The festival of blood part 1

"I hate children. They are so noisy and irritating. Why did you drag me out in this crowd?" Nicole looked at the Vizier at her side.

The elder lady had a disgusted look on her face but Nicole could read her like an open book. The older lady was intrigued by the display of colors in front of her.

This was the first festival Oreta had celebrated and the joy it brought everyone here was real.

"You are the Vizier, my lady. There will be many more festivals coming so you should familiarize yourself with them at the earliest" the elder frowned but did not complain any further.

Children were running everywhere, their magic flowing in a harmonious wave around them.

It was weird to see children in the world, never mind so many. And they all held some degree of magic which was even rarer.

Oreta really was blessed by goddess Isis, wasn't it? No other place could boast half of what Oreta had accomplished.

But somehow, it did not bode well with Nicole. There was a feeling of wrong around the city. The joy seemed like it would be snatched at a moments' notice.

Or maybe it was just Nicole and her paranoid mind overworking here.

The night was about to fall and the crowd was more hype than ever. There was no fatigue visible on anyone's face and the lanterns had started to light the streets up.

Even the foreign dignitaries had started to turn up on the lower streets, the festive mood getting to them.

"Hey old lady, you did leave your tower. I was convinced that you were dead" Nicole felt her master freeze at the care-free address. However, the old lady did not lose her temper.

Not when the one to call her was the same rank as her.

"Lady Ahadi, please mind your manners in public. And, what are you wearing! Change it at once" Nicole could only look on in amusement as her master snapped at the other's choice of dress.

Or the lack of. The clothes looked more like rage on that thin and under-developed body. However, Misha just let out a loud laugh at those words.

"What's wrong with them? They are practical and they are easy to move in. Everyone else should mind their own business. Besides, Rhea and Maria said that I looked good so I will keep this attire up" Misha looked to be having too much fun at the Vizier's expense.

At least someone seemed to be carefree here and Nicole felt glad.

Still, something seemed to be glaring wrong in Oreta and she felt like the only one who could feel it.

"Lady Ahadi, have you known Lady Maria for long? You seem familiar with her" Nicole had seen no one else be that familiar with the court lady except Iris and Lady Hua.

But they were unique cases, forced to spend time with Lady Maria. Especially Iris, who had too much on her plate already.

Nicole tried not to feel jealous over that fact but it was difficult. Her feelings were no longer something she could control after all.

"Lady Maria? Well, she has been here for some time and she's a good fighter. I guess you could say that we get along well" Been here long? Nicole had been so sure that she had not met the other before Iris had introduced them.

Maybe she had missed the other in passing?

"Who is this 'Lady Maria' person you speak of? I don't think I recognize that name" Her master decided to but in the conversation.

Her tone suggested that she was not interested in the topic but Nicole could read her like a book. Her master was suspicious as well and it reassured Nicole.

"She's someone from 'The isle of Zorg'. And architect but not from the main family. She's been helping us restore this place. I was so sure everyone had heard about her by now. I mean, everyone certainly knew her when I asked around" Misha looked bored at being questioned.

Bored and a little irritated as well.

It was out of character for her but Nicole could not be certain about it. She had not really integrated with the Ahadi that much outside of work.

But before Nicole could comment more on it she heard her name being called. It was from a guard under his command, one she had ordered to patrol the outskirts of the town.

"L-Lady Nicole, it's happening. The water levels are rising in the drains and the water is weird as well. W-We don't know what to do" the guard sounded panicked.

Nicole frowned at the frightened tone of the guard. Something had spooked her badly and it did not sit well with Nicole.

"Water in the drain? But it had not rained for a long time now. You all, wait here. I will check it out" Nicole had noticed the water before but she had not thought it actually meant something.

"Water? Let me come as well. Lady Maria, what will you do?" the Vizier asked but the youngest was gone. There was no one around at all and likely had not been for some time now.

The situation seemed weirder and weirder by the second.

"You guard, go and find Lady Ahadi now. We will go and investigate this water problem. Prepare an emergency evacuation order for everyone here as well but do not announce it yet. We don't want to cause an unnecessary panic" a little bit of water was no problem.

However, this sudden appearance of water was a problem and Nicole had a feeling that she should have informed Iris and the others about this before they left.

Nicole turned to move toward the drainage pipes but the screams in the vicinity cut her off. People were crying all over the town and this seemed much more important than anything else.

Even a potential flood.

"What's going on? What happened?" Nicole tried to fight against the crowd to have a look. Going in the opposite direction to the traffic was difficult.

But it was all worth it to see the problem.

It was demons.

Hundreds and hundreds of demons had somehow managed to slip into the city while they had not been aware.

"B-But how? The hold jade should protect us all" people were crying around her. Most of them were too scared to even move against the monsters tearing their brethren apart.

"Run toward the gates. Hurry and get out of the city" Nicole's voice was loud but the road of the monsters was even louder.

"We can't. They have the city surrounded. The gate has to be closed to prevent casualties" Nicole swore at the situation.

How could such a perfect day turn into this bloody night? Why was this happening? Was it because they had taken the hold jade too far from the city?

Or was there another reason?

"Everyone, kill as many animals as you can. If we cannot get out then we can only go in. Head toward the central circle of the city. There is a temple there that would keep us safe" Nicole had no other choice but to reveal this secret.

The location of the origins court was important but so were the lives of the people around her.

Iris would forgive her. And if not, then Nicole would spend her life atoning for this.

But she refused to believe that this was a mistake on her part. These people needed to be taken to safety.

"Lady Nicole, look out" there was a slash and then pain took over Nicole's senses.