Moonlit Vapors and Golden Splashes (輝月の湯煙 / Kagetsu no Yūen)

The forest path twisted like a lazy vine under the late afternoon sun, with leaves rustling in a breeze that carried the faint scent of blooming nightflowers. 

Hajime trudged ahead, his boots sinking slightly into the mossy trail, and a pack slung over one shoulder. The cracked rib from the brawl with the Forsakers still ached with every step, but Izumi's healing had mended it enough to ignore for now. 

Behind him, Rei walked with an effortless stride, arms crossed, and his eyes scanning the canopy as if expecting shadows to lunge. Izumi brought up the rear, her green robes whispering against the ferns, a small smile playing on her lips as she hummed an old Verdant lullaby. 

They had left Mira's village at dawn, the villagers' grateful waves fading into the trees. Solarii loomed on the horizon's edge, but the border felt distant and still deep in the Verdant Veil territory, where Eidarus' roots pulsed beneath the soil like hidden veins. 

The map Izumi carried marked Virelune as the next stop. It was a secluded hot-spring nestled in a crater-like valley, fed by geothermal springs warmed by the great tree's ancient heart. 

"Feels like we have been walking forever," Hajime grumbled, wiping sweat from his brow. His amber hair stuck out in wild tufts, catching golden flecks from the dappled light. "Are you sure this shortcut isn't just you leading us in circles, Izumi?"

She laughed, her voice light and tinkling like wind chimes. "Patience, farm boy. Virelune's springs are legendary. Eidarus' roots heat the water with pure nature Seiki flow. One soak and your aches, bruises, and broken bones will vanish."

Rei snorted, kicking a pebble that skittered ahead. "Sounds like a trap for lazy travelers."

Hajime shot him a goofy grin over his shoulder. "Even you need a break sometimes... Commander big shot."

Rei's lips twitched, almost forming a smile. "Maybe I'll boil the springs myself and enjoy the entertainment."

The banter carried them downhill as the air grew humid and sulfur-tinged. Trees thinned into a misty valley, where lanterns began flickering to life along bamboo walkways. 

Virelune sprawled below with wooden ryokan inns and curved roofs, steam curling from open-air pools ringed by smooth stones. Street vendors hawked glowing sake in leaf-wrapped flasks, firefly skewers sizzling on grills, and moon-petal sweets that shimmered iridescent. 

Travelers, mostly Verdant locals in earthy tunics, soaked in communal baths, their laughter echoing softly. 

Izumi's eyes lit up. "See? Paradise. There are separate baths for modesty, but the private rotenburo are mixed, so we would need to rent one." 

Hajime blushed and scratched his cheek. "Mixed? With you two?" 

Rei arched a brow. "Problem? Scared you might feel like less of a man?" 

"No! It's just unexpected..." Hajime's Seiki flickered gold in embarrassment, warming the air around him.

They checked into a mid-tier inn called the Moonveil Ryokan, which was run by a plump attendant named Haruka. She was a cheerful woman with vine tattoos snaking along her arms, marked by Eidarus' blessings as a spring guardian. She bowed deeply and spoke with a warm voice.

"Welcome, wanderers. The lunar pools await. Towels are provided, and Seiki-infused soaps are available if you'd like."

Once they received their room assignments, which featured simple tatami mat accommodations and sliding doors overlooking the valley, they dropped off their packs and changed into yukatas.

Hajime wore a plain blue yukata, Rei wore black with subtle flame embroidery, and Izumi wore green, accented with silver thorns.

Haruka led them to a private outdoor bath. The stone-rimmed pool was sunk into the hillside and fed by a bamboo spout gurgling hot mineral water. Privacy screens made of woven reeds surrounded it, but the view opened up to the crater's edge, where moon lilies bobbed in the gentle breeze.

Steam rose in thick curtains, carrying hints of jasmine and earth. The trio slipped into the water, which lapped at their collars.

Hajime sighed first, sinking to his chin. "Okay, you win. This is heaven."

Izumi settled across from him, her hair pinned up in a loose bun, with stray strands curling in the heat. "Told you. Can you feel the Seiki? It's gentle and soothing."

Rei leaned against the rocks, arms outstretched along the edge, his eyes half-closed. For once, there was no tension in his shoulders. "Not bad."

Hajime splashed lazily, watching the ripples distort the moon's reflection. "Remember when life was just chopping wood and chasing chickens? Now we are dodging gravity punches and soaking in magical hot tubs."

Izumi giggled and flicked water at him. "Some might call that progress. Though I do miss when life was simple."

Rei chuckled, a rare low rumble. "Simplicity sounds nice."

As Hajime's Seiki reacted to his mood, the water bubbled and turned a patch of it gold and fizzy.

"Hey, control that!" Izumi yelped, although she was laughing, dipping lower as the bubbles tickled her skin.

"I can't help it," Hajime protested, flexing his fingers as the gold spread, warming the pool unevenly. "It's like Adam gets excited around nature. It's like he recognizes it."

Rei eyed the glow and then dipped a hand in, his own blue-white flames flickering beneath the surface. Steam hissed where their abilities met. "You'd better get it under control, there, buddy."

Hajime smirked and sent a controlled pulse that created a mini whirlpool in the pool.

Izumi's eyes widened in mock horror. "No powers in the bath! You'll scald us, you morons!"

But she joined in, green vines sprouting from her palms. Thin, playful tendrils wrapped around the spout, redirecting the flow into a gentle waterfall cascade. Petals unfurled from nowhere, floating like lily pads.

Soon, the pool was a chaotic display of colors. Gold bubbles popped with sparkles, blue flames danced on the surface without heat, and green vines wove a floating emerald raft of leaves.

Hajime balanced on the raft, arms outstretched like a surfer. "King of the springs!"

Rei splashed him, sending water arcing high. "Amateur."

Hajime vaulted up and landed with a cannonball, soaking them all. Izumi squealed and retaliated with a vine-splash tsunami.

Laughter echoed off the stones, genuine and free. For the first time since Eisenwald's ashes, Hajime felt light. There were no graves, no raiders, just friends enjoying each other's company. 

Izumi's cheeks flushed with heat and joy. Her usual poise gave way to playful grins. Rei almost looked human, with his hair plastered down and a real smile breaking through his stoic demeanor. 

As the sun dipped, lanterns ignited automatically. Seiki crystals embedded in bamboo glowed a soft amber. Haruka appeared with trays of sake warmed in spring water, skewers of glazed mushrooms, and moon cakes dusted with luminescent sugar. 

"Compliments of the house," she said with a wink. "For the lively guests." 

They perched on the rocks with their legs dangling over the water. Hajime bit into a skewer, juices dripping. "This beats rations. What's in these?" 

Haruka beamed and replied, "It's a Mistwood special." 

Rei sipped his sake, the cup looking tiny in his hand. "Wow, that's strong. Way better than the stuff they serve in The Celestine Order." His flames flickered, warming his yukata. 

Izumi nibbled on a cake, powdered sugar dusting her lip. Hajime leaned over impulsively and brushed the sugar away with his thumb. "There. Can't have the dignified spring looking messy." 

She blinked, her cheeks reddening deeper than the steam. "H-Hajime!" 

Rei raised an eyebrow and smirked into his cup. "Smooth. I knew you were in love." 

"Shut up, Rei!" Hajime sputtered, although he was grinning. His Seiki flared gold, turning the water into a dazzling light show. 

As the night deepened, stars peeked through the thinning mist. Fireflies drifted in, drawn like moths to their mingled Seiki auras. At first, there were only a handful of tiny embers bobbing curiously. Then dozens emerged, swirling in hypnotic patterns around the edge of the pool. 

Rei noticed first, his blue flames pulsing brighter in relaxation. "Eh, harmless local wildlife." 

But the swarm grew to hundreds, gravitating toward Rei's flickering heat. They mistook Uriel flame for a massive, eternal mate, divine fire calling to primal light. 

The air filled with frantic buzzing as the fireflies dove in a kamikaze courtship, bumping into Rei's shoulders, tangling in his wet hair, and landing on his nose in glowing clusters. 

"What the?! " Rei bolted upright and flailed as a bold firefly perched on his eyelid. 

His flames instinctively flared a defensive blue, but that only amplified the signal. The swarm exploded into a living tornado, whirling around him in a bioluminescent frenzy. "Get off me! I'm not your queen!"

Hajime howled with laughter, clutching his sides as fireflies bounced off Rei's thrashing arms. "Commander Fearful, conquered by bugs!" 

Izumi doubled over, vines sprouting uncontrollably to swat at the helpers and only tangling more insects in leafy nets. "Rei, tone it down! You're broadcasting mating signals!" 

Rei growled, submerging himself to his chin, but the determined swarm hovered, waiting. One particularly enormous firefly landed directly in his mouth. He spat it out, his face crimson under the glow. "This is humiliating!" 

Hajime, with tears streaming down his face, scooped up some water and splashed it upward, dispersing a few of the bugs. "Here, bugs, my gold is shinier!" His Seiki surged, pulling half the swarm his way in a glittering halo. 

Izumi joined in, sending out a green light to pulse like firefly flashes, redirecting the rest into a harmless orbit around floating petals. The chaos peaked in a whirlwind of lights, and laughter drowned out the buzz. 

Haruka peeked over the screen and stifled her giggles. 

Eventually, the fireflies dispersed, either sated or confused, leaving the trio panting and sparkling with stray glow dust. Rei sank back, drenched and defeated, with a lone bug still perched on his ear like a trophy. "Never speak of this." 

"Not going to happen," Hajime wheezed. "I'll never forget tonight." 

Izumi wiped away tears, her vines retracting. "Best night ever." 

They floated lazily afterward, sharing lighthearted stories. Not the heavy ones, but silly anecdotes. 

Laughter rolled through the air again, echoing into the valley. 

As midnight crept in, the springs settled into peaceful warmth, leaving the trio refreshed with bonds forged in steam, splashes, and insect invasions. Dawn would soon bring the push to Fernridge, but tonight lingered sweetly.