Chapter 07 - Sun Festival

"Stop calling me that, Almira! You're making me sound like a rare animal," I grumbled. I crossed my arms in front of my chest, glaring at her with irritation.

"But you are rare, aren't you?" She laughed softly, shrugging her shoulders as if it were no big deal. Then, she sat down on the sofa opposite me. "I know why you're here. You want me to teach you about Esze again, don't you?"

I nodded quickly. It was good that she already knew the reason for my visit, so I wouldn't have to explain everything from the start.

"You always come here asking the same thing," the Elvian woman sighed deeply, stretching her arms across the backrest of the sofa. "At least once, bring me some food, would you?"

"You've forgotten? I've treated you and your child to meals plenty of times."

"Huh, that was just at a regular tavern, right? This time, treat us to a fancy restaurant, and then I'll consider it."

"Fine, but not anytime soon. I've been kicked out by that old bastard, so I don't have a single copper to my name right now."

"Kicked out?" Almira raised an eyebrow.

Half an hour passed as I recounted everything that had happened the day before. I poured out all my frustrations, cursing Grussel and Igresti without restraint. They were the two who had ruined my mood all day. Almira only laughed at my story, occasionally throwing in a teasing remark. I regretted sharing it with her.

"That's why you shouldn't become a hunter if you're stupid!" she jeered sarcastically. Her voice rang from the kitchen next to the living room. The aroma of green tea, accompanied by the clink of a spoon stirring in a cup, was the background to her laughter.

A moment later, she walked through the living room, carrying a tray with two cups of tea still warm and a jar of chocolate cookies. I quickly snatched a piece even before it was placed on the table. Almira shot me a glare, but I didn't care. I shrugged my shoulders and took another piece.

"Becoming a hunter really has made you rude, hasn't it?" Almira set the tray on the table, serving the tea and cookies.

"Come on! Don't be so stiff. A person who always expects to be treated doesn't get to lecture me on manners."

Almira sighed, slapping her forehead. She was probably tired of dealing with someone like me. Without trying to correct my behavior, she grabbed one of the cups still steaming. She took a sip without fear of burning her lips. I had to blow on mine to cool it down. I bet she was using Esze to either cool the drink or make her lips resistant to heat. As a pure Elvian, it must be very easy for her.

Though she could be annoying, she was actually a very kind person. Almira was the only one in this town who could see through my disguise, even when I wore a hood and thick clothes. From her, I learned a lot, especially how to use Esze. She taught me to harness my potential as a half-elf. It was also Almira who gave me valuable information about this land, including the huge uproar it would cause if the world knew my true heritage as a Haier-Elvian.

Suddenly, I was reminded of the first time we met, about eight months ago.

It was during the city's Sun Festival. A celebration dedicated to the Sun God, Lillio. As one of the two Great Gods worshipped in this land, the festival was a grand affair. The city of Glafelden hosted a parade that featured ritualistic offerings and dances in the town square.

In addition to the rituals, the Sun Festival was filled with various performances, food stalls, and vendors offering half-price discounts. For someone like me, still new to this place, the Sun Festival was something not to be missed. Perhaps I could find a new hood there. I had grown tired of my old one. If paired with a mask, it made me look like one of the underground mine workers.

I asked Dimas and Shella to accompany me on a tour. I had briefly asked the twins, Vian and Vani, but they declined. The restaurant they worked at had set up a small stall at the festival, so they couldn't join. I understood. I'd visit them later.

We arrived early in the morning, as the sun slowly climbed. The weather was perfect, not a cloud in sight. A gentle breeze blew, and dry leaves scattered as the Sun Festival began.

In the square, which was two hundred meters long and a hundred meters wide, a group of ritual dancers entered from the western gate. As I observed closely, I noticed the dancers varied in their roles. There were groups of women dressed in traditional red clothes, knights on horseback in full gear, and male dancers wearing animal masks that looked menacing. They began their dance as soon as they entered the square. At first glance, this ritual resembled the cultural festivals in Indonesia.

The knightly horsemen split into two groups, circling the female dancers from both sides. Then, the masked dancers disrupted the scene, pretending to attack the women dancers. While it appeared like they were fighting, the knights and masked men were actually dancing in sync, twisting their bodies and spinning gracefully. They moved like a professional dance troupe. What amazed me the most were the horses, which danced in time with the knights' movements.

"Those horses are trained specifically for the ritual. They're not for battle or pulling carts," Shella explained.

The crowd's awe filled the air, with some clapping and whistling, even though such noise was discouraged as it disrupted the flow of the festival. Dimas, Shella, and I sat at the corner of the square, a bit farther from the dancers. This area was elevated, so we didn't have to worry about the standing crowd blocking our view.

We continued watching the knights, who appeared overwhelmed by the monster dancers. Their faces showed genuine concern, as if they were facing real danger. Truly impeccable acting. Suddenly, the sound of a trumpet blared from the southern gate. The entire crowd turned to see a dancer enter with grandeur. Dressed in hues of orange-red, the costume looked luxurious, adorned with intricate details. A golden crown rested atop the dancer's head, adding a sense of power to their appearance.

"Who's that?" Dimas asked, intrigued.

"That's the dancer portraying the Sun God Lillio," I answered quietly. I pulled the edge of my hood down, making sure my long ears didn't show in the middle of the crowded square.

My eyes were fixed on the Sun God dancer. They danced with dramatic poses, punching the air. One by one, the monster dancers were defeated. It was an impressive display.

"How do you know?" Dimas asked.

"I came across some myths while gathering information at the library. That's how I know about the gods and their origins."

"Huh." Dimas showed his typical disinterest.

I had read about the ancient history of this land. There was an old legend that followed the formation of this kingdom thousands of years ago. It was said that, long ago, the world's surface was dominated by monsters and giant creatures. The human population was still very small, and every day, humans lived in fear of being devoured. Even though they had learned the arts of combat and survival, it was nothing compared to the ferocity of the monsters.

Eventually, the Gods decided to descend from the heavens and rid the world of the monsters with their divine powers and blessings. The monsters were driven into hiding and dared not show themselves again. The Sun God Lillio, his brother Lunaris, and the kind-hearted Goddess Rubiel, all descended to this land to protect humanity from the monster threats. That was why they were worshipped as the gods and goddesses of this land.

While the Sun Festival was dedicated to Lillio, the people didn't neglect his brother. The Festival of Rubiel, dedicated to the compassionate Goddess Lunaris, would be held next month. I planned to attend it, as it seemed just as fascinating as this festival.

Half an hour passed, and the dance ceremony concluded. The Sun Festival continued with incense burning by the Sayjev priests, the religious leaders who worshipped Lillio and Lunaris. They placed their hands over their chests and bowed their heads solemnly, a gesture followed by most of the audience in the square. This was their form of prayer. Then, one of the Sayjev led the crowd in a hymn of praise. It seemed like this would take a while.

"Hey, let's get some food! I'm starving," Dimas suddenly suggested. He got bored with things quickly.

Shella and I exchanged glances before nodding. We followed Dimas as he left the square. My stomach was also beginning to rumble. If I were honest, I felt uncomfortable during their prayers since I wasn't a follower of their gods. It seemed Dimas and Shella felt the same.

The three of us went to a small alley near the square. There were many food vendors along the path. From snacks like chips to heavier meals like five-layered sandwiches or meat soups. The sweet smell of grilled sausages filled the air, mingling with the sizzle of frying oil. It was hard to resist the temptation to buy everything, but since I didn't have much money, I could only buy what I really needed.

"Thanks, Miss Hood! I didn't know how you found my stall in such a large place," said a man handing me two bronze coins as change. He was the vendor who sold my favorite grilled octopus near the city center. I was lucky to find him here.

"It's because your octopus has a distinct aroma, Uncle! That's how I knew you were here."

I waved as I walked away, heading to a bench near a streetlamp. Dimas and Shella were still busy with their purchases. So, I sat there and enjoyed my octopus. I really wanted to try all the foods in the area, but right now, I only had seven bronze coins left, which I would use to buy a head covering.

The currency system in this land was a bit unusual. Instead of using a standard currency, they preferred using metal coins. A hundred bronze coins equaled one silver coin. A hundred silver coins were worth one gold coin. It felt just like an RPG game I used to play.

Minutes passed, and I finished my grilled octopus. But Dimas and Shella still hadn't returned. Maybe they were still shopping and had forgotten about me, or maybe they had left me behind. Damn it! I should have known this would happen when inviting two people who were in love. I sighed and stretched my arms over the back of the bench, then tried to close my eyes.

The next time I opened them, a tall woman suddenly stood before the bench. I nearly fell backward in surprise. She smiled at me warmly.

"Hello!" she called out.

"Y-Yes? Can I help you?" I stammered, still shocked by her sudden appearance.

The woman lowered her head and whispered something in my ear. "You're not human, are you?"