The peaceful kingdom of Camelot basked beneath a sunny morning sky. The Streets buzzed with rowdy shops and civilians; birds chirped overhead. A gentle, hot breeze flowed through the air as morning unfolded in the apartment where Auntie Lily and Sieg lived.
Sieg woke with sleepy eyes as Lily's voice cut through.
Lily: "Wake up, you sleepyhead! Your breakfast is getting cold."
Sieg dragged himself to the dining table.
Sieg: "Thanks for the meal."
Lily: "When you're done, don't forget to put the plates in the dishwasher. I'm going out to work and i might be back late again today."
Sieg "Yeah okay."
Lily hugged him softly before she finally left
After eating Sieg puts his plates in the dishwasher, pocketed his bronze badge and burst out of the apartment door.
Sieg "Okay! I'm gonna take care of my duties with gusto today!!!"
He screamed and ran off with a sudden outburst of determination.
Six months have passed since their mission in the lightning kingdom and the team returned to their usual life.
Sieg spotted his teammates Miki Senji and Aturia Silva and they stood outside a shop waiting for their captain who told the team to meet up.
Sieg arrived—grinning wide.
Sieg: "Good morning, Miki!"
Miki: "Good morning, Sieg"
Sieg then suddenly turned an irritated stare at Aturia who returned it back likewise.
A minute later Baka finally appeared in the distance, his muscular figure staggering toward them. His face was slightly red, a beer bottle in one hand and his katana strapped to his waist.
Captain Baka: "Well... Morning you troublemakers."
Sieg: "I can't believe what I'm seeing."
Miki: "It's impossible, how could this happen?"
Aturia: "Could this be a sign the world is coming to an end?"
Captain Baka: "Huh what the hell are you guys talking about?"
The trio shouted in unison.
"You came early for once Captain."
Baka took a deep sigh pinching the bridge of his nose.
Captain Baka "Anyway now that we're all here it's time for us to get going on our mission. It's time for you three to push past your limits, this might be the most difficult mission yet."
Moments later, Sieg and Aturia found themselves picking trash near the river while Captain Baka leisurely relaxed on a chair nearby as Miki fanned him.
Aturia: "...This is our mission?"
She said carrying a trash bag.
Captain Baka: "Indeed. A test of endurance, patience, and teamwork."
Sieg: "I thought you said this was our most difficult mission yet?"
Sieg said before accidentally stepping on dog poop.
Captain Baka: "Exactly, Environmental sanitation is no easy task believe me."
Aturia: "And Miki why the hell are you fanning him?!"
Miki: "Captain Baka said the sun was bothering him."
Aturia: "Typical."
Baka: "Less talking more cleaning. Miki may the gods bless your kind soul."
Miki: "Thank you Captain."
After that the trio took a little break.
Miki healed Sieg's bruises on his body with her healing magic.
Miki: "Sieg... you have so many bruises. Please be more careful, okay? I don't like seeing you get hurt like this..."
Sieg: "Okay... i will."
Aturia: "I'll say you deserve it for falling into that sewer like a doofus."
Sieg "Quit being all cocky you dweeb."
Aturia: "Then why don't you become better than me loser."
Baka watched both Aturia and Seig bickering as he takes a sip of alcohol from his can.
Captain Baka: Yep… teamwork hasn't been good lately."
Seig "That's right, Aturia you're to blame for our poor teamwork! You're always attracting attention."
Aturia "That's you, idiot! I hate this there are other people my age out there who could give me a challenge. Why am I stuck doing manual labour?"
Miki "It's okay, you two… you don't need to argue."
Captain Baka "Well then… I think we should disperse. I do need to submit a report about this mission."
Aturia: "Well then I'm going home.
Miki "Wait Aturia i was wondering why don't we three train together? We could improve each other's weaknesses and also it would be fun."
Aturia: "Why would I waste my time training with that knucklehead? And Miki... don't take this the wrong way, but you're practically useless in combat. Being a healer is valuable, sure, but what happens when you're alone against a powerful enemy? You won't be able to defend yourself."
Miki felt heartbroken—but knew Aturia was just being honest.
Miki: "Oh i see, well if you don't want to that's fine."
Sieg interrupted
Sieg: "Hey don't you dare insult Miki that way."
Aturia "I'm saying this for both of you and your own good"
Aturia turns and walks away.
Sieg "Don't worry Miki we can train together okay."
Miki smiled
Miki: "Thanks Sieg."
As they walked together heading to the training ground.
Suddenly little kids came running in as they surrounded Miki in excitement.
Miki greeted each of them with a warm smile, remembering their names and kneeling to meet them at eye level.
Kid 1: "Miss Miki—do you have free time now?"
Miki "I'm sorry… but I'm kinda busy right now, me and my friend are heading to the training ground to train.
Kid 3 "Aww… but you said you'd play knights with us today."
Miki: "Maybe another time ok."
Sieg "Why would a knight be playing knights? And who are these kids anyway?"
Miki: "They're children I help look after at the medical center. Whenever they're sick or injured, I try to visit them during my free time."
Kid 3: "Miss Miki is the kindest! She's always fun to play with!"
Kid 4: "She bakes us delicious cookies every weekend!"
Kid 5: "I hurt my arm once, but Miss Miki healed it with her magic. It doesn't hurt anymore!"
Kid 1: "She's the best! We always have fun when she's around!"
Sieg "...You're really popular with them."
Miki laughs shyly
Miki: "Hehe... I just like seeing them smile. That's all."
Sieg: "Seriously, Miki, you'd make one heck of a wife someday."
Miki blushed as she stammered.
Miki: "W-Wife...?!"
Suddenly the joy was cut short as two mysterious teenagers approached about the same age as Team E.
A boy in a black cat jumpsuit with paint stripes on his face.
And a girl with short black-hair and freckles on her face in a purple kimono-style dress and with a weapon strapped to her back.
Accidentally one of the little kids bumped against the boy in a cat jumpsuit.
He grabbed the kid by the neck instantly choking him.
Kirito: "Hey watch where jumping around little punk you almost stepped on my catsuit tail. Do you know how hard this is to wash.
Alice: "It hasn't even been 30 minutes since we entered this kingdom and you're already causing trouble."
Kid: "Hey let me go."
The other kids ran to hide behind Miki.
Miki: "Please... Leave him alone."
Kirito: Huh what did you just say?"
Miki: "Hurting someone weaker than you isn't something you should be proud of."
Kirito "No this kid needs to be taught a lesson first to not damage someone else's property.
Sieg grabbed his arm as he looked him in the eyes with seriousness."
Sieg: You heard her Let go of the kid now, you bully."
Kirito smirks "Don't worry, I just want to play with the kid nothing personal.
Suddenly, Sieg felt an invisible force tugging his arm away from Kirito. His grip began to loosen as he struggled to hold on."
Sieg: "What the hell?! Why can't I move my arm?!"
Kirito smirked as he casually wiggled his fingers.
Sieg suddenly collapsed to the floor.
Sieg thought to himself: "My legs... it feels like something's binding them, preventing me from moving. But I can't see anything. What is this guy's magic?!"
Kirito: "Seriously is this the best that Camelot has to offer, You all are absolute jokes."
He released the kid from his grip and Sieg from his magic.
Miki: "Alright, you kids. Get home safely, okay?"
Kids: "Right!" they shouted in unison before running off.
Miki turned toward the two strangers.
Miki: "You two aren't from around here, are you? Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
Kirito: "Are you seriously asking us that, or are you two just dense?"
Flames flickered around Sieg's wrist.
Sieg: "If you don't want to talk, then I'll make you talk!"
Miki tugged at Sieg's shirt and whispered.
Miki: "Wait a minute, Sieg... We don't even know who they are or what kind of magic they use. Wouldn't it be better to handle this calmly before things get out of hand?"
Sieg: "Alright, alright. I'll calm down."
Alice: "Well for your information, we're Rank 3 Magic knights from the Earth kingdom (South) and we are here to take the Honorary Rank 2 Magic Knights Exam.
Sieg: "Honorary?"
Miki: "Rank 2 Magic Knights Exam?"
Alice: "Weren't you two informed? It's an international exam between the four kingdoms."
Miki: "No one told us that."
Kirito: "Seriously? You guys are supposed to be Magic Knights, and you don't even know about an international examination?" Hahaha
Then suddenly a harsh, cold, lifeless voice interrupted him.
Fuuga "Stop it, Kirito. You're being an embarrassment to the Earth Kingdom.
The ground cracked open as a boy with brown hair, wearing large earrings and a white robe slowly emerged from it giving off an intimidating eerie aura around him.
Meanwhile a meeting had been convened at Camelot's Round Table. The 3 available captains and the fourth king of knights Julius, gathered around the large round table as Julius sat in front of them.
Julius "There is no other reason to summon you all captains here… other than as I assume you already understand." he says in a relaxed tone.
Baka "So it's already that time again... Ahhh I forgot to tell my students this was coming up."
Wayne: "The other four kingdoms and smaller lands have already been notified, right?"
Mary: "And when will the Honorary exams begin?"
Julius: "Yes every other kingdom and other smaller lands have been notified although some didn't agree.
Julius "But nevertheless i will make the formal announcement. A week from now, on the first day of November the Rank 2 Honorary Magic Knights Exam will begin!"