100 Prompt Challenge - Astelle

Prompt: In a world where Vanessa couldn't manage to grasp the threads of fate in time, Asta is left to deal with the consequences of stealing the future of a certain silver haired future. 

—

Asta's hands were still stained with Noelle's blood.

No matter how much he scrubbed, no matter how many times he plunged them into the freezing rivers of the Forsaken Realm, it wouldn't come off.

Because it wasn't just blood.

It was her blood.

Noelle.

Noelle, who had once stood beside him, who had fought with everything she had to prove herself, who had believed in him.

Noelle, who he had cut down with his own sword.

And there was no undoing it.

—

He hadn't had a choice.

Asta wanted to believe that.

But no matter how much he tried to convince himself, the image wouldn't leave his mind—Noelle's wide, disbelieving eyes, the way her body had gone rigid as his sword sank into her flesh.

The Queen had stripped his will from him, forced his own hands to betray him. He had fought against it, struggled, screamed—but in the end, his blade had fallen.

Her lips had parted in a silent gasp. A single, whispered word.

"…Asta…?"

And then—nothing.

Her body hit the ground, crimson spilling into the dirt.

And Asta—

Asta, who had sworn to protect everyone he loved—

Had failed.

Failed in the worst way possible.

The moment the Queen's control lifted, he had lunged for her in blind fury.

There had been no mercy in him that day.

The Witch Queen was gone.

And so was Noelle.

—

Nozel didn't say a word when he arrived at the Black Bulls' base.

Not at first.

The whole squad had tensed at his presence, their hands drifting to their weapons, knowing that nothing good could come from this visit.

Then, he spoke.

"Where is he?"

Captain Yami had met Nozel's piercing gaze, cigarette dangling from his lips. "What do you want with Asta?"

Nozel's hands curled into fists. His voice was sharp, like a dagger slicing through the air.

"I want to see the murderer."

Asta had stepped forward then.

He wasn't hiding. He had no right to.

Nozel's eyes landed on him, cold as steel.

Then, in an instant—

Asta was on the ground, blood in his mouth.

Nozel stood over him, silver magic crackling like a storm.

"You should be dead," he said, voice shaking with something between rage and grief. "You should be dead."

Asta didn't move.

Didn't fight back.

Because he agreed.

Nozel struck him again, his magic lashing out in a violent surge, sending him crashing against the stone wall of the base.

No one stopped him.

Because no one could.

Because Asta deserved it.

—

They didn't exile him.

No, that would have been too easy.

Instead, they let him live.

Live with the whispers.

Live with the scorn.

Live with the weight of what he had done.

When he walked through the streets of the Clover Kingdom, eyes followed him. Some filled with anger. Some with disgust. Others with fear.

Children were pulled away from him. Shopkeepers refused to serve him.

And he didn't blame them.

He didn't speak much anymore.

Didn't train. Didn't laugh.

Didn't live.

Because he had already died on that battlefield.

The world just hadn't buried him yet.

—

He stood at the edge of a cliff, the wind howling around him.

It would be easy.

Just one step forward.

One step, and it would all be over.

No more whispers.

No more nightmares.

No more waking up every day knowing he had taken the life of the one person who had believed in him the most.

His hands clenched at his sides.

Then—

"Asta."

He froze.

Slowly, he turned.

Nozel stood there, arms crossed, watching him with unreadable eyes.

Asta forced a bitter smile. "Here to finish the job?"

Nozel didn't answer.

Instead, he walked forward, stopping just a few feet away.

For a long moment, there was silence.

Then—

"…I hated you."

Asta flinched.

Nozel's voice was steady, but beneath it was something raw.

"I wanted to kill you myself." He exhaled sharply, closing his eyes. "But she wouldn't have wanted that."

Asta swallowed. "I—"

"I don't forgive you." Nozel's eyes snapped open, sharp as ever. "I never will."

Asta lowered his head.

Nozel took another step forward.

"But if you think you can just run away—if you think she would want that—then you're a bigger fool than I thought."

Asta's breath hitched.

He didn't move as Nozel turned on his heel, walking away.

Didn't move as the words settled deep into his bones.

Didn't move as the weight of Noelle's memory wrapped around him like chains.

Then, slowly—

He stepped back from the edge.