Marron woke the morning after the celebration to sunlight streaming through her apartment window and the lingering satisfaction of a crisis survived.
The street market had celebrated late into the night—food, music, grateful vendors thanking her until her face burned with embarrassment. She'd stumbled home around midnight, exhausted and oddly emotional, her arms full of gifts from people whose businesses she'd helped save.
Now, in the quiet morning light, reality settled back in.
The decree was handled. The vendors were safe. But the problems hadn't disappeared—they'd just shifted.
Marron sat up slowly, her body protesting after days of stress and minimal sleep. Mokko was already awake, moving around the small kitchen with his usual efficiency. Lucy's jar sat on the bedside table, the slime forming lazy morning spirals.
A System notification chimed softly—not urgent, just waiting for attention.
[Quest Complete: Defend the Market]
[Results:]
50/50 vendors secured partnerships
