Pop! The silence shattered.

A figure stepped into the clearing. Cloak swirling, alive. A purple mask hid their face. Only sharp eyes pierced the darkness.

The glowing creature cozied up to the figure. Like a pet. Looking for a cuddle.

The figure patted its head slowly. Casual. Like this was totally normal.

Then, their intense gaze snapped to the three friends. The clearing seemed to shrink. Trapped. No one dared to move.

Zane, who was great at making things awkward, broke the silence. “So, uh, what’s the deal here? Do I clap? Roll out a red carpet? Maybe charge you rent for being on our campsite? I mean, if you’re gonna teleport in like that, shouldn’t you at least bring snacks?”

The figure’s eyes locked on Zane. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a spoon.

No words. The figure reached into their cloak. Three glowing cubes appeared. Tossed to the group. The cubes floated down in front of Zane, Lyra, and Darius.

image [https://i.imgur.com/sBCLiEx.png]

The figure wasn’t done. Three metallic cards with glowing symbols appeared. Flicked to the trio. They floated down gently next to the cubes.

Darius looked at his card carefully, suspicion and curiosity mixed on his face.

Lyra couldn’t take her eyes off the cubes. Her head buzzed with a thousand questions.

One last look from the figure. Silence.

A ring from their pet. Flash. Gone.

The trio stood there in stunned silence.

Zane snapped out of it first. “So, are we all just gonna ignore that a guy in a bathrobe and his glow in the dark pet just dropped off party gifts?”

Lyra shook her head, eyes wide. “Ignore it? Zane, this isn’t something you ignore. This is something you study, break down, and then use to make a huge profit!”

Zane snorted. “Why am I not surprised? You’re already thinking about how to make money off glowing cubes, aren’t you?

“Oh, trust me, I’m three steps ahead.” Lyra grinned. “We’ll need investors, a marketing team, maybe even a wizard or two. I’ll call it the ‘Cube Conquest Collection.’ Sounds good, right?”

“These aren’t just trinkets,” Darius said, crossing his arms. “They were given to us for a reason. We need to figure out why.”

One of the cards on the ground glowed. Pink light covered them. It floated into the air, and a holographic compass appeared on its surface. The needle spun wildly.

image [https://i.imgur.com/yOdrwjB.png]

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The trio watched in amazement as the needle finally settled. Then a voice came from the device. “Finally! I was starting to think you three were about as bright as a bag of hammers.”

Zane blinked. “Did… did that thing just talk?”

The device sighed. “Oh, honey, please. I am not just some ‘thing.’ I am your LoreKeeper. The magical guide for MagicBeasts. Think of me as your safety net against your own bad decisions.”

Lyra’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Oh, this is gonna be fun. I can already tell we’re going to be best friends.”

The needle spun lazily, almost like it was rolling its eyes. “Sure, darling. Try to keep up. I’ve got centuries of knowledge here, and I don’t like repeating myself.”

Darius stepped closer. “You mentioned MagicBeasts. How can you help?”

LoreKeeper’s needle pointed at him. “Straight to the point. I like it. Here’s how it works: you point me at a MagicBeast, I scan it, analyze it, and give you all the info you need.” The needle spun again. “Speaking of which, why haven’t you three bonded with any yet? With Ava being the legendary hero, I thought you’d have a whole zoo by now.”

Zane shifted awkwardly. “Well, Ava’s got this thing about cleanliness. And MagicBeasts? They’re not exactly clean. I keep telling her, a little dirt never hurt anyone, but she just gives me this look...”

Lyra burst out laughing. “Oh please, Ava’s a saint for dealing with you. Last time you ‘tried’ to clean up, you almost burned down the kitchen making toast!”

“That was one time!” Zane protested. “And it’s not my fault the bread was flammable!”

“It was enchanted toast,” Darius said flatly. “For the annual Heroes’ Guild breakfast. Ava spent a week negotiating with the Bakery Guild for that recipe.”

“But why make the bread explosive?!” Zane threw his hands up. “Who looks at bread and thinks, ‘You know what this needs? The ability to burst into flames!’”

Lyra doubled over, laughing harder. “Oh, definitely. ‘Cause nothing says ‘heroic breakfast’ like the risk of your toast blowing up!”

“Right?” Zane shook his head. “Whose idea was that? ‘Hey, let’s make toast that doubles as a grenade. Really spice up the morning!’”

“It is tradition,” Darius said calmly. “A true hero does not fear a slice of flaming bread.”

“Well, call me a coward then, ‘cause I’d like my breakfast without a side of arson!” Zane huffed.

LoreKeeper’s needle spun wildly. “Oh, honey, you’re a walking disaster, aren’t you?”

Lyra, clearly enjoying herself, leaned in. “Don’t mind him. He’s harmless... mostly. But about those cubes, what kind of profit are we talking about here?”

LoreKeeper glowed, showing an image of the cubes. “These, darlings, are CaptureCubes. They let you bond with a MagicBeast. The stronger the beast, the harder the capture.”

Lyra’s eyes sparkled. “Forget buying them, we’ll make our own! Different designs. Customizable options. Luxury models. We could change the whole market!”

Zane groaned, but a smile tugged at his lips. “Only you could turn magic cubes into a business plan. What’s next? A CaptureCube mascot?”

Lyra grinned wickedly. “Why not? The world is our MagicBeast-hunting oyster.” She spun one of the cubes, admiring its glow. “And if we’re smart, we’ll be swimming in pearls.”

Before LoreKeeper could respond, Finn spoke up, his voice quiet. “Um… it’s getting late. I think… I should go home.”

Darius turned, his expression softening. “You’re right, Finn. It’s not safe out here, especially after tonight. I’ll walk you back.”

Finn nodded, looking relieved. As they headed toward the edge of the campsite, Lyra called after them. “Don’t take too long, Darius! We’ve got world domination to plan!”

Darius nodded and led Finn into the cool night. The village was quiet, bathed in moonlight. They walked for a while without speaking. Darius glanced at Finn now and then to make sure he was okay.

Finally, Finn spoke, voice shaky. “Darius… do you think we can do it? Catch these MagicBeasts and… protect everyone?”

Darius took a deep breath. “It won’t be easy, Finn. There will be risks, and things we can’t predict. But we’re not alone. We have each other, and we have LoreKeeper. Together, we’ll learn and adapt. That’s what heroes do.”

Finn looked up at him, eyes full of both fear and hope. “But… I’m not like Ava or Zane or you. I’m not really a hero.”

Darius smiled a little. “You may not see it yet, but being brave takes many forms. Just being here with us, even though you’re scared? That’s being a hero. We all start somewhere. Being afraid is just part of it.”

As they reached Finn’s house, Darius put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Stay safe, Finn. Tonight was just the beginning. There is a lot we don’t know, but we will face it together.”

Finn nodded, some of the fear leaving his eyes. “Thanks, Darius. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Finn.”

Darius watched Finn slip inside, the door closing softly. The village seemed peaceful under the moonlight. But Darius felt the weight of a peace that could shatter at any moment.