Maple High School Academy Year 3
An Unexpected Adventure in Windville - Night in Windville

The Night in Windville

LYRIA EXHALED ON the steps of the ship. His hand deftly counted the coins in a cloth bag with the sum of 1 vine 5 wizer. The girl thought, would the money be enough if such her team had to take the air train? Given they do not know whether the mask that was stolen is a fragment of Time Mirror or not.

The salmon sandwich and the drink Lyria bought for herself and the team before boarding the ship at Blue Harbor cost 14 wizers, expensive price for one large loaf of bread and four glasses of apple juice. Not to mention the 80 wizer for the cost of boarding the ship, double the price that Lyria knew in the future.

The girl now understands why her parents never invited Lyria to enjoy Humanday outside Windville.

“Hey, Magic Boy. What are you thinking?” tanya Alanon breaks Lyria's daydream. “Sunset atmosphere is very beautiful there, but why are you just daydreaming alone? The cat was excited to look at the sun. So, why don't you enjoy it too?”

Lyria looked up, watching the orange tinge of the sun coloring a charming cloud in the western sky. Alanon sat next to the little girl.

“No, I just daydream.”

“Are you thinking about the fate of this team?” alanon smiled. “We are a team, Lyria. If there is something that might be a problem, just say it. I won't be angry with you. Indeed, the way you talk is always annoying, but behind it all, I know that you are a person who cares deeply about others.”

Lyria smiled knot. “You sure you say that? In fact, right, you always complain because you are lazy. You are also the one who most often spies on people.”

“Come on, it's just a joke .... After all, if you don't care for us, from the start you won't sell your evolcore and use the money for us.” Alanon got up, stretched his body. “Trouble later, let's think about it later. For now, let's enjoy this trip first, Magic Boy.”

Lyria sighed, then patted both of her cheeks. “You're right, Mr. Grass. However, can you not call me a Magical Boy?”

“I'm also not a Grass Master, know.” Alanon laughing.

They fell silent, watching the sun slowly leave the day.

“Where is Kale?”

“I don't know. He disappeared somewhere. Maybe he still noticed the mask until now.”

“He must be trying too. He was the only level brother on this team. Perhaps he kept paying attention to the mask in the hope that the mask we were looking for was the Mirror of Time. Therefore, maybe he is trying to do his best now because he does not want to disappoint us.” Lyria got up, cleaned her skirt from the dust. “You better not make fun of him too often, Al.”

Alanon waiting for a smile. “I'll try.”

 The sun has completely set. The ship Lyria and her partner boarded arrived at the port of Markmind, Windville's trading hub with characteristic round stone-walled buildings and black oak roofs. They descended from the deck of the ship, observing the yellow fluorescent street lights with colorful crystals underneath.

Horse carts arrived, ship workers unloaded the cargo, and witches carrying blue fire lanterns began offering their services to the ship's passengers.

“Who are they, Lyria?” ask Zanesha.

“They are Enchantro, a magician who offers services to travelers as directions. The roads here are very complicated and dangerous. If newcomers like you are not accompanied by them or at least people who know the ins and outs of this Mind Market, you can unknowingly buy useless items and your money runs out just like that.”

Lyria stepped into the entrance of the Mind Market building, followed by her three comrades. An Enchantro offered his services, but Lyria refused.

“Cebol, we'd better rent that Enchantro.”

Lyria turned around and glared at Alanon. “Hey, are you underestimating me? I, right, told you you guys just follow me. I am a person here, a person from this plains, and I also came here often with my mother before entering the academy. Therefore, just follow me!”

“Alanon's right, Lyria. We are now in the past. It could be that the road that you know is different from the road that we are on now,” bela Mikalea.

Zanesha.

“Why do you even support the Grass Master, Kale?” luh Lyria. “Come on, just trust me. If indeed later we get lost, we just look for Enchantro in this market. Easy, right?”

Lyria turned around and stepped back, not caring about the complaints of her team members. They resigned and followed the braid-haired girl. Zanesha and Alanon were interested in a store that sold strange items such as animal tails, but they realized, they could not buy such items because all the money was in Lyria's hands.

Their main destination is Windcluster, a settlement of Windville residents and the hometown of Lyria. There, they can also find lodging. Thus, Lyria followed the instructions of the red crystal.

They walked into a small alley, climbed onto the second floor of the market building, passed through wooden bridges, and went back down to the large street on the ground floor. All roads looked the same, leading Zanesha to repeatedly ask if Lyria's path was right.

Lyria turned back into a small alley and found an old woman who was sitting holding her stomach together with a seven-year-old boy. An extinguished lantern was on his side. He is Enchantro. Lyria approached the old woman.

“Goodnight, Grandma.”

A stomach sound rang out, the old woman opened her eyes. “Goodnight, Beautiful Girl. Do you need Enchantro services? Enough 10 wizer only.”

Lyria nodded. “We're looking for lodging. Can Grandma take us to Windcluster?”

The grandmother woke the child next to her, took out a match from the bag and lit her blue fire lantern. The old woman got up and smiled. “Let me take between. I know a shortcut to Windcluster.”

The old woman walked out of the alley. Lyria and her team followed.

“Don't you say you won't rent Enchantro?” ask the Werewolf girl who was walking beside Lyria. “Are you lost? You must have lost.”

Lyria threw away her face. “I just want to hurry to the inn. It's late and I want to eat.”

“I've guessed that if you forget the road, then we've been going around in circles. Alanon and Kale have already suggested to rent one.”

“As far as you go, Zane. It's my money, so it's up to me to use it as what.”

 The grandmother's frail steps managed to take them to Windcluster, a settlement with a giant pinwheel tower bearing the emblem of Goddess Fohn standing majestically in the middle of it. It was the residence of the Windville nobility as well as the center of magic that powered the Windville region. Unlike the Markmind, the buildings in the Windcluster are whitewashed walls and relief carvings that appear on each side of the building.

As he walked, Alanon stared in amazement at the conical cyan-colored roofs of buildings. Not many people were on the streets. Some of the house lights had gone out, and some were still giving off jest from behind the door.

“Looks like I'm gonna miss this place. Please take me again if for example we're going to have fun, Lyria.”

“I also seem to miss this beautiful place,” added Zanesha who is also amazed at the architecture of the Windcluster building.

“What good is it that I take you on vacation to my hometown?”

Lyria looked up, looking at the look on Mikalea's face. The man was just as amazed as the two Lyrian friends. However, the difference, the gray-haired man did not comment.

Enchantro's grandmother led them to an inn closest to the entrance of the settlement. Lyria gave 1 vine to Grandma, but Grandma Echantro was confused and immediately returned it.

“I don't have change, Miss.”

Lyria smiled and pulled the old hands of Grandma and the little boy beside her. “Then, let's go in and eat first. I'll treat you.”

After eating a dish of white horned rabbits and renting a room for her colleagues, Lyria gave 30 wizer to Enchantro's grandmother. The grandmother returned confused over Lyria's treatment and was about to return the excess money given.

“It's okay, Grandma. Consider it a bonus for ushering us into this nice inn.”

The grandmother shone with Lyria. “You're a very good girl, Miss. Hope Miss and others get the ease. May Goddess Fohn and Baro help you.” The grandmother left Lyria with a smile. The boy beside her waved to Lyria.

Mikalea walked out the inn door. “Are you sure?”

“I just followed the message my dad always said and I'm happy to do it too, Kale. And more importantly, it's my money. So, I'm free to help anyone.” Lyria ruffled waist. “Omong-by the way, how about the Hilarion mask? Is that mask really not a piece of the Time Mirror we should destroy?”

Mikalea took out Hilarion's mask from her pocket. The mask gave off a green glow, eroded the black color and turned into mirror flakes. “This is the Mirror of Time and has a reaction to the wind element in this place. Our destination is this region.”