A Discussion

"Father, you don't have to see us off. It's getting late; you should head home." Noelle tried to persuade Sebastian to turn back, her tone polite but firm. The man had insisted on accompanying them all the way to the Castle Town entrance, and Noelle wasn't having it.

"Yeah, Mister Silva!" Asta chimed in with an enthusiastic nod. "It's not good for old men to push themselves—oof!"

Asta doubled over as Noelle's elbow found its way to his stomach. Naturally. Straightening up, he caught her glaring at him, her expression dark and thoroughly unamused. Okay, yeah. I probably deserved that one.

Vanessa raised an eyebrow at Asta, tilting her head in curiosity. Is he a masochist?

If Sebastian could read Vanessa's thoughts, he wouldn't have argued. Years of relentless rejection by a nun—often punctuated by a fist of water slamming him into the ground—hadn't deterred Asta in the slightest. If anything, it only seemed to fuel his boundless enthusiasm.

The Anti-Magic bird, unbothered by the commotion, fluttered from Asta's stomach to land on Sebastian's shoulder with a dull flap of its wings.

"H-hey, you can't be there!" Noelle exclaimed, her voice catching slightly as she approached the bird cautiously. She didn't want to scare it off.

Her usual composure cracked as she fidgeted, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "You can come over here," she murmured, holding out her hands with just the faintest tremble of hope.

The bird stared at her, completely unimpressed.

Those spiteful eyes. How adorable! Noelle's own eyes sparkled with unrestrained adoration. "Come on, Silvantus Schnauzer!"

Vanessa blinked. She had never seen a bird look so utterly done with life.

Asta, recovered from his earlier assault, placed a hand on Noelle's shoulder. She stiffened immediately, her face turning bright red as she whirled around to face him.

"W-what i-is it, Bakasta?!"

Asta grinned as if oblivious to her flustered state, pointing at the bird with unwavering confidence. "You have to call him by his real name if you want him to react."

Noelle crossed her arms, flicking her pigtails with practiced indifference. "And what would that be?"

"Toritaro, of course!" Asta declared like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Reaching his hand out to the bird, he beamed.

And, well, he wasn't entirely wrong. The bird reacted. Just not in the way he wanted.

"Tak! Tak! Tak!" The Anti-Magic bird jabbed at Asta's hand with its beak like a tiny, furious woodpecker.

"Ow! Ow! What are you doing, Toritaro?!" Asta yelped, pulling his hand back, only for the bird to take off and start pecking at his forehead instead.

"Ah! Ow! Stop it! I'm sorry, Toritaro! Stop it!"

Vanessa chuckled, thoroughly amused, while Noelle, hands clenched and cheeks flushed, focused solely on the bird. "See? He likes Silvantus Schnauzer better!" she proclaimed triumphantly. "Right—"

Her words faltered as she caught her father's bemused expression.

"I mean…" Noelle quickly adjusted her demeanor, her face hardening into an icy mask as she flicked her pigtails once more. "What a little insect. Stop embarrassing yourself, Bak—Asta."

The bird seemed to tire of its chase, returning to perch lazily on Sebastian's shoulder.

Asta stumbled back over to the group, panting, and glanced up at the sky as if silently asking why the universe hated him.

"Mister Silva, why is Tori—" Asta stopped himself mid-sentence as the bird fixed him with another unamused glance. He coughed awkwardly and tried again. "I mean, why is he so good with you?"

Sebastian exchanged a knowing glance with the bird perched on his shoulder before turning back to Asta with a wry chuckle. "Well, aside from the fact that I've yet to call her an outrageous name," he said with a faint smile, "maybe it's because 'she' doesn't like being called a 'he.'"

"She?" Vanessa, Noelle, and Asta all echoed in confusion.

Sebastian nodded, gesturing toward the bird's pale red face. "See the coloring around her face? It's lighter than what you'd find on male anti-birds. Male birds usually have brighter feathers to attract mates, while females are more subdued."

"Really?" Vanessa and Noelle leaned in closer, their skepticism evident, while Asta scratched his cheek thoughtfully.

"Now that you mention it…" Asta furrowed his brows in concentration, recalling the chaos of the Magic Knight Exam. "Yeah, I think that's true! The ones that chased me had really bright feathers!"

With newfound confidence, Asta squeezed between Vanessa and Noelle, pointing at the bird on Sebastian's shoulder. "Hey, bro, are you a girl?!"

The anti-bird raised a wing in what could only be described as an indifferent nod.

"Ohhhhhh!" Asta clapped his hands together, the realization dawning on him. That's why she didn't like Toritaro! He didn't pause to consider that it might've just been a terrible name.

Asta turned to Sebastian, fist pumping. "Wow, Mister Silva, you're pretty smart for knowing something like that!"

Noelle flicked her pigtails, snorting derisively. "Of course he is, Bakasta! Father was the former patriarch of a royal family, after all!"

Vanessa raised an eyebrow at Noelle, her lips twitching in amusement. Sweetie, why are you boasting? And why do you look so pleased about it?

Sebastian scratched his cheek sheepishly, offering a tight smile. "Oh, it's nothing special. You just pick up a thing or two as you get older."

On the inside, though, he winced. Sorry, kids. I don't know shit about birds. I just remember some random trivia I overheard from bird watchers back in my old world. It sounded convincing enough.

Asta, however, wasn't done. He pointed at the bird with renewed enthusiasm. "Alright, how about Torina!"

"Ow!" The anti-bird pecked his finger sharply in response.

"Bakasta, obviously she should go by Sylvia Schnauzer!" Noelle huffed, flicking her pigtails with exaggerated elegance.

The bird ignored Noelle entirely, prompting Sebastian to step in before the argument spiraled any further. "How about Secre?"

"Huh? Why Secre?" Vanessa asked, voicing the question on everyone's mind.

Sebastian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he locked eyes with the bird. For a moment, they seemed to share a silent, intense stare-off, the bird narrowing her eyes subtly before raising her wing in agreement.

Without warning, Secre fluttered off Sebastian's shoulder, landing neatly on Asta's head. Her gaze, however, remained fixed on Sebastian, sharp and calculating.

Sebastian ignored the bird's pointed stare and smiled softly. "Looks like she likes it. Secre it is!"

Asta blinked up at the bird, bewildered. "What does Secre even mean?"

"Stop asking my father so many questions, Bakasta!" Noelle snapped, marching past him to stand beside Sebastian once more.

Asta, still thoroughly confused, scratched his head as Secre made herself comfortable atop it. Meanwhile, Vanessa couldn't help but chuckle under her breath at the unfolding chaos.

"As I was saying, Father, you don't need to come with us. We can walk back ourselves!" Noelle insisted, her voice firmer this time.

Sebastian glanced at her, a fond smile tugging at his lips before his eyes wandered to the quiet streets. "And why not, Noelle? Are you too embarrassed to walk alongside your old man?"

"W-what?!" Noelle spluttered, her face going crimson as she clenched her fists. "It's not that!" she screamed, the volume of her denial betraying her flustered state.

"Then what is it?" Sebastian asked, his tone soft and patient.

Noelle fidgeted, her sandal twisting against the ground. "Y-you're a busy man, Father," she stammered. "You shouldn't have to waste your time doing something as pointless as this!"

She stiffened as the words left her mouth, realizing too late how they sounded. Noelle opened her mouth to apologize, but Sebastian gently placed a hand on her head before she could speak.

Her breath caught as she felt his familiar warmth patting and ruffling her hair. Slowly, she looked up to meet his gaze, soft yet serious.

"Let me correct you on a few things, Noelle," he began.

"...O-okay…?" she whispered, uncertain.

Sebastian nodded and crouched slightly, bringing their eyes to the same level.

Noelle's pupils dilated as she watched him bend down, panic rising in her chest. She was about to beg him to stand upright—Father, you're a royal! Stop embarrassing yourself!—when Sebastian raised a finger to her lips, silencing her.

"Shush," he said calmly, locking their gazes. "It's my turn to talk."

Noelle froze, nodding stiffly.

Satisfied, Sebastian continued. "First, I am anything but a busy man. I'm retired. I have servants who handle all my daily needs and whims. I rarely do anything myself these days. There's nothing urgent waiting for me back home."

Noelle blinked, caught off guard, but Sebastian wasn't finished.

"Second, even if I was busy, a little walk with my daughter wouldn't throw off my schedule. And lastly..." He paused, his tone softening even further. "To me, spending time with you could never be pointless. It's something I'll always look forward to and make the highlight of my day."

Noelle's throat tightened. Her father's finger slipped away as he stood upright, but their gazes stayed locked.

"Do you understand?" he asked.

Noelle's face flushed beet red, her voice barely above a whisper. "Mm-hmm."

For a moment, she stood there in a daze, her heart warm and fluttering. But reality caught up quickly. She snapped her head up, determination returning.

"But even so, Father," she argued, her tone firm again, "I should be accompanying you back to the castle—not you walking us to the town exit and having to make two trips!"

Sebastian chuckled, wagging a finger. "Your base is at the edge of the common region, which is much farther from here than the noble realm. And besides..." He pointed to the horizon where the sun was dipping low. "If you wait much longer, you'll have to stay here overnight. Somehow, I doubt your captain would approve."

"Captain Yami's a nice guy, Mister Silva," Asta chimed in with a grin. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"Actually..." Vanessa coughed awkwardly, drawing everyone's attention. She pulled a roll of toilet paper from her bag. "Captain's waiting on this. If we keep him from his 'business'... well, you know how he gets."

Asta and Noelle both shuddered.

"So it's settled!" Sebastian announced, cutting off any further objections. Before Asta or Noelle could respond, he started walking ahead.

The pair exchanged a look, sighed in unison, and hurried after him.

The four of them walked in a quiet line: Asta on the far left, then Sebastian, Noelle, and finally Vanessa on the right. For a while, the only sound was the rhythmic shuffle of their footsteps.

Eventually, Asta decided to break the silence. "So, Mister Silva…" he began, his voice light with curiosity.

"Yes, Asta?" Sebastian glanced to his left, curious.

"...Noelle said you were like a big shot or something, right?" Asta's voice carried a mix of hesitation and curiosity.

"Hm?" Both Noelle and Vanessa turned their attention to him as Sebastian nodded. "Politically speaking, I suppose I was quite influential in the courts and the kingdom once."

He paused, eyeing Asta with mild suspicion. "Where are you going with this?"

Asta scratched his cheek awkwardly. "So... have you met the Wizard King before?"

Sebastian raised a brow, then let out a chuckle. "Yes, too many times to count. Not just him, but his predecessor, and his predecessor's predecessor as well."

"Really?!" Asta's eyes sparkled with excitement. He pumped his fist into the air. "What are they like?"

Sebastian's expression softened with nostalgia as he glanced up at the sky. For a moment, the group fell silent. Then he shook his head and looked back at Asta with a wistful smile.

"I'd say were is the better word here."

"Huh?" Asta tilted his head in confusion.

"Bakasta, don't you know anything?" Noelle crossed her arms and huffed. "The previous two Wizard Kings have long since passed away!"

Sebastian and Secre's eyes narrowed imperceptibly at her statement, while Asta nodded in understanding. "Oh, I see. So... what were they like?"

Sebastian inclined his head thoughtfully. "Good people. Great people," he said after a moment. "Especially the previous Wizard King. Both were individuals who cared little for class or status, judging others solely by their actions and character. They each dreamed of a Clover Kingdom built on equality."

"Really?!" Asta leaned closer, his eyes sparkling even brighter. "Mister Silva, what about the current Wizard King? What's his name?"

Vanessa and Noelle gawked at him in disbelief. He became a Magic Knight without knowing what they do, and now he wants to become the Wizard King without even knowing who holds the title?

Sebastian's chuckle deepened. "His name's Julius Novachrono. He shares the same spirit as his predecessors."

"Wow!" Asta leapt in excitement, stars in his eyes. "That name sounds so cool! Man, the Wizard King is amazing—not even looking down on peasants like me despite being at the top!"

Fist-pumping with determination, Asta roared to the sky. "I'm going to become Wizard King one day and do the same!"

Noelle and Vanessa smiled softly at his enthusiasm, and Secre, perched on Asta's head, widened her gaze slightly. But the moment was short-lived as Sebastian's voice cut through the air like a blade.

"And fail?"

"Huh?" Asta froze mid-celebration. He turned back to Sebastian and noticed his previously warm expression had turned icy.

Asta's stomach twisted in frustration. He clenched his fists, lowering his head as his lip trembled. I thought you were different, Mister Silva, but you're just like everyone else, looking down on my dreams.

"F-Father?" Noelle called out hesitantly, sensing the tension. She stepped forward, but Vanessa gently placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

Noelle turned to her senior, only to see Vanessa's frown deepen as she studied Sebastian's rigid stance.

Nearby, passersby scurried away, sensing the charged atmosphere.

After a long moment, Asta took a deep breath and raised his head, determination burning in his eyes. "I don't care what anyone thinks! I'm going to become Wizard King—"

"I don't doubt it," Sebastian cut him off coldly.

"Huh?" Asta blinked, startled. Noelle and Vanessa stiffened beside him.

Sebastian's sharp gaze bore into Asta. "You're the kid with Anti-Magic, right? With a power like that..." His eyes briefly lingered on Asta's toned physique and callused hands. "And with a work ethic like yours, you definitely have the potential—so long as you don't start slacking off."

Vanessa and Noelle's jaws dropped as Asta's brain short-circuited, steam practically pouring out of his ears. "T-then what do you mean?! Why'd you say I'd fail just now?"

Sebastian furrowed his brows, his tone blunt. "Were you even listening? I said you'd fail to turn the Clover Kingdom into a classless society."

"Huh?" Asta stepped in front of Sebastian, jabbing a finger at him. "Why would you say that, Mister Silva?!"

Sebastian sighed, long and heavy, lifting his gaze to the sky as the setting sun painted the horizon in hues of orange and gold. For a brief moment, he was tempted to drop the topic entirely. Just let it go and move on.

But then his gaze fell back to Asta. The boy's eyes burned with conviction, his fists clenched tightly. This means the world to him. I can't just dismiss his dream without giving a reason. If I'm going to educate him, I need to take responsibility and do it properly.

Sebastian's grimoire floated out, its pages flipping open in midair. Vanessa, Noelle, and Asta stared in surprise.

"Mister Silva, what are you—" Vanessa started, but her words were cut off as Sebastian raised his arm.

"Water Creation Magic: Sea Eagle."

Before anyone could react, a massive eagle made entirely of water materialized beneath their feet, lifting them several feet into the air.

"F-Father?! W-what are you doing?" Noelle's voice trembled, and she stiffened as Sebastian suddenly pulled her into his arms.

He glanced at the bewildered Asta and Vanessa and spoke calmly but firmly. "Hang on."

"Huh—ahhh!" Asta yelped as the eagle suddenly shot upwards, climbing higher and higher into the sky. He teetered dangerously, but Vanessa, already secured with her thread magic, quickly wrapped a thread around him and tugged him back to safety.

The eagle continued its ascent, piercing through the lower clouds. As it neared the stratosphere, it steadied, leveling off to glide smoothly across the evening sky.

Sebastian released Noelle from his protective grip, and she reluctantly moved to sit beside him. He turned to the pale-faced Asta, scratching his cheek sheepishly before patting the boy's head. "Sorry about that, Asta."

"M-Mister Silva, w-why did you do that all of a sudden?!" Asta gasped, clutching his chest as if to slow his racing heart.

Sebastian gave a short bow, his expression calm but serious. "Apologies. What I'm about to say is... well, it's taboo. If the wrong person overheard, I'd risk imprisonment."

Noelle's pupils widened in alarm. What could even Father, with all his status, not afford to say openly?

Asta and Vanessa exchanged uneasy glances.

Sebastian chuckled lightly, crossing his legs as he settled into a seated position atop the eagle's back. "We're safer up here in the air." He patted the smooth, shimmering surface of the water eagle. "Come on, sit down. This is going to be a long conversation."

Noelle immediately knelt beside her father, her posture stiff but attentive. Across from her, Vanessa hesitated for a moment before mirroring the position. Asta plopped down directly across from Sebastian, mimicking his cross-legged stance.

Once everyone was seated, Sebastian studied their faces, his gaze lingering on Asta's wide-eyed anticipation. He nodded to himself before speaking, his tone quiet yet resolute.

"Well, Asta, allow me to tell you the sad reality of being Wizard King."

The boy's eyes widened even further, his full attention locked on Sebastian.