Blade kept walking after leaving the bridge.
He didn't know why he turned in that direction. Instinct, maybe.
Snowstar's central district was getting crowded. Silver streamers fluttered above the streets. Music grew louder. Fireworks rehearsals echoed like distant thunder.
He moved through the crowd smoothly, never bumping into anyone.
Across another street, the Wilson family stepped out of a jewelry store.
Mrs. Wilson adjusted her scarf. "Let's head toward the river before sunset."
Their daughter nodded. "The lantern release starts early this year."
Mr. Wilson checked his watch.
They crossed the street.
Blade crossed from the opposite side at the same time.
Two flows of people collided between them — tourists, performers, children with glowing sticks.
At one point, they were less than three meters apart.
Mrs. Wilson paused suddenly.
She felt something.
She turned her head slightly.
All she saw was the back of a tall young man with silver hair disappearing into the crowd.
Her heart skipped.
"…It's nothing," she whispered to herself.
Blade didn't slow down.
But for a split second, his chest tightened.
He didn't understand why.
He brushed it off.
—
On the other side of the district, Liora stood near a dessert stall, distracted.
"You're quiet," her mother observed.
"I just thought I saw someone," Liora replied.
"From the game?" her father asked with mild amusement.
She hesitated.
"…Maybe."
Her father smiled faintly. "The world isn't that small."
Liora looked toward the river district.
She wasn't convinced.
—
As evening approached, fireworks preparation intensified. Silver lights reflected off the frozen river.
Blade stood alone on a rooftop now, watching the city from above.
Crowds below.
Noise below.
Distance above.
He preferred it this way.
His phone buzzed once.
A message from Cyberius lit up the screen.
Cyberius:
You skipping tonight's login? Don't tell me festival mood got you soft.
Blade stared at it for a moment.
Another message followed.
Optimus_Prime:
Royal Layer raid tomorrow morning. Don't oversleep.
He typed a short reply.
Not tonight.
He slipped the phone back into his coat pocket.
Across the city, Liora's phone buzzed too.
Nyx's guild chat was active. Everyone talking about festival bonuses and rare event drops.
She didn't open the game.
Instead, she stared at the skyline.
If she wanted answers… she wouldn't find them behind a screen.
Meanwhile, at the Wilson mansion, Mr. Wilson looked up at the first fireworks streaking across the sky.
Thirteen years.
And something about tonight felt different.
He couldn't explain it.
The sky exploded into silver.
And somewhere in Snowstar, four different hearts were slowly being pushed toward the same inevitable moment.
Not by a system.
Not by a notification.
But by something far quieter.
Something patient.
Something waiting.