Exiastgardsun Chronicles – Twelve Fruits of Creation

The wind whispered across the endless grass plains of Aeltharan, setting golden stalks swaying in hypnotic waves that rolled toward the horizon. The morning held that perfect, crystalline quality of deep peace, the kind that makes the world feel suspended in amber, unmarked by time or trouble.

From the northwest, however, approached a force of nature that would shatter this tranquility more thoroughly than any storm: twelve elf children, their voices carrying across the grassland like a cavalry charge. They skipped and tumbled through the meadow, their laughter sharp as birdsong, their arguments fierce as thunder, creating such a magnificent cacophony that even the prairie hawks wheeled away to seek quieter hunting grounds.

"Are we there yet?" Fahleena asked for the fifth time that morning, twirling her keyblade like a baton.

"No," Fuhiken replied, maintaining his calm but visibly twitching. "And we won't be if we keep stopping every two minutes to let you practice your 'anti-shadow mega spiral attack' on wildflowers."

"It's a technique, Fuhiken," Fahleena replied seriously, planting her keyblade into the grass. "And that flower was suspicious."

They crested a small hill and saw it: the sprawling Aeltharan plains, dotted with sturdy nomadic tents, centaur totems, and tall figures galloping with purpose. The children gawked, most of them having never seen a centaur in real life before.

"Woah," Kyle whispered. "They've got horse legs. That's, wait, do they wear shoes?"

Sinryo munched on a cracker. "I dunno, but I wanna bet on who wins in an arm-wrestling match. Five silver on the bigger guy."

"Deal."

The party was greeted at the outskirts of a large tent village by Torvak, the centaur chief, his long mane braided with feathers and beads, his chest bare but adorned with ceremonial paint.

"Welcome, children of the forest," he boomed with a warm grin. "You travel far. We honor your visit."

Fuhiken stepped forward, straightened his back, and gave a respectful bow. "On behalf of our group, thank you for the warm welcome. We're travelers seeking knowledge, and, uh… snacks."

Kyle and Sinryo both raised their hands in agreement at the mention of snacks.

Torvak laughed heartily. "You will find all here, little elf."

Nearby, two centaurs began preparing for a traditional arm-wrestling match, drawing the attention of Kyle and Sinryo. They flopped down into the grass, snacking like seasoned spectators.

"Ohhh, that guy's got biceps bigger than Yetsan's lance," Kyle muttered with awe.

"Still betting on the tall one," Sinryo replied, shoving another biscuit into his mouth.

Yetsan, meanwhile, sat cross-legged by a forge tent with young centaur apprentices. He inspected a worn spear brought to him by Tarien, a shy black-maned centaur boy.

"This spear's shaft is warped," Yetsan said, examining the grain. "I'll fix it. But next time, don't throw it into a tree to 'scare birds.'"

Tarien whinnied in embarrassment.

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By afternoon, the group settled in a small nomadic village near the edge of the plains. Sakura's magic bags produced an impossible volume of snacks and meal supplies. One bag overflowed with bentos, sweets, and juice boxes, while the other... possibly contained a live bread pudding. No one asked.

In the village center, Yuuna sat under a wide tree with several curious young centaurs, Nimra, Rillara, and Tarien among them, introducing her "magic chess" board. The pieces gleamed in the sunlight, each one carved in fantastical shapes.

"This is not truly magic," Yuuna explained in her usual flat tone. "But it's fun. The rules are simple. Like Earth chess." She paused. "Not that anyone here knows what Earth is."

Nimra tilted her head. "What's a jellyfish?"

"A delicious monster," Orchid said helpfully, which wasn't at all helpful.

Then it happened.

Fahleena leapt dramatically onto the scene. "So! You wish to challenge me, the Twilight Keyblade Maiden of Eternal Fortune?"

Orchid flared her cloak dramatically. "Foolish girl! You dare oppose the Holy Starblade General of the Radiant Path?"

Yuuna sighed. "Here we go."

Thus began the Chuunibyou Magic Chess Exhibition Match, complete with wild gestures, flowery battle declarations, and imaginary background music (provided by Kyle humming "dun dun duuuuun!" off-key).

First round: Orchid versus Fahleena.

Orchid narrowed her eyes. "I summon the Knight of Flame, Sir Dragonfang, to E5!"

"Countered by Queen Jellytentacle!" Fahleena cried, flicking the piece dramatically.

Jessica laughed, a little too hard, and tried to cover her face, her cheeks flushed. "You two are so weird…"

Yuuna cracked a small smile. "But they're good teachers. In their own... special way."

The first round ended in Orchid's dramatic victory. "Behold! I have claimed the throne of the Cosmic Checkmate!"

Fahleena clutched her chest. "Impossible! My jelly legion betrayed me!"

Rillara and Nimra clapped wildly, eyes sparkling with a dangerous interest in theatrics.

Round two began immediately, with even more flair.

"You stand no chance now, Orchid," Fahleena said with gleeful menace. "For I have ascended, this is my Awakened Form."

Orchid gasped. "No! Not... the Radiant Gambit Form Ultra!? That's not even in the rules!"

This time, Fahleena won by cornering Orchid's king with what Yuuna later confirmed was "technically a legal, but deeply chaotic, strategy."

As the sun dipped low, casting long golden shadows across the plains, the children relaxed beneath the open sky. Sakura passed around sandwiches from her food bag, and even Orchid's handmade chocolate "surprise scones" made a brief, disastrous appearance (two centaurs reported seeing stars, literally).

Fuhiken sipped tea quietly, watching his siblings play. For a moment, all was calm. Peaceful. A bit weird, maybe, but in a good way.

"I just hope," he muttered, "we don't accidentally turn the centaur tribe into chuunibyou enthusiasts."

Too late.

Nimra leapt onto a crate and shouted, "Behold, mortals! My Jelly Knight army marches!"

Yuuna closed the chessboard with a click. "We've doomed them."

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