Chapter Text
Society is built around mana and magic. The more mana someone has, the more they are praised, and the more they can contribute to society. Forget about hard work. If there's magic, and a lot of it, nothing else matters.
Having no mana isn't a curse; it's a death sentence. At least, that's what society thinks. Without mana, without magic, a person is worth nothing. A person isn't even worthy enough to live.
Having no mana may be a death sentence, but Astara has fought, clawed, and bitten her way to making it her ability. Her gift.
Maybe that's why she has Anti Magic. Or maybe it's simply a trigger for something worse fate has in store for her. Whatever the case is, Astara can't do anything about it, so she'll use it to do everything and anything she wants to do. Fate is stupid anyway.
Maybe that's why she had been gifted the ability to feel mana. To see it; hear it; taste it; smell it. Everything except to actually being able to touch it... or turn the ability off. Then, maybe it's a curse.
No one else can feel the exact moment someone's mana–basically someone's soul–leaves their body. No one else can feel that void. No one else can feel the agony.
Astara doesn't understand why those mages killed themselves... for loyalty to a leader and a faction they have no information about. She had thought, before, that people who die can feel their own mana leave them. But now, she's pretty sure it's just her who can feel it. It doesn't make any sense.
"–chan?"
How could they care so little for life? Not only their fellow humans, but themselves? Do they not realize how precious life is? How hard it is to keep life living? How excruciating it is to have to take a life when there are no other options?
"Astara?"
She refuses to accept them as people worthy of her grief. She refuses to accept them and their lives.
Life is precious and life is temporary. It is not something anyone can take without consequence and it is not something anyone can give without consequence. Not the kingdom, certainly not the royal family, and definitely not her.
"Asta!" Astara startles horribly at the shout and is halfway through lifting her arms to protect her face when she remembers where she was.
She rapidly blinks and stares at Magna with wide eyes. He looked worried.
Astara glances around and realizes everyone was staring at her. She quickly lowers her arms and smiles brightly.
"I'm so sorry! Did you ask me something? I got lost in my thoughts," Astara asks while ringing her gloved hands in front of her. "Oh! Finral-senpai! Vanessa-nēsan! When did you get here? Did they find anything?"
"We... we just got back, Asta-chan! They couldn't find anything on the pocket watch," Finral exclaims before laughing sheepishly.
"Aw, really? Well... at least we know that they were a part of some kind of faction!" Astara states with a beaming smile.
"Yes..." Vanessa glances over at Finral before smiling, "but we can determine they were all high status from your descriptions of them."
"So they're royalty or nobles," Magna states with a scowl.
"Yes."
Astara frowns with a small sigh before she suddenly feels something sprout out from the collar of her robe. She glances over and blinks when she sees the Anti-Magic bird that had basically attacked her back at Saussy.
"Oh? Who's this little guy? He's adorable!" Vanessa gushes suddenly.
"Why did you follow us?! And how's it adorable?!" Astara exclaims, still upset about the bird slamming that stone against her neck.
"I-it is adorable!" Noelle defends the bird before it starts to peck at Astara's neck, again.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Can you please stop?! You little–" Astara rapidly waves her hand over her shoulder, making the bird fly off.
"Hey, come here," Noelle calls out sweetly, only for the bird to completely avoid her.
"If you want to stay, then you have to stop pecking at me!" Astara frowns before crossing her arms. "It hurts and I don't want this blouse ruined! It was a gift."
"You can't blame such a cute bird for damaging those common clothes!" Noelle exclaims, making Astara turn her head towards the royal.
"It's not cute! And I can blame the bird all I like if it does end up ruining this blouse!"
"The both of you are too loud, so shut up!" Captain Yami shouts over the two teenagers, slamming his fist against the stone wall behind him. A large hole is made from the explosive force behind his punch.
"Sorry!" Astara and Noelle speak at the same time while bowing.
"Alright, listen up." Yami claps his hands like he's gaining the attention of a few kids. "It doesn't matter if the ones behind this are royalty or nobility. We're going to let the Investigation Department take care of this, and we'll wait for their report. More importantly, I've got some good news."
"Good news?" Astara clasps her hands beneath her chin and slightly bounces in her place. Oh, she loves good news!
"Wanna hear it?"
"Yes! What is it?!" Astara asks with mounting excitement, trying her best to keep herself from bouncing everywhere.
"Keep it contained, keep it contained, keep it contained, keep it contained–"
"Your actions have been acknowledged by the Wizard King himself!" Yami announces with a cool smirk.
Astara gasps loudly before jumping up and down with stars practically surrounding her. "The Wizard King?! Really?!"
"You've been given a star!"
"Whoa, seriously?! Alright!" Magna cheers loudly.
"Yay!" Astara cheers even louder with her fist pumped in the air. She claps her hands with a bright laugh and an even brighter grin.
Noelle flicks her hair over her shoulder, appearing like this wasn't a big deal at all. Her frantic mana says otherwise, but Astara isn't one to snitch.
"Wow."
"Congrats, Asta-chan!" Finral cheers with a smile of his own.
Astara continues to smile as she holds her hands behind her back. "So, what are stars?"
"Don't get so excited if you don't know what they are!" Magna states with a small scowl. Astara pouts, returning his glare with one of her own.
"Then don't get excited about it before explaining it to me!"
"Stars are awarded by the Wizard King based on our performance." Vanessa walks over to explain.
"What are they good for?" Astara asks with a head tilt.
"Well... They're like an honor," Vanessa explains with a small shrug.
Astara gasps again. "Honor?!"
"That's right, Asta! Honor!" Magna wraps an arm around Astara's shoulders, making her almost fully contain a flinch. "It's a badge of honor for a man!"
"We're both ladies," Noelle points out flippantly.
Magna pulls Astara in front of him without batting an eye, making her flinch again. "It's a badge of honor for men and women!"
"That makes no sense," Noelle says quietly, not really surprised.
"The various Magic Knights squads compete to get the most stars," Vanessa continues her explanation with a smile on her face. Her eyes were slightly sharp, though, watching Astara's movements and demeanor.
"The number of stars indicates how much work a squad has done," Finral adds, making Astara hum brightly.
"Oh! That makes sense!"
"Speaking of, Golden Dawn is currently at the top with seventy stars." Astara blinks at the high number Vanessa stated.
"Seventy? That sounds like a lot..." Astara smiles again and rushes over to Captain Yami.
"What about us? How many do the Black Bulls have?" Astara jumps from foot to foot with a determined fire in her eyes. "We can't lose to Golden Dawn! And knowing Yuno, he'll want to increase that number when he finds out!"
Yami chuckles before holding up the star to let it float towards the board. "We finally have a nice, even negative thirty."
"N-negative?!" Astara exclaims with a hand over her heart. Noelle gasps in shock, staring at the board of black stars.
"We're finally only a hundred away from the Golden Dawn," Yami continues proudly, as if it was a record.
Astara bites her lip, staring at the black stars before she rapidly shakes her head. She slaps her own cheeks before turning around on her heel. She reaches over and grabs Noelle's hands with her own.
"Noelle! We're gonna work together and get a hundred stars–no, over a hundred!" Astara declares with a wide grin and bright eyes.
Noelle blinks rapidly before jumping slightly. "E-eh? W-wait, Astara–that–we can never reach a hundred stars!"
"We will! I won't let Yuno win!" Astara exclaims with a fist raised in the air. She'd rather go ice fishing, in her summer clothes!
"Hey. Calm down. There's one other thing." Yami reaches over to place a hand on Astara's head, only for the teenager to stumble back with her hands close to her chest and her eyes wide with fear. Panic strikes her face before it's quickly covered by a smile.
"S-sorry. What is it?" Astara asks while ringing her gloved hands.
"...here's your pay for this month," Yami says eventually, holding out a large pouch full of money. Astara blinks and barely has time to hold out her hands before the pouch is dropped.
"Oh wow!" Astara gasps in shock as she opens the pouch. "By the Gods and the Merciful Stars, I thank you for thy fortune! There's at least 200,000 yuls here!"
The other Black Bulls give their thanks in their own ways while Astara continues to stare at the money. Her money.
The church has never owned more than 10,000 yuls... and here she is, holding a bag with at least 200,000 yuls.
Astara swallows back the burning in the back of her throat. "I can... I can finally start paying Father and Sister back for all that they've done for me..."
"‒morrow's gonna be a day off, so don't let it go to waste." Astara focuses back onto reality when she starts to feel her captain's mana trail away.
"Oh. Brat," Yami turns around with a drag from his cigarette before he points it outside, "there's something we gotta talk about."
Astara stills for a moment, staring at the captain. She blinks once before plastering a smile on her face and walks forward.
"Okay!" Her hands shake around her bag of money.
"It could be nothing. It could be nothing. He isn't going to be angry. He's already seen my Anti Magic and has no qualms with it. He won't do anything. He won't, he won't, he really won't!" Astara keeps her posture perfectly straight. No mishaps. She can show no mishaps. Just in case.
Captain Yami leads the way back to the base entrance, away from the loud celebration inside the base. It isn't until they reach the closed doors that they stop.
"S-so‒" Astara's words get stuck in her throat before she clears it and starts again "y-you... what did you need to talk about?"
She doesn't quite stop herself from flinching when her captain turns around, but she contains it enough for it to appear like she was startled by his sudden turn. Her smile stays plastered on her face, and she knows she isn't quite stopping her terror from seeping into her expression.
"Magna says you reacted quite... severely to those mages' suicides," Yami states bluntly. Astara messes with the string of her bag full of money, her eyes focusing on the crow's feet next to Yami's eyes. It somewhat calms her; he must smile a lot after all.
Astara forces a smile on her face with a shaky breath. "I had not... e-expected it... but, i-it's okay! I‒um‒I-I didn't... prepare myself beforehand. I mean‒well, the mission was obviously a lot more dangerous than expected and‒and I‒well I never expected‒dying like that for such an horrific belief is‒anyways, with my ability, you‒I can sense mana and‒I can sense when someone's mana‒there is no mana when someone‒and I can usually prepare myself for it! B-but I didn't think‒it was just so sudden and I never‒people shouldn't think so little of their own‒of human lives and‒"
A void surrounds Astara‒no mana, no light. Only darkness, only protection‒before something is placed on top of her head. "Astara, breathe."
Astara startles harshly at the contact and it causes her body to subconsciously take a breath. She wheezes for a moment, her lungs burning in pain at the sudden intake of air. Astara breathes in again and flinches at the feeling of her cheeks going cold when she breathes out of her nose. She presses a hand to her cheek and feels something soak into her gloves. Tears. She's crying?
"S-s-sorry, I‒" Astara sniffs and furiously wipes away her tears "‒I-I'm okay. I just‒I just wasn't expecting it. I'm sorry for crying f-for those mages' deaths. I-I shouldn't be, I know. It‒it's still overwhelming‒sensing a sudden mana vacuum is overwhelming."
She shakes her head and rolls back her shoulders, taking a deep breath. The hand Yami placed on her hand stays for a second longer before it's taken off. If Astara had looked up, she would see the dark gleam in her captain's eyes.
"People cry, brat. It's a natural thing. No one's gonna get upset if you cry for a person's death, even if they weren't good people. It just means you're a good person. You're allowed to punch anyone who tells you otherwise, got it?" Captain Yami states, poking Astara right over her heart. The ash blonde jumps and snaps her head up, eyes wide in her surprise. She smiles brightly, if a bit shaky, and nods her head.
"Understood, Captain!"
Yami smirks before he takes a drag of his cigarette. He tilts his head up and blows the smoke up into the stars.
"I ain't good with emotional shit, brat. But, if you ever need someone to talk to, tell me and I'll arrange something. Got it?"
Astara nods her head again, her smile not dimming, but becoming softer. "I'm okay, Captain. Promise."
"And I'll be prepared for it next time... I won't let it catch me off guard again," She adds as a personal promise. She let down her guard now that she's a Magic Knight. Just because she's protected from most of the dangers she grew up with, didn't mean she can just let herself forget about them all.
"Now, get inside. You were crying and now you're smiling. It's creepy."
Astara giggles quietly before she gives a small bow. She opens one of the front doors and walks into the base.
"Oh, and it may take you a bit to find him, but there's another Bull around. He's bedridden most days, and he drains ambient mana to survive. Since you don't have any, it's probably safe for you to meet him," Yami adds, making Astara turn to stare at his back.
"House-senpai? Alright, thank you sir!" Astara states brightly before she closes the door behind her. Once the door is shut, she leans against it with a heavy breath.
"He wasn't mad. He wasn't mad... he was–he was just worried. I'm okay. I'm okay..." Astara breathes deeply before she shakes her head. She looks down at the money in her hands and a smile grows on her face.
"Oh! Astara~! It's good to see you alive and well after having a talk with Captain!" Astara jumps at the sudden statement, snapping her head up as Vanessa wraps an arm around her shoulders. She flinches, but she doesn't avoid the touch.
"Vanessa-nēsan! Were–were you waiting for me?"
Vanessa giggles with a small lilt, clearly a bit tipsy. "Well, I wanted to inform you that I'm taking you and Noelle out tomorrow to go shopping! You got your first pay after all~!"
Astara blinks before she smiles softly. She looks back down at her money before she shakes her head.
"Thank you... but I'm sending all of this back home. Sister and Father need it more than I do," Astara says, smiling up at the thread witch.
Vanessa blinks before puffing out her cheeks in a pout. Ah, she's a little bit more than tipsy.
"Astara~! It's a wonderful thing to send money back home... but they would want you to spend some on yourself! This is your money."
Astara stares at the woman with wide eyes before looking back down at the money. Spending money... on herself?
She opens her mouth, only to close it again. She's never... she's never bought something for herself. Astara is more than happy with creating what she needs or wants with the things around her.
"I... I don't–but... but what if something happens at the church? And the money I send isn't enough? I can't... I don't..." Astara bites her lip. "Sister and Father have done so much for me... and now I can finally pay them back."
She can probably save some money... just in case she needs to send some more home or to buy some necessities later down the line. But... buying something for herself? Buying something she wants, but doesn't exactly need... it doesn't feel right...
"How about you send the money home after our shopping trip? If you find one thing you like, you can buy it and then send the rest of your money home. We can start small," Vanessa suggests with a gentle tone. Her lazy mana curls around Astara with a warm purr, comforting and reassuring in its relaxed nature.
"W-would that be okay? I..." Astara takes a deep breath before shaking herself out of her worry, "...okay. We can try that. B-but if I don't find anything I like, I-I can still send all the money home, right?"
"Well, you should save some in case of emergencies, but yes."
Astara sighs, the tension seeping out of her shoulders. She smiles up at Vanessa before she suddenly yawns.
Vanessa giggles and puts some of her weight on the ash blonde. "You had a long day, little kitten~! How about I get you a drink before you go to bed?"
"Vanessa-nēsan, I'm 15." Despite the uncomfortable offer, Astara feels warm in her chest. She can tell the thread witch just wants to help her relax, even if it's not the... best way.
"Oh~ come on! Astara, I need a drinking buddy!" Vanessa whines as Astara starts to walk through the bar entrance.
"Good night, Vanessa-nēsan."
"Good night, Astara~!" Vanessa calls back with a wave.
Astara continues to smile as she walks up to the second floor. This squad... she really did choose the right one.
_____
"So cool~!" Astara squeals loudly, stars in her eyes and practically forming around her. "It's still so amazing!"
She clasps her hands in front of her with a gasp. She rushes over to a window display before something else across the way catches her eye and she sprints over.
"It's very lively," Noelle says nervously, walking next to Vanessa while ignoring Astara basically teleporting all around them.
Astara laughs and stumbles back into line with her squad mates. "The kids would love this! I hope Yuno and I will be able to bring them here!"
"Kids?"
Astara beams with the light of the very sun. She nods her head with pure joy in her eyes.
"The kids back at the church! Recca is the smartest out of all of us and Nash is such a cutie! And little Aruru is adorable and Hollo is just the sweetest!" The teenager gushes about her foster siblings. "Sister and Father foster them just as they had fostered me and Yuno! Oh, they've never been outside of Hage, but they would love this!"
Astara spins around with her arms outstretched and a sunny smile. She turns to face her fellow squadmates, stars filling her eyes and her hands clasping in front of her chest.
"Where are we going? Are we going somewhere new? Or cool? Ooh! You have those... clothing stores, right? I've never been in one! Are they as colorful as people say?! Oh! And what about those.... those caf...fes... Cafes. Yes! Cafe! I hear they sell this drink called caw-fee. Is it–" Vanessa giggles brightly as she covers Astara's mouth with her gloved hand. Astara continues to talk for a few moments before she realizes the hand was covering her mouth.
"Such excitement for shopping! I feel a bit sad you haven't done it before..." Vanessa pulls back her hand to poke Astara's nose. "Let me get my shopping done, and then we can explore a bit. I only need a few things."
Astara rapidly nods her head as she jumps up and down. "Of course! What things are you getting? Will you need any help carrying anything?"
"Stupidsta, you talk too much," Noelle states with an eye roll before she flicks one of her pigtails over her shoulder. Astara pouts before she huffs, crossing her arms.
"I only wish to help!" They start to walk past a beautifully decorated boutique. "I doubt I'll be getting any...thing..."
Astara slows to a stop in front of one of the window displays. She stares with wide eyes before she steps closer.
Blues. Greens. Purples. Reds. And so many other colors; some she doesn't even know the name of. The window display is nearly filled to the brim with fabrics of all different textures, patterns, colors, sizes, and types.
Sitting in the center is an odd sort of contraption. Something Astara's never really seen before. It was in the shape of a square corner, a piece stuck out towards the other end with a needle attached. There was a wheel on the back of it and it was painted a beautiful black with gold designs.
"Oh? What a beautiful sewing machine!" Vanessa's voice startles Astara out of her reverie.
She turns her head, still wide-eyed, before tilting it. "Sewing... machine?"
"How much of a peasant can you get?" Noelle asks somewhat crudely while crossing her arms. "It's a machine that sews."
Astara blinks before she silently turns back to stare at the sewing machine. She looks at it for a moment longer before she starts to inspect the fabrics.
Even with glass blocking her from fully inspecting the bolts of fabric, she can tell they are the highest quality she has ever seen. Better than the fabric of her gifted clothes. And Astara has a feeling they aren't even the highest quality in Clover.
"Would you like to see how much the machine costs? Though, I hope you know I'll fix any tears or rips free of charge!" Vanessa states with a bright smile.
Astara blinks again before she returns the smile with her own. "Thank you, but as long as I have some needles and thread, I can sew just about anything. I don't need the machine... but I want to know how much the bolts of fabric cost... i-if you don't–if you don't mind..."
"This is a shopping day for us all! There's no need to be so shy about it. Let's go!" Vanessa giggles before she opens the boutique. Astara smiles brightly and walks in next with Noelle following behind her.
"If something tears, why don't you just get something new? The value is already worthless once it tears. Fixing it would be pointless," Noelle points out with barely a glance towards any of the colorful fabrics lining the shelves.
"It's too expensive. Even getting enough fabric to patch up a hole or getting enough thread to stitch up a tear could cost at least 10 yuls, sometimes 20 yuls. 10 yuls could be made in about two weeks, but 20? That's at least a month and a half of farmwork," Astara explains cheerfully, stopping momentarily to feel the texture of a beautiful emerald sheer fabric. She hums thoughtfully before continuing to walk through the store.
"There are things that cost that little? That's practically free," Noelle mutters in shock, going unnoticed as an older woman steps out from the back of the boutique. Part of her graying hair is braided into a crown and the rest is pulled back into a large bun. She wore a blue dirndl with a white blouse and a pair of clogs.
"Welcome! Oh? Magic Knights? Why hello! I am the owner, Mera. How may I be of service?" Mera introduces herself sweetly. Astara smiles brightly, clasping her gloved hands in front of her.
"Hello! I was wondering how much your fabric costs? And if you have any sewing kits?"
"Well, it all depends on the type of fabric you get, though... if I recall, your senior here is a Thread Witch. You shouldn't need any sewing kits, let alone fabric!" Mera exclaims with a small laugh. "Really, only peasants hand-sew anything anymore!"
Astara giggles brightly, still keeping her hands clasped in front of her. "Then, it's a good thing I'm a peasant, Miss Mera! And I know Vanessa-nēsan could make anything if I asked, which I appreciate, but sewing is a hobby of mine!"
"O-oh... really?" Mera laughs nervously. An awkward silence fills the boutique as Astara continues to smile patiently.
"W-well... you‒you could have fooled me!" Mera forces out in a joking manner. "Y-you certainly keep yourself... clean."
"Most peasants do. It's simply a daily practice to bathe after a day of harsh farm-work," Astara easily states without so much as a twitch or flicker of anger or offense.
Mera laughs again, even more awkward, and nods her head. "Y-yes... I suppose you're correct... Now, what kind of fabric are you looking for?"
Not even twenty minutes later, Astara walks out first, beaming brightly with bags full of fabric and a sewing kit hanging from her arms and a somewhat annoyed Vanessa trailing behind with an off-put Noelle right behind her. She got quite the deal after spending about five minutes haggling with Miss Mera after she attempted to jack up the prices; only spending about 1,700 yuls on everything.
"The nerve of that woman!" Vanessa hisses once the boutique door closes. "I had half a mind to remind her you were a Bull! Why didn't you say anything, Astara?"
Astara blinks with wide eyes before she devolves into a fit of giggles. Vanessa clicks her tongue, lightly flicking at the ash blonde's forehead.
"I'm serious! Why are you laughing? That woman was incredibly disrespectful!" Vanessa exclaims, making Astara's giggling turn into full-blown laughter.
"I don't understand why you would advertise your... status as a peasant," Noelle adds onto the conversation. "It's distasteful, but you could have clearly gotten those fabrics for much cheaper if she didn't know."
Astara slowly calms down, grinning up at the two women shopping with her. "I don't 'advertise' my status, Noelle. I am a peasant and I will always be a peasant. If people don't like that, then they can kiss my ass, 'cause I ain't hiding it. I ain't gonna lie about my origins, not when I'm going to become the Wizard Queen!"
Vanessa gives her a hard look before she huffs. She shakes her head, gently linking her arms with Astara's and Noelle's.
"Well, next time we go shopping, we'll find another fabric boutique for you to shop at. She shouldn't have been so disrespectful to you, peasant or not. You are a Bull; a Magic Knight and she should know better than to disrespect her," Vanessa states, leaving no room for an argument.
Astara blinks again before her ears start to turn red. She smiles pleasantly with a gentle laugh. "Understood, Vanessa-nēsan!"
_____
"Vanessa? Why are we here? What is this place?" Noelle asks, more than a little nervous to be in such a dark and sketchy place. Astara looks around mostly in apprehensive curiosity.
The mana glowed brightly, but it made her stay exceptionally aware of what's around her. It wasn't bad, per se, but she was certain this market could and would take advantage of her if she gave it a chance.
"This is the Black Market! It's a bit dangerous, but they have very effective magical items," Vanessa explains cheerfully.
Astara stops before a stall of beautifully decorated silks and beautiful jade hairpins. She gasps in delight at the wispy cloud design and the beautiful blue waves. She doesn't notice Noelle Vanessa walking further into the Black Market.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" The cloaked man running the stall speaks up with pride. "It's rumored these are silks and hairpins from a sunken ship from Hino Country."
"Hino Country? What's that?" Astara tilts her head with bright starry eyes. She's never heard of such a place before.
A high-pitched laugh from behind makes Astara's arm hair stand up. "It's the country your captain is from, young miss!"
Astara stops breathing and her face pales. Greedgreedgreedgreedgreed. Selfish. Dangerous. Cruelcruelcruelcruelcruel.
The man running the stall seems to pale as well, giving the person standing behind Astara a deep bow. "C-Captain Poizot! G-good afternoon!"
BA-DUM
"S-stay calm. Stay... stay calm, Astara. Stay calm..." Astara slowly turns around, thanking the Gods and the Merciful Stars her shaking hands are hidden by her bags. She swallows back her terror and forces a smile on her face.
Looming of her, barely within a safe distance of social propriety, is Captain Gueldre Poizot of the Purple Orcas. The one captain Astara fully believes is not, and has never been, a good person.
"O-oh! You're..." Astara pauses to swallow again, hoping it appears like she's wracking her brain for a name, "C-Captain Poizot... of the... Purple Orcas!"
She clenches her fists and forces herself to beam up at the man before she bows. "It's an honor to meet you!"
"Pretend. Pretend. Pretend. Pretend. Pretend... Vanessa-nēsan, Noelle... where are you?!" Astara silently breathes in and extends her senses as far as she could without it being noticeable.
"So polite! I didn't expect someone who's picked the Black Bulls of all squads to be so cordial!" Captain Poizot laughs with a wide and almost sickening grin. He chuckles before bowing his head and reaches forward. Astara completely locks up when he grabs one of her gloved hands to kiss her knuckles. She bites back the urge to gag.
"It's an honor to meet such a wondrous individual who holds such a... fascinating ability. Miss Asta, is it? A beautiful name," Captain Poizot compliments, standing back up while releasing Astara's hand. It takes everything in her to not claw off her glove and burn it right there.
"It's... it's nothing much, C-Captain Poizot." Astara faintly senses Vanessa and Noelle, their mana starting to churn in worry. Astara continues to smile even when she doesn't sense the cloaked man meant to be running the stall. He ran away.
"I don't suppose... you could answer a few questions of mine? You see, this... Anti Magic of yours. It's never been heard of, and I'm ever so curious," The slimy captain states, taking a step forward. Astara takes a step back and feels her lower back brush against the stall.
Badbadbadbadbadbadbadbadbadbad.
Astara shakes her head and averts her gaze in an attempt to appear shy. "Oh, it's really n-not that interesting... a-and maybe today's not the best–the best time. Vanessa-nēsan, Noelle, and I have almost finished our shopping..."
Hurry up. Please hurry up. Vanessa, Noelle...
"Come on now!" Captain Poizot takes another step forward, his mana becoming sharper in its cruelty from a rising anger. "Just a few questions!"
Astara glances at her right, mentally calculating how far she could run if she distracted Captain Poizot. She feels the back of her throat start to burn when the realization sets in. Her? Running away from a captain? She's only just started as a Magic Knight.
"I... I really... c-can't..." Astara's voice stutters in her rising fear. He wouldn't–he wouldn't attack her... right? If she continues to decline, he wouldn't attack her or force her somewhere else... would he?
"H-he has so much mana... Would my Anti Magic work? Would I be able to escape? But... he's–he's a captain and I'm... I'm only a peasant who recently joined the Black Bulls. Would anyone listen to my side? Would they take my side? Or will–will he frame it like I provoked him first?" Astara barely manages to keep her breathing calm and collected. She has to figure something–anything out. Anything... anything! Please!
"Th-thief! My winnings! Stop!" Astara snaps her head to the right at the piercing shout. She doesn't even think twice about Captain Poizot or the possible consequences she may receive and starts to run as fast as she can towards the shout.
She stumbles over her own feet, but quickly catches her balance, sprinting past Vanessa, Noelle, and that Bah-ha dude from the entrance exam. Astara slides to a stop beside an old lady sitting on the ground and crouches to help her up.
"Nanna, where did the thief go?!" She asks urgently.
The old lady points a trembling finger straight down the street. Astara snaps her head up and barely smells a smokey and somewhat filthy mana before it suddenly disappears.
Astara narrows her eyes and braces her feet against the ground, dropping all of her bags. She takes a deep breath before leaping forward, creating a crack in the cobblestone from the force.
Stumbling onto her feet, she begins to sprint as fast as she could, sprinting right through the illusionary wall. Astara narrows her eyes when she sees the tail end of a smokey wisp, the filthy smoke mana smothering her nose at full force.
"HOLD IT!" Astara shouts loudly. She picks up her pace, sliding around the corner and jumping to run across the wall before she could slam into it.
She grits her teeth when she sees the thief. "STOP, DAMN IT!"
The thief pales before making his smoke cloud go faster. He takes a sharp turn through an offshoot alley, making Astara snarl. She runs towards the wall opposite of the alley and jumps to land on it. Tilting her head back, Astara immediately pinpoints the thief before she leaps off of the wall, flying through the alley.
The thief faces forward and knocks on a closed window as he passes it. Astara flips around and kicks out her feet on their sides. The window doors open and the top of her hair brushes the bottom of the first door before she slides across the ground underneath.
"Excuse me!" Astara shouts before she summersaults to stand back on her feet. She continues her sprint, turning a corner. The thief sputters before racing forward once more, having stopped to check for any stragglers.
Astara grins at their close proximity before she brings a hand up to her mouth and uses her teeth to tear off her glove. She holds out her hand and lets her Anti Magic surround her shoulders.
"Anti Magic: Carving Ribbon Dulled!" The ribbon shoots out and wraps around the thief's midsection. Astara slides to a stop as she pulls. The smoke cloud immediately dissipates and the thief shrieks.
"Shit!" Astara yelps when the thief's weight pulls her forward, making her finally lose balance and fall on her ass. She leans back with a huff, staring at the groaning thief before she shuffles onto her feet.
"Ba-hah!" Astara nearly screams at the sudden shout from behind her. "Lost them al...ready?"
Astara turns around and immediately smiles on seeing Ba-hah riding some sort of weird... contraption. "Oh! Ba-hah! Sorry for not saying hello, but I couldn't let the thief get away!"
"No!! That was my prey! You stole him from me!" Ba-hah cries out, falling to his knees in despair.
Astara blinks before she smiles awkwardly. "S-sorry?"
She watches Ba-hah continue to cry about the thief being "his prey" before glancing back at where she came from. She rings her hands in front of her. What if Captain Poizot is still there?
Astara shakes her head and bends down to pick up the fallen sack of money. "Ba-hah, can I trust you to arrest the thief? I want to return the money to Nanna."
Ba-hah looks up, tears streaking down his face. He glances over at the unconscious thief before he sobs again.
"Do whatever you want! You already stole my prey from me... one-upping me once again!" Ba-hah slowly rises from his... puddle of shame.
"One-up? When did I one-up him?" Astara watches as Ba-hah opens his grimoire, forming the same... contraption as earlier. Astara watches as Ba-hah starts to restrain the thief, unsure if she should offer her help or not. He seems... upset.
"Astara!"
Astara turns around with a wide smile and sees Vanessa and Noelle walking over. "Vanessa-nēsan! Noelle! Sorry for running off. Is Nanna okay?"
"The old lady is fine, Astara." Vanessa frowns and places a hand on her hip. "Astara, where did you go before that? We lost you and we were beginning to get worried."
Astara averts her gaze and puts on her glove instead of answering. How does she explain how Captain Poizot and his putrid mana makes her wary and scared? Would they believe her? A peasant?
"I just–I just have to trust them..." Astara hates how her hands tremble. She straightens her posture and opens her mouth to speak.
"This won't be the last you see of me! I won't let you one-up me again! You hear me?!" Ba-hah declares loudly, making Astara flinch at the sudden noise. She watches the Mantis race away on his contraption.
"What an immature man," Vanessa mutters under her breath before she focuses on one of her youngest squad mates. The ash blonde continues to stare after the other Magic Knight, completely lost in thought.
Vanessa narrows her eyes before she glances back at where the Black Market is located. She sighs quietly and forces a smile on her face. Silly girl.
"Nevermind. That old lady will be worrying about her stolen property. Let's go return it to her, okay?"
Astara stares at her with wide eyes before a smile slowly grows across her face. "Yes, Vanessa-nēsan!"