(Back at Larkspur, the preparations for the Lantern Jubilee continue during the afternoon, with everyone in the town — men, women, children, and even the elderly — all diligently and enthusiastically helping each other out. Mr. Gallagher oversees the installation of the festival lights himself, while some other townspeople set up the vibrant collection of bazaars, putting all sorts of carefully crafted souvenirs and jewelry up for sale, having acquired the box Flare carried over to them.)

  Townsman 1A: (grinning) And guess that’s it! Thanks, kid!

  Flare: (panting in exhaustion, chuckling nervously) Yeah, sure! Can’t stop!

  (Flare leaves the box with the townsmen and heads off elsewhere to run some other errands. Meanwhile, after a bit of carrying and all, Focus and a couple townsmen finally get the kitchen outside ready, the rest of the men panting and swiping their sweat while Focus remains unfazed as ever, to their surprise.)

  Townsman 1B: Woah. You’re pretty tough, aren’t ya, kid? Um… Flare, was it?

  Focus: (narrowing his eyes at him) Really now?

  Townsman 1B: (chuckling) Oh, Focus! It’s Focus! So… uh… we’re going out for a cup of coffee after that. Wanna join?

  Focus: (flatly) You’ve just gone higher in my estimation.

  (The next few hours go by, with the preparations continuing as planned. During that time, Flare and Focus perform a lot of different tasks, from carrying supplies to hanging decorations, with Focus stabilizing the ladder for Flare, who climbs the ladder way too fast then struggles to adjust the knots. Focus’s right eye starts twitching in annoyance at Flare’s repeated failed attempts to the point that he climbs the ladder and grabs Flare by the back of her shirt, bringing her back down, to her silent surprise. He then climbs the ladder again and ties the knot himself.)

  Focus: (muttering) What was I thinking when I had you do this?

  (With Focus taking charge of the matter, the duo finally hang the decorations all around the area and manage to join the rest of the townspeople as they too get the job done elsewhere. As sunset approaches, a man turns on the festival lights, creating a vibrant and colorful atmosphere, to Flare and Focus’s awe.)

  Mr. Gallagher: (chuckling) Isn’t it grand, eh? Come on now. We’ve got to the good bit.

  (Flare, Focus, and Shay arrive at one of several giant tents and step in, seeing lots of townsfolk of all ages inside, all doing the exact same thing: creating lanterns. With all sorts of materials such as cardboard, bamboo sticks, and colorful cloth, the townsfolk enthusiastically get into it. Mr. Gallagher notices Flare and Focus glancing around in awe and chuckles heartedly.)

  Flare: So that’s where you make your lanterns?

  Mr. Gallagher: (grinning) Ah, that’s right, it is! In here, no one goes at it alone! We all do our bit an’ pitch in, each in our own way. Some lads build the structure, while others dress it up in cardboard, bright cloth, an’ what have ye; the wee ones get to splash their whims on the cover, and then the rest chisel the art into it before we finish off the lanterns. Go on now, take a wander, maybe even craft your own lantern if yer feelin’ up for it!

  (Flare and Focus keep wandering around the area, too awed to even speak as they witness the entire process in action. They come across the crafty adults forging the internal structure of the lanterns with unmatched expertise and skill. They see Shay joining in with those hard-working individuals, performing this duty with a similar sort of dedication. He starts by soaking thin bamboo strips in warm water until they’re pliable, then bends them into a perfect circle for the base ring. He ties the ends together with a tight cotton-thread wrap—simple, clean, no wasted motion. From there, he splits more bamboo into narrow ribs and sets four of them rising from the ring, spacing them with the practiced instinct of someone who’s done it a hundred times. Each rib is lashed to the base with tiny, neat knots. He notices the duo glancing at him in awe, a small smile forming on his face.)

  Mr. Gallagher: (softly smiling) I’ve done this more times than I could count, so just watch, will ya?

  (At the top, he adds a small bamboo crosspiece to anchor the ribs, tapping it gently into place with his thumb until the frame holds its shape without wobbling. Then he flips the lattice over and fits a thin wire cross across the bottom ring—the support for the fuel pellet. He centers it with a quick eye-check, tweaking the wire arms until the balance is just right. By the time he’s done, the structure looks effortless—light, sturdy, perfectly aligned and ready to develop into a lantern. He hands over that structure to Flare and Focus, the latter grabbing it with a blank expression.)

  Mr. Gallagher: Right then, yer turn now, wee ones. Wrap this wee thing up in cardboard or bright cloth or whatever tickles yer fancy. An’ feel free t’ jazz it up as ye like before shovin’ it off for the final tweaks. (winking at them while chuckling heartedly) I’m all agog t’ see what ye’ll manage!

  (Flare and Focus head off with the structure and find a workshop with all the material they need, including decorations, crayons, scissors, cardboard, and other stuff, as well as other kids working on their own lanterns. They take a seat and grab the material they need, then Focus immediately grabs a piece of cardboard and wraps it around the lantern, as if trying to approximate its measurements. Flare remains silent and reluctant as Focus goes about his work with ease, effortlessly and quickly cutting off a piece of red cardboard in accordance with the structure’s dimensions, but then she speaks up.)

  Flare: (in a soft-spoken manner) Hey, can I try?

  Focus: (turning to her, surprised) Huh?

  Flare: (turning away) Oh, sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt you, really.

  Focus: (blankly) No, I… don’t mind at all.

  (Flare is shocked by Focus’s reaction, who promptly grabs several pieces of cardboard of all sorts of colors he can find and cuts them into smaller, precise pieces, handing them over to Flare. She takes a look at them and then glances at the structure of the lantern, a thought crossing her mind. She wraps a small, golden yellow piece of cardboard around the very top and very bottom of the lantern then proceeds to cover the rest of the structure with a fiery red color. As she struggles to keep the covering intact, Focus steps in and helps with that with sparing and calculated use of adhesive material. He then smoothens the panels against the ribs to minimize wrinkles.)

  Focus: (flatly) Don’t mind me. Just keep going.

  (Flare is surprised by this, which brings a single chuckle out of her. She continues with wrapping several light red cardboard sheets as moderately wide stripes on top of the initial cover, with Focus keeping the cover intact and adjusting whatever Flare has left behind. Over time, she starts building her confidence back up, a faint smirk on her face as she begins to stick the golden decorations on the cover. Focus simply lets her enthusiastically continue her work without interfering, and eventually, she’s finally done with her lantern. The duo glance at their lantern in awe, surprised by its beauty, and then they exchange glances in surprise. The kids around them notice their lantern and surround it, surprised as well.)

  Boy 1A: (in awe) Woah! This thing looks sick!

  Girl 1A: (grinning, glancing at Flare) Your lantern is so pretty, Miss Flare!

  Flare: (surprised, muttering) You… know my name already?

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  (Flare starts chuckling sheepishly while scratching her head, while Focus stands up, letting the enthusiastic kids surround her. A small smile forms on his lips, and upon noticing that, he immediately turns away with a reserved expression, his hands in his pockets. Flare momentarily glances at Focus in this state and — upon glancing at a girl’s lantern and noticing its uneven and wrinkled cover — pats her back, as if encouraging her to head to Focus.)

  Flare: (softly smiling) Go on. He can help.

  (She nods at the girl, who gets enough encouragement to grab her lantern and head to Focus with an amiable smile. While Focus remains reserved, his head bowed, the girl meekly approaches him, her wrinkled and uneven lantern in hand.)

  Girl 1A: (amiably smiling, extending her lantern to Focus) Hi. Sorry to bother you, Mister Focus, but I’m having some trouble with my lantern, and Miss Flare said you can help. Please?

  (Focus’s eyes widen in surprise, and he grabs the lantern, inspecting it with a blank expression. He turns to Flare, who winks at him with a smirk. A small blush forms on his face in reaction to that, but he quickly brushes that off and sighs deeply, sitting down on the ground and signaling the girl to sit down beside him.)

  Focus: (thinking to himself, rolling his eyes) So this is how you thank me, firecracker? More work?

  (Mr. Gallagher watches the two from afar, seeing them interacting with the kids in a friendly manner, as if actually starting to relax. He also glances at the lantern beside Flare, astonished by its surprisingly well-made appearance, and a small, proud smile forms on his face. After a while, with the lanterns stored up in the meantime, the townspeople of Larkspur come back into the open and kickstart the festivities in the bright lights. Lots of kids sit around in a campfire and listen to Mr. Gallagher’s storytelling, who recounts to them stories about the storm.)

  Mr. Gallagher: An’ so, those brave young lads found their way back here, thanks to those lanterns, comin’ back t’provide fer the town after goin’ outta their way t’acquire much-needed firewood. Thanks t’ their efforts, the townsfolk could stay warm in their homes. ’Tis just one moment when this town’s spirit shone through fer all.

  Boy 1B: (excitedly) You were there, right?!

  Mr. Gallagher: (chuckling) Don’t be daft, lad. I wasn’t even born back then. Whether ye believe it or not, I’m still well in me early fifties.

  Girl 1B: But the way you told that tale, it just felt like you saw it yourself!

  Mr. Gallagher: This story was passed onto me from a grand fella, someone who’s been through this himself... an’ me father-in-law. I still remember the first time I heard that tale from him. I was truly bewitched.

  Boy 1C: (trying to imitate Mr. Gallagher’s Irish accent, grinning) Gettin’ a bit nostalgic, are you, old chap?

  Mr. Gallagher: (smirking) Y’know, ye still gotta work on th’ dialect, but all in all, a grand seven, I’d say.

  (The boy chuckles sheepishly at this, and Mr. Gallagher chuckles as well along with the other kids. Back in the town, a communal cooking activity is in progress, and several townspeople take part, even Focus, who meticulously places a touch of salt on an eloquent beef stew, preparing it himself, in fact. He adds that to his main dish, which consists of a golden-brown, herb-crusted roast chicken with roasted root vegetables. He presents that dish to a trio of old townswomen, being the last to present his culinary skills.)

  Focus: (politely and firmly) Here you go.

  (Focus carefully splits the dish into three plates with equal portions and slides them in front of each of the judges before stepping back. The judges grab their knives and forks then dig in, looking rather mesmerized and satisfied from the first bite itself.)

  Old Woman 1A: (amiably, while eating) This tastes incredible! (glancing at Focus) Herb-crusted roast chicken, am I right?

  Focus: Correct. This is a free-range chicken, brined for twelve hours to ensure moisture retention and uniform seasoning. The skin has been dry-brined with kosher salt and a finely minced herb mixture—rosemary, thyme, and a touch of sage—to create a crisp, aromatic crust.

  Old Woman 1B: (chuckling heartedly) Wow, you’ve really done your homework, didn’t ya?

  Focus: (still continuing) The vegetables are peeled, uniformly diced to 2-centimeter pieces, blanched briefly to reduce cooking time variance, then roasted alongside the chicken with a light coating of clarified butter and a drizzle of local honey to promote even caramelization.

  Old Man 1C: (chuckling nervously) Slow down, kid. You don’t have to go into details.

  Focus: The internal temperature of the chicken was monitored with a probe to maintain 74°C at the thickest point, ensuring juiciness without overcooking. Finished with a touch of cracked black pepper and a garnish of fresh herbs for aroma and presentation.

  Old Man 1A: (grinning) We do approach the enthusiasm, dear, and it looks like you’ve got the skill to complement that. We’ll announce the winner later on. You can enjoy the festivities until then.

  (Focus nods and promptly leaves the area, his hands in his pockets with an unbothered expression. Waiting for him outside is none other than Flare, who was actually watching him from afar.)

  Flare: (smirking) Yapping about stuff no one really cares about. Typical from you, I’d say. Never imagined that you’d be so passionate about cooking.

  Focus: (unamused) Is there a problem with that?

  Flare: (side-eyeing him, still smirking) And here you are acting so defensive about your obsessions as per usual. Once again, typical.

  (Focus rolls his eyes in annoyance then sighs deeply, and as he heads off on his way, Flare follows beside him. They come across a young man carrying several cups of tea on a plate and offering a cup to whoever he comes across. They accept a cup of tea each and take a sip of the hot beverage, which leaves a good taste in their mouths.)

  Focus: (glancing at the cup) Tea. A fellow hot beverage, yet perpetually second best to coffee.

  Flare: (taking another sip, grinning) Hey, that’s not half bad!

  Focus: (narrowing his eyes) Then perhaps you should upgrade to coffee already.

  Flare: (exasperated) I won’t! Give it up already!

  Focus: It’s your loss.

  (The duo go around the town sightseeing, getting to take a look at the other festivities in here for a while now. That includes a brief look at the bazaars around, in which they take a look at and admire the souvenirs and accessories put up on the counter, and a classic musical performance as well, which they look rather impressed by. Afterwards, they have noodles for dinner somewhere, digging in without a care in the world. Eventually, they continue walking around, with Flare looking around in awe, which Focus notices with a side-eye.)

  Flare: (grinning) There’s a lot going on in here, it’s unbelievable!

  Focus: (flatly) The fact that you’re finally being as loud as you usually are is both bothersome and reassuring. Normalcy is restored, I suppose.

  Flare: So what about that cooking contest you took part in? (smirking) Feeling nervous?

  Focus: (shrugging) I fancy my chances. Also… (deadpan) you sound too enthusiastic for someone who didn’t even wanna join to begin with.

  Flare: (annoyed) I’d still rather not be around here, mind you!

  Focus: And why is that? I still don’t understand what’s gotten you so bitter and reserved lately.

  (Flare is shocked by this question and bows her head with a reserved expression, and Focus reacts to that with a blank frown, refusing to elaborate any further. The silence between them stays for a while, but then Flare finally speaks up once again.)

  Flare: (sighing deeply, her voice assuming a softer, quieter tone) I don’t know how to feel about that. I wanna believe that they’re genuinely good people… Shay, the townspeople, everyone in here… but… I know better than to think that. I can’t. I just can’t trust them, and I also can’t swallow the thought of even being around them. We’ve got a hefty bounty on our backs, remember?

  Focus: (quietly) Yeah…

  Flare: I just find myself wondering… why haven’t they ratted us out yet? What’re they waiting for? Isn’t even one of them allured by the bounty? (glancing at Focus) What about you? What do you think?

  Focus: (taken aback by the question, muttering) Honestly, I… I don’t know what to think of that either. It’ll come to pass, I guess, and I’ll just go along with it for the meantime, but still… it feels… weird.

  Flare: (solemnly) Weird, you say? Well… that makes two of us.

  (The two glance at each other, their mouths open but struggling to find the words to speak any further, as if the surrounding area just froze in place. Suddenly, however, Flare and Focus notice several grenades getting thrown right at them, to their shock.)

  Both: (in unison, shocked) What in the — ?!

  (The grenades blow up, trapping the duo and their surroundings in a massive smokescreen. This single move sends the entire Lantern Jubilee into disarray, with the festivities placed into a sudden halt as the townsfolk notice what just happened. Before they know it, it’s none other than the Ironclad Response Unit storming the town, their soldiers dead set on capturing Flare and Focus above all else. Upon seeing the IRU soldiers begin their attack and immediately recognizing them, Mr. Gallagher grimaces and signals the kids to follow him as he runs off elsewhere, to their shock and fear.)

  Boy 1D: (shocked and fearfully) Mr. Shay?! What’s going on?! Who are those people?!

  Mr. Gallagher: (grimacing) It’s not safe in here, wee ones! Follow me!

  (The townspeople glance around in shock and horror as everything descends into chaos in only a matter of seconds, with the IRU soldiers relentlessly breaking through with their weapons. Meanwhile, as Flare and Focus attempt to navigate the smokescreen, they too notice the IRU soldiers sweeping the area, gritting their teeth at that. They allowed themselves to relax a little too much after all. The Ironclad Defense Unit is back for them, and they’re not about to let up anytime soon without a fight.)