Chapter 5

''I will teach you a style of combat that you could use with your water magic, but you will need a great physical endurance that we will forge over time'' Asta explained.

''¡Hm!'' Noelle nodded tenderly

''Try infusing mana into your feet, let's develop your speed and movements'' Asta said with a serious tone.

Noelle's feet started to flicker with water droplets, as if they wanted to form something but soon faded away.

''Keep trying you have to be tenacious Noelle'' Asta looked at Noelle's feet.

Noelle's expression focused, not realizing she was adding more mana than she should by accident, little boots formed on her feet and Noelle shot skyward....

''AH!'' Noelle flew 15 meters upwards, 'I accidentally put too much mana!' her face turned pale as she saw how high she boosted herself.

''¡¡¡Catch me!!!'' Noelle screamed in fright, Asta simply spread his arms wide looking up to the sky with a stoic face.

Asta caught Noelle like a princess, he looked at Noelle's face causing her to turn away in embarrassment.

''This is going to take time...'' Asta said with a slight smile on his face

...

Hours Later...

In the forest Noelle could be seen moving through the forest dodging the trees, on her feet were boots formed by water that trembled every time she took a step making Noelle propel herself 2 meters.

Noelle soon spotted Asta and headed towards him quickly, just as she was about to glide towards him, the water boots disappeared. Noelle shot towards Asta due to the momentum ''Wahh!'' Noelle squealed like a kitten.

Asta caught her lifting her by the hips, this woman was having a hard time using magic but little by little she was making progress, Asta realized that she probably has several problems that made her feel pressured. 'I should get her spirits up' Asta thought to himself.

''You did well Noelle'' Asta exhibited a slight smile then looked down at Noelle.

''Yes, but this is quite tiring'' Noelle spoke with her breath coming in short gasps.

''We'll train your body some other time, now we should try to develop a spell with the grimoire.''

''You don't think it's going to get out of control?'' Noelle spoke in a worried voice.

''It's okay, I'm here I won't let anything happen to you'' Asta said with a soft tone.

''Hm'' Noelle nodded she felt even safer with what Asta spoke.

Noelle held out her hand summoning her grimoire. Noelle's grimoire is a light blue color with three clover leaves in the center.

''Try to imagine an offensive spell in your mind, remember to stay calm is important to control your magic'' Asta spoke as he moved 10 meters away from Noelle, then summoned his grimoire drawing his sword.

''Cast the spell on me'' Asta looked at Noelle.

''O-okay'' Noelle was nervous because she didn't want to attack Asta if her magic overflowed they could end up seriously injured.

Noelle shook her head, her state became serene, she did exactly what Asta told her. She began to imagine a strong and fast offensive spell.

Noelle's grimoire was open glowing with a beautiful blue light, letters began to be written on the grimoire as if she was responding to her master's will and determination.

Noelle's eyes shone with resolution as she looked at Asta pointing her hand at him, a swirl of water slowly began to grow in her hand. Her hand was shaking from the tension but still she remained straight.

The whirlpool began to move in a circular motion, suddenly a pulse shot out of the whirlpool.

Asta swung his sword easily nullifying Noelle's incomplete spell.

''Eeeh!? Your sword can nullify magic'' Noelle's serene expression went out the window, replaced by a dumbfounded expression.

''Hahaha, we'll talk about that later for now let's complete your spell'' Asta exhibited a small smile.

''This time close your eyes, then start casting the same spell over and over again until you get tired. Remember to keep the image of the spell you want to cast'' Asta explained to Noelle.

''Finee'' Noelle didn't waste her time, she closed her eyes again imagining the offensive spell.

...

Forest (Sunset)

Noelle was sitting next to Asta resting, both of them were looking at the strange grimoire with a dark aura.

''So you possess a grimoire that summons a sword that can nullify magic in a world where magic dictates everything...'' Noelle looked at Asta with a surprised face.

''I don't think that's all it is, it's most likely related to Antimagic.'' Asta explained.

''This is the first time I've heard of antimagic, you are the first person in this realm to possess antimagic'' Noelle spoke curiously.

''Yes, that's what it looks like but I guess things aren't that simple this grimoire as you see has 5 Clover Leaves I've never heard of that'' Asta looked at the grimoire with a frown.

''The fourth leaf represents good fortune, the fifth...'' Noelle's eyes sparkled with an idea.

''On the fifth represents evil...'' Asta and Noelle spoke in unison,

The grimoire glowed for a moment as if it had heard what Asta and Noelle were talking about the whole time, Noelle didn't lose sight of that reaction of the grimoire causing it to send shivers down her body.

''Asta... I think you should be more careful with that grimoire it seems to have a dark undertone, just looking at that design and that aura gives me a bad feeling'' Noelle spoke with a worried expresion.

''Don't worry I will carefully examine this grimoire, apparently all grimoires are very different, one characteristic we just discovered is that it responds to the will of its bearer'' Asta spoke remembering how Noelle's grimoire responded to her will to create a new spell.

''Mhm, it seems that grimoires at the same time some can be simple, responding to the request and will of their bearer, and others can be a mystery like yours'' Noelle spoke with her hand on her chin.

Asta suddenly carried her in his arms and hugged her, leaving quickly from where they were. The place where they were before was completely on fire.

''You have good reflexes kid'' A 6.2 feet man of muscular build came out from behind a tree, right behind him came another person. He was of slim build and 5.9 feet tall and had a scar on his left eye, both had a grimoire levitating at their side.

''...'' Noelle looked coldly at the newcomers, unconsciously tightened her grip on Asta's neck.

''We heard that a Noblewoman of House Nozel was roaming the woods alone but apparently it wasn't quite true'' The thinly built man spoke with a lascivious expression.

Asta's face twisted for a moment at the man's expression, but quickly returned to his calm expression.

''Hand over the girl, and maybe we'll let you live,'' spoke the muscular man.

Noelle was about to say something, but was confused when she noticed that Asta wasn't even paying attention to the two people who had just attacked them. Asta was looking at Noelle with a calm expression.

''Noelle, in these situations you have to stay calm. The actual fighting will also benefit you a lot. I'll make sure to cover for you, you can cast spells without any problems.'' Asta spoke with a gentle smile.

Noelle understood what Asta meant, got out of Asta's embrace and took a combat stance.

''...''' That kid just ignored us thought the two men.

''Come on'' Asta, stood in front of Noelle and looked at the men with a very different expression than the one he gives Noelle.

Noelle summoned her grimoire, her feet formed beautiful water boots and her body bowed slightly.

''Bad choice child-'' The muscular built man was about to say something but when he saw the expression of the boy behind the noblewoman he felt chills down his back. Unlike the gentle and sweet look the boy was giving the girl, his current expression was as if he felt like tearing them apart.

''¡Be careful I think something is wrong with this guy!'' The muscular built man spoke to his companion, that expression he had seen on many assassins in the Trebol Kingdom.

''They're just kids, what are you worrying about Hahaha'' The slim built man looked at Noelle, but then looked at Asta. 'I must get rid of him if I want the girl' he thought as his expression turned lascivious again.

Noelle propelled herself into the sky, when she reached a certain height small wings formed by water magic emerged from her back and kept her floating, the muscular built man was about to cast a spell, but his friend ran towards Asta with a dagger that was spewing green smoke.

''¡¡No Idiot!!'' The muscular built man shouted, but it was already too late.

BAMM!!!

Crack! Crack!

There was a thud and sound of bones breaking, Asta hit the thinly built man with his thick sword sending him flying into the sky 15 meters right in front of Noelle.

''Kairyuu No Hoko'' Noelle cast her spell creating a whirlpool that spun fiercely then a dragon head formed as if it wanted to swallow everything around it, as it floated in the air, her grimoire glowed with an intense light blue color as letters were written on it.

BOOM!!!

The thin built man went flying 10 meters crashing into a tree, his body was a mess his ribs were broken and he was soaked in his own blood.

''Shit!'' The muscular built man tried to escape but he heard a cold voice from behind him causing him to feel a cold sweat.

''Where are you going?'' Asta grabbed his shoulder breaking some bones in his shoulder.

Crack!!!

''¡Aghh!'' The muscular built man's face twisted in pain.

''Do you know why you are so unlucky?'' Asta's smile was very wild as he spoke.

''!!!'' The man began to tremble as Asta moved even closer to him.

"Because you met the demon on your little hunt," Asta whispered to him, let go of the man and clenched his fist tightly.

Strangely Asta's grimoire glowed as if he liked those words Asta said.

Asta punched the man's jaw causing his head to twist to the other side with a broken jaw, The man screamed as if he was a slaughtered pig as Asta brutally punched him in the face.

''Asta??'' Noelle was confused, this Asta was very different from the one who looked at her with sweetness and gentleness, he was cold and ruthless.

''Stay there Noelle'' Asta's voice was cold unlike the gentle tone with which he spoke to Noelle.

''O-okay'' Noelle was confused with this sudden change, but as if something ticked in her head she realized the reasons why Asta is acting like this.

'He's upset because they wanted to hurt me!' Noelle blushed as she realized why Asta is so angry.

''Noelle, this is something you need to keep in mind. If you have enemies you must crush them so that they never come back to you like cockroaches'' Asta spoke calmly, clenched his fist then threw a punch towards the man's nose breaking it.

'¿¡Where the hell did this kid get that mentality from!?' The man was completely regretful that he had heeded his companion and come here. He never would have expected to meet this madman, his vision filled with blood then began to darken as he felt his face was brutally bruised.

''¡I understand!'' Noelle replied, after all Asta's words made sense, it was the same strategy the nobles apply. To instill fear in their enemies.

Asta moved dragging the man's body, heading towards the thinly built man he grabbed him and then turned his gaze towards Noelle.

''Let's go'' He spoke in a soft voice.

Noelle approached him, they started walking together, after a while Noelle decided to ask something.

''Asta, why were you so angry?'' Noelle put her hands behind her back, hoping it's what she thinks.

Asta ignored Noelle's question

''Hee~ Was it because of me?'' Noelle asked with a slight smile.

Asta's ears turned red giving him away completely, then he turned to look at Noelle with an intense gaze.

''Yes'' Asta said with a soft tone.

''...''Noelle is stunned to see the look on Asta's face, Noelle's face slowly began to turn red.

"W-We should go ahead" Noelle lowered her head with a blush on her face, she put her hand to her chest feeling her heart beating rapidly.