The sun had just begun to stream through the window when I woke up. I stretched in bed, satisfied.

With this reward, I can finally buy a house and maybe open a small shop. No more dragons, no more dangerous quests...

After breakfast at the inn, I headed out to plan how to use the reward money. As I walked, I noticed an unusual commotion outside a pastry shop. A massive line snaked down the street, with customers murmuring impatiently. I approached to see what was happening.

—"What’s going on here?" I asked a man in line.

—"It’s this year’s Special Pudding!" he explained excitedly. "They only sell it once a year, and today’s the day. Made with unique ingredients. If you’re not early, you’ll miss out."

—"A pudding, huh?"

I eyed the line thoughtfully.

Well, I’ve got nothing better to do this morning. Might as well try it.

After nearly an hour, it was finally my turn. The exhausted but cheerful clerk handed me a small golden box, neatly tied with a red ribbon.

—"Thank you for waiting! This is one of the last ones left."

—"Thanks," I said, smiling.

As I stepped away, an employee announced:

—"The Special Puddings are SOLD OUT!"

The crowd groaned in disappointment. Glancing back, I spotted a familiar figure among the dispersing crowd: Zara, shoulders slumped and expression dejected.

—"Zara?" I called, walking over. "You wanted the pudding too?"

She looked up, startled.

—"Ren...? It’s nothing," she muttered, but her voice wavered.

Wait...

—"Don’t tell me this was your urgent business today?"

Zara lowered her gaze.

—"Yes... I traveled far just for this. But I overslept. My fault."

I stared at the box in my hands, then at Zara. Without hesitation, I held it out.

—"Take it."

She blinked.

—"Why? You waited too."

—"Because you wanted it more than I did," I said. "Besides, I can buy something else."

Zara studied me intently.

—"...Thank you."

At that moment—CRASH! A vase shattered near my feet.

—"You have bad luck with falling objects."

—"Y-Yeah... weird things happen sometimes," I lied, sweating.

We strolled through Lumis as Zara tried the pudding.

—"...It’s exactly how I remembered," she murmured, a nostalgic glimmer in her red eyes.

—"You’ve had it before?"

—"Once, as a child. My mother bought it for me on a trip."

Something in her tone caught my attention.

—"You don’t see her often?"

Zara paused.

—"No... I rarely visit my village."

—"Any reason?"

As we walked, Zara shared:

—"I’m from the Crimsonfire, a clan of fire mages. The red hair and eyes are our mark."

—"Ah. Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen anyone else with features like yours. Why avoid them?"

—"Because of this." She opened her palm. A small flame burst forth, then morphed into a crackling lightning bolt.

—"The lightning? Maya mentioned that magic shouldn’t exist," I said, amazed.

—"It shouldn’t. But I mastered fire to such a degree that it... evolved into lightning. I insist it’s an advancement of fire magic, but my clan didn’t understand. It caused conflict."

I recalled knowledge from my past life.

—"Well, both fire and lightning are forms of energy. They generate light and heat. So your theory makes sense."

Zara stopped walking, stunned.

—"D-Did I say something wrong?"

—"No... I’m just surprised you’d say that," she whispered, smiling faintly.

A brief silence fell. Then:

—"Ren," Zara said with sudden resolve. "I’ve decided."

—"Decided what?"

—"I’ll join you. Let’s form a party."