Gideon loved The Grand Awakening Festival, it was his favorite holiday. This year he had a much more significant reason after having his own awakening. He found a spot in the Market Square where he had a good view. He admired all the work that he and his brother’s had put in. Captain Daniels had ask him and the others to put in extra time cleaning an prepping for the festival. The place looks great. I think we did the captain proud. He and his fellow scamps had worked hard cleaning the area in preparation for the big night.
He hoped to see Raya tonight, but she had disappeared after their encounter on the farm. They hadn’t got to talk since that day and Gideon couldn’t help but wonder what he had done wrong. Due to the large crowds, they wouldn’t have an opportunity to talk tonight. He didn’t think she would come out of her sewers and brave the crowd. The traffic in the lower district would be insane, because The Grand Awakening play was at the end of the parade route.
In the past he always thought the festival was held in the lower districts because of the space, but now he thought it was held here because they didn’t want to open the poverty gates for the people of the lower district or docks. The working man wasn’t welcome in the the districts of the nobles and wealthy merchants. Maybe they think we’ll rob them? Are they afraid of us? These were all questions that Gideon knew wouldn’t get answered tonight. This was why the parade started high above and then those that chose to come into the lower districts and mingle with their lessers did it of their own accord. The others simply remained behind their walls.
The music was playing, the glowing Magitek lights of all colors shined down the road, lighting a path. The citizens of Rime lined this path for the parade that lead to the stage fore the big finale. Fire works streaked through the air from The Upper Market District. Someone didn’t know or didn’t care that they were early or that the play hadn’t even started yet. Or perhaps they were deep into their cups already and were in an especially festive mood. Either way, the citizens in the lower districts “Oohed and Ah’d” as was appropriate for the fireworks. Gideon doubted that anyone complained, or if they had, he doubted any would listen. Grand Awakening was the one night that all classes celebrated together in the same streets.
The Parade was approaching. A great dragon puppet snaked along the route. It rose and fell as it swerved and circled about. Smoke spewed from it’s nostrils as a flame rolled about in its mouth. The light of the flame revealed Blake’s face within the dragon’s mouth. He used his fire ability to make the dragon spit flame as part of the show. While he didn’t like Blake much, he had to admit he was doing a good job with his part in the festival. Gideon would bet that the boy’s father had used coin and bought him the prestigious position in the play, but Blake had to do the work. He saluted his respect to the dragon and all of the effects that made it real.
The actors came up past the dragon and they all took the stage. ”There’s Master Brom,” someone from the crowd said. “And there is Mrs. Webster!” The voices nearby continued to point out their friends that were in this years play. “Who is that, I don’t recognize her?” said another voice. That is when Gideon saw her. A petite girl with blue eyes hidden deep inside a black cloak, it had to be Raya. “She must be playing the System.” Another voice said.
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The play began. Master Brom played a smith working his forge. A hooded man began to narrate the events. “The world was at peace, humanity had formed settlements and began building larger cities like Rime. One day a dungeon appeared near the cities, some say they were constructs of the System, others think they naturally formed as a balance in the world. Revolution or Evolution?” Gideon still couldn’t make out who the narrator was, so he gave up trying. Instead he latched onto the words as he listened to the man, enthralled by the story. “It was then the world knew something was wrong, strange creatures from the dungeon attacked. Orcs and Goblins from another world, outlanders as they are now called.
The dungeon couldn’t hold them any longer, the creatures overflowed into our world. As the outlanders poured out from portals and dungeon gates, the world was thrown into chaos. The citizens of our world were powerless against these creatures of the void.” The crowd watched the stage as people dressed as Orcs and Goblins swarmed villagers, slaughtering them one by one. Gideon, while enraptured with the story and the events unfolding on the stage, couldn’t help but admire the costumes. They were an excellent design this year, the orcs and goblins are so lifelike, he thought. He refocused back on the stage as Raya stepped out.
“Then I came to the people, I am The System,” said a clear small voice. Raya paused and allowed the suspense to build. In that time the Orcs attacked the smith. As he fought, he attempted to keep his distance. The System’s voice broke over the crowd again, “I am The System of the Void, follow my command and defeat my enemies and I shall reward you.” Gideon thought she sounded possessed, so different from the Raya he knew. He stared in awe. The smith smashed the Orcs back. He used his strength to toss the enemies around. “Alpha Ability: Strength unlocked! Welcome to the system,” Raya pronounced loudly.
The battles continued on, many stories of dungeon conquests were told. There were stories of love, stories of loss, and those of tragedy were shared as the crowd laughed, cried, and cheered. It all culminated with the awakened heroes of the past pushing back the orcs and then battling the great dragon. The dragon was slain with great fanfare, the fireworks that were shot from the walls of the Academy made the show earlier seem small and inconsequential. When the smoke cleared, Raya stepped to the center of the stage and proclaimed, “Welcome to the System. You will come when I call. Awaken my friends, for the final battle is nearly upon us. A greater enemy of cosmic power awaits!”
The crowd echoed back their answer to the call, “Welcome to the System! Welcome to the Void!” The citizens of Rime began to all cheer with gusto. Everyone recognized that the finale was always the system’s pronouncement. The actors took to the stage for the final curtain call. They all took a bow repeatedly, smiles upon every face. Gideon now saw the Narrator was none other than Captain Daniels himself, he had thrown the hood back for the finale.
The captain gave him a wink, followed by a raised eyebrow in the direction of Raya. He didn’t know how the captain convinced her to do the play, but the shock of seeing her there hadn’t subsided yet. As he thought on it more he came to a realization. She is going to be alright. The captain came through like he always does. He found a way to make sure I could go to the Academy, but also know Raya would be safe while I'm gone. He sat back and smiled. A tension that had long settled into his muscles released. For the first time in a great while, Gideon relaxed. The world brightened just a little bit, a positive outlook had settled into his mind. Everything was going to be okay.