The Festival of Renewal

Svetlana, the capital of Macedea has always been a bustling town. Year-round, the town is swarmed with people, not just because it is where the royal family lives, but it is also because of the valuables that people can find there. From clothing to cuisines, there is no doubt that the town offers the best of almost anything that can be found in the entire kingdom. That is the reason why people all around Macedea, especially those who belong in aristocratic families, always flock to the capital whatever the season may be. However, it is also undeniable that there is no other time of the year where it gets more crowded than when the Festival of Renewal comes.

The streets and shops of Svetlana are always packed with citizens all around Macedea as soon as the festival starts, and it is no different this year. In fact, the town is more thronged this year. The culprit: no other than Cynane.

News of Cynane's first ever performance for the festival spread like a wildfire throughout the entire kingdom. For four years, Cyanane has not been in the public eye. As part of the requirements in entering the army, new recruits have to train for three years without any communication with the outside world. They are only allowed to exchange letters with their loved ones, but that is all to it. After the three years of official training, the new recruits shall graduate, officially becoming soldiers of the Macedean army. Most fresh graduates who did well are assigned in the capital. However, there are rare instances wherein they are sent for difficult missions such as exhibitions right away. Those who are only recognized as top-notch graduates from their batches are assigned with such missions. Cynane was one of those. After graduating, she instantly left for an exhibition which took for a year.

Almost everyone is curious to see how the princess of Macedea is doing now. Is she still that tiny princess they used to know four years ago? Has she really grown to become a scary and heartless woman? Is she really that good at fighting to be appointed as a general? People have so many questions and they know that some of their questions can at least be answered once they see Cynane perform in the night of the Novo festival's culminating ceremony.

Six days after the king's meeting with the three generals, the festival began, and today is the last day of this three-day celebration, which means that today is also the day for Cynane to perform the royal family's traditional dance known as the "Veton".

For the past years, it was her brother who performed the dance every festival, but since Cynane has already turned twenty-one four months ago - the age requirement for someone to execute the Veton - it is now her turn to carry out the family tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation.

The Veton is basically divided into three parts: the intro, the climax, and the closing. For the intro, the representative from the royal family has to dance with a headpiece bearing the family's crest. This represents the beginning of the reign of the royal family in Macedea. The intro is the most solemn part of the Veton in a sense that the performer only does minimal and controlled steps to ensure that the headpiece does not fall. It also signifies that a member of the royal family should be dignified.

The climax is the wildest part of the dance, and the one that people mostly get excited about. It symbolizes the royal family's oath to protect and serve the kingdom and its people. During this part of the Veton, the performer takes off his or her headpiece then performs with a weapon. Spear is the most common choice as it is the easiest to use for the dance. Cynane's brother as well as their father, only ever used the spear for the Veton. However, tonight, Cynane has decided to break that cycle.

In the final stage of the Veton, the performer dances with no weapon or any props at all. While he or she performs, the audience shall throw flowers at him or her, as a symbol of their support and blessings to the royal family.

The citizens of Macedea do not really know what to expect from their princess. While it is true that there are those who adore her in the kingdom, there are also those who doubt her. It is not because they do not acknowledge her as their princess, but rather because of her appointment as general. It turns out that becoming a general has created a huge controversy for Cynane. For some, her appointment is ridiculous and unbelievable.

"How can a woman possibly fight alongside the greatest warriors of the country?"

"What does she know about fighting? She is a princess, not a knight."

"The king is kind. It's not impossible that the princess probably pleaded with him to appoint her, knowing that the king cannot say no to her. The king has a soft spot for his sister after all."

These are only some of the unpleasant remarks that the Macedeans have said about Cynane. If it is her younger self, she would have been crying while locking herself up in her room. But she is different now. She keeps telling herself that she is now a grown woman. She must not let such baseless rumors affect her. She understands that this is a part of being a member of the royal family. People's eyes will always be on her, and obviously, everyone has something to say. Yet Cynane does not hate anyone. She does not blame anyone. At the end of the day, she loves the people of Macedea and would risk her life for them.

All spectators have finally gathered in the town's plaza. The night has come. The culminating ceremony will begin in a few minutes. The royal family is seated in the furthest back of the stage.

Seated on the biggest chair in the middle of the platform is Macedea's king, his majesty Filip Bilistiche. On his left is his wife, queen Elisie Bilistiche. Beside the queen is her and the king's son, the bashful prince Milan Bilistiche. Sitting on the right of the king is his mother, the queen dowager Audeta Bilistiche, who has not been in the public eye for quite a long time because of her declining health. Next to the queen dowager is an empty seat which shall be occupied by princess Cynane once she finishes performing the Veton.

Cynane is standing at the backstage, waiting for her time to enter the stage. She clasps both her hands tightly.

"Calm down Cynane. You've fought with men like Michal and have never batted an eye. Yet something like this is making you nervous. How pathetic," she says to herself.

Mentioning Michal's name suddenly makes her wonder where he is right now.

'He is obviously in the crowd, monitoring and leading the security. Will he even be able to witness me perform? And if he does, I wonder what he would think of my performance. Will he compliment me this time or insult me as he always does?' she thinks to herself.

She shakes all her thoughts away. This is not the time to be thinking of such things. This ceremony is monumental for her family and to the entire kingdom. She should focus more on her task instead of wondering of what Michal would think of her.

She gets pulled back from her thoughts as she hears the trumpets go off, signaling that it is her time to enter the stage. Taking a deep breath, she steps in the platform.

The crowd goes wild as they see their princess. For the past four years, Cynane has been secluded in the camp and has been away from the capital. The last time the public has seen her was when she was seventeen years old.

Now, their princess has grown into a mature and lovely woman. Her long black silky hair cascades down to her waist. She is wearing a white dress that opens on both arms like a curtain, and with a long slit on both sides of her legs to accommodate her dancing and huge movements. She is not wearing any ornament aside from the headpiece she has, yet she is glowing on the stage as if she is covered with dozens of diamonds.

"Has our princess always been this lovely? I could swear she used to look like this tiny and plain girl. But now, look at her, beautiful is even an understatement to describe her," one of the men in the crowd says. The other spectators seem to agree to what he said. Truely, everyone is enticed by the princess's beauty tonight.

The harpist at the left corner of the stage starts to play her instrument and Cynane quickly follows with the beat. Her movements are so delicate and precise that it almost looks like a work of art.

After a few minutes, the harp goes silent. The drums start to rumble. Cynane takes off her headpiece and picks up her precious sword, Samo. If earlier, her movements were delicate, this time she is like a wild horse leaping in the air. She lets herself loose. Her eyes are as fierce as a predator. Everyone seems to disappear, and in this moment, she and an opponent are the only people in the plaza.

Her movements are very swift and powerful. She holds her sword like a true sword master. The crowd can even here the slashing sounds coming from it as she violently sweeps it against the air. This is her moment to show that she is more than just the princess they know - that she can fight and is deserving to be their kingdom's general.

Seconds quickly turn into minutes, and with one last turn, Cynane finishes the climax of the Veton. There is a silence for a split second. She cannot tell if it is a silence of disapproval from the audience or the opposite. As she gently lays down her sword and starts the closing part of her dance, the crowd goes crazy. They immediately throw flowers at the stage and shout praises to their princess. Their reaction confirms that Cynane has achieved what she has desired to accomplish tonight - to win the hearts and approval of the people of Macedea.

"Contrary to what the people had been saying, I had no doubts in my heart that the princess deserves her position as general. I believe tonight, the Macedeans have realized what our princess is really capable of," Duke Vasil says to his wife who appears to be uninterested in the current uproar. Duchess Vera is not fond of such boisterous events.

Tonight, Cynane has definitely caught the heart of many Macedeans, and there, in a far corner, stands a man whose eyes has never left Cynane's for once.