The moment they stepped into the Royal Capital, the excitement in everyone's eyes was impossible to miss. The Rising Heroes looked around in awe. The streets were filled with people, all smiling and talking, as if the entire city had come alive. The Capital wasn't just big—it was beautiful. Towering buildings made of white stone, statues of ancient heroes, flower gardens at every corner, and the banners of the Carnival fluttering in the wind made everything feel magical.
The smells of delicious food floated through the air—roasted meat, sweet pastries, spicy noodles, and fried snacks that made everyone's mouth water. Fizzle immediately ran towards the nearest food stall, not waiting for the others. She stuffed her mouth so full that she could barely breathe, but she still gave a thumbs up with one hand while pointing at the next snack with the other.
"This food is so good—cough cough—I think I'll live here!" Fizzle said as she nearly choked, but didn't stop eating. Lila laughed at her and tried to slow her down, but even she couldn't resist grabbing a few skewers. Sera, on the other hand, was holding Lila's arm tightly. The crowd was making her nervous. She wasn't used to being around so many people. Her eyes darted around, and her hands trembled a little. "It's alright," Lila whispered with a smile. "We're all together. Just take a deep breath." Sera nodded and held on to Lila's hand.
Adrian, surprisingly, was quiet. He kept his head low and didn't speak much. Zora assumed he was just tired from all the non-stop talking during the journey.
As they walked, they could hear murmurs from the crowd. People were whispering about something… or rather, someone. Their eyes kept turning towards Drakar. A Dragonkind was a rare sight, even in the Capital and people couldn't help but steal glances. Drakar, however, didn't seem to care. His face was calm as always, and he just walked forward as if no one was watching him.
---
While searching for a place to stay during the Carnival, something unexpected happened. A hand suddenly tapped Zora's back. Zora turned sharply, his eyes narrowing and his body giving off a fierce aura, ready to defend.
But when he turned, it was none other than Cyrus, the leader of the Grand Party. Alongside him were Junith, Darek, Orin, and Sylra. They had bright smiles on their faces. Lila quickly stepped forward. "Oh, Cyrus! He's not a stranger. That's my dad!"
"Ohh," Cyrus scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. "Sorry! I didn't realize. Just wanted to make sure you weren't in trouble." Cyrus felt immense emotion from his consciousness, as if it was trying to tell him to run, Cyrus really didn't understand it himself as he acted it of and forgot about it.
Zora's body relaxed, and he nodded silently. That sudden change in his mood was purely instinct. Deep down, he didn't like surprises, especially not during crowded times like these.
---
The two groups began chatting. Cyrus and the others asked about their journey, how they liked the Capital so far, and if they had tried the food. The Rising Heroes happily answered, talking about all the things they'd seen and eaten already.
Then the topic of the tournament came up. Lila's eyes lit up. "So what's it like? What kind of tournament is it? Who can join?" Junith smiled. "There are two tournaments during the Carnival. The Rookie Tournament and the Champions Tournament. Since this is your first time, you'll be going for the Rookie one." "Really? That sounds amazing! Count me in!" Lila said with excitement sparkling in her eyes. Sera looked nervous but then took a deep breath. "I'll join too. I want to improve… and I can't do that if I always stay scared."
Doran didn't seem very interested. "Eh, I'll pass. Not my thing." But then something surprising happened. Lila asked Drakar if he would join the tournament, but he said calmly, "I can't join the Rookie Tournament." Everyone turned to look at him. "Why?" Lila asked, tilting her head.
"I already participated once," he replied. "I came in second." Lila's mouth dropped open. "Woah… that's amazing!" Adrian chuckled nervously. "Well, I think I'll skip it too. I just want to relax and enjoy the Carnival this time…" Junith nodded and said, "Alright then. Let's get you both registered."
---
On the way to the registration area, Junith explained more. "Tomorrow morning is the official opening ceremony. The Rookie Tournament will start in the evening. So make sure you rest well tonight." She continued, "Most people visit the Carnival between the third and fifth day. That's when the Champion Tournament happens, and many famous adventurers come. But there are plenty of other events too—music, food, games, and even learning areas. I hope you enjoy your time."
They reached the registration booth and signed up Lila and Sera. Everything was simple and quick. With that done, it was time to find a place to stay.
They eventually found a good lodge not too far from the main Carnival areas. But the moment Zora saw the price, his eyes widened. His mouth twitched, and he looked like he just swallowed a bitter pill. "That much? Just for a few nights?" he muttered under his breath. Still, he paid for it. He knew Lila and the others deserved a good place to stay after all their hard work and journey.
Later that night, they settled into their rooms and finally got some rest. The long road trip had drained their energy, and the comfort of a soft bed felt like heaven. Lila, however, was far too excited to sleep. She kept tossing and turning, imagining what the tournament would be like. Would she fight someone strong? Would she win? Would the crowd cheer for her?
Sera, in her bed, whispered softly, "I hope I don't mess up…" "You won't," Lila whispered back. "We'll do our best. That's all that matters." Sera smiled. That small bit of encouragement helped her calm down.
In the quiet night, with the lights of the Carnival glowing outside their windows, everyone slowly drifted off to sleep.
Tomorrow, the real fun would begin. The Rookie Tournament was just around the corner.