Fireworks

The Carnival carried on, even after all the chaos from earlier. The streets were lively once more. Music filled the air, laughter echoed from every corner, and children ran through the streets with glowing lanterns in their hands. Food stalls were busy, games had long lines, and the joy had returned. The town seemed to breathe with life again, and people looked forward to the celebrations as if nothing bad had ever happened.

Near the plaza, a Veteran Mage had set up a small seminar. He wore long blue robes with silver symbols stitched into the fabric, and his beard flowed down to his chest. A gentle glow surrounded him as he raised his staff to demonstrate spells. The seminar was open to all, and a curious crowd gathered to listen and learn.

Sera, wanting to understand her powers better, stepped forward and joined the group. The mage welcomed everyone kindly and began explaining the basics of elemental magic , how energy flows through the body, how emotions can affect spells, and how calmness helps with control. He demonstrated a simple flame spell, then a wind gust, followed by a water sphere hovering in mid-air.

Sera listened closely, repeating the movements. The mage noticed her strong potential and gave her extra tips on channeling her energy. Slowly, Sera began to feel the rhythm of her own magic. Her healing magic especially improved. She was now able to form a stronger healing light and keep it steady for longer. The Veteran Mage smiled at her progress and told her that healing magic was as much about intention as it was about technique. Sera thanked him deeply, feeling more confident than ever before. This small moment gave her a spark of hope for the future.

---

Elsewhere in the Carnival, Lila wandered into a sword exhibition held near the central arena. The area was filled with shining weapons displayed on velvet-covered stands. Sword lovers and adventurers alike had gathered. She looked around in awe. There were short swords, long swords, curved blades, even massive greatswords that looked too heavy to lift.

One particular sword caught her eye , a slim, silver blade with a jagged edge. It was called Whisper Fang, once wielded by a rogue knight known for striking from the shadows. Its metal was rumored to be light as a feather but sharp enough to cut through armor.

Another sword, Sunbreaker, glowed with a faint golden hue. It had belonged to the famous adventurer Lady Cerra, who had used it to defeat a dragon in the Northern Peaks. The blade had deep sun-shaped engravings and a hilt wrapped in crimson leather. A note below it read: Blessed by a High Priest, forged in holy flame.

Then there was Blackstorm, a heavy blade with a thick, darkened edge and bolts carved across its length. It had once been in the hands of a warrior named Garron, known for fighting through thunderstorms and never backing down.

Lila's fingers itched to hold one of them, but the weapons were not for touching. She stood in admiration, inspired by the legacies each sword carried. These weren't just weapons , they were stories, frozen in steel. Lila knew then that she wanted to create her own story too, one that others might remember.

---

At a nearby pub, Zora, Drakar, Doran, and Fizzle gathered for a break. The warm smell of roasted meat and spices filled the air, and the sound of clinking mugs and cheerful voices echoed around the wooden walls. Zora and Doran sat across from each other, both sipping from large mugs filled with sweet, frothy drink. Surprisingly, they were getting along. They even laughed and shared few jokes.

"Not bad," Doran said, raising his mug slightly.

"Same to you," Zora replied with a chuckle.

Fizzle, as usual, was more focused on the food. She had ordered a mountain of dishes , fried chicken, buttered bread, grilled fish, honey cakes, cookies and even a spicy stew. She munched happily, her cheeks full as she hummed in satisfaction.

Drakar sat quietly in the corner, his hands wrapped around a warm cup of coffee. Unlike the others, he didn't smile or speak much. His eyes were distant, thinking back to the battle that had shaken him deeply. During that fight, he had felt powerless , unable to protect or help the way he wanted to.

The memory played over and over in his mind. The pain. The helplessness. It burned more than any wound. He took a slow sip of his coffee and clenched his hand. Something had to change.

"I wasn't strong enough," he muttered under his breath.

He had always been calm and focused, but this time he felt... broken. So, silently, he made a vow. He would train harder. He would find his weakness and fix it. He wanted to protect the people he cared about, and he couldn't do that if he stayed the same.

"I need to become stronger," he whispered, his eyes full of quiet fire.

He thought about learning new techniques, traveling to train , even exploring forgotten ruins to find knowledge lost to time. Whatever it took, he had decided.

---

Meanwhile, Adrain, still healing from his recent injury, decided to spend time with his family. He knew he wouldn't stay here much longer. The dream of becoming a legendary adventurer still burned in his heart, but tonight, he just wanted to be home.

He laughed with his siblings, shared stories with his parents, and sat under the sky spending quality time with his family . He knew this would be one of the last quiet moments before his next journey. And he wanted to remember it forever.

---

As the sky darkened and stars started to twinkle, everyone regrouped near the lake for the last big event of the night.

People gathered near the edge of the water. Children sat on their parents' shoulders, couples held hands, and friends found spots to sit close together. The crowd waited patiently, a quiet buzz of excitement in the air.

Then, from the other end of the lake, the first firework shot into the sky.

BOOM!

A huge flower of red light burst open above them, followed by a sparkling blue spiral. The lake mirrored the colors perfectly, making it look like the stars had fallen into the water. One by one, fireworks painted the sky , golden rings, silver comets, green dragons twisting through the air.

The reflection on the lake made the scene even more magical. It was like watching two worlds of light , one above, one below. The sound of the fireworks echoed through the hills, but the feeling in everyone's hearts was silent wonder.

Zora, Drakar, Sera, Lila, Fizzle, Doran, and Adrain all stood together, gazing up. No words were needed. The moment spoke for itself.

The fourth night of the Carnival ended with light, color, and memories that would last forever.