"I-I swear, I wasn't looking!" Asta blurted, waving his hands defensively, eyes tightly shut. "My gaze is pure!"
Noelle sighed and wiped the excess potion from the girl's mouth with a handkerchief. "You're hopeless."
The girl's breathing stabilized, and her color returned, though she didn't wake up immediately.
"We should get her home first," Vanessa said.
"Leave it to me!" Asta declared, scooping the girl into his arms.
But he held her princess-style—his default for any unconscious girl.
"Change your posture, you idiot!" Noelle snapped, cheeks puffed out. "You don't carry people like that!"
"Uh—okay!" Asta fumbled, switching to a piggyback.
This only made things more awkward, and Noelle's expression twitched with rage.
The trio made their way up the winding path. The higher they climbed, the more apparent it became why flying was impossible—arcane thunderclouds loomed ominously, crackling with violent mana.
"It's easy to defend and hard to attack," Noelle said, glancing around. "This terrain is perfect for hiding."
"No wonder that enemy bandit group failed to get in," Vanessa added. "That Chris guy must be clever."
Eventually, they reached the fortified entrance to Hoshigami Village.
The village was surrounded by a barrier of magic, and a team of militiamen stood watch from behind a wooden palisade.
The gate was slightly ajar, but the tension in the air made it clear: outsiders weren't welcome casually.
"Halt!" barked the militia captain, raising his hand. "Why is Nivielle unconscious?"
"We're with the Black Bulls," Vanessa said, showing her insignia. "She fainted after greeting us. Must've been overwhelmed."
"The Magic Knights? That's great news!" the captain exclaimed. "Chris will be relieved! I'll inform the village elder right away."
"No need for all that," Vanessa waved. "Just let the elder know we're taking Nivielle home."
"Yes, of course!" the captain motioned to another guard to deliver the message, then turned to lead them in.
Asta, still carrying the girl, looked puzzled. "Why was she all the way out on the mountain road?"
"Because Chris is her older brother," the captain explained, his tone turning softer. "After he risked his life to lure the bandits away, she's been waiting on that road every single day… hoping someone would come."
A silence fell between them.
Even Vanessa lowered her flask.
"…I see," Asta said, tightening his grip on the girl slightly. "Then let's make sure her wait wasn't in vain."
****
"So that's how it is... then do you have anything to say about the ruins of the ancient battlefield?" Asta asked seriously, his brows furrowed with concern. Beside him, Noelle Silva and Vanessa Enoteca stood silently, their attention focused on the militia captain. It wasn't just Asta—everyone wanted answers.
The militia captain hesitated. "I don't know much, really. Only the village head of Lozia—Ross—can give you detailed information." He glanced at their expectant faces and, sensing he hadn't been helpful, sighed. "But… I can at least tell you how this all started."
*****
"About half a month ago, a group of bandits surrounded the village," the captain began gravely. "They didn't break in, but they cut us off from the outside world. No supplies, no escape. Worst of all… our water source was blocked. The whole village was on the brink of collapse."
Noelle's eyes narrowed. "There was no one with Water Magic in the village?"
"The river at the base of the mountain is our only source. The bandits… they brought strange magic tools. They must've stolen them from a black market. The tools completely nullified elemental magic near the perimeter—including water spells. We were helpless. If it hadn't been for Chris…"
"Chris?" Asta tilted his head.
The captain nodded. "Chris infiltrated the ruins to draw the bandits in… and buy us time. Thanks to him, they lost focus. But he hasn't come back."
Just then, a soft groan interrupted them.
"Brother…?" Nivier stirred weakly, her lashes fluttering. She realized she was being carried. At first, the firm shoulder beneath her felt familiar. But when she caught sight of silver-white hair, her heart raced.
Not red… this isn't my brother!
Only one person in the Clover Kingdom had hair like that—Asta, the boy blessed by anti-magic. And more than his appearance, it was the sheer force of his presence—raw, unwavering—that made her cheeks burn.
"You're awake, Nivier," Asta said warmly.
"Thank you, Magic Knight-sama," she mumbled, blushing deeply. "I can walk now… really."
Though she tried to hide her flustered demeanor, Vanessa and Noelle exchanged amused glances.
"No need to force yourself. Looks like we're almost there anyway," Asta replied, glancing ahead as the militia captain stopped in front of a stone archway overgrown with moss and ancient sigils.
At the entrance to the village outskirts, Vanessa stepped forward. "Nivier, you were waiting here for us?"
"Yes," Nivier said, her voice trembling with both fear and determination. "Please, take me with you into the ruins of the ancient battlefield!"
Noelle blinked. "That's out of the question. It's far too dangerous for civilians."
"But I'm not just anyone!" Nivier's gaze sharpened. "My brother and I share a rare bond. A kind of... telepathic connection. I can feel where he is. If you bring me with you, I can guide you straight to him!"
Vanessa paused, intrigued. "Telepathy? That's rare even in noble bloodlines…"
She glanced at Noelle, then at Asta, who didn't object. Vanessa knew the ruins weren't ordinary. These weren't like the floating dungeon they'd explored before—this was an ancient battlefield, far more dangerous and unpredictable than even the Underwater Temple or the Dungeon in the Forsaken Realm.
Magic circles gone haywire, cursed traps, lingering malice from long-forgotten wars—few returned alive from such places.
"Even nobles wouldn't willingly enter this place," Vanessa thought aloud. "But my Thread Magic can lead us out if things go south. That's the only reason I even agreed to come..."
"No! You mustn't let her go!" a voice shouted.
An older man rushed toward them. He had sun-leathered skin and wore a worn but dignified cloak. "I'm Ross, head of Lozia village. Chris is my responsibility—he's the pride of this village. But Nivier is his only family left. If anything happened to her…"
"Ross is right," the militia captain added quickly. "Our ancestors have mapped parts of the ruins—there are safe zones inside. We believe Chris stayed within them. If the bandits followed him, they'll get trapped first. He knows the ruins better than anyone!"
Vanessa frowned. "That might be true… but if Chris went deep, it's because he had no choice."
"No one knows that place like I do!" Nivier suddenly cried out. "My brother didn't take any food. He hasn't drunk water in over a day. If we don't help him now, he'll die!"
Silence followed, heavy and painful.
Ross looked down. "We already failed him once. If we don't act now… we'll lose him. I'm going with you."
He pulled out a worn scroll and handed it to Vanessa. "This map was left by our ancestors. It marks three known deadly zones, and some of the safest paths."
"It's now or never," he said grimly.
"I'll come too!" Nivier stepped forward.
"No," Ross said, his voice shaking. "Go home, child. Let the Magic Knights handle it."
"I'm not a child!" she snapped, then… she leapt off Asta's back.
From her sleeve, she pulled a small dagger and held it to her neck. Gasps erupted around them.
"Don't come any closer!" she warned. "If you lock me up or leave me behind… I'll end it here!"
"Nivier, stop!" the militia captain begged.
"She's serious…" Asta murmured, stepping closer slowly. "She's scared—but she's brave. Just like I was once."
Ross fell to his knees. "If we lose her too…"
"Please…" Nivier whispered through tears. "I'm not afraid of dying. But I can't live knowing I didn't try."
Noelle clenched her fists. "Vanessa…"
The witch sighed. "Tch. Fine. But Nivier stays behind the front lines. If things go south, she follows my thread out. No arguments."
Nivier nodded quickly, lowering the dagger. "Thank you…"
Asta smiled. "Then let's go. Chris is waiting."