The uproar of the Star Awards Festival drowned the capital in cheers and the glare of magical lights. Julius Novachrono stood at the center of it all, his presence commanding yet serene, the epitome of what the Clover Kingdom revered in a Wizard King. His royalty-violet eyes followed the clash of magic between Asta and Yuno, delight dancing in them as he studied every motion with insatiable curiosity.

But then—something shifted. A ripple. A disturbance. The faint scrape of magic too deliberate to be mere noise.

Julius tilted his head ever so slightly, his smile softening into a thin line. He had already felt the disturbance before the festival had even begun. Time slowed around him—literally, as his mana spread like an unseen tide. The smoke from Yuno’s flashy strike had barely begun to clear when he wove his hand through the air, threads of time bending and stretching at his will.

You were caught in it mid-descent, your body suspended in unnatural stillness as the citizens below gasped. Julius’ eyes narrowed with recognition, his voice low, meant only for himself though it carried with eerie calm. “…So it really is you.”

Releasing the bind just enough, Julius allowed motion to return. He stepped back with graceful ease, forcing you to alter your path after he moved away. The stage erupted in cries, and several Captains tensed with magic flaring like drawn blades. But Julius merely raised a hand, palm open, silently halting them. His gaze never left you.

Time slowed again, not completely frozen this time, but stretched with each heartbeat drawn into eternity. He appeared in front of you in less than an instant, his robe shifting like the wind itself.

“Even after all these years, your presence is unmistakable,” He said, tone not accusatory but laced with an old familiarity. His eyes searched yours, the dawn's golden light reflecting curiosity out of his eyes as much as caution. “I wondered if I’d ever see you again… though I didn’t expect it to be here, of all places.”

Around you, the Captains remained on edge, but Julius’ calm had stilled their hands more effectively than chains. Yami Sukehiro, William Vangeance—old allies from an old team, were just as unsettled as the rest. Still, Julius remained unfazed, studying every flicker of your magical aura with the fascination of a scholar uncovering a rare text.

“You’ve grown stronger. That much is clear.” His voice carried now, not just to you but to all who listened, steady and commanding. “But I must ask… is this strength meant to challenge me? Or…” He paused, smile faint and unreadable, “… is it meant to bring you back home?”