Exiastgardsun Chronicles – Twelve Fruits of Creation

Sunlight warmed the stone road as the party stepped into Astoria, the first human city they'd ever seen. Towering stone walls loomed above them, ivy trailing from the cracks. The gates stood wide open, creaking slightly in the breeze, as if inviting them in. Near the entrance, a lone guard sat slouched in a wooden chair, helmet tilted over his eyes, snoring softly. His spear rested forgotten against the wall. A pigeon perched atop his helmet, equally indifferent.

"Is… is that normal?" Sinryo whispered.

"No alarms, no questions," Fuhiken murmured. "I guess... welcome to Astoria."

"We're in?" Kyle asked, peeking around. "That's it?"

"He didn't even blink," Sinryo added, flipping a coin.

"Let's not jinx it," Fuhiken muttered, eyes wary. Still, he led them through the gate. No one stopped them.

---

Inside, the city buzzed with life. Narrow stone streets wove between brick buildings, each painted in earthy tones with colorful banners fluttering overhead. Street stalls crowded the roadside, each bursting with motion and noise. Shouting vendors hawked their goods, grilled meat skewers sizzling over open flames, drinks glowing in strange hues, and trinkets that sparkled with enchantments or clever craftsmanship. The air was thick with the scent of spices, roasted nuts, and something vaguely floral. Children darted between legs, chasing paper birds, while bards strummed cheerful tunes from corners. Every direction promised something new and unfamiliar.

"Oooh! Color-changing candy!" Fahleena gasped, pointing.

"I want pudding," Jessica mumbled.

"Let's not buy everything in the first minute," Fuhiken groaned.

A firecracker exploded nearby. Kyle had already disappeared.

"Kyle's gone," Yuuna noted.

"He'll show up eventually," Gabyola said, scanning the crowd.

"This is why I wrote marching formations," she added, holding a crumpled paper.

"Hey, hey, look!" Orchid shouted. "Magic sparring!"

A group of young humans fired spells in a training lot. One cast a fireball. Another blocked it with a water dome.

"Hmm. No chant," Yuuna muttered. "Must be staff-coded mana formulas."

"Huh?" Jessica blinked.

Yuuna blinked back. "Nevermind."

Gigih stared, nose twitching. "I smell... alchemy."

Sure enough, an alley led to a building marked Alchemist Guild. Strange flasks glowed in the windows.

"This city has everything," Yetsan said, then frowned. "It's also dirty."

"Dust! Nooo!" He stepped carefully over a patch of grime.

"Found you," Kyle reappeared, holding something shiny.

"What's that?" Sinryo asked, intrigued.

"Mana shard piece!" Kyle grinned. "Water shard!"

Yuuna froze. "...Where did you get that?"

"Random shop."

"It's fake," she lied quickly. "Let's move on."

They passed grand guild buildings, each with distinct architecture and signage. The Adventurer Guild stood proudly with tall wooden beams and a crest of crossed swords above the door. Next came the Mercenary Guild, built like a fortress, with armored statues flanking the entrance and a roster board filled with mission slips fluttering in the wind. The Merchant Hall was bustling, glass windows showcased rare goods, and finely dressed traders bargained inside over tea. Further down the road rose a gleaming white tower with spiraling blue runes, Court Magicians Guild etched in gold at its gate, guarded by robed mages and floating familiars.

"Let's join all of them!" Fahleena bounced.

"We're twelve," Fuhiken said.

"Perfect! One guild per person!" she cheered.

"No."

---

After more exploring, and far too many snacks crammed into pockets and mouths, they finally stumbled upon a cozy-looking inn tucked at the corner of a quieter street. The sign above read Sunny Petal Inn in curling letters, painted with cheerful yellow daisies. Its roof was an unmistakable soft pink, almost like a frosted cake, and flower boxes bloomed under each window with fresh lavender and marigold. Warm light spilled from the windows, and the smell of baked bread wafted from within. A wooden chime jingled pleasantly as the door swung open, inviting them into a clean, welcoming lobby with polished floors and a sleepy cat curled behind the counter.

"I'm the spokesperson," Fuhiken declared, fixing his collar.

"You always say that," Kyle muttered.

Fahleena twirled just outside the door, arms raised. "It's pink! I love it already!"

She dashed inside ahead of the others, nearly tripping over the sleepy cat. "This place has the aura of destiny!" she declared, striking a dramatic pose by the front desk.

Kyle snorted. "She's in Chuuniland again."

Jessica giggled behind him.

Fuhiken entered. The innkeeper blinked at the group behind him.

"Twelve kids...?"

"Elves," Fuhiken corrected. "Adventurers."

The innkeeper shrugged. "Long as you pay."

They got two big rooms, one for the boys, one for the girls. Gigih accidentally charred one bed while unpacking.

"Not again," Sakura sighed.

"Just crispy sheets," he said.

Dinner was held downstairs. Orchid offered to help cook.

"No," everyone said in unison.

"I'll help," Sakura offered, dragging her away from the kitchen.

"So," Sinryo leaned toward Kyle, "we gonna explore at night?"

"Already planning it."

Jessica giggled.

"You laugh at everything," Kyle grinned.

"Only when you're dumb."

"Rude."

Yuuna sat in the corner, flipping a book. Gabyola sipped tea. Fuhiken took notes for tomorrow.

"Machinia is noisy," Adiw said, polishing his sword.

"But lively," Gabyola added.

"Still, we need a goal here," Fuhiken said. "We're not just sightseeing."

"Information," Yuuna said. "Machinia is the best place for knowledge gathering. Libraries. Guild records. Rumors."

"We could split tasks," Gabyola suggested.

"We'll never stick to plan," Fuhiken sighed.

They didn't.

Fahleena had grand plans.

"Tonight, we infiltrate the royal palace!" she announced, standing atop a table with one foot raised and her keyblade pointed dramatically toward the window. "I, the Moonblade Emissary of Luckonia, shall uncover the hidden truths of this realm!"

Kyle choked on his juice. "Palace? Where?"

Yuuna, not looking up from her book, replied flatly, "There's no palace. Astoria isn't the capital."

Fahleena paused mid-pose. "...Then what majestic fortress sits yonder?"

"That's the city hall," Yuuna said.

"Oh."

She quietly stepped off the table.

Jessica burst into giggles. "Still going to break in anyway?"

Fahleena folded her arms. "No. Heroes don't sneak into bureaucracy."

---

That night, half the party roamed the city. Kyle and Sinryo played cards in a dark alley. They won money. Then lost it.

Jessica challenged a street samurai to a duel, and won with one slash.

"I thought she was shy," the crowd murmured.

"Only sometimes," Kyle muttered.

Meanwhile, Fahleena climbed onto a crate in front of a bustling lucky draw stand and struck a theatrical pose. "Behold! I am the Hero of Luckonia, born under the sign of infinite fortune!" she declared, pointing her keyblade to the sky as the crowd blinked in confusion.

The stand owner raised an eyebrow. "Uh… one ticket per try."

"I shall defy fate itself!" she proclaimed, slapping down a coin. She pulled the first draw, jackpot. Confetti burst from a hidden pipe.

"Beginner's luck," the owner muttered.

She kept drawing. Win. Win. Win again. The stand's prize shelves emptied rapidly.

Behind her, Yetsan folded his arms, watching in disbelief. "This is statistically unreasonable… and messy. Look at all this confetti. It's going to stick to my boots."

Sinryo leaned over. "She broke the economy."

The vendor collapsed at the counter. "Please… no more..."

She won ten times in a row. The owner cried.

Orchid, following behind, ate five chocolate bars. All were cursed.

Back at the inn, chaos had taken a quieter form. Orchid lay sprawled across a couch in the common room, her cheeks flushed and eyes spinning.

"I regret… nothing," she mumbled, holding an empty chocolate wrapper in one trembling hand.

Gabyola knelt beside her, expertly wrapping a cold cloth around her forehead. "You ate five cursed chocolates," she said calmly. "Even you have limits."

"I thought they were blessings..."

"They were labeled 'DO NOT EAT IN BULK'," Gabyola sighed.

Nearby, Sakura held her staff over Orchid, chanting softly. A gentle white glow pulsed, then fizzled with a sharp spark.

"Ow!" Sakura flinched, shaking her hand. "The curses are layered weirdly... and sticky."

Kyle peeked over the railing from upstairs. "She needs a priest, not a snack exorcism."

Jessica sat on the stair, quietly giggling. "Told her not to eat everything shiny."

Sakura tried again, her staff crackling. "If this doesn't work, we're locking her away from sweets."

Yuuna stayed up reading.

---