Because I’d stayed up late catching up on yesterday’s diary and packing our luggage, Aefina and I didn’t leave our room until nearly noon.

At checkout, the innkeeper’s lecherous gaze made it clear he’d gotten the wrong idea about our late departure. There was no explaining it, so I pretended not to notice.

And so, Aefina and I began our second day in Aegros. Distracted as I was, I didn’t notice the subtle shift in her expression. Only much later did I learn this had been her first night in a human city.

Today, Aegros felt utterly different from yesterday. The entire city buzzed with festive energy—like those last few days before Lunar New Year back home.

Everywhere, people bustled in preparation for the upcoming Prayer Festival. Ordinary citizens, adventurers, and travelers mingled warmly. Beyond festival preparations, everyone also readied defenses against the Great Storm due right after the celebrations.

Aegros’s architecture radiated sturdy resilience—a city built to withstand tempests. I’d never witnessed its legendary storms firsthand, but back in Modria, I’d seen an otherworldly gale that dwarfed Earth’s typhoons. If they treated this storm so seriously, it must be even more awe-inspiring.

Danger? I wasn’t worried. The locals had survived countless storms without panic. And worst-case scenario? Aefina was here. I’d just asked her—she confirmed storms wouldn’t hinder her flight. Absolutely not. This wasn’t a flag!

“Want to help out?” I asked casually, noticing Aefina’s fascination with the festivities.

“…No need,” she declined with a shake of her head. I didn’t press further.

“Hey there!” A familiar voice called from across the street.

A brown-haired cat-eared girl waved energetically—it was Norma from the adventurer group at yesterday’s lunch.

“Small world! I forgot to ask your names yesterday,” Norma chirped, bouncing over. Two others followed—Viter and the short but sturdy Granst from her team. The other two members were absent.

I glanced at Aefina. She gave a slight nod.

“I’m Luo Sa. This is Aefina. Where are your other companions?”

“Ilan and Leo are busy over there. We’re just running errands.” Norma gestured to her friends. “This is Viter, our guild leader. And the one pulling the cart is Granst—our Guardian Knight. Don’t let his height fool you; he’s incredibly strong.”

Viter—the man who’d apologized to us yesterday—gave a formal adventurer’s salute: fist lightly pressed to his chest. “Viter, leader of the Mithril Edge Guild.” Their insignia confirmed their high rank.

Granst ambled over, cart in tow, and lifted a hand in greeting. The heavy load didn’t seem to strain him—Norma hadn’t exaggerated.

“Join us?” Norma invited.

“You’re newcomers, right?” Viter added warmly. “Missing the Prayer Festival in Aegros would be a real shame.” His earnest smile was hard to refuse. (For the record: I’m not into guys.)

“Might as well,” I said, squeezing Aefina’s hand. She nodded readily—curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

We followed them toward the docks. Aegros’s harbor was massive…

“Ilan~~~!” Norma suddenly shrieked, sprinting ahead to leap into a golden-haired woman’s arms. That was Ilan—the team’s other female member, radiating quiet elegance.

“Oh! You’re the pair from yesterday’s tavern…” rumbled a towering man beside her. Leo. At over two meters tall, his sheer presence pressed down on me like a physical weight.

“He’s Luo Sa. The girl’s Aefina,” Norma introduced us, then pointed at Leo. “This is Leo—our scout. Surprising, right?” *A scout that size?!* I glanced at Granst. Their roles felt swapped—Leo’s bulk should’ve made him the Guardian Knight. (Though “short” was relative here; Granst was merely below the continent’s average male height of 175cm.)

“Pleasure to meet you again. I’m Ilan,” she said, gently stroking Norma’s cat ears.

“What’s all this?” I asked, watching Viter’s team reinforce a building like construction workers.

“Stormproofing,” Ilan explained patiently. “We only install these barriers before the Great Storm—they’d be cumbersome otherwise. Some families hire guilds for help.”

I nodded. Most of the city’s bustle centered on this communal effort—a sight only possible in this world.

I could’ve helped with carpentry (my skills were decent from fixing tavern furniture), but chose to assist Ilan and Norma with food prep instead. Easier work. The Prayer Festival was essentially a citywide banquet.

“Helping” was generous—Ilan did all the cooking while Norma “tasted” (i.e., snacked). Aefina sat beside me, uninterested in both construction and cooking. She simply watched me, occasionally nuzzling my shoulder. At first, I thought she wanted to say something. She’d just shake her head.

Each time she nuzzled me, I’d turn to meet her gaze. A faint smile always touched her lips then—if my hands were clean, I’d stroke her hair. To outsiders, it looked like pure affection. Only I knew we’d met just three days ago. Her clinginess stemmed from city-induced anxiety. (I kept that to myself.)

“You two are so sweet together~” Norma teased, gray eyes crinkling. I just nodded.

*If only I knew her past… or how she truly saw me.* Last night, when she’d curled into my arms, I’d realized: I wanted to be with Aefina.

But reality was harsh. A powerless human and a Great Dragon? Our path would be thorny.

By dusk, preparations wrapped up. Though the festival hadn’t officially started, crowds already gathered at the spacious docks—the traditional venue.

Aefina leaned against my shoulder as we watched the sunset. I cared little for sunsets, but holding her like this? Perfect.

The sun sank slowly, its fiery rays a final struggle against the horizon. In its glow, Aefina’s silver hair turned crimson. Her quiet breaths cut through the crowd’s chatter, stirring something restless in me. Beneath slightly messy bangs, her beautiful eyes held a trace of sadness.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered, suddenly close enough that I saw my own flustered reflection in her pupils.

“N-nothing… You just look especially beautiful right now,” I stammered. Getting caught staring was mortifying.

“…” She held my gaze until I squirmed. Then she pulled back.

“Liar.” But her upturned lips betrayed her pleasure.

She sat upright beside me, blinking at the passing crowd. The sadness in her eyes? Perhaps my imagination.

*Is this the perfect moment to confess?* The thought struck me absurdly.

We were secluded enough. Sunset confessions were textbook-romantic. And after her little tease, my heart wouldn’t settle.

But… in public? Too embarrassing. What if she rejected me? Her closeness meant nothing if I didn’t know her heart.

My internal war raged until twilight deepened. When I finally gathered courage, the sun had vanished.

“Aefina…” I began, voice tight.

“Hmm?” She tilted her head, mirroring my solemn expression.

“I… BOOM!” A thunderous roar cut me off—not an explosion, just the city’s ceremonial bonfires igniting simultaneously. The mage’s synchronized spell created a deafening wave of sound… and shattered my courage completely.

"What were you about to say?" Aefina barely glanced at the campfire before turning away, clearly more drawn to my words.

"I'll tell you tonight..." My scattered courage made the words impossible to utter. The mood was ruined anyway, so I smoothly gave up on confessing... Definitely not because I was scared!

And the Prayer Festival was declared to have begun the instant the campfire ignited.