The night was alive.
Though it wasn't terribly late, the sky had already draped itself in a deep indigo, and the hum of Ashvale's mall district was in full swing. Neon signs pulsed in rhythmic waves of violet and gold, casting glows onto the polished streets where students, families, and vendors bustled in all directions. It felt like the entire continent's youth had spilled into the night, eager to spend their semester break filling the air with laughter and chatter.
Roy walked a few paces behind Denwen and Kara, his hands tucked into his pockets as his eyes lazily followed the bobbing of Kara's hair beneath the ambient lights. He held Nicole's hand tight so she doesn't wander off into the unknown
The gentle scent of street food drifted on the breeze—sweet pastries, roasted meats, spiced teas—and somewhere distant, a busker played soft acoustic notes that barely managed to float above the noise.
Kara's voice cut through the atmosphere, low but certain.
"You know," she said, glancing at Denwen beside her, "if I could picture the perfect life… it wouldn't be like this."
He cocked a brow. "What, shopping and battling for fried dough balls?"
She gave a rare, soft smile. "No. I mean… all of this." Her hand made a vague gesture toward the glowing city, the scattered laughter, the constant movement. "The endless climbing, fighting, competing for strength. People obsessed with rankings, power, how high they can go. My ideal life wouldn't be any of that."
Denwen shrugged. "Most people we know, they'd sell their souls just to hit the next rank. It's kinda the way things work, Kara. Win or get left behind."
"That's exactly what I mean." She slowed her pace, looking down at her hands, turning them over as if expecting something else to appear. "I don't want my hands to exist just to hurt people. To be another person adding to the noise of destruction. Everyone's obsessed with how well they can break things. I want to learn how to fix them."
He blinked at her. "Fix… people?"
"Heal them," she said. "Not just patch up wounds but really… bring life back. I've been thinking about it a lot lately. Becoming a mage, for me, isn't about getting strong to win fights. It's so I can create something beautiful in the middle of all this chaos. I want to be able to stand in the middle of a battlefield and save people no one else can."
Her gaze rose toward the night sky, and Denwen swore the lights of the city dulled in comparison.
"To take lives is easy. But to preserve them?" Kara continued, her voice calm and resolute. "That's real power."
For a moment, he didn't reply. The honesty of it settled over them like a warm, steady breeze.
Denwen was about to say something—he wasn't even sure what, only that he wanted to—but before a word could leave his mouth, the group turned the corner of the upper balcony, overlooking one of the mall's open entertainment decks.
There, beneath the lantern-lit canopy, was Nicole and Roy… or rather, Roy in his second battle of the night—this time against an overly determined child.
"Roy, you're going down! Again!" Nicole cackled from across the holographic game table, her small hands expertly flicking glowing tiles as her avatar on the screen launched yet another devastating combo.
Roy slammed his palm on the table. "That was pure luck. Run it back!"
Nicole pointed dramatically. "Nope! I'm retiring undefeated. Get good!"
A few nearby students snickered as Roy hung his head in exaggerated defeat, muttering something about how the universe was conspiring against him.
Kara stifled a laugh, covering her mouth. "Wow. A-grade talent, beaten by an twelve-year-old."
Denwen chuckled, leaning on the railing as he watched them. "I would call it embarrassing, but honestly… it's kinda impressive."
They stood there for a moment, watching the game reset as Nicole smugly tapped the console and Roy groaned in despair.
The wind brushed softly past them, carrying with it the hum of music, the glow of passing hover cars, and the muffled conversations of countless lives intertwining for just this one night.
Denwen glanced back at Kara, watching her watch the people below. Maybe it was the lights, or maybe it was just her, but somehow everything felt a little warmer.
"That dream of yours," he finally said, voice lower than before, "it's a good one."
Kara looked over, meeting his gaze briefly. "Thanks."
---
The night at the mall felt like it had no end. Waves of laughter, chattering students, and the low hum of music blended into a perfect evening. Under the vibrant canopy of lantern lights and glowing shop signs, Roy, still rubbing his temples from his crushing defeat to Nicole, leaned dramatically against the game table.
"First rank in the class," Denwen teased from behind him. "Bested by a pre-teen."
Nicole smirked, already halfway through her victory dance. "Legendary performance, Roy."
As they all shared a light laugh, a pair of voices approached from the side, cutting through the noise with ease.
"Well, well, well," came the playful lilt of June, a bubbly girl with fiery orange curls tied up messily and a grin that practically never left her face. "If it isn't the mighty Rank 2, getting his butt handed to him by a twelve-year-old... in public."
She leaned dramatically on the table, chin resting on her palm as if observing some exotic creature.
"Hey, June," Roy greeted sheepishly, running a hand through his hair. "You really didn't have to say it out loud."
Beside her was Mellissa, ever the picture of composed elegance, standing slightly behind with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze flickering from Roy to Denwen to Kara, analyzing the group. "Honestly, it's more surprising this isn't a daily occurrence," she added dryly.
Kara shot her a look but said nothing, adjusting her scarf as if already preparing for Mellissa's inevitable backhanded comments.
"Relax, we're just browsing," June continued, her eyes bright. "This mall's crazy tonight. Didn't expect to see the whole gang here."
Before anyone could respond, the ground nearly vibrated from a booming voice somewhere across the upper balcony.
"ROY!"
Heads turned as Jay Manakin stormed into view, all six foot three of him, broad-shouldered and built like someone who trained for fun by bench-pressing small vehicles. His sleeveless hoodie barely contained his frame, and his wild, dark hair was held back with a bandana.
"Finally! Someone manly enough to challenge me!" he bellowed, stomping closer. Then his eyes landed on Denwen. "Wait, hold up. Denwen's here too? Oh-ho! Perfect! The two toughest guys in the year in one spot? Fate has blessed me!"
He struck a double bicep pose as if this alone might pressure them into agreeing to a match.
"Jay, please," Kara groaned under her breath.
Nicole snickered behind her hands. "Is he... always like this?"
"Only on days ending in 'Y,'" Roy muttered, shaking his head as Jay kept flexing like he was in the middle of a body-sculpting competition.
While Jay was distracted hyping himself up, Kara's gaze drifted further down the plaza. Her eyes landed on a familiar figure loitering near a row of video game stores, his green hoodie pulled low over his forehead and the distinctive glint of a wired eyepiece catching the light.
"Hey," she said, pointing subtly, "that's Logan. He's from Room B. He'd rather spend all day tinkering with gadgets than lifting a staff or casting a spell."
Logan, as if hearing his name, glanced their way with mild alarm before hastily pretending to examine the latest holographic console in the shop window. One of his ears had a small wire trailing into an old, scratched music player strapped to his waist, the kind people half-joked belonged in a museum.
Roy nudged Denwen. "Childhood friend, huh? Someone's got a type."
Denwen shot him a glare. "Don't make me remind Nicole who's still undefeated tonight."
That earned a snort from Nicole and an exaggerated gasp from Roy. "Cruel."
The group's laughter filled the air again, the night feeling light and easy… until the mood shifted like a sudden draft.
Across the street, accompanied by a man in a tailored black uniform with a long, silver-streaked beard, walked Angus.
Where most students carried themselves with excitement or at least relaxation, Angus moved with a smug, measured pace, his red scarf draped loosely around his neck as though he were starring in some grand, private drama only he understood.
His lips curled into a cold, faint sneer as his gaze swept across the group.
"Figures," he muttered just loudly enough, locking eyes with Denwen as he passed. "Low lives stick together."
The words hung in the air, souring the warmth of the moment. Nobody replied. Not because they couldn't, but because there wasn't any point.
The instructor beside Angus said nothing, merely ushering him along, and soon they vanished into the crowd, leaving a ripple of tension behind them.
Jay, oblivious as ever, frowned after them. "Man, what's his deal? I thought we were all supposed to be enjoying break."
Kara exhaled slowly, shaking off the encounter. "Ignore him."
June, always the optimist, clapped her hands. "Right! How about we all get something to eat? I'm starving."
"Only if Roy pays," Nicole chimed in sweetly.
"Why me?!"
"Because losers buy dinner."
The group laughed again, and just like that, the night began to feel lighter once more, as they drifted together toward the food court, leaving the shadows behind.