The hum of distant music and the soft glow of the firelight painted the abandoned streets of the village with a surreal charm as Kai and the two girls followed the chief’s lead. The festival's lively sounds getting louder as they draw closer, spilling into the stillness of the quieter alleys they are traversing.

Eventually, they took a turn and saw the clearing ahead. Where the celebrations are being held. The stack of woods Kaiser last saw being built before leaving was completed and was now burning into an impressive bonfire, towering like a cubical amber at the festival center, brightly ablaze, its flames licking the night sky.

Before it played a band of musicians, singing country songs with their own unique instruments. And around them, the village thrived with life. Families twirled in jubilant dances, children’s laughter pierced the air, and adults leaned into one another, mugs raised in celebration. The scent of roasted meat and spiced bread wafted through the air, tempting even the most cautious onlooker to join

"That doesn't look simple at all," Kai can't help but smile, affected by their infectious joy. He hadn’t expected much from a hastily planned farewell festival, but the scene ahead surpassed all his expectations. It was vibrant and full of life—even grander than some of the events he remembered from Earth.

The chief glanced back with a faint smile. "Well, it’s our last celebration here. I didn’t see the harm in being generous with the resources." His voice carried a trace of nostalgia. Then, with a nod toward the festival, he added, "Hurry up now, child. They’re expecting us."

Kai’s steps faltered. The thought of stepping into that lively crowd made his stomach churn. He could already imagine the villagers turning to greet them, faces bright with enthusiasm and curiosity. With the chief himself leading the way, their attention would naturally spill over to him, and the mere thought made his palms sweat.

"Yeah, about that…" he hesitated. "Sorry, but can you go ahead without us? I’m not great with this kind of situation."

The chief raised a brow, his expression unreadable, before giving a small nod of understanding. "Suit yourself," he said, and with that, he walked briskly toward the celebration, disappearing into the throng.

Kai lingered in the shadows for a moment, the firelight flickering at the edges of his vision.

It wasn’t that Kai disliked festivals and the masses, it's just that, it's uncomfortable. Making him miss the simplicity of the lonesome tower where there are no crowds is overwhelming his personal insecurity. However, that wasn't the main reason stopping him from joining them. It was the attention he dreaded the most. As someone who carried the title of a Player, his appearance just begged to be greeted in these circumstances. The problem is, Kai isn't confident of handling their attention, because by his character, he'll either give them a crude smile or outright ignore him as he go on his own way. Likely disheartening the cheerful villagers in the process, thinking that his a lofty young man while they're peasants undeserving of his attention.

Kai didn't want that!

He sighed.

If only he could enjoy the celebration as a normal person, things would be much easier. Should he just sneak about until it's time to leave?

'No, absolutely not.' He thought, his gaze locked toward the long tables lined with food. Plates of steaming dishes stretched across the clearing, beckoning with the rich scent of spices, meaty aroma, freshly baked bread and many more. His stomach growled audibly, and he groaned inwardly. Skipping the festival was one thing, but missing out on free food? Unthinkable. Especially when they haven't eaten yet. Free dinner was just a distance away, why would let a rare opportunity of getting the most delicious type of delicacy—Free—slipped?

'What to do…?'

There has to be a way to get there without much trouble.

Ariella tugged impatiently at his sleeve, pointing toward the celebration with exaggerated urgency. Kai eyed the eager goddess, then grinned as an idea dawned on him.

"Yeah, I know. We’ll go, of course." he said, adjusting her hood to better conceal her silver hair.

Fortunately, all three of them had hooded attires to hid their faces. Kaiser short cloaks have one, Ariella on the other hand still reluctantly wore her scary mask because her guardian want her too, for some mortal reason. While Cia was as silent as usual, donning her archer's slim attire, shrouding her curves with her hood already drawn low.

Pulling his own hood low, Kai gestured for the others to follow. Together, they stepped from the shadows, blending into the night like ghosts as they approached the tables. The flickering firelight cast their cloaked forms in shadow, their movements deliberate as though they were in invisible thieves attempting to steal from the feast unnoticed. All the while the celebrating villagers simply gave the suspicious trio funny looks, because these cloaked individuals weren't fooling anyone at all. They had seen the young Player and the two hidden beauty moving around the village many times in the same fashion, indirectly expressing their desire to be left alone.

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Kai carefully reached for a plate, his head down and his movements measured. Just as he thought he had succeeded in avoiding notice, a familiar voice rang out, cutting through the noise of the celebration.

"Mr. Kai? What are you doing?"

Said a kid's voice politely, tinged by surprise and amusement.

Indeed, what is he doing? Sneaking suspiciously for free food when his considered a living legend, the same kind of legendary individual's that formed Greenland with their power, a Player! Cia is one, too. And let's not forget the real goddess accompanying him.

'Who cares? It's free.'

Still, this is kinda awkward.

Fortunately, it turns out to be Ethan, who happens to also be taking a plating of food.

Kaiser raised his hood a little.

"Sup kid, uh, how's your mom doing?"

The kid gave him a strange smile. "We're a happy family, you know? Please do-"

"Hey, I didn't mean that. Okay, how's your mom and dad doing?" Kai cut him short immediately, the kid must have thought he had taken interest in Miss Lina.

Does he look like a womanizer that much?

"I'm just teasing you, Mr. Kaiser. Mom and dad are over there."

Ethan chuckled, pointing at one of the many dancing couples near the blazing bonfire. The polite, talkative kid then added.

"By the way, have you seen the caravan that arrived this noon Mr. Kai? It's really big and long, there's even real soldiers from the city accompanying it, with a few mercenaries, too!" Said the brown-haired kid with enthusiasm of kids at his age towards awesome things, eager to share his discoveries with a playmate.

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Kaiser isn't a kid anymore but there's nothing wrong with wanting to see the long awaited caravan with his own eyes. Furthermore, they will be riding it for days in their upcoming venture. Checking their ride before departure is a must.

"I haven't, care to take me there?"

"Sure!"

Needless to say, by now, he was known to be overprotective of his companions by the whole village. The sight of the hidden beauties unrevealing clothing fashion spoke volumes of his attitude, especially towards men's with malicious intentions. Coupled with Kaiser's honorable title as a Player and proof of his capabilities, no one will even dare approach them if his temporarily away.

Leaving Ariella and Cia for a while, Kai followed the boy who eagerly tugged at his sleeve. "Come on, I’ll show you the caravan," the child said, his voice brimming with excitement. They wove through the outskirts of the village, the sounds of the festival growing fainter with each step. The crisp night air carried a sense of quiet anticipation, mingling with the faint aroma of woodsmoke and the earthiness of the forest.

As they reached a slight rise in the road, the caravan came into view.

A collection of grand carriages stood in neat formation, their frames larger and sturdier than any he had seen before, probably because they're made suitable for combat rather than normal transport. Each was intricately reinforced with ironwork, designed to endure the unpredictable dangers of the journey ahead. Lanterns hung from their sides, their warm glow casting long shadows across the dirt road.

Surrounding the caravan were men who looked as formidable as the carriages themselves. Heavily armored knights stood at attention, their polished armor reflecting the moonlight. They bore an air of quiet vigilance, their hands resting on the hilts of swords or the shafts of spears. Alongside them were rougher-looking individuals, mercenaries by the look of them. They sat around their own campfires, their laughter and occasional bursts of crude humor breaking the stillness of the night.

Kai noticed the sharp glint of daggers at their belts, the seasoned wear of their leather armor, and the calculating eyes that scanned their surroundings even as they joked. It's evident that these were no mere travelers, they were hardened guards, battle-tested and ready to fend off any threats that might arise on the road.

The disciplined soldiers in full armor were likely knights sent by the settlement to escort the villagers to their territory's safety. The mercenaries were probably hired using the village treasury itself for extra safety. One can never be too careful in regards to life, more so when traveling a path through the dangerous wilderness where various beasts lurk.

The forest of Greenland isn't haven. Kaiser had experienced it himself, if not thanks to his immortality pushing him up in every death, it would have been their grave a long time ago.

He exhaled softly, a wave of relief washing over him. With this much firepower and force on their side, the villagers would be safe from monsters and bandits during the journey... Hopefully.

Kai planned to check the cargo further back, as well. However, a sudden shift in the distant noise of celebration caught his attention. It started as a faint shift in the festival’s ambiance, the joyful hum of celebration dimming into uneasy murmurs. Moments later, the murmurs escalated into alarmed shouts, cutting through the night like a knife.

Kai’s chest tightened.

Something was wrong.

Thinking about the goddess and the blind girl, Kai eyes darted back toward the village, where the festival had seemed so alive just moments ago. Without a second thought, he sprinted back, his boots pounding against the dirt road as he raced toward the source of the commotion with astonishing speed that left the kid's jaw hanging.

In mere seconds, his already back. The sight that greeted him when he reached the clearing made his heart pound louder. By the looks of it, something serious had happened.

A dense crowd had formed near the edge of the bonfire’s glow, their faces etched with worry and shock. Kai pushed his way through, his heart hammering in his chest. When he saw the source of their worry, he felt his heart skipped a beat.

At the center of the gathering was Garba, his mentor, crumpled on the ground. Blood seeped through his tattered tunic, staining the dirt beneath him a dark crimson. His usually boisterous demeanor was gone, replaced by a pale, weakened expression.

Kai froze, his mind reeling. Garba’s breathing was shallow, and the faint rise and fall of his chest seemed to fight against the weight of his injuries. Whispers rippled through the crowd, fragmented phrases of disbelief and fear. Because everyone knew how fearsome the battered swordsman is. To make him bleed was almost impossible to Kaiser, let alone reduce him to this pitiful state.

"What happened?" Kai’s voice broke through the noise, sharper and louder than he intended.

One of the villagers glanced at him with a grim expression. "We… we found him like this earlier in the abandoned area nearby. They said his saying something about the Boundary before he passed out…"

He knelt beside Garba, his hand trembling as it hovered over his mentor’s shoulder.

Garba’s eyes fluttered open at the touch, his gaze hazy but filled with an urgency that struck Kai like a blow. The old man’s lips moved, forming words too faint to hear over the noise of the crowd.

Kai leaned closer, his heart pounding in his ears. "W-what is it, gramps? What happened?"

Garba’s voice was barely a whisper, raspy and broken. "They're… they're coming. The Invaders… they have come…"

The words hung in the air like a storm about to break, and the weight of their meaning settled over Kai like a suffocating shadow.

He silently cursed.

'Damn it, why didn't we leave earlier?'