The m sun shone brightly as Helios, Lea, and Isa left the diner, making their way through the winding streets of Radiant Garden. The city felt alive with people bustling about, greeting each other with friendly waves and smiles. To Helios, it was strange and refreshing to see people living peacefully, unbothered by dark threats that had bee too familiar in his ret life. Radiant Garden’s vibrant atmosphere was both uplifting and grounding.

  As they neared a small pza, Lea pointed excitedly to a shop tucked between twer buildings. Its sign, a glimmering emblem with a tiny Moogle face, sparkled in the sunlight. The little creature on the sign was the epitome of a Moogle, its white fur, small red pom-pom, and tiny wings making it seem almost ically cute.

  “There it is! Moogle tral, the best p town to set up your card and browse a bunch of random stuff you never knew you wanted!” Lea said with a grin, practically boung on his feet.

  Isa rolled his eyes but smiled. “Lea’s right—once you have a card, managing munny bees easier. And don’t let him fool you; he’s oed because he loves window shopping for things he ’t afford.”

  Lea waved him off with a ugh. “Hey, a guy’s gotta have dreams, right?”

  They ehe shop, the warm, spicy st of inse immediately filling the air. Rows of shelves lined with all sorts of tris, potions, and odds and ends filled the small space.

  Behind the ter stood a Moogle with a small pair of round gsses perched on its looked up and waved a tiny paw, greeting them in its squeaky voice. “Kupo! Wele to Moogle tral! How I help you, kupo?”

  Helios approached the ter, feeling a bit out of pce. “Hi. I’m new here and was hoping to set up a munny card?”

  The Moogle’s eyes lit up. “Oh, a new er! You’re in luck, kupo. We just updated our card designs! Follow me, kupo!” It flitted over to a side ter where several cards, each adorned with different symbols and colors, were dispyed.

  Lea leaned in, pretending to look deeply ied. “Oooh, pick the oh the es on it! That’s the one I’d choose.”

  Isa nudged him with a smirk. “You’d pick it because it matches your red hair.”

  Helios stifled a ugh and instead focused on the cards. One design caught his eye: a sleek, bck card embossed with silver steltions that shimmered when tilted in the light. It reminded him of the night sky he saw in Nightfall, and something about it felt… right. He poio it.

  “I’ll take this one,” he said with a slight smile.

  The Moogle beamed, pig up the card and handing it to him with a flourish. “Excellent choice, kupo! Just hand over a few pieunny to load it up, and you’ll be good to go!”

  Lea passed Helios a small pouunny, and Helios added the currency to his new card. With the transa plete, he slipped the card into his pocket, feeling strangely satisfied.

  As they exited the shop, Lea cpped Helios on the back. “Now you’re all set, ready to quer Radiant Garden!”

  Isa nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “Having a card might seem small, but it’s one more step toward feeling like you belong here.”

  Helios looked at them, his eyes softening. “Thank you, both of you. You’ve made me feel… weled. And Lea don’t worry I’ll pay you back.”

  “As for the money don’t worry about it. Aw, shucks,” Lea replied, feigning bashfulness. “Don’t get all mushy on us.”

  The three of them walked through the town, Lea leading the way with enthusiasm, pointing out various ndmarks and spots he cimed as “hidden gems.” Isa would interjeow and then, correg some of Lea’s more exaggerated tales and adding his own insights about the city. Helios felt his spirits lifting as they roamed through Radiant Garden, ughing and joking together. He hadn’t ughed sihe i and he could feel his chest lighten slightly.

  As they approached the rge fountain at the city ter, a familiar figure caught Helios’s eye. Standing at the fountain’s edge, engrossed in a book, was Merlin. He looked up, as if sensing their presence, and waved them over.

  “Ah, there you are, Helios!” Merlin’s eyes twinkled behind his spectacles. “And in good pany, I see!”

  Lea puffed up with pride. “Yup! We’re showing him around, making sure he doesn’t get lost.”

  Isa gave a more polite nod. “We figured it’d be good for him to see the city a a few people.”

  Merlin’s smile widened as he closed his book. “Excellent, excellent! It’s important to find a sense of pce, especially for one who is new. How has the m treated you, Helios?”

  “It’s bee, thank you for asking Sir,” Helios replied, smiling. “They’ve shown me a lot, and I even got my munny card set up.”

  Merlin cpped his hands together. “Splendid! Sorry for fetting to get one for you. However, I’m gd to see you settling in. However,” he said, his tone growing slightly more serious, “I do need a moment of your time, Helios, if you don’t mind?”

  Helios nodded, sensing the shift in Merlin’s demeanor. He turo Lea and Isa. “Thank you for everything this m. I’ll catch up with you guys ter?”

  Lea gave him a casual salute. “You bet! We’ll be around. If you need us, just hot it memorized?”

  Isa nodded, giving Helios a slight wave. “Yeah, I do. Take care.”

  As they walked off, Merliured for Helios to sit with him on the edge of the fountain. The wizard looked thoughtful, as if sidering his words carefully. After a moment, he spoke.

  “Helios, I wao speak with you about your training. I’ve sensed great magical potential within you, particurly when it es to wielding healing magic. I’ve noticed you’ve made great strides in that but almost h the wind. Fog on it and pushing yourself too much will just slow your progress even more so I’ll teach you awo spells.”

  Waving his hand, magic dust enveloped Helios, “That was the essence of Esuna and Slow spells. Esuna works simirly to Cure except rather than heal wounds it heals ditions. Slow is a begiime spell that does as its ates. Something doesn’t feel right so I’m teag you this. If you see anything of note inform me right away. Oh, and Cid wanted me to inform you to e see him post haste.”

  With that said Merliood up and walked away. As he turhe er Helios felt a small ting of magiing from that area most likely Merlin telep away. That ell he’d really like to learn since dark corridors tend to be quite visually ively looked upon. It’d be best to have another mode of transport that allowed him to y low.

  Getting up Helios stood up getting ready to head to Cid’s pd then realized he didn’t know where the man lived. Last time he met him outside Merlin’s house. Merlin had fotten to mention where he should go before leaving. With no idea oo go the best thing would be to find Isa and Lea again and ask them to show him the way. The only problem was that they just left too and he had no idea where to start looking.

  As he was deep in his thoughts a voice disturbed his thing, “Why hello there young man. It seems we met yet again. A curious touch of fate we find ourselves in.”

  Helios turo find Even walking toward him.