The city of Eryndor was alive. Banners fluttered from rooftops, stalls filled the streets, and the scent of roasted meat, candied apples, and spiced ale drifted through the air. Children wove between the crowd, clutching colorful paper lanterns, while minstrels strummed lutes by fountains.
After weeks of dungeons, demon encounters, and blood, Haruto found himself blinking at the sheer vibrancy.
"Is this… a fantasy carnival?" he muttered.
Kiera burst out laughing, hands on her hips. "No, idiot. This is the Azure Summer Festival. Biggest event of the year."
Lyria's smile was gentle, her sapphire hair catching the light. "The festival is a blessing to the kingdom. It began centuries ago as a prayer for peace after the first demon war. Contests, dances, food… it's a celebration of life."
"Sounds like an excuse to eat," Haruto said. His stomach growled loud enough that Kiera almost doubled over.
---
The Guild Notice
The guildhouse doors were wide open, its notice board plastered with fresh posters. Adventurers clustered around the largest one.
Azure Blade Tournament – The Champion's Trial
Witness steel clash against steel. Defeat earns glory, victory earns the crown. The champion of three years returns to defend her title.
Kiera whistled. "Here it is. The main event."
"Another fight?" Haruto sighed. "Didn't we just clear out a goblin nest two days ago?"
"This isn't about survival," Kiera grinned. "It's about style."
Before Haruto could reply, the crowd parted. Boots clicked against stone, heavy yet graceful.
A tall woman strode forward. Golden hair spilled from beneath a polished helm, her knight's uniform tailored with precision, the blue trim marking her royal station. At her hip rested a blade, plain yet radiating sharpness.
Her emerald eyes flicked briefly to the notice, then across the crowd. For just a heartbeat, they landed on Haruto.
He froze.
She moved on without a word, the crowd whispering her name.
Sirena Valkyra.
Champion of the Azure Blade Tournament.
Knight of Eryndor.
The undefeated star everyone expected to reign again.
"…Intense," Haruto muttered.
Kiera grinned wickedly. "Oh, don't tell me you just fell for her."
"I did not!" Haruto snapped, face heating.
Lyria glanced away, lips pursed. "Regardless, she will be a formidable ally… or rival."
---
Not long after, the trio found themselves at a sparring exhibition set up for the festival. Young knights and squires sparred with wooden swords, trying to impress onlookers.
The crowd erupted into cheers as Sirena herself stepped into the ring, facing three challengers at once. With calm precision, she parried, disarmed, and tapped each of them on the chest with her practice blade in less than ten seconds.
The audience went wild.
"Lady Sirena! You're amazing!"
"Three-time champion! No one can beat her!"
Sirena gave a small, proud smile, lowering her sword. But when she noticed Haruto staring slack-jawed at the display, her emerald eyes narrowed slightly.
"Close your mouth," she said coolly, voice sharp enough to cut. "You'll catch flies."
Haruto jolted. "I-I wasn't—! I mean, I was just—!"
Kiera burst into hysterical laughter. "Pffft—she roasted you without even trying!"
Lyria's lips curved in the faintest smirk.
Sirena gave a small, almost imperceptible hmph and turned away, cloak swirling behind her as she left the ring.
"She's scary…" Haruto muttered, still red.
"She's perfect," Kiera corrected with a wicked grin.
---
The trio wandered deeper into the festival, and Haruto was dragged into nearly everything.
At one stall, Kiera shoved a bow into his hands. "Come on, hero, show me your aim!"
He loosed an arrow—straight into the sky, knocking a lantern off a rooftop. The stall owner glared.
"…I meant to do that," Haruto muttered.
Kiera laughed so hard she couldn't breathe. "You couldn't hit the ground if you aimed at it!"
Next, they tried a ring-toss game. Haruto confidently threw the first—only for it to bounce off and land on a vendor's head.
Lyria quietly tried once, and the ring landed perfectly around the target. The stall owner beamed, handing her a small crystal charm.
Haruto gaped. "Cheater."
"It was merely precision," she said with the faintest smug smile.
The last disaster came at a pie-eating contest. Haruto sat between two burly men, determined to prove himself. Five pies in, he was groaning. Six in, he collapsed onto the table.
Kiera won instead, punching the air with cream all over her face. "Victory tastes like cherries!"
By then, Haruto could only mutter, "I'm… never eating again…"
---
The Beautiful Stranger
Evening came, and lanterns lit the city with soft golden glow. Musicians filled the square, couples danced, and laughter rippled through the crowd.
Haruto leaned against a railing, still recovering from his food coma. That was when he saw her.
A woman in flowing midnight silk, her raven hair cascading to her waist. Her skin pale as moonlight, her crimson eyes catching the lantern fire.
She moved with elegance far beyond any noblewoman here, sipping wine as though she owned the square.
When her gaze locked on his, Haruto felt his heart stutter.
"…She's… gorgeous…" he whispered, heat rushing to his cheeks.
The stranger's lips curved into the faintest smile, almost mocking, almost amused. Then, with a sweep of her gown, she vanished into the crowd.
Haruto blinked. "Did that just… happen?"
Kiera scowled. "What's with that lovestruck face? Don't tell me you're—"
"I-I wasn't—!" he stammered.
Lyria looked away, her hands tightening at her sleeves. "…Strange. Her aura was… off. Almost too perfect."
But Haruto wasn't listening.
He didn't know she was Selphira Nyxalis, noble Demon in disguise.
---
Far beyond the festival lights, where the woods began, a faint shimmer of crimson eyes opened in the dark. Horns gleamed for an instant before fading into shadow.
The city celebrated, but unseen eyes watched. And the hero's story crept one step closer to its turning point.