THE ONE WHO WE COULDN'T SAVE

With renewed energy, they continued through the gates of Valthorne, the bustling city waiting to reveal its secrets.

The gates of Valthorne opened to reveal a sprawling city, alive with magical energy. Towering spires loomed overhead, their crystalline surfaces shimmering in the light. Streets paved with glowing runes pulsed faintly beneath their feet, and lanterns floated lazily in the air, casting a soft, golden glow.

."Whoa…" Axel stopped, his eyes wide. "This place is insane."

June nodded in agreement, her gaze drawn to the tallest structure at the city's center a magnificent tower of silver and blue. The Arcane Spire, as it was known, stood as both a symbol of magical mastery and the city's heart.

"Is that a floating market?" Alisan pointed to a series of platforms hovering above the main square, each one bustling with merchants selling enchanted trinkets, potions, and spell infused weapons.

Izzy grinned. "This city's way bigger than I thought. I could definitely get used to this."

The group weaved through the busy streets, taking in the sights. Enchanted carriages glided silently past, and street performers conjured miniature storms for the entertainment of onlookers. Students from the magical academy, known as Spirelings, passed by in robes of deep indigo, their hands glowing with fresh spells.

A nearby shopkeeper waved them over. "Fresh mana berries! Straight from the Verdant Isles! Guaranteed to boost your magical reserves!"

June glanced at Dylan. "Do you think we should check in at the Arcane Spire first, or explore a bit more?"

"We've got time," Dylan replied, his usual carefree tone returning. "Let's get a feel for the city. Besides, who knows what we'll stumble across?"

As they walked deeper into the city, the group slowed to a stop at a bustling square.

As they reached the heart of the city, Dylan stopped and looked around. "This place is way too big to explore all at once. What do you say we split up?"

June crossed her arms, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Convenient. You just want an excuse to wander off, don't you?"

"Maybe," Dylan said with a wink. "But you're coming with me, so it's technically a group activity."

June rolled her eyes but didn't argue. "Alright. Let's see what kind of trouble we can get into."

Meanwhile, Alisan glanced at Cauis. "Want to check out the floating gardens?"

Cauis grinned. "Sounds peaceful. Let's go before something explodes and ruins the vibe."

As they headed off together, Izzy tugged on Axel's sleeve. "C'mon, big guy. I'm dragging you around till we find some snack."

Axel raised an eyebrow. "Snacks, huh? Alright let's go"

"Trust me," Izzy said with a mischievous smirk. "You won't regret it."

Dylan led June through the winding streets of Valthorne, the lively noise of the city filling the air. He had no particular destination in mind, which suited him just fine.

June glanced at him, a curious expression on her face. "So, what's the plan, exactly?"

"No plan," Dylan said, slipping his hands into his pockets. "We'll follow the city's energy. Let it show us what it wants."

They passed a street performer summoning tiny wisps of flame into the air, twisting them into the shapes of mythical beasts. Dylan watched the performance with a mischievous gleam in his eye.

"Think I could upstage him?" he whispered to June.

"Don't you dare," she whispered back, suppressing a laugh.

Eventually, they stumbled upon a quiet corner of the city a narrow alley leading to an old bookshop. The scent of aged parchment and magic drifted out through the open door.

June's eyes lit up. "A bookstore?"

"Looks like the city knows you well," Dylan said with a grin.

Inside, shelves stretched to the ceiling, filled with dusty tomes and scrolls. June immediately lost herself in the aisles, her fingers brushing over spines etched with runes. Dylan watched her from a distance, a soft smile on his face.

"Find anything good?" he asked after a while.

June held up a book with glowing blue lettering. "Maybe. It's about ancient magic, but it's written like a story. Could be useful… or just fun to read."

"Either way, sounds like a win," Dylan said.

Alisan and Cauis made their way to the floating gardens, a tranquil sanctuary suspended above the city by shimmering magic fields. Vines with glowing blossoms wrapped around stone pillars, and streams of water flowed in midair, weaving between the plants.

"It's beautiful," Alisan said softly, taking in the view.

"Not bad," Cauis agreed, leaning against a railing. "I mean, it's no legendary battlefield, but… it's peaceful."

Alisan raised an eyebrow. "You'd rather be fighting something?"

Cauis chuckled. "Not today. I think I can survive a peaceful moment or two."

They strolled through the gardens, the soft hum of magic filling the air. At one point, Alisan reached out and caught a glowing petal as it floated by.

"Looks like it chose you," Cauis said with a grin.

Alisan smiled, tucking the petal into her pocket. "Maybe it did."

Izzy led Axel through the bustling market district, weaving through crowds with practiced ease.

"Okay, first stop fried mana blossoms. Let's try this."

Axel followed, his eyes scanning the stalls. "Fried… mana blossoms?"

"Yup! They taste like a mix between honey and magic,"

Izzy said, handing him one. "Try it."

Axel took a bite, his eyes widening. "Okay, that's actually pretty good."

"Told you!" Izzy laughed. "Now, come on. We've got more to see!"

Their adventure continued with Izzy dragging Axel from one stall to another, tasting magical sweets, watching street performers, and dodging a vendor who tried to sell them a "cursed" ring.By the time they returned to the square, Axel was carrying a small bag of souvenirs. "You really know how to give a tour," he admitted.Izzy grinned. "I've got skills."

After browsing the bookshop, Dylan and June stepped back into the streets of Valthorne. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the rooftops.

June glanced at Dylan. "Should we head back to meet the others?"

"Not yet," Dylan said, his eyes scanning the streets ahead. His tone dropped to something softer, almost thoughtful. "There's something… pulling me this way."

June raised an eyebrow but followed without question. Dylan had a knack for sensing things others couldn't.

They wound through narrow alleyways, past quiet courtyards and forgotten corners of the city until they reached a worn stone staircase that spiraled downward. At the bottom was an arched doorway covered in ancient symbols. A faint hum of magic radiated from it.

"Feel that?" Dylan said, placing his hand on the door.

"Yeah," June whispered, her breath hitching. "Old magic."The door creaked open at Dylan's touch, revealing a hidden chamber filled with glowing crystals and stone carvings. A strange energy filled the air, ancient and powerful.June's eyes widened.

"This… isn't on any map."

"Nope," Dylan said with a smirk. "Which makes it way more interesting."They stepped inside, unaware that the symbols on the door flickered briefly, as though awakening from a long slumber.In the floating gardens,

Alisan and Cauis found a secluded spot near a pool of glowing water. Fireflies danced in the air, their light reflecting off the water's surface.

Cauis stretched out on the grass, folding his hands behind his head. "Not bad for a spontaneous date, huh?"

Alisan chuckled, sitting beside him. "Date, huh? I didn't realize that's what this was."

"Come on, we both knew what this was," Cauis said with a teasing grin. "I mean, we could call it a 'strategic recon mission' if that makes you feel better."

Alisan rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. "You're impossible."They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the fireflies.

Alisan leaned back, resting on her elbows. "It's strange… being here, in this world. I didn't think I'd find moments like this."

"Neither did I," Cauis admitted, his tone unusually serious. "But if we get more of them… I'm not complaining.

"Their eyes met for a heartbeat longer than usual before Alisan glanced away, her cheeks warming.

Izzy and Axel's adventure took a slightly chaotic turn when they found themselves in a crowded part of the market, surrounded by vendors hawking strange magical items.

"Check this out!" Izzy said, holding up a bracelet with shifting runes. "It's supposed to boost your strength want to try it?"

Axel eyed it suspiciously. "Doesn't it seem… cursed?"

"Probably," Izzy said with a grin. "But that's half the fun!"

Before Axel could protest, a loud commotion broke out nearby. A fruit cart tipped over, spilling enchanted fruit across the street. Several glowing melons bounced toward them, pulsing with magic.

"Oops," Izzy said, backing away. "Time to run!"

Axel sighed but followed as Izzy darted through the crowd, laughing the whole way. They finally stopped in a quiet alley, catching their breath.

"Remind me why I agreed to this again?" Axel said, shaking his head.

"Because it's fun," Izzy said, tossing him a glowing melon. "And you needed a break from all that serious training stuff."

Axel couldn't help but chuckle. "Fair enough."

The group gathered in a cozy tavern near the center of Valthorne, the warm light of enchanted lanterns casting a soft glow over the wooden walls. A fire crackled in the hearth, and the air smelled of fresh bread and spiced cider.

Dylan leaned back in his chair, casually sipping from his mug. "So… find anything interesting?"

June gave him a pointed look but didn't say anything about the hidden chamber they had discovered yet. Instead, she glanced at the others. "I'm more curious about what you guys found."

Izzy grinned, propping her feet up on the table. "We might have caused a bit of chaos in the market. Nothing major." She tossed Axel a glowing melon. "Here's a souvenir."

Axel caught it with a sigh. "I'm not even going to ask."

Alisan and Cauis exchanged a quick glance. Cauis smirked. "We found some peaceful gardens. Nothing chaotic unlike some people."

Alisan crossed her arms but smiled softly. "It was… relaxing."

"Relaxing, huh?" Dylan raised an eyebrow. "Sounds suspicious."

"Not as suspicious as you," Cauis shot back. "What did you do?"

Dylan shrugged. "Just stretched our legs a bit. Nothing too wild." His tone was playful, but June caught the slight flicker in his eyes.

The conversation continued with laughter and teasing, but beneath the lighthearted banter, each of them carried a new piece of Valthorne's mystery secrets they weren't ready to share just yet.