The sun was already dipping low when the boys began their walk back from the cliffs, tired but excited. The forest that once felt big and unknown now felt… familiar. Softer. Like it had watched their little journey and approved of them—just a little.
Yuuv was walking in the center, his small steps dragging behind the others.
"You sure you're not gonna fall asleep while walking?" Rick teased, leaning sideways with a grin.
"I make no promises," Yuuv mumbled, clutching his bag like a pillow.
"He almost fell off a cliff, and now he's thinking about naps," Lui said, glancing back at him. "Classic Yuvi."
Iuro was munching the end of a minty leaf from earlier. "That was wild though. The squirrel prince thing, the exploding plants… Are all quests like this?"
"Probably not," Izumi replied, scanning the trail ahead with his calm gray eyes. "This was basic."
"That was basic?" Rick yelped. "Do advanced quests include dragons and haunted mushrooms!?"
"…Actually, yes," Izumi said.
Rick blinked. "We're doomed."
Ishi, ever silent, took the lead. The trail curved upward one last time before opening to the training ground clearing. The other groups were already returning, some laughing, some limping, and some looking like they had fought a whole war with twigs and mud.
As they stepped out of the forest, the first thing they heard was—
"GROUP 31, REPORT!"
That was them.
Lui stepped forward, holding out their scroll. "Group 31, reporting six herbs gathered. All members safe. No rule violations."
The knight in charge raised a brow. "Even with him?" he asked, pointing at Yuuv.
Yuuv, still blinking slowly, gave a little wave.
Ding~
The bell shimmered faintly again.
"…Right. Stamp them."
One of the assistant officials came forward with a small magical seal and tapped it onto each boy's scroll. The seal glowed blue, then gold.
"Congratulations," the assistant said with a smile. "All six of you are now officially E-Novices."
For a moment, none of them said anything.
Then Iuro whooped. "We did it!"
Rick spun in a circle, arms wide. "E-NOVICEEEEES!"
Izumi just smiled softly. Even Ishi gave a light nod.
Yuuv blinked at the seal on his scroll. "So this… makes us real adventurers now?"
"Not pros," Lui corrected, "but we're finally in the system. That's the start."
They were guided back to the central ground, where Tower Master Elard was waiting beside a tall pillar of stone. Other tower instructors stood nearby, some chatting, some watching their students with pride.
When Elard spotted them, his eyes sparkled like starlight.
"Well?" he asked.
Lui stepped forward and bowed lightly. "We completed the quest, Master Elard."
"Without incident?" Elard raised one brow.
Yuuv coughed. "Depends how you define 'incident'…"
"We're alive," Rick added. "And we didn't explode anything!"
"Good enough," Elard chuckled. "Come with me."
He led them to the stone pillar. It was engraved with a list of names—young ones who had passed the entrance test in previous years.
"Place your hands here," Elard said gently.
One by one, they stepped forward.
Lui placed his palm.
A red light glowed.
Then Ishi. A dark shadowy swirl.
Izumi. A calm silver light.
Iuro. Bright green shimmer.
Rick. Soft ripples of blue.
And finally, Yuuv.
At first, nothing happened.
Then—ding~
A soft echo rang from the wand on his belt, and the stone lit up with a tiny glow—bluish-cyan, then golden-leaf green. It flickered once, then disappeared.
Everyone stared.
"Did… did his glow have two colors?" Iuro whispered.
Elard didn't answer right away. But he smiled thoughtfully. "Curious. Very curious."
After the ceremony, the six boys were led back inside the Tower of Momento. It was past sunset now, and the kitchen smelled of warm stew and fresh bread.
Their caretaker—an old woman with sharp eyes and a heart softer than pancakes—ushered them to sit.
"Don't you dare enter my kitchen muddy," she snapped, pointing at their shoes. "Off, off!"
"Yes, Ma'am Thella," they all chimed, pulling off boots in clumsy chaos.
As they sat around the table, steaming bowls were passed, and the noise of spoons and laughter filled the hall.
"I think," Rick said through a mouthful of stew, "today might be my favorite day ever."
"Even better than Muffin Day?" Iuro asked.
Rick gasped. "Okay, second best."
Yuuv had already fallen asleep at the table, his cheek smushed against a roll.
Ishi gently moved the cup away from his elbow. "He didn't even make it through dinner."
Izumi smirked. "He made it through the whole quest. That's impressive enough."
Lui stood, raising his glass of juice.
"To us," he said, voice firm.
"To us!" they all repeated.
Six hands, six voices, six smiles.
And a bell.
Ding~
Just once.
Just softly.
And the stars above the Tower of Momento twinkled back.