A thunderous applause rang out from the crowd of onlookers. Their cheers and praises filled the air, calling me their savior, their hero. I'd never been at the receiving end of such admiration. The warm waves of approval were an entirely new sensation for me, a boy more familiar with doubt than accolades.
I couldn't help it; tears welled up in my eyes and flowed freely down my cheeks. I thanked them, my voice barely a whisper against the deafening roar of their applause.
Drawing strength from their applause, I managed to get up and stumbled over to Lucianna. I reached out, taking her hand in mine.
"Lucianna," I greeted her, my voice a little steadier.
She returned my greeting, her smile seemed strained and her eyes held an unspoken sadness.
"What's the matter?" I asked, concern threading through my voice.
She just shook her head. "It's nothing," she said, but I could see she was wrestling with something deep within.
"So, what's the plan now? The thief is still out there," I said, trying to distract her from whatever was troubling her.
Lucianna's eyes sparkled, and a small smirk played on her lips. "Don't worry about that now. Besides, we've got quite the adventure ahead of us, right?"
The prospect of an adventure, tracking a thief through magical lands, sparked a thrill within me. "I like the sound of that," I responded, a smile tugging at my lips. There was an excitement in my chest, a sense of purpose that filled me with hope. Our adventure was just beginning.
Just as the atmosphere was settling, Illyanna's stomach betrayed the tranquility, growling audibly enough for all to hear. "Guys, I'm hungry," she admitted, blushing a little at her stomach's loud admission.
"Max, Lucianna, you need to go after that thief before she slips away!" Matterinna stated, pointing in the general direction the thief had disappeared.
Lucianna and I exchanged glances, an unspoken understanding passing between us. We shared a nod. "We'll have to put that off, I'm afraid," Lucianna declared, her gaze tracing the distant path the thief had taken. "She's already gained quite a distance."
"We can plan our next move after we've rested," I chimed in, feeling the exhaustion of the day's events pulling at my muscles.
Lucianna then turned her attention back to the immediate needs at hand. She attempted to summon a carriage and a horse for us, but her magic fizzled out - she had exhausted her mana. "Matterinna," she started, her voice filled with hope, "Could you conjure us something for transport?"
Matterinna responded with a shake of her head, "Not my specialty, sorry."
"I don't have enough practice to summon anything either," I added. I was only just beginning to understand the power within me, and summoning something as large as a carriage felt far beyond my current capabilities.
Lucianna merely nodded at our replies. We were all running on empty, it seemed.
So, with no other options, we began the long walk back to the Snow Fairy's Tavern, our steps heavy but our spirits undaunted. The thrill of the chase might be over for now, but there was a sense of camaraderie that bolstered us, keeping our spirits high. We were in this together, and for the time being, we needed to regain our strength and refuel ourselves after the day's exhaustive pursuit.
As we ambled along, a thought wormed its way into my mind, and I found myself voicing it out loud, "Why do some people use magic without blank magic cards?"
Lucianna tensed beside me, and I glanced at her in surprise. "I've been keeping something from you, Max," she admitted, the confession hanging heavy in the air.
Confused, I probed, "What do you mean?"
Matterinna, with her characteristic smirk, chimed in, "Only novices rely on blank magic cards to focus their powers."
I nodded in understanding, turning back to Lucianna. "There's nothing to be ashamed of, Lucianna." I tried to reassure her.
Lucianna's eyes widened, her disbelief evident. "You... you don't mind having a noob for a partner?"
I shook my head, vehemently. "Not at all. I mean, you can cast healing magic with just words, no cards needed. Besides, if it weren't for you and Matterinna, I'd be a goner by now. Because of both of you, I've been able to make others smile." A smile bloomed on my face as I said this, warmth spreading through me at the thought.
Lucianna thanked me for the praise, her own smile mirroring mine, tinted by a faint blush. "You really do spread good vibes, don't you, Max?"
I let out a soft laugh, the sound echoing around us. "Well, I made a promise to my family. I'm going to keep smiling, keep moving forward. No more tears."
Illyanna and Matterinna, who were walking a few steps behind us, cheered, both giving us a thumbs up. "That's our Max!" Illyanna shouted, her voice full of pride.
Lucianna turned to me, her eyes searching mine, "So, you weren't kidding when you said you wanted to make others happy?"
Matterinna butted in, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, "It's surprising to see this side of you, Max. You've changed. It's like you're a completely different person."
I squirmed under her teasing gaze, feeling a bit uncomfortable. But before I could respond, Illyanna and Lucianna simultaneously chimed in, "I know, right?" They stared at each other, shocked, and then shouted in unison, "Jinx!"
A soft chuckle slipped from my lips at their antics. The fantasy world might be daunting, and even dangerous at times, but it also came with its moments of joy. And for now, I was perfectly content with where I was, surrounded by these wonderful people who felt like family.