"AHHHHH!"
A shout of pure, unadulterated frustration ripped through the festive air, sharp enough to momentarily silence the rhythmic thrum of the drums. The crowd, a sea of shifting colors and laughter, turned in unison toward the source.
There, standing before a knife-throwing stall, was a girl whose presence was as striking as a bolt of lightning. Her obsidian horns curved toward the sky like crescent moons of shadow, and her tail lashed behind her with the speed of an agitated whip, stirring the dust of the road. Hands clamped over her head in a gesture of absolute annoyance, Elina looked less like a calamity and more like a disgruntled teenager.
"Goddammit! Another round!" She slammed the wooden counter with a handful of coins, the sound echoing like a miniature clap of thunder. "This time, I'll win. I swear on my scales."
"H-here you go, another three knives." The stall owner's hands were trembling so violently the blades clattered against the wood.
"You got this, Elina! Go for it!" From the side, Lina cheered with a radiant, infectious energy, jumping up and down like a spring-loaded doll.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
All three knives flew forward, cutting through the air with a whistle that sounded like the wind through a mountain pass. Yet, for all their terrifying speed, their accuracy was as nonexistent as a ghost. The blades defied the trajectory of pride, burying themselves deep into the wooden wall far away from moving bullseyes.
"…And you lost… again."
Lina, who had been a fountain of excitement just a moment prior, let her hands fall limp to her sides. Her head bowed toward the ground, her enthusiasm deflating like a punctured balloon. Elina's face, meanwhile, began to deepen into the shade of a ripe tomato, her embarrassment simmering into a low-boiling anger that made the air around her feel heavy.
"T-the knives were unbalanced! It's not fair!" Elina struck the counter in a fit of pique, her amber eyes flashing with a draconic heat.
"Yes! We need a refu—" Lina started to shout, her voice rising in a defensive squeak, but she swallowed her words mid-sentence.
The stall owner looked at the two with a mask of pure terror. To her, she wasn't looking at two girls; she was looking at a dragon of the legendary class and the sister of the man who had just rewritten the world's history. One word from them, and her stall — and perhaps her life — would be forfeit. But luckily for her, the 'little monsters' possessed a conscience.
"W-we'll be leaving now!" Elina suddenly grabbed Lina by the arm, her tail coiling around her leg in a defensive maneuver as she prepared to retreat. "You can keep the change! You never saw us here, got it?"
…
The two rushed away from the stall, weaving through the gaps in the crowd like twin shadows escaping the dawn. They didn't stop until they had taken a sharp right turn into a quieter alleyway.
Leaning against the cold stone of a building, they let out heavy, ragged breaths, their hearts hammering a frantic rhythm against their ribs.
"That… that was close." Elina placed her hands on her knees, her tail crawling around her waist as if trying to hide itself.
"Yea, we could've gotten into a lot of trouble." Lina reached down to fix her new outfit, which had become slightly disheveled during their frantic sprint.
While Elina wore the ensemble she had acquired a few days ago, Lina was a vision of soft, layered elegance. She wore a faux-layered two-piece wrap dress that gave the illusion of meticulous styling achieved without a single ounce of effort.
The upper half formed a frilled, off-the-shoulder black bodice, its neckline slightly raised while delicate halter straps looped around her neck like silken vines, keeping the fabric secure as she moved. A neat ribbon lace-up ran down the center, pulling the fit together and accentuating her youthful frame, while faint pink frills traced the edges of the bust, softening the darkness of the black fabric.
Below, the dress shifted into a high-waisted pink wrap skirt that cinched just beneath her chest, the fabric overlapping cleanly in the front like the petals of a blooming lotus. A sash tied at her left hip formed a prominent bow that bounced lightly with every rhythmic step she took.
Her black calf-high boots, laced with matching pink ribbons, tapped gently against the cobblestones, adding a sharp, sturdy finish to her otherwise airy appearance.
The two had been on the verge of demanding a refund in anger, but the fear of the consequences — specifically, the news reaching the ears of Noa or Vionette — had acted like a bucket of ice water on their tempers.
After taking a long, stabilizing breath, Lina looked around their new surroundings, her blue eyes lighting up as she saw a new target for her hunger.
"Hey Elina… let's get some of that." She pointed toward an ice-cream stall where a small cloud of cold mist hung in the air.
"Mmm… oh! Great idea, Lina."
The two walked toward the stall with faces that could only be described as predatory.
The shop was run by a grey-haired old man who looked as though he had seen a thousand festivals. The ice cream was stored in a magically reinforced container that kept it from melting by absorbing the ambient Aether in the air, creating a soft, ethereal glow around the tubs of cream.
"Awww… the line is a little long." Lina joined the back of the queue, her face sagging into an unsatisfied pout as she realized there were dozens of people between her and her prize.
"Don't worry… it will only take about 15 minutes." Elina stood next to her, and though her words were meant to be encouraging, her own face had already melted into a mask of dramatic despair.
They waited, and waited, and waited. Now, only twelve people remained ahead of them. They spent the time looking around at the festival decorations, and when that grew boring, they resorted to a high-speed game of rock, paper, scissors. Then—
"Hey~ you little cute miss. Would you let us go pass you? We're in a bit of a hurry, see?" A voice, oily and thick with unearned arrogance, came from directly behind Lina.
It was a group of three men who had just cut the line, weaving through the patient citizens with a sneering disregard for the rules. Now, they stood behind the two girls, their intentions clear as they sought to bully their way to the front.
"Don't worry, if you just move aside, we won't do anything to that pretty face."
The man in the lead, a black-haired fellow with a jagged scar across his chin, placed a heavy hand on Lina's shoulder, his face contorting into a creepy, predatory grin.
Lina stood still for a heartbeat. The world around them seemed to quiet, the festive music fading into a dull, distant thrum. She reached slowly for the hilt of the sword at her waist, her soft, pink lips starting to move.
"Forml—"
"Hey human," Elina's voice cut through the air, as she reached up and grabbed the man's hand, peeling it off Lina's shoulder with a strength that made his bones groan. Lina stopped her words, her eyes flickering toward Elina. "Do you have a death wish? Because I can grant it right now."
The man tried to yank his hand back, but it didn't even flinch. He looked down at the girl who had gripped him, his sneer beginning to falter.
"Who are y— "
The words died in his throat. His soul seemed to leave his body, his heart skipping a frantic beat as he finally looked at her. Truly looked at her. The girl he hadn't noticed until now was a dragon, a creature of legend, and her amber eyes were already burning with a sun-bright intensity that spoke of mountain-leveling violence.
Slin…
Slin…
Slin…
The sound of swords unsheathing rang out from three different directions, the steel singing a lethal song. Suddenly, three blades were pointed at the throats of the men who had dared to cut the line.
"Please don't get your hands dirty, Lady Elina. We will handle this filth ourselves."
It was the royal knights, led by Numael, the second-in-command of the guard. While Kaelen was officially taking a break to enjoy the sights, the rest of the unit was still on duty, weaving through the crowd in normal clothes to maintain a silent, invisible perimeter of safety.
They hadn't been sent specifically to guard Lina — Noa knew she was more than capable of defending herself — they had simply happened upon the scene while patrolling.
"What a bummer…" Lina finally turned around, her lips curved upward, her blue irises mirroring the intensity that often occupied Noa's eyes when he stepped into a fight. "I thought I could finally use some of my moves in a real fight."
Gulp… that was a royal? And a dragon too?
The black-haired man swallowed hard, his throat clicking against the edge of a knight's blade. He and his party looked at the two 'little girls' they had just threatened, realizing they had walked straight into a den of lions. With swords at their jugulars, they simply went limp, their bravado evaporating like mist.
"Just take them to the prison and see where they're from." Lina looked at Elina before giving the order, and Elina nodded, her draconic aura beginning to recede. "Don't kill them unless you find out they aren't from around here."
"I will, Lady Lina." Numael bowed slightly, his face a mask of iron-clad loyalty.
Is this really the same girl who acts so cute in front of her family? He wondered as he signaled his men to haul the prisoners away. She has learned a lot from 'them'… perhaps too much.
After the formal bow, the knights and Numael vanished back into the crowd, their faces etched with a quiet fury toward the three men who had dared to ruin their precious hour of freedom.
"Okay then, back to waiti — what the hell?" Elina stunned as she turned back toward the ice-cream line, her jaw dropping.
"Uhhh…" Lina's mouth hung half-open, her eyes hooded in a look of complete hopelessness.
The people who had been standing in line in front of them were now kneeling on the ground, having witnessed the entire exchange. They had cleared a wide, unobstructed path that led directly to the ice-cream stall, their heads bowed in a mix of reverence and sheer survival instinct.
Elina and Lina looked at each other, the silence stretching between them for a few breaths, before both of their faces broke into a matching, mischievous smirk.
"I guess if they insist on giving us the VIP treatment…"
"We won't get scolded for breaking any rules if they are the ones making us skip, right?"
…
Lina walked alongside Elina, happily devouring a three-scooped mountain of ice cream — vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. She moved with a rhythmic grace until a small, stray drip reached her finger; she paused, her eyes widening, and quickly licked it off with a soft, satisfied hum that sounded like a cat purring.
Elina had opted for an all-vanilla cone, topped with a rainbow of sprinkles that looked like tiny jewels against the white cream. She took a massive bite, and her tail waved in a slow, rhythmic arc of pure satisfaction. She closed her eyes, a beatific smile spreading across her face as if she had just ascended to heaven.
"Theeesee… are sooo gooood~"
"I know right~?"
As the two walked, passing the people on the road, Lina's gaze was snared by something else — a brightly colored candy cart.
"Let's get some of that too."
"Hell yea! Lead the way!"
Lina and Elina sprinted toward the cart, jumping mid-step in a synchronized burst of joy, their ice creams held high like torches.
"Two of these please." Lina pointed toward the largest lollipops on display.
"Oh my, what a cute girl." The woman running the cart smiled brightly, her eyes crinkling as she pulled two lollipops out. "But young miss, do you have money to pay for these? Where are your parents? It's dangerous to be out alone." She handed them over regardless, clearly intending to give them as a gift if the girl was short on coins.
"Don't worry, I have a lot." Lina reached into her small side purse and pulled out a shimmering gold coin with a triumphant smirk. "Sis Vionette just gave me some money to use today. She told me not to come back until it's all gone." She placed the coin on the counter with a heavy clink.
"Vionette… you don't mean, her majesty Vionette?" The woman's eyes nearly jumped out of her head, her breath hitching.
"Yea. Well, we'll be — huh?" Lina turned around to give Elina her share, but the dragon was nowhere to be found.
She scanned the immediate area and saw Elina already standing a few steps away, ordering two faloodas from another store with a look of intense concentration. Lina didn't get surprised, nor did she exhale in exasperation; she simply smiled, her own appetite mirrored in her friend's greed.
…
The two continued to walk, their conversation a constant stream of praise for the snacks they were consuming, their hearts light and their bellies full. They eventually reached a large, branching crossroad where the festival's crowd converged in a swirling vortex of humanity.
"Hey, look over there." Elina nudged Lina, pointing toward the left road where four figures were standing. "Those are…"
"…Miss Rose and the others?"
The two looked at the four — who hadn't yet noticed their presence — in a state of quiet surprise. Lina and Elina shared a knowing glance before they began to walk toward the squad with identical, playful grins.
...
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[Character Illustrations]