The New Year arrived with thunder.Above the city, fireworks split the night into bursts of gold and scarlet. Ribbons of smoke wound against the stars, glowing softly in the afterglow. The mob below barked as another salvo exploded upwards. Strangers shouted "Happy New Year!" until their voices were a single bay that washed through the avenues.Confetti swirled on the pavement in the cold air. Children jumped to grab it. Strangers toasted with what they could grab or hugged whoever was closest to them. The entire city, for a moment, came together in joy, took in the promise of fresh starts.Yukio barely looked up.He stepped out of a casino that loomed like a cathedral of light, its signboards blazing with colors that put the night sky to shame. A flood of light swept down the facade in electric blues and hot pinks, spilling over onto the sidewalk. The air was crackling with electricity, as though the building itself vibrated with trapped energy.He shoved the hood of his frayed green

Yukio had nothing to do but stare.The boy before him was in no category his mind could comprehend. He looked maybe twelve or thirteen at the most, dressed like a boy who had raided a treasure chest for fun. A dented gold crown, flowing velvet clothes shimmering with threads of gold and silver, a necklace so big it would've been embarrassing for a rapper, and rings blazing on each finger.And yet, here he was. Smiling like the punchline of a joke known only to him.Michibiki, who had been so promptly flustered before, now bowed respectfully, her forehead close to the ground.What's happening here? Yukio asked himself, uncertainty and distrust boiling like storm clouds in his mind. He glanced between Michibiki's hunched form and the boy, who floated about three inches off the ground as though gravity were nothing more than a recommendation."How do you know my name?"Yukio finally asked, voice slicing with both confusion and wariness.The smile on the boy's face widened, wider than was

The sun in the afternoon cast golden fingers on the cobblestone street, setting the town in a warm light that brought back to Yukio something that he had not felt for a long time, peace.The air was fresh, vibrant, and perfumed by spice aromas wafting from market stalls, the hint of wood smoke, and the delicious smell of bread fresh from the oven. The sounds were layered, a kind of chorus, with the sound of people haggling for goods, the shouts of children darting through the throng, and the tread of guards patrolling.For once, Yukio felt like he wasn't pursuing the next fix, nor the aftermath of a wild gamble. This wasn't the empty silence that came after a big win at the casino. This was true silence, and it felt solid and stable.He sat back and observed a dwarf beating his fist into his palm, offering his opinion on the cost of metal scraps to a stubborn vendor, while a tall elf glided by the both of them, her movement so smooth it almost defied comprehension, nodding at Yukio wi

The heavy wooden door of the weapons and equipment shop swung open with a low groan, a worn out brass bell jingling overhead to announce their arrival.A wave of smells rolled over Yukio the moment he stepped inside, oiled leather, cold steel, faint ash, and the copper tang of a forge that never truly cooled. His nose wrinkled. Compared to the lively bustle of the guild hall, this shop carried a weighty quiet, the kind reserved for places where every strike of a hammer meant life or death.Everywhere he looked, the shop was a cathedral to war. Gleaming longswords hung in neat rows, their polished blades catching light from broad windows and scattering it like tiny suns. Broad, kite-shaped shields leaned in orderly ranks, some plain steel, others painted with noble crests or animal insignias. Armor sets, chainmail, scale, and half-plate armor stood upright on wooden mannequins like silent soldiers waiting to be called into battle.The craftsmanship was unlike anything Yukio had seen in

The morning sunlight spilled into the room of the Gilded Griffon Inn like liquid gold, turning the simple wooden walls into something warm and alive. Dust motes drifted lazily in the shafts of light, and the chorus of sparrows outside created a melody that pulled Yukio slowly from the depths of sleep.At first, there was nothing. He stared at the ceiling beams: the kind of rustic, hand-hewn woodwork that he had previously seen only in fantasy video games. Then the memories of the previous day returned-the hunt, the goblins, the single shared bed. A grin tugged at his lips.He stretched. Or tried to. Something heavy pinned him down.Yukio blinked as he tilted his head. His heart skipped a beat.Michibiki was asleep on his chest.Her silver-white hair cascaded over him like a silken curtain, shimmering faintly in the sunlight. She breathed evenly, her cheek pressed against the fabric of his tunic, the faint warmth of her body bleeding into him. Her slender hand clutched his shirt tightl