Rain poured relentlessly from a steel gray sky as Vyvian, Faye, and Rem ran along the soaked road toward Luxen.
"We are almost there," Rem shouted over the sound of rain striking the ground. "If we do not hurry, we are all going to catch a cold."
Vyvian and Faye nodded and pushed themselves harder, their footsteps splashing through shallow puddles as wind tugged at their soaked clothes.
As they ran, Vyvian's eyes caught something strange.
Ahead of them, cutting through the curtain of rain, a glowing silhouette moved at incredible speed—silent, fluid, and heading in the same direction.
"Hey," Vyvian called out, breath uneven. "Did either of you see that?"
Faye did not slow down. "Keep running. I do not care what it was. I just want this rain to stop."
"Same," Rem added. "We can talk after we arrive."
Vyvian glanced forward once more. The glow was gone, swallowed by rain and distance. He shook his head, forcing the thought aside, and kept running.
Not long after, the road widened.
There were no towering gates, no grand walls announcing Luxen's presence. Instead, the path simply opened into a vast town-village, lively and sprawling, as if the land itself had decided this was where people should gather.
And just like that, the rain stopped.
Clouds parted slowly, sunlight spilling through the cracks. A rainbow stretched across the sky, arching perfectly above Luxen.
All three of them slowed to a halt.
Luxen revealed itself in full.
Wide stone roads branched in every direction, lined with sturdy buildings of stone and polished wood. Banners of warm colors fluttered gently from balconies and lamp posts. Open stalls filled the streets with the scent of spices, fresh bread, and metal being worked. Laughter echoed from taverns, merchants called out to passersby, and travelers from countless regions moved freely among locals.
The town felt alive.
"…Wow," Faye muttered quietly.
Even Rem stood still for a moment, taking it in.
Before anyone could say more, a cheerful voice broke through the calm.
"Hey, kids."
They turned.
A strange man stood nearby, smiling wide. He wore a long coat that reached all the way to his feet, yet underneath he had no shirt—only short pants. His bald head bore a bold duck tattoo right at the center.
"Your clothes look soaked," he said casually. "And, uh… kind of old. How about getting yourselves something new from my shop over there?"
Faye crossed her arms, openly judging him from head to toe. "And who exactly are you?"
The man straightened proudly. "Name's Buck. Expert salesman. Fashion expert, you could say."
Vyvian raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Fashion expert. We can tell."
Rem let out a short laugh before covering his mouth.
"Well," Rem added, "we do need new clothes. Ours are wet, and we are staying in Luxen for a while."
Vyvian and Faye exchanged a glance, then nodded.
Buck grinned. "Excellent choice. Follow me."
They followed Buck through the bustling streets until he stopped in front of a compact but colorful shop tucked between taller buildings. Inside, racks of clothing lined the walls, neatly arranged and far more refined than expected.
After browsing for a while, they headed into the changing area.
When they stepped out, the difference was striking.
Rem wore a light long-sleeved shirt paired with black trousers and sturdy black boots—simple, clean, and practical.
Vyvian emerged draped in a deep red cloak, its edges traced with thin golden patterns. Beneath it, a white shirt and fitted long pants completed the look, with deep red boots matching the cloak perfectly. All his bracelets rested neatly along his right arm.
Faye stepped out last, dressed in a flowing violet outfit paired with comfortable pants. A single flower earring hung from her left ear, swaying softly as she moved.
Rem nodded. "You both look… different. In a good way."
Buck clapped his hands. "That is what I like to hear."
Rem turned to him. "Hey, Buck. Do you know where we can join the seasonal Luxen tournament? That is why we came here."
Buck's eyes lit up. "Oh? You three are participating too? I am joining as well."
"Seriously?" Faye asked.
"Absolutely," Buck replied. "See that crowd over there? Head that way. Elder Plat is giving tokens to those entering."
"Thanks," Rem said. "Let's meet at the arena when it begins."
Buck nodded enthusiastically. "Deal. Good luck to you guys."
"Good luck to you too," Vyvian and Faye said together.
"Alright," Rem said, turning. "Let's get those tokens."
They moved toward the growing crowd near the center of Luxen.
As they approached, Vyvian suddenly felt a chill—sharp and unfamiliar.
Among the gathered people, one man stood out.
He had long silver hair and wore a gray scarf wrapped high around his neck and mouth. Green eyes watched everything with quiet intensity. Long earrings hung from both ears, and his loose black clothing blended into the crowd despite his presence feeling anything but ordinary.
The man's gaze shifted.
Their eyes met.
Vyvian froze.
A strange sense of familiarity washed over him, heavy and unsettling, as if something deep within him stirred in response.
"Vyvian?" Faye asked softly. "What's wrong?"
He looked away quickly. "Nothing," he said. "I am just feeling a bit off… probably from fainting last time."
Faye studied him for a moment but said nothing.
Meanwhile, Rem stepped forward to receive the tokens. As he did, he noticed how young the elder looked.
I have visited many major villages, Rem thought, but I have never really interacted with elders like this. Or maybe I was just too young to remember.
He bowed slightly. "When will the tournament begin?"
"Day after tomorrow," Elder Plat replied calmly. "Be prepared."
Rem accepted three tokens and returned, handing one to Vyvian and one to Faye. "The tournament starts the day after tomorrow."
Vyvian clenched the token in his hand and glanced back toward the crowd.
The silver-haired man was gone.
A chubby young man suddenly stepped up to them, his expression bright and eager.
"Hey," he said with a grin. "You guys participating in the tournament? If you are, how about a practice match before it starts? I want to test my skills."
Vyvian raised an eyebrow and studied him briefly. "And who are you? Where are you from?"
The man straightened proudly. "Name's Will. I live right here in Luxen. What about you guys?"
Rem answered first. "I'm Rem. From Sereneth."
Vyvian nodded. "Vyvian. From Rivera."
Faye smiled politely. "I'm Faye, also from Rivera. Nice to meet you, Will."
"Nice to meet all of you too," Will said, clearly pleased. "So, what do you say? Practice match?"
The three exchanged glances.
"I'm in," Rem said.
"Same," Faye added.
Vyvian nodded. "Sure. But first, we need food."
Rem and Faye agreed immediately.
Vyvian turned back to Will. "Do you know any good place to eat around here?"
Will's grin widened. "Oh, absolutely. Follow me. I'll get you guys fed properly before we start."
With that, he led them back into the lively streets of Luxen, the town buzzing with anticipation as the tournament drew near.
As they walked, Vyvian glanced around once more, his thoughts drifting back to the silver-haired man from earlier.
Why did he feel so familiar?
The Luxen tournament was close now, excitement hanging thick in the air.
But questions lingered.
Who was the silver-haired man, and why did Vyvian feel such a strange connection to him?
And what fate awaited Vyvian, Faye, and Rem as the tournament approached?
Only the coming days would tell.