The Celestars were back in Timbervale, relaxing at their usual inn. It had been a few days since their scouting mission in Wyrmglen. The morning sun lit up the room as the boys finished breakfast—sandwiches and warm milk.
At the Timbervale Guild Hall, the boys lined up at the counter. The same friendly clerk from before greeted them with a smile.
"Oh! Celestars! You've been quite active lately."
Lui stepped forward. "Can you check our current points?"
The clerk tapped a crystal slate and read the numbers. "Hmm… you boys have gained enough points. Congratulations!"
All six of them leaned in.
"You now qualify to participate in this month's D-Novice rank-up event," she said. "It's being held in Redvine City, a larger town east of here."
"Redvine City?" Iuro repeated. "Is it far?"
"About two days' travel by foot," the clerk replied. "It's a popular place for young guild members. Big arena. Food stalls. Lots of excitement."
Yuuv's eyes lit up. "They have pudding stalls?"
"Probably," she laughed.
Izumi tilted his head. "What's the event like?"
"It's a solo challenge," she explained. "Each member must enter alone. You'll be judged on performance, skill, and how well you handle situations. No teamwork allowed during the matches."
Lui nodded. "So we all have to prove ourselves… individually."
"Correct. But don't worry. You've got a good record already. Just give it your best."
The boys left the guild hall buzzing with excitement.
Back at the inn, they packed their things.
"Only bring what's needed," Izumi reminded them. "We'll rest at camps along the way."
Rick zipped his bag shut. "Do I need three pairs of socks?"
"Yes," Ishi said flatly.
Yuuv folded a blanket into a pillow shape. "I'm bringing this."
Soon, they stood at the eastern gates of Timbervale, ready to leave.
Lui looked back once at the town. "We'll come back stronger."
Then they began their journey.
The road was wide and clear at first. Hills rolled gently on both sides, and the sun shone brightly overhead. Birds flew in the distance.
But by afternoon, the sky turned grey. A cool wind picked up.
"I think a storm's coming," Iuro said.
"Let's reach the forest ahead before it hits," Lui said.
They quickened their pace and reached a small wooded area with tall trees and a broken stone path.
Suddenly, Izumi raised a hand. "Wait. Something's nearby."
From behind the bushes, two large, dog-sized lizards crawled out. Their skin was rough and dark green, and they hissed as they spotted the boys.
"Trouble already?" Rick muttered.
The lizards charged.
Lui stepped forward, sword drawn. Flames flickered along the blade. He blocked the first one and pushed it back.
Iuro slammed his wand to the ground. Vines shot up and grabbed the legs of the second.
Rick splashed water at its face. "Back off, ugly!"
One of the lizards jumped toward Yuuv. His right eyes flashed blue.
Psych Magic: Push.
The lizard floated mid-air, then flipped sideways and landed hard.
Yuuv sat down on a rock. "That was heavy."
Izumi appeared behind the last one and knocked it out with the back of his blade.
"Good job," Lui said, catching his breath. "We'll set camp near here."
They lit a fire and sat in a circle.
Ishi looked at the cloudy sky. "Tomorrow, we reach Redvine."
Yuuv looked at his pudding-shaped blanket. "I'm gonna sleep now."
The others smiled.
Their journey had begun.
And tomorrow, the real challenge would begin too.