Chapter 4

"Are you done?" he asked after seeing Celestia take her last bite with satisfaction.

Celestia nodded. "This is the best food I've ever had!" she said excitedly.

Lean laughed. "Of course. That's because you haven't tried any of the other foods."

Celestia's eyes sparkled. "Is there anything better?"

"A lot," Lean said as he walked forward, waving for her to follow him. "But if we keep eating, we won't be able to walk around."

Celestia quickly followed him, still glancing around enthusiastically.

As they passed a small alley, Celestia's eyes fell on something that made her stop.

"Lean, look!" she exclaimed, tugging on his sleeve.

Lean turned and saw what Celestia was pointing at. A little girl in a shabby dress was sitting in the corner of the alley, hugging a small gray cat. Her face was dirty and her body looked thin.

Celestia looked at Lean with a worried expression. "Why does she look like that?"

Lean was silent for a moment, then sighed. "She probably doesn't have a home. Some people in this city are less fortunate."

Celestia furrowed her brows. "This mortal world isn't all beauty, is it?"

Lean smiled faintly. "Every place has its bright and dark sides."

Celestia stared at the little girl, then without hesitation, she walked over. The girl lifted her face, her large eyes staring at Celestia with caution.

Celestia knelt before her, smiling softly. "Are you hungry?" she asked softly.

The little girl didn't answer right away, but her eyes glanced at the remaining crepes in Celestia's hands.

Celestia held out her crepes. "This is for you."

The girl hesitated for a moment, but finally took it with her dirty little hands. She took a small bite, and her eyes immediately lit up.

Celestia looked at her lovingly. "I don't know much about this world, but I do know one thing—no one should go hungry."

Lean watched the interaction in silence, then finally smiled faintly. "You really are a goddess," he murmured softly.

Celestia turned her head. "What?"

Lean shook his head. "No, just thinking that you're really different from most humans."

Celestia smiled a little. "I just followed what my heart told me."

After making sure the little girl was okay, they continued their journey, Lean holding Celestia's hand so that she turned to Lean and smiled softly at him. Celestia walked slower this time, as if she was digesting what she had just seen.

"Are you okay?" Lean asked after a while.

Celestia nodded. "I was just thinking... the ocean always gives, but the human world is not always like that."

Lean paused for a moment. "Maybe because humans have limits. Not everyone can give as much as they want."

Celestia turned to him. "But you can."

Lean chuckled. "I just did what I could."

Celestia smiled, then continued walking. But before they could go any further, suddenly a loud voice echoed in the air.

BANG!

A large bell in the center of town tolled, followed by an announcement from a man standing on a stone platform in the square.

"Citizens of Solsticea! Tonight, the Festival of Lights is being held to celebrate the arrival of the first full moon of the year! Everyone is invited to join in the festivities!"

Celestia turned to Lean, her eyes sparkling. "The Festival of Lights?"

Lean nodded. "This is one of the biggest celebrations in Solsticea. The city will be filled with lanterns, music, and dancing. There will be food that is even better than those crepes."

Celestia clasped her hands together excitedly. "We should go!"

Lean chuckled. "Of course. I'll leave tonight to you, Celestia."

Celestia smiled broadly. She couldn't wait to see what more wonders she would find here.

A group of children ran through the cobblestone streets, laughing merrily as the sound of festival music filled the night air. Colorful lanterns hung along the streets, casting soft lights that danced across the shadows of the people gathered to celebrate.

However, their small steps suddenly slowed as their eyes fell on one figure that was different from the others.

Celestia.

They stared at her in awe, their eyes widening as if they were seeing something that should not exist in this mortal world. The lantern light reflected off her black hair that gleamed like the night, and the diamond mark on her forehead glowed softly, creating an aura that words could not describe.

"She's… so beautiful," whispered one child.

The others nodded, then whispered to each other, unknowingly drawing the attention of the adults around them. The sounds of festival music and laughter still filled the air, but now there were other whispers that began to spread through the crowd.

"Who is she?"

"I've never seen her in this city before…"

"The mark on her forehead… is she a noble?"

Celestia, who had initially been so captivated by the festivities of the festival, now began to notice the stares directed at her. She turned to Lean with a little confusion.

"Why are they looking at me like that?" she whispered.

Lean smiled slightly, then lowered his head slightly, moving closer to her. "Because you're different."

Celestia furrowed her brows.

"You're very beautiful, Celestia." Lean glanced at the diamond mark on her forehead that sparkled in the lantern light and rubbed it with his thumb. "And humans are always interested in things they can't explain."

Celestia looked at the people around her. Some were still whispering, some were just looking curiously, and some were staring with admiration. However, there was no fear in their eyes—only deep curiosity.

"Is this bad?"

"No. As long as they're just admiring, not judging."

Celestia took a deep breath, trying to ignore the attention she was receiving, then looked around the festival again.

In the center of the square, a group of dancers were preparing for a performance. They were dressed in brightly colored clothes, with thin fabrics swaying gently in the night air. The music began to play louder, and the dancers began to move, their bodies gracefully following the beat.

Celestia stared at them in awe. "They look so free…"

Lean turned to her, then smiled. "Would you like to try?"

"Dance?"

"Why not?" Lean looked at the dancers who were beginning to pull people out of the crowd to join them. "At this festival, everyone is welcome to join in the fun."

Celestia bit her lip hesitantly. She had never danced in front of so many people before. In the ocean, she had been free to move with the water flowing with her, but in this mortal world, the ground was solid beneath her feet.

But as she looked back at the dancers—how free they were moving, moving to the music without worrying about anything—she felt something inside her stir.

"I…" Celestia turned to Lean, who was still looking at her with encouraging eyes.

She took a breath, then smiled a little. "Okay."

Lean chuckled. "That's the spirit."

Before she could think further, one of the dancers saw Celestia and smiled widely, then extended her hand.

"Come, beautiful lady!

The child's voice surprised Celestia, but she eventually joined in dancing gracefully and beautifully in the middle of the festival. In an instant, the other dancers greeted her with cheers.

The music grew faster, and Celestia began to move, hesitant at first, but her body slowly remembered the natural rhythm she had felt in the ocean. She closed her eyes, letting the music flow through her.

Her dress swirled, her long black hair drifted with her movements. The light of the diamond on her forehead sparkled brighter, as if dancing with her.

The people around her fell silent for a moment, stunned by the beauty they rarely saw.

Lean, who stood at the edge of the circle, stared at her in awe. "Like the waves... she's beautiful, silly but somehow this woman makes me want to be near her," he murmured softly.

And on that day full of light, Celestia—the goddess of the sea who had descended—danced under the Solsticean sky, becoming one with the world she was beginning to know.