The next morning, Ryoma woke up earlier than usual.
He quietly got up, pushed open the door, and walked out.
The morning sun had just begun to spread across the land, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of dew.
Ryoma took a deep breath, assessing the state of the magic power within him.
"Oh?"
His eyes lit up.
The sluggish feeling, like being trapped in a swamp, had significantly lessened compared to yesterday. While he still couldn't reach the state he was in the Fairy Tail World, the suppression was gradually dissipating.
'It seems this suppression does indeed weaken with time.' Ryoma thought, secretly pleased.
'Then I should seize the opportunity to try.'
He quickly walked deeper into the forest, intending to find a sufficiently secluded spot.
Not long after entering the forest, he heard a roar from not far inside.
"995, 996, 997!"
"998, 999, 1000!"
"Ha! Now's the time to drink the legendary tree sap that can enhance magic!"
Hearing such a roar, Ryoma knew it was Asta. His voice was beyond loud.
Ryoma shook his head, not heading in Asta's direction. Instead, he quickly walked deeper into the forest, finding a sufficiently secluded spot.
After confirming that no one was around, he began to try casting Ice Magic.
He extended his right hand, concentrating on mobilizing the magic power within his body. This time, the flow of magic power was noticeably smoother than yesterday.
Cold air gathered in his palm, quickly condensing into a small, solid ice crystal.
"Not bad, it seems to be recovering faster than I expected." Ryoma nodded in satisfaction.
He tossed the ice crystal into the air, and then conjured an ice blade to shatter it. But immediately after, he discovered a problem.
He could mobilize his magic power, but he felt like something crucial was missing. It was as if an invisible barrier was blocking him, preventing him from fully unleashing his potential power.
"This feeling…" Ryoma frowned.
"It's like the magic lacks a guide or a container?"
He tried to cast a more complex spell.
Cold air condensed in the air but could not form a stable shape. The ice crystals always scattered the moment they formed, as if lacking some kind of restraint.
"It looks like there's another problem."
Ryoma waved his hand, a bit speechless, and the cold air in his palm instantly dissipated.
In the Fairy Tail World, he was quite skilled in using his Ice Magic. At least, changing its form was second nature to him. But in this world, he felt as if his magic was shackled.
"Is it because of the different world rules? Or is it…"
Just as Ryoma fell into contemplation, footsteps sounded behind him.
"Practicing magic?"
Ryoma turned around and saw Yuno standing not far away, his golden eyes calmly looking at him.
Yesterday, Yuno had felt that Ryoma, like Asta, seemed to have no mana. He had attributed the previous hint of cold air to an illusion.
"Yuno? Why are you here?" Ryoma was a little surprised.
Yuno walked forward, his tone still that indifferent one. "I saw you came out early this morning, and I was a little curious."
He stopped in front of Ryoma, his gaze sweeping over the spot where Ryoma had just practiced magic. Fragments of ice crystal were scattered on the ground, sparkling in the sunlight.
"Ice-attribute magic?"
Ryoma chuckled softly. "Indeed."
Yuno was silent for a moment, then spoke, "You don't seem to have a grimoire yet, do you?"
"A grimoire?"
Ryoma was stunned for a moment, then remembered the setting of the Black Clover World.
In this world, everyone receives their own grimoire at the age of fifteen, which is an important tool for casting magic.
No wonder he felt that his magic was always missing something.
Before, he had only wanted to go see the grimoire awarding ceremony, and hadn't thought in this direction.
In the Fairy Tail World, magical tools and such, except for Mages specializing in holder-type magic, were not that important. He was used to controlling the form of magic through will and skill, so he didn't react immediately.
But in the Black Clover World, the grimoire, as a container, was a necessary medium for magic to function.
"Indeed, I don't." Ryoma spread his hands. "I've been traveling outside all this time and missed the awarding ceremony."
A hint of understanding flashed in Yuno's eyes.
"This year's grimoire awarding ceremony is about to begin."
He looked at Ryoma, and after a moment's thought, said, "Would you like to come along? Although you're already past the age, perhaps a grimoire will react to you."
Ryoma nodded without hesitation. "Of course, I'd be happy to attend."
Perfect, if he could obtain a grimoire, it might solve the current problem with his magic casting. And he also wanted to see if anything special would happen after he got a grimoire.
Although Yuno was interested in Ryoma's unusual situation, he didn't delve deeper.
The two walked back together. On the way, Yuno introduced Ryoma to some details about the grimoire awarding ceremony.
"The ceremony will be held at the Grimoire Tower, and everyone in the Clover Kingdom who turns 15 will attend."
Yuno said, "Grimoires will automatically fly to their corresponding masters based on each person's magic attribute and talent."
"Sounds amazing." Ryoma exclaimed.
"Indeed. Without a grimoire, one cannot become a true Magic Knight." Yuno's tone carried a hint of longing,
"The strongest Mage in this kingdom is the Wizard King."
Ryoma nodded.
He knew that both Yuno and Asta had dreams of becoming the Wizard King. However, the difference between the two was quite significant.
One possessed extremely high mana and magical talent since childhood, while the other had no mana at all within him.
"By the way, how's Asta?"
Ryoma asked casually, "He'll also attend tomorrow's ceremony, right?"
When Asta was mentioned, Yuno's expression subtly changed. "He will, of course, attend."
"…"
Yuno eventually said nothing more, appearing somewhat silent.
Ryoma knew Asta was an anomaly. In a world where everyone had mana, he was the only one without it. But precisely because of this, he was able to obtain the five-leaf grimoire inhabited by a devil.
Yuno was silent for a moment and then said, "However…"
"However what?"
"Asta never gives up."
Yuno's voice carried a complex emotion. "Even if everyone thinks it's impossible, he will persevere until the end. This… is admirable."
Ryoma understood the deeper meaning in Yuno's words. Although on the surface they were rivals, Yuno's recognition of Asta was genuine.
—
When the two returned to the church, Asta had also returned.
Seeing Ryoma and Yuno come back together, he immediately ran over.
"Ryoma! Yuno! Where did you go?"
Asta was full of excitement. "The grimoire awarding ceremony is coming soon. I'm definitely going to get the strongest grimoire and then become the Wizard King."
Yuno said indifferently, "Your confidence is as blind as ever."
Asta retorted indignantly, "What do you mean blind? My efforts are real."
Ryoma looked at the two teenagers in front of him, wondering what kind of grimoire he himself would receive.