Chapter 46 – Lanterns in the Night Sky

The festival stretched across three entire days, each one more vibrant and dazzling than the last. Colourful banners waved in the breeze, music filled the air, and the streets of Velgrath overflowed with laughter, cheers, and a lively spirit that refused to rest. For Shirou, it was like stepping into a dream — an illusion too vivid, too heartfelt to be real.

He had never experienced anything like this in his previous life. The very concept of a festival, one that united people in celebration and memory, had been foreign to him. Life in his old world had felt mechanical, grey, and hollow. But here, in Nytherra, despite its dangers and the ever-present shadow of conflict, there was warmth. Life bloomed in bursts of colour and tradition. For once, he allowed himself to think, Maybe… being transmigrated here really was a blessing in disguise.

Of course, even joy had its pause. Each day, the festival halted for six hours, a designated time for rest. But that didn't mean people left. No, most chose to stay under the decorated streets, sitting together, watching the dim lanterns or resting their heads on benches, refusing to let go of the moment. After all, this wasn't just any celebration—it was a day of remembrance, a time when people held tight to both joy and sorrow.

As the final day drew to a close, the crowd began to shift. The air grew quieter, softer, reverent. Shirou noticed people gathering around the open lantern stalls at the far end of the street. Lanterns — not conjured by magic, but built by hand with delicate care — were being prepared and lit with real fire. It was strange. In a world where spells could light the sky or summon storms, these small flame-lit offerings held a different kind of power.

Each lantern represented someone lost — a soul that had departed, a name remembered. Some families made just one. Others, three or four. They wrote names on the paper frames, sometimes even attaching notes or small trinkets.

Shirou stood still, watching the sky fill gradually with flickering golden lights. A solemn beauty surrounded him.

His gaze drifted toward Amelia. She sat alone on a bench nearby, her back to the festival, legs crossed, fingers methodically folding another lantern. It was her third.

She had asked to be left alone earlier, and Shirou had quietly respected that. But now, as he watched her, something stirred within him. A weight. A realization.

Three lanterns… That means she lost three people close to her.

He felt a strange connection in that moment. He, too, had lost his family — his mother and father — in his past life. The scars of that trauma were something he rarely allowed himself to think about, but the ache never truly left. Even now, standing amidst colour and light, a part of him remained hollow.

"It must be hard on her too," Shirou muttered under his breath. He studied her for a while longer.

She always smiled, always teased, always laughed like she had no worries in the world. But tonight… she was someone else. Real. Quiet. Raw.

A faint chuckle escaped him. "And yet she acts like she's fine… Always so cheerful and annoying."

And yet, tonight, that mask had slipped.

Shirou finally made his way toward the lantern stalls. He purchased a few materials, determined to craft his own. It wasn't easy — folding paper and aligning it properly required more dexterity than he expected. The glue stuck to his fingers, and his first attempt collapsed in on itself like a soggy dumpling. Still, after a bit of focus, he managed to make two reasonably shaped lanterns. They weren't perfect, but they were his.

The ceremony began.

All at once, families began lighting their lanterns. One by one, the glowing lights ascended into the night sky, dancing like golden spirits against the stars. It was breathtaking — a sky not filled with stars or magic, but memory. Sorrow.

There were no cheers. No applause. Just silence.

Shirou stood among the crowd, holding his two lanterns. He looked at Amelia, then up at the rising lights.

"Mom… Dad… If you're out there somewhere… maybe in another world like I am… I hope you're happy. I hope you didn't suffer. And… I hope we'll meet again, somehow."

He released the lanterns into the sky.

For several minutes, he stood in place, watching them drift higher and higher until they became indistinguishable from the stars.

Eventually, he walked over and stood beside Amelia. Neither of them said a word. They didn't need to.

The two began walking down the now-quiet street. The temporary shops were already being taken down. Lights were dimming. The crowd was dispersing. The festival was officially over.

It was Amelia who broke the silence first.

"I thought you were going to ask about my three lanterns," she said softly.

Shirou glanced at her. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious. But… I figured it wasn't my place."

Amelia gave a slow nod. "Hmm… That's rare. You actually showed some tact for once."

Shirou rolled his eyes but didn't argue.

After a short pause, she continued, her voice gentle, stripped of her usual sarcasm. "They were for my parents and my brother."

Shirou stopped in his tracks for a moment, surprised. "But… I thought you lived with your parents?"

"I do," she replied, glancing at him with a small smile. "But they're not my biological parents. They adopted me. After the war."

Shirou looked at her, puzzled. She elaborated.

"My real parents and elder brother died in the second war. I was the only one left. The family that took me in… they had lost their son in the same war. I guess… in some twisted way, we filled the gaps in each other's hearts."

"I'm… I'm sorry," Shirou said quietly. "I didn't know."

"Well, I never told you, idiot," she replied, smirking slightly.

"There it is," Shirou sighed. "Back to calling me an idiot again."

"Well, I think it suits you," she said with a little more of her usual fire.

They walked on.

"I would've been sent to the war too," she added. "But I was a late bloomer. My ability didn't awaken until after the war ended. And once it did, my adoptive parents kept it a secret. They were terrified. Afraid they'd lose me too."

Shirou nodded. "That… makes sense."

The streets around them had grown still. The remnants of celebration now lay in ribbons and petals on the ground. The city had gone to sleep.

"My current parents… they don't like me working with the Snowwhite Team," she confessed.

"Why not?"

"They're scared," Amelia said, her voice quieter now. "Scared I'll go out one day and never come back."

"Then why do you keep doing it?"

"Money, of course," she said with a shrug. "The missions pay more than anything else. I want to open my own café someday. A big one. Beautiful and cozy. The kind of place that makes people feel at peace. The mission money's all going to the bank. If I'm right, just three or four more missions and I'll have enough."

She gave him a playful nudge. "And you'd better be there on opening day."

"I'll be the first one through the door," Shirou replied with a smile. 

Amelia tilted her head. "What about you, Mr. Protagonist?"

Shirou looked forward, eyes glinting faintly. "I plan to go to Ravaryn. Try to join the Sovereign Order."

Her eyes widened slightly, and then she smiled. "Well… I look forward to seeing you as a member of the Sovereign Order."

Shirou blinked. "Wait… no sarcasm? No mockery?"

He stepped in front of her and placed a hand on her forehead. "You sure you're okay? Are you sick?"

"Just not in the mood tonight," she said with a faint smirk.

Shirou took a breath, then added, "Hey… if I do make it into the Sovereign Order… I'll help you meet the Violet Reaper."

That made Amelia freeze.

She stared at him for a moment, blinking. Then slowly, a smile crept onto her lips.

"Then it's a deal. You help me meet the Violet Reaper, and I'll let you eat at my café for free."

"It's a deal then."

They stopped walking as they reached her home.

And just like that, the night ended — not with fanfare, but with quiet promises beneath the fading glow of lanterns in the sky.