"Looks like the fireworks are about to start," said Isolde with innocent eyes as she licked the ice cream in her hand.

Amongst the four of them, Isolde and Ragnar got the most prices. And what's worse, it was Ren and Leonel's money.

"Don't feel bad." Ragnar tapped Ren's shoulder. "I'll treat you to lunch tomorrow." Though he said that, he was looking at the bracers in his arms. Another item that he won using Ren and Leonel's money.

"I'll hold you to that." Ren had to get at least the gil he spent, or he couldn't sleep at night. He lost in the game and even a few thousand of gil. It was definitely not his day.

"May I come?" Isolde asked, face hopeful and brimming with joy.

"Sure," Ragnar said without a care. Even if Ren and the others brought a few of their friends, it was fine with him.

"Should we go and find a spot for the fireworks?" asked Leonel, looking around when the other players were hurrying towards the mountains, chattering that it was the best spot for the firework display.

Ren and the others looked over at the mountains. It wasn't that far from where they were. And there were already groups who were going in that direction.

"Let's go. I'm tired of playing games anyway," Ren said and pressed ahead. The soonest those games were out of his sight, it was out of his mind.

"I hope it isn't crowded." Isolde pulled a creep from her inventory after she finished her ice cream and happily munched it as they walked.

"I hope so too. What better way to end the game than an awesome fireworks display, right?" Leonel grinned and shot another popcorn into his mouth.

"The update will last until the end of the month. I guess by the time that COVENANT opens, you three already have school," Ragnar said after taking a bite at his kebab.

Ren thought for a moment. Was he the only one who wasn't eating anything? Come to think of it, why didn't he buy anything for himself? It was even his money that bought those foods!

Leonel sighed loudly. "How nice that you no longer have to go to school," he said, looking at Ragnar with envy.

"Yeah. But there is another prison after that, and it's called work. It's forever."

"Egh . . . you're already so rich, but you still had to work?"

Ragnar raised a brow. "You don't get rich by just standing still. And what will I do if I don't work?"

Leonel shrugged. "I don't know. Tour the world? Enjoy life?"

"I already did that," said Ragnar, "and I tell you now. It's exhausting. I'd rather stay in my office and swivel my chair all day."

And Leonel could only sigh in defeat. "Must be nice to be so rich that you can tour anywhere and be tired of it."

They continued to chatter all the way to the mountains. They were numerous groups of players along the way, and all were excited as they went up the mountain. There was a path going up the highlands surrounded by lanterns at all sides.

At the foot of the mountain was a staircase leading to the viewing area. There were three layers of viewing deck on the hill, and Ren and the others went to the second once since the first was already full.

"Guys, let's hurry it up! The countdown is about to start!" Leonel said at the others while he took a wide step forward onto the stairs, taking two to three platforms in a single step. He wore an expression of a child that was about to receive a large present.

"Calm down, Leo. The fireworks aren't going anywhere." Though Isolde said that, she was racing with Leonel as she spoke with an exciting tone.

Ragnar's face was calm, but he hurried too, taking three staircases in one single step.

In contrast, Ren was taking his time. He wasn't interested in the fireworks in the least. He was still not over with the games, but he wasn't brooding over it too.

At this moment, Ren's mind was taking a rest, as well as his body. It was a nice pace after his grind in the game. And he was really glad that he came to the festival after all.

He owed Leonel for that.

Reaching the second viewing area, Ren marveled at the place since the ground wasn't dirt and grass but colorful cobble stones designed in a pattern. There were food stalls, too, and benches on the side while lanterns kept the place alive.

There were trees, well-manicured bushes, and flowers here and there, and the place was a scenic or a tourist spot.

And the view . . .

Ren took a deep breath, eyes closed. The view was just remarkable. There was something about the vast starry sky with the lights below sparkling like fireflies.

Ren immediately spotted Leonel and the others. His friend even threaded the narrow gaps between players, pushing and shoving as he squeezed himself to the front.

Isolde did the same while Ragnar was contented at the back. He was tall, so he had no problem with his sight.

Ren was about to go in their direction when his eyes caught someone. A magnetic pull that he didn't even know what or how it happened. Like his eyes knew where she was.

Evie?

The shock traveled from every pore in Ren's skin, igniting his being, and punched the breath right out of him. Time seemed to stop, slow . . . painfully slow like everything turned in slow motion.

Standing at the far side from everyone else stood a lone girl under the shade of a tree. And even though Ren couldn't see half of her face because of the mask, he knew it was her.

It was like he could spot her easily, even if Evie hid in the crowds.

She possessed an uncanny ability to shine no matter how hard she tried to hide her presence. She made it impossible not to stare.

Was she waiting for the fireworks as well?

Ren blinked before he shifted his eyes between Leonel and Evie. And the desire he felt a while ago ignited and burned even more to the point that he couldn't contain it.

He felt a force pulsating in his veins, like electricity nipping through his skin. He took deep, calming breaths. But he felt that there was not enough air to feel his lungs.

Just this once, he would succumb to that desire, or his nerves would tear him apart. Once was enough to ignore it. Twice would kill him.

Ren took a giant breath and let it out in one long blast.

Ren went to the far distance and hid behind rows of trees. When everyone's attention was on the sky as the countdown flashed on the horizon, Ren changed his clothes to his armor and equipped [Phantom Cloak] after making sure that no one saw him.

He then closed their distance but stopped when the firework boomed and blossomed in the starry night. But his attention wasn't on those flowers in the sky.

The faint glimmer of the fireworks ghosted over on Evie's pale skin, and her silver eyes behind her mask were like the pearl of the sea, reflecting different colors of the fireworks. Today her hair was in a braid. Nothing fancy, just to keep her hair out of her face.

She was just standing right there, only meters away. But in her understated elegance and mysterious air, she might as well have belonged to a fantasy world.

Everyone's focus was on the fireworks, but Ren couldn't take his eyes off Evie's face. The sound of his heartbeat was so loud that he couldn't even hear the noises.

Evie's eyes were calm and emotionless. But at the sight of him, it shook, and colors burst, more beautiful than anything he had ever seen. All the glitters and fireworks couldn't compare with her eyes. Languid and innocent. He swum in those eyes and nearly drowned. He drifted in them for a moment before he looked away.

"Ren?"

There was a shock in her sweet voice, and Ren swallowed the lump in his throat.

"I see that you got the item," Ren said instead. He wanted to hit himself. But what would he talk about? The weather?

Their eyes locked, and an unknown force struck Ren straight and true. Something that he couldn't escape any longer. Something in her eyes seemed to be clawing him from the insides.

Ren felt uncomfortable all of a sudden, and he was the first to retrieve his gaze.

"Ah . . . this . . ." Evie gently rubbed her mask before she removed it. "This is Meriyaah's mask. Thanks to you and everyone, I got the mask and a unique skill."

"Is that so?" At that point, Ren truly believed that he had lost connection with his brain.

"Are you alone too?" Evie asked after a short silence.

Ren only nodded.

"Then . . . ," Evie lowered her head a little and looked to the side while tucking a hair behind her ears, "Do you . . . want to see the fireworks together?"

". . ."

There was a shyness in her voice and actions, and Ren somehow regained his calm. He had to admit that it felt nice to know that he wasn't the only one who felt . . . strange about the whole situation.

"Sure."

Standing beside each other with their eyes on the horizon, silence lingered between them. Though their gaze seemed to be on the fireworks, their attention was on each other. Waiting for the other to speak.

But the peaceful silence was welcomed as well.

Ren and Evie didn't know that the fireworks had ended as the minutes burned away. It was too soon for their liking.

Everyone was dismayed when the forced log-out was about to be issued the next minute.

"Ren."

Ren gazed at Evie when she called his name. There was a web of emotions spinning behind her wall of silence. She had a way of making you feel her quietness, and it tugged at your edges.

Her eyes were burning with passion. Passion that made her even more beautiful. "The next time we meet . . . you'll be the one asking for my help."

It took everything to keep a smile off Ren's face.

"I look forward to it."

[You have been LOGGED OUT!]

A/N (Doesn't consume coins)

Even at 160 chaps. I still think its too early for romance 🤣💕