(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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Magic Knight Selection...
One by one, examinees stepped forward as their numbers were called.
For many, hope bloomed—
Only to wither the moment no captain raised a hand.
Some stood frozen, lips trembling, staring up in disbelief at the silent captains' booth.
A few turned away, shoulders slumped, defeated not by combat, but by judgment.
Others had better fortune—
Names called, hands raised.
A handful were chosen by the Green Mantis, Purple Orca, or the quirky Aqua Deer.
Relief washed over their faces, followed by tears, laughter, or stunned silence.
Yet for the majority… the captains remained still, impassive, unmoved.
Then, the scribe's voice rang out again—clear, commanding.
"Roll Number 164… Yuno."
The air shifted.
All heads turned.
The golden-eyed youth stepped forward, calm as ever.
His robes gently swayed with the breeze, his presence as composed and graceful as the wind he commanded.
And then—
FWAP!
FWAP! FWAP!
FWAP!
Every single Magic Knight captain—
From the stoic Fuegoleon Vermillion, the playful Dorothy Unsworth,
Even the intimidating Jack the Ripper and icy Nozel Silva—
Raised their hands without hesitation.
A stunned silence swept the arena.
"____"
"____"
"____"
The audience gaped.
Even the examinees who had mocked or ignored him now stared,
Mouths open in disbelief.
"No way…"
Someone whispered.
"All of them?"
"That's only happened once before…"
From the captain's booth,
Charlotte leaned toward Ben, whispering under her breath,
"Reminds you of someone?"
Ben didn't respond.
He just smiled faintly, resting his chin on a gloved hand.
"This,"
one of the magic knight responsible for escorting the failed examinee said softly,
"is the second time the captains have all raised their hands."
"The first… was last year."
And in that moment,
Yuno, standing alone in the spotlight—
not just as an orphan from Hage Village,
But as the person whose talent is very high which command the unanimous attention of every Magic Knight squad in the Clover Kingdom.
A quiet tension hung in the air.
All eyes remained fixed on Yuno,
Standing before a forest of raised hands from the captains' row.
Each captain had their own reasons—
Some intrigued by his control, others by his calm, and some simply recognizing talent that couldn't be ignored.
But Yuno didn't hesitate.
He slowly raised his hand and pointed upward toward the proud, tall figure in white and gold.
"I choose… the Golden Dawn."
A murmur rippled through the arena.
Captain William Vangeance smiled softly as the wind rustled his cloak.
His grimoire pulsed faintly beside him, resonating with approval.
Yuno spoke again, his voice steady and firm.
"Because I want to be the Wizard King. And if I'm going to climb to the top… I'll do it from the strongest squad."
The audience gasped at his boldness, but none could deny the conviction in his words.
"____"
"____"
"____"
This wasn't arrogance—
It was clarity.
From the spectator booth,
Ben leaned back in his seat, fingers tapping the armrest.
"As expected…"
He murmured with a sigh.
Sigh~
"Golden Dawn. He chose prestige over comfort."
Charlotte glanced at him.
"You don't approve?"
Ben chuckled faintly.
Chuckle~
"He's walking the hard path. But I suppose… that's what we should do."
The exam resumed.
More names were called.
More hearts were lifted—
Or broken.
Then—
"Roll number 165… Asta."
A ripple of whispers swept the arena again.
He stepped forward with a radiant grin on his face, fists clenched in excitement.
Grin~
His eyes briefly caught Yuno's from across the stage.
In his heart, a fire roared.
'Just wait and watch, Yuno… I'll definitely catch up to you. No matter what it takes!'
He stood proudly, his posture full of raw determination, despite the fact that he had no magic…
And that not a single captain had raised their hand yet.
"____"
"____"
"____"
The arena quieted.
Everyone waited.
A hush blanketed the arena.
After Yuno's triumphant selection, anticipation was high…
But now, only silence met the call of roll number 165.
Asta stood alone, center stage, eyes scanning the row of captains.
Not a single hand rose.
Not even from the lesser squads.
A murmur spread like wildfire among the examinees and spectators.
Some scoffed.
Others looked away, embarrassed for him.
But Asta…
He just stood there, trembling.
"____"
'Is this it…?'
Something in him cracked.
Not his resolve—
but something deeper.
The innocent belief that effort alone was enough.
His fists clenched tightly by his sides.
His smile wavered.
'No... I won't give up. I can't.'
Just then—
A heavy presence surged through the air, dropping like a boulder into the arena.
Gasps echoed.
All eyes turned toward the spectator booth.
Yami Sukehiro, the towering captain of the Black Bulls, stood from his seat.
A lazy stretch.
A grunt.
And then—
BOOM.
He leapt clean from the booth, crashing down in the middle of the arena like a comet,
His sword slung over his back, his mana pressure washing over everyone like a crashing tide.
Dust swirled around his boots as he slowly walked toward Asta, his crimson eyes locked onto the boy.
The entire stadium held its breath.
"____"
He stopped just a few steps away.
"Oi, brat."
Asta looked up, blinking through the shock.
"You didn't get a single hand raised. Total failure, huh?"
Asta didn't speak.
"So… what now?"
Yami asked, voice low but firm.
"You just gonna curl up and cry? Go back to your little village?"
The boy grit his teeth.
Grit~
"____"
Sweat trailed down his temple.
And then—
He shouted.
"No! I'll try again next year! And the year after that! No matter how many times it takes… I'll become a Magic Knight!"
Silence.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Until…
Yami laughed.
HAHAHA!!!
A loud, hearty, genuine laugh.
"Heh. Now that's more like it."
Then he raised his arm high and pointed straight at Asta.
"You've got guts, kid. I like that."
A flick of his cloak.
A flash of Black Bull insignia.
"I'm taking you. Welcome to the Black Bulls."
The crowd exploded in gasps and disbelief.
From the royal booth, Ben leaned forward, a small smirk playing at his lips.
And far above, Yuno gave the faintest of smiles.
'I knew you'd make it… Asta.'
The Magic Knight Selection Exam had come to an end.
Cheers and chatter echoed across the arena as the chosen examinees followed the captains who had selected them—
Or whom they had chosen to serve.
Yuno walked behind Captain William Vangeance, the robe of the Golden Dawn already being draped over his shoulders.
Others followed their captains—
Some proud, some dazed, and some still trying to process that their lives had just changed forever.
But one was missing from the crowd.
Asta had quietly slipped away… into a side corridor, his path leading to a restroom near the entrance gates.
The adrenaline was still pumping in his veins, and he needed a moment alone.
A moment to breathe.
'I did it… I really did it…'
He splashed water on his face, staring at his reflection, wide-eyed and still slightly in disbelief.
Meanwhile, back outside the corridor—
Sekke Bronzazza, limping and covered in bandages,
Was creeping down the hallway,
His usual fake grin stretching on his face.
'Heh… I'll get the last laugh. That commoner thinks he's made it? Let's see how much he smiles when I sneak—'
CLANG.
Two Magic Knights in black and silver armor stepped into his path, their expressions cold and unmoving.
"Sekke Bronzazza."
He blinked in confusion, then tried to play it off with a nervous chuckle.
Chuckle~
"Uh… yes, that's me. You guys… need an autograph or something?"
One of the knights stepped forward, blocking his path entirely.
"His Majesty, the King of the Clover Kingdom, has ordered you to stand down. This hallway is currently under watch."
Sekke blinked again.
"Eh? Why?"
The other knight answered firmly.
"Orders are to escort Asta—the new Black Bull recruit—to meet the King immediately. You are not to interfere."
Sekke's smirk faltered.
"___-"
"The… the King? Wants to meet him?!"
The knights remained silent.
Their eyes warned him not to press further.
Defeated and bitter, Sekke stepped back, muttering curses under his breath.
Back inside, Asta exited the restroom, wiping his hands on his trousers.
Just as he rounded the corner—
"Asta of the Black Bulls."
He looked up, startled, finding the two armored knights before him.
"His Majesty requests your presence. We have been ordered to escort you directly to the palace."
Asta blinked.
"Ben... The… the King wants to meet me?!"
One knight gave the faintest of nods.
Nod~
"Immediately."
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(Author's POV)
(A/N)Thanks for reading the chapter!
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