The Ceremony

Inside the towering bell tower of the castle, Julius, the Wizard King, stood surrounded by Asta, Yuno, Noelle, Mimosa, Klaus, and Zoro, who was lazily leaning against a pillar. Vermithra, Zoro's spirit companion, hid behind him, her tiny form peeking out from behind his broad shoulder. The Wizard King's gaze was locked onto her, his eyes blazing with intense curiosity, as if he were about to dissect her. Zoro, not at all amused by the scrutiny, shifted his weight and called out, his voice dripping with annoyance.

"Hey, she's my servant. Keep your eyes off her or I'll cut you," Zoro growled, his hand instinctively reaching for one of his swords, his gaze fixed on Julius, who was still studying the small spirit.

Julius, however, only laughed heartily, his eyes still gleaming with curiosity. "Hahaha! I wasn't going to take her! It's just the first time I've seen this kind of spirit, so I was curious," he said, waving his hands as if to calm Zoro. But his laughter only served to make Noelle, Klaus, and Mimosa sweat bullets, their eyes darting nervously between the Wizard King and the man who could speak to him so casually. Meanwhile, Asta and Yuno were staring in wide-eyed surprise, unable to comprehend how Zoro could be the only person in the entire kingdom who could speak to the Wizard King in such an informal manner.

Julius' focus quickly shifted to Yuno, who stood tall with his grimoire in hand. He admired the pages and the magic inscribed within them, his thoughts turning as he marveled at the relic. "Oh ho! A wind spirit and a lightning spirit! Plus, these should be the greatest treasures from that dungeon. And you even brought back many treasures as well," Julius murmured, nodding in approval. "Well done! I'm glad you got this," he said, genuinely impressed. "This spell is probably the most important relic from that dungeon," he continued, his tone laden with praise.

Yuno blinked, a look of shock crossing his face. "You can read it, sir?" he asked, incredulously, not expecting the Wizard King to understand the spell's contents.

Julius grinned with childlike excitement, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Say, would you perform this spell for me now? Please?" he asked eagerly, not at all concerned with his position of authority as he begged Yuno with a pleading expression, a small star of excitement twinkling in his eyes.

Yuno hesitated, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, I can't activate it yet," he explained apologetically, not quite able to harness the full power of the spell just yet.

Julius' shoulders slumped slightly, his face showing genuine disappointment. "I see… what a shame," he said softly, clearly crestfallen by Yuno's inability to perform the spell at that moment.

Not wanting to be left out, Asta suddenly raised his hand, holding his new sword aloft with a proud grin on his face. "I-I too got this from the dungeon" Asta stammered, looking a bit bashful as he held the sword up for Julius to see.

Julius was momentarily taken aback by the sword's peculiar magic, his gaze narrowing in fascination as he sensed the sword's ability to drain magical power. "This sword… it's draining my magic…" Julius said in awe, taking a step back as he watched the sword's energy consume his mana.

Asta smiled, holding the sword firmly. "It's because I don't have any magic," he said confidently, "so it doesn't hurt me."

Julius' expression softened into one of admiration. "Only you can handle this sword, as you have no magic. That's truly remarkable," he said, genuinely impressed by Asta's unique abilities.

Just as the conversation seemed to be winding down, Asta raised his hand again, this time asking a question that had been weighing on his mind. "U-ummm… c-could I ask you something?" Asta asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

Julius tilted his head, intrigued. "Ask me what?" he replied, genuinely interested in the question.

Asta and Yuno, both with determined looks on their faces, spoke in unison, their voices filled with ambition. "How does one become the Wizard King?"

Before Julius could answer, however, a loud, mocking laughter filled the room. "HAHAHAHAHA! Kid, if you want to become the Wizard King, it's simple—just beat this guy's ass!" Zoro said, laughing heartily, his voice echoing through the bell tower. He paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up as he thought of something. "Now that I think about it, why don't I become the Wizard King, huh, Julius? Let's fight!" Zoro said, his excitement palpable. He was itching for a good fight, and Julius was one of the few people who could provide the challenge he sought.

Julius' face twitched, a tick appearing on his forehead as he glanced at Zoro. He couldn't help but think, What is he teaching these kids? "Don't teach them bad things, Zoro-kun!" Julius chided, his voice taking on a mock-serious tone.

He then turned to Asta and Yuno, his demeanor softening. "You two don't listen to Zoro-kun. He talks harshly, but he's good at heart. Just… don't learn manners from him, or you'll be turned into bandits," Julius said, giving them a playful wink. "I see you two want to become the Wizard King, huh? Well, all magic knights should be that ambitious!" He laughed, his usual cheerful self. However, his tone shifted as he turned more serious. "To become the Wizard King, you need merit. You can't protect the people with pride alone. Trust comes after you've built up your reputation. People want just one thing from the Wizard King: achievement. You need to produce results and devote yourselves to building a reputation. That's everything. No one who is unable to do that could ever stand at the top," Julius explained, his voice firm but inspiring.

Asta and Yuno stood there, trembling with excitement as Julius' words fueled their ambition. "Bring it on!" they both said, their faces lighting up with big grins.

Just as the atmosphere shifted into a more serious tone, Julius suddenly returned to his usual cheerful self. "Alright! As a matter of fact, we're holding a decoration ceremony for the magic knights who've earned an outstanding number of stars today. I hope you'll come and join us!" he invited, his voice full of excitement.

Before anyone could respond, a bored voice cut through the air. "Not interested," Zoro muttered, picking his nose nonchalantly, completely unfazed by the invitation.

Julius, however, wasn't discouraged. He knew exactly what could get Zoro motivated. "Well, there will be various types of booze at the ceremony," he said with a mischievous grin.

Zoro's expression shifted immediately, his usual nonchalance replaced by an intense, focused look. "Let's go. What are you waiting for?" he said, his voice suddenly serious as he walked ahead, leading the group to the ceremony.

.....

As the massive gates of the grand hall creaked open, a blinding light spilled out from inside, momentarily casting everyone into a surreal glow. The light dimmed as the doors fully opened, revealing a grand assembly of magical knights from some of the most prestigious squads in the Clover Kingdom. A sea of familiar faces awaited them.

The Blue Rose squad, known for their powerful magic and composed of highly skilled women, stood proudly to one side. Their captain, Charlotte Roselei, stood at the forefront of the group. She had long, golden hair that cascaded down her back, her piercing green eyes fixed with a serious yet elegant expression. She wore her usual refined but battle-ready attire, her rose-themed cape fluttering slightly in the gentle breeze that drifted in from the open gates. Charlotte's powerful spirit, a beastly, rose-covered creature, stood beside her, embodying the elegance and ferocity the Blue Rose squad was known for. Despite her graceful demeanor, everyone knew of her fierce prowess in battle.

On the opposite side, the members of the Silver Eagle squad lined up, each with a different aura but all radiating confidence and strength. The Silver Eagles were known for their precision and discipline in combat. At the front of the group was Nozel Silva, the captain of the Silver Eagles, a tall, slender man with silver hair that matched the name of his squad. His sharp, calculating gaze bore down upon the group, his hands resting on the hilt of his sword, as if ready to take action at a moment's notice. Nozel exuded an air of nobility and authority, his high-ranking status as a member of the Silva family adding to his intimidating presence. His control over mercury magic was unmatched, and his cold demeanor made him a figure of both respect and fear within the Clover Kingdom.

To the far side, the Crimson Lions stood with their proud captain, Fugoleon Vermillion. Fugoleon was a towering figure, known for his unyielding courage and control over fire magic. His red and gold cape fluttered in the wind. Fugoleon's eyes, determined and full of resolve, scanned the gathering with a sense of pride and responsibility. As one of the top captains, his leadership was recognized and respected by all who knew him.

The atmosphere was thick with anticipation as all the members stood at attention, each with a sense of pride in their hearts, representing the very best of the Clover Kingdom's Magic Knights.

As Zoro, Asta, Yuno, and the others entered, their eyes roamed across the crowd, taking in the various members of the squads. The Blue Rose squad, with their calm yet determined gazes, the Silver Eagles exuding an intimidating aura under Nozel's watchful eye, the Golden Dawn's impressive lineup with Yuno at the helm, and the Crimson Lions' fiery presence under Fugoleon's leadership—all were symbols of strength in their own right.

The magic knights stood in silent reverence, their presence in the hall almost overwhelming, as the air crackled with the tension of power, competition, and ambition. Each one was here for a reason, their eyes flicking between each other, wondering what would unfold next.

.....

As Asta, Yuno, Noelle, Klaus, and Mimosa took in the grandeur of the hall, they couldn't help but notice the way the other captains and knights looked at them with curiosity and a hint of surprise—particularly in Zoro's direction. The captains, usually so stoic, found themselves somewhat taken aback to see him there. Known for his avoidance of formal gatherings and official events, Zoro's attendance immediately hinted that this ceremony was bound to be unique. The captains shared a look that acknowledged the unpredictable energy Zoro's presence would bring, thinking, Well, this event is certainly going to be…eventful.

Without a second thought or a hint of decorum, Zoro walked ahead of the group, paying little attention to the reactions around him. His gaze was fixed solely on the captains, and he didn't bother sparing a glance at the rest of the knights gathered there. Casually, he raised a hand in greeting, his rough demeanor at odds with the formal setting. With a smirk, he called out to two of the most respected captains.

"Yo, Red Rooster!" he said, looking straight at Fuegoleon Vermillion, the Crimson Lion captain. Then, turning to Nozel Silva, he added, "And Shiny Boy! What're you two doing here? Shouldn't you feel ashamed, stealing the glory of the young ones?"

Fuegoleon's eye twitched at the brazen nickname and Zoro's lack of respect. Though he respected Zoro's strength and combat prowess, his patience with Zoro's irreverent attitude was already wearing thin. Nozel, for his part, looked away briefly, clenching his fists at the blatant disregard for his rank and status. He was hardly accustomed to being addressed so casually, especially by someone with Zoro's complete lack of social graces.

"By the way," Zoro continued, looking back at Fuegoleon with a grin that promised trouble, "where's that Sparky Lioness of yours? Haven't had a good fight in a while. Why don't you go ahead and call her up?"

Fuegoleon frowned slightly, his brows knitting as he looked at Zoro, trying to hide his irritation. "If you mean my sister, Mereoleona," he replied in his usual calm but firm tone, "she's out training in the wilds. You know how she is—rarely comes back to the capital unless absolutely necessary."

"Ah, I see. Off in the wilds again, huh?" Zoro muttered, sounding almost disappointed. "Well, she's the only one here worth a damn in a real fight. Figured I could have a little fun today."

Fuegoleon's expression softened just slightly, masking a flicker of amusement. For all of Zoro's rough words, he could sense the respect Zoro held for Mereoleona's strength. But for now, he simply nodded, letting Zoro's words roll off as he resumed his stoic expression. Around them, the other knights and captains exchanged looks of disbelief and suppressed laughter, taken aback by Zoro's complete disregard for rank and decorum, but also finding the scene strangely entertaining.

The formal atmosphere was already disrupted, and an air of intrigue spread among the knights. The captains were all now watching Zoro closely, some with irritation, some with curiosity, each of them silently preparing for what they could only assume would be a chaotic, unconventional ceremony with Zoro in the room.