#zafora

Zafora

Seeing as I play the guys I’m most interested in first, I’m going to be clear and obvious with my bias here. I picked him first because he seemed like a mix of Ulrik from Steam Prison and Hanzo from Nightshade, with Ulrik’s information broker occupation and younger looks, and Hanzo’s “allergic to friendship and trust” schtick. Basically, I want to see this guy humbled.

What was surprising was the second time you can choose to meet him. Obviously Zafora is openly annoyed with Tifalia and realistically a MC like that wouldn’t keep insisting to be with Zafora despite him, so I was prepared to consider this point earning scene out of character and merely a scene for the reader to be more used to him/ to earn a point to get onto his route under the Doylist line of thinking. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Sure Tifalia gets the idea to see him for a reason like being suspicious, but she ends up not being able to find him, resulting in her running an “errand” for someone resulting in her bumping into Zafora and him revealing that she’s been smuggling drugs, which felt like a more natural progression and a feeling that continues to the rest of the route.

The city of Cultura is Zafora’s “stop” of the common route so getting there, while typical development in “he’s actually connected to the town” was very organic. So even in the common route the changes he goes through are already believable.

After that in the third city he is more kind and friendly. So I was pretty much on his route since when I meet up again with him in that city, I get a CG. Tifalia is charmed by him holding her close in the water, how heart thumping. So Tifalia’s romantic feelings are believable, but there was a time where I thought Zafora wasn’t quite developing them. Sure there was the barrette gift and the early reveal that it was a very intentional gift on Zafora’s part, but after that there weren’t really many signs of interest on his part while Tifalia was just infatuated with him. It’s not a dynamic I really enjoy. More of their relationship developing happens when plot and Balto being evil kicks in, which was enough for my purposes.

Then finally we’re at the end and Zafora finally confesses to Tifalia, a scene that is eyebrow raising because Tifalia thinks he’s drunk for… no reason. Well there IS a reason, but it’s because she allegedly can’t believe he would say sweet things? It makes no sense because she knew him since the common route and witnessed how he slowly changed. She was teased by others about his change, such as when she was told of Zafora grabbing Alast’s collar to know where she was. Really out of nowhere and put a damper on the confession scene.

Now we’re past the credits. Lmao Tifalia literally tells him that he ghosted her in the localization. Apparently he’s been away on business and blah blah blah he supposedly couldn’t even write anything to her. He gives the vague reason of not contacting her because “he didn’t know what to say” (???)  and I lmao’d at Tifalia accusing Zafora of wanting her to be his mommybangmaid.  Zafora ended up implying he didn’t let her live with him earlier because he “wouldn’t be able to control himself” lolllll. MC’s aren’t pure maidens (in the sense they have no sexual desires), so fuck off, Zafora. Unfortunately as much as I want to call this “bad writing” this is something that would happen. Or maybe it IS bad writing that this was wrapped up so easily. The choice is thine own.

Objective score: 6.2/10

Enjoyment score: 5.9/10

Ion

There are cute interactions before the route properly starts, but when we actually get onto there, Tifalia has pretty much already caught feelings. On Ion’s side however, while he has bonded with Tifalia the most there’s no signs of romantic feelings. Radie even jokes about it after saying he’s in a love triangle with Ion and Tifalia where Tifalia has unrequited love for Ion.

So they spend a little more time together. After the show, they’re walking and Tifalia tells him to never leave without letting her know. Then Ion bends down and kisses her hand, saying he’ll go wherever she goes... I couldn’t really believe he would do and say all of that so suddenly, especially because he doesn’t have a knight/servant background where he has to be respectful. This route isn’t on the best start.

So the plot happens and Barto fucking dies after all that happened in Zafora’s route and Luna is a mind controlled killer. This is all relieving for reasons that are “so won’t Zafora be busy with Cultura like in the previous route” that I was preoccupied with before (so what about cultura on other routes where this presumably doesn't happen, whatever, enough about Zafora).

Something that was at least a little compelling was how Tifalia knew that Avi was the only one who could fully understand Ion and his past. However she then resolved to drag him out of that world, because he expressed that he wanted to live an ordinary life. Usually the strongest bonds in romances form when the couple actually do share a lot of the same experiences, but I like how this game tackles coming from completely different lives and Tifalia is really "ordinary."

Zafora, Jinnia, and Tifalia head to Ferus to meet up with the rest of the gang who aren’t answering their calls. There they see Paschalia fighting Zion. He gets his ass whooped and Ion is about to kill him but resists at the last moment. I love how brainwashed Ion can resist for motives other than The Power of (Romantic) Love, it’s also for friendship (though to be fair he has the stronger bond with Tifalia). Unlike last route, I thought that Colivus’s admiration of the LI made more sense because he actually spent time with him and was touched by the things he said early on. In Zafora’s route he wanted to star with Zafora for no reason.

Avi had rather strange motivations of wanting the underground arena to continue despite everything he and his friends suffered in there, which was really hard to believe. But oh well. He still saw Ion as his friend in his own twisted way.

Luna is great too. From the reveal that she was used to assassinate Balto to apologizing to Tifalia for telling her that she didn’t understand her and finally working at the capital café awaiting her sentence. The conclusion to her character being “I’ll turn this symbol of courage into the truth” was good and it was surprising that such a simple story with straightforward characters managed to be so satisfying.

Despite all this good stuff, in the end I couldn’t quite buy the romantic feelings on Ion’s side. The only evidence that supports his romantic feelings are being embarrassed after kissing Tifalia’s hand in the form of threatening to beat up Jinnia if he tells anyone what he saw lol. Even so his scenes were still heart racing, and the after credits scene didn’t end out of character like Zafora’s did. And all his “you deserve better” put a damper on any chemistry especially because the narrative didn’t portray his alleged romantic feelings in any way.

Artwise the CG’s were great, but Ion’s side profile looked weird at times and I felt like he was in the same hunched over pose a lot. His sprites are great.

I’m a little uncomfortable with his circus outfit because of course the tan guy has to have the revealing BDSM leather strappy outfit, this is the 3rd otome game I’ve played where the tan guy either wears the most revealing clothes, or has the only shirtless sprite in the game (even if tempest and Olympia Soirée respectively). I'm not well versed in the subject, but I'm getting the message that it's okay for men to be provocative to women if they're dark skinned. Clothing also sends the message that only dark skinned men can be animalistic/brash, only pale people can be elegant and sophisticated.

Objective score: 7/10

Enjoyment score: 6.4/10

Paschalia

You know how I said earlier that I play the guys I’m most interested in first? Paschalia didn’t fit the bill because he seemed generic elegant softboi with a boring voice actor (I can’t tell him apart from Ion sometimes) but over time he grew on me and I wanted to see how he would be like if he were romanced.

In the “common” route the relationship that developed between them was so sweet. As always Tifalia falls first and it’s believable and all, but again, she gets friendzoned when the route properly starts.

He has a degenerative disease. So he dies in the other routes, what the hell. ANGST.

There's a break from all that angst, and Tifalia gets the opportunity to go to Paschalia’s house uwu. While waiting for her room to be prepared cause they’re not sleeping in the same room, Tifalia confesses to Paschalia and he’s like “thanks.” RIP Tifalia holy shit this is the most friendzoned you’ve been so far. So she leaves the house crying to Radie. Kind of rude to Paschalia parents ngl (also it just bothers me how unimportant they all, especially given Paschalia's general disposition. I'd have wanted a talk with his parents to give some depth and memorability to the route).

Finally the first non MC POV of two LI’s being friends happens, and Vilio shows he’s concerned for Paschalia. This is especially heartwarming because before that Vilio said that he was his first friend and they had a lot in common and they spent much time together (I was wondering why something like this didn’t happen in other routes with other LI’s but the idea that they all saw each other as nakama and didn’t pry into each other beyond what is revealed in the common route was natural, also for a setting like this where MC can form romantic relationships with each of the members, this allows the romances with MC to be more interesting beyond “we’re together yay.”).

Ok so I’m going on another one of my rants. The gang goes to get the Lacrima earrings and upon touching it Leve the great water spirit appears. She says she’ll cure Paschalia and allow him to live without synchronization as a normal human if he can clear a trial to show her “true love.” First of all, it still bothers me that Oriens the City of Love (Ai, a general term for love) and the strongest vows are for romances, and only at the end Leve specified “koi” (romantic love) once for her trial. Whatever, I’ll just use the Olympia Soiree copium explanation and chalk this up to supernatural beings making the rules regarding which love is better. But wait! When all the members of CIRCUS and the entire city send them a Flora courtesy of Paschalia’s best friend Vilio, and that’s the thing that gives Paschalia courage and helps him and Tifalia find each other, the route really peaks. “Caring for another is love (ai)” says Leve. Yay finally. However, I’m not very satisfied with the idea that their fate rests on the arbitrary worldview of a supernatural entity. But that’s the charm of this game, romanticizing these sorts of things. Everything that happens here is consistent with the vibe.

Art wise, the CG’s were great except for the kiss CG where Paschalia’s eyes are hidden, really disappointing. Paschalia’s sprites are wonderful too and really convey his graceful yet airheaded vibe, especially with his weird smile.

Objective score: 8.3/10

Enjoyment score: 7.4/10

Radie

He’s the oldest, has known Tifalia forever, is obviously in love with her, is a furball but also a handsome looker with playboy aesthetic. But the most important part is the “childhood friend” part, more specifically, her guardian and self proclaimed parental figure. As always, with childhood-whatever LI, the question always arises why the protagonist doesn’t get with him over the other LI’s, a topic that is handled excellently from the start because Radie had always been in animal form and you can’t be attracted to an animal. The first time he showed his true form to Tifalia was later in the common route.

From the so-called “common route” scenes Tifalia and Radie do develop good romantic chemistry as usual, as expected of this game. Radie teasing Tifalia is gold. Then in the 5th chapter when the gang goes back to Liber, Tifalia, Radie, and Spirea talk again. Spirea tells Radie to spill the beans, and he does. He reveals that he actually knew her parents and witnessed their deaths as he tried to save them when they came home on the brink of death and Tifalia was there too. And from then on she was like a doll, so Radie changed his name from Ralida and kept in his Fey form even after he recovered enough power to transform for fear of reminding her of those painful memories. Naturally Tifalia doesn’t care about any of this, except for the part where Ralida is like “so that’s why I’ve been trying to be your parent substitute and own it up to your parents” and Tifalia has the nth  “running away and crying because the LI friendzoned me” scene because 1. she’s obviously attracted to him and wants him to look at her as a woman uwu, and 2. She wants him to be with her because he likes her as a person not out of duty. Which is a compelling conflict.

So Tifalia is all angsty due to all of this, and bumps into Liyan. He notices that she’s down and consoles her and makes her realize that she’s in love with Ralida by caressing her cheek as if for a kiss. Ralida barges in at this time and gets her away. As they talk Ralida mentions how she needs to find a worthy man and if she’s interested in the CIRCUS members. Aaand then. Holy shit. This game is legit Friendzone Simulator. Tifalia straight up confesses as usual, complete with a CG of her hugging him, asking him to try seeing her as a woman and not a family or child, and Ralida bluntly draws the line and rejects her. Now here my enjoyment was lessened because of how little Tifalia knows of Ralida while being in love. I’m not saying it’s bad writing, romantic love doesn’t require that deep of a bond or understanding. It’s just that on top of being rejected, there’s still some oooh, mystery going on with him that he makes painfully obvious. Like with remembering his “parental figure” while training Colivus, like Christ. None of this are things I particularly like seeing or find appealing but it’s still interesting to read about, at least. However from a writing standpoint I felt led on. Ralida was flirty in the common route, even on other routes, and then he chickens out when the girl he has a close bond with develops feelings? Will this get addressed? (It doesn’t)

Later on things are finally revealed about him. He wasn’t somehow Celius the Great Earth Spirit like I guessed, but a homunculus created by him who can turn into a Fey to avoid suspicion of being immortal. He’s also part Core Item so he has to fulfill his national duty and produce Flora seeds, bye. So Tifalia and him sleep next to each other with him in Fey form. He continues monologuing his “I can’t give you a normal life” spiel and does that while he leaves in the night. At this point I really forgot if he had any chemistry with her, because there’s just no angst in his POV’s beyond that, even Paschalia had that and mentioned how his heart stopped at her confession in his route. The route is just dragging on at this point.

Then he leaves and becomes 99% the wand. And his body is an old husk with no emotion. Another stupid thing from Ralida again thinking removing himself from her life will make her happy even though he stated over and over that he’s family and no shit she won’t be happy without her family. Whether this is addressed or not, I’ll find out.

Honestly, Emotionless Husk Ralida is more interesting as an LI. Maybe if we have an LI like that who we teach about the kokoro and he falls in love, would make a better story. But of course we need to bring the real Ralida back, the guy who led us on and dragged out this route.

Oh right I keep forgetting that Tifalia’s parents are alive and they allegedly reunited. That was glossed over so badly because Tifalia is instead obsessed with Ralida uwu, oh well at least it got a CG of her hugging them.

Ok so the thing I complained about earlier was addressed. Turns out that Ralida was obsessed with blood bonds which is why he kept bringing up family nonstop. And now that Tifalia reunited with her parents he can fuck off. The little shit didn’t consider that, maybe he’s breedable, and can create family that way uwu. Will this ever be addressed? Or did Celius not give him any of that sweet male gamete??? Light jabs aside, it still makes no sense. So this girl will be happier with her parents, therefore you kill yourself? Even platonically, the reasoning is stupid and out of character. What about the whole thing about Celsius’s mission? And the other thing I preferred to happen, happened too. It turns out that kuudere Ralida is the new LI, because he gets CG’s lol, and gradually falls in love as he ponders the philosophies of emotions and kokoro’s.

As always I have my complaints about media professing romantic love to be the ultimate form of love, and this is what Celius implies when the conclusion to his research is kuudere Ralida realizing his romantic love for Tifalia and that he wants to be with her. But maybe you can argue it wasn’t, because when Celius tells Ralida what the basis of all emotion is, he says “love” (Ai) and his description of it isn’t exclusive to romantic love. Also, the circus act’s story involves the main character wanting to be with the child she grew to love as family (although this is what happened with Tifalia and Ralida lol, at least Tifalia grew up). Let’s say this is just my copium and I’m wrong. Even so, is this the opinion of Celius or the writers? Makes sense what I’m trying to get at?

Moving on, Ralida comes back with his full personality because something something the wand was pointing to him (???) and Kuudere Ralida turns back into Boring Ralida. So does that mean the Core Item Earth wand can continue to manufacture Flora or something? This point is never addressed. I even tried to replay some scenes after Vilio’s route but I still have no idea what the idea with the wand was. Why did he activate again if he gave his personality to the wand? It felt like two separate people developed and then converged into one because plot.

And the after credits scene is a Zafora 2.0. Ralida apparently hasn’t told Tifalia he loves her yet, and Tifalia is pissed the fuck off. Then he finally reveals the reason: he’s a man too, and has to keep his desires in for Tifalia’s sake uwu. Lame lame LAME. Ion and Paschalia could immediately throw themselves at Tifalia, why couldn’t YOU??? Unfortunately, just like with Zafora’s route, I can’t get on my high horse and say “silly writers, that’s bad writing and out of character.” No, this is something that would happen. It’s just eye rolling and absolutely not to my taste. Or, again, maybe it IS bad writing. Why couldn’t he tell her he loves her when she was crying on his chest? Surely he’s not horny all the damn time right? Christ. Way to pad the route out, they clearly had no ideas for the after credits scene.

Overall, this route was really dragged on and wasted my time, which is a shame because there was actually a lot it could have expanded on without me feeling that way, like you know… Tifalia’s parents and their reunion.

In the end I couldn’t really buy the romantic feelings on Ralida’s part. Sure they developed during the Common Route scenes, but after he rejects her there’s just none of that angst on his part if he really wanted to be with her romantically but couldn’t because he’d hurt her (or get hurt). For example, there was the CG and scene where he kisses her forehead before leaving in the night. There was no sign of physical attraction form his own damn PoV, but as Kuudere Ralida he claims that “that kiss could not have been familial affection” nah boi this isn’t it. And by the way I don’t care if he’s her adoptive family and is way older than her and she’s sixteen etc. And I like those tropes, so it looks even worse on this route. Oof.

Also this route just had the worst pacing so far, especially regarding Tifalia’s parents. Oh well at least this means her parents are alive in the other routes and Tifalia and her LI can meet them. Hopefully this happens in the fandisc.

Artwise the CG’s are great as always. I don’t really have specific complaints. I like Ralida’s sprites.

I'm sure he'd age well, Tifalia. But yeah not all men look good in beards.

Objective score: 6/10

Enjoyment score: 4/10

Vilio

After Ralida’s route, all panels are unlocked after the “Fin” ending card. This time the unlocked LI panels have voice lines with each LI saying something along the lines of “you gave me courage” and then Vilio at the end says “time to raise the curtains.” Huh? Are they talking about Vilio or me? I’d be a little pissed if they’re talking solely about Vilio because why is he so important? Why did he meddle so much in the previous routes?

However in the Vilio common route, it seems that Vilio apparently investigates everyone’s issues in the common behind the scenes which warms their hearts. Now I get why the mini LI’s were touched by him. Also, Paschalia can be saved!

The parents wake up in this route, of course. Ralida was able to save her parents without doing the whole emotionless husk business, somehow, why didn’t he do that in his own route? No seriously I am so confused. They paid lipservice to how Ralida might have to sacrifice himself to complete the wand later but that never happens. Someone please explain.

After a lot of other things happen, wow Tifalia finally gets possessed by a fiend. In this state she’s able to tell Vilio her true feelings, that she doesn’t care about the world if he dies etc etc. and this is a unique development that I appreciate, but damn. Really, I don’t believe that she has such a strong connection with him to warrant those feelings. What exactly makes them that special to each other besides an alleged romance? At least Vilio has more reason to feel this way, because the most important bond to all dragons is a romantic one, and Tifalia is the one who became close to him through circumstance.

And then he kisses her… sure. I don’t believe it. While I did say earlier that I believe his attachment to her that doesn’t mean I believe his romantic feelings. Sure, to dragons, their mate is the most important person to them, but given his personality they should have been shown more. The only instance was when he blushed when Tifalia touched his hand early in the common route, then the same issue as Ralida’s route happened and the friendzone simulator began and I forgot any trace of chemistry there was. So disappointing. I was already dreading the shounen protagonist character to not be a good romance, and it turned out just as I feared. Compare and contrast with Noritsune from Birushana who plays on the same tropes and actually has physical attraction to MC.

Tifalia, now a Dragon Bride, can live forever and see spirits etc. And she gets time to talk to Ralida, the guy who she was supposed to care for (and not destroy the world over) but nothing much came out of that because she’s on Vilios route lol. I thought this would be opportune time for Ralida to reassure her and say that he’ll be with her since he won’t age and die of old was as well, but no. Man these routes have no room for platonic relationship development do they? Do they threaten romance that much?

In order to save Vilio from his eating disorder, Tifalia then enters a dungeon with Colivus to find this crystal which was apparently made after the previous Archdragon Ragulus was sealed and finished purifying all the fiends. But it has immense power… why wasn’t it used before? This point was never addressed.

So after completing trials and elaborating more on about the themes of friendship and regret, how Ragulus didn’t have to eat all the fiends and how humans had grown greedy and the industrial revolution and its consequences were a disaster for the human race and spawns more fiends (things that could be compelling but given the convoluted plot I don’t care that much), Ragulus finally allows us to use the crystal. That returns everyone’s negative emotions to them, which makes no damn sense. I thought it was like in Jujutsu Kaisen where Fiends were spawned from negative emotions and fears, so why do they have to be returned? Huh?

Then they have a wedding but it’s worse than Paschalia’s because of everything lol. The end. I finished the game.

Artwise, the CG’s and sprites were great. My only complaint is Colivus. His clothes were able to magically supersize but they couldn’t change his stupid haircut? His bowl hair only looked cute as a kid, not an adult.

Objective score: 4.9/10

Enjoyment score: 4.5/10

Tifalia/Common route/ other thoughts

No route for Jinnia ;-; I thought he was an LI

Finally for once in an Otomate game the NVL style text display does not say Monologue when you check the text history/backlog.

This game has a similar route structure to Jack Jeanne. Long “common” route but a lot of LI exclusive scenes in between to build a believable relationship and romance between LI and MC. That’s why the romances felt natural, but especially from MC’s side in Radiant Tale because she’s less bland due to actually having thoughts. This makes for a verrrry slow burn unlike in JJ where most of the LI’s are in love with MC by the time their route starts. Moreover the route structure is better than Code Realize due to the LI exclusive scene that make it so you’re basically on their route already, making the romances and attachment the MC has for a certain LI believable.

I love how sure, there’s the typical countdown-to-the-poster-boy-route after each completed route typical of these Otomate writers. However, instead of revealing a piece of a picture of the poster boy like in Café Enchante, Collar x Malice, and Code Realize, the pictures you unlock are cute Adventure Time style chibi versions of the LI whose route you just completed, and not a piece of Vilio’s picture, who’s already on there. So many improvements that aren’t even in the writing sector.

Nobuhiko Okamato’s kuudere voice is so sexy. Imagine if he voiced Hanzo from Nightshade, kuudere Ralida uses the same pronouns and speech patterns.

It was fun to copium my own way of looking at relationships into aligning with this game.

Yuuichirou Umehara grew on me as Paschalia. I love how gentle his voice is.

VERDICT

So after all of this how do I rate Friendzone Simulator— I mean, Radiant Tale?

Uhhh. In general, not exactly outstanding, even if Paschalia’s route is the highest scored I’d say this is a 6.5/10 game. Which is good enough for me.

I’d say this game is underrated, especially compared to the more popular games and their wack plots and interesting character executions. Moreover, this game was able to keep a consistent vibe to it despite everything that happens which is very hard to do. It's Radiant PEAK enough for me to want to buy the fandisk.

~~~

“Zafora~” Vilio all but threw himself at the clown, holding his arms out wide in a hug-like gesture. “Bring it in!”

“Ew.” Said man made a face, and the dragon yelped and clutched his heart dramatically. “No thanks. I’d rather not smell like dumb lizard.”

“Oh come on! I’m so clean right now- smell me!” The redhead shot his arms out, and once again Zafora backed up with a scrunched up expression. “I used that fancy herb soap Cultura creates! The one you use? Don’t I smell delicious?”

“That’s what I’m smelling. Roasted lizard.” Shaking his head, Zafora took another careful step away from the dragon, eyeing him warringly. “Even if you smelled like flowers, I’m not going to hug you.”

“So mean! Is it because you’re scared?” Vilio teased, earning a scathing glare. “Don’t be afraid of my love! Let me hold you in the night-”

“I will poison your food.” Vilio shut his mouth, lips twitching. Zafora turned away with a huff, glaring towards the horizon. Such a pretty face. Vilio thought kindly, shaking his head. It’s always the angelic ones that cut the deepest.

He was about to make another joke when Zafora suddenly slapped the back of his neck, flinching. “The hell..?” He growled, flipping his hand about. There was nothing there. Then he twitched again, swatting at the air around his ear.

“You okay?” Vilio asked, unsure of what was happening.

“No, there’s a bug. I think- gah!” Zafora jerked forward, grabbing his side. “Watch your hand, lizard!”

“I’m over here..?” The dragon raised his hands, a good distance away. Even with what he was, the reach wouldn’t be that quick. Zafora stared at him, looking from Vilio to his side. He patted himself down, a touch of nerves in his blue gaze. “What’s going on? Is there a bug on you?”

“Don’t say that.” Zafora hissed, voice a little shaky. Clearly he was afraid of them, even if he’d never admit it. Vilio recalled a time Jinnia was so mad at Zafora he chased him around camp with a grasshopper for a good hour. He felt bad for laughing as hard as he did, in retrospect. “I swear if you put one on me-tch!”

“Now why would I do that?” Vilio huffed, growing more concerned when Zafora ducked, swatting at the air around his neck. He didn’t see any bugs- maybe they were tiny ones? “Here, let me help you-”

“AH!” Zafora suddenly yelped, grabbing his sides. The wind played with his hair and jacket, and only then did Vilio finally see them. “Wh-what the hell is th-that?”

“Oh…” Vilio breathed, eyes widening. Being one of the few magic users among the team, he could see spirits. Usually a glimmer, but when he focused, he could make out their proper shape. “Wind spirits.”

Mischievous little cherubs surrounded them. Three to be exact, glittering in sunlight in golden outlines as they floated around the grumpy clown. Zafora was on his knees, hands clutching his sides and head nearly to the ground as he shook beneath their breezy forms. “G-Get them off! They t-tihickle!”

“Oh they’re harmle- did you just say they tickle?” Vilio blinked, pausing right then and there. When he squinted, he saw one of the spirits clinging to Zafora’s back, it’s tiny outlined hands pressing into his narrow torso. Made of wind itself, there was no blocking it out. Another spirit hovered by his neck, blowing little breezes over his reddening skin and ears. The final spirit seemed to hover about, looking for openings as it laughed childishly over all of them. “Oh my god, they’re tickling you!”

“N-no duhuhuhuhuh! Ehahaa! Stahahap it! Gehehet off!” Zafora’s hard tone was cracking with each soft giggle, his lips he tried so stubbornly to keep frowning began to tremble with each poke and brush of the wind. He curled up tighter against the ground, his titters muffled by his knees as he weakly swatted at the teasing breeze. “Vihihilio, hehehelp!”

“Huh?” The dragon blinked. “Me?”

“Whohohoho else, you duhuhmb lihihizard? Gehaha-Ah!” Zafora jerked when one of the spirits poked at his ribs, sending him onto his side. “Gehhehet thehehem ohohohoff!”

“I can try…” Vilio approached, then paused. Even when he was asking for help, he was still being such a jerk! That- and how long has it been since he’d seen Zafora laugh? It really was a nice change of pace from the usual vibe.

Making his decision, he rolled up his sleeves and rolled his neck. “Hey, guys.” He called out to the spirits, making them pause. Zafora gasped for air, slowly composing himself. “You really want to make him laugh?”

“Vilio!” The clown gaped, eyes widening. The dragon quickly tackled him to the ground, wrestling him into a pin. “You traitorous lizard! I’ll impale you on a pike and cook you for dinner!”

“Ooo, scary!” The dragon cooed, trapping Zafora’s hands beneath his knees. Now that he was properly pinned, he looked around at the wind spirits dancing in his vision. “Watch closely, now. If you really want to make Zafora laugh…”

“Vilio- Vilio don’t you dare, don’t you even think about it-AHA!” The clown squeaked when Vilio dug into his belly, using all ten fingers to claw at the softer bits. It was his worst spot, and the reaction was anything but disappointing. “VIHIHIHILIO NOHOHOHOHO! EHAHAHAHA!”

“Hehe, see! He’s so sensitive!” The dragon giggled, keeping his squirming friend trapped. “His belly is super ticklish! As are his knees, his feet and his armpits! Come on now- get him!”

“DOHOHON’T SAY THAHAHAT! EHHEHEHE!” The pale haired clown kicked at the ground, squirming like a fish out of water as he laughed himself sick. Vilio could feel the wind on his back- the spirits were going for all the spots he told them too. Even with his boots and thick pants, they had no issue cutting straight to Zafora’s tickle spots. He kept one hand on Zafora’s belly as he squeezed along his lower ribs, making him snort through his laughter. “EHAHAHA! Pfft- GEHAHAHH! STAHAHAP, STAHHAP PLEAHAHAHSE!”

“Take it back? All those mean things you don’t actually believe?” Vilio growled. When Zafora tried shaking his head, he went right back to his belly, pressing his thumbs into the sides and dragging his clawed hands along the center. “Take it back, Zafora!”

“GEHAHHA! FIHIHINE FIHIHINE I’M SOHOHOHRRY!” He cried, cheeks as red as Vilio’s hair. His smile was so angelic and lovely it nearly made Vilio want to carry on. Still, he stopped. Zafora immediately shoved him off, sending Vilio tumbling to the ground with a laugh as the clown closed in on him, smacking his bicep. “Asshole!”

“PFFT-gehahahaha! You loved it, though!” He cried, laughing harder when Zafora gave him another good smack. “I know you did! I can tehehell!”

“Ugh, screw you!” Zafora rolled his eyes, flopping back in the grass with a low groan. The wind spirits were still around, clearly enjoying the other’s reaction. “I only said sorry because I wanted you to stop.”

“Mmhmm.” Zafora glared, his cheeks reddening more. “I’m glad to see it again.”

“See what again? Me being tortured? Didn’t think you’d be so into it-Aha!” Zafora yelped and squirmed away when Vilio grabbed his side.

“Shush! I mean- your smile! You haven’t done it much since we left Cultura.” The dragon pointed out, watching his friend pause. “It’s nice to see it every once and awhile, you know?”

“Tch, sure…hm?” Zafora looked away, brow furrowing as he raised a familiar looking accessory. “When did this-”

“Oh! There it went!” Tifalia ran into the area, seeming a tad breathless. “I was chasing it all over- Zafora, you found it!”

“...” The clown stared her down, brow still furrowed. “You’re blushing.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “How long have you been here?”

Tifalia froze, eyes widening. Vilio felt a little bad for her, though she was terribly cute like this. “I erm…the whole time-”

“The whole time?” Both boys cried, and she winced a little in shame.

“Just when Zafora thought there were bugs attacking him! And erm…after that. I wasn’t trying to spy, I swear!” She squeaked, hiding her face behind her newly returned accessory. “I-It was kinda nice though, seeing you smile again, Zafora. I..missed it too.”

The clown was shocked silent, blinking a few times in surprise at her. Vilio bit his lip to hide his grin when the other ducked, cheeks flaming red. “This is ridiculous- all of you, spirits and people alike!”

“I’m so sorry!” She cried as she bowed, ears as red as Zafora’s cheeks. Neither of them could look at the other. Vilio couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Hehe, you two are like two young lovers on their honeymoon!” The dragon teased, quickly scrambling to his feet and running when Zafora cried out after him. He heard the distinct sound of something flying by, just narrowly missing his head. He didn’t look back as he cackled, delighted.

He didn’t know why the wind spirits played such a prank on Zafora, but he was glad it brought his two favorite people together once more.