Evening had begun to stretch across the sky, painting the clouds gold and peach when the Celestars reached a crossroad in the forest trail. A tilted wooden sign squeaked as the breeze passed by.
"Mossbell Inn — Cheap beds, hot food, no bandits."
"No bandits," Riggi mumbled, his shoulders sagging. "That's all I need in life right now."
"I'd settle for 'cheap beds' and hot anything," Izumi added, brushing dust from his sleeves.
None of them argued. Their boots were caked in dirt, backs sore from their uphill hike, and the promise of warm food felt like a divine gift. They followed the path to a crooked building nestled between two glowing moss-covered stones, faint lantern lights swaying above it.
The Mossbell Inn wasn't impressive, but it had a charm that only truly exhausted people could appreciate. The door creaked like it was sighing from age, and the walls leaned slightly left—as if the whole place had one bad knee. But the scent of bubbling stew made their stomachs groan louder than their legs.
A middle-aged woman with greying hair and glowing rings around her hands floated toward them on a levitating broom. Her glasses shimmered with enchantments.
"Welcome to Mossbell! You lot look like hungry kittens in rain. Room for six at the back. Five coppers each, dinner and breakfast included. No loud spells or illusion pranks after midnight."
"Sold," said Lui without hesitation, slapping the coins into her glowing hand.
The boys were led to a tiny room with three bunk beds, walls that looked like they'd been patched with leftover forest bark, and a window that showed the moon glowing above a soft moss field.
Before any discussion began, Ishi stepped forward like a ghost and claimed the back-left corner bed without a word.
Lui mirrored him on the opposite corner.
Riggi raised an eyebrow. "Wow. You guys seriously chose corner beds at the same time."
"Knight instincts," Lui muttered as he dropped his bag.
Ishi merely nodded.
Yuuv spun twice, looked at the top bunk in the center, and threw himself onto it like a flying squirrel. "Ahh… this smells like mossy pillows and sleep spells. I approve."
"...Wait, where's Tofu?" Iuro suddenly asked, rummaging in his pouch.
"Who's Tofu?" Izumi blinked.
"I thought I picked a glowing mushroom earlier, but—" Iuro pulled out a tiny insect with leaf-green wings glowing like a firefly. It chirped softly.
Izumi stared. "That's definitely not a mushroom."
"Tofu is part of the group now. He gives off good vibes."
The bug blinked in slow approval, like it agreed.
Dinner was chaos—in the best way. The dining area was a tiny room with only two long tables, half-filled with sleepy travelers and noisy merchants. The waitress, who looked about fifteen but spoke like a drill sergeant, explained their meal came enchanted.
"Today's stew uses Jiggleleaf and Rhythm Root. The herbs dance in the pot before flavor kicks in. It's entertainment and nutrition."
As she spoke, the herbs in the pot behind her began hopping. One root spun like a ballerina before diving into the bubbling broth.
"Why don't we have this kind of cooking at the Tower?" Riggi whispered.
"Because we'd starve watching our dinner rehearse," Izumi replied.
Riggi leaned in, concentrating. "I'm gonna try magic to make the stew spin in my bowl—"
He didn't finish.
His face dropped forward, thunking directly into the soup with a splosh.
"Riggi!" Iuro yelped, pulling him upright.
The waitress appeared with a cloth. "Happens often. That root is extremely relaxing. Want a fresh bowl or just a face wipe?"
Later that night, the boys settled into the creaky bunks. The enchanted candles flickered low. Ishi sat up in bed with one eye half-open, sharpening a small dagger out of habit. Lui lay flat with his arms crossed, already halfway into a soldier's sleep.
Yuuv was curled up above them on the top bunk, mumbling in a dreamy tone.
"...The sky is a teacup... turned upside down... leaking stars... "
Izumi looked up from a book. "That's either a warning... or poetry."
Iuro whispered, "It's definitely poetry. Tofu agrees."
"mochi mochi hot hot.... sweet rice ball... and hot pot...."
"He is definitely dreaming about food," Iuro burst out laughing.
"I feel him," Riggi muttered.
The glowing insect buzzed in a tiny circle above their heads like a floating affirmation.
Before they fell fully asleep, soft footsteps passed their door. Then another. Then whispers.
Curious, Izumi crept to the door and peeked through the tiny peephole. Downstairs, a group of strange travelers had gathered in the common room. Their cloaks shimmered oddly, like starlight trapped in fabric.
One of them glanced directly toward the peephole.
Izumi froze.
He quickly backed away. "Uh… there are some... interesting people here tonight."
"Friendly interesting or trouble interesting?" Lui asked.
"Too soon to tell."
Just then, a faint sound slid under their door.
Fwip.
A card.
It glowed faintly green.
Riggi picked it up and flipped it.
Only three words were written on it in silver ink:
"Don't go tomorrow."
The room fell silent.
Even Tofu stopped buzzing.