Chương 58: Fortuna Finch

The next day, Charlie took both of his children into the city. Noah decided to join them. He did not say why. He did not need to. There was something wrong with Charlie's smile. It was there on his face, bright and warm as he held June's hand and listened to Mars quietly point out things in shop windows. He laughed when June tugged him toward another stall. He nodded when Mars asked a question. He bought them snacks, held their hands, and acted like a father trying his best. But Noah could see it.

The smile did not reach his eyes. It felt thin. Fragile. Dangerously close to falling apart. With the upcoming tournament drawing closer, Lævateinn had erupted into celebration. Colorful banners hung from windows. Musicians filled the streets with songs about past Heroes, fallen kings, and glorious battles. Merchants shouted over one another, selling charms, festival masks, toy swords, chilled drinks, and every fried thing imaginable. The city was in full swing.

Despite growing up in a place where festivals and parties were common, June and Mars still looked excited. June practically vibrated with energy. Mars remained quiet, but his eyes kept drifting from stall to stall, taking everything in.

"Dad, Dad, Dad!" June suddenly pulled on Charlie's arm with both hands. Charlie blinked down at her.

"What?"

"Star puffs!" She pointed rapidly toward a bakery window.

"We have to get some!" Inside the display case sat star-shaped pastries filled with cream and sugar, dusted with sparkling powder that made them shine faintly beneath the sunlight. June's red eyes widened as if she had just discovered treasure. Charlie looked at the bakery. Then down at her.

"Sure." June cheered. Charlie glanced at Mars.

"Do you want anything?" Mars adjusted his small glasses and stared into the display case.

"Moon bread." His voice was quiet. Noah looked toward the pastry Mars had chosen. It was a small, fluffy bread shaped like a crescent moon, similar to a croissant, but topped with powdered sugar and honey. Charlie smiled faintly.

"Moon bread it is." They entered the bakery and left a few minutes later with pastries wrapped in paper. June bit into her star puff immediately, getting cream on her cheek. Mars held his moon bread with both hands and took careful, tiny bites. Charlie watched them eat. For a moment, his smile almost became real. Almost. Then Noah noticed someone near the edge of the street. A small child stood beside a closed stall, crying. She looked seven or eight years old.

She had long brown hair, brown eyes, freckles, and small crimson horns peeking through her hair. A raincoat hung loosely around her small frame despite the desert heat. Tears streamed down her face as she looked around frantically. Lost. Scared. Alone. Noah stopped walking. Charlie noticed and followed his gaze. The child wiped her eyes with her sleeve, then turned in a small circle, searching the crowd with growing panic. Noah's chest tightened. Something about her felt familiar. Too familiar. The raincoat.

The small horns. The frightened expression. June looked up at Noah.

"Is she lost?" Noah did not answer immediately. The girl's eyes met his through the crowd. She flinched. Only slightly. But Noah noticed. He took a slow step toward her, keeping his hands visible. He was certain he had seen her before. The raincoat. The small horns. The frightened brown eyes. But he could not remember where. Noah crouched in front of her, lowering himself until they were eye level.

"Excuse me, miss." His voice was gentle.

"Are you lost?" The girl sniffled and wiped at her eyes.

"Y-yes…" Her small hands clutched the edges of her raincoat.

"I was with my…" She hesitated.

"My uncle." Her voice trembled.

"Then we got separated." Noah softened his expression.

"What's your name?" The girl looked down at her feet.

"F-Fortuna…" She swallowed. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

"Fortuna Finch." Noah repeated the name silently. Fortuna Finch. Fortuna glanced around the busy street again, panic creeping back into her face.

"Um…" She pointed vaguely toward the festival crowds.

"My uncle owns a bar around here, but he said I'm not allowed to go there." That made Noah pause.

"A bar?" Fortuna nodded quickly.

"But I'm sure he's around here somewhere looking for me." Her voice shook with forced confidence.

"He has to be." Noah looked over his shoulder. Charlie stood nearby with June and Mars, watching carefully. June had stopped eating her star puff. Mars held his moon bread close to his chest, eyes fixed on the crying girl. Noah stood slowly.

"Charlie." Charlie looked at him.

"I'm going to help her find her uncle." Charlie's expression sharpened for a moment, as if he wanted to say something. Then he looked at Fortuna. The fear in her face. The way her small hand trembled. He nodded.

"Alright." Noah reached down. Fortuna stared at his hand for a second before slowly taking it. Her fingers were tiny and cold despite the Muspelheim heat.

"I'll see you later," Noah said. Charlie nodded again.

"Be careful." Noah gave him a faint smile.

"I will." Fortuna stayed close to Noah's side as he led her into the festival crowd.

"Don't worry," he said gently.

"We'll find him." Fortuna nodded. They searched for nearly an hour. Through crowded streets. Past food stalls. Past musicians singing beneath colorful banners. Past gamblers arguing beside outdoor tables and children chasing one another with wooden swords. Fortuna stayed close the entire time, her small hand wrapped tightly around Noah's. Then, near the edge of a quieter street, Noah finally saw him. A man with short red hair and golden eyes stood near a shaded alley, wearing a bartender's uniform.

Square-framed glasses rested on his face, and his smile appeared the moment he noticed Fortuna. Noah stopped. His instincts tightened. Nikolai. Noah did not know why, but every part of him told him to be careful. The man's smile widened as Fortuna ran toward him.

"Fortuna." Nikolai crouched and opened his arms.

"Good. I was so scared I lost you." Fortuna hurried into his arms. Nikolai patted her head gently, then looked up at Noah.

"Thank you for helping me." His voice was warm. Too warm. Noah forced himself to stay calm.

"No problem. I'm just happy I could return her to her uncle safe and sound." Nikolai blinked. Then he laughed softly.

"Uncle?" He looked down at Fortuna.

"Oh, right. She does call me that sometimes." Noah's eyes narrowed slightly. Nikolai stood, still holding Fortuna's hand.

"We're not officially related by blood," he explained.

"I just take care of her from time to time." Fortuna stayed quiet beside him. Noah looked at her. Then back at Nikolai. Something about this man put him on edge. Nikolai tilted his head.

"Will you be participating in the upcoming tournament?" The question came lightly. But his golden eyes narrowed. Noah met his gaze.

"I will." His voice did not waver.

"I plan to win." Nikolai smiled.

"Everyone says that." He adjusted his glasses.

"Not everyone can make that wish come true." The air between them sharpened. Nikolai leaned closer, studying Noah with sudden interest.

"Hmm." Noah did not move.

"You smell like the descendant of a Primordial Monster." Nikolai's eyes drifted toward Noah's horns.

"And those horns…" His smile grew.

"Are you a Tiamat?" Noah stayed silent.

"Or maybe…" Nikolai's eyes gleamed.

"A Fafnir." The name left his mouth slowly. Enjoyably.

"Yeah. That's it, right?" Noah's hand tightened at his side.

"Yes." He lifted his chin.

"My name is Noah Fafnir." Nikolai stared at him. For one brief moment, the smile vanished from his face. Something colder took its place. Something hungry. Then, just as quickly, the smile returned.

"Noah, huh?" Nikolai chuckled softly.

"Such a disgusting name for such a helpful man." Noah's eyes narrowed. Nikolai's golden gaze drifted over him with open contempt.

"Shame you had to be born with such a horrid legacy." Noah's patience thinned.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Nikolai smiled.

"I rather despise the Sixth Hero." The words were calm. Too calm.

"If I ever met him, I would try to kill him." Fortuna tightened her grip on Nikolai's hand. Nikolai did not look down at her.

"For the niece he killed." Noah went still. The noise of the festival seemed to dull around them.

"What was your name again?" Noah asked quietly. Nikolai's smile widened.

"Nikolai Hermes." Noah's eyes widened. Hermes. During the Sixth Era, only seven great families had remained. The Fafnir family. The Hermes family. And five others. To build unity, as he had called it, the Emperor had taken the eldest daughter from each of those seven families and made them his wives. Seraphina Fafnir had given birth to Noah Crest. Isabelle Hermes had given birth to Aria Crest. The Sixth Hero. And the Sixth Apocalypse. Noah felt a chill crawl through him. The irony was not lost on him either.

His own sister, Isabelle, the vessel for Aria, had been born with the same name as Aria's mother. History did not just repeat. It mocked. Noah studied Nikolai carefully.

"I see." His voice was calm, but his hand slowly moved closer to his sword.

"I thought the Hermes family died out." Nikolai's smile twitched.

"Killed during a bloody massacre." Noah held his gaze.

"Does that make you the last survivor?" For a moment, Nikolai said nothing. Then he laughed. It was light at first. Almost amused. Then he punched Noah in the face. The blow landed before Noah could react. Pain exploded across his jaw as he was sent stumbling backward through the street. People nearby gasped and scattered, the festival crowd parting around them in panic. Fortuna froze. Noah caught himself before he fell, one hand braced against the ground. Blood dripped from his mouth.

Nikolai calmly removed one glove. Then he threw it at Noah. The glove struck the sand in front of him. A challenge. An insult. A declaration. Nikolai's smile was gone now. Only hatred remained.

"Let's duel, little Fafnir." Noah slowly stood. His jaw throbbed. His blood hit the sand. Nikolai glared at him, golden eyes burning with years of grief sharpened into violence. Noah wiped the blood from his mouth. Around them, the City of Festivals fell silent. The crowd watched. Fortuna trembled at Nikolai's side. Noah looked down at the glove. Then back at the man who had thrown it. The tournament was still weeks away. The trap had not even begun. And already, Lævateinn had drawn its first blade.