Chapter 3: The Black Bulls' Invitation
The road to the Black Bulls' base wound through a dense forest where magic beasts prowled and mana flowed thick in the air. It was a fitting location for a squad famous for its wildness.
Lucian Silva walked behind Captain Yami Sukehiro and Asta, still unsure what he'd signed up for. The two talked like old friends — well, Asta talked; Yami mostly grunted.
"So, Captain, what kind of squad are the Black Bulls, really?" Asta asked eagerly, eyes shining.
Yami smirked. "You'll see soon enough. Let's just say we're not exactly the noble type."
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "I gathered as much from your… reputation."
"Ha! So you have heard of us. Don't believe everything you've read. We're worse."
Lucian couldn't tell if he was joking.
The forest finally opened up, revealing the Black Bulls' base — a massive, crooked mansion perched on a hill, glowing faintly with mana. Parts of it floated in midair; others looked like they'd been blown apart and magically stitched back together.
Asta's eyes sparkled. "Whoa! It's huge!"
Lucian stared, half in awe, half in disbelief. "It looks like it's barely holding together…"
"Home sweet home," Yami said proudly, kicking open the door.
Immediately, chaos erupted.
"FOOD FIGHT!" shouted a voice, followed by an explosion of mashed potatoes that splattered across the room. Someone screamed, another laughed, and a third fired a spell in retaliation.
Lucian froze in the doorway.
Asta was laughing already. "This place is awesome!"
"Oi!" Yami barked. "We got newbies! Knock it off!"
The madness slowly died down, and the squad members turned to look at the newcomers.
A tall, lean man with glasses stepped forward first. "Captain, you brought two recruits? Fascinating. I'm Gauche Adlai. Don't touch my little sister's picture and we'll get along fine."
Before Lucian could respond, a cloud of smoke appeared beside him. "I'm Charmy! Want food?!" She shoved a tray of steaming bread into his hands.
"Uh—thank you?"
Next came a woman with wild green hair and an even wilder grin. "Name's Magna! I'm the squad's resident bad boy! You better be ready to party, newbie!"
Then a small voice from the ceiling. "I'm Grey," it whispered, before puffing into smoke.
Asta was eating already. "This is the best squad ever!"
Lucian could only stand there, surrounded by shouting, laughter, and magic gone rogue. It was chaotic, messy — and oddly comforting.
"Alright, everyone!" Yami clapped his hands, somehow commanding instant silence. "We've got two fresh recruits. You already met Asta. The other's Lucian Silva."
At the mention of his surname, murmurs filled the room.
"Silva? Like that Silva family?"
"A noble?"
"What's a fancy guy doing here?"
Lucian met their stares calmly. "I came here to grow stronger — not to be treated like a noble."
Yami smirked. "Good answer. Around here, titles mean squat. You pull your weight, or you get your ass kicked."
The squad cheered. Even Luck was bouncing with excitement. "Fight me later, Lucian! I wanna see your magic!"
Lucian blinked. "Uh… sure?"
Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Lucian sat outside the base, staring at the forest. Fireflies danced in the warm air. He could still hear Asta laughing inside, probably arm-wrestling Magna again.
For the first time in years, Lucian felt something different — peace. No sneers, no judgment, no expectations. Just noise, warmth, and life.
He opened his grimoire. The blank pages glimmered faintly under the moonlight. Omni Magic hummed within him — vast, untamed, and endless.
He whispered, "Mother… I think I finally found where I belong."
A soft breeze stirred, as if the world itself answered him.
Inside, Noelle Silva stood near the corner, arms crossed, watching the chaos. When she saw Lucian through the open door, her eyes widened slightly.
"…Lucian?" she murmured.
He turned. "Noelle."
An awkward silence hung between them. Both were Silvas — both outcasts, in their own way.
"I didn't think you'd join this squad," she said, trying to sound indifferent.
"I could say the same to you," he replied softly. "Maybe we're both just tired of being looked down on."
Noelle's expression softened — just a little. "Maybe."
Asta ran past them shouting, "Training match tomorrow! Everyone's in!"
Yami laughed from somewhere deeper in the base. "Heh, hope you're ready for your first mission, Luci-boy. It's gonna be wild."
Lucian smiled faintly. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
As the stars shimmered above, the former outcast of the Silva family took his first breath of freedom — surrounded by madness, friendship, and possibility.
For the first time in his life, Lucian Silva wasn't alone.
He was a Black Bull.