CHAPTER 26

INTO THE LION'S DEN

Night falls and we fall with it; Vani carries me in her arms as she hops down the third floor ledge like it’s a mere step on a staircase. It feels like time stops as we seemingly float in the tepid breeze.

Her pale skin interlaces with the dusk sky, I really can’t quite place her facial features after all… Not to mention, she actually cleared the curfew enchantments as effortlessly as she said she would.

I wonder who she was before all this.

Who she is now.

Ru and Fen are already waiting below in the gardens for us. Moonshine lights our paths, the summer heat not yet fully abating even when day sleeps. We didn’t really decide upon where to explore until now, the prospect of sneaking out more exciting than the actual reason for it.

“To town then!” Fen leads the way, his voice overflowing with a giddy mischievousness.

I’ve never broken rules deliberately like this, so in the end, I do feel apprehensive about all this.

If we’re caught in the act, it's grounds for expulsion.

My mind paces anxiously, going around in circles. It’s a bit late to be thinking this now, but w-was this really a good idea?

“It’ll be okay.” Ru, who was the most adamant against this idea, is the first to notice my concern and say calming things.

Relaxing my shoulders a bit, I smile at his concern. “You're right. Regardless, it's too late to regret it now, haha.”

I haven’t yet gone into town other than when I passed through, much less at night. So, I decide to busy my anxious mind by admiring the scenery.

Day and night, the city poses quite a different picture depending on time. Lively and bustling in the morning; empty and tranquil in the throes of dusk.

Or at least, this is what it first appears.

String lights dangle across buildings, growing brighter as we near the source of sound. When the central plaza opens up before us, we find ourselves in the heart of festivities. People dance and sing with energizing abandonment, the smell of grilled meat and a strong intoxication fill the air.

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“Wow!” Widening my eyes in wonderment, I recklessly throw any caution to the wind and run through the crowd. Colors and dress spin in a flurry, spice and cheer mix in an exhilarating combination.

“Wait, Aey!”

I hear Fen call after me, but I’m too consumed with the dancers in short skirts and rouge makeup. A group of drinkers heartily calls out after me, “Hey! Even a noble missy has joined the party!” Happily, I wave back to them and run along.

Exotic fruits and goods, taffeta silk and chocolates line each stall that stretch around the roads. One middle-aged woman cheerily asks me if I’d like to sample a liqueur candy. It glistens like a honey dewdrop so I graciously accept. Popping it into my mouth, I thank her and continue skipping farther and farther down the streets.

There’s a shop to the side of an empty road, hazy smoke wafting out the door - It smells of incense and cinnamon. Curiously, I wander in.

Pushing aside purple drapery and tinkling jewels, I see a cramped room filled with shelves of bronzing antiques.

Wowwww.

I peer closer at some of the trinkets. A necklace in the shape of a vial with puff-red powder. Globes of varying sizes. Small brushes and inks with differing hues. Perfume bottles with precious gems inlaid. A pin of the royal crest.

“What’s a kitten doing out so late at night, wandering into the lion’s den?”

The voice comes from beside my ear.

I whip around to see a young woman with dark, flirtatious eyes lined with the same rouge makeup as the dancers from earlier. Taking a long drag from her pipe, she blows smoke that smells of dark pepper into my face.

I hold in a cough with the foolish thought that it might offend her.

A young man with medium length, ice-blue hair appears. He smacks the woman over the head. “Don’t scare a little girl like that.” He tells her off frostily before turning a scrutinizing eye towards me. “Hmn? You look like you’re from the University, what are you doing out after curfew?”

“Erm, I may have snuck out…? Hahaha~”

The girl with dark hair intricately tied-up, laughs heartily, tears gathering in her eyes. “She obviously has more fun in her little bones than you ever will, Jul!”

The man who must be Jul lets out a enervated breath. As he naturally moves about, I see a long earring twinkling with a bright green, peridot jewel. Following up the silver chain, I see long ears protrude from his almost translucent skin.

I breath out in amazement. “Are you of Elven descent?”

Elven Fairfolk are very rare in the Human world, they tend to never leave the Seelie realm.

“Why, yes.” His facial features soften. “Are you interested in the Elven Fairfolk?”

My eyes sparkle. The adrenaline of tonight culminates into outgoing sociability and I forget all manners. I begin talking excitedly. “Yes! Very much so! I’d love to hear more about your culture!”

The woman steps between us, her dark eyes glinting. “You look like an innocent house kitten. But you’re not, are you?”

W-What is this…? For some reason, she kind of reminds me of Lady Amaryllis???

My fears are realized as she pinches my cheeks and laughs at my expression, “Yes, you're more like a little vixen! How adorable!”

Jul hits her over the head again and she lets go.

She glares at him before batting her long, dark eyelashes at me. “My name is Trais. The pleasure is all mine.”

“H-Hello Miss Trais.” I rub my cheeks in pain.

“Absolutely not, just Trais will do! You’ll make me sound like an old harpy although I'm only fifteen, petite vixen.”

Erm, I’ve seemed to have collected another weird nickname.