[Third Person's PoV]
A week had passed since Stephen and his team had conquered the dungeon. This morning, as they casually gathered over breakfast, Yami glanced at them with his usual nonchalant expression and attitude.
"The Magic Knights headquarters wants a full report on what went down in that dungeon," he informed them, his voice gruff. Then, with a nod toward Wanda, he added, "Oh, and take Wanda with you. I've already spoken with the Wizard King about her, but he wants to see her in person before deciding anything."
Stephen raised an eyebrow, glancing at Wanda. She seemed visibly tense at the idea of meeting the Wizard King, her fingers fidgeting with her breakfast spoon.
"THE WIZARD KING?! WE'RE GOING TO MEET THE WIZARD KING? WOOHOO!" Asta burst out, his mouth half-full of food, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Yami's gaze shifted to Luck. "You're staying here. I'm sending you on a mission with Magna," he stated, brooking no argument. As Stephen, Noelle, Asta, and Wanda quickly finished their food, they began to gather their things.
Once everyone was ready, Stephen summoned a portal, its swirling light casting a glow across the room. They stepped through, and in an instant, they were transported to the bustling Clover Capital.
"Woah…" Asta breathed, eyes wide with amazement. This was his first time in the capital, and the grand towers and lively streets left him awestruck. Wanda, too, seemed captivated, her gaze darting around, taking in the sights with a childlike wonder. It was her first time outside the Black Bulls' base, and every detail seemed to spark her curiosity.
As they made their way through the streets, they crossed paths with Yuno and his team, who were also headed to the Magic Knights' headquarters. Yuno and his teammates turned, spotting Stephen's group.
A smile broke across Mimosa's face, and without hesitation, she ran over to Stephen. "Stephen~!" she greeted, throwing herself into his arms in a spontaneous hug.
The group paused, staring at the two of them, and Mimosa quickly realized all eyes were on her. She stepped back, clearing her throat as a faint blush colored her cheeks. "So…how have you all been?" she asked, trying to cover her embarrassment.
Noelle's eyebrow arched, and she crossed her arms, her voice tinged with a hint of annoyance. "You two seem awfully close for people who only found out about their engagement a week ago."
Wanda observed them silently, her gaze narrowing slightly as she watched Stephen and Mimosa. 'So…this is the fiancée,' she thought.
Klaus chimed in, looking between Stephen and Mimosa with a raised brow. "Yes, that hug seemed rather…friendly for a relationship that's barely a week old."
Mimosa's cheeks flushed an even deeper red, and she placed her hands over them, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Well…Stephen has been visiting my room at night since the dungeon incident. We've had time to get closer…and get to know each other," she admitted shyly.
Everyone stared at them in shock, jaws dropping. Klaus stammered, "That's…quite a development."
Asta clapped Stephen on the back repeatedly, grinning. "Stephen, you sly dog! Already settling into married life, huh?"
Stephen groaned, covering his face with his hands. The attention and teasing made him wish for invisibility. Mimosa, flustered by everyone's reactions, began to panic, waving her hands frantically. "I didn't mean it like that! I just meant that Stephen's been…sneaking into my room at night. All we did was…lay in bed together!"
Stephen's face went bright red, and he quickly put a hand over her mouth. "Mimosa…please…stop talking," he pleaded, his ears practically glowing with embarrassment.
Mimosa nodded rapidly, her cheeks flushed, steam almost visibly rising from her head in mortification.
Klaus shot Stephen a stern look. "So you've been sneaking into our base?"
Stephen shrugged, trying to play it off. "It's quite easy, actually."
Noelle stood slightly apart, looking away with a strange, unreadable expression. She placed a hand over her chest, her face conflicted. 'Why does it hurt to see them together like that? Am I…getting sick?' she wondered, feeling a pang she couldn't quite understand.
Eventually, everyone agreed to put the awkwardness behind them and continued on toward the Magic Knights' headquarters. As they approached the grand building, a voice called out, "Over here!"
They turned to see the Wizard King, Julius Novachrono, waving them over. Klaus's eyes widened, and he dropped to one knee in awe. "Sir, I never dreamed you'd meet with us directly!"
"Who's the fancy dude?" Asta asked, cocking his head.
Stephen leaned over to him, whispering, "That's the Wizard King, Julius Novachrono."
Asta's face lit up with excitement, while Yuno's eyes widened in surprise.
Julius approached with a smile, addressing Stephen. "It's good to see you again. How have you been?"
Stephen let out a sigh, a note of irritation in his voice. "Could be better if certain decisions about my life weren't made without my knowledge or consent," he replied, shooting a pointed look at Julius.
"Stephen! Show respect! That's the Wizard King!" Klaus whispered urgently.
But Julius raised a hand, stopping Klaus. "I take it you're still a bit angry about…recent events?"
Stephen rolled his eyes, arms crossed. "What gave it away?"
Klaus was practically pleading with his gaze for Stephen to stop, but Julius only smiled apologetically. "I truly am sorry. It was a request from Aurelia. She offered to bear the responsibility and any backlash for what happened."
Stephen sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm not furious, just annoyed. Just…consult me next time if it's something as big as my future, alright?"
Julius's expression softened with genuine regret. "Understood. I'll remember that."
They soon found themselves in one of the tall towers, standing before the Wizard King as he examined Yuno's grimoire. His eyes sparkled with curiosity and excitement as he examined the intricate symbols of Yuno's wind spirit spell. "This is impressive. This spell might be the most valuable relic recovered from that dungeon."
Stephen leaned over to Wanda, whispering, "It's not." Wanda chuckled softly, knowing he was referring to her, the true treasure they had brought back.
Curiosity filled Yuno's face. "Can you read it, sir?" he asked.
"To some extent," Julius replied, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. He looked back at Yuno, his voice brimming with anticipation. "Say, could you perform the spell for me now?"
Yuno's face fell slightly. "I'm sorry, sir. I managed to activate it once in the dungeon, but I haven't been able to use it since."
Julius's hopeful expression dimmed, a single tear forming at the corner of his eye. "I see…what a shame…"
He closed the grimoire gently, handing it back to Yuno with a warm smile. "But take heart—this spell will grow with you. One day, it will become a truly extraordinary power. Take good care of it," he said, his gaze lingering on Yuno with respect. 'The Great Wind Spirit Sylph,' he thought, 'it has chosen him for this era…'
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