Kazuki rubbed his temples in frustration, staring at his hand as if willing it to burst into flames again. "Come on… just a little spark! Flame on! Ignite! Burn! …Nothing?! Seriously?"

Sonnet leaned against a tree, smirking. "Looks like your anime magic words only work once, huh?"

"Maybe it needs a cooldown period?" Andreas suggested, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Like a game skill."

Kazuki flopped onto the grass, groaning. "If this is a game, I've got the worst tutorial ever. Prometheus hyped me up, and now my power's just… gone?"

Lumi, calmly munching on a snack, shrugged. "Don't overthink it. Sometimes powers just need to settle in. For now, let's focus on something less stressful—like not dying on the way to Aries' Domain."

Kazuki sat up. "Fair point. But still… if we run into trouble, I'd like to not be a walking power failure."

"Then don't worry about it!" Sonnet stretched her arms. "Let's take it slow. We've got plenty of time to figure it out. How about we stop at the next village? I could use some proper food and a bath."

"Village sounds nice," Andreas said, nodding. "Plus, it wouldn't hurt to restock supplies. Maybe even trade stories with locals."

Lumi wiped her hands and stood. "There's a city nearby—bright markets, lively streets, and decent food. Shouldn't take long to reach."

Later… Outside the City

The group stood on a hill, looking down at a bustling city bathed in the warm glow of the afternoon sun. Stone buildings sprawled across the landscape, colorful banners fluttering in the wind. The streets were filled with vendors shouting their wares, children running and laughing, and travelers from distant lands.

Kazuki's eyes lit up. "Finally, civilization! I can already smell the food!"

Sonnet clapped her hands. "Let's hit the market first! I wanna see what weird stuff they sell here."

"Agreed," Andreas said. "We might even find something useful for our journey—or at least something interesting."

In the Market

The city was a lively maze of stalls selling everything from exotic fruits to strange, glowing trinkets. Kazuki wandered ahead, gawking at the sights. "This place is amazing! It's like a festival!"

Sonnet stopped at a music stall, picking up a peculiar string instrument. She strummed it once, and a soft melody filled the air. "This… feels familiar."

Andreas admired a stand of weapons, inspecting a finely crafted spear. "If only we had space to carry all this."

Lumi, ever the practical one, pointed toward a nearby tavern. "We'll rest there for the night. Grab what you want from the market and meet me inside."

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The Next Morning...

Kazuki blinked as the sunlight streamed through the thin curtains of the small motel room. "Ugh… What time is it?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes. He looked around, realizing it was oddly quiet.

Lumi was sitting on the floor, still half-asleep, munching on a piece of bread. "Morning," she said through a yawn. "Where's Sonnet and Andreas?"

Kazuki scanned the room. "Wait… they're not here? Did they sneak out? What if something happened to them?!"

Lumi paused, narrowing her eyes. "Hmm… we should find them. Maybe they got into trouble."

Without wasting another second, they rushed out of the motel, darting through the village in search of their missing friends.

Kazuki ran through the crowded streets, his eyes darting around wildly. "Sonnet! Andreas! Where are you guys?!"

"Maybe someone kidnapped them," Lumi said calmly, though her words did little to comfort him.

Kazuki gasped. "Kidnapped? What if they're being sold to a black market or locked in a dungeon? We'll have to fight some evil overlord to save them!"

Lumi rolled her eyes. "Or… maybe they're just lost."

Suddenly, they heard familiar voices coming from the back of a nearby tavern. Curious, they peeked inside.

The Gambling Den...

Sonnet sat at a table stacked with coins and cards, her eyes gleaming with excitement. A crowd had gathered around, cheering her on as she threw a pair of dice. Andreas leaned back in his chair, grinning as he sipped a drink.

"DOUBLE SIX, BABY!" Sonnet shouted as the dice landed perfectly. "ANOTHER WIN!"

The crowd erupted into cheers.

Kazuki and Lumi stood frozen in the doorway, their jaws dropping.

Kazuki couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Are you serious right now?! We were worried sick, and you two were… GAMBLING?!"

Sonnet turned to them, still riding the high. "Hey, guys! Good morning! Wanna join? I'm on a winning streak!"

Andreas smirked. "Technically, we weren't just gambling… We were dominating. Big difference."

"You haven't even slept?! It's been all night!" Kazuki yelled, waving his arms.

Lumi sighed, crossing her arms. "Unbelievable. You really pulled an all-nighter… for this."

Sonnet shrugged with a mischievous grin. "Relax, Kazuki. We're practically rich now. Look at all these coins!"

Kazuki pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is the dumbest thing you've done since I've known you."

Sonnet leaned back, casually tossing a coin in the air. "Oh, come on. Lighten up! Life's too short not to have some fun."

Andreas added, "Besides, we didn't lose a single game. We've got enough money to last for weeks!"

Kazuki's stomach growled loudly, interrupting the conversation. He sighed. "Fine… but next time, tell us before you pull an all-night stunt. Now, let's eat."

Lumi raised an eyebrow. "Agreed. Let's feed him before he passes out."

Later... at a Food Stall

Kazuki stuffed his face with grilled meat while Sonnet counted her winnings, and Andreas tried to explain the rules of a bizarre card game to Lumi.

"So, what's next on the agenda?" Sonnet asked. "Another adventure? More gambling?"

Kazuki gave her a deadpan look. "No more gambling. We're sticking to normal adventure stuff now, okay?"

Sonnet winked. "Define normal."

Andreas chuckled. "You realize we're heading to Aries' Domain next, right? Normal doesn't exist for us anymore."

Kazuki sighed dramatically. "I need a nap before we face whatever nightmare Aries is gonna throw at us."

Lumi nodded. "Good idea. Let's rest for real this time. No all-nighters."