Whenever the wind blew, the sky was filled with the seeds of the Orensia flower.
It felt just like snowflakes were dancing in the air.
People gazed at the flying Orensia flower seeds in admiration, and when the seeds slowly fell to the ground, they were filled with joy as if they were having a snowball fight.
Cantatien was a city located south of the Viridia Plains, bordered to the west and north by the Kantasia River and to the east by the Orensia collective.
The nearby villages included Lizardden, and further away were Gebelberg and, beyond the forest to the north, Literdam. Nevertheless, it had developed independently, making it quite a bustling city.
“What a pretty big village!”
Yona sat on a bench, tapping her calves playfully.
After walking a long distance in unfamiliar ladies’ shoes instead of her usual leather sandals, she felt the pinch.
“Right? They called it a middle-sized city, but this could easily pass as a big city!”
Alex opened the cap of his water canteen and offered it to Yona.
As she took the canteen and quenched her thirst, Yona’s eyes rolled around as she looked at her surroundings.
In front of the bench they were sitting on was a sizable fountain, which probably wasn’t in operation due to winter.
Instead, the dry fountain was surrounded by couples sitting together, laughing and chatting happily.
“Everyone! The parade is starting now—! Please clear the way—!!”
A boy who looked about ten or twelve sprinted across the square, shouting at the top of his lungs.
Without showing the slightest hint of annoyance, people gradually stepped aside to clear the path.
Immediately, men dressed in extravagant outfits rushed out and began tying ropes to stakes set around the square, creating a long barrier.
“This is getting serious.”
“Well, it is a parade. They must have some safety measures.”
It seemed that this festival had a long history, just as they said. Yona and Alex were dumbfounded as they watched the spectacle.
Unintentionally, the bench they were occupying turned out to be a prime spot.
The eaves of a nearby shop provided just the right shade from the sun that had recently passed noon, while still allowing a full view of the entire square.
Sitting in that excellent spot, Yona and Alex noticed people gathering eagerly at their feet as they awaited the parade.
‘Still, it doesn’t look as nice as Church Region Square.’
There was no fountain there, but at least there was a statue of the God of Heaven.
And every morning, little priests diligently polished the stepping stones, so comparing the two seemed unfair.
While Yona pondered these thoughts, a large canvas curtain on the left side of the square slowly began to part.
As it parted, slowly revealing what was behind it—
“Wow.”
“Whoa.”
Yona and Alex couldn’t help but exclaim in unison at the giant model of the Orensia flower intricately carved and assembled from wood.
The model was so large that it could easily fit several people inside.
Firmly secured on a large plywood base with wooden wheels, the model resembled an unopened bud of the Orensia flower.
“Whoa…”
Yona was mesmerized, staring blankly at the magnificent sight.
It seemed her heart was captured by how intricately the model represented the Orensia flower, her lips parted in awe as Alex couldn’t help but sneak glances at her.
– Thud…
With a heavy sound, the plywood carrying the Orensia flower slowly began to roll out.
How it moved without anyone pulling it was a mystery, but the massive Orensia flower model began to advance slowly.
“Waaaaaaah!”
With joyous shouts, children dressed in green burst forth and scampered around the plywood.
While running, they scattered something white, mimicking the seeds of the Orensia flower, creating a beautiful spectacle as laughter and joyful smiles flew through the air.
The sight of flying was spectacular.
As the platform moved toward the plaza, the flower buds began to open up little by little.
The closer they got to the center of the plaza, the more the flower buds were nearing full bloom.
“Yona, there’s someone inside there, right?”
“Uh… it’s true.”
Yona stared intently inside the flower bud that was gradually opening, as Alex pointed it out.
It wasn’t fully visible yet, but there was definitely a shadow inside that resembled a person.
“That’s really amazing.”
Yona muttered unconsciously.
The model was intricately made, and as they approached the center of the plaza, the fully blooming Orensia flower elicited enthusiastic reactions from the people in the plaza.
– Boom!
With the sound of a stake being driven in, the Orensia flower finally arrived at the center of the plaza.
And at last, inside the fully bloomed Orensia flower, someone dressed in a fluttery outfit like a beautiful fairy was huddled up.
In an instant, the plaza fell silent.
The people were chattering, but a large soundproofing spell weighed down on the plaza.
However, it didn’t cause any real problems; the plaza simply became completely quiet.
People were slightly bewildered for a moment, but soon fell silent, gazing at the single Orensia flower that had blossomed in the plaza.
“Yawnㅡ”
The one huddled up stretched their arms wide.
Like awakening from a long sleep, they stretched broadly and then stood up straight, looking around excitedly.
Then, making a trumpet shape with their hands, they shouted loudly.
“Are there really so many people who came to see the Orensia flowerㅡ!”
In response, the children playing the fairy roles rushed out and gathered under the platform that carried the flower.
“Your Majestyㅡ! That’s rightㅡ! Everyone, everyone came to see the Orensia flowerㅡ!”
“Then, winter has come again this year without fail?!”
“Your Majestyㅡ! That’s rightㅡ! This year, winter has safely arrivedㅡ!”
“Is that so! That’s wonderful newsㅡ! This year, winter has safely come, and the Orensia flowers, like my children, will thrive once moreㅡ!”
“Your Majestyㅡ! That’s rightㅡ! The Orensia flowers will thrive foreverㅡ!”
With each line delivered, they made exaggerated gestures.
Their exaggerated movements and loud voices were visible to all the people gathered in the plaza.
One could only imagine how much they had practiced just for this festival; there wasn’t a single hiccup in the exchange between the queen and the children.
“Impressive. They must have practiced a lot.”
Yona nodded at Alex’s words.
At some point, the soundproofing spell was lifted, but everyone was gazing with excited eyes at the scene.
“Now thenㅡ! In front of all of you gathered here, I, the Orensia Fairy Queen, declare! The Orensia Festival of this year has begunㅡ!!!”
The queen dramatically declared in a solemn gesture, her voice ringing out.
As her voice echoed, the fairy children danced and sang, twirling around the Orensia flower.
With the queen’s declaration, the Orensia Festival had officially begun.
*
Smiles were etched on the faces of the people.
Even adventurers facing hard tasks and city guards responsible for safety were mixing together, enjoying their time, and Yona and Alex were part of that.
Yona mixed well with strangers she had never met before, chatting away.
Even talking about coming from a faraway place called Evian or heading to Lizardden, people found it incredibly amusing, laughing heartily and cheering on with “That’s amazing!”
Alex smiled while watching her, finishing his beer.
He didn’t have Yona’s charm. Watching Yona, who seemed like she could survive anywhere, even dropped in a strange place, always brought a smile to his face. After all, with that kind of friendliness, no one dared to mistreat her, even when they called her a crazy healer.
Seeing her, Alex couldn’t help but smile involuntarily. Well, with that kind of charm, no one was mean to her even if they called her a crazy healer.
‘That is indeed attractive.’
But now, Alex was planning to make that charm his own.
Up until now, he had been content just being the closest person to her, thinking that one day she would realize his feelings and waiting for that day. However, the events that happened in the Mage Community had changed that mindset.
He had to be more proactive.
He had to push harder.
He needed to make Yona aware.
Alex put down his empty beer glass and slowly stood up.
He grabbed Yona’s hand and pulled her close.
“Come on, come on. Now that we’ve eaten enough, we should wander around a bit more.”
“Eh, um. Y-yeah.”
Yona waved lightly at those they had been talking to and turned back to Alex.
“Okay, so where are we going now?”
“What’s the destination at the festival? We’re just wandering.”
“Is that so?”
Yona laughed.
Her sparkling eyes were like shining gold, and Alex’s heart fluttered without him realizing it.
*
“Ouch, my legs hurt.”
As soon as she returned to the inn to rest, Yona sat on the bed, kicked off her shoes, and rubbed her calves.
She had seen most of what was worth seeing, and now they just had to watch the magical fireworks that could be considered the highlight of the first day.
Yona wanted to keep wandering outside if possible.
But Alex led her back to the inn room, and even though Yona got a bit irritable asking why, she didn’t say much once they returned.
“See? Your legs hurt. If we kept wandering, it would have been worse.”
“But there was so much to see! And that magic act, wasn’t it amazing?”
The magic show where a rock was placed on someone’s stomach, and a hammer was brought down to precisely split the rock.
Yona had been shocked, but Alex explained that it was all trickery, detailing how it was possible.
“I could do that too. If you could pound it down without the rock and it’s fine, that would be impressive, but breaking it on top of a rock isn’t anything special.”
“Oh gosh… let’s not talk about it, ugh.”
Yona pouted, but Alex only grinned.
“When do the fireworks start?”
“Soon.”
Saying that, Alex approached the window and flung the wooden door wide open.
The night sky was clearly visible from the window.
The shimmering starlight seemed to pour down, with a square visible below.
People were gathered in small groups, eating and drinking, enjoying their time, and those who came to Cantatien for the festival were filled with happiness.
“Yona, come here.”
Noticing the launchers starting to take their positions in the square, Alex called for Yona.
Sitting on the bed, Yona got up at Alex’s gesture and approached the window.
As she stood beside Alex, looking out just at that moment—
– Boom!
The first firework erupted with a loud explosion and shot into the sky.
As the firework exploded, it adorned the sky with Orensia flowers, followed by the second firework that shot up leaves, the third the stems, and the fourth a small fairy flying next to the Orensia flowers.
With each firework that soared into the sky, the Orensia flowers blossomed in full bloom.
The sky was blooming with Orensia flowers, creating a floral spectacle.
And Alex and Yona were quietly gazing up at that sight.
“Yona.”
【Finally!】
Yona mentally shouted at the voice of Vervaria in her head to be quiet, looking at Alex.
No way, no. She hoped those words wouldn’t come out of Alex’s mouth.
“Yona.”
When Yona didn’t reply, Alex called her name again.
【Didn’t I tell you? That man surely sees you as a woman.】
“…Yeah.”
Alex reached out and took both of Yona’s hands.
Yona clutched both of Alek’s hands tightly.
The strangely overwhelming strength in those hands transmitted a faint pain to Yona, but Alek was completely unaware of it.
Yona quietly glanced down at those hands and then looked up at Alek.
Fireworks were bursting continuously, and orange flowers bloomed endlessly in the sky.
And amidst that, Alek was looking at Yona with such passionate eyes.
“Yona, there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time.”
【Look at that. No matter how much you deny it—】
Yona lightly bit her lip.
Ah—really. No way, it can’t be true.
Not Alek. Not him.
“I’ve loved you for a long time—”
No.
Don’t say it.
Please don’t.
That’s one thing you can’t say.
Yona whispered quietly in her mind.
Words that Alek surely couldn’t hear.
“I love you, Yona. Will you be with me, won’t you?”
Yona silently stared at Alek’s gaze.
So, you didn’t believe me either.
You saw me as a woman.
So it was you too.
No,
Even you.
A heated rush surged up.
Betrayal, anger, frustration, sadness, fatigue, despair, dejection, gloominess, sorrow.
Countless words flashed through her mind.
Unable to utter a single response, Yona quietly gazed at Alek.
【Do you understand now? You are a woman. No matter how much you claim you’re a man, this is the reality. No one will ever see you as a man. Even this person, who has spent the most time with you, has seen you as a woman. Isn’t it time you accepted that?】
“…Alek.”
She couldn’t accept Alek.
Yona didn’t think of herself as a woman.
She couldn’t reject Alek.
If she did, he would leave.
‘Shut up, you snake. No matter what you say, you won’t shake me.’
【Huh.】
“Yeah.”
Alek looked at Yona with hopeful eyes.
Even while seeing that gaze, Yona felt a strange sense of sorrow for what she was about to say.
Regarding Alek, who hadn’t believed her and saw her as a woman—
If you ask if she was disappointed, yes, she was disappointed.
If you ask if she was hurt, yes, she was hurt.
So if you ask if she came to hate him, no, not at all.
No, no.
Alek hadn’t done anything wrong.
No, of course not.
‘If the body says this, claiming to be a man, that person must be the stranger. Yeah, Alek isn’t bad. I’m the weird one. Yes, I am the weird one. But… but.’
Yona gathered her thoughts.
She had to firmly grasp that heart, which could easily slip away under the whispers of Vervaria.
She couldn’t accept Alek.
The last remaining part of her self was screaming that this couldn’t happen.
She couldn’t let Alek go.
Somewhere deep within her heart, something incomprehensible was shouting at her.
Then,
Then.
Though it’s selfish, I’m sorry.
“…Right now, I can’t. You know what my goal is.”
Yona forced a smile.
The bursts of fireworks painted over that smile, making it appear somewhat grotesque, but she didn’t mind.
Yona looked straight at Alek.
Right now, she had to convey her true feelings properly.
“So… I can’t accept your feelings right now. I’m sorry. Alek.”
The world was crumbling.
Reason told her to reject Alek,
Instinct feared that Alek would leave.
The two violently collided, causing the world to collapse.
The strong world surrounding Yona’s heart,
The world of self-consciousness that had protected her,
Crumpled down.
Amidst the scattered shards, Yona stood silently.
Unable to do anything, Yona stared blankly at the collapsing world around her.
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