"Here you go..." Calen grunted and placed Auren on the sofa in the common room. "Now we can prepare for the festival."
"And how exactly are we supposed to do that?" Cassian raised an eyebrow. "Each of us has two outfits, and none of them are suitable for celebrations."
"I have three." Isara pointed out. "But you do have a point, nothing we own is particularly... festive."
"I think we can just go in our normal outfits." Elira said. "I doubt many people in mountainfall have fancy clothes either way."
"Sure, but if you want to look fancy we can probably come up with something." Calen stated. "For example, the Isa’s protective robe looks quite elegant, she could put that on - Cass could use the pauldron with his crest, and add a few belts for a military kind of look."
"Not a bad idea." Isara nodded and disappeared into her room, presumably to retrieve the robe.
"I’ll pass." Cassian scoffed.
"Your choice." He shrugged. "Ellie could maybe grow flowers to put in her hair, or adorn her dress - or something."
"I don’t want to stand out too much." Elira approached one of the potted plants given to her by Sylara, made a single white flower bloom, and then picked it and tucked it behind her ear. "That’s as festive as I’m willing to go."
"What about you?" Isara emerged from her room, already wearing the robe.
"I think I’ll follow Cass’ example and simply not change anything. Anyway, it seems like we’re ready - does anybody know where that festival actually takes place?"
"Sylara said to go to the wall west of the fortress." Elira answered.
"They put the festival in the most vulnerable position in the city?"
"No, only the opening attraction takes place there - the rest of the festival takes place in the main market."
Calen wasn’t aware that there was a main market in Mountainfall, but it made perfect sense - they had a currency, and ther was a functional commercial street in the Pit.
"Alright then, let’s go see what this all fuss is about."
The area around where they were directed was completely packed, even the usually empty walls were teeming with civilians. To help the overcrowding, additional wooden platforms were constructed near the wall, providing more people with a viewing spot.
"So I’m guessing whatever we’re viewing is happening outside." Calen commented.
"Right, but we won’t see it unless we find a spot on one of the platforms." Isara sighed. "It’s almost dusk and it seems like most of them are already full."
A familiar red-headed guard appeared from the crowd.
"I might be able to help."
"Alison!" Isara smiled. "You look great!"
She really did - her clothes weren’t that different from the first time they saw her out of uniform, but it was clear she has put much more effort in than the last time - her blue tunic was ironed to perfection and tucked into tight-fitting black leather pants.
Surprisingly, she even put on some jewellery - two simple golden loops in each of her earlobes, along with a pendant in the shape of a crescent moon.
"You’re not on duty?" Cassian questioned. "I’d think that you’d use all available resources for an event like that."
"I’m on standby, normally I would be working but someone convinced me that I should take a break to enjoy myself."
A woman with blond hair came up from behind her and linked their arms.
"That’s me." Maya grinned. "I convinced her."
Whereas Alison maintained some semblance of formality with her outfit, Maya went all in on the holiday vibes - she was wearing beige shorts and a loose, thin white blouse. Notably she also wore a necklace matching Alison’s.
"You really shouldn’t have - what if something happens while I’m not armed to deal with it?"
"Relax honey, our subordinates are perfectly capable of handling everything on their own." She squeezed Alison’s hand. "Besides, we haven’t gone on a proper date for a few months."
"We don’t need dates." Alison huffed, but there was a ghost of a smile on her face. "Alright you lot, - we have a platform reserved for special guests."
Apparently Alison was recognisable even out of her uniform, as everyone parted to make way for her as they walked.
The platform she guided them to was one of the tallest, but also the smallest - it evidently was designed with only a few people in mind. A simple yet sturdy wooden staircase led to the top - it was quite impressive that the city managed to assemble all of this so quickly.
When they reached the top, a few people were already there: Tiana, Geodor, Sylara, Alfred, and surprisingly - Joel.
"I thought you never leave the lab." Calen greeted him with a smirk.
"Martha doesn’t." He responded with a smile of his own. "I try to interact with the outside world at least two or three times a year."
"I assume she isn’t particularly happy about it."
"She did complain a bit at first, but she stopped when I told her it’s a source of inspiration for me."
"That’s awfully considerate of her."
"I’m sure she still curses me whenever I leave, so not that considerate." Joel chucklednand motioned towards Sylara. "We can talk more later, Lady Sylara is about to start her speech."
Indeed - when the Guardian approached the front railing of the platform all the murmurs from the people present stopped.
"I want to welcome each and every one of you at the 416th annual light festival." Sylara paused. "Usually I give a speech about how we need to keep pushing on, and that we must rely on each other because our situation is unlikely to change - today I affirm those statements but with one key difference."
She exhaled slowly, as if deciding on her next words.
"This year will be different from all the others - so enjoy the festival, because it might well be your last one."
The reaction to the speech was surprisingly enthusiastic, considering that Sylara unintentionally gave a prophecy of doom in the middle of it.
"It’s because no one in this damn city can keep a secret." Alison answered his silent question. "Everyone and their mothers know that we’re hosting a Flamebearer - they just don’t know it’s you."
"I thought people would be more mad about a late saviour." He admitted.
"Plenty of them are - if they knew your face there would be a plenty of illegal bounties on your head - it’s just that they believe in Sylara, and if she’s willing to give you a chance, so will most of them."
"Well good thing I haven’t advertised my powers I suppose."
Alison spotted something on the horizon and turned away from him.
"It’s about to start, you should probably go to your girlfriend."
He was about to respond, but she was already on the opposite side of the platform, quietly standing hand-in-hand with Maya.
"I didn’t know you had a girlfriend." Isara stood next to him with a small smile.
"I’m fairly sure she was talking about you."
"I know." She chuckled. "It’s because of the necklace."
"I’ll tell you later." Her eyes widened. "Look!"
In the distance something was moving - a lot of somethings.
A sea of colourful light coming towards them, filled with beautiful patterns. When the lights came closer, Calen realised what they were: Mycotross.
A huge herd of them, and by the looks of it they were much larger than the one he saw near Asharil.
They moved slowly, but with purpose, moving from west to east. The growths on their backs were stunning - when the last bit of sunlight disappeared they appeared Ike beautifully abstract paintings, glowing in the dark because of some mysterious magic.
And then something completely unexpected happened: the Mycotross started dancing.
Or at least that’s what it looked like - they swayed from left to right and circled around each other, sometimes spinning or jumping.
"Woah..." Isara whispered.
Calen could feel something brushing against his hand - when he looked at it out of the corner of his eye, he realised it was Isara’s pinkie finger.
He had no idea whether she was doing this on purpose, as her eyes were glued to the mesmerising show happening just outside the walls.
If she wasn’t, then he had a way of potentially getting her embarrassed - if she was, then he wasn’t loosing anything by responding.
With his decision made, he linked his finger with hers.
What he didn’t expect however, was that she would let go, and grab his entire hand, interlocking their fingers.
She didn’t look at him at any point, simply smiling and watching the extraordinary display.
It seems like he has lost this battle, falling right into her trap - as always.
But he didn’t mind, not really.
They stood like that for the entire show, which lasted almost two hours.
Sylara kindly informed them that what they witnessed was Mycotross spreading their spores during a migration - apparently they did it every year, and due to spectacular sights people created a whole festival around it.
Calen almost forgot that this was just the opening - they had a whole festival ahead of them.
It was going to be a long night.