The draws had been completed. The paths were set. Every team now knew where they stood and who they might face next. The excitement had already reached its peak, but now there was a small pause before the storm.
Two days.
Two days to rest. Two days to recover. Two days to prepare.
For now, the fighters were told to relax, enjoy the Carnival, and refresh themselves before stepping back into the battlefield. But even during rest, thoughts of the upcoming fights never truly left their minds.
Each member of the Rising Heroes spent their day in their own way.
Lila decided to visit an exhibition that displayed different kinds of weapons like swords, spears, shields, and many more. The moment she stepped inside, her eyes lit up. Everywhere she looked, there were weapons crafted with incredible detail. Some were ancient, some were modern, and some carried stories of legendary warriors.
She moved from one display to another, carefully observing each weapon. The craftsmanship fascinated her. The balance, the design, the purpose behind each piece, it all drew her in completely.
For a moment, she forgot everything else.
Fizzle had initially followed her, curious about what Lila was so excited about. But the moment she saw the sign "No Food Allowed" her interest disappeared instantly. With a small pout, she turned away and went off on her own adventure.
Lila, however, continued wandering through the exhibition.
As she moved around, she suddenly felt something unusual.
A group of little girls had surrounded her.
Each of them held small wooden weapons, one had a sword, another had a spear, and another carried a tiny wand. They looked up at Lila with shining eyes, clearly recognizing her.
Before Lila could even react, they "ambushed" her playfully.
The sudden attention surprised her, but within seconds, a bright smile appeared on her face. She crouched down to their level and began interacting with them. They asked her questions, showed off their moves, and even tried to imitate her fighting style in their own cute way.
Lila laughed and played along with them.
For a while, she forgot about everything else again.
After some time, their parents called them back. The little girls waved goodbye and began to leave.
But just before going, one of the girls stopped.
She turned back, holding her father's hand.
With the biggest and most genuine smile, she said, "When I grow up… I want to be someone like you."
Lila froze for a second.
Those simple words hit her deeply.
She smiled back, but her heart felt heavier in a good way.
As she watched the girl walk away with her father, a memory surfaced in her mind.
Zora.
For a brief moment, her expression softened. The sight reminded her of she childhood, memories she still carried within her.
But before those thoughts could take over, she took a deep breath.
She turned back.
And continued walking through the exhibition.
Sera, on the other hand, returned to the magic showcase she had visited before. But this time, she wasn't just there to watch.
She was a volunteer.
She stood in front of a group of young children, holding her wand carefully. Though she was a bit nervous at first, she quickly gained confidence as she began demonstrating her magic.
She showed them simple spells, guiding them step by step.
The children watched her with excitement and admiration.
To make things even more engaging, Sera summoned a smaller version of her Verdant Guardian. The tiny guardian moved around, helping her demonstrate different spells. The children were amazed.
Their laughter and excitement filled the area.
Sera even partnered with a respected elf from another nation, learning and sharing techniques together. It was a moment of growth for her, not just as a fighter, but as a teacher.
She smiled more than usual that day.
Doran had a different kind of day.
He did go out for a while, walking around the Carnival like everyone else. But it didn't take long before he found himself drawn to something familiar.
A blacksmith's workshop.
Without wasting time, he stepped inside and offered to help.
For hours, he worked tirelessly. Hammering metal, lifting heavy materials, assisting with the crafting process. The heat of the furnace, the sound of metal clashing, it all felt natural to him.
It wasn't just work.
It was training.
With every swing of the hammer, he strengthened himself further.
Six hours passed before he finally stopped.
His arms were sore. His body was tired.
And his stomach was growling loudly.
After cleaning himself up, he headed straight to the food area and ate until he was completely full.
A simple but satisfying day.
Adrian, for the first time in a while, had no royal duties to attend to.
But instead of resting, he chose to spend his time with his battalion.
The Golden Paradox.
He sparred with them, one after another. Each fight sharpened his skills further. His movements were precise, his decisions quick.
The soldiers respected him deeply.
Not just because he was a prince, but because he was strong.
The Golden Paradox was known as one of the most powerful battalions in the Kingdom of Cero. Led by Adrian, it consisted of exceptional warriors.
His two second-in-commands were especially renowned, one known as the "Fury of the Akari Volcano" and the other as the "Timeless Mage."
Alongside them were five captains... Bronzed, Artillery, Hex, Abyss Piercer, and Loop.
Each one powerful in their own right.
And at the center of it all stood Adrian... the "Golden Eyes which can see the future"
Even on his day off, he chose to grow stronger.
Meanwhile, Fizzle found her perfect way to spend the day.
Food.
After leaving Lila, she ended up with Drakar.
Or rather, Drakar ended up accompanying her.
Fizzle sat comfortably on Drakar's wing as they moved from one food stall to another. She ate everything she could find, happily enjoying each bite.
Drakar didn't stop her.
Instead, he followed along.
For once, his mind felt lighter.
The constant thoughts, the weight he had been carrying, they faded for a while.
He even smiled slightly at Fizzle's excitement.
It was a simple moment.
But it mattered.
As the day came to an end, the Rising Heroes gathered once again.
They sat together, sharing what they had done throughout the day.
Lila talked about the exhibition and the little girls.
Sera shared her experience at the magic showcase.
Doran proudly spoke about his time at the forge.
Fizzle excitedly described all the food she had eaten.
The atmosphere was warm.
Peaceful.
Then Adrian cleared his throat.
He stood up and pointed toward Drakar.
"Everyone… Drakar has something to say."
The room went quiet.
Drakar looked hesitant.
For a moment, he stayed silent.
But then… he spoke.
He told them everything.
About his past.
About his parents.
About Solreth.
About what he had seen… what he had lost… what he was feeling.
No one interrupted him.
They simply listened.
When he finished, there was silence again.
Then Lila stepped forward.
She placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled.
"Well then… I guess we can't afford to lose at any cost."
Doran rubbed his nose, trying to hide his emotions. "You didn't have to make me this emotional… I was already planning to win."
Sera smiled gently. "Yes… we have to win."
She paused.
"For Drakar."
Adrian said nothing.
But a small smile appeared on his face.
Drakar looked at them.
And nodded.
Grateful.
The heaviness in his heart felt a little lighter now.
Soon, laughter filled the room again.
Even with a huge battle ahead of them…
They chose to enjoy the present.
Together.