Autumn and Lilac wandered through the lively streets of Hallowhaven, making their way toward the towering obsidian spire at the heart of town. The streets were abuzz with activity, and it seemed like everyone had a purpose—merchants were haggling over their wares, children played in the open spaces, and an air of progress hung over the entire settlement.

  As they passed a few street corners, they noticed something odd. Large, brightly colored campaign posters were tacked up on nearly every lamppost and storefront. Each one featured a smiling man with a dapper suit, a gleaming set of pearly teeth, and an enthusiasm that practically leapt off the paper. The name on each poster was unmistakable:

  **Potabeau for Mayor!**

  Lilac paused, squinting at one of the posters. “Potabeau? Is that the same Potabeau who composed symphonies for zombies?” she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

  Autumn raised an eyebrow. “The very same, I’m sure. But I didn’t think he had political aspirations.”

  Before Lilac could respond, a cheerful voice called out from behind them. “Ah, you’re noticing the posters, aren’t you? Not everyone expected it, but there he is, in all his glory!”

  The two women turned to find a lightfoot man walking toward them, a wide, toothy grin on his face. He was dressed in the typical attire of a Hallowhaven citizen, his clothes worn but well-kept, and his eyes sparkled with the kind of warmth that made him instantly approachable.

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  “Potabeau,” he continued, adjusting his glasses, “he’s running for mayor. Can you believe it? I remember when he was just a quirky guy running around with fun ideas no one took seriously. But now... now he’s the light side of leadership in this town.”

  Autumn raised a curious eyebrow. “The light side?”

  “Oh, absolutely,” the man said, his face lighting up. “He’s got this charm, this energy about him that gets people to *believe*. You know, after everything that’s happened—the orcs, the rebuilding, and now, with Azrath’s strange contributions to the town—Potabeau’s like a breath of fresh air. He’s all about the community, the people. He doesn’t mind a little chaos, but he knows how to bring people together. If you want to see some fun ideas that actually work, Potabeau’s your man.”

  Lilac glanced at Autumn, then back at the enthusiastic man. “He’s the ‘light side’ of leadership?”

  The man chuckled. “I know, it sounds odd, but it fits. Azrath’s kind of... intense, isn’t he? With all his dark necromantic ways. Potabeau, on the other hand, he’s like the sun that comes out after the storm. He believes in doing things the right way, even if that means a little humor, a lot of charisma, and sometimes some very odd ideas. I mean, the zombies everywhere

  thing was a bit much, sure. But look at how much he’s done for this town! It’s growing, it’s thriving, and people are smiling again. You can’t say that about a lot of places, especially after everything we’ve been through.”

  Autumn nodded thoughtfully. “Sounds like he’s won over more than a few people.”

  “He has,” the man agreed. “Not just with his ideas, but with his heart: Potabeau genuinely cares about the people here. He’s not just some politician with an agenda. He’s here for the long haul, to make the lands of Hallowhaven, Grin Hollow, and everywhere in between better for everyone. And, you know, we could really use that kind of leadership right now.”

  Lilac grinned wide. “I didn’t think I’d ever hear a statement that has "zombie" and “heart” so close. At least not in any positive, caring way.”

  “Indeed,” the man, giving a warm chuckle, said “ You should go meet him yourself. He’s probably somewhere out there giving one of his speeches, spreading his brand of charm. He’d love to see some new faces in town.”

  Autumn smiled and nodded, exchanging a glance with Lilac. “Well, it looks like we’ve got one more stop before we see Azrath. What do you think, Lilac?”

  “I think we could use a little light after all the dark magic talk,” Lilac replied with a wink. “Let’s go see what this mayoral candidate has to say.”

  With the posters of Potabeau’s campaign smiling down at them, they set off toward the town square, eager to see what kind of “light” the charismatic candidate could bring to H

  Grin Hallow. If anyone could balance the shadows of Azrath’s ambitions with the warmth of a more traditional leadership, it might just be Potabeau. Or, at the very least, it would be an entertaining spectacle.