Magic Knights Selection Exam Arena...
Spectator Booth...
The grand viewing platform overlooked the massive arena, packed with spectators and hopeful examinees.
High above, seated in a lavishly adorned booth,
The Magic Knight Captains had begun to gather—
Each in their unique attire, radiating authority and a magical presence.
All were present… except Yami Sukehiro, the ever-late rogue of the Black Bulls.
Several captains lounged back in their chairs, engaged in mild conversation.
Nozel Silva leaned forward, brushing invisible dust from his polished uniform while murmuring to Jack the Ripper,
Who chuckled at something grim.
Gueldre Poizot simply watched in silence, arms crossed.
"Compared to previous years,"
Muttered one of the captains,
"The pool of new recruits looks thin. All squads are practically full this year."
"Except for a few…"
Added Gueldre, voice dripping with arrogance.
"Black Bulls. Green Mantis. Purple Orca. The usual misfits."
He smirked.
Smirk~
"If any of these rookies want to impress, they'd better show us something exceptional."
Meanwhile, at the corner of the booth, a quieter but more personal conversation was unfolding.
Charlotte Roselei, ever-poised in her Blue Rose uniform, sat with Sol Marron close by, who was halfway through juggling grapes into her mouth while trying to cheer her up.
Across from them,
Dorothy Unsworth of the Coral Peacocks had just finished reading a letter—
Written on elegant, magically-sealed parchment.
"It's from the Witch Queen."
Dorothy murmured, her voice dreamlike but laced with curiosity.
"She asked me to pass a message to King Ben… She wants to speak with him. Urgently."
Charlotte's head turned sharply.
"____"
"The Witch Queen?"
She echoed, frowning.
Frown~
"That woman never interacts with men. Not unless she has something dark and dangerous in mind…"
Her brows knitted tighter.
The very mention of the Witch Queen requesting a meeting with Ben stirred something unpleasant in her chest—
A tight knot of unease and jealousy she didn't want to admit.
"____"
Sol leaned forward, clearly noticing Charlotte's troubled expression.
"Hey, don't let it bother you, Captain!"
Sol grinned.
"Even a crazy forest witch would be lucky to breathe the same air as Ben! But let's be honest—he's your guy!"
She gave Charlotte a playful wink and elbowed her lightly.
Wink~
Charlotte sighed, trying to dismiss the irrational churn in her heart.
Sigh~
"____"
"Still… this is the first time I've ever heard of the Witch Queen showing interest in any man—especially him."
As she turned her gaze down toward the arena,
She whispered beneath her breath—
"Whatever her reason is… it better not be a threat."
Entrance of the Arena...
The noise outside the arena was a chaotic blend of chatter, footsteps, and hopeful excitement—
Hundreds of examinees and spectators buzzed around the entrance, lining up for entry or watching from the plaza.
Suddenly, a low rumble of hooves and wheels caught everyone's attention.
From the main boulevard,
A grand royal carriage approached—
Gilded in gold, adorned with the Clover Kingdom's crest, and flanked by a formidable escort of Royal Knights in pristine armour.
At the front rode Captain Darius, his face stoic and his sword at his side, eyes scanning the crowd for any threat.
"I-Is that the king's carriage?"
Someone whispered in the crowd.
"Yes, he is here!"
Gasps and murmurs spread like wildfire as the procession came to a halt before the arena gates.
Citizens parted like waves, giving the royal convoy respectful space.
From the coachman's seat,
Butler Harry—
Immaculately dressed as always—
Stepped down and opened the carriage door with practised grace.
"We've arrived, Your Highness,"
He said, bowing.
With calm dignity, Ben stepped out.
Clad in elegant royal attire embroidered with magical runes, his presence drew immediate attention.
His aura—
Refined, calm, and quietly powerful—
Radiated confidence.
The murmurs grew louder as examinees and citizens turned to look, eyes wide with awe.
"It's really him…"
"So young, and he carries himself like that… incredible…"
"No wonder the nobles talk about him like a legend…"
Ben nodded politely to a few citizens who bowed deeply.
Nod~
"____"
Without a word, he walked past the onlookers, flanked by his guards.
The Royal Knights parted to clear his path, and Darius followed close behind, his hand resting lightly on his weapon—
Ever vigilant.
As Ben entered the arena, the atmosphere changed.
A hush fell for just a moment before it surged with energy.
Excitement rippled through the crowd, and whispers spread even inside the arena.
"The king's here… this year's selection might be more intense than anyone expected…"
As Ben ascended the marble steps leading to the spectator booth, the air seemed to shift once again.
Spectator Booth...
The Magic Knight Captains—
Already seated in their designated spots—
Rose to their feet and offered a respectful salute.
"Your Highness."
Ben nodded gracefully, offering a calm, confident smile as he walked toward the centre of the booth.
Nod~
"____"
His seat, finely crafted with gold and deep green velvet, stood beside an identical—
Yet currently vacant—
Chair marked with the Wizard King's sigil.
The captains returned to their seats as Ben settled in.
Beside him sat Captain Charlotte Roselei, dignified as always, her posture perfect and composed—
Though her eyes subtly drifted toward him.
Without turning her head,
She leaned in ever so slightly and whispered beneath the hum of the crowd.
"I need to speak with you… After the exam. It's about something important."
Ben glanced at her, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"____"
"Mysterious,"
He murmured with a soft smirk.
"I look forward to it."
Before she could pull back, he leaned in closer and, with the same subtlety, pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek—
Quick, but warm.
Charlotte's eyes widened, and the tips of her ears flushed pink.
Her perfectly composed demeanour cracked for just a second, and her face turned an unmistakable shade of crimson.
Around them,
The captains responded with the most elaborate display of feigned ignorance ever witnessed.
Fuegoleon casually cleared his throat while pretending to admire the arena's architecture.
Dorothy yawned theatrically and covered her eyes with her oversized sleeves.
Kaiser coughed into his glove, muttering something about the weather.
And Nozel adjusted his gloves with exaggerated focus, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
Charlotte, flustered but trying her best to remain dignified, crossed her arms and looked away.
"You're impossible,"
She muttered under her breath.
Ben chuckled softly, resting back in his seat as the announcer's voice echoed through the arena.
Chuckle~
"Let the Magic Knight Entrance Exam… begin!"
As soon as Ben's words left his lips, a quiet tension filled the arena.
All eyes turned to Captain William Vangeance, who had been seated in still silence—
His mask-covered face was unreadable.
"____"
Without a word, William stood.
The rustle of his cape caught the wind as he walked gracefully toward the edge of the balcony.
The murmuring crowd fell into silence, sensing that something was about to begin.
William extended his hand.
His grimoire, glowing with a soft golden hue, floated beside him—
Its pages fluttering open on their own.
A radiant pulse of mana surged through the air, and then…
BOOM.
From the sky above, a massive tree of light descended—
Its trunk is ethereal, its branches spanning like veins of gold.
The crowd gasped in awe as shimmering roots stretched downward, glowing like vines from heaven.
"____"
"____"
"____"
The roots snaked through the air, splitting and extending until they reached the arena floor—
Hundreds of examinees below watching in stunned silence.
As the roots touched the ground, they twisted and reshaped, each one forming into a sleek, flying broom that gently hovered beside each examinee,
Aligning with their ears as if calling to them personally.
William's voice finally echoed through the arena, calm yet commanding.
"Welcome, examinees. I am William Vangeance, Captain of the Golden Dawn."
He paused, eyes scanning the sea of young hopefuls below.
"The first test is simple—but critical. You must show basic proficiency in flight using the brooms provided to you. A Magic Knight must be able to manoeuvre through the air with control, clarity, and confidence."
He let the silence linger before continuing.
"If you are unable to fly—if you cannot even command your mana enough to lift from the ground—you are unfit to be a Magic Knight. We will not waste time on those who lack the fundamental potential."
He turned away, returning to his seat without another word.
In the arena, a mix of tension and determination surged among the examinees.
Some cracked their knuckles, ready to rise.
Others broke into a sweat, suddenly aware of how much was riding on this moment.
And amidst them,
Yuno calmly placed one hand on his broom…
While Asta clenched his fists, grinning widely.
The arena buzzed with anticipation as the examinees began the first test.
Across the field, brooms trembled and hovered uncertainly—
Some shooting into the air, others barely twitching.
Many struggled, awkwardly wobbling in midair as they tried to balance themselves.
Nervous magic pulses flickered from their hands as they attempted to channel mana into flight.
But amidst the chaos, one figure soared with serene confidence.
Yuno.
Effortlessly, he stood upright on his broom—
"____"
Arms crossed, cloak fluttering in the breeze.
He wasn't even holding the broom with his hands.
His mana flowed so naturally that it was as if he had been born flying.
The captains in the spectator booth leaned forward, impressed.
"Is he… standing?"
Murmured Fuegoleon, his eyes narrowing with interest.
"Tch. Show-off,"
Sol muttered under her breath, though she couldn't hide her grin.
Noble kids followed suit—
Not as elegant as Yuno, but stable in their flight.
It was clear they'd trained for this moment for years.
Then came the sound.
A deep, guttural roar echoed across the arena.
The ground trembled slightly.
Heads turned.
The captains looked at each other in confusion.
It sounded like someone was either giving birth… or going Super Saiyan.
"AAAAAAARGHHHHHHHHHH!!"
At the centre of attention was Asta—
Veins bulging, fists clenched, eyes nearly popping out of his skull.
He was screaming at his broom, as if trying to will it into the air by sheer force of will.
"YOU'RE GONNA FLY!! I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE JUST A STICK—I'LL MAKE YOU FLY!!"
He jumped onto it, immediately fell flat on his face, and got up again—
Panting, trembling, but unrelenting.
"I AM GOING TO BE THE WIZARD KING!!"
Laughter rippled through the examinees.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Some pointed.
Others shook their heads.
But the captains—
Especially Ben, Yami, who had just arrived late, and Dorothy—
Watched curiously.
"That guy's got guts,"
Ben remarked, amused.
"He's an idiot."
Charlotte said flatly.
"But I'll give him one thing—he doesn't give up."
"Heh…"
Yami chuckled, scratching his chin.
Chuckle~
"He's got something more important than talent."
Back in the field, Asta continued his war cry, determined to make his broom fly—
Refusing to be left behind.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************
(Author's POV)
(A/N)Thanks for reading the chapter!
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