A new day is here. The sun shines brighter than ever before—and there's a reason for that.
It's the day of the Sun Festival.
The first and greatest festival of them all.
The Night of the Sun, where offerings, sacrifices, and celebrations happen all night long.
The sun casts its radiant glow over the village. The town's boy goes around, waking people up by shooting tiny mana blasts at their windows.
Christian knocks on the doors one by one, starting with the Emeralds.
As she approaches Sukiro's room, she notices something strange.
"Why is Master Elijah sleeping on the floor? He even has a blanket and everything."
She sighs.
"Let's just get this done with now."
She knocks on the door.
"Wake up Master Elijah! Master Sukiro!"
Suddenly, the door opens. Christian, who was leaning on it, loses her balance and falls forward.
"Ahhhhhhhhh—"
"Why haven't I fallen? Who's holding me?"
"You should learn to talk quietly, you know," comes a soft voice.
Christian opens her eyes slowly—someone is lifting her gently.
"Some people had a really bad day yesterday," Elijah smirks.
Christian blushes, her face turning bright red.
"Sorry. Let me put you down now…" Elijah says softly.
"I-I don't really mind it…" she whispers, hiding her face.
"She can't walk or something?"Elijah wonders, confused.
Yes—he is as dense as a diamond.
He gently sets her down. Her expression changes, turning away as if angry.
Elijah still doesn't get what just happened.
He leans in slightly.
"Let me help you wake the others up then?"
"Y-yeah!!! Sure!! Absolutely!!" Christian replies, flustered.
They walk over to Sirius and Klaus's room. There, Sirius is sprawled out on the floor.
They exchange confused looks.
"How did such a big fella get kicked down by a small one?" Christian asks.
"Well, don't underestimate Klaus. He may be a shrimp, but when he sleeps—he fights through Hell's seven layers," Elijah answers.
Christian chuckles softly.
"Well…" she trails off.
"Why is Master Sebastian on the floor now?"
Elijah sighs.
"That's… kind of hard to explain."
"Do you guys like to sleep on the floor? Because we could arrange that," Christian asks, genuinely curious.
"Yeah… we all kind of have different problems, so…" Elijah grunts.
The party soon gathers in front of the village ledge.
"Did you wake Sukiro up?" Sebastian asks.
"No," Elijah says, gazing off into the distant village preparing for the festival.
"Why?" Sebastian presses.
"Let's let him sleep a bit. I'll wake him up soon enough."
"Meanwhile, how about you guys get ready for the festival?" says Jules, the village elder, smiling warmly.
"I've brought you your clothes as well. Christian, hand them out."
Christian walks over, handing out the outfits one by one.
As she hands Elijah his, their hands touch.
She flusters up, nearly dropping the clothes.
But before they fall, Elijah catches them.
"You're okay, right?" he asks, concerned.
"Totally fine!!!" she says, blushing furiously.
"Christian?" Jules calls from a distance.
She whips around.
"Yes sir! I'm here right now!"
"We know that," Elijah says dryly.
"I'm literally looking at you, ya know?"
Christian turns away, trying to hide her burning face.
"So, I'll be on my way. Christian here will guide you guys," Jules says, heading off to attend to the arrangements.
"Lead the way, Christian," Sebastian smiles.
Meanwhile, someone by the name of Sapphire watches them from the shadows… fuming.
Elijah suddenly stops.
"Wait a minute. Let me go wake Sukiro up."
He runs back to the room.
"WAKE UP SUNSHINE!! IT'S NOON!"
"It's what??" Sukiro mutters groggily.
"IT'S NOON!!" Elijah yells again.
Back with the group—
"Soo…" Klaus mutters, looking at them.
"Everything is good, I guess?"
"Yeah," Elijah gives a thumbs-up.
"For now, that is," Klaus sighs.
They arrive at the marketplace, bustling with energy and colorful stalls.
"So this is the marketplace," Christian explains.
"Obviously, where we buy and sell things—food especially."
Klaus nods, ever the nerdy scholar. Elijah, meanwhile, watches in visible disgust.
"You got anything to eat?" Elijah grunts, hungry.
"Yeah sure, we've got a good spot that sells mana deer."
> "Mana deer?? In this desert?" Elijah exclaims.
The townsfolk turn to stare at him, eyes filled with judgment.
Christian leans in and whispers:
"Maybe keep the voice down… we don't like being called a literal desert."
Klaus keeps nodding, teasing him. Elijah gives him a death stare.
The afternoon sun blazes high overhead.
"That was sooo good!" Sebastian says, wiping his mouth.
"Ye—" Sapphire starts to speak.
> "I know right!! It's one of my favorites!!" Christian chimes in.
Sapphire watches them quietly. Maybe angry?
The tour continues, Christian now their history guide.
They stop at the village center, where a statue of the founder stands tall.
A small river runs from the nearby jungle into the village.
A massive S-Rank Mana Stone pulses with energy—powering the protective barrier around the village.
Christian places her hand on the stone.
"They say there was a great mage who arrived just before the festival with his party…"
"The village was in crisis—monsters surrounding them, defenders sacrificing their lives to hold the line…"
"Then came the mage. His party, stronger than any we've ever seen. His powers—beyond what anyone thought possible."
"He and his team destroyed the monsters first. But to ensure the village's safety, he installed this barrier using an S-Rank Mana Stone."
"They say, when you see a red cape floating… know that he is still with you."
"Ohhh…" Klaus smiles.
"That is so interesting," Sebastian turns to Elijah.
"What a mage…" Sirius muses, hand on his chin.
"Elijah," Sapphire suddenly calls.
Elijah panics jumping out of his skin
"Ya!! I am—I am here!"
"What do you think of the mage?" she asks, eyes locked on him.
"Seriously, Sapphire?" he thinks.
"Ya, sounds like… like a great guy to me," he manages a nervous smile.
"Yeah, he was a great guy. He even told the village chief not to reveal his name," Christian adds in awe.
Meanwhile, Sukiro stays silent, lost in his thoughts.
Elijah notices.
A familiar worry creeps into him—one he doesn't understand, yet feels deeply.
Night falls.
The party dons their traditional clothing, ready for the festivities. The bonfire crackles under the glowing stars.
Sebastian wears a dark navy kimono with ocean wave patterns, his hair perfectly styled—he can't risk it, not for what's about to happen.
Elijah wears a crimson red kimono with golden clouds. His hair and outfit flow as one.
Sukiro dons a black kimono with crimson stripes, his long black hair undone.
"Let me just try some food," Sukiro says, heading toward the stalls.
"He's been distant for a while now," Sebastian observes, eyes on the bonfire.
"Yeah… he's been that way for a while," Elijah grunts.
"What do you plan to do?" Sebastian asks.
"Depends on what happens today," Elijah replies.
"What do you mean?" Sebastian glances at him.
"Are you going to do it?" Elijah asks.
"Do what?" Sebastian plays dumb—but he knows exactly what.
"Tell Sapphire how you truly feel?" Elijah says with a calm but firm voice, still watching the bonfire.
"What I feel?" Sebastian echoes, with a nervous smile
Elijah looks directly at him.
"Don't play dumb, Sebastian. Everyone knows," Elijah smiles.
"Kno—"
"Sebastian!!" Sapphire calls out, waving from a distance, her pink kimono glowing in the lantern-lit night.
Red-orange lanterns float into the dark sky. The stars shine gently above them.