Chapter 48: Festival Frenzy

The day of the great festival in Oakwood had finally arrived. Luca woke up early. As he got ready, he asked his mother if she wanted to come along. She smiled and shook her head. "I have work to do," she said. She tried to give him some money, but Luca refused. He still had some silver coins saved up.

As soon as the sun rose, Luca met Finn at the usual spot. Without wasting time, they set off toward Oakwood village. The journey was not too long. When they arrived, the village was lively, filled with music, laughter, and the scent of delicious food.

Curious, Luca asked Finn, "Why do the villagers of Oakwood celebrate this festival?"

Finn shrugged. "I have no idea."

A man nearby, who looked to be in his fifties, overheard them and chuckled. "This festival is a symbol of Oakwood's prosperity," he said proudly. "Among all the nearby villages, only Oakwood has a festival as grand as this!"

Luca's eyes sparkled with interest. "What's special about the festival today?"

The man grinned. "Oh, there's plenty to see! Many shops have been set up here, selling everything you'd find in the cities—clothes, toys, food, potions, and more. There are also competitions. Some require pre-registration, but others allow you to join on the spot. Later in the day, there will be performances—circus acts, music, and dancing. Words won't do it justice. Go and enjoy!"

Luca and Finn made their way into the festival grounds. The place was packed with people. It was the biggest crowd Luca had ever seen. Luckily, teams were stationed around to manage the flow of people. Finn looked around and sighed. "How are we supposed to find anyone in all this?"

Luca, however, wasn't thinking about that. He had never been to a festival this big before, and everything fascinated him. Just as the man had said, there were hundreds of shops. Even for a single category like clothes, there were dozens of stalls.

Luca stepped into one and asked for the price of a cloth. When the shopkeeper told him, he frowned. It was much higher than what he had seen in the city. Without saying anything, he turned and left.

"How was it?" Finn asked.

"More expensive than the city."

Finn nodded. "I figured as much."

As they continued walking, they heard a loud voice calling out, "Win prizes! Try your luck!"

Curious, they followed the sound and saw a small archery stall, which had gathered a bit of a crowd. The target was set at a fair distance. To participate, one had to pay five bronze coins and would receive three arrows. The closer an arrow landed to the centre, the better the prize.

Most people barely hit the outer ring. Those who did won nothing. One man managed to hit the inner ring, just outside the centre, and won a prize worth two silver coins.

Finn's eyes sparkled. "I want to try!"

He handed the shop owner five bronze coins and took a bow. His first arrow barely hit the outer ring. The crowd sighed, as they had many times before. His second arrow was better—it hit the inner ring.

"Yes!" Finn cheered, pumping his fist in the air. He turned to Luca with an excited grin. "Did you see that?! I hit the inner ring!"

His excitement got the best of him, and he fired his third arrow too quickly. It missed the target entirely. His face fell for a moment, but when he saw the prize he had won, his smile returned. "Not bad!" he laughed.

He turned to Luca. "You should try too."

Luca, a little excited, nodded. He paid the shop owner and took the bow. Holding it firmly, he took a deep breath and focused. Everything around him faded as he aimed and released the first arrow.

It landed just shy of the centre.

The crowd cheered. Finn started jumping excitedly. "That was so close!"

Finn raised his hands. "Okay, okay, silence, everyone! Next arrow!" He then whispered, "Come on, Luca!"

Luca now understood how the bow felt in his hands. He ignored all distractions, set his eyes on the centre, and let the second arrow fly.

It struck the dead centre, piercing straight through the target.

The crowd erupted into cheers. Finn was shouting and clapping. "Amazing!"

Luca took his third arrow, and once again, it hit the exact centre. The crowd cheered even louder.

"This boy has definitely trained in archery before!" someone uttered loudly.

Luca and Finn had been taught the basics of archery by Sir Aldric, but at the Drakemore estate, swords and spears were the main focus. Archery was never a priority. Yet, Luca had developed heightened perception through his training, allowing him to react quickly and see movements with incredible clarity. Perhaps this was why his shots were so precise.

When Luca received his prizes, he asked the shop owner, "Can I exchange them for money?"

The shop owner nodded but warned, "I won't give you the full price."

Luca agreed and took the money. As he was about to leave, someone from the crowd asked, "Will you try again?"

The shop owner looked at him nervously, clearly worried about losing more prizes.

Luca shook his head. "No, that was enough for today."

Finn chuckled. "Yeah, let's not make the shop owner cry."

The crowd laughed, and Luca and Finn walked away, feeling satisfied.