Kail and Diacus were both nervous when it actually came time to perform the opening ceremony for the festival. The two stood up on a high platform, looking out over the thousands of citizens living in Kladruber City, the great capital of Cloud Kingdom.
Kail gulped, trying to hide his anxiety. He had never stood before so many people even in his previous.
"Let's do this," Diacus whispered to him.
Kail gave a short nod before Diacus began the speech first. The two managed to get through the speech without fail and set off the fireworks. The bright magical colors popped and fizzled in the sky.
After the ceremony was completed, the two descended, listening to the cheers as they walked. Their parents smiled as the two joined them at the base of the platform.
"You did wonderful," praised King Gerald.
"Ready to enjoy the festival yourselves?" Kail's mother asked.
Kail nodded, excitement beginning to replace his nervousness. "Can we try the food first?" he asked, his stomach empty. He had been unable to eat breakfast.
"Please!" Diacus begged, feeling hungry as well.
Their parents laughed. "Yes, we can," Queen Faith said with an excited grin. "Festival food is the best!"
Kail eagerly walked alongside the four adults to the nearest food stall. It was a bit difficult to get through the crowd despite the royal family being with them but none of them complained.
When they reached the stall, Kail stared at the wooden plates of hot food in wonder. It looked to be some kind of giant bug laying on its back, its legs curled inward on its body. He looked at Diacus and their parents as if they were crazy as they each got a plate.
His father asked him if he wanted to try one as well and Kail shook his head immediately. Not only did it smell awful, it didn't look appetizing.
"Come on, Kail. You might like it," Gerald urged as he held out a plate to Kail.
Kail stepped back a few steps. "No, thank you."
"Alright. Suit yourself," he chuckled before setting the plate down. They walked to a different stall.
This time, the stall served a fruit bread with berry jam in the center. It smelled far better than the strange-looking and awful smelling beetle-like bug. He bought two rolls and a cup of apple cider to go with it. Diacus and their parents had bought some water and coffee at the first stall.
The group went to a nearby table, one of many set up throughout the square and city for the festival. Kail's mouth exploded with flavor when he took a bite of one of the rolls. It was most definitely better than the bug the others were eating.
He had eaten crickets and a few other types of bugs in his first life and it was the thought of eating a bug and the aftertaste that always made him gag. He was certain that it would be the same case eating the unknown bug they were eating.
He was more than happy to enjoy his fruit bread. The apple cider was cold and delicious when he drank some. His mind wandered as he ate. I wonder if they have pumpkin pie. You can't have a harvest festival without pumpkin pie.
The last time he had had pumpkin pie was when he was a teenager in his first life. It had been the first and only time but it had left a lasting impression. He could still remember the brisk weather of that day and the woman who was happy to let him enjoy some free pie and coffee from her café.
He had been amazed that she was being kind to a homeless teenager but happily accepted the offer. That city had not been kind to the homeless and poor.
Kail felt like he had hit the jackpot with his new rich family. He didn't have to worry about going hungry or sleeping in the cold. Well, at least until he fled. I should take a lot of money with me when I go. I'm going to need it.
The day went by too quickly for Kail's liking after they ate. It was evening when Diacus and Kail were both rushed back into the building they had been in that morning. It was time to dress up for the traditional dance.
Kail still didn't like that it was being used for a political announcement of the arranged marriage.
"Oh, Kail," the Goddess of Darkness sang.
Kail felt dread crawl down his back. Oh, no. She's planning something.
"Let's give them a show while you dance," she continued. "Remind them of what the dance is about."
But if I do that, they'll know I have unlocked my element and powers, he thought to her with a frown.
He heard her begin to speak and then stop. A few seconds of silence passed. "You're right. My bad," she finally said.
Kail sighed, his conversation with the goddess completely unnoticed as he was dressed up into a bright multicolored wool outfit. The outfit had six layers. A thick tunic, pants and socks made the first layer followed by five layers of robes that went over the head to be put on. The robes went down to his ankles.
The thick wool and layers made him feel hot and itchy. He knew why it was designed that way but he still wished he could wear something less suffocating. How am I even going to be able to dance with all this weight?
The robes weighed him down. It didn't stop there. To complete the outfit, a golden rod with three rings of small bells was given to him. Diacus was given a small drum.
The instruments would have been infused with mana in ancient times. With each ring of the bells and beat of the drum, the mana would disperse across the land and the owners of that mana would then be able to read it as the mana connected with anything and everything in its range.
It was a powerful and important ability lost to the ages but the performance needed to activate it had been passed down.
The colors of the outfit represented each element and race. It was an ombre cascade of blues, reds, greens, black, white, golds, and several others. Beads lined the collars of each layer and went down in evenly spaced lines on each robe.
A pair of thick moccasin boots completed the outfit.
Queen Faith led the two out to the same platform they had stood upon at noon. It was large enough to perform the dance without worrying about falling off. The platform was lit with tall torches on each corner.
Bonfires were lit everywhere in the city. All eyes were on Diacus and Kail as they began the dance. A magic device was broadcasting it across the city so that everyone could see the performance.
Kail was baffled at himself for being able to move with the heavy clothes as he twisted and leaped during the performance, shaking the bells that were emitting a clear and beautiful chime.
He could feel his mana trying to move towards the bells and disperse out from his body. He fought against it, scared of the consequences.
Sweat dripped down his face as he danced and fought against his mana at the same time. The dance lasted about five minutes and he was practically heaving when it was over. His fight against his own mana had depleted his stamina faster.
Diacus was also panting. Cheers filled the air as they bowed. Their parents walked up onto the platform as the two straightened. King Gerald lifted his arms to the sky.
"It is with great pride that I officially announced the engagement between the Skye family and Phoenix family!" he said once the crowd was silent. "Prince Diacus Skye and Kail Phoenix are now engaged and shall marry at age twenty. May the great gods bless their marriage with great fortune and happiness!"
The crowd began to applaud and cheer when the king lowered his arms. Kail felt sickened by it. He wasn't excited about the engagement. It only spelled his imprisonment. The engagement was a shackle.
He couldn't wait to be older. As soon as he was able, he would run for the hills towards freedom.
His excitement for the festival was dampened by his future plans and exhaustion. It was worsened when he couldn't find pumpkin pie anywhere in the city throughout the day and night.
It was about four in the morning when he finally collapsed onto his bed. He had slept during the journey home but it wasn't enough to recharge his energy. He didn't even bother to change out of his festival robe nor to get under the covers.
He was out almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
It was late in the afternoon when he finally woke up. He still felt tired as he got out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom to relieve himself.
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