Rehn had been utterly unsurprised to learn that Ruth had been declared her personal supervisor, she sweatdropped bemused at the solemn prayer of condolences that Jenny made for her. Oh, what horrible fate she had fallen to, truly!
“Good luck!” Jenny then grinned bright and wide in schadenfreude, making Rehn’s temple throb in mock aggravation.
“Oh, you little…!” The cat girl hissed silently with an annoyed yet amused twinkle in her eyes while the young girl happily flitted back to her big brother’s side who was holding back a chuckle as was Vee. A silent sigh travelled over Rehn’s lips, she shook her head and regarded her new guardian.
Ruth had casually slipped to her side. It was kinda eery how easily the dragon mare managed to vanish into the background. Without dropping her blasé look, Ruth gave her a playful salute. Rehn sweatdropped again.
Their group of nine exited the hidden pathway back into the Underground. Jak and Vee had been wandering quietly alongside each other since the start with Jenny flitting around them with cheerful smiles and while being decidedly not quiet.
“… and I really wanna eat Baumkuchen afterwards! Oh, do you think the rollercoaster is actually that fast…? We gotta find out! And…!” A torrent of words erupted from the young girl in giddy anticipation of the Lebensfest, her eyes sparkling excitedly. She didn’t even slow down to give anyone time to answer her questions, eagerly diving into her next musings.
As fun as that was, Jak and Vee were starting to want a bit of quiet for themselves. And someone decided to give them some help.
“Now, now. Come on little missy, give those two some alone time~ How about Uncle Grant tells you all about the cool stuff you can look forwards to?” Grant stepped back from the front with a confident, lopsided grin on his lips as he puffed out his chest. “I can tell you, I’m an expert on festivals!”
“…of course you are…” Saia coughed inconspicuously into her fist amused which Grant blithely ignored.
“Ooh! That would be great! Can I listen as well?” Myra perked up at his words, completely oblivious as well. She was still a bit confused what this festival was actually about and had a million questions flitting through her mind!
Mina also nodded shyly in agreement, clinging close to the bunny cat.
“Heh, sure thing!” Grant finger-gunned them easily and giving Jak and Vee a knowing wink he fell further into the back with Jenny, Mina and Myra in tow. Gotta help a fellow guy out in getting his girl!
Jak sweatdropped at Grant’s exaggerated winking and finger-gunning, cringing in second-hand embarrassment.
“So… do you think he ever managed to get an actual date himself…?” Vee stage-whispered to him as soon as the jackalope was out of hearing range.
Jak’s eyes flickered towards Grant as he relegated something or other to the three girls with exaggerated motions.
“…for some reason I feel like the answer is actually Yes.” Jak groaned in answer as he turned back towards her.
Vee snorted amused and a short pause lingered between them.
“So, we’re still doing our date then?” Jak finally asked. “Because there are a few Lebensperlen I want to vow on today.” He looked down at his hand, held out in front of him, and clenched it tight into a fist. That Demon Witch. Haggard. He want to bring them both down. This he swore now and on the pearls again.
“You’re not the only one…” Vee nodded, dark clouds roiling through her mind. What had happened at the orphanage. That feeling of helplessness. How close she had been to this tragedy that she had only known through the news or felt from the haunted looks within her aunt’s eyes. Vee didn’t know what exactly she wanted but in her heart and mind she felt urged to do something, anything. A feeling she wanted to hold onto with a promise.
“And isn’t this what the Lebensfest is for in the in the first place?” Vee said, tilting her head towards him.
“True.” Jak smiled back
Their promise. Or their date. What exactly they alluded to was unclear to both of them in that moment. But it didn’t matter really as the reassuring feeling that they had each other’s back was much more important.
Saia lead them through the twisting and labyrinthian passages of the Underground, out into the slums and from there finally climbed up the Bridge. Even with the Central Market still a good distance away the sound of the Lebensfest was already echoing loud and bright through the streets. After all, the Lebensfest was celebrated throughout the entire city and not just the massive carnival that now stretched across Dampfstadt’s grand plaza.
Not even the tragedy and chaos of the night before had been able to slow down the momentum of this celebration. No, if anything the horror had only strengthened the people’s desire to celebrate their life. And thanks to Graam’s Arc the sky was bright and clear with only a few steam clouds dotting the azure canvas, allowing the sun to shine warm and brilliantly above them all. The glimmering light of hope after that night of tragedy.
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It was no surprise then, that the entrance gate to the Central Market was buzzing with more activity than anyone could remember as the group finally stepped out of the alleyways.
“Woah…!” Jenny gasped with excitedly sparkling eyes that echoed those of the other children and Myra’s as well.
“This is incredible~!” Myra squealed in delight, marvelling at all the stands and booths that dotted the streets and the lively decorations adorning the outside of actual shops. Ooh! That one was using Amber Neon for its sign!
And prominently towering above it all, only dwarves by the Dampf Tower itself, stood the Dampfhaus for all to see from wherever you were around the Central Market. Excited screams echoed from it as the rollercoaster zoomed along its outside before vanishing within one of the many openings. Rehn already got queasy just from watching.
The various tramways and other transportation pathways leading above the roofs were also brimming with life and had been decorated vibrantly. A tram chimed with bells and whistles, colour flags fluttering in the wind as it crossed over the heads of many. Children excitedly leant out of the windows of the tram with wide grins and under the watchful eyes of their parents.
It was without a doubt the greatest spectacle they had ever seen until now.
“Wait until you see the actual good stuff if you’re already impressed by this.” Grant grinned wide at Myra as they wandered through the entrance gate.
The Lebensfest was in full bloom and nobody even gave them a second glance as they became just another part of the excited crowd that filled the streets. It was a buzz of people that eclipsed the rest of the entire year and even that of the last festival. The stands Jak and Jenny had been tormenting previously were now replaced by much more elaborate, and noticeably more expensive, vendors.
“Lebensperlen! A promise to yourself and your loved ones!”
“Get it here, the best Lebkuchen in all of Ebenerz! You won’t find anything like it anywhere else!”
“Anyone interested in a pint of Ebenerzsches Quality Beer?!”
“Toys and souvenirs, all of traditional Ebenerz make! Comes with a seal of promised quality!”
Tourists from all over Gaia were easily pulled into the excitement but many also ignored the clearly overpriced and cheaply manufactured merchandise. The smart ones wandered further into the Lebensfest, looking fro where the real traditional items could be found.
“Oh, but I wanted to try the Lebkuchen…” Myra mumbled sadly as the others pulled her along, curiosity having pushed away the warnings about these exact scams that Grant had tried to hammer into their heads during his talks on their way here.
“I can tell you, the stuff we can find further in is a thousand times cheaper and better than whatever overpriced and burned bread that stand was trying to sell you.” Grant deadpanned, looking actually annoyed. Seriously, what was it with foreigners and being easily tricked by these people? Even Jenny and Mina didn’t give these scams a second glance!
“This is so cool~!” Jenny squealed excitedly in the meanwhile. The young girl was only kept from running off in the direction of any of the various games and rides on offer by Jak’s hold onto her shoulders. The grin on her face was so wide it threatened to split it her face in two and her tail wagged rapidly against her brother’s legs. This was it! She was finally on the Lebensfest!
Even Mina was looking around with big, sparkling eyes. The lively atmosphere and life-affirming cheer lifting up her mood.
“Let’s get you some Lebkuchen and Pralines then.” Jak grinned amused, his eyes sparkling with mischief back at his little sister as he flitted forwards. “First to find them doesn’t have to pay~!”
“No fair!” Jenny squawked wide eyed and hurried to race after him on tiny feet. Amused, Vee smiled as she followed after them a moment later along with Saia.
That left only Myra, Mina, Grant and Rehn.
“Come on, I will show you around as well.” Grant grinned towards the remaining three members as Ruth had vanished from sight already and he didn’t even have the first clue as to where she could have gone. He doubted she was far away, though.
Mina looked awkwardly after Jenny, nervously torn between staying behind or trying to catch back up with her. The feeling of indecision made her clench her hands in frustration.
“Seems like we’re in this together.” Myra startled her out of her thoughts, the bunny cat grinning down at the young parrot with bright eyes. She held her gloveless, left hand out to her which Mina took with a shy but warm smile.
Myra’s other hand, or rather her entire arm, was hidden beneath her jacket to hide the Amber Tech Glove that she was still wearing even now.
“Yeah, we can have fun, too!” Rehn grinned in agreement as she ruffled through Mina’s hair, making the young girl pout at her and look away with a huff. A hesitant moment later then Rehn had to hold back an adoring daw as Mina shyly took her hand as well.
“Hehe, then follow me!” Grant laughed with a cocky swell of his breast, giving a wave, and the trio was right on his heels as he lead them straight towards the Dampfhaus.
All the while, Jak was reminded of Rehn’s warning after the hunted had become the hunter behind Vee and Jenny. It felt like an eternity ago but her words had rung with the absolute truth. Those two got along like a house on fire and now he had to deal with said building blazing all around him.
“Onwards…!” Jenny giggled with a bright grin as Vee raced through the crowd, the younger girl riding atop her shoulders. The chameleon girl grinned right back under cheerful laughter.
“Freaking Abyss…!” Jak cursed, barely managing to stay right behind the agile duo.
Oh, Vee wasn’t actually faster than him but she had the advantage of bird’s view Jenny from above the crowd and her natural nimble agility. Which meant that Vee was able to more easily slip through any gaps within the crowd than he ever could. Whereas he had bumped into nearly every third person while doing the best he could.
Bemused, Saia watched all of this from the sideline. The swallow kept her eye out to make sure neither of them was about to sneak off in this tumultuous chaos but she doubt that thought was even on their minds right now. And it was nice to stretch her wings a bit. As much as that was possible in this crowd.
“But… the sun feels wonderful…” Saia smiled as she basked within the warm sunlight. A nearly clear sky above Dampfstadt… it was truly the perfect day to visit the Lebensfest. She supposed she had to somehow find a way to thank Graam for that. She covered her delighted titter with a hand.
All the while Jak was dealing with the terror couple that was Jenny and Vee, making him pay for all the snacks they found. His wallet was aching fierce! And Grant was showing the rest of the group around the best vendors of the festival on the way towards the Dampf Erz Plaza before topping it all with a visit to the Dampfhaus.