"Alright, Captain Sofia," Aria announced, giving me the worst salute I'd ever seen. "Try not to get us all killed before Riley gets back."
"I never agreed to be captain," I said, tightening my grip on my staff.
Hayes shrugged. "You read the quest text."
Hayley nodded. "Which automatically makes you responsible."
That… was unfortunately accurate.
We stepped past the wooden palisade of the starting village, and the air changed immediately.
Cooler.
Quieter.
Alive in a way the village never was.
Bluegrass brushed against my boots as glowing spores drifted lazily through the air like slow-motion fireflies. Every step made the ground hum faintly — the presence of nearby Spirits pressing gently against my senses.
Echo trotted beside me, silver-white fur shimmering in the dim light. Her ears twitched constantly, far more alert than usual.
Hayley and Hayes walked ahead, their identical moss-furred cats weaving around their legs. Aria… did not walk.
She marched.
"Okay team!" she declared, raising a fist. "We get to level five, collect the weird plants, and I catch something AWESOME. Preferably big. Preferably dramatic."
"Preferably not deadly," I said softly.
"Details."
I couldn't help smiling.
Riley made everything feel organised and predictable.
Without him…
it felt like we were actually learning how to stand on our own.
And that was a little terrifying.
But also good.
We'd barely gone ten minutes before Aria froze mid-step.
"Movement!"
Dot popped up from her shoulder like a furry alarm bell.
A blur shot out of the bushes.
WHISPERWOOD SCRAP — Level 4
A squirrel-like spirit with glowing acorn markings and a deeply punchable expression.
Aria grinned like she'd been personally challenged.
"I GOT THIS."
Dot launched forward with an aggressive click-click war cry.
"Don't let it circle!" Hayes warned, shield lifting.
"Echo — Flash Step!"
Echo vanished in a shimmer and slammed into the Scrap from the side. It squeaked in outrage as Dot landed on top of it like a wrestler.
The creature tried to flee.
Aria punched it directly into a tree.
It burst into particles.
+6 Coins
+Spirit XP
Aria dusted her hands. "Next."
Hayley rubbed her temple. "Please lower the murder enthusiasm by at least ten percent."
Hayes nodded solemnly. "For morale."
Further down the trail the trees opened into a clearing filled with spiralling luminous vines. Soft teal wisps floated above them — drifting lazily but watching us.
Windvine Wisps — Level 4
Pretty.
Annoying.
Fast.
"Okay," I said before Aria could claim them. "I want this one."
She blinked. "You what?"
"I need practice."
She stared for a second… then grinned. "Go on then, Sof."
Echo crouched beside me.
"Gentle Circle."
Echo spun, light rippling outward. The wisps slowed just enough.
I raised my Lumen Rod.
"Starlight Pulse."
Golden light struck the first Wisp — it scattered into motes instantly.
The second darted forward, petals slicing—
Hayley's cat intercepted in a burst of spirit energy.
Echo followed with a tackle.
+9 Coins
+Spirit XP
Aria clapped loudly. "LOOK AT YOU, SOFIA."
I covered my face. "Please don't announce it."
"It absolutely was murder," Hayes added helpfully.
I smiled anyway.
Inside, something warm flickered.
Confidence.
The wind shifted.
Echo growled low.
"KRA-KRA-KRA—!"
Wooden birds dove from the canopy.
BARKBEAKS
"Down!" I shouted.
Splinters rained past us.
Hayes braced and took a direct hit. "Ow — okay those hurt!"
Aria grabbed one mid-air and pile-drove it into the dirt. Dot finished it instantly.
Echo bit another's wing while Hayley sliced a third clean in half.
The last one came straight at me—
Echo jumped in front of me, taking the hit.
My chest tightened. "Echo—"
She shook it off stubbornly.
I steadied my breath.
"Together."
"Lumen Burst!"
Light detonated upward — the final bird shattered.
+15 Coins
+Spirit XP
Hayes exhaled. "That one counts as effort."
"You're getting scary good," Aria said, patting my shoulder.
"I'm just… trying."
Hayley smiled. "You're doing more than that."
Mist thickened around our legs.
"Vine Creepers," Hayes warned.
A vine instantly wrapped Aria's ankle.
She screamed. "I HATE NATURE!"
Dot bit one.
Hayley cut another.
Hayes shield-bashed a third.
Echo tackled the fourth.
I finished the last with a quick pulse.
Aria stood up, offended. "I am declaring war on plants."
"Reasonable," Hayes agreed.
The ground shook.
A boar burst through the foliage.
FERAL PUFFSNOUT — Level 5
Two more followed.
"Okay that's less reasonable," Hayes muttered.
"I tank!" he shouted, bracing.
The first slammed into him — he slid backwards.
Hayley intercepted the second.
Echo blocked the third charging me.
I fired a burst into its flank.
Aria sprinted forward.
"SHAKER PUNCH!"
Her gauntlets cracked against its ribs.
The cats swarmed. Dot joined. Hayley hamstrung another. Hayes slammed his into a tree.
I focused on healing pulses — keeping everyone upright.
Chaotic. Messy. No instructions.
But we moved together.
BOOM
BOOM
BOOM
Particles filled the clearing.
Everyone collapsed into the grass.
"That," Hayes said, breathing hard, "was actually scary."
"But we handled it," Hayley replied.
"TEAMWORK!" Aria yelled at the sky.
Echo curled into my lap. I stroked her fur gently.
We'd done it.
Without Riley.
A tiny hummingbird-like spirit fluttered over a flower.
Beautiful. Crystal wings.
Aria gasped.
"DIBS."
She threw a Bind Stone.
It bounced off.
Nothing happened.
"…what?"
Hayes coughed. "You have to weaken them first."
"WHAT?!"
Hayley sighed. "You can't just throw it."
The bird flew away.
Aria dropped to her knees. "NOOOO—"
I giggled despite myself.
After another short fight the system chimed:
HAYES' SPIRIT — LEVEL 5
HAYLEY'S SPIRIT — LEVEL 5
Hayley hugged hers instantly.
Hayes pretended not to care but absolutely did.
Echo leaned against me.
Everyone… had made it.
We weren't just Riley's group anymore.
We were a team.
And tomorrow?
We'd be stronger.