So far so good, right? Let's keep going! Before I do, shout out to Anti-Mage 29 for naming the two surprise characters.

Asta was on the trail headed for the new village. After feeling bored walking alone for so long, he found a remote area filled with enough trees.

"To be perfectly honest, I really don't know how to use this thing. Am I even holding it right? And does cutting trees count as attempting to get better? If I can just find someone in Nean who can use a sword-"

Out of nowhere, Asta heard a few screams headed his way. It was a guy who looked like he was being hunted by a wild beast. "Hey, might wanna move out of the way…!"

"Don't run toward me, pal!" He just swung at the boar sending it in the air. "Man, that was something."

"What were you doing all the way out here? Don't think I've seen a sword like that."

"I just got my grimoire and had to relocate before the Magic Knights exams. I'm heading to Nean Village right now."

"Seems you don't know how to use it. How about this? I'll help you get ready before you arrive."

"That's cool. I'm Asta, by the way."

"Fanzell Kruger. Or just Zell, I'm kind of a nomad. I know a thing or two about using these. Some of my spells turn into swords. You seem hungry. How about some fish? I know a spot up ahead."

"Well, I barely ate before I left the village."

"Great!"

The two found a camp ground. Just by looking at him, Asta wondered if this new ally was as good ax he says. But first, he had to ask… "What are you doing without a shirt?"

"Well, I didn't want it soaked when I was catching fish. The cottage I'm currently in is right past those trees. Maybe there I can help you prepare for the exam."

"Now we're talking!"

"A sword that nullifies magic?"

"It came with the grimoire. The Demon-Slayer Sword is what'll get me into the Magic Knights. The village elder told me about this sword and the devastating power my grimoire has, which is why I had to leave Hage Village."

"That's quite the tale, Asta. How about you stay here for a bit? I'm supposed to be waiting for someone soon."

"Guess that's okay."

"First off, how good are you at chopping wood? This'll help you before you get where you need to go. Which is…"

"Nean Village. The nun at our church went there and suggested I stay there until I take the Magic Knights exam. Well, first it was the elder's idea, but Sister Lily thought it was a good one."

The next morning

Asta was swinging around the rusted blade and began to lose his footing. "Man, I don't even know if I'm doing this right."

"That's because all your weight's in your knees. Your balance is thrown off; that's why you can only get one strike at a time. Try keeping your toes pointed in the same direction, then lightly step forward with your right to shift your weight."

One horizontal swing and keeping his foot pointed out, he quickly shifts to the right and strikes vertically. It seemed he had the hang of if.

"He's certainty a fast learner."

"Hey, have you done stuff like this before?" Asta asked.

"Well, I may as well fill you in." Fanzell found a stick on the ground and opened his grimoire. "Wind Creation Magic: Emperor of Slashing Winds." His mana began to form around the stick, creating a sword made from wind. "This is how I started out, seeing how it's not the real deal, but I managed to pick up a bit about using them."

"You gotta show me how to do that!"

"Fine. But, there is one other thing." "Asta? Why are you so interested?"

"I need to change the world for the better. A friend and I who are both from the same village are trying to see who becomes Magic Emperor."

"Fascinating. Truly."

"Really? I mean, he has Wind Magic like you and all I have is anti-magic."

"Anti-magic? That doesn't sound so bad."

"You're not gonna tell me it's impossible?"

"How do you know it's impossible if you haven't tried? One last thing; a vow. You need to use these methods to achieve that."

"What's that mean?"

"Just don't use it for evil, all right? Simply to finish that race with your friend. Not as a way to harm those you're fighting for or to bully others."

"Like I need someone to tell me that. Don't worry, Old Man Zell, I'm only focused on keeping up with Yuno, and then one of us will be Emperor!"

"Good to hear! Now, let's get started."

A few more days have gone by. Progress was made, new abilities came to fruition. Fanzell was quite pleased with how the anti-magic hopeful was coming along. Asta had become faster on his feet, able to go for swings in succession.

"Your offense and defense are really strong. And your balance has gotten a bit better. "

"I don't get it. If you're this good, why couldn't you handle the boar when we met?"

"See, without a sword or my grimoire, I can't do much of anything. Besides, you seem to be more suited seeing as how my skills aren't all that great."

"Maybe because you're better at teaching?"

"Well, I did do some teaching before coming here. I was actually a military commander way back when. I've had quite a few exceptional cases; four of them to be precise."

"Then let's get to it!"

"Hold on, we didn't finish eating yet."

The next day, Asta and Fanzell had a surprise visitor.

"I have returned, Master. Sorry it took so long."

"Hey, welcome back. Find anything out, Mariella?"

"Mariella?"

"She's one of the others I taught before coming to the Clover Kingdom. She's helping me find my fiancee. Can't draw too much attention so I asked the only student I could find. Mariella happens to be an assassin with Ice Magic."

"Who's he?"

"I'm Asta. The old man here is preparing me for the Magic Knights exam by helping me use the sword in my grimoire."

"This is no ordinary old man. Though it's true, he's still an amazing old man. You can't just refer to him as old man. It's simply perception. If you knew, you'd say it with the proper respect and deference."

"Uh, Mariella? I'm 28."

"How am I supposed to make old man sound respectful? Old man is old man!" The anti-magic hopeful came off as irritated by her.

"Can we drop this before I lose all self esteem? Oh, right. Domina. Do you know where she is?"

"I'm not sure, but I don't want to assume that we've lost her…"

"All right, Asta. It's time I tell you everything. I'm really a former commander from the Diamond Kingdom. My fiancee, Dominate Code and I left the land not too long ago. I just couldn't stomach what the Armed Forces were doing to my other students at the time. Mars and Ladros last I heard are the only ones left. In the confusion, Domina disappeared. So I had Mariella try and locate her for me while I stayed low for the time being. That's when I ran into you."

"Here. It's Domina's wand. I managed to find it."

"I'm gonna need a minute." Old Man Zell headed inside to confirm. 'It's hers, all right.'

"Pardon me." Mariella entered. "About what happened… "

But before she could finish, "We're being ambushed!", she shouted. Numerous Diamond Kingdom mages popped up. "I won't let them hurt you! Mars! Last I heard he's in a bad place; I think all those experiments will make him unable to realize who we are. The kingdom's perfect magic weapon…"

Before Fanzell could get a word in, "Old man, how are you holding up?" Asta just barged in. "You! Was this…?"

"No, I'm as surprised as you are. But I'm certain the three of us can handle them, if you can keep up, not knowing full well how impressive the old man really is."

"Let me tell you something, Mariella, I feel like I do know the old man by now."

"Really? Old man, again? I can handle them myself. Despite my experience, at first I felt there was nothing left. I thought all hope was gone. I needed a reason to keep at it. It was you."

"Wrong, old man, I'm not those things. You may need to keep looking to find them, but they're there. "

"If you wanted to see my best, here. Wind Creation Magic: Emperor of Slashing Winds. Winter Wind! Mariella!"

"On it! Ice Magic: Frost Dagger!" One swipe sent a chill into the air. "One swing can send ice in all directions." She turned to the others and said, "Now go, we're done here." Once the area cleared out, Mariella was on her way as well, but first… "What will you do now, Master?"

"Answer's obvious, isn't it? Domina is out there and I wanna find her. I may only have one lead but it's a start. And you?"

"I'm going to get more information on the Diamond Kingdom and make sure those two stay alive. What about him?"

"I'm going to the next town and get ready for the Magic Knight exams."

"Guess I'll see you around, Asta. Oh, and it looks like you're getting better at saying 'old man'.

Like that, she was gone in a cold breeze coated in ice.

"Well, I'm off to find her, so this where we break off. When I do, I'll be sure to atone for everything. Go straight to Nean Village and keep preparing for the day you become a Magic Knight." he instructed.

"Just like that?" Asta questioned too quickly.

"Why not? I've been doing nothing for too long, and it's high time I do something. Get going, you've got everything you need. Go and be Magic Emperor!" the former military took off.

'All right, I need to hurry. Nean Village, here I come.'

Asta knew he'd run into Fanzell and Mariella again. Without any hesitation, he headed for the place he needed to go. A lot has happened to him recently. Fanzell's words reminded him why he had to leave Hage in the first place. He couldn't bare the thought of the church or anyone in the village being hurt because of him, especially Sister Lily and Yuno. It wouldn't be much longer before he had arrived.

Sorry that took a long time. Up until the exam, the next 1-2 chapters will be about Asta adjusting to his six month stay in Nean.

Asta: I made it! Sister wasn't joking, this town is huge! So many people! The church looks a lot nicer, but when I'm Emperor, I'll make the one back in Hage look like this, too! Page 4: A Fresh Start and a New Friend. My magic is never giving up!