"Alright, Vadei, what is this about?" I asked the tailed woman after I had arrived on the bridge. Her call to the rest of the airship had been completed with my arrival. Even if I did not want to be here as I never even finished breakfast. Which is why I had a bowl in my claws.

"I found one! I found one!" was all I got from her as she happily bounced about in her chair. And a lot of emphasis was to be put on it being her chair. She had pretty much asserted herself as the captain of the airship. Much to my petty annoyance as up until now, I had been head...

"You found a place for us to land?" Einervaene then asked as several magical screens appeared. Within the confines of those glowing borders, they had a structure of some kind. Or, it was a town and it just looked like a single building. Either way, it meant she had found people.

"Technically yes! But, to elaborate... It's a town for us to roam about so we can get off this thing!" Vadei let out in an exasperated tone before she collapsed into her chair.

"And how are we going to afford it...?" I asked her while staring intently at her. She had made it clear days prior she wanted to shop first and foremost. But, well, as this was a stolen airship, we did not exactly load it with money.

"That's alright if they have a banking system here where the main building is based at Thrurstradtur. I should be able to access my bank account!" Lari cheered before she began to pretend shop. Something she kept up until someone gave her a smile.

"Well, alright then, where do we land exactly...?" I put forth while staring at the screen some more. I could not see any landing platforms like Suhurlodst had. So did that mean we would have to hover near or go down below?

"What's that pinging?" Einervaene questioned once the mentioned sound started happening.

"It's a pending communication, hold on. Hello?" Vadei answered before she then answered in a different manner.

"Damaged airship, are you in immediate need of repairing?" a male voice asked clearly.

"No, we can handle any of it, we would just like a place to land."

"Confirmed, please follow the airtug and it shall assist you in your arrival. Welcome to Gifpzie, we hope you stay to enjoy the festival dedicated to the Pleasure Goddess Aahtha." we were informed before Vadei moved away from the chair.

"FESTIVAL!" she then cheered as she began to hop up and down with Larishazza soon joining in. The pair of them skipped around in circles as they chanted.

"Festival dedicated to Aahtha?" Einervaene repeated quietly with a frown.

"Either local tradition or it is that time of year again." I said with a shrug as my mind returned to Tobaballe.

"We are this close to the year ending? I didn't expect time to have flown by so quickly."

"Again, it might just be a local thing. But, yeah... It's certainly been quite the year. To think it all started back in the Month of Thunder for me."

"And you'll be back for it too!" Einervaene giggled while I watched Vadei return to her seat.

"Shame I did not return in the Month of Law or Morality then." I bitterly commented as I thought about how I got here. How I was tricked by a superior and sold into a deal that would have seen me die horrifically. All so a bunch of sadists with bits of green about them could pass a test.

"Come on Nin, cheer up! If it's a festival dedicated to Aahtha then now is the time to enjoy yourself!" Einervaene said to me as came closer. Her hand grasped my upper arm so she could gently shake it.

"I intend to either way. But 'how' is the question. Pleasure comes in many ways." I told her with a shrug. And while my tone made it clear I was not in a particularly serious mood. My mind was pretty much the opposite. How was I meant to enjoy the festival if I was forced to hide my body?

"Perhaps you can enjoy the pleasure of my company then?" Einervaene asked cheekily with a bright smile and darkened cheeks.

"We'll see, put yourself first." I said to her before I finished my breakfast. Using my long tongue to clean up anything stuck between my teeth. And, I went back to looking at the screens solely so I could inspect the town. It was built on a mountain top and it was very blocky.

It was like someone had taken a brick and a pile of sand and gently the first on the latter. But, unlike a brick, it wasn't dull in either shape or colour. This town was covered in bright lights and gardens that came out of it. To say nothing of all the decorations likely related to the festival.

"Shame." I then commented once our airship dove away from the town. The screens must have been a real-time display so now all we saw was mountain. At least, until we arrived at the hangar or whatever it was. Two loud bangs filled the air shortly after something likely grabbed our edges.

"Airship crew and passengers, we have secured your vehicle in vices. Please power down and secure yourselves for storage." a voice calmly boomed from within our ship somehow.

"Storage?" I repeated with some worry as that would mean a slow departure. Something I did not if we had a repeat of Tryhpeltzweig... But these worries would have to wait for now. As, thankfully, I could enjoy some mechanical sights for now.

Dozens of small vehicles of some kind with openly displayed riders zipped about. Small cargo either in mechanical or fleshy hands and arms. We had a bridge of some kind attaching itself to our open deck space as well. And I could also see a bright light in the immediate distance beyond the airship.

That must have been the way we should go when we got off as everyone else seemed to as well. And, despite this being described as a town, it was very busy. Lots of people and machines going away from us and towards us. There was even an animal or two.

"Let's go!" Larishazza then cheered as she held her arms out and ran out the door. A laughing Vadei right behind her who took Einervaene with her.

"Hey! Don't run off..." I began to say before I just shut up. None of them were going to hear me now and the airship was turning off completely. I wished they weren't so eager to disappear... We needed to talk about our other passengers.

The ones that could not be trusted...

"What do?" Heiya's father asked me as the pair approached me. Their actions made it clear they understood what I was thinking.

"I don't want to stay here, so I guess you two are coming with me." I answered while I stroked my chin. How in the name of the currently celebrated goddess was I to keep an eye on these two? Did I strap them to a rope or belt or something...? Or do I run the risk of them leaving as it was not like we needed them anymore?

"Caaan we enjay the festivaaal?" Heiya asked me quietly while rubbing her little hands together.

"Don't see why not, come on then." I said with a shrug before gesturing them outside. Making sure I was fully dressed before I too left. And once my mask and hat were both securely on, I grabbed the pair. Then moved on to the bridge, which, to my initial shock, detached itself from the airship.

"Life detection." Paps seemed to clarify as he stared at my skitterish body. Initially not hearing him as going outside just flooded us with noise. Mechanical bangs, cheerful shouting, distant music, these two little annoyances... It was overwhelming given our prior circumstances.

Honestly, sometimes I began to doubt my former life as a wall-engraver in a densely packed city. I have spent so much time travelling with little groups recently that I had gotten used to it. So, going into places like this were oddly frightening. But, I suppose I also had other reasons to hate crowds now.

"Caaan yau put us dawn?" Heiya asked of me, to which I complied. But, I did not let go of them and instead, I changed forms. Now, I looked like a parent guiding two brats.

"Greetings, Sir! Welcome to Gifpzie, would you care for any compliments or a map of our town?" a woman asked me as we got closer to the bright hallway.

"Uh, sorry, I don't have money on me at the moment." I told them as I did an odd thing given our history. I sought comfort from these other two by gently squeezing their hands...

"No worries! A blue-haired woman gave us your details beforehand, she set forth the funds to purchase anything you might want to grab!"

"I'll take the map then." I said to which she nodded and happily gave it to us.

"Anything else? You still have money for food or beverage, or would you prefer the money just handed over?" she asked me once one of the slavers had unfurled the map.

"You two want anything?" I then asked the pair as I pulled their arms up a little.

Paps was the one who answered, "Big food, big drink." he said in his usual mix of thick accent and simple language. His finger pointed straight at Heiya who was staring at what these people had on offer.

"Certainly, here you go, precious!" she said as she retrieved some kind of bottle and paper package. A small wave came from her before we left with our stuff. But, we couldn't really do anything as my hands were occupied and they both only had one each. So, I brought them to the side and let go of them once they were in front.

"She caaalled me preciaus." Heiya said with a smug smile before she began to suckle on the bottle. Her mouth soon smacked together as she tore into her food. Blissful moans came from her once she did. I would say she was overreacting, but we had been cruel to them at mealtime.

No good food for our hostages after all.

"Festival here." Paps said to his daughter as he gestured at where a lot of it was set up. And, oddly enough, despite their circumstances... They treated me like a strange just watching you in the street.

"Stop hiding the map!" I said to him with a quiet growl. Snorting once the map was revealed to me so I could look at it more clearly. A long noise of thought left the walls of my mouth as I stared at it.

"I waaant ta da the shaating campetitan!" Heiya said eagerly as she began to point at something. And indeed, what she was pointing at was the marker for some kind of gun range.

They both then looked up at me, "Sure, we can even be nostalgic about it." I heaved out alongside a shrug before I stood up properly. Taking their hands once again before we began to head into the bright hallway. It seemingly getting brighter in that initial moment when you walked out of the dark hanger.

And somehow, despite it not being a heavy industrial zone, it was far busier in here. With walkways being completely packed alongside various kinds of shops with brightly lit signs. Something that struck me as a little much given how it was almost white in this hallway. Couldn't see any of the signs properly...

"Maybe it will be a good idea to find the others... Somehow." I said to myself with a loud click as I saw price tags everywhere. A shudder went through me as I grew paranoid about our monetary situation.

.

.

.

"So what should we do first?" Larishazza asked us with evident excitement as she sprung about. Her feet leaving traces of water magic on the stone path and garden walls as she passed by them. And the stone even reacted to the magic and gently glowed as it went across it.

"What is there for us to do, for starters." I say to her as I shake the map about. Staring at the water-magic user after she took it from me and rolling my eyes afterwards.

"Dances, ranges, cook-offs, prize hunts, games and food and every possible thing that could make you happy!" she answers as she pushes it out towards us. The local population caused a dense field of wind magic that actively made the map go out. If had been any larger than Larishazza would be slowly sliding away!

"So it's mostly like a normal festival then?" Einervaene asked as she looked closely at the map. Her head soon turned away so she could see what we were near. That being mostly shops as we had only just left the entrance to this town. One of, at the very least.

"Yeah, only difference is Aahtha will be mentioned a lot and she will clearly influence a lot of the decoration." I clarify to her as she points at the map.

"Should we just have a look around first or should we just get straight into it?" she then asked before Larishazza jumped in.

"Straight in!" she declared as she stuck out her hand while balancing on a single leg.

I smiled first and nearly laughed, "This is just a map, so let's find a schedule or something. We might not want to be stuck in something and hear a call-to-arms as it were."

"Wait, hold on, it has a timetable or something here." Einervaene then pointed out as she gestured to where Larishazza's hands had been. They were blocking some key details it seemed.

"Not a very detailed one, though. But, it does give some details of note. For example, it says that at the mid-point of the day, there will be a team-based hunt. One involving halo light and mirrors."

"Is it a race then?" Larishazza asked as she crawled under to look at it.

"It doesn't specify, just says prize hunt." I tell her as I trap her between my legs. Watching her squirm pitifully and intentionally beneath me.

"What sort of prize?" Einervaene asked as it became clear her mind was going places.

"Doesn't say, but, it would surely have to be something related to Aahtha, no? It does start at the Temple of Equals after all."

"But a temple of equals is designed to honour all gods."

"Doesn't mean they can't have an Aahtha-themed event start there."

"I suppose..." Einervaene mumbled as a finger went near her mouth.

"We still have some time before it anyway, see, the clock has about three positions before it reaches mid-cycle." I then said to her as pointed up. No point in worrying about this hunt for the moment. Other things were around for us to do after all.

"Hurry up! I want to do something!" Larishazza then moaned from below as she slapped me with limp-wristed efforts.

"Get up!" I told her as I stepped away from her and made a decision for her. I wanted to do something near the bakeries and gardens! I could smell from here but I wanted the smells to be so much denser!

"Oh, this one is pretty." Einervaene said all of a sudden when she came to a stop. Something that forced us to stop so we did not risk being separated.

"What?" I called out to her before I saw what stopped her. And then, out of curiosity, I moved a little closer as I could not smell it. I was right next to this flower with glass-like colouring yet it was not smellable... Odd.

"Are you alright!?" Einervaene then asked in worry after the flower burst open and spat on me. Initially, I was unable to respond as I was suddenly light-headed and stumbling about. But, after that brief moment, I came to a stop and was suddenly confused. That flower now suddenly smelled like me and had the same colour as my fur...

"And stolen..." I said to the flower as I picked it and put it in my hair. I wasn't sure why, but maybe it was just the gimmick of the flower that made me do it. This flower was now a me-flower and I wanted to enjoy it.

"I don't smell, do I?" Larishazza then suddenly asked as I noted this sudden smell influx. It seemed like she had set several of these flowers off and now the immediate area stank of her. It wasn't an awful smell by any means, but it was a little much.

So I hid my nose and mouth and laughed as I walked by, "Just a little." I giggled out as we walked away from these flowers. Yet the smell would not go away despite how far we moved. And it wasn't because Larishazza was following us! It was because Einervaene had begun to put them in her own hair!

"What are you doing?" I found myself asking her as her coppery hair contrasted with the blue flowers. Her fingers diligently worked non-stop to try and make her hair as suitable for them as possible.

"I'm just putting some flowers in my hair..." she answered while looking away.

"But why ones that smell of her?" I loudly asked back while stabbing a finger at the woman in question. My eyes widened as I watched Einervaene grow nervous.

"They smell like the All-Coast..." she said to me while looking away. Larishazza, for some reason as well, was looking away with a frown.

Only for her to then improve in mood, "Look! Over there! It's a make your own ice cream!" she said as she hopped up and down. Her arm practically waved at the crowd there, the stand and the animal displayed near it. With said animal being fed bits of grass by happy and excited children.

"I guess we could do with something cool, it seems to be a bit humid here." Einervaene said, her agreement clearly only existing to get out of the questioning. But, fine, ice cream was ice cream...

"Ah, hello you three, you here to enjoy some self-made frozen delicacy?" the man running the place asked as he stepped out. His large belly jiggled as he smiled at us while patting his hands down. And it was clear he had been busy, he was covered in milk and flavouring stains.

"Indeed we are! What do we do!?" Larishazza asked as she went to a stall and sat down. The narrow, tall seat spun around rapidly when she got on it.

"Well, first, we got to ask Hammia here if she'll bless her milk for us."

"This all comes from her?" I asked as I too sat down.

"Indeed! Every bit of ice cream I will sell today came from this mighty fine animal of mine." he says as he rubs the bloated creatures head. But, it wasn't bloated because of overfeeding, that was just how it was. A sack-covered animal that evolved to survive slipping down mountains... Not really sure how it learned to get up mountains at all, though.

"Mrrrrrraaaaaahhhh!" Hammia let out before it bit down on more feed a child was offering it.

"Interesting." Einervaene quipped out as she stared at all the machinery near us.

"Alright, so how much do we owe you then?"

"Oh, as it is a festival to one of the goddesses. I'll let you have a small portion for free. Especially if you use it to bring a smile to someone else's face. It's my, pleasure." he explained, his head nodding at the end before he broke out laughing.

I smiled and shook my head, "I think we'll take more than a small portion then." I said before I put some money out as Larishazza dumped it all on me. This wasn't even when we arranged something for Nin, it was as soon as the bank gave it to her!

"This is enough for four large portions." the man repeated as he counted the blocky money.

"Yeah, we have a friend who is a bit behind, so we'll get it for him."

"Oh? Him?" he repeated with a smile once he caught on to that word.

"Ask her for the details." I then deflected away from me while gesturing to Einervaene.

"Well, I wish you all the luck with your friend then." he said with a loud laugh as Einervaene boiled up. Her face was soon being buried in her hat so she could hide behind it.

"Don't worry, ice cream will calm you down." I tell her while gently patting her back. Moving my hand away, however, when I felt a subtle shock go across me. It wasn't much, just a static shock, but I knew it was a warning.

"Oh! We can use magic on the machines here and make it more unique!" Larishazza let out as she began to fling water everywhere.

"Indeed you can, so how about it you three, want to show me what you can do with a tub of ice cream?" the owner asked as he lifted up a reasonably thick piece of wood before he let us in. His hands and body guided us towards the machine in question before a slot opened up.

Something that caused me to jump as it was far too familiar, "Oh, no, no, no, no..." I repeated over and over while waving my injured hand ahead of me.

"Ah, I see, you have one of those kinds of airships. Don't worry, nothing will hurt you." the man said in understanding before he put his own hand in. His face not even flinching as the machine came to life. All before it squirted out some slightly green and soft cream. And then he showed off his hand.

"I... I think I'll wait for those two to go..." I muttered nervously before Larishazza dove in and hummed a tune.

"It tickles." she giggled out before the machine let out what looked like half-melted ice cream. Only, it wasn't, it just looked like it as it took on her magical properties. So it looked like I was staring into a tub filled with a coastline.

"Interesting..." I commented as Larishazza put a spoon into it which made the ice cream suddenly stop moving. It now looks much more like ice cream, only blue with a bit of yellow.

"Wait! I didn't pick any flavours..." Larishazza then says as she held the ice cream tub.

"Don't worry about it, the machine can alter flavours if you wish. Just pop it into that oven-like bit." we were informed by the man. All the while, Einervaene stared at the machine.

But, for now, I focused on the grinning Larishazza, "Oh, I have an idea!" she sang out before she put it in. Her hands going to work as she pressed various buttons before she stepped away rubbing them.

"What did you do?" I asked her to which she just smirked.

"I prepared a surprise!" she vaguely informed me with before she took it out and tasted it. Her smile grew even wider before she sealed the tub shut.

"Einervaene, something wrong?" I then asked the other one as she continued to stare at the machine. Walking up to her just in case she wanted to whisper the answer.

"I don't know what flavours Nin likes..." she mumbled which reminded me of the fact we bought four tubs.

"Just get him something sweet, I'm sure he'll like it."

"But I haven't really seen him eat sweet..."

"He's eaten honey before, get him a honey-flavoured one."

"But is that really something he likes?" Einervaene questioned as she kept on making herself more worried.

"Just get it!" I told her firmly, something I kept up until she nodded.

"C-Can this one be honey-flavour please..." Einervaene then asked the man quietly.

"Sure, what kind?" he asked back and Einervaene froze and looked over at me.

"Whatever one is not overpowering but still flavourful." I said with a shrug as I really didn't know much about honey variations.

He smiled, "Sure, I can do that." he said before he went about sorting it out. And while he did that, I returned my attention to the stationary Einervaene. Briefly watching her hands like she was before she moved.

"Alright, let's try and do this." she uttered quietly before she suddenly turned into lightning. Her new form had made her the centre of attention for this brief moment. And once that was done, the crowd around the ice cream stand cheered for her. Clearly impressed by her display of magic or it might have just been the spell that got to them.

I had to admit, it was a strange experience. You got so used to seeing people use magic at Suhurlodst that you forgot what most people could not do. Magic may have been present in all the people of this land but so few actually used spells. But, to bear it in mind, that few were still quite the number.

And with how technology was progressing... How it made using your magic so much easier. I would not be surprised if even the common individual could cast minor spells. Like, perhaps my current arcane talents would be a new bare minimum standard in the future?

"C-Can we go somewhere quiet?" Einervaene then asked me, her face slightly red as she realised her circumstances.

"Right, sure, we got what we want." I said to her before making sure we had Nin's ice cream. Only, we had forgotten one thing, my ice cream. And, well, I did not want to use that machine with the hand slot... So I just scooped up a pre-made flavour and left.

"Enjoy the festival you three!" the stall owner called out to us with a wave. Something Larishazza returned while Einervaene and I focused on leaving. But, I did offer a small gesture of farewell. Just not as grand as the grown-up child next to me with blue hair.

"WE WILL!" Larishazza screamed back before she began to dig into her ice cream. Only to stop and clutch her head after she went through probably a quarter of it.

"Stupid." I commented before I looked at the map again. Ignoring the pout I was getting from Larishazza as she returned to her ice cream. An expression she kept up until I looked at her and that spoon in her mouth. And then she just smiled and went back to doing what she was before.

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"I think we should start heading towards the temple now." Einervaene suggested once she had finished being her.

"We still have plenty of time, it can wait." I said back to her.

"But look how crowded this place is, we might get stuck in the queues and not get anything done."

"So why does that mean we should head to the temple?"

"Because that way we can still make it to the big event but also look at everything else on the way." she said just before she twirled some of her hair.

"Hm, fair." I replied with a pop, folding up the map slightly before putting it away again.

"Where to? Where to!?" Larishazza asked me as she let her head direct the way her body walked. A risky endeavour considering how crowded this place was. Yet, somehow, she was able to not hit anything with the top of her head.

"What about that, that seems like it could be fun." I then pointed out when we came by something with a rather small queue. For some reason, it only had a few pairs lined up for it.

"Hey! You three! Would you like to partake in this pad-hop race? We just need one more team to have a full set!" a member of staff for this event asked us while we got closer. I was intending to read the sign they had up, but this would do.

"What do you do in a pad-hop race?" I asked first just to clarify anything for the other two. But, admittedly, I had never heard of this either.

"Simple, we tie you up here and here," she said as she gestured to her wrist and then her ankle, "and then we have you make it across this pool by running on the lily-pads!"

"And if you fall?"

"You get wet!" she said with a giggle.

"Do you have to stay on the lily-pads?" Larishazza then asked as she skipped over. Her blue hair made the staff member become all excited as well.

"If you want to win, but with you I suppose only because it is fair!" she giggled out while twirling this bit of blue in her own hair. As if she was trying to impress her hero or something.

"Alright! A challenge though..." Larishazza initially started with excitement before she looked at Einervaene. Her mood took a sudden dive in the process when she did that. And I was stuck in the middle of it as the pair was awkwardly staring at each other.

"Come on you two, give it a go, you might have fun." I said to them in encouragement. I may have put on the outward appearance of kindness, but it was mostly because I was sick of it. Before we did that dance days prior those two kept bickering. I needed to help them get over their animosity.

"This is too much water... I can't!" Einervaene tried to warn before I started guiding her. Having just taken away her items and loose clothing so the pair could go ahead.

"Enough excuses, win that race!" I ordered her and Larishazza by extension as I left them in the line. Smiling cheekily as the members of staff got them sorted before they guided them up. The pair soon standing awkwardly on a platform near what seemed to be seven other pairs? I could not really see.

"Would you like a seat?" I was then asked by a member of staff as they waddled over to me.

"Sure, might as well." I said to them with a shrug in part because I didn't want to hold all of this.

"Just make your way over there and join the families of the other contestants." they explained, nodding in acknowledgement before I went over. But, I felt awkward myself now as I was on my own. Everyone else was in their groups but I was on my own. To say nothing of how hearing the f-word made me sad...

But, I just reminded myself of how close I was to seeing them again. How close we were to saving them. So I just needed to set it aside and try to enjoy myself for now. I would hold them in my arms soon enough.

For now, "YOU TWO BETTER WIN!" I shouted out to the team I was watching. This shout of mine also set off a reaction that got everyone else cheering for their teams. And despite the situation I was in, being the only one cheering for my team. I kept on going even if I was getting drowned out.

And then it started with a loud bang and metallic clang. A gun had been fired to signal the start and the platform they were on collapsed. All of the teams subsequentially fell down onto the lily-pads below. With not even my rooted for team getting to their feet quickly.

Everyone was just shaking and trembling and one team had already fallen into the water. And in that moment I saw just how hard it was to get back on. But, there was also another problem. Einervaene was getting spooked by the lack of stability.

She was sparking off bits of magic and the water was occupied by staff and contestants...!

"LARISHAZZA! KEEP EINERVAENE OUT OF THE WATER!" I screamed out to them in worry. Something they thankfully heard and acknowledged. Gone was the awkwardness from before and instead it was replaced with determination. Her expression was hard and did not falter.

She was trying her hardest to keep Einervaene out of the water but it was not enough. The bondage they were put into was preventing Larishazza from doing anything complicated. And as the race went on it only got worse as the lily-pads moved or were overturned by staff. It got to the point the pair stopped, fortunately, they also had the lead.

"Einervaene, listen to me." Larishazza said to her. Something I only heard as I was enhancing my hearing.

"I want to get out...! Can someone let me out!" the worried lightning user cried out.

"Einervaene!" Larishazza said sternly as she held her close.

"What?" Einervaene said with a gulp as her heels were not helping her here. They did not offer much to grip with and she was slipping.

"Follow my lead okay? Just copy what I do." Larishazza said to her while nodding. The worried one nodded shortly after she got some stability in her legs. And then, Einervaene was thrown onto the next lily-pad and the pair spun about. With Larishazza's toes reaching out to the next one as she too spun.

And from there, with the guidance of Larishazza, the pair began to spin to win. Each rotation landed them on a new lily-pad until they reached the end. Right next to this much larger one with a blooming flower on it. Yet, on that final one, it was Larishazza of all people who slipped.

But, they stopped as Einervaene used her heels to her advantage. Having stabbed them straight into the thick green body of the pad so she could anchor herself. And from there, she leaned back until Larishazza collapsed on top of her. Laughter came from both of them before they squirmed up to their feet.

Just in time too, for another team had managed to catch up to them. As they had used magic to propel a pad straight to it. Their hands desperately reached for something inside of the flower. Only for them to then stop as my team got their hands on it.

And my reaction was boisterous, "GET IN!" I screamed in triumph as I began to shake the barricade before me. My team also cheered as an alarm went off. And once they were back on dry ground, I charged them while holding all our stuff.

"Look what we won!" the pair nearly said in unison, causing them both to smile at each other.

"What is it?" I asked as I stared at it. It looked like the lily-pad flower but it was also made of glass or something. Was it a piece of jewellery or was it just a trophy? Going by how I was now watching another be put in by the staff. I was willing to guess it was the latter option.

"It's our trophy, see!" Larishazza said as she gestured to the inscription that appeared when it was put near light.

"Einervaene and Larishazza..." I repeated what I read for their names were now shadows on the ground.

"Alright, I call dibs on the next trophy we win then!" I told them with vocalised determination and expressed envy.

"I want to show Nin." Einervaene then said as she took hold of it and smile at it.

"Where is Nin anyway?" I then asked pointlessly as none of us actually knew where he was. We had left him back on the airship and had been going about the town.

"We'll run into him later, now come on! I want to have more fun with my friends!" Larishazza said as she dismissed the topic and held our arms up. Her jumping body sent slight shakes through the limbs in question.

"Fine, the temple is this way, let's see if we can find anything else we can do." I said.

"Let's see? You make it sound like we'll find nothing!" Larishazza told me with a smile.

"You know what I mean!" I shot back with, a tone of mock annoyance being how I did it.

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"It's a very good thing freebies are so common here." I mumbled with a growling stomach. A bag full of snacks in my claw. Now if only this town wasn't so crowded. Damn that Pleasure Goddess and her festival, I wanted to eat something!

"Paps! I waaant ta try thaaat next!" Heiya exclaimed with joy as she started climbing. Her arm wildly gesturing at something once she had climbed up to a higher spot. Not that it really helped her father as he was carrying everything they had gotten. From Heiya's shooting trophy to their own snacks and goods.

To say nothing of the pickpocketing they had been doing throughout the day. We had no money of our own so they have improvised with it. However, on the principle of the matter. I refused anything they offered to buy.

I did not want to be entertained with money gained through foul means. I also did not want them buttering me up so they could potentially squeeze a deal out of me. They were my prisoners and I intended to keep it that way. Now if only Heiya kept still...

"A demolition game?" I said once I saw what it was Heiya was pointing at. Personally, I felt like I should really not be getting as surprised as I was. Yet, somehow, the games of this festival kept surprising me with how complex they were. So much magical machinery compared to festivals back home...

Like, I was willing to bet everything I had and my life that if this was the Month of Thunder. Then there would be entire factory complexes available for even kids! And to contrast that with how it was back home then it would be excessive. All we would have would be a screwdriver, hammer and pile of scrap.

But, as I thought on this, I began to wonder somewhat as well. Could I make my home better with all this technology? Even just the minor stuff like the toys! It could help improve our situation greatly.

Yet, did I want to actually help my home? Did I really want to help Tobaballe? Despite how familiar it was and how desperate I was to return... I hated it there, I genuinely hated it there compared to this land...

Here I have made friends with people who are willing to fight to save my life. I have a quality of life that is unparalleled compared to back home. I would not have gotten close to this standard until I was old if I was in Tobaballe! To say nothing of how magic has steadily become more exciting for me.

No longer was it entirely this terrifying power that scared me. That was all mostly gone, instead, it was something I could appreciate. It made me feel strong rather than weak and I was so free with it. I could leap the length of streets in single bounds and shatter boulders!

It was like the fantasy of a child come true!

"Nin! Nin! Nin!" Heiya repeated over and over as she hit my mask. Something that caused me to leave my thoughts and get back to reality.

"What?" I asked her as I stopped her hand from hitting it again.

"Hald aur stuff sa me aaand Paps caaan plaaay." she told me rather than asked like she should have. But, that wasn't the big issue. The big issue was that she was expecting me to let them both leave my sights.

"In your dreams, Heiya, do not forget why you are here, to begin with." I told her as I moved my face closer to her. Letting my chitters be a bit louder to emphasise an obvious point.

"I knaw. I just waaant ta haaave fun with my Paps." she replied with while hiding her throat. Seeing that, I shook my head and sighed.

"Fine, but let's move over there first. I'm not carrying it all." I tell the pair as I take Heiya's hand and guide her down. Collapsing down onto a chair and carefully following their movements to the game. Not even staying sat down during the process just so I could lash out at them. Assuming they did try something like runoff...

But, maybe Heiya's pride in having won that shooting competition trophy will keep her near. She really liked that trophy or maybe she just liked showing off. The staff there did make a big deal of all the records and that. She didn't even take part in a kids game, it was blatantly intended for professionals!

Now if only I could hear what they were talking about... They were clearly enthused about it, well, Heiya was anyway. Paps was just gently hitting her whenever she seemed to make an elaborate suggestion. He hit her a lot from what I have seen.

Must be a very protective father, then. Perhaps it has something to do with the lack of a mother? A lack of a 'Mam' as I am guessing she would be called? I do wonder a little.

But, it was also something I could live without knowing as it was just, well. A rather irrelevant piece of information that just did not matter. Well, it would probably matter quite a bit with those two. Just not for me.

"Oh, look, they're actually playing the game." I muttered while I put my claws together. Losing sight of the pair only because I was quite enjoying the other sight. The staff were quickly assembling a small tower for them to bring down. I assume it was built with some kind of magic magnets?

It all just sort of slotted itself together. But then something happened, a list of some kind with big bold words. Which meant I could actually read it! So why not, why not see what it was about?

And it turns out it was a difficulty selection of some description. Easy, normal and hard were the options. The three options seemed to offer a different set of circumstances. If you chose easy, you got more, something, while as you went up you got less.

I was willing to assume it had something to do with how you brought the tower down. So it must have been how many explosives you got? No, that was absurd even for this magic-filled festival. Giving bombs to children so they could demolish something, no one was that insane.

Right...?

"They didn't..." I then found myself saying as I watched the pair of hwardgon leave the tower. Everything had been set in place and then there were several explosions. Their large fireballs going out towards the crowd and doing nothing... Fake explosions...?

The tower was going down, though. It seemed like they set all their bombs on one side and it collapsed down that way. Well, with the exception of the bottom as that just flung away and hit the barrier. At least they had the foresight for that, the festival staff, that is.

"Yau like it?" Heiya asked me with a smug expression as she showed off a machine of some kind. It must have been her trophy and it was doing a replay of how they brought the tower down. Bright red letters on the bottom declaring that they had 'demolished' the tower.

"Fancy." I ended up commenting before I let them take back their stuff.

"Where now?" Paps then asked his daughter as finished taking most of it.

"We caaan't da aaanything right naw. Mast claseing up becaaause af temple event." Heiya explained while pointing at most of the games. They were indeed telling people to wait and that. Some people were annoyed, but most suddenly jumped and ran off. As if they all forgot something.

"Temple event? What's happening at the temple?" I asked her just in case. If this was a period of prayer then I would like to partake in it. Even if Aahtha was not a goddess I normally did anything with. Then again, I have been more willing with most deities now.

I presume it must be related to the fact I have well, spoken to a few of them. In-person hanging out and all that. It certainly put a lot of emphasis on why faith was important. After all, if you actually met them then any naysaying heathens were proven wrong completely!

No more second-guessing and all that. Not that I really doubted it much, to begin with. I more so pondered if I should just involve myself more with Apahthein. Given his area of influence is basically just be lazy.

Gods know I could use the rest most of the time.

"Aaa treaaasure hunt!" Heiya answered as her eyes went wide. So much light being caught up in them that they became lights of their own.

"Sounds like the perfect excuse for you lot to run off, so no." I told them to which she just moaned in disappointment. Her little arms crossed over as she snarled up at me. She must have recognised that I was not going to budge on this.

"Just walk then?" Paps asked to which I shrugged to. Nothing wrong with doing that, we can just go for a walk if they wanted. Might even find the other three that way then. Knowing Larishazza, she probably was taking part.

And now that I thought about it, Vadei probably was too as she was quite the tracker. Admittedly, she probably wasn't that good at it. All she did was track me down after I got stolen away by a firey monster after all... Nothing impressive about that.

"Hello." a little boy then said to me in a quiet tone as he waved some little device at me. It was glowing and making little pings and dings. Was he lost? Or was this a toy he wanted to share...?

"Hi." I said with uncertainty as I looked down at him.

"Priest is doing a game and he said to look for someone involved with the gods. And my thing is noisy near you. Are you what I am looking for?" he explained before he asked me that question. I was raising my brow at this but I was now curious. Had Aahtha influenced this event to involve me somehow?

"I might be, would you like me to come with you?"

"Yeah, Priest says we win something if we bring it back to the temple." he says with a nod before he holds out his hand. So, with a slight smile forming, I took it into my claw and let him guide me. Maybe this would be fun? Just sort of getting dragged into a game because a goddess made me a piece of it.

"Come on you two!" I then told them as it would seem like they would be partaking in the hunt now. Something Heiya seemed particularly happy about as she ended up skipping over to us.

"Your hand is soft..." the child said once he took Heiya's hand as well. Maybe he thought she was what he needed as well? I could not blame him, I did tell the pair to follow.

"Thaaank yau!" Heiya said to him with a smile as giggled at his thumb rubbing her backhand.

He laughed too, "Your voice is silly!" he said to her before he began to charge on ahead. But, as he was just a child, it did not amount to much at all.

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"I am having no luck figuring this out..." I commented as I stared at our instructions for the treasure hunt. It had started earlier than expected so now we were playing catch up. But now we were at a complete loss. The instructions implied the temple but the priest said it had to be brought to the temple...

"Maybe it is Nin?" Einervaene then whispered to me. Something I immediately scoffed at as that was ludicrous. Why would it be Nin? The instructions clearly meant something holy.

"Why would it be him? Everyone else clearly thinks it has something to do with the temple."

"I'm just saying, if we think about it, the instructions say to bring back something that knows the gods well. He has met them!" she whispered loudly.

"You don't believe that, do you?" I asked her as I shook my head. Sure, Nin came back to life as an osibindah. But that did not mean the gods were involved! Why would they turn him into an osibindah for starters!?

"Even if I do doubt it, Vadei, it doesn't change the fact that if we don't take this option then we lose the treasure hunt!" she points out before she looked around. Her body stretched itself out too, probably to give her just a bit more height. Not that she needed it given her heels.

"Fine... You've successfully appealed to my love of the material." I tell her with a roll of my eyes. Starting up the same spell I used to track him down before. And once I had a rough idea of where he was. I got my little group moving.

Now if only this festival wasn't such an assault on the senses. It was much harder to track him here because there was so much else in the way. At least with before the smells that stood out did in fact stand out! This time, however, it all blended together to an infuriating degree.

But, if I ignored the frustrations brought on by this ordeal, it gave me some hope that we could win. No alarm had gone off so no one had won yet, which meant the temple idea was wrong. And the hunt was already going late into the latter half of the day. So, gods and goddesses be willing, we would find Nin soon before anyone else catches on.

"The temple?" Larishazza then pointed out as my magic brought us towards the start. But, in a brief moment, I saw him. I saw that bug towering over the rest of the people in the area who were confused. Everyone's trackers were going off but no one could figure it out.

And Nin was moving closer to the temple so did that mean he was also playing? If so, did that mean we could relax? The reward would get shared between us, no? Nah, I wanted to win this!

"After him!" I hissed to the other two as I sprinted off towards Nin. Finding whatever gaps in the crowd I could and moving through them. And, unfortunately, I had to use my tail as a distraction on occasion. But, so long as my lust for victory remained, the embarrassment would stay away.

Yet, just as I was about to grab Nin's shoulder, the alarm went off. He had just won the treasure hunt...

"So what did you win then, hm?" Nin asked while looking down. Confusing me before I realised he was found by someone else.

"I don't know, the Priest never said so. I hope it is food, though. I have been playing a lot today." a little boy said back to Nin. The priest who started this whole race came into view shortly after.

"Aahtha said you'd be coming." he warmly greeted Nin as his arm touched his. A bitter expression formed on my face before everyone who did not win was forced out. A quiet growl then left me before I went back to the other two who had already met up.

"Who found him first?" Einervaene then asked me as I collapsed onto a fence we were near.

"Some little boy..." I moaned as I moved my tail closer. Stroking it harshly to try and get it clean of any muck those it touched might have put on it.

"Well good for him!" Larishazza declared with a smile as she sprung up. Her eyes locked on the temple as it began to glow.

"I wonder what is happening in there..." Einervaene muttered as her eyes followed the beam of light leaving its domed roof.

"Whatever is happening in there, it must have ended." I then point out as the doors open wide again. That same little boy ran out with a smile on his face and a large bag in his hands. Then, Nin came out too before he wandered off into an alleyway. Likely to avoid all the discussion about him that suddenly bloomed into being.

"Let's follow him!" Larishazza then said as she grabbed mine and Einervaene's wrists. Pulling us along in an almost violent manner before we caught up with Nin. And those two slavers who were with him for some reason...

"Why are they here?" I bitterly asked him as I approached the pair. My teeth bared and magic flowed into my claws as I did so. But, Nin's hand stopped me and gently kept me away.

"Because you three ran off before we figured out where to leave them. So, in order to keep an eye on them. I brought them along and let them have fun."

"Let them have fun? Do you need reminding of why they are with us at all!?" I snapped out at him as I moved my face near his. Snapping my jaws together so I could show off my canines. Only for him to take off his mask a bit and show off those rows of needles he had.

"No, he has a point, Vadei. We did just leave him behind with them." Larishazza pointed out before she started patting Nin down.

"I did not win anything if that is what you are looking for." he pointed out as he gently grasped her head and moved her off. Only for her to start doing it again until he let out some kind of laugh or chuckle.

"What happened in the temple, Nin?" Einervaene asked while her eyes looked over at something else.

"Some prayers were recited and I was told to give a reward to the winner, but, I am not sure why I had to. So, here I am, with no snacks now." he explained with a slow, agitated shrug.

"What about the temple lighting up then? The beam of light that went up to the halo?"

"Lights? Only lights were the candles in the temple."

"It must've been an outside only thing, then." I commented to Einervaene once Nin had said that. Then, I looked about as noise returned to the town. Or, well, more noise as it was likely all the stalls and games were opening up again.

"So what games did you three play then?" Larishazza asked Nin as her issues with the slavers were put aside. Instead, she just focused on the trophies those two had.

"Shooting games and a demolition game." Nin answered while pointing at the two trophies.

"You only played two games?" Larishazza asked him.

"No, it's just that for the most part, she just wanted to shoot things." Nin said before he gave a brief gesture towards the younger slaver. That prideful smile they had irritated me to an indescribable level.

"Well we played-" Larishazza began to say before I blocked her mouth. If she started we would not hear the end of it given how much we had done.

"Nin! Me and Larishazza won this game on giant plants in water and this was our reward!" Einervaene said excitedly to him before she showed him the flower.

"Fancy, this actual gemstone or glass?" he asked as he likely looked at it wearily. His claws were holding it very cautiously.

"I don't know, but watch this!" she told him before she let some of her magic light the area up. And then, hers and Larishazza's names ended up plastered on the nearby walls.

"At least we know who it belongs to, then." he said to us with a light chuckle before he stared at what we had.

"Oh, that reminds me! We got you this!" Larishazza told him as she took his ice cream from me.

"Can you open it for me?" he then asked with a meek tone. Clearly embarrassed by the fact he couldn't open the tub given his lack of decent digits.

"Sure! Want me to feed it to you too?" Larishazza asked him with a wide smile as cool mist left the now open tub. The magic in the tub has kept it frozen solid throughout the day.

"I'll have it later. For now, I want to find a good spot so we can watch the..." he said before he came to a stop.

"The light show?" I then said to him, not really caring to recite the whole title as Jhermonikran's like to do.

"Yeah, that thing they're doing at night." he said before he looked up to the sky.

"We have plenty of time before that, so do you want to go do something until then?" I asked him as now that we were a whole group again. We could do everything that detail entailed.

"I'll probably just watch like I did with these two." he said while pointing at the pair behind him.

"Well, at least that solves us keeping an eye on them." I say back him before I began to leave the alleyway. The other five were right behind me before I pulled out our map so we could go and do something else.

"We haven't done anything in this part of the town." Nin said as one of his claws tapped the upper part of the map.

"We haven't either, but it's mostly just small games up there." I tell him while pointing out their details. That area was pretty much food stalls and food-related games. Instead of fancy trophies, you got snacks and treats. Which, admittedly didn't sound too bad...

"LOOK!" Larishazza then shouted at point-blank range as she began to tap one spot.

"DON'T SHOUT SO CLOSE TO MY EAR!" I shouted back while clutching said body part. A wordless sorry came from her before she started touching the map again.

"Photobooths! Let's get some pictures!" she said while hopping up and down. Yet, somehow, she kept her arm straight and firm in the same spot.

"Eh, surely there's something else?" Nin said in an uncomfortable tone before he looked away.

"You won't have to, you know, Nin!" Einervaene told him while rubbing his arm. A soft smile being directed at him which only seemed to make it worse.

"No!" he told her with a surprisingly aggressive tone.

"Alright, alright," Larishazza began to say as she put her hands up, "How about this then? Just one photo with you? Mask and that can all stay on. Just one where us four are all in it together?" she said to him while trying to ease him into the idea.

His body was stiff but it began to relax alongside his breathing which steadied.

"Fine..." he said with clear reluctance as he looked away from Larishazza.

"Yay!" she quietly cheered before she took his claw and led him. All of us were now on our way to the part of town with the photobooths. We passed many shops and were surrounded by many tasty smells. We even had to keep bringing people back who stopped to stare, me included.

But I was justified! They had lots of meat just being spun about on spits! How could anyone not want to just stare and drool at such sights!? It was spit-roasted meat!

Einervaene might have wanted to ignore it, though. If only because her eyes were locked entirely on a clothes shop. And, admittedly, they did have quite a few cute outfits that were easy on the eyes. Their prices weren't bad either all things considered...

"Photo time!" Larishazza suddenly called out as she hopped around near one of the machines in question. The two slavers had been put into their own so we four could have our one picture.

"Wait, who goes where?" I asked as we gathered around.

"Nin goes in the middle and the rest of us trap him in!" she said with a grin before she dragged Nin in. I myself climbed over her and him so I could be on his back. Einervaene, however, went around and sat on his right.

"Don't you say something before a picture is taken in these? Or you do something funny at the very least?" Einervaene asked us as her face went red. Her body being so close to Nin's after all.

"It's a matter of taste." I said with a shrug from up on high.

"Yes, and our tastes will be to pose around Ninno and say... Friends!" Larishazza explained while grinning sheepishly.

"Friends? Fine..." Nin sighed out as he looked at her. A certain level of regret for some reason is mixed into his words. It was clear he was still reluctant to be here so I was getting curious. He was still dressed up so what was the issue?

"Alright, girls, pose!" Larishazza told us as she smooshed her face up against Nin's mask. Something Einervaene ended up copying while also just hugging him. Meanwhile, I just got my tail out and hid behind its tip. Letting only my eyes show.

"FRIENDS!" we all then shouted out loud with the exception of Nin who just mumbled it. And then, the machine went off and the photo was taken. A picture of said picture appeared before us so we could look at it beforehand.

"Here you go, Nin, look after it." Larishazza told him as she handed the actual one over. My body slid down into the middle as he squeezed out. But I was worried because he was just quietly staring at it last I saw him. Yet, for now, I was a little too involved with these photo's we were now doing.

"Okay, now, let's pretend we are all sleeping!" Einervaene then suddenly said as she grabbed my tail.

"Hey!" I let out loudly as the stronger woman began to treat it like a blanket. Something that set off so many triggers for me given its importance. I shared my tail in naps and sleep with people I cared about dammit!

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"Nin! Nin!? Nin, where are you!?" one of the girls called out as I hid away in the dark. My rear was firmly placed on the edge of a garden that was seeing next to no use this late at night. In my hand, that photo we took and in my eyes... Tears...

I did not want this reminder, I was going to leave them and now I had a reminder. A reminder I just did not want to get rid of for some reason. And even if it was risky, I had my mask and hat off just so I could cry openly. It wasn't fair, I just wanted to go home and then this thing had to exist...

"Nin? Is that you?" Einervaene asked me as the sound of her heels became louder. Yet, oddly enough, the sound was not so sharp. I did not turn around to look at her, but when she entered my eyes, I was surprised. She was not in her usual clothes.

Instead, it was just a simple white dress that also went blue as you went up the dress. It also had dark blue rims and flower designs also went across it. And instead of her high-heels, she had something closer to sandals. Still high-heeled and all that, but it was a lot subtler and more open so her feet were exposed.

"What's wrong?" she asked me as she sat down close to me. Something I refused to answer as I put the photo away into my hat.

"Nothing." I told her as I went over to the edge of the garden. Staring out into the dark land below before she came over. Her own eyes looked up at the night sky as she moved closer. Most of her weight clearly being applied to me as she stood there.

"I won't push it then, Nin. But, the light show is about to happen, put a smile on just for that then?" she asked me as she turned to face me. Her hand guided my face towards her when I refused to move.

"We'll... We'll see..." I told her with frequent tremors and stops. And then, it just sort of became quiet. It was just us two standing around in the dark until distinct sounds were heard. All of a sudden, light.

Loud bangs and colourful lights lit up the sky.

"It's started if you could not figure it out." Einervaene teased with a grin as her face took on a green shade. Something with green light in it had just exploded right in front of us. And then purple, orange, brown, yellow, blue, pink and then white. The white one was particularly entrancing as it just lit us up.

"Beautiful..." I let slip while looking in Einervaene's direction. Even if I was looking at a distant sight.

"You're not too bad looking yourself." she said back to me with a smile and rather subtle blush for her. And while she was smiling at me, I frowned. I knew what was about to happen. And, given what I have learned, it is time I gave her an answer.

"Listen, Einervaene." I said to her while straightening out my form. Moving slightly closer to her in the process. But, it would seem she misinterpreted it and had closed her eyes. Lips open slightly as it became clear she was expecting the unlikely...

"Oh, sorry." she told me with a darker blush once she realised I wasn't going to kiss her. But to her, it must have been something more akin to she was just too hasty. Not that I was not interested...

"As I was saying, Einervaene, I believe there is something important you have been trying to tell me?" I said to her as I raised my left arm. Taking off the bracelet I got from Motrtha and letting it hit the ground at that moment. And it hurt deeply to see Einervaene's expression change the way it did.

She started off with that sweet smile and an eager love waiting to be let out. But it suddenly disappeared and she became confused before she became visibly frustrated. Her mouth moved about as if it wanted to say something but nothing came out. It was clear she was coping by thinking she was just embarrassed.

"Nin, I... Nin... I..." she let out before she went quiet and put some distance between us. Her eyes went down to the bracelet I dropped.

"You want to say something along the lines of asking me out, don't you? How you have these feelings you just want to admit?" I said in a rather flat tone which I probably should not have used.

She slowly nodded before she shook her head, "No... That's not it... Why can't I say it!?" she exclaimed loudly in frustration. That anger soon gave way to tears as she bashed at her head.

"Einervaene!" I said firmly as I put a stop to that. And at that moment I regretted what I had done. She was breaking down crying while showing nothing but confusion and loss on her face.

"Why can't I say it...?" she said once more as she looked up at my face. Her body came closer as she tried to reignite it. Like a match that kept going out.

"Because you never did feel it." I told her cruelly as I took a step away. Gesturing once more at the bracelet.

"You mean to tell me..." she said as she caught on to what the implication was. That this bracelet was interfering with her emotions for some reason.

"Yes, you never felt that way, Einervaene. This bracelet just twisted and messed with what was already there." I told her with a sigh before I began to walk away. Content only with the idea of leaving that bracelet behind. In spite of how valuable it was at the end of it all...

But, her hand reached out and stopped me, her eyes wide so she could aide her plea, "I don't care! Whatever that bracelet did! I don't care! I was truly happy when you had that on... I don't care if I am not wholly sincere to you with it on! I just want to feel like I have someone!" she cried out to me as she tried to tug me back to her.

Yet one firm move from me was enough to free the arm from her grip, "I won't, Einervaene. I won't willingly force you to have a better opinion of me. I won't force something-"

"Nin! I am telling you it is fine, I want you to do it! I am fine with it! So please," she told me before she tried to put it back on my wrist, "put it on!"

"No..." I told her as I shoved her away. Watching as she stumbled and fell down to the floor before leaving her there. Making sure to grab my stuff before I waited by a corner. Unable to tear myself away from the sound of her crying.

And while I tormented myself by staying near the woman I broke the heart of. I put my mask back on and then my hat too. I hid it all behind this mask. Every bit of anger and despair.

I hid it all before I then finally worked up the strength to walk away from the garden.