The carriage settled into its nightly rhythm, lantern light drifting over faces.
William lounged opposite, gloves off, looking relaxed but authoritative.
"Alright," he said. "Goals. I want to hear what you're chasing so I know what to sharpen."
Kai adjusted Sun across his back.
"Kai Xander. To be the strongest Seeker I can be. Protect people. Discover who I am and what I want in life. Elder Li said Master Elric is the strongest man alive. I want to stand near that."
He stopped a beat.
"Also, I still say umtra and untra by accident. I'm trying."
William's smile was easy.
"Strength with purpose. Good."
Aria smirked at Kai, then faced forward.
"Aria Flamehart. I like noodles and Vinlan food. I hate sour things. I'm going to be the strongest Seeker ever and prove it to my family. Especially my father. If the world has a ceiling, I'm kicking through it."
"Noted," William said.
"We can schedule noodle stops between heroics."
Lila shot both hands up.
"Lila Butters. I want friends. You two are stuck with me. I'm going to be a top healer and water specialist and make enough to buy every cute thing I see—also sweets. If there's a festival bun cart, I will bankrupt myself."
She paused.
"And yes, I keep a Mason's Seeker Data Book of the hottest Seekers. For research."
Aria snorted.
Kai lost a battle with a grin.
William went solemn.
"Research must be funded."
Rin waited until the city's glow washed silver across the window.
"Rin Kairo. Last of my clan. I'll restore the name, learn the techniques they buried, walk into places no one maps, and take what the unknown hides. I'll harness it and use it on all my enemies specifically one person."
He paused.
"After that, I'm done. Spring morning on Cherry Blossom Hills, I'll sit under a Sukira Tree and watch black petals move in the wind. That is enough."
Silence.
Lila whispered,
"Ten out of ten. Scary poetry again."
Aria leaned forward.
"Then don't die before spring."
William let it breathe, then clapped once.
"My turn. I plan to become the next chairman of the Seeker Association. Which means if you want the title of strongest, you'll have to wait until after me."
He winked.
"In the meantime, I'm going to teach you to surpass me and become the strongest of your generation.
"You're my first squad.
"I built my guild as a one-person army when I was young and stupid. That ends now.
"I am adding a real squad to my banner, starting with you."
Lila blinked.
"You don't teach anyone."
"This is a test for me too," William said.
"Leadership. Not relying only on myself. Building legends, not just stories about one idiot with a light blade."
He kept his tone playful, but his eyes flicked to Rin for a heartbeat.
He understood that promise about one person.
He knew the history.
He kept the name off his tongue.
The carriage rolled past a moonlit canal.
Rising Moon banners lifted on the night wind.
Drums thumped somewhere up the terrace.
Lanterns painted bridges gold.
William leaned in, voice low enough to feel like a secret.
"Trial by Mercy.
"Janoah.
"Eight teams.
"Only one winner."
The carriage went quiet.
"Teams qualify together, then the masks come off. One-on-ones. Yield or you sleep. Last standings decide your ranks going forward."
Kai frowned.
"And squad lead?"
"Earned in the ring," William said.
"Whoever from this team survives the longest or wins it all takes the armband.
"The captain picks missions.
"The leader calls shots."
Aria's eyes flicked to Kai.
"Good. I like clear rules."
Kai smiled back.
"Me too."
William's grin tilted.
"That rivalry? Keep it friendly."
He let the stakes land.
"Win the whole Mercy, and your squad gets a mural in Janoah's Hall.
"That wall is legendary.
"Global respect.
"Sponsors line up.
"Better contracts.
"Doors that stay closed to most people start opening—archives, ports, the kind of information even nobles trade favors."
Lila's hands were already clasped.
"A mural.
"I will cry on a public wall."
Rin watched the passing lanterns.
"And every eye will be on us."
"Exactly," William said.
"Patrons. Politicians smiling with shiny teeth. You give them a show, and you give yourselves a future."
Aria rolled her shoulders.
"Two days to be better than everyone else."
Kai cracked his knuckles.
"Two days to make sure the armband fits."
William's tone softened.
"You are ready."
The carriage hummed over lantern-lit avenues, wheels whispering past festival banners and moon-lamps.
William cracked the window.
"There.
"Magnara Grand Amphistad.
"Remember it."
A ring of light floated above the distant arena like a second moon.
A roar rolled from somewhere inside it, low and constant.
"Weapons are allowed," William said.
"Bring what you fight with.
"One rule matters more than the rest.
"No killing."
Aria leaned forward.
"Blades, staffs, constructs. All fine?"
"All fine.
"Gear gets registered at check-in.
"Judges scan edges and enchantments.
"If a strike turns lethal, refs hard-stop the bout.
"You ignore a yield and you're out for the season."
Kai's hand touched Sun along his back.
"So I can use it."
"Use it," William said.
"Control your impacts.
"Drop, do not maim."
Rin rested two fingers on Tetsuba's guard.
"Precision is the point."
"That is why your sword is legal," William replied with a dry smile.
"Keep your cuts clean."
Lila raised a hand.
"Scrolls, cartridges, potions?"
"If you can carry it to the line, you can use it.
"No toss-ins once the whistle blows.
"One minute between rounds.
"Med teams in the tunnels.
"Win by yield, ring-out, or clean knockout.
"The crowd respects control."