The convention center was a sea of color and energy.
From the outside, the glass dome gleamed under the afternoon sun, banners fluttering across the entrance with the words "Vale Comic Expo 2025 – Imagination Unbound!" printed in stylized lettering. Inside, the air buzzed with voices, laughter, and camera shutters. Dozens of vendors filled the halls, with their booths spilling over with merchandise, from collectible figures and manga to full-scale weapon replicas.
Ruby was practically vibrating the moment they stepped through the automatic doors.
"Okay, okay, so there's an artist alley on the left, the merch zone ahead, and the cosplay competition on stage in two hours!" she said, rapidly scrolling through the event app on her scroll. Her hood was down for once, her silver eyes bright. "We've got to see everything!"
Blake blinked at the crowd around them. "Everything? You mean all… five floors of this place?"
Ruby nodded solemnly. "Yes. Everything."
Jaune idly commented. "You're gonna burn yourself out before dinner, Ruby."
Ruby whirled around dramatically, cape flaring behind her. "Then I'll burn bright doing what I love!"
Blake sighed softly, though Jaune noticed the small smile she tried to hide. For someone who rarely joined any group activities, she didn't seem uncomfortable, just quietly amused by Ruby's relentless enthusiasm.
They started wandering the main hall together. Booths selling limited-edition prints lined one wall, while a section on the other side was dedicated to fan-run stalls displaying hand-crafted models and homemade costumes.
A group dressed as Knights of the Crusade, posed by a mock castle wall, while nearby, there was even a booth which showcased Ninjas of Love merchandise. Jaune had to admit that the detail on those costumes was impressive. The headbands, the flowing cloaks, even the fake smoke bombs one cosplayer tossed for photos, it all screamed dedication.
Jaune tugged Blake's sleeve quietly and whispered, "Yo, it's your favorite series, Blake."
She followed his gaze and slowly stopped walking.
The booth across from them was filled with Ninjas of Love posters, manga volumes, and props. Two women, clearly cosplayers, were dressed as sexy ninjas striking dramatic poses for photos. Blake froze mid-step, and Jaune could see her lips twitch in embarrassment.
Ruby elbowed him. "Blake looks like she wants to take a picture."
"Obviously," Jaune murmured. "She just doesn't want to ask."
Ruby grinned. "Watch this."
She jogged over to the booth, waving enthusiastically. "Hey! Can we take a picture with you guys?"
The cosplayers agreed instantly, striking another pose. Ruby gestured for Blake and Jaune to come over. Blake hesitated, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, but finally joined them.
Jaune stood a little to the side, camera in hand. He took a few pictures — Ruby smiling wide and Blake looking shy but happy, the cosplayers were in perfect character.
It was strange. For all the tension that usually hung around their team, in that moment, it just… wasn't there. There was only laughter, bright lights, and Blake actually looking like she was having fun.
When Blake came back over, Ruby handed her one of the photo prints from the instant booth.
"See? That wasn't so bad."
Blake examined the photo. "No," she admitted quietly. "It wasn't."
Ruby smirked. "You should cosplay next year."
That earned her a glare, though Jaune caught the faintest flush on Blake's cheeks.
They moved on to the next hall, where Jaune stopped short at a small stall tucked between two larger ones. A banner read "X-Ray and Vav – Classic Collection."
Old comic issues were laid out neatly in plastic sleeves. He recognized the art immediately — the exaggerated action poses, the cheesy one-liners. He used to love these as a kid. His father had bought him his first volume when he was eight, back when things were simpler.
One of the cosplayers nearby, dressed as X-Ray, waved. "Hey man! You a fan?"
Jaune nodded with a faint smile. "Used to be."
"Used to be? These are classics! The dynamic duo, saving the world, one ridiculous punchline at a time!"
Ruby joined up beside him. "Oh my gosh, I remember those cartoons! You actually liked them?"
"Yeah." Jaune traced a finger along the cover of Volume 3. He remembered reading it under his blanket with a flashlight. "Back when I thought heroes could fix everything."
The words came out softer than he meant. Ruby blinked, tilting her head slightly, picking up on his tone. Jaune realized it too late and quickly smiled, tucking the comic back into its bin.
"Anyway, good memories," he said quickly. "Thanks."
But as they walked away, a quiet heaviness settled in his chest. He couldn't shake the thought of his family. His mother and sisters, still in eternal sleep under his father's watchful eye. His father, now a fugitive. Every time he let himself enjoy something, guilt crept in.
Shouldn't he be training? Studying? Strengthening himself for the day he'd have to face the man who raised him?
Ruby fell into step beside him. She was quiet for a while, which was rare. Then, softly, "You okay?"
Jaune blinked. "Huh? Yeah. Why?"
She gave him a look — one that said don't lie to me. "Because you've got that 'thinking too hard' face again."
Jaune chuckled. "That obvious, huh?"
"Super obvious." Ruby smiled, but it was a gentle one this time. "You don't have to tell me what's wrong. Just… don't carry it alone, okay?"
For a second, he almost caved — about his father, his doubts, the guilt that came with being the blood of that man. But instead, he just smiled back.
"Yeah. Thanks, Ruby."
"Anytime!" she said, bright again, her mood shifting like sunlight through clouds. "Now come on — I think there's a booth selling cookies shaped like Crocea Mors!"
Blake raised a brow. "That's oddly specific."
"Exactly!" Ruby replied as if that explained everything.
Jaune laughed, shaking his head. He needed to let go of the heaviness — at least for today.
The city of Rome wasn't built in a single day. Neither were heroes, or strength, or healing. It all took time — brick by brick, piece by piece. And maybe, amidst the noise and laughter of a comic convention, that was enough for now.
The three of them stumbled into the tech wing of the convention almost by accident.
Ruby had been the one to notice it first, a booth tucked in the quieter corner of the upper floor, surrounded by glossy panels and a holographic sign that read:
"Experience the Power of Magical Powers — Fantasy Combat Simulator!"
It was smaller than most of the flashy displays around it, but there was something endearing about how handmade the setup looked. A pair of enclosed pods sat side by side, connected by thick cables to a humming central console. A small signboard in front displayed pixel-style illustrations of glowing runes, swords, and spells.
Behind the counter stood a man in his late fifties, dressed casually in a worn beige jacket and dark jeans. His hair was mostly silver now, though a streak of black remained above his left temple. His eyes were sharp, the kind that missed nothing. But the moment he saw the three approach, his expression warmed with the kind of enthusiasm reserved for passionate tinkerers.
"Welcome, welcome! Step right up. Fancy yourselves a little magical duel?" he said, voice carrying the tone of an old salesman.
Ruby leaned forward, curiosity already written all over her face. "Oooh... VR? Like a fantasy combat sim?"
The man chuckled. "Something like that, young lady. This is cutting-edge neural sync stuff built upon some principles of my old work. It has optical sensors, reactive feedback and minimal latency."
At the mention of this tech, all three exchanged the briefest glance. Just enough for understanding to flicker between them.
This was most likely the retired LUCID technician.
Ruby, ever the picture of innocent excitement, bounced slightly on her heels. "That sounds awesome! How's it work?"
The man's grin widened. "Simple. Two pods, two players. You pick your loadout from the console — there's a dozen archetypes. Mage, swordsman, guardian, shadow-dancer, that sort of thing. Then, once you're both ready, it projects a simulated battlefield and syncs your motion inputs through kinetic feedback sensors."
Jaune blinked. "So… basically, sword tag in virtual reality."
"Ha! If that's how you want to think of it, sure," the man said, tapping the screen. "I used to work on some government technical research team a long time ago, back before they privatized certain divisions. Never quite got the tech out of my blood. So now I make these little showcases for expos — fun for the kids, you know?"
"Wait, you worked for the government? As in LU... Like secret government research?" Ruby almost asked before catching herself. "I mean, that's really cool!"
The man nodded. "Retired now, though. Haven't seen the real system in years. They're doing incredible work these days, from what I hear."
Blake gave a polite smile. "We've heard the same."
Jaune resisted the urge to laugh at the understatement.
The technician waved them closer. "Well then, who's up for a match? First game's free."
Ruby turned to the other two, eyes glinting. "Jaune. You. Me. Let's do this."
"Why do I feel like you've already decided for me?" Jaune asked.
"Because I have."
Before he could reply, Blake folded her arms, cool as ever. "Actually… I want to go first."
Ruby blinked. "Oh?"
"Consider it a warm-up."
The man chuckled and gestured to the pods. "All right then — ladies first. You two, pick your loadouts here."
Jaune leaned over the console beside Blake. The interface was surprisingly intuitive — glowing icons hovered in the air, each representing a fantasy archetype. Blake selected Shadow-Dancer, complete with dual curved daggers and teleportation powers. Jaune, on the other hand, scrolled for a moment before smirking and picking Knight of Dawn — shining armor, broadsword, and a glowing aura that felt suspiciously on brand.
When they both stepped into the pods, a faint hum filled the air. The doors hissed shut, and the technician's voice echoed over the speakers. "Don't worry, no pain feedback. The system measures reaction and reflex. Pure skill test, nothing more."
The display screens outside the pods lit up with a projection of the simulated battlefield — a ruined coliseum bathed in golden light.
Ruby clapped her hands. "Ooooh, this is so cool!"
Inside the sim, Jaune tightened his virtual gauntlets, feeling the subtle resistance of the haptic gloves. The broadsword in his hand felt light but solid — a good approximation.
Across from him, Blake's avatar appeared in a swirl of shadow, her twin blades glinting. She gave him a flat look even through the tinted visor.
"Ready?" the technician asked.
"Yeah," Jaune said.
"Begin!"
Blake moved first — fast. She blinked through shadows, and appeared behind him in an instant. Jaune barely raised his shield in time to deflect the strike. Sparks flew across the simulation's golden floor. He pivoted, swinging wide, but she melted away again.
"What?" Jaune muttered, blocking another strike from his flank. "You picked teleport spam, Blake?"
"It's not spam," her calm voice replied through the comms. "It's strategy."
Ruby, watching the screens, gasped. "Whoa, Blake's good!"
"She's always good," Jaune grunted, rolling forward to dodge a flurry of daggers. "But this time…"
He lifted his hand, activating a rune glowing across his virtual armor — Radiant Pulse. A burst of light exploded outward, forcing Blake's avatar to stumble back. Jaune surged forward, sword cutting a clean arc through the air.
"Gotcha."
The screen flashed Victory: Knight of Dawn in bold letters.
Blake stepped out of her pod with her usual composure, though Jaune caught the faintest twitch of annoyance at the corner of her mouth. Ruby giggled.
"You totally lost to a paladin, Blake."
"I misjudged the light radius," she said dryly. "Next time, I won't."
Jaune smirked. "I'll hold you to that."
Then Ruby cracked her knuckles. "All right, king's court? My turn!"
She picked Rune Engineer — a tinkerer archetype that let her lay traps and summon little mechanical drones. Jaune expected an easy match. He was wrong.
Within thirty seconds, the battlefield was littered with glowing sigils that exploded if he so much as stepped near them. Every time he tried to close distance, another drone zipped in and zapped him with energy bolts.
"Ruby!" he barked, diving behind a pillar. "This is ridiculous!"
She laughed gleefully through the comms. "It's called area denial! Read a strategy guide sometime!"
Jaune grit his teeth, dodged another explosion, and charged straight through the barrage. His armor cracked, his screen flickered red — but at the last second, he threw his sword, activating Radiant Recall to blink to it midair and strike. The hit landed just before the timer ran out.
Victory: Knight of Dawn
When they stepped out, Ruby was pouting. "Laaame. That was totally a lucky hit... but also kind of epic."
Jaune leaned against his pod, catching his breath. "Guess I still got it."
Blake arched a brow. "You're awfully smug for someone who loses all of his real fights."
He grinned. "Hey, let me have this one."
The technician clapped his hands together. "Well done, both of you! You've got sharp reflexes. You kids LARPers or something?"
Ruby chuckled nervously. "Something like that."
He nodded approvingly. "Glad to see the next generation's still got imagination. Most folks just scroll through holo feeds these days."
They thanked him for the demo, Blake even bowing slightly out of respect, and started to head out as the next group lined up.
As they walked back toward the main hall, Ruby teased, "So, Jaune Arc — undefeated in VR combat. Should we start calling you the Dawn Knight now?"
He laughed. "I wouldn't mind that title sticking around."
"Enjoy it while it lasts," Blake said without looking back, her voice calm but with that faint dangerous undertone. "Next training session, I'm taking that title back."
Ruby snickered. "Oh, I am so watching that."
"..."
As the announcement for the cosplay competition echoed through the speakers, the three of them made their way toward the main stage — laughter mingling with the crowd's growing excitement, the faint hum of holograms flickering overhead.
For a day that was supposed to just be a break, it was shaping up to be a memorable one.
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AN: Up to 10 advanced chapters are available on patreon