Chapter 71: Even More Festival Fun Times
The festival lights were dazzling, the streets alive with music and laughter. Oda Fullbright strutted through the crowd, his Coral Peacock robe fluttering dramatically as he winked at passers-by. Yul Bishop trudged a few steps behind, his usual stoic demeanor marred by a distinct air of resignation.
"C'mon, Yul!" Oda clapped him on the back with unnecessary enthusiasm. "It's a festival! Time to let loose, meet some ladies, and maybe—just maybe—find your soulmate."
"I don't need a soulmate," Yul muttered, his broad shoulders tense.
"That's the problem with you Steel Magic types. Too rigid, too unbending," Oda teased. "You've gotta soften up, let yourself melt a little."
"I don't melt," Yul deadpanned.
Oda sighed dramatically, grabbing a fried snack from a nearby stall and tossing a playful grin at a group of giggling girls. They giggled louder but quickly turned away when Yul's towering figure loomed behind him.
"You're killing my vibe, Bishop," Oda grumbled. "If you won't try, I'll just have to carry this mission myself." He pivoted, throwing himself wholeheartedly into the crowd with a charm that bordered on desperation.
Yul leaned against a lamppost, arms crossed, eyes scanning the festivities without real interest. He was about to suggest they leave when a faint shimmer caught his attention.
A young woman was standing near a display of magical artifacts, her blue hair glinting under the lantern light. Her features were sharp yet delicate, her posture both tense and graceful. She wore the cloak of the Silver Eagles, though it seemed just a little too new, the hem unsmudged by the usual wear and tear of missions.
She turned, her deep hazel eyes locking with Yul's.
The world seemed to stop.
What—? Who is that? Yul thought, his mind racing. Why is she looking at me? Is my cloak crooked? No, it's fine. Stay calm. Why is my heart beating so fast?
Why is he staring at me? the young woman thought. Does he know? Did Frida tell him? His face is so serious—too serious. He looks like he's judging me. Or maybe… maybe not?
Neither moved.
Oda reappeared, mid-flirtation with a girl who had clearly lost interest, when he noticed Yul frozen in place. His eyes followed Yul's gaze and landed on Mira.
"Well, well, well," Oda whispered, smirking. "What's this? The steel wall has a crack?"
Yul ignored him. His feet moved before his brain caught up, carrying him straight toward her. Mira stiffened as he approached, every nerve in her body screaming to retreat, but she held her ground.
"Hi," Yul said, his voice lower than usual.
Mira blinked, her thoughts scrambling. Oh no. He's even taller up close. And his voice—calm down. Say something normal!
"H-Hello," she stammered, mentally cursing her own hesitation.
She's nervous. Yul sighed inwardly, cursing himself for his approach. Why is she nervous? Did I say something wrong? Maybe I'm being too intense. But she's—
Why is he just standing there? Does he expect me to say something? I should show my magic, right? Wait—no, that's weird! But maybe it's better than standing here like an idiot.
Panicked, Mira raised her hand, summoning her magic. A swirling current of mist and vapor materialized around her, weaving through the air in ghostly patterns that glimmered with an iridescent sheen under the festival lights. The mist shifted and danced, creating fleeting shapes that felt alive.
Yul's breath caught.
Phantom Magic… Beautiful. She's beautiful, Yul thought.
Why did I do that? Mira panicked inwardly. This is so awkward. I probably look ridiculous—
"That's amazing," Yul blurted out, his usual calm cracking slightly.
Mira's eyes widened. "It is?"
Yul nodded, his voice softening. "Yeah. It's… really beautiful."
Oda, who had been watching from a safe distance, let out a low whistle. "Well, damn. Didn't think the big guy had it in him."
Mira lowered her hand, the mist dissipating into thin air, the last tendrils vanishing with a faint shimmer. Her cheeks flushed faintly, and she looked away. "It's not that special," she murmured.
"It is," Yul said firmly. "Don't sell yourself short."
Mira bit her lip, her heart pounding. No one had ever looked at her like that before—with admiration, not suspicion or pity.
Oda sidled up to Yul once Mira turned to glance at a nearby stall, his voice low. "Hey, big guy, you know she's got issues, right?"
Yul's steel-gray eyes didn't waver. "I can fix her."
Oda stared at him, then burst out laughing. "You're serious."
"I am."
Oda clapped him on the shoulder. "Good luck, lover boy. You're gonna need it."
Yul didn't respond. His gaze was fixed solely on Mira, and for the first time in his life, his unyielding steel seemed to melt just a little.
…
The haunted house loomed before them, its facade creaking in the faint breeze. A crooked sign above the entrance read: "Doom's Hollow: Scariest Experience of Your Life!" The lettering looked hastily painted, as if the owners had whipped it up the night before.
Zoe and Cade stood at the entrance, both utterly baffled.
"How did we end up here?" Zoe asked, crossing her arms and frowning.
"I don't know," Cade replied flatly, his teal eyes scanning the surroundings. "One minute I'm walking down the festival street, and the next, I'm here. Probably some celestial nonsense."
Zoe huffed, brushing a lock of dark hair behind her ear. "Liora's been quiet for once, so don't blame me. Besides, this place doesn't even look scary."
"It doesn't need to," Cade said. "You're already shaking."
"I'm not shaking!" Zoe snapped, her voice a pitch too high.
"Sure," Cade muttered, stepping inside. Zoe followed reluctantly.
The interior was dimly lit and filled with cheap horror decor: rubber bats dangling from the ceiling, fake cobwebs draped over cardboard gravestones, and skeletons that looked suspiciously like mannequins from a discount store.
"Wow, truly terrifying," Cade said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Yeah, totally—" Zoe froze mid-sentence as a loud cackle echoed through the room. A man in a tattered cloak leapt out from behind a curtain, waving plastic chains.
"Beware, travelers!" he bellowed. "Your doom awaits!"
Zoe screamed. "Ink Magic: Piercing Shadows!" she yelled, sending dark, spear-like projections straight toward the man. He dove out of the way with an undignified yelp.
Cade sighed, rubbing his temple. "Zoe, it's just a guy—"
Before he could finish, another worker dressed as a zombie lunged toward him, groaning loudly. Cade reacted without thinking. "Thread Magic: Piercing Threadlines!"
Silver threads shot out, narrowly missing the worker, who scrambled back behind a fake wall.
"What the hell, man?!" the zombie shouted, his voice muffled by the wall.
"They're attacking us!" Zoe said, her face pale. "What if they're not workers? What if this is real?"
"Yeah, real bad acting," Cade muttered, but his hand remained raised, ready to cast another spell. "Let's just get through this."
They moved cautiously through the house, jumping at every poorly timed scare. A skeleton on a spring popped out of a coffin, and Zoe retaliated by blasting it to smithereens, leaving black splotches on the walls.
"Overkill much?" Cade asked, sidestepping the falling debris.
"Don't start with me," Zoe grumbled, her nerves fraying.
They turned a corner and entered a room filled with eerie, flickering lights. A figure in a ghost costume floated toward them, arms outstretched. "Oooooooh!"
Cade didn't hesitate. "Enough of this." He cast another spell, wrapping the "ghost" in silver cords. The worker fell to the floor, struggling like a captured fish.
"Okay! Okay! I'm just here for minimum wage!" the ghost yelled.
Zoe gasped, pulling Cade back. "You tied up a worker?!"
"Relax," Cade said. "He'll be fine."
By the time they reached the exit, the haunted house staff were huddled in a corner, peeking out nervously as Zoe and Cade obliterated every prop in their path.
"This is the worst haunted house I've ever seen," Cade said, stepping outside and dusting off his hands.
"I don't know," Zoe said, her voice shaky. "It was… kind of scary."
Cade raised an eyebrow. "You scared yourself into attacking a guy with a rubber mask."
"Oh, like you didn't overreact!" Zoe shot back, pointing accusingly at him. "You tied someone up, Cade!"
"He deserved it," Cade said with a shrug.
Behind them, the haunted house manager emerged, his face red with fury. "You two are banned from every haunted house in the kingdom!" he shouted. "Do you know how much those props cost?!"
Zoe grabbed Cade's arm and pulled him away. "Let's go before they send the Magic Knights after us."
"We are Magic Knights," Cade said dryly, though he didn't resist as Zoe dragged him down the street.
"Yeah, well, not tonight you're not," Zoe muttered, her face still flushed with embarrassment.
Cade smirked. "Admit it. You were scared."
"I wasn't—ugh!" Zoe groaned, stomping ahead.
Cade watched her go, shaking his head. "She's hopeless," he muttered, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.
…
"Alright!" Luck said, activating Thundergod's Boots. "You seem really strong!"
"I try," Lars smirked, also activating Tiefe Analyse. Inwardly, a million thoughts were running through Lars' head.
He's a movement type. Relies on quick bursts of speed to confound his opponents. Has passive Mana Skin to reduce friction. His lightning magic should also have highly destructive properties… I think I know what to do.
"Celestial Mind Magic: Gedankenreich!" Lars said, raising his hands. The misty, pink, terrain spread out all over the battlefield, crackling with mind energy.
Luck grinned wide, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he felt the shift in the battlefield. "Oh, this is gonna be fun!" he said, vanishing in a flash of lightning.
Lars, however, had already accounted for Luck's speed. The moment the mist of Gedankenreich enveloped the field, Lars began layering his strategy.
Virtual Insanity.
The spell pulsed within the mist, creating an illusionary battlefield that bent and twisted space. Luck's lightning-fast dashes now seemed to land him in unpredictable spots, as Lars manipulated their positions within the field.
Luck lunged at what he thought was Lars, only for the target to vanish, replaced by empty mist. "Huh? Where'd you go?!" Luck exclaimed, looking around with a mix of confusion and exhilaration. He suddenly felt a presence behind him and spun around, aiming a charged punch.
Lars wasn't there.
"This is insane!" Luck said, laughing. "I don't even know where you are!"
"That's the point," Lars replied coolly, his voice echoing from all directions, amplified by the magic. "You can't hit what you can't find."
Luck dashed again, zigzagging through the field in random bursts, trying to track Lars. Each time he thought he had him pinned, Lars would shift their positions with Virtual Insanity, leading Luck to strike at empty air or into decoys Lars created with the terrain's illusions.
Lars observed Luck's movements carefully, analyzing every pattern, every feint. He's relentless, but predictable once you see through the chaos. Lars began steering Luck toward traps he had created within the field—mind projections that mimicked walls and barriers. Luck, undeterred, blasted through each with sheer force, but it was costing him stamina and mana.
"You're making me work harder than usual!" Luck called out, his grin never fading. He leapt into the air, aiming a wide-area blast. "How about this?! Lightning Magic: Thunderclap Barrage!"
Bolts of lightning rained down, lighting up the misty field in violent, unpredictable streaks. Lars was forced to retreat, narrowly dodging a strike that singed the edge of his coat. So he's trying to disrupt the terrain. Smart, but… not enough.
"Let's turn it up," Lars muttered, weaving another spell into the mist. "Mind Magic: Infinite Thought Shield."
A shimmering barrier formed around him, redirecting the stray lightning bolts and protecting Lars as he maneuvered through the chaos. He smiled, knowing he had Luck exactly where he wanted him.
"Not bad," Luck admitted, landing on the ground, his breathing heavier now. "But you can't just play keep-away forever! Come on, fight me!"
Lars chuckled. "If you insist. But first…" He waved his hand, and the battlefield shifted again. This time, Lars and Luck's positions swapped rapidly, disorienting Luck even further.
Luck's laughter echoed through the mist. "This is wild! I've never fought anyone like you before!"
"And you won't fight anyone like me again," Lars said, his voice calm but confident. "Let's end this. Celestial Mind Magic: Sternenblick!"
The spell pulsed through Gedankenreich, targeting Luck's senses. It wasn't an attack to harm—it was a spell designed to overwhelm and subdue, to overload his opponent's perception for just a moment. Luck staggered as the battlefield seemed to explode into countless false images, each one distracting and pulling at his focus.
But even as Luck stumbled, his grin never wavered. "You're good… but I'm not giving up!"
Lars braced himself as Luck forced his way through the illusions, charging toward him with a surge of raw power. He really doesn't know when to quit.
With a final maneuver, Lars swapped their positions one last time, leaving Luck charging straight into a Resonant Concussion. The impact didn't harm him, but it disoriented him just enough for Lars to place his glaive at Luck's chest.
Luck froze, looking down at the weapon. Then he laughed. "You got me! That was awesome!" He hopped back, the excitement in his eyes undimmed. "Let's go again!"
Lars sighed, lowering his weapon. "I think you've had enough for now."
"Never!" Luck said, sparks crackling around him. "Come on, I'll figure out your tricks this time!"
Suddenly, Lars's blood ran cold. He had been so caught up in this celestial business, the fight with Frida, and his friendly spar against Luck that he hadn't remembered what Lucia said to him.
"Ohhhh shit," Lars breathed. Without another word, he ran away, uttering an unintelligible apology and goodbye to Luck.
The cheery berserker just stood there, half confused, half enthused by Lars's behaviour.
"Oh, I'm so fighting him again," Luck laughed, heading into the direction of the royal capital.
…
"Apologies for my lateness, milady," Lars said, entering where Lucia wanted to meet him - an elegant café in the heart of Kikka. His voice carried his usual charm, though his heart pounded with trepidation. He had been dreading this moment ever since Lucia's last message.
He paused the moment he saw her.
Lucia Moreau sat at a small table by the window, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. Her expression radiated annoyance, and yet Lars could hardly focus on her mood because—her hair. The long, fiery locks he had grown so accustomed to were gone, replaced by a shorter, shoulder-length cut that framed her face perfectly. The sharpness of her features, the defiant tilt of her chin, the way her crimson hair caught the candlelight—it was breathtaking. Lars, who was rarely at a loss for words, found himself utterly speechless.
Lucia raised an eyebrow at his gawking. "Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to sit down and explain why you're late?" she said, her tone biting but underpinned with an almost imperceptible softness.
Lars snapped out of his trance, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Forgive me. I was… uh, caught up sparring with someone." He pulled out a chair and sat down, still unable to take his eyes off her. "Your hair… it looks incredible."
Lucia's cheeks flushed ever so slightly, though her stern expression didn't waver. "Flattery won't excuse your tardiness, Lars," she said. "Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting?"
"Too long, clearly," Lars replied, leaning forward. "And I'm a fool for keeping you waiting. But I must say, the wait has done something wonderful for my heart—because seeing you like this, Lucia, I've fallen in love all over again."
Lucia rolled her eyes, but the corners of her lips twitched upward. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"Impossibly devoted to you," Lars countered smoothly, his grin widening.
"Alright, that's enough," Lucia said, though her voice had lost some of its edge. She sighed, her hands resting on the table. "So, you were sparring? I assume it wasn't with anyone too important if you forgot about me."
Lars hesitated. "Well… it was Luck Voltia."
Lucia blinked, then pinched the bridge of her nose. "Of course. The one person who might actually fry you for fun. You're lucky you made it out in one piece."
"Barely," Lars admitted, chuckling nervously. "He's a menace, but I think we're friends now. Or at least, I hope so."
Before Lucia could respond, the bell above the café door jingled, and a familiar voice interrupted. "Oh, Lars! Fancy seeing you here!"
Lars turned to see Kian Voss, his carefree friend from the Silver Eagles, strolling in with his usual relaxed demeanor. His short black hair was slightly disheveled, his glasses askew, and his Silver Eagles cape hung loosely from his shoulders.
"Kian," Lars greeted, a mix of relief and amusement in his tone. "What brings you to Kikka?"
"Looking for my sister, Vivianne," Kian replied, walking over to their table uninvited. "And my other four siblings. They're all scattered around somewhere, and it's driving me nuts trying to keep track of them."
"Four siblings?" Lucia asked, raising an eyebrow. "You sound like a shepherd."
"Feels like it," Kian said, plopping down in an empty chair. "Vivianne's the oldest out of all of them, and she's supposed to meet me here, but who knows where she's wandered off to. The others are off doing who-knows-what. I swear, I need a map to track my family."
"And yet here you are, inconveniencing us instead of actually looking for them," Lars teased.
Kian smirked. "Inconveniencing? You wound me, Lars. Besides, it's not every day I get to interrupt you and your girlfriend."
Lucia gave Lars a pointed look.
"Only good things, I promise," Lars said, his ears burning. "Kian has a talent for exaggerating."
"Sure, sure," Kian said, waving a hand. "But seriously, if you two happen to see a tiny black haired terror with more energy than brains, let me know. That's Vivianne."
"We'll keep an eye out," Lars said. "Now, if you don't mind—"
"Fine, fine," Kian said, standing up. "I'll leave you lovebirds alone. But don't forget, Lars—you owe me a drink for making me track down my siblings."
With that, Kian strolled out of the café, whistling a tune. Lars turned back to Lucia, who was smirking.
"So," she said, resting her chin on her hand.
Lars groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm never going to hear the end of this, am I?"
Lucia's smirk softened into a genuine smile. "Not for a while. But for now, I'll settle for making you pay for my coffee. That's what boyfriends are for, right?"
Lars laughed, shaking his head. "Fair enough.
…
Kian Voss stood at the town square of Kikka, arms crossed as he surveyed the bustling streets. His sharp gold eyes darted between the faces of passersby, looking for any sign of his siblings. His usually carefree demeanor had given way to an exasperated focus. Six siblings. Six. And not a single one was where they were supposed to be.
He sighed, brushing a hand through his golden hair. "Alright, let's do this," he muttered to himself. "Vivianne first. She's usually the responsible one. Shouldn't be too hard to find her."
He activated his Force Magic, creating a faint ripple in the air around him as he leapt onto a nearby rooftop with ease. From his new vantage point, Kian scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar streak of black hair.
A burst of laughter caught his attention. He turned to see Vivianne, his 16-year-old sister and a Magic Knight of the Aqua Deer, standing by a fountain. She was talking animatedly to another knight, her light blue uniform pristine despite the damp spray of water in the air.
"Vivianne!" Kian called out, leaping down to her level.
Vivianne turned, her bright gold eyes narrowing as she recognized him. "Kian," she said, crossing her arms. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with the Silver Eagles or, I don't know, doing your job?"
"Nice to see you too," Kian said, grinning. "I'm rounding up the kids. You're the first on the list. Seen the others?"
Vivianne sighed, brushing her loose strands of hair out of her face. "Lars was right. You do sound like a shepherd. No, I haven't seen them. Last I checked, Rylan and Mira were headed to the bakery. Don't ask me about the younger ones."
"Rylan and Mira?" Kian asked, raising an eyebrow. "What about Vane?"
Vivianne rolled her eyes. "Probably climbing a tree or getting into trouble, as usual."
"Great," Kian said, rubbing his temples. "Alright, come with me. I'll need backup."
"Backup?" Vivianne repeated, her tone incredulous. "You're acting like we're on a mission."
"We might as well be," Kian said. "Come on, Aqua Deer Knight, show me what that Tempest Magic of yours can do."
Vivianne huffed but followed him, raising a hand to summon her Tempest Magic. A gust of wind swirled around her, lifting her effortlessly into the air as they moved toward the bakery.
At the bakery, Rylan, 14, and Mira, 13, were arguing over a pastry. Rylan, with his shaggy black hair and mischievous grin, was a ball of energy. His Wind Magic made the argument worse as it whipped flour and crumbs around the shop. Mira, her black hair tied into a neat braid, glared at him with arms crossed. Sparks of Lightning Magic crackled around her fingers as she stood her ground.
"You ate the last one!" Mira accused, her voice sharp.
"You snooze, you lose!" Rylan shot back, grinning as he dodged her sparks with bursts of wind.
"Enough!" Kian's voice boomed as he strode into the bakery, Vivianne right behind him. "What are you two doing?"
The siblings froze, looking sheepishly at their older brother.
"She started it," Rylan said, pointing at Mira.
"He's insufferable," Mira snapped.
Kian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I don't care who started it. Both of you, outside. We're gathering everyone."
"What for?" Rylan asked, shoving the last bite of pastry into his mouth.
"Because I said so," Kian replied. "And because I can't leave you two alone for five minutes without causing a scene."
Vivianne smirked, folding her arms. "Told you it'd be chaos."
By the time they found Vane, 11, and Lana, 7, Kian's patience was wearing thin. Vane was, predictably, halfway up a tree in the park, his laughter echoing through the air as Lana cheered him on from below.
"Vane!" Kian called, using his Force Magic to pull his brother down gently. "What did I say about climbing trees?"
"That it's fun?" Vane replied, grinning.
"That it's dangerous," Kian corrected, setting him on the ground. "Lana, what are you doing encouraging him?"
"He's really good at it!" Lana said, her wide teal eyes sparkling with admiration.
Kian groaned. "Alright, everyone's accounted for. Let's head back before someone—"
"Kian!" a voice interrupted.
He turned to see a stranger chasing a stray ball of magic that had clearly escaped one of his younger siblings.
"—before someone causes trouble," he finished, glaring at his siblings.
Vivianne chuckled. "And you thought this would be easy."
"I'm never volunteering for this again," Kian muttered as he wrangled his chaotic siblings back toward the square where the rankings would be announced. "Never."
A/N: big family innit