Chapter 1

Eleric steps off the ramp in his rune-blue robe and does what he always does: he deduces. Four thousand people a day, by the manifests pinned to the booth corkboard. Excursion boats from Arsaylia, Grandallia, Batrela, Serlen — a logistics triumph. And one small thing he files away without deciding anything: everyone around him is hungry. Genuinely hungry, all at once, mid-morning, before lunch. Hypoglycemia by crowd? Anticipation? He buys a caramel skewer to test the hypothesis. It is excellent. That is not yet evidence of anything.

Salt wind, sunlit piers, and the smell of caramel and rope — and then, darling, your day gets much louder.

A pink-and-mint blur cartwheels clean over the queue rail, lands in a full splits-bow right in front of Eleric's staff, and pops upright with a thrown rose that absolutely came from nowhere.

Jester hood with drooping horn-curls, grin three sizes too big, eyes already clocking Mireille's mended cuffs, Rin's hidden hands, Minna's crossbow — all in half a second, all while beaming like an airhead.

Justine: Ehehe~ welcome to Marvelandia, my star pupils of fun-fun! First-timers, first-timers, I can tell! You looked SO worried on that boat — let me fix that ♪

She snatches Eleric's hand, straightens Mireille's collar unasked, and spins to face all four at once, walking backwards on her hands toward the gates.

Justine: Okay-okay-okay, most important question of the whole day! Rides that spin you till you scream, rides that drop you till you cry, or snacks first because somebody's tummy is already growling?

Eleric Maelios: Eleric looks at his party, somewhat bewildered, then back at her. "A-and you are?"

She gasps like he just asked the best question, fufufu — and darling, she absolutely lives for this bit.

Justine backflips upright, yanks a painted wooden “demon core” out of her hat with a flourish, and bows so low her horn-curls brush the pier.

Justine: Ehehe~ Rude! Rude! You dock at my harbor and don’t know me? I’m Justine! Jester Justine, happiest jester in the whole Elgolian Sea!

She leans in close to Eleric, taps his staff-crystal like it owes her money, then winks at Mireille, Rin and Minna in rapid succession.

Justine: And — mwahaha — I’m a REAL Core Guardian, in service of the great Demon Lords! Scary, right? …Right?

Nobody around her even looks up. A dockhand mouths along with the line. It’s clearly the joke she does forty times a day, and she loves that nobody believes it one bit.

She pockets the fake core, grabs Minna’s twintail to boop it like a bell-rope, and points past the ticket arches where music and sugar-smoke are already rolling out thick.

Justine: Sooo, my worried-looking strategist and his sparkly crew — Plaza of Joy is straight through, Sunny’s doing balloon wyverns, and the Spinning Teacups have like, NO line right now! Come on, come on, I’ll walk you in — first ride picks itself, kay?

Eleric Maelios: "Let's see... four tickets, seven gold each... that's 28 in total. Okay, let's have fun for once."

Justine claps both hands over her mouth, eyes gone huge and sparkling behind her fingers.

She leans so far sideways her spine should file a complaint, peering up at Eleric from under her drooping horn-curls.

Minna giggles so hard she trips over absolutely nothing and catches herself on Rin's cloak.

Justine: Ehehe~ Mister Tactics keeps TACTICAL COUNTS of chit-chat! I love him! I love him already!

Mireille Omeron: Hmph. Finally, someone else notices Eleric counts everything. He probably counted your backflips.

Rin Galford: Counting fun like rations? Not today, bookie boy~ Come on, Let's see that plaza.

Justine springs upright and produces four paper crowns from her sleeve, plopping one on each head with terrifying speed.

The dock crowd applauds on reflex — clearly this is part of the show and everyone knows the beats but you.

Justine: Okay-okay! Crowns mean you're OFFICIALLY my tour group! No refunds on fun! Nope! Ehehe!

She links arms with Eleric and Mireille at once and starts marching them toward the ticket arches like a very short parade general.

The music swells past the gates, sugar-smoke rolls thicker, and Sunny's distant balloon squeaks punctuate her chant.

Justine: Plaza! Of! Joy! Snacks! Rides! Screaming! Who's picking first, my little crown club?

Eleric Maelios: "I..." Eleric says, smiling briefly " I think I'll let the girls decide. This is not an official quest from the guild so my advice is hardly needed."

Girls' choice — I'll line up what Marvelandia's offering right now.

Oh, nicely dodged, darling strategist. Fufufu — delegation as a survival tactic.

Justine gasps and spins to the girls like the spotlight just moved, bells jingling wildly.

Eleric strokes his chin, eyes darting across the piers like he's reading invisible diagrams.

The sea breeze lifts pastel flags over the ticket arches, sugar-smoke and parade drums rolling down Food Avenue.

Justine: Ehehe~ The girls decide! Girl power! Okay, sparkly crew, choose-choose!

Mireille Omeron: Obviously we start at the Plaza of Joy. It is the heart. One starts at the heart.

Minna Loveforge: Ooooh! Food Avenue first? I can smell caramel from here! My tummy already voted!

Rin Galford: So hungry already? Alright~ But I'm voting for teacups after snacks.

Justine cartwheels between them, producing a striped map that unfolds three times too long and flops over Rin's head.

Dockhands laugh and mouth her next line with her — they've heard this tour forty times today.

Mireille lifts her chin and adjusts her mended cuffs, trying very hard not to look delighted by her paper crown.

Minna twirls a twintail, rocking on her toes like she's still balancing a deck, crossbow clinking at her thigh.

Justine: Plaza, snacks, teacups, Ferris Wheel with NO line — pick one and I parade you in myself!

She links arms with Minna and Mireille, leaning in close to Eleric with a teasing lilt that lingers too long.

Justine: Unlessss Mister Tactics wants to overrule his sparkly crew?

Eleric Maelios: "I do, actually." He replies, adjusting his glasses. "We can do all at once. First we go to the plaza of joy, the. From there, we get some snacks and then to the spinning cups. Strategy has its place in fun too, and that's how I have fun."

Your strategist found the fun-optimal route — I'll check the way to the Plaza.

Your strategist found the fun-optimal route — I'll check the way to the Plaza.

Strategy approved — marching the whole sparkly crew up the promenade to the Plaza.

My my, look at him — strategy has its place in fun too. Spoken like a true little hero. Fufufu.

Up the great promenade you go, past candy-striped booths and gull-mascot guides waving foam fingers.

The pines open up and the Plaza of Joy just — blooms — wide pastel square, tiered fountain tumbling over tiny kingdoms, Ferris Wheel turning slow against the sky.

Justine skips backwards ahead of you, narrating like a parade barker who ate three cakes for breakfast.

Eleric taps his fingers in five-beat sequences, already mapping stall lines, ride queues, shade, exits — fun, but make it tactics.

Mireille lifts her chin at the fountain and tries very hard not to gasp at how pretty it is.

Minna spins in a circle, twintails flying, nearly tripping over a pigeon that clearly owns this plaza more than you do.

Justine: Tadaaa! Heart of Marvelandia! Snacks THAT way, Teacups THAT way, fountain for wishes!

Mireille Omeron: See? The heart first. As I said. Eleric merely executed my plan efficiently.

Minna Loveforge: Caramel! Churros! Something on a stick! Can we PLEASE start with something on a stick?

Rin Galford: How are you so hungry? We had breakfast an hour ago?

Minna Loveforge: But the SMELL...!

Justine vaults onto the fountain rim, balances on one toe, and fishes a copper from behind Eleric's ear.

The noon crowd thickens around the mascot shops, music swelling, Balrog's Train cresting its fake mountain with a chorus of distant screams.

Sunny the Clown squeaks balloon wyverns into existence by the north stalls, watching the Demon King mascot a half-second too long.

Justine: Okay, crown club! Fountain wishes, then Food Avenue, then we SPIN till you scream! Who tosses first?

Justine dangles upside-down off the fountain rim by her knees, grinning up at Eleric.

Sunny lumbers past with balloon wyverns, trips over his own giant shoe, and face-plants gently into a churro cart.

The crowd erupts — Sunny presses his nose. Squeak.

Minna gasps and rushes to help him up, twintails bouncing, crossbow clanking.

Eleric strokes his chin, eyes flicking from Sunny to Justine to the Demon King mascot waving stiffly by the shops.

Mireille adjusts her glasses, chin high, pretending she did not flinch when Sunny fell.

Rin tilts her head, finger tracing her hidden blade, smiling wider at the edge of chaos.

Minna Loveforge: Mister Sunny! Are you okay?! That looked ouchy!

Sunny the Clown: A fall. Of course. It was always going to be a fall.

Justine cackles and tosses Eleric a copper coin, spinning mid-air to catch herself on one hand.

The fountain water glitters over tiny pastel kingdoms, coins winking from a thousand wishes below.

The Balrog's Train screams over its hill again, distant and delighted, rattling the flag-strings overhead.

Justine: C'mon, strategist! Toss first! Wish for extra fun! Extra snacks! Extra screaming!

Eleric Maelios: "I wish..." He thinks deeply, already having fun "To get to know the owner of this place someday. It's really well-built." Then he tosses the coin with a spin he wouldn't normally do.

Your strategist wishes big — I'll note that lucky toss.

The copper spins impossibly high, winking gold in the noon sun before it kisses the water.

Justine's grin freezes for half a heartbeat — just a flicker — then stretches even wider than before.

Eleric watches the ripples spread over tiny pastel kingdoms, fingertips tapping his staff in quiet fives.

Mireille snorts, but her eyes soften behind her round glasses as she steps closer to the rim.

Rin hums softly, thrilled by something only she sees in the splash.

Minna claps from beside Sunny, still holding his giant sleeve to steady him.

Justine: Oooooh! The OWNER?! Big wish! Big-big wish for a little coin!

Mireille Omeron: Hmph. Typical Eleric. Wishes for infrastructure analysis.

Minna Loveforge: I wished for snacks! And friends! And no more tripping! Except cute tripping!

Rin Galford: Oh, did I wish~? You'll never know what I wished~

Sunny stares past the fountain, flat and patient, a balloon wyvern squeaking in his huge hand.

Justine backflips off the rim, lands beside Eleric, and straightens his paper crown with unusual gentleness.

The crowd drifts toward Food Avenue, sugar-smoke thickening, Teacup music chiming somewhere beyond.

Sunny the Clown: The owner. Of course. Everyone meets him eventually.

Justine: Ehehe! Then let's make step one! Snacks! Teacups! Screaming! Crown club, march!

She grabs Eleric's hand and tugs toward Food Avenue, bells jingling, waiting for him to lead.

Eleric Maelios: Eleric smiles, genuinely pleased by the performance and the set up. It's really masterfully done. "Come on." He tells the others. "I'm kind of feeling peckish too."

Eleric's feeling peckish — I'll move the crew toward the snacks.

Eleric falls in beside Justine, staff tapping the paving in time with her bells.

The short walk to the stalls smells like heaven deep-fried — caramel, cinnamon,izzling sugar.

Mireille hurries to keep up, robe swishing, chin high like she is not speed-walking for snacks.

Rin glides after them, cloak billowing, humming that soft thrilled hum under her breath.

Minna finally lets go of Sunny's sleeve and sprints to catch up, nearly tripping over her own bootlaces.

Sunny lumbers along behind, balloon wyverns bobbing, flat eyes fixed somewhere past the crowd.

Justine spins and walks backwards, arms wide to present the row of striped stalls like a prize.

Justine: Tadaaa! Food Avenue! Best snacks in the Elgolian Sea! Pick your poison!

Mireille Omeron: I shall have something elegant. Something a prodigy would eat. With... extra caramel.

Minna Loveforge: Something on a stick! PLEASE! Three somethings on sticks!

Rin Galford: Whatever bleeds sugar~

The churro vendor flips a churro mid-air and catches it behind his back to scattered applause.

Justine vaults onto a counter, steals a sugar-dusted bite, and points accusingly at Eleric while chewing.

Eleric strokes his chin, eyes darting across prices, portions, lines — tactical snack analysis in progress.

Justine: Strategist! You led us here! You pick first! What'll it be, my hungry hero?

She leans way over the counter, upside-down, waiting for his order.

Eleric Maelios: "I think I'll have the something on a stick. It's cleaner, and the day has just started." He gets some coins from his coin purse, ready to pay for everything. "Next, Rin's idea."

Your strategist picks snacks — I'll get the prices and ring up the order.

Your strategist treats the crew — I'll ring up those skewers.

The skewer vendor flips four eel skewers in a peppery sizzle, salt crackling in the lantern-light.

Eleric counts coins with ink-stained fingers, pays with a strategist's crisp nod.

Mireille accepts hers like a sceptre, then immediately burns her tongue and squawks behind her hand.

Minna juggles three skewers at once, twintails bouncing, crossbow clanking against the stall.

Rin takes one bite, slow and sweet, eyes half-lidded with theatrical delight.

Justine steals the vendor's pepper shaker, shakes it into a heart shape over Eleric's skewer.

Sunny watches from the edge, balloon wyverns bobbing, flat eyes fixed on the sizzling grill.

The Balrog's Train screams over its hill again, rattling the lantern strings overhead.

Sugar-smoke and eel-smoke tangle deliciously, the crowd thickening for noon parade.

Justine: Ehehe~ Tactical snacking COMPLETE! Next: Rin's idea! Spinning till we scream!

Mireille Omeron: Hmph. My tongue is fine. A prodigy does not burn. I meant to do that.

Rin Galford: Tactical burn. Are you learning from Eleric?

Minna Loveforge: Skewers! Best plan ever! Eleric's the best captain of snacks!

Sunny the Clown: Spinning. Of course. It was always going to be spinning.

Justine grabs Eleric's sleeve and Rin's cloak, tugging them toward the chiming Teacup music.

Eleric Maelios: "So, you're this park's 'core guardian', does that mean there's also a demon lord your guide somewhere? That's an interesting idea."

Justine freezes mid-spin, bells giving one last guilty jingle.

Eleric strokes his chin, eyes darting across her face like he's reading floating diagrams.

Mireille pushes her glasses up, chin lifting with sudden academic interest.

Rin tilts her head smoothly sideways, finger tracing her hidden blade edge.

Minna bounces on her toes, twintails swinging, nearly tripping over Sunny's giant shoe.

Sunny presses his squeaky nose. Squeak. Very loud in the sudden quiet.

The Teacup music chimes on obliviously behind the stalls, sugar-smoke curling thick.

Justine: Ehehe~ CAUGHT me! Totally caught! Yes-yes, the Demon King lives RIGHT under the fountain!

Justine: Mwahaha! King Azerind! Tiny crown! Big cape! Voice like thunder! Scary, right?!

Mireille Omeron: Hmph. A king mascot. Obviously. Every park has one. Where does he hold court?

Minna Loveforge: A REAL king?! With a crown?! Can I get his autograph?!

Rin Galford: Right. Meal's over. Time for some teacups.

Justine yanks the painted stage-prop core from her hat again and shoves it under Eleric's nose.

Eleric taps his fingers in precise five-beat sequences against his staff, watching her hands, not the prop.

The dockhand from the harbor mouths along again from three stalls down — same bit, fortieth time today.

Justine: See?! Demon core! Proof! Fear me! Ehehe! Everyone laughs because it's a JOKE, silly strategist!

Sunny the Clown: The King. Of course. It was always going to be the King.

She boops Eleric's nose with the fake core, cartwheels backwards, and points toward the Castle hill.

The Demon Lord's Castle looms pastel and friendly over the pines, giggling mascots drifting past its gates.

Justine: Wanna meet him? Noon parade! Castle steps! He waves! He wobbles! You can tug his cape!

Eleric Maelios: OOC; can we change Rin for Gon the Strider? Then continue the ride

Swapping Rin for Gon — I'll line up that spinning ride.

Swapping Rin out — I'll bring Gon in to join the ride.

Gon drops from a lantern post upside-down, tail hooked, grinning straight into Eleric's face.

Eleric blinks, chin-stroke freezing mid-thought at the sudden monkey-boy ambush.

Mireille squawks and nearly drops her skewer, glasses slipping down her nose.

Minna shrieks with delight and waves both skewers like flags.

Justine squeals and backflips clean over Gon to land on his shoulders.

Sunny lumbers up behind, balloon wyverns bobbing, flat eyes on the spinning cups ahead.

The Teacups whirl pastel and glittering, music chiming, riders screaming with laughter.

Gon backflips off the post and lands in a show-off crouch, tail curling high.

Gon the Strider: Ehehe! Gon heard spinning! Gon LOVES spinning! Faster-faster!

Justine: Ehehe~ New challenger! Tail boy! Crown club PLUS monkey!

Mireille Omeron: Hmph. Another urchin. Try to keep up, simian.

Minna Loveforge: Gon! Gon! Sit with me! We'll spin SUPER fast!

Eleric Maelios: «Rin vanished mid-bite and a monkey fell from the sky. Tactically... acceptable trade.»

Eleric taps his staff in fives, mapping spin vectors like battlefield flanks.

Justine drags Eleric toward a mint-green cup, bells jingling wildly.

Gon vaults over the queue rail, tail grabbing a spare paper crown mid-air.

Mireille climbs in with exaggerated dignity, immediately grabbing the center wheel.

Minna piles in after her, nearly tripping over Gon's tail and laughing.

Gon the Strider: Spin-spin-spin! Gon gonna out-spin EVERYBODY!

Justine: Okay-okay! Strategist spins, prodigy steers, sailor screams, monkey flies!

Sunny waves flatly from the rail, squeaking his nose as the cups lurch into motion.

The world blurs into pastel, sugar, screams — and Eleric actually laughs.