Celestaris: Chronicles of Manga, Moon & Kizuna.

Part 1

As they walked along the forest path, Haruto listened intently to Yuna's stories.

Her voice vibrated with excitement as she pointed out trees and plants, unraveling the secrets and tales of Mythara that reflected the deep love she had for her home.

It was hard not to be swept up in her enthusiasm.

Simo leapt from his shoulder with agile movements, exploring the bushes like a small hunter before returning with a satisfied air.

Finally, they pushed aside the last branches, and the village unfolded before their eyes.

Wooden houses rose among the trees, connected by hanging bridges that seemed to float above the greenery, while magical lights sparkled among the branches.

—It's like a place straight out of a dream —Haruto murmured, unable to contain his amazement.

—This is like a hidden level in an RPG, Kizu!

Yuna looked at them with a proud smile and led them toward the village entrance, until a voice from atop a watchtower broke the calm.

—It's Yuna! Yuna has returned! —the voice called out, causing several elves to peer curiously from various points in the village.

The atmosphere shifted, filling with murmurs and excitement as the villagers came out to greet her. Yuna, with a warm smile, waved to her fellow villagers, and for the first time, Haruto felt the depth of the home she loved so much.

The joy of Yuna's return was reflected in the elves' faces, though some gazes were already turning inquisitively toward Haruto.

—And she's brought a human with her! —the sentry exclaimed, intensifying the curious looks.

Yuna raised her hand calmly, exuding a tranquility meant to ease the concerns of her people.

—Don't worry —she said with a confident voice—. He's a good friend of mine.

The younger elves, unable to contain their excitement, quickly surrounded Haruto and his crow, bombarding them with eager questions.

—Where are you from? —asked one, their eyes sparkling with anticipation.

—And that white bird? Is it magical? I've never seen anything like it! —exclaimed another, leaning in for a closer look at the bird, which remained unfazed on Haruto's shoulder.

Kizuna, as expected, joined the commotion, cheerfully floating among the children with her boundless energy.

—Yes, yes! He's Haruto, a brave adventurer from faraway lands, Kizu! And I'm Kizuna, his inseparable companion! —she proclaimed proudly, spinning in midair with small pirouettes that elicited laughter and gasps of amazement.

A young elf, more confident, approached Yuna directly. His expression reflected surprise and respect, but his voice carried genuine curiosity.

—Yuna, why did you bring a human here? It's rare to see them in the village —he asked, with no trace of distrust.

Yuna replied with a warm smile, radiating the same confidence she had shown throughout their journey.

—Haruto has proven his worth —she said firmly—. He has helped me on our path and has shown himself to be worthy of my trust. I'm sure the Aeris tribe could learn much from him.

—So you're an adventurer? What rank are you? —asked a young elf girl, joining the conversation with bright, curious eyes—. I thought humans rarely entered the Mythara forest, and if I'm not mistaken, they need a pass to explore the dungeons.

Haruto hesitated for a moment, searching for the right way to respond. Before he could say anything, Kizuna jumped in with overflowing enthusiasm.

—Of course, Kizu! Haruto-kyun is a brave adventurer! —she exclaimed, spinning in the air and releasing small sparks of energy.

Haruto let out a nervous laugh and added, trying to sound convincing,

—Well… yes, I'm an adventurer. Although I'm pretty new to it, I'm learning a lot. Yuna has been an incredible mentor —he concluded with a shy smile.

The young elves exchanged glances, clearly impressed.

—So she's training you! —one of them exclaimed, eyes sparkling with admiration—. Yuna is one of the best in our village!

Yuna let out a soft laugh, raising an eyebrow as she looked at Haruto.

—Don't exaggerate; I just do what I can —she replied modestly, though it was clear the praise pleased her.

Kizuna, puffing out her chest as if sharing the credit, added triumphantly:

—That's right! We're the strongest and coolest team ever! We even defeated the Root Labyrinth Golem, Kizu!

At that moment, Yuna's father emerged from the crowd, running toward her with a relieved expression. The young elf let out a laugh full of joy and ran to him, wrapping him in an embrace overflowing with affection.

—Daddy! —she exclaimed, seeming like a little girl for a moment.

—It's always a relief to see you safe and sound, my dear —he replied, returning the hug warmly.

Meanwhile, Haruto was still surrounded by the young elves, who bombarded him with endless questions, tugging at his jacket and examining him with overflowing admiration.

—Did you really defeat the Guardian of the Root Labyrinth? —one asked, barely giving him time to respond.

—And who's that weird tiny person?! —added another, pointing at Kizuna, who, far from being offended, spun around in the air with enthusiasm.

—Kizuna is Kizuna! —declared the tiny figure, performing pirouettes that drew laughter from the children.

—Patience, patience! I'll answer all your questions, I promise —Haruto laughed, raising his hands in surrender to their boundless energy.

While Haruto remained trapped among the children, Yuna took the chance to step aside with her father. The commotion faded as they moved away, leaving space for a more private conversation.

He observed her closely, noticing small scratches on her clothes and skin that hadn't escaped his attention.

—Why are you injured? —he asked seriously, his brow furrowed—. Did that human have anything to do with it?

She firmly shook her head, placing a hand on her chest as if to reassure him.

—No, Father. On the contrary, Haruto has helped me more than you can imagine. It's thanks to him that I'm here. Please, trust me.

Yuna's father frowned but nodded, his expression softening slightly. She seized the moment to lower her voice, whispering as if afraid of being overheard.

—Father, a few days ago, I had a vision —she said calmly, though the intensity in her voice was undeniable—. In it, I met someone sent by the goddess Mizuki.

Her father's expression changed, reflecting surprise and concern.

—Are you saying…? —he murmured, leaving the question unfinished.

—That's right. Haruto has the "Blessing of the Moon." I saw it clearly on his status panel. I don't think our meeting was a coincidence; I feel there's something special about him —Yuna concluded, her confidence adding weight to her words.

Her father fell silent, processing the revelation. Then, with a grave nod, he spoke.

—I must summon the chiefs of the other tribes. This cannot be taken lightly… but for now, say nothing to the villagers.

—Hayate! —he called loudly, and, like a flash, a young soldier appeared before them.

Yuna, upon seeing him, couldn't help a slight discomfort, which she tried to mask with a forced smile. The young man bowed respectfully before his leader.

—Send a message to the other leaders. We need to meet in Lady Cherri's auditorium urgently. Ensure that she is informed as well —her father commanded with authority.

—Understood —Hayate responded firmly before disappearing just as quickly.

Yuna's father turned to her, his gaze solemn but warm.

—My dear, when you get the chance, rescue your friend from that pack of children. We'll meet at home later. The leaders will arrive at the auditorium tomorrow.

Saying this, he glanced toward Haruto, caught in an animated circle of children dancing and bombarding him with questions. With a light smile, he returned his attention to Yuna.

—For now, I have other matters to attend to, but I want to speak with him and learn more —he added before heading into the village.

—As you wish, Father —Yuna replied firmly, watching him walk away with determined steps.

Then, she turned her gaze toward Haruto, and a smile appeared on her face.

He was surrounded by children, holding a colorful violin that looked like a toy but produced melodies full of life. The little ones danced and laughed, letting themselves be carried away by the cheerful rhythm Haruto created.

Each vibrant note seemed to spread to everyone listening, even drawing the attention of some adults who watched curiously and delightedly from a distance.

Haruto, for his part, seemed lost in a moment of pure happiness, playing as if everything else had faded away.

Yuna approached, listening more closely to the playful and carefree rhythm of the music. It was unlike any melody she had heard in Mythara, but its lively and lighthearted essence filled the atmosphere with warmth.

—Melodía, you don't know what you're missing —she murmured to herself, chuckling softly as she enjoyed the impromptu performance.

Haruto, surrounded by children's laughter, was relishing a unique moment of joy, as if the genuine connection with those around him dispelled any worries.

Meanwhile, in a dimension beyond time and space, an ethereal figure watched the scene attentively.

Through the transparent bubble that separated them from that place, only the lower part of their face was visible. A soft smile illuminated their expression, as if Haruto's laughter evoked a cherished memory.

—I'm glad to see you're becoming yourself again… —they murmured with a deep and serene voice—. This place seems to be bringing back your smile, Haruto…

The figure remained silent, observing from afar as Haruto finished playing the violin.

The children clapped enthusiastically, but Yuna's voice broke the moment.

—Alright, don't you think it's time to let him rest? —she said with a smile, looking at the little ones—. It's been a long journey.

The children waved goodbye cheerfully before scattering, leaving Haruto and Yuna in peace.

—Thanks, you saved me. I was running out of repertoire —Haruto said, letting out a light laugh.

—What's that instrument? It looks like a violin, but it has a peculiar design… Is it a toy? —Yuna asked, observing it curiously.

Haruto smiled and raised the violin, showing it off with a hint of pride.

—This? It's a violin, just as you thought, but not an ordinary one. It's called a Luther Violin —I replied with a smile, recalling how it had ended up here with me.

—I was able to bring it from my world thanks to the "Materialize" skill. Although it cost me a few mana points to summon, it was worth it.

Yuna's eyes sparkled with amazement as she gently touched the edges of the violin, admiring its design.

—I must say, it sounds very special, Haruto. It's not common to hear something so vibrant here in Mythara —she said, observing it closely.

—Thanks. It's one of the most important items I have. My grandmother used to take me to violin lessons when I was little. This instrument connects me to her —I replied, letting nostalgia seep into my words.

Yuna looked at me with a mix of tenderness and respect.

—She must have been an incredible woman to leave such a deep impression on you —she said with a kind smile.

I nodded, stroking the violin one last time before dematerializing it and storing it in my inventory.

—It's a treasured memory —I admitted, as Yuna kept smiling.

—Would you like to take a walk around the village? I can show you what makes this place special —she offered.

—Sure, I'd love to —I replied, following her along a path that wound between houses and trees.

As we walked, I felt the harmony that filled every corner of the village, as if the forest and the elves shared a single heartbeat. Soon, we arrived at an area where small artisan stalls were arranged among the trees.

—This is the local market —Yuna explained, hurrying toward a nearby stall.

I watched as she approached an adult elf tending a stall full of fresh fruits and vegetables. On the counter, some peaches and pears gleamed under the light, catching my attention.

Yuna exchanged a few words with the vendor and bought a couple of peaches, offering one to me with a smile.

—Look, look —she said, pointing to a basket of pears—. These are incredibly delicious, grown right here in the forest.

I took the peach and bit into it. It was sweet and juicy, its freshness capturing the very essence of the forest.

—It's delicious —I said, impressed, as the vendor smiled proudly.

—They're the best peaches in all of Mythara —he stated with satisfaction.

We continued exploring the market, stopping at stalls filled with crafts and food.

Everything seemed to radiate a natural warmth, and every vendor showed genuine enthusiasm as they served us.

My budget was limited, but something at a nearby stall caught my attention. Necklaces carved with leaf patterns and gems that seemed to capture the essence of the forest.

From a distance, I watched Yuna chatting with a merchant, her cheerful laughter filling the air. She radiated a special connection with everyone in the village—a warmth that was contagious.

My eyes settled on a necklace adorned with sakura flowers. Its simple yet elegant design evoked the serenity and grace I associated with Yuna.

—May I see that one? —I asked, pointing to the necklace.

—Of course, young man —the woman replied with a kind smile—. If you're looking for something special for Miss Yuna, this would be ideal.

She handed me the necklace, delicately carved. I held it in my hands, admiring how it seemed to encapsulate Yuna's connection to the forest.

—Her mother loved sakuras. She always wore a necklace like this —the woman said with a touch of nostalgia.

In another context, I might have doubted her words, but here, I felt no manipulation—only sincerity. Perhaps the mistrust between humans and elves had its reasons, but seeing how they treated their own with such honesty was almost enviable.

—How much does it cost? —I asked, trying to sound casual while imagining how well it would suit Yuna.

—One Silver Yue or ten Silver Pieces —she replied.

I took ten Silver Pieces from my magic bag and handed them over. I slipped the necklace into my pocket, planning the perfect moment to give it to her.

The woman gave me a sly smile and added softly…

—Young man, if you're interested in Miss Yuna, you should act quickly. She has many suitors in the village, especially Hayate, the chief's right hand.

My face instantly flushed, and I hurriedly shook my head in denial.

—Ah, no, no, it's not like that! We're just friends —I replied with a nervous smile, trying to maintain my composure.

To my relief, Kizuna was fast asleep after playing so much with the children, sparing me from any teasing comments that might have made the situation even more awkward.

The woman let out a soft laugh and added,

—Sure, sure… I just thought I'd mention it, young man. Everyone in the village cares deeply for Yuna.

She cast a glance toward the young elf, who was approaching after finishing her conversation with the merchant.

Yuna, with a curious smile, asked,

—What are you talking about?

—Oh, nothing important. I was just asking your young guest a few questions. But I won't keep you any longer —the woman replied with a polite bow.

Before I could say anything else, Yuna took me by the arm naturally.

—If you don't mind, I'll take him with me. I want to show him the rest of the village.

The woman bid us farewell with a knowing smile, and we continued walking through the stalls.

Yuna radiated enthusiasm, as if she were rediscovering her home through my eyes. Her laughter was contagious, and every place she showed me felt special.

We visited the school, where young elves learned history and skills. The sentry posts, always vigilant. The archery and sword training grounds. And finally, the hot springs hidden among the trees—perfect for relaxing after a long day.

As we walked, I couldn't shake the woman's words from my mind. Her warning, mixed with genuine warmth, echoed within me, refusing to be ignored.