Yla

Chapter 9: Festival Night

It had been a very busy week, the coming of age festival was the next night and everyone was excited and busy with their own preparation and Yla wasn’t an exception but compared to others she was busy with the farm and her hunting, because the festival preparation requires a lot of things to be prepared and meat was one of them. In the business of the preparation no one noticed the return of a certain old woman, she had travelled far to have her annual reflection, she smiled as she was overflowed by the excitement to see how the people were getting ready for the festival. She went to her home to put away her things and to get changed, she was covered with dirt and dust from her travels. She then went to see the other village elders and the village leader to tell them of her return and what her reflections have shown her for the village's future. Soon as the meeting was done she walked towards Yla’s house, she knocked and Yla came running to open the door, “Cana!” she exclaimed as she threw her arms around the old woman, Yla was relieved to see her finally back as she had many questions and stories to tell her. She showed Cana inside the house and served her tea, they sat around the table and Cana told her about her trip.

“I can’t believe that it's just been that long! It felt like forever!” exclaimed Yla, “there’s so many things that have happened and I’ve been meaning to tell you!”

“It seems that way, when I got here the earth’s magic has shifted again, and by a large margin this time”, Cana was calm, she sipped her tea while Yla was full of energy

“Yes that! I’ve been noticing that for a bit of time too, I think it started a week or two ago.”

“That’s good news, that means you are growing stronger each day, and soon you will be able to revive it completely. Remember emotions affect our magic greatly.”

Cana was talking about the Light of Fadia, Yla was told when she was twelve that the magical source will only be revived if her own magic grows and that her emotions are stable, especially with the Light of Fadia which was the reflection of it's bearers heart, so if Yla felt dead inside so will the source, but in the past years she was slowly moving on and the Light of Fadia was slowly being revived. 

“I know I’m happy about that too, so many things have happened in the recent days and I want to tell you that I met someone” Yla blushed, Cana looked at her questioningly, “he’s really an interesting fellow!”

Cana saw how excited Yla was to talk about this person, and she couldn’t help but smile, she was acting like a normal seventeen-year-old finally.

“He’s such a powerful wielder! He was able to replicate my spell of walking on water”, said Yla, Cana was caught unaware, as far she know only Yla should be able to do that, as it was not a spell to conjured, it happens because of who Yla is, she is the next protector of the light of Fadia, to her nature is a playground, it is her ally, her friend and her servant, this is the reason why her arrows never miss when she hunts or why water will never let her fall, and other than her the only other one to be able to do it are nymphs, who were the embodiment of nature and it's magic. For another mortal to do what Yla could, is a feat, could the nymphs have finally approached her? Impossible! They would never dare, it's forbidden.

“He sounds amazing”, said Cana hoping to hear more

“He truly is!” Yla’s eyes were bright, “a powerful wielder like him rarely passes through these parts”, Cana nodded, “he wields magic as if it was part of his own body, it was unbelievable when I witnessed it!” Cana felt a bit concerned, it might have been a nymph after all, but she needed to be sure.

“Well I pray to meet this amazing person.”

“Oh you will! He will be joining the festival and will be dancing with me!” 

“What?! Who is this person?” Cana blurted out, a nymph will never join a crowd of mortals, what were they planning? The idea that Yla might have been smitten by a nymph was truly troubling and risky, but she couldn’t let Yla find out about these troubles, the child only giggled with the thought of seeing him again.

“Yes ma’am, he will be my partner tomorrow evening”, she was smiling so beautifully that Cana didn't know how to react, “his name is Ogami”, she said no louder than a whisper and then a fit of giggles immediately following the name. 

Cana breathed a sigh of relief, it was Ogami, just Ogami... mortal by all accounts but powerful just like his mother. But despite being mortal Ogami’s filial connections presented another set of complications... how would she react if she found out the truth about him and his brother? But Cana felt a bit better, mortals can be dealt with a lot easier than nymphs, and with Yla this happy for the first time in a long time Cana didn't think much about it. She was happy and that's all that mattered, with her happiness a powerful magic has been awakened inside of her, it was powerful enough that so much life and magic flowed into the earth.

Ogami was woken by a sudden electric-like current surging into his body, he felt so much magic that it could only mean one thing, a magical source has released magic into the earth and changed its current equilibrium, but it faded almost as fast, and the traces that it left had a very distinct trait, it felt pure, and no energy of such existed in years - not since that disappeared. Shaking himself awake, he closed his eyes and stretched his senses till it had travelled all over the country in search of it, but it disappeared into oblivion. 

“Impossible”, he said scratching his head, too much magic to disappear that fast, “Impossible”.

In Fadia, Yla was having a relaxing coffee with Cana as she finished her recollection of all the events that had happened, Cana stood up to allow Yla to continue with her day. Yla hugged Cana so tight that she almost didn't want to leave, but she grabbed her bow and her quiver of arrows and prepared herself to hunt after all the festival was tomorrow and everything needs to be perfect. Slowly she turned her back to Cana and bade her farewell. Outside Mionette and Archeos were waiting for her. Cana watched them leave, she smiled to herself, if Adda could see her daughter now she would be so proud. But Ogami was the most unexpected factor of them all, he had made her smile that way, whatever he had done made that girl feel so special and loved, something Cana had been trying for years but to no avail, yet a complete stranger like himself did it in just a night, the Beatitudes are truly looking after that child, bless them. 

The following night, one by one they lit their lanterns, illuminating the village plaza, the children and the adults began to gather, the celebration of spring began, and in a few moments those who will be of age will be presented to the crowd of awaiting villagers.

Mionette was busy fixing her hair in the mirror with the help of her sister, Clarice had been so excited for this, especially with her sister the last one in their family to come of age, she was going to be a very beautiful lady. They heard shuffling by the corridor then Yla and Cana came into the room; Mionette invited her to get ready with her for the dance, it was the most optimal place since her house is near the plaza and she can play dress up with Yla. As Yla got changed Cana was helping Mionette get into her own dress, her sister picked up the most elegant cream coloured silk satin from Farrah last year to be turned into her dress. Clarice wanted her sister to have a full length dress but it would have been impossible to dance if it were. The dress was styled to cinch in the waist, and had a bardot neckline as Mionette has lovely shoulders, and it will show her beautiful face. The hem of the dress had a flowy skirt and studded with small lace flowers dotting around it and the fabric caught the light in a way that made Mionette glow, she looked amazing. 

As Yla got out of the divider their jaws all dropped, it was their first time to see her all dolled up, the blue dress that Archeos brought her was just perfect, Cana patted Mionette on the shoulder applauding her for the choices that brought them to this dress, and Mionette couldn't agree more, she was good. Soon as they were done styling Mionette Clarice and Cana began fixing Yla’s hair, they pulled back her hair into a braided bun, accented by a crystal-studded band and around her neck draped her mother’s necklace.

“I think I can get used to this look of yours, but I admit that I’m still looking for a bow or knife tucked around somewhere”, teased Mionette as Yla sat in front of the mirror 

“I feel the same way”, she gazed into the mirror and watched her reflection with a bit of disbelief, I really don’t look like myself, she looked intently and can’t help but see her mother, “Is that really me?” she found herself asking.

“Yes dear, it is”, Cana responded to her in a soft and encouraging tone

“I feel like my mother is looking back at me”, she said touching her cheeks still at awe at how similar they looked

“Well you take after her...” Cana smiled at her as she put a light rouge on her.

“Now ladies enough drama it's time to dazzle everyone!” it was Archeos walking in the room all dressed up himself. He was wearing a dark blue jacket with silver buttons, matched with his dark blue trousers and white gloves. His hair was combed back showing an elaborately designed ear-cuff that was a family heirloom.

“No ink in the hands?” joked Mionette as her eyes landed on his gloves

“Maybe they got chopped off”, jeered Yla.

“Ha-ha very funny”, said Archeos, “we’re going to be late, so we better get moving.”

The two girls bade goodbye to Cana and Clarice before being whisked away by Archeos. 

Soon as they got down the stair music was already heard, with the cacophony of cheers and laughter from the villagers. By the door Mionette’s father was waiting for them, together the four of them made their way to the plaza where all the excited villagers gathered awaiting the spring dance, and the dancers who will be debuting into adulthood. Salasar, Mionette’s father and village leader, began to arrange the dancers based on the date of birth, but he placed Yla at the very end of the line, not because of her age but because of her status as the Protector of the Light of Fadia. 

With everyone all lined up Yla began looking around for Ogami, she began to be a bit concerned, Cleon and Sivelle also felt the same as they scanned the crowd for their son. Salasar soon began his speech, talking about the history and importance of the tradition, and on his cue the musicians began to play the melody for the Spring Dance. The dancers began walking into the square starting from the oldest, one pair after another they danced into the melody, symbolizing their coming out of the world as an adult. Yla began to feel scared, what if he wouldn't show up? The same fear was etched on her friends' faces seeing that Yla was still alone at the end of the line, what could they do to help her? Soon only four pairs remained before her, Yla wanted to cry, she berated herself for trusting a stranger, what would happen if she stepped into that square alone, she couldn't bear the shame of it. Two more pairs, then one, still no Ogami, she saw how Cleon was fighting to the crowd to get her, then the last pair had walked on; all eyes watched her, she didn't know what to do and before she could take her first step, Ogami arrived, panting he offered his arm and lead her towards the square. 

Yla fought back her tears, she was relieved to not be alone, but she stared at Ogami accusingly, “I’m sorry I was late, appropriate clothing was difficult to find”, he explained. Ogami wore a white suit, with black cordings and buttons, his hair was tied into a half up and half down ponytail held together by a leather cord. 

“At least you made it”, said Yla as Ogami twirled her

“Did you think I wasn’t going to show up?” Yla nodded, “So many envious eyes are shooting darts at my back right now, not a chance on this earth will I let them take my place.”

“Maybe if you were on time that wouldn’t have happened.” Yla was amazed by his confidence

“You can say that I was on time, if I wanted to make an entrance” he mused, Yla smiled.

“Aren’t you a bit overconfident,” she responded

“Shouldn’t I be? Compared to them I am the one to have the honor to  be dancing with you right now, and all they could do is watch.” Ogami looked at her intently and smiled.

Yla felt her heart pounding, quick beats that were not in tune with the music, she swallowed hard, nervous, she felt her face burn. His eyes shined by the light of lanterns, his smile that never faded and the gentleness that Yla had never experienced when she dealt with men. “Yla, I like you”, he said to her as she turned, “if you will allow it, I would like to have the honor of courting you”, despite his brother’s advice, Ogami decided to pursue his emotions for this girl. Yla stared at him quietly, Ogami could see her face turn red, “what does Lady Nymph say to this question?”

Before Yla could reply the music ended and Yla curtsied, gave him a corsage as a token and smiled before she was pulled away by her friends. Ogami was surprised that Yla left him with only flower and a smile, but he too was then pulled away by his parents. Ogami’s eyes followed the girl, he excused himself from his parents and ran after her. When he found her Yla was in the arms of two individuals, “Yla”, he called to her, she looked back at him, and soon people were crowding around them. 

Yla, Mionette and Archeos walked up to Ogami, Yla was smiling at him, “hi!” Mionette said, “so your Ogami, glad you made it in time!”

People who participated in the dance eyed them, especially with Ogami, they  wanted to have a good look at the person who danced with Yla, they began to cheer and / or jeer at him, while the ladies giggled. Not used to the attention, he looked around in confusion, Yla couldn’t stop herself from bursting into laughter at the way he reacted to the crowd. Then Yla pulled Ogami away from the crowd while she and her friends found a quiet spot near the plaza. She then introduced her friends to him, Mionette questioned him a lot while Archeos just stared at him sizing him up. 

“Is it alright if I steal Yla away for a moment?” he asked them

“Of course!” said Mionette

“Sure! You’ve  stolen her already anyway”,said Archeos smiling at him for the first time, nudging Yla to his direction. She looked at her friends and then went away with him. Yla told him that they should get some food and drink, Ogami obliged her moving towards the table of food. She left him for a moment to get some plates when Ogami came face to face with Cana. At first the two stared at each other, Ogami didn't know who this woman was but the way he looked at him sent chills down his spine. 

"Young man, you must be Sivelle's boy am I correct?" she said to him, "my name is Cana, an elder of Fadia" 

"Yes ma'am, I'm Ogami", he said in a flustered voice 

"You look a lot like him", she didn't sounded angry, but her tone was ice cold.

"I've been told", Ogami wanted to get away from her, because a sense of danger loomed around the old woman. 

"she", she looked at Yla, "is a very special child, and I would advice you not to do anything that may hurt her", Ogami could only nod, the crone's demeanour changed when Yla returned, she was as sweet as honeydew, but her warning made him feel wary. Why was everyone seem to be very concerned about Yla's wellbeing that much? 

Soon as Cana had left, Ogami and Yla moved away from the crowd and walked around the village. The night was clear and the stars were out, it was a beautiful night. 

"You left me hanging back there", said Ogami with a mischievous smile

"Well you were late, that was revenge", giggled Yla

"Does it mean we're even now?" 

"That depends", Yla was never approached by a boy this way. Ogami has been a complete gentleman and she really wanted to get to know him, but if he finds out who she is in Fadia would it change?

"Depending on what dear Nymph?" the more she spoke the more curious he grew. 

“If you’re serious”, said Yla, her face glowed by the light of the lanterns, “I danced with you tonight because that was the wager of your challenge, but not courtship.”

“Are they not one in the same?” Yla shook her head slightly, “I thought I have set my intentions clearly”, he continued and walked closer to her, closing the gap between them, “My intention Yla, is you”, he said as he gently held her hand. 

Her heart began to raise and her cheeks burned, the way he looked into her eyes made her look away, they were dazzling that she felt that if she stared any longer she might swoon.

“Have I stated my feelings clear enough?” he mused, Yla just nodded, “I would like to ask again, will you allow me the honor of courting you?”