The morning sun filtered through the crystalline arches of Dwargo city's upper walkway, casting honeyed beams on the stone road as the party gathered in front of Durfvn's blacksmith workshop. The scent of hot metal and oil lingered, chased by the crisp wind from the highlands. The group stood in loose formation, the chatter light, but anticipation thick in the air.
Yuuna stood at the center, holding a rolled parchment. "Alright. We'll be splitting up into three teams."
"Is it finally time for mining!?" Yetsan practically bounced in his full helmet, gauntlets clinking with excitement. The grime-sensitive elf was completely unbothered today, far too eager about the prospect of iron ore.
Yuuna gave a small nod. "Yes. Iron, wood, and mana stone. Each needed to build the carriage."
"What about sheep?" Fahleena asked, balancing her keyblade on her shoulder like a knighted flagpole. "Don't carriages need fluffy sheep?"
"No sheep," Yuuna replied flatly.
Fahleena gasped. "Then... I volunteer as mascot! To summon fate's blessing!"
Jessica, already slipping her katana into her sash, turned her head and covered her mouth with one hand, her shoulders shaking.
Yuuna ignored them and pointed to the groups on her parchment. "Group One: Yetsan, Adiw, Gigih. You three will head to the iron cave."
Yetsan gave a little fist pump.
"I knew you'd put me in the strong group," Adiw said with a grin, adjusting his two-handed sword across his back.
"I better not set the cave on fire," Gigih muttered, holding his spellbook with a cautious look.
"You better not," Yetsan said sharply, then added with uncharacteristic enthusiasm, "But a controlled smelting flame would be helpful."
Gigih blinked. "You trust me that much?"
"No," Yetsan replied. "But I trust Yuuna packed water spells too."
Yuuna moved on, "Group Two: Kyle, Sinryo, Fuhiken. You'll be gathering wood from the nearby forest."
"Why do I feel like I've been tricked," Kyle muttered, eyes narrowing as he slung his rifle over his back.
"Because we have been tricked," Sinryo added, flipping his twin daggers between his fingers. "Woodcutting? Really?"
"You're agile. You can trim branches," Yuuna replied.
"And I'm the supervisor," Fuhiken said with a soft smile that didn't reach his tired eyes. "I'm here to prevent tree-based fatalities."
Kyle looked up at the tall pines beyond the city gate. "They look like they want to fall on me already."
Sinryo elbowed him. "Maybe they just hate snipers."
"Group Three, " Yuuna continued, ignoring the bickering, "Monster hunting. Jessica, Gabyola, Fahleena, Orchid, Sakura, and me."
"Biggest group," Gabyola noted calmly, checking the tension on her bowstring. "Smart choice."
Orchid clanked slightly in her holy knight armor, one hand raised confidently. "No monster shall stand before the blade of Radiant Crusade! For Etheria and choco, !"
"No shouting," Gabyola said, sighing. She turned and casually tied a ribbon gag over Orchid's mouth.
Sakura stood beside her, munching on a soft pastry. Her cheeks were full, her expression blank, but there was a faint glint of joy in her eyes. "I packed all the food. And extra revives."
"You act like we're going to die," Fahleena said cheerily. "Worry not! With me as your mascot, rare drops shall be our destiny! The mana stones shall shine!"
Jessica coughed into her sleeve again, failing to hold in her laughter.
Preparations began in earnest. Tools and weapons disappeared into magic bags. The miners packed pickaxes and heat-resistant gloves. Adiw tested his swing in the air. Yetsan gave a lecture about ore layers nobody asked for. Gigih stood still, lighting a small flame in his palm and extinguishing it repeatedly with intense concentration.
The woodcutting team packed their axes. Kyle slung his rifle with a sour expression.
"I'm gonna carve my name into the first log," he muttered.
"I'm gonna carve your name into a splinter," Sinryo shot back.
"Boys," Fuhiken sighed, "Let's just not get stabbed."
"I make no promises," Kyle replied.
The hunting party was already attracting attention. Fahleena stood atop a barrel, cape made from inn bedsheets flapping behind her.
"Oh divine beasts of mana and mischief, hear me! Let thine rarest drop fall upon my presence!"
"She's getting worse," Gabyola muttered.
"She's getting better," Jessica countered.
Yuuna double-checked the supplies. Every piece of equipment, checked. Every item, rechecked. Mana pouches, emergency scrolls, antidotes, and restraints.
Sakura poked the side of her bag. "Still enough snacks for a siege. I'm good."
Gabyola nodded at her. "I hope you're faster than Orchid's food."
They turned to find Orchid holding something slightly burnt, gooey, and ominously humming. "New recipe: Choco-mushroom stew!"
Yuuna instantly used a silence spell. Sakura quietly took a step away.
Fuhiken groaned. "She's cooking again?"
"I tied her once," Gabyola said. "It didn't work."
"Use stronger rope next time," Yuuna advised.
The groups moved toward the city gate. Stone walls gave way to open terrain. The path branched in three, northwest to the iron cave, east to the forest, and south to the hunting field.
Fahleena raised her hand. "Before we depart, a declaration!"
"No, " Jessica began.
But Fahleena was already at it. "By blade and destiny, by pudding and glory, we part upon this threefold road. Rejoice, for fate is with us!"
"Why pudding?" Kyle called from the back.
Jessica's face turned red. "No reason!"
Yuuna, impassive as always, nodded. "Let's move."
And so, the party separated, each step forward resonating with determination, chaos, and the unshakable sense that absolutely nothing would go as planned.