Humanity had fallen into despair; everyone was devastated by several powerful demons.
However, a single man, whose power was unmatched, managed to defeat the Demon King, ending this catastrophe!
He was called the Wizard King... And so, his legend began.
---
On a dark night, the sky was blacker than usual—a sign that a storm was approaching.
At the doorstep of a church, in the middle of an abandoned kingdom, two baskets had been left, both covered with cloth hiding what was inside.
Inside the church, a priest had just finished his prayers. After kneeling for several minutes, he got up and prepared to go to sleep. But then he heard soft sobs… the cries of babies.
A strong lightning bolt struck near the church, making the babies' cries even louder. The priest located the source of the sound and went to the church entrance.
He slowly opened the door, and what he saw left him stunned. Two babies were crying—his suspicions were correct—but he was still shocked that there were people cruel enough to abandon children with a storm on the way.
The two babies were completely different from each other. One had hair as dark as the night, and the other had gray hair—almost as silvery as the priest's own (a very unusual hair color, especially for a baby). Without thinking too much, he grabbed both baskets and brought them inside.
"Our family keeps growing... Let me see your names," said the priest, going to the basket with the black-haired baby. He lifted the cloth covering a name tag and read it. "This one's very calm. Let's see... His name is Yuno." He smiled and covered the name back up.
He moved to the other basket, where the second baby also seemed to be sleeping. "Now, let's see your—" His sentence was cut short by a strong punch to the face from the suddenly active baby.
"You're full of energy, huh?" Carefully, he lifted the cloth and read the name tag. "Your name is Asta."
Taking a few steps back to get a good look at both babies, the priest smiled. "You two are part of our family now. I hope we get along in the future!" His short speech made the babies giggle quietly, as if they understood.
---
Fifteen years flew by—it felt like just yesterday that those two babies arrived in the small village of Hage.
Back to the present, in the grand capital of the Clover Kingdom, loud cheers echoed—so loud, in fact, that even places in the abandoned kingdom could hear them.
"Long live the Wizard King!"
Not far from there, in Hage Village, two young adults talked while working in a field, hoes in hand, discussing the noise coming from the capital.
"Seems like the capital's really lively today," said one of them, making his hoe float with magic. "They're so excited they're casting spells like crazy." Fireworks covered the sky above the grandest castles of the kingdom.
"Looks like the Wizard King has returned," guessed the other, standing with one hand resting on his hoe.
"Seriously? The Wizard King?!" the first replied in surprise.
"He's the reason this kingdom still exists. If not for him, we'd be in ruins," he said, gazing at the giant demon skull before him, atop which stood a grand statue of a young man with outstretched arms.
"You'll see! One day, I'll become the Wizard King and make everyone even happier! That's why I'll keep working hard!" Asta shouted with excitement.
"Huh?" one of them muttered, confused.
"Looks like it's that church kid again," the other one said, nodding.
---
"I'm sure you'll make it, Asta… But remember: Rest is an essential part of your training. If you keep going like this, you'll hurt yourself," said Sister Lily, a beautiful young woman who helped Father Orsi care for the church.
"Don't worry, Sister! All these years without magic helped me strengthen my body so I could finally receive my grimoire!" Asta replied with determination.
"I know, but a good rest is also essential to recover your energy."
"You're right, Sister Lily... I think five minutes of rest should be enough."
A drop of sweat slid down Sister Lily's neck.
Suddenly, a gust of wind struck Asta, hurling him into a church wall.
"Asta, bothering Sister again?" asked a red-haired girl approaching. Her name was Rekka.
"See? I told you he wouldn't give up on asking Sister Lily to marry him! I'm never wrong!" Nash, a brown-haired boy, added.
"Of course not, you brats! I was just telling her about my training!" Asta said, annoyed. "And you, Yuno, why did you blast me like that?" he asked indignantly, pointing a finger at him.
"Why?... You're loud, short, never shut up, and annoying. I think that's more than enough reason," Yuno declared, turning his back to him.
"Is that something you say to someone who grew up by your side?! You damn jerk!" Asta shouted, being completely ignored as Yuno turned to Sister Lily.
"Let me help you."
"Oh, thank you, Yuno."
"I challenge you, Yuno!" Asta shouted.
"No," Yuno replied calmly, tossing dirty clothes into a water bucket.
"Why not?"
"It would be a waste of time."
"Come on, Asta, you wouldn't stand a chance against Yuno," Nash said seriously, using his fire magic to light the wood-burning stove.
"After all, you can't even use magic..." he added, watching Asta try and fail to cast a spell with his hands.
"Not yet!" Asta insisted, trying again.
"Hahaha! Big bro Asta is so funny," said a little black-haired girl (name forgotten).
"I think it's amazing that you have no magical aptitude, even though you have such a large mana reserve," said Nash.
Some time ago, Asta visited a wise mage in the forsaken kingdom, who examined his body and discovered a vast source of magic within him.
But for some reason, Asta couldn't manifest it. It was as if no magic wanted to belong to him.
"Is that how you talk to your elders?!" Asta said, glaring at Nash, who kept the same serious expression.
"Shut up! Magic is everything in this world. Even someone as young as me can use it—unlike you!" Nash shot back without holding back.
"How dare you, you little brat!" Asta yelled but quickly calmed himself. "In that case... 1,000 pushups!" And so he began countless reps as the children watched.
"Check this out! Bet you can't do sit-ups this fast!" He switched exercises, doing sit-ups at impressive speed.
"As if that's impressive," Nash muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Asta is funny!" the girl laughed again.
Behind them, a strong wind stirred. They turned and saw Yuno drying all the clothes at once, compressing them into a ball and spinning them with wind magic.
"That's amazing, big bro Yuno!"
"As expected from Yuno," Nash said with a mocking smile.
"This will speed things up. Thanks again, Yuno," said Sister Lily, collecting the freshly dried clothes.
"I'll take care of the firewood, then!" Asta ran to a pile of logs, axe in hand. But before he could swing, Yuno cut the logs cleanly with his wind magic.
Nash was impressed and took the chance to tease Asta: "Hard to believe you two are the same age."
"Why?!" Asta shouted, charging at Yuno, who didn't flinch.
"Talent beats effort," Yuno replied with his usual serious face.
Father Orsi: "Yuno is the hope of our church!" he cried tears of pride.
Little girl: "Big bro Yuno is amazing and so kind!"
Nash: "For you, Yuno, becoming the Wizard King won't even be a challenge!"
Sister Lily approached Asta, who lay on the ground in a fetal position: "Hey, Asta, don't forget that the Grimoire Ceremony is happening soon. You'll definitely get your grimoire—and then you'll be able to use magic."
"That's right! When I get my grimoire, I'll join the Magic Knights! And one day I'll become the Wizard King!"
Nash: "To become the Wizard King, you have to be born noble and have magic from birth."
"Anyone can do it if they try!"
Nash: "People like us, who were abandoned, don't stand a chance—especially those who can't even use basic magic."
"You'll all see!" Asta shouted, running off aimlessly.
"Hard to believe he's older than me," Nash said, disappointed.
"Hey Asta, where are you going?!" Sister Lily called out, worried.
"Let him go. He'll probably be back before dinner."
"Yuno," she said, "he used to cry so much as a child. But ever since the day Asta came home injured, Yuno never cried again."
---
"996... 997... 998..." Asta counted as he did pushups, balancing on one hand in a dangerous pose. "Someday I'll become the Wizard King, and no one will stop me!" he declared, switching arms to do a thousand more.
---
March finally arrived—the time of year when the glowing dandelion flies hover over the kingdom.
Every year, this marks the occasion when fifteen-year-olds from across the land gather for the Grimoire Ceremony.
It's the place where they receive their coveted grimoires, magical books that enhance their power.
---
"Welcome to the Grimoire Ceremony. For those who have already found their path, I wish you faith, hope, and love. I am the sage who watches over this Grimoire Tower," said an old man in wizard robes as he appeared onstage.
"Hmmm… A Wizard King already lives in this land. There is no greater achievement than joining a squad of Magic Knights." He coughed slightly, preparing for his next declaration. "But… I hope someone here today, inside this tower, will someday become the Wizard King!"
That brief speech inspired many. Smiles broke out among the youth, as they eagerly awaited the next moment.
"Now… receive your grimoires!" he shouted, raising his arms. A powerful magic spread through the room, and the grimoires began to glow—flying toward the ones worthy of wielding them.
To be continued...