but I'll always have the height advantage. Just one of the many ways I outshine you, Emilia."
Despite herself, she snorted, her frustration starting to fade. "You're such a dumbass."
"But a tall dumbass," he replied, grinning with pride.
Just then, a commotion rippled through the crowd behind them.
Turning to look, Emilia spotted two boys making their way toward the line, one small, one tall.
The tall one's expression was a mix of irritation and embarrassment, his eyes fixed forward as though pretending not to notice the attention they were getting.
The smaller boy, in stark contrast, beamed from ear to ear. With messy ash-blond hair and a build unusually muscular for his age, almost like Kazuya, he marched proudly toward the line, waving enthusiastically at the gathered spectators as if they were all there just for him. His grin never wavered, soaking in every bit of attention the taller boy seemed desperate to avoid.
Emilia's eyes widened the moment her gaze landed on the pair.
"There's no way... It's really them."
"Uh, hey, the line's moving," Kazuya pointed out, jerking his thumb forward as a few irritated murmurs rose from behind.
Snapping back to attention, she hurried ahead, slotting back into place.
Still, a faint smile tugged at her lips.
"What are the odds?" she thought, glancing once more over her shoulder. "Them... becoming Magic Knights..."
"Next!" one of the exam clerks called out.
Kazuya stepped forward, puffing out his chest like he was about to take the stage. "BEHOLD! The future strongest Magic Knight has ARRIVED!" he declared, slamming his grimoire down with a triumphant grin that practically radiated heat.
The examiner flinched slightly, clearly not expecting the volume. "...Right," he said slowly, brow quirking as he reached for the grimoire.
Emilia exhaled hard through her nose, shifting in place. The secondhand embarrassment hit her like a wave as whispers rippled through the line behind them. She resisted the urge to jab him in the ribs, barely.
"Could you maybe not act like a circus announcer for five seconds?" she muttered from the corner of her mouth.
Kazuya just beamed, entirely unbothered. "I'm setting the tone," he whispered back confidently. "First impressions are everything."
She rolled her eyes as the examiner handed his grimoire back.
"You're number 302. Go on in," the man said in a monotone, clearly over it.
Kazuya snatched it up with a grin and threw Emilia a wink. "See you inside!"
And just like that, he took off, loud and proud as ever, vanishing into the coliseum without a shred of subtlety.
Emilia handed over her grimoire, and the examiner's brows shot up the instant he took hold of it.
"Well now," he said, turning it over with care. "I've never seen one this fine before. You from nobility?"
"Nope," she answered, clipped and impatient. "Just a commoner like most people here."
"Could've fooled me," he muttered, handing it back with a faint smirk. "Thing looks like it belongs in a palace display, not strapped to your belt."
Around her, more whispers rippled through the line, people remarking on the strange mismatch between her worn armor and the elegant tome in her hands.
She slid the grimoire back into place and moved toward the towering entrance, ignoring them to the best of her ability.
Inside, Emilia spotted Kazuya almost immediately, hard not to, given he was waving his arms like a lunatic in the middle of the crowd.
"Emilia! Over here!!" he hollered, grinning ear to ear as people nearby turned to stare.
She resisted the urge to bury her face in her hands. "Can't he go one day without making a scene?" With a begrudging sigh, she made her way toward him, now catching curious glances from those she passed.
"Why's she wearing armor?" someone muttered.
"She? How'd you figure? Looks more like a guy to me," another whispered.
The comments rolled right off her; she'd heard worse.
"Who's that with her? His clothes are weird."
"Yeah... he doesn't look like he's from around here. Is he a foreigner?"
"A foreigner in the Magic Knights exam? Is that even allowed?"
Her ears twitched at the next one.
"What if he's a spy for another nation? That's a huge security risk."
"Idiots," she thought, biting back a retort. "The captain of the Black Bulls is from another country, you bastards..."
She finally reached Kazuya, who beamed like he hadn't just made them the center of attention.
"Can you not wave your arms around like a maniac? I could spot you from a mile away."
"Aww, don't be so stiff! Soon enough, we'll show everyone what we're made of! Aren't you excited?"
"Of course I am, Moleface. I just happen to know how to compose myself."
"Ohhh, I see," he said with a sly grin, leaning in closer. "I didn't realize you were such a lady. Should I start carrying your bags for you? Pull chairs out? Maybe I should find you a nice, frilly dress so you can daintily sip tea while I do all the fighting."
She shot him a flat look. "Keep talking, and I'll compose a fist right into your face."
A sudden commotion rippled through the crowd. All around them, dozens of small, black birds swooped down from above, flapping and squawking as they dove straight for the examinees.
They pecked at heads, tugged at hair, nested in hoods, anything they could get their claws on. A few unlucky people were already flailing wildly, trying to shoo them away.
"Whoa! What's with all these anti-birds?!" Kazuya exclaimed, watching one make off with a ribbon from someone's hair. "I've never seen so many in one place before!"
"You're right... They're everywhere," Emilia agreed, scanning the swarms circling above and around them.
Murmurs spread through the line, everyone wondering why the sudden flock had descended. That was when a man nearby, who had only one anti-bird perched calmly on his shoulder, spoke up with a faint smirk.
"Didn't you know? They're always here during the exams," he explained, his tone dripping with confidence as he glanced toward one poor soul who now had three perched on his head. "Everybody knows, the lower your magic power, the more of 'em you attract."
Another man's gaze drifted past the crowd, his eyes widening slightly. "Hey, look over there! See that guy? Not a single anti-bird anywhere near him!"
Emilia followed his line of sight. Sure enough, they were talking about the tall boy from earlier.
Yuno stood calmly amidst the chaos, arms at his sides, gaze forward, completely unbothered. Not a single anti-bird dared approach. She wasn't surprised. From what she remembered when he'd saved her, he's been strong even as a kid, so this was only natural.
"Yeah, that's the one from earlier," another man said, batting away three birds at once.
"From earlier?" she thought, curiosity flickering. She kept listening.
"Which one?" the first man asked.
"The guy from some backwater place... Hage Village, I think. No idea how, but he's got a four-leaf grimoire," the second man replied, still swatting at his feathery attackers.
"What?! No way!" the other man exclaimed in disbelief.
"A four-leaf grimoire?!" Emilia gaped, eyes wide. "That's the same number the first Wizard King had!"
That made her, and everyone else within earshot, look at him with newfound awe. Even Kazuya, who'd been chasing a particularly stubborn anti-bird, froze mid-step.
Murmurs rippled through the line, voices layering over each other.
"Is having four leaves that big a deal?" Kazuya asked bluntly, walking back over to Emilia.
"Uh, yeah?" Emilia deadpanned. "Did you seriously forget when Sister Campbell taught us about the first Wizard King? He was the only one with a four-leaf grimoire, and he was the most powerful wizard the Clover Kingdom's ever seen. So yeah, it's kind of a big deal, Moleface."
Kazuya's lips curled into a hungry grin as he eyed Yuno from a distance. "Interesting. Besting someone like him would surely get me noticed by the Crimson Lions."
Now that was a thought. Kazuya versus Yuno. She didn't know exactly how Yuno's magic had grown since they last met, but she remembered that it was wind. And wind and fire together? Naturally in sync, one feeding the other.
"I'll admit," she thought, watching him, "it'd be pretty cool to see. The question is... could Yuno keep up with Kazuya's ability to read Ki?"
Suddenly, a loud, familiar voice boomed over the crowd.
Both Emilia and Kazuya turned instinctively, and their jaws dropped.
A short, ash-blond boy was forcing his way through the masses toward the tall boy from earlier... or at least trying to. His march was anything but triumphant, slowed to a crawl by a swarm of anti-birds clinging to him like he was the world's most popular perch. They yanked at his clothes, tugged his hair, and even nestled comfortably atop his head, all while he stubbornly kept moving forward with a challenging smile.
"HAHAHAAAA!! One of us is gonna be the Wizard King! This is where our legend begins—right, Yuno?!" the short boy bellowed over the crowd.
The man from earlier gawked. "He can't be serious... can he?"
"I've been training for this for the past six months," the boy continued proudly, beaming as he marched forward. He looked ready to continue, only to wince when an anti-bird began viciously pecking at his cheek, trying to tear it off.
"GAAAH!! WHY ARE THEY TRYING TO KILL ME?!" He tore across the floor, flailing wildly as the swarm chased him. Laughter rippled through the onlookers, some amused, others snickering with cruel remarks.
Then, in his frantic sprint, the boy slammed chest-first into a massive man who towered over everyone around him.
Emilia's eyes widened, recognizing the figure instantly. "No way... It's really him..."
The birds scattered instantly, and the boy sighed in relief. "Phew, guess they finally had enough." Looking up, he grinned, eyes closed in awkward cheer. "Hey there, sorry about that!"
The man's mana flared without warning, dark-purple light radiating off his body as his eyes narrowed into pure hostility. "You got a death wish, boy?"
Up close, the boy's smile faltered, his posture stiffening as he took in the captain's overwhelming physique.
"Uh oh..." Emilia muttered under her breath. She had a bad feeling; whatever happened next wouldn't end well for him.
Then, with a smile that was far too carefree for the situation, the short boy reached up and patted the black-haired behemoth on his large, muscular shoulder. "Wow! You look really old for your age! Must've had a rough life, huh? Haha!"
Kazuya let out an impressed whistle. "Whoa... I've never seen someone disrespect a clear superior so openly. Wonder how he's gonna pay for that one."
Emilia's stomach sank. She could see the man's expression darkening by the second, that quiet fury building behind his eyes.
And then, one enormous, calloused hand clamped down around the boy's entire head like a vice.
"Looks like I was right about that deathwish," the towering man growled, his massive hand tightening around Asta's head.
He kicked and squirmed, but the small boy was no match for the captain's overwhelming strength.
"Oooh, so he went straight for capital punishment?" Kazuya remarked with way too much casualness. "Can't say I haven't seen that before, palace guards loved doing that to troublemakers."
Emilia's brow twitched. "I sometimes forget he used to be royalty..."
"There you are! What are you doing out here anyway?" a droopy-eyed man asked as he walked forward.
"Right now? Getting ready to wring this kid's neck," the large man answered without hesitation.
The ash-blond boy groaned under the crushing grip, still flailing.
The crowd turned toward the newcomers. Emilia's eyes narrowed, she recognized one of them.
"Isn't that the portal guy? I think he was there when I made my declaration to Captain Yami all those years ago."
A nearby woman gasped, clasping her hands together. "I can't believe it's him! Finral Roulacase, the user of rare spatial magic!"
"Oh, so that's his name." Emilia deadpanned.
Finral's lips curled into a smirk as he stepped forward with a wink. "And who's this lovely lady~?"
Emilia sweatdropped, her suspicions confirmed when someone added, "A womanizer who spends more time flirting than doing his job."
"And that's Gordon Agrippa! He's a hex magic expert!" another called out in the crowd.
"Word is, he's got trouble communicating. Plus... he's creepy," another muttered just as the pale man's dark eyes slid toward them, silencing the comment instantly.
Meanwhile, the captain's grip on the smaller boy only tightened, showing no sign of letting go.
Emilia's stomach knotted.
"Should I step in?" she thought as she slowly started toward her grimoire.
Kazuya, on the other hand, watched with morbid fascination, as though expecting a particularly bloody duel.
"Hey now, that won't do at all! A squad captain can't go killing an examinee!" Finral protested, finally pulling his attention away from the blushing woman he'd been flirting with. "Why'd you even come down here in the first place?"
"Needed to take a dump and got lost," the towering man replied flatly, eyes never leaving his prey.
"Is he serious right now?" Emilia thought, her disbelief growing.
The crowd began to stir as realization hit.
"Wait, he said 'squad captain.' That means he's Yami Sukehiro... the God of Destruction!!" someone yelped.
"G-God of Destruction? I knew he had a reputation, but I didn't think it was that bad," Emilia thought, watching as Yami exhaled a long stream of cigarette smoke.
"Ten... nine... eight..." Yami counted, his grip constricting further. Emilia's eyes widened; he wasn't bluffing.
"W-Why are you counting down?!" the boy yelped, panic in his voice.
"The seconds left in your miserable little life," Yami said casually, which only sent the boy into frantic, high-pitched screaming.
Around them, the murmurs turned to gossip about the Black Bulls, how they left more destruction in their wake than their enemies, how their roster was a parade of lunatics.
"One's a shameless flirt and the other's a mute. What a mess of a squad. I'd hate to end up with them," a man scoffed.
"Like you'd be picked," Emilia muttered under her breath, noting how faint his mana was. Curious, her gaze shifted back to the struggling boy... and froze.
"W-What the hell...?" she whispered.
Kazuya glanced sideways. "What? Something strange about the short one?"
"There's nothing... no mana. None at all," she said, still scanning him with disbelief.
"Seriously? I could've sworn I saw him showing off that strange black grimoire to his friend earlier," Kazuya hummed thoughtfully.
"That's just it, how's that even possible... How can someone have a grimoire but no magic power?" Emilia silently questioned.
Suddenly, Asta planted his feet, bracing himself like a rock. Both hands clamped around Yami's, his muscles straining against the captain's grip. Veins bulged under his skin as he let out a fierce yell, emerald eyes blazing with raw determination.
Yami's brows rose slightly.
"Three... two... one—" a thunderous BOOM abruptly cut him off overhead.
Everyone glanced skyward as a cascade of colorful fireworks erupted above the coliseum, popping in rapid succession.
"Well now, look at that. Guess the exam's about to start," Finral said with a mix of relief and surprise.
With an annoyed grunt, Yami released his grip. Asta instantly crumpled to the ground, clutching his head and groaning, relief and pain mixing on his face.
"That was a close one, boy," Yami said, already turning away. "You get a second chance at life. Better do somethin' with it... or I'll come back and kill you."
As he walked off, the crowd of examinees parted instantly, no one daring to get in his way. Passing Emilia, his eyes locked with hers for a brief moment, calm, assessing, before he kept going.
"Did he recognize me?"
Finral trailed behind, tossing a wink and a finger gun at several blushing women. "See you later, ladies~!" he called, earning giggles. Emilia rolled her eyes.
Gordon followed in silence, muttering something incomprehensible as he passed, his pale face expressionless.
"I don't know what everyone's talking about; they didn't seem like bad people... just weird... and pervy."
The thought was still in her head when she turned her gaze to the side and caught Kazuya, elbow-deep in his own nostril, going about it with zero shame.
Shaking her head at his antics, her gaze followed the upward shift of the crowd, and when she looked above, her breath hitched.
"It's them... the Magic Knight squad captains."
Moving with measured steps, they crossed the grounds toward the broad, tiered stone seats that loomed over the mass of examinees. Their presence was undeniable, a living wall of authority and power.
In that instant, the anti-birds scattered as if fleeing from predators, wings beating in frantic retreat. Emilia didn't blame them. The air itself felt charged, thick with mana so potent it hummed in her ears. It was the weight of multiple titans standing together, their combined strength saturating the very atmosphere. Not everyone seemed aware of it... But for those who could feel it, it was impossible to ignore.
"There he is! See him?" Kazuya's voice cut through the hum, brimming with boyish excitement as he practically bounced on his heels. "That's Fuegolion Vermillion! Sister Theresa used to tell us stories about him!"
Emilia's eyes locked onto the tall, broad-shouldered man with his crimson cloak draped like a war banner. His presence was imposing, yes, but not like Yami's raw, unpredictable menace. This was different, measured, disciplined, the kind of authority that came from years of hard-fought battles and the unshakable confidence of a man who led others through them.
He was exactly how she imagined the war heroes from her childhood storybooks, unyielding, proud, and radiating strength that made you want to stand taller just by being near it.
Even so, she kept her senses in check. If she tried to fully read his mana output, she'd risk drowning in it. That kind of power wasn't something you measured; it was something you survived being in the presence of.
While she knew the names of the other captains, faces she'd seen in books or heard mentioned in passing, her familiarity didn't go much further than that. Aside from Fuegolion and Yami, they were more legend than reality to her. Even Charlotte Roselei, captain of the Blue Roses and the woman who'd indirectly inspired the design of Emilia's armor, was still something of a mystery. All Emilia really knew was that she wielded thorn magic... and that her reputation in certain circles was formidable.
Cheers burst from every corner of the arena, echoing like thunder that rolled across the field.
Through the noise, an elegantly dressed man stepped into view, every movement measured, his poise commanding the stage. An ornate mask, smooth and gleaming, concealed his face, lending him an almost otherworldly air.
Even with her limited knowledge of the captains, Emilia recognized him instantly. His name had carried far, even to Narin, where townsfolk whispered it with awe. They called him the strongest, the shining pinnacle of the Clover Kingdom's knights.
William Vangeance, captain of the Golden Dawn.
"He's got a strange mask. Wonder why he wears it?" Kazuya mused aloud.
"Who knows? Maybe to hide his identity from enemies? He was the leading man in that war a few years back, probably has tons of enemies." Emilia replied, only half-interested.
Still, she couldn't help but scan his mana. It was just as overwhelming as the others', but different. There was something beneath the refined surface, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. It felt... oddly malicious. Similar to Yami's, but wrapped in elegance rather than brute force.
"Man, it'd be awesome to get into the Golden Dawn! That, or maybe the Silver Eagles!" one examinee gushed, eyes fixed on the captains' seats above.
"Don't be an idiot," another shot back. "Only royals and the highest-ranking nobles ever get into those squads."
Kazuya raised a brow at the exchange but said nothing, his gaze drifting upward.
Above, Yami finally slouched into his seat. He looked completely uninterested in the ceremony, jaw stretching in a lazy yawn as if he'd just been dragged out of bed.
During the commotion, Emilia's attention started to wander, mainly because someone nearby wouldn't shut up. A constant stream of yammering, mixed with obnoxious cackling, grated on her ears.
With an irritated sigh, she turned her head and spotted the source: the ash-blonde boy from earlier listening to a lanky, long-limbed man talk. His narrow shoulders sloped downward, his neck stretched thin, and his face seemed to have an almost pinched quality. His short, slicked-back hair only added to the strange, segmented look of his head.
Emilia's brow furrowed. "That insect-looking guy is so annoying... I don't know how he's dealing with him in his ear the entire time."
Thankfully, it wasn't long before a loud, smooth voice cut through the insect-man's cackling.
"Attention, examinees!"
It was the Golden Dawn captain again, standing above them with an easy, composed smile. His golden-trimmed robes shimmered faintly in the sunlight, and his masked gaze swept over the crowd with practiced poise.
"Thank you for waiting. I will be administering this year's entrance exam," he announced, his tone warm yet commanding.
He drew forth his grimoire, a pristine, ornate volume that seemed to glow faintly with an inner light. Its covers were a deep, burnished gold that seemed to shine in the afternoon sun.
"Magic Tree's Descent!"
The instant the words left his mouth, Vangeance's grimoire flared with a blinding green light. Dark clouds quickly gathered overhead, the wind surging through the arena in powerful gusts that nearly knocked some examinees off their feet. Then, at the very center of it all, the glow concentrated into a radiant emerald sphere. From that brilliance, colossal branches unfurled and descended gracefully from the sky itself, their leaves rustling like whispers of some great forest.
The branches spread across the arena, lowering themselves among the examinees. At their tips, shapes twisted and took form; slender, polished brooms, each one crafted seamlessly from living wood, ready to be snapped off and claimed.
Gasps of awe rippled through the crowd.
"No wonder he's at the top," Emilia thought, grabbing the broom of its branches in one smooth motion. "I didn't even know it was possible to grow a tree from the sky. What kind of magic even does that?"
Kazuya, meanwhile, gulped audibly, his bravado cracking as he reached up reluctantly, tugging one free. He held it like it might bite him, staring at the magical wood as though it were a death sentence.
"You've waited long enough," The Golden Dawn captain announces, his grimoire closing with a sharp snap. "The time has come, let the entrance exam begin!"
The sound rolled through the arena, instantly silencing the murmurs. Every examinee's attention locked onto him.
"In just a few moments, we'll begin the first of a series of tests. The nine Magic Knight captains will be serving as your judges, and when the exam is complete, we will choose the individuals we want in our squads," he continued. "If chosen, you are in. If more than one squad chooses you, you will decide which one to join."
He paused just long enough for the tension to settle. "However, if you are not selected by any squad, that means you have been deemed unqualified to join the Magic Knights."
The words fell like stone. Several examinees stiffened, others swallowed hard, and nervous chatter broke out in the rows.
"Obviously."
"Now, for your first test!" he announced, voice ringing out, "Use the brooms you've been given to fly."
The crowd erupted in anxious murmurs.
"'To fly...?'" one woman echoed nervously, clutching her broom.
"I've never done that before..." a man in front of Emilia confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Me either. Man, this stinks," his friend replied, rubbing the nape of his neck.
Emilia blinked at them, stunned. "Are they serious? How do you expect to be a Magic Knight if you can't even manage something as basic as flying?"
"A mage who is in control of his or her magic can do it on instinct alone," Vangeance explained. Behind him, a stoic-looking Golden Dawn knight rose smoothly into the air on his broom to demonstrate. "If you can't fly on a broom, then you are not worth our time."
Then, thrusting out his hand toward them, he shouted, "Enough talk! Now begin!"
Excitement and nerves rippled through the crowd of examinees as brooms shifted beneath hands and feet.
Emilia smirked. "This is free," she thought as she swung onto her broom with practiced ease.
She glanced to her side. Kazuya was mounting his broom too, though much slower, his movements stiff with reluctance.
"Oi, Moleface," she called out.
He glanced her way.
"Don't forget, this is it. This is where you push past your limits. Show that Vermillion the Kazuya I know!" She finished with a sharp smile.
Her words hit him like a spark to tinder. His back straightened, and the fear etched on his face wavered beneath a flood of determination.
"You're right! This is me we're talking about!" he roared, stabbing his thumb into his chest. "Just watch, Emilia! I'll push myself further than anyone here!"
His outburst drew a few stares, but Emilia just pumped her fist in response. "Hell yeah, that's the spirit!"
Together, the two of them kicked off. Their brooms lifted smoothly into the air, rising higher and higher—past the level of most of the examinees until they were nearly eye-level with the captains seated above.
"Look at that," Emilia grinned, "You're way higher than you've ever been, and you've barely even—"
She stopped short. Kazuya was shaking, his knuckles white as he clung to the broomstick like it was his lifeline.
"Y-Y-Yeah!" he stammered, teeth clenched in a jittery grin. "N-No problem f-for someone like m-me!"
Emilia facepalmed. "Well, it's still progress, I guess. This is higher than he's been before."
Meanwhile, the rest of the examinees filled the air—or the ground—with mixed results. Some managed to glide in wide circles, shakily but afloat. Others wobbled before crashing down in humiliating heaps.
Then her eyes caught on the small, loud boy. Asta.
He wasn't wobbling. He wasn't struggling. He simply... wasn't moving at all. His broom refused to lift him even a single inch off the ground, no matter how fiercely he clenched it or how loudly he shouted.
"The hell? Not even a little flight?" Emilia muttered under her breath, baffled.
Before she could puzzle it out further, movement caught her eye.
Yuno drifted effortlessly into view, gliding right past her without so much as a glance. He didn't sit on his broom—he stood on it, riding smoothly as if the air itself bent to his will. His face was flat, uncaring, focused entirely on what lay ahead.
Emilia narrowed her eyes, a faint huff escaping her nose. "Damn, he's good. Though... I'm pretty sure I could do that if I wanted to," she thought stubbornly, knowing full well her ass would fall.
Meanwhile, the examinees were ushered forward toward their next trial. A long row of stone walls rose from the ground, each one thick, sturdy, and inscribed faintly with magic to withstand powerful strikes.
The instructions were clear: destroy your target using any spell.
"Hah! That's all? I could do this in my sleep!" Kazuya boasted, grinning as staff reinforced and readied the stone barriers.
"Another freebie, it looks like," Emilia said, strolling up beside him.
He nodded. "Let's hope for something more challenging. How are we to prove ourselves with these simple trials?"
A few examinees scoffed under their breath at his arrogance, muttering insults, but Kazuya ignored them, wholly absorbed in the moment.
"You may now begin!" declared the Golden Dawn captain.
Kazuya didn't hesitate. A fiery orb erupted from his palm and soared into the target wall. The blast shattered it instantly and continued past, demolishing several of the neighboring walls in a fiery explosion.
"Hey! That was my target!" one examinee shouted in outrage.
Kazuya threw his head back in laughter. "Apologies! I held back as much as I could, but I suppose I'm just that strong!"
His smugness only stoked the irritation around him. Grumbles and sharp glares followed, but Emilia's sharp eyes caught on one man in particular. He wasn't just irritated; he looked offended. The noble's embroidered finery made him stand out from the common rabble, but it was his grinding teeth and clenched fists that revealed his true feelings: humiliation.
"Get as angry as you want. It won't change the fact that he's playing on a different level than you."
Now, for her. All she did was raise a quick hand, and a small sphere of cold light coalesced in her palm before shooting off toward the wall.
Boom!
The target shattered instantly, fragments of stone scattering across the floor. A sharp chill rushed through the air where the spell had passed, a faint trail of glittering frost hanging like frozen starlight. It was so fast, so bright, that if you blinked, you missed it entirely.
The examinees nearby recoiled in surprise, murmuring at both the speed and the strange, cold aura that clung to the magic.
High above, several captains leaned forward in interest.... Though some more than others.
For a moment, Yuno seemed to glance her way when her spell struck, his expression unreadable. Just as quickly, he turned back to his own task, raising his grimoire and shattering his target with effortless precision.
Asta, meanwhile, didn't do much of anything, no matter how hard he tried.
The next test measured magic control, something Emilia had in spades. Her spheres of cold light streaked toward her targets, shattering them cleanly with pinpoint accuracy. Frost spread in delicate webs across the stone, leaving those around her murmuring in surprise at both the precision and the chill.
Kazuya stepped up with a booming laugh, throwing his arms wide. "Control, eh? Easy! Stand back, everyone—this'll be over in a flash!"
With a wide grin, he unleashed a blazing fireball. His target vanished in a roar of flames... along with three others in the row. Smoke curled upward as complaints erupted all around.
"Hey! That was mine!" an examinee snapped.
Kazuya only laughed louder, planting fists on his hips. "My bad! Guess my flames refuse to stay in their lane, just too much power to hold back!"
Groans and curses followed, but he basked in it like a performer on stage.
The magic creation test came next. Emilia summoned her familiar mana blade, calm and deliberate. Kazuya, of course, struck a pose before igniting his own blade in a blaze of heat. "Behold! The weapon of a true warrior—no frills, no tricks, just raw strength!" His proclamation drew rolled eyes, but he clearly thrived on the attention.
Emilia just rolled her eyes. "Why is he the way he is?"
Others conjured harmless shapes, glowing animals, or reflections of themselves.
However, among some of the animals, one stood out. A large hawk of pure wind, hovering in the air before Yuno, seemingly awaiting his command. After a few seconds, he dispelled it, already ready to move on to the next trial.
Unfortunately, Asta was once again unsuccessful, no matter what kind of ritual he attempted. Of course, this came at the amusement of others.
Afterwards came something neither Emilia nor Kazuya expected: Magic Evolution.
Magic seeds were handed out, and the examinees were told to pour mana into them to create something new.
"This'll be easy!" Kazuya grins at Emilia.
"Yeah? Then by all means, Moleface, show me how it's done," Emilia teased, preparing her own seed.
"Watch and learn..."
The moment his mana touched it, the seed went up in smoke, a puff of ash drifting through his fingers.
Snickers rose from the crowd. Already, sprouts and curious magical flora bloomed in other hands, bright flowers, twisting vines, even crystalline growths.
"Guess he's not as great as he thought," one examinee whispered.
"What an idiot," another chuckled.
Fuegolion's sharp eyes flicked toward the disturbance, studying Kazuya with a steady, piercing gaze.
Emilia, tempted to snap back at the hecklers, instead gave her partner a smirk. "Just can't hold back, huh? You're supposed to grow something, not burn it to cinders. I swear, your magic really is something else."
"Amazing, I know," Kazuya said with a cocky grin, puffing his chest out. His easy pride only deepened the annoyance around them—especially that same noble from before, whose glare sharpened like a drawn blade.
Laughing it off, he stretched his shoulders. "It's no problem. I'll just have to prove myself in the next one!"
Nodding, Emilia focused on her own seed, allowing her mana to flow steadily into the seedling.
From its hard shell, a pale sprout unfurled, glowing with cold, radiant light. She pressed further, and the sapling grew into a miniature tree, its crystalline branches rimmed with frost, mist curling off into the air. It glimmered bright enough to catch the eyes of those around her... and even some of the captains above.
Once all examinees finished, the seeds were discarded, and a hush fell over the arena.
The Golden Dawn captain rose from his seat, his calm, commanding voice carrying easily across the stone. "Now, onto the next test—the final and most difficult... a display of combat skill."
A ripple of unease swept through the examinees. Murmurs rose.
"Prepare to duel!" Fuegolion thundered, his hand raised, his voice sharp with fire. "You will break into pairs and fight one another! Use your grimoires to attack and defend!"
His words sent a shockwave through the crowd, sparking murmurs of different worries.
"I bet losing tanks your chances..." someone muttered.
"Better to pick someone weak," another whispered.
"Aww man, I'm gonna get destroyed," one whined behind Emilia
"Cowards."
Fuegolion's voice roared again, booming with passion. "As knights, battle is our business! We want to see everything you're capable of!"
"The test will end when one combatant either surrenders or is unable to continue. We have recovery mages standing by," added the Golden Dawn captain, calm and controlled.
"So don't hold anything back!" Vermillion finished with fervor.
Emilia and Kazuya exchanged glances, their faces spreading into dangerous smiles.
"Finally," Emilia murmured.
"The real test begins..." Kazuya growled.
They spoke in unison, their anticipation razor-sharp.