“Sister Yue, why’s it called Rainbow Valley? Is it ’cause they harvest rainbow candy here?”

On the Skyship’s couch, the catfolk girl’s mouth opened like a little cave, and she stuffed a whole bag of rainbow candies in like colorful pebbles in a stream.

“Zaocun, that’s not it.”

Yue Liuyi opened a pack too, picked a chocolate one, and let it melt like dusk on her tongue. “There are many reasons. One: Rainbow Valley yields rainbow stone, a magic ore that holds many elemental powers, like a prism catching sun. It fits almost any use. Two: the mana here is full and varied, not a single flavor. Almost any school of magic works here, dazzling like a rainbow.”

“Ohhh, so that’s it. Zaocun learned it. Then, can we actually see a rainbow in Rainbow Valley?”

Her tail curled into a question mark, while her cat ears swayed behind her like leaves in wind.

“Of course, but only after the rain… When this shower ends, we’ll probably see one.”

Outside, rain ticked on the Skyship’s glass in a soft pitter-patter, beads of water crawling down like silver ants.

The world beyond wore a veil of drizzle, its breath turned secretive. Mist rolled through emerald woods like sleeping dragons. Low rainclouds drifted like gauze. Birds folded their wings and huddled on branches; big ones sheltered the chicks, their eyes quietly watching the strangers beyond the forest.

A cool breath slipped through the unlatched window and brushed the room like an autumn hand.

The cabin felt a shade dim. Yue Liuyi clicked on the wall sconce and walked to the drinks cabinet like a hostess tending a hearth.

Coffee grounds surrendered to hot water in a dark bloom, and cups rose steaming like little chimneys after snow.

“Whoa! Sister Yue, you’re making coffee?”

“Mm. I suddenly felt a bit cold, so I’ll bring some to everyone.”

“In that case, Zaocun suggests you take milk and sugar too!”

“Eh? You’re right! No wonder you’re the Red Wine Tavern’s server—Zaocun, you’re good at this.”

“Hee-hee. I’ll help too! Sister Yue, who gets coffee first?”

“Mm…” Yue Liuyi already had her answer, but she pretended to ponder. “Let’s… let’s bring one to LittleSnow first.”

“Where’s Sister Dixue?”

“Probably in the cockpit.”

Carrying coffee and milk, Yue Liuyi and the catgirl walked the corridor toward the helm like lantern-bearers in mist.

“LittleSnow, is now a good time?”

Knock, knock, knock—Yue Liuyi tapped the cockpit door like rain on bamboo.

“Eh? Little Yue? It’s good, totally good!”

A moment ago, the silver-haired girl sat in the pilot’s seat, frowning at the screens like a storm caught in glass. The next moment, she saw Yue Liuyi walk in, and joy broke like sunlight after rain.

“Coffee…? Huh? Little Yue, did you bring that for me?”

“Mm. LittleSnow, want some coffee?”

“Yes! If it’s Little Yue’s coffee, of course!”

Dixue took the cup in a flash and drank in a single swallow like a swallow skimming a lake.

“Mm! So sweet… so good!”

Watching the silver-haired girl wear that blissful look like a flower opening, Yue Liuyi’s heart warmed too. She’d made a not-bitter cup just for Dixue; in her memories, LittleSnow loved sweet things.

“Thank you, Little Yue. And thank you, Zaocun~”

“You’re welcome~”

Zaocun wagged her tail, happiness rustling like grass.

“Mm… LittleSnow, what were you working on? Anything I can help with?”

“Not much now. Mostly plotting routes and reading mana tracks. By tomorrow dusk, the first Rainbow Fortress should surface, so I need predictions.”

“Surface…? Sister Dixue, aren’t the Rainbow Fortresses already inside Rainbow Valley?”

“No, Zaocun. There are fortresses in the valley, but they aren’t the true Rainbow Fortresses. Only when the Rainbow Sanctuary opens do the real ones show themselves.”

“Eh? Why!?”

The catgirl tilted her head, eyes wide and bright like dew catching dawn.

“Because a Rainbow Fortress exists in both our space and in the Rainbow Sanctuary. It’s the only overlap between the two.”

Yue Liuyi added gently, like laying out paper charms. “The valley’s fortresses have been wrecked by war and time. Most are ruins and bones. But when the Rainbow Sanctuary opens, the fortress in our world and the one in the Sanctuary overlap, and what appears is the fortress in its prime.”

“Wow! That sounds amazing.”

“Passing through a Rainbow Fortress is the only way into the Rainbow Sanctuary. And once we’re there, we still need a Rainbow Fortress’s shelter to survive the storms that blow between worlds.”

She hadn’t known that much about the Sanctuary before. It was thanks to the book Maria printed for her, a lantern in the fog.

She also understood why so many fought for a Rainbow Fortress.

Once a fortress is “activated” and returns, it lasts only one day. When it ends, the valley’s site reverts to ruins, like a tide pulling back. Anyone inside gets sent into the Rainbow Sanctuary—into the true fortress’s seat.

Each fortress has a headcount limit, like a boat with finite oars. Most are claimed or watched by major powers, so for common adventurers, slots are scarce and hard-won.

“By the way, Little Yue, which fortress do you want most?”

“I’d choose the Gray Fortress… but it’s too dangerous, so I’ll pass.”

When Dongfang Chen traveled alone, danger was a torch he’d carry into the dark. Now, she had so many companions. She didn’t need to burn that bright.

Keeping her friends safe mattered most, like keeping embers alive in winter.

“The Gray Fortress isn’t deadly at first. The trouble comes after we reach the Rainbow Sanctuary. Mm. If that’s the case, Little Yue, pick one.”

“Pick one? Huh? What’s… this?”

Facing the grimoire Dixue handed over, Yue Liuyi’s eyes widened like moons. She opened the front page with trembling fingers.

Inside lay the dossiers of all the Rainbow Fortresses, ink like constellations.

Data on the Rainbow Fortresses:

Red Fortress.

Size: large. Capacity: 10. Real location: marked on the map. Sanctuary location: Crimsonflame Mountains. Offering: Phoenix Wing Egg. Shelter strength: very high. Note: occupiers gain the blessing of fire.

Orange Fortress.

Size: small. Capacity: 5. Real location: marked on the map. Sanctuary location: Clearmount Fief. Offering: heaps of oranges. Shelter strength: medium. Note: its Sanctuary site is perilous, easy to hold and hard to take.

Golden Fortress (Yellow Fortress).

Size: immense. Capacity: 20. Real location: marked on the map. Sanctuary location: Luoye Plains. Offering: gold. Shelter strength: medium. Note: rich resources ring this fortress like wheat around a granary.

Forest Fortress (Green Fortress).

Size: large. Capacity: 12. Real location: marked on the map. Sanctuary location: Lostwood Forest. Offering: sap of the World Tree, or much magic tree sap. Shelter strength: high. Note: occupiers gain the blessing of the forest.

Cyan Fortress.

Size: small. Capacity: 3. Real location: marked on the map. Sanctuary location: Floating Sky Isles. Offering: Heart of Sky City. Shelter strength: very high. Note: occupiers gain the blessing of the sky.

Sea Fortress (Blue Fortress).

Size: large. Capacity: 15. Real location: marked on the map. Sanctuary location: Heartshard Sea. Offering: Sea God’s Veil. Shelter strength: high. Note: occupiers gain the blessing of the ocean.

Purple Fortress.

Size: rather small. Capacity: 8. Real location: marked on the map. Sanctuary location: Kavin Marsh. Offering: lots of magic stones. Shelter strength: medium. Note: the surroundings are deadly, and returns are low, like fishing in a storm.

Black Fortress (Dark Fortress).

Size: large. Capacity: 5. Real location: marked on the map. Sanctuary location: appears at random. Offering: none. Shelter strength: medium. Note: none who enter may leave until five survivors remain, like a night with one candle.

Light Fortress (White Fortress).

Size: large. Capacity: 12. Real location: marked on the map. Sanctuary location: appears at random. Offering: none. Shelter strength: medium. Note: a pure heart is required, or terrible chastisement falls like lightning.

Gray Fortress.

Size: vast. Capacity: 50. Real location: marked on the map. Sanctuary location: appears at random. Offering: none. Shelter strength: very low. Note: it can lack a clear controller, but in the Rainbow Secret Realm it offers almost no shelter, like standing in open wind.

Flower Fortress (Pink Fortress).

Size: medium. Capacity: 10. Real location: marked on the map. Sanctuary location: Sea of Eternal Blossoms. Offering: fresh flowers. Shelter strength: medium. Note: you must walk out of a beguiling illusion, like waking from spring wine.

Brown Fortress.

Size: medium. Capacity: 10. Real location: marked on the map. Sanctuary location: Strange-Stone Forest. Offering: timber. Shelter strength: low. Note: you must defeat a powerful guardian statue, a mountain with eyes.

Attachment: floor plans for every Rainbow Fortress.

…

Yue Liuyi stared at the grimoire in Dixue’s hands, words knotted in her throat like reeds in flood. Back then, one floor plan of the Gray Fortress had cost who knows how much of Dongfang Chen’s blood and nerve. It was his courage to try the Rainbow Sanctuary at all.

She never dreamed Dixue would gather everything at once, like sweeping the whole night sky into a sleeve.

Each plan was detailed to the hinge: traps, mechanisms, chests, and guards. Even if she ignored the runes she couldn’t read, it put her old map to shame.

“W-wow, LittleSnow, where did you find this?”

“I took it from Ailuna’s place~”

“Eh? Ailuna’s house?”

“Shh. I snuck it out. Don’t tell anyone, okay?”

The silver-haired girl patted Yue Liuyi’s head with a playful smile, light as a cat’s paw.