The air was warm and bright as they neared Cornwall village, the noonday sun casting a golden glow over the thick rows of crops lining the winding dirt path. On the horizon, towering over the rolling fields, Asper could make out the village's outer walls, their texture and shape unlike anything he'd ever seen before. The walls rose high, each brick carved to resemble kernels of corn, stacked in a mesmerizing pattern that almost glowed golden in the sunlight. The walls, designed with painstaking detail to mimic an ear of corn, gave the village its name—Cornwall.

Asper stopped for a moment, taking in the sight, his mouth curving into an admiring grin. "So this is Cornwall village, huh? Nothing like back home..."

Rio, beside him, nodded approvingly. "Yeah, not bad, right? The villagers are pretty proud of those walls. They say every brick was carved by hand."

Zenji, ever stoic, merely observed in silence, though a glint in his eye showed he was quietly impressed. They continued on, the fields around them revealing rows upon rows of tall corn stalks swaying gently in the breeze, their golden heads rustling with each gust. Yet something felt strangely off—the fields were deserted, and there wasn't a single soul in sight.

The silence grew unsettling as they entered the village limits, passing the small, empty cottages and more endless stretches of cornfields.

Asper's brow furrowed. "Isn't it a little... quiet? Where is everyone?"

Rio shrugged, though even he seemed wary. "Maybe it's just an off day, or a festival somewhere?"

Zenji scanned their surroundings, alert as ever. "Let's see if we can find someone at the inn."

Just then, a thin wisp of smoke drifted up from behind a set of wooden cottages, visible over a thick clump of cornfields. It twisted up lazily, as though from a chimney.

"There." Zenji pointed toward the smoke, a hint of resolve in his voice.

They made their way toward the source, their footsteps muffled by the earth. The inn was a modest building made of worn timber, with a faded sign swinging above the door that simply read "The Corn Crib." Inside, the warm glow of the hearth and the scent of hearty stew filled the air. The inn's interior was cozy but plain, with wooden tables and chairs arranged neatly along the walls and a bar counter stretching across one side of the room.

Behind the counter, a young woman in simple nun's attire worked swiftly, her head bent as she ladled soup into bowls. Her dark hair was tucked under a white wimple, and a serene expression softened her features as she moved with quiet grace. Next to her, a middle-aged man with a short beard and kindly eyes, dressed in modest clergyman's robes, was standing there with a warm smile. His robes were an earthy brown with a white sash tied around his waist, giving him an air of quiet authority and kindness.

But what caught Asper's eye were the two figures seated at the counter.

The first was a massive man, larger than any ordinary human, with his entire form swathed in layers of heavy, dark clothing. His head and face were wrapped with a large scarf, and a thick hood was drawn over his head, hiding all. His shoulders were broad, and his gloved hands gripped a tankard of ale that looked comically small in his massive grasp.

Beside him sat a little girl, small and dainty in comparison, yet her presence was equally mysterious. She wore a simple frock that reached her knees and a knitted cap that framed her round, cherubic face. She sipped from a small cup of what looked like milk, her legs swinging from the high stool as she hummed quietly to herself. Though they were seated together, neither spoke, as if each was lost in their own world.

Asper couldn't help but stare, intrigued by the strange pair. He whispered to Rio, "That guy...he's huge. And why's he all covered up like that?"

Rio shrugged, his eyes wide with the same curiosity. "Beats me. Probably got a reason. And the kid doesn't look phased, so he must be okay, right?"

As Zenji, Rio, and Asper stepped in, the clergyman's eyes went wide. His hands trembled as he stared at Zenji and Rio, who, in their disguise as Gash and Slash, looked all too familiar.

"Please... we still don't have enough money," he stammered, his voice laced with fear. "Just... just give us a bit more time."

The massive man at the counter went rigid, his hand slipping under the layers of his robe to what looked like the hilt of a weapon. Zenji, sharp as ever, had already noticed, and his fingers drifted cautiously to the handle of his own sword.

Before tension could escalate further, Rio pulled down his mask, flashing an easy grin. "Whoa, easy there, old man. We're not with the Scarhead Gang."

The clergyman's relief was instant. "Oh, thank the Lord," he murmured, his hand clutching his chest. "Are you... are you sent by the Adventurers Guild Association?"

Rio straightened, giving a mock-salute. "You bet. We're here to take down your village's headache—Scarhead Gang's Leader Boko Salerno."

The clergyman's face fell, his initial relief crumbling into worry. "But... why are they only sending kids? You're too young to stand against him. This gang... they're ruthless. Lord above, please send someone who can truly save us from these hard times..."

Rio scoffed, crossing his arms. "Old man, don't underestimate us. We'll capture Boko Salerno and end this nightmare, one way or another."

Before the clergyman could argue further, Asper's stomach let out an embarrassingly loud growl, breaking the tension. Mira, the nun looked up, her face softening as she glanced at them.

"Please, have a seat, boys," she said warmly. "You must have traveled a long way. Let's get you some food."

Asper, cheeks red, nodded sheepishly and hurried over to the counter. The three of them took seats, Asper sat closest to the giant man, Rio in the middle, and Zenji at the far end, silently scanning the room.

Mira set three steaming bowls of soup in front of them without even asking what they wanted, giving a small apologetic smile. "We don't have much, given the current situation, but I hope this will be enough."

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They thanked her and started eating, savoring the warmth of the soup. Just as the quiet resumed, the little girl next to the giant man tugged at his sleeve.

"Nobu, more milk?" she asked sweetly, holding up her empty cup.

The man shook his head, his deep voice a low rumble. "No, Cherrie. Let everyone else have their share first."

Cherrie's face scrunched up in disappointment. She started to shake his arm, her pout deepening. "But Nobu, I want more! Just a little!"

In her efforts, she pulled on the man's thick outer cloak, tugging it down enough to reveal his face. Asper let out a startled yell, nearly dropping his spoon.

"AHHH! A talking panda!" he blurted out, eyes wide with shock.

The man immediately tried to readjust his coverings, his large, furry paw tugging at his cloak. "I am not a panda!" he grumbled in irritation.

Rio snickered, nudging Asper. "Yeah, he's not a panda. Clearly, he's a..." Rio paused, searching for a random animal, "...a giant raccoon?"

The cloaked man let out a low growl, an unmistakable bear-like rumble that made the bowls on the counter tremble. "I'm not a raccoon either. I am a bear."

Asper's jaw dropped. "Wait, how are you... talking?"

Rio smacked his forehead, laughing. "Asper, have you seriously never seen a Zoanthrope before? What, did you grow up in a cave?"

Cherrie giggled, clearly entertained by Asper's confusion. Nobu, realizing the disguise was now pointless, sighed and pulled off his cloak, revealing his true form—a towering, anthropomorphic white bear. His fur was sleek and snow-white, and underneath his robes, he wore a blue and red samurai-like outfit with intricate designs. He wore three swords—two strapped across his back, and one at his waist, giving him a formidable look.

Satisfied to be out of disguise, he nodded to them. "Since you're here to take down Boko Salerno, perhaps we should work together. I am Nobu Kumajin, swordsman of The Magnificent Guild."

Rio's eyes widened. "No way, The Magnificent Guild? You guys are famous!" He pointed to himself with a grin. "I'm Rio Beringer."

Zenji gave a respectful nod. "Zenji Kamigai."

Still looking awed, "Asper J. Bancroft," Asper said with a grin. "Though, honestly, I just want to get my bag back from that thief, Fallow."

At the mention of Fallow, the clergyman Winfreth, Mira, and Nobu exchanged looks of surprise.

"You encountered Fallow... and survived?" Winfreth asked, astonished.

Rio interrupted with a playful scowl, nudging Asper. "He only survived because he messed up our plan to catch him."

Asper frowned, crossing his arms. "Alright, alright, you can stop bringing that up every five seconds."

Cherrie piped up with a bright grin, crossing her arms. "Hey, aren't you guys forgetting about me? I haven't introduced myself yet!" She lifted her chin with a proud smile. "I'm Cherrie, and I'm a princess of a big kingdom!"

Asper and Rio shared a grin, thinking she was playing pretend. "A princess, huh?" Rio chuckled. "And what kingdom might that be?"

Cherrie's cheeks turned red, puffing up as she glared at them. "You guys are just clowns! I mean it—stop laughing!"

Her outburst only made them laugh harder, and Zenji couldn't help but crack a small smile. Nobu gave a deep, rumbling chuckle and patted her head.

"Well, Princess Cherrie, it looks like you've found your royal jesters," he said with a wink, making her pout even more.

The lively banter continued, filling the inn with warmth and laughter, a momentary relief.

The laughter faded as Zenji shifted the tone. "Tell me, how did things in Cornwall get this bad? And where is Salerno?"

Winfreth's face fell, his earlier smile fading as he glanced over his shoulder. "It all started after Duke Elroy's death. His son, Duke Gilles, took over but lacked any of his father's wisdom. He gambled away the royal treasury, drank excessively, and spent what was left on... unsavory pursuits. When he'd driven the coffers dry, he raised taxes and commanded soldiers to seize anything valuable the villagers had."

Mira sighed, lowering her eyes. "When we tried to resist, he brought the Scarhead Gang in to keep us in line. Boko Salerno has free reign now; the Duke's become a puppet in their hands. Any hunter or adventurer brave enough to answer our plea has been captured—or worse."

Winfreth continued in a haunted voice. "They've taken almost every able-bodied man from our village, locking them up or forcing them into hard labor. Most women barely leave their homes... and heaven help any that cross paths with the Duke."

Zenji's jaw clenched. "And Salerno? Is he in the Duke's estate?"

"Yes," Winfreth confirmed, nodding gravely. "He lives in that mansion like a king, with guards and gang members patrolling night and day. Anything that gets stolen in this village is taken there."

Hearing that, Asper's face fell. "So... my bag's probably there, too," he muttered, clenching his fists. "I have to get it back—it's urgent."

Zenji and Rio exchanged glances, nodding in silent agreement. They rose to leave when Nobu spoke up, reaching out a hand.

"Hold on! Don't go alone. These guys are more dangerous than you realize," Nobu urged, standing to his full, towering height. "If we go together, we have a real chance. You know the saying—united we stand, divided we fall."

Asper hesitated, eyes fixed on the floor. "Thanks, Nobu... but I have to get my bag. It's really important."

Rio patted Asper's shoulder, nodding. "We'll take them down together, don't worry."

As they started moving toward the door, Nobu stepped outside with them, followed by Winfreth, Mira, and Cherrie. Nobu called after them, "If you go in alone, you'll just be walking into your own death. These people won't show mercy."

Mira added, her voice concerned, "The estate's heavily guarded. It's practically impossible to get close without them noticing..."

As they talked, Nobu lifted Cherrie onto his shoulders, her legs dangling comfortably as she clung to his head. He added, "Look, let's work together. With our skills, we stand a chance of taking them down and freeing the village."

Asper opened his mouth to reply, but a sudden shift in his gaze brought him to a halt. In the distance, a girl with dark skin and a cascade of curly hair approached, gripping her arm tightly, wincing with every step. Flanking her were two figures: a boy with long, dark hair tied loosely back, part of his face obscured by a lock that hung over one eye, and a second boy with short, silver-gray hair, dressed in a brown jacket layered over a plain tee.

Asper's focus zeroed in on the boy with the silver-gray hair, who seemed equally transfixed by Asper's presence. The intensity in both their gazes sharpened they froze, as if recognizing an old enemy.

Neither said a word at first, but something unspoken passed between them. Then, as though a dam had burst, both boys sprang forward, charging at each other with fierce, unyielding determination. Fury blazing in their eyes, their fists clenched, their voices echoing across the clearing.

The silver-haired boy shouted, voice raw with a mix of anger, "Asperrrrr!"

"Ivooooo!" Asper roared, his own anger burning.

They stopped just inches apart, fists tightly coiled, every muscle in their bodies tense, faces inches away from each other, both ready to strike at a moment's notice.