The Celestars followed Liora up the winding path to her family's hilltop mansion, the evening air filled with the soft hum of Gladefen's night market below. Lanterns flickered along the streets, casting a warm glow on herb stalls where traders wrapped up their day, bundling glowing lavender and sage that sparked faintly in the breeze. The mansion loomed ahead, a sprawling estate of stone and ivy, its windows aglow with soft light from enchanted herb-infused candles. Tofu, Iuro's glowing bug, buzzed excitedly, darting toward a cluster of luminous basil plants in the garden.
Liora glanced back, her green cloak swaying. "Father's probably already got dinner started. He loves hosting guild folk—says it keeps the town's magic alive."
Rick grinned, still munching on a leftover tart. "As long as there's food, I'm game. My stomach's been growling since the duels."
Yuuv yawned, his bell wand chiming softly. Ding~. "Me too. But for sleep."
Ishi scanned the shadows around the path, his dark eyes alert. "Quiet up here. Too quiet."
Lui nodded, hand on his sword hilt. "Stay sharp. Nice places attract uninvited guests."
They reached the grand oak doors, carved with intricate herb runes that pulsed gently. Liora pushed them open, revealing a cozy foyer lined with shelves of glowing vials and wreaths of dried mint and thyme. The air smelled of roasting roots and spiced bread, a comforting warmth that made the Celestars relax just a fraction.
"Welcome to Gladewind House," Liora said, leading them into the dining hall. The massive oak table was set with platters of herb-crusted bread, bowls of glowing mint soup, and trays of roasted vegetables that hummed faintly with infused mana. At the head of the table stood Lord Torren Gladewind, Gladefen's head—a jovial man in his mid-forties with a sage-crystal-tipped wand tucked into his belt. His herb magic specialized in enhancing flavors and moods, drawing from the town's ley-line-rich soil.
Beside him was Liora's mother, Lady Elara, a graceful woman with silver-streaked violet hair and a wand etched with leaf patterns. Her magic focused on growth charms, nurturing plants to yield bountiful herbs. "Ah, the Celestars! We've heard all about your duels," she said, her voice warm like a summer breeze. "Come, sit. You must be exhausted."
Liora's younger brother, Finn, a cheeky 12-year-old with tousled hair and a mint-leaf-carved wand, bounced forward. "You guys were awesome! That water spin Rick did? Epic! Can you teach me?"
Rick ruffled Finn's hair. "Sure, kid. But only if you show me how to make those cloud tricks I saw in the market."
The Celestars settled around the table, the tension from the duels melting away in the mansion's welcoming glow. Iuro plopped down beside Finn, Tofu landing on his shoulder. "This place is amazing. Those wreaths—do they grow on their own?"
Elara smiled, waving her wand over a vase of ivy that twined upward in response. "With a little encouragement. Growth magic runs in the family."
Torren chuckled, sprinkling glowing rosemary over the soup with his wand. The herbs shimmered, releasing a calming aroma that eased everyone's sore muscles. "And flavor enhancement is my specialty. Dig in, lads. You've earned it."
As they ate, the conversation flowed like the spiced cider in their mugs. Rick dove into the herb-crusted bread, moaning dramatically. "This is heaven. Way better than my soggy attempts at cooking."
Finn leaned in, eyes wide. "You cook with magic? Show me!"
Rick grinned, twirling his wand. "Alright, but don't blame me if it floods." He summoned a small water orb over his plate, swirling it to mix the soup's herbs. But the orb wobbled, splashing cider across the table and soaking a tray of tarts.
The room erupted in laughter. Finn clapped, his mint wand glowing as he sprayed a gentle mist to clean the spill, forming tiny cloud shapes that floated the mess away. "Cloud cleanup! See? Teamwork!"
Torren wiped his eyes, still chuckling. "Every mage floods a kitchen once. Or twice, in my case."
Lady Elara shook her head fondly. "Remember when you tried to enchant the oven, dear? The bread rose so high it hit the ceiling."
The Celestars joined in the mirth, the mishap turning into a shared story. Ishi, usually quiet, even cracked a small smile as Finn pestered him for shadow tricks. "Can you make a shadow bunny? Like this!" Finn waved his wand, creating a fluffy cloud rabbit that hopped across the table.
Ishi raised an eyebrow, summoning a small shadow tendril that twisted into a dark, wispy hare. "Something like that."
Finn's eyes sparkled. "Cool! You're like a ninja!"
Yuuv, seated near the end, stirred his soup sleepily, his fair skin glowing faintly under the lantern light. The calming herbs seemed to hit him hardest, his eyelids drooping. But as the conversation lulled, his cyan-blue eyes flickered, a subtle glow appearing. He sat up slightly, tilting his head. "Something… watching."
The table fell quiet. Lui leaned forward. "What do you mean?"
Yuuv's bell wand chimed softly. Ding~. "Outside. Minds… sneaky. Not friendly."
Ishi stood instantly, daggers forming from shadows. "Spies?"
Torren frowned, gripping his wand. "We've had issues with herb thieves lately—rival traders sneaking around. But spies?"
Yuuv nodded, his Psych Magic rippling outward like an invisible wave. "There. In the garden. Five… no, six. Hiding behind the ivy wall."
Lady Elara's expression hardened. "We'll handle this. Boys, stay put—"
But the Celestars were already moving. Lui drew his sword. "We can help."
Iuro grinned, wand raised. "Yeah! Let's show 'em some Gladefen hospitality."
They burst into the garden, the night air cool and herb-scented. The ivy wall shimmered unnaturally, and Yuuv pointed. "There—minds cloaked in shadow charms."
His Psych Magic pulsed again, a gentle but firm psychic probe that disrupted the spies' concealment. Six figures emerged from the darkness, cloaked in dark robes, their wands glowing with faint, thread-like patterns—likely from a rival tailor guild specializing in veil magic, weaving illusions from enchanted fabrics.
One spy snarled, waving a wand. "Thread Veil!" A curtain of shimmering silk threads unfurled, blending them into the night.
Iuro stepped forward, his green eyes glowing as he focused on the garden plants. "Not so fast! Verdant Grasp!" Vines erupted from the soil, coiling around two spies' legs, pulling them down with a thud.
Izumi blinked forward, his katanas drawn. "Spatial Bind!" He slashed, warping the space around another spy, compressing the air to pin their arms without harm. The spy struggled, their thread veil ripping.
Yuuv, eyes still glowing, murmured, "Mind Echo." A psychic wave rippled, dazing three spies mid-spell, their wands dropping as confusion clouded their thoughts.
The remaining spies broke free, one shouting, "Retreat!" They vanished into the shadows, their veil magic cloaking their escape.
Torren arrived, wand raised, but the fight was over. "Well done, lads. You spotted them before they could steal our ley-line herb samples."
Lady Elara examined the captured spies, who grumbled under the vines. "We'll turn them over to the town guard. Rival guilds have been bold lately."
Back inside, the mood shifted from chaos to triumph. Finn stared at Yuuv in awe. "You detected them? With your mind? That's awesome!"
Yuuv smiled softly, slumping back into his chair. "It… tickles sometimes."
Liora handed him a mug of cider. "You saved the night. All of you."
Izumi sheathed his katanas, glancing at the garden through the window. "Teamwork makes it easy."
Torren raised his mug. "To the Celestars—our unexpected heroes. Stay as long as you like. Tomorrow, how about a joint herb-gathering quest with the Ambergrove Tides? To restock and mend fences."
The boys exchanged grins. Rick clinked his mug. "I'm in—if there's more tarts."
As the night wore on, the Celestars shared stories around the table. Iuro demonstrated a small vine trick, growing a glowing flower crown for Finn, who wore it proudly. Izumi, intrigued by the mansion's rune-etched shelves, asked Elara about a particular thyme variant, leading to a brief chat on its uses in spatial charms.
Yuuv, vital in the spy takedown, dozed off mid-sentence, his bell wand chiming one last time. The mansion felt like a second home, the warmth of Gladefen wrapping around them as stars twinkled outside.
The spies' escape lingered in the back of their minds, a hint of more trouble ahead, but for now, the Celestars savored the peace.