The forest path twisted like a lazy vine under the late afternoon sun, leaves rustling in a breeze that carried the faint scent of blooming nightflowers.
Hajime trudged ahead, boots sinking slightly into the mossy trail, his pack slung over one shoulder. The cracked rib from the Forsakers' brawl still twinged with every step, but Izumi's healing had knit it enough to ignore—for now.
Behind him, Rei walked with that effortless stride, arms crossed, eyes scanning the canopy as if expecting shadows to lunge. Izumi brought up the rear, her green robes whispering against ferns, a small smile playing on her lips as she hummed an old Verdant lullaby.
They'd left Mira's village at dawn, the villagers' grateful waves fading into the trees. Solarii loomed on the horizon's edge, but the border felt distant yet—still deep in Verdant Veil lands, where Eidarus roots pulsed beneath the soil like hidden veins.
The map Izumi carried marked Virelune as the next stop: a secluded hot-spring hamlet nestled in a crater-like valley, fed by geothermal springs warmed by the great tree's ancient heart.
"Feels like we've been walking forever," Hajime grumbled, wiping sweat from his brow. His amber hair stuck out in wild tufts, catching golden flecks from the dappled light. "You sure this shortcut isn't just you leading us in circles, Izumi?"
She laughed, light and tinkling like wind chimes. "Patience, farm boy. Virelune's springs are legendary. Eidarus roots dive deep here, heating the water with pure Seiki flow. One soak, and your aches vanish. Plus, the moon lilies bloom at night—glow like stars in the steam."
Rei snorted, kicking a pebble that skittered ahead. "Sounds like a trap for lazy travelers. Hot water? I'd rather train. My flames could use fine-tuning after that mud pit of a fight."
Hajime shot him a grin over his shoulder. "Train? You mean explode like a maniac again? Nah, even you need a break, Commander Fearful."
Rei's lips twitched—almost a smile. "Watch it. Or I'll boil the springs myself, and no one is happy."
The banter carried them downhill, the air growing humid and sulfur-tinged. Trees thinned into a misty valley, lanterns already flickering to life along bamboo walkways.
Virelune sprawled below: wooden ryokan inns with curved roofs, steam curling from open-air pools ringed by smooth stones. Street vendors hawked glowing sake in leaf-wrapped flasks, firefly skewers sizzling on grills, and moon-petal sweets that shimmered iridescent.
Travelers—mostly Verdant locals in earthy tunics—soaked in communal baths, laughter echoing softly.
Izumi's eyes lit up. "See? Paradise. Separate baths for modesty, but the private rotenburo are mixed if you rent one."
Hajime flushed, scratching his cheek. "M-Mixed? With you two?"
Rei arched a brow. "Problem? Scared to feel like less of a man?"
"No! Just... unexpected." Hajime's Seiki flickered gold in embarrassment, warming the air around him.
They checked into a mid-tier inn, the Moonveil Ryokan, run by a plump attendant named Haruka—a cheerful woman with vine tattoos snaking her arms, Eidarus' blessings marking her as a spring guardian.
She bowed deeply, her voice warm as the vapors. "Welcome, wanderers. The lunar pools await. Towels are provided, Seiki-infused soaps are available as well if you would like."
Rooms assigned—simple tatami mats, sliding doors overlooking the valley—they dumped packs and changed into yukata.
Hajime's was plain blue, Rei's was black with subtle flame embroidery, and Izumi's was green, edged in silver thorns.
Haruka led them to a private outdoor bath: a stone-rimmed pool sunk into the hillside, fed by a bamboo spout gurgling hot mineral water. Privacy screens of woven reeds surrounded it, but the view opened to the crater's edge, where moon lilies bobbed in the breeze.
Steam rose in thick curtains, carrying hints of jasmine and earth. The trio slipped in, water lapping at their collars.
Hajime sighed first, sinking to his chin. "Okay, you win. This is heaven."
Izumi settled across from him, hair pinned up in a loose bun, stray strands curling in the heat. "Told you. Feel the Seiki? It's gentle and soothing."
Rei leaned against the rocks, arms spread along the edge, eyes half-closed. For once, no tension in his shoulders. "Not bad."
Hajime splashed lazily, watching ripples distort the moon's reflection. "Remember when life was just chopping wood and chasing chickens? Now we're dodging gravity punches and soaking in magic hot tubs."
Izumi giggled, flicking water at him. "Some might call that progress. Though I do miss when life was simple."
Rei chuckled—a rare, low rumble. "Simplicity sounds nice."
The water bubbled as Hajime's Seiki reacted to his mood, turning a patch gold and fizzy.
"Hey, control that!" Izumi yelped, but she was laughing, dipping lower as bubbles tickled her skin.
"Can't help it," Hajime protested, flexing his fingers—the gold spread, warming the pool unevenly. "My Will gets excited around nature stuff. Like it recognizes it."
Rei eyed the glow, then dipped a hand in, his own blue-white flames flickering beneath the surface. Steam hissed where they met Hajime's gold. "Better get it under control, nature boy."
He smirked, sending a controlled pulse that turned the water into a mini whirlpool.
Izumi's eyes widened in mock horror. "No powers in the bath! You'll scald us!"
But she joined in, green vines sprouting from her palms—thin, playful tendrils that wrapped the spout, redirecting flow into a gentle waterfall cascade. Petals unfurled from nowhere, floating like lily pads.
Soon, the pool was a chaos of colors: gold bubbles popping with sparkles, blue flames dancing on the surface without heat, green vines weaving a floating raft of leaves.
Hajime balanced on it, arms out like a surfer. "King of the springs!"
Rei splashed him off, water arcing high. "Amateur."
He vaulted up, landing with a cannonball that drenched them all. Izumi squealed, retaliating with a vine-splash tsunami.
Laughter echoed off the stones, genuine and free.
For the first time since Eisenwald's ashes, Hajime felt light—no graves, no raiders, just friends messing around.
Izumi's cheeks flushed from heat and joy, her usual poise cracked into playful grins. Rei... well, he almost looked human, hair plastered dark, a real smile cracking his stoic mask.
As the sun dipped, lanterns ignited automatically—Seiki crystals embedded in bamboo, glowing soft amber.
Haruka appeared with trays: sake warmed in spring water, skewers of glazed mushrooms, and moon cakes dusted with luminescent sugar.
"Compliments of the house," she said, winking. "For the lively guests."
They ate perched on the rocks, legs dangling in the water.
Hajime bit into a skewer, juices dripping. "This beats rations. What's in these? Glow-shrooms?"
Haruka beamed. "Mistwood specials."
Rei sipped sake, the cup tiny in his hand. "Strong. Way better than the crap they serve in The Celestine Order."
His flames flickered tipsy-blue, warming his yukata.
Izumi nibbled a cake, powder sugar on her lip.
Hajime leaned over impulsively, thumb brushing the sugar away. "There. Can't have the dignified spring looking messy."
She blinked, cheeks reddening deeper than the steam. "H-Hajime!"
Rei raised a brow, smirking into his cup. "Smooth, I knew you were in love."
"Shut up!" Hajime sputtered, but he was grinning, Seiki flaring gold again and turning the water into a light show.
The night deepened, stars peeking through thinning mist. Fireflies drifted in, drawn like moths to their mingled Seiki auras.
At first, a handful—tiny embers bobbing curiously. Then dozens, swirling in hypnotic patterns around the pool's edge.
Rei noticed first, his blue flames pulsing brighter in relaxation. "Eh, harmless local wildlife."
But the swarm grew, hundreds now, zeroing in on Rei's flickering heat. They mistook his Uriel essence for a massive, eternal mate—divine fire calling to primal light.
The air filled with frantic buzzing, fireflies diving in kamikaze courtship, bumping his shoulders, tangling in his wet hair, landing on his nose in glowing clusters.
"What the—?!" Rei bolted upright, flailing as a bold one perched on his eyelid.
His flames instinctively flared defensive blue, but that only amplified the signal.
The swarm exploded into a living tornado, whirling around him in a bioluminescent frenzy. "Get off! I'm not your queen!"
Hajime howled with laughter, clutching his sides as fireflies bounced off Rei's thrashing arms. "Commander Fearful, conquered by bugs!"
Izumi doubled over, vines sprouting uncontrollably to swat helpers—only tangling more insects in leafy nets. "Rei, dim it! You're broadcasting mating vibes!"
Rei growled, submerging to his chin, but the determined swarm hovered, waiting.
One particularly amorous firefly landed smack dab in his mouth. He spat it out, face crimson under the glow. "This is humiliating!"
Hajime, tears streaming, scooped water and splashed upward, dispersing a few. "Here, bugs—gold's shinier!"
His Seiki surged, pulling half the swarm his way in a glittering halo.
Izumi joined, green light pulsing to mimic firefly flashes, redirecting the rest into a harmless orbit around floating petals.
The chaos peaked in a whirlwind of lights, laughter drowning the buzz.
Haruka peeked over the screen, stifling giggles. "Ah, happens to flame-wielders all the time. They'll tire soon."
Eventually, the fireflies dispersed, sated or confused, leaving the trio panting and sparkling with stray glow-dust.
Rei sank back, drenched and defeated, a lone bug still perched on his ear like a trophy. "Never speak of this."
"Not going to happen," Hajime wheezed. "I will never forget tonight."
Izumi wiped tears, vines retracting. "Best night ever."
They floated lazily after, sharing stories—not the heavy ones, but silly scraps.
Izumi recounted her first mission: vines gone wild, tangling a whole patrol. "Takahiro still glares when I mention it."
Rei, glow-dust in his hair, admitted a training mishap—Uriel's flames once singed Rei's eyebrows clean off. "Hayate never let me forget. Called me 'Bald Brow' for months."
Hajime topped them: "Yama once stole the elder's hat. Wore it like a crown. Villagers chased a chicken around for hours."
Laughter rolled again, echoing into the valley.
As midnight crept in, the springs settled into peaceful warmth, the trio refreshed—bonds forged in steam, splashes, and insect invasions.
Dawn would bring the push to Fernridge, but tonight lingered sweet.