The carriage settled into its nightly rhythm, lantern light drifting over faces. William lounged opposite, gloves off, looking relaxed but authoritative.
"Alright," he said. "Goals. I want to hear what you're chasing so I know what to sharpen."
Kai adjusted Sun across his back. "Kai Xander. To be the strongest Seeker I can be. Protect people. Discover who I am. Elder Xander said Master Elric is the strongest man alive. I want to stand near that. Also, I still say 'umtra' and 'untra' by accident. I'm trying."
William's smile was easy. "I'll translate. Strength with purpose. Good."
Aria smirked at Kai, then faced forward. "Aria Flamehart. I like noodles and Vinlan food. I hate sour. I'm going to be the strongest Seeker and prove it to my family. Especially my father. If the world has a ceiling, I'm kicking through it."
"Noted," William said. "We can schedule noodle stops between heroics."
Lila shot both hands up. "Lila Butters. I want friends. You two are stuck with me. I'm going to be a top healer and water specialist and make enough to buy every cute thing I see—also sweets. If there's a festival bun cart, I will bankrupt myself. And yes, I keep a stats book of the hottest Seekers. For research."
Aria snorted; Kai lost a battle with a grin. William went solemn. "Research must be funded."
Rin waited until the city's glow washed silver across the window. "Rin Kairo. Last of my clan. I'll restore the name, learn the techniques they buried, walk into places no one maps, and take what the unknown hides. I'll harness it and use it on one person. After that, I'm done. Spring morning. Cherry Blossom Hills. I sit in a tree and watch petals move in the wind. That is enough."
Silence, then Lila whispered, "Ten out of ten. Scary poetry again."
Aria leaned forward. "Then don't die before spring."
William let it breathe, then clapped once, light. "My turn. I plan to become the next chairman of the Seeker Association. Which means if you want the title of strongest, you'll have to wait until after me." He winked. "In the meantime, I'm going to teach you to surpass me and become the strongest of your generation. You're my first squad. I built my guild as a one-person army when I was young and stupid. That ends now. I am adding a real squad to my banner, starting with you."
Lila blinked big. "You don't teach anyone."
"This is a test for me too," William said. "Leadership. Not relying only on myself. Building legends, not just stories about one idiot with a light blade."
He kept his tone playful, but his eyes flicked to Rin for a heartbeat. He understood that promise about one person. He knew the history. He kept the name off his tongue.
The carriage rolled past a moonlit canal, Rising Moon banners lifting on the night wind. Drums thumped somewhere up the terrace. Lanterns painted bridges gold.
William leaned in, voice low enough to feel like a secret.
"Trial by Mercy. Janoah. Eight teams, thirty-two Seekers. Only one winner."
The carriage went quiet.
He tapped the roof once. "Format is simple. Teams qualify together, then the masks come off. One-on-ones. Yield or you sleep. Last standings decide your ranks going forward."
Kai frowned. "And squad lead?"
"Earned in the ring," William said. "Whoever from this team survives the longest or wins it all takes the armband. The captain picks missions. Leader calls shots."
Aria's eyes flicked to Kai. "Good. I like clear rules."
Kai smiled back. "Me too."
William's grin tilted. "That rivalry? Keep it sharp, not stupid."
He let the stakes land before he continued. "Win the whole Mercy, and your squad gets a mural in Janoah's Hall. That wall is legendary. You get global respect. Sponsors line up. Better-paid contracts. Nation-wide discounts. Doors that stay closed to most people start opening. Archives. Ports. The kind of information even nobles trade favors to read."
Lila's hands were already clasped. "A mural. I will cry on a public wall."
Rin watched the passing lanterns. "And every eye will be on us."
"Exactly," William said. "This is the big league. Patrons. Politicians smiling with too many teeth. You give them a show, and you give yourselves a future."
Aria rolled her shoulders, calm and eager. "Two days to be better than everyone else."
Kai cracked his knuckles. "Two days to make sure the armband fits."
William's tone softened, mentor steady. "You are ready. Now act like it."
The carriage hummed over lantern-lit avenues, wheels whispering past festival banners and moon-lamps.
William cracked the window, chin toward the skyline. "There. Atlas Colosseum. Remember it."
A ring of light floated above the distant arena like a second moon. You could hear a faraway roar, a crowd practicing its thunder.
"Trial by Mercy basics," William said, voice easy. "Weapons are allowed. Bring what you fight with. One rule matters more than the rest. No killing."
Aria leaned forward. "So blades, staffs, constructs. All fine?"
"All fine," William said. "Gear gets registered at check-in. Judges scan edges and enchantments. If a strike turns lethal, light-cert refs hard-stop the bout. You ignore a yield, and you're out for the season."
Kai's hand touched Sun along his back. "So I can use it."
"Use it," William said. "Control your impacts. Drop, do not maim."
Rin rested two fingers on Tetsuba's guard. "Precision is the point."
"That is why your sword is legal," William replied with a dry smile. "Keep your cuts clean. No arteries. No spine."
Lila raised a hand. "Scrolls, cartridges, potions?"
"If you can carry it to the line, you can use it," William said. "No toss-ins once the whistle blows. One minute between rounds. Med teams wait in the tunnels. The bracket consists of eight teams, each with thirty-two Seekers, spanning from the quarterfinals to the finals. Win by yield, ring-out, or clean knockout. Crowd respects control."
He tapped the roof once. "Atlas is a stage: sand and stone floor, modular platforms, sigil wards in the walls. The judges like clarity. If you show technique and restraint, sponsors notice."
Aria smirked. "Good. I plan to make noise."
"Make the right noise," William said. "Thunder is fine. Collateral is not."
Rin watched the passing lanterns, eyes half-lidded. "Light wards are predictable if you read their rhythm."
"Then read them," William said, amused. "I will not be surprised."
Kai glanced between them. "So the goal is to win without losing ourselves."
William nodded. "Exactly."
Lila scribbled in her little stats book. "Question. Do we get cool cloaks or something when we enter?"
William thought about it. "There is a parade tunnel with banners. If you insist on a cloak, make sure it does not trip you."
"Rude," Lila said, grinning.
The carriage rolled past a lake of lanterns. Fireworks bloomed low and slow over tiled roofs. Atlas glowed brighter as they curved toward the Pavilion Quarters.
"Sleep when we arrive," William said. "Eat light. Hydrate. Tomorrow is fittings and the codex brief. After that, travel prep. Janoah will put you on a world stage. Be ready to be seen."
Aria settled back, lightning-calm in her eyes. Rin closed his eyes, listening to the city. Kai breathed once, steady. Lila hugged her pack like it was a pillow and whispered, "We are totally not freaking out," then immediately started freaking out in a whisper about outfits.
William's smile was quick and gone. "Good. You are nervous. That means you care. Now rest. Atlas remembers winners."
Tatami room. Moonlight on the floor. Rin by the window. Kai sets Sun in the corner and sits.
Kai: "Before we found Lila and Aria. That woman."
Rin: "Yeah. The one who smelled like ink."
Kai: "Felt like she was grading us. Not even mad. Just... taking notes."
Rin: "She tried to write a cage around you. I cut the anchor. She already had the next one half done."
Kai: "I tagged her rib. She smiled and said it was acceptable data. Who says that in a fight?"
Rin: "Someone testing timing, reach, and aura, not trying to win today."
Kai: "You see her face clearly."
Rin: "Once. Young, then not. Like the mask slipped for a heartbeat."
Kai: "Red Order?"
Rin: "Maybe. Guessing out loud gets us killed."
Kai: "Tell William."
Rin: "When we have proof. For now, it is our problem."
Kai studies Rin's eye. "Your eye okay."
Rin looks back at the lake. "It will be."
Kai nudges his shoulder. "My legs are cooked. Call it even."
Rin almost smiles. "Next time, we do not split."
Kai: "Next time, we hit first."
Rin: "Quick and swift."
Kai grins. "Good plan. Sleep."
Rin nods. "Dawn. Do not be late."
They go quiet. The lake breathes. The room cools. Outside, the city keeps celebrating. Inside, both of them file the same name under 'Do Not Forget'.
Tatami. Paper lamps. City glow leaks through the lattice.
Lila sat cross-legged on her futon with a tin of candies and a small nail kit. Aria stood at the mirror, dabbing a bruise on her cheek, hair down for once.
Lila popped a candy. "So. Moon Rising. You and Kai. That almost kiss."
Aria's brush paused. "We were late for fireworks."
"Sure. Fireworks. You like him."
Aria looked over her shoulder. "I invited him to eat noodles. That is not a vow."
Lila grinned. "It was cute. He tried to ask like he was defusing a bomb."
Aria's mouth tugged up. "He did."
Silence for a beat. Lila checked Aria's eyes in the mirror. A little red at the edges. She did not say it out loud.
Instead, she slid the candy tin across. "Lingonberry. Vinlan style."
Aria took one. "Thanks."
"Hey," Lila said softly. "You okay after... the dream thing?"
Aria unwrapped the candy. "It was noise. I cut it."
Lila nodded. "Okay." She let it go, then brightened. "Also, I have updates for the Stats Book—new category. Cool captains. William just broke the scale."
Aria almost smiled. "You wrote that before or after you squealed in the carriage?"
"During," Lila said. "I can multitask."
They both laughed.
Aria sat on her futon, rolling her shoulder. "Tomorrow, we train. Trial by Mercy is close. Eight teams. No hiding."
"I know." Lila tapped her nail brush against the tin. "I want two things. Keep everyone breathing. And buy enough cute stuff to fill a wagon."
Aria snorted. "Both sound expensive."
"Then we win," Lila said. "Sponsors love winners."
Aria leaned back on her hands. "I want the top slot. Not for the crowd. For me. For my family." A quiet breath. "For him."
Lila's voice turned gentle. "Your dad."
Aria stared at the ceiling. "He is a mountain. I plan to be the storm that moves it."
Lila nodded, then decided to steer them toward lighter ground. "Okay, storm girl. Tell me your perfect meal after we win."
Aria did not have to think. "Hot broth. Thick noodles. Salmon cured Vinlan way. Dark bread. Waffles with berries."
"And no sour candy," Lila said.
"And no late nights," Aria added.
Lila yawned. "Same. But I'm still doing nails." She held up a tiny bottle. "Blue or gold."
"Gold," Aria said. "Chun night."
Lila painted, her tongue peeking out in focus. "So, what did you think of William's speech? Be honest."
"Clean. Sharp. No wasted words," Aria said. "He meant it when he said he would teach us. That's rare."
Lila smiled.
Aria's gaze drifted to the window. Lanterns floated over the capital like slow stars. "One day," she said, "we'll look down on a crowd like this from a winner's balcony."
Lila capped the polish. "Deal." She pointed the brush like a tiny sword. "And when you try to be reckless, I'll bonk you with a water staff."
Aria raised two fingers. "Permission to electrocute the staff."
"Denied," Lila said, then softened. "Sleep. I will wake you before dawn. We meet William in the courtyard."
Aria stood, flicked the lamp lower, then paused. "Thanks for the candy."
"Anytime." Lila rolled onto her side, already smiling at nothing. "Oh. And Aria."
"Mm."
"Yellow lightning looked good on you."
Aria's answer was small but certain. "It will look better tomorrow."