The Jade Dragon: Chapter 26

After a week's walk, I finally made it to Managon.  I entered the city and saw all sorts of decorations.  I went over to a lady who was putting up decorations on her house.

“Excuse me, what festival is this?” I asked.

“It's the Hope Era Festival.” she said.  “Where everyone forgets about their troubles and has fun.  We have stalls that are dedicated to all the processes of making things that was developed in the Hope Era.  Things like jewelry making, glass blowing, candle making, dress making, things like that.  People dress up in outfits that were worn in the Hope Era.  At the end of the festival, which is today, we hold a play that showcases how the Warrior of White Light and the Jade Dragon defeated the Hell Dragon.”

“Oh, thank you for telling me this.” I said, sweating a bit.

I walked away and thought about what she said.

'A festival about the Hope Era I brought about?' I thought.  'Sheesh, I have so many people who are hoping for me to save them.  A play about how I defeated the Hell Dragon?  Oh geez.  But, this festival looks fun.  I'll stay here for the day and try to forget about my shisetsu(mission) for a day.'

I was so lost in thought that I walked right into someone.  As I started to fall, the person grabbed my arm.

“I'm sorry, I wasn't paying-” I started.  I then saw who it was, it was Yuu.

“Ayra, it's been a while.” Yuu said.  “How's your pilgrimage going?”

“Not bad.” I answered.  “My next stop is Maze Canyon.  What are you doing here?”

“I'm still heading to my home, Intellecton.” Yuu said.  “But I decided to stay here for the day and enjoy this festival.”

“I was planning the same thing.” I said.

“Shall we spend the day together?” Yuu asked.  “Festivals are more fun if you spend it with another person.”

“Okay.” I replied.

So Yuu and I went to a stall where I bought a compass and he got a map of the stalls.

“So, where do you want to go first Ayra?” Yuu asked.

“Hmm, well, looking at the map, I'd say go to the gemstone jewelry stall first.” I said.

“Okay.” Yuu said.

So Yuu and I went to the different stalls and saw all the goods.  I bought a pair of sapphire earrings at the gem jewelry stall.  We then went to the metal goods stall.  There, Yuu bought a heavy chain bracelet.

After that, we headed to a food stall.  I ordered a hot dog and a lemonade.  Yuu bought a hamburger and a soda.  We then went to a sweets stall.  There, I bought something called cotton candy.  I ate it and it was delicious.  We then went to a stall that had cooking tools.  I bought everything needed to make your own cotton candy.

After that, we went to see a stall where they made scented soaps and lotions.  I bought a honey scented lotion and a cotton candy scented soap.  Our next stop was a glass blowing stall.  We watched how they made them.  At the end, I bought a blue glass lotion bottle and Yuu bought a green glass ornament.  He said it was for his mother.  When he said that, I felt a little sad, since my mother was gone.  But I pulled myself together.  My mother wouldn't want me to dwell on that.

The next stall we went to was a pendant making stall.  There, I had a pure silver pendant made with a design of a unicorn on one side and a Pegasus on the other side.

The next place we stopped was a stall that sold leather goods.  I bought a leather coin purse that was decorated with horses and a silver horse head charm for a latch.  Yuu bought a leather belt.

All the while, I was thinking that this must be what it's like to have a friend.

Finally, the last stall we went to was an armor stall.  I didn't buy anything, but Yuu bought a green colored breast-plate.

“Thanks for spending the festival with me Yuu.” I said.  “But I need to go now.”

“You aren't going to stay for the ending play?” Yuu asked.

“No, I need to get going.” I said.  “Maze Canyon is a four day walk from here.  The sooner I get going the better.”

I didn't want to say that the real reason was that I didn't want to see how desperate the people are for me to save them.

“Okay, well, I had fun.” Yuu said.  “Hope to see you again.”

I waved goodbye to Yuu and headed down the path to Maze Canyon.  Meanwhile, Yuu was thinking about me.

'I really did have fun.' Yuu thought.  'That was like a date.  Still, I was able to renew the spells on her bag that hide her presence.  I imagine that seeing that play would only make her feel more pressure to become the Warrior of White Light again.  After she regains her power of Healing, she'll head to the Woods of Misdirection.  I'll tell her who I really am after she talks to the Prophet.'

With that, Yuu started in the direction of the Woods of Misdirection.  But, what I didn't know then, was that my journey was going to be much longer than I thought.  But I must complete my shisetsu; become the Warrior of White Light once more and send the Hell Dragon and the Dark Army to the Void, where all turns to nothing...