The sounds of fanfare filled the air in Cardaltha as the festival day finally arrived. Laughter and cheers mingled together, while magical sparks drifted down from above like delicate snowflakes. People began to gather, eager to dive into the festivities, and the plaza buzzed with life like never before. On a makeshift platform, the guild master Aster had a few announcements to make, honoring the statue dedicated to their fallen hero and founder, Aldis. The crowd erupted in cheers as Zereth and a few others, partially wrapped in bandages, stood among them. Meanwhile, Soren was busy at the tea stall with Yuri and Rosalia, serving a long line of eager customers, while Fenrir dozed peacefully behind the stall.
With a snap of his fingers, Aster ignited a breathtaking spectacle that left the audience in awe. Flames danced across the sky as a fiery bird soared overhead, casting shadows reminiscent of a legendary phoenix. It dove straight into Aldis's statue, which shuddered and sprang to life, responding to the Aether's magic. The statue lifted its sword toward the heavens in a grand gesture before returning to its original form. The crowd erupted in cheers, showering Aster with accolades for his mesmerizing performance. As the next segment of the show began, he called out to the citizens to witness the grand entrance of guests from a neighboring country, their ships resembling ornate pagodas in a parade as they glided into the city plaza. Among the notable figures, one lady with blue braided hair and amber eyes, dressed in an elegant military suit and riding a tank-like ship, caught Aster's attention as she waved to the crowd, instantly captivating them. Meanwhile, Soren, Yuri, and Rosemarie were busy serving tea from their stall on the sidelines when Soren felt a gaze upon him from the visitors. But just as he tried to pinpoint the source, the crowd surged forward, blocking his view, and the presence vanished. "Must be my imagination," he muttered to himself.
Two small figures suddenly appeared at their stall, eagerly asking for ice cream. They were dressed in hoodies, one looked like a cat, while the other had pink bunny ears and buttons for eyes. Their faces were hidden, but Yuri, wanting to connect with them, tried to befriend them, thinking they were around her age. Unfortunately, when Rosemarie couldn't fulfill their request, the kids left, looking disappointed. Soren stood there, bewildered, trying to figure out how he had missed them right in front of him. Vixra'al had warned him that the two had a faint presence, so it wasn't entirely his fault. She also cautioned him to keep an eye on one of the visitors, a tall figure with long blonde hair, clad in heavy armor and wielding a great sword, standing stoically in front of his four-legged ship. This person radiated an extraordinary aura, reminiscent of Kael's. When Soren glanced in that direction, their eyes met, and he felt a sharp pain, as if he had been stabbed just by looking. He decided it was best to keep a low profile for now, especially when a patron called out for him to serve tea and get back to work.
The guests made their way to the stage as Aster warmly welcomed everyone, presenting gifts from their homeland and introducing them one by one. First up was Vesha, a lady from the neighboring country of Ceif Ganustha in the northern region. She wore a beautiful shawl and an elegant gown, with floating orbs behind her and her eyes gently closed. Next was Grendel, a towering figure clad in heavy armor and wielding a halberd, hailing from the eastern region of Leuvash. Following him was Gil, another tall figure with long golden hair that caught Soren's eye, coming from Diltis Neb in the northwest. Then there was Kilvar, dressed in a straight jacket with a peculiar stitched mask and tendrils sprouted from his back supporting his weight, from Magra Ves of the south. Finally, Aster introduced Hana from the western region, a lady with long, braided blue hair. Once the introductions were complete, the guests returned to their seats, and Aster proudly served a grand banquet, with floating shipments bringing in delicious food from all over the country. He made sure to serve everyone, even the traders, as the festivities continued throughout the day.
That night, Soren, still buzzing from his previous success, returned to the familiar forest to hone his conjuration skills. He had managed to summon a weapon of his choice, a sharp obsidian sword, and marveled at how closely it resembled his imagination, like a perfect replica. Vixra'al had also taught him how to de-materialize his weapon, almost like sheathing it, which made him feel like a child playing with a new toy. However, Vixra'al soon advised him to take a break for the night, as he had exhausted most of his energy. But his excitement got the better of him, and he was eager to try conjuring something new. As he settled in to focus, Vixra'al thought to herself, "This man, how much energy does he have to conjure so much?"
An hour passed without him breaking his concentration, and finally, he felt something beginning to materialize, drawing all his focus. Just as he was about to complete the conjuration, something interrupted him. "There you are," he heard, and suddenly his concentration shattered, causing his creation to disperse. When he turned around, he saw the twins from earlier, watching him with unsettling smiles. "Aren't you joining the others at the festival?" they asked. Soren felt a mix of annoyance and unease, struggling to find his voice for a moment. Finally, he managed to excuse himself, saying he was too tired and needed to sleep for the night. As he walked away, he could feel the twins' eyes locked on him until he disappeared from view.
Gil sat elegantly on his balcony, a goblet in hand, gazing out at the forest before him. He took a sip and muttered, "Soren, huh? This should be interesting." Just then, his attendants entered the room, and among them was Ceylon, who grumbled about being reduced to an errand girl for her master, "why did you summon me? This better be urgent, or else…" He rose from his seat, his white silk clothing draping over his muscular frame as he gulped down his wine. Turning to Ceylon, he said, "Oh yes, I needed to talk about something." Ceylon's expression shifted to one of annoyance.
He next phase of the festival have commenced as the guests have immersed with the people of Cardaltha teaching about their trade secrets, techniques, hunting strategies and many more whilst also sharing the wisdom of their own to the people and warriors alike, Hana led a group of people to her as she showcased water conjuration and manipulation ability effortlessly creates a torrent of water above and makes them float into orbs before handing each, this makes them happy looking at the orb of water on their hands, one of which took interest is Yuri who's eyes sparkled, Hana took noticed of this and transforms her orb into several more shapes which makes her smile big, Hana asked for her name and introduced as Yuri, she then asked Yuri to demonstrate what she had learned as she closed her eyes and suddenly the crowed gasped as the orb bursts and inside is a human skull, she hid it behind her back as the skull begins to dissolve, she forced a smile while Hana laugh at the scene she is surprised herself to meet another conjurer like her and decided to help her train, Yuri's smile came back as the other kids were also eager to learn from her.
Meanwhile, at the inn, Soren had just woken up. Jaun greeted him with a friendly smile and asked, "Did you go train late last night again?" With teary eyes, Soren nodded and asked for a drink. As he looked around, he noticed the inn cafeteria was unusually quiet. Jaun explained that everyone was busy at the festival. Soren settled at a table, and the aroma of the hot tea he was served began to calm his nerves. Jaun went back to sweeping the tables, but Soren's attention was drawn to a group of unfamiliar faces in the cafeteria. They were enjoying their meals, some even casting glances at Jaun. Soren sensed trouble brewing and decided to stick around the inn that day, helping with chores.
Suddenly, Jaun accidentally tripped over their table, sending a glass of drink crashing to the floor. A burly man stood up, scolding her and causing quite a scene. Without hesitation, Soren jumped in to intervene as the group demanded a refund or some sort of compensation, clearly taking advantage of the innkeeper's absence. Feeling cornered, Soren clenched his fists, ready for a fight, when the door swung open. In walked three individuals, Vesha and her assistant and Arnac, who seemed to be close friends. Soren's eyes widened in surprise. "Arnac and…" he hesitated as Arnac introduced her, explaining they were acquaintances from the northern plains of Ceif Ganustha where they trained together.
Arnac then turned his gaze toward the troublemakers, who quickly looked away from the imposing figure and decided to leave. Soren, eager to show his gratitude, offered them a seat and treated them to some freshly brewed tea he had cultivated. Vesha took a sip and felt a wave of comfort wash over her, quickly going back for more. Arnac chuckled, warning her to pace herself as she returned to her usual demeanor. Soren forced a smile and asked what brought them to the little inn. After enjoying her hot drink, Vesha let out a satisfied sigh, placed the ceramic canister down, and began to share some important business with him.
She waved her hand over the table, and what happened next was nothing short of magical. An image of a vibrant land appeared before their eyes, almost like a map coming to life. She began to describe her home country, where she tended to a vast greenhouse filled with plants from a time when the world was still lush and fertile, plants that had mostly vanished from existence. She had poured her heart and soul into restoring what was lost, sharing with Soren that they had a shared vision. She had caught a glimpse of his ambitions through Aster, who had gifted her something special at the ceremony. It was a stunning collection of various tea plants and other species that truly touched her heart.
Eagerly, she proposed a partnership, inviting Soren to share any living botanical treasures he might have. This would surely strengthen the bond between their countries. Without hesitation, Soren revealed a book he had created, showcasing the diverse plants he had discovered in Cardaltha. Each page was adorned with withered leaves, carefully labeled with their names and uses.
Vesha snapped her fingers, and her assistant quickly brought over a map, highlighting areas that remained untouched by the fractures. Soren accepted it with enthusiasm, envisioning his own greenhouse brimming with tea plants. Just then, Arnac reminded Vesha of her upcoming appointment at the leaders' meeting, prompting them to take their leave. Soren and Jaun waved goodbye, and Jaun asked Soren how valuable he thought this opportunity was. Soren replied, "I guess this world just needs a little work." Jaun smiled, while Vesha, unable to contain her excitement from a distance, was calmed down by her assistant.
After a few moments, Yuri and the others, along with Fenrir, returned home, their faces lit up with joy. They had sold out their trades and fully enjoyed the festivities. Yuri approached Soren, eager to show off her new skill in matter manipulation that she had learned from Hana. Fenrir let out a happy bark and rubbed against Soren, as they all chatted and shared stories about their successful day. Jaun received a lovely gift from Rosalia, a beautiful new dress that fit her perfectly, and she was absolutely captivated by how stunning it looked. Soren gave his approval as Yuri also presented him with a fitted glove, which he adored, thanking everyone for their thoughtful gifts.
Fira Lucia and Zereth made their way to the dungeon to check on the prisoners they had just captured. As they walked through the dimly lit halls, they spotted Hark, who seemed to be meditating, surrounded by others sitting behind him. Zereth approached the warden, who instructed his guards to inspect the goods they had brought along. With a nod of approval, the guards left them alone, allowing Zereth to present gifts from the festival. With a bright smile, he handed Hark his share through the bars of the cell, but Hark hesitated to take it, simply placing it beside him instead. "And this one is for her," Zereth said, offering another gift, neatly wrapped. Reluctantly, Hark accepted it and passed it to his partner, who opened it to find a lovely dress and a pendant. Fira Lucia scoffed and added her own gift.
Hark questioned why they were being so generous, expecting cruelty in enemy territory. Ironically, Zereth smiled and sat in front of their cell, describing Cardaltha as a place where life is valued and everyone is treated equally, given a chance. An assassin scoffed, bringing up slave trading, and just as Fira Lucia was about to respond, Zereth shook his head, stopping her.
He defended the practice, explaining that it was primarily carried out by Leuvash, who had recently abolished it in their city. Hark then asked how much time they had left, and the tension in the air grew. But Zereth raised his hand, reassuring them that no executions would take place. Instead, he offered them an early release if they promised to serve their country. Fira Lucia interjected, "Hey!" But with Zereth's firm resolve, Hark relaxed a bit, sighing as he asked, "What's in it for you? A knife at your throat or a sword at your back." Fira Lucia shot him a glare and urged Zereth to stop his madness, but Zereth pressed on, laying out his and Aster's vision for the future of their country. The prisoners exchanged glances, murmuring, "Aster…" in unison.
Zereth pulled a scroll from his pocket, a pact outlining the rules of the land, and encouraged everyone to take a look. The others gathered around Hark to read it, and they were taken aback to discover that Aster himself was also eager to bolster his army by bringing them into the fight. Hark clenched his fist and urged everyone to step back as he began to negotiate. "Ryker… he suffered the most before that battle. He confided in me that he was running out of time. Then something changed, something out there turned him into a monster, experimented on him while we weren't around. We've been tricked all this time." Zereth listened closely as Hark continued, "I genuinely want to find the one responsible and avenge our leader." The other prisoners felt his pain, sharing a bond with him. When Hark finally met Zereth's gaze, he said, "I know this might sound selfish and ridiculous, but if we were to accept your offer, would you help us avenge Ryker?" His words were filled with sincerity. Zereth took out the scroll, and before anyone could feel rejected, he bit his thumb and pressed it on the approved their release. He called for the warden and handed over the scroll. The warden carefully read its contents and signaled to his guard for their release. As the bars swung open, Zereth stood and welcomed them to their homeland, leading them outside to the festival.
As the light gently caressed their skin once again, they welcomed the guest with open arms, completely unfazed by the flares around them. They felt a renewed sense of freedom and hope for change, their eyes glued to the platform where performers dazzled the lively crowd, accompanied by vibrant parades. It was truly a breathtaking scene. Hark couldn't help but remember the time he and Ryker stood in awe, gazing at a sprawling city in the distance, mesmerized by the flickering lights of Eldorin soaring through the skies decades ago. Lost in those childhood memories, Hark fought back tears, and his partner, sensing his emotions, took him by the arm to offer comfort.
In his office, Aster was going through a report about the prisoners, and it brought a smile to his face. Just then, he noticed his staff outside, seemingly having an uncomfortable conversation. Suddenly, Gil and Ceylon walked into his office. Aster stood up to greet them, saying, "My, how are you two enjoying the festivities so far?" Gil shared his delight about staying in a room right in the heart of the city, which offered a stunning view of the countryside. He raved about how perfect the entourage and the food were. Aster chuckled, completely charmed by his enthusiasm. He offered them seats, but they declined, saying they just needed to discuss something quickly. Aster gestured for his assistant to leave them to their meeting.
Meanwhile, Soren had found another way to sneak out and try his conjuration. Inside his room, he made sure the door was locked, worried he might get caught again. He sat up straight and began channeling his energy into an empty space, focusing on the sensation he had felt the other night. Breathing steadily, he finally saw an object start to take shape. His eyes remained closed as scarlet energy filled the room. "This can't be…" muttered Vixra'al as Soren successfully conjured another egg with a scaly surface and a dark scarlet hue. "I did it!" he exclaimed, just before the egg fell to the floor and he fainted.
Gil momentarily looked away, sensing something, and continued with their meeting. "I'd like to recruit Soren to my country for a mission. I'm sure, my friend, you of all people want him polished." Aster suggested other subjects like Zereth and Fira Lucia, who would also be excellent choices, but Gil only had eyes for Soren. Ceylon sighed, wearing a look that said it all. Aster sat back in his chair, looking a bit troubled as Gil mentioned he'd trade a secret in exchange, causing Aster's expression to shift.