Pre-Festival Festivities

Poised to strike while holding her bow, Artemis' statue bore witness to the festivities.

The town plaza was brimming with people enjoying the evening.

On the far end, there was a stage where drummers pumped melodious tribal beats towards the dancing crowd below.

Since their arrival Stefano had always felt out of place. He knew what to expect since he was told of their destination, but actually being in a land full of nothing but women was far different than simple expectations.

Now that there are a few men in the area, the feeling of alienation was alleviated albeit a little bit.

(By Mithra, that's a lot of people!)

Stefano had a bit of trouble finding his party's table amidst the sea of flirting men and women.

As his head turned left and right, scouring the crowd, a man with deep brown skin stood beside him.

"Have you been chosen yet, friend?"

"Oh no, I'm not here to…" Stefano's mouth hung agape at the shirtless mustached man, exposing his muscular body. "...Why in Mithra's name are you shirtless!?"

The man sneered, his mustache rising with his lips, "I am displaying my assets for these women to witness my worth! The name's Fernando, friend."

"Stefano. As I was saying, I'm not here for the festival."

"Heh, don't be shy, friend, we are all after the same thing here." Since men are only allowed to set foot on Amazon lands twice a year, Fernando thought Stefano was being reserved.

"Look, I am with the princess' party…"

Before Stefano could finish his explanation, a tall and gorgeous Amazon approached them, her body muscular enough to rival Fernando's.

"Nice body but can you fight?" Grinning, the Amazon queried. Her eyes curiously staring at Fernando.

"Bare handed or with a sword, I'm your guy."

"Bare handed, huh. Then tomorrow we wrestle in the arena, tonight we drink! Come, follow me to my table." The Amazon beckoned with her head.

"And just like that, I am off the market, good luck on being chosen, friend!"

Stefano watched as the two disappeared in the sea of people.

The cleric continues his search, Stefano didn't have to worry about a thing since he's too average to be chosen. His physique might have improved due to Yulia's training but it was nowhere near as ripped as Fernando's. And it was hidden beneath his long sleeved blouse.

Or so he thought…

Stefano's search was interrupted by a woman trying to feel his biceps through his sleeves.

(Oh, no.) Stefano's eyes widened.

"Lady, I'm not here to participate." Stefano turned around to witness a beautiful blue skinned tiefling, possessing the toned body of a warrior like her other Amazon sisters. Her black and bluish hair tail tied into a ponytail.

The tiefling chuckled, the man looked familiar but she couldn't put her finger on it.

"Men are on this island for only a day, their aims are all the same." The tiefling examined Stefano's face. "You don't look like a capable fighter, your physique and looks are average…"

Stefano inwardly sighed. At long last the tiefling was about to leave him alone. Never before had he wanted to be rejected so badly.

"...But I find you cute. That settles it, you will be my partner for tomorrow! Come, my friends are waiting at my table!"

"Don't mind it. No hard feelings, I wasn't in here to be - Excuse me, what did you just say?"

The answer Stefano got was being dragged by his wrist. The Amazon's grip was unbelievably strong, the cleric found it hard to break free!

Before Stefano knew it, he was already awkwardly sitting at a table surrounded by four other Amazon women.

"So this man will be your partner for tomorrow, Xiana?" One of the women asked.

Xaina's arm slinged over Stefano's shoulder.

"Yes, isn't he adorable!?" Xiana proudly declared.

"I…ugh…Xiana, I'm sorry but…"

"Here, have some fried eel!" Xiana put a spoonful of eal into her partner's mouth.

Since it was Xiana's first time participating, she was overly excited to finally become a mother. And the man next to her will help her desire come into fruition, it was only natural that she made sure he was well pampered.

"Now wash it down with some water!" The over enthusiastic Xaina grabbed a mug from the table by random and assisted Stefano to drink.

It wasn't water, the tiefling grabbed an ale by mistake.

After being fed so much Eel and ale, Stefano lost the initiative to explain the situation.

Xaina whispered seductively into Stefano's ear, "We are not allowed to hold back but just do your best during our fight and I will take care of the rest. Artemis is a benevolent Goddess, she will understand. After you win, I expect you to pound me harder than you can with that mace in your waist."

Suddenly, Stefano's heart started beating wildly. Not only because of the tiefling's words but due to the sudden sensation of Xiana's tail coiling into waist, like a snake trying to get into his trousers.

Luckily, before the snake found its prize, a voice called.

"There you are, you idiot!" Gloria rolled into the scene.

"Gloria, oh thank Mithra!" Just when Stefano's will to resist crumbled, the sudden appearance of her friend snapped Stefano out of his impure thoughts.

But when Stefano was about to be dragged away by the mermaid, Xiana held onto Stefano, she wasn't going to let the man who would help her become a mother go.

"I found him first."

The two women glared at each other, Stefano caught in the middle.

Then, one of Xiana's friend recognized the two. They are the princess' friends. The man did not come here to participate.

The woman whispered the information to Xiana. Heartbroken, Xiana was forced to let go.

+++

In an inconspicuous table no different from the rest, the two princesses shared a table with their friends.

A certain werewolf was starting to hiccup.

"Can you still go on?" The concerned Yulia patted the werewolf's back.

"I can *hic* I can still drink!" Shatter Sound, who's had 5 mugs felt her world to be already slanting sideways. A telltale sign for any drinker that they should stop. Alas, her inexperience and the festive atmosphere made her want to continue.

"Antani, I don't think we should serve any more Ale to your friend over here." Alara, who was seated opposite to the lovebirds, voiced her concern.

Then, Shatter Sound took another mug from the table's center.

"I'm a proud clan member of the Scarlet Talons! *hic* I will tear you to shreds if you deny me my ale!"

Alara merely brushed off Shatter Sound's drunken glare with a chortle. Her sister's friend would get a pass. Plus, she found it amusing how the reserved woman suddenly turned boisterous with a little help from the alcohol.

Antani chuckled, "Just let her, sister. We'll take her back to the palace if she can't drink anymore."

Right next to Alara, was Moja.

Instead of attending to her duties, the guard captain joined the festivities. With the combined persuasion of both sisters, Moja was roped into their table.

"It still seems like yesterday when we were teens training together. Now, Antani is about to become a mother." With a smile, Moja sipped her ale.

"Don't forget, this dark elf still has to beat my sister first. And if you ask me, she doesn't have what it takes." Alara smirked.

"It's a good thing that nobody asked you then." Ellamir, who had her arm around her lover's waist, snapped back. Ellamir suddenly felt an elbow in her side. "Ow, your sister started it!"

"Even so!" Fighting temper with temper isn't a good thing. Somebody needed to mediate between the two or else they might ruin a rather joyous evening. "And sister, Ellamir has a name."

Alara grinned. How deep her sister had fallen for this dark elf. What the fuck did Antani even see in this woman? Alara may never know, one thing she knows is that…

"Remember this well, Ellamir, if you ever hurt Antani, I will have your head mounted on my spear."

"It's not like you can pull it off, but don't worry, hurting her is the last thing I'd ever want to do."

Ellamir deemed a quick peck into Antani's cheek was necessary to illustrate that she meant what she had said. A peck that illuminated Antani's visage with a joyous grin.

"Ughhh. Can you two please not do that smooching thing in front of me?" Alara released a groan of disgust. There was something so uncomfortable in seeing her little sister all mushy with another.

Suddenly. Gloria appeared at the table, dragging Stefano by the ear.

"Ouch ouch! Gloria you stupid fish, you're going to tear off my ear!"

"Then heal it if that happens. Now sit!"

Much like earlier Stefano found himself shoved into another seat yet again, only this time, those surrounding him were familiar faces.

The angered mermaid grabbed her half empty mug that she abandoned in search of their lost cleric. Drinking with a sour expression.

"What happened?" Yulia chuckled. It was rare to see their resident mermaid this pissed.

Gloria slammed the mug onto the elderwood table, "Stefano got picked by an Amazon for tomorrow!"

"What, You're participating tomorrow!?" Her squire will not only lose his accursed chastity, but he will also become a father overnight!? Yulia couldn't be more proud. "Alright, let's go. Details, give me the details right now, Stefano!"

"There are no details. It's a good thing Gloria came in and rectified the whole misunderstanding."

Yulia slumped. Utterly disappointing.

Moja was about to spew the ale she was drinking as Queen Ysbeil headed into their direction.

"Oh shit, Alara, it's your mother!" Moja quickly grabbed her spear hidden under the table and planned to make a quick dash for it.

"Sit down, Moja." The Queen closed in on them, her hands resting both at Antani and Ellamir's shoulders.

"Ahaha, it's a fine evening, isn't it, your majesty?" Per orders, Moja got back to her seat.

"Indeed, fine enough to let my captain of the guards slack off from her duty."

"Your majesty I…"

"It's a jest Moja. Enjoy the night with my daughters, your subordinates should be enough to keep the place in order."

Relief washed over moja, "Thank you, your majesty."

Ysbeil's gaze went to her daughter.

"Antani, you two shall be the first to fight tomorrow. I expect a fight as explosive as the one you had with your sister."

"Really!? I thought you were going to sneak our fight during the middle!?"

"I've changed my mind. My daughter's fight should be front and center."

Ysbeil then turned to Ellamir, "And as for you. Don't disappoint me, I broke tradition just so you could give me a granddaughter…" Ysbeil gripped Ellamir's shoulder tighter. "...make it happen."

"You can count on me, Mother." Ellamir replied with confidence.

"Mother, huh. I'll allow it." Ysbeil hoped Ellamir's confidence translated to her prowess. She's going to need it to best her daughter.

Thus, Queen Ysbeil left to her duty, to ensure that the pre festivities were as merry as planned.