➨ The day came a lot quicker than you thought it was going to.

Mimosa and Klaus were basically buzzing around you ever since you confirmed you were going to take the Royal Knights test. Yuno on the other hand didn't seem phased at all, almost like he knew you were going to come around.

As the four of you were walking through the colosseum, Klaus was rambling on about how he wants you all to be safe and make smart choices while on the battlefield. He claims to not be nervous, but you caught him pacing around in circles earlier.

"You think it's going to be a free for all beatdown?" You let the question hang in the air.

"Come on now, do you really believe that method would do anybody any good?" Klaus pushed his glasses up. "I hope it's something with a little more class."

"Like a coordinated free for all beatdown?" Yuno chimed in.

"I doubt there will be a beatdown of any kind!"

The farther down the hallway you got, the louder the voices became in the main gathering area. It was slightly nerve-racking thinking about how many people wanted this way more badly than you did. Apparently this thing only had so many limited spots, so everyone was bound to put their all into it.

Finally, you stepped into the light and took in the sight of all the mages pumping themselves up, or calming themselves down. Most people with the same robes stuck together. Some mingled with one another from different squads.

"Wow... we're really here now..." Mimosa said in awe. "I'm so nervous I think my heart is going to fall out of my chest!"

"You'll be fine. Haven't you been training?" You asked her.

"Well yeah, but I'm sure everyone else has too. So I have to be at my very best."

In a few minutes, the Wizard King started talking and explaining how things were going to work. Or, the regular King did so... really, he stole Julius' spotlight. Does that guy even do anything important?

He announced you were playing in teams, which ruled out your idea of a beatdown. Teams though? That was an interesting approach. When you think about it, it does make sense because you can eliminate people way easier on teams.

"I'm guessing it's also going to force us to work with the other squads..." You mumbled.

Before Julius could finish his sentence, there was a loud obnoxious voice coming from the top of one of the pillars. You looked up and could barely see who it was with the sun beaming down into your eyes. The silhouette jumped down and wrapped an arm around the Wizard King.

Now that he was out of the light, you could see. The unfortunately... familiar face.

"What the hell? I didn't know he was a Magic Knight." You narrowed your eyes down and it was indeed the same guy from the alley the other day.

"Do you know who that delinquent is, Y/N?" Klaus questioned.

"No, not really. I saw him the other day after my talk with Vangeance. He was sitting in an alleyway after beating the shit out of someone from the Aqua Deer."

"He what? So he's a dangerous man! Did you report him?!"

"No..." You turned to him sheepishly. "It's hard to explain. Allegedly, he's a vigilante of some sort. The guy he beat up was a thief."

Yuno's voice came into the conversation. "Didn't you say the guy that got beat up was from the Aqua Deer?"

You sighed. "Yeah, which is why it's a problem."

The red-head claimed his name to be Xerx, which you doubt is true. But he had on the robe belonging to the purple Orca. You tilted your head, he looked familiar in a way, but you couldn't put your finger on it.

Not the priority.

Everyone turned their attention to the screen to see their teams. Immediately, you scanned for your name. It was listed with Sol Marron, Magna Swing, and Kirsch Verm- Vermillion?

"Oh hey Mimosa, I got put with your brother."

Her face ended up falling immediately. "You poor thing, please if he says anything weird hit him over the head with a brick for me."

"Damn alright." You chuckled. "I'll keep it in mind. But you're very lucky you got Asta! Don't get sidetracked by him now." You added playfully.

"I won't! I'm here to win!" She pumped her fist with determination. Although the red tinting her cheeks was hard to miss.

However, she was also in the first match... with the fake Xerx. That's what you were thinking about when you went to go meet with your team members. You don't trust him at all, and you certainly don't trust him enough to be with Mimosa. He better not sabotage them.

Your team however...

"I'm working with some street punk and a narcissistic peacock, this is horrible!"

"Who are you calling a damn punk you punk?!"

"You, was that not clear?"

"This team is so unruly and uncouth... my beauty might be the only salvation...!"

Where's the brick?

Magna turned his head as you approached. "So you're the fourth one. Welcome, hopefully you're more reasonable than both of these two."

Sol's eyes glistened. "A woman! I would've passed out if it was another man!"

What a lovely variety of energy. Team by team, everyone entered through the spatial magic portal to the battlefield. It appeared to be what you would expect any battlefield to look like. Open space and terrain which could prove to be obstacles or assets.

Klaus, Yuno, and a few of their members found their way back over to you guys so you could watch the first match together. You were in the second one, so you were intently focusing on how things were set up.

"This should be a fun one." Klaus commented. "I'm excited to see who will come out on top."

"I know who's gonna win already." You smiled. "They have this in the bag, I know they do. I think their magic combos will work out together. That guy has some kind of– wait a minute." You paused and craned your neck to see if you were seeing things correctly.

"Did he just fall asleep?"

He really did.

Already, they're going to be at a wide disadvantage.

"That miscreant didn't even try!"

"Y/N," Yuno started. "What magic does that guy even have? Was it going to be useful anyway?"

"It might've been. All I've seen him do is cause a dust explosion. I wasn't paying too much attention to what it exactly was."

"Like... sand magic?" He was confused.

"No no, like I stepped over something, and his magic circle appeared under me and... dust came out."

Klaus went into thought. "It might be a variant of Ash magic then. I don't believe I've heard anything like that before."

You'll take his word for it. Ash isn't a common one that you know of. But it sounds way more interesting than water or fire.

As their battle went on, you probably just got more heated. Asta had activated something and ended up becoming paralyzed. You knew exactly where it came from, and it pissed you off that he couldn't even do as much as help his teammates. Instead, he was knocking them down.

When did he even set that up? Xerx hasn't moved a muscle during this whole match.

If anything, he did end up stealing the show at the end. The three mages almost took the crystal down as well as Mimosa and Asta. Fourntely, whatever Asta had activated, saved them by sending the spells right back.

"He used a type of trap magic." Klaus concluded. "He's sneaky, and needs to be watched. Regardless of if he saved the day, that was incredibly risky."

"I'm just glad they got the victory. If they would've lost because Xerx miscalculated, it would've irritated me even more." You crossed your arms.

"Nevermind that, it's your turn now, isn't it?" Yuno pushed you to the side with your teammates. "If you focus on them, you'll lose. And that'll be extremely embarrassing for the Golden Dawn."

"Yeah I know."

"Oh, and don't come back up here if you're a loser."

"Wowwww." You said dramatically as you walked down onto the field. The nerves were trying to force their way into your chest and you were trying to clear them. The other 3 seemed a little more level-headed than you felt. At the moment at least.

Mimosa's team was still clearing out and her brother raced up to her.

She's gonna need a brick.

"I don't know what he's doing, but are you two ready to go?" Magna said with a wild grin on his face.

"Aw yeah! We're gonna crush them!"

"Absolutely." You added.

As soon as you heard the go over the intercom, Magna took off running. Was that really the plan he was going with?

Sol took off as well in a different direction.

Maybe you overestimated other's abilities to devise plans before springing to action. Being with your squad so often, everybody had their roles before even announcing them. Klaus always had plans and backups. Mimosa was designated support and healer. You and Yuno just followed where the fights were. Yuno more than you.

Now... you were standing confused.

"That's nice." You forced a smile on your face and turned to where the last teammate was. "So what do we–"

He was gone with the crystal.

"I should've stayed my ass in bed." You summoned your grimoire and thought about the best approach. Obviously, it was the crystal. But you weren't sure who had it, since the other team concealed themself.

Marionette Roulette.

You needed someone good to come out, so you watched the shadow appear in front of you. The smallest one.

Acro again. Probably the better option for searching. "Think you can track down a big crystal, Acro?"

They took off in a flash. You wouldn't be able to see through their eyes, so you were going to focus on sensing what they can instead. You let out a breath and tapped into the empathic connection you had with all your creations.

It took a moment, but there was a sudden disruption in your flow of magic. Not coming from where Acro was located, but your physical body.

Quickly, you turned around and the grimoire pages flipped to your defensive spells. "Illusionist." And a weak projection of a wooden puppet took your place as you stepped back. It was easily destroyed, but you were still standing right behind it.

Illusionist probably needs to be stronger. One attack doesn't always give you enough time to bounce back. This time however, you were plenty okay to stand strong.

The man was taller than you with straight dark hair. He was holding some sort of icicle dagger in his hand. More importantly...

"Where's your crystal?"

"I don't have it." He answered.

"So why the hell did you come out this far empty handed?"

"I've heard things about you."

"Can't say the same. I don't know who you are."

"That can change." He swung his arm out, and you dodged it since it was aimed so poorly.

He must think you don't fight in close quarters, or at all by hand. The dagger then shape-shifted into a smaller ball, and you knew something was up to it by the way he didn't seem to mind how effortlessly you moved from the attack in the first place.

The ice sphere expanded, and numerous spikes emerged from it like a porcupine. It scrapped you, but it was nothing.

Hand to hand combat was a technique you practiced on your own time. Since you don't use any real weapons, you have to make sure you can hold your own against any type of attacks. Even those with fists.

He pushed his hand out in front of him, and out came a fury of shimmering and sharp snowflakes. So you had to block it with something materialistic besides your body. The grimorie's pages flipped again and your magic formed a large scale clown-esque mask to safeguard you from the attack.

"Actually, you being so close to me is a good thing." You told him and dispelled the shield and grabbed onto his shoulder. "Joint lock."

Your magic surged through his shoulder and through his arm, and you felt him weaken underneath you. Similar to the puppet pulse, joint lock completely immobilizes whatever part of the body you touch on your target.

"Which one of your teammates has it"

"Like I'd tell you!" He shouted.

"Okay." You smirked and pointed your finger at him and made a slashing motion across his neck. "Strike of the Phantom."

His eyes widened in surprise and he let out a loud scream and his functionable hand clutched onto his throat for dear life. He squirmed, rolling around in the dirt in agony.

"Where's the crystal?" You bent down to his level. You raised your hand again, the bright glow covering your skin.

"A-Adrian is hiding it– he took to the waters I think!" He choked on his saliva and made the attempt to calm his breathing.

Just as he told you that, there was buzz you felt around you. It was the indication that Acro had either located it, or found something akin to it. "Thank you." You stood up and did a distance check between you and your puppet.

"What's going on?" The man from behind you sounded less in pain now. "I was positive you nearly decapitated me!"

"I did nothing of the sort. Must be in your head. However," you brought your fingers into a tight fist, making the strings on his arms visible, and keeping them behind his back. "I need to concentrate."

Strike of the Phantom just makes your target believe they were inflicted with a nearly fatal attack. It does no physical harm though.

That doesn't mean it probably doesn't hurt like hell though.

Between you and Acro, it was way too far to make it there within a reasonable time limit. Even if you recall them and try bringing out another puppet, none of the ones you have will get there as quickly. So you shut your eyes.

The floor made its lovely appearance, but there was an instant shift in the atmosphere. Acro flipped on its feet, and looked up. The entire terrain was turning pink? It was definitely Mimosa's brother. His cherry blossoms were circling around everything.

"Does he think anybody can see anything like this–" You stopped talking when a space in the air cleared, showing a path right towards the crystal of the opposite team. "Oh, I guess he's not all that bad."

The opening was just so perfect, it was like a staircase to the opportunity to pitch in.

You almost commanded Acro to go destroy it, when two much larger attacks raced up there instead. Blinding flames and an army of miniature rock golems. Your tiny little acrobat would get destroyed by those alone. "I really didn't do much at all."

Their crystal shattered into pieces, and the match was over.

"Sorry, by the way." You released the strings around the ice mage's arms. As well as touching his shoulder to free him from the joint lock. "Didn't mean to hurt you that badly."

He twisted his wrist. "It's fine. I'm ashamed. I should've known it was just a mind game..."

Oh well. First round was over with, and you were secured for the second one. Carried, yes. But if they hadn't run off, you could've given some more of your efforts.

—————

"I thought I told you not to come back if you were a loser."

"And I'm not." You flicked Yuno's forehead. "We won."

"You didn't help, so you're technically not a winner."

"I was on the winning team."

"You were," Klaus interrupted. "But must you really torture fellow Magic Knights?"

"I barely touched him." You put your hands in the air. "I would've been fine, but he came up behind me and distracted me from what I was doing."

"But you got impulsive and instead of just restraining him, you used that slash attack of yours. This is a test, you can't use an unruly spell as if it's some sort of interrogation." He scolded.

"I got the job done though."

"Understandably so. But I'm saying if you want to make it into the Royal Knights, you have to think of every possible strategy and goal. That won't work in every scenario!"

He must forget that you didn't want to be here in the first place.

Klaus sighed at your silence. "I apologize for being overbearing. I just wouldn't want you to lose over something like that. Just be smart."

"No, you're right though. And that's why I can't say anything."

In conclusion, you barely won. At this rate, you weren't going to get very far at all. Round 2 might just be the end for you. Considering your next opponents will be Asta, Mimosa and–

Shit.

Xerx.

As if he was reading your thoughts you heard his cocky laughter from behind you. "Man, I can't believe I get to wipe the floor with the best squad in the whole kingdom next. That display was so boring, and you're so damn blind you can't even see that."

"I don't need to hear this." You rolled your eyes. "At least I didn't sleep throughout my whole match."

"And somehow I'm still the best even when I'm napping. Without me these kids would've been toast."

"It was your fault they were stuck there."

"Who said the details were important?"

"They aren't." You smirked and stepped up to him. "Which means, how I beat you, shouldn't matter, Mr. Vigilante."

He bent his head down lower with a psychotic glint in his eye. "If you think you're touching me you have another thing coming your way, little miss Puppet Master."

Asta's voice came from somewhere in the background. "Do you think they forgot there's other people on their freakin' teams? I don't wanna get murdered!"