"You're such a resolute little sister..." Vanessa's crimson eyes softened with compassion. Though she was already prepared—one of her red threads silently encircling the dagger in Nivier's hands—she hesitated. This time, she could stop the worst from happening. But what about the next?
"Asta, save her!" Noelle grabbed the edge of Asta's robe tightly. Her usually sharp eyes shimmered with tears. She couldn't help but feel a pang of longing. If only she had a bond with her siblings like this...
"Of course!" Asta grinned, full of conviction. He stepped forward with the kind of resolve that made people believe in miracles.
"D-Don't come any closer, Magic Knight!" Nivier stammered, the dagger trembling against her throat. But even in fear, her eyes burned with unshakable resolve.
"Let's go find your brother," Asta said warmly, extending a calloused but strong hand. "No matter how dangerous it is—if he's alive, I'll bring him back."
His words were simple, but his voice carried the unshakable weight of someone who never gives up.
"Really...? You're not just saying that so you can take my knife?" Nivier asked, her voice wavering. Her blue eyes locked onto Asta's with searching intensity.
"I swear it," Asta said, without hesitation.
"I... I believe in you." Her fingers trembled as she slowly lowered the dagger, then placed it into Asta's hand. The gesture sapped what little strength she had left.
For a moment, everything held its breath.
"Now!" barked Ross, and the militia captain lunged forward.
Nivier flinched, her heart thudding in panic. Was I deceived...?
But Asta didn't move.
Instead, he gently took Nivier's hand.
"Vanessa, you're okay with one more companion, right?" he asked cheerfully, glancing at the crimson-haired witch with a wink.
"As long as she's ready to come home alive, I've got no complaints." Vanessa grinned, leaning comfortably against Asta's shoulder.
The militia captain, mid-motion, froze in place—cold sweat dripping down his temple.
"Wh-What... Why can't I move...? That boy's eyes...!"
Ross blinked, frozen too. "Some kind of suppressive magic? But that can't be... I didn't even see him cast a spell...!"
Their limbs loosened only after a tense half-second—long enough for the moment to pass. But the message had been clear.
Nivier's life was not theirs to touch.
"Let's head out!" Asta said, stepping forward with purpose.
"Eh? Already?" Nivier blinked, caught off guard by how quickly they were moving.
"I'll lead the way then!" she said, quickly catching up.
"Magic Knights, here's the map of the ruins," Ross said quickly, handing over a worn parchment.
"Thanks," Vanessa replied, tucking the map away.
"Can they really rescue Chris...?" the militia captain muttered, watching the trio disappear. "They're just kids…"
"I don't know…" Ross murmured. "But that boy—he carries the aura of someone stronger than he looks. There's something... alive about him."
Neither of them noticed the two kunai embedded in the earth nearby, silent as shadows.
Under Nivier's guidance, Asta, Noelle, and Vanessa arrived at the base of a hillside.
"My brother went through this fork," Nivier said, pointing to an overgrown path. "It leads to the ancient battlefield. Most people think it's just a trail back to the village."
Asta's demonic anti-magic sword rested across his back. His amber eyes shimmered, then shifted—his Devil Union flickered in his irises, allowing him to feel the eeriness ahead.
"This path is quiet... too quiet," Asta muttered.
"I call it a trap." Vanessa flicked her finger, trailing a red thread subtly behind them.
"This better not be another suicide mission," Noelle muttered under her breath, arms crossed—but there was worry in her voice.
"I'm a princess, yes—but we're teammates now," she added with a proud tilt of her chin, glancing at Nivier.
"She's trying to be nice but still acts all tsundere," Asta whispered with a smirk. "Cute as always."
"Tch! Shut up, you muscle-headed peasant!" Noelle snapped, her face turning pink.
"Thank you, Brother Asta, Sister Vanessa, and Princess Noelle!" Nivier said, sincerely touched. "I didn't think high-ranking Magic Knights would be so kind to someone like me…"
Vanessa patted her head. "You're with us now. That's all that matters."
"This route here," Vanessa pointed at the map, "It leads straight to the center of the ruins—right into the most dangerous zone."
"My brother must've taken it to prove himself… He wanted the villagers to trust us." Nivier then reached into a hidden patch of grass and pulled out a wrapped bundle. "This is food I prepared for him. I left it here in case I had to go alone…"
"You were prepared to go in by yourself?" Noelle's voice cracked slightly. "You really are brave…"
"Thankfully, I don't have to anymore." Nivier smiled through tears.
"All right. Let's move." Asta raised his Demon Slayer Sword, clearing the thorny path with ease.
"Ugh, Asta! Do you have to raise all this dust?" Noelle coughed, fanning herself.
"When people sweep, they sprinkle water, right? So Noelle, could you help with that?" Asta teased.
"Ugh! Fine!" Noelle huffed, summoning a small water orb to settle the dust—before realizing how quickly she'd agreed. "Wait a second—don't boss me around like that!"
Vanessa chuckled quietly behind them.
"Such a lively group," Nivier whispered to herself. She stared at their backs with longing. Since childhood, it had always been just her and her brother. The villagers never liked them. She had never known what it was like to have... companions.
But maybe now, that was changing.
"You wouldn't think this path leads into the ruins of an ancient battlefield just by looking at the scenery," Noelle murmured, gazing out over the serene mountain view. The crisp air and lush trees were deceptively peaceful.
But just then, the water she'd used to dampen the path with her Water Creation Magic: Sea Dragon's Cradle (Lite) rippled erratically—far more than it should. Her violet eyes sharpened.
"That's odd... I'm not losing control, but the mana is fluctuating."
"Looks like Little Noelle noticed it too." Vanessa —known for her soft but perceptive nature—tossed her long lavender hair over one shoulder. Her tone was calm, but her gaze was alert.
"We've entered the edges of the ruins. The mana here is warped... It's the residual magic left behind from massive battles centuries ago. Some of it is even cursed. This kind of place messes with spells, even if you've got great control."
Noelle stiffened. "So the mana here is hostile?"
"Exactly," Vanessa nodded. "People call it 'dead mana'. It doesn't just resist you—it tries to bite back."
"But the road here was quiet…" Noelle muttered, glancing around. She hadn't felt threatened. Not until now.
Nivier, still clinging to the pack of supplies she carried for her brother, explained, "That's because this trail was carved long ago by our ancestors. It's a safe path—at least until you reach the boundary of the real ruins. But once you cross that line..." She glanced at the oddly shaped boulder up ahead, "Your sense of direction shatters. People get turned around, and many never return."
"Looks like we're just about there." Asta's voice cut in. His amber eyes had shifted again—into a dark red gleam, courtesy of his mysterious Sharingan-like ability. It wasn't canon to Black Clover, but for this fanfiction, it gave him the edge to detect distortions in mana around them.
Noelle moved ahead without hesitation—only to falter. "Wha… why do I feel like I'm going to puke…?" She staggered, but Asta's hand on her shoulder grounded her, instantly dispelling the dizziness.
"Little Asta's so cute when he's in serious mode" Vanessa leaned close, her voice sultry as she examined his eyes like a curious cat. "These red eyes of yours… They don't come from Clover Kingdom magic, do they?"
Asta, caught between embarrassment and confusion, turned away. "Vanessa, please! I'm still technically a kid, you know!"
"Well, someone's not calling me sister today, Must mean he's all grown up," she teased, pressing a finger to her lips in mock thought.
Noelle bristled behind them, a blush creeping over her face. "S-stop messing around! We're here on a mission!" she huffed.