As they stood beneath the shimmering aurora, something else began to change—quietly, almost imperceptibly.
The mana in the surroundings shifted.
It wasn't sudden. Nor was it violent. The flow itself felt… denser. More refined. As if the world were gently adjusting its breath.
Most people didn't notice a thing.
Laughter and soft murmurs still filled the streets as eyes remained fixed on the sky.
But a few among the crowd stiffened.
Rohit's expression changed first. He frowned slightly, placing a hand over his chest.
"…Do you feel that?" he muttered.
Rita blinked, her brows knitting together. "You too?" She closed her eyes briefly, focusing.
"The mana… it feels different."
Divya slowly nodded. "It's subtle, but yes. Something's changing."
They turned to the others almost at the same time.
"Do any of you sense anything strange?" Rohit asked.
Tim shook his head immediately. "No. Everything feels the same."
Raya glanced around, confused. "You're imagining things."
Koushik frowned but eventually shook his head as well. "I don't feel anything unusual."
The three exchanged uneasy looks.
"So only us…" Rita murmured.
Before they could think further, a startled voice rang out from the crowd.
"What—?!"
An elderly man in deep green mage robes staggered forward, gripping his staff tightly. His eyes were wide, fixed not on the sky—but on the air itself.
"This… this can't be a coincidence," he whispered, then raised his voice.
"The concentration of wood-type mana is increasing!"
The surrounding crowd fell silent.
"What did he say?"
"Wood-type mana?"
The old mage's hands trembled as he gathered the mana around him, his expression turning from shock to reverence.
"Slowly… but unmistakably," he said, awe creeping into his voice. "The ambient mana is being altered. The Tower itself is adjusting the elemental balance."
"Is the reason… the Admin?" Rita asked quietly.
Arjun didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained fixed on the shifting lights in the sky.
"Maybe," he said at last. "Maybe not. For now, we don't know enough to be certain."
No one argued.
The aurora continued to dance overhead for a while longer, bathing the streets in shifting colors. Eventually, the excitement began to settle, and people slowly returned to their own affairs.
The group dispersed from the crowd and made their way toward the forge to retrieve Tim's equipment.
The blacksmith looked up as they entered, wiping his hands on a thick cloth. Before anyone could say a word, he waved them off.
"No payment," he said gruffly. "Today's a celebration. Enjoy it."
Tim blinked. "A-Are you sure?"
The blacksmith snorted. "I won't be working for a few days anyway. I need to figure out how to reach the second floor now that the path's finally open."
He handed over Tim's gear, already repaired and polished.
The group exchanged glances, then nodded in gratitude.
"Thank you," Arjun said simply.
The blacksmith gave a short grunt in response and turned back to his forge.
With Tim's equipment recovered, the group stepped back out onto the street and moved on.
By the time they reached a restaurant, the place was already packed.
Every table was occupied. Laughter, shouting, and the clatter of plates filled the air, creating a lively chaos that spilled out onto the street.
Raya stared inside. "Did half the city decide to eat at the same place?"
Tim stopped a passing waiter. "Is something going on here?"
The waiter grinned widely, clearly in a good mood.
"Celebration day! The Tower finally opened the path upward. Ascension quests are starting—everyone can climb now. All food is free today. Eat whatever you want."
"…Free?" Rohit repeated.
The moment that word registered, Rohit's eyes lit up—bright enough that Arjun noticed immediately.
Divya raised an eyebrow. "You're holding fifty thousand gold."
"So?" Rohit replied without shame. "Free food still tastes better."
Rita laughed. "I can't argue with that."
They squeezed their way inside and claimed a table just as another group stood up. The moment they sat down, Rohit slapped the menu onto the table.
"Order everything," he said decisively.
Arjun glanced at the menu. "Everything…?"
"Everything," Rohit repeated. "Especially meat."
Raya grinned. "I like the way you think."
Dishes started arriving one after another—roasted meat dripping with fat, thick stews rich with spices, grilled ribs, skewers, and bowls of steaming soup. The table quickly became crowded.
Tim stared at the spread. "…This feels illegal."
"It's celebration food," the waiter said cheerfully as he placed another platter down. "Eat well!"
For the first time since entering the Tower, they ate without worrying about money, rations, or tomorrow.
Between bites, Divya leaned back slightly. "I forgot what it felt like to eat like this."
Rita nodded. "Without counting portions."
Rohit tore into a piece of meat and sighed happily. "For three whole days… we don't have to worry."
Arjun watched them quietly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. The Tower was cruel, dangerous, and unforgiving—but moments like this reminded him why surviving it mattered.
They ate until they could barely move.
Raya groaned, leaning back in his chair. "If I die in the Tower… it'll be from overeating."
Tim patted his stomach. "Worth it."
As night settled in, they finally pushed themselves up from the table, exhausted but satisfied.
"Let's head back," Arjun said. "Tomorrow won't be this kind."
No one disagreed.
They returned to their rooms, stomachs full, hearts lighter.
They decided it would be better to sleep first and discuss their plans the next day.
But sleep never came.
Noise from outside seeped through the walls—laughter, music, shouting, and the clatter of footsteps echoing through the streets.
Maple Town was alive.
The entire town had fallen into a festival-like atmosphere, as if years of restraint were being released all at once.
Rohit turned over on his bed with a sigh. "There's no way we're sleeping through this."
Divya laughed softly. "I don't think anyone in this town is sleeping tonight."
Tim rubbed his temples. "So much for resting."
Arjun sat up, his gaze drifting toward the storage bag at his side. "Then let's not waste the time."
He pulled out the thick, plain book they had bought earlier—the one marked with a single etched number on its cover.
"We might as well learn something," he said. "If ascension quests are starting, we need to understand the Tower better than anyone else."
Rohit nodded, already sitting up. "Agreed. Tomorrow won't wait for us."
One by one, they gathered around, the noise of celebration continuing outside as Arjun opened the book.
While Maple Town celebrated the future—
They began preparing for it