He had to admit, though, as he watched Nia cuddling the chimera and Fiona and Kara playfully pet its plush head, that this memory was indeed heartwarming. Perhaps the System wasn't entirely off base—though he still rejected any notion that this was a "date" in the romantic sense. It was just friends having fun. And he was thoroughly enjoying it, more than he expected.
Next, Kara spotted a high striker game—the kind where you hit a lever with a hammer to ring a bell. "Oh, I am so doing that one. Gotta show off the muscles, you know?" She flexed an arm, winking.
They moseyed over. The carny running the striker was a brawny woman with tattooed arms. She waved a wooden mallet invitingly. "Step right up! Test of strength! Ring the bell and win a prize! Don't be shy."
Kara rolled her shoulders and grabbed the mallet. "Watch the master," she joked. With a decisive grunt, she swung. Wham! The puck shot up the tall pole and ding! struck the bell at the top smartly.
A small crowd of onlookers clapped. The carny whistled. "We've got an Amazon here! Well done, miss. Choose your prize—plushies, trinkets, or for a real strong swing like that… how about this?" She held out a novelty dagger, carved of wood but painted silver, in a decorative sheath. It actually looked quite cool.
Kara accepted it, bowing theatrically to her audience. "Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all night," she quipped, making everyone laugh.
Then, to Kei's surprise, Kara turned to him, pressing the fake dagger into his hand. "For you, kind sir."
He blinked. "But you won it. And… why a dagger?"
Kara gave a dramatic sigh. "Isn't it obvious? If some brute tries to steal you away, you can fend them off with this until we rescue you." Her teasing grin softened. "Also, I think it'd look good on your dorm wall as a keepsake. You know, 'The time Kara was the strongest at the fair.'"
Kei chuckled and fastened the little sheath to his belt for the moment. "Thank you, Kara. I feel safer already." He brandished it playfully, which made Fiona and Nia giggle.
The carny's gaze drifted to Kei, and of course, recognition dawned on her face as it had with so many others. "Well, I'll be! You're that boy inventor from the showcase, aren't ya? Fine work today, lad, fine work." She gestured at the mallet. "Care to have a go? On the house, as a congrats."
Kei was about to politely refuse—he doubted he could match Kara's feat—when Fiona chimed in mischievously, "Oh yes, let him try! I want to see this."
Before he could object, Fiona practically bounced in anticipation, and Nia looked on with curious encouragement. Never one to disappoint his friends (and feeling buoyed by the festive spirit), Kei relented. "Alright, one swing."
He hefted the mallet. It was heavier than it looked; he adjusted his grip. Despite his hobbyist woodworking background, Kei was no heavyweight—he was of average build and not particularly tall. He suspected his chances of ringing the bell were slim. But oh well, it was for fun.
Kei raised the mallet and brought it down with a yell. Thwack! He hit the lever dead-on. The puck zipped up the pole... and stopped three-quarters of the way, before sadly sliding back down with a pathetic clunk.
"Awww," Fiona teased, "so close."
Kei laughed, half embarrassed, half relieved he hadn't made a fool of himself by straining something. But the operator tut-tutted. "That won't do! That won't do at all."
To Kei's surprise, she leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "Tell ya what, I have a soft spot for lads giving it a try. I'll give the next swing a little… boost."
He barely had time to process that before she winked and shouted theatrically, "Oh no, I think the mechanism's a bit stuck! One more try, free of charge, sonny, since it didn't go smooth."
The wink tipped him off to her ploy. She had a foot lightly on a side pedal—a hidden lever to rig the game, perhaps, usually used to hinder strong contestants or maybe to help certain ones. She intended to help him.
Kei considered protesting, but the girls were already cheering him on for a second try, completely oblivious to the carny's assistance. He decided to go along with it; it seemed harmless enough.
He swung again, making sure to put on a show of grunting effort. The carny timed her hidden pedal press perfectly. This time, the puck shot up like an arrow and hit the bell with a loud DING! that echoed down the street.
A round of applause erupted from those watching.
"Well done!" Nia praised, clapping.
Fiona was giggling. "Did you see your face? So determined!"
Kei rubbed his shoulder theatrically. "It was nothing," he joked. "Just had to warm up."
The carny awarded him a little stuffed fox toy—orange with a puffy tail strikingly similar to Ember's. "A prize for the gent," she said with a knowing smile. Ember itself hopped down from its perch to sniff the toy fox curiously, then sneezed as if offended by the imitation. Everyone laughed.
Kei graciously accepted the prize and immediately handed it to Fiona. "For you. Matches your hair," he teased lightly (the fox did have a tuft of red on its head not unlike Fiona's fiery locks).
She accepted it, cheeks going pink. "Thank you, Kei." Fiona held the fox plush close, then half-joked, "Now I have two foxes to take care of," nodding at Ember who was busy chasing a moth-like wisp nearby.
They continued down the thoroughfare, taking in more sights and trying their hand at various other amusements—a dart throw (which Fiona actually won a small prize at; she chose a mechanical pencil set for drafting designs), a bobbing apple contest (Kara managed to grab an apple in record time, claiming it was her "big mouth advantage"), and even a quick dance at a small stage where a folk band played. That one wasn't a contest, just a public dance. Nia had shyly declined to dance, offering to watch their prizes and plushies, but she encouraged the others. Fiona and Kara dragged Kei into the dance circle, where pairs of festival-goers were spinning and stepping to a reel. Neither girl hesitated to take turns as his partner; with so few men around, women often danced together, so they were used to both roles. Fiona led Kei through a spirited jig that had him nearly tripping (the laughter between them made it difficult to coordinate), and with Kara he attempted a more steady waltz-like step, though Kara couldn't resist throwing in a sudden twirl that left him dizzy. It was messy and hilarious, and by the end Kei was breathless from laughing.
After that exertion, they sought out food to refresh themselves. A grilled skewer stall supplied them with skewered vegetables and meat slathered in a tangy glaze. They found a quiet spot at the edge of the plaza by a decorative fountain to sit and eat. The fountain was adorned with carved mermaids pouring water from urns, and floating ever-lanterns cast rippling light across the scene.
Kei bit into a juicy piece of peppered beef. "Mmm." The savory, smoky flavor was just what he needed. The girls were similarly enjoying their snacks.
Nearby, the main thoroughfare of the festival continued bustling. As they ate, a splendid parade began to pass by, floats and performers making their way slowly through the crowd. One float was a huge rolling platform decorated as a ship, with actual water elementals swirling around it in mini-whirlpools—a tribute to Anderun's river trade, perhaps. Another float depicted a gigantic cupcake (advertising the baker's guild, naturally), complete with dancing women dressed as sugar sprites handing out samples.
What really caught their attention was a float nearing their fountain: it bore a grand stage-like display of historical figures from the city's lore. Life-sized puppets or perhaps enchanted mannequins moved on the float, reenacting scenes. An announcer walking alongside boomed through a megaphone, telling their stories.
"Behold the great Inventrix Queen, Thalia the Wise, founder of Anderun's artisan guilds!" the announcer proclaimed.
On the float, a regal female figure in flowing robes "worked" at a forge, while around her, five male figures kneeled or assisted with scrolls and tools. The announcer continued with dramatic flair: "Queen Thalia, blessed by the Goddess, took five husbands—each a master of a craft—to usher in an era of prosperity. With their combined genius, they built wonders that dazzled the world!"
Fireworks popped above the float: enchanting little fire flowers that drew "oohs" from the crowd.
Kei watched in fascination. Five husbands… The idea still boggled him, though he'd gleaned by now that such arrangements were part of this world's past.
"That's incredible," he murmured. "She really had five?"
Fiona leaned over, resting her elbows on the fountain's edge. "Thalia's a legend. Though a lot of people think some of the husbands were more for show or political alliance. But it's true that historically, powerful women, especially queens or nobles, sometimes had multiple husbands if they were lucky enough to find them, to ensure children and alliances. In her case, all five were supposedly happy and contributed to her inventions."
Kara smirked. "Imagine the household squabbles though. 'Who gets to sleep in the big bed tonight?'" She mimicked a gruff male voice and a higher one arguing, causing Fiona to nearly spit out her lemonade with laughter.
Nia hid a smile behind her cup. "It does sound exhausting, honestly. All those relationships to maintain."
Kei scratched his head. "I can't even imagine one, let alone five." As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized what he'd implied and his face went red. "N-not that I'm thinking of— I mean—"
The girls burst into giggles at his fluster. Poor Kei waved his hands. "I just mean, any marriage… no wait, I'm not saying I'm thinking of…!" He gave up and sighed dramatically, hiding his face in his hands while they laughed.
Kara patted his back. "Relax, we know what you mean. It's crazy from our perspective too. Polyandry like that isn't common nowadays."
"Polyandry…?" Kei echoed, unfamiliar with the term.
"It means one woman having multiple husbands," Nia explained. "The reverse, one man with multiple wives, is usually just called a shared marriage or polygyny academically, but in practice, people don't really have a term for it here because it almost never happens formally. There just aren't enough men."
"Though," Fiona chimed in, "in some communities or less conservative countries, I've heard they do more… ah… communal arrangements." She looked a bit coy, choosing her words carefully.
Kara snorted. "Yeah, some of the border towns in the east, they practically trade husbands around or have men who travel between villages 'servicing' families. At least, that's the rumor. Sounds awfully like treating men as commodities, if you ask me."
Kei's eyes went wide. "People do that?"
Nia quickly shook her head. "Those might be exaggerated tales. Or very isolated cases. Most places are like our region—protective of men, encouraging one-on-one marriages or at most a pair of sisters sharing a husband if they're all in agreement."
Fiona glanced at Kei's expression and added softly, "It's a complex thing. A lot of women choose not to marry at all and instead live together in sisterhood groups. It's one way society adjusted to the imbalance. Not everyone is out there trying to compete for a husband."
Kara nodded. "My aunt is in a sisterhood of four women—none of them ever married. They're as happy as clams running a bakery together."
Kei absorbed this. It was eye-opening, reminding him that as much as women fussed over him, many had likely resigned themselves to lives without ever finding a husband, and carved out fulfilling lives regardless. It made him feel a bit less like every woman was expecting something of him; many were just being kind or curious, not necessarily planning to rope him into matrimony.
He ventured a question that had been on his mind: "What about you three? Have you… thought about such things? Marriage, or sharing, or not…?" He trailed off, realizing the personal nature of what he was asking only after it slipped out. In his curiosity, he'd overstepped.
The effect was immediate: all three girls flushed deeply.
Fiona nearly dropped her cup into the fountain and busied herself with saving it as she squeaked, "Oh! Um, l-look at the time! We should—uh—"
Nia was red to the tips of her ears and looked down, mumbling, "I… not really, I mean… maybe… I don't know…"
Kara let out an awkward laugh, scratching her cheek. "Hah, big question there, Kei. We're just—I mean, we have careers and stuff, so it's not—I haven't—" For once, the bold Kara was tongue-tied.
Kei realized he'd accidentally touched on something very sensitive. His own face burned in sympathy. "S-sorry! Forget I asked. Really." He waved his hands as if to disperse the very question into the air.
A brief, mortified silence hung, but mercifully the parade entertainment rescued them. A troupe of acrobats tumbled by, drawing everyone's attention. By silent agreement, they all latched onto that distraction, pointing and exclaiming at the performers until the awkwardness receded.
Soon they had finished their food and resumed wandering. The night deepened, stars peeking between magically lit clouds above. Emboldened by the fun so far, Fiona insisted they try a "couples game challenge" at one booth—a sort of obstacle course for pairs. "For the prize tickets!" she said when Kei raised an eyebrow, though her smirk suggested she also enjoyed labeling Kei and herself as a "couple" for the game's duration.
They competed in a silly three-legged race and puzzle-solving mix, earning second place and a handful of tickets which they exchanged for a bag of caramel sweets that everyone shared. The entire experience was filled with comedic mishaps—like Kei tripping and nearly dragging Fiona down into a haystack (earning a playful "Going for a tumble already?" from Kara), and a moment where they had to pop a balloon between their backs without using hands (the awkwardness of pressing against each other had both Kei and Fiona laughing so hard they barely completed the task).
The System piped up occasionally with floating text like "Romance Route ++" or "New mini-game: Trust Fall!" and each time Kei mentally swatted it away, refusing to be baited. However, its antics did make him inwardly amused and a touch grateful—it was like a friend elbowing him with a naughty grin, reminding him to lighten up and enjoy these youthful moments.
After exhausting many of the games and sights, the four of them ended up near the edge of the festival grounds in a small, semi-secluded park area. Paper lanterns hung in the trees, casting a soft glow on the cobblestone paths. Most festival-goers were drawn to the main thoroughfares, so here it was quieter—just the chirping of distant crickets and muffled music from a block over.
In the center of the park was a fountain—larger than the one they'd eaten by earlier—depicting a beautiful goddess statue pouring water from her hands. Around its rim were wooden benches. They all flopped down with tired sighs and happy hearts, setting aside their collected prizes and purchases.
Kei leaned back, stretching his legs. "I can't remember the last time I had this much fun."
Fiona was cradling the stuffed fox Kei had won for her, tracing its sewn features. "Me neither. Festivals are always nice, but sharing it with friends makes it special."
Kara had her arms spread across the bench's backrest and was gazing up at the lantern-lit branches. "We should make this a tradition. Every year, win me a dagger and Nia a huge plush and dance like idiots."
Nia giggled. She had indeed kept a firm grip on the big chimera plush all night, like a protective talisman. "If we're all together next year… let's do it."
That "if" hung in the air. A year felt far off, but Kei supposed by then they could be journeymen heading separate ways, or he… who knew? He might have moved on or… No, he didn't want to think about partings. Right now, they were together.
Kei suddenly remembered something: he reached into the inner pocket of his coat and pulled out the "Heartwarming Memory" token the System claimed to have given him. To his astonishment, it was actually there—a small, translucent crystal about the size of a coin, faintly glowing with an image inside. He squinted; it looked like a tiny still illusion of him and the girls laughing together under lanterns. Good grief, the System had literally made a keepsake out of tonight. It figured.
Before the others noticed, he tucked it away with a fond, exasperated smile. Maybe one day he'd show it to them, but for now it felt like his little secret reminder of this night.
As they rested, Nia's gaze drifted to the fountain. The others began munching on a few leftover sweets. Nia seemed thoughtful, hugging her plush. Eventually, she spoke, voice gentle and hesitant, "Can I… tell you all something? Something I've been meaning to say."
Fiona, Kara, and Kei all turned their attention to her, curious. In the soft glow, Nia's face looked more vulnerable than usual. Encouraged by their patient silence, she continued.
"Before Kei joined the guild… I was struggling." She swallowed, picking at the chimera's fur. "I know I haven't said much about it, but I was honestly considering quitting the apprenticeship." She offered a weak smile. "I felt like I wasn't good enough. I kept slipping up on enchantment assignments. I'm… not very assertive, as you know, and I often got overlooked when teams formed for class projects. It was like I was invisible, or just unnecessary. It ate at my confidence."
"Nia, I had no idea," Fiona said softly, shifting closer to put a hand on Nia's arm.
Nia gave a tiny shrug. "I didn't want to bother anyone with my problems. I thought maybe the artisan path wasn't for me and that I should find something else."
Kei felt a pang hearing this. Nia was such a talented enchanter; her runes during their project were elegant and effective. To think she nearly gave that up…
Nia turned her gaze to Kei, eyes shining with emotion. "Then you came. And everything changed."
Kei's breath caught. "Me? But I—"
"Let me finish, please," Nia said gently. "When you appeared, it was chaos. Everyone wanted to be around you, talk to you, help you. And I admit… at first I was kind of… jealous." She laughed softly, embarrassed. "Not of you, but of the attention. Isn't that silly? I was jealous of not being special. But then… we teamed up for the class project. You were the only one who noticed me at the back of the workshop when groups were forming. You waved me over and said, 'Nia, right? Want to join us?' like it was the most natural thing. I was shocked you even knew my name."
Kei remembered that day vividly now. He had noticed Nia standing alone, looking unsure, and he felt bad that she was being left out. It was the obvious, kind thing to do to include her. He didn't realize it had impacted her so.
"And then," Nia continued, voice thickening, "throughout our project, you always asked for my input. You valued my ideas. When I suggested a rune sequence, you and Fiona listened seriously and we tried it. No one… no one had ever treated my contributions like that before. You made me feel seen." Her eyes brimmed with tears, and Fiona gave her a supportive squeeze.
"One day, I was working late in the library and overheard two senior enchanters gossiping," Nia went on, blinking dampness from her lashes. "They said something like, 'Have you noticed Nia's improvement? She's really coming out of her shell since that boy arrived.' The other said, 'Maybe she's trying to impress him or maybe he's encouraging her. Either way, she's shining now.'" Nia looked down, smiling a tearful smile. "They were right. I did want to impress you, Kei… but more than that, you gave me the confidence to try. To not give up on myself."
By now, Kei's own eyes stung. He felt at a loss for words, throat tight. He never imagined simply being considerate could have such an effect.
"So… thank you," Nia whispered, a couple tears escaping down her cheeks. "Thank you for treating me like I mattered. Because you know what? Now I feel like I do."
There was a heartbeat of silence, then Kei moved without thinking—he scooted in and enveloped Nia in a warm hug. The chimera plush squished between them as Nia let out a surprised squeak, but then she melted into the embrace, quiet sobs hiccuping against his shoulder. Fiona, sniffling, joined in, wrapping her arms around them both, and not to be left out, Kara threw one arm around the huddle, the other she used to discreetly wipe her own eyes.
They stayed like that for a long moment—four friends hugging under the lanterns beside the murmuring fountain. Kei felt Nia's tears dampen his coat and rubbed her back soothingly. Fiona's head rested against his other shoulder, her hair tickling his neck, and Kara squeezed the whole group tight briefly before letting go with a gruff cough, pretending she hadn't been as affected.
When they finally parted, Nia looked embarrassed yet relieved. "S-sorry," she mumbled, wiping her face. "I didn't mean to dump all that…"
"Never apologize for that," Fiona said, her own eyes red. "We love you, silly. We're a team. We lift each other up."
Kara nodded. "Hear, hear. Nia, you're brilliant. And if you had quit, I'd have hunted you down and dragged you back," she added with a grin, making Nia laugh.
Kei found his voice, quiet and earnest. "I'm the one who should thank you, Nia. You all welcomed me when I was the outsider, the weird newcomer. I wouldn't have achieved any of this without you three. You're the best team I could ask for… and the best friends."
Fiona made a melodramatic squeal and pulled everyone into another quick hug. Laughter mixed with the last of tears; the catharsis left them all feeling lighter.
"Group hug! Eeee!" Fiona exclaimed, making them all chuckle. Ember, not understanding the emotional nuance but wanting in on the fun, sprang into their laps and barked happily. They broke apart amid giggles as the fox proceeded to lick at the salty tears on Nia's cheeks, then at Kei's chin.
"Okay, okay, down you menace!" Kei laughed, gently cradling Ember and setting the fox on the ground. "He can smell emotions, I swear."
Ember's ears suddenly twitched. The mana-fox's head turned toward a copse of trees at the edge of the park. A low growl escaped its throat.
Kara noticed and immediately went alert. "What is it, girl?"
Kei felt a small prickle of unease. Ember usually only growled like that at threats.
From the shadows emerged a figure—a woman stumbling slightly as she walked. As she passed into the lantern light, Kei recognized her as a merchant who had a booth near the guild hall—he'd seen her earlier in the day hawking enchanted housewares. Now her cheeks were flushed, and she carried a half-empty wine bottle in one hand.
"Heyyy, there you are!" she slurred, a little too loudly. She wasn't so drunk as to be incoherent, but enough that her speech was off. And worse, her eyes were squarely on Kei.
The four friends tensed. Kei instinctively stood up, as did Kara and Fiona flanking him. Nia stayed seated, wiping her face and eyeing the merchant warily.
The merchant woman sauntered closer, attempting a coy smile that came off as a wobbling grimace. "Been looking hic all over for the pretty miss-ish—no, mistersh… the pretty boy!" She corrected herself with a laugh. "Fancy meeting you here, cutie. I saw you on stage today. Very impressive." She leaned on the word, drawing it out.
Kei offered a polite, nervous smile. "Thank you, ma'am. It's late, maybe you should—"
She didn't let him finish. "I should what? Hmm?" She stepped up uncomfortably close, reaching to pat his cheek with a boldness only intoxication could fuel. "You're such a darling. All the gals just fawnin' over ya. I thought to myself, why shouldn't I get a turn, eh?" She gave a giggly snort.
Kei froze, not sure how to handle this. The reek of wine off her was strong. And he very much did not like the way her hand lingered at the side of his face, fingers stroking in a mock motherly way that felt oddly possessive.
"Um, I'm actually here with—" he began.
"With us," Kara interrupted firmly, stepping forward to interpose herself. She put a gentle but unyielding hand on the merchant's arm, moving it away from Kei. "He's with us, ma'am. We're friends of his."
The merchant blinked blearily at the tall, solid figure of Kara now between her and Kei. "Oh? Friends, sure, sure," she waved the wine bottle dismissively, then tried to sidestep around Kara toward Kei again. Fiona promptly stepped in on the other side, effectively blocking that angle.
"Hello," Fiona said with exaggerated politeness, though her eyes were like flint. "We were just heading out actually. Perhaps you should as well? It's been a long night."
The woman frowned, eyes narrowing at Fiona. "I know you… you were on stage too. One of the girls with him." Her lip curled in a tipsy facsimile of a sneer. "What's the matter? Can't spare him for even a minute?"
Fiona stiffened. "He's not—we're just looking out for—"
The merchant rolled her eyes and suddenly directed a finger toward Nia, who sat on the bench clutching her chimera plush in front of her like a shield. "What about you, sweetie? You his handler too? You all takin' turns keeping him on a leash?"
"That's enough," Kei said, finding a bit of steel in his voice. He detested that phrasing, implying he was being controlled. He stepped around Kara to face the merchant, keeping a safe distance but meeting her gaze firmly. "Ma'am, I appreciate your interest, but I'm spending the evening with my friends. I'm not available."
The merchant's eyes flashed with annoyance and something like entitlement. "Pfft. That's for him to decide," she said, apparently addressing Kara and Fiona though her glassy eyes were on Kei. She stepped towards him again, a bit unsteady in her heeled boots. "C'mon, just one drink with me, handsome. I have a booth full of cushi—cushions! We could sit and chat, nothing improper." She reached out as if to grab his hand.
Before she could, Ember inserted itself, literally, darting in front of Kei's legs and emitting a sharp bark. The woman retracted her hand, startled.
"W-what's that? A fox?" she muttered.
"His familiar," Nia piped up softly from the bench. "And it doesn't like how close you're getting."
As if to underscore that, Ember bared tiny fangs and let out a soft growl that was surprisingly menacing for such a small creature. The mana-fox's fur bristled, tiny sparks of blue static crackling—evidence of its magical nature.
The merchant puffed herself up. "Are you threatening me, little fox? Shoo!" She actually tried to prod Ember away with her foot, which only made Ember growl louder and snap at the air near her ankle (purposefully missing, but it made her jump back).
That was the final straw for Fiona and Kara. Together, they positioned themselves like a wall between Kei and the woman.
Kara's tone dropped its friendliness. "Ma'am, you need to back off. Now."
Fiona, arms akimbo, added, "He said no, politely. You should go sleep it off instead of harassing apprentices in the park."
The merchant's face went through a series of emotions—shock at being spoken to that way, embarrassment, then anger. "Harassing? I'm just being friendly! You act like I'm some predator." Her eyes flicked between them and landed on Kei past their shoulders. "Don't tell me you're happy with these girls bossing you around. A real man would—"
"Leave," Kara said coldly, cutting off the slurred tirade. "Now."
For a moment Kei feared the merchant might yell or even take a swing (the wine fueling recklessness). But perhaps the sober part of her brain realized she was outmatched—Kara alone looked capable of wrestling her down, plus there was a snarling magical fox, and Fiona who, while smaller, had a glare worthy of a fury.
The woman settled for huffing and pointing at Kei, "Fine! They can't guard you forever, you know. Sooner or later, someone will catch you alone." She let out a bitter laugh, "And just see how long your niceness lasts when the wrong person takes a liking to you."
With that unsettling remark, she staggered away, nearly tripping over her skirt as she veered back toward the bright lights of the main fair. They watched to ensure she was truly leaving. Kei exhaled only when her form vanished into the distant crowd.
Fiona turned to Kei, eyes full of concern. "Are you alright? She didn't touch you or anything, did she? Goddess, what a creep!"
Kara muttered an expletive under her breath, clearly incensed. "The nerve of some people… drunk or not."
Nia came up and gently touched Kei's arm. "I'm sorry that happened."
Kei shook his head, trying to shake off the adrenaline and the chill those parting words gave him. "'Someone will catch you alone'… what was that supposed to mean?" He attempted a light chuckle that came out forced. "I mean, I've heard rumors of kidnappers, but in the middle of a city festival…?"
Ember, sensing his unease, hopped back onto his shoulder and licked at his ear comfortingly. Kei reached up to pet the fox, grateful.
Kara frowned, scanning the darkness. "She was probably just mouthing off. Still, it only takes one obsessed nutcase, I suppose."
Fiona sighed, rubbing her temples. "Let's not let her spoil the night. But, ugh, what a reminder…" She looked apologetically at Kei. "Sometimes we forget how some see you as… well, fair game."
"It's not your fault," Kei said quickly. He managed a smile. "If anything, thank you. You both stepped in like knights."
"Darn right," Kara replied, cracking a grin. "Sir Kara and Dame Fiona at your service."
Nia gently held Kei's hand between hers. "We won't let anyone hurt you."
Kei felt a rush of gratitude and affection for them all. He realized with a warm clarity that he trusted these three implicitly. In a world that alternated between adoring and objectifying him, they were his safe harbor.
"Thanks to you all, I feel very safe," he said earnestly.
Fiona's stance relaxed and she offered a small smile. "Always."
Kara stretched, muscles still tense from the encounter. "Well, perhaps it's a sign it's time to head back. It's getting late, after all."
Indeed, the festival around them was finally beginning to wind down. Some stalls were closing up; the music had taken on a mellower tone.
They gathered their prizes and started walking back towards the guild dorms, Ember trotting happily now that the "threat" was gone. The conversation turned to lighter topics by unspoken agreement, none of them wanting to dwell on the sour note. They joked about who won the most games (clearly Kara, though she good-naturedly claimed she let Kei win the dagger out of pity), and how Ember would probably chew on that toy fox by morning.
Kei hung a step back as they walked, watching the three of them in front of him banter. Fiona was swinging the fox plush by one paw, making it "dance" through the air as Nia laughed softly. Kara, arms behind her head, commented on how she might join that dance-off contest next year and show these folks some real moves.
Lantern light gilded their figures and the street beyond. A few other late-night revelers passed by and smiled at the charming scene they made: three young women chatting animatedly, with a slightly bashful young man in a splendid coat trailing them, and a fox weaving between.
Kei's heart swelled with an emotion he couldn't quite name—a blend of joy, protectiveness, and a touch of wistfulness. He had come to this world alone, torn from everything he knew. He could so easily have been treated as a freak or kept at arm's length. Instead, he'd found acceptance, friendship, perhaps even hints of love (though he tried not to overthink that part). These girls cared for him, and he for them.
He thought of the conversation at the fountain: the notion of multiple partners, and how different this society was. It dawned on him that perhaps, in some gentle, unspoken way, Fiona, Kara, and Nia had a silent understanding. He wasn't sure, and he wouldn't assume, but their camaraderie with each other despite all clearly liking him… It was almost as if they'd decided their friendship mattered more than fighting over him. A shared agreement, maybe, that they'd rather all be close with him than risk splintering apart. It was subtle, but looking back on the night—the way they wordlessly coordinated to shield him from the merchant, how they all simultaneously asked him out to celebrate, how none seemed jealous when he paid attention to one or the other—it hinted at something.
Kei felt a bit out of his depth pondering it. On Earth, such a dynamic would be unusual to say the least, but here… maybe it wasn't so unheard of. The float of Queen Thalia with five husbands flashed in his mind, and he nearly laughed out loud at the absurd comparison. I'm no queen, and they're not my spouses. What they were was… his dearest people. And that was enough.
They arrived back at the guild's apprentice quarters. The courtyard was quiet, the day's bustle gone. Only a few lanterns remained lit along the walkways, and distant laughter from taverns in the city provided a sleepy backdrop.
Climbing the steps to their dorm entrance, they all hesitated, reluctant to part ways.
"Well," Fiona said softly, "tonight was… amazing."
"Best festival ever," Kara agreed, giving a thumbs up.
Nia hugged her chimera plush and beamed. "I'll never forget it."
Kei's throat felt thick again. "Thank you… for sharing it with me."
A comfortable silence followed, and then one by one, the girls each stepped forward and gave Kei a goodnight hug. Fiona's was first, quick and tight, her arms around his neck for a moment. Then Kara, who lifted him slightly off the ground in a bearish squeeze that made him laugh and protest that he needed to breathe. Lastly Nia, who went gently, resting her head on his shoulder for a couple of extra seconds and whispering, "Thank you for everything, Kei," before stepping back with pink cheeks.
He felt profoundly content as they each waved and headed to their rooms down the hall. Ember was already half asleep atop Kei's shoulder, having yawned widely as they climbed the stairs.
Entering his own small room, Kei carefully placed the prizes on his desk—the wooden dagger (he smiled, recalling Kara's flourish), the little fox plush (he'd ask Fiona if she wanted to keep it or if he should hold onto it for her), and a few other trinkets. He hung up his coat, which still carried faint scents of festival smoke and sweets—a not unpleasant perfume of memories.
As he sat on the edge of his bed to take off his boots, the System decided to make one final appearance for the night. A glowing summary screen popped up, showing experience gains from the showcase, the festival quest completion, and even a cheeky line: "Act III Complete – Congratulations! Midpoint reached! New horizons await…" followed by confetti animation. Kei shook his head, amused and exasperated. He tapped the screen away, but not before noting his Charm stat had indeed increased, and he'd earned a quirky title of "Festival Friend."
Gods, if the girls ever saw that… he'd never hear the end of it.
After washing up and changing, Kei flopped into bed. Ember padded in a circle and curled up at his feet, snoring softly almost immediately.
Kei stared at the ceiling, where faint moonlight drew patterns through the window lattice. His body was delightfully tired and his heart full. Yet, he did feel the inklings of something else: pressure. Because now he wasn't an unknown outsider anymore. He was "the young man of the Woodworkers' Guild who did something great." People would expect more from him—innovations, appearances, maybe even political or social engagements like Lady Seraphine's invitation. The merchant's drunken rant, though easy to dismiss, echoed uncomfortably: what if someone less benign than an annoying flirt did set their sights on him? The world wasn't all friendly aunties and festival games. He recalled the attempted kidnapping that had been foiled weeks ago; that threat still lurked, perhaps.
It was a lot to contemplate. And yet… Kei felt no fear. Not right now. Because he knew he wasn't facing it alone. He had allies, friends, mentors. He had people who genuinely cared, who saw him as more than a novelty. Yes, the road ahead would have challenges—fame could be a double-edged sword, and cross-world knowledge a burden as much as a gift. But Kei felt ready to continue, to grow, to prove himself not just as a rare male artisan, but as someone worthy of the trust and kindness shown to him.
His eyelids grew heavy. Just before he drifted off, he thought of Fiona's laughter, Kara's bold grin, Nia's grateful tears, Dahlia's competitive smirk, Helena's pride, even Lady Seraphine's intriguing gaze. So many faces that had become part of his life here.
He whispered a promise to the quiet room, "I'll do my best. For all of you." It was uncertain who "you" encompassed—his friends, his guild, maybe even the memory of those five husbands on the float symbolizing all men who had found purpose in a world dominated by women. Perhaps for himself, too, to live up to the potential he hadn't realized he had.
Outside, a final rocket of fireworks burst in the sky, painting the room in soft blue for an instant. The festival's last hurrah, heralding midnight.
Kei smiled at the fleeting color, then closed his eyes. Cradled by the gentle sounds of Ember's breathing and distant festival echoes, he allowed sleep to overtake him, ending the night on a note of peace and quiet triumph.