The warm scent of fresh bread and sizzling meat filled the air as the group sat around a table at the inn. Plates piled high with food were scattered before them—eggs, pancakes, and a suspiciously green juice Lumi had taken a liking to. Kazuki leaned back, savoring the rare moment of peace.
"Man, this feels like the first real meal we've had in forever," Kazuki said, stuffing his mouth with a pancake. "But… now that I think about it—what's Hotaru up to right now?"
The table grew quiet. Kazuki glanced at Lumi, tilting his head. "I mean, how did she even end up here? She wasn't invited like me, right?"
Lumi set her juice down and wiped her mouth before answering, her usual cheery tone giving way to a more serious one. "That's… complicated. Hotaru's presence here is the result of something extraordinary. Something… risky."
Kazuki raised an eyebrow. "Risky? What do you mean?"
Lumi folded her arms, leaning back in her chair. "It's because of Sonnet. When the Savior attacked her and Andreas, Sonnet was on the brink of death. But right before she was struck down, she used every last bit of her power as the Vessel of Fate to tie a fate string to the next Trailblazer destined to arrive—Hotaru. The string pulled her into Eidolon, saving Sonnet's life in the process."
Sonnet blinked, pointing at herself. "Wait… I did what now?"
Lumi smiled softly. "You wouldn't remember it. After all, the Vessel of Life couldn't fully restore you when he revived you both. You lost most of your memories from before that moment. But that's what happened. Hotaru wasn't supposed to come until much later… but fate doesn't always wait."
Andreas scratched his head. "That explains why Hotaru seemed so out of place when we first saw her. Like she was dropped here before she was ready."
Kazuki frowned, leaning forward. "So… she's here because Sonnet literally dragged her in to save herself? That's insane."
Sonnet grinned sheepishly. "Well… if I did it, I'm sure I had a good reason. Besides, it worked, didn't it? I'm still alive, and Hotaru's been a huge help!"
"More like pure chaos," Kazuki muttered, but a small smile tugged at his lips. "Still, it's good to know she's safe. I was kind of worried about her after all that sealing business."
Lumi nodded. "Hotaru's strong. She'll be fine. But… just know that fate brought her here for a reason. Just like it brought all of us together."
The table fell into a comfortable silence as they continued eating. Sonnet picked up a pancake and eyed it thoughtfully. "Well, fate or not, we've got some serious business to handle. But for now—let's enjoy breakfast before the world tries to kill us again."
Kazuki laughed. "I'll toast to that."
Andreas raised his glass. "To fate, pancakes, and the hope that Sonnet doesn't gamble away our next meal."
Kazuki nodded, his mind wandering for a moment before a nearby conversation caught his attention.
"Hey, did you hear? That witch was seen near the river last night again."
"The witch? You mean her? The girl with the green and white hair?"
Kazuki raised an eyebrow and leaned closer to listen.
"She's dangerous. Strange things always happen when she's around. Someone saw her draw something, and it came to life! A giant beast—made of ink! It nearly destroyed the mill!"
Lumi tapped the table thoughtfully. "Sounds like an interesting person. Maybe we should meet her."
Andreas smirked. "A witch, huh? This village keeps getting more fun."
Sonnet, still chewing on her bread, glanced at Kazuki. "We're totally going to find her, right?"
"Obviously," Kazuki replied with a grin. "I mean, how could we not? If she's bringing her drawings to life, that's pretty badass."
The group stepped out of the inn, the afternoon sun dipping low on the horizon, casting long shadows over Greenfall Village. The streets were busy, yet a strange heaviness lingered in the air, as if the village itself carried an unspeakable secret.
"We just need to ask around," Kazuki said, hands behind his head. "How hard could it be to find someone with green and white hair?"
Sonnet scanned the crowd, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Let's split up and meet back here in an hour. First one to find the witch wins."
"Wins what?" Andreas raised an eyebrow.
"Bragging rights."
Lumi rolled her eyes. "Focus, guys. We're here to help."
They moved through the market, approaching various villagers.
"Excuse me, we're looking for a girl with green and white hair," Kazuki said to a fruit vendor. "She draws things. You know who she is?"
The vendor's eyes darted nervously. "I… don't know what you're talking about," he muttered, turning away quickly.
A cloth merchant gave the same response, refusing to meet their gaze. A passing farmer shook his head and hurried off without a word.
Every question was met with silence, nervous glances, or quick excuses.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, the group gathered back in front of the inn, their shoulders slumped in defeat.
"This is hopeless," Kazuki groaned, kicking a small pebble. "All we got was 'messy green and white hair.' That could be anyone!"
"People are clearly scared of her," Lumi said. "But that just makes me more curious. What kind of power could she have to make a whole village act like this?"
Andreas chuckled, crossing his arms. "She must be hiding something big."
"Or," Sonnet said, resting her chin on her hand, "she's just misunderstood. Maybe she likes to draw flowers and stuff, and people freaked out for no reason."