The group trudged down the dirt path leading away from the labyrinth, still sparkling from head to toe. The glitter from the orb clung to every inch of their clothing, armor, and even Sylvara's ears, which shimmered with an almost blinding radiance. It was as if the universe had decided they were its newest disco ball.
"Does this stuff EVER come off?" Kazuya groaned, trying to shake glitter off his boots. Instead, the glitter multiplied, spreading to his hands and up his arms. "It's like it's alive!"
Sylvara skipped happily alongside him, cradling the orb in her arms. "I think it's magical! Look how it makes everything so shiny."
"It's also making us a target," Ravynne pointed out, her expression as dark as her usual attire, which now sparkled in the sunlight like an overly dramatic gothic star. "We're basically walking beacons saying, 'Please rob us or shoot us.'"
"Oh, come on," Sylvara said, twirling around. "Who wouldn't want to see something this fabulous?"
As if on cue, a group of bandits emerged from the bushes ahead, their eyes lighting up at the sight of the party. "Well, well," their leader sneered, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek. "Looks like Christmas came early this year. Hand over that shiny orb, and we might let you go."
Bandit Bedazzlement
Kazuya sighed and stepped forward, sword in hand. "Look, we've had a long day, and I'm covered in glitter. Can we just skip to the part where I beat you up?"
The bandit leader laughed. "Oh, tough guy, huh? Let's see if you're still so shiny when—" He stopped mid-sentence as a gust of wind blew some of the glitter into his face.
The glitter had an unexpected side effect. As soon as it touched his skin, his gruff demeanor shifted. His eyes widened, his lips quivered, and he let out an involuntary giggle. "W-What is this? Why do I feel... so... happy?"
"Uh, guys?" Kazuya said, backing away as the glitter began to spread among the bandits. One by one, they started giggling uncontrollably, dropping their weapons as they clutched their sides in hysterics.
"It's... a glitter of joy!" Sylvara declared triumphantly. "The orb spreads happiness wherever it goes!"
Ravynne raised an eyebrow. "Or insanity."
The Glitter Uprising
The bandits, now completely overtaken by the glitter's effects, began dancing. One started breakdancing, while another attempted a clumsy pirouette. The leader, tears streaming down his cheeks from laughing so hard, tried to rally his men. "S-Stop this! W-We're supposed to be intimidating!"
"Not with those moves," Kazuya quipped, watching as the bandit leader attempted a cartwheel and failed miserably, landing face-first in a bush.
"Should we... help them?" Sylvara asked, clutching the orb tighter.
"Help them?" Ravynne said with a smirk. "This is the best entertainment I've had in weeks. Let's see how far this goes."
The chaos reached its peak when one of the bandits grabbed a lute from his pack and began strumming a jaunty tune. The others joined in, forming an impromptu musical number complete with harmonized singing and synchronized choreography.
"Are we in a musical now?" Kazuya asked, incredulous.
"Looks like it," Sylvara said, clapping along to the beat.
Escape Glitter Town
As the bandits continued their glitter-fueled performance, Kazuya motioned for the group to quietly slip away. "Let's get out of here before this turns into a full-blown Broadway production."
They hurried down the path, leaving the glittering chaos behind. As they walked, Sylvara held the orb up to the light, marveling at its brilliance. "This thing is amazing! We could use it to spread happiness across the land!"
"Or accidentally start a glitter plague," Ravynne muttered.
Kazuya rubbed his temples. "We need to figure out what this thing actually does. The last thing I need is to end up in some bizarre glitter cult."
Sylvara gasped. "A glitter cult! That's a great idea!"
"It really isn't," Kazuya said quickly. "No cults."
"Party pooper."
A Glittery Revelation
As they reached the next town, they were immediately mobbed by a group of curious villagers, drawn to their sparkling appearance. Children ran up to Sylvara, asking to touch the orb, while merchants offered ridiculous sums of money for it.
Kazuya groaned as an elderly woman tried to rub glitter off his face. "This is why I hate magic artifacts."
Sylvara, however, was in her element, spinning around and throwing glitter in the air like it was confetti. "This is the best day ever!"
"Let's just find an inn and figure out what to do next," Ravynne said, dragging Kazuya toward the nearest building. "Before this turns into another disaster."
Unbeknownst to them, a shadowy figure watched from the edge of the village, their eyes fixed on the orb in Sylvara's hands. "The Orb of Infinite Glitter," they murmured. "Finally... it's within my grasp."
To Be Continued...