One Little Slip

The matches took till the evening as many more examinees were sent over to the mages to have their wounds heal. Feodora had been taken to the side as well as she hadn't regained consciousness since the end of her match; though they couldn't help but worry about her, since she took a pretty hard hit. Even now they couldn't help but have a certain look in their eyes.

Prism had fidgeted a little as the little spirits that had been hiding in her cloak had been comforting her. They had made the sounds of a bell as they had been talking to her again; Asta and Yuno had noticed this.

"I know, I shouldn't be but--" She told them, "--That hit she took from Dak's magic, I'm worried that there might be a crack in her skull."

The little light lemur made the sounds of the bell as it moved its mouth.

"Yeah, that's a good point, but still you could never know these things." She told him as she nodded, "Humans and spirits are two different beings you know."

"Hey--" Asta soon said, "--What exactly is that one doing?"

"Talking." She replied, "All the Spirits can do that."

"Can you actually understand them?" Yuno asked.

"Of course I can." Prism answered, "Though they naturally talk all the time, others just don't listen like I do."

"If they're talking then how come we can't hear them?" Asta asked, "All Yuno and I are hearing are bells."

"That's because they haven't chosen their partner yet." Prism explained.

"Their partner?" Asta and Yuno said intrigued.

Prism nodded before she explained, "My mom told me once. People can't force the spirits to become their partner, they are chosen by them." She scratched the little light lemur on his head as the other spirits grasped onto her finger, "Once a person unlocks a type of spell in their grimoire then a spirit will come to their aid and bond to them. Once that is done, then they will speak to whoever they had bonded to and to those that are around them. Though, not many will be able to achieve this--It's a rare type of magic after all."

"That must've been another reason why people came after you huh?" Asta soon asked as he sounded more serious.

Prism only nodded her head in reply as she looked worried again; the spirits had possessed the same look she had.

"Don't worry." Yuno reassured her, "It's like Asta said--We're not gonna let anything happen to you."

"Yeah--" Asta said, giving her a pat on the shoulder, "--You don't have to worry about anything."

Prism smiled at them before their attention had been drawn to William once more. "That concludes the end of the exams." He said, "Now--Candidates whose numbers are called, we ask you to step forward."

"The squad captains will raise their hands if they would like to join their squads." Charlotte soon added, "The candidates will decide they would accept or decline, and if they are chosen by more than one captain, they may choose which squad they'd like to join."

"But if no one raises their hands that candidate will not join the Magic Knights." Fugeoleon said.

"And you will be asked to leave immediately." Nozel had finished.

Prism gulped as Asta had a look of determination. Prism soon turned to the little lemur hidden in her cloak. "Could you go check on Feodora for me?"

The little lemur nodded before he vanished with a flash of light.

Thus the candidates were soon called on as they stepped forward to see which of the squads would have them in their squad. Many were surprised how they went through one candidate after another. It seemed like potential candidate after another seemed to be rejected as only a select amount were chosen by one or two captains.

It hadn't been long till finally they had reached Yuno's number.

"Next candidate--#164.."

"Yes sir." Yuno said before he stepped forward to the captains as the crowd looked anxiously.

"All who wish to offer--" The mage said, "--Please raise your hand."

And just like that, everyone had been taken back by such a sight; every single one of the captains had raised their hands, even the Black Bulls.

"What!?"

"Seriously!?"

"All of the captains raised their hands!?"

"Tha--That's amazing!"

"Does that normally happen!?"

"I thought only royalty could join the Golden Dawn or Silver Eagles

Asta and Prism looked with awe as they were bot equally excited for their friend. "Bime i elena!" Prism said, "I can't believe all the captains want him to join their squad!"

"A-As expected from my rival!" Asta said, "If only Feo could see this!"

Yuno looked to the captains as he had been coming to a decision in his head. "I won't forget the promise to Prism." He thought, "Though for her sake, I won't put aside my dream. I'll take the best path to becoming the Wizard King."

Yuno soon turned to the captain who's squad he had in mind. "... Please allow me to join you--Golden Dawn."

William looked satisfied at this answer while the crowd looked to Yuno with awe; Prism and Asta's eyes had been especially brightened and sparkled as they couldn't help but look excited.

"Aw sweet!" Fafanar cheered, "Not only do I get a potential new bestie, but he also has the four leaf Grimoire! This is the best day ever!"

"Well, they got the pick of the cream." Finral said.

"That's a shame I wanted to be his friend." Gordon mumbled.

Pluck couldn't help but complain, "Lucky him.."

"Can't be helped I guess." Yami said with a shrug.

"Next--" The Mage soon said, "--#166."

"Oh, that kid's up next." Finral said, looking over to Asta as he stepped forward.

"Good luck Asta." Prism whispered as she gave an encouraging smile. Asta gave her a thumbs up as he winked in her direction as he stepped forward to the captains.

"I know I promised Prism we would protect her--" Asta started to think, "--But I can't let Yuno get ahead of me!" Asta soon spoke up, "I'm ready!"

"All those who wish to offer, please raise your hand." The Mage said to the captains.

Asta stood anxiously in front of the captains as he started to sweat with anticipation. "Come on, come on!" Asta thought, "I don't care which squad it is… Someone please raise their hand!"

Asta looked upon the captains as he anxiously waited, and waited for one of the Captains to raise their hand for him. However--

"#166--No hands."

Asta looked to be in shock as Prism looked horrified by the result. "Oh no…" She said as she placed her hands over her mouth.

"N-No way…" Asta said in shock

The crowd started to get impatient as they started to shout at him when he didn't move.

"Go on, scarm!"

"Let the next person go!"

"Get on with it already!"

"No!" Asta shouted as he had taken the crowd back, "Not yet! I'm not done yet!"

Though the crowd continued to shout one insult after another.

"You're a disgrace!"

"Go back to the boonies!"

"Get out of here you brat!"

"Leave him alone!" Prism soon shouted as she went by his side. She looked onto the crowd as they had been shocked again; even Asta looked surprised, "You all should be ashamed of yourselves! He's worked just as hard as you all to get here! You're all here to become Magic Knights and what are you all doing!? You're just ridiculing him because he's different! All of you that doubt him don't deserve the title of a Magic Knight! In fact you shouldn't even be here at all if you're just gonna look down on people!!"

Most of the people had been taken back by this as the Captains could even see that some of them started to look guilty by there words; most even stuttered as they couldn't find a retort.

"Pri--!" Asta said, shocked by her words.

Pluck looked in awe as he couldn't help but think, "Wow.. She told that crowd off like it was nothing. But that voice...why does it feel so--"

Pluck soon felt something in his pouch thrashing about as it shouted "QUACK! QUACK!"

"Seriously Addliene!" Pluck exclaimed. "What is wrong with you?! You've been acting up all day!"

"Well, what did you expect Lizard Girl?" Yami said suddenly as the captains looked shocked, even his team members when he stood.

"Captain?" Finral said shocked.

Pluck said dumbfounded, "The what?"

"No matter how high your friends' combat skills are, if the source of power is unknown, no one wants anything to do with it." Yami said, "In the end the only thing desired from a Magic Knight is their magical power."

"Even so--" Prism started to say before she had been cut off.

The ground shook slightly as a dark purple aura had been seen around him; most of the crowd had stumbled and nearly fell on their faces. Prism felt her head start to ache as she nearly fainted herself; the little spirits in her cloak looked to her with concern as did Adrien as he let out a noise.

Asta took notice of this as he caught her arm before she could collapse as she groaned in agony. "Prism!" He whispered, "Prism, what's wrong?!"

Yami soon jumped from the stand and onto the ground level, surprising his members again.

"He-Hey Yami!?" Finral exclaimed.

Pluck shouted, "What the heck are you doing!?"

Asta held onto Prism as Yami started to come towards them; though his body shook, he stood his ground. "There's--So much pressure!" He thought to himself, "This is--The magical power of a Magic Knight Captain!?" His eyes soon wandered to Prism as he could see how pain she had been in, "But these are just waves of mana, as far as I can tell! If that's the case, how can it be hurting her!?"

Yami soon stood in front of the two of them as he spoke up again, "Since you have no magical powers, no one wants you. That's the cruel reality." The look in Asta's eyes changed slightly at this, "You said you wanted to become the Wizard King didn't you? Which means you're going to surpass the nine captains here right? Now that I'm standing before you, do you still have the nerve to say that you're going to become the Wizard King, even without any magical powers?"

Asta looked to Yami as he couldn't help but clench his teeth and tighten his hold on Prism. "E-" Asta started to say, "E-even if I don't become a Magic Knight today, no matter how many times I fall, no matter what anyone says to me--I'm still going to become the Wizard King someday!"

The crowd watched with anticipation, as the aura around Yami seemed to have disappeared. Prism's pained expression disappeared as she caught her breath. "It--Stopped hurting?" She thought as she had been in shock while she felt her head; the little spirits hiding within had nuzzled her cheek.

She had been taken back when she noticed a familiar light lemur had returned as he looked to be in distress; the moment he whispered something in her ear, she had a fearful look on her face as well. Right when Yami was about to speak up--

"YOU LITTLE RAT!!"

Most of the people jumped when a few examinees were suddenly thrown high in the air; there eyes laid on a familiar red-orange haired girl teen as she looked to be filled with rage.

"Feodora!?" Asta and Yuno exclaimed out of confusion as they noticed a set of bandages around her head.

Fedora's gaze turned to Dak who had stood in the crowd not too far from where Asta, Prism, Yuno and Yami had been.

"I'M GONNA KILL YA, YOU BASTARD!" Feodora shouted as she charged at Dak, suddenly making him jump.

At least, she would've charged at him with full speed were it not for Prism and Asta as they took hold of her. "Feo don't!" Prism exclaimed as she tried her best to slow her down, though she and Asta started to move along with her.

"Stop!" Asta said, "You shouldn't do things like this, especially if you're injured!"

The Mages that had been stationed quickly tried to bind her though she still fought against their restraints.

"THAT RAT IS MINE!" Feodora shouted before Asta, Prism and the other mages were blown away by a sudden gust of wind created from the very ice she had made.

Feodora soon ran towards Dak as she nearly knocked over the other participants of the exams as she opened her Grimoire, just as the bangs of her hair turned into a streak of white. Her fist glowed a purple glow as she readied to attack.

"RAGING ICE MAGIC: DEATH CLA--!"

"Wind Restraining Magic Slicing Wind Emperor: Whirlwind!"

Feodora suddenly found herself getting pulled back by a set of tornados before she could land a blow on Dak as he froze. He pulled her back at a safe distance, and yet she still thrashed and attempted to break through the restraints; he caught her grimoire as it had closed shut.

"Feodora, calm down!" Yuno told her, "You're making a scene!"

"Let me the hell go know it all!" Feodora shouted, "I'm gonna kill this rat myself for what he did to me!"

"Feo stop!" Prism exclaimed as she ran to her, "Your wound is gonna open up!"

"YOU THINK I GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THAT!?" Feodora shouted.

The rest of the Captains looked curious about the situation at hand as none didn't make much of an effort to stop it. "Feodora, was it?" William said calmly as he stood, "What is that you think your previous opponent did to you?"

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?" Feodora shouted, "YOU'RE A MAGIC KNIGHT CAPTAIN AND YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO ASK ME WHY THE HELL I'M PISSED?! ARE YOU JUST BLIND BATS!?"

"Whoa Feo!" Asta yelled as he recovered, "You can't just take that tone with a Captain!"

"Y-Yeah, just calm down!" Prism told her.

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!" She shouted to Prism, making her flinch.

Yami soon said to her as she thrashed more aggressively, "Hey, what the hell are you so worked up about?!"

"I'LL TELL YOU WHAT IT IS!" She shouted before she pointed towards Dak, "THAT LITTLE RAT POISONED ME!"

At this, everyone had been put into shock once more as Dak started to look nervous. "Wait, what?" Asta said as he looked at Dak.

"Poisoned?" Prism said dumbfounded.

"Is this true?" Nozel asked as he looked to Dak. He started to sweat as his body shook slightly.

"Tha--" Dak started to say, "That's absurd! I did nothing of the sort!"

"Do you think I'm an idiot!?" Feodora shouted, "I know those symptoms I felt! I know what it was you did to me, you little snake! And the second I get free from this, I'm gonna break every part of your face!"

Dak said as he turned to the captains, "S-she's lying! This is obviously a ploy to get back at me for winning! It's just typical for an outsider to do!"

Charlotte had said, "That's common, considering her assassin background."

"Are you kidding me!?" Feodora yelled, "That shouldn't matter right now!"

"Hey!" A familiar voice soon said.

Karasu soon stepped forward as he had his hands behind his head, "That's actually not true." He told them, "He had a weapon hidden right in his sleeve. I saw it with my own eyes. And last I checked, tampering with weapons was strictly prohibited especially if it regards poison."

"Karasu!" Prism said shocked.

"Are you sure about that?" Yami asked him.

"Something you should know about me Cap--" Karasu said, "--I maybe a thief, but I never liked to tell lies."

The Captains looked to one another at this as Dak started to look even more nervous when he noticed the looks he had been getting. Dak had soon started to argue, "Su-Surely you don't believe the words of the Bad Luck Charm thief do you!? Why I'm just an honest noble who wants to do his part in--"

Yami soon cut him off as he took a puff from his cigarette "Sword boy. Get down here and search him."

"What?" Dak said, a bit shocked.

Pluck sighed, "On it."

He jumped off the platform and went over to Dak as he was too scared to even move. Pluck started to search him, as he patted him down before he felt something in his right sleeve. Pluck moved it slightly as he noticed a small yet sharp blade dripping with a purple liquid just under his wrist.

Pluck soon told his Captain and the others, "Found it. It's not noticeable, but he has it." He put on a glove as he caught some of the purple liquid as he examined it more thoroughly, "It's been laced too."

The whole crowd gasped in horror as Dak's eyes widened in realization as his face pales knowing he had been found out. Asta and Yuno had their looks hardened as they looked towards him as Dak tried to come up with an excuse.

Asta said as he clenched his fist, "How—How could you do that?! Feodora—Even though she was from the Diamond Kingdom, she trained just as hard as I did to get here! She wanted to be a Magic Knight more than anyone else! And you took away her opportunity!"

Yuno added as he glared as he released Feodora from her restraints, "I'm not letting you get away with something unforgivable."

"You're both gonna have to get in line." Feodora said as she started to activate her magic again.

Dak looked around frantically, before his eyes set on Prism; his unsettling smile returned as he got an awful idea in his head.

"EARTH BINDING MAGIC: GEODE'S PRISON!"

Prism let out a scream when the ground around her suddenly formed a sphere with a set of bars taking everyone by surprise; the prison soon floated to Dak's side as he gave a deranged laugh as many mages and he and the captains froze.

"PRI!" Asta exclaimed.

"You sneaky son of a—" Feodora said as she started to activate her magic.

"I wouldn't, you assassin!" He said maniacally as spikes formed on the ceiling of the sphere, "If any of you try anything, I'll crush this brat like a lemon!"

"Asta! Yuno! Feo!" Prism called out as she reached out to them while trying to break free.

"Let her go!" Asta told him, "Right now!"

"That ain't gonna happen!" He said as he laughed again, "You're not giving the orders, I am!"

"She had nothing to do with the match!" Yuno told him, "There's no reason for you to hurt her!"

Dak has argued, "You're wrong about that! She has no magic right? Anyone with no magic and not to mention a commoner isn't allowed in this place anyway!"

Pluck told him as he raised his hands, "Easy...just calm down."

"DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" He shouted, "IT'S YOUR OWN DAMN FAULT FOR LETTING SOMEONE FROM THE DIAMOND KINGDOM TAKE THESE EXAMS! PEOPLE LIKE HER DON'T DESERVE THE TITLE IF THE MAGIC KNIGHTS!"

Yami had told Dak, "Hey, that's going a bit too far isn't it?"

Dak had retorted, "nope! I'm doing the Clover Kingdom a favor! You'll thank me later!"

He soon clenched his hand, much to everyone's horror, "Earth Magic: Geodes Burial!"

Prism's eyes widened in horror as the sphere started to close in around her making; She covered the whimpering raptor as she held her pouch close just as the spikes came dangerously close.

"NO!" Asta exclaimed.

Just as he was ready to pull his sword out of the Grimoire, everyone noticed what had appeared to be a rock hand from in between the stone bars. To everyone's surprise, they saw the sphere start to expand a little before it broke apart leaving behind only pebbles and dust.

There that stood before them, at least nine feet tall, had been that of a creature made entirely of stone, as it had been holding Prism in its arm as the young girl had been completely unharmed. The rock creature had its eyes in the form of crystals and it looks to have an underbite.

Another creature suddenly emerged from the ground knocking Dak off his feet before towering over him. Its eyes were beady black and it's nose expanded with a dot shape feature, had a set of whiskers and long tail; it's whole body had resembled a mole though it had been the size of a bear, and its fur and had an unnatural colored fur as it had been black and white with its eyes shining red. It looked to have rocks embedded into it's back giving it an almost turtle like appearance.

Asta, Yuno, and Feodora's eyes widened in realization while most of the Captains looked to be dumbfounded. Pluck's jaw had dropped to the floor at the sight of the creatures.

The rock golem had set Prism down just next to Asta as her hood had been off of her head, before it had turned its sight to Dak as it stomped towards him.

Dak said as he had a fearful look in his eyes, "Wha-What?! Spirit Magic?!"

The golem and mole-like creature soon let out a type of roar before it had trapped Dak in what looked to be a coffin with a design of an Iron Maiden as it had made him scream. Dak had screamed and shouted, "WHAT THE HELL?! LET ME OUT! LET ME OUTTTT!!! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! I'M A NOBLE!"

The mole and golem took one last look at Prism as they both bowed their heads, while she hesitantly bowed back, shocking everyone. Their bodies soon became transparent as they moved before they vanished completely.

"You… Really weren't kidding about that." Asta said, stunned.

"I told you." Prism said awkwardly.

"But, now we have—" Yuno started to say.

"—Another problem." Feodora said as she pointed to her hood.

Prism let out a gasp as she had a look of horror, as she quickly covered her ears when she realized they were out in the open.

The four of them slowly turned to the rest of the crowd as it had now just hit them that the cat was out of the bag. Everyone had been left speechless and was silent until—

"YOU!!!!!" Pluck shouted as he pointed to the Prism in particular.

"Uh-oh…" Prism said.

Yami said as he cautiously moved towards them, as he reached for his blade, "Now, don't mov-"

"ICE MAGIC: LYNX BLIZZARD!!"

Feodora created a storm cloud filled with snow and ice, blinding everyone within the coliseum as she had thrusted her fist into the ground.

"Feo--!" Asta exclaimed.

"What are you--!?" Prism said.

"No time to dwell on it!" She said, "Make a break for it!"

Neither of them hesitated as they started to move towards the exit with the help of the little lemur made of light. Though just as they had gotten out of the blizzard, Pluck suddenly emerged from the clouds.

Pluck acted quick as his book began to glow light lue "SWORD CREATION MAGIC: KATAGIRI! AVAN!" He took out two swords, One that had a curve the other was a straight edge.

Asta quickly acted as he got out his sword. "Stay behind me!" He told them.

Pluck charged at Asta wielding both of his blades in hand. "Step away from that girl!" Pluck shouted as he swung his blade. Asta swung his blade towards him, and the instant it touched, one of his blades ended up disappearing much to Pluck's own shock as his sword vanished into thin air.

Pluck had exclaimed, as he jumped back, "Tch! Not good! Looks like Anti-Magic applies to mana swords too!"

Fafanar soon jumped from behind them, making them jump as he slid across the floor.

"Don't worry bestie, I got you!" Fafanar said before he opened his Grimoire, "Dragon Magic--"

"Nope!" Feodora said as she held her hand

Before Fafanar knew it, what looked to be a form of an ice beam flew towards Fafanar before he found half of his body encased in ice.

"WHAT!?" Fafnar exclaimed, "OH COME ON!!"

Pluck shouted at him, "Too slow as always, Fafnar! Will it kill you to use your head?!"

They soon heard Yami's voice in the blizzard, "HEY! ARE YOU KIDS DONE BICKERING OVER THERE?!"

"Time to go!" Asta exclaimed as he took Prism's hand. They started to make their way towards the nearest exit. Though just before they could get out, Pluck suddenly appeared behind Prism as he took hold of her wrist stopping her.

"What the--!?" Feodora said, "--How did he get there!?"

"Le-Let me go!" Prism said as she struggled against Pluck's grip.

Pluck had said to her as he tightened his hold on her, "Hey, dummy! Relax! Don't ya recognize me!? It's--"

"I said let me go!" Prism shouted before she kneed him right in the stomach making him gag and fall to the floor. She and the others took the opportunity to run off.

"Hey… That was uncalled for… Stupid."

Soon Addeline came out of his pouch as she shouted while she pecked his head and hit him with her stick, "QUACK! QUACK!"

"Yeah yeah! You told me so!" Pluck groaned as he waved her off and got up before he froze at a familiar voice.

"SLASH MAGIC: DEATH SCYTHE!!"

The blizzard broke apart by familiar green blades as Pluck immediately ducked to the floor while Fafanar ended up knocking himself over, "WOAH!"

"CAPTAIN JACK REALLY!?" Fafanar exclaimed, "YOU ALMOST HIT US!"

They saw the blizzard had broken apart while most of the examinees had been frozen solid; the captains on the other hand, looked to be fine and unharmed. Jack had said as he looked to have green blades growing from his arms, "KEKE--Looks like that assassin got away!"

"Along with the Lost Heir!" Charlotte added.

Nozel said, "It pains me to admit it, but you were right about that girl foreigner."

Yami told him, in a taunting tone, "Told you so."

"IS IT REALLY THE TIME FOR THAT CAPTAIN!?" Finral shouted.

Pluck added, "WE HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE AT HAND RIGHT NOW!"

"We have to apprehend them before they escape!" Fuegoleon said.

Gueldre added, "At once!"

Rill had said as he waved his brush as he looked at Dorothy, "Man, Dorothy! You're missing all the fun!"

"We're gonna have to spread out and cut them off." William said.

Yami soon said, as he turned to his members, "You heard him! Go and cut them off!"

"Yes sir!" Finral said.

Pluck said with a groan, "Good Grief..."

"Uh guys--" Fafanar said, "--I'm still frozen!"

Pluck had shouted, "Well stay there! You can melt yourself off with Dragon magic, can you?"

Fafanar shouted, as he raised his fist "YOU DON'T GOTTA BE HARSH BESTIE!"

Little did the Magic Knights squads know among all the examinees, only one had stood, unfrozen and unharmed. Karasu had been behind a pillar as he was able to avoid Feodora's spell from earlier.

"That tater tot--" He said softly, "--The lost heir huh?"

He couldn't help but have a smile on his face, "... This is getting more and more interesting."

***

The group of four managed to get safely from the coliseum as they finally managed to catch their breath as Prism had readjusted her cloak as they hid within the alleyway.

"Damn it all!" Feodora said, "Damn it all! This is bad!"

"How could this have happened?" Yuno said.

"Guys I'm so sorry!" Prism said, as she allowed Adrien to come out of the pouch, allowing him to return to his normal size, as he was at her side in an instant, "It's because of me I ruined your chances! Now Yuno will never be let into the Golden Dawn, and Asta lost his chance of getting into a Magic Knight Squad! Neither of you will ever get the chance to become a Wizard King!"

Immediately the three of them started to deny this, taking her by surprise. "Don't ever say that!" Asta told her, "This isn't your fault!"

"He's right!" Feodora said before she had a guilty look, "If anything it's mine! I shouldn't have provoked the guy! If I hadn't, he wouldn't have put your life in danger!"

"You're not at fault either." Yuno told her.

"Even so, this all feels like I'm the one to blame!" Prism said as she had been driven to tears, "You all worked so hard to pass the entrance exams and to become a Magic Knight! If I never came here, I wouldn't have--"

"Hey!" Asta said, getting her attention as he placed both of his hands on her cheeks, "Look at me right now! Sure, becoming the Wizard King is important to me and Yuno, and yeah, Feodora's life long dream since she arrived in Hage was to become a Magic Knight so that she could do right by her folks, but you know what!? Right now, none of it matters! All that matters is if your safe from them!"

Prism's eyes widened in shock as she had been taken back by Asta's words. She sniffled as he soon smiled at her. "We made a promise after all! We're here to keep you safe, no matter what!"

"Asta…!" Prism said shocked.

"Hey!" A voice said, making them freeze up. They peeked around the corner as they saw it had been a magic knight, one that had been from the Golden Dawn, the Praying Mantises, and Black Bulls.

"Search around here!" One of the Golden Dawn members said, "They couldn't have gotten far!"

"What are we going to do?" Prism asked as she sniffled.

"For now, we just have to get you out of here, without getting caught." Yuno said, "We'll rethink our strategy once we're safe."

Asta soon noticed the amount of Magic Knights around, "Oh man! There's gotta be a whole army!" He exclaimed, "I don't think we're gonna get past them all! Seriously, all this to capture one girl is a bit much!"

"How are we gonna get past them all!?" Prism said.

Feodora soon noticed a captain had been among the group; she saw it had been Yami. It was then she had gotten an idea in her head when she noticed a spherical device on his belt. "Leave that part to me." She said with a smirk as it took the three of them back.

***

Yami had been looking around along with the other Magic Knights as the people around the street had been taken back. Though thankfully they kept it calm so that the citizens had been panicking. They had a pretty plausible excuse as they said they were looking for a thief so as to not arouse suspicion.

Yami couldn't groan as he said, "Geez, I know I should have stayed in the base today.."

Yami had soon been taken back by a whistle as he looked within the alleyway. Prism had been waving him down.

"Are you looking for me!?" She called out.

Yami soon called out to her as she ran around the corner and he started to chase after her, "Oh there you are! Where's your entourage? They cowered already?"

"Not telling you that!" She said as she ran inside an abandoned building. Yami clicked his tongue as he took a puff before he followed her inside. When he did the, the interior had been completely empty with a few cobwebs here and there.

The minute Yami turned the corner he saw Prism standing in the middle of the room. He stepped into the room as he told her, "Lizard Girl, we're not gonna hurt you. If you just come with me quietly, there won't be any trouble."

"Yeah no." A voice from behind him said, "That's not gonna happen."

Yami had been nearly taken back when Feodora attacked him from behind. Yami had been quick to block her kick before he countered with his own. Feodora proved to be just as fast as he had been as she managed to evade his punch. Though she didn't have time to block his kick as she rolled across the floor.

She spat the blood from the corner of her mouth as she smirked, "Not bad."

Yami had said, "Not bad, yourself."

Just as he went to draw his sword, Prism made her move' she pulled out a set of hook swords; she moved quick and hooked his wrist before he could even grab the handle. Despite her size she was able to trip him with ease before she wrapped his wrist to a wooden pillar with the help of a set of rope.

Yami had exclaimed, "Hey! That's playing dirty!"

"Sorry about this!" Prism said honestly before she swiped the circular device from his belt before she tossed it over to Feodora..

Finral's voice could be heard through the circular device, "Captain Yami, what's going on!?"

Yami soon said to Feodora, "Hey kid! Give that back!"

Feodora repeated as she placed two of her fingers on her throat. As it glowed a dim white glow she repeated, "Hey kid! Give that back!"

Yami had been taken back by this, "What the-?!"

"What the--?!" She repeated, though much to Yami's surprise her voice in a matter of seconds had changed to his own. She soon activated the device before she spoke in his own voice, "They're escaping to the south side of the capital! I'm in pursuit! Get the other captains and knights and help me head them off!"

Finral had replied over the device, "Yes sir!"

Just like that she deactivated the device before she tossed it against the wall as it had broke in two. Feodora couldn't help but cough a little as she gagged, "Holy hell!" She said in her own voice as she sounded slightly hoarse as she coughed, "My throat--! Why is your voice so deep!? Was that from you smoking twenty four seven!?"

Yami had told her, as he looked offended, "Hey! I can sue you for impersonating a Magic Knight Captain!"

"Just be lucky that's the only thing I did, apeman!" Feodora told him, "If I really wanted to kill you I would've done it earlier. But right now, we ain't gonna add anymore to our list of problems, so I'm sparing you."

"Where did you learn to do that exactly?" Prism asked her as she was in awe.

"In my family for generations, my asshole grandfather taught it to me. He's another thing I'll never miss from the Diamond Kingdom. Hate the his guts but his skills come in handy every now and again. Downside, I can only do it for ten seconds tops." Feodora replied as she cleared her throat, "Oh God, I'm gonna be feeling this for a while. Doing the Dum-Dums voice wasn't that bad."

"You can do Asta's voice too?" She said, shocked.

Soon enough Asta came into view, "Hey! The coast is clear!" He told them, "We gotta go!"

"Later asshole." Feodora told him as she saluted, before she tapped Prism, "Time to go princess!"

"Ye-yeah okay!" Prism said.

Feodora soon followed Asta outside of the building. Prism was about to go but she found herself stopping as she looked to Yami; he could see in her eyes she had a look of worry as she saw a cut on his wrist before she looked to her hook blade. Much to Yami's surprise she had went back over him after she sheathed her blades. She tore a part of her cloak, and wrapped it over the gash, before she loosened the ropes.

"We're even now." She told him as she stood.

"Prism!" Asta soon called out, "Come on! What are you waiting for!?"

Prism took one last apologetic look to Yami before she headed off in the same direction Asta and Feodora had gone in. The moment she was gone, Yami took the opportunity to get himself free from the rope before he stood.

He couldn't help but say as he rubbed his wrist, before he looked to the other that Prism had treated, "Huh, she really is an odd one, for a princess that is.."

He soon kicked away the broken device as he said, "They just made things even harder."

***

The four of them started to make their way through the streets as they had avoided every Magic Knight they had come across. Though it proved to be more difficult despite the fact that the knights were a bit shorthanded because of Feodora sending them in a different direction.

Though they did end up encountering one or two magic knights as they were forced to knock them out; Yuno blew them away with his wind, while Feodora used her ice magic to freeze them.

"Damn it!" She exclaimed, "Even though I sent most of them to the other side of town, there's just no end to these assholes!"

"Well they are Magic Knights!" Asta said, "I always thought they were tougher than they look, but it's still incredible!"

"Maybe save the comments after we're safely away!" Yuno told him as he blew a couple of the Magic Knights away.

"Right, sorry!" He said.

"Where are we supposed to go though!?" Prism exclaimed, "This whole place is like a maze!"

"We just go back the way we came in!" Feodora told her.

Adrien stopped in his tracks as he started to growl while he bared his fangs in the opposite direction; the Spirit guides that had been on Prism's shoulder the whole time looked to be uneasy too.

"Adri?" Prism said as she noticed how he had been acting, "Bud, what's wrong?"

"Uh--" Asta soon said, "--Why is he growling?"

"Something must be coming this way." She replied as Adrien curled his tail around her.

"Whatever it is, it can't be good." Yuno said.

Feodora soon tensed up suddenly as the look in her eyes changed; she looked in the direction Adrien had been growling. "Prism--" She said, as Prism was taken back by her tone, "--Do NOT leave our side unless I say otherwise."

"Huh?" She said a bit shocked at this.

Suddenly there came a voice, "KEKE--THERE YOU ARE!"

They were taken back by what looked to be a curve-like beam coming towards them.

"MOVE!" Yuno shouted.

Immediately they dispersed as Adrien picked Prism up with his tail and Asta by the neck of his jacket taking him by surprise and ran, while Yuno and Feodora jumped out of the way. By the time the attack hit the floor Asta, Adrien and Prism were on one side of the street, while Yuno and Feodora had been on the other.

"WHAT WAS THAT!?" Asta shouted as Adrien put him down along with Prism.

They turned to the source of the attack as they saw it had been Captain of the Praying Mantis, Captain Jack the Ripper; he stepped through the dust cloud as he had a set of scythe-like blades coming out of his arms.

"This--This intensity--!" Asta thought as his own face paled a little, "Where is it coming from!?"

"What is this?!" Yuno said in his head, as he found his own body shaking a little, "It's not just from the mana I'm sensing!"

Feodora had found herself shaking a little as she had a fearful expression, "This presence--No just this atmosphere alone--"

"--It just screams killer!" Prism thought, "Is he--Really a Magic Knight Captain!?"

Jack soon said with a laugh, "KEKE--hand over the girlie, brats, and no one get's hurt!"

Prism flinched slightly at this, however Adrien curled his body around her in a protective manner as he bared his teeth towards Jack. Asta soon stood in front of them as he drew his sword with the help of his Grimoire. "She's not going anywhere with you!"

Jack had told him, "Oh? You picking a fight boy?" Jack readied his blades, "KEKE--If you're not gonna hand her over, then I'll just have to take her from you!"

"We're not going to let you do that!" Yuno said as he activated his magic.

"Asta--" Feodora soon said as she stepped to the middle of the road, "--You and Yuno take Prism and go on ahead."

"What?!" The three of them exclaimed, while Jack looked intrigued.

"I can hold him off on my own long enough for you guys to make it out." She said.

"You're still hurt!" Prism had argued, "If you're not careful you'll--!"

"Won't be the first time I've dealt with someone with an injury." Feodora said before she gave them a reassured smile, "Though don't worry, if there's one thing I'm not gonna do--It's getting my ass handed before I can pay Asta and Yuno back."

Jack had said to her, "KEKE--So you chose the hard way!"

"If you want her so badly, you're gonna have to get through me, stringbean." Feodora said, before her grimoire opened, "Ice Creation Magic: Snow Leopard Battle Claws!" A mist surrounded both of her hands as she had a set of gauntlets once more; this time it looked as though the claws had been emerging from the back of her hand.

"GO NOW!" She told them before she charged at Jack.

"FEO!" The three of them called out.

Feodora attacked Jack hard and fast as both of their blades clashed with each other. They each threw their own attacks as each of them managed to evade one another blades. It hadn't been long till Jack had gotten the upper hand when he kicked her in the stomach and grabbed her by the head.

"NO!" Prism shouted, though Adrien prevented her from running towards her.

Yuno soon stepped in as his grimoire began to glow green, "Asta--Get Prism out of here!"

"Wha--!" Asta said, shocked, before Yuno went to charge at Jack, "--Yuno wait!"

"Wind Magic--" Yuno soon said, before he waved his hand, "--Crescent Kamaitachi!"

A blade of wind soon went towards Jack as he was quick to evade it as he had been forced to drop Feodora. Yuno soon helped her up off the floor as she looked shocked.

"Yuno, why are you--!?" She started to say.

"No time for questions!" Yuno told her, "Just get ready to fight!"

Feodora clicked her tongue as she stood up; Jack gave a laugh as he told them, "KEKE--This is getting interesting! I can't wait to cut you up!"

"Go ahead and try!" Feodora and Yuno said before they went to attack.

Asta and Prism couldn't help but watch helplessly; though Asta seemed to have snapped out of his trance before he took Prism's hand. "COME ON! LET'S GO!" He shouted.

"But--" Prism said as she had been about to protest, before she found herself getting dragged down the ground; Adrien quickly followed behind them. Just as they both turned the corner they could feel the intensity of the magic from the fight that had been going on.

"Feo and Yuno!" Prism said with worry, "They'll be okay won't they!?"

"Don't worry!" Asta said, "They won't let this stop them! I'm sure of it!"

They headed towards the bridge of the town, only to find that a group of Magic Knights had cut them off; They quickly skidded to a halt as Adrien began to growl again. Asta was about to make his way back the way they came though they found it to be useless as they had saw Nozel had blocked their path.

"Damn it!" Asta exclaimed.

"Don't resist!" Charlotte told Prism in particular, "We don't want to hurt you!"

Adrien started to ready himself as his small horns started to glow as well as his streaks of color. Though before he could, Nozel opened his Grimoire, just as they saw what looked to be silver water appear behind him, "Mercury Binding Magic: Silver Imprisonment!"

The mercury soon went towards Adrien in particular as chains were created from the liquid itself; It wrapped around his legs before a set of it wrapped around his muzzle pulling him to the ground hard as it restrained his movements; his body stopped glowing.

"Adrien!" Prism exclaimed as she and Asta went to try and break him free.

Adrien began to cry out as he thrashed against the restraints; Prism's eyes widened in horror as she saw he began to open wounds. "Adrien, no!" Prism said, grabbing his neck to stop him from moving, "You'll hurt yourself! Please stop!"

"Hey! Let him go!" Asta said to Nozel, "Can't you see he's scared?!"

Nozel has merely responded as he readied his magic again, "A creature like him? Scared?"

"Please!" Prism begged, "He doesn't like to be restrained! He'll get hurt!"

Nozel simply told her, "You sure he won't turn into a beast and run away?"

"N-No!" Prism said, "He's just trying to protect me!"

"Listen--" Asta said as he held his sword, "--If you don't let him go right now, I'm going to--"

"Our quarrel isn't with you." Charlotte said as she turned to Prism, "It's with her."

Asta's look changed as he told them, "If you have a problem with her--" He got his sword ready as he shouted "--THEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME!"

He soon charged at Nozel who had been the closet as it took them all by surprise as he let out a war cry. "Asta no!" Prism called out.

Right when Asta was about to attack Nozel, as he was preparing to counteract with his own spell, he had been taken back when he felt something hit him right in the neck. Instantly he fell to the ground and landed on his side as he dropped his sword.

They saw Yami had been the one to knock him out. "Asta!" Prism cried out.

"And where were you, foreigner?" Nozel asked him.

Yami replied as he took a puff from his cigarette, "What else? I was busy clearing my name because of an imposter."

Nozel said, "Of course."

Charlotte sighed as she commented, "Why am I not surprised?"

Prism found herself mentally panicking as a single option to her head. She immediately grabbed her grimoire from her pouch as she turned to the page as she stood; her eye changed to a familiar white color as her pupil became narrow.

"Shadows reveal thy fo--"

"Whoa now!" Yami said before he suddenly disappeared in a flash.

Prism was suddenly cut off as she felt a blunt object hit her stomach. Turns out it had been the handle of Yami's sword; she had dropped her grimoire and nearly hit the ground, though was prevented by Yami as he caught her.

"That was a close call." He said.

"What do you think you're doing!?" Nozel said, "We weren't supposed to hurt her!"

"Do you have a better idea?" He said, "If I didn't knock her out, she would've gotten out that scythe of hers."

Much to their own shock Adrien broke free from the restraints as he blasted a beam of blue light from his mouth breaking the muzzle and his restraints apart. He let out a roar before his sights had been set on Yami; he bared his teeth before he charged at him, with claws and all.

Yami immediately set Prism down before he said, "Oh boy."

Adrien went to bite Yami's shoulder only for him to dodge. Adrien skidded across the floor as he roared aggressively in his direction as he readied an attack while his horns glowed dimly. They could see a ball of energy forming in his mouth.

"Damn it--!" Charlotte said, "--I'll restrain this bea--"

Yami cut her off as he said, "No wait! I'll deal with him! You two hold the kids!"

Before either of them could say anything, Adrien fired a ball of energy towards them; immediately they moved out of harm's way as it damaged the road and nearly hit the other Magic Knights. Yami gave a whistle to Adrien as he said to while coaxing him, "Clever Boy., come and get some."

Adrien charged at him attempting to take him by his teeth again, Yami ducked and grabbed him by the torso before suplexing him on the ground.

Adrien let out a cry and still went to bite him though he pinned him to the ground with his foot as he finally stopped moving. Yami gave off a threatening aura as it made the raptor freeze up. He told him, "Hey buddy. Funtime is over. Stand down."

Though Adrien still growled and bared his teeth, he set his head down as it gave Yami a sign that he had surrendered.

"Good boy." Yami said before he took out his own grimoire as it glowed a purple glow, "Dark Restraining Magic: Dark Binding."

Dark ropes soon appeared from the pages of his Grimoire and wrapped around Adriens neck and mouth; just as it wrapped around him he removed himself. Adrien immediately stood and went to claw them off; though Yami pulled on the ropes as he looked the raptor dead in the eye before he told him, "Buddy, a loss is a loss. No complaining till we get to the capital."

"It's a beast, Yami." Nozel said as he picked Prism up off the floor as he held her bridal style after he placed her hood back over her head to hide her ears, "It's not like it understands you."

"Is that so, locks?" Yami said before tugging on the ropes leading Adrien in the direction he wanted him to go despite him fighting, "Woah buddy. Settle down."

Charlotte had said as she picked up Asta with her own magic which had been a set of vines, "This sure was an eventful day...first this boy with no magic, then the human-elf girl who's the lost heir. I wonder how the Wizard King will react to this?"

"Not sure...but I know his assistant will give us an earful." Yami said as he took a puff although it was hard since Adrien was thrashing about, "HEY! Can't you see I'm trying to light my cigarette?!"

"KEKE--So there you all are!"

The three captains turned to see it had been Jack, as he had been carrying Yuno and Feodora who were both unconscious. One had been over his shoulder and the other was under his arm, as both of them looked to be covered in dirt and bruises.

"Captain Jack!" Charlotte shouted. "Did you--"

"KEKE--Relax I didn't kill them!" Jack replied. "I just knocked them out." He turned to Feodora who had been under his arm as he said "I have to say...Cat girl here almost gave me a run for my money! To think she has the ability to fight against a magic knight of my level. KEKE--The Diamond Kingdom is something else! Maybe I should carve them up too!"

"Don't even, String Bean." Yami told him.

It hadn't been long before they noticed little creatures appear around Prism as she laid unconscious in Nozel's arms. The little light lemur rested on her shoulder and what looked to be a type of serpent with wings wrapped around her neck, though as not to squeeze her but it had been to comfort her.

Hamsters and ferrets resembling that of clouds sat on her knees and a kind of bug resembling that of butterfly though its whole body glowed sat at the top of her head as well as a frog who looked to have steam coming out of his mouth and was an unnatural color of red.

"Come." Nozel said, adjusting his hold on her, "Let's get out of the open and meet with the others."

Yami said with the wave of his hand, "Yeah yeah. Give me a second."

Before he could head in the direction of his comrades and other Magic Knights, he noticed Prism's grimoire had still been on the floor. He picked it up and examined the page she had turned, noticing the writing didn't resemble the kingdom's language at all.

He couldn't help but comment, "What the hell's with this garbage?! I can't even understand it!"

Jack had soon called out, "HEY YAMI! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR SLOWPOKE?!"

Yami shouted at him as he closed Prism's grimoire shut, "SHUT IT OR I'LL KILL YOU!"

Adrien still pulled against his bindings though Yami dragged him as he said, "Oh give it a rest would ya? You're not gonna break out of it anytime soon."

Thus the captains took them away while the other Magic Knights cleaned up the mess. Karasu had been hiding underneath the bridge as he had witnessed what had transpired.

He jumped down onto the platform before he headed over to an entrance to the sewer. He undid some of the bandages from his left hand before he brushed his hands across the bars; in almost an instant the bars fell apart. As he reapplied the bandages he proceeded into the darkness.