From Ash to fire

The party stands alert near a zone of magical darkness. Wolfgang hovers slightly above ground, eyes narrowed. “I hear fighting in the dark,” he mutters, raising his crossbow. He readies himself for any threat against the group.

Nearby, Daiki sits calmly on a chair, staff glowing faintly with Shillelagh energy. “Let’s talk then, if you want to talk,” he says, watching the shadows.

Suddenly, chaos stirs within the gloom. A goblin, confused and panicked, lashes out at one of its own and bolts toward Amber, who’s still restraining Hugo. Wolfgang doesn’t hesitate. Thwip. A crossbow bolt strikes true, dropping the goblin instantly.

Tachibana dashes forward, joining Amber. “You have the right to remain silent,” he intones to Hugo, invoking mage-guard protocol. “You will be questioned and detained.”

Hugo responds lazily, “You said I could be quiet. That sounds good…”

Then, from the creeping edge of the darkness, another figure emerges. A goblin assassin lashes out at Amber, but she turns just in time. The blade misses. “Can I—? No, no reaction,” she mutters bitterly.

Still clutching the ropes around Hugo, Amber snarls and extends a hand into the dark. “Talk to the hand,” she growls, releasing a burst of Burning Hands. The air fills with seared flesh and shrieking. “Just leave me alone—I am busy!”

Nearby, Ash shouts into the black, “I cannot see you, but by God, I can still smell you!” The goblin reels from the insult, clearly wounded by more than just words.

Daiki, still glowing staff in hand, strides forward through the gloom. “I just want to talk,” he mutters. Feeling movement, he swings. The staff connects with a crack of bone. “I felt something.”

Masaki joins the fray, slashing toward the source of Amber’s earlier scream. His blade misses, but he’s undeterred—even as blood seeps from his own wound.

Then the assassin strikes again. This time, his blade finds Amber’s side. She winces, but holds firm. The goblin then vanishes into the dark, retreating stealthily—though Daiki and Wolfgang catch a glimpse of his escape.

Amber, swinging blindly, hits only the bar. “The assassin goblin has left the bar!” she bellows. “Where is the filthy thing?!”

Ash, spotting the retreating figure, calls out, “Ooh, I understand now why you remain hidden in darkness.” The goblin stumbles, bleeding from ears and eyes, then collapses. The darkness lifts.

Silence falls as everyone surveys the aftermath.

Ash quickly moves to Amber’s side, casting a soft healing spell. “That’s enough for me,” Amber breathes, nodding in gratitude.

From the floor, Hugo squints up. “What is going on? Why can I see again?”

“They want to talk,” Daiki replies dryly.

Wolfgang steps forward. “Mr. Bearnau.”

Hugo Bearnau squirms as Wolfgang Rüppelshammer addresses him coldly. “Mr. Bearnau, we’ve spoken to your brother—what’s left of him. Now we have questions for your queen—your sister. About her plans. About the city.”

Hugo glares. “Why do you know so much about us? What did you do to my brother?”

“You mean your late brother.” Wolfgang holds up the clause, a silent testament to their previous encounter.

“He was more muscle than brain,” Hugo mutters. “Not much of a loss.”

Wolfgang nods solemnly. “It was a fair fight. Miss Ablaze fought him well.”

Amber shifts her stance and gestures to the axe on her back. “He gave me this. And some useful information. Goblin whereabouts, mostly.”

Hugo peers forward, squinting. “It’s hard to see from this angle.”

Amber grabs him by the shoulders and turns him. “Like stirring a pot—see better now?”

“Miss Ablaze, please,” Wolfgang interrupts. “He’s not a puppet. We can reason with him. I’d prefer he wasn’t tied up.”

Masaki, looking pale, tugs at Ashira’s sleeve. “Hey, I don’t feel great… Can you help me?”

Daiki jumps in before Ashira can respond. “Wait, don’t waste your magic.” He fishes out a small potion. “Try this first.”

Masaki hesitates. “I also have honey… but this is valuable.”

Daiki shrugs. “We also have honey.”

Finally, Masaki accepts Daiki’s offer. “Okay… I’ll take it.”

Daiki prepares the honey with care, pressing it to Masaki’s wound. “Let me handle this. You focus on the goblin.”

The wound begins to close. Daiki smiles. “A nice protective layer of honey. But Bana, you still don’t look too good.”

Masaki protests weakly, “I’m fine, really…”

Daiki glances to Ashira. “Maybe say a few healing words to our white-haired friend?”

Ashira nods and murmurs a spell. Masaki breathes easier as the magic takes hold.

“Thank you,” he says. “From the bottom of my heart.”

“Of course, Bana. That’s what friends are for,” Ashira replies warmly.

Masaki straightens and moves beside Wolfgang, ready to support the questioning.

“So,” Hugo says, looking around. “Why’d you come in and kill everyone? My friends?”

Ashira mutters, “Not all of you. Yet.”

Wolfgang steps forward. “We were tasked to investigate the goblin attacks on the city. We were attacked before we could reason with you or your brother. That’s why we’re here now.”

Hugo crosses his arms. “I didn’t attack anyone. So what do you want?”

“We want answers,” Wolfgang says. “What are you doing here?”

“I just want to live here in peace,” Hugo says. “Rest. Be calm.”

Wolfgang scans the chaos of the room. “This doesn’t look peaceful.”

He toys with his dagger. “One more time: what are you doing here?”

Amber leans in, her presence burning with remnants of rage. “Tell us. Now.”

Meanwhile, Daiki plays a few off-key notes on a broken piano. “I’ll just be over here.”

Wolfgang presses again. “What would your queen say if we delivered you to her?”

“You can try,” Hugo shrugs. “I’ll show you the way.”

Daiki keeps strumming. “Look, Ash, I’m making music while they threaten someone.”

Wolfgang gestures to Tachibana. “Mr. Tachibana, perhaps you have questions?”

Masaki nods. “Yes. Hugo—your dealings here. You say you want peace, but your goblins wreak havoc. Is that on your orders?”

Hugo scoffs. “We just found this place. Kicked out some beggars. That’s good for the city, right?”

“One evil for another,” Masaki says grimly.

“You attacked us,” Hugo fires back.

“We had orders,” Masaki states.

Wolfgang leans in. “Then we want to meet the one who gave you your orders. Your queen.”

“And what if I want to meet your commander?” Hugo shoots back.

“You’re in no position to ask that,” Wolfgang replies coolly.

“Some good guys you are.”

Wolfgang smirks. “You’re the best-dressed goblin I’ve ever seen.”

“Thanks. See a lot of goblins, do you?”

“Hundreds. Why the suit?”

“My brother was a brute. I prefer to think before I act.”

Wolfgang nods. “Then think carefully. What are your queen’s plans?”

“She doesn’t have any. She’s not even in the city.”

Masaki cuts in. “She’s working on a spell. A dark ritual. We know that.”

“Ugh,” Hugo sighs. “That idiot brother of mine couldn’t keep his mouth shut.”

Ashira steps forward, pressing a dagger to Hugo’s throat. “Did you just try to lie to us about your sister?”

Hugo swallows hard. “I don’t know… what did I say?”

“Don’t kill him!” Masaki pleads.

Wolfgang jabs, “Finally found something sharp that’s not your voice, Miss Ashira.”

Ashira’s eyes blaze. “Think hard. Where is she?”

“In the northern forest,” Hugo stammers. “I—I can take you.”

“How far north?” Ashira presses the blade gently upward.

“Stop!” Hugo cries.

Daiki perks up. “A dark ritual in the forest? What kind of magic is that?”

“I don’t know exactly,” Hugo babbles. “I can tell you what she’s doing, but please, no more.”

Masaki’s voice is firm. “Then tell us. What is she doing? And how big is her force?”

“Bigger than mine,” Hugo admits. “Not as big as Spine’s, but she has… muscle.”

“Spine’s troops may have joined hers,” Wolfgang notes.

“I doubt it,” Hugo says. “They usually go their own way. But—no, wait, please don’t—she’s trying to summon something. Something…”

Tachibana frowns, voice sharp. “What kind of power? Be specific. You spoke to your sister.”

“Unlimited power,” Wolfgang mutters under his breath.

“The power of a dragon,” comes the reply.

Tachibana presses further. “To what end? Take over the city? The land?”

“She wants to lead the goblins… maybe even the city, depending on how things go,” says Hugo.

Ash finally eases the dagger away from Hugo’s throat. “See? Isn’t that a relief? Doesn’t it feel good to speak the truth?”

Daiki hesitates, then suggests, “We’ve heard enough. We should head to the forest.”

Wolfgang turns to Hugo, voice steady. “Before we move, do you carry anything dangerous? Anything that could harm you or us?”

“Yeah… next to my crossbow.”

Wolfgang sighs. “Mr. Bearnau, anything else? Something useful to us or to your queen?”

“I’m tied up. I can’t hand anything over.”

Amber pulls on Hugo’s jacket. “Wolfgang, your size maybe? Or Ashira?”

Wolfgang repeats his question. “What valuable objects do you have on you—or stashed nearby—that could help us?”

“Help you, or help me?”

“It will help your journey. You might even get a horse, depending on what you give up.”

Masaki pauses. “Do we even want to take this goblin to the queen? Maybe just hand him to the Mage Guard.”

“We have what we need,” Daiki adds. “But we need to hurry. She’s doing a draconic ritual—in the forest.”

“It’s actually in a cave,” Ash corrects.

“Still nature. Not some city. We need to go now,” Daiki insists.

Ash speaks up, calm but decisive. “We can drop him off or dispose of him. Either way, we go.”

“We’ll bring him to the Mage Guard Keep,” Tachibana decides. “Let Clovis Major pick up the beggars in the sewer. No escape for Hugo.”

Wolfgang nods. “He knows the route. He could help us reach the queen. But first, let’s report to the Red Cloaks—clear the goblin camp, get our reward, and ensure Ashira’s father is arrested.”

They prepare to move. Masaki takes Hugo. Ash hums to herself.

“What is that woman doing?” Hugo mutters.

“Nothing, Hugo. Don’t worry. We’ll have fun later,” Ash replies darkly.

“You’re not setting this place on fire, are you?” Amber eyes her. “Stop gathering timber. Come with us.”

Wolfgang joins in. “Miss Ashira, do not destroy evidence.”

“It’s hardly evidence,” Ash shrugs. “It just needs to burn a little.”

“The party asks this from you,” Wolfgang insists.

“I think she needs closure,” Daiki says, defending her. “Just let her do her thing.”

Wolfgang searches a nearby room, finding a small chest with gold, silver, and a ruby. Meanwhile, Amber and Masaki argue over who escorts who—keeping Hugo in line and trying to prevent Ashira from lighting the place up.

Amber calls out to her. “This is evidence. We can’t lose it.”

Ash ignores them. “It just needs to burn.”

Tachibana reaches for her, trying to stop her hand. “No! Stop this!”

Ash resists, nimble, slipping from his grip. In one smooth motion, she leaps over the bar and drops a match. Fire blossoms across the timber.

“Ashira, what have you done?” Wolfgang shouts. “We asked you not to!”

She shrugs. “No worries.”

“Mr. Bearnau, what are you hiding?” Wolfgang demands, desperate.

Amber pulls him away. “We need to go—unless you want to choke on smoke.”

As flames spread, Daiki uses a gust barrier to keep smoke at bay. “Let’s move!”

Before leaving, Ash spits into the growing fire. The party escapes into the tunnels, smoke curling behind them.

As they walk, Daiki slows, speaking softly in Sylvan to Ash. “Maybe it wasn’t smart, but… I support you.”

Ash looks remorseful. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t think. That place—it had to burn. Even if everyone hates me for it.”

He nods. “I know.”

They don’t look back.

---

In the damp corridors of the sewer, tension bubbles just below the surface. Wolfgang heads toward a chest, expecting others to loot the floating goblins as promised. Realizing no one else is scavenging, Wolfgang turns back, wading into the murky water toward the goblin corpses.

Smoke begins to drift into the hallway. Not much, but enough to signal urgency.

Ashira, hearing Wolfgang rummaging through goblin remains, leans toward Daiki with a smirk. “Look, you see what people do for money? This is why I like you—you’re so pure. You don’t care about money. But people, they get their hands dirty. They do whatever. They need it.”

Daiki glances toward Wolfgang. “He looks more like a vulture,” he says. “A fucking vulture looting cadavers.”

While the fire grows and others prepare to flee, Tachibana hesitates. He wantes to help the beggars get out… get someone to arrest them, but he reckons the fire won’t reach them, and there is enough time to collect the criminals later. He shrugs it off. “We’ll go upstairs and inform the Mageguard.”

As they reach the exit, Daiki turns to Ashira. “Any last words for family members?”

Ashira simply raises a middle finger toward the corridor behind them before walking away.

Up top, Wolfgang asks Ashira to clean him up. “Miss Ashira, now you’ve cleansed your mind and the sewers, can you please proceed with cleansing my clothing and my feathers? The stench of the working class is revolting.”

Ashira scoffs. “Well, you didn’t really help yourself, did you? Really needed to loot those dirty goblins in the sewers.” Still, she casts prestidigitation to clean him. “Seems to me like you’re the only one desperate for money,” she teases, winking.

Daiki, done with the oversized sewer garb, unties the rope around his waist and dumps the pants in a bin. “I think we don’t need this anymore.”

Masaki and Amber also clean up, while Masaki runs off to alert the Clovis Major. When he returns with two officers, he gestures toward Ashira. “We’ll deal with her later.” He quickly explains the events: goblin infestation, three criminal beggars from the Night Quill Syndicate, and the sudden fire.

One officer eyes Ashira warily. “She lit everything on fire. Why are you traveling with this crazy woman?”

“She just has… unorthodox methods,” Wolfgang offers, unamused. Amber mutters, “You’re insane, Ashira.”

Ashira grins. “We have fun. Don’t lie—that’s my only rule.”

“But why did you burn down the tavern?” the officer presses.

Ashira shrugs. “That’s a boring story. History… erasure.”

Amber protests. “You used fire to kill people!”

“No,” Daiki interjects. “Killing is just bringing new life and burning down the old rotting stories.”

Masaki pulls the officers aside. He relays the situation in full—goblins, syndicate remnants, and Ashira’s role, omitting her name until pressed. Eventually, the truth comes out.

The officers agree to investigate and escort the beggars. “If they’re clean, they’ll go free. If not, we’ll hold them.”

Wolfgang steps forward. “Let it be clear: it is Mr. Masaki and the Rüppelshammer Party responsible for clearing the goblins.”

---

“Could you play some joyful music? Maybe some pan flute or drums?” he asks, glancing toward Ash.

Ash grins, grabbing her lyre without hesitation. “Yeah, no, you’re right,” she beams. “And I set fire to that place.” Her fingers pluck confidently at the strings. “Watch it burn as I drop that rage.” She keeps smiling, especially at Hugo, who seems visibly shaken by her.

Amber watches the display, thinking to herself, That girl is utterly unhinged.

Wolfgang shifts focus. “If we’re walking through the streets, shouldn’t we find other law enforcers? Three officers escorting three known criminals doesn’t sound ideal.”

Tachibana nods. “Right. That makes sense.”

As the group walks, they spot guards every so often, and they’re quickly sent toward the sewers. The city is responding.

Daiki muses aloud, “So that concludes the goblin job, right? We should go collect the reward and then head to the forest.”

Wolfgang, ever practical, raises a concern. “If the place is burned down, how will anyone know we got rid of the goblins? There might be no proof. No reward.”

Ash waves him off. “Come on, Wolfie. We’ve got Hugo. People know there was a goblin problem. Don’t worry.”

Wolfgang shakes his head and grows quiet, walking in silence.

As they continue through the streets, Daiki clarifies the plan. He’s eager to get to the forest but notes that Masaki still wants to drop Hugo—and maybe Ash—at the prison.

Ash interjects, “What? No, I’m joining you.”

“We need Ash,” Daiki insists.

Masaki questions it. “Do we? She did burn the whole place down.”

“You wouldn’t have Ash without fire,” she quips, defiant.

Daiki defends her. “She’s hurting. You were all pushing her, ignoring how she felt. Isn’t she allowed some emotional closure? You talk about friendship, but you don’t act like friends.”

Wolfgang nods solemnly. “You’re right, Mr. Daiki. Trust should be mutual. We’re still building that.”

Amber cuts in quietly, “I’m not your friend. I am on a job.”

Wolfgang doesn’t flinch. “That counts for everyone—Daiki, Ash, Masaki, even me. But Ashira hasn’t opened up. She only acts for herself.”

Ash scoffs. “You, Wolfie…”

Wolfgang continues, more composed, “There’s responsibility to your actions.”

Talk briefly returns to whether Ash is actually being taken to prison, but it’s clarified: Masaki vouched for her. His earlier comment was half a joke. He never truly meant to hand her over. She saved his life, and now, he has made good on his debt to her.

---

The sun is high in the sky. Daiki asks about item identification, wondering aloud if someone at the Mage Guard Keep could inspect the orb Wolfgang found. The orb glows faintly, with swirling smoke trapped inside.

As the Keep comes into view, Daiki hesitates. “Ash and I’ll stay outside. I don’t like those stone walls and bars.” He turns to her. “Want to perform something? I could grow flowers while you play.”

“You’re always useful, Daiki,” Ash smiles. “I feel good now. Cleansed.”

They step aside, instruments in hand, making a lighthearted spectacle in the streets. Daiki taps a rhythm; Ash joins on the flute. Passersby gather, drawn by the music. All attention shifts away from the others and the goblin they escort.

Amber, meanwhile, whispers to Wolfgang, “I don’t like the Mage Guard Keep, but I’m not staying with them. I’ll come with you.”

“As you wish,” he replies gently.

The others press on toward the Keep. Amber keeps close to Wolfgang and Masaki. “You’re the closest thing to a friend tonight,” she murmurs. “Not them.”

“We’re still figuring it out,” Wolfgang says. “But you’ve grown on me, Miss Ablaze.”

She laughs. “Call me Amber. And I’ll call you Monsieur Wolfgang.”

Soon they arrive at the gates of the Mage Guard Keep. The goblin tugs at the leash. “Do I have to go in? Can’t I just go with you?”

“No,” says Masaki. “You led goblins into the city. There’s going to be a proper trial—not with us, but with real judges.”

He leads the goblin inside. Amber follows, uneasy. Wolfgang steps through beside them, calm and resolute.

Back outside, music and wildflowers dance through the air—Ash and Daiki’s way of moving on.

---

Tachibana takes the lead, ensuring the official report is written truthfully. He is noting the bar was set on fire—without naming the culprit—and includes the information about the Goblin Queen and the ritual. He writes that he and the party, still unnamed but linked to Delbert Wise, are pursuing the matter. He assures the authorities that he’ll call in reinforcements if necessary but trusts they now have everything they need to continue the interrogation without him.

Despite Amber’s readiness to move on, Masaki makes it clear—he still values the lunch he shared with Daiki and doesn’t want to abandon him. Daiki plans to head into the forest, and Masaki intends to be there.

Meanwhile, Wolfgang and Amber stand nearby. Wolfgang assumes someone has already been asked to identify the strange item they brought back—a red glass orb enclosed in a golden-white cage, filled with white smoke. As Masaki writes, he signals for someone to take care of the orb’s identification.

While they wait, the orb activates. Smoke within it stirs and shifts, revealing a vision: the exterior of a cave deep in the woods. A Goblin Queen stands before a horde, delivering a rousing speech about summoning power. The image vanishes just as suddenly, replaced again by swirling smoke. One of the mage guards watching announces, “This is an Orb of Remembrance. It shows moments from the past.”

Amber reacts immediately. “We know that.”

“Have you dealt with it?” the guard asks.

“We’re going to go there,” she replies. Wolfgang adds that their actions will be recorded as part of the quest.

The orb is returned to them. Curious, Wolfgang wonders aloud how much it might be worth. “It’s actually quite a common item,” he says. “Used to preserve memories, like a tiny recording. Worth about fifty gold.”

He turns to Tachibana. “Since we have to come back tomorrow anyway, let’s leave it with them as part of our report—proof of the Goblin Queen’s speech—and make sure we get it back or get paid for it.”

“Yeah, that seems like a great plan,” Tachibana agrees.

---

The sun hangs high in the sky, casting the city in the golden light of early afternoon. It’s around one o’clock when Wolfgang glances toward the mage keep and asks, “How far is the blacksmith from here?”

“The lovely one,” he clarifies with a grin, referring to the skilled artisan they’d visited before.

“That would be in the outer north,” comes the answer. “You’re currently in the inner south. On foot, it’s about a half-hour walk.”

Wolfgang groans. “And a carriage?”

“Ten minutes. One silver piece.”

Without hesitation, Wolfgang agrees. “I will be happy to pay that for some comfort. Amber, would you arrange some fresh bread and cheese for the ride?”

Amber responds with a graceful nod, already moving. “Of course. Give me a couple of minutes.”

As the party prepares to depart, Daiki glances around. “I don’t know about those,” he says, eyeing the carriage. “I think we’ll walk. What about you, Ash? You like carriages?”

“I mean, we can rest a little bit. I wouldn’t be against that. Feel a bit of chill,” Ash replies casually.

Daiki perks up. “Can I sit on top?”

Ash grins. “Oh yeah, I also want to sit on top.”

The carriage driver chuckles and shrugs. “Yeah, sure. There’s a top.”

Daiki climbs up eagerly, clutching the railing with one hand and his staff with the other, the wind catching his hair as he settles in.

Inside the carriage, Amber hands Wolfgang a piece of bread as she holds the door open. She then ushers in Tachibana and follows after him. Ash taps experimentally on the roof with her drum, curious about the acoustics. Ash nods in satisfaction. “Nice. I love the depth.”

Wolfgang, less impressed, leans out and calls up, “Miss Ashira, do you mind postponing your acoustics testing until we enter the forest?”

Ash gives a small laugh. “Yeah, I can do that.”

“Would you like some cheese and bread?” he offers in return.

Instead of replying directly, Ash shifts to her lyre, placing it on the carriage roof to test how the structure carries the sound. Her melody is gentle, resonating through the wood as the city rolls by.

The carriage soon reaches the blacksmith’s. Daiki enjoys the ride atop, breathing in the wind and listening to Ash’s music, while Ash chatters to him about acoustic tricks—how hollow trees can sing, how entrances to caves enhance sound. “We should try this in the cave,” Daiki muses.

“After we find the queen,” Ash adds. “But yeah.”

At their destination, Wolfgang pays the driver a silver coin and steps down. “Is anyone coming inside?” he asks.

Amber follows him into the shop. Daiki and Masaki remain outside with the carriage.

Inside, a warm forge glows beneath the sign of Stone and Steel. The fire genasi blacksmith, Dinera Steelhammer, looks up. “Ah, you’re back already. What can I do for you?”

Wolfgang offers a polite nod. “The dagger’s been lovely for decorative use. But today, I’d like to replenish one longbow’s worth of arrows and four crossbow bolts.”

She returns shortly with a bundle. “Twenty arrows and twenty bolts. One gold piece per bundle.”

He hands over the payment, then hesitates. “Do you have any hand crossbows?”

“Of course I do. Looking for something special?”

“I am,” Wolfgang admits. “But I’m low on funds. I wondered if you have a second-hand one. Something I could rent, maybe?”

The blacksmith eyes him. “I don’t rent weapons, but I can check for a refurbished one. What’s your price range?”

“If I trade in my light crossbow, could I reduce the price?”

“You could. I sell light crossbows for thirty, but I buy them for ten. That would bring the cost of a hand crossbow to sixty-five gold.”

Wolfgang shifts uncomfortably. “You don’t… have anything cheaper?”

“If you leave my name out of it,” she says with a smirk, “I might find something slightly refurbished. Might have some quirks. Forty-five gold.”

Wolfgang nods. “I’ll be back tomorrow to consider both options.”

Outside again, Wolfgang and Amber rejoin the group. “Let us continue our journey. I am replenished and well-supplied.” Wolfgang says.

Amber adds, “Masaki still needs rest. I think we all do, really. Perhaps a bit of lunch?”

“A perfect time,” Wolfgang agrees. “Some red meat, perhaps?”

Amber nods. “Second lunch it is, monsieur.”

---

Ash sprawls out on the forest floor, arms stretched behind her head as she exhales deeply. “Oh, it’s great that we’re going to have, like, a longer rest. I’m spent, guys.”

Daiki furrows his brow. “A longer rest? But we need to go to the forest… I mean, we are in the forest, but… I really can’t do much magic either. The forest is in danger, and the Queen’s doing some weird ritual.”

Ash tilts her head lazily. “She’s in a cave, right? Might be hard to burn a cave, if I’m honest.”

Wolfgang turns toward her, confused. “So what are you suggesting, Ashira?”

“I’m just saying,” Ash replies, voice soft and meandering, “we can chill. Be present. Meditate a bit, look at the stars, sleep under the trees. Then tomorrow we go.”

Wolfgang frowns. “We can just have a short rest and then go to the cave. Let’s not wait for tomorrow—we’ve got the whole afternoon. I’m not spending the rest of the day lying in the forest.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being in the forest,” Daiki mutters.

“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Wolfgang agrees, “but we’re doing nothing while this Queen tries to summon a dragon or whatever. I don’t get it—you just said you don’t need to rest, and now you want a long one?”

“I said I didn’t need to eat. I do want rest,” Ash responds with a shrug. “We can do meditation circles, talk a bit. I don’t need to sleep right now.”

Wolfgang grumbles, “I just don’t understand this… weird concept.”

Ash stretches further, clearly relaxing. “You don’t have to. Just enjoy the moment.”

Daiki shifts, hesitating. “She kind of has a point. If the Queen’s doing some magical ritual and we’ve got no spells left…”

Masaki finally speaks up, voice calm. “Yeah, maybe it’s not the best plan to barge in with our magical resources depleted. Those assassins hit me hard. I get the urgency, but… we probably have time. I don’t think the ritual will be done soon.”

Daiki nods. “Maybe we can find the cave, check the situation, and set up camp nearby before doing anything.”

Masaki adds, “My Tressim could scout ahead so we know what we’re walking into.” He grins slightly. “Time’s a weird concept anyway.”

“True,” Daiki says with a chuckle, “but there’s still urgency. I want to help the forest… but I can’t do that if I’m drained.”

“Me neither,” Ash agrees.

Wolfgang throws his hands up. “What is wrong with you? I’m fully replenished—healthy, stocked with bolts, magic ready. Why do you all need so much rest?”

Amber stands quietly nearby, scratches still visible along her arms. Masaki, not far from bloodied, leans on his staff. The damage they took is plain to see—they bore the brunt of the last battle to protect the others.

Wolfgang seems frustrated, eyes scanning the group. “I was more than bloodied before too! I recovered with a short rest. Why does no one in this adventuring party want to do anything?” Wolfgang sighs. “Fine. If we’re all enjoying this restful moment so much, then let’s at least debrief. Let’s talk about the sewer. What went well? What can we improve?”

Daiki, looking earnestly at the others, speaks first. “Um, well… maybe we should listen to each other more—especially when someone doesn’t want to do something.”

Wolfgang shifts gears, trying to focus the conversation. “Okay, okay. What went well?”

Daiki offers a smile. “I really liked the combination of the fiery explosion, the gust of wind, and the algae bloom. That was good teamwork.”

Amber nods in agreement. “Me too. That was a nice use of our powers. But yeah, there were definitely things that went bad.”

Wolfgang presses further. “Anything we can improve?”

Amber raises an eyebrow. “You’re handling this very casually. But sure. I’ll play along. I didn’t like setting the old place on fire. That was reckless. Stupid, even.”

Ash chimes in, half-joking. “We should’ve done it earlier, right?”

Wolfgang tries to refocus. “Okay, let’s set the agenda. Ashira, anything you liked?”

Ash lights up a bit. “Yeah, I liked the fiery end. I loved it.”

“And anything we can improve?”

Ash nods. “We should’ve just taken the oil, tossed it in, lit it, and closed the door. No one would’ve gotten hurt. Easy.”

Wolfgang mutters, “So, set it on fire before we entered…”

“Exactly,” Ash says. “Why did anyone barge in at all?”

Wolfgang leans back. “I like this hypothesis-building. It’s healing. What about you, Tachibana?”

Tachibana answers calmly, “Well, I fully agree with Amber.”

He then turns sternly toward Ashira. “Ashira, I almost put you in jail again. Could you just behave? You’re on thin ice.”

Ash pouts slightly. “Come on, Bana. It was just a little fire…”

Wolfgang tries to summarize. “So, listening to each other, using our powers well, and maybe recognizing that fire means different things to different people. Also, actions like breaking the law may have bigger consequences—”

Daiki interrupts. “Didn’t I say before that I’m good with nature? And we did use that when we were tracking, remember?”

Amber affirms, “Yeah, he did.”

She adds with some bitterness, “I could say I’m good with fire, but now we have a tiefling who’s also good with fire. So what am I good for?”

Ash leans toward Daiki, whispering, “Maybe he’s forgotten. He might be older. Hard to tell.”

Wolfgang turns to her, surprised. “That’s new to me. Can you explain?”

Ash shrugs. “I’m good with nature. Birds, plants. It’s great. Look around.”

Wolfgang looks to Tachibana. “I think Ashira’s going crazy. This is bizarre.”

Daiki chuckles, “You just seem old, Wolfgang. Sometimes you act really old.”

Wolfgang deflects, “What’s wrong with being old? Tachibana is living proof age can be an asset.”

Tachibana calmly declines to engage. “This is not about me.”

Wolfgang tries to steer back. “Fire. Amber and Ashira. You both have powerful abilities. How can we actually combine those?”

Daiki raises a hand. “Can I say something?”

Amber nods. “Of course.”

“I just think comparing Ambers magical firepower to a matchbox isn’t fair,” Daiki says.

Amber lights up. “Merci, Daiki! Thank you for valuing what I bring.”

Ash nudges Daiki. “That’s mean. He probably can’t even hold a match with those claws.”

Wolfgang sighs. “So again, how can we collaborate? Why are we even working together if we’re not willing to contribute?”

Ash responds, a little defensive. “Amber could’ve set the fire. I did it because no one else acted.”

Wolfgang turns to Ash. “So can you explain why you set it on fire in the first place?”

Ash folds her arms. “It’s a place of oppression. Bad memories.”

Amber cuts in. “Okay, point made. But that means you—”

“Yes!” Ash insists. “You understand now.”

Wolfgang asks, “Then why return?”

Ash glares. “Because you all wanted to go into the sewers, even though I said we shouldn’t.”

Wolfgang nods. “So, it’s a place you hate, yet you followed us in.”

Ash throws her hands up. “Yes! I felt very oppressed. I’m an open book, Wolfi, it’s not my fault you don’t know how to read.”

Wolfgang fires back. “You’re not an open book, you’re a burned book.”

Ash hisses, “That place is clean now.”

Tachibana intervenes, calmly. “I would’ve brought her in, if not for the fact that we’re a party and… things happen.”

Ash smirks. “Oh, and let me report six goblin murders—done by someone flying. But hey, a noble house said it was fine.”

Daiki speaks again, firm. “Wolfgang, you’re ignoring other perspectives. Ash did say she didn’t want to go.” Daiki continues, “We’re trying to be friends. But people don’t always want to share their past.”

Ash grumbles, “What did we gain, Wolfie? We had another entrance. We didn’t need to see the old man.”

Wolfgang concedes, “If we’d known your objections, we might have decided differently. But we had to work with what we knew.”

Daiki interrupts, passionate. “She did tell you. You didn’t listen. She said she didn’t like it. That’s enough.”

Wolfgang sighs. “Sometimes the group’s needs outweigh the individual. But we’re learning.”

Daiki frowns. “I think I’ve grown. But some of you are still ignoring other views.”

Amber chimes in. “Daiki, you repeat yourself—but so does Wolfgang. Ashira, I’m sorry. We were hard on you. I serve Wolfgang. That’s our deal. But emotion during crisis? That’s dangerous.”

Ash whispers, “I’m sorry. I tried to tell you…”

She hunches down, her blue-tinged hair falling over her knees, eyes barely peeking out.

Amber softens. “I’m sorry, Ashira. Daiki, thank you for standing up for her. That’s a true friend.”

Ash mumbles, “I just couldn’t see anything clearly down there…”

Amber chuckles gently. “Well, it was dark.”

Ash sits in silence, sadness lingering in her eyes. Her remorse is palpable.

Amber reflects with pride. “Still, I’m glad this talk happened.”

Wolfgang nods. “Daiki raised a good point. It’s hard to trust when wounds run deep. But Ashira, you’re not responsible for your parents’ deeds. I’m sorry you had to endure that today—and everything before.”

As Wolfgang finishes, Daiki exhales deeply. His shoulders drop, and a few tiny flowers bloom softly around him. He smiles, more at peace.

The group sits together in a rare moment of stillness, and giving each other a hug – the air feels lighter again…

When close to Wolfgang, Ashira whispers: “I’m happy your reputation is all you’ve had to worry about growing up, Wolfi.”