The clearing buzzed.
Five new players stood at the edge of the ridge path, grinning like they'd just walked into a festival.
The one in front was tall, with messy blond hair and a shield strapped to his back, wearing the kind of easy smile that said I start fights and then talk my way out of them. Beside him, a girl with bright green braids leaned on a staff, and three more players fanned out behind—one dual-blade user, one bow user, one with a hammer almost as big as he was.
"HEY!" the leader yelled again, waving both arms. "You guys look strong! Wanna do a friendly battle?"
Aria's eyes lit up like someone had just told her punching had become a school subject.
"Yes. Yes. YES."
Hayes groaned. "Of course."
Sofia hid a small smile behind her hand. Hayley lifted Bramble slightly, his little bear face scrunched in sleepy confusion.
Riley hesitated.
A friendly battle… this early?
Luna bumped his leg with her head, chirping softly. Lumi glowed in quiet excitement on his shoulder.
Riley exhaled.
"Yeah," he called back. "We're interested. But—how does that even work? There's PvP already?"
The blond guy grinned wider.
"Oh yeah. Early access feature. Name's Jax, by the way." He gestured to his team. "This is Mina, Cole, Rish, and Tori. We just unlocked the option in town."
A soft chime rang for Riley's party.
A system window unfurled in front of all of them:
> FRIENDLY SCRIMMAGE REQUESTED
MODE: SPIRIT-ONLY ARENA
RULES:
• Players cannot deal direct damage
• Only one Spirit active per player
• HP cannot drop below 1 (SAFE MODE)
• No EXP, no loot — minor Training Bonus only
• For honour. And fun.
ACCEPT? Y / N
Sofia read it, relief softening her shoulders.
"So no one can actually die or lose levels…"
Hayes nodded. "And no gear loss. Reasonable."
Aria slammed YES before anyone could blink.
"FOR HONOUR," she declared.
Dot clicked manically.
Riley sighed and hit YES too.
One by one, the others confirmed.
The forest shimmered.
A translucent ring of faint blue light formed around the clearing, rising to create a dome overhead. The trees outside blurred, as if the world had taken a step back to make room.
> SPIRIT SCRIMMAGE MODE: ACTIVE
SUMMON 1 SPIRIT EACH.
"OOH," Aria breathed. "Fancy."
Jax stretched his arms. "Alright! Rules are easy. One spirit each, last team standing wins. No hard feelings, lots of yelling encouraged."
"I like him," Aria whispered. "He understands."
Riley glanced at Luna.
She stared up at him with wide silver eyes, tail wrapped around his ankle.
He crouched.
"Not this time, okay?" he murmured. "You're still level one. Watch from my side."
She chirped—disappointed, but accepting.
Lumi hopped down in front of him, puffing himself up like a marshmallow ready for war.
Riley smiled. "Alright, Lumi. Show them what you can do."
Around him, his team summoned their picks.
Aria: Dot, crawling forward in a slither of legs and attitude.
Sofia: Echo, tail wagging, fur glowing with soft light.
Hayes: Moggy, shadowy fur rippling, eyes sharp.
Hayley: Bramble, bear cub thumping his paws in eager excitement.
Across the ring, Jax's team answered.
A sleek Flamefin Cub—a fox-like creature with fire-tipped ears.
A bouncing Bubble Toad covered in glistening droplets.
A jagged Stone Beetle, plates interlocking like armour.
A feathery Gale Chick, wind swirling around its wings.
And a glowing Motesprite, a tiny sprite of light and pollen hovering above Mina's staff.
Sofia whispered, "They're… really cool."
Echo barked. We're cooler.
The system flared:
> BEGIN SCRIMMAGE IN: 3… 2… 1…
The dome hummed.
> FIGHT.
The clearing exploded into motion.
Gale Chick shot into the air in a blur, wind swirling around it.
Dot fired a web line instantly.
"WEB BIND!" Aria shouted.
The silk shot upward, spiralling toward the bird.
Gale Chick darted aside—almost.
Dot's web caught its wingtip, yanking it down in a flustered spiral. It landed with a thump, feathers puffed out, indignant.
Aria cackled. "GROUNDED!"
Bramble charged straight at the Stone Beetle with a big, happy roar.
"PAW SWIPE!" Hayley called.
The bear cub smacked the beetle so hard it skidded backward, little legs scrambling.
The Bubble Toad retaliated, cheeks swelling before it spat a glob of shimmering water at Bramble.
It splashed over him—
> BRAMBLE: HP 74%
Hayley winced. "Okay, that stung a bit."
Riley kept his bow lowered, eyes on Lumi. He wasn't allowed to attack directly—but he could still support.
"Lumi—Flash!"
Lumi inhaled, glow concentrating.
FLASH—
A burst of white light dazzled the frontline.
> THREE ENEMY SPIRITS — SLIGHTLY BLINDED.
Star Trace pinged in Riley's HUD, an icon pulsing calmly.
He lifted Shimmerstring, drew—
not at an enemy, but into the air above Lumi.
He released.
The arrow burst overhead, raining tiny droplets of light that soaked into Lumi's body.
His glow intensified. His next Tackle slammed into Bubble Toad like a comet.
> BUBBLE TOAD: HP 40% (SAFE FLOOR: 1 HP)
Jax whistled. "Okay! That whelp hits harder than it looks!"
"Thank you," Riley muttered.
Echo dashed circles around Flamefin Cub, Quick Attack leaving afterimages.
"ECHO, BITE!" Sofia called.
Echo lunged—
Flamefin Cub darted back on a flare of fire, but Echo still clipped its shoulder, making it yelp.
Moggy slipped into the fray, a dark streak.
"Shadow Pounce!" Hayes commanded.
Moggy vanished, reappeared behind Gale Chick, and raked it with shadowy claws.
> GALE CHICK: HP 10%… 5%… SAFE FLOOR REACHED.
The system chimed.
> SPIRIT HP CANNOT FALL BELOW 1.
GALE CHICK — AUTO-RECALL.
The little bird blinked in surprise as it dissolved into motes of safe light and returned to its owner's slot.
Aria cackled. "ONE DOWN!"
"Don't get cocky," Jax called, grinning.
His Motesprite spun in place, casting a soft golden dust over his remaining spirits.
> TEAM BUFF: LIGHT VEIL — Slight damage reduction.
Stone Beetle stomped forward with a rumbling skid, ramming straight into Bramble.
> BRAMBLE: HP 30%
Hayley sucked in a breath. "Bramble—!"
Bramble shook himself, wobbly but still standing. Honeyheart pulsed softly, green motes slowly trickling his HP up.
Riley's eyes darted.
They had the edge—but if they slipped, that Stone Beetle could start flattening people.
He glanced down at Luna.
She watched everything with intense focus, tiny claws dug into the earth, tail flicking.
"…Alright," he breathed. "Let's try it."
He opened Luna's menu, tapped SUMMON.
"Luna. Your turn."
She appeared in a soft flash at his side, scale-light flickering gently.
The system pinged:
> SECOND SPIRIT DETECTED.
FRIENDLY SCRIMMAGE RULESET:
ONLY ONE ACTIVE SPIRIT PER PLAYER.
SWITCH LUMI → LUNA?
Riley grimaced.
"Right. Forgot about that…"
Lumi glanced back at him, eyes questioning.
Riley hesitated.
Then he shook his head.
"Not yet," he murmured. "Watch a little longer, Luna. Learn first, fight later."
He cancelled the switch.
Luna chirped softly—disappointed, but she pressed closer to his boot, still watching.
Aria roared, "DOT! VENOM BITE!"
Dot's fangs glowed a sickly green as she sank them into Bubble Toad's side.
> BUBBLE TOAD: HP 10%… SAFE FLOOR.
AUTO-RECALL TRIGGERED.
The toad dissolved into harmless particles.
"Two!" Aria crowed.
Mina narrowed her eyes.
"Flamefin, Ember Rush!"
The fox-like cub burst forward, wreathed in orange fire, slamming into Lumi.
> LUMI: HP 45%
Riley staggered slightly from the empathic feedback.
"Lumi!" Sofia cried.
Lumi shook his head, legs braced, glow flickering—but still standing.
"Lumi, come back a step," Riley said firmly. "Let Echo support."
Echo darted in front of him with a bark, planting herself between Lumi and Flamefin, fur bristling.
Motesprite spun again, dust falling on Flamefin.
> SMALL HASTE BUFF.
Flamefin lunged—
And Moggy intercepted from the side, Shadow Pounce slamming him into Flamefin and knocking it off-course.
Hayes grinned.
"Nice try."
Riley exhaled.
They were doing it.
No panic. No real danger. Just… a fight to learn themselves.
He glanced at Luna again.
Gentle Nuzzle. Glint Step.
Not much. Yet.
But then… maybe that was okay.
"Dot, Sticky Trap!" Aria shouted.
Dot spat a line of conjured webbing across the ground. Stone Beetle charged—
And stuck.
It skidded futilely, legs trapped.
Brambles burst upward as Bramble slammed into it again.
> STONE BEETLE: HP 5%… SAFE FLOOR. AUTO-RECALL.
That left Flamefin and Motesprite.
Motesprite hovered higher, scattering light.
Flamefin circled fast, looking for an opening.
"Echo, Light Step!" Sofia cried.
Echo's movement sharpened, her form blurring as she dashed in circles, drawing Flamefin's focus.
"Lumi, Tackle from the side," Riley added.
Lumi darted, low and fast, slamming into Flamefin's flank while it was tracking Echo.
The combined hit toppled the fire fox.
> FLAMEFIN CUB: HP 1. AUTO-RECALL.
Only Motesprite remained.
It spun once. Twice.
Then Mina laughed, lifting her staff.
"Okay, okay, enough. I surrender. Scrimmage over!"
The dome hummed.
> FRIENDLY SCRIMMAGE COMPLETE.
WINNER: PARTY [RILEY].
REWARD: MINOR TRAINING SYNC (Spirits)
NO EXP / NO LOOT GAINED.
CONGRATULATIONS!
The blue light faded.
The forest drifted back into clarity, like someone releasing a held breath.
Aria flopped backwards onto the moss.
"THAT. WAS. AMAZING."
Dot clicked, chest heaving in victorious smugness.
Hayley scooped Bramble up, spinning in a small circle.
"You did so good! You're so strong! I love you so much—"
Bramble burped in her face.
She gagged. "Okay, less love."
Sofia hugged Echo tightly, whispering praise into her fur. Les waddled over, nudging her leg shyly, as if asking if he did okay just by watching.
Hayes crouched and scratched Moggy under the chin.
Moggy purred despite himself.
Riley knelt beside Lumi.
"You did great," he said quietly.
Lumi chirped, glowing proudly.
Luna trotted up beside him, eyes shimmering.
She hadn't fought.
But she'd watched.
Learned.
Felt the rhythm of battle.
He stroked her head gently.
"Soon," he whispered. "We'll find a fight that's right for you."
Luna hummed, leaning into his touch.
Jax approached, laughing, hands behind his head.
"Man. You guys are strong. That whelp and that spider? Terrifying."
Mina nodded. "And your fox—Echo, right? She's adorable. And fast."
Sofia blushed. "Thank you…"
Hayley grinned. "Your Flamefin was really cool. I liked the dash."
"Thanks," Cole said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Rish looked at Hayes.
"That cat." He pointed at Moggy. "I want one."
Hayes smirked. "He's taken."
Tori crouched to look at Luna.
"And this little one… what even is she?"
Riley hesitated.
"A… Faelight Kirin. Dragon type. I think."
Jax whistled. "Mythical, huh? No wonder the system froze earlier. We felt that halfway up the Ridge."
"I've never seen that species listed," Mina murmured. "You're lucky."
Riley let out a soft breath.
"Yeah," he said quietly, scratching Luna's chin. "I really am."
They chatted a little longer—swapping friend requests, vague future promises of running the dungeon together if timing matched—before Jax's team waved goodbye and headed toward the lower slopes.
When they were gone, the forest felt a little quieter.
A little more theirs again.
Hayes rolled his shoulders.
"That was… useful."
Hayley nodded. "Good practice without risk."
Sofia smiled at her spirits. "They seemed happy."
Aria threw her arms around Dot.
"YOU WERE GLORIOUS."
Dot clicked as if to say, Of course.
Riley looked down at Lumi and Luna.
One glowing like a small, fierce star.
The other, a soft, newborn moon.
His bow at his back hummed faintly, still attuned to them both.
"Okay," he said, straightening.
"We've had fun. Now we grind. Glowcaps, Vine Thread, water, spores. We get Kipp what he needs—and we get Luna to level two at least."
Aria saluted.
"AYE, CAPTAIN."
Hayes shook his head. "Don't encourage her."
But he was smiling too.
They turned back toward the ridge path.
The forest opened in front of them—rich with challenges, ingredients, and the slow, steady path to being ready.
For the dungeon.
For the future.
For whatever this second chance was going to become.