In the heart of the rugged Dwargo region, cradled between crumbling cliff sides and whispering pine winds, the sun had barely broken over the jagged horizon when the stone collector team set out, six girls with packs full of hope and tools enchanted by mana.
This formation wasn't a matter of luck or convenience. It was Yuuna's calculated decision.
After analyzing mana density maps, environmental elemental distributions, and behavioral patterns of local creatures, she had concluded: the likelihood of encountering fire mana stones was higher in less charted, monster-heavy terrain southwest of the Dwarf City.
Thus, she had formed her own team: Fahleena, Orchid, Jessica, Gabyola, Sakura, and herself.
"Split based on optimal collection efficiency and personal combat synergy," Yuuna had explained plainly, handing out parchment maps. "We'll search for fire-type monsters. The boys are better suited to iron and lumber."
"Was that a polite way of saying they're too rowdy for subtle operations?" Gabyola had smirked.
Yuuna didn't hesitate. "The boys are suited for labor work. Physically expendable. The girls, more efficient. Like female lions: we hunt."
Orchid blinked. "Wait, does that make the boys cubs or gazelles?"
"Both," Yuuna replied flatly.
---
Now, the party descended into the highland terrain, where jagged cliffs loomed like ancient guardians and the path twisted through wild, wind-scoured slopes. The wind curled around their cloaks with a constant low howl, tugging at hair and sleeves like playful spirits. Below their boots, dry grass crunched over cracked stone, scattered with brittle twigs and the occasional glimmer of old mineral veins. Far off, hawks circled in the pale sky, and the distant bellows of unseen beasts echoed through the valleys. The land here felt forgotten, raw, untamed, and perfect for a hunt.
"We're so far from the forge it's starting to feel like a holiday," Orchid said cheerfully, her braid swinging as she walked.
"Holiday where we fight for our lives," Jessica muttered, eyeing the cliffs above.
"Adventure is life!" Fahleena twirled her keyblade dramatically. "Let the Keyblade of Destiny guide us to the flames of fortune!"
Sakura tilted her head. "Is it... actually enchanted?"
"No. But it looks cool," Yuuna replied bluntly.
---
It wasn't long before the sharp screech of a Wind Hawk split the air, echoing through the narrow rock corridors like a war cry. High above the cliffs, a flock of the sleek, territorial birds wheeled in tight formation, their wings catching the sunlight with flashes of green-blue shimmer, clear signs of wind-elemental affinity. The air pressure subtly shifted as they circled, feathers slicing the sky in practiced arcs. Then, as if choosing a target, one of the hawks suddenly tucked its wings and dived, a blur of speed and talons cutting through the wind like a living arrow, aiming straight for the intruders below.
"Wind-aligned," Yuuna confirmed, already flipping through her spellbook. "Gabyola, pin its flight. Jessica, backup. I'll finish."
"Hawk Eye!" Gabyola chanted, pupils narrowing as her bow glowed faintly.
She released an arrow. The projectile whistled, striking the hawk's wing. It spiraled toward the rocky ground.
Yuuna's hand lit with glyphs. "Thunder I."
A precise bolt of lightning zapped the grounded hawk. The air sizzled.
Gabyola approached the smoldering corpse of the Wind Hawk, her boots crunching over broken feathers and scorched gravel. She crouched beside it, pulling a small knife from her boot.
"I'll dismantle it. Might as well get some materials," she said, brushing aside the charred plumage. "Feathers like these could fetch a decent price, or work well in arrows."
"Respectful," Jessica noted, wiping her blade clean on a cloth. "You kill it, you use it."
Fahleena leaned in, watching with gleaming eyes. "Does it have a magic core? Maybe it's secretly the guardian of the sky and we've angered the heavens!"
"Nope," Gabyola said flatly. She reached into the chest cavity, extracting a small, pulsing gem. It glowed faintly with pale blue light. "Wind mana stone. No fire."
Yuuna didn't look surprised. "As expected. Wind-aligned creature in a wind-dominant region. We'll need to keep trying."
Sakura tilted her head. "How many more birds do we have to fight before we find a spicy one?"
"Probability remains under 20%," Yuuna replied.
"I'll take that as a 'several'," Orchid said, stretching. "Next time, I'll punch it mid-air."
"No you won't," Jessica and Gabyola said in unison.
---
Further down the path, they encountered a small herd of Black Goats grazing quietly on patches of dry lichen clinging to the cliffside rocks. Their coats were glossy obsidian, almost unnaturally clean for mountain creatures, and their curved horns glinted faintly like polished bone. One goat stood apart from the rest, motionless, neck stretched upward, staring silently at the sky as if deep in prayer. Its unblinking gaze, fixed on nothing, sent a small shiver down Sakura's spine.
"Is it... worshipping something?" she whispered.
"Maybe it's praying we leave," Gabyola muttered, notching an arrow.
"Or summoning an ancient goat god," Fahleena added, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Yuuna, unfazed, simply noted, "Still no fire signature. Proceed with caution."
"Let me try this time!" Fahleena called, eyes gleaming.
She leapt ahead, pointing dramatically. "Thou foul goat! Face my ancient wrath!"
"...She's doing it again," Jessica sighed.
"Keyblade Boomerang!"
Fahleena hurled her Keyblade with a dramatic flourish, the weapon leaving her hand with a sharp metallic zing that cut through the mountain air. Rather than tumbling end over end, it spun in a controlled, deliberate arc, almost as if the wind itself bent around it, guiding its flight with unseen fingers. The blade curved mid-air with eerie grace, glinting in the sunlight as it circled around and struck the goat cleanly between the horns. The impact echoed like a bell against stone. The goat's legs buckled as it staggered, eyes wide in confusion, before it lost its footing entirely and tumbled down the rocky slope in a cloud of dust and sliding gravel.
"My turn!" Orchid threw off her cloak. "Watch me work, matador style!"
"No," Yuuna said immediately. "That's not, "
"TORO!" Orchid waved the red cloak with both hands.
The goat, surprisingly agile for its stout frame, suddenly lowered its head and dug its hooves into the gravel. With a sharp snort and a burst of power, it launched forward like a battering ram. Its movements were swift and sure-footed, navigating the uneven terrain with the ease of a seasoned climber. Muscles tensed under its dark coat as it closed the distance in seconds, its curved horns gleaming ominously under the highland sun.
Orchid stood her ground confidently, arms spread wide, expecting a dramatic pass beneath her cloak. But the goat had no intention of playing along.
With a resounding thud, the creature crashed headfirst into her abdomen. The force lifted her off the ground entirely, her limbs flailing as her breath left her in a stunned gasp. She sailed backward through the air in an almost comedic arc before landing unceremoniously in a shallow, muddy patch behind the others, a soft squelch marking her final stop. A moment later, her legs twitched.
"Ow... my pride," Orchid groaned.
"I got it," Jessica muttered, vanishing into a blur. "Quick Step I!"
Her blade glinted, a sharp flash of steel in the sun, and in the blink of an eye, she was already behind the Black Goat, sword lowered as if the strike had never happened. A thin line of light lingered in the air where her slash had passed. A heartbeat later, the goat stiffened, legs trembling, then collapsed with a heavy thud, dust rising gently around its body.
Without a word, Gabyola stepped forward and knelt beside the fallen creature. She worked quickly, her hands practiced and precise as she dismantled it, sorting through muscle and bone with surgical efficiency. After a few quiet minutes, she held up a small, dull gem.
"Wind-aligned," she said simply. "Still no fire mana stone."
Yuuna made a quick mark on her parchment. "Expected result. Low elemental variance in goats. Proceed."
---
The terrain gradually leveled out into a wide, cracked basin where the highland cliffs gave way to a dry riverbed, its ancient path etched deep into the earth like a scar left behind by a long-forgotten storm. Pale grass and scattered weeds clung to the edges, stubborn against the sun and wind. Jagged rocks jutted from the banks like the ribs of some buried titan, casting sharp-edged shadows across the dust. The air grew still, almost unnaturally quiet, broken only by the slow, rhythmic chewing of two Red Cows grazing peacefully near the exposed river stones.
Their bulky forms moved lazily, unconcerned with the approaching adventurers. But the peace didn't last. From behind a massive boulder streaked with iron veining and half-buried in the earth, a deep, guttural SNORT rumbled out like a drumbeat of warning. A Black Bull stepped into view, massive, broad-shouldered, and covered in coarse, dark fur that shimmered faintly with a heat-like haze. Its red eyes locked onto the party, and it pawed at the ground with one heavy hoof, the stone beneath it cracking slightly from the weight. Its horns curved like scythes, gleaming faintly in the sun, and steam rose from its flared nostrils as it began to stalk forward.
"Bull spotted. Stronger. Aggressive. Fire alignment possible," Yuuna said.
"Finally, something spicy!" Fahleena twirled again.
The bull's eyes glowed faintly with embers. It scraped a hoof against stone, then charged.
"I'll intercept!" Orchid shouted. "Knight Excellence!"
Her body shimmered with the soft glow of Knight Oath, light tracing the edges of her armor as she raised her sword with firm resolve. For a moment, she looked every bit the heroic defender, unshakable and brave. But the moment the bull connected, the illusion shattered. The sheer force of the charge lifted her off her feet instantly, launching her backward through the air like a ragdoll. She hit the ground with a loud thud, skidding through dust and weeds before coming to a stop in a dazed sprawl, her sword landing several paces away.
"ORCHID!" Sakura shouted. "Heal I!"
Light flowed toward her as Orchid coughed from a distance. "That thing's a cannonball... with horns."
"Yuuna!" Jessica yelled.
"Plan: bait it," Yuuna replied calmly. "Sakura, healing support. Gabyola and Fahleena, flank. JessIca, disable."
"On it."
Fahleena darted sideways. "Braveblade I!"
She rushed in with blinding speed, slicing a shallow wound across the bull's shoulder. It roared.
"Wind Arrow!" Gabyola's shot pierced the flank.
"Quick Step I!" Jessica slashed the hind leg.
"Still standing?" Sakura blinked.
"Not for long," Yuuna muttered. She stepped forward. "Mana Bloom I."
A magic circle hovered in the air. From it, a linear blast shot forward, hitting the bull square in the chest.
The beast staggered, growled, then fell.
"We did it!" Fahleena cheered.
"We did it!" Fahleena cheered, spinning her Keyblade triumphantly in the air.
Orchid groaned from where she lay, face-down in a patch of grass and dust. With an exaggerated grunt, she pushed herself upright and sprang to her feet in a burst of energy.
"I'm fine! Full strength!" she declared, raising her sword high. "That was just a tactical retreat!"
Jessica arched a brow. "More like a tactical launch."
Without wasting time, the group turned their focus to the two Red Cows, still lingering nearby, clearly confused by the death of their leader. Gabyola loosed a quick arrow into one, striking its leg. Jessica followed with a clean slash, and Fahleena darted in from the side with a playful twirl, bringing hers down with a flourish. The other cow tried to flee, but Orchid, now fueled by pride and adrenaline, intercepted it with a powerful swing, dropping it in one clean strike.
With the skirmish over, Gabyola knelt beside the corpses, quickly dismantling the remains with practiced efficiency. She pulled a mana stone from one, then frowned as its glow revealed a faint, earthy hue.
"No fire. Just earth-aligned again," she said, wiping her hands.
"Seriously? After all that?" Sakura pouted. "Even the bull didn't have one?"
"Not every big thing burns," Yuuna replied calmly, scanning the terrain.
Then Fahleena, who had wandered a little ahead while humming to herself, suddenly gasped and pointed. "Look over there!"
Near a slope of broken stone and wild ferns, half-concealed by a tangle of vines and foggy mist, a cave entrance yawned like a mouth in the mountainside.
"A cave!" she said, eyes wide. "Maybe the fire monsters are hiding in there! Like a dungeon boss waiting for us!"
Yuuna walked over and examined the entrance. Heat pulsed faintly from within, subtle, but unmistakable.
"Fire-aligned mana," she confirmed. "It's unstable, but promising. This might be the source."
"Then it's settled!" Orchid said, fist clenched. "Into the cave we go!"
"No running ahead this time," Gabyola warned.
Orchid grinned. "No promises!"
---
The cave narrowed into a tight, winding passage where the walls pressed close, damp with condensation and etched with faint traces of red crystal veins glowing softly in the dark. The air grew steadily warmer with each step, thick with the scent of sulfur and ancient stone. Then, without warning, the tunnel widened and opened into a colossal underground cavern, a breathtaking expanse hidden beneath the mountains. At its center lay a vast subterranean lake, its surface gently steaming, casting rippling reflections across the jagged stalactites above. Flickering threads of mana danced like embers just beneath the water's surface, painting the cavern in hues of crimson and gold. The heat hung heavy in the air, not oppressive but persistent, as if the very walls pulsed with fire-aligned energy waiting to awaken.
At its center, perched on a rocky nest surrounded by dozens of glowing red crystals, was a majestic Vermillion, a legendary fire-elemental bird, its feathers like molten ruby.
"It's... nesting," Jessica whispered. "And there's an egg."
"Fire mana stones," Yuuna observed. "That explains the presence. Nest is infused with fire mana concentration."
"Should we fight it?" Jessica asked.
"No," Gabyola answered. "We only need the stones. Leave the bird and egg unharmed."
---
They retreated to a safe ledge, pulling out snacks from Sakura's food bag.
"Here's your pudding," Sakura said, handing it to Jessica.
"Thanks... You packed it cool," Jessica replied, trying not to smile.
"Buns! I love buns!" Fahleena squealed.
Orchid munched on chocolate, humming. "We should name the bird. What about 'Volcawing'?"
"No," said Yuuna.
"You didn't even pause."
Sakura offered cookies. "Yuuna, want some?"
"No thanks. I'm monitoring the mana flow of the nest. If we're lucky, "
A sudden gust tore through the cavern, whipping loose dust and scattering small embers into the air like fireflies. The peaceful stillness shattered in an instant as a sharp, piercing shriek echoed off the cavern walls, a cry both regal and furious. From the high shadows above, the Vermillion descended in a blur of blazing red and gold, its wings stretched wide, leaving shimmering heat trails in its wake. The sheer force of its movement stirred the steam from the lake into spiraling columns. Its sharp eyes locked onto the party's food spread with laser focus, and in a single, explosive motion, it dove straight toward them with talons outstretched and feathers blazing like molten glass.
"WHA, MY BAG!" Sakura shouted.
The fire bird clutched the food bag and ascended in a flash of flame.
"My pudding..."
"It took the bag!" Jessica stood up.
"Jessica, Get the stones!" Gabyola snapped. "Move now!"
With a powerful beat of its wings, the Vermillion launched toward the cave exit, a fiery blur vanishing up the tunnel with Sakura's food bag clutched in its talons. Steam and feathers trailed behind it like a comet tail.
Jessica darted toward the now-unattended nest, her movements fluid and precise. The nest radiated heat, surrounded by a ring of glowing red fire mana stones. At its center sat a single, pristine egg, warm and pulsing with quiet life. Jessica crouched low and began snatching the stones quickly but carefully, her hands working with silent efficiency as she avoided touching the egg entirely.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group took off running after the bird, instincts kicking in despite there being no real plan.
Orchid, leading the charge, reached the downward slope first, and immediately slipped on the loose gravel. With a loud yelp, she lost her footing and crashed forward, arms flailing as she tumbled down the incline.
Yuuna, just behind her, reached out instinctively to stop her, but before she could steady herself, Gabyola collided into her from behind with unexpected momentum, sending both girls stumbling forward.
Sakura, attempting to dodge to the side and avoid the oncoming chaos, sidestepped right into Fahleena, who had spun forward dramatically without watching her surroundings.
The chain reaction was inevitable. In a matter of seconds, all five girls collided mid-slope, collapsing into a single, tangled heap beside the nest. Limbs flailed, someone's boot hit someone else's back, and a puff of dust rose around the pile as they groaned from the sudden crash.
A beat passed.
Then the heap stirred, and Orchid, still buried somewhere near the bottom, groaned loudly, "Ugh… can we at least fall in a more dramatic way next time?"
Without missing a beat, both Gabyola and Yuuna, voices perfectly in sync, answered flatly, "No."
---
They staggered out of the cave just as dusk settled over the mountain.
"Do you think the bag's gone forever?" Sakura asked, dragging her feet.
Yuuna looked skyward. "I'll make another."
Suddenly, from the overcast sky beyond the cave, a dark shadow dropped through the drifting clouds like a falling star. The shape tumbled once, then again, Sakura's stolen magic food bag, spiraling through the air before it hit the ground with a muffled thump. It bounced several times across the rocky slope, awkward but somehow purposeful, before skidding to a stop right at Sakura's feet. For a moment, everyone just stared. Then, as if defying gravity and all common sense, the bag gave a little twitch, and jumped, landing squarely in place like a pet joyfully returning to its owner.
"Baggy!" Sakura hugged it tightly, cradling the dusty magic food bag like a lost pet finally returned home. Her eyes sparkled with joy, while crumbs spilled from the half-loosened flap.
Yuuna stared, blinking slowly. "Wait... that's Magic Bag X," she muttered aloud, stepping closer with caution. "I only programmed an alarm function in this version. None of them are supposed to..."
The bag twitched again.
"...jump," Yuuna finished flatly, her voice going deadpan.
Everyone turned to look at her.
"That shouldn't be possible," she said, more to herself now. Her mind raced through past prototypes, Magic Bag I through VIII. All of them had met catastrophic ends during early experimentation, each one exploding in increasingly bizarre and unpredictable ways. She had only just perfected stability in Bag IX... and even then, it occasionally growled.
Then it hit her.
"Wait..." she whispered, eyes narrowing. "Magic Bag III…"
A memory resurfaced, an early prototype that inexplicably jumped out of a window, giving farewell sign and then exploded outside.
Yuuna took a slow step back. "Sakura, don't agitate it."
"Why?" Sakura blinked.
"Because ... it might explode."
--
As the group finally dusted themselves off, still recovering from their undignified tumble and Baggy's dramatic return, footsteps approached from deeper in the cavern.
Jessica emerged from the shadows, calm as ever, her long hair slightly tousled but otherwise composed. She carried her magic bag slung over one shoulder, the faint red glow of mana stones pulsing softly from within.
"You're all alive," she noted dryly, glancing at the pile of disheveled companions. "Good."
"How'd it go?" Gabyola asked, straightening her cloak.
Jessica opened her bag slightly, revealing a neat stack of fiery red crystals nestled inside. "I collected twenty high-quality fire mana stones from the nest. No egg was touched."
Sakura gasped. "You're amazing, Jessica!"
"Efficient," Yuuna added with a nod.
Fahleena struck a pose. "Our blade of silence strikes again!"
Jessica blinked. "Please don't call me that."
As laughter echoed through the cavern, and Baggy twitched happily in Sakura's arms, the girls began their trek back toward the surface, victorious, slightly bruised, and as chaotic as ever.
---