The duo continued down the street, the sun dipping lower over the horizon, casting a warm glow across the cobblestone roads. As they walked past lively storefronts, the sounds of chatter and laughter filled the air, blending with the faint melody of a street musician playing nearby. The smell of fresh pastries wafted from a nearby bakery, mingling with the rich scent of roasting coffee from a stand on the corner.

Mai let his gaze wander, taking in the city as the streets transitioned from the golden light of day to the soft glow of lanterns. The once-busy crowds had thinned, leaving behind clusters of people finishing their evening errands or enjoying a slow stroll. A group of kids darted past them, laughing as they weaved between stalls, while an old vendor lazily packed up his wares, humming a quiet tune.

They cracked jokes along the way, their easy banter making the evening feel lighter. The conversation drifted between old memories, school, and exaggerated debates over past sparring matches. Eventually, the energy of their chatter faded, and they settled into a comfortable silence, the rhythmic sound of their footsteps filling the space between them.

Then, without warning, Iruminai stopped, tapping Mai on the shoulder. He gave a quick nod to the side—a bookshop.

Mai glanced at it, then back at Iruminai, before giving a simple nod. No words were needed. With that, they stepped inside.

Immediately, the space opened up into something far grander than the modest storefront suggested. The bookstore stretched high, two stories tall, with towering shelves packed to the brim with books of every size and color. The scent of aged paper and fresh ink lingered in the air. Signs labeled the different sections, directing readers to history, philosophy, fiction, and everything in between. The shelves reached so high that wheeled ladders lined the aisles, waiting for customers to climb up in search of hidden treasures. Soft, golden lights hung from the chandeliers overhead, casting a warm glow across the space, while the quiet murmur of patrons flipping through pages and chatting in hushed voices filled the air.

The store carried a gentle hum of life—lively yet cozy. Iruminai lingered near the front, walking toward a small section labeled “Comics,” while Mai wandered deeper inside.

They had been here a million times, yet every visit still felt surreal. The sheer size of the place, endless rows of books stacked high, the warm glow of the lights—it never lost its magic. Iruminai wasn’t much of a reader, but Mai loved books, so they ended up here often. It was a routine, an unspoken agreement. Iruminai would browse aimlessly, flipping through comics or whatever caught his eye, while Mai disappeared into the endless shelves, drawn in like he belonged there.

A specific comic caught Iruminai’s eye—Skeletown. His hands shot forward, grabbing it off the shelf as his eyes widened. “Oh shit, a new volume came out! It’s been on hiatus forever!” he yelled in a hushed voice, barely containing his excitement. A few nearby customers glanced his way, and he cleared his throat, lowering his voice. But the grin on his face stayed, flipping through the pages as if making sure it was real.

“I’m definitely gonna have to pick this up... damn, Little is such a badass. He took down those bandits like it was nothing,” Iruminai said, closing the comic with a satisfied grin. He wanted to save the rest for later—no way he was spoiling the whole thing in one sitting.

Mai walked over to him, a book in his hand. “I’m all good to check out.”

Iruminai looked at the book Mai had in his hand, “What are you picking up this time?”

Mai glanced down, “Oh, this? It’s a book about Lunis-infused Crystals—how they’re forged into weapons and armor.” He turned the book toward Iruminai, revealing the image of a sleek, bright blue crystalline blade gleaming on the front cover.

Iruminai looked down at the book, his brow furrowing, “Lunis-infused Crystals? The hell are those?”

Mai lets out a sigh, facepalming. “Seriously, man, you gotta pay more attention in class,” he said, shaking his head. “They’re crystals infused with the same kind of energy that Lunars use.” His tone was dull, as if this was the most obvious thing in the world.

Iruminai lit up with understanding, “Oh! So like magic rocks?”

Mai stared at him, pure disappointment on his face. “Yes genius... magic rocks,” he deadpanned. “And you think you’re getting into Edgewater.”

Iruminai once again feigned offense, gasping dramatically. “I don’t know one obscure topic, and suddenly my intelligence is under attack? How dare you.” Without missing a beat, he turned it back on Mai. “What about you? Why are you even getting a book about magical rocks? You planning on becoming some kind of legendary blacksmith now?”

Mai smirked, flipping the book back over in his hands. “Nah, just curious. I heard they’ve been getting more common lately, so I wanted to learn more about how they’re made and used.” He shrugged before adding, “Figured it might come in handy someday.” His eyes flicked toward Iruminai’s hand, nodding toward the comic. “What about you? What’ve you got there?”

Iruminai grinned, thrusting the comic forward. “Oh this? Just the newest volume of Skeletown!”

Mai’s eyes lit up as he leaned in for a better look. “Oh shit! Really? It’s been years since the last volume. That’s sick!” A few customers shot them curious glances, the duo quickly calmed themselves, exchanging sheepish looks. Trying to keep their excitement in check, they made their way toward the checkout desk.

A lady stood behind the desk, offering a quick smile to the two boys in front of her. “Hi! What can I help you guys with today?”

“We’d like to check out these two books,” Mai said with a smile, placing his book on the counter. Iruminai followed suit, setting his comic beside it.

“Sure thing! Do you guys have a membership with us?” the lady asked politely, entering the prices into the system.

“Uh, yeah, but I don’t have my card on me today. Could you look up my name?” Mai asked sheepishly.

Iruminai patted his pockets, his expression shifted as realization hit. “Uh... yeah, I don’t have mine either.”

The lady giggled, waving a hand dismissively. “That’s fine, I can look you up in our system. Can I get a name for each of you?” she asked, tapping away at the screen in front of her.

Mai let out a small sigh of relief. “Um, Mai Raizu.”

“Iruminai Shalt,” Iruminai added, his voice just as soft.

“Great! I see you guys right here! That’ll give you 20% off, making your final total for the two books, one and a half Ires.” She said cheerfully.

Mai reaches for his pocket, but before he could pull out his money, Iruminai stopped him with a casual tap on the arm. “I got this one,” he said, already reaching for his pocket.

Pulling out a small leather pouch, he loosened the tension strings that held it shut. His fingers rummaged through the pouch for a moment before retrieving two ebony coins. With an easy motion, he placed one on the counter and pushed it toward the clerk. Then, with practiced precision, he cleanly broke off half of the other coin, setting it beside the first.

“Great! You guys are all set to go! Have a great night!” the lady behind the counter beamed.

“Thank you! You too!” The duo said in unison as they grabbed their books and headed toward the exit.

Stepping out onto the street, they were met with the warm glow of lanterns casting an orange hue over the cobblestone. Shadows stretched long across the road, the soft flicker of light making the city feel calmer. “I didn’t realize how late it was getting,” Iruminai said, glancing around at the mostly empty road. He let out a small sigh before stretching his arms over his head. “We should call it a night. We actually have to stay in class tomorrow,” Iruminai added.

Mai chuckled. “You say that, but you’re always the one who wants to leave.”

Iruminai stifled a laugh before looking at Mai. “Well, I actually have a goal now. I got a lot of work to do if I wanna catch up to you.”

Mai nodded. “If you’re serious about that, I’m not gonna go easy on you anymore. No more skipping class—no matter the excuse.”

Iruminai smiled, determination flashing in his eyes. “Yeah, hold me to it. I’ll catch up in no time. I can see it now—two nobodies taking on the greatest minds and bodies in all of Ispin. They aren’t ready for us.”

Mai grinned. “They aren’t. We’ll show them what we can do.” Then he stretched his arms over his head and smirked. “But if you actually wanna make it there, you’re gonna need sleep. We should head out.”

Mai turned to leave, but Iruminai scoffed, quickly catching up. “Me? What about you? Are you saying that even sleep-deprived, you’re still better than me? Yeah, right!”

With that, he broke into a jog, shoving past Mai playfully as the two disappeared down the lantern-lit street.