SUMMER POOL PARTY

Kane's spellbook, still lying on the table, began to change. The words around his mage type shimmered faintly, but Kane paid it no mind. As they left Orb's house, he, Aldine, and Loer set out across the vast grasslands, their mission clear: to gather more Sciros and strengthen their abilities.

Kane, utterly exhausted, plopped onto the grass and sprawled out, his body too heavy to continue. "Ugh, I can't walk anymore. I’m not going to walk anymore," he muttered, his tone stubborn and unyielding.

Loer, ever patient, dropped down beside him. "Let's rest for a while then," he said, his tone relaxed, as though the endless day of walking hadn’t worn him out at all. Aldine followed suit, settling next to them as they lay under the open sky, fingers absentmindedly playing with the blades of grass.

Time seemed to pass slowly, the sky above them a brilliant expanse of blue. Just as Kane was about to drift into a reluctant doze, he sat up with a sudden burst of energy. "Wait, hold up! I want to freshen up! Are we seriously just going to keep walking without stopping? Without eating, bathing, and sleeping in the grass like animals?"

Loer laughed heartily at Kane's outburst, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "You know," he began with a grin, "there’s actually a spell for that in your GREMOIRE. Right in the middle where your information is. Just say it out loud, and you'll have your own little space to stay in. Think of it like a magic lounge."

Aldine nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, just be sure to stand in a clear area when you cast it. You don’t want your room floating above someone’s house. That could get... awkward."

Kane sighed deeply, pulling out his gremoire. "There's so much I don’t know about this world," he muttered. He flipped to the middle page, seeing his own details and the spell written in a language he surprisingly understood. Speaking the words aloud, he watched in awe as, from thin air, a room materialized on the grass beside them. It was like a tiny camping capsule, complete with a bathroom, bed, and even a mini kitchen—a magical studio apartment that appeared out of nowhere.

"Well, this is convenient," Kane murmured, stepping inside. "Magic really does make everything easier."

Loer and Aldine, not wanting to miss out, conjured their own rooms beside his. They spent the next few hours cleaning up and changing into fresh clothes, the grime of their journey finally washed away. When they stepped outside, their rooms vanished with a simple command, returning the open fields to their natural state.

Kane immediately lay back down on the grass, feeling refreshed but still unwilling to move. "I like the whole magic-house thing," he said with a lazy grin. "But I still don’t feel like walking."

Just as he was closing his eyes again, a voice rang out. "Hey! Hey!" A girl came running toward them, clutching a handful of brightly colored papers. She stopped in front of them, panting heavily as she handed each of them a flier.

Kane glanced at it, confusion written across his face. "What is this?"

Aldine studied the flier and smiled as she sat up. "Carlics. It's a place just outside Eortes. They host events for mages who can’t enter the city. This could be a good chance to find some opponents and win more Sciros."

Loer nodded in agreement. "We'll come," he told the girl as he stood up, who smiled brightly before skipping off.

Three hours later, after more uneventful resting, they set off for Carlics. The entrance to the town was as festive as the flier had suggested—sunflowers and roses intertwined with lush green vines decorated the archway, and unfamiliar plants Kane couldn’t name bloomed all around. A silver-lined yellow carpet stretched out before them, guiding them along with the crowd toward the pool party. It felt as though half the world had shown up for the occasion, with over a thousand people in attendance.

The three friends followed the others inside, greeted by attendants dressed in bright orange and yellow knee-length dresses, who smiled warmly as they passed by. Once inside, the sight that greeted them was nothing short of breathtaking. A sparkling pool took center stage, surrounded by food stalls, game booths, a juice bar, and even a section dedicated to magic performances. Beyond the pool, the ocean stretched out, shimmering under the sun’s light, and surfboards rested along the shore.

"Wow. This looks awesome," Loer said, clearly impressed.

They headed toward a door marked "Summer Costume" and quickly changed into their swim attire. Aldine's figure was lean and athletic, her toned muscles subtly visible under her smooth skin as she moved with grace. Clad in a striking blue bikini, the vibrant color contrasted beautifully against her sun-kissed complexion. The bikini hugged her curves, accentuating her slender waist and long legs as she confidently carried the surfboard to the water’s edge.

With effortless strength, she propelled herself forward, her arms taut and strong as she guided the surfboard over the waves. As she leapt onto the board, droplets of water cascaded over her body, highlighting the defined lines of her abdomen and the powerful muscles in her legs. Each movement was fluid, a perfect balance of elegance and control, as she became one with the rolling sea beneath her.

Loer, opting for red trunks, lounged on a sun chair, basking in the warm sunlight. His chiseled abs glistened under the sunlight, each muscle defined and gleaming with a radiant sheen. Kane, now dressed in a navy-blue surf suit, wandered around, hoping to find someone to challenge in a battle. But it seemed everyone was more interested in the festivities than in fighting.

Defeated, Kane lay down on a beach chair next to Loer, his mind still on his mission. As he settled into his seat, his hand accidentally brushed against Aldine’s bag, causing something small and shiny to tumble out. A beautiful pendant, glistening in the sunlight, rolled across the sand.

Kane sighed and got up to retrieve it, but before he could reach it, another hand grabbed the pendant—belonging to a young boy, no older than eight. "What are you doing?" Kane asked, his voice sharp with annoyance.

The boy, his eyes wide with fascination, held the pendant tightly. "I want it. It's pretty."

Kane’s temper flared as he grabbed one end of the pendant in the boy's hand. "Kid, it’s mine. Let it go."

The boy pouted and shook his head stubbornly. "No."

Loer, noticing the commotion, sat up from his sunbath. "What’s going on?" he called out.

"This kid grabbed Aldine’s pendant and won’t let go," Kane replied, his patience wearing thin.

Loer approached with a calm demeanor. "That’s our friend’s pendant," he said politely. "Please let go."

But the boy refused, tugging at the pendant even harder. "I want it!"

The two pulled back and forth, neither willing to give up. "Let go!" Kane growled.

"You let go!" the boy shouted back.

Aldine, having noticed the scuffle, hurried over. She watched in horror as the boy gave one final, forceful tug, and the pendant snapped in two. One half remained in the boy’s hand, while the other half fell from Kane's hand, sinking into the sand.

The boy’s mother came rushing over, clearly embarrassed. "Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!" she cried, bowing repeatedly. Aldine bent down and picked up the broken piece from the sand, her expression resigned.

"It’s okay," Aldine said with a forced smile, but her eyes told a different story. The pendant had been important to her, and seeing it broken hurt more than she let on.

Kane, however, wasn’t as forgiving. "Look what you did!" he shouted at the boy. "Are you going to take responsibility now?"

The boy’s lip trembled, and he hid behind his mother, who continued to bow in apology. "Sir, I’m so, so sorry. I’ll pay for it. Please forgive my son."

Kane sighed, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "Now I look like the villain," he muttered under his breath.

"No, ma’am," Aldine interjected. "It’s really not your fault."

But Kane wasn’t ready to let it go. He turned to the boy, his tone still harsh. "Kid, if I see you again, it won’t be good for you."

The boy, rather than shrinking in fear, took a defiant step forward. "You seem so proud of yourself. I want to be a Sciro master!"

Kane’s glare intensified. "What?"

"If you think you’re so tough," the boy continued, puffing out his chest, "then let’s battle! I’ve got five Sciros. No way I’m losing to a cocky niichan like you."

"The audacity..." Kane muttered through gritted teeth.

Loer stepped in, trying to diffuse the situation. "Don’t battle him, Kane. He’s just a kid. Child mages have less mana than us. It’s not worth it."

Kane scoffed but nodded reluctantly. He started to walk away with Loer and Aldine, but the boy wasn’t done. "Hah! I knew it! You guys are just a bunch of cowards!"

Kane stopped in his tracks, his fists clenched. "Kid," he said, turning slowly. "You’re making it harder for me not to knock you flat."

"Talk big, no action!" the boy taunted with a smirk.

Kane turned to his friends. "I’m sorry. I can’t take this kid’s attitude."

"No, Kane—don’t," Aldine urged. "He’s just a small boy."

"He broke your pendant, Aldine!" Kane snapped. "And he’s still acting like a brat after his own mother apologized for him!"

A tense silence fell over the group as they stood at the crossroads of reason and anger.