Cherreads

Chapter 11 - requirement of 4th leaf.

I decided to change all action related text to italic font - like this and normal talking is just normal, thoughts are within ' Symbols.

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Asta: Hey master, not smoking today?

Ragon: *annoyed* Shut up you brat. Yesterday there was a big commotion in the city, a entire street was broken to bits and houses were reduced to rubble. Thankfully the people ran and there were only some people who got injured.

Luck, Lawock, lajis and nero enter the workshop behind asta and looks at Ragon.

Lawock: *waves his hand* We meet again mister Ragon.

Ragon: The bounty hunter? Did you find the vampire?

Lajis: We did *hands on her hips* It was your student that saved us yesterday.

Ragon turns to asta while looking visibly annoyed at him.

Ragon: I told you not cause any chaos before you admission brat.

Asta: *grabs a chair and sits down* You can't blame me, that bastard tried to kill Slio.

Ragon: WHAT!!! *Chokes on a piece of bread*

Asta: *comes closer and help him* Don't worry I saved the guy, he is admitted to the hospital tho.

Ragon: Phew. Thank God you did or his father may have cursed me from all the way of elvium.

Asta: I am gonna talk business so give us a bit of space will ya? Luck,N-Secre follow me.

Ragon looked at asta all confused, in past 4 years he had never had himself talked with his customer let alone inviting them into his study. Meanwhile Lawock and Lajis, the couple just stood there all blanked out at the randomness.

Luck: Whoa just how big is this room?

Nero: What even is this?

Asta: Welcome to my study, everything you see here is what I have been studying after that event.

The room has a lone desk in the middle while the rest is filled with stocks of inks,papers and books, it has two floors with a single pair of stairs attaching both. The walls each have books related to a different type of magic with posters and records.

Nero: You weren't a study person before.

Asta: And you didn't talk a lot before.

Nero looks embarrassed by her previous life's gothy lifestyle. She deflects the topic.

Nero: So why did we come here?

Asta: it's the safest place for a talk.*spins a wheel on the desk and a variety of runes begin glowing.

Asta: sit however you want.*sits on the main chair* let's begin about how much you guys remember.

Luck: *raises his hand in excitement* Me first.. i remember fighting a bunch of minions and some winged version of a guy with some sort of crystal magic, I messed him pretty bad but we both died after our last attack, I felt myself being pulled somewhere when it suddenly stopped and that's all I remember.

Nero: Mine is similar, but I didn't die. It was as if the world just disappeared when I was crying after my fight at the death of... I don't remember.

Asta: You don't?

Nero: everyone has their faces blurry except you two and I can't hear any names.

Luck: Same for me.

Asta: So you guys don't remember the others?

Nero & luck: No.

Asta: *scratches his head* this is a big problem then... Maybe we need to meet the others before you remember them too.

Nero: You remember everyone?

Luck's eyes twitch at the remark, his bounty hunter curiosity heightens his focus.

Asta: I do.

Luck: How? Didn't we all-

Nero: Get erased?

Asta: *sighs* No, what crushed the world was not the spell but the high density mana that comes out from something called a river of time, i basically floated in the void for many centuries.

Nero: *stuttering from the shock* C-Cen-Centuries?

Asta just shrugged it off and redirects the topic.

Asta: Forget about it, how about we plan our future first?

Luck: eh?

Nero: I mean finding the others comes first, maybe becoming stronger?

Asta: It's not maybe, we need to.. I am 90% sure lucius also was reborn. We need to prepa-... *Puts his hand on shoulder of luck and nero* don't be nervous.

Deep inside Nero and Luck, a surge of rage and fear leaps up. They begin shuddering while grabbing their arms. Asta's comfort bring them out of their stupor and give them a sense of assurance.

Asta: Show me your grimoires.

Luck and Nero give him a look of confusion before bringing out their grimoires. Asta looks on the cover and the runes and reaches a conclusion.

Asta: It's different, Luck didn't have storm but lightning magic while nero's sealing was stronger but less flexible. Hmm *puts his hand on his chin and focuses* Maybe that could work.

Asta brings out a bunch of runepaper and begins writing runes, in a few minutes a stack of papers were left to the side and he brought something similar to a wand.

Nero: What is this?

Asta: Enhancement, our grimoires are no longer the thousands of years old like those we got from the tower and apparently i learned of something called shining by my own experience.

Nero: Shining?

Asta: It's basically a upgrade route for grimoires. You feed it with other similar grimoires or feed it with some lifeforce or ki and it will develop something similar to a newborn grimoire spirit, 1 leaf to 3 leaf basically just depends on grimoire strength,element and quality. 4th leaf however needs a spirit for the grimoire to breakthrough to it.*brings out his grimoire* Do you see the shine in it?

The grimoire still has 3 clover leaves but the they are no longer black or brown but metallic silver, the border had undergone a change as a black obsedian rock like frame has been built around the edges.

Asta: I will add a spell to your grimoires that will help with it so you don't have to come to me everytime.

Luck: Awesome!! I can get my own spirit?

Nero: that is good indeed... Hey luck.

Luck: Um ye?

Nero: Mind going out for a bit, I got some questions I want to ask.

Luck: Um sure I guess.

Luck leaves the room and nero turns to asta, her expression becoming increasingly cold and distant.

Nero: I am gonna be straight forward Asta.. How many centuries?

Asta: Hey it's not good to-

Nero: quickly kicks away the chair while lunging at asta, who just blurs away at high speed.

Asta: What do you think you are doing?

Nero: *Her fangs are growing bigger while her pupils turn red* Answer my question.

Asta: about 8 Centuries before I died.. Happy now?

Nero: Your even older than me now? *Bursts out laughing*

Asta just stares at Nero was slowly walking towards him while clutching her stomach as she laughs, a expression he never saw in his previous life.

Nero: Did you seriously think I will try to attack you?

Asta just stares in anger as she picks up his grimoire while she sits in his chair.

Nero: Mind coming closer? I wanna tell you something.

Asta: Whatever. *Cautiously approaches* What is it?

Nero: You remember those two? The white haired and Yellow haired girls?

Asta: Noelle and mimosa? Ye I do what about it?

Nero: While you were gone, they spent day and night searching for you. Even before the accident begin they were arguing over who you will propose to.

Asta: What? Seriously?

Nero: Yes they were acting like nervous spoiled kids while waiting for someone and you decided to propose to that sister instead.

Asta: Don't.. just don't remind me.

Nero: give me your hand for a second.

In their talk, asta eventually forgets about nero's previous actions and lowers her guard. He shows his hand to nero who seems to be looking for something.

Nero: Found it. Look here closely.

Asta: found what? *Leans closer * I don't see any-

Nero's teeth quickly shifted and struck at the same spot she had bit asta in the morning.

Asta stares at her in disbelief while being paralysed again.

Asta: 'I won't fall for this again.' *begins channeling his ki* 'quickly quickly ju-

Nero: you see asta, those two always saw you as a potential partner while I saw you as a child because of the age difference.. But you are now older then me.

Asta seems to not fully realised the meaning behind her words but his personality and EQ have grown enough to understand her. The pure expression of disbelief in his eyes gave nero an message that he still is conscious.

Nero: But I won't have to worry about that as well. The moment they remember you will be the day they propose and I am sure of it but.. I like you quite a lot too you see.. and I will take full advantage of their absence.

She leans closer while grabbing his face and locks her lips with his. Asta just stares into her eyes, forgetting to even continue channeling the ki.

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