The moment we stepped into the plaza, the air hummed.
Like, the entire world just collectively gasped, and then came the inevitable DING!
A golden text scrolled across the sky like the universe was flexing on us.
[Global Announcement: RANK EVENT – COMMENCE COUNTDOWN]
Time to crown this year's Rank 1 Adventurer!
Countdown: 24 hours.
I just… froze.
Kael's mouth curved into that stupid calm smirk again. "Well," he said, crossing his arms, "it's that time of the year again."
I blinked up at the glowing sky. "Oh my god."
Then I screamed. "OH MY GOD!"
People turned. I didn't care. My soul was vibrating.
"Rank Event! Rank Event! Kael, do you know what this means?! I can finally, finally wipe that smug grin off Zeref's stupid face..."
"...assuming you survive the first round," Kael interrupted, ever the killjoy.
I gasped, scandalized. "Excuse me?! I've literally fought a six-headed Hydra with you! I am reborn!"
"You also tripped over your sword," he said, deadpan.
"That was tactical footwork!"
Kael just laughed. "Sure, sure. Tactical." He glanced up at the shining timer in the clouds. "Looks like we've got a day before it starts. Perfect amount of time for me to enjoy being Rank 3 before I take Rank 1 from Zeref."
I narrowed my eyes. "You're talking a lot of trash for someone who just got carried by my Sunbeam Strike."
"You mean Leonhart's Sunbeam Strike."
"...Details."
He tilted his head, that teasing half-smile forming again. "Besides, with this new armor and your… adjustment period…" He looked me up and down like he was inspecting a malfunctioning robot. "I'd say my odds are pretty high."
I pointed dramatically at his face. "You arrogant shadow puppy! You think a little assassin cosplay is gonna make you stronger than me?!"
He chuckled. "You're welcome to try and prove me wrong tomorrow."
The screen above us flickered again, our names already listed as Rank 2 and Rank 3. And below, Zeref's golden crest still smugly displayed at Rank 1.
"Oh, he's so dead," I hissed. "I'm gonna break his shiny staff over his stupid head."
Kael's eyes sparkled in amusement. "That's the spirit."
Then he looked around, hands sliding casually into his pockets. "Boss raids are frozen for now because of the event prep. No new quests. So…" He gave me that look, relaxed, confident, dangerous in all the ways that made my heart do parkour. "What do we do with the day off?"
"Uh." I blinked. "You mean...like...now?"
"Unless you've got somewhere else to be."
I opened my mouth, then realized, no, I didn't. I didn't even exist here outside Leonhart's name and Kael's chaos.
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Come on, Eunji. Drop the armor for a while. Let's just… walk around."
"W–Walk around?"
"You know," he said, smirking, "like normal people. A date."
My brain flatlined.
"Wh....what...did you just...D-date?!"
Kael shrugged, feigning innocence. "That's what you humans call it, right? Two people spending time together in public?"
I squinted. "You're enjoying this way too much."
"Probably."
I groaned but followed anyway. We unequipped our armor at the plaza fountain, revealing simpler travel clothes, his all black, sleek and dangerous; mine still cursedly Leonhart-coded, all sharp lines and commanding shoulders.
And then it hit me.
We looked like two handsome men on a date.
Like, really handsome. I could already hear the whispers as we walked through the market district.
"Oh my gods, is that Kael?"
"Is that Leonhart with him? Are they… holding hands?"
"They're so close....wait...IS THIS CANON?!"
I nearly tripped. "Kael. KAEL. They're staring."
He smirked. "Let them."
"They think we're..."
"Good."
"Kael!"
He glanced sideways, voice dripping with amusement. "Relax, Eunji. You said you wanted to blend in."
"Not as a yaoi visual!"
He actually laughed. A full, honest laugh. The kind that made my stomach flutter like it was auditioning for a musical.
We stopped by a little stall that sold candied fruit. He handed me one, glazed, red, shiny. I blinked. "...Are you bribing me with sugar?"
He grinned. "You fight better when you're happy."
"Flattery won't save you tomorrow," I mumbled, but bit into it anyway. It was ridiculously sweet.
The rest of the day blurred in that weird, warm way that made my brain forget I was supposed to be stressed. We walked through the merchant streets, browsed gear, even watched a street performer juggle enchanted daggers (I almost threw mine in to "help"...Kael nearly fainted).
At sunset, we found ourselves back by the fountain. The countdown timer glowed above the clouds, 14 hours remaining.
Kael looked up, expression calm. "Ready for tomorrow?"
I sighed dramatically. "Ready to annihilate both you and Zeref, yes."
"Confidence suits you," he murmured.
"Don't flirt with me while you're about to be publicly humiliated."
He smirked. "Then I'll just have to make sure I win."
The plaza lights reflected in his eyes, soft gold on deep gray. And for a second, I forgot we looked like two men. It felt like something else. Something dangerously close to real.
I cleared my throat, breaking the silence. "Fine, mister assassin armor. Tomorrow we settle this."
He smiled. "Tomorrow, then."
The countdown flickered again...13:59:59.
And just like that, the world felt alive with tension, excitement… and maybe, possibly, the faintest spark of something I wasn't ready to name.