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For the most part, it had been a fun night. The Star Festival is set up in the Clover Kingdom capital, and all people were welcome to enjoy the fun festivities and delicious foods. All before the fireworks show, that would be followed with tonight’s main event; the Star Ceremony.
The Wizard King himself, would be announcing the ranks of the guilds and highlighting the top earner of stars. Asta could not have been more excited for it all, until Kahono’s tedious question.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you- what do you think about Noelle?”
The question had caught him off guard, rightfully so. The entire night had been consumed with talk about a ‘double-date’, and now here he was again, being asked about Noelle. Any complex thought towards their friend’s ask had been interrupted by a young, commoner girl. She cried loudly, apparently looking for her mother, from whom she had been unfortunately separated.
And then the nobles started their bullshit.
Sneers and jabs of disgust fell from their vile mouths. Dirty commoner, filth, wretched child- all terms Asta had grown used to, and inevitably, began to tune out. But to a young girl in clear distress?
How could they? What gave them the right to be so cruel to her?
A churning rage boiled beneath Asta’s skin, but before he could step in, he watched the pale haired, noble Black Bull, walk forward. With Noelle, Asta, Kahono, and Kiato all working together to comfort her, the group came to find out the little girl’s name is Emma. And, after returning her to her mother, Noelle had went on this loud, though justified, tirade about commoners and nobles both being people. That commoners should be allowed to enjoy the festival just like anyone else, and for everyone to have fun together.
There were happy cries and dramatic cheers. A triumphant smile sprawls across Noelle’s face. Fireworks shoot off into the night sky with the loud cheering, and explosions of blues and whites sprinkle and fade. The kaleidoscope of colors dance around the area, and cast the most euphoric hue across Noelle’s face.
Maybe that is when it happened for Asta. Maybe that is when he really saw her. Either way, an answer for Kahono’s question plays on his lips, though the meaning no longer seems to fully fit.
Lilac eyes meet green ones, and the chaotic world around them seems to dim just a little bit. A soft smile lingers on Noelle’s lips now, as she curiously meets Asta’s seemingly bewildered expression.
“You’re pretty great. I like you a lot, Noelle.” He doesn’t even think about the words as they leave his mouth, though Asta means every one.
An unfamiliar coil in his gut sets Asta off balance slightly. The way Noelle is looking at him now is like nothing he’s ever seen before. He simply does not have the words to describe the way her eyes are barely narrowing at him, or the quiet catch in her throat. Nor can he explain the fluctuations in her ki, as her mouth drops open to say something, before clamping shut without a sound.
Kahono and Kaito are watching the scene unfold with a mix of emotions. Though, as tension grows thick between the younger pair, the brother and sister choose to remain quiet. For a moment, Asta wonders if Noelle is going to yell at him for embarrassing her, as she flushes a deep, scarlet shade of red. Fireworks continue to flash overhead, but the anti-magic and water magic users continue to stare intently at one another.
Suddenly, Noelle takes a step forward, and Asta flinches on instinct. That is, until he feels the odd sensation of Noelle’s cold hand in his warm one. His eyes flicker down to her hold on him, and he studies the way they seem to fit together perfectly- a gentle warmth blossoming from the touch.
“I like you too, Asta. But..” As Noelle’s voice trails off, Asta’s eyes raise from where their hands are linked, to meet her eyes again.
“But?” He asks tentatively, trying to keep his voice steady as uncertainty clouds his precarious mind. Noelle’s cheeks burn impossibly brighter as she nervously continues, “but, I like you as more than just my friend.”
At her words, Asta’s breath huffs from his lungs at a quickness that leaves him feeling slightly lightheaded. The anti-magic user gazes at his squad mate in absolute disbelief. Had he somehow misheard Noelle? There is really only one way to take that, but that would have to mean that Noelle just confessed to Asta.
He wants to speak, to respond to her and not leave her hanging in the middle of this crowded festival, but Asta is at a complete loss. His heartbeat is erratic, banging harshly against his rib cage, and he wonders if he is the only one that can hear it.
A loud announcement can be heard from the stage, off somewhere behind them. Asta’s grip on Noelle’s hand is loose from shock, so she tugs it away, and pulls back to herself. His heart aches at the sight, wanting to reach back out. Asta can feel Noelle’s ki- hurt, confused, embarrassed.
Before he can get his body to cooperate with his discomposed thoughts, Noelle turns away from him, and walks ahead to link her arm with their singer-friend. “Let’s go, Kahono. We can go try and find a seat somewhere close.”
The two girls walk off before Asta can manage to bring himself to do anything, other than sputter and fumble with his words. Kiato, Kahono’s brother, turns to look at Asta with a puzzled expression. “I’m a little confused about what just happened.” The dancer says with a light hearted tone, and laughs awkwardly.
“Yeah..” Is all Asta can bring himself to respond with, before the pair of disoriented young men walk ahead, to join the growing sea of people- all headed to hear the results from the Wizard King.
—
A high pitched ringing pierces through Asta’s ears. Surrounded by unknowing people of all kinds, the unnerved anti-magic user is staring ahead blankly, consumed by his rampant thoughts. The Wizard King had taken to the stage not too long ago, followed by a bellowing cheer from the crowd, before the man had even spoken.
This was all unbeknownst to Asta, who had tuned them all out from the start. Even after the captains of all the guilds had taken to the stage, Asta remained incognizant.
“..I like you as more than just my friend.”
How long has she felt this way?
Asta’s eyebrows unconsciously furrow, remembering the soft expression that played across her face before his silence and the hurt that followed. Though she had stayed as cool as ever in moments of rejection, her ki gave way to a whole other story. One that Asta has no idea what to do with. For as long as he’s known Noelle, she has always been challenging for him to understand. She is truly unlike anyone he has ever encountered- even since meeting all kinds of people through him becoming a Magic Knight and joining the Black Bulls.
In a way, the two had always been close, whether they were truly aware of the fact or not. Through many, many trials and errors, Asta would dare say Noelle is one of his, absolute, closest friends. The Silva has fought alongside him time and time again, always there to support him at his lowest. Even recently, when Asta was told by Doctor Owen that he would never wield a sword again, Noelle and the other Black Bulls risked their lives to help him find a cure, and then take down the Queen of Witches.
Asta remembers, suddenly, the way Noelle had screamed his name- how hard the water mage had fought against Vanessa’s wicked mother, and her desperate belief that no matter what, Asta was going to through. Just like he had with the surprise attack from the Eye of the Midnight Sun. The look on Noelle’s face when he came to. The sound of exhausted relief when she realized they were all safe, and Asta was no longer under the Queen of Witches’ control..
How long has she felt this way?
Dramatic, horrified gasps momentarily rip Asta from his overthinking, and he turns to zero in on what exactly he has missed. His own, overly dramatic, shout bellows out over the crowd. The Black Bulls placed second? What the hell is this night turning into?
Of course, Asta himself is the one to be sent flying (literally) by Captain Yami, right up onto the stage, and catches himself with his anti-magic blade. As the young Black Bull turns to face his rival, Yuno, and then the crowd below, he takes a deep breath, and puts on his best, aggravatingly cocky smile. Now is not the time to be in his head about Noelle, so Asta pushes it as far from his mind as he can manage, and tries to enjoy this shared moment of glory with his rival.
—
After a brief and very distracted conversation with Yuno, a portal materializes beside the pair. A, particularly stressed out, member of the Black Bulls pops his head through suddenly.
“Hate to break this up, but if we don’t get back soon, the captain is going to have our asses.” Finral quips quickly, before disappearing back through the portal. Asta bids Yuno farewell, with yet another lighthearted promise of becoming the next Wizard King, and steps through the portal.
Yuno cannot seem to place why, but Asta seems unusually dull.
—
Back at the Black Bulls headquarters, the squad is celebrating amongst themselves excitedly. Gauche and Gordon are tucked away in the corner of the dining area, both mumbling nonsense to themselves, per usual. Draped across the couch is Grey, where she is being pier pressured to drink by Vanessa (who’s already well on her way to a criminal hangover), and Charmy chides nearby, offering snacks that pair well with whatever the witch is drinking. Yami is drinking his fair share as well, laughing boastfully, and egging on Luck’s sporadic lightning shots towards an irritated Magna. The air is light with a peaceful happiness, and their usual, spunky noises fill the base with a familiar calm.
Asta spots Finral, from the corner of his eye, walking over to Noelle. She is sat by herself, off to the side, with a drink pressed to her lips. A sour look plagues her features, and a dreadful feeling washes through the anti-magic user. Before the pair’s eyes can meet, Asta turns on his heel, and walks right out the heavy, wooden door of the base.
The lone Black Bull wanders beneath a blanket of stars, as he tries to make sense of the night- or rather, his feelings towards Noelle. A light, frustrated huff passes his lips as he comes out to a small clearing, along the cliff side. A small boulder sits a few feet before the edge, and Asta remembers the familiar space. He had run off here before, when he had been told about the ancient curse placed on his arms. A shiver ripples down Asta’s spine, both at the memory and the cool bite to the air.
As he sits alone in the quiet night, Asta gazes out across the plains of grass and trees. Asta finds his mind drifting to the different relationships he has gained throughout his life, and the many variations amongst them. With Yuno, he is a brother, a best friend, and his greatest rival. The two young men had been tied together from the start. It never mattered to them that they lacked any blood relation, and the same applies to the rest of the children back at Hage, Asta and Yuno’s home village.
The Black Bulls had become a part of his family as well, and Asta thought of them as some of the strongest and greatest friends anyone could ask for. Each member of the Black Bulls added their own charm to the squad, filling him with an even greater drive to become the Wizard King. To protect them, and create a world where they could all be happy.
Sister Lily… How long had it been since the anti-magic user thought of the woman of the cloth? for Asta, it feels like a lifetime, as cheesy and melancholy as it sounds. Even now, as he thinks about her dark hair and kind eyes, she seems so distant. Asta knows he cares for her, and he always will. Though now, as he sits here comparing his growing relationships and experiences, he can’t help but feel different. Had Sister Lily always just been the only woman consistent in Asta’s life?
A light breeze rolls against Asta’s arms, and goosebumps rise along the exposed flesh. A fluttering can be heard in the wind, and suddenly, Nero is perched calmly atop the anti-magic user’s head. Asta expects a harsh pecking from the strange bird, but she simply sits with him. He thinks.. maybe she is just a bird, but Nero at least can listen while he vents, and maybe that is what Asta needs right now. To work all of this out, out loud.
“I don’t think I’ve ever really understood complex emotion.” He says suddenly to himself (or to Nero, who knows).
Emerald green eyes cast down to his lap, and his grip on the rock tightens. “I thought I at least had some idea about love, or at least having feelings for someone. I thought I liked Sister Lily. Loved her even.”
Asta trails off again, and his eyebrows knit together frustratedly. His eyes sting in a way that leaves him feeling almost uncomfortable. He tells himself- No. Assures himself that he will not cry over this. Asta, Magic Knight, member of the Black Bulls, and only known wielder of the five leaf clover grimoire. He is the one that has faced members of the Eye of the Midnight Sun numerous times, and won, without shedding a tear.
So, when his breath catches in his throat, and his eyes start to water behind his tightly shut eyelids, Asta groans in annoyance. Visions of memories play in his mind. The first time he really talked to Noelle, and how he had hyped her up after witnessing her uncontrolled magic. Training on the beach with Kahono, and how Asta moved, without thinking, to run and catch Noelle safely in his arms, after she had perfected the spell she had been tirelessly working on. The look in her eyes in that moment.. it was eerily similar to the one from earlier tonight.
After the non-moment on the beach, inside the water temple, and during Vetto’s attack- There had been a brief moment when Asta nearly let himself fold to despair. It wasn’t until he heard that familiar, damning voice calling out that she would not abandon her squad mates, (even if it meant killing her) that the anti-magic user moved without thinking for the second time in 24 hours. Vetto was launching an attack that would surely obliterate Noelle into nothing, and Asta remembers thinking that he would stop at nothing to save her. No matter what. With Yami’s eventual help, they ended up defeating Vetto, but Asta noticed it then.
Maybe he hadn’t realized in the moment what it was, but Noelle’s ki shifted towards him. Her harsh defenses never let up. In fact, if anything, they doubled. Asta could not help but tease Noelle occasionally, to provoke her. It is not that he was trying to upset or annoy her. No, it was the opposite really. The anti-magic user desperately wanted to understand her. Though, he supposes her confession tonight cleared a lot of it up for him.
“Our friendship is different than the others.” Asta speaks out loud again, and Nero prunes herself. “Noelle is different, isn’t she?”
He doesn’t need an answer. Not with the way his heart skips a beat, and his palms dampen against the rocky surface beneath him. Asta had never truly felt this way about anyone, and certainly not towards Sister Lily. Though, he may not have the exact words for how he’s feeling at the moment, he knows now he can agree with the Silva’s earlier sentiment. Asta likes Noelle as more than a friend too .
The realization crashes against him, and the tears he had barely been holding back finally give way. Stifled sobs and sniffles disturb the natural quiet of the night around him. Noelle had the courage to confess her feelings to Asta in front of their friends, and he had stood there- frozen, like an idiot. Had his blind devotion to becoming the next Wizard King truly caused him to miss the signs? And now that he had foolishly said nothing to her at the Star Festival, would she even hear him out?
Through his tears and tumultuous thoughts, the anti-magic user still manages to hear the clumsy footsteps approaching him from behind, with an easily recognizable ki. Asta does not bother wiping his cheeks as Vanessa slinks down on the rock beside him. A feint scent of alcohol lingers in the air around her, and he tries not to screw his face up at it.
“Whatcha doin’ out here, kiddo? And why are you so down in the dumps?” The witch is slurring her words slightly, though Asta is aware she’s been far worse off before. “You and Noelle both. Princess back there has a real stick up her ass right now.”
Asta attempts to laugh, though it’s dry, and his eyes never meet her’s. The anti-magic user offers no response, and the two sit in silence for a short moment, before Vanessa hones in on the, more serious, mood. He knows he is meant to usually be the more upbeat, overwhelmingly hopeful one, but Asta cannot bring himself to put up a facade. Even with her tipsy state, he wonders if Vanessa could be of some solace, to this mess Asta has found himself in.
“Did you two have some kind of fight?” Vanessa asks, her voice conveying a more concerned tone.
Asta shakes his head slowly. “I wish it had only been a fight.”
Vanessa hums at his response, and turns to look off into the night. A thoughtful expression plays across her features. “Do you want to talk about it? I could offer you some advice, if i have any worth anything to you, that is.”
He thinks about it briefly, wondering if Noelle would be mad if she found out he spoke to someone else about it first. Eventually, Asta decides to opt for Vanessa’s offer.
“Noelle confessed she liked me as more than her friend tonight.. and I..” Asta’s voice trails off as his jaw clenches. An image of Noelle walking away from him plays in his head. “I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing.”
Vanessa glances back at Asta with wide, curious eyes. His admission of what transpired had explained why Noelle had been so down before, though the witch had not quite expected that. “So, how do you feel about Noelle?”
Asta’s heart beats heavy in his chest, and tears threaten to fall once more against his already tear stained cheeks. “No one has ever made me feel the way she does. Noelle is..” He pauses, swallowing hard as he gathers the words. “She’s different. More. I don’t know if it’s right to call it love, but I care about her in a different way than I do the rest of the black bulls.” It’s more intense. Breathtaking. Mind-altering.
Vanessa nods mindfully, listening to the younger man speak, before cracking a small, humorless smile. The witch reaches out and places a gentle, reaffirming hand on Asta’s shoulder and squeezes lightly. “Then why don’t you go and tell her that?”
Asta tenses visibly at the thought, recalling the look on Noelle’s face when he had arrived at the base earlier. “You saw her. I can imagine she doesn’t want anything to do with me.”
His fellow Black Bull jabs Asta lightly with her elbow. “Don’t be an idiot. Take it from another woman- Noelle is probably waiting for you to say anything, considering the way you guys left things.”
The anti-magic user mulls over Vanessa’s words. He knows, deep down, that she’s not wrong. Asta should be jumping up to go and speak to Noelle, right now, rather than sitting here feeling sorry for himself. And yet, “Is it dumb of me to say.. that I’m kind of scared?”
There is a hesitation to his words that the witch catches. “Of?” Is all she asks, and Asta sits in silence for a moment.
He knows Noelle feels the same way towards him. Hell, she was the one that started this mess in his mind and heart, so Asta knows it is not a fear of rejection. He has never been one to hesitate with the unknown- but, this is Noelle. When it comes to her, nothing has ever truly made sense to Asta. To top it all off, the anti-magic user is painfully aware of his lack of knowledge around dating. How is he meant to perform well as anything other than a friend?
“Usually, not knowing what to do next isn’t a problem for me, but I’m way out of my element here. I don’t want to mess anything up.” Asta’s voice drops an octave with his next words. “I want her more than I’ve ever wanted anything else, and I don’t know what to do with that.” His cheeks flush faintly at the whispered confession.
Vanessa stands suddenly, with a gleaming smile, and grabs his arm to tug him up with her. “Right. Then I don’t know what we’re doing sitting out here anymore.”
Asta allows himself to be pulled to stand as well, and realization dawns on him. If Noelle could be brave enough to admit her feelings to him, without any idea of what the result would be, then so can Asta. Nero must have caught the hint, and flaps her wings- flying up and off Asta’s head and disappearing into the night. The anti-magic user is filled with a newfound determination to go and find the Silva, and he finally looks up to meet Vanessa’s kind eyes.
“Thank you, Vanessa. For coming out here and talking some sense into me.”
The witch nods with a knowing gaze. “Go get your girl.”
—
Asta had bid Vanessa a good night, and parted from her as she disappeared down the hallway. Now, the anti-magic user finds himself quietly pacing, back and forth, outside of Noelle’s bedroom door. He cannot hear any movement inside, though Asta knows, through her ki, that she is awake. Swallowing hard, and taking a deep breath, Asta knocks against the wooden door. A faint shuffling can be heard, before Noelle is peaking the door open.
The second lilac eyes meet emerald green ones, Noelle attempts to quickly shut the door, but Asta moves faster. His strong hand flies to catch the side of the heavy wood, before the Silva can close it, and he receives a flustered groan in response. “What do you want, Asta?”
Her voice is defensive, and harsh, but Asta knows he deserves it. “Can we talk? Please?”
A weighted silence follows for a few agonizing seconds, before Noelle wordlessly moves away from the door and walks deeper into her room. Asta sucks a breath in through his nose and steps into her bedroom quietly, closing the door behind him with a soft click. The water mage turns around to face him, and her cheeks are already flushed with an irritated expression.
“I’m waiting.” Impatient words fall from her lips as her voice wavers, and Asta feels his chest tighten.
“I’m sorry.” The anti-magic user blurts out suddenly, catching both of them slightly off guard. His heart is racing, but he tries to keep his thoughts in check. “I’m sorry for not saying anything back at the festival. I shouldn’t have left you hanging like that.”
Asta takes a breath, but Noelle starts. “You really came here to apologize for not-“
“Let me finish.”
Noelle’s words fall short as Asta cuts her off, and her lips press together in a thin line. His voice came off more gruff than he meant for it to, but Asta could not let her start on another tangent before he could, finally, tell her how he feels. The anti-magic user takes a small step towards the water magic user.
“You were not someone that I ever let myself think of as more than a close friend, or squad mate. Not for any reason, really. I was so focused on becoming the next Wizard King- getting results and growing stronger, for you and the rest of the squad, that I didn’t let myself think about anything else.”
Asta flexes his jaw slightly, taking a deep breath, and another step closer. “There’s always been something here. Something growing. And maybe it took you confessing to me first, for me to take a step back and really look at everything for what it is.”
Noelle is staring at him intensely, and her eyes flicker to his feet with every step he takes towards her. She stays cautiously planted where she stands, listening to every word. Asta moves slowly, reaching his hands out to carefully grab her waist. When she doesn’t slap him or move away, he continues his speech.
“I have no idea what is going to happen, or even really what to do from here, but I do know that I like you way more than just another friend. I may not have understood that before tonight, but I do now. Without a shadow of a doubt.” His breath is shaking when he finishes. He closes his mouth, swallowing harshly as his throat suddenly feels drier than the air.
The pair stand in a heavy silence. Their eyes are locked on one another, brimming with wonder and questions. Asta feels his stomach twisting violently, and the hairs on the back of his neck are raised as anxiety itches uncomfortably, beneath his skin. His eyes are dancing across Noelle’s taut face, and he tries, desperately, to read her ki to queue him in on what she’s thinking.
For a brief moment, Asta wonders if him coming to Noelle’s room and bombarding her was a mistake. The thought does not last long, before the water magic user breathes out a sigh, and leans her forehead to press against Asta’s. Her hands reach up to grip the backs of his elbows as her eyes flutter closed. “I really wanted to stay mad at you, but you’re making it really hard.”
Asta’s eyes shut as he breathes out a relieved chuckle, and his heart flutters in his chest. “I’m sorry.”
Noelle’s hold on his muscular arms flex lightly. She pulls back, just far enough for him to meet her eyes again, and Asta drinks in her unguarded appearance. Any doubts, or lingering fears in his mind, came to a complete stop at the soft sight of her staring back at him with so much adoration. It nearly steals his breath.
“I guess I can’t be mad at you for needing to figure it out for yourself. Can I, Dorksta?” Noelle smiles at him as she speaks, and Asta feels his heart leap into his throat. His eyes travel across her blushing face, and he lingers (maybe longer than he should) on her, slightly parted, lips.
The anti-magic user feels his stomach flip, and his eyes snap back to Noelle’s. Her lip quivers, and she averts her gaze. Dainty hands slip from their hold on his elbows, and leave a path of goosebumps in their wake, as they come to rest on his shoulders. If anyone would have told Asta, two weeks ago, that these confessions would take place, or that he would be on the verge of kissing Noelle Silva after the Star Ceremony, he would have laughed in their face. Maybe even hit them with his anti-magic sword, in fear they were under some sort of spell.
Absolutely nothing could have prepared him for the way her eyes met his again, with a dazed expression, and something else that Asta did not have the words for. His own hold on her waist tightens just barely, and he sucks in another shaky breath.
“Can I..” The words fall short in his throat, but his eyes drop to her lips to hopefully convey his meaning. He notes the way her breath hitches, and her lips press together nervously. Her throat bobs lightly as she swallows, and Asta mind fogs over with a desire he has never experienced.
Noelle nods slowly, and there is a brief second where it feels like the world around them stops all together. Their noses brush together, and timid breaths mingle, and it feels like an eternity of nothing happening. No movements. No words.
And then Asta takes the leap. He tilts his head forward barely, a fraction of an inch- just enough to feel the whisper of Noelle’s lips against his, and his resolve snaps. His lips meet hers in an apprehensive kiss, unsure of what exactly he’s doing, but he does not care. Not when her lips are so soft, and her mouth fits perfectly against his, and his mind is screaming at him for taking so long to experience this with her. The tightly coiled anxiety from before melts away blissfully, and Asta doesn’t even try to hold back a grateful sigh.
They reluctantly break the kiss, breathing harder as their foreheads press against each other’s once again. Asta’s eyes remained closed as he smiles widely. His body is buzzing with an unfiltered happiness, and a deep rooted peace weaves naturally with his bones. The anti-magic user has a brief thought- He would live this life a thousand times over, if it meant he would relive this moment every single time.
Noelle is the first to break their comfortable quiet. “I really didn’t expect the night end up this way, after the festival.”
Asta nods agreeably. He himself could not have predicated the outcome of the night after their abrupt departure earlier. “Me too.”
One of the Silva’s hands unconsciously toys with the ash-blonde hair that falls at the back of Asta’s neck as she speaks thoughtfully. “After you left the base, I guess I wasn’t being so subtle about my bad mood. Vanessa tried to talk to me about it, but I kind of blew her off and stormed off to my room.”
A small shiver ripples down Asta’s spine at Noelle’s light touch. “Yeah, she ended up coming to find me instead. Found me crying on a rock, like an idiot, and set me straight.” Asta removes a hand from her waist, lifting it to her caress her pale cheek, and guiding her to meet his fierce eyes. “And I’m really glad she did.”
Noelle’s lips meet his again suddenly, in a more passionate kiss this time, as her fingers intertwine into his hair. Asta’s gasps into the kiss, before quickly gaining his composure and kissing her with an equal fervor. His hand drops back to her waist, and he tugs her smaller frame closer. Asta swallows a breathy sigh that escapes her lips at the contact, and feels as though the temperature in her bedroom is steadily increasing. This time, when the kiss breaks, the pair is left panting lightly and holding onto each other tight.
“I could seriously get used to this.” Asta mutters, and the unfamiliar huskiness to tone throws him off slightly.
His admission earns a soft giggle from Noelle, and a playful slap to the chest. “So?” Her tone is probing and hopeful, though the trepidation in her ki is painfully apparent. Asta shifts his hold on the Silva, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her to his chest in a secure, reassuring embrace.
“Whatever gets thrown at us next, I want to face it with you by my side.”
Noelle buries her face against Asta’s neck, and the anti-magic user notes the way she smells faintly of lavender and other florals, as he leans into her pale hair. Her arms are wrapped around his neck tight, and he can feel her smile tickling his skin.
“Like you ever wanted it any other way before.” She teases lightheartedly, but Asta simply shakes his head with an uncharacteristically loving smile.
“You’re right.” His response is met with a pinch to his side, as Noelle tucks herself further into him. Asta can only laugh, and strengthen his hold on her.
The air is different now. The magical and magicless duo are different now. And even with the uncertainty of their futures with the looming threat of the Eye of the Midnight Sun, Asta finds an overwhelming comfort in their new dynamic.
And he will stop at nothing to keep her safe.