The announcement of the Ironspire Caverns raid had the entire guild buzzing. Pyers crowded the halls of Emberhold, forming parties, trading gear, and pnning their strategies. Even with the energy in the air, my mind wasn’t entirely on the dungeon. Ethan’s agreement to meet IRL lingered in my thoughts, creating an undercurrent of anxiety I hadn’t expected.

  I found Devon in the guild’s war room, pouring over maps and quest notes. His focus was absolute, his brow furrowed as he made notes on potential anomaly zones. Selene stood nearby, quietly organizing her inventory.

  “Hey,” I said, stepping into the room. “Got a second?”

  Devon gnced up, his expression softening slightly when he saw me. “What’s up?”

  I hesitated, gncing at Selene. She raised an eyebrow but took the hint, slipping out of the room with a murmured, “I’ll be nearby.”

  Once the door closed, I took a deep breath. “I’m meeting Ethan.”

  Devon straightened, his expression immediately shifting to one of concern. “What? When?”

  “Offline,” I crified quickly. “He agreed to meet, just the two of us.”

  “That’s a terrible idea,” Devon said ftly, crossing his arms. “You barely know him. What if he’s not who he says he is?”

  “I do know him, kinda,” I argued, my voice firm but calm. “He’s been part of this team for months, and he’s done nothing but prove himself."

  Devon shook his head, pacing slightly. “That doesn’t mean you should meet him alone. If you’re doing this, I’m coming too.”

  “No,” I said, stepping into his path. “This has to be just me. He’s... he’s not comfortable with crowds. He specifically asked for it to be one-on-one.”

  “Which makes it even worse,” Devon snapped, his frustration boiling over. “What kind of guy only wants to meet in private? It’s suspicious.”

  “It’s not,” I said, holding his gaze. “He’s just... he’s not great with people. He’s opened up to me a little, and I want to give him the chance to be himself.”

  Devon’s jaw clenched, his hands balling into fists at his sides. “Kiera, this feels wrong. What if something happens? What if he’s lying to you?”

  “I trust him,” I said firmly. “And I need you to trust me.”

  His eyes searched mine, the tension in his shoulders slowly easing. “I don’t like this,” he muttered. “At all.”

  “I know,” I said, leaning closer. “But you know I can handle myself. And I’ll call you the second anything feels off.”

  He didn’t respond right away, his eyes searching mine before he finally sighed. “You’re impossible.”

  “And you’re amazing,” I said with a small smile, leaning in to kiss him. His lips softened against mine, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.

  “Don’t thank me yet,” he murmured as we broke apart. “I still don’t like this.”

  “Noted,” I said, grinning. “But thank you anyway.”

  After convincing Devon, I regrouped with the rest of the team in the training yard, where Mason and Fi were finishing up their sparring session. Fi’s usual teasing had a softer edge now, her comments more pyful than critical.

  “Nice parry,” Fi said, twirling one of her swords. “You’re getting better at this.”

  Mason smirked, adjusting his hammer. “Coming from you, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “You should,” she replied, nudging him lightly with her shoulder. “But don’t let it go to your head.”

  Their hands brushed briefly as they walked, neither of them pulled away. The banter continued, but it was lighter, almost affectionate.

  “You two ready?” I called, watching as they fell into step beside me.

  “Always,” Fi said, grinning. “Just keep up, Boss.”

  We set out for the fields near Ashen Hollow, where mobs were plentiful, and the rewards were just high enough to make the grind worthwhile. The terrain was familiar, but the influx of pyers preparing for the raid made it feel more alive. Groups of adventurers clustered around spawn points, their attacks lighting up the horizon as they farmed for loot.

  As we approached a cluster of mobs, a familiar voice called out. “Hey, Boss!”

  I turned to see Kaelion, one of the guild’s senior members, waving us over. He stood with a small party of pyers, all decked out in high-tier gear that put our equipment to shame.

  “Geez, you too Kaelion? Fi starts, then Mason, Now you, too." I said, smiling. "Are You prepping for the Caverns?”

  “What? you’ve been doing pretty well since we first met. Like you’re coming to your own like a foreal boss,” he said, grinning. “Anyway, yup going to the caverns. You lot looking to grind? Plenty of mobs over by the cliffs. We’ve been farming there all morning.”

  “Appreciate the tip,” Devon said, stepping forward.

  Kaelion’s gaze flicked to Mason and Fi, his grin widening. “You two finally stopped fighting long enough to hold hands?”

  Mason’s ears turned red, but Fi just smirked, gripping Mason’s hand tighter. “Don’t be jealous, Kaelion. Not everyone can find a partner who puts up with them.”

  Kaelion ughed, waving us off as he turned back to his team. “Good luck out there, kids.”

  “Alright, let’s move,” I said, cutting the banter short. “Thanks for the heads-up, Kaelion. See you out there.”

  “Don’t get left behind,” he said with a wink before turning back to his team.

  We headed to the cliffs near Ashen Hollow, where mobs were plentiful, and other pyers were already farming for gear and experience. The energy in the field was infectious, the sounds of combat and ughter filling the air as parties worked together to clear waves of enemies.

  Our team moved like a well-oiled machine, each of us pying to our strengths.

  [Battle Log:]

  Mason uses Radiant Smash: 3,200 Damage dealt to Pack Leader.Fi uses Bde Cyclone: 2,900 Damage dealt to surrounding mobs.Selene uses Umbra Strike: Critical Hit! 4,500 Damage dealt to Elite Wolf.Devon uses Holy Cleave: 3,000 Damage dealt. AoE stagger applied.Kiera uses Shadow Embrace: 5-second immobilization applied to Alpha Wolf.By the time the sun began to set, our inventories were full, and our experience bars were noticeably higher. The group felt more in sync than ever, and even the tension from earlier had melted away.

  “Let’s call it for today,” I said, stretching. “We’ll regroup tomorrow and pn our next move.”

  “Sounds good,” Devon said, his hand brushing mine briefly. “Let’s get back to the guild.”

  ?????°???°?????

  The Emberhold Night Festival was in full swing by the time we returned to the guild hall. The square was alive with pyers, NPC vendors, and decorations that sparkled with magic. Floating nterns bobbed zily in the air, casting warm, golden light over the scene. Music pyed from unseen instruments, adding to the festive atmosphere.

  “Now this is a way to end a grind,” Fi said, spinning in a slow circle to take it all in. Mason stood beside her, his expression softer than usual as he watched her.

  “Better than another mob wave,” Selene agreed, her usual stoicism giving way to a faint smile.

  “Let’s enjoy it,” Devon said, nudging me lightly. “We’ve earned a break.”

  As the group dispersed to explore the festival, a notification pinged on my HUD. I opened it, finding a direct message from Ethan.

  Ethan: Sorry I bailed on the grind today. Something came up.

  Kiera: You’re not thinking of betraying us, are you?

  Ethan: Never.

  Kiera: Good. So, what was so important that you couldn’t make it?

  Ethan: ...Cleaning up.

  Kiera: Cleaning up?

  Ethan: Yeah, for our meet-up. I figured I should make an effort, you know?

  My heart skipped a beat as his next message came through.

  Ethan: If you’re still up for it, I’ll send you the address.

  I hesitated, my thoughts drifting back to my earlier conversation with Devon. I typed my response carefully.

  Kiera: I’m still up for it. But I told Devon, and he’s... not thrilled.

  Ethan: Figured as much. He’s got a right to worry. If you don’t trust me, I get it.

  Kiera: I trust you, Ethan. You’ve never given me a reason not to. And I know you wouldn’t hurt me.

  The pause before his reply felt longer than it probably was. When it came, his words carried more weight than usual.

  Ethan: You’re something else, Kiera. You really are.

  I smiled faintly, typing quickly before the moment grew too heavy.

  Kiera: Walk with me through the festival? Let’s call it a warm-up for the real thing.

  Ethan: A festival, huh? Alright, I’m in.

  I found Ethan near the guild’s entrance, leaning against a wall with his usual smirk firmly in pce. He looked up as I approached, pushing off the wall and falling into step beside me.

  “Festivals aren’t usually my thing,” he admitted as we wove through the crowd. “But I’ll make an exception for you.”

  “Lucky me,” I teased, gncing at him. “You know, you’ve got a lot of charm for someone who cims to hate crowds.”

  “It’s easier when it’s just you,” he said lightly, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of something deeper.

  We stopped at a stall where glowing potions in gss bottles spun zily on enchanted shelves. Ethan picked one up, holding it up to the light. “Want one? They’re probably overpriced, but hey, it’s a festival.”

  I ughed, shaking my head. “You don’t have to buy me anything.”

  “Too te,” he said, handing over some Crowns and giving the potion to me. “Consider it a festival souvenir.”

  “Thanks,” I said, smiling as I tucked the potion into my inventory. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “Didn’t have to,” he said, his smirk softening into something more genuine. “Wanted to.”

  As we reached the edge of the square, the noise of the festival faded slightly, repced by the soft hum of floating nterns above us. I stopped, turning to face him.

  “Thanks again,” I said.

  Ethan shrugged, though his usual confidence wavered slightly. “Like I said, easier when it’s just you.”

  “You don’t give yourself enough credit,” I said, my voice gentle. “Devon doesn’t trust easily, and neither do I. But I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think you were worth it.”

  For a moment, Ethan didn’t respond. His gaze lingered on me, something unspoken flickering in his eyes. “You make it sound so simple,” he said finally. “But it’s not.”

  “Maybe it is,” I said softly. “If you let it be.”

  Ethan’s hand twitched at his side, like he was debating whether to reach for me. Instead, he stepped back slightly, his smirk returning, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You really are dangerous.”

  “Meaning?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

  His voice grew quiet. “Because if I let myself, I’d keep falling for you in a heartbeat.”

  The words hung in the air between us, heavy and unspoken. I didn’t know how to respond. I reached out, to his arm.

  “Come on,” I said, my voice soft. “Let’s enjoy the festival.”

  He nodded, falling into step beside me once more as we returned to the glowing square. The air between us was charged but comfortable, a delicate bance that neither of us dared to disturb.

  Ethan and I continued our stroll through the Emberhold Night Festival, the buzz of the crowd and the warm glow of nterns creating a dreamlike atmosphere. Vendors called out to pyers, selling everything from rare potions to vanity gear, and the occasional NPC bard performed, drawing small crowds with enchanting melodies. Despite the liveliness around us, there was an unspoken stillness between Ethan and me—a quiet connection that neither of us seemed eager to break.

  The hum of the crowd and the warm glow of nterns creating a world apart from the chaos we’d left behind in the Crimson Vale. It was strange seeing him in such a rexed setting—his usual smirks and quips softened by the gentle light.

  As we reached the heart of the square, we found a small ring of carnival-style games set up. Pyers were lining up to shoot at moving targets, knock over enchanted bottles, or fish glowing orbs from shimmering pools. The prizes ranged from vanity gear to rare crafting materials, and the competition was fierce.

  “Think you can win something?” I asked, motioning to the shooting range.

  Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Are you challenging me?”

  “Maybe,” I said, grinning. “Unless you’re scared.”

  “Oh, it’s on,” he said, stepping up to the booth. He handed over the entry fee, and a magical bow materialized in his hands. The targets began to move—fast, unpredictable patterns that required sharp reflexes to hit.

  [Mini-Game: Festival Archery Challenge] Rules: Hit as many targets as possible within 60 seconds. Bonus points for headshots and hitting moving targets.

  Ethan grinned, his confidence returning as he knocked the first arrow and released. The shot hit its mark dead-center, the target exploding into a shower of sparks. The crowd around the booth cheered as he quickly fired off another, and another, each shot nding perfectly.

  [Scoreboard Update:] Ethan: 3,800 Points. (Top Score)

  When the timer ran out, he turned to me with a triumphant grin. “Think you can beat that?”

  “Not a chance,” I admitted, ughing. “But I’m impressed.”

  “Of course you are,” he said, handing me the vanity cloak he’d won as a prize. “Here. Another souvenir for trusting me.”

  “Thanks,” I said, accepting it with a smile. “You’re full of surprises tonight.”

  “Stick around, and you might see a few more,” he quipped.

  As the night wore on, the festival began to wind down. Pyers and NPCs alike moved toward the edge of the square, where a small ptform had been set up for the closing ceremony. Lanterns floated higher into the air, gathering above the square like stars waiting to burst.

  Ethan and I found a quiet spot near the edge of the crowd, watching as the first firework streaked into the sky. It exploded in a cascade of color, lighting up the night in shades of blue and gold.

  “I’m gd you came out tonight,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

  “So am I,” Ethan replied, his gaze fixed on the fireworks. “Even if this isn’t exactly my scene.”

  “Maybe it could be,” I said, gncing at him. “With the right company.”

  His lips twitched into a small smile, but his eyes were distant. The fireworks continued, their booms echoing through the square as I leaned slightly closer to him, the warmth of the festival making the moment feel suspended in time. For a fleeting second, I thought he might say something—something heavy, something real—but he stayed quiet.

  As the final firework exploded in a shower of gold, Ethan turned to me, his smirk returning but softer this time. “Thanks for dragging me out here, Kiera.”

  “Anytime,” I said, smiling. “And Ethan?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’ll see you soon.”

  He nodded, his expression unreadable as the crowd began to disperse. As we walked back to the guild hall, the warmth of the night lingered.