The sun bathed the plains of Machinia in a soft golden glow as the Stormrider Supreme Express IV cruised smoothly over the rolling fields. The magic carriage, reinless and shining with the golden crest Fahleena had drawn, a keyblade entwined with a mana tree, drew attention wherever it rolled. Fuhiken steered from the driver's seat, his posture upright, calm but alert. Beside him, Yetsan sat in full armor, helmet polished and flawless, though his expression under the visor hinted at discomfort. Dirt was inevitable, and that reality never pleased Yetsan.
Inside the cabin, the girls relaxed. Fahleena chattered nonstop about their last adventure, her twin tails bouncing as she reenacted her keyblade moves. Jessica, as usual, tried to remain composed but struggled to suppress a smile. Sakura was already munching on snacks, passing out baked buns from one of her two magic bags. Gabyola sat poised, legs crossed with elegance, but her eyes subtly darted to ensure none of the girls spilled crumbs. Orchid, ever cheerful, hummed a victorious marching tune, utterly off-key.
In the back wagon, Adiw rested his greatsword across his lap, eyes closed in anticipation. Kyle and Sinryo exchanged smirks, clearly plotting mischief. Gigih clutched his spellbook tightly, occasionally muttering formulas under his breath as if preparing a thesis, not a fight.
The moment Kyle stood, peering into the distance, curiosity struck him like a thunderbolt. "Hey, what's that gathering up ahead?"
Fuhiken followed Kyle's gaze. Several carriages and wagons clustered together on the horizon, forming a makeshift camp amidst the endless grassy plains. The gathering was chaotic yet purposeful, tents half-pitched, beasts of burden tethered nearby, and adventurers sharpening weapons or sharing rumors over open fires. Banners of different designs fluttered in the breeze, marking each group's allegiance. Some wagons bore signs of recent repairs, while others gleamed as if straight from a merchant's showroom. The tension in the air was palpable, like the calm before a storm. Clearly, something serious had drawn this many adventurers to one remote spot in Machinia.. Without hesitation, he turned the carriage toward them.
"We're getting dirtier, aren't we?" Yetsan sighed.
The party approached a diverse assembly of adventurers spread across the clearing like a living tapestry of cultures and combat traditions. Towering dwarves in intricately engraved heavy armor adjusted their belts and axes, their voices deep and rumbling as they shared old war tales. Nearby, centaurs with gleaming long spears lined up in disciplined formation, their muscular frames tense with anticipation, hooves thudding against the earth in readiness. A group of agile beastfolk, sleek and feline, practiced quick feints and dodges, their cat-like ears twitching at every sound, golden eyes scanning the surroundings.
Humans, clad in full tactical gear, moved with calculated precision, adjusting their formation with silent hand gestures. Each of them carried a different weapon: longswords, halberds, and even crossbows, all meticulously maintained. Their presence was quiet, efficient, and dangerous.
Then, on the far side of the gathering, stood another elf party, graceful and composed, yet clearly seasoned. Their gear shimmered with elegant enchantments, and their stances betrayed years of experience. Despite the variety in species and combat style, one detail stood out immediately: each adventurer group consisted entirely of a single race.
As the Stormrider halted, heads turned. Murmurs rose about the lack of reins and the mysterious golden crest. Gabyola, ever cautious, whispered to Yuuna, who nodded and tapped the side of the carriage. The carriage shimmered briefly before folding like origami into a tiny, cube-shaped object. She slid it into her magic bag.
The leader of the elf party, a tall male named Daelus, stepped forward. He bore a massive sword and a respectful demeanor. "Daelus. We hail from Etheria's eastern edge."
Fuhiken nodded. "Fuhiken, from Mana Tree main village."
The rest of Daelus' party introduced themselves with courteous nods. Fenris, an archer with sharp eyes and a calm presence; Sylania, a healer with gentle features; and Rosalia, a knight in silver-plated armor. Though they were adult elves, each of them lowered their heads slightly in deference to Fuhiken and his group. While this was their first time meeting face-to-face, Daelus' party had heard the names of the twelve mana tree children from their teacher. Coming from a village near the eastern edge of Etheria, they lived far from the central mana tree where Fuhiken's group was born and raised. Yet even from that distance, the reputation of the firstborn lingered, and among elves, such lineage demanded respect.
Yuuna observed quietly, analyzing the structure of each party. Jessica took mental notes, watching combat stances, weapon grips, even the way others walked.
"Why the gathering?" Fuhiken asked the obvious question.
"A brown Uromastyx stampede is predicted. Weak, but vast in number. They could level a city if left unchecked. Plus, it's become a competition. Skin, fang, and mana stones bring profit. Some rare items too." Daelus replied,
The words "competition" and "money" triggered predictable reactions. Adiw's eyes lit up with barely restrained excitement, his grip tightening on the hilt of his greatsword as if it had been waiting for this exact moment. Beside him, Sinryo perked up instantly, the mention of profit overriding any sense of restraint. He rubbed his hands together like a merchant spotting a lucrative deal. Even Gigih raised an eyebrow, amused by how fast the mood had shifted. In less than a second, friendly chatter turned into battle-readiness, fueled by dreams of loot and bragging rights.
Adiw cracked his knuckles. "Finally, something to flex on."
Sinryo's eyes gleamed. "Gold coins, rare loot... I'm in."
Gabyola placed a hand on her hip. "Don't overdo it."
Fuhiken rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he surveyed the party. "We'll cover more ground, and chaos, if we split up. Four groups. That should balance things."
Adiw immediately raised his hand. "I'm leading one. It's been too long since I got to smash anything in bulk."
"Fine," Fuhiken said, nodding. "Adiw Group. Pick someone."
Adiw turned toward Yetsan, clapping a hand on the armored boy's shoulder. "You're with me. Your lance will skewer a dozen in one go!"
Yetsan recoiled slightly. "No. Absolutely not. I'm not here to roll around in dirt like some barbarian."
"I'll split the loot with you," Adiw said smoothly. "And I'll help clean your armor afterward. Even the tiny crevices."
Yetsan hesitated, arms crossed. "…Including the helmet filters?"
Adiw groaned. "Fine. Even those."
"…Deal." Yetsan sighed in defeat.
Fuhiken nodded. "Next, Sinryo Group."
"I call Kyle," Sinryo said before anyone could react, slinging an arm around his partner-in-crime.
Kyle grinned. "We're going to make a mess, huh?"
"As long as we don't get disqualified for style points," Sinryo replied, already checking his daggers.
"This is going to be fun," Kyle said. "Let's not aim at the same thing too often, or we'll just blow each other up."
"Agreed. Alternating chaos is the best chaos."
Fuhiken tried not to sigh. "Just... don't destroy the other teams, please."
"Can't promise that," both boys replied in unison.
"Orchid Group," Fuhiken continued. "Orchid, you'll lead."
Orchid gave a thumbs-up. "Roger! Jessica, you're with me! Fahleena too!"
"I accept this glorious mission!" Fahleena declared, raising her keyblade and striking a heroic pose. "The battlefield shall be our canvas of destiny!"
Jessica sighed but smiled faintly. "As long as you don't name your attacks out loud mid-battle again…"
"No promises!" Fahleena beamed.
"I'll keep her from running straight into trouble," Orchid said confidently. "Maybe."
That left the rest. Fuhiken looked around. "The support group will be with me, Sakura, Gigih, Gabyola, and Yuuna."
"Eh?" Sakura blinked. "But I brought like, five different healing snacks…"
"That's exactly why you're support," Gabyola said dryly. "You're our mobile lunch counter."
"I feel insulted, but I'm also not complaining."
Gigih snorted. "At least we'll have commentary seats. I brought my notebook."
Yuuna nodded. "We can observe party formations, support where needed, and… eat in peace."
Fuhiken adjusted his shield. "Don't relax too much. We may be support, but we're not on vacation."
"Speak for yourself," Sakura said as she pulled out a foldable seat from her magic bag. "This elf is support-class with class."
"Are you sure you shouldn't lead the frontline?" Yuuna asked Fuhiken.
"They'll be fine. I trust them." He shook his head.
Gigih snickered. "With Kyle and Sinryo in the mix, this might get weird."
---
To be continued.