The narrow alleys of Durin's Crossing twisted like a maze. Kaito led the way, ducking between crates and leaping over puddles, while Rika tossed her boomerang to knock loose a ladder that blocked their pursuers.
Nanami, however, was not built for running. "W-Wait! My lungs weren't meant for this kind of abuse!" she wheezed, clutching the glowing orb like it was a lifeline.
"Unbelievable," Rika muttered, spinning her boomerang. "Hang on, genius."
Before Nanami could protest, Rika hooked her onto the curved weapon and hoisted her upward, swinging her out of the alley and onto the glider-like edge of the massive boomerang. Nanami let out a startled yelp before collapsing onto it face-first.
They shot out of the last alley, the town shrinking behind them as Rika laughed triumphantly. "Ha! Got the orb and the money! You're welcome, world!"
Nanami, lying flat on the oversized weapon, flipped open a book she'd somehow kept through the chaos. "Might as well study while I'm up here…"
Rika glanced back, scandalized. "This isn't a rest stop! You gotta pay to ride!"
With a sigh, Nanami fished a coin from her pouch and dropped it into Rika's hand. "There. Satisfied?"
Rika grinned. "Now we're talkin'. Want snacks or a drink while you're at it?"
Kaito couldn't help a laugh, shaking his head as he slowed to match Dante's pace. Who was grinning from ear to ear, still catching his breath.
"Man, that was… wild!" Dante said, his eyes alight. "I actually fought real people! And I did pretty dang good if you ask me."
"They were just regular folks," Nanami said between pants. "But good job, I guess." She gave him a few halfhearted pats on the back.
Dante smirked. "Please. You spent the whole fight crawling around on the ground."
Nanami flushed. "I was retrieving the orb! I just didn't get a chance to practice with Kaito yet!"
She puffed out her cheeks and made her best pouting face, but Dante didn't bite. Kaito, on the other hand, nearly melted.
"Aw, come on, that's too cute," he said, reaching over to ruffle her hair.
Nanami's eyes widened. "No, don't you dare!" Smack! Her book came down across his wrist. "Boundaries!"
The group burst out laughing, the tension finally easing as the wind carried the sound of pursuit far behind them.
But Kaito was wondering something. "What's a bright eye?" He asked.
The group froze for a bit. "It's uh," Dante stammered, "It's a slur." Rika cut in. "Regular people call mages bright eyes." That made the air a bit akwared but they continued forwards.
By the time they made it back to Klover, the sun was setting in ribbons of gold and orange. She looked up from her repairs and smiled as they approached.
"Well, I'll be," she said. "You actually came back."
"Of course we did," Rika said proudly. "We're professionals. And lucky for you, we brought your shiny new bulb."
Nanami handed over the orb with care, still admiring its craftsmanship. Klover fitted it neatly into the housing beneath the cart, and with a hum, light pulsed through the frame once again.
"Perfect," Klover said, dusting off her hands. "Tell you what, you can keep the money you were supposed to pay with."
Rika blinked. "Wait, what? That's eighty thousand blastie!"
Klover shrugged casually. "You saved me a fortune in time and risk. With this cart running, I'll make that back ten times over."
Rika clasped her hands dramatically. "You are officially my favorite merchant." She snatched the pouch before anyone could argue and tucked it neatly into her bag.
Klover chuckled. "Happy to hear it."
As they loaded up their gear, Nanami turned to Kaito. "Hey, um… think we could practice tonight? Just some basics."
Kaito nodded. "Yeah. After dinner. I'll cook something for everyone."
Rika perked up instantly. "If it's anything like last time, I'm in."
Nearby, Klover and the other merchants began discussing their next destination, voices soft and tired but hopeful. The air felt calm again, almost peaceful.
A short while later, as the fire crackled and stars began to scatter across the night sky, Kaito showed Nanami the fundamentals of stance and movement. Her form was clumsy, but her determination made up for it.
Dante watched from the sidelines, his hands clasped behind his head. At first, he smiled. But after a moment, a quiet pang tugged at his chest.
He wasn't sure why, until he realized he'd never actually seen Rika fight. Not once. He's seen her dodge, show off crazy agility, use her wind magic, but she has never once actually drawn her dagger. "Hey Rika?" He called.
She looked away from Kaito and Nanami, "what?" She asked.
"How come you never actually fight?" He asked her.
Rika's jaw dramatically dropped, "I'm the great trickster! I fight using my tricks," she stands, duplicating herself with illusions, "it's like my entire brand!"
Dante didn't look convinced. "Then how come you never actually draw your dagger, like... ever."
Rika's arms slumped. "Fine, I... actually don't know how to use the dagger," she unsheaths it, "I was given it when i first joined the thieves guild. I don't use it because... well because jumping into fight like that is scary as hell."
Dante looks surprised by this. "But you always look like you know what you're doing?"
Rika looks a bit shameful. "It's all just an act," she returns the dagger to it's sheath, "so I fight using my tricks, putting myself into more of a support role."
She looks over to Kaito, still practicing with Nanami. "I want to be able to just jump in, be on the front, be brave, but it's scary."
Dante never expected this level of vulnerability from Rika, Yeah he asked, but he thought she'd respond in a joking way. But he could relate to her. He nods. "I understand that part, anytime before we get into any fight i'm always shaking."
He places a hand on her shoulder. "But Rika, you're still awesome though, you do all the stuff you do, without ever actually swinging that thing around."
Rika smiles. "I know i'm awesome, no need to hype me up." She playfully punches his arm.
"I give!" Nanami shouts, laying on the ground.
Kaito stood and stretched, glancing at the dwindling daylight. "Hey, Klover," he called, "you got any supplies lying around? I'm thinking of making dinner for everyone."
Klover looked up from her cart with an amused smirk. "Cook, huh? Didn't take you for the kitchen type."
"He's full of surprises," Rika said, fanning herself with a coin. "Mostly edible ones."
Klover chuckled and gestured toward a storage crate. "You'll find dried meat, some root vegetables, and a few herbs in there. Nothing fancy, but if you can make that taste good, I'll be impressed."
"Watch and learn," Kaito said with a grin.
He set to work, rolling up his sleeves. The smell of sizzling meat soon filled the air, rich and smoky. He tossed chopped roots into the pan, the sound of oil crackling like distant fireworks. The other merchants, drawn by the aroma, drifted closer, curious, skeptical, and increasingly hungry.
"Smells like home cooking," one of them murmured.
"Home never smelled that good," another replied, earning a few laughs.
Nanami peeked over Kaito's shoulder, fascinated by his careful precision. "You're actually measuring the spices? That's adorable."
"It's called having standards," he said, flicking a pinch of salt toward her, not enough to hit, but enough to make her grin.
By the time he was done, the night air was heavy with warmth and the scent of stew. Kaito ladled portions into tin bowls and handed them out.
The first merchant took a bite... and froze. "Wait. This is… incredible."
The second dove in next. "You made this outta dried roots and jerky? What kind of magic is that?"
Rika puffed up smugly. "See? Told you he was good."
Nanami nodded between mouthfuls. "I don't even like meat, but this? This is divine."
Dante had already finished his first bowl and was halfway through seconds. "Kaito, marry me," he said through a mouthful of food.
Kaito laughed, ladling himself a serving. "Sorry, taken by my craft."
Klover leaned back against her cart, watching the group laugh and eat. "You've got a gift, kid. You could make a living cooking for caravans."
"Nah," Kaito said, smiling faintly. "I'd miss the chaos too much."
When the meal was done and the fire burned low, Klover rose, dusting off her hands. "We're heading south in the morning," she said. "Got a shipment waiting in Marlowe's Bend. You lot seem to be aiming east, so this is where our roads split."
Rika raised a brow. "You're not staying the night?"
"Oh, we'll rest for a bit," Klover said. "But merchants move best before dawn."
She smiled warmly at them, then turned toward her wagon. "Thanks for the company, and the meal."
One by one, the laughter faded as exhaustion set in. Dante leaned back against a crate, Rika curled into her scarf, and Nanami fell asleep with an open book across her lap. Kaito stayed up last, staring into the fire until the embers glowed soft and red.
Morning came with birdsong and the scent of ash. The fire was cold. The campsite quiet.
Klover's carts were gone.
Only faint wheel tracks marked where they'd been.
Rika rubbed her eyes, yawning. "Guess she wasn't kidding about leaving early."
Kaito looked at the tracks, then at the horizon. "No," he said softly. "She wasn't."
Nanami stretched, squinting toward the empty road. "She could've at least said goodbye…"
Dante kicked at the dirt and sighed. "Guess that's merchants for you. Always moving."
Kaito smiled faintly. "Then we'd better do the same."