Time moved strangely during their training.
Days blurred together in sweat, fear, and determination.
Haruto meditated constantly, fighting Arkhamis's voice every night.
Lira practiced healing and shadow magic.
Ren's absence still ached in all of them.
And Satoro trained his body relentlessly, growing sharper, stronger, and colder.
But every day, he still checked on Nova.
Every. Single. Day.
Nova's stomach had changed slightly — not huge, but softer, rounder.
And Satoro noticed.
He just didn't know what it meant.
Playful Teasing Turns Serious
One morning, Satoro walked into the practice hall holding two practice swords.
Nova sat on a blanket, eating dried fruit, cheeks full.
Satoro smirked.
"You've been eating everything in the tavern lately.
Are you getting fat?"
Nova froze mid-bite.
Lira looked at her like, girl, say it.
Nova shot her a death stare.
Haruto burst out laughing.
Even Mira cracked a smile from the shadows.
Nova puffed her cheeks.
"I'm not getting fat!"
Satoro grinned.
"Are you sure? Because—"
Nova cut him off with a shaky breath.
"Satoro… there's something I need to tell you."
Satoro blinked.
"…What?"
Nova's hands trembled.
Her voice cracked.
"I'm… I'm not getting fat."
Satoro raised an eyebrow, joking:
"Then what is it? You eating Lira's sweets at night?"
Nova's face turned red.
"No… I'm… I'm pregnant."
The room fell silent.
Satoro's smile dropped instantly.
He didn't speak.
He didn't blink.
He just stared at her like he didn't understand the words.
Haruto dropped the fruit he was eating.
Lira gasped and covered her mouth.
Even Mira's eyes widened.
Satoro took one slow step toward Nova.
"You're… what?"
Nova looked down at her shaking hands.
"I'm pregnant…
with your baby."
Tears formed in her eyes.
"I-I was scared to tell you because…
I thought you'd be mad. Or… or hate me… or push me away…"
Satoro stood in front of her now, completely still.
Then—
He dropped to his knees.
He placed both hands gently on her stomach.
And he smiled.
A REAL smile.
Bright.
Warm.
Human.
"Nova…"
He looked up at her, eyes shining.
"We're having a baby?"
Nova's breath caught in her throat.
"You… you're not mad?"
"Mad?" Satoro shook his head laughing softly.
"No. I'm… I'm happy. Really happy."
Nova covered her mouth with both hands and began crying—
out of fear, out of relief, out of everything.
Satoro pulled her into his arms.
"Hey… hey… it's okay.
I'm right here.
I'm not going anywhere."
Nova sobbed into his chest, shaking.
Haruto watched with wide eyes.
Lira cried quietly, smiling.
Mira leaned back against a pillar.
"Death was right," she thought.
This child really is hope."
Training Continues — But Everything Changes
After the reveal, the training changed completely.
Nova was protected.
Satoro hovered around her constantly.
Haruto trained harder than ever to quiet Arkhamis.
Lira studied more healing so she could help Nova and the baby.
And Mira…
She watched the unborn child with a reverence no one understood yet.
Ancient magic began to swirl faintly around Nova's stomach—
a sign the prophecy had begun.
Satoro felt it too.
Every time he placed his hand on Nova's belly,
a warmth filled his chest.
A new destiny.
A new hope.
A new soul.
And the beginning
of the greatest battle they would ever face.