The smell of cinnamon and roasted meat hit them before they even saw the gates.
As Alhen, Lira, and Quon rounded the final bend of the coastal road, the town of Luminalis revealed itself. Nestled in a natural crescent bay, the town was built entirely out of white sea-stone that seemed to glow against the deep blue of the ocean.
"Alhen... look!" Lira whispered, her eyes wide.
It was the peak of the Festival of the Floating Stars.
The town was a riot of color. Thousands of silk banners in crimson, gold, and teal stretched across the narrow cobblestone streets, fluttering like the wings of giant butterflies. High above, suspended by invisible wires, were glass lanterns shaped like sea creatures—glowing jellyfish, translucent whales, and shimmering coral—that swayed in the evening breeze.
The air was thick with music. Flutes and lutes competed with the rhythmic beating of drums from the central plaza. Street performers in feathered masks danced on stilts, tossing glittering gold dust into the air that caught the light of the setting sun.
"It's just like the book," Alhen murmured, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, though he wasn't looking for a fight. "No... it's better."
Luminalis wasn't just a town; it was a vertical labyrinth. Houses were stacked on top of each other, connected by arched stone bridges and winding staircases decorated with flowering vines. In every corner, there were stalls overflowing with wonders: enchanted spinning tops that changed color, sweet honey-cakes dusted with silver sugar, and glass-blowers creating delicate ornaments right before the crowd's eyes.
Quon was having the time of his life. The small white dog darted between the legs of the laughing townspeople, his tail wagging so hard his whole body shook. Children pointed at his glowing white fur, tossing him scraps of dried fish which he caught with expert precision.
"People here... they seem so happy," Lira said, her usual guarded expression softening. She adjusted her cloak, hiding the blue Mana sparks that still occasionally flickered on her fingertips. "It's different from Orel or Oakhaven. It feels... light."
They reached the Grand Plaza, where a massive fountain carved into the shape of a rising sun stood at the center. The water didn't just fall; it was manipulated by hidden mechanisms to spray in patterns that looked like blooming flowers.
"Let's stay here tonight," Alhen said, turning to Lira with a rare, bright smile. "No training. No beasts. Just for tonight... let's just be travelers."
Lira looked at the glowing lanterns, then at Alhen. The blue of the sea-stone matched the blue of her newly awakened Mana, but for the first time, she didn't feel the weight of her power. She felt free.
"Alright, Alhen," she laughed, grabbing his sleeve and pulling him toward a stall selling brightly colored masks. "But you're paying for the honey-cakes!"
As they disappeared into the swirling, colorful crowd, the music swelled, drowning out the sounds of the world outside. For a moment, the dangerous journey felt like a distant memory.
But high above, on the balcony of the tallest white-stone tower, a figure in a silver mask watched the two youngsters with interest. He didn't look at their swords or their cloaks. He looked at the silver hum around Alhen and the sapphire pulse around Lira.
"So," the figure whispered, his voice like silk. "The Weaver and the Wave have arrived in my city."
The carnival was just beginning.