Chapter 40 – Morning Chaos
Morning sunlight spilled through the open veranda of Lin Xuan's mansion, scattering across polished jade floors and the scent of freshly brewed tea. The dining hall — usually the calm heart of the mansion — was anything but peaceful.
Shin was at war.
Not with monsters, not with spirits, but with breakfast.
> "Sister Anikaaa! You already took the last pancake!"
> "Because you stole the first five!"
The slap echoed across the table — a perfect palm strike to the back of Shin's head. The poor plate trembled from the force.
> Shin (groaning): "Abuse before breakfast is a crime…"
> Anika: "And theft during breakfast is punishable by public humiliation."
Vaibhav, sitting across the table, calmly stirred his tea, his expression unreadable.
> Vaibhav: "You do realize we fought a god-like revenant three days ago and somehow this is what breaks your spirit?"
> Shin (rubbing his head): "That revenant didn't have pancakes."
Across from them, Lin Xuan lowered his newspaper slightly, gaze moving over the rim. He didn't speak — he didn't need to. The single arch of his brow said everything: children.
The silence lasted two seconds before Anika slammed her cup down.
> "Enough chaos. You two need a break."
She reached into her sleeve and, without warning, flicked two golden cards across the table. They spun through the air, glimmering with a faint glow, and landed neatly in front of Shin and Vaibhav. Each card bore Lin Xuan's sigil — a crimson lotus stamped into gold.
> Shin (raising an eyebrow): "This isn't another training token, is it? Please tell me this doesn't summon another revenant."
> Anika (smirking): "No, genius. Those are U.C. seals. They're linked to Lin Xuan's treasury. There's a few million United Currency in there. Spend it however you want."
> Shin (slowly): "So… a date?"
Anika folded her arms. "Yes. A date. You two have done nothing but bleed, train, and nearly die for months. Take your girls, buy something nice, smile. That's an order."
> Vaibhav: "You're giving us money and telling us to go outside? That's… suspicious."
> Anika: "Consider it psychological training."
> Shin: "You mean torture disguised as romance?"
> Anika (deadpan): "Close enough."
From the corner, Lin Xuan turned a page of his paper and muttered without looking up,
> "Make sure you return alive. The last time Shin 'went out for fun,' half the city district was on fire."
> Shin (defensively): "That was one explosion and it was entirely Vaibhav's idea."
> Vaibhav: "I told you to throw it away, not at the reactor."
A quiet thud followed as Lin Xuan set the newspaper down. Everyone froze.
> Lin Xuan: "If anything explodes, you're both running laps around the continent. Clear?"
> Shin and Vaibhav (in unison): "Crystal."
Moments Before Departure.
Alicia entered the hall, hair freshly braided, dressed in a soft blue robe lined with faint runes. Her eyes brightened when she saw Vaibhav already up and dressed, the exhaustion gone from his face.
> Alicia (smiling): "You're standing again. That's an improvement."
> Vaibhav (grinning slightly): "Barely. But apparently, I'm being forced into a 'fun day.'"
> Alicia: "Oh no. They're making you socialize? How tragic."
> Shin (interrupting): "Tragic indeed. But I will endure."
> Anika: "You'll endure my foot if you keep talking."
They gathered near the mansion gates. Shin fumbled with his collar while Anika adjusted Alicia's sleeve, muttering something about "style balance" and "first impressions."
Just as they were about to step out, shadows stirred near their feet — subtle, quick, like smoke sliding across glass. A faint black gleam pulsed within their shadows before fading completely.
None of them noticed, but Lin Xuan did.
He stood at the window, arms crossed, eyes glowing faintly crimson.
> (Thought) "Now they'll be safe. My shadow Slaves will follow — unseen, unheard."
He turned back toward his paper, a faint smirk ghosting his lips. "Enjoy your day, kids."
Skyhaven's Heart – The Grand Bazaar District
If the mansion was peace, the city was chaos reborn.
Skyhaven's upper district shimmered under the midday sun — floating platforms, rune trains cutting through the clouds, and holographic banners hovering midair displaying everything from sword auctions to spiritual jewelry.
The moment they arrived, Shin's jaw dropped.
> Shin: "Sweet heaven… this place is massive! Where do we start?"
> Anika: "With self-control."
> Shin: "Not my strongest stat."
> Alicia (laughing softly): "That's an understatement."
Vaibhav's gaze, however, drifted upward — toward the soaring towers and ethereal bridges connecting them. The wind carried faint whispers of spirit beasts and mechanical wings — Skyhaven's strange harmony between magic and machine.
> Vaibhav: "You'd almost forget this world's dying."
> Anika: "That's exactly why you need days like this. To remember what you're fighting for."
Alicia looked at her reflection in a glass shop window — soft light catching her hair. She smiled faintly. "Then let's make it a good day."
They entered Lustrous Veil, one of the city's most luxurious clothing galleries. Every fabric floated midair, woven from luminescent silk and celestial threads. The attendants bowed instantly, recognizing Anika — The Obsidian Onyx Guild's Guild Master — Lin Xuan's right hand.
> Anika: "We need outfits that don't scream 'war casualty.' Something elegant, comfortable, and functional. Move."
Within moments, holographic mannequins activated, displaying dozens of outfits — combat jackets lined with runic fiber, dresses shimmering with light-reactive weave, boots designed for flight and stealth.
> Shin (half-whisper): "Does it come with a sword pocket?"
> Attendant: "Sir, that's a women's gown."
> Shin: "I like options."
Anika smacked him with a rolled-up brochure.
> "Focus."
Meanwhile, Vaibhav stood quietly as Alicia held up one jacket after another.
> Alicia: "This one makes you look mysterious."
> Vaibhav: "I am mysterious."
> Alicia (snorting): "No, you're just bad at talking to people."
> Vaibhav: "Semantics."
She rolled her eyes but smiled, and he found himself smiling back — small, unguarded, real.
Across the aisle, Shin tried to flirt with a saleswoman while holding three pairs of boots.
> Shin: "Hey, uh, do these come with a discount for heroes of humanity?"
> Anika: "They come with a slap if you ask again."
> Shin: "...Right. Full price it is."
After two hours, they left the store loaded with boxes — combat coats, refined attires, matching accessories, and enough receipts to give anyone a heart attack.
Then Shin spotted it — sleek, jet-black, runic-lined vehicle displayed on a hovering platform.
> Shin (awestruck): "Oh. My. Ancestors."
> Vaibhav: "Don't even think about it."
> Shin: "I already am."
Before anyone could stop him, Shin pressed his gold card against the panel. The platform beeped, runes flaring as ownership transferred.
> "Purchase complete. Enjoy your new Phantom V12 Skycar."
> Anika (blinking): "You didn't."
> Shin (grinning): "I did."
> Alicia: "On On Big Brother'd card?!"
> Anika: "Oh, he's going to kill you."
> Shin: "Nah, he won't. I'll just drive him around later."
> Anika: "He doesn't even like riding with other people."
> Shin: "Then it's an incentive for him to kill me quickly."
The laughter that followed drew curious glances from nearby shoppers — a rare sound from warriors known for spilling blood, not jokes.
They spent the rest of the afternoon exploring — markets of spirit fruits, hover cafés, and old-world relic stalls. Shin nearly got arrested for haggling with a hologram, while Vaibhav ended up buying Alicia a small silver charm shaped like a moon — simple but radiant.
> Alicia: "You didn't have to."
> Vaibhav: "I wanted to."
Their hands brushed for the briefest moment. Neither pulled away.
Evening at The Skyhaven's Descent
By the time the sun began to set, the city lights awakened — a thousand glimmers over golden rooftops.
The group stood on the balcony of the floating plaza, shopping bags scattered around them. The skyline burned with orange light, the wind gentle against their faces.
> Shin: "You know, Sister Anika, I'll admit — this was… fun."
> Anika (mock gasp): "Did Shin just admit to having feelings?"
> Shin: "Temporary side effect of good food."
> Vaibhav (quietly): "Feels strange… to have a day without fighting."
> Alicia: "That's what peace feels like."
The wind carried her words, soft yet heavy — and for a fleeting moment, all of them simply stood there, watching the sun dip below the floating towers.
Lin Xuan's mansion felt far away, and the wars beyond the horizon even further.
Tomorrow would bring storms again — they all knew that.
But tonight, beneath the crimson glow of Skyhaven's sunset, the warriors of chaos allowed themselves something rare: laughter, warmth, and the illusion of normalcy.