As the sun dipped below the horizon, Iridius came alive with the smells of roasted chicken, spiced meats, and grilled vegetables. The bustling square was filled with laughter and chatter as families gathered to celebrate. After the day's chaos, the peaceful evening was a welcome relief.

Abell wandered through the crowds, trying to escape his mother's lecture on his performance. As he passed the food stalls, Misha and Astrid were laughing with their parents, stuffing their faces with food. Misha immediately jumped up when he saw Abell, running toward him with excitement.

"You were amazing today! The sword, the Malignant—you just went at it!" Misha rambled. Abell smiled and ruffled the boy's hair. "Thanks, little guy." He said clearly embarrassed.

Misha fell silent, starstruck. Astrid smiled at the exchange. "Thanks, Abell. You're a huge help to us," she said softly, her parents nodding in agreement. "I know he's a handful, but he really looks up to you."

Abell gave a silent nod and walked off, feeling a little better about himself.

As he continued down Main Street, he spotted Hugo surrounded by the townswomen. Hugo was lounging in a chair, laughing and talking, clearly enjoying the attention. Abell, not wanting to get involved, kept his distance but overheard their conversation.

"That guy's a handful," Abell muttered to himself. "Better stay clear."

One of the women asked, "So, mister Luminary, who exactly are you?"

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Hugo leaned back, a grin on his face. "I'm nobody important," he said with a smirk.

The woman raised an eyebrow. "Well, it seems like you know Ms. Keeko. Are you… a past lover or something?"

Abell's face flushed with curiosity. He quickly turned away, trying not to listen. But his curiosity was piqued—what was their relationship?

Hugo chuckled, unfazed. "She's still as pretty as ever. But I'm actually here on business. And it looks like I've found the person I've been looking for." Hugo's eyes locked onto Abell as he stood up.

Abell tensed. "Is he really coming over here? He did say he wanted to talk about something." He thought.

"Well, Mr. Vespera," Hugo teased. "Ready to talk?"

Abell shot him a glare. "What's so important that you didn't want my mom to hear," he said bluntly. "She doesn't seem to trust you much."

Hugo raised an eyebrow and sighed. "I came here to investigate this town and now it manages to stay safe. But now, I see fate brought me here."

He leaned back, face serious. "The Malignant threat is growing every day. We need more people to join the fight. You've got a solid foundation, Abell. I'm not saying you'd be a Luminary right away, but you certainly have the traits."

Abell's eyes narrowed, his patience thinning. "Spit it out. What are you trying to say?"

Hugo grinned, clearly amused. "I'm offering you a recommendation letter to join the Luminary Academy. It's the best place to test your skills against top y in the country and learn more about how to control your power."

"We need young talents, and you've got potential. Not many teens control their gift quite like yours.

Abell stared at him, skeptical. "Hmm, but… who are you really? Can you even hand out recommendation letters? I thought the Academy was hard to get into."

Hugo's grin widened. "I thought your mom would've told you. I'm Hugo Creed, head of the Shining Order. Pleasure to meet you, Abell Vespera."

Hugo extended a hand, his mischievous expression softening. "What do you say? This is your chance to see the world and test your limits."

Abell hesitated for a moment, then grasped his hand firmly. "I accept," he said, his voice steady.