The next morning, the town awakened under a golden sunrise, its streets slowly coming to life. Merchants were already setting up their goods, calling out to early passersby as the aroma of freshly baked bread and the rich scent of roasting meat filled the air. From the forges, the rhythmic clang of a blacksmith’s hammer rang out, blending with the hum of morning chatter. Amidst this busy morning, Tara made her way toward Luna’s home, weaving through the streets. She arrived at the doorstep and knocked on the door.

  A moment later, the door opened, revealing Linda Greenwood, her warm smile tinged with quiet understanding.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Greenwood. Is Luna home?”

  Linda’s eyes softened as she stepped aside. “Good morning, Tara. It’s always nice to see you.” She cast a quick glance upstairs before calling out, “Luna! Tara is here looking for you!” Then, turning back to the young girl, she sighed with an apologetic smile, “I hope she hasn’t been too much trouble, missing work so often.”

  Tara waved off her concern with a reassuring smile. “It’s alright, Mrs. Greenwood. We just miss having her around.” “Is she coming to work today?” she asked politely.

  Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps was heard as Luna came racing down the stairs, shouting, "I'm coming!" She practically skidded to a stop at the bottom.

  “Hi, Tara!" she greeted, smiling as she took a moment to catch her breath.

  Tara chuckled. “Hi, Luna! Looking good as always. Shall we go?”

  The two of them set off toward the loom house, stepping into the bustling streets. The morning buzzed with the sounds of traders calling out their wares, bartering with eager customers, and the rhythmic clatter of carts rolling over cobblestone.

  As they turned a corner, they spotted Emily, another weaver, walking alongside her younger brother, Chester, an apprentice at the blacksmith’s shop. The two were deep in conversation, but as soon as they noticed Luna and Tara approaching, Emily lifted a hand in greeting.

  "Morning, you two!" Emily called out cheerfully.

  Luna and Tara smiled. "Good morning, Emily! Morning, Chester!"

  The four of them fell into step together, chatting as they walked through the busy streets. Vendors lined both sides of the road, their voices carrying over the din of the marketplace as they advertised everything from fresh produce to enchanted trinkets. Guards moved methodically through the crowd, their watchful eyes ensuring peace and order.

  While walking, Emily nudged her brother with a sly grin. "Chester, aren’t you going to ask Luna?"

  Luna tilted her head, curiosity in her eyes. "Ask me what?"

  Chester hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Uhh… it’s nothing important. Forget it."

  Emily rolled her eyes. "Alright, then I’ll just tell her." She turned to Luna with a playful smirk. "He wanted to ask if he could treat you to lunch later."

  Luna blinked in surprise before flashing a cheerful smile. "Huh? Sure, why not?! The more, the merrier! Let’s all have lunch together later, the four of us."

  Emily shot a glance at Chester, her teasing grin widening. "Uhm… yeah! That’s okay! Right, Chester?"

  Tara, barely holding back her laughter, chuckled in the background as he cleared his throat and replied, "Uhh… yeah… of course, it’s alright. Our mom packed an extra meal, we can all share."

  The group soon arrived at the loom house, its large wooden doors slightly ajar, the scent of freshly woven fabric and warm wood filling the air.

  “Alright, we’ll see you at noon, Chester,” Emily said, flashing a grin.

  "See you later," he replied, his voice tinged with excitement before he turned and headed toward the blacksmith’s shop.

  Inside the loom house, the steady hum of work filled the space as dozens of weavers moved in a practiced rhythm. The sound of spinning wheels and the rhythmic clack of looms echoed in the air.

  Luna, as always, worked swiftly, her nimble hands guiding the loom shuttle back and forth with practiced ease. The soft strands of silk wove together seamlessly under her touch, making the tedious task look effortless. She barely noticed the occasional glances from fellow weavers, who often marveled at her speed. She paid it little mind, Luna wasn’t particularly concerned with impressing anyone. She simply enjoyed the craft.

  Nearby, Emily and Tara worked together, carefully spinning silk fibers into fine threads. Their hands moved in tandem, pulling and twisting the delicate strands with measured precision. Though the task was repetitive, they passed the time with quiet conversation, exchanging gossip and sharing snippets of news from around the town.

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  By noon, the three had made significant progress, their finished fabrics neatly stacked and ready for inspection. Pleased with their productivity, Oliver, the owner of the loom house, clapped his hands together.

  "Excellent work, everyone! You’ve earned a break."

  Luna stretched, rolling her shoulders. "Great job, guys!" she said with a smile.

  As they stepped outside, they found Chester already waiting by the entrance, rocking back and forth on his heels, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw them.

  Emily smirked, folding her arms. "Hey, you’re here already. Are you even working?"

  Chester scoffed. "What are you talking about? Of course, I am! I asked my master blacksmith for a long break today." Then, with a spark of excitement, he added, "Come on, I know a great place where we can eat!"

  The four of them made their way through the bustling market, weaving past merchants and shoppers. They continued through the town square and headed north, where a quaint yet elegant inn stood, a cozy spot known for its fine meals and warm atmosphere.

  “Ahh, here it is!" Chester announced enthusiastically.

  Tara eyed the inn skeptically. "Hmm… can’t we just eat at the Lantern Hall? This place looks expensive."

  Chester waved off her concern with a grin. "Don’t worry, today’s special—it’s on me! Besides, we already have food to share."

  Emily and Luna, intrigued, peeked inside, their eyes widening in admiration at the inn’s warm and inviting ambiance. The scent of freshly baked bread and simmering stew wrapped around them like a welcoming embrace.

  Emily looked at her brother. “You sure about this?”

  "Of course! Let’s go!"

  With their plans set, the four of them made their way in ready to enjoy a well-earned lunch.

  The inn buzzed with activity, filled with diners enjoying their meals. Every table by the windows was occupied, leaving only one available at the center of the room. The four of them took their seats, Luna and Tara sitting side by side, with Chester and Emily across from them. They ate together, chatting and laughing, genuinely enjoying each other's company.

  Then, out of nowhere, a voice scoffed, "Ugh… this place stinks today."

  Another chimed in, "Yeah… and why are they even here?"

  Chester turned his head toward the table just behind them, slightly to the left. Seated there were Nico and Gustav, accompanied by two other men.

  Nico smirked. "Oh, look who it is. If it isn’t this guy. What’s he doing here?"

  Gustav leaned back with a grin. "Hey, ladies, why don’t you sit with us instead? We’re much better company. Don’t waste your time with him."

  Luna frowned, her voice sharp. "Hey! That’s rude!"

  Chester shot up from his seat, fists clenched, fury flashing in his eyes. "What did you just say?!"

  Nico and Gustav stood as well, grinning mockingly, their taunts only fueling Chester’s anger. "Oh? And what are you gonna do?" Nico sneered. "Hit me with your forging hammer?"

  Gustav chuckled. "You better be careful if I were you. My man Nico here can wield magic."

  The two men sitting with them merely laughed, watching the tension unfold like a show. One of them smirked. "Yeah, and I hear Gustav’s a skilled swordsman."

  Before Chester could react, Emily cut in, her voice firm. "That’s enough! Sit down, Chester. It’s not worth your time."

  Tara added, her tone pleading. "Please, just leave us alone."

  Nico scoffed. "Oh, I’ll tell you what’s worthwhile, young lady." He raised his left palm, fingers curled like a claw, concentrating on what little energy he had. A small flicker of flame sputtered into existence, barely lasting for mere seconds before fizzling out, resembling the Ignite spell Luna uses, but far inferior. It was weak and unstable.

  Meanwhile, beneath the table, Luna discreetly pulled out her wand, aiming it at Nico’s right leg. With a calm breath, she focused a fraction of her mana into the tip and released a weaker version of Lightning Strike. A swift, unseen jolt of electricity surged through Nico’s leg. With a yelp, Nico collapsed, clutching his leg and screaming in pain like a child.

  Luna stifled her laughter, while Chester looked around in confusion, trying to process what had just happened. Gustav quickly bent down to help his fallen friend, while the other two men sat frozen, puzzled by the sudden turn of events.

  Before the situation could escalate further, the innkeeper stormed over, his voice sharp. "Enough! If you cause any more trouble, I’ll throw you all out myself!"

  Emily immediately stepped in, bowing slightly in apology. "I’m sorry, sir. It was them who started it. I promise, it won’t happen again."

  Gustav’s jaw tightened, shot a glare at Chester, his voice low and threatening. "This isn’t over."

  With that, the four troublemakers turned and made their way out of the inn, their bruised egos trailing behind them. The tension in the air gradually faded, replaced by the familiar hum of laughter and conversation from the other patrons. Leaving Luna and her friends to enjoy the rest of their meal in peace.

  Tara exhaled, letting out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Who were those guys?” she asked, shaking her head.

  Chester, still visibly annoyed, scoffed. “People who think they own the town.” He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “That guy, who showed some lame magic and barely managed a flicker of flame? That’s Nico. He’s the son of Winston Branford. His family owns most of the farmlands in the northwest.” He jabbed his thumb toward the door where they had exited. “And that so-called swordsman? That’s Gustav. His father, Garret Warrick, is one of the knights stationed here in Karmine. He and his men serve as elite guards, hired by the Branford family to protect their lands.”

  Luna frowned. “Sounds like you’ve dealt with them before.”

  “Yeah, plenty of times. The Warrick family buys weapons from my master’s forge. Gustav always tags along, strutting around like he’s royalty, acting like he owns the place.”

  Emily scoffed, shaking her head. “And the other two?”

  Chester shrugged. “I don’t know their names, but I can guess. One’s probably another noble’s son, and the other is from an elite guard’s family. Same arrogant attitude, same entitlement.”

  Luna sighed, resting her chin on her hand. “They’re awful… You’d think, with all that wealth, they’d at least have better manners.”

  Chester smirked, his irritation fading into amusement. “Guess money can’t buy class.”

  Emily rolled her eyes. “That, and it doesn’t give you an excuse to act like a tough guy. You might actually get into trouble next time.”

  Tara giggled. “Yeah, just ignore them. They’re not worth it.”

  With the moment passed, they returned to their meal, the warmth of good food and laughter gradually restored a sense of ease. Despite the brief interruption, everything turned out well, thanks to Luna. As their conversation returned to lighter topics, Luna suddenly found herself lost in thought. A vivid memory surfaced in her mind as she slipped her hand into her pocket, grasping her wand. A quiet sense of gratitude welled up in her chest. With a soft whisper, she murmured under her breath,

  "Thank you… Elise."