The wait at the shimring fountain didn’t last long. A second carriage, slightly smaller but just as elegant as Soltheia’s, trundled through the palace gates. The Solaris guards bowed respectfully as the doors hurled open. A girl with silver blue hair stepped out from the carriage. She wore a white dress trimd with silver thread. Her posture was calm, and her eyes held a focused glow that set her different from her cheerful sister.
This was Catherine Sylphyros.
Soltheia smiled, waving her hands happily. Catherine offered a calm, polite smile before her gaze drifted over the battered group of boys.
"I heard there was a festival," Catherine said, her voice smooth and crisp, "but looking at you all, I could say that you spent the last week falling down a rocky mountain. Soltheia, is this the fad Zephyros heir you promised to marry? He looks like a ghost."
Luna sighed, rubbing his temples. "It is a pleasure to et you too, Catherine. Your sister already roasted . Let’s spare my dignity for today."
"Dignity is earned, Luna," a new voice echoed from above.
Everyone looked up. Sitting casually on the marble archway of the palace gates, there was a young man tossing an apple in his hand. He wore a light green tunic, his hair lingering wildly in the breeze. With a lazy smirk, he threw the apple into the air, leaned forward, and jumped.
A soft cushion of wind brushed against him right before he hit the stone courtyard. He landed on his feet without making a single sound.
"Velanor," Kairos greeted, a genuine grin spreading across his face.
Velanor Banner grinned back, stepping forward to clasp Kairos’s hand. "Sorry I am late. The elders in the Zephyros were holding endless etings about border security. I had to sneak out of a window just to get here. I see you managed not to die while I was gone."
"Barely..." Kairos admitted.
Luna crossed his arms, giving his rival friend a prideful gaze. "You really had to drop from the archway? You couldn’t just use the front gate like a normal person?"
"Normal is boring," Velanor chuckled, bowing playfully to Seyana. "Your Highness. Thank you for hosting us."
Seyana clapped her hands together, drawing everyone’s attention. Her amber eyes sparkled with determination.
"Alright. Everyone is here," Seyana announced. "Now, before we step foot outside the palace walls, we have rules. This is a day off. That ans no armor, no magic, and no weapons."
Ignis bristled imdiately. "No weapons? Are you crazy? What if an assassin jumps out of an alley? What if a rogue monster attacks the market?"
"Then the city guards will handle it," Seyana replied calmly. "Take off the tal chest plate, Ignis. You look ridiculous wearing armor to a street festival."
Ignis opened his mouth to argue, but Terravarous instantly reached over, unbuckled the leather straps on his cousin’s back, and lifted the iron breastplate right off him. Ignis squawked in protest, but remained standing in just his bandages and a black shirt.
"Hey! Give that back!" Ignis complained.
"The Princess gave an order," Terravarous rumbled, heaving the armor to a nearby palace servant.
Kairos looked down at Asteria. The silver sword had never left his side since the day Seyana gave it. It felt difficult to walk away without it. He unbuckled the scabbard, grabbed a piece of brown cloth from his pack, and wrapped the sword tightly until it just looked like a harmless walking stick. He strapped it to his back.
"It’s a walking stick," Kairos said innocently when Seyana raised an eyebrow at him.
She sighed, a small smile breaking her stern expression. "Fine. But keep it wrapped. Let’s go."
****
The Golden Bazaar was the heart of the Solaris capital.
As the group walked down the wide, cobblestone streets, the sheer noise of the market swept over them. It was a riot of color and sound. rchants murmur about prices from wooden stalls topped with bright red and yellow canopies. Street musicians played lively tunes on stringed lutes. The sll of roasted nuts, sweet pastries, and spices drifted through the warm air.
For a while, they just walked and felt the atmosphere. It felt surreal. There were no dark caves, no blood on the floor, and no ancient ruins. Just normal people living normal lives.
Catherine and Soltheia stopped at a jewelry stall. Soltheia was admiring a pair of erald earrings, while Catherine watched the craftsmanship of a silver necklace with a focused gaze. Luna stood a few steps back, leaning against a wooden post and watching Soltheia with a soft, tired smile.
"You really asked her to marry you?" Velanor asked, leaning against the post next to him.
"I did.." Luna said.
Velanor laughed softly. "I always thought you would be the last one of us to settle down. You hate making commitnts. It requires too much effort."
"It does," Luna agreed, his silver eyes darting over the crowd around them, "but so things are worth the effort. You should try it soti, Velanor. Stop jumping off walls and find a hobby."
Up ahead, Ignis suddenly stopped in his path. His nose quivered like a hunting dog catching a scent.
"Do you sll that?" Ignis asked, his red eyes widening.
"Umm... Slls like burning wood," Terravarous said.
"No, you uncultured rock. That is the sll of a proper challenge."
Ignis lunged forward, pushing the dense crowd sideways, forcing the rest of the group to follow him so they wouldn’t get lost. He stopped in front of a smoking grill. A hefty man with a thick beard was flipping chunks of red at over a roaring charcoal fire. A wooden sign above the stall read: Dragon’s Breath Skewers. Eat Five and Your al is Free.
Ignis slamd a gold coin onto the wooden counter. "I want your spiciest skewers. Give ten."
The bearded vendor looked at Ignis’s fancy clothes and laughed. "Listen, rich boy. These aren’t ant for delicate noble stomachs. They are coated in crushed inferno peppers. You will burn your tongue off."
"I am the Crown Princess’ nephew and a master of fire," Ignis announced with a prideful grin. "Nothing is too hot for . Give the at."
Velanor smirked, stepping up next to him. "Ten skewers? You are going to cry, Ignis. I bet you ten silver coins you can’t finish three."
"You are on, Banner," Ignis snapped.
The vendor shrugged and handed Ignis a wooden plate loaded with smoking, hot red at. The sll alone made Kairos’s eyes water.
Ignis picked up the first skewer. He took a large bite and chewed confidently. He swallowed. "See? Nothing. It tastes like mild chicken."
He ate the second one quickly. Then he started on the third.
Right as he swallowed the last bite of the third skewer, sothing changed. Ignis stopped moving, petrified like a statue. A single drop of sweat crept down on his forehead.
"Ignis?" Terravarous asked, leaning forward. "Are you breathing?"
Ignis’s face began to change color. First, it turned pale white. Then, it turned a flaring shade of tomato red. He opened his mouth to speak, but only a raspy, squeaking sound ca out.
Catherine walked over, raising a delicate eyebrow. "Is he dying? Should we call a healer?"
Ignis wildly shook his head. He desperately tried to summon his fire magic to burn the spice away from his tastebuds, but the heat of the inferno peppers was a physical tornt, not a magical one. He dropped the wooden plate, grabbed a pitcher of lemon water from a nearby table, and chugged the whole thing in less than five seconds.
He slamd the pitcher down, gasping for air, tears slithering down his face.
"You cheated," Ignis choked out, accusing the vendor, "you put poison on those."
Velanor burst into loud, echoing laughter, holding his stomach. Luna chuckled from the back of the group. Even Seyana covered her mouth to hide her smile.
"Pay up, fire master!" Velanor teased, placing his massive hand on Ignis broad shoulder.
Ignis grumbled, finding ten silver coins from his pouch and tossing them to Velanor. "I let you win. I didn’t want to show off in front of the ladies."
"Of course," Kairos laughed, patting Ignis on the back. "Co on, let’s find sothing that won’t kill you."
****
They moved away from the food stalls and entered the entertainnt square. The crowd here was rougher. rcenaries, off-duty city guards, and traveling rchants gathered around small wooden tables under the shade of large canvas tents. People were placing bets, throwing dice, and cheering loudly.
In the center of the largest tent, a sea of people had ford a circle. n were shouting and wavering silver coins.
Kairos glanced through the crowd. In the middle of the circle, a huge, battle-scarred rcenary with arms the size of tree trunks was arm wrestling a local blacksmith. With a loud grunt, the rcenary slamd the blacksmith’s hand onto the table.
The crowd cheered. The rcenary stood up, pounding his chest.
"Is there no one left in this soft capital?" the rcenary roared, gathering his pile of silver coins. "I ca here looking for a challenge! Who else wants to lose their money?"
His eyes skimd over the crowd and landed on the group of young nobles standing near the edge. He grinned, revealing a row of missing teeth.
"What about you, pretty boys?" the rcenary mocked, pointing a finger at Ignis and Velanor. "Want to test your dainty little hands?"
Ignis narrowed his eyes. "I will lt his face off."
"No magic!" Seyana reminded him sharply, grabbing his sleeve.
Terravarous sighed, stepping forward, pushing the crowd sideways gently. He stood taller than the rcenary, casting a massive shadow over the wooden table.
"I will play," Terravarous said, his deep voice rumbling through the tent, instantly silencing the loud cheers.
The rcenary looked up. He swallowed hard, a flicker of doubt crossing his face, but his pride wouldn’t let him back down in front of his friends. "Fine. Sit down, big guy. Five silver coins to play."
Terravarous placed the coins on the table and sat on the wooden stool. It creaked under his weight. He placed his right elbow on the table and opened his hand.
The rcenary gripped Terravarous’s hand. The referee, a skinny man with a red hat, raised his arm. "Ready? Go!"
The rcenary grunted, pulling with all his might. The veins on his neck bulged. His face turned red with effort as he tried to push Terravarous’s arm down. He strained, planting his boots into the dirt for extra power.
Terravarous didn’t move an inch, the giant sat there with a blank expression. He looked at the straining rcenary, then looked over at Kairos and blinked slowly, looking utterly bored.
"Are you finished?" Terravarous asked politely.
The rcenary gasped for breath, his eyes wide. Terravarous didn’t even grunt. He simply pushed his hand forward.
CRACK!!
It happened in the blink of an eye. Terravarous slamd the rcenary’s hand down with so much physical power that the oak table split right down the middle. The two halves of the table crashed into the ground, sending slivers flying into the air.
The rcenary fell out of his chair, clutching his wrist and staring at Terravarous in horror. The entire tent went dead silent.
Terravarous calmly stood up, dusted off his trousers, and picked up his winnings from the ground. He walked back over to his friends, keeping the silver coins into his pocket.
"That was a poorly built table," Terravarous noted casually.
Velanor started clapping. A mont later, the crowd burst into wild, deafening cheers. The rcenaries clapped Terravarous on the back, offering to buy the giant a round of drinks.
Catherine stood next to Seyana, a small, impressed smile touching her lips. "I must admit. Your friends are not entirely boring."
Kairos laughed, feeling the warm sun on his face. He watched Ignis’ arrogant grin on a group of girls, while Luna and Soltheia shared a joke near the tent entrance.
For the first ti since he pulled the silver sword from the stone, Kairos felt like he could breathe. The Great War was coming. The terrifying eclipse was ticking closer every minute, but looking at the smiles on their faces, Kairos knew he would tear the sky apart before he let the shadows touch this day.
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