__Clover Kingdom - Capital__
"Whuh... Whoooooooaaaa!!" Asta exclaimed as the massive walls of the royal palace came into view at a distance. His eyes transformed into stars. "WOOOOW!!!"
"Hey... would you quit being so noisy. It's embarrassing!" Noelle exclaimed.
Ray didn't bother with the talk and just hit Asta's head. Hard. That shut him up. Probably realigned one of the loose screws within his head.
Noelle trailed behind the two, lost in her own world. Ray had a feeling he what it was though.
'Damn it... If Ray wasn't here then... I'd have been... all alone with Asta...' Noelle thought, and instantly flushed red.
Ray, watching her out of the corner of his eye, deadpanned.
'Called it.'
Ray instinctively ran a hand through his hair, then immediately recoiled from pain.
"OW OW!" Ray yelped as he clutched the sides of his head in pain.
Asta and Noelle were used to it by now. This scene had been repeating itself every other minute, ever since they started from the Black Bulls HQ.
As for what exactly happened to his head? Let's time travel a bit.
__2 Hours ago - Black Bulls HQ__
Ray and Asta devoured the food Infront of them like starving beasts. Ray had woken up after 7 days of recovery. His reishi was back to peak levels and his blood recovery was good. He'd woken up just in time for breakfast.
So, he did what every other man who wakes up, after 7 days of no eating does. He ate.
*CHOMP*
*OM NOM NOM NOM!!!*
*SLURP SLURP*
*GULP*
As the two brothers devoured their food, Miz Charmy kept encouraging them to eat more, as she had her cook-sheep make more food.
"That's the way!"
"You really know how to eat!"
"Eat lots and lots! Growing kids need their nutrition!"
"Eat up, eat up, eat up! Eat for the whole week!"
At this point, everyone were watching the two wolf down the food like it was a show.
Somewhere between the wolfing down session, Yami appeared.
"Hey kids. Finally woke up huh?" He said, looking at both, Ray and Asta.
According to the little broken piece's of conversation he overheard while eating, Asta and Yuno had both falled unconscious after Ray was found.
Apparently, using the Demon-Dweller sword and Sylph's breath like that, consecutively had taken a huge toll on their bodies.
Honestly, Ray was kind of touched. It's like watching your kids grow up and then pull their weight in real life. It was a heart-warming feeling.
{A/N: According to my friend, who 'claims' to have had such an experience. The above line was written by him.}
Anyways, back to the story.
Asta and Ray slowed down their eating speed to respond to Yami's questions. Though, the rate at which the food was still disappearing, was concerning to say the least.
'Are you sure your chewing...?' Yami thought internally but didn't ask out loud.
"Great job again. Amazing work out there, You always seem to get beat up though." Yami said, addressing Asta.
"Thank Yew!" Asta said, as he wolfed down some meat.
"You're just about able to walk again, right? The knight headquarters says it wants a report. So, head over there." Yami said, as he stomped out his cigarette.
"Huh?!" - Asta
"The Knight Headquarters?!" Luck said, as he suddenly popped out of nowhere.
'I bet there are lots of tough guys there. Can i... Fight 'em...?' He thought.
"You'd start some kind of trouble, luck. So you don't go." Yami said, dousing Luck's fighting spirit.
"Eh?!" - Luck
"Instead, we've got a fighting mission. So, you go on that with Magna." Yami finished.
"A mission?!" Luck's eyes instantly went star mode. Though it was not as good as Asta's. "Let's team up and do our best, Magna!"
"Huh?!! Creepy!! Are you really Luck?!" - Magna
"Alright. Now with that out of the way..." Yami started.
Suddenly, Ray felt himself being lifted. Puzzled, he looked up and saw Yami's death glare staring back at him.
Ray started sweating bullets as Yami pulled him off the dining chair and dropped him on the floor.
"...Where exactly where you? Huh? You took a leave for Three entire Months. THREE!!!" Yami roared, as he began rolling up his sleeves.
Ray gulped as he got onto his knees, sitting like a child getting scoldings from his mother. The room was silent now. Everyone were wondering where he had gone.
But before he could reply, Yami cut him off.
"Actually. No. I don't care if you went to hell and came back. Where you went doesn't matter. JUST WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US?!" He roared as he swung a fist down on Ray's head.
Ray instinctively activated Reishi Enhancement and Blut Vene. But it wasn't enough.
Yami's fist connected, and a huge amount of pain exploded through his head. However, it wasn't enough to actually gravely hurt him. Like, all the fist did was give an immense amount of pain. No side effects like, brain damage or bone fractures and stuff.
But this pain was enough to make Ray regret even coming back.
'Maybe I should've stayed in the underworld only!!! T^T' Ray screamed internally as he clutched his head in pain.
However, Yami's death glare didn't falter. In fact, his eyes, that were glowing in the shadow that had found it's way across his forehead, actually grew brighter.
Then another hit.
"For good measure." Yami muttered, as he blew off the steam rising from his fist, while Ray was sprawled on the ground, half-dead.
Yami turned around, and lit his cigarette.
"You're going with Asta. The HQ has requested you as well, since you fought one of the eight shining generals." Yami said, before taking a drag and walking away.
However, before he vanished around a corner, his voice came again.
"And one more thing. Pull a stunt like that ever again, and it won't end with just two strikes." Yami said, going back into his Death glare mode.
Ray stayed on the floor, until Yami vanished from his sight. Unknowingly, he had started shivering from fear.
'Never... Ever... Get on captain Yami's bad side. At least Vaisravana-sensei beats me up under the pretence of training. But this...' Ray gulped, silently making a vow to himself.
__Back to Present - Royal Capital__
"Man... This is cool! All the houses are gigantic!" Asta exclaimed, as they made their way towards the Palace.
"They are?" Noelle asked, confused. The Silva estate had house way larger than these, so she wasn't impressed.
"They are." Ray confirmed. "At least for us. The kids from the boonies. Not all are royals like you, Miss Noelle." He teased.
Noelle deadpanned. Without a word, she raised her hand flicked the side of his head.
It was casual. barely any strength in it. However, for his, already hurt head, it was a nuclear bomb.
"OW OW OW OW!!!" Ray cried out.
Noelle smirked in victory. "Hmph. This is what happens when you challenge a royal." she said, as she huffed and crossed her arms.
"Damn you!" Ray said, gritting his teeth through the pain.
Suddenly, Asta, who walking Infront of them, stopped.
"Huh?" - Asta
Noelle accidently bumped into him.
"EEEEEKKKK?!?!" - Noelle
Ignoring his pain, and Noelle's flushed face, he turned his attention to the three familiar faces ahead of them.
"Well, Well! If it isn't the good people of Golden Dawn!" Asta exclaimed, as he marched up to them, hands behind his head.
Mimosa, Yuno and Klaus, who was leading them, stopped, and turned towards Asta's voice.
Ray and Noelle followed Asta.
Klaus quickly approached them.
We haven't seen you for a week, Asta, Ray. Are your injuries healed already?" Klaus asked, placing both arms on Asta's shoulder, and checking him for visible injuries. He did the same for Ray.
"Yeah! All healed! We ate and slept a ton!" Asta replied.
"What are you? A little kid...?" - Yuno
"Oh right!" Asta turned and waved to Mimosa. "It's thanks to your magic too! Thanks Mimosa! For healing Ray and me!"
Ray followed suite and bowed lightly. "Thanks."
However, Mimosa wasn't there, when he looked up. She simply ran away.
"Huh?" - Asta
"Eh?" - Ray
"Why'd she run away?" Asta asked.
"Maybe she was shocked to see how short your arm was." - Yuno.
"Yuno! You jerk! What the heck?!" Asta yelled as he chased behind, waving his hands frantically, trying to beat him up.
Noelle, noticing this behaviour of Mimosa, approached her.
"What's wrong Mimosa?" She asked when she saw Mimosa clutching her face.
"Miss Noelle... What should I do...?" She muttered. "Um... I... When I see master Asta... My chest starts to hurt. Ever since that day, he's the only one I've been thinking of." She said, now turning to face Noelle fully. Her face was red. "Wha... Whatever's the matter with me...?"
A heartbeat of silence. Then,
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?!?!!?" - Noelle.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!" - Mimosa.
"..." Klaus turned his head towards the commotion. The two girls were clutching their faces and screaming their heads off. "What're they yelling about...?" He muttered.
Ray watched the scene with a sigh. Kids these days... Not a shred of romance or courage in them. Tch. Tch. Back in my da-
Anyways.
Klaus's face suddenly darkened. He approached Asta, Yuno and Ray.
"Klaus?" Yuno asked.
"You three..." Klaus started, "I'm so... So sorry!" He suddenly said, taking the three in a bear hug.
"Ack! Too tight" - Asta
"..." - Yuno
"Eh? I'm not supposed to be here..." - Ray
"I'm sorry I wouldn't acknowledge you guys because you were peasants back at the dungeon. I've reflected on my actions and am ashamed of myself!!" He ruffled Ray's and Yuno's hair. "You're all excellent magic knights of the clover kingdom!"
"Dial it down Klaus... My hair's getting messed up. Also, Ray's dying over there." Yuno said, as Klaus kept ruffling his hair.
"C-can't... Brea-th... h-help..." Asta muttered, squished between Yuno and Ray.
"*Dying from pain*" Ray's eyes were rolled up, whites on display.
Startled that a hug would hurt them so much, Klaus quickly stepped back.
"R-ray. A-are you ok?" Klaus quickly asked, as Ray collapsed on Asta.
"What's going on here!?" Mimosa asked as she and Noelle quickly made their way over, after their intense fangirl session.
"Mimosa! Heal Ray! Captain Yami hit his hard today morning. It hurts ever since. I think when Klaus ruffled his hair, the pain levels must've skyrocketed." Asta quickly explained the situation.
Mimosa quickly nodded and quickly analysed Ray's situation.
"He has an immense amount of Dark magic lingering near his skull, right here." Mimosa said pointing at the top.
"Yup. Captain Yami hit him right there." Asta confirmed.
"Alright. Once we dispel the magic, it should be fine." Mimosa said as she quickly activated her magic.
Plant Recovery Magic: Princess Healing Plant Recovery Robe!
Quickly, Ray's eyes returned to focus. He sat up, as the last of the healing light faded.
"Damn it... that hurt man..." Ray muttered, as he instinctively ran a hand through his hair. "Eh? It doesn't hurt anymore! Thanks Mimosa!" Ray exclaimed.
Mimosa just smiled in return.
Asta also grinned and bumped his fist on Ray's chest. "Hey Ray. After all this is over, lets spar sometime. Alright?" He said, bringing out sparring from who knows where.
"Hey. I want in." Yuno piped up, gazing at Asta and Ray with his usual stoic face.
Ray grinned back and bumped his fist on Asta's chest with one hand and raised his other fist to Yuno. He couldn't help but remember their childhood. When he, Asta and Yuno would fight each other over small things, only to share it with each other at the end. Each fight would be ferocious, but not one ever harmed anyone of them.
"It's on." Ray said bumping his fist.
*Whoosh!*
"What a heartwarming scene." A new voice spoke up.
All heads turned towards the speaker.
It was a tall, middle-aged man with short messy blond hair and purple eyes. One of his notable features was a blue six-pointed star on the left side of his forehead.
The man's attire consisted of a shirt and pants of similar colour and designs. The white shirt had a high collar with black fur at the end, and intricate gold and purple-coloured designs on its circumference. The shirt also had long sleeves with light purple cuffs, which had similar black fur and designs. A pair of gold ring-shaped ornaments also decorated the upper and lower parts of each sleeve. His brown pants were complimented by a pair of high boots of similar colour, which had black fur at the collars as well.
On top of everything, the man wore a long red robe that covered his entire body. The part of his robe which covered his torso was decorated with white fur. On top of the fur, he wore a gold necklace and a couple of medals. One of those medals, a gold medal with a green cross, was positioned on the left side of his chest while the other, a shield with gold and red colours, was positioned on his right side. Additionally, a pair of robes were protruding from the fur on his right back. Furthermore, the robe only had a single sleeve for his right arm.
A beat of silence later,
"S... Sir!!! I never dreamed you'd meet us directly!!" Klaus yelled, as he quickly got to his knees to show respect.
"Who's the Fancy guy?" Asta asked, digging through his nose.
"You Fool!!! Your in the presence of the current wizard king, Julius Novachorono!!!"
"WHHAAAAATTTTT?!?!!?!?" Asta screamed.
"..." Yuno also opened and closed his mouth in shock.
"I see... so this man... is the ceiling of this world." Ray muttered to himself. "Lucius Novachrono, or rather, his split personality, Lucius Zogratis is.
"Haha... So loud." Julius muttered. Before clearing his throat. "Ahem. Hello there young people. Come in. Let's finish this before Marx notices I bailed on him." He said, grinning and raising his hand.
Suddenly, a blue sphere engulfed them all, lifting them all to a tower in the distance. The curious part here was that, none of them could move. Or rather, their thoughts swirled, but their bodies didn't respond.
Ray know just what this man had done.
Time Magic: Chrono Stasis!
An amazing wizard king indeed. Trapping visitors on their first meeting and then transporting 'em. Jeez... Thing's are about to go down...
________Author's_Note:_________
Merry Christmas to you all!!! I hope you all got what you wished for, coz i sure did!!! The full DMC series!!!! From DMC 2 to DMC 5 Special edition!!!! LETS GOOO!!!!! I'm gonna be busy grinding this, hehe... My roomates are super jealous right now~!