Laughter bubbled up in the small room, the sound softening the edges of exhaustion that had settled over the group. Schneizal, reclining lazily in a wooden chair, threw a teasing glance at Sequana as he recounted their most recent escapade.
"You should've seen her face when that spell backfired," he said with a grin.
"She looked like a startled cat."
Sequana shot him a withering glare from her seat by the window, where she sat with her grimoire propped open on her lap.
"And whose fault was that, you idiot? If you hadn't distracted me—"
"It worked out, didn't it?" Schneizal interrupted, flashing her a mischievous smile.
"Barely," she muttered, though the corners of her lips twitched as if fighting a smile.
Vriede chuckled softly, perched on the edge of a table with her arms crossed. The wolf-like woman's amber eyes sparkled with amusement as she took in their banter.
"I swear, the two of you bicker more than siblings."
The door creaked open then, silencing the room as Youth entered. His footsteps were measured, his expression unreadable—a mask he wore too well. He paused briefly, glancing over the trio before stepping fully inside. The faint light from outside pooled behind him, outlining his figure like a shadow.
"Well?" Schneizal asked, unable to hold back his curiosity. He sat forward, his grin replaced with interest.
"What did the Supreme General say?"
Sequana closed her grimoire with a soft thud and looked up. Vriede straightened, her ears twitching slightly.
Youth remained silent for a beat longer than necessary, his crimson eye flickering beneath the edge of his eyepatch. Finally, he said,
"It's nothing important."
"Nothing important?" Schneizal repeated, unconvinced.
"You disappeared for two hours, and you expect us to believe—"
"We're leaving tomorrow morning," Youth interrupted. His voice was calm but final, brooking no room for argument.
"Get some rest."
That should have ended the conversation, but Schneizal, as always, had other ideas. He stood abruptly, his grin returning in full force.
"Rest? Nah, we've got one more night in this place. I say we see the sights!"
Youth raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking pointedly to Schneizal's bandaged arm.
"You're injured."
Schneizal waved him off, puffing out his chest dramatically.
"I'm fine. Fit as ever. Besides, we're leaving Stoicheia tomorrow. How could I call myself a proper adventurer if I didn't see it all?"
Youth let out a long sigh, rubbing a hand over his face.
"You're impossible." After a moment, he straightened, his tone resigned.
"Fine. If you're going, we're all going. I'm not cleaning up after you again."
Schneizal beamed triumphantly as he darted for his coat. Sequana groaned, rolling her eyes, while Vriede let out a quiet laugh.
"Might as well join him," Youth muttered under his breath as he followed Schneizal out the door.
The streets of Stoicheia were alive with soft, golden light, despite the lateness of the hour. Lanterns hung from twisting lampposts, casting warm glows onto cobblestone paths. The group moved leisurely through the bustling market, the air fragrant with spices, roasted meats, and the sweet scent of flowers. Merchants called to passersby, their voices blending into the hum of life all around them.
"I'm not going to lie," Schneizal said as he tore a bite from a skewer of grilled meat.
"This place makes Ketergia look like a dump."
"Because it is a dump," Sequana replied, though even she couldn't hide the slight awe in her voice as her eyes lingered on a glowing fountain at the center of the square.
They meandered through the city until they reached a towering castle, its stone walls kissed by moonlight. From its highest spire, they could see all of Stoicheia stretched out before them—a tapestry of rivers, markets, and glimmering lights that seemed to pulse like a heartbeat.
Vriede broke the silence first.
"That's one long forest."
She pointed toward the horizon, where a vast, dense forest loomed, its silhouette endless beneath the night sky.
"That's the Infinity Forest," came a calm, unfamiliar voice.
They turned as one, startled, to find a boy standing nearby. He was slight, with short blue hair, bluish skin, and striking yellow eyes that gleamed in the low light. His expression was steady but approachable.
Sequana tilted her head.
"Infinity Forest?"
The boy nodded.
"Yes. That forest is strictly guarded and prohibited. No one is allowed to enter."
"Is that so…" Sequana murmured, a thoughtful look crossing her face.
Schneizal narrowed his eyes, studying the boy closely.
"Wait, you look familiar… Have we met before, kid?"
The boy shook his head.
"I don't think so." He hesitated briefly before bowing slightly.
"Forgive me. My name is Clarence."
Vriede smiled warmly.
"Nice to meet you, Clarence. I'm Vriede, and these are Youth, Sequana, and Schneizal. We're just tourists here."
Clarence's eyes lit up.
"Tourists? Oh! You're the knights who fought last night. I heard about what you did—fighting off the undead dragon and saving the people. You were amazing!"
Schneizal grinned, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yeah, well… it was no big deal. Just another Tuesday for us."
"I was the one who defeated him," Sequana corrected, arms crossed.
Schneizal snorted. "Sealed. You sealed him."
"I saved your life, you brat. How about a thank you?"
The two launched into another round of bickering, their voices rising comically as Clarence watched in quiet amusement. Vriede chuckled, shaking her head.
"Forgive them," she said with a smile. "They're always like this."
Clarence laughed lightly. "I don't mind. It's entertaining."
Vriede's gaze drifted to the sword hanging at Clarence's side.
"That's a nice weapon you carry. Are you a soldier?"
Clarence shook his head.
"Not yet. I'm just a trainee for the Lord's Military."
"The Marines?" Schneizal asked, his interest piqued.
"No," Clarence corrected. "I train as a Knight. We protect the castle."
Youth's gaze sharpened slightly.
"How come we didn't see any Knights during the attack last night?"
Clarence's face fell, his tone quieter.
"Lord Lyverin ordered us to stay at the castle and guard him. He said Aquaforce could handle the threat."
"And you just listened?" Schneizal asked, raising a brow.
Clarence sighed. "We had to. Especially us trainees."
Youth nodded, thoughtful. "So that castle over there… that's where the Lord lives?"
Clarence followed Youth's gaze. "Yes." Suddenly, his demeanor shifted, excitement lighting up his face. "They're back!"
"Who?" Schneizal asked.
Clarence grinned.
"The Marine Commando Unit. They just returned from a mission on the Great Sea. Do you want to see them?"
Schneizal's eyes gleamed. "Do I? Lead the way!"