While Arthur and the others quietly began preparing for something small in a forest far away—
someone else stood at the edge of something much larger.
Far away.
Beyond Emberreach.
Beyond Greenmire.
Beyond places where people still laughed around breakfast tables.
There was—
Voidspire.
The continent of the Hollow Expanse.
A place that looked less like land—
and more like something abandoned by the world.
And at its outskirts—
stood Kael.
---
Cold wind crossed the broken plains.
Dark stone stretched endlessly in every direction.
The earth was uneven.
Split.
Old cracks crossed the land like scars.
No trees.
Very little life.
Only ruined structures and fragments of what used to exist.
Above—
the sky looked wrong.
Not dark.
Not bright.
Just…
empty.
Clouds moved slowly.
Too slowly.
Like time itself had become tired.
In the distance—
Voidspire stood.
Massive.
Silent.
The city rose upward like impossible black pillars growing from the earth.
Its lower levels disappeared into fog.
Its upper sections vanished into cloud.
Layers of stone.
Suspended structures.
Bridges.
Lights.
All stacked impossibly into the sky.
Beautiful.
And unsettling.
Kael stood at the outskirts.
Motionless.
His dark clothing moved slightly in the wind.
His expression remained unreadable.
His eyes rested on the distant city.
Then—
he lowered them.
At his feet—
something moved.
A corrupted creature.
Small.
Thin.
It crawled weakly.
Half transformed.
Its body unstable.
Not fully gone.
Not fully itself.
It reached toward him.
Slowly.
Kael looked at it.
Silence.
Then—
he stepped forward.
Passed it.
Like it wasn't there.
The creature froze.
Its body trembled.
Then—
collapsed.
No attack.
No movement.
Nothing.
Kael kept walking.
His footsteps echoed softly.
The wind passed again.
After a while—
he stopped.
Looked upward.
Toward Voidspire.
Then quietly said—
"…So this is where they chose."
No response.
He looked at the city.
Tournament.
Selection.
Rings of Ascension.
Top four.
His eyes remained calm.
But something behind them shifted.
His gaze moved.
Higher.
Toward the center of Voidspire.
Then—
his eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Interesting."
For a brief moment—
he felt something.
Not power.
Not hostility.
Recognition.
Like something had noticed him.
Then—
it disappeared.
Kael looked away.
And continued walking.
His expression remained unchanged.
But his thoughts moved.
Arthur.
Sunny.
Training.
Progress.
People trying to become stronger.
He looked toward the city again.
Then quietly muttered—
"…You still don't understand."
The wind passed.
His eyes remained distant.
"…Strength isn't what survives."
He continued walking.
Then stopped once more.
Looked at his hand.
Opened it.
Closed it.
Then quietly added—
almost to himself—
"…I wonder if any of them will reach me."
Silence.
The wind continued.
Meanwhile...
Far away from Emberreach.
Far away from Voidspire.
Far away from rain, birthdays, training, and people trying to become stronger—
there was another place.
A place nobody visited.
Nobody returned from.
And very few even knew existed.
Not beneath the world.
Not above it.
But—
outside it.
A place called—
Hell.
endless fire.
No screams
chains.
That image was too simple.
Too inhuman.
Hell—
was quiet.
Too quiet.
A land where the sky never changed.
Where mountains stood broken.
Where oceans remained still.
Where cities of black stone stretched endlessly beneath a sky without stars.
And in one of those cities—
inside a structure that resembled both a palace and a grave—
they gathered.
Demons.
Not beasts.
Not corrupted.
Demons.
Old.
Ancient.
Patient.
A massive circular room stretched outward.
Dark pillars.
Black floors.
Long shadows.
At the center—
a round table.
Seats.
Not all occupied.
But enough.
A figure leaned back lazily.
Another sat motionless.
One stared upward.
One quietly tapped their fingers.
Then—
a voice echoed.
"…So."
Silence.
Then—
"…It has started."
Nobody reacted.
A second voice answered.
"…Earlier than expected."
Another—
calm.
"…No."
A pause.
"…Right on time."
Silence.
One of them slowly looked downward.
Their eyes reflected something strange—
not light.
Movement.
Like galaxies collapsing endlessly.
They spoke quietly.
"…The tournament."
Someone laughed softly.
"…Humans always love competition."
Another voice—
"…That isn't for humans."
Silence followed.
Then—
one of them asked—
"…Are they aware?"
No answer.
Then another voice—
cold.
"…No."
A pause.
"…They still think the reward is the point."
Silence.
Then—
someone smiled.
"…Good."
The room became quieter.
One figure finally moved.
Long fingers resting against black stone.
Their eyes opened.
Ancient.
Empty.
Then—
they asked—
"…Has he arrived?"
Silence.
Then—
someone answered—
"…Voidspire."
A pause.
"…Outskirts."
Another voice quietly added—
"…Watching."
The room became still.
Then—
someone laughed.
Small.
Quiet.
"…Good."
Another asked—
"…And the others?"
Response:
"…Still unaware."
A pause.
"…One is training."
"…One is searching."
"…One is forgetting."
"…One has started asking questions."
Silence.
Then—
one demon slowly turned their head.
"…And the child?"
The room became quieter.
Then—
someone answered.
"…Planning a birthday."
Silence.
Then—
someone laughed.
Not mockingly.
Almost strangely.
"…Interesting."
Another voice—
"…Should we interfere?"
A long silence followed.
Then—
the one sitting at the highest seat finally spoke.
Their voice was calm.
Too calm.
"…No."
Silence.
They continued—
"…Not yet."
Another asked—
"…Why?"
The figure looked upward.
Toward nothing.
Then answered—
"…Because meaning discovered naturally…"
A pause.
"…lasts longer."
The room became silent again.
Then—
the figure quietly said—
"…Prepare."
Nobody moved.
But the atmosphere changed.
The figure continued—
"…The tournament begins soon."
A pause.
"…And when it does…"
Their eyes slowly opened.
For a moment—
the entire room darkened.
Then—
"…observe carefully."
Silence.
Then—
one final sentence.
Quiet.
Almost amused.
"…I want to know which one of them breaks first."
And somewhere impossibly far away—
rain continued falling in Emberreach.
Unaware.
Voidspire remained ahead.
And somewhere inside that impossible city—
something had already started moving.
Far away from Emberreach, far away from the rain-soaked forests and people preparing decorations in secret, there existed a continent suspended between sky and ambition.
Aerithos.
Unlike the harsh lands of Greenmire or the endless stone of Hollow Expanse, Veilspire rose upward. Cities climbed into the clouds. Towers pierced the sky. Bridges floated between mountains and structures so high that some people spent their entire lives without ever seeing the ground below.
Beauty existed everywhere.
But so did pressure.
In Veilspire, people were not only born into families.
They were born into expectations.
And above every family—
stood House Velcrest.
The family closest to the crown.
The family people whispered about.
The family expected to never fail.
At the highest balcony of the Velcrest estate stood a young man dressed in dark ceremonial clothing with silver details stitched carefully into the fabric. He looked no older than eighteen.
His posture was straight.
Too straight.
Like someone who forgot how to relax.
His hair was dark and neat despite the wind, and his eyes carried a muted gold color that looked beautiful from a distance—
but tired up close.
His name was—
Azrion Velcrest.
People called him many things.
The Golden Successor.
The Veiled Prince.
The Future Crown.
But none of those names belonged to him.
They belonged to the version of him people wanted.
Azrion himself had become difficult to find.
Since childhood, every decision had already existed before he made it.
Who he should speak to.
How he should stand.
What expression he should wear.
What strengths he should develop.
What weaknesses he should hide.
People asked him if he was prepared.
Nobody asked if he wanted any of it.
So eventually—
he stopped answering questions nobody actually asked.
He simply fulfilled expectations.
And somewhere along the way—
people started admiring him.
But stopped knowing him.
Azrion looked over the clouds below.
His eyes remained calm.
Then quietly said—
"…Beautiful."
His expression didn't change.
"…I think."
Behind him—
a voice interrupted.
"That sounded unbelievably sad."
Azrion didn't turn.
"…Good morning, Eldric."
Footsteps approached.
Then another young man appeared beside him.
His clothes were noble but worn carelessly.
His silver-grey hair looked impossible to manage.
His eyes were sharper than Azrion's—
but warmer.
His name was—
Eldric Vaelor.
If Azrion was royalty—
Eldric was freedom.
His family had served House Velcrest for generations.
People expected him to become Azrion's sword.
His protector.
His shadow.
Instead—
he became his friend.
As children, everyone bowed to Azrion.
Eldric never did.
When Azrion studied—
Eldric dragged him outside.
When Azrion trained—
Eldric challenged him.
When Azrion remained silent—
Eldric spoke enough for both of them.
And strangely—
Azrion never told him to stop.
Eldric walked beside him and leaned against the balcony.
Then looked sideways.
"…You've got that look again."
Azrion looked ahead.
"…What look?"
Eldric shrugged.
"…Like someone handed you the weight of the world and you forgot to complain."
Azrion stayed silent.
Eldric sighed.
Then reached into his coat and pulled something out.
A folded paper.
He handed it over.
Azrion unfolded it.
Blue light appeared.
A system notice.
Tournament invitation.
Location:
Voidspire
Reward:
Ring of Ascension.
Azrion looked at it quietly.
Then looked at Eldric.
"…You want to go?"
Eldric smiled.
Not arrogantly.
Not proudly.
Just honestly.
"…Yeah."
Azrion looked away.
"…Why?"
Eldric thought for a moment.
Then smiled wider.
"…Because maybe outside Veilspire…"
He pointed beyond the clouds.
"…people won't care who your family is."
Azrion looked at him.
Eldric continued.
"…Maybe they'll talk to you."
A pause.
Then—
"…Not House Velcrest."
Another pause.
"…Not Your Highness."
He smiled.
"…Just Azrion."
The wind moved between them.
Azrion looked at the invitation.
Then quietly folded it.
His expression stayed calm.
But for the first time in a long time—
something shifted.
And somewhere very deep inside him—
for just a moment—
he wondered what it would feel like—
to meet someone who expected nothing from him.
Morning arrived quietly.
For once—
there was no rain.
The forest of Emberreach felt strangely peaceful as pale sunlight slipped through the trees and reached the camp in soft pieces. The air still carried cold from the previous night, but today felt different.
Nobody said it out loud.
But everyone knew.
Today was Layla's birthday.
And unfortunately for everyone involved—
they were all terrible actors.
Arthur woke up earlier than usual.
Not because he was excited.
Definitely not.
He sat on the edge of his bed and stared at the drawer.
Inside—
wrapped carefully—
was the necklace.
His father's gift.
His mother's trust.
Arthur closed the drawer again.
Too early.
Outside—
things were already moving.
Tom and Alex had somehow occupied the kitchen area.
Tom looked serious.
Alex looked concerned.
Neither of them looked qualified.
Sunny sat nearby with several small stone-like objects floating around him.
Communication devices.
Simple.
Small.
Low aether cost.
Each one glowed faintly before dropping into a wooden box.
Lucas and Kierran were pretending to stretch while actually waiting for Arthur to assign decoration work.
Everything was ready.
Except—
they still needed time.
Which meant—
Rivien's mission had begun.
Operation:
Keep Layla Busy.
Unfortunately—
Rivien had planned absolutely none of it.
—
Layla was asleep.
Peacefully.
Until—
BANG.
Her door flew open.
Rivien stood dramatically in the doorway.
Pointing outside.
"GET UP."
Layla immediately sat up.
Half asleep.
"…What."
Rivien looked serious.
Too serious.
He crossed his arms.
"Emergency."
Layla blinked.
"…What happened?"
Rivien nodded once.
"…Training."
Silence.
Layla stared.
Rivien pointed toward the forest.
"We are hunting."
Layla looked at him.
"…At sunrise?"
Rivien nodded.
"…The beasts do not respect schedules."
Layla narrowed her eyes.
"…Why me?"
Rivien immediately answered—
"Because Arthur said your sword control improved."
Layla paused.
Then looked away slightly.
"…Oh."
Rivien internally celebrated.
Critical hit.
Layla sighed.
"…Fine."
She stood.
Got ready.
Then followed him outside.
Arthur immediately looked away when she appeared.
Too quickly.
Layla noticed.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
She looked around.
People avoided eye contact.
Sunny was pretending to meditate.
Tom suddenly became interested in flour.
Kierran stretched aggressively.
Lucas looked at the sky.
Alex disappeared.
Layla narrowed her eyes.
"…You people are weird."
Rivien immediately stepped forward.
"MOVE OUT."
—
The forest was calm.
Too calm.
Rivien and Layla walked deeper into Emberreach.
Sunlight broke through leaves.
Their footsteps echoed softly.
After a while—
Layla looked at him.
"…You're acting strange."
Rivien looked offended.
"…Incorrect."
Layla stared.
Rivien pointed dramatically.
"…Today we train."
Layla sighed.
"…Right."
They continued.
Soon—
they found tracks.
Smaller.
Fresh.
Rivien crouched.
Looked.
Then nodded.
"…Lesser beasts."
Layla unsheathed her sword slightly.
Rivien stood.
His expression became more serious.
"…Remember."
He looked around.
"…Do not overextend."
Layla nodded.
Rivien continued.
"…And if we notice corruption…"
Layla finished immediately.
"…Run."
Rivien smiled.
Good.
Then—
movement.
Bushes shifted.
Low growls.
Three creatures emerged.
Wolf-like.
Thin.
Grey.
Their eyes glowed faintly.
Lesser beast monsters.
Not corrupted.
Not dangerous.
But fast.
Layla stepped forward.
Sword lowered.
Breathing steady.
The first beast lunged.
She moved.
Clean.
One step.
One slash.
The creature rolled away.
Second beast attacked.
She pivoted.
Countered.
Third came immediately—
Rivien watched quietly.
No interference.
Layla moved better.
Calmer.
Less wasted movement.
Then—
clean strike.
The final beast collapsed.
Silence returned.
Layla exhaled.
Rivien nodded.
"…Better."
Layla smiled slightly.
Then looked upward.
The sunlight moved through the trees.
She looked strangely relaxed.
Then quietly said—
"…Today feels nice."
Rivien froze.
He immediately looked away.
"…Yeah."
Layla looked ahead.
Then smiled.
"…I don't know why."
Rivien swallowed.
Back at camp—
Arthur sneezed.
And somewhere in the distance—
Sunny quietly muttered—
"…We are running out of time."
The moment Rivien and Layla disappeared into the forest—
the entire camp changed.
Silence.
Everyone looked at each other.
Then—
Arthur clapped once.
"Alright."
Nobody moved.
Arthur looked around.
"…Why is nobody moving?"
Sunny looked at him.
"…Because you did not assign details."
Arthur froze.
Right.
Details.
Arthur immediately pointed.
"Kierran— banners."
Kierran blinked.
"…What's a birthday banner?"
Arthur opened his mouth.
Paused.
Then pointed at Lucas.
"Lucas knows."
Lucas looked offended.
"…Why me?"
Arthur looked at him.
"…You seem creative."
Lucas stared.
"…That is profiling."
Arthur ignored him.
Then pointed.
"Just write something."
Lucas sighed.
"…Fine."
Meanwhile—
Tom and Alex stood inside the cooking area.
Flour.
Eggs.
Bowls.
A large wooden table.
Tom crossed his arms.
Alex looked at ingredients.
Silence.
Tom finally asked—
"…Have you actually never baked?"
Alex looked at him.
"…No."
Tom nodded.
"…Same."
Both stood there.
Another silence.
Then—
Tom picked up flour.
Looked at Alex.
"…Instinct?"
Alex nodded.
"…Instinct."
Ten minutes later—
there was flour on the floor.
Flour on Tom.
Flour on Alex.
Somehow flour on the ceiling.
Nobody knew how.
Arthur walked in.
Stopped.
Looked.
Then slowly asked—
"…Why does it look like a snowstorm happened?"
Tom pointed.
"…The mixture resisted."
Alex nodded.
"…Unexpected enemy."
Arthur stared.
Then left immediately.
Outside—
Sunny sat beneath a tree.
Small stone devices floated around him.
One by one—
he pressed symbols into them.
Aether pulsed.
Then dimmed.
Communication stones.
Simple.
Each connected.
Arthur walked over.
Sunny didn't look up.
"…Finished."
Arthur blinked.
"…Already?"
Sunny nodded.
"…Low complexity."
Arthur picked one up.
Small.
Cold.
Smooth.
Arthur looked impressed.
Sunny opened one eye.
"…Do not lose them."
Arthur nodded.
Then looked around.
"…Need help?"
Sunny looked at him.
Then calmly said—
"…No."
Arthur looked suspicious.
Sunny looked away.
"…I already contributed."
Arthur stared.
Fair.
Arthur turned.
Then noticed—
Kierran and Lucas.
Disaster.
Absolute disaster.
Kierran was holding cloth.
Lucas was giving instructions.
Kierran looked dead inside.
Lucas pointed.
"…Higher."
Kierran raised it.
Crooked.
Lucas winced.
"…Other higher."
Kierran lowered it.
Wrong direction.
Lucas looked offended.
Arthur walked over.
Then froze.
The banner read—
HAP BIR LAYA
Arthur stared.
Lucas crossed his arms.
"…Minimalism."
Arthur looked at him.
"…You forgot letters."
Lucas looked confused.
"…No."
Arthur pointed.
Lucas looked.
Long silence.
"…Ah."
Kierran quietly muttered—
"…I hate decorations."
Arthur took a breath.
Then started helping.
Eventually—
after repeated failures—
they finished.
Simple decorations.
Handmade.
Uneven.
Actually kind of bad.
But…
nice.
Arthur stepped back.
Looked around.
Tables.
Banners.
Cake in progress.
Communication stones.
Everyone moving.
His eyes softened.
Then—
he remembered.
The gift.
Arthur quietly left.
Entered his room.
Opened the drawer.
The necklace sat there.
He looked at it.
Then carefully placed it into a small cloth pouch.
Held it.
Looked at it.
Then quietly muttered—
"…I hope you like it."
Outside—
someone screamed.
Arthur immediately ran out.
Tom emerged from the kitchen covered in frosting.
Alex stood beside him.
Expression unchanged.
Tom looked serious.
"…Small issue."
Arthur stared.
"…What."
Tom pointed behind him.
Arthur looked.
The cake—
collapsed.
Complete silence.
Then Alex calmly said—
"…Second attempt."
Arthur looked upward.
Sunny quietly spoke without opening his eyes—
"…There are still six hours left."
Arthur stared at everyone.
Then sighed.
"…Okay."
He rolled up his sleeves.
"…Nobody panic."
Immediately—
Lucas panicked.
Kierran regretted existing.
Tom declared war on baking.
Alex disappeared.
And Arthur realized—
organizing parties might actually be harder than surviving the Collapse.Nobody spoke.
Everyone stared.
The cake had collapsed.
Not metaphorically.
Physically.
One side leaned inward.
The middle had sunk.
The top looked like somebody had sat on it.
Flour still floated through the air.
Tom stood silently with crossed arms.
Alex stood beside him.
Expression unchanged.
Arthur slowly turned.
"…Explain."
Tom looked offended.
"…The structure failed."
Arthur looked at the cake.
"…You baked a building?"
Tom ignored him.
Alex calmly added—
"…We underestimated moisture."
Arthur looked at him.
"…That sentence does not inspire confidence."
Sunny appeared at the doorway.
Looked once.
Then quietly said—
"…That is no longer a cake."
Nobody responded.
Sunny nodded once.
"…Understood."
Then left.
Arthur stared after him.
No support.
Great.
Tom rolled his shoulders.
"…Second attempt."
Arthur looked at him.
"…You sound confident."
Tom nodded.
"…Failure reveals truth."
Arthur blinked.
Tom continued—
"…The enemy exposed weaknesses."
Arthur stared.
Then slowly turned to Alex.
"…Please tell me you know what you're doing."
Alex thought.
Then answered honestly—
"…No."
Arthur closed his eyes.
Outside—
Lucas walked in.
Stopped.
Looked at the cake.
Then looked at Arthur.
"…Did corruption get inside?"
Arthur pointed.
"…Leave."
Lucas left immediately.
Kierran entered.
Looked.
Turned around.
Left.
Nobody wanted involvement.
Arthur took a deep breath.
Then walked forward.
"…Okay."
Everyone looked at him.
Arthur crossed his arms.
"…New plan."
Tom nodded.
Alex listened.
Arthur pointed.
"Tom."
Tom stood straighter.
Arthur pointed at ingredients.
"You handle measurements."
Tom nodded seriously.
Arthur pointed.
"Alex."
Alex looked at him.
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"You are not allowed to improvise."
Alex nodded.
Arthur looked suspicious.
"…Promise."
Alex nodded again.
"…Mostly."
Arthur ignored that.
Arthur looked around.
Then rolled his sleeves.
"…I'll help."
Silence.
Tom looked surprised.
Alex looked curious.
Arthur paused.
Then quietly said—
"…Mom used to make me help."
Nobody commented.
Then—
they began.
This time—
slower.
Measured.
Flour.
Mix.
Eggs.
No explosions.
Tom surprisingly became precise.
Alex became strangely focused.
Arthur handled timing.
Nobody spoke much.
The atmosphere changed.
For once—
they weren't training.
Nobody was trying to survive.
Nobody was thinking about rankings.
Just—
making something.
After a while—
Tom looked at the mixture.
Then nodded.
"…Looks stable."
Alex stared.
Then said—
"…Acceptable."
Arthur looked.
Actually—
it looked like cake.
Progress.
Then—
Tom paused.
"…Question."
Arthur looked.
Tom asked seriously—
"…How sweet does Layla like things?"
Silence.
Everyone slowly turned.
Arthur froze.
Long pause.
Then—
"…I don't know."
Silence.
Tom stared.
Alex stared.
Arthur looked offended.
"…What."
Tom crossed his arms.
"…You're making a birthday party."
Arthur looked away.
"…That wasn't in the preparation."
Alex quietly said—
"…Insufficient data."
Arthur sighed.
Then after thinking—
"…Normal?"
Tom nodded.
"…Normal."
Alex nodded.
"…Normal."
Nobody knew what normal meant.
But they committed.
More mixing.
More waiting.
Then—
the smell started.
Warm.
Sweet.
Soft.
Everyone stopped.
Tom looked toward the oven.
Alex looked too.
Arthur slowly opened it.
Steam escaped.
Inside—
the cake stood.
Round.
Not collapsed.
Actually…
good.
Silence.
Nobody moved.
Tom looked impressed.
Alex stared.
Arthur looked confused.
Tom slowly said—
"…We won."
Alex nodded once.
"…Temporary victory."
Arthur looked at them.
Then—
for the first time—
everyone smiled.
Tom crossed his arms proudly.
"…See?"
Arthur looked at him.
Tom nodded.
"…Experience."
Arthur stared.
"…You learned thirty minutes ago."
Tom ignored him.
Then—
Alex quietly asked—
"…What do people write on cakes?"
Everyone froze.
Silence.
Then—
all three slowly turned toward Arthur.
Arthur immediately pointed at himself.
"…Why are you asking me?"
Nobody answered.
Because somehow—
out of everyone—
Arthur suddenly looked the most qualified.
Which was terrifying.Arthur was still standing in the kitchen staring at the successful cake like it had just defeated a boss monster.
Tom looked proud.
Alex looked mildly surprised.
Nobody celebrated too early.
Because now—
they remembered something.
Food.
Silence.
Arthur slowly turned.
Tom looked at him.
Alex looked at him.
Arthur looked back.
Then quietly said—
"…Right."
Tom frowned.
"…None of us planned lunch."
Arthur pointed.
"…This is a birthday party."
Tom nodded.
"…Exactly."
Another silence.
Then—
the door opened.
Everyone turned.
Alexi stood there.
She looked around once.
Flour everywhere.
Destroyed bowls.
Three exhausted people.
One successful cake.
Her eyes landed on Arthur.
Then she looked at the room again.
Silence.
Then she smiled.
"…I leave you alone for one morning."
Nobody answered.
She looked at the cake.
Walked over.
Examined it.
Nodded once.
"…Good recovery."
Tom straightened slightly.
Arthur blinked.
Alexi looked at them.
Then calmly asked—
"…Who planned the food?"
Nobody spoke.
Her smile widened.
"…I see."
She placed her hands on her hips.
Then looked at Arthur.
"…Move."
Arthur blinked.
"…What?"
Alexi pointed.
"…Out."
Tom immediately moved.
Alex moved too.
Arthur looked betrayed.
"…Wait—"
Alexi smiled.
"…You boys already survived the cake."
She walked into the kitchen.
Rolled up her sleeves.
Then looked over her shoulder.
"…Leave the rest to me."
Arthur hesitated.
Then asked—
"…You know what she likes?"
Alexi looked at him.
Then smiled.
"…Arthur."
She turned back.
"…Do you think I wouldn't notice?"
Arthur blinked.
Alexi started sorting ingredients.
"…Layla likes warm food."
She pulled out vegetables.
"…Not too spicy."
Meat.
"…She prefers softer bread."
Spices.
"…And she always eats vegetables last."
Arthur stared.
Alexi continued moving naturally.
Like she'd done this a hundred times.
Then she looked around.
Her eyes landed on the decorations.
She froze.
Long silence.
Everyone became nervous.
Alexi slowly walked over.
Looked up.
The banner still read:
HAP BIR LAYA
She stared.
Then slowly turned.
"…Who did this?"
Lucas immediately pointed at Kierran.
Kierran immediately pointed at Lucas.
Arthur pointed at both.
Alexi sighed.
Then smiled.
"…Okay."
She grabbed cloth.
Moved one chair.
Straightened another.
Adjusted lighting.
Moved tables.
Fixed banners.
Tied ribbons.
Within thirty minutes—
the place transformed.
Not fancy.
Not luxurious.
But…
warm.
Like somewhere people actually lived.
She moved one of the tables.
Then looked at Arthur.
"…Come here."
Arthur walked over.
She handed him several small flowers.
He blinked.
"…What do I do with these?"
Alexi smiled.
"…You decorate."
Arthur looked offended.
"…Why me?"
Alexi looked at him.
Then smiled slightly.
"…Because she'll notice."
Arthur became quiet.
Alexi returned to cooking.
Soon—
the smell spread.
Warm soup.
Roasted meat.
Fresh bread.
Simple food.
Comfort food.
Tom looked impressed.
Lucas looked emotional.
Kierran quietly sat down.
Sunny appeared.
Looked once.
Then sat nearby.
Nobody questioned where he came from.
Alexi looked around.
Then nodded.
"…Good."
She looked at Arthur.
Then softly said—
"…Now all we need…"
She smiled.
"…Is for her not to find out."
Immediately—
one communication stone lit up.
Everyone froze.
Sunny picked it up.
Static.
Then—
Rivien's voice exploded through the device.
"GOOD NEWS."
Everyone stared.
Sunny slowly asked—
"…Why are you shouting?"
Rivien sounded proud.
"WE ARE FINE."
Pause.
Then—
"…Small problem."
Everyone froze.
Arthur immediately stepped forward.
"…What happened?"
Silence.
Then—
"…Layla does not want to stay longer."
The entire room became silent.
Arthur looked at the decorations.
Looked at the unfinished setup.
Looked at the cake.
Then quietly said—
"…Buy us time."
Rivien answered immediately—
"…Understood."
Pause.
Then—
"…How much time?"
Arthur looked around.
Everyone looked back.
Then—
"…One hour."
Silence.
Rivien answered confidently—
"…Leave it to me."
The communication ended.
Nobody knew if that was reassuring.
The final hour felt longer than the entire week.
Nobody sat down.
Nobody rested.
The camp had entered a strange state where everyone moved quickly but quietly—as if speaking too loudly would somehow ruin everything.
The food was nearly finished.
Warm soup rested in covered pots.
Fresh bread cooled on cloth.
Roasted meat gave off a rich smell.
Simple food.
Comfort food.
Food that felt like home.
Alexi moved between dishes with frightening efficiency.
Tom followed behind carrying things and pretending he contributed more than he actually did.
Meanwhile—
the decorations had somehow become… good.
Not elegant.
Not perfect.
But warm.
Wooden tables were rearranged.
Cloth banners hung properly.
Flowers were placed around carefully.
Someone had even tied ribbons around support beams.
Arthur looked around.
Then blinked.
It actually looked nice.
His eyes moved upward.
The banner.
This time—
it finally read correctly.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAYLA
Lucas crossed his arms proudly.
Kierran sat on the floor.
"…Never making decorations again."
Sunny quietly walked around placing the last communication stones.
Then—
he stopped.
Looked around.
And softly said—
"…Done."
Arthur looked at him.
Sunny sat down.
Closed his eyes.
Contribution complete.
Arthur walked over to the table.
At the center—
stood the cake.
Round.
Soft.
White frosting.
Simple decorations.
No collapse.
No disaster.
At the top—
written carefully:
Happy Birthday Layla
Arthur stared at it.
Then quietly smiled.
Small.
But real.
Alex walked past.
Looked once.
Then nodded.
"…Acceptable."
Which for Alex—
was basically overwhelming praise.
Then—
the communication stone lit up.
Everyone froze.
Arthur picked it up.
Static.
Then—
Rivien whispered loudly.
"…Status?"
Arthur looked around.
Everything.
Done.
He quietly answered—
"…Ready."
Pause.
Then—
Rivien answered—
"…We're coming back."
Immediate panic.
Everyone moved.
Food covered.
Positions taken.
Lights extinguished.
Chairs adjusted.
Cake centered.
The room became dark.
Nobody spoke.
Arthur reached into his pocket.
Touched the small pouch.
The necklace.
Still there.
His expression softened.
Then—
footsteps.
Outside.
Closer.
Laughter.
Rivien's voice.
Layla answering.
Everyone froze.
The door opened.
Darkness.
Layla stepped inside.
Silence.
She stopped.
"…Why is it dark?"
Rivien sounded suspiciously innocent.
"…No idea."
Layla narrowed her eyes.
"…This feels suspicious."
Silence.
A step.
Another.
She entered further.
The door closed.
Still dark.
Then—
click.
Lights.
Warm light filled the room.
And—
everyone jumped out.
—
"SURPRISE!!"
—
Silence.
Layla froze.
Her eyes widened.
She looked around.
Food.
Decorations.
Cake.
Everyone smiling.
Tom.
Alexi.
Sunny.
Lucas.
Kierran.
Rivien.
Arthur.
All standing there.
Waiting.
For a moment—
she just stared.
Like she forgot how to react.
Then her eyes moved again.
Slowly.
Taking everything in.
The banner.
The lights.
The table.
The cake.
And finally—
everyone.
Her mouth opened slightly.
But nothing came out.
Silence.
Then—
she quietly asked—
"…You did this?"
Nobody answered.
Then Rivien pointed immediately.
"…Arthur did."
Arthur nearly died instantly.
Layla looked at him.
Arthur looked away.
"…Everyone helped."
Silence.
Layla stared.
Then looked down.
Her shoulders moved slightly.
She covered her eyes.
Everyone panicked.
Lucas whispered—
"…Why is she crying?"
Kierran whispered—
"…Did we fail?"
Tom looked nervous.
Arthur stepped forward.
"…Layla?"
She lowered her hand.
And—
she was smiling.
Small.
Bright.
Unexpected.
She laughed quietly.
Then looked around again.
And softly said—
"…Nobody has ever done this for me before."
Silence.
Nobody spoke.
Then she smiled again.
And said—
"…Thank you."
Arthur looked at her.
Then quietly smiled.
And for just a moment—
the Collapse felt very far away.
The rain returned.
Not slowly.
Not quietly.
One moment there were only clouds.
The next—
water poured from the sky.
Heavy.
Constant.
The roof echoed softly beneath the rain.
Outside—
the forest disappeared behind curtains of water.
Inside—
the atmosphere became warmer.
Everyone was eating.
Talking.
Laughing.
Tom argued with Lucas over whether the cake succeeded because of skill or luck.
Sunny quietly ate while pretending not to enjoy himself.
Kierran looked half asleep.
Rivien was explaining the hunt dramatically and adding details that definitely never happened.
Alexi smiled more than she spoke.
Alex sat nearby silently.
And for a little while—
nobody thought about the Collapse.
Nobody thought about tournaments.
Nobody thought about survival.
It felt…
normal.
Arthur looked around.
Then looked toward Layla.
She was smiling.
Laughing.
Listening.
Her expression looked lighter.
Then—
he stood.
Nobody noticed.
Except Alexi.
She looked at him.
Then quietly smiled.
Arthur looked at Layla.
"…Hey."
She looked at him.
"…Yeah?"
Arthur looked away.
"…Come with me for a bit."
Layla blinked.
Then smiled.
"…Okay."
Nobody questioned it.
Well—
Rivien absolutely noticed.
But Alexi stepped on his foot before he could speak.
—
Arthur's room was quiet.
The rain hit the window steadily.
Soft.
Heavy.
The room was simple.
Bed.
Desk.
Window.
Nothing special.
Arthur sat near the window.
Layla sat beside him.
Both held plates of food.
For a while—
they just ate.
And listened to the rain.
Layla looked outside.
Then smiled.
"…It always rains."
Arthur looked out too.
Then nodded.
"…Yeah."
A small silence.
Then Layla looked at him.
"…Thank you."
Arthur looked over.
She smiled.
"…For today."
Arthur looked away immediately.
"…Everyone helped."
Layla smiled.
"…You planned it."
Arthur stayed quiet.
The rain continued.
Then she asked—
"…Do you miss before?"
Arthur blinked.
"…Before?"
She nodded.
"…Before all this."
Arthur looked outside.
Thought.
Then quietly said—
"…Sometimes."
A pause.
"…But sometimes…"
His eyes softened.
"…I think I would've never met everyone."
Silence.
Layla looked at him.
Arthur looked ahead.
Then quietly laughed.
"…I probably would've stayed inside all day."
Layla smiled.
"…You still do that."
Arthur looked offended.
She laughed.
Then—
Arthur reached into his pocket.
His expression changed slightly.
He pulled out the small cloth pouch.
Layla blinked.
Arthur looked at it for a moment.
Then held it out.
She looked surprised.
"…What's this?"
Arthur looked away.
"…Birthday present."
Layla looked at him.
Then slowly opened it.
Inside—
the necklace.
Simple.
Beautiful.
Not expensive.
But old.
Carefully preserved.
She looked at it quietly.
Then looked at Arthur.
He stayed silent for a moment.
Then quietly said—
"…My father gave it to my mother."
Layla looked at him.
Arthur looked at the rain.
"…She told me to give it to someone important."
Silence.
His voice became quieter.
"…So…"
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"…Thanks."
Layla blinked.
Arthur looked embarrassed.
"…For staying."
A pause.
"…For all the fun memories."
Another pause.
Then—
he smiled faintly.
"…And…"
His eyes drifted to the rain outside.
"…I hope one day…"
He paused.
Then quietly corrected himself.
"…I don't know."
Layla looked at him.
Arthur looked down.
Then softly said—
"…I just hope one day…"
He looked outside.
"…we get to live together ... just you and me ."
A pause.
Then—
"…Not survive."
Silence.
The rain filled the room.
Arthur smiled slightly.
"…Just…"
He looked at her.
"…exist."
For a moment—
Layla said nothing.
She looked at the necklace.
Then at him.
Then—
she moved.
Arthur blinked.
Layla wrapped her arms around him.
Not suddenly.
Not dramatically.
Just—
held him.
Arthur froze.
Layla rested her head against him.
Then quietly said—
"…You idiot."
Arthur blinked.
She laughed softly.
Then looked at him.
Smiling.
Eyes slightly watery.
Layla met him with her lips , her lips warm and yielding. The kiss started soft, but as he pressed closer, she responded with a sudden, quiet hunger that surprised them both. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him down, her body arching slightly toward him on the mattress.
When they finally broke apart, she was breathless, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She looked up at him, her eyes dark and glazed with something far more intense than her usual playful mischief.
"Arthur," she breathed, her voice barely a whisper. She reached up, her hand trembling just slightly as she traced the line of his jaw.
She let out a small, shaky laugh and pulled him back down toward her, her lips brushing against his in a soft, lingering invitation.
Then leaned back.
Smiling.
"…promise me."
Arthur stared.
Layla smiled.
"…When that day comes…"
She held the necklace.
"…Don't disappear."
The rain continued outside.
And for the first time in a long time—
Arthur thought—
maybe that future didn't feel impossible.