The town of Willowshade Haven unfolded before us like something out of a storybook—a cozy mix of cobblestone paths, ivy-covered cottages, and bustling market stalls. Lanterns swung gently in the breeze, their warm light casting golden hues across the twilight streets. NPC vendors called out their wares, and the occasional group of pyers strolled past, their armor and weapons gleaming under the ntern glow.

  My HUD pinged softly as we crossed the threshold into the town square.

  [LOCATION DISCOVERED: WILLOWSHADE HAVEN]

  The moment felt almost surreal. After days of constant tension, this pce felt… safe.

  Selene paused at the square's edge, scanning the crowd with sharp, amber eyes. Devon and Mason had already veered off toward what looked like a bcksmith’s forge, deep in conversation about gear upgrades.

  Fi twirled one of her short swords absentmindedly. “Alright, team. I vote we split up. Shopping montage, anyone?”

  I checked my inventory. My Obsidian Crowns, as the in-game currency was called—were overflowing. Thanks to UNKNOWN’s glitchy intervention, I had enough to cover… well, pretty much anything.

  “Actually,” I said hesitantly, “I’ve got… a lot of crowns. Like, an embarrassing amount.”

  Fi’s eyes went wide. “Oh, rich girl alert! Someone hit the jackpot!”

  Selene’s lips quirked into a faint smirk. “Looks like you're also the party financier.”

  I rubbed the back of my neck, shadows curling faintly at my feet. “… if you two want, we could go shopping together. You know, potions, armor… maybe some non-lethal daggers for Fi.”

  Fi gave an exaggerated gasp. “How dare you imply I’m not responsible with my bdes.”

  Selene chuckled softly. “Alright, let’s go. … try not to buy anything cursed, Kiera.”

  The marketpce was a vibrant tapestry of colors and sounds. Stalls overflowed with shimmering fabrics, enchanted jewelry, glowing potions, and weapons dispyed on velvet cushions. An NPC bard pyed the lute nearby, the soft melody carrying above the chatter of pyers haggling for deals.

  I led the way, slightly nervous but excited. Fi immediately gravitated toward a potion vendor, her eyes lighting up at the assortment of glittering bottles.

  “Ooooh, look at this one!” Fi held up a shimmering vender vial. “It’s called ‘Moonshade Elixir.’ It makes your hair glow under moonlight.”

  Selene raised an eyebrow. “Are we fighting bosses under a full moon anytime soon?”

  Fi pouted. “You’re no fun.”

  I couldn’t help but giggle at their dynamic. “How much is it?”

  The vendor cleared his throat. “One vial is 150,120 crowns, miss.”

  Without hesitation, I gnced at my inventory and dropped the coins onto the counter. The vendor’s eyes widened, and Fi let out a victorious cheer.

  “Kiera, you are officially my favorite person ever.”

  Selene smirked faintly. “Careful, Fi. She might start charging interest.”

  We moved from stall to stall—Fi picking out novelty potions, Selene selecting a few polished throwing daggers, and me just… enjoying it. For once, there were no monsters, no Guardians, no looming threats. Just three girls wandering a fantasy town square with coins to spend and time to kill.

  At one point, we stopped in front of a quaint-looking shop between two buildings. Its wooden sign read: “Mirabelle’s Wardrobe – Enchanted Attire for Adventurers and Nobility.”

  Fi gasped dramatically. “Fancy clothes! Yes, let’s go in.”

  The inside of the shop was cozy, lined with mannequins dressed in flowing cloaks, embroidered tunics, and shimmering gowns enchanted to glimmer faintly with starlight. The shopkeeper, an elderly NPC with gsses perched on her nose, greeted us warmly.

  Selene was already inspecting a bck hooded cloak with faint crimson embroidery along the hem. It matched her vibe perfectly. Meanwhile, Fi was spinning in front of a mirror, wearing a bright green sash tied around her waist.

  I wandered toward the back and froze.

  There, hanging on a mannequin, was a dress, unlike anything I’d seen before. Deep violet fabric cascaded down in flowing yers, speckled with tiny glimmering shards like stars scattered across the night sky. Thin leather straps crisscrossed over the bodice, and faint runes were stitched delicately into the fabric.

  “It’s beautiful,” I whispered.

  Fi popped up beside us. “Try it on! You have to try it on!”

  Before I could protest, the shopkeeper guided me toward a fitting room.

  The dress fit perfectly. It hugged my waist comfortably, the fabric flowing like liquid shadows with every movement. The runes glowed faintly in the dim light, casting delicate patterns across the floor.

  I stepped out of the fitting room hesitantly, my wings twitching slightly behind me.

  Selene was the first to react. She stood near one of the dispy mannequins, her amber eyes wide and… soft. For a moment, she didn’t say anything.

  “Do I… look okay?” I asked quietly.

  Selene’s lips parted slightly before she spoke. “You look… stunning, Kiera.”

  My cheeks burned, and my shadows twitched in embarrassment.

  Fi gave an exaggerated wolf whistle. “Look at you! Kiera, I will riot if you don’t buy that dress.”

  I turned back to the shopkeeper. “How much is it?”

  The old NPC smiled warmly. “For you, dear, 40,500 crowns.”

  Selene raised an eyebrow. “That’s… a lot.”

  I immediately accepted the price. The shopkeeper then handed me a polished box with the dress folded carefully inside.

  Selene watched me for a moment, her expression unreadable. But when she spoke, her voice was soft.

  “You’re full of surprises, Kiera.”

  Later that evening, the three of us sat around a small table on the inn’s balcony, a pte of pastries and three mugs of spiced cider between us. The town below buzzed faintly with life—pyers ughing, NPCs chatting, nterns glowing softly.

  Fi leaned back in her chair, arms folded behind her head. “Today was fun. Honestly, we needed this.”

  Selene sipped her cider, her amber eyes fixed on the distant horizon. “yeah. Today was good.”

  I smiled softly, cradling my mug in both hands. For a moment, none of us said anything.

  The stars twinkled faintly above us, and the world felt still. Safe.

  Selene gnced at me, her gaze lingering a little longer than usual. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper.

  “Thanks, Kiera. For… today.”

  Our eyes met, and for a fleeting moment, everything else faded—the quests, the anomalies, the looming dangers. It was just us, bathed in starlight and the faint warmth of cider.

  Fi, of course, ruined it. “Hey, if you two start making googly eyes at each other, warn me next time. I’ll go get more pastries.”

  We ughed softly, and the moment passed.

  ?????°???°?????

  The marketpce had grown quiet as twilight deepened into night. Golden nterns hung from strings stretched across the town square, their soft glow casting a warm light against the cobblestone streets. A faint hum of excitement buzzed as pyers and NPCs gathered near an ample, open space in the center of Willowshade Haven.

  Banners fluttered gently in the cool night breeze, and faint, lilting music drifted through the air—a soft violin paired with a pyful lute.

  A notification pinged on my HUD:

  [EVENT: STARFALL FESTIVAL – CELEBRATE UNDER THE LIGHTS!]

  Fi practically vibrated with excitement as she read the text. “A festival?! Oh, we have to go. This is non-negotiable.”

  Mason appeared beside her, grinning. “Agreed. Besides, festivals usually mean free food. And mini-games.”

  Devon leaned against a wooden post, his greatsword propped beside him. “You two go ahead. I’ll stick around and make sure no one tries to pickpocket us during the chaos.”

  Selene’s voice cut through the chatter, her tone calm but firm. “We’re all going. If nothing else, it’s a chance to let our guard down. We deserve that.”

  I hesitated momentarily, my eyes flicking toward my inventory—the polished box containing the violet dress I’d bought earlier.

  “Alright,” I said softly. “Give me a minute. I’ll meet you all there.”

  The dress felt impossibly smooth as I slipped it on in my room at the inn. The deep violet fabric clung to my figure without feeling restrictive, cascading down in yered folds that shimmered faintly with every movement. The enchanted runes stitched into the bodice glowed softly, like tiny consteltions scattered across my form.

  The mirror reflected someone… different. Not the awkward newbie who stumbled through a tutorial boss fight or nearly glitched herself into oblivion. Someone poised. Someone confident.

  I took a deep breath.

  “Alright, Kiera. Time to… festival.”

  The square had been transformed into something out of a fairy tale. Strings of glowing nterns crisscrossed above us, casting flickering shadows across wooden stalls offering snacks, trinkets, and festival games. A rge stage had been set up at one end of the square, where musicians pyed upbeat tunes that mingled with the sound of ughter and chatter.

  Pyers and NPCs danced in clusters, some in casual armor, others in festival attire—bright silks, flowing fabrics, and enchanted accessories.

  As I stepped into the square, the soft click of my heels against the cobblestone felt oddly significant.

  The moment I appeared, the group turned toward me.

  Devon froze mid-conversation with Mason. His brow lifted, his eyes wide as he took in my appearance. “Kiera…”

  Selene was quieter, her amber eyes widening slightly as they scanned me from head to toe. Her lips parted, but no words came out.

  Fi let out a sharp whistle. “Okay, wow. Kiera, you’re… like, stupidly gorgeous right now.”

  Mason nudged Devon with his elbow. “You might want to close your mouth, dude.”

  My face warmed instantly as I raised my hands awkwardly. “Okay, okay, stop staring! I’m going to combust if you keep doing that.”

  Selene finally spoke, her voice quieter than usual. “You look… breathtaking, Kiera.”

  Her words lingered in the space between us, and for a moment, the festival noise faded into a distant hum.

  The festival carried on around us—pyers ughing as they pyed ring toss, vendors calling out the day’s specials, and small groups gathering near the stage to dance to the lilting music.

  I found myself wandering along the outskirts of the festival with Selene beside me. The glow of the nterns reflected in her amber eyes, and the faint breeze rustled the hem of her bck cloak.

  “You’ve been quiet,” I said softly.

  Selene gnced at me, her expression thoughtful. “I’m… not used to this. Festivals, crowds… nights like this.”

  “Me neither,” I admitted. “I never thought I’d enjoy something like this in a game, but… it feels real, doesn’t it?”

  “It does,” she said quietly.

  We paused near an open space where pyers danced in small clusters. Couples spun in elegant arcs while others stumbled over their feet, ughing and holding onto each other for bance.

  Selene hesitated, her fingers twitching slightly at her sides. Then, after a moment, she held out her hand toward me.

  “Would you like to dance?”

  My breath hitched, and my shadows flickered faintly at my feet. “I—um… I don’t really know how to dance.”

  Selene’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “Neither do I. But I think we’ll manage.”

  I took her hand, and she guided me into the ntern-lit clearing.

  The music slowed as we stepped into the open space. Selene’s hand was warm in mine, her other resting lightly on my waist. My wings twitched nervously, but she adjusted her grip without missing a beat.

  We moved carefully at first—hesitant steps and awkward pauses—but eventually, we found a rhythm. The glowing runes on my dress shimmered softly in the ntern light, reflecting faintly in Selene’s eyes.

  It felt like the world had shrunk to just the two of us for a moment—no anomalies, no corrupted code, no looming Guardians or rogue pyers. Just this moment, this dance, and the faint glow of nterns above us.

  Selene’s voice broke the silence. “Kiera… do you ever feel like we’re walking a razor’s edge?”

  I swallowed hard. “Every day.”

  Her gaze softened. “But you keep going.”

  “I have to,” I whispered. “I can’t let this world fall apart. I won’t.”

  Selene’s hand tightened slightly around mine. “You’re stronger than you realize.”

  The music swelled around us, and our movements slowed until we were barely swaying in pce. I realized how close we were—Selene’s face just inches from mine, her breath soft against my skin.

  For a brief, heart-stopping moment, I thought she might lean in.

  But then a loud crash echoed nearby, followed by Mason’s unmistakable voice: “WHY DOES THE PUNCH BOWL HAVE FIREWORKS IN IT?!”

  The moment shattered like gss.

  Selene ughed softly, and I couldn’t help but giggle, too.

  “Come on,” she said, her hand still in mine. “Let’s go see what disaster Mason’s caused this time.”

  The night continued with ughter, food, and chaotic shenanigans—Fi nearly got kicked out of a ring toss booth, Mason accidentally started a conga line, and Devon cracked a smile (a rare event).

  But even as the festival wound down and the nterns began to flicker out, I found my mind drifting back to that moment with Selene—the faint glow of her amber eyes, the warmth of her hand in mine, and the quiet words we shared.

  ?????°???°?????

  The festival had begun to wind down. The nterns hanging overhead swayed gently in the night breeze, their glow softer now, casting faint pools of golden light on the cobblestone streets. Pyers and NPCs lingered in small groups, sharing drinks, ughter, and the lingering warmth of a night well spent.

  I was walking back to the inn, the faint click of my heels echoing softly in the emptying square. My violet dress shimmered faintly under the ntern light, and my shadows flickered gently at my feet, a quiet, restless presence.

  It had been a good night—a needed night. But as the distant sound of ughter faded behind me, the weight of everything still lingered in my chest.

  “Kiera.”

  The voice stopped me mid-step. I turned, and there he was—Devon, leaning against one of the wooden posts near the square's edge. His greatsword was strapped to his back, his usual casual confidence tempered by something more serious in his eyes.

  “Hey,” I said softly, my voice barely reaching the distance.

  He pushed off the post and walked toward me, his dark eyes fixed on mine. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

  “You’re leaving early,” he said, his voice low.

  I shrugged faintly. “It’s been a long day.”

  Devon exhaled slowly and ran a hand through his hair, his gaze flicking to the nterns before returning to me. “Kiera… do you think you could...log out.”

  I blinked. “What?”

  “Log out,” he repeated, softer this time. “I… I want to talk to you. Not here. In person.”

  His words settled over me like a stone in my stomach. Devon wasn’t usually like this—so direct, so vulnerable.

  The festival lights faded, and the sound of music and ughter grew distant as I walked toward the inn. Devon’s voice had been steady but firm when he asked me to log out—to meet him in real life.

  It wasn’t a suggestion. It wasn’t even a question.

  It was… Devon. And I couldn’t say no.

  The notification blinked faintly in my HUD:

  [LOG OUT? Y/N]

  With a deep breath, I selected Y.