Everyone stood in the quiet hospital room for a moment, processing everything that had just been revealed.The weight of the secret. The trust that had been extended. The bonds that had somehow gotten stronger instead of breaking.Then Asta spoke, breaking the silence."So... what now?"His voice was thoughtful, already moving forward to the next problem."Are we going to go after the three assassins? Track them down? Get the Rare Flame Gem back?"Old Man Kael shook his head immediately."Not yet."His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument."The Empress hasn't gotten their location yet. We have people working on tracking them,flame signature analysis, portal residue examination, witness interviews,but these things take time. Professional assassins don't leave easy trails."He crossed his arms."So we wait. Until we have solid information. Going after them blind would be suicide."Asta slumped slightly against his pillows, disappointment clear on his face."So... now what? What a

The walk to the festival grounds took about fifteen minutes.Long enough for the embarrassment from the clinic room incident to fade into background teasing, Jabber occasionally made comments that earned him elbows from Mira and eye-rolls from everyone else.As they got closer, the sounds of celebration reached them first.Music,not recorded, but live musicians playing traditional instruments mixed with modern ones. Drums that used flame resonance to amplify their beats. String instruments that hummed with harmonic fire techniques.Then came the smells.Roasted meats seasoned with flame-infused spices. Sweet pastries that incorporated dragon sugar,a special crystallized form of flame energy that tasted like caramelized honey. Candied fruits on sticks that glowed faintly with residual heat.And finally, the sights.The festival grounds spread out before them like something from a dream.Hundreds of stalls lined wide pathways, each one decorated with dragon motifs,carved wooden dragons,

"I think you look really handsome right now. With the lantern light on your face. And that serious expression. It's... it's nice."Asta felt heat rising to his face."You're just saying that to make me feel better.""I'm not."Flora's voice was firm, sincere."I mean it. You look handsome. You always do, but especially right now."Asta turned to face her fully."You know what I think?""What?""I think you look beautiful. Not just right now. Always. But especially when you're being genuine like this. When you're not hiding behind politeness or shyness. Just... you."Flora's breath caught.They were close now. Very close.Looking into each other's eyes."Asta...""Flora..."She leaned in.He leaned in.Their lips met in a gentle kiss,tentative at first, then becoming more certain as seconds passed.Flora's hands came up to rest on his shoulders.Asta's hand moved to gently cup her cheek.The kiss lasted maybe five seconds.When they pulled apart, Flora's eyes were wide, her face bright

Meanwhile, Asta was pulling Flora through the crowd, his hand wrapped around hers."Asta, slow down! Where are we going?!"Flora's voice was breathless,they'd been moving fast, weaving between groups of festival-goers."Following the aura. The Emperor Dragon can sense it. Says it's this way."Asta's eyes were focused, scanning ahead."It's getting stronger. We're close."They pushed through another cluster of people, turned down a side pathway that was less crowded…And emerged facing a narrow alley between two festival buildings.Dark. Shadowed. The lantern light from the main pathways barely reached into it.Asta stopped at the entrance, staring into the darkness."We're here."His voice was quiet. Certain.Flora looked at the alley, then at Asta, her expression uncertain."The vessel is in there? In that dark alley?""Yeah."Asta's grip on her hand tightened slightly."She's in there."Flora's head snapped toward him, her eyebrows raising."Wait. SHE?"Her tone was thick with curio

"From people who hunt vessels."Elara's voice was flat now. Final."Your father said there were organizations,assassin groups, mostly,who make it their business to track down vessels. To capture them. Study them. Extract the dragons."She shuddered slightly."He said if they found out about me, they'd come. And they wouldn't stop until they had me."Flora's voice was soft when she spoke."So you ran. You left your home, your family, everything you knew.""Yeah."Elara nodded."Uncle Xavier gave me money. Arranged for fake documents. Give me contacts in other nations who could help hide me."Her hand moved to a small pendant hanging around her neck,a simple crystal that glowed faintly blue."He gave me this, too. Said it would help mask my vessel aura. Make me harder to track.""Where did you go?" Mira asked. "Where have you been hiding all this time?""Everywhere. Nowhere. I moved constantly."Elara's voice took on a weary quality."Started in the Western Territories. I stayed there