Day 2 — Morning Arrival at the Blooming Town

  As the sun rose above the trees, Lunthale appeared on the horizon like a mirage—vivid banners rippling in the wind, laughter echoing from every corner, music drifting from flutes and strings.

  Color. Life. Motion.

  A cacophony of it.

  By the time Stray Dawn crossed the outer gates, the town had already woken in full bloom. Markets stretched endlessly, lined with trinkets, rare ingredients, exotic Bonds showing off with their tamers. Jugglers flipped apples into the sky while dancers spun silk ribbons beneath hanging lanterns.

  It was a festival day, apparently. Or maybe Lunthale was always like this.

  Josh whistled low.

  Josh: "Now this... this is paradise."

  Kristie: "Ten bucks says you'll end up buying something dumb and useless."

  Josh: "It's called 'souvenirs,' thank you."

  Marian twirled as she walked, arms stretched wide.

  Marian: "I want to eat everything. No, wait—touch everything. No—pet everything!"

  Cedy: "I give her ten minutes before she vanishes into a food stall."

  Not everyone was laughing though.

  Ren, moved a little slower, shoulders tense, eyes narrowing as people bumped past. Behind him, Elly had pulled her hood up halfway, keeping close. Rica was squinting at a map like it personally offended her. Jonax had her arms crossed, posture tight, teeth slightly clenched.

  The crowd wasn't kind to the quiet.

  Iver, noticing their group lagging, slowed his pace with a smirk.

  Iver: "You survived a lightning blast from a Guardian. Took a direct hit from a Chaos Drake. But this—crowds—this is your downfall?"

  Ren grunted.

  Ren: "I'm one accidental shoulder bump away from going feral."

  Lily skipped up beside Rica, who looked like she was calculating the velocity of every person within ten meters.

  Lily: "I've never seen Rica this helpless before."

  Rica: "I'll have you know, I'm mentally mapping the city. And its possible escape routes."

  Kristie cackled behind them.

  Kristie: "Translation: she's two steps away from a meltdown, and summoning Queen to burn this whole place down."

  Elly softly clung to your cloak's edge, Koirin tucked tightly against her.

  Elly: "Too loud..."

  Ren: "My words exactly."

  Meanwhile, Lyra weaved through the crowd like she'd lived here all her life. She even waved at one of the shopkeepers.

  Lyra: "Welcome to Lunthale! Where the food's hot, the wallets vanish, and there's a tournament with your name on it."

  Josh perked up.

  Josh: "Tournament?"

  Lyra: "Mmhmm. It's tradition. Fighters, Bonds, talents from across the region gather here every moon-cycle. Big prize. Bigger bragging rights."

  Kristie cracked her knuckles, eyes sparkling.

  Kristie: "Well, someone's gotta represent Stray Dawn."

  Cedy: "Count me out. I'm only here to eat and cause passive mayhem."

  Jonax muttered from behind her scarf.

  Jonax: "Just don't let them rope us into something dumb..."

  Too late. A town this festive always had eyes. And soon, Stray Dawn would find themselves not just in the crowd—but at the center of it.

  ...

  Ren, Elly, Rica and Jonax would go find themselves an Inn, while the others gather information and restocked some supplies, that was the plan atleast.

  Quiet Inn — or at least, it was quiet.

  Ren had barely managed to lie down when chaos knocked—no, punched—through the peace he'd fought so hard to claim.

  The inn was modest. Tucked away just off the plaza, it was quieter than the bustling heart of Lunthale. Just enough to muffle the endless cheers and merchant cries. Ren had picked it with care.

  Elly rested near the window, her little Koirin lazily spinning in a bowl of enchanted water. Rica was leaned back against the wall, flipping through her logbook of maps and plans with furrowed brows, while Jonax sat at the foot of her bed, boots off but tension still fully armored.

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  It was, for a moment, calm.

  Ren: Finally...

  The bed creaked as he exhaled. This—this was peace. The type of peace that only came after days of travel, battles, and guiding a party of misfits.

  Then—

  A massive cheer roared from outside.

  Followed by a loud crash.

  Then a voice, unmistakably Josh's, screamed:

  "STOP GRABBING MY BOND'S NECK LIKE THAT—HE'S TRYING TO WIN!"

  Ren's eyes snapped open.

  Jonax sat up with a groan. Elly leaned over, confused. Rica simply muttered,

  Rica: "...I swear if Josh is involved—"

  Ren dragged himself to the window, fingers pressing to his temple.

  Outside, the street had become an open arena. The plaza was roaring with life. A banner waved high above the crowd:

  ?? "LUNTHALE GRAND BOND TOURNAMENT – Winner Gets A Custom-Built Carriage!" ??

  In the middle of the fray, Josh, shirt flapping, fists up, was sparring a man twice his size with Hornbeast charging beside him like a freight train. Around them, a frenzied audience of merchants, travelers, and locals howled with excitement.

  Kristie stood on a barrel, one boot up like a pirate captain.

  Kristie: "COME ON, HORNBEAST! RIP AND RUN, BABY!"

  Cedy was already making bets from the sideline.

  Cedy: "Ten silver on the one with eyebrows. No, the other one!"

  Iver, ever the strategist, had already joined the next bracket with Drakehound circling its opponent like a froststorm brewing. Calm. Precise.

  The prize?

  A carriage and gear upgrade, something we definitely needed for the rest of our journey.

  Back inside, Ren let the curtain drop slowly.

  Josh: "WE'RE GONNA WIN A CARRIAGE, CAPTAIN!"

  Ren: "Of course it's about a carriage."

  Elly peeked next to him, brows high. Koirin burbled nervously in her arms.

  Elly: "Wait—is that... are they fighting for transportation?"

  Rica slapped her forehead.

  Rica: "...This is why I plan things."

  Jonax was already grabbing her coat, marching toward the stairs.

  Jonax: "If Josh fractures something again, I'm not carrying him."

  Ren sighed, rolled up his sleeves, and followed.

  ...

  Down the pit...

  Josh ducked under a right hook and slid along the arena sand, laughing.

  Josh: "IS THIS NOT THE GREATEST TOWN IN THE WORLD?!"

  Hornbeast roared beside him, charging with surprising grace.

  Josh: "YOU SEE THAT COMBO, REN? WE PRACTICED THAT IN THE BATHROOM!"

  Kristie cupped her hands like a megaphone.

  Kristie: "IF YOU LOSE THIS, YOU'RE SLEEPING IN THE GARDEN!"

  Cedy, beside her, shouted:

  Cedy: "Make it the compost bin!"

  Iver's turn came next. He stepped into the ring with no theatrics. Drakehound's breath misted coldly as they advanced. His opponent didn't stand a chance.

  One enhanced feint, one calculated strike—and the match was over in seconds.

  Kristie clapped. "SHOW-OFF!"

  Ren, arms crossed in the crowd now, muttered.

  Ren: "He really said 'strategic blast' in a street fight."

  Beside him, Rica shrugged.

  Rica: "If it wins us a carriage, I don't care if he dances while doing it."

  Elly leaned slightly toward Ren.

  Elly: "Do we have to cheer them on?"

  Ren: "We're too invested to stop now."

  Jonax muttered darkly beside them.

  Jonax: "If Josh breaks his nose again, I'm feeding him soup with a fork."

  Kristie finally caught sight of them, her face glowing with chaos.

  Kristie: "REN! LOOK! LOOK AT MY BOYS GO!"

  Ren didn't even blink.

  Ren: "You realize that only one of them actually know the tournament rules, right?"

  Cedy: "There were rules?!"

  The crowd roared again.

  The next bracket was announced.

  And just like that, their nap day became a fight day.

  And Stray Dawn wouldn't have it any other way

  ...

  The cheers hadn't died down—in fact, they'd only grown louder.

  By now, a makeshift arena had formed from barrels, crates, cheering townsfolk, and paper banners fluttering in the wind. Musicians played loud, off-beat tunes nearby, and merchants had already set up food stalls like this was a scheduled event.

  Josh, shirt now completely off and flapping like a banner over Hornbeast's back, strutted after his second win, arms raised.

  Josh: "WHO NEEDS A CARRIAGE?! I'M GONNA RIDE MY VICTORY!"

  Kristie, spinning one of his sweat towels, grinned like a sports manager.

  Kristie: "Next time, I'm making shirts. Team Josh, baby!"

  Iver, calm and barely winded, sat at the edge of the ring as Drakehound gnawed on a charred sword, having just burned his opponent's blade mid-swing.

  Cedy: "At this point, Iver's not fighting. He's teaching a class."

  Ren stood off to the side, arms crossed, next to Rica, Elly, and Jonax, all watching like exasperated parents at a school performance.

  Jonax: "We came here for rest."

  Ren: "Yeah, and somehow we got street-MMA with dragons."

  Suddenly—

  Marian popped up behind them, nearly dropping her box of sweet fritters.

  Marian: "GUYS GUYS GUYS—WE GOT SNACKS!"

  Rej, behind her with a drink in each hand, added dramatically:

  Rej: "Snacks... and gossip."

  Lily appeared, dragging a yawning Seri along, who was holding a stick of candied fruit.

  Lily: "She wouldn't nap until she saw the 'punchy parade.'"

  Seri blinked sleepily, then brightened when she spotted Josh's chaos.

  Seri: "Is Josh winning?"

  Rej, handing Ren a pastry:

  Rej: "Unfortunately, yes."

  The nex bracket...

  A cloaked woman stepped into the ring with a thin-bladed saber and a scorpion-like Sandstalker Bond. Josh blinked.

  Josh: "Wait, they brought poison claws?!"

  Hornbeast: snort (Translation: "Weaklings panic. We stampede.")

  The match was ugly. Sand kicked up, someone screamed about illegal tail-whipping, and a fruit cart was overturned. Hornbeast delivered a clean body-slam that launched the woman halfway across the plaza. Josh was declared the winner by the sheer fact that his opponent was tangled in their own bond's tail.

  Josh: "I didn't even hit her at that time!"

  Kristie: "That's team synergy!"

  —

  Then came Iver's turn.

  His opponent: a cocky lancer from a foreign guild riding a Cragpaw, a hulking bear-wolf hybrid.

  The clash was quieter—tense. Calculated.

  Cragpaw lunged. Drakehound side-stepped. A flame burst from its jaws mid-lunge. The enemy's lance cracked under pressure. The fight was over before the dust settled.

  Ren watched, nodding slightly.

  Ren: "He's holding back."

  Elly: "He's always holding back."

  Rica added, munching a honey crisp:

  Rica: "Because he knows if he doesn't... someone gets hospitalized."

  Seri blinked.

  Seri: "Cool...

  As Iver wiped ashes from his gauntlet, Jonax glanced around.

  Jonax: "...Where's Lyra?"

  Cedy, sipping her drink, shrugged.

  Cedy: "Said she went to the Guild earlier. Something about updating the archives."

  Ren didn't react, but something behind his eyes flickered.

  Elly tilted her head.

  Elly: "Shouldn't she be back by now?"

  Rica: "Maybe. Or she got caught up in politics. Guild bureaucrats are worse than bandits."

  Meanwhile...

  Far from the crowds, past the laughter, hidden in a shuttered alley carved between old brickwork and vine-covered stone, Lyra stood in the quiet.

  The masked figure known as Valter, the Hollow Bell stood before her, head bowed. From his hands drifted soft tones—gentle hums that echoed like hollow bells on wind.

  Cloaked shadows shifted behind him. Murmurs. Music. A presence stepped forward—grinning with too-wide eyes, crimson paint smeared like a bleeding grin.

  Caden of the Crimson Verse.

  Caden: "Our precious Thorn returns. Did the dandelions sing well today?"

  Lyra, arms crossed, face carefully neutral.

  Lyra: "They're unpredictable. Foolish. And strong. Stronger than Shepherd predicted."

  Valter's hum deepened. A cold tension filled the air.

  Caden leaned close, whispering almost musically.

  Caden: "He waits for your bloom, sweet petal. The roots must reach the stone."

  Lyra frowned. "What's Shepherd's next step?"

  They didn't answer.

  But behind them, something ancient stirred. And in the silence that followed...

  Valter finally spoke.

  Valter: "The curtain rises... soon."

  Then, all at once—they vanished into the shadows of the alley.

  Lunthale — Day 2, Evening

  Location: The Antler's Brew Tavern

  The clink of mugs. The scent of roasted meat. The cozy hum of laughter and warmth bouncing off old wooden walls. This tavern—cramped, chaotic, and slightly smoky—felt like the first real rest in a while.

  Stray Dawn had claimed the large round table in the corner, plates stacked in the center, bonds resting in the stables nearby. The clamor of Lunthale's festival still echoed faintly outside, but here—it was their bubble.

  Josh slammed his mug down with dramatic flair, nearly toppling over a bowl of stew.

  Josh: "And that's when Hornbeast roared so loud, the guy actually wet himself! I swear on my bruises!"

  Kristie, choking on her drink: "No way! He peed?!"

  Josh: "There was a puddle, Kristie!"

  Marian: "Could've been the soup stand. You fought near the noodle cart."

  Josh, offended: "Don't ruin this for me!"

  Laughter erupted across the table.

  Iver, sipping from his tea with maddening calm, raised a brow.

  Iver: "Let the record show... I won my matches without needing to yell."

  Rej, smirking: "Yeah, because your opponents were frozen stiff before they blinked."

  Ren leaned back in his seat, the corner of his mouth twitching up.

  Ren: "You both fought well. But Josh wins the drama trophy."

  Josh held his hand to his chest, mock touched.

  Josh: "You hear that? Drama trophy! Put it on my grave!"

  Cedy, chewing through a skewer: "Please. You'd survive being buried just to brag about it."

  Jonax, sipping quietly beside her, muttered: "And probably pick a fight with the coffin."

  Even Rica—usually poised—let out a tired chuckle as she dabbed her mouth with a napkin.

  Rica: "Can't believe we've only been on the road for two days."

  Lily: "Yeah... and we've already acquired one celestial deer and four new rumors about Josh being part wyvern."

  Seri, legs swinging on her seat, raised her fork like a sword.

  Seri: "To Josh the Wyvern!"

  Everyone joined in on the toast.

  Elly, seated beside Ren, watched the group with quiet contentment—her smile soft but eyes distant.

  Elly: "Feels like... we're normal people. Just for tonight."

  Ren glanced at her, then back to the group.

  Ren: "Yeah... let's pretend we are. Just for a little while."

  Elsewhere...

  Far beyond the warm flicker of candlelight and safety, somewhere in the back alleys and catacombs beneath the city, a figure in violet silently slipped through shadows.

  Another piece moved across the board.

  Watching.

  Waiting.

  Planning.