The forest thickened as the party left the ridge where the friendly battle had taken place. The golden canopy above stretched higher, filtering light into warm ribbons that danced across the ground. A faint breeze carried drifting petals and the smell of damp earth. Somewhere far overhead, a flock of glow-feather birds scattered like sparks.
Riley adjusted Luna in his arms, though the tiny dragon insisted on walking part of the way. She trotted beside him on wobbly legs, tail swishing, determination radiating from her small frame.
Aria stretched dramatically.
"Okay team! Friendly battle complete! I think we embarrassed ourselves only slightly, which is basically a win!"
Dot clicked proudly, as if she had personally carried the fight.
Hayes rolled his shoulders. "We held up fine. Their spirits were just highly optimized."
Sofia nodded, though she hid a tiny frown. "Tommy nearly got overwhelmed… but he did his best."
Hayley hugged Bramble, who puffed his chest. "Next time we'll be ready."
Riley stayed quiet. His eyes drifted toward Luna, who had stood firm in the battle even though she was barely level one. She hadn't attacked—she didn't have real offense yet—but she'd stayed close, chirping loudly every time someone got hurt.
Supportive. Loyal. Trying her best.
He smiled softly.
"Alright. Kipp still needs more ingredients. Let's focus on training and gathering."
Aria pumped her fist. "YES. To the forest pharmacy!"
Dot clicked: approved.
They followed the trail deeper into the woods. The trees thinned, replaced with thick roots that twisted like natural bridges across shallow streams. Odd fungi sprouted in clusters—blue Glowcaps, pink Conchshrooms, and tall, shimmering Glowroot that pulsed with bioluminescence.
Sofia spotted a patch ahead.
"There—Glowcaps. And… is that Vine Thread wrapped around the roots?"
Riley crouched next to the luminous fungi. "Perfect. We'll need at least five of these."
Hayley helped Bramble sniff each one carefully.
Aria snatched one up and sniffed it.
"Smells like… sadness and wet socks."
"Stop sniffing ingredients," Hayes sighed.
"But what if one smells like victory?"
"It won't."
"Let me dream!"
Dot facepalmed with all eight legs.
Riley snorted, placing the gathered Glowcaps carefully in his inventory. Luna poked one with her paw and sneezed when the blue dust puffed out.
Sofia gasped. "Aww—Luna, sweetie, you okay?"
Luna shook her head and released another puff of starlight. She was fine. She was… sparkly.
Aria screamed.
"She's covered in glitter—SOMEONE TAKE A PICTURE."
A rustle sounded along the stream.
Leaf-Crawlers.
Riley stepped forward.
"Let's let Luna try to get some experience."
Hayes nodded. "We'll keep the area controlled."
Three crawler mobs skittered from behind a mossy log, mandibles snapping hungrily.
Luna waddled forward—fearless and tiny.
Riley stifled panic. "You can do it… just stay focused."
Aria whispered loudly,
"BABY'S FIRST FIGHT—THIS IS ICONIC."
Luna lowered her head, horn glowing faintly.
The crawlers rushed.
Riley's heart jumped—
but Echo intercepted one with Quick Attack, knocking it aside and buying Luna time.
Les threw a leaf. It did nothing. He looked proud anyway.
Bramble pounced with a battle-hungry squeak.
Then Luna inhaled—
and released a soft, shimmering pulse.
Gentle Nuzzle.
It washed over the nearest crawler, causing it to stop mid-charge, mandibles twitching in confused, pacified daze.
Aria screamed.
"SHE HIT IT WITH LOVE AGAIN—OH MY GOD."
But the crawler stumbled—vulnerable.
"Nice opening!" Riley called.
He raised Shimmerstring.
Lumi flashed bright—
STAR TRACE triggered.
Riley fired.
FWSSSSHH—
The radiant arrow exploded into the crawler, bursting it into motes.
EXP notifications chimed in Riley's interface:
Luna — Level Up! (Lv 2)
Luna — Level Up! (Lv 3)
New Ability Unlocked: Star Prance
Riley's heart soared.
"She got a real attack!"
Sofia clapped. "Great job, Luna!"
Luna chirped and pranced in a tiny circle—accidentally kicking dirt onto Aria.
Aria gasped. "YOU DIRTIED MY ARMOR, STAR PRINCESS?"
Dot hissed a warning at Luna, but Riley gave her a look.
Dot paused.
Dot backed up.
Dot clicked an apology.
They reached a clear pond where faint golden shimmer danced across the surface. Streamwater was rare—pure magical water used in higher-level alchemy.
Hayley knelt. "We need three flasks."
Hayes scanned the area. "There should be low-level Water Sprites around. Be careful—they can pop water bursts."
Riley handed empty vials to the group.
"Gather carefully. Luna—stay close."
The little dragon leaned on Riley's leg, tail curling around his boot.
Aria scooped a vial—
SPLASH!
A Water Sprite leapt out, smacking her in the face.
Aria screamed.
"IT ASSAULTED ME! SELF-DEFENSE MODE ENGAGED!"
Dot launched forward, clicking like a tiny war criminal.
The sprite shrieked and dove underwater.
Riley inhaled deeply.
"No killing the water. Please."
Hayes stepped forward calmly and filled three vials like an adult with patience.
Aria sulked. "I loosened it."
"You terrified it," Sofia corrected.
"And loosened it."
Riley laughed under his breath as he worked with Luna and Lumi to gently gather the remaining water.
As they crossed toward the Hollow Bloom grove, a larger Vine Sprite burst from the bushes—this one level 6, higher than expected.
It hissed, vines whipping forward.
Hayes stepped between it and the group. "Alright—careful here."
Riley shook his head.
"No. Luna needs the experience. Help her—but don't steal the kill."
Aria gasped. "ARE WE DOING THIS? BABY VS PLANT MONSTER?"
Hayley squealed. "Bramble can cheer her on!"
Bramble cheered. Loudly.
The sprite lunged.
Luna darted aside—clumsily, but faster than before. She attempted Star Prance.
Her horn glowed.
She hopped.
She kicked.
She landed face-first.
Aria fainted in sympathy.
But the sprite staggered—blinded for a second.
"Good job—try again!" Riley encouraged.
Luna wobbled upright, shook her head, and this time—
She pranced with surprising grace.
Her horn flashed.
A burst of light struck the sprite's face.
It shrieked.
Riley drew and fired—
Lumi flashed—
STAR TRACE triggered—
and the radiant bolt finished the weakened enemy off.
EXP chimed again:
Luna — Level Up! (Lv 4)
Luna — Level Up! (Lv 5)
New Ability Unlocked: Moonlit Horn
Unlock Condition Met: Support Synergy I (Light Pair)
Riley froze.
Moonlit Horn was a proper damage skill.
A real one.
A charging strike.
And synergy…
That meant his bow would grow stronger soon.
He knelt, scooping Luna up into his arms.
"You did amazing."
Luna chirped, tired but glowing with pride.
Sofia stroked her mane.
"She's growing fast… but she still looks so small."
"She'll get there," Riley murmured.
Aria, who had "accidentally" been filming Luna's battle, yelled,
"I'M POSTING THIS TO THE GAME FORUMS! Baby's First Boss Fight!"
"Aria, don't—"
"TOO LATE—DOT, PRESS UPLOAD!"
Dot clicked the upload button.
Night began creeping in—blue shadows pooling around the roots. The final ingredient, Hollow Bloom Spores, grew in small floating flowers that only opened at dusk.
They found a grove where ethereal petals hovered mid-air like suspended lanterns.
Hayley gasped. "They're beautiful…"
Les trembled, overwhelmed by the blooming glow.
Riley took a careful step.
"Don't touch them directly. Just—"
Luna waddled up.
Touched one.
It burst into glitter.
Riley panicked—
but a system notification popped:
Hollow Bloom Spores — Collected times 1
Aria screamed.
"THE BABY FARMED IT WITH HER FACE!"
Riley exhaled.
"…I guess that works."
They collected the last required spore.
With the final ingredient in hand, Hayes tapped his shield.
"That's everything. Let's head back before night mobs spawn."
Hayley cradled Bramble.
"Kipp's going to cry when he sees this."
Sofia gathered the Glowcaps into neat bundles.
"He'll make so many potions…"
Aria bounced.
"And THEN we raid the dungeon! DAY SEVEN, BABY!"
Riley looked down at Luna—now level five—who curled sleepily against his chest.
Today had been for gathering.
Training.
Growing.
Tomorrow?
Tomorrow Luna would start to shine.
"Let's go home," Riley said softly.
And together, surrounded by drifting petals and starlit glow, the party made their way back toward the village lights—
stronger, closer, and ready for whatever Day Five would bring.