The Lion's Dawn

The climb had been brutal. Every step up the burning volcanic terrain had pushed the Crimson Lions, Noelle, and the others to their limits. But now, finally—

They had reached the summit.

Asta wiped the sweat from his forehead, panting heavily. "Finally! We made it!"

Leopold collapsed onto a rock, exhausted. "That was… the hardest training… I've ever done."

Escanor stood tall, barely winded. His gaze remained steady as he took in the sight of the summit, showing not the slightest sign of fatigue.

Yuno, his usual calm self, simply dusted off his cloak.

But something felt… off.

Asta looked around, frowning. "Wait a minute… where are the hot springs?"

For a moment, it seemed like there was nothing up here except hardened volcanic rock and thick steam filling the air.

Then—

A deep rumbling sound came from beneath the earth.

Suddenly, a geyser of blue, glowing water shot into the air, its magical energy shimmering as it cascaded back down into a natural pool carved into the mountain's rock.

The water sizzled slightly as it touched the surrounding terrain, yet the pool itself remained tranquil.

Asta's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Ohhh! There it is!"

Mereoleona grinned, placing her hands on her hips. "Alright, you lot! Strip!"

The entire group froze.

Noelle's face turned bright red. "W-What?!"

Sol immediately stepped forward, glaring at the men. "Captain! We can't just—!"

Mereoleona huffed. "This is a training hot spring. You soak in it as you were born. Magic-enhanced water this pure directly interacts with your mana flow. Clothes get in the way. Don't be cowards!"

Many of the men paled at the command.

Leopold nearly choked. "C-Captain, wait—!"

Asta scratched his head. "Well, if it's for training—"

Noelle grabbed him by the collar. "Don't even think about it!"

Before the argument could escalate further, Sol slammed her hands together, activating her Earth Magic.

A massive stone wall shot up between the men's and women's side.

"There!" Sol huffed, standing proudly. "Now the men won't be able to peep!"

Yami, already shirtless, smirked. "Heh, not like I care about all that. I just want a soak."

Asta laughed. "Whew! I thought I was about to get punched."

Escanor, meanwhile, sat on a nearby rock, waiting for the others to settle their arguments.

On the other side of the wall, the women had begun to relax in the glowing blue waters.

Mereoleona leaned back against the rocky edge, exhaling. "Hah… Been too long since I've done this."

Noelle sat a little further away, still flustered. "I don't get it… This place… Why do you even know about it?"

Mereoleona turned her head toward her, a faint smile forming on her face.

"...Because of your mother."

Noelle's eyes widened. "M-My mother?"

Mereoleona nodded, looking up at the starry night sky.

"Acier Silva… She was the reason I even knew about this place."

Noelle shifted closer, her heart pounding. She barely knew anything about her mother—only the stories she had heard, the legacy she left behind.

Mereoleona continued, her voice softer than usual.

"We used to come here together. Back before I isolated myself in the wild, she'd drag me here, saying it was good for both body and mind. She was always like that. Stronger than anyone I knew, but never let that strength turn to arrogance."

Noelle clenched her hands. "I… I don't remember her. Not really."

Mereoleona glanced at her, watching the frustration in her expression.

"She was everything a Magic Knight should be," Mereoleona said firmly. "Powerful, fearless, but also kind. She didn't look down on anyone. Even me, when I was nothing but a reckless fighter with no interest in the nobility's games. She respected strength—not bloodlines."

Noelle swallowed hard, feeling a lump in her throat.

"...Did she talk about me?"

Mereoleona looked at her for a long moment before closing her eyes.

"She did."

Noelle's heart skipped a beat.

"She always said you had the heart of a warrior. That someday, you'd surpass all expectations placed upon you."

Noelle's breath hitched.

A wave of emotions crashed into her—pride, sorrow, longing.

She had spent her entire life being told she wasn't good enough. That she wasn't strong like her siblings. That she would never live up to her mother's name.

But now—

Hearing these words from someone like Mereoleona…

It meant everything.

Mereoleona suddenly stood up, stretching. "Well, enough chit-chat. You're here to train, not get sentimental."

Noelle wiped her eyes quickly, nodding. "R-Right!"

But as she looked back toward the sky, she couldn't stop the small, genuine smile that formed on her lips.

For the first time… she felt like she was truly connected to her mother.

The hot springs had done wonders for everyone's bodies, soothing their aching muscles after the brutal climb. But, of course, things couldn't stay peaceful for long—at least, not with Leopold Vermillion around.

"Alright, listen up, you two!" Leopold declared, standing chest-deep in the hot springs, steam rising all around him. "I challenge you both—Yuno, Asta—to a test of endurance!"

Asta, still floating lazily in the water, perked up. "Oh? What kind of challenge?"

Leopold grinned, flames crackling around his fingertips. "We're gonna see who can withstand the most heat!"

Asta's eyes gleamed. "Oho! Sounds fun!"

Yuno, however, sighed, already regretting being dragged into this. "Is that really necessary?"

"Of course!" Leopold fired back. "Only the strongest can handle extreme conditions! This will test both our bodies and our magic control!"

Without waiting for agreement, Leopold plunged his hands into the water and released a surge of mana.

The temperature immediately skyrocketed.

Steam thickened in the air, and the water bubbled with intense heat.

Asta grit his teeth but held firm. The sheer heat reminded him of all the grueling training he'd gone through. His body, strengthened by endless battles and his unique resilience, refused to back down.

Meanwhile, Yuno?

He casually raised a hand, and a gentle breeze wrapped around him, cooling the water in his immediate surroundings.

Leopold's eye twitched. "Oi! That's cheating!"

Yuno smirked. "You didn't say I couldn't use magic."

Leopold clenched his fists. "Then I'll just make it hotter!"

The water's heat surged again.

Asta let out a laugh, his body turning red from the intense temperature. "Man, this is awesome! I feel like I'm cooking alive!"

Yuno sighed. "You sound way too happy about that."

As the three continued their ridiculous contest, Yami suddenly wandered over, rubbing his chin as he observed the scene.

"What're you brats up to now?"

Asta beamed. "Oh! We're testing who can handle the heat best!"

Yami snorted. "Tch, what a boring competition."

Leopold frowned. "You got something better, Captain?"

Yami smirked, then casually pointed toward the massive stone wall separating them from the women's side.

"Tell ya what. Instead of sitting here boiling yourselves alive, why not test your 'mana skin' against some real danger—by peeking over that wall?"

Silence.

Leopold froze.

Yuno stopped using his wind magic.

Asta tilted his head. "Eh? What's so dangerous about that?"

Yami chuckled. "Well, the danger ain't in the peeking—it's in whether or not you survive afterward."

Realization dawned on them.

On the other side of the wall sat Mereoleona, Charlotte, Noelle, and Sol.

Each of them was more than capable of obliterating any would-be peepers.

Leopold gulped. "Th-That's insane! Mereoleona would kill us!"

Yami grinned, lighting a cigarette. "Exactly. That's what makes it fun."

Asta scratched his chin, deep in thought. "Hmm… This kinda sounds like a dumb idea…"

Yami smirked. "What, you scared?"

Asta immediately stood up. "HELL NO!"

Yuno sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is going to end badly."

Escanor, who had been quietly observing the madness unfold, finally spoke.

"You fools. A true man would never resort to such disgraceful tactics."

Everyone turned to him.

Escanor stood tall, arms crossed, looking down at them like insects beneath his feet.

"I, Escanor, do not need to peek at beauty. Beauty itself bends before me."

Yami chuckled. "Heh. Whatever you say, big guy."

Regardless, the challenge had been issued.

Leopold, despite knowing how dangerous it was, clenched his fists. "I can't back down from a challenge!"

Yami cracked his neck. "Alright then, let's see who's got the guts."

Asta took a deep breath. "Okay! On the count of three—we jump!"

One…

Two…

Three—!!

The three men sprang toward the wall—

But before they could even reach the top—

A massive surge of magic erupted from the other side!

Sol, overhearing the entire conversation, had immediately activated her Earth Magic.

"NOT ON MY WATCH!"

BOOM!

A massive stone fist erupted from the wall, slamming into the would-be peepers with enough force to send them flying!

Leopold barely had time to react. "Wha—?!"

BAM!

He was sent crashing into the hot spring water.

Asta, using pure instinct, managed to activate Black Asta just in time to dodge midair—only for Noelle to unleash a surge of Sea Dragon's Roar straight at him!

"You IDIOT!" she screamed.

Asta barely had time to panic before a massive dragon-shaped torrent of water blasted him straight into a nearby boulder.

Yami, on the other hand, had casually dodged all the attacks, standing nearby and chuckling. "Damn. That was brutal."

Leopold groaned from the water, his hair completely fried. "I… I knew this was a bad idea…"

Yuno, who had wisely not attempted the challenge, smirked. "I told you this would end badly."

Meanwhile, Escanor, standing unharmed and untouched, simply shook his head.

"Pathetic."

Mereoleona, standing at the top of the wall, looked down at them with a smirk. "Hmph. You brats really thought you could pull something like that off?"

Charlotte, face completely red, turned away. "Unbelievable…"

Noelle, arms crossed, huffed. "Serves them right!"

Yami, still unscathed, exhaled a puff of smoke. "Heh. Totally worth it."

Asta, barely peeling himself out of the rock, groaned. "N-Not worth it…"

Thus, the ultimate challenge ended in total failure.

And the only thing that got burned that night—

Was their pride.