Chapter 59 – The Festival of the Sun
After the shower, evening came;
The dining hall of Vulcan's domain vibrated with life and mouthwatering smells. On the large round table, dishes were still steaming: roasted chickens, crusty bread, grilled vegetables, colorful fruits, and thick soups fragrant with spices. After seven hours of fighting and surviving in the labyrinth, their stomachs cried out in hunger.
Seth sat down first, still tired but relieved. Kana, still sulking, dropped onto a chair at his left. Noël and Alma sat together, while Damian slammed his chair theatrically before collapsing onto it. Reinard, on the other hand, remained upright and dignified, as if he were still in battle.
And of course… Vulcan, seated at the end of the table, radiated.
As soon as they were settled, he spread his arms wide.
— My heroes! My champions! Come, let me smother you with love! You've earned it.
He got up and almost leapt onto Damian to plant loud kisses on his cheek.
— GET OFF!!! Damian yelled, shoving him away with a chicken leg as if it were a weapon. I don't like guys, for your info! And don't forget we could have died a hundred times in there!
Kana glared at him.
— Would've been better if you stayed in there, would've given us a break.
— Shut up, bitch! Damian snapped.
Noël sighed, his head dropping onto his empty plate.
— I can't take you two anymore, Alma said. Can I sleep with you tonight?
Alma nodded.
— I don't mind, don't worry.
Damian slammed his fist on the table, veins bulging on his forehead.
— Are you completely insane!? Alma's a girl and you're a boy!
Kana sneered.
— You're just jealous 'cause you've got a crush on Alma but she doesn't even notice you, with your clown underwear.
Damian turned beet red and choked on a piece of bread.
— Me, in love with that hag!? Never!!!!
Seth, a little apart, watched the scene with a tired smile. The familiar chaos of his companions at least managed to lighten the mood.
Vulcan, meanwhile, regained his mock-serious look.
— Right then, all of you, to the bath!!!!!!
— Shut up, asshole, we already washed, Kana growled.
— Then eat. And above all… enjoy life!!! he said with a goofy expression.
The feast ended, and one by one they left the hall dragging their feet. The laughter and arguments had faded, replaced by heavy fatigue. The setting sun cast an orange glow through the Academy's windows.
Vulcan stood waiting, arms crossed, in front of a large door leading to the back terrace.
— You three. Tomorrow morning you'll have visitors.
Seth exchanged a worried look with Alma, who shrugged, while Damian muttered under his breath:
— If it's another mechanical dragon, I'm jumping straight over the railing.
Dinner was over in the great hall, and little by little Vulcan's domain sank into a soothing silence. The torches along the walls still crackled, casting dancing shadows, while Seth, exhausted from the day, returned to his room.
He had just lain down on his bed when light knocks echoed at his door.
— Seth, are you asleep?
The voice was recognizable: Reinard.
Seth sat up, a little surprised.
— No… come in.
The door opened, revealing Reinard accompanied by Kana, Damian, Noël, and Alma. All of them wore mischievous smiles.
— We're going to do something, Damian said with a grin. You coming?
Seth raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
— At this hour?
— You'll see, Noël replied, stifling a laugh. Trust us.
Moments later, the six of them were slipping quietly past the limits of Vulcan's domain. The night was cool, lit by a sky full of stars. With a natural motion, Reinard let his body shift: his immense draconic form unfurled beneath the moonlight, gleaming scales and majestic wings.
— Climb on, he said simply.
One by one, the five mounted his back. His wings beat the air, and soon they soared, flying above the valley. The wind whipped their faces, the sensation exhilarating. And ahead of them, the city appeared, glittering with a thousand lights.
At the Dragon Market;
Lanterns hung from rooftops cast golden glows, garlands of magical flames lit the streets, and a joyful crowd thronged, dressed in bright clothes. Musicians played festive tunes, the smells of spiced and sweet dishes drifted through the air.
— Welcome to the Festival of the Sun, Noël explained with enthusiasm. It's a celebration we hold every year to glorify Selene, the goddess of dragons.
Seth looked around, amazed. He had never seen so much light and life in one place.
— The goddess… of… dragons?! he murmured.
Reinard guided them among the stalls, and soon entered a shop. Without asking their opinion, he chose outfits for each of them.
For Alma, a dazzling blue kimono, edged with golden thread.
For Seth, a bright red outfit, scattered with silver patterns reminiscent of stars.
For Damian… a much simpler outfit, with no embellishments.
When he received it, his face tightened slightly.
— Seriously?…
Kana burst out laughing.
— Someone's gotta look out of place in the picture.
Damian looked away, embarrassed, a faint blush creeping across his cheeks, especially when he noticed Kana dressed in an elegant outfit that suited her perfectly. Noël, for his part, chose a matching outfit himself, while Alma cast him complicit glances.
Once dressed, they mingled with the crowd. The festival was in full swing: they were offered steaming skewers, honey-covered cakes, sparkling drinks in strange colors. They laughed, played games of skill, and for a moment, forgot everything else.
A little aside, Reinard sat on a step, watching the crowd. Seth went to join him.
The music, the laughter, and the shouts of the crowd filled the square, but Seth and Reinard had strayed a bit away. They sat on the steps of an old temple adorned with frescoes representing Selene, the draconic goddess. Around them, crystal lanterns cast a soft glow that reflected on the scales still visible on Reinard, even in human form.
Reinard kept his eyes fixed on the ground, nervously playing with a silver ring on his finger. His voice finally broke the silence, low, almost hesitant:
— Seth… I… I… wanted to apologize, sincerely.
The young man blinked, surprised at the unusual tone.
— Apologize?
— Yes. For always calling you "the human." And for insulting you in the labyrinth.
Seth stared at him for a moment, then gave a small smile.
— Bah, it's nothing. I've been through worse, you know… or maybe you don't. Anyway, you don't need to apologize for that.
Reinard clenched his fists.
— Hm… You never take things at face value, do you… he said, smiling slightly.
Seth stayed silent for a moment, touched despite himself. Then, to lighten the mood, he shrugged.
— You know, you're really strong, much stronger than me, Reinard. At Etheria, there's also a student who completely surpasses me, Roy… but me, I want to get stronger too, I have to.
Reinard gave a faint bitter smile.
— You know… you remind me a lot of my little brother.
Seth turned his head.
— Your little brother?
Reinard's gaze drifted over the celebrating crowd, as if he saw through it to a distant memory.
— Yes. Sadly, he died two years ago. He was captured by human organ traffickers. That's why I hated you all… I unloaded my frustration and disgust at those criminals onto you. He was my only blood tie. We were orphans, and… I loved him more than anything.
His voice cracked slightly, and his fingers tightened on the ring.
— When he disappeared, it felt like a part of me was torn away. And soon after, when I finally found his traffickers, I was powerless. Back then I didn't know how to fight yet, and I struggled to control my power. And that's when I learned they had sold my little brother. Do you know how much a dragon's organs are worth on the black market? A fortune… And they were about to do the same with me… I'll never forget that day. I cried so much, it was unbearable, the murderers of my brother were right there and I was completely powerless.
He breathed deeply, his eyes glinting darkly.
— And then… with all the despair I had… Vulcan came to save me. At that time he still roamed the small villages of the kingdom.
A heavy silence settled. Seth clenched his fists, feeling his own heart tighten. Reinard's words stirred in him a familiar pain.
— … That reminds me of Suo, he said softly. He was like a brother to me too.
Reinard looked at him, and for an instant their eyes met, filled with the same invisible scar.
Then the dragon held out his closed fist.
— So… Seth. Can we officially make peace?
A thin smile spread across the young man's lips. He raised his fist and bumped it against Reinard's.
— Peace.
A sincere spark lit the dragon's eyes. And for the first time, Seth felt that this bond, born from conflict, had just transformed into brotherhood.
— Seth! Reinard! Come quickly!!!!
Alma's clear voice rang out through the crowd. They jumped to their feet and joined her in the main square.
At that moment, the sky blazed. Multicolored dragons rose, their bodies illuminated by blazing magic. They spun, tracing spirals, arcs, and perfect circles, like a celestial choreography. Their wings shimmered with trails of gold, blue, green, orange, red, pink, and violet, forming a living fresco above the city.
The entire crowd held its breath. Then the applause erupted like thunder.
— Incredible… Seth whispered, dazzled.
Noël smiled at him.
— It's the dance of the dragons. An offering to Selene. They say every step, every beat of their wings, is a prayer to her.
The six drew closer, and Kana, mischievous, suggested a photo with the help of a magical camera. They all gathered, but at the last moment, she pushed Damian slightly. The poor boy only appeared halfway in the picture, his face flushed with anger.
— Kaaaaana! You'll see when I catch you!
Laughter burst around them, sincere and contagious.
Then, as if to conclude the night, fireworks burst above the sea. Showers of red, gold, and silver light scattered across the sky, reflecting in the scales of the dragons still hovering in the clouds. The whole world seemed to shine with an unreal clarity.
Seth stood still, head tilted back. This spectacle held something pure, fragile, as if this peace could shatter at any moment.
If only this moment could last… Forever, he thought, his heart tight.
The celebration ended, and they all returned together, still glowing with the night's brilliance.
To be continued…