Sunlight filtered through swaying leaves. Green trees towered above. To the right, a meadow spread, littered with raucous wildflowers and weeds. A flock of deer stood in the weeds, lazily grazing. One looked up. Glass-like antlers glittered in the sunlight, colored a pale red. It snorted threateningly at Gale, and a tiny puff of fire burst from its nose.

Kino walked along, head tipped back, his hands linked behind his head, holding the cap on his head. “So boring.”

“There’s a Legendary Hero up ahead. Should only be… half a day, at the rate we’re going,” Gale replied, walking alongside him.

Kino twisted his nose. He shook his head. “I want to be there already!”

“You’re the one who said he was too tired to carry me anymore,” Gale replied, clicking his tongue.

“You’re heavy,” Kino complained.

Gale clicked his tongue again and shook his head.

From behind, hoofbeats slammed down the road. Gale and Kino moved to the side as a horse rode up behind them. At the sight of them, the rider slowed and drew up alongside them. A woman in leather gear bounced along, smiling down at them.

“Travelers?” she asked.

“Er… yes,” Gale said, not sure what to say. Subtly, he reached for his dagger. Kino, as well, slid his hands toward the back of his hips.

She flashed a smile. “Young adventurers?”

“Yes!” Kino replied emphatically, unable to keep his enthusiasm in check despite the suspicious glower he continued to direct at the woman.

“I remember being young and bright-eyed like the two of you! Ah, youth, rushing out to take on the world… Listen, let me tell you a secret.” She reined the horse in and leaned down, stage-whispering. Lifting a hand, she pointed ahead. “There’s a shop up ahead that you absolutely cannot skip. The proprietress makes this heavenly stuff… oh, I forget the name, but it’s cold and sweet and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever had before.”

“Oh?” Gale said, suspicious.

“Oh?” Kino said, wide eyes sparkling, all his suspicion thrown to the wayside.

The woman nodded knowingly. “Trust me. You don’t want to miss out! It’s down a little path, so make sure you don’t miss it! Just up ahead on the left.”

With that, she kicked her horse and rode off, leaving them in the dust.

“We absolutely should not go there,” Gale muttered under his breath.

“We have to go!” Kino said, at the same time.

They looked at one another. Kino blinked up at Gale, employing the full force of his puppy eyes. “Gale, why not?”

“We don’t have money, that’s why not!” Gale argued.

“We do, we do have money,” Kino said, patting the pack.

Gale shook his head. “Only a little. Enough to get us a night at the inn when we arrive at the next town, but not much more. We need to be cautious.” I have a little more, as well, but I need to save that to buy potions so I won’t die. I can’t waste my money on snacks.

“Then… can we go, but… only get some if it’s cheap?” Kino suggested.

“I don’t even know what ‘cheap’ is in this world,” Gale sighed.

“We should go, and then we can learn what cheap is!” Kino said excitedly.

Gale looked at him, then sighed. “Alright. We’ll take a look. But I don’t guarantee anything.”

Kino pouted at him.

“Anyways, there’s a hero not too far ahead,” Gale said, consulting his map. He pointed at the icons. Their marker moved closer to the red square that marked the fortress, but a second gold marker had also materialized, close to where they currently stood.

Come to think of it… there isn’t a marker for Theo? Gale wondered, squinting.

To respect the privacy of your fellow Heroes, only the nearest unvisited Legendary Hero will appear on the map at any time.

Gale pressed his lips together, then shrugged. Reasonable, I guess. Squinting at the map, he tilted his head, then nodded. “The Hero is up ahead on the left. They might be resting in the shop.”

“Oh! So we’re going for sure, then?” Kino asked, tilting his head.

“Yep,” Gale said.

Humming, Kino bounced ahead. “Sweet and cold, cold and sweet!”

“What happened to ‘too tired?’” Gale muttered, shaking his head with a smile.

A wagon creaked up behind them. Again, they moved to the side. Kino caught his hat and adjusted it, cramming it over his ears again.

The wagon slowed. Hay bales shifted in the back, piled high. A wizened old man peered down at them from the driver’s seat, withered hands gripping the reins tight. Leathery skin pulled tight around a narrow frame, except where a beer gut bulged under his shirt. “You kiddos on your way to the baths?”

“N…no?” Kino tried.

“Not the bath. I know boys stay far away from that. The baths! The big hot springs down the road a bit. ‘Supposed to be good for your health,” the old man rambled. He scratched his beer gut and peered out from thick eyebrows down the road ahead, as if he could see the hot springs already.

Hot springs? A shiver of premonition ran down Gale’s spine.

“Hot springs?” Kino asked, eyes wide.

The man nodded. “Right up ahead.”

Gale nudged Kino. “We’re headed to that treat shop, isn’t that right, Kino?”

“Oh, right! Cold and sweet!” Kino said, excited again.

At that, the man spat. He shook his head. “Stay far away from that place!”

Gale blinked. “Why?”

“A witch runs that shop. An evil witch! She colludes with monsters and fraternizes with demons. Her shop is full of filth and disgusting creatures. They say…” he leaned toward them, crooking a wrinkled finger.

Gale and Kino leaned in.

“…that once you take one bite of her concoctions, you’ll never be able to live without them!”

Kino stared, shocked. Gale widened his eyes, pretending to be scared. Crazy old man.

The old man shook his head. “Don’t you think I’m just a crazy old man. It’s real. It is. She serves otherworldly, supernatural food. If you dare visit… don’t you dare let it cross your lips!”

Kino nodded, putting his hands over his mouth.

“Much better off heading to the hot springs,” the old man opined. With that, he rode off, his wagon rattling into the distance, shedding hay.

“We shouldn’t go!” Kino said as soon as the man was out of earshot.

Gale sighed. “We shouldn’t take him too seriously. He’s probably just suspicious of new things.”

Kino shook his head forcefully. “There’s monsters. And demons!”

“Kino, you’re a monster,” Gale reminded him.

Kino opened his mouth, then settled down. “Demons.”

“I really doubt there’s demons at her shop. They seemed like wild animals… for the most part,” he caveated, remembering the tentacled beings. “Besides, if there are demons… shouldn’t a young adventurer like you charge in and clear them out?”

“Well… that’s true. I am an adventurer, after all!” Kino rallied. He rose up to his full height and put his hands on his hips.

“You will be one,” Gale caveated.

“As soon as I hit level ten,” Kino declared.

Ahead, the path split off. A narrow avenue led away from the main path, snaking into the woods. Shaded even in the height of day, the path vanished quickly into the trees.

Gale glanced at his map. “Our hero is somewhere down there.”

Kino gulped. He stood on his tiptoes to peer into the woods. “Gale, be careful.”

“I will, I will,” Gale chuckled. He took the lead. Kino crept after him, peering ahead over Gale’s shoulder every few steps.

Gale stepped on a twig. A sharp, dry snap rang out. Kino jumped, leaping higher into the air than Gale knew a human could. He transformed mid-leap and wrapped his body around Gale. He pushed his hands against Gale’s shoulder and peered ahead. “Who—where—”

“Me. My foot. A twig,” Gale replied.

“Oh.” Sheepish, Kino unwound from around Gale and turned back. He yanked at his cap nervously.

Laughter sounded from up ahead. Three girls turned the corner, carrying cones of a thick white substance. Kino peered at it nervously. He sniffed, nose twitching.

“Is that… ice cream?” Gale asked.

“It’s so good!” one of the girls replied, taking a lick.

Another nodded. “You have to try it. It’s like heaven!”

“Ice cream?” Kino asked, tilting his head.

“Here, try a little of mine. It's divine,” the third girl offered, holding out her cone.

Kino leaned in. He shivered, struggling to hold back. He licked his lips, eyes locked on the ice cream.

“Go ahead. I’ve had ice cream before. Don’t worry about what that old man said, he’s just a crazy old man,” Gale encouraged him.

All at once, Kino darted forward and flicked his tongue out. He retreated in the next breath, as if getting away from the food would prevent the curse from getting on him. He swallowed.

His eyes widened. Kino trembled in place, blinking rapidly.

The girl looked at Gale. “Is your big brother okay?”

“Big brother?” Gale grumbled, watching Kino as well. Who knows if he’s okay.

“Oh! I’m sorry. Is he not your brother?” the girl asked.

Gale opened his mouth, then shut it. He sighed. As small as I am? They’d never believe anything else. “You know what, sure.”

The girls hovered for another second. They shrugged at one another and walked on. As they walked away, one of the girls turned back. “Hurry up! They’re about to close!”

Gale waved in response.

At last, Kino jumped up. At the top of his lungs, he shouted, “So… good!”

“See? It’s not cursed,” Gale said, chuckling.

Kino nodded aggressively. He ran ahead, vanishing around the corner.

“Oh, hey, wait up!” Gale called. He jogged after Kino, barely able to catch a glimpse of the boy before he rounded corner after corner.

They burst out into a clearing. A comely cottage stood in the middle of a small wildflower-spotted meadow, sunlight beaming down on its thatched roof. Picturesque flower boxes sat in each window. To the left front of the cottage, a big wooden barrel sat atop a sturdy stand, laid on its side. Intricate magic circles had been carved into the lid, glowing with icy blue light. A handle built into the front lid turned on its own. Each time it creaked through a turn, one of the smaller circles pulsed in icy blue. Frost crawled along the barrel’s side, swirling into delicate, fern-like patterns. The mild, sweet scent of cream mixed with the stronger scent of—that smell… pancakes?—altogether creating a welcoming, homey atmosphere.

Kino took a deep breath, temporarily stunned. He turned slowly, taking it all in.

“All we need is a couple of sparrows to sit on your shoulders, and we’ve got a kid’s movie,” Gale quipped.

“What’s a movie?” Kino asked.

The door creaked open. A young woman stepped out, dressed in a thin white dress. Dark hair reached to her back. She turned the sign on the door from OPEN to CLOSED.

Abruptly, she turned to the boys. Gale startled, taken aback. Dark blue stretched from edge to edge of her eyes, completely enveloping her eyes. A flash of white flickered in and out, deep in the blue. She smiled gently. “I’m sorry, but the shop is closed. Come back tomorrow?”

Kino threw himself behind Gale, hair bristling. “Gale, get back!”

Gale looked at Kino, then at the woman. He checked his map one last time, then gave her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, but…”

She shook her head, still smiling. “Oh, no, it’s okay. I understand. A lot of customers are startled at the sight of my eyes at first. Don’t worry. It’s a gift from the Goddess, a sign of my deep mana well and affinity with ice magic. I’m human, through and through.”

A gift from the Goddess? That clinches it. Gale shook his head, looking her in the eye. “No, I mean… you’re a Legendary Hero, aren’t you?”