The next morning, Kazuki wandered the streets of Eidolon, with Lumi at his side munching on a piece of bread. The sky above was a swirl of gold and violet, and the air seemed to buzz with the hum of life. Eidolon felt both magical and overwhelming, but at least now he had a place to return to.
As they passed a large open plaza filled with floating lanterns and bustling stalls, Lumi clapped her hands together. "Alright, Kazuki! Time for your first real experience in Eidolon's heart—the Gleaming Bazaar!"
Kazuki scanned the chaotic yet mesmerizing scene: merchants selling glowing fruits, musicians playing instruments made of light, and people from every corner of this strange world. His eyes widened as they passed a grand, golden building with a flashing sign that read: Fortune's Folly – Casino of Endless Luck.
"Wait, there's a casino here?" Kazuki asked, curious.
"Oh, yeah!" Lumi nodded. "Fortune's Folly is pretty famous! You can bet on anything there. Just don't get too addicted—those slot machines have a mind of their own!"
Kazuki chuckled. "Right, I'll keep that in mind."
Inside the casino, the air was electric with excitement. The sound of clinking coins and spinning wheels filled the room as people shouted in triumph or groaned in defeat. Kazuki's gaze drifted to a young woman sitting at a card table, her long silver hair catching the light. She wore a calm expression, eyes focused on her hand of cards. Despite the chaos around her, she seemed entirely composed—almost regal.
"Who's that?" Kazuki asked, nodding toward her.
"Uh… no idea!" Lumi said a little too quickly, looking away. "Probably just some random gambler!"
Kazuki narrowed his eyes but decided not to push it. He turned his attention to a different part of the room, where a tall man with dark hair was trying to balance on one foot on top of a table, holding what looked like a rubber duck.
"Three minutes! I can do this for three minutes!" the man shouted confidently, wobbling dangerously.
Kazuki blinked. "And… what's his deal?"
"Him? No clue!" Lumi said, walking faster. "He's probably just… having fun! Yeah, lots of fun people here!"
Kazuki gave her a suspicious look. "You're acting weirder than usual."
"Me? Weird? Never!" Lumi grinned, her voice a little too high-pitched. "C'mon, let's go check out something less suspicious!"
As they left the casino, Kazuki couldn't shake the feeling that there was more going on than Lumi was letting on. Whoever those two were, they definitely weren't just random strangers.
They walked in silence for a moment before Kazuki spoke again. "Hey, Lumi. Yesterday, you mentioned something about Trailblazers. What exactly are we supposed to do?"
Lumi stopped and glanced at him, her usual playful expression softening. "Well… Trailblazers are special. Not everyone gets to be one. You're here because you were chosen—by something far greater than me or anyone else in Eidolon."
Kazuki tilted his head. "Chosen for what?"
"For greatness, of course!" Lumi said, throwing her arms wide. "Trailblazers are the only ones who can truly change Eidolon. The greatest Trailblazers even participate in the Eclipse Trials."
"Eclipse Trials?" Kazuki repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"It's a big deal!" Lumi said, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Only the best of the best make it through. Think of it as… a tournament where heroes are made! Every ten years, Trailblazers from across Eidolon come together to prove themselves. The winners? They become legends."
"Sounds intense," Kazuki muttered.But the Realization Kicked in"wait I have heard about that from a random old man too!But it wasn't Eclipse Trials, it's called Echelon Trials."
"Oh, it is the same!" Lumi nodded. "But don't worry—you've got me! With my help, you'll be ready in no time for the tournament!"
Kazuki laughed softly, feeling a bit more at ease. "I guess having a chaotic guide like you isn't so bad."
Lumi grinned. "See? You're learning!"