The night Father Orsi found them at the Hage Village church, the world was silent, and the sky was a deep, unbroken indigo.
There were three baskets on the doorstep that night. Asta was already kicking and shouting at the moon, and Yuno was a quiet, sleeping shadow.
Between them lay Lyra, a silver-flecked pendant tucked into her swaddling clothes. She didn't cry like the others; she simply slept peacefully and quietly.
Life at the church was a constant, noisy cycle. At six years old, the personalities that would define them were already set in stone.
"Sister Lily! One day, I'm going to be the Wizard King and make you the happiest woman in the world! Marry me!"
Asta's voice rang out from the church steps, his face red from the sheer effort of shouting. He was a ball of pure, magicless energy, constantly lunging toward the young nun only to be gently dodged.
Nearby, a young Yuno sat on a wooden bench, tears streaming down his face because he had dropped his juice. At six, Yuno was a notorious crybaby, clinging to the hem of Father Orsi's robe whenever things went wrong.
"Asta, stop yelling! You're making Yuno cry harder!" Lyra called out from the church's backyard.
Unlike the boys, Lyra spent her afternoons in the dirt. She had claimed a small patch of the church's land as her own, transforming it into a flourishing garden. (p. 3) With her waist-length midnight-blue hair tied back in practical braids, she carefully pulled a basket of bright orange carrots and plump tomatoes from the soil. (p. 3)
Her mana was already remarkably stable, manifesting as soft violet motes that seemed to make the plants grow stronger and more vibrant. (p. 8) By providing fresh vegetables and fruits for every meal, Lyra had single-handedly lessened the church's food expenses, a fact Father Orsi praised every Sunday.
"Here, Yuno," Lyra said, walking over and handing the sobbing boy a fresh, sweet strawberry she had just picked. "Don't cry. Asta is just being Asta."
Yuno sniffled, taking the fruit, while Asta ran over, eyes sparkling. "Whoa! Lyra, give me one too! I need the energy for my ten thousand punches!"
Lyra laughed, her indigo eyes shimmering with silver flecks. "Only if you help me carry the water buckets first."
The next morning.
Morning sunlight filtered through the tall trees surrounding the dirt trail behind Hage Church. Dew clung to the grass and branches, sparkling faintly in the rising sun.
Three small children ran along the narrow path.
"Aaaaah! Hurry up!" Asta shouted as he sprinted ahead.
His feet kicked up dust as he ran at full speed without looking back.
Behind him, Yuno ran with smaller steps, trying to keep up.
Lyra ran beside him.
Her breathing was steady, and despite the pace, she looked more amused than tired.
"Asta!" she called. "Slow down!"
But Asta didn't hear—or ignore her.
"Last one to the top is a rotten cabbage!"
Yuno tried to run faster.
But the trail was still damp from the morning mist.
Suddenly—
His foot slipped.
"Ah—!"
Yuno tumbled forward and hit the ground.
Lyra stopped immediately.
"Yuno!"
Asta skidded to a halt and ran back.
"Hey! What happened?!"
Yuno sat up slowly.
His lip trembled.
Then tears began to well up in his eyes.
"I—I fell…"
Asta crossed his arms.
"Geez, you're such a crybaby!"
Lyra gave Asta a small look.
"He fell pretty hard."
Asta huffed but still held out his hand.
"Come on!"
He grabbed Yuno's arm and pulled him up.
"You'll never get stronger if you cry every time you trip!"
Yuno sniffed.
Lyra brushed some dirt from his sleeve.
"You're okay now."
Yuno nodded quietly.
The three children began running again.
This time, Yuno held Asta's hand as they ran.
Lyra jogged beside them.
"We have to hurry," Asta said excitedly.
"Sister Lily and the others are waiting!"
The moment he mentioned her name, his face lit up.
"Sister LILY!"
He raised both fists dramatically.
"I'm gonna marry her someday!"
Lyra sighed softly.
"You say that every day."
"And I mean it every day!"
Yuno spoke quietly.
"That won't work."
Asta turned instantly.
"What do you mean it won't work?!"
"Sister Lily is part of the church."
Lyra nodded.
"She's a nun."
"So?!"
"That means she can't get married."
Asta froze.
Then stomped his foot.
"That doesn't matter!"
He pointed forward dramatically.
"I'll definitely marry Sister Lily when I grow up!"
At the top of the hill, the church courtyard came into view.
Standing near the entrance was Sister Lily.
She had clearly heard everything.
She smiled gently at the three children running toward her.
Later that evening, the younger children gathered inside the church.
They sat on the wooden floor while Sister Lily read from a large storybook.
Yuno sat close to Lyra.
Asta sat in front, practically bouncing with excitement.
"Long ago," Lily began softly, "the world was threatened by a terrible demon."
Some of the children gasped.
"The demon spread darkness across the land and nearly destroyed the world."
Yuno slowly leaned closer to Lyra.
His expression looked uneasy.
Lyra noticed and whispered gently,
"It's okay. It's just a story."
But Asta leaned forward eagerly.
"Then what happened?!"
Sister Lily smiled.
"A powerful mage stood against the demon."
"He fought it and defeated it, saving the entire world."
The children stared in awe.
"And because of his incredible power," Lily continued, closing the book, "the people gave him a special title."
"He became the Wizard King."
Asta's eyes shone with excitement.
Yuno looked thoughtful.
Lyra gazed quietly at the candlelight.
Another day, bright and clear.
Asta stood on top of the wooden fence outside the church, staring at the distant mountains.
Far away stood the massive skull-shaped cliff.
Atop it stood the enormous statue of the Wizard King.
"Whoa…"
Asta's eyes sparkled.
"Sister Lily!" he called.
"Yes, Asta?"
"Is the Wizard King really that important?"
Lily nodded.
"He protects the Clover Kingdom."
"After the King, he is the most important person in the country."
Asta raised his fist.
"I've decided!"
Everyone looked at him.
"I'm going to become the Wizard King!"
Lyra blinked.
"That's a big goal."
Asta puffed out his chest proudly.
"I'll be the strongest mage ever!"
Then he looked at Lily.
"And then you'll marry me!"
"No."
The response was immediate.
"But—"
"No."
"But if I'm the Wizard King—"
"No."
"But—"
"No."
Yuno giggled quietly.
Lyra laughed softly.
"Asta never learns."
Winter arrived.
Cold winds swept through Hage Village.
In the courtyard, Asta stretched his arms forward.
"Magic…!"
He clenched his teeth.
"Come out already!"
Nothing happened.
Again.
"MAGIC!"
Still nothing.
Asta groaned.
"Why can't I use magic yet?!"
Lyra sat on the church steps watching him.
"You're yelling at it," she said calmly.
"That probably doesn't help."
Asta turned.
"What does that mean?!"
"It means magic doesn't like being shouted at."
Asta crossed his arms stubbornly.
"Well, it should!"
At that moment, Sister Lily walked by with a laundry basket.
Asta immediately ran over.
"Sister Lily! I'll help!"
"Thank you, Asta."
"Then marry me!"
"No."
Asta froze.
Nearby, Yuno approached carrying baby Nash, who was crying loudly.
"Asta," Yuno said, "can you help?"
Asta smirked confidently.
"Hah! Easy!"
He grabbed Nash.
"If I'm going to be the Wizard King, stopping a baby from crying is nothing!"
He shook Nash too hard.
The baby cried louder.
"WAAAAAH!"
Lyra stood up quickly.
"Asta! Not like that!"
Sister Lily gently took Nash back.
Within seconds, the baby calmed down.
Asta stared.
"How did you do that?!"
Lyra giggled.
"You scared him."
Recca laughed loudly.
"The future Wizard King can't even stop a baby crying!"
Asta glared.
"Just wait!"
Later, Father Orsi asked someone to deliver a letter.
Asta volunteered immediately.
But Orsi chose Yuno instead.
Asta protested loudly.
But Yuno simply took the letter and left.
Lyra watched him go quietly.
Hours passed.
Asta grew impatient.
"He's late!"
Lyra frowned slightly.
"That's strange…"
Asta suddenly ran toward the road.
"I'm going to check!"
Lyra followed.
In the town, Yuno had delivered the letter.
But a drunken man grabbed his necklace.
"That looks valuable."
"Give it back," Yuno said quietly.
He tried using Wind Magic.
A small breeze appeared.
The drunkard laughed.
"That's it?"
Suddenly—
"Asta Smash!"
Asta tackled him.
Lyra arrived seconds later.
"Asta!"
The drunkard knocked Asta aside easily.
But Asta stood again.
"Give it back!"
Punch.
Fall.
Stand.
"Give it back!"
Punch.
Fall.
Stand.
"Give it back!"
The drunkard eventually groaned in frustration.
"Take it already!"
He dropped the necklace.
Yuno picked it up quietly.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"You got hurt because of me."
Asta wiped the blood from his nose.
Then grinned widely.
"Don't worry!"
He punched Yuno lightly.
"I told you!"
"I've always got your back!"
Lyra stepped forward and brushed dirt from both of them.
"You two are hopeless."
But she smiled warmly.
"Let's go home."
The three children walked back toward Hage Church together.
Above them, the winter sky slowly darkened.
None of them realised yet—
That one day, their rivalry, their dreams, and their shared promise would shake the entire Clover Kingdom.
Fifteen years later, Hage Village knew her as their "number one beauty," but to Lyra, she was just the sister holding two whirlwinds together.
"Sister Lily! I'll make you happy, I swear! Marry me!" Asta's voice shattered the morning peace for the tenth time.
Lyra laughed softly, her waist-length midnight-blue hair swaying as she stepped out of the church. "Asta, she's literally a nun. You're going to get blasted again."
"Persistence is my magic, Lyra!" Asta shouted, just before Sister Lily's Holy Fist of Love slammed him into the dirt.
"It's the only magic you have," Yuno remarked, effortlessly levitating a pile of logs with his wind magic. He looked at Lyra, his gaze softening. "Are you ready?"
Lyra touched the star-shaped pendant at her throat, feeling the steady, smooth hum of her mana. Unlike Asta's void or Yuno's genius, her power felt like a quiet, constant tide. "Ready as I'll ever be."
The Grimoire Acceptance Ceremony was a turning point for them all.
Every year during March, every 15-year-old teenager would go to the grimoire towers in their respective regions and receive the grimoire that would help them control and improve their magic.
After arriving at the grimoire tower and listening to the tower master's speech, the ceremony began.
Every teenager stood at the centre of the tower as the grimoires floated down from the shelves and landed on their respective chosen owner.
Just as everyone was talking and chatting about their grimoires, a bright light appeared, and a glowing grimoire floated down before Yuno. Yuno shocked the kingdom by receiving the legendary Four-Leaf Clover.
Just as everyone was chattering in amazement, Asta's voice was heard. He was kneeling on one knee, and his arms were spread upwards in a receiving position. But no grimoire showed up.
Asta received nothing, becoming a laughingstock as he stood with empty hands.
Lyra stood composed, her heart and mana in perfect harmony. A deep-violet three-leaf clover grimoire with a void-patterned cover descended to her without resistance, resonating with the cosmic energy she'd felt since she was a child.
The victory was short-lived. After the ceremony, the church orphans, Sister Lily, and Father Orsi returned to the church to prepare a small celebration. Yuno, meanwhile, was confronted by 2 nobles who felt humiliated and thought that their spotlight was stolen by a mere peasant and an orphan at that.
But Yuno easily defeated them. But a new enemy appeared and, using his chain magic, he tied Yuno and stole his 4-leaf grimoire and planned to sell it to the black market.
But just as Revchi Salik, a thief, planned to steal Yuno's pendant, thinking it was valuable too and could sell for a high price, a voice stopped him,
"Let him go," Lyra said, her voice calm but her smile sharpening into something dangerous. She opened her grimoire, and soft violet motes of light began to swirl around her. "Nebula Magic: Stardust Shards."
Multiple crystalline shards of condensed starlight materialised in the air. With near-perfect precision, she launched them at Revchi's chains. The impact sparked, but the chains were reinforced by the stolen mana of a four-leaf grimoire.
"Another church rat with a rare attribute?" Revchi sneered, lashing out with a chain that caught Lyra's arm, pinning her beside Yuno. "I'll sell your book for a fortune, too."
Asta charged in then, after hearing the commotion. He was beaten down again and again until Revchi told him the cruellest truth: that he had no mana at all. Lyra struggled against her bonds, her eyes steady on Asta. Don't listen to him, Asta. You've never needed mana to be the strongest person I know.
"Who... are you calling a loser?" Yuno's voice echoed.
"Asta... is our rival!"
In that moment of absolute resolve, the air shifted. A tattered, black five-leaf grimoire manifested before Asta, and a massive, rusted sword pulled itself from the pages.
With a roar that tore through the silence of the night, Asta swung. The anti-magic blade sliced through the chains binding Lyra and Yuno as if they were made of mist. Lyra landed gracefully, her mana flaring. "My turn to help, Asta!"
She raised her hand, her pendant glowing in sync with her grimoire. "Nebula Magic: Gravity Lock!" A localised weight slammed into Revchi, pinning him to the floor for just a second—long enough for Asta to deliver a finishing physical strike with the flat of his blade.
As the dust settled, the three of them stood before the Demon Skull of Hage.
"I'm going to be the Wizard King," Asta declared, pointing his sword at the horizon.
"No, I am," Yuno countered.
Lyra looked at her brothers—the genius and the anomaly—and smiled, her indigo eyes shimmering with silver flecks. "And I'll be right there with you. I'm going to support your dreams."
They bumped fists under the starlight, three orphans from the Forsaken Realm beginning a journey that would change the world.