The royal court chamber was colder than it should've been — not from magic, but from intent. The air was thick with suspicion as Asta and Yuno stood before the Magic Parliament. Nobles whispered, eyes flicking between them with a sharpness that felt like knives.
At the center, Julius Novachrono regarded them not with judgment, but with something stranger: curiosity.
Damnatio stood beside him, arms folded.
"You two were the only ones at the epicenter of the Broken Star Curse," Damnatio said, voice like steel. "But our readings indicate something beyond the curse itself."
Julius folded his hands, his expression unreadable. "A magical phenomenon occurred within that ruin… one that hasn't happened in recorded Clover history."
Yuno tensed. Asta instinctively stepped closer to him.
"What kind of phenomenon?" Asta asked.
Julius glanced at a floating, glowing tome beside him. "A convergence. Two high-level mana signatures fused in perfect harmony. It triggered a magical imprint called a conception mark."
Yuno's eyes narrowed. "A what?"
Damnatio's voice was ice. "It means one of you is pregnant."
A beat of silence passed like thunder.
Asta looked confused for half a heartbeat — then turned to Yuno. "Wait. You don't think—"
Yuno didn't speak, but the look on his face said everything.
He felt it.
A deep, strange stirring of wind magic inside him — a quiet, fluttering presence like a spell with no source. It wasn't illness. It was life. New life.
Julius spoke gently. "The magical environment, the synchrony of your souls, your history together — it all created the perfect storm. It's rare, but not impossible."
Damnatio stepped forward. "A child conceived between two men, one of royal blood, in defiance of natural law… it is a threat to the order of succession."
Asta's jaw clenched. "He's not a threat. He's ours."
Yuno's voice was low but clear. "Say what you want. This child is mine. And I'll protect them… with or without the Clover Kingdom's permission."
Julius nodded, rising from his seat. "There will be no punishment. But be warned — others in power may not be so merciful."
That Night
Back in their private room at the Black Bulls' hideout, Yuno sat on the edge of their bed, silent. The wind outside rustled the curtains.
Asta kneeled in front of him, taking his hands.
"You okay?" Asta asked.
"I don't know," Yuno admitted, his voice quieter than usual. "It's like… I can feel it. Not with my mind — with my magic. Something inside me has changed."
Asta touched his abdomen gently, eyes searching Yuno's face. "We'll figure it out together. I've got you. Always."
Yuno leaned into his touch, forehead resting against Asta's. "I'm scared, Asta."
Asta's arms wrapped around him tightly. "You're not alone. You never were. And now, neither is our kid."