Asta x reader

The towering gates of the Magic Knights Exam arena opened slowly, creaking under their immense weight. A wave of anticipation rolled through the gathered participants, their conversations dissolving into silence. This was it—the first step toward a dream many had nurtured their whole lives.

You stood at the edge of the massive crowd, your heart pounding so hard you feared it might give out before the exam even began. The sheer size of the arena was overwhelming. It loomed above like a giant, the stands packed with spectators and potential captains of the Magic Knight squads. Their sharp eyes scanned the crowd, evaluating every hopeful with the precision of a hawk.

“[Y/N]!” Asta’s enthusiastic voice jolted you out of your thoughts.

You turned to see him grinning, his excitement radiating like sunlight. “This is amazing, isn’t it?”

You forced a small smile, trying to hide your unease. “Yeah, it’s… definitely something.”

Asta, as oblivious as ever, didn’t pick up on your nerves. “I can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve got! This is our chance to shine!”

Before you could respond, the booming voice of the announcer echoed through the arena.

“WELCOME TO THE MAGIC KNIGHT ENTRANCE EXAM!”

The crowd roared, a thunderous cheer that shook the ground beneath your feet. You glanced around, catching glimpses of participants of all shapes and sizes. Some oozed confidence, their magical auras flaring brightly, while others, like you, looked like they wanted to melt into the ground.

Asta nudged you with his elbow. “Hey, don’t look so worried. You’ve got this!”

You swallowed hard, his words doing little to ease the knot in your stomach.

---

As the initial introductions concluded, the exam coordinator, a stoic man with sharp features and a piercing gaze, stepped forward.

“The first test,” he announced, “will evaluate your ability to fly using a broomstick.”

A murmur ran through the crowd as the participants exchanged nervous glances. Several brooms were distributed, each enchanted to respond to the user’s mana.

You froze. Flying? You hadn’t prepared for this. Your lack of magic made it impossible for you to even activate a broom, let alone control one.

Asta noticed your hesitation and leaned in. “Don’t worry about it. Just try your best.”

You nodded weakly, gripping the broom in your hands. Around you, the other participants were already beginning to take off. Some soared gracefully into the air, while others wobbled precariously before finding their balance.

Taking a deep breath, you placed the broom on the ground and whispered, “Fly.”

Nothing happened.

You tried again, this time louder. “Fly!”

Still, the broom remained stubbornly still. Heat rushed to your face as you felt the eyes of the crowd on you.

“It’s okay,” Asta said, his voice calm despite the chaos around him. “Look at me—I can’t use magic either, remember?”

You glanced over at him and watched as he planted his broom firmly on the ground, crossed his arms, and yelled, “FLY!”

To no one’s surprise, it didn’t move. But instead of looking embarrassed, Asta laughed. “See? We’re in this together!”

A small smile tugged at your lips despite the circumstances. Leave it to Asta to turn even failure into something positive.

The coordinator raised an eyebrow at the two of you but didn’t comment. He simply moved on to the next participant, marking his clipboard with quick, decisive strokes.

---

The next test was a demonstration of offensive magic. Participants were asked to channel their mana into a series of targets positioned at varying distances. The explosive sounds of spells filled the air as one hopeful after another unleashed their power.

Your stomach twisted as your turn approached. You watched in awe—and a little envy—as a girl with fiery red hair incinerated every target with ease. Another boy followed, his water-based attacks precise and devastating.

“[Y/N], you’re up!” the coordinator called.

You stepped forward, gripping your weapon tightly. Unlike the others, you didn’t have magic to rely on. But you did have your training—and Asta’s unwavering belief in you.

Taking a deep breath, you focused all your energy on the closest target. With a swift motion, you lunged forward, striking it dead center. The force of your blow sent a small shockwave rippling through the air.

There were murmurs from the crowd, a mix of surprise and curiosity. You ignored them, moving on to the next target. Each strike was more confident than the last, your movements fluid and precise.

When you finished, you turned to see the coordinator nodding slightly, a faint smile on his lips.

“Well done,” he said.

The words sent a surge of pride through you. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

---

The final test of the day was a mock battle. Participants were paired off and instructed to fight using their full strength. The goal was to assess their combat abilities, as well as their creativity and adaptability in battle.

You were paired with a tall boy named Liam, whose wind-based magic was as sharp as his tongue.

“Don’t take it personally,” he said, smirking as he conjured a blade of wind. “But I don’t go easy on anyone.”

You gripped your weapon, bracing yourself. The moment the battle began, Liam lunged forward, his attacks swift and relentless.

It took everything you had to keep up, dodging and deflecting as best you could. His magic was overwhelming, but you refused to give up.

“You’re persistent,” Liam said, narrowing his eyes. “But persistence won’t win you this fight.”

Summoning a gust of wind, he sent you flying backward. You hit the ground hard, pain lancing through your body.

For a moment, you lay there, gasping for air. The crowd was silent, waiting to see if you would rise.

“Get up, [Y/N]!” Asta’s voice rang out, clear and strong. “You can do this!”

His words lit a fire in your chest. Gritting your teeth, you forced yourself to your feet. Liam looked surprised but quickly regained his composure.

“Impressive,” he said. “But it won’t be enough.”

You didn’t respond. Instead, you focused on his movements, waiting for an opening. When it came, you seized it, striking with all the strength you could muster.

Liam stumbled back, his smirk replaced by a look of shock.

The match ended shortly after, the coordinator declaring it a draw.

---

As the sun began to set, the participants gathered in the arena for the final evaluation. The captains of the Magic Knight squads stood on a raised platform, their presence commanding respect.

One by one, they began selecting recruits.

Your heart raced as you waited, the tension almost unbearable. Asta was chosen quickly, his determination and strength earning him several offers. He chose the Black Bulls without hesitation, his grin brighter than the sun.

When your name was called, you froze. For a moment, you thought you’d imagined it.

“[Y/N],” the coordinator repeated. “Step forward.”

You did as instructed, your legs feeling like lead.

The captain of the Black Bulls, Yami Sukehiro, smirked as he looked you over. “You’ve got guts, kid. Welcome to the squad.”

The crowd erupted into cheers, but all you could hear was the pounding of your heart.

You’d done it.