The ride to Flora's Rest was unlike anything Alexa had ever experienced. Perched on the front of Lyra's saddle, she felt the rhythmic thumping of the horse's hooves and the wind whistling past her long, velvet ears. Every time the horse jumped over a stray log, Alexa let out a tiny, involuntary "Eep!" that made Lyra chuckle behind her.
"Easy there, little bun," Lyra said, her voice vibrating through Alexa's back. "You're as light as a feather. I'm starting to think you're made of more fluff than mana."
Alexa's cheeks burned. She curled her toes—her very bare, very pink toes—against the leather of the saddle. It was strange. Back home, being "cute" wasn't exactly a survival strategy. But here, as the village gates of Flora's Rest swung open, it seemed to be a superpower.
The village was a riot of color. Houses were built into the trunks of massive, glowing willow trees, with flower boxes overflowing with blue and gold blossoms. And Lyra wasn't kidding—there wasn't a man in sight. There were blacksmiths with bulging biceps quenching steel in water, elderly scholars reading under parasols, and groups of children playing tag. All of them stopped and stared as the knights rode in.
"Captain! Welcome back!" a woman in a flour-dusted apron called out from a bakery stall. Then, her eyes landed on the tiny passenger. "Oh... oh my. Who is this little morsel?"
In an instant, the "Royal Vanguard" was swarmed. Not by enemies, but by a grandmotherly mob.
"Look at those ears!"
"She's so pale! Has she had any sun today?"
"Is she hungry? She looks like she hasn't had a proper meal in a decade!"
Lyra laughed, gently lifting Alexa off the horse and setting her down on a wooden bench. Alexa immediately tried to pull her ears over her face again, but the baker—a cheerful woman named Martha—was already sliding a plate toward her.
On the plate sat a slice of carrot cake the size of Alexa's head, topped with a swirling cloud of cream cheese frosting.
"I'm... I'm A-Alexa," she squeaked, her voice barely audible over the bustle of the market.
"Well, Alexa," Martha beamed, "around here, we don't let anyone—especially not a shy little Bun-kin—go without a welcome treat. Eat up!"
Alexa took a tentative bite. Her eyes went wide. The cake was warm, spiced with cinnamon, and so light it practically melted. For a moment, the embarrassment of being a thirteen-year-old girl in a world of tall, powerful women faded away. This was the "peaceful life" the Goddess promised. No stats, no grinding, just... cake.
Suddenly, a loud thump echoed from the center of the square.
A tall woman with messy blonde hair and a pair of goggles perched on her head was dragging a massive, glowing crystal toward the fountain. She looked exhausted, her tunic stained with grease and soot.
"Captain Val!" the inventor shouted, waving a wrench. "The mana-pump for the irrigation system is acting up again. It needs a jumpstart, but my reserves are dry!"
Captain Val sighed, rubbing her temples. "Jules, I just got back from a three-day patrol. I'm tapped out. Lyra?"
Lyra shook her head, leaning against her horse. "Used the last of my spark to keep the horses energized on the climb. Sorry."
The inventor, Jules, looked frantic. "If we don't get the water flowing, the Moon-lilies will wilt by sunset!"
Alexa looked at her plate, then at the glowing crystal. She felt that tiny, flickering candle in her chest. It was small—laughably small—but it was there. She stood up, her legs still a bit wobbly, and shuffled toward the fountain.
"Um... excuse me?" she whispered.
Jules blinked, looking down at the tiny white-haired girl. "Oh, hello, sweetie. Not now, okay? Big girl problems."
Alexa didn't back away. She reached out a small, trembling hand and touched the base of the crystal. She didn't have much mana, but she remembered how the "bubble" had felt. Instead of blowing a bubble, she tried to just... let the spark flow out.
Fzzzt.
A tiny, bright pink spark jumped from Alexa's fingertip into the crystal. For a second, nothing happened. Then, the crystal pulsed with a soft, rosy glow. The pipes groaned, and suddenly, a magnificent plume of water shot into the air, shimmering in the sunlight.
The square went silent.
"Did... did the tiny bun just jumpstart a Grade-4 Mana Pump?" Jules asked, her jaw dropping.
Alexa's ears stood straight up in shock. Her face turned so red it looked like it might actually catch fire. She immediately spun around and hid behind Lyra's leg, clutching the knight's armor for dear life.
"It was... just a little bit," Alexa squeaked into Lyra's cape.
Lyra looked down, a grin spreading across her face. "Well, Captain. Looks like our 'little fluff' might have a few surprises up her sleeves. If she had sleeves, that is. We really need to get her some clothes."