Clayton walked home carefully after shopping, staying alert in case of any trouble. Fortunately, his journey back was uneventful.
Once he reached his house, eager to resume his magic training and scroll crafting, he rushed to open the gate. But just as he was about to, he noticed a group of people gathered not far away.
He immediately went on high alert. After all, strange crowds had often led to problems lately—especially with all the chaos in Sunlight City.
However, upon closer inspection, the group didn't appear to be causing trouble. In fact, they were chatting warmly and seemed familiar. As he looked closer, Clayton realized they were his neighbors. That piqued his curiosity—what were they talking about?
Lately, it felt like all Clayton ever heard was bad news. This sudden moment of cheerful conversation was enough to make him walk closer and listen in.
As he drew near, fragments of their conversation became audible.
