➨The next day, you decided to fully unpack and make your room look a little less like a storage unit. Starting by clearing the cobwebs and dusting the surfaces which sent you into a sneezing frenzy.

Inside the suitcase were clothes and a few things you had on shelves in your old room. Mostly knicknacks you've collected over the time of you being on the squad and things you kept from home. One of them is a picture taken from when you were younger. Your mom was on the left, Dad on the right, with you smiling in the center.

Your eyes zeroed in on the expression of your father. He was smiling, but it wasn't reaching his eyes. You'd never noticed it until now, but he was barely looking at the camera; he appeared detached. However, you can't remember a time when he acted anything less than a loving parent. Just how long had he been going through shit?

A knock breaks you from your thoughts. "Yeah?" You flip the frame around.

The door opens and Asta's head pops in from the other side. "Hey, Y/N! You got a second?" You nod, and he steps inside, holding his arms behind his back. He has a big grin on his face and he's basically wiggling where he stands.

"Should I be worried?"

"What? Oh no, no." He shakes his head. "Close your eyes and hold your hands out, it's a surprise."

Yeah, that's definitely worrying.

You listen though, and shut your eyes and hold your hands out. You can hear him get closer, and drop something into your hands. It's a soft fabric, and your fingers roam over it, feeling the cotton against your skin.

"Okay... open!"

When you do, you immediately recognize the black and gold robe that's in your hands. The Black Bulls logo stares right back at you. You stare at it with uncertainty as you hold it up in the dim lightning. It stirs an odd feeling in your stomach.

Asta must notice your hesitation. "Hey, you don't have to put it on right this second. Or at all honestly. But Captain Yami told me to let you have it just in case you did. Or if you want to, you can burn it up!"

"No it's okay, I'm not going to do all of that. It's just... I'm really here now." You mumble. "Part of you guys' team."

He smiles. "Well duh! I didn't get to see what happened when you saved the squad from the elves, but they say without you, they would've gotten swarmed. You're a really strong fighter, no matter what squad you're on. And I promise that we will get you back to the Golden Dawn."

It's very hard to be down when Asta's presence is near. He has an uplifting attitude that shuts down all negative thoughts. "Thank you, but seriously, don't worry about me."

He takes a quick spin, and admires the room. "You've really have this place looking good! Oh, and there's something else I wanted to talk to you about."

"Shoot."

Asta's expression changes, and he suddenly looks very serious. "I think we need to extend our search to the Heart Kingdom. I asked Captain Yami if he could get us a way over and he said it was basically impossible. Too many traps and whatever. And we heard Mimosa's been over there and we're going to ask her for help."

It was almost too perfect that even though you two hadn't directly talked in a few days, he came to a similar conclusion like you. You heard him, Gauche, and the shy one with blue hair—whose name you can't think of— went to Gordon's to try and see if his family knew anything about curses. Maybe something he found gave him a hint.

"She told me that it was some foreign exchange student thing from a while back." You vaguely recall her telling you a few months ago. "I'm sure she can get you over there."

He frowned. "You don't want to come with?"

Obviously it would work in your favor. Get the research from your mom and then see what your dad was up to. The opportunity was right in front of you. But you shook your head. "I'm assuming you're going over to the Golden Dawn's base. I can't go there, and I also can't talk to any of them or else... you know." You answer.

"We could be real quiet. Nobody would even know you were there!"

"I'm sure you guys would keep quiet, but a lot of the squad would probably tattle and snitch on me in a heartbeat. If I get completely terminated, I can't do a damn thing anymore, right?"

His face falls as he realizes that realistically there isn't much you can do. It sucks, but you're gonna have to play by the rules if you want to end up bending them in the future. But right when you have the opportunity, and the right cards, you'll make a play.

Asta nods firmly. "Guess your right. You're not as reckless as Yuno says you are."

"Yuno says I'm reckless?"

"Mhm. He said that you like to charge first and ask questions later."

Oh, so he likes to lie on your name? Good to know for the next time you see him.

Then he perks up again. "One more thing: Captain Yami has a mission for you, Vanessa, Luck, and Magna."

First mission with the Black Bulls? An actual, endorsed, mission. "I'll be down in a few. Good luck trying to get to Heart, too."

After he leaves, your eyes linger on the robe. It was completely different from what you're used to. On the bright side, you were looking forward to not wearing that stiff-ass uniform underneath it.

————

Captain Yami was waiting with the other three when you entered the main lobby. You decided to wear everything all black; a direct contrast from your old uniform. The robe felt strange, but you were going to act like you'd been wearing it the whole time.

He puffed on a cigarette—you'd never seen a man smoke so many of the things in such a short timespan— and regarded you with a lifted brow. "I didn't actually expect you to put it on. Glad you did, makes you look official."

The little blonde kid–Luck, raises his arms. "Hey hey, when can we fight? I've been wanting to go against your dolls since I've seen 'em!"

"Raincheck." You said while slowly sliding to the left.

"Anyway." Yami cleared his throat and stuck the cigarette between his lips. "You four are going to go check on the Diamond Kingdom. Apparently there's some crazy magic readings over there."

"Uh, and why are you sending us to go do it?" Magna asked, confused.

"Because if there's somethin' weird going on, I'd rather hear it from my team. Not outside forces. Maybe it can help with our investigation." He answers. "All you gotta do is look. No fighting necessary."

"What type of readings are you getting?" Vanessa chimes in.

He shrugs. "It's abnormal. A little strange for the Diamond mages. I don't really know what's going on, but that's why I'm making you go."

For some reason, this feels like an assignment he's giving you because nobody else will take it. It's too vague, and he has absolutely no helpful details to give you. Is this how everything goes around here?

"So.. we're going in blind?" You question, just for clarity.

"Mhm, have fun. Don't die." He immediately turns on his heel and leaves you all standing there utterly dumbfounded.

Perhaps you put too much faith in him.

"There you have it folks, we're off to the Diamond Kingdom." Magna declares and marches for the front door. Nobody seems to be offput by this, so you know it has to be normal for them to charge into uncharted waters.

Outside, everybody summons their brooms. It's been a little while since you'd been on yours so hopefully you weren't rusty. Falling out of the sky would be extremely embarrassing. That, and it could very well kill you.

You pull the broom from your grimoire and listen to Magna's talk. "I know Yami said we could fight, but I've been feeling left out of the action. I heard you and Zora went on a little adventure, Y/N. You feel tougher?"

"I feel like my patience was tested." You side-glance at Vanessa who whistles without a care in the world. "You try being tied to him for a few hours; you'd see what I mean."

Vanessa laughs and swings her legs over the wooden stick. "Oh please, she had fun. Being tied up with a hot-headed delinquent seemed to be up her alley. She totally tamed him."

"Oooh, I didn't know you had game like that." Magna laughs. "He has been less irritable lately."

"See?" Vanessa starts to ascend into the sky. "I work miracles."

Besides them talking as if you weren't right next to them, they were insinuating that something much deeper went on than what happened. Their sly inneudos don't go unnoticed. By you at least, Luck seemed to have his own take on the conversation.

"Maybe he just needs to release all his anger. A good fight always leaves me relieved." He speeds ahead of you.

"Sure, a fight." Magna sneers and drives his absurd looking broomstick right next to you. "Fighting to assert dominance maybe."

"Alright alright." You wave your hand in front of you. "I don't know why one mission has you guys thinking I cast some sort of seduction spell on him." You guys fly over the trees, making everything below look miniscule. It's been so long you almost forgot the view you get from this height.

Vanessa tilts her head to the side. "I don't see the big deal. He's kinda cute when you squint."

Luck's voice comes from above you now. "You like the loner types, don't you Vanessa?"

"What makes you say that?"

"You're madly in love with the Captain."

Now this conversation has spun out of control.

She doesn't seem ashamed though. "So? He has universal attractiveness. Don't need to squint to see that. Right, Y/N?"

"I feel like we should pay more attention to the fact that we're flying into possible danger." You'd rather not indulge her. No matter if you agree or disagree with her, she'll build off of your response.

"Fine, I'll drop it for now." She sighs and focuses her attention back to the journey ahead. "On a serious note, do you guys think Diamond is okay?"

The Diamond Kingdom was a random location. Yes, right next to Clover, but in terms of searching for things about curses and devils, you didn't even have it on your radar. Maybe there's one lurking there too and it's finally showing itself.

"Those mages are strong as shit. I'm sure it can't be too bad." Magna says. "A lot of them are on captain-like level."

Vanessa hums. "That's why I'm worried. If they're so powerful, what's going wrong to the point they need outside help from us?"

When she puts it like that it does make you wonder just what the hell you were about to get yourselves into. It could be a fluke. Maybe Diamond is practicing some new spells that just so happen to be off the charts.

Well, that's what you're hoping anway.

————

You didn't realize how long it would take to get there. Nearly three hours later and you guys make it just to the border. After this long, you might start a fight just to make the ride worth it. Magna lands first, and then Luck jumps down without even being remotely close to the grass. You and Vanessa are more delicate with your approach and stop just a few feet behind them.

The area looked desolate—too desolate. There were rock pillars positioned in a circle. Large ones that shot up to the sky, and shorter ones that jutted outwards looking like spikes. There was a cloud of dust covering most of the space, making it hard to see what was beyond it.

"Sandstorm?" Magna muttered while using his hand as a visor and tried to get a closer look. You stood next to him, trying to get a visual for yourself.

Luck popped up next to you with a whispered voice. "Did you guys hear that?"

Everyone went still trying to hear what Luck could. At first, you thought he was messing with you, but then there was a loud crash and a shout. Something kicked up more dust; making the cloud even bigger and impossible to see through.

"I feel some type of weird mana." Vanessa murmurs and wraps her arms around herself. "It's... dangerous."

Goosebumps prick up on your arms as the feeling settles over you. She's right, it's almost like a wave of cold air whipping through your bones. Your hand summons your grimoire, but then a thought pops up inside your head that makes you pause.

The plan was to summon a puppet, look through their eyes, and go through the sand cloud. However, that could give away your location to whatever is on the other side.

"Stay low. We can move in when it goes away a little." You turn your head to face them again.

They agree and play the waiting game.

In about five or so minutes, the time comes for the group to advance. You go first and keep low to the ground, and hug the pillars when possible. Your arm is over your mouth and nose so you don't inhale the dirt.

The closer you get to what you assume is the center, the visibility goes up. It goes quiet again, and there's no sound to lead you further. Vanessa suggests that you stop where you are. Maybe this is the middle, you can barely tell.

Your back presses against smooth stone and you breathe quietly. "Anybody see anything?"

Magna peeks around the corner, craning his neck. "Not yet."

Luck joins him and scans the surroundings. Nothing seems to stick out to him until he pauses and points to something in the distance. "Look."

You and Vanessa crowd around the corner and follow his finger. Squinting, you can faintly make out the shape of a person. Most definitely unconscious. They're slumped against a pillar, with a trail of blood coming from their body.

The dust starts to fade and reveals the brutal scene more clearly. It was a guy, a pretty burly one, completely unresponsive.

A hand grips onto your shirt, making you turn to see Vanessa pointing outwards in a totally different direction. Except she looks completely spooked.

Your gaze follows hers and when you reach what's got her so shocked, you understand why. Not too far away, surrounding you in every direction were dozens of unconscious, or deceased bodies scattered around. Some you had walked right by without noticing.

Shit.

"Those are diamond mages." Magna shudders. "There's so many of them... how did this happen?"

"Guys," Luck's voice trembles.

You whip your head back around to see he's also completely freaked out by something. His hands are shaking and his eyes are wide. Slowly, you raise your head over the wall to see what could possibly scare him like that.

Both you and Magna stand up, and stare out in front of you. There's one guy still standing. He's got a dramatic fur coat that almost drags across the ground. That feeling comes back; the one that freezes your bones.

You notice there's a symbol on the back of the jacket. With a closer look, it almost slaps you in the face.

It's a spade.

"Luck, you better not get any funny ideas." Vanessa quietly scolds.

His voice shakily comes out. "Believe it or not... I don't want to fight this guy." Luck looks like he might fall apart.

If Luck doesn't want to start a fight, you know something is wrong.

It's a Spade Kingdom soldier. What the hell was he doing here? He wiped out all the mages here by himself. And that aura around him is so sinister. It's clogging up your throat.

Now was not the time to do any type of investiagting. You knew too well that the man in front of you has the power to kill you with one spell. One swipe of his hand, and it could all be over. No, it will be over.

"We need to leave. Right now." You whisper. The other two barely come to their senses. Luck hasn't moved. You grip his shirt. "Luck, we need to go. Get a hold of yourself." When he doesn't make an attempt to get up, you start to run low on patience.

Magna grabs his shoulders. "Come on buddy, now is not the time to freeze up."

Luck's finger shakily points forward. "He... he sees us."

Just as you turn to look at the guy again, he disappears.

And reappears right behind you.

"Luck, get the hell up and go!" You shout just as the man's arm grips yours and drags you out from behind the wall. Magna yanks Luck by the arm and Vanessa's cat meows on her shoulder. You know it's supposed to protect the Black Bulls from certain death, and you really didn't want to test if that applied to you yet.

The man narrows his eyes just before he throws you across the dirt. You tumble and roll into a pillar, smashing into it, hard. Everything burns and it feels like you might have broken something. You groan and sit up just in time to see him teleport closer to you.

Limb manipulation.

A string attaches to his left leg, and you tug on it. He trips, but doesn't hit the ground. Although it gives you the time to get back up and see if the others made it somewhere safe. You can't spot them, but he doesn't give you the chance to look.

He kicks you with inhuman power and it sends you off the ground. You wrap your arms around yourself. Web of Preservation. A cocoon-like protection surrounds your body, and it absorbs the impact of the collision.

The man teleports again, but this time you have a different plan. He pops up close to you, ready to get in some close quarters hits. But you already have a string attached to him. Puppet Pulse.

He teeters slightly, making his first punch miss you. You take that opportunity to swing back, connecting with his jaw. Then another one that hits the other side of his face. You take a third swing and uppercut him.

Three in a row.

You didn't expect him to be taken too off his game by a spell like Puppet Pulse, and you were right. He starts to adjust to the dizziness he's experiencing. His hand glows a dark blue and he raises it above his head.

It's too quick to dodge, so you block it.

Subconsciously, you wished that Aegis was here to cover you, and he did just that. Rising to his impressive height, and taking the hit for you. Your eyes widened in a happy surprise. He was fixed, and not scrap on the floor.

The Spade soldier and Aegis exhanged blows. You could feel where Aegis was taking hits, but you endured. During that time, you risked sparing a glance out to the distance. There, you could see the three of them readying for an attack. You couldn't convey much of a 'don't do it' expression from the distance you were at.

Distracted, a swift chop hits you in the back of the neck, making you crumble onto the ground.

"Rookie mistake." He mutters and steps over you.

You peel yourself up, ignoring the nauseating feeling that swims in your head. You force yourself to see straight and try to locate where he went. The double vision was hard to ignore, but you could make out his imposing figure walking calmly towards Vanessa, Luck, and Magna.

Everything goes dark, and you're starting to think you're losing consciousness. You blink, forcing your eyes to stay open.

Your hands ball into fists as you watch him teleport every few seconds. Closing in on them as Magna repeatedly hurls fireballs towards him. None of them hit, and he's just wasting his energy.

A flicker sparks in your palms and it catches you by surprise. It's a dark blue, maybe closer to an indigo hue. It seeps up your veins and through your forearms. The color taints the edges of your vision. All you can see is a black outline of the man who's one attack from killing them where they stand.

Something terrifying snaps through your mind, and you take a step forward. Everything moves so fast. One second you're nearly fifty feet away. Next, you're right in front of the soldier.

Images flash through your mind. Acro, Sylvania, Aegis.

Then your hand opens, and you thrust your palm to his stomach. Time freezes for