Chapter—The Uniform Selection and Costume.
The morning sun sparkled against the glass storefronts of the city's largest departmental store. Luke, Shuri, and Marin stood near the entrance, scrolling through their phones to kill time. Within minutes, Chika, Liod, and Uno arrived, breathless and ready for the day's mission.
"Where is Kael?" Marin asked, checking her watch. "He was the one who insisted we get guild uniforms, and now he's the one holding us up."
Just as she finished her sentence, Kael appeared around the corner, carrying a large white bag and grinning from ear to ear. "I'm sorry! I got distracted," he panted. "I was buying ice cream!"
"Ice cream?!" the group exclaimed in unison.
"It's a celebration for the new Aurafiest!" Kael laughed, handing out wrapped ice cream sticks to everyone.
They decided to push back the shopping for a few minutes and sat on the benches of a nearby park. The conversation was light and cheerful as they compared flavors—vanilla, chocolate, mint, and strawberry. It was a rare moment of peace for a group of warriors who usually spent their time dodging claws in dark dungeons.
As they finished, the "Popsicle Stick Game" began. In this local tradition, once you finish the ice cream, you check the wooden stick to see if you've won a free one.
Chika finished first. "Oh, I lost," she pouted, looking at the blank wood.
Liod was second. "Lose for me too."
Shuri finished third and gasped. "Oh! I won! Look, it says 'Winner'!"
Marin looked at hers. "Lose."
Uno checked his. "I won! Lucky day!"
Finally, Luke finished his. He looked down at the stick. 'Lose'.
Kael, finishing last, also shrugged. "I lost too."
"So Shuri and Uno are the lucky ones today," Marin said, her voice taking on a teasing, cautious edge. She looked at Luke. "Luke, be on your guard. You've got a bad luck day ahead of you."
Shuri and Kael looked confused. "What do you mean?" Kael asked.
Marin leaned in with a smirk. "It's a legend with Luke. Whenever he wins the ice cream stick, his day is golden. But whenever he loses, something ridiculous happens. Once, after losing, he tripped over nothing and fell face-first fall in a open sewage. Since then, he's been terrified of stick ice cream."
"It's just a superstition, Marin," Luke muttered, though he subconsciously adjusted his stance to make sure he wouldn't trip.
"Well," Marin laughed, standing up. "Let's see if the 'Ice Cream Curse' holds true. To the store!"
They entered the massive departmental store and headed straight for the clothing section. The group scattered, looking for something that would represent the strength and unity of Aurafiest.
Suddenly, a high-pitched shout echoed from the back of the store. "WOW! Everyone, come here! Quickly!" Chika was jumping up and down.
The group ran to her. "Did you find a uniform?" Uno asked.
"No, but look at this!" she pointed to a high-end display mannequin.
Standing there was a perfect replica of Auramaster Auron's outfit. The shimmering silver fabric, the flowing cape, and the intricate metallic mask were crafted with stunning detail.
Luke stood in the back, his heart skipping a beat. They made a mimic of my dress? And it's actually pretty accurate, he thought, feeling a strange mix of pride and sheer terror.
"It's amazing," Marin whispered, touching the fabric. "But we're here for a guild uniform, Chika, not for cosplay."
"But we have to try it on!" Chika pleaded. "Let's see who looks most like the legendary Auron! Please, Marin, just for fun!"
Shuri joined in, her eyes glancing at Liod. "I actually want to see how everyone looks in it... especially some people."
Marin looked at her watch. "Fine. Fifteen minutes. Only fifteen minutes of distracting ourselves, then we get back to business."
Kael went first. He grabbed the largest size available and disappeared into the dressing room. A few moments later, he poked his head out, embarrassed. "It's no use. My shoulders are too broad. I can't even get the fabric over my head!"
Uno went next. He stepped out wearing the silver suit. It nearly fit, but the proportions were off—the sleeves were too long, and the waist was baggy. "It looks beautiful on you, Uno," Chika lied supportively, "but it's definitely not quite right."
Then it was Liod's turn. He stepped out and the girls went silent. The silver fabric fit him decently, and when he put on the mask, he looked quite formidable.
"Oh! Liod is actually a close match!" Marin noted.
Shuri was blushing furiously. "He looks... adorable," she whispered.
"What was that?" Liod asked, adjusting the mask.
"I said... the outfit is adorable on you!" Shuri shouted, her face turning red.
Finally, all eyes turned to Luke. Liod handed him the costume. "Your turn, Luke. Let's see if the 'Average' can look like a 'Unique'."
Luke entered the testing room.
"Luke, do you really want to do this?" Auru whispered in his beside. "This outfit is a 100% copy of your real gear. If you wear it, you'll look exactly like yourself."
I have no choice, Luke thought nervously. If I refuse, it'll look even more suspicious.
He zipped up the silver tunic and draped the cape over his shoulders, he felt a cold shiver. He put on the mask and looked into the full-length mirror.
He didn't see Luke. He saw Auron. There was absolutely no difference. The way the fabric hugged his frame, the height, the posture—it was a perfect match.
I can't go out there like this, Luke realized. Marin is already suspicious. If she sees me fitting into this perfectly, the secret is over.
He quickly pulled the costume off, his heart racing. He put his civilian clothes back on and stepped out, holding the silver outfit in his arms.
"It didn't fit," Luke said, trying to sound disappointed. "It was way too tight in the chest and legs. I couldn't even zip it up."
"Really?" Marin asked, sounding surprised. "I thought you were exactly the same build as the mannequin. What about the mask? Did you at least try that?"
Luke shook his head quickly. "What's the point of the mask if the clothes don't fit? Besides, we're wasting time. Let's find our real uniform."
With the distractions out of the way, the group got serious. They eventually found a set of gear that everyone loved: a modest but sharp navy-blue design with a high collar and a star-shaped crest at the center. It featured "Aether-stitched" fabric that allowed for better aura flow.
Shuri ran over with a final touch. "Look! I found these!" She held up a series of silver and gold brooches. "They are guild badges. We can pin them to our collars. Every new member of Aurafiest will get one upon joining."
"Perfect," Marin said, her eyes shining. "From tomorrow, we wear this during all guild activities. We are a team now."
They checked out, each carrying a bag with their new identity inside. As they walked toward the station, Chika looked at Luke. "See, Marin? Nothing bad happened to Luke today! No falling into sewer, no bad luck. The Ice Cream Curse is broken!"
Marin smiled. "I guess so. Maybe your luck is changing, Luke."
But Luke remained silent. He knew better. The "unlucky" stick had worked its magic after all. The curse hadn't caused him to trip; it had led him to a costume that nearly exposed his greatest secret to his best friends. The bad luck was the stress of the near-reveal. He was amazed also how his appearance was copied so precisely in that costume.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the group parted ways. Luke walked toward his apartment, the cool night air hitting his face.
Luke and Shuri where both walking, but suddenly Shuri remember about a work, so she told Luke to go ahead to home, she will come later.
They also aparted.
"That was too close, Luke," Auru said, her voice floating beside him. "Your identity has been at risk several times this week. First with Kaizen, then Marin in the washroom, and now the costume."
"I know," Luke whispered. "It's like the universe is trying to pull the mask off. Why now? Things were so smooth before."
"Maybe it's a hint of the future," Auru suggested. "As the devil invasion gets closer, you won't be able to stay in the shadows forever. The world will need Auron more than it needs Luke."
Luke looked up at the stars, thinking about the 11-month deadline and the 98% death risk. "If the world needs Auron, then Luke might have to disappear anyway."
He reached his door and looked at the 'Lose' ice cream stick he had kept in his pocket. He snapped it in half and threw it in the bin.
"Tomorrow is a new day," he said, turning the key. "Let's hope it's a lucky one."
End of Chapter.