Lencar had finished another round of sword-flow exercises when the sun dipped low behind the rooftops of Kiten. For hours he'd been practicing with the Demon Dweller Sword—cutting, redirecting, analyzing the flow of mana through the blade and how it interacted with the heretic energy inside him.
By now, his arms felt heavy, and sweat clung to his back.
But his mind was steady.
This much progress in a few days… good. But not enough. Not yet.
He sheathed the sword and walked down the narrow stone pathway back to the restaurant where he and Mariella were staying. The streets of the town held their usual evening calm—shops closing, vendors packing up—nothing hinted at the larger movements happening in the kingdom.
But Lencar already knew.
The patterns were too familiar.
The royal capital assault… it'll begin soon.
He stepped inside the restaurant, the familiar smell of warm food and wood hitting him at once. Mariella sat at the counter reading through a stack of papers, her expression sharp and focused.
"You're back," she said without looking up.
"Finished for today." Lencar sat across from her. "Anything from the squads yet?"
Mariella shook her head slightly. "Still checking. I'll know before nightfall."
He closed his eyes for a moment.
That was enough for now.
He didn't get even a full minute before the restaurant door burst open with a loud, cheerful:
"LENCAAAAAR!"
Lencar's eyes opened.
Asta stood in the doorway, beaming like a sunrise. Noelle hovered behind him, arms crossed and trying very hard to appear composed.
Lencar sighed lightly. "You could knock."
"I did! Three times!" Asta replied confidently.
Noelle sighed. "You shouted his name three times, idiot."
Lencar almost smiled. Almost.
"Anyway!" Asta marched forward, fists balled with excitement. "Lencar! Guess what?! I'm going to the Magic Knight Royal Banquet!"
His entire face lit up, pure and innocent excitement radiating off him like heat.
Lencar leaned back slightly. "So the banquet is confirmed."
"Yeah!" Asta nodded quickly. "All the squads that can make it are heading to the capital! I'm going too!"
"Mn." Lencar studied his expression carefully. "If that's the case… why are only you and Noelle here? Where are the others? Luck and Magna? I don't see them."
Asta blinked. "Ah—well… hehe… Not everyone came."
Lencar raised an eyebrow. "Not everyone?"
"Yeah," Asta scratched his cheek. "Some of the Bulls stayed behind. A few others are busy. And Captain Yami just said 'go if you wanna' and went back to whatever he was doing."
Noelle sighed. "He was—predictably—useless. Just said something about not caring about 'fancy noble gatherings.'"
Mariella snorted quietly under her breath.
Asta continued, "A bunch of other squads also didn't send full teams. Some people just didn't show up. Some captains won't be there either."
Lencar nodded slowly.
Exactly as he expected.
Pieces were moving the same way they had moved before—just slightly shifted.
But the general direction… was unchanged.
Asta stepped closer, eyes bright. "But I'm still going! It's my first royal banquet, and I'm gonna make sure I represent the Black Bulls properly!"
Noelle looked away to hide a tiny smile. "Try not to cause chaos."
"I won't!" Asta puffed his chest proudly.
Lencar glanced at them both. Their energy contrasted sharply—Asta's unrestrained optimism and Noelle's guarded pride. But beneath both, he could feel the same thing:
They were good kids.
Good people.
He didn't say that aloud. No need.
Instead: "Enjoy the banquet. Both of you."
Asta gave a wide grin. "We will! Right, Noelle?"
"I—I suppose," she muttered, cheeks faintly pink.
Rebecca came from the back room then, wiping her hands on a cloth. "Asta? I thought I heard your voice."
"Rebecca!" Asta turned to her with a laugh. "Yeah, sorry for barging in so loudly!"
"It's fine," she smiled warmly. "It's good to see you."
Noelle shot her a sideways glare before looking away with a huff.
Rebecca looked between them. "Are you all heading to the capital?"
"Yep!" Asta nodded quickly. "I just came to tell Lencar before we left!"
Lencar stood, adjusting his cloak. "Don't keep the others waiting. The capital's far if you're walking."
"Right!" Asta grinned again. "Then—we're off!"
Noelle gave a small bow. "Goodbye. And… stay safe, both of you."
Asta laughed. "We'll be back with stories!"
He rushed toward the door, pulling Noelle along when she didn't move fast enough.
"Come on, Noelle! We're gonna be late!"
"Stop dragging me! I can walk perfectly fine!"
Their voices faded down the street.
Rebecca exhaled lightly. "He's so energetic."
Lencar watched the street where they disappeared, expression unreadable.
"He has to be," he murmured. "If he slows down… he'll break."
Rebecca looked at him in confusion, but Lencar didn't elaborate.
Mariella quietly sorted another page, pretending not to have heard anything.
Outside, the faint sound of Asta's excited shouting echoed as he and Noelle made their way toward the road leading back to the capital.
Lencar remained still for a moment, fingers tapping the table once.
The squads are gathering. Captains moving. Nobles preparing…
Pieces on a board.
The banquet wasn't the goal—it was the signal.
The royal capital assault… it's close.
He turned to Mariella.
"We move at dawn," he said quietly.
She nodded.
Rebecca looked worried.
And Lencar stepped back into the shadows of the restaurant, mind already several steps ahead.