Everyone sat in a loose circle on the boat's deck, the gentle sway of the water around them. A soft lantern flickered in the center, casting a warm glow on their faces. Astra sat with her legs tucked beneath her, Xue quietly nestled beside her, his small hands folded in his lap.
Kaen moved around the circle, handing out rice cakes wrapped neatly in leaves. "One for each," he said, placing them into waiting hands.
Seiya took his with a dramatic sigh. "Only one? Tch… If this kid hadn't eaten like three people combined, I could've had two."
Astra carefully unwrapped hers and held it out to Xue instead. "He was just hungry, Seiya. No need to be dramatic. I wonder how many days he hadn't eaten before this."
Xue blinked up at her, then took the rice cake, holding it close like it was something precious.
Shion chewed slowly, watching the boy with a faint frown. "I don't know why… but something feels off about this kid." He leaned in slightly, squinting as if trying to read something in Xue's expression.
Before he could get too close, Ryoma swiftly reached out and pulled him back by the collar.
"Hey! what was that for?" Shion gave him a suspicious look.
Ryoma shrugged, calm and casual. "You were leaning too far in. Don't fall into the lantern."
Shion didn't look convinced, but he backed off, glancing once more at Xue, who had silently moved closer to Astra, eyes focused on the flickering flame.
After they all finished eating, a gentle hush fell over the group. The soft crackle of the lantern in the center was the only sound accompanying the rhythm of the river.
Astra let out a long yawn, stretching her arms lazily. "Ugh… I'm really bored right now."
Seiya glanced at her, unimpressed. "Then just go sit in a corner and sleep."
Astra narrowed her eyes at him. "You do know I get the worst nightmares, right? I don't want to scare every passenger on this boat by suddenly screaming in my sleep."
Seirou, who had leaned back and covered his face with a book, spoke from behind it, "So what are you planning to do? Stay up all night?"
"I'll sleep a few hours before dawn," Astra replied casually. "That way, my brain won't have time to cook up any nightmares."
Shion raised an eyebrow. "So what are you going to do until then? Catch fish with your bare hands?"
Astra rolled her eyes. "Hilarious," she muttered. But then her expression lit up with sudden excitement. "Wait! what if we all play a game?"
Seiya groaned, flopping back dramatically. "Games? No thanks. I'm sleepy. Look at Seirou, he doesn't even care about the place or position, he's already passed out like a log."
"I'm planning to follow his path," Seiya added, closing his eyes.
"Seiya, don't be like that," Astra huffed. "Come on, just a little fun won't kill you."
She turned toward Kaen, eyes sparkling with hopeful energy. "What do you say, Kaen?"
Kaen hesitated for a moment, caught between silence and the weight of her hopeful stare. Then, with a small sigh, he gave a resigned smile. "Alright. If you're that excited… we'll play."
Astra beamed. "Yes! Then it's settled. Everyone is playing!"
Shion leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "So… what games do you have in mind?"
Seiya groaned but sat up anyway. "Just don't say anything weird."
"I wasn't!" She tapped her chin, clearly trying to think of something fun.
Before she could answer, Seirou's sleepy voice cut in as he shifted slightly, still half-lying down. "How about we play Truth and Lies?"
Astra immediately froze. Her smile vanished, her back stiffened, and her eyes darkened for a moment like a memory had crept up from the shadows. She quickly waved her hands. "No! Not that. Anything but that!"
Everyone blinked in surprise.
"…Alright, definitely not that," Shion muttered, raising an eyebrow.
Ryoma, who had been quietly watching the exchange from his place, finally spoke. "Then how about something simple?"
Everyone turned toward him, nodding and listening carefully as he continued.
"We split into two teams. One person from the opposing team gives a word— it can be anything. The chosen one must act it out without making a sound. Their teammates get five chances to guess it right."
Shion leaned in, "So, like silent acting?"
"Exactly," Ryoma nodded. "But with a twist. The team that guesses correctly gets to command one task from the losing team. Any task… within reason, of course."
Seiya raised an eyebrow. "So it's like charades… but with dares?"
Ryoma smirked faintly. "You could say that."
Astra's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Let's call it… Silent Spark!"
"Hmm. Not bad," Kaen said, rubbing his chin.
"Alright, then!" Astra clapped her hands. "Form your teams! Let the Silent Spark begin!"
Xue quietly slid closer to Astra, a wide smile spreading across his face.
Seiya crossed his arms and eyed him. "What about this kid? Is he playing too? Doesn't that make the teams uneven?"
Astra looked down at Xue and then back up, grinning. "Yes, he is. And since he's small, I say he counts as half."
Seiya immediately scoffed. "Then I'm not going to be on the team he's in. I don't wanna lose at all."
"Fine by me," Astra said smugly, wrapping an arm around Xue's shoulder. "He's with me."
Kaen chuckled. "So how are we dividing the teams?"
Astra extended her palm forward, her smirk growing. "The usual way. Palm draw."
Seiya stepped up, placing his hand over hers. "Since you and I are already on opposite sides, that makes it easy. You go first."
Astra nodded confidently. "I choose Kaen."
Seiya turned and looked over at Seirou. "Then I choose Seirou."
Seirou, who had been half-dozing, blinked awake in surprise. "Huh? You're not choosing to be on the opposite team like everytime?"
Seiya shrugged. "Don't think it's because I like you."
Astra raised an eyebrow but went on, pointing to the next. "I choose Shion."
Seiya glanced around, then smirked. "Alright then. Since Xue's already with you, I choose… Ryoma."
Ryoma, gave a subtle nod. "Alright, who's going first? I'm ready!" Shion said, cracking his knuckles with a grin, clearly eager to win.
Astra raised her hand. "They'll go first. Come on, give one of us a word."
Seirou, Seiya, and Ryoma huddled together briefly. After a quick whispering session, Ryoma turned and pointed at Kaen. "You're up."
Kaen sighed, got to his feet, and leaned in as Ryoma whispered the word into his ear. A moment passed as Kaen straightened and processed it. Then, without a word, he began.
He hunched low, spread his arms wide like wings, and tilted his head back. He moved with sharp, rhythmic steps, occasionally glancing over his shoulder with exaggerated alertness. His fingers curled like claws, and at one point, he mimicked breathing fire into the air with a soft "whoosh."
Shion leaned forward, eyes narrowed. "A crow ?"
"No wait, maybe a tiger with wings?" Astra guessed.
Shion tried again. "An eagle?" Kaen gave no sign, only circled again and struck a dramatic, coiled pose.
"That's three guesses!" Seirou warned from the other side.
Astra's brows furrowed in panic. She suddenly snapped her fingers. "Wait! Is it… a Ryūkiba?"
Kaen froze, then nodded, standing straight again. Shion let out a breath of relief.
"Yes!" Astra cheered, giving Xue a high five. "We got the point!"
"Okay, now it's our turn to give a word!"
She looked around, giggling, then pointed at Seiya. "You're going next!"
Seiya nodded, Shion leaned close and whispered something in his ear. As soon as he heard it, Seiya's face twisted in disbelief.
He glared at Shion. "Seriously?"
Shion smirked and shrugged. "You'll manage."
Grumbling, Seiya stepped into the center. He took a deep breath, then started acting… something. His hands flailed, his legs staggered, and he made wild, jerky movements like he was about to fall over or pass out. He flopped around, making odd choking faces, stumbling and crawling in circles.
Seirou tilted his head. "Uh… a chicken dance?"
"Possessed man?" Ryoma guessed.
"Drunk idiot!" Seirou added, squinting.
"None of those!" Seiya growled through clenched teeth as he kept trying. Seirou raised an eyebrow and used the last two chances. "Goblin ghost? Sleepwalking yak?"
"No! Argh!" Seiya finally threw up his hands. "You guys are hopeless! I thought you—" he pointed at Seirou "—would get it easily!"
"You looked like a dying donkey, how were we supposed to guess anything?" Seirou blinked.
Shion let out a snort, folding his arms with a wide grin. "Exactly. That was the word."
"What?" Seirou frowned.
Ryoma raised an eyebrow. "The word was… dying donkey?"
Shion nodded smugly.
Seirou stared, then burst into laughter. "No wonder! That was painfully accurate."
Even Ryoma let out a rare chuckle, shaking his head. Seiya groaned and slumped back down. "It wasn't accurate!"
Astra grinned mischievously, stretching her arms behind her head. "Alright! Since you guys lost, it's dare time."
She tapped her chin thoughtfully, eyes scanning the opposing team with a mischievous glint. Then, with flair, she pointed. "I dare one of you to wear my pink robes and dress as me for three full days once we reach the capital. No changing, no cheating. Full commitment, head to toe. What do you say?"
Shion and Kaen exchanged a glance and nodded in perfect sync.
A beat of silence passed.
Ryoma and Seirou, without missing a beat, turned to Seiya and pointed in perfect sync. "He'll do it."
Seiya's eyes widened in horror. "What?! Are you two serious?!"
"You lost," Ryoma said dryly.
"You made a mistake choosing us," Seirou added with a shrug. Seiya groaned, clutching his head. "I knew I should've joined Astra's team…"
"Liar," Astra muttered with a smirk.
Meanwhile, Xue, quietly watching it all from beside her, let out a soft giggle. Astra blinked and looked down at him. "Wait… did you just laugh?"Xue immediately shook his head, lips tight and his eyes gleaming.