"You look stunning," Fang complimented, her eyes fixed on the shorter girl with bright red hair and lively green eyes. Fang herself wore a black sleeveless top, ripped jeans, and high-top converse sneakers, her tall and muscular figure drawing a few glances from the crowd, which she brushed off without a care.

The young girl, Vanille, swept her hair back, revealing silver loop earrings. She wore a black blouse, a traditional-looking necklace adorned with colorful beads, and a black beaded bracelet. "Thank you, you look gorgeous too," Vanille replied, sticking out her tongue playfully. "I can't wait!" she squealed in excitement. "We get to eat those super sweet apples coated in honey, catch goldfish, and watch the fireworks!"

Fang smiled at Vanille's enthusiasm. The Full Moon Festival was an annual event, yet it never failed to capture their excitement. As they chatted, they noticed a familiar figure approaching them, causing Fang's expression to darken.

"Nice greetings," Cid said, rolling his eyes before turning to face Vanille with a charming smile. "My apologies, The Sacred One, and hello."

Vanille shot Fang a look, conveying her message of leaving Cid to her, while Fang responded with an expression that clearly said, "What on earth?" "I told you not to call me the Healer or the Sacred One," Vanille sighed. "Just call me Vanille."

"Of course," Cid replied, slightly bowing to show his respect as an Alpha lycan. Vanille sent Fang a knowing wink before running off towards the stalls.

Fang sighed and facepalmed, looking at Cid who crossed his arms and met her gaze. This was going to be a long night.

"This is amazing!" Yuj exclaimed, his eyes scanning the bustling festival scene. The event took place in the city center of Cocoon, with a grand fountain in front of the city hall and stalls scattered around the area. Lights adorned the surroundings, and people filled the streets, chatting and enjoying the festivities. Lebreau happily chatted away, wrapping her arm around Hope. "This is absolutely fantastic!"

Hope nodded in agreement, taking in the vibrant atmosphere. It was one of the few occasions where they could truly relax. However, he couldn't help but notice the dark cloud of anger surrounding Lightning, their team captain, as she shot death glares towards a particular couple.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Hope followed Lightning's gaze and quickly understood the cause of her irritation. Snow, his friend and Serah, Lightning's younger sister, walked side by side, engrossed in their conversation and seemingly flirting with each other.

Ah, so that's what triggered her.

"What?" Lightning's death glares shifted towards Hope, but he couldn't help but be mesmerized by her beauty. Dressed in a light, long beige coat over a simple black T-shirt, her skinny jeans hugged her long legs, and she wore simple white slip-on shoes. Simple yet elegant.

"Nothing," Hope shrugged, patting Lightning's shoulder. "Let's just enjoy the night." Hope tried to redirect Lightning's attention, but her glares remained fixed on the couple ahead.

It was going to be a long night, Hope thought to himself, bracing for the storm brewing within their team.


Lightning needed a break from the tumultuous emotions stirred up by Serah and Snow's budding relationship. The sight of them flirting and chatting only fueled her anger and unease. She couldn't bear the thought of throwing punches at Snow or kicking him where it hurt. It was clear that he had feelings for Serah, and that fact made her uneasy. Meanwhile, Yuj and Lebreau were lost in their own world of fun, and Hope had been dragged away by Snow to watch him flaunt his strength in an arm wrestling competition. Serah, too, went along, despite Lightning's protests.

Deciding to distance herself from the team, Lightning strolled through the bustling festival crowd. Laughter and chatter filled the air, and though the surroundings were crowded, she found solace in the noise. As she meandered along, she came across a small stall where a young woman with bright red hair was engrossed in a goldfish scooping game. The woman's determined expression caught Lightning's attention, and she paused to observe.

"This is hard..." the woman muttered, rising from her kneeling position to hand over more money to the stall owner. "Give me more nets, please," she requested with determination evident in her voice. The stall owner smiled and handed her four additional nets.

Curiosity piqued, Lightning stopped and caught the stall owner's gaze. He waved at her, his voice full of enthusiasm, "Interested in trying? I have a tenacious girl here." The old man chuckled, and the young woman turned to look at Lightning. Her jade eyes sparkled with curiosity and determination, and Lightning couldn't help but be drawn in. She offered a small smile and replied, "I think I'll just watch."

To her surprise, the young woman grabbed Lightning's hand and placed some nets in it. "Come on, let's scoop some fish!" she exclaimed, pulling Lightning towards a small stool in front of a man-made water tank teeming with plump goldfish. Raising an eyebrow, Lightning joined her, settling onto the stool beside her.

The young woman brushed her bright red hair behind her ear and focused intently on the goldfish swimming in the tank. She bit her lip in concentration as she attempted to catch a fish with the flimsy paper net, trying to guide it into a small bowl of water. Unbeknownst to Lightning, her gaze lingered on the young woman's every move until the goldfish swam through the net, breaking it, which earned a groan of frustration from the woman. "Damn..."

"I don't mind," the stall owner offered, ready to give her a fish. However, the young woman declined with determination. "I can do this!" she declared, making another attempt only for the fish to elude her once more. Undeterred, she picked up the broken net and examined it closely.

Lightning's attention shifted to a small goldfish gliding in front of her. With a gentle flick of her wrist, she scooped it effortlessly into the small bowl she held. The stall owner's mouth formed an "O," and he fanned himself with a satisfied smile. Meanwhile, the young woman stared at Lightning in awe. "WOW!" she exclaimed, attempting to imitate Lightning's movement but failing miserably. "This fish is mischievous," she declared, determination still evident in her voice.

Unable to contain her amusement, Lightning smiled faintly. "Here," she said, gently taking hold of the young woman's hand and guiding her. Together, they waited until a goldfish swam near the paper net, pecking at it. With a swift motion, they successfully caught the fish in the net and released it into the small bowl. "Wow, you're good at this," the young woman remarked, both of them now watching the goldfish swim in the bowl. "I guess," Lightning replied modestly.

The stall owner packed the two goldfish into small bags filled with water and handed one to each of them. "Congratulations!" he exclaimed, winking mischievously.

Clutching her bag of goldfish, the young woman lifted it up to admire the tiny creatures inside. Lightning observed her animated expression, her jade eyes shining brightly. And then, something caught Lightning off guard. She blinked twice, her own eyes widening. Behind the plastic bag and the white fur, she could see the young woman's slitted jade eyes looking back at her.

Lightning's thoughts raced. Could she be...

Before Lightning could process her thoughts further, she felt a sharp pain in her head. She clutched her temples, overcome by intense agony. Her first thought was, Is Fang nearby?!

"Hey, are you okay?" the young woman asked with concern, reaching out a hand to help Lightning. But before she could make contact, someone collided with Lightning. In that brief moment, she had a glimpsed of long, wavy dark brown hair and olive skin. The person muttered an apology and hastily grabbed the young woman's arm. "Van, we have to go, now," the person urged, the urgency evident. Lightning gritted her teeth, her eyes fixed on the two figures before her.

Fang appeared taken aback by Vanille's lack of reaction, a strange smile playing on her lips. As they prepared to leave, Vanille smiled apologetically at Lightning. "Bye, Claire, this was fun," she called out, lifting the bag of goldfish and sprinting away with Fang, quickly vanishing into the bustling crowd. Lightning stood there, stunned, with the fireworks painting the night sky behind her.

As the colorful bursts of light illuminated her surroundings, Lightning was left with a torrent of questions. Who was that young woman? What was her connection to Fang? How did she know her real name? Determination welled up within her, compelling her to take action. With a swift toss, she passed the bag of goldfish back to the old man, who managed to catch it skillfully. Then, without hesitation, Lightning maneuvered through the crowd, determined to chase down the duo and uncover the answers she sought.

With each stride, her heart pounded, matching the rhythm of the fireworks overhead.


Earlier

Yuj stuffed himself with a handful of food, still munching. "Thwesware da besht," he mumbled with his mouth full. Lebreau rolled her eyes and replied, "Don't talk with your mouth full. Your saliva is everywhere." Yuj offered burgers and takoyaki to Lebreau, insisting, "Come on, you have to try." Lebreau rolled her eyes again but gave in, curious about the takoyaki. The octopus treat turned out to be juicy and flavorful. "Mm," she acknowledged, surprising Yuj. "Told ya. Hope...?" Yuj looked around but couldn't spot the young boy nearby. Instead, he saw Snow and Serah standing by an accessories stall.

"These look pretty," Serah remarked, admiring a silver necklace shaped like a planet with small swirls encircling it. Snow stood beside her, also gazing at the necklace. "Yeah, it's unique and beautiful," he agreed, noticing that it came as a pair.

Serah's attention was caught by a shiny item—a small pocket knife. She picked it up, playing with it in her hand and flicking open the blade.

"Never thought you were a pocket knife lover," Snow remarked, observing the one Serah was interested in.

Serah chuckled. "I'm not, but I think it would make a good present for Sis." Snow raised an eyebrow, prompting her to continue. "Sis has her birthday next month, and I'm thinking of getting this for her."

"This would be the perfect gift for your big sis. How do you usually celebrate her birthday?" Snow asked, curious about their traditions. Serah hummed and thought for a moment, but her memories were blank. "I can't remember much from our childhood celebrations. After the incident..., she joined the police force, and she never takes a day off from work," Serah explained, looking up at Snow. "But she always takes a day off on my birthday."

Serah bought the pocket knife and slipped it into her pocket. "Hey, I'm going to check out another stall. Wait here for a few seconds; I'll be back soon." Serah nodded at Snow, contemplating a visit to the bow shooting stall with huge plushies hanging around it. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced her chest, and she instinctively gripped her left side.

As Serah's eyes roamed the bustling crowd, she suddenly locked eyes with a young man standing beside a tall woman with olive skin. His black hair framed a pair of piercing gray eyes that seemed to penetrate her soul. A surge of tension and confusion washed over her as their gaze met. Serah couldn't tear her eyes away from his intense stare, and she sensed a similar intrigue reflected in his expression.

The tall olive-skinned woman shook her head and sighed, speaking in a husky voice, "Go enjoy yourself. You don't have to follow me around."

Serah felt the pain slowly fade away, though the woman's gaze remained fixed on her. Serah discreetly slid her hand into her pocket, clutching the recently purchased knife. The man's gaze remained on her as he nudged the tall woman with his elbow. "What?" the woman responded, looking in Serah's direction.

The young man nudged Fang, seeking her attention, and she turned to follow his gaze, her slit jade eyes meeting Serah's sky-blue ones. The brief but intense moment left Serah bewildered, her heart pounding with a mixture of curiosity and unease. Feeling the pain slowly fade away, she discreetly slid her hand into her pocket, clutching the recently purchased knife, unsure of what these strange encounters might mean. Serah felt herself falling into those eyes, and suddenly, a white light engulfed her.

Memories flooded Serah's mind, fragments from her childhood—a loving mother injecting her with a mysterious blue liquid, her sister Claire also receiving the same treatment. The images flashed by in a blur, leaving Serah bewildered and disoriented.

"SERAH!" Snow's voice snapped her back to reality, and he shook her shoulders urgently. Snow realized that Serah was lost in her thoughts. His grip tightened, a mix of worry and determination etched on his face. Serah's distant gaze met his, her eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and alarm.

Serah swallowed hard, feeling a lump in her throat. "I... the lady... olive skin," she managed to say, her trembling finger pointing at the tall woman and the dark-haired man. Serah's gaze shifted to Fang, the tall woman with olive skin, who had an inscrutable expression on her face. A flicker of surprise passed through Fang's jade eyes as she locked eyes with Serah, her normally composed demeanor momentarily faltering. It was as if an unspoken recognition had passed between them, leaving Serah even more puzzled and intrigued.

As Serah struggled to find her voice, Snow's eyes followed the direction of her trembling finger, landing on the tall woman with olive skin and the dark-haired man standing before them. A jolt of recognition surged through Snow's body, sending a chill down his spine. He knew exactly who they were – the lycans.

Snow's widened eyes betrayed his realization, his brows furrowing with concern. He understood the gravity of the situation they found themselves in. There was no time to waste. Without hesitation, he took charge, his voice firm and urgent.

"We need to look for Lightning and the others," Snow declared, his grip on Serah's shoulders firm but gentle. The weight of the unknown hung heavy in the air, and Snow's protective instincts kicked into high gear.

The air crackled with tension as Fang and the dark-haired man shared a brief, meaningful look. It was a wordless communication, an understanding passing between them that their presence had been detected.

In an instant, Fang and the dark-haired man sprang into action. Without hesitation, they turned on their heels, their movements swift and purposeful, as they started running away from Snow and Serah. Their retreat confirmed Snow's suspicions – their encounter with the lycans was far from coincidental. The weight of the unknown hung heavy in the air, fueling Snow's protective instincts.

Without wasting a moment, Snow's eyes followed Fang and the dark-haired man as they quickly disappeared into the bustling crowd. Recognizing the futility of making a call while they were on the move, Snow shifted his focus back to the immediate situation. He knew he needed to ensure Serah's safety before reaching out for backup.

Taking a brief pause to survey their surroundings, Snow swiftly reached into his pocket and retrieved his phone. His fingers deftly navigated the screen, preparing to contact Lightning for assistance. However, before he could dial, the night sky behind them suddenly erupted into a breathtaking display of fireworks.

The sudden burst of color and sound enveloped the surroundings, momentarily captivating their senses. The vibrant explosions illuminated the darkened sky, casting an ethereal glow over the festival grounds. The deafening booms echoed through the air, drowning out all other sounds.

Snow glanced at Serah, his determination warring with the beauty unfolding before them. The spectacle of the fireworks, with its mesmerizing allure, momentarily threatened to distract them from the urgency of their situation. But Snow knew they couldn't afford to be lulled into a false sense of security. The lycans were still on the loose, and time was of the essence.

With a resolute shake of his head, Snow quickly pocketed his phone, realizing that help would have to wait. He tightened his grip on Serah's shoulders, reaffirming their purpose. "We can't stay here. Let's go," he urged, his voice cutting through the symphony of explosions.

Together, they turned on their heels, their hearts pounding in sync with the pulsating fireworks. The magnificent fireworks continued to illuminate the night sky behind them, serving as a stark reminder of the dangerous world they were now navigating. Determined to outrun the looming threat and find a place of safety, they moved swiftly through the crowds, their focus fixed on escaping the danger that had unexpectedly revealed itself amidst the spectacle of light and sound.


At the same time - Earlier

Hope was cheering for Snow's arm wrestling competition, basking in the exhilarating atmosphere. With each victorious match, Snow's win streak continued, drawing in more challengers. Serah stood beside Hope, giggling and sharing in the excitement. This outing with friends was turning out to be a lot of fun.

"Come on! Next challenger!" Snow flexed his muscular arms, playfully daring others to step up and take on the challenge. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, and Hope joined in, clapping his hands with enthusiasm. Amidst the festive energy, he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. Turning to face the person, he exclaimed, "Zack?"

Zack, his father's personal bodyguard, stood nearby with a scar running along his jawline. He was dressed in a black suit, a symbol of his role and responsibility. Hope couldn't help but wonder if his father was also present.

"Young master, come with me. Master wants to see you," Zack said in his usual formal tone. Hope, though not accustomed to the formality, trusted Zack and followed him, stepping away from the lively festival scene.

Together, they walked toward the end of the bustling stalls until they reached a quiet corner. There, parked by the street, stood a sleek black limousine. Zack opened the door, gesturing for Hope to enter. Hope's confusion grew, but his curiosity urged him forward. He stepped into the luxurious vehicle, and as he did, Zack closed the door with a decisive click.

Inside the limo, Hope found his father, Bartholomew, waiting for him. The atmosphere was both familiar and mysterious. Hope's brow furrowed in confusion as he gazed at his father's calm expression.

"Dad?" Hope's voice carried a mix of concern and curiosity. Bartholomew smiled, his eyes fixed on his son.

"The real festival is about to begin soon," Bartholomew said cryptically, his words hanging in the air, pregnant with intrigue and uncertainty. Hope searched his father's face, seeking answers, but found none. The limo began to move, leaving the colorful festival place behind. Hope's heart raced, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within him.