Zeo didn't hesitate to strike. His body lunged forward with a heavy blow, slicing through empty air. The cloaked figure leapt back nimbly, raising both hands. His mask fell.
"I—I surrender!"
But Zeo didn't stop. He was ready to land another blow.
"W-Wait, this is a misunderstanding, sir! Calm down… please!"
The figure scrambled to dodge, blocking frantically as he leapt into the light of the campfire.
The warm glow revealed his face—dark, wavy hair cascading past his shoulders, a round, cheerful face with puffed cheeks that looked like they were always ready to burst into laughter. His large, shiny eyes sparkled with mischief and childlike curiosity.
"S-Sir Fipulis?!" Alice, Erik, and Fael cried out in unison.
Zeo froze at their reaction.
The man grinned broadly. "Haha! Glad you recognized me! I guess I'm still somewhat famous!"
He winked at them and casually plopped down on a nearby rock like he hadn't just caused a panic.
Zeo narrowed his eyes and turned to the others. "Who is he? Do you know this man?"
Fael answered first, before Erik could even open his mouth. "He's… one of the Twelve Stars of Galia. An A-Rank party renowned across the Romanian Empire. His name is Sir Fipulis."
Zeo looked back at Fipulis with a flat expression. "Never heard of him."
Fipulis clutched his chest dramatically. "Ahh… is my charm truly so unknown? The world is cruel… sob."
Before the mood could lighten further, two more figures stepped out of the shadows—also cloaked and masked.
"You're causing trouble again, Fipulis," one of them said, a woman with a cold voice.
"Sorry, sorry! I just couldn't resist the smell of meat from afar!" Fipulis said sheepishly, scratching his head.
The two newcomers removed their masks.
Alice's eyes widened—and so did Fael's and Erik's.
They, too, were members of the famous party, the Twelve Stars of Galia.
The woman had sun-kissed brown skin, shoulder-length chestnut hair, and piercing eyes. Calm but sharp, her thin smile hinted at quiet authority. She was Barnata.
Next to her stood a pale-skinned man with a noticeable scar across his left cheek. Cold and expressionless, he had short, dark bluish hair and eyes like twin blades. He was Yudias.
All three wore dark green cloaks lined with deep patterns and bore the symbol of the Twelve Stars of Galia.
"We apologize for the disturbance caused by Fipulis," Barnata said with a slight bow. Yudias simply nodded in acknowledgment.
Zeo remained alert but lowered his guard. He took a slow breath.
"Alright. Your sudden appearance was startling... but as long as you're not here to cause trouble."
Zeo's curiosity was piqued. He activated his Dimensional Eye to assess them.
The three emitted a powerful presence. Their auras were far from ordinary. Strong Entra, Vita, and Arma energies pulsed from within, alongside a secondary energy flow—something beyond what normal humans could handle.
Then something strange happened.
The symbol on Zeo's back stirred. A strange resonance—like it was reacting to the energies radiating from them.
But Yudias… he was different. His energy was mixed with something that humans should never touch.
Zeo narrowed his eyes.
Are they... chosen ones too? But their energy feels... impure.
Rather than engage, Zeo kept his thoughts to himself.
He took a deep breath, calming his mind, and glanced at Erik and Alice, who were starting to relax.
"Sorry for the misunderstanding," Zeo said simply. He gave a polite nod, though he remained wary.
He assumed they would leave soon.
But—
"If you haven't eaten yet... you're welcome to join us," Erik suddenly offered, his eyes sparkling as if he were looking at celebrity idols.
Alice and Fael exchanged looks, then turned to Zeo as if hoping he'd allow it.
Zeo understood and gave a small nod. As long as there was no danger, he didn't mind.
The three adventurers exchanged glances. Barnata seemed slightly reluctant, while Yudias remained quiet, watching her. Then Fipulis clapped his hands. "Really?! Great! I'm starving! You two don't mind, do you?!"
Barnata sighed softly, but eventually nodded. Yudias gave a silent shrug of agreement.
And so, the three sat down by the small campfire near the riverside, just outside the forest. The warm flames crackled, mingling with the aroma of simple grilled meat prepared by Miza and Ravyn.
Barnata opened the conversation.
"Thank you for the meal. We were actually heading to Leymora," she said while blowing on a spoonful of soup. "As a party under the Romanian Empire, we were assigned to attend the grand reception for Prince Elion's arrival."
"Why didn't you travel with the imperial entourage?" Fael asked. "You're coming from the opposite direction."
Barnata nodded. "Because we're also tracking someone."
"Someone?" Ravyn asked curiously.
"A man named Saulas," Barnata replied. Her voice was calm but deep, like water flowing through a cave. "He recently caused an uproar in Nazaran Village and stirred conflict in Galia City. Our information says he's currently in Leymora. But if he left due to the prince's arrival, he likely exited through the east gate—just like you."
Alice and Fael exchanged looks. The name didn't ring any bells.
But Erik, ever the cheerful one, couldn't help himself. "So you're on an important mission… but still! Wow, it's amazing to sit with you legends! The Twelve Stars of Galia! You guys are insanely famous! Didn't you slay that fire dragon in the north?!"
Barnata chuckled softly, while Fipulis remained busy stuffing his face.
"Master, are they really that famous? I've never heard of them," Ravyn whispered to Zeo beside her, in a voice only he could hear.
Zeo nodded slightly. "Me neither."
He glanced at Miza and Guillard. They, too, seemed clueless. Understandable—most of their lives had been spent in servitude. The outside world was just a blur of stories they'd never truly seen for themselves.
Dinner passed peacefully. Fipulis even helped himself to second servings. There were no heavy topics—just simple introductions and a few light stories about hunting monsters.
Eventually, the three adventurers stood and prepared to leave.
"Once again, thank you for your hospitality," Barnata said. "We need to hurry to Leymora tonight. So we can't stay any longer."
Erik looked visibly disappointed. He waved as they departed, "Take care!"
The trio turned and walked back toward the main road leading to the eastern gate.
But just before they disappeared into the night, Yudias turned and glanced back.
His gaze met Zeo's.
Calm—but sharp. As if they were reading one another in silence.
Zeo didn't look away. He returned the gaze, just as calm.
No words were spoken.
But in that quiet, something was acknowledged—
They would meet again.
---