Tōga's longing for the familiar shores of Luluhawa Island tugged at his heart with insatiable affection after two weeks away exploring new adventures. Setting out on the open roads, his wanderlust drew him to Astera, eager for fresh experiences and camaraderie along the way. In that bustling hub of people, a chance encounter with an old friend, Michael, sparked fond reminiscences of times past, while a growing bond with the mysterious Tamás promised new perceptions. Though his sojourn brimmed with thrill and feeling, transforming his perspectives in ways subtle and profound, still his thoughts would drift on the winding trails back to that small village nestled amid the palms and the rolling ocean tides. However far Tōga wandered, Luluhawa Island remained his anchor, calling him through the days and nights with the promise of home.

Change swept over Tōga's life with the rushing force of a tidal wave, altering his conceptions of self and reality. Power and renown accumulated around him, elevating his status far beyond the wide-eyed recruit who first donned the Rune Knight's uniform. A mystical metamorphosis took hold in his very flesh, marking the passage of time less in days than in evolutions of being. In two short weeks, he had progressed through epochs of transformation. Though he embraced the adventure of growth and discovery, still he yearned for a familiar anchor amidst the currents threatening to sweep his sense of self away. Luluhawa Island represented that constant polestar, offering a safe harbor no matter his outward changes, a place where the only difference between visits was the new face reflected back from the shimmering lagoons. He could no more predict the stranger he might become than hold back the tides. But here, time itself seemed to relax its grasp, allowing him simply to be, between was and will be.

Wandering the city streets, Tōga came across the cozy tavern he and Lumikki used to frequent, conjuring bittersweet memories. Their last quest together had ended on a sour note, tempers flaring before stubbornly parting ways. But the cooling balm of two weeks' separation nursed hopes that hot heads had finally cleared. As Tōga pushed open the weathered door, a smile already playing about his lips, he wondered if this familiar haunt might offer more than just refuge from the chill wind outside.

That riotous pink hair preceded the rest of him inside, as warm brown eyes took in the tavern's enduring charms. However often Tōga roamed, he appreciated the constancy and comfort to be found within these walls, scented with hearth smoke and echoing with easy laughter. The bartender looked up and welcomed back the WAYWARD regular with his usual grin, as if not a day had passed since his last visit. In times of tumultuous change, it was reassuring to know at least one place where Tōga could rely on things to remain the same.

ōga's familiar garb of a deep red hoodie and navy outerwear was currently hidden beneath the dusty cloak of a wayfaring adventurer, just returned from weeks on the open roads. A cloth bag slung across his shoulder bore the stamps and stains of faraway places, evoking images of lonely campfires under starry skies. The nondescript tan fabric obscured his vibrant signature colors - concealing the exuberant pink hair and wine-hued jacket as if they were a secret known only to him for now. Outwardly, he blended into the crowd of travelers and traders flowing constantly through the city gates.

Inwardly, Tōga felt those hidden aspects of himself pulsing vibrantly still, as if the wanderer's cloak restrained them for a purpose soon to be revealed. For this moment, the cloak rendered him anonymous, his true self sheltered like a flame cupped from the winds of change, awaiting the proper time to kindle into open view once more. When he drew back the concealing hood, what rediscovered identity might greet old friends with a smile both familiar and unexpected?

“One glass of Mead please,” Tōga asked respectfully, he smile still as omnipresent as ever. Nodding, the Bartender acknowledged and got to work on the drink.

---

wc: 682

942

The tavern bubbled with the boisterous sounds of life enjoyed to the fullest. Patrons flowed in an endless stream through the weathered doors, meeting and mingling in ever-shifting conversations that wove a tapestry of shared experience. Voices called for toasts, glasses clinked in punctuation, and roars of laughter provided the steady rhythm section. Stories spun out to eagerly listening ears, tales of drama and delight from far-flung lands. Each anecdote, whether stretched tall or plucked from that very room, only embellished the warmth and community that infused that haven from the cold world without. In the amber glow of the fire and the lantern lights, connections sparked and spread as new friends found common ground. No matter the troubles awaiting outside, here reigned a realm where camaraderie and understanding yet prevailed - life in all its messy, glorious communion.

To Tōga, the tavern's fare of food and drink paled beside its true sustenance - the contagious community warming chilled souls. In the raucous songs and easy laughter, he basked like a flower unfurling to sunrise. Where wearier wanderers craved only numb escape in their cups, Tōga found his spirit nourished. The endless flow of stories rushing past like a river left him rejuvenated, connected in the shared ebb and flow of experience. He drew visceral life from the spark of sudden camaraderie between strangers, the effortless human togetherness ephemeral yet essential. No trophy or treasure from lonely battlefields and monster lairs could ever replace the glowing warmth diffusing from this temporary oasis of inclusion. However often the rows of weathered tables filled with fresh faces, they remained linked in fragile fellowship. Tōga returned ever eager simply to dissolve into the embracing sense of community, losing himself to become part of a joyful whole. In this reliable refuge, perpetual high spirits warded off a deeper winter's chill from his soul.

Mano returned in short order with Tōga's order in hand - a frosty mug of mead and a hunk of bread still steaming from the ovens. As he slid them deftly along the well-worn bar, Tōga flashed an appreciative grin before his traveler's hunger took over. His eyes widened at the welcome sight while his mouth watered in anticipation. It had been a long, lonely journey on the open roads from distant Astera to arrive here, back to the familiar shores of Luluhawa at long last.

Days had passed in wanderings with only hastily foraged rations to subsist on, his stomach steadily gnawing itself the whole way. Now, as the honeyed aroma rose to greet his nostrils and the thick slice beckoned temptingly before him, Tōga gave himself fully to the simple raptures of food and drink. This humble repast shone in his gaze like a feast for royalty, laid out specially to welcome a prodigal son back to the comforts of heart and home after seasons spent adrift. With gusto he dug in, savoring flavors that sparked memories and washed away the dust of far roads, a worthy reward for one whose heart ever swelled with joy at the sight of familiar faces in the tavern he could proudly call his own.

Mid-bite into the steamy bread, mead still glazing his tongue, a familiar scent pricked Tōga's senses, instantly kindling a smile. His ears perked up just as the tavern door swung wide yet again. The newcomer's voice rang out brash and booming even over the room's convivial din - that beloved accent unmistakable. Moments later, intermingling traces of sulfur weaving through the rich aromas alerted him fully.

Tōga's face erupted into an incandescent grin, brighter than the roaring hearth could account for. That exuberant flash of joy outshone even the popping sparks rising from the new arrival's trailing cinders. As fiery brown eyes completed Lumikki's equally fiery entrance, heads turned in pleasant curiosity while Tōga's beamed with secret welcome. His expression resembled the room itself - features glowing with enveloping warmth intended just for her. His wandering partner had returned at last to this haven known and beloved by both. Without even glancing his way, her dramatic presence filled the space as though coming home. In Tōga's smile burnt the tacit promise that their last bitter words now faded into smoke - here, familiar bonds still held true even after seasons apart.

Lumikki's entrance stirred the tavern air into renewed warmth, her vibrant presence treasured on this little island even after long absences. Patrons called friendly greetings as she sauntered between the crowded tables with proprietary ease to claim a seat - one coincidentally adjacent to Tōga's own. The icy demoness ordered her usual drink with casual authority, seeming not to notice her former partner so near beside her. Perhaps Tōga's nondescript tan traveler's cloak still masked him from her peripheral view. As Lumikki waited empty-handed, staring distantly ahead with thoughts clearly miles away, Tōga allowed the hood to slip back at last. That brazen crest of pink hair manifested itself from concealment, shooting skyward to announce his enduring spirit once more. From the shadowed depths of the cloak, his gaze fell openly upon his erstwhile fellow adventuress illuminated in the tavern fire glow.

“Oooo, it’s been a while, Lumi-channn.”

---

wc: 861 [1543]

293_1235

Their last conversation ended in an awkward stalemate, reflecting an uneasy tension that often simmered beneath the surface of their friendship. Lumikki, jaded by the harsh realities she regularly confronted, favored pragmatism and saw little value in preserving broken lives, especially those that hurt others without regret. Tōga, though living in the same cruel world, clung to his ideals and could not abide what he saw as needless killing, even of guilty monsters. This divide in their moral compasses caused many conflicts. Yet despite their differences, each brought something fundamental to the other. Lumikki's ruthless clarity kept Tōga from being consumed by naivete, allowing him to retain hope without losing purpose. And Tōga's devotion to principle stopped Lumikki from succumbing to bitter despair, giving her a reason beyond mere duty to keep fighting. Their contrasting views forever bound them in tense unity - they balanced each other, challenged each other, and through it all, completed each other.

"Oh, I have?" Tōga mused at Lumikki's implication that he had changed since they last met. At first he considered only superficial alterations - the titanic black sword now hanging at his side, the travel-worn cloak draping his shoulders, the new trinkets and talismans dotting his attire. But his energetic brown eyes still glinted like morning sunbeams, and his messy pink hair still stood in defiant spikes. No, the change Lumikki spoke of was inner, not outer. Behind that familiar flashy exterior, Tōga's power had greatly deepened - his body honed to a elevated edge, his veins coursing with swelling magic. In some ways, he remained the same brash dreamer who once stood before Lumikki. Yet now something profound charged his spirit with formidable strength. He had transcended, ascending past old limits. The seeds of greatness had sprouted, vines of new potential unfurling from his core. Though his looks went unchanged, Tōga had fundamentally shifted in ways only one mystic could recognize.

Tōga let out a boisterous laugh. "Nah Lumi-chan, still only good ol' fire and bits of lightning here and there," he grinned, amusement dancing in his eyes as he referred to the elemental magic he could devour to nourish his power. Though transformed in many ways since they last crossed paths, his mystical affinity remained the same. Flames still called to him above all else - their wild, unbridled essence resonating with his rebellious soul. Lightning too, with its unfettered speed and spark, quenched his thirst and invigorated him. At his core, Tōga was unchanged - a ravenous force seeking freedom and fuel to fan his inner fire higher. Even as he tapped new wells of strength, the primordial song of those twin elements still quickened his pulse and bid him join their ritual dance, as boundless and untamed as he.

Taking a swig of his mead, he continued to muse over the words Lumikki sparked moments before.

“You think I really changed?”

---

wc: 482 [2025]

"Ahh, well in that case, I got some stories for ya - I've been busy these last few weeks," Tōga said, trivializing the profound adventures he had undertaken since parting ways with Lumikki. In that short time, he had voyaged to distant lands, acquired the formidable black blade Zangetsu, and unearthed power transcending anything he had wielded before. The last two weeks had extremely transformed him, subjecting his mind, body and spirit to intense trials that awoke new depths of strength. The full epic of feats and tribulations lay too deep for casual telling now, but Tōga would share it all with Lumikki in time. For all the staggering progress made, his infectious spirit endured unchanged. And while the road ahead stretched mysteriously and daunting, Tōga knew that with his steadfast friend beside him, all obstacles would prove fleeting. This reunion marked not an ending, but a beginning - a first step on the next leg of their interwoven journeys.

"Cheers to growth!" Tōga beamed, his signature toothy grin stretching wide as he heartily clinked glasses with Lumikki. Foam sloshed and frothed with their boisterous motions, droplets spraying outward only to vanish instantly when Tōga took a mighty swig. The brew washed smoothly down his throat as Lumikki queried him between sips. "Huh? Oh right - I still eat fire willingly as always," he clarified after lowering his mug. "But in my dual element mode, I can eat lightning to power up." Once again he referred to the remarkable hybrid transformation they last witnessed emerging together amidst ocean storms and swashbuckling pirates. Back then, his core flames merged and danced with lightning energy unleashed, forging a new pinnacle of strength fueled by twin primordial forces working in harmony. Though the intricacies of summoning that enhanced shape eluded description, the vision of its blazing glory remained seared in their memories - much like the impressive silhouette Tōga now cast both externally and in his own budding legend.

"I haven't fully mastered it yet, and how I gained that skill is an even wilder tale," Tōga alluded, his eyes glinting with the exhilaration of the memory. During a tempestuous training session, he had pushed himself to uncharted extremes, electrifying his core with pure lightning energy harnessed directly from the heavens. Though the full saga evaded brisk retelling now, vivid fragments endured - lightning striking the earth with deafening crashes as Tōga fearlessly dueled the raw power of the storm itself. Primal, savage, intoxicating. In those electric moments stretched to blazing eternity, two dynamic forces collided, will against unrelenting fury. The battle raged without quarter, seemingly hopeless, to its shattering crescendo. Yet Tōga prevailed, conquering untamed lightning through sheer audacious force of will to fuse with his inner fire. The feat went beyond mastery - such a thing could never tether forces inherently wild and free.

"Oiii, I bet Strigr’s doing great!" Tōga exclaimed, his face brightening at the memory of their small, scaly friend. The once tiny water dragon still frequented the same hidden cove where they first discovered her, though lately Tōga glimpsed her fledgling form drifting further out, venturing bravely across more of the open sea day by day. Details from her recent growth spurt eluded him after these weeks abroad, but her enduring image lingered bright in his mind - wide innocent eyes brimming with curiosity, fluttering fins just testing their strength, awkward baby fire puffs lighting the water's surface like sparks. Tōga smiled wistfully, making a mental note to check on the little one later, maybe even surprise her with a fishy snack or shiny shell. Though his quests pulled him afar and shadowed horizons beckoned, Tōga's spirit remained linked to that quiet beach by bonds of fellowship and fond memory. For Strigr too sailed strange tides between innocence and adventure, tender youth and mighty promise soon to unfold. In her own way, she swam alongside them - a fellow traveler charting her course through life's swelling currents. However far his travels carried him, Tōga's heart would ever guide him back to share amusing anecdotes with his dearest, oldest friends over mugs of ale, feeling Strigr's bright eyes peering playfully at him just underneath the surface.

“What have you been up too, Lumi-chan?”

---

wc: 705 [2730]

"Seems you've been keeping busy," Tōga said lightly to Lumikki as they shared drinks in the tavern. He often forgot just how renowned and powerful his old friend had become. As the Queen of Night and Ice, leader of her ever-growing guild, Lumikki's name and strength were known across the world. Yet here, as the two reminisced over ale, the omnipresent aura of her magical prowess faded into the background. Tōga still saw traces of the clever, adventurous girl he had befriended long ago, before her radiance outshone even the light of day. Though all the realms now rang with songs of the mighty sorceress Lumikki, Tōga cherished these quiet moments together when she was simply his friend once more.

Lumikki signaled the bartender for another drink and Tōga followed suit, draining the last of his mead. "I'm always glad when our paths cross," he said with a grin. "When you blow into Central next, I'll just follow the trail of chaos." He gently ribbed her about the havoc that tended to swirl in her wake. Like a force of nature, Lumikki could not be contained or controlled. Wherever she went, upheaval ensued - though Tōga found her unpredictable storms as captivating as they were destructive. Chaos curled in the wake of her magic like thunderclouds, their building charges a palpable force. Yet through the gathering storms glinted hints of light, flashes of the clever adventurer he had befriended long ago. Both beautiful and terrible in her mythic power, she held tightly to that glinting core. And Tōga cherished those glimpses of his old friend when her chaos rolled into town.

As the bartender swiftly delivered their next round, Tōga confessed, "I've been feeling the itch to travel more. There's still so much of the world I haven't seen." He gave a wry chuckle. "I've gained some power and renown in the Rune Knights - more than I'd like, really. But I feel like I haven't truly uncovered or accomplished anything meaningful."

---

wc: 332 [3062]

As Lumikki chattered lightheartedly about the turmoil that seemed to follow her whenever she ventured into unfamiliar territory, Tōga studied his mug, captivated by her vivacious spirit. She was a burst of sunshine piercing through the darkest storm clouds, a sparkling snowfall on the greenest of hills. Her animated words danced playfully, weaving tales of her unexpected adventures that left chaos joyfully trailing in her wake. Like an eager winter breeze, she swept in suddenly to unfamiliar lands, whisking up a tempest of excitement with her smile warm as summer. As refreshing as the first snowfall and as welcoming as the spring sun after a long winter, Lumikki embraced the unpredictability of each new journey. Tōga sipped his drink, as enchanted by her spirited words as by the young woman herself.

As they sat together once more, the familiar excitement sparked in Tōga's eyes as he spoke of his enduring quest to roam the world and grow stronger, the same eager tales Lumikki had heard times before. Yet his brilliant smile now veiled a flicker of regret that, despite rising rank and power, his dreams of far-flung travels had so far gone unfulfilled. Since they last met, outside a brief sojourn in Stella, he had scarce seen more of Earth World than on that day. But Tōga shone with undimmed optimism as he turned their talk to the adventures still awaiting him, the wondrous places he would wander when more prosperous days arrived. His passion undiminished, he still nurtured that young dream which first bloomed when Lumikki had listened entranced to a bold promise, now tempered by time into mature determination. Their paths would part again, but Tōga's journey had only begun.

“Hahahha, Lumi-chan. I just hope that demon causing havoc isn’t you --- wouldn’t wanna make an enemy outta ya yet,”

Tōga's ears pricked with interest as he gazed at Lumikki over his mead, a smile playing on his lips as she asked after Saturn. "Ah yes, I finally met the dragon slayer you told me about a while back, over at the Rune Knight headquarters," he remarked. His mind drifted back to that chance encounter, recalling his surprise that this secret had lurked right under his nose within the knights' own ranks. For all his vaunted senses, he had never caught so much as a whiff that another of his kin was among them. Yet a delightful twist of fate saw them brought together through Lumikki instead, the threads of destiny weaving themselves in most unexpected ways across this island. Tōga chuckled softly at the mysteries that life could still conjure to catch even him unawares, before his newfound kinship lit up his golden eyes once more. "Old Saturn is great company indeed. I'm glad our paths finally crossed, thanks to you!"

“They’re varied, honestly. Some are righteous, some are in it for the fame and fortune, others are there for a sense of duty, but they’ve all been pleasant and nice.”

He pauses.

“How’s the guild life? I’ve always wondered how that’d be,”

---

wc: 506 [3568]

“Most definitely!” Tōga's eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect of facing Lumikki in combat, a goal he had long envisioned but scarcely dared to speak aloud until now. To him, she embodied a pinnacle of strength and power beyond anything he had achieved in his mortal form; was such godly might even attainable for one not born a deity? Though divine in origin, here she stood tangible before him, flesh and bone—evidence that this summit was not wholly unreachable if she had attained it. He vowed that one day, through relentless self-improvement, he would stand as her equal and challenge this mighty warrior to a friendly duel. Perhaps she was the only obstacle on his destined path to peerless power. Either way, Tōga determined to embrace the journey to this long-awaited clash of champions.

Tōga's face lit up as he fondly recalled the adventure of discovering Saturn's elemental magic as a Dragon Slayer, an experience still vivid in his mind. He had been shocked when first meeting Saturn at the Rune Knight base to learn the demigod had no knowledge of his innate magical abilities—for a Dragon Slayer, one's elemental powers were as intuitive as breathing. Determined to help Saturn uncover his hidden potential, Tōga embarked with him on an exciting quest of self-discovery, filled with humor and insight into Saturn's character. Most wonderfully of all, the two forged a new friendship amidst the escapade. As Tōga raised his drink, he celebrated not only Saturn's newfound command of his unique gifts, but also the heartwarming bond kindled between comrades on a journey he would never forget. Discovering Saturn's magic had brought unexpected joy, excitement, and connection into his life.

"Oooooi, Iceberg! When do we leave?" Tōga exclaimed, hurriedly gulping down his drink as if ready to dash off on this new quest at a moment's notice. In his excitement, he had scarcely processed Lumikki's full statement before interpreting it as an open invitation to join her on a journey to her far-off homeland. Tōga's thirst for adventure overrode any hesitance, and he leapt at the prospect of exploring new lands by her side without a second thought. Where Lumikki tread, he would follow, whether through trackless snow or uncharted wilderness—what better guide could there be than she? With a heart thrilled at the promise of discovery in some frosted, fantastical realm, Tōga stood eager to accompany his companion wherever the next unfolding chapter of their friendship may lead.

---

wc: 413 [3981]

"I definitely need to visit your homeland soon!" Tōga declared eagerly, his mind already wandering to the adventures he would have in Iceberg. He wondered if even his fire magic could withstand the frigid cold he had heard tales about. Though he doubted the cold would deter him, the thought made his excitement grow. As Lumikki continued describing the natural splendors of her homeland, Tōga nodded along, envisioning the glacial landscapes and snow-capped mountains. He was sold simply on the prospect of experiencing the extreme cold, but her accounts of Iceberg's striking beauty and abundant wildlife only further fueled his longing to explore this new land. The idea enthralled him; the additional details were merely icing on the cake.

"Her name was....Quetzalcoatl!" he declared after a momentary pause to dredge the name from memory. "My apologies, I didn't forget her name - I just wanted to make sure I pronounced it correctly," he added with a laugh. "She was a powerful wind and fire goddess, which I was lucky enough to have some resistance against with my dragon slayer magic." He alluded to his near immunity to fire spells. "Still, Quetzalcoatl was a formidable foe. It took four or five mages just to take her down. I doubt any single mage could have stopped her, except perhaps you or Yuurei-san," he exclaimed with a smile, naming the only two people he knew truly stronger than himself. Though his commander Kon in the Rune Knights likely could have done some damage as well.

“And I was offered a lot of jewels and made some new comrades, though there was one of the combatants who wanted to fight too. His name was Knuckles.” Tōga laughs again.

“I accepted and can’t wait for that! He seemed pretty strong, too”

---

wc: 296 [4562]

Tōga let out an audacious laugh as he recalled his first fiery encounter with the goddess, though the experience had truly seared him to the core. "At first, her flames burned hotter than any I had ever known - they nearly consumed me from within," he admitted with a glint in his eye. As an accomplished fire dragon slayer, Tōga thought he could devour any inferno. Yet facing the raw, primal blaze of the goddess surpassed even his prodigious talents. Her blistering heat challenged him beyond anything he thought possible, exceeding the limits of his power. But like a sword forged in the hottest flames, Tōga emerged transformed from the trial - tempered, sharpened, and hungry to grow even stronger. What initially nearly destroyed him from the inside out ultimately made him better.

A grin spread across Tōga's face as he recalled the divine flavor that bloomed when he finally transformed to consume the goddess's flames. "Once I unleashed my full power, I could handle those fires way better," he said. Though they first seared him to the marrow, once he adjusted to their supernatural heat, those sacred flames became a delicious banquet. The blaze that had threatened to incinerate Tōga from within soon surrendered its savory secrets to his ravenous appetite. With each dancing ember and licking tongue of fire he consumed, a thrilling new nuance of flavor burst within him. He had feasted on infernos before, but none compared to the alluring tastes that the cremation of the goddess yielded up once he tapped into the depth of his power. "Eating those flames were one of the best thing I’ve ever tasted!” he declared fervently, his eyes glinting at the tantalizing recollection of that consummate meal.

“Don’t think I’ll have that problem with fire anytime soon, however,” Tōga remarks, commenting on the new strength he himself found since he and Lumikki had been apart.

---

wc: 316 4878]

"Yeah, someone with your strength would struggle to find a worthy opponent, let alone someone stronger," Toga remarked, his smile stretching wide before laughter boomed from his chest. The laughter served two purposes: it offered Lumikki a moment to find solace in her power and also distracted Toga from the lingering flames he hadn't yet mastered. Having spent countless days as a mage and Knight, traveling to various places, honing his magic, and testing his strength, he felt a sense of fulfillment for his accomplishments. Still, when standing next to a mountain, the hills one conquered seemed insignificant. Lumikki, his good friend, stood as a constant reminder that there was always another level to reach, another barrier to break through.

He watched Lumikki snack on the shadowy tendrils that swirled around them in the tavern, her presence a source of inspiration. The shared experience of wielding slayer magic was a unique bond between them, both understanding the peculiar sensation of devouring nature's elements like a feast. Each flavor of magic held its own distinct taste, as varied as the colors of fire and ice themselves. Toga wondered if this held true for Lumikki with darkness and ice.

The tavern door swung open, and from the shadowy light, Vee appeared. "Ooooi!" Toga waved at the small bird, recognizing its connection to Lumikki. "Long time no see, Vee-san!" he called, his trademark toothy grin wide and omnipresent as he watched the familiar deliver its report to the ice queen at his side.

---

wc: 280 [5178]