Chapter 14

After their serious conversation, the group decided to take Lady Raveena's advice and enjoy their break time. They arrived at the next town and decided to take a day off to relax and have some fun.

Jackson: "I heard there's a carnival happening in town. Who's up for some fun?"

Raphtalia: "That sounds great! Count me in."

Elijah: "I'm up for it too. It's been a while since we've had some fun."

Ken: "I'm down for it. Let's go!"

The group made their way to the carnival, and the sight of all the colorful tents and rides made them all excited. They decided to split up and explore the carnival on their own.

Raphtalia made her way to the game section and decided to try her luck at the ring toss. She threw the rings with precision, and after a few tries, she won a stuffed animal.

Raphtalia: "This is so cute! I'm going to give it to Rian as a gift."

Meanwhile, Jackson went to the food section and decided to try out all the different carnival foods. He tried cotton candy, caramel apples, and even fried fish with sauce.

Jackson: "This is heaven! I'm going to need to do some extra training to work off all this food."

Elijah went to the fortune teller's tent and decided to have his fortune read. The fortune teller took one look at him and started laughing.

Fortune Teller: "You have nothing to worry about, my dear. Your future is bright and full of success."

Elijah: "Well, that's good to hear. I was a bit worried there for a moment."

Ken wandered around the carnival, taking in all the sights and sounds. He noticed a group of kids playing a game and decided to join in. The kids were amazed at how good he was and cheered him on.

Kid: "Wow, mister! You're really good at this game!"

Ken: "Thanks, kid! I used to play this all the time when I was younger."

As the day went on, the group met up and decided to go on some rides together. They went on the Ferris wheel, the roller coaster, and even a haunted house.

Raphtalia: "That was so much fun! I haven't laughed like that in ages."

Jackson: "Same here! This was just what we needed after all the serious stuff we've been through."

Elijah: "I agree. It's good to have some fun once in a while."

Ken: "Definitely. We should do this more often."

As they were leaving the carnival, they noticed a group of street performers putting on a show. The performers were juggling, doing acrobatics, and even breathing fire.

Raphtalia: "Wow, these performers are amazing!"

Jackson: "Yeah, they're really putting on a great show."

Elijah: "I think we should show them some support. Let's give them some coins."

Ken: "Great idea. They deserve it."

The group gave the performers some coins, and as they were walking away, Jackson noticed that Raphtalia was shivering.

Jackson: "Are you cold, Raphtalia?"

Raphtalia: "A little bit. I didn't realize it was getting chilly."

Jackson: "Here, take my jacket. I don't want you getting sick."

Raphtalia: "Thank you, Jackson. That's very kind of you."

As Jackson draped his jacket over Raphtalia's shoulders, a warmth spread through her body, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and safety with Jackson.

The group made their way back to their inn, and as they were settling in for the night, Jackson approached Raphtalia.

Jackson: "Hey, Raphtalia. Can we talk for a minute?"

Raphtalia: "Sure, what's up?"

Jackson: "I just wanted to say that I had a lot of fun today. You're a great companion to have around."

Raphtalia: "Thank you, Jackson. I had a lot of fun too. You're a great companion as well."

They both smiled at each other and in that moment, Raphtalia felt a spark between them. She couldn't explain it, but she felt drawn to Jackson in a way she hadn't before.

The night passed, and the next day, the group continued their journey. But as they traveled, Raphtalia found herself gravitating towards Jackson more and more. She found herself seeking his company, wanting to spend more time with him.

Jackson noticed the change in Raphtalia's behavior, and he felt a similar pull toward her. He found himself wanting to protect her, to make her smile, to be there for her.

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The group wanted to take a rest as it was night and they decided to make a camp they all gathered camp materials and cooked themselves a nice meal and after that, they all sat near the campfire when the group asked Ken something and he replied–

Ken looked up from the fire, sensing his friends' curiosity. He smiled and took a sip of his drink, thinking for a moment.

"You want to hear a story from my world?" he asked.

The group nodded eagerly, settling in around the fire.

"Alright then," Ken said, clearing his throat. "I'll tell you the story of the Great Sage."

The group leaned in closer, eager to hear the tale.

"Long ago, in a far-off land, there was a great sage named Jiwon Sade. He was known throughout the land for his wisdom and his powers, and people would travel from far and wide to seek his advice."

The group listened intently as Ken wove the story.

"One day, a young man came to see the sage. He was troubled and lost, unsure of where his life was headed. The sage listened to the young man's troubles and gave him wise counsel, but the young man was still unsure."

Ken paused for a moment, taking another sip of his drink.

"The sage realized that words alone would not be enough to help the young man. So he took the young man on a journey, showing him the wonders of the world and teaching him valuable lessons along the way."

The group was completely engrossed in the story, hanging on Ken's every word.

"In the end, the young man found his purpose and his path in life. And he knew that he had the sage to thank for it."

He continued the story captivating the group with his storytelling skills but eventually, Ken finished the story, and the group sat in silence for a moment, taking in the tale.

"That was incredible, Ken," Elijah finally said. "Your storytelling is amazing."

Raphtalia nodded in agreement. "I feel like I was right there with the young man, on that journey with the sage."

Jackson smiled. "I've never heard a story like that before. It really highlights the power of guidance and mentorship."

Ken smiled, feeling a sense of warmth and satisfaction. He loved sharing his stories with his friends, and he was grateful for their support and enthusiasm.

"That's just one of many stories from my world," he said. "I'm happy to share more with you guys anytime."