After indulging in a hearty meal, Quinus, Percy, Dalia, Rya, and Sir George left the grand palace and set off on a leisurely stroll toward the bustling marketplace.
It was almost noon, and as they strolled together toward the celebration, their surroundings buzzed with infectious energy. The air was filled with anticipation, evident in the vibrant attire and elaborate masks donned by the revelers, some of which depicted the revered Goddess, Iyomelka. Rya observes the lively atmosphere as she notices people engaging in various enjoyable activities. She pauses to admire a group of performers, each showcasing their unique talents in captivating ways.
In a serene setting, a graceful lady delicately plays a soothing melody on a flute while another talented individual gracefully draws the bow across the strings of a violin, filling the air with rich, harmonious notes. Soon after, a man dressed as a deity begins to sing a captivating song, a tribute to the goddess. As his powerful voice resonates, a mesmerizing group of dancers gracefully moves to the enchanting music, their movements reflecting the emotion and energy of the performance.
After every mesmerizing performance, the fervent crowd erupted into thunderous applause and exuberant cheers. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation; as the show progressed, the crowd swelled, and the electric energy intensified. Rya couldn't help but notice the infectious joy spreading through the crowd as everyone became increasingly jubilant.
Suddenly, a thunderous cheer ripples through the crowd. The band halts their performance, and all eyes swiftly shift in unison toward the giant stage in the city square.
Before their eyes, the grand stage is arranged, with two figures poised and ready. One figure commands attention with his imposing stature, while the other is Baron Zellin himself.
"Huh? The Baron looks so small compared to that other guy. I wonder who he is? Anyway, it looks like they want to get the party started," Rya whispers to herself while making sure her hood is still up to hide her ears.
"Listen, people of Ironside! I bring great news about the Crown Prince! He and his brave comrades have thwarted the goblin horde that dared to attack our city! This is undeniable proof of the Lord of Fiafyr's power, as the goddess watches over him and our people!" A thunderous voice booms across the crowd from the mountainous man who was standing next to the baron.
The entire crowd of diverse individuals erupts into an overwhelming cacophony of cheers and jubilant shouts, creating an electrifying atmosphere that reverberates with uncontainable excitement and joy.
"However, before we celebrate, let's take a moment to honor the fallen who couldn't be with us today. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. Let's bow our heads and send our prayers to the brave souls fighting for us now!" The commanding figure roars once more.
The crowd gradually falls silent as individuals lower their heads in a solemn gesture, observing a moment of silence.
"..."
"..."
The stillness of the crowd sent shivers down Rya's spine, creating an eerie hush that made her acutely aware of her surroundings. Even the softest sound seemed amplified in the atmosphere, and she found herself taken aback by the unusual solemnity pervading what was supposed to be a joyful festival.
After a moment, the silence is broken as Baron Zellin strikes the giant gong, producing a resonant, reverberating sound.
"People of Ironside, today, we are here to celebrate the goddess Iyomelka and the brave warriors who defended our city. We will honor them by lighting a giant bonfire and giving offerings to the goddess. In addition, we will feast until our bellies are full and dance till the sun goes down! And I will personally ensure that all of you have a wonderful time!" Baron Zellin announces joyfully.
The towering figure moved to the front, bellowing, "You heard him! It's time to feast, drink, and make merry! Let's honor the goddess and revel in the moment!"
The air was filled with enthusiastic cheers and rhythmic hand clapping, creating a sense of excitement and celebration that reverberated throughout the space.
"Alright, boys! Let's show these folks something they'll never forget!" The mountainous man bellowed at the performers in the rear of the stage.
The hulking figure strode to the rear of the stage, and his arm outstretched toward the towering metal framework as he approached the commanding drum. With a swift movement, he removed the drumstick from his mouth like a magician and brought it down onto the drum's surface. The reverberating sound waves filled the air, causing everyone to startle as the powerful beats reached their ears.
"For the Lord of Fiafyr!" He screamed.
The crowd erupts into wild cheers and deafening shouts.
"Now it's time for the most exciting part, our amazing dancers!" he exclaims.
Two stunning young women gracefully take the stage, dressed in eye-catching attire and clutching glistening golden orbs. Every step they take is deliberate and captivating as they move across the polished wooden platform, commanding the undivided attention of everyone in the room.
In an instant, the musicians leaped into action, igniting a whirlwind of sound. The music surged with energy, filling the air with an infectious rhythm. The drums throbbed with unwavering intensity while the flutes and bells wove a jubilant, captivating melody. The crowd soon became swept up in the celebration, adding their rhythmic claps to the lively tempo.
The two young women locked eyes and exchanged a nod of mutual understanding. As the music filled the air, they swayed their hips in perfect synchrony, creating a mesmerizing dance. Rya stood in admiration, captivated by their graceful movements and effortless harmony.
"How do they not fall over? If I tried to move like that, I would blow out my back or something worse," Rya said with a pained expression at first. Then she looked down at her hips and tried to sway them a bit to see if it was possible for her to mimic their movements.
'Huh?... It's not that bad at all... Maybe it's a thing that women can do, and not guys,' she thought to herself.
Quinus couldn't help but have his eyes drawn to Rya's hips. He had to will himself not to stare at them, but it was getting harder and harder to keep his eyes off of them. So he moved in closer to her.
"Um... I don't know. I think that you could pull it off... You should join them when you feel like it," Quinus replied sheepishly.
Rya blushed and shook her head vigorously, "No way, I'm not a dancer. Besides, I can't compete with those two beauties."
She gestured toward the dancers, who were now spinning and jumping to the music, their lithe bodies twisting and bending with ease.
"You give yourself too little credit, Rya... You were able to dodge multiple attacks coming from the hobgoblins and a Cave Troll... Doing that should be a walk in the park for you," Quinus said with a wink.
The Dark Elf rolled her eyes and playfully elbowed him in the side, "You just want to make a fool out of me."
"If it gets your hips moving like that, then you can be the biggest fool in all the realms," he whispered seductively.
Rya couldn't help but giggle at the remark and found herself feeling a bit flustered by his forwardness.
'H-He's just joking with me, right?... I mean, there's no way that he's actually serious about wanting me to dance in front of everyone, right?...' She thought.
As they gazed on, the mesmerizing synchronicity of the two women's dance captivated their attention. With each beat of the drum, the dancers' surreal, hypnotic movements seemed to draw them deeper. The music surged, infusing the air with energy, and the dancers responded with escalating speed and precision. Their movements unfolded with increasing intricacy and drama, captivating all those who were fortunate enough to witness their artistry.
Rya waved off the offer with a laugh. "Nah, I'm good. I'd probably embarrass myself if I got up there," she said with a grin.
Quinus gazed at Rya and attempted to charm her with a sad, puppy-dog expression, but she couldn't help but snort and shake her head in amusement.
'Geez, man! Stop staring at me like that! B-But how can a guy look so damn adorable!?' Rya thought to herself as she suppressed the urge to laugh. And the more Quin teased her, the more her loins started to tickle her.
"Ugh, can you stop making that face? You look like a big goofball," she giggled.
"I'm trying to convince you to dance, but you're making this harder than it needs to be," he smirked.
Rya gave him a playful punch on the shoulder and laughed.
The two were interrupted by Dalia's enthusiastic shouts.
"Hey, Alpha! Do you want to play a game? Little Wolf pointed some out, and I want to try them!" Dalia proclaimed as she grabbed Rya's right arm.
"Huh?... What kind of game is it?" Rya asked curiously.
"It's the Hex Horn Ring Toss! I'm totally going to show these humans and dwarves that a Wolfkin can easily win this game! Ooh! And you should try it, too, Alpha! We can win gold for the prizes! You're an elf, so we can clean them out!" Dalia replied as she tugged at Rya's arm, attempting to pull her toward the booth.
"Wait, wait! Slow down a bit! I don't even know how the game is played. And where is it? I didn't see anything like that during our walk over here," Rya inquired, confused by the sudden request.
"That's because it was on the other side of the market! It's past this alley! Little Wolf found it, and there are a bunch of people who are failing! Come on!" Dalia said as she tugged Rya's arm again.
"U-Um... Okay, let's check it out, but you can't get mad at me if we lose!"
"Come on, Alpha! Just trust me! I've always wanted to win these types of games, but I have never been able to! That ends today! I will prove to everyone that the Wolfkin are the best!" Dalia roared, pumping herself up.
Dalia whisked Rya away, leaving Quinus, Percy, and Sir George behind, causing the Crown Prince to look at his friend with concern.
"Percy, your future wife might be a bit wild at times," Quinus stated.
"A bit!?... She's a lot wild, but that's what makes her special," Percy replied, chuckling a bit.
"Well, we'd better not lose them, or they'll probably cause some trouble," Quinus smirked.