Chapter 25: The Last Night in Lunaris

Morning in Lunaris began peacefully.

Sunlight streamed through the small windows of the inn, bathing the children's room in a warm, golden glow.

Yun Yun stretched sleepily.

Lyra was already half awake on her bed, flipping through pages filled with writing.

Kaien slowly tied his shoes.

Today was their final full day in Lunaris.

It was a strange thought.

Just as the three of them were about to head outside for training, the innkeeper appeared in the doorway.

The elderly man smiled warmly.

“Morning, you three.”

Yun Yun bowed slightly.

“Good morning.”

Kaien nodded politely.

Lyra only briefly raised one hand while continuing to write.

The innkeeper laughed softly.

“By the way, Rowan’s still out.”

Yun Yun blinked in surprise.

“Again?”

The innkeeper nodded.

“He’s helping a few more people around the village.”

Then he gestured toward the kitchen.

“Sit down first.”

“I prepared breakfast for you.”

Yun Yun’s eyes immediately lit up.

A few minutes later, the three of them sat together at a table, eating fresh bread with honey and warm eggs.

Kaien looked far more relaxed than he had only a few days earlier.

Even Lyra put her book aside for a moment to eat.

Meanwhile, Rowan walked through the streets of Lunaris with a large backpack slung over one shoulder.

After a few minutes, he stopped and opened it.

“Alright...”

He began checking its contents.

“Food for the journey.”

He nodded in satisfaction.

“Water.”

Then he lightly tapped the shield hanging at his side.

“My equipment.”

After that, he pulled out several rolled-up blankets.

“And blankets for the cold nights.”

A faint grin appeared on his face.

“Perfect.”

Then he paused.

“...Although.”

His gaze shifted toward the already stuffed backpack.

“Those kids are definitely carrying their own things later.”

A quiet laugh escaped him.

“I’m an adventurer, not a pack mule.”

Eventually, he pulled a small box from his pocket.

He took out a cigarette and lit it.

For several seconds, Rowan simply stood there, staring up at the sky above Lunaris.

Then he slowly exhaled the smoke.

“So tomorrow’s finally the day, huh...”

For a brief moment, his expression grew thoughtful.

Then a faint grin returned to his face.

He turned and walked back toward the inn.

When Rowan entered the inn, the innkeeper immediately looked up.

“Morning, Rowan.”

Rowan casually raised a hand.

“Morning.”

Then a faint grin appeared on his face.

“Are the little troublemakers awake yet?”

The innkeeper immediately burst into laughter.

“Of course.”

“I already gave them breakfast.”

Rowan nodded in satisfaction.

“And now they’re outside training.”

A faint grin remained on Rowan’s face.

Then he suddenly remembered something important.

“And the white-haired one?”

The innkeeper blinked.

“Does she have her book with her again?”

The innkeeper burst into loud laughter.

“Naturally.”

Rowan started laughing too.

“I’m beginning to think that thing is part of her soul.”

The two of them continued laughing for another moment before Rowan turned and headed outside once more.

Behind the inn, the children were already training by themselves.

Kaien practiced his sword strikes with complete concentration.

Step.

Turn.

Strike.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Nearby, Yun Yun practiced her dodging movements.

And Lyra...

Naturally, she sat in the shade with her book once more.

Rowan stopped nearby and crossed his arms with a grin.

Then he clapped his hands together.

CLAP.

All three immediately looked toward him.

“Alright, kids.”

He raised one finger.

“Here’s today’s plan.”

A second finger followed.

“We train a little more.”

Then a third.

“After that, we pick up your travel equipment.”

Finally, he lowered his hand again.

“And tomorrow at sunrise, we leave Lunaris.”

Yun Yun's expression immediately changed.

She glanced toward the village with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

Kaien looked around as well.

They had only spent a few days here.

Yet Lunaris had already begun to feel strangely familiar.

Rowan, however, continued before either of them could say anything.

“Our next destination is Falkenreach.”

Lyra immediately wrote the name down.

“Next destination: Falkenreach.”

Yun Yun curiously raised her head.

“The village where your friends live?”

Rowan nodded.

“That’s where the guild is too.”

Lyra suddenly stopped writing.

“Wait.”

She looked up.

A slight frown appeared on her face.

“What’s the guild called, anyway?”

Kaien blinked.

“Right.”

Yun Yun nodded as well.

“You never told us.”

Rowan grinned.

Then he proudly crossed his arms.

“The Silver Falcons.”

For several seconds, nobody said anything.

Then Lyra immediately lowered her gaze and continued writing.

“Adventurer Guild: The Silver Falcons.”

Rowan looked rather pleased with himself.

“Sounds good, doesn’t it?”

Lyra didn't even look up.

“Very dramatic.”

“That’s intentional.”

Kaien couldn't help but grin slightly.

And soon afterward, they returned to training.

Rowan stepped behind Kaien and watched his movements closely.

“Loosen your shoulders.”

Kaien adjusted his posture.

Rowan nodded toward him.

“Again.”

Kaien raised the wooden sword.

His feet moved.

His body turned.

Then he struck.

WHUMM.

Rowan attacked immediately.

But this time, Kaien blocked the strike far more steadily.

Rowan nodded in satisfaction.

Then he turned his attention toward Yun Yun.

“Your turn.”

Yun Yun immediately straightened.

Rowan picked up a wooden staff and slowly swung it toward her.

Yun Yun reacted a little too late, awkwardly stumbling to the side as the staff passed in front of her.

“Too slow.”

Yun Yun frowned.

Rowan swung again.

This time, she ducked much faster.

The wooden staff cut through the air above her head.

Rowan grinned.

“Better.”

Nearby, Lyra continued recording everything inside her book.

Kaien's training.

Yun Yun's movements.

Rowan's corrections.

Even his comments.

Suddenly, Rowan stopped directly beside her.

A faint smell of smoke drifted past Lyra.

Her nose immediately wrinkled.

“You smell like cigarettes.”

Rowan blinked.

Then he glanced down at himself.

“…Ah.”

He awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

“Sorry.”

Yun Yun looked over curiously.

“You smoke?”

Rowan nodded faintly.

“Sometimes.”

Lyra raised an eyebrow.

“Since when?”

Rowan thought about it for a moment.

Then he answered calmly.

“For quite a long time.”

Kaien looked at him with mild surprise.

“Then why did we never see you smoking?”

For several seconds, Rowan didn't answer.

Then a faint smile appeared on his face.

“Because I don't like smoking in front of kids.”

Yun Yun blinked.

Rowan casually crossed his arms.

“I don't want to look like some terrible role model.”

Lyra immediately lowered her pen to the page again.

“Rowan avoids smoking in front of children.”

Rowan noticed immediately.

His expression changed.

He sighed dramatically.

“Please stop writing down everything.”

Lyra continued writing.

“Too late.”

Kaien laughed quietly.

Grinning, Rowan shook his head.

Then his expression softened slightly.

“Besides, kids used to get scared whenever they saw me smoking.”

Yun Yun looked at him in confusion.

“Why?”

A dry grin appeared on Rowan's face.

“Because apparently, when you combine armor, a sword, a shield, and a cigarette...”

He glanced down at himself.

“…you end up looking like a mercenary.”

For several seconds, nobody said anything.

Then Yun Yun suddenly burst into laughter.

Even Kaien grinned faintly.

Meanwhile, Lyra continued writing with complete seriousness.

“Rowan possesses a questionable mercenary aura while smoking.”

Rowan slowly turned toward her.

He stared at her for several seconds.

Then even he started laughing.

“You really are impossible.”

“Thank you.”

Several hours passed.

Slowly, the sun began to set.

Eventually, the four of them left the training grounds and headed into Lunaris to collect their supplies.

At the tailor shop, several items were already waiting for them.

Small backpacks.

Rolled-up blankets.

Water bottles.

And enough provisions for the journey.

Yun Yun stared at everything in amazement.

“We look like real travelers.”

Rowan glanced toward the three of them.

A faint grin appeared on his face.

“Because now you are.”

Later that evening, the four of them once again sat together over dinner.

This time, however, the atmosphere felt quieter.

Almost melancholic.

Everyone knew why.

Tomorrow, they would leave Lunaris.

That night, the three children once again lay together in their room.

Moonlight shone through the window.

Yun Yun had curled up beneath her blanket.

“Our last night here…”

Kaien stared at the ceiling.

After a moment, he gave a faint nod.

“Yeah…”

A weak smile appeared on his face.

“Kind of sad.”

Immediately, the sound of frantic writing filled the room.

SCRITCH.

SCRITCH.

SCRITCH.

Kaien slowly turned his head.

Lyra was already writing inside her book with complete seriousness.

“Kaien feels sadness about leaving Lunaris.”

Kaien's face instantly turned red.

“Lyra!”

Without thinking, he grabbed a pillow and threw it at her.

WHUMPF.

It hit Lyra directly in the face.

For several seconds, the room fell silent.

Then Lyra slowly lowered the pillow.

She looked at Kaien.

“…That was a mistake.”

Without another word, she grabbed a pillow and threw it back.

But instead of hitting Kaien...

WHUMPF.

It struck Yun Yun directly in the face.

Yun Yun blinked.

Once.

Then again.

Slowly, she sat upright.

“…So that's how you want this to be.”

Kaien immediately froze.

“Oh no.”

Less than ten seconds later, another pillow flew across the room.

WHUMPF.

Then another.

Feathers began swirling through the air as all three of them burst into laughter.

For one last night, their small room in Lunaris was filled with noise.

Downstairs in the inn, Rowan was still sitting together with the innkeeper.

Then, suddenly, muffled sounds echoed from upstairs.

WHUMPF.

CRASH.

The innkeeper let out a heavy sigh.

“…You’re paying for those broken pillows.”

Rowan had just taken a sip from his mug.

He paused for a moment.

Then he began laughing with mild annoyance.

“Yeah, yeah…”

Something crashed against the wall upstairs again.

Rowan grinned and shook his head.

“Those little monsters are going to kill me someday.”