Kage no Densetsu: The Shadowborn's Quest

Days Left Until the Tournament: 15Location: The Floating Bloom Market of Stratos Haven

Today wasn't for pressure chambers, elemental clashes, or tactical drills.

Today was for peace.For color, for smiles, for breath.

✦ The Morning Decision

Ren stretched lazily as sunlight peeked through the woven skylight of their home. Sakayanagi stood near the entrance, already tying her long hair into a bun, wearing a deep purple kimono with sakura petals flowing on the sleeves.

"We trained for weeks. We need this," she said with a smirk."Let's go to Bloom Market. I heard today's the Sky-Festival."

Kaelen lit up at the mention. "That place is like a floating Kyoto—fire lanterns, games, dessert stalls, everything. It only happens once a month."

Raidon smiled from the kitchen."Even the Thunder Skies slow down for Bloom Day. Go enjoy yourselves."

✦ Welcome to the Bloom Market

As they stepped out, the path opened up into a long street suspended in the air, decorated with crimson banners, golden string lights, and the smell of sweetened rice drifting through the wind.

Everyone wore vibrant kimonos or yukata-like robes, the fabric flowing with each step. Cherry blossom illusions danced overhead, powered by small mana runes embedded in the lamp poles.

The group moved together—Ren in black with silver trim, Sakayanagi in purple, Shigan in emerald green, and Kaelen in light brown patterned with tree roots.

✦ Creative Activities

1. Sky-Fish CatchingA popular festival game where floating bubble-fish hovered above small pools of light. Using magnetic nets, players had to "catch" as many as possible before the timer ran out.

Shigan got none.Kaelen caught five.Sakayanagi caught seven.Ren, after studying the rhythm, caught twelve.

"Of course the shadow guy gets all the fish." Shigan groaned.

2. Memory Painting BoothAn artist could read a brief memory and sketch it instantly on glowing scrolls.

Each of them took turns:

Ren's painting was of him and Umbra, under a dark blue moon.

Sakayanagi's showed her and her childhood friend, standing in front of a burning dojo.

Shigan's was a peaceful forest walk with his uncle.

Kaelen's had him reading beside his mother, under a tree of floating lanterns.

They didn't speak much after seeing each other's scrolls — just nodded in silent understanding.

3. Lantern Toss of WishesThey each wrote something on a paper lantern before releasing it to the sky:

Ren: "To find my purpose. To protect them."

Sakayanagi: "To feel proud of myself again."

Shigan: "To win something, for real."

Kaelen: "To become more than just a guide."

Dozens of lanterns floated into the skies, blinking like stars.

✦ The Food & Desserts

Every five steps, the smell of something sweet, crispy, or grilled tried to lure them into a new stall.

They didn't resist.

Some of the desserts and treats they tried:

Cloudfruit Dango – Soft, gooey rice balls infused with fruity vapor and glowing slightly under moonlight syrup.

Sky Silk Cake – A multi-layered sponge cake that melted like fog in the mouth, with blueberry-frosted cream in between.

Zap Mochi – Mini mochi balls that sparkled faintly, giving a fun tingling zap on your tongue.

Gale Custard Rolls – Warm, rolled buns filled with whipped custard infused with airy herbs.

Twilight Drizzle Pudding – A caramel-colored dessert topped with purple crystal flakes and a layer of warm nectar that shimmered under light.

Drinks?

Starlit Soda – Fizzy and pale blue, with tiny edible constellations floating inside.

Skyberry Nectar – A chilled drink of crushed berries, herbs, and faint mana infused into the mix.

Bloom Tea – Served steaming in glass cups, it changed color based on your emotion when sipping.

They ate until they couldn't move.

✦ A Surprise Ending

As the night drew in, a gentle rainfall of glowing flower petals fell from above — not wet, but warm and soft. A huge floating screen lit up in the sky, showing a live feed of the Thunder Tournament Arena.

A voice echoed across the sky:

"Fifteen days remain. Only the brave survive the skies. Only the wise control them. Prepare yourselves."

And just like that, the moment reminded them — time was still ticking.

Ren looked up, hands behind his head, eyes soft but sharp.

"Let them come. We're not the same people we were when we started."

To be continued...