A blood curdling scream broke through the air, ripping Lucelia away from her sleep.
"Stop! Help me!"
Half asleep and drenched in sweat, Lucelia ripped the sheets off of her as she stumbled across the room toward the direction of the screaming. Her mind came up with every possible scenario lying beyond the window.
Looking out the small window, the festival was in full swing. Giggling children were running around the stalls. People Lucelia did not recognize were playfully running after them, wearing similar grins.
It's just the children playing, Lucelia told herself as she slumped against the wall and ran her fingers through her hair.
A rapid knock on her door elicited a groan from her.
"I cannot get any sleep and I most surely cannot get any alone time it seems," she complained to herself, running her fingers to tame her wild hair and smoothing out any wrinkles on her gown before sauntering over to open the door.
"Celia," Aisha's perky voice sent another wave of annoyance through Lucelia, "I'm sorry. Did I awaken you?" Aisha's grin was quickly replaced by a frown.
At least she has the decency to look regretful.
Lucelia quickly plastered on a smile to save Aisha from further embarrassment. "Nonsense, Aisha, I was already awake. Did you need something?" Lucelia said while carefully eyeing the two lilac dresses and pair of brown boots in Aisha's arms.
"Today's the Water Festival. I thought it might do you some good to explore Marinisle with me."
"You are too kind," Lucelia rolled her eyes as Aisha stepped around her and entered the room, setting down the items on the bed.
Aisha stripped in front of Lucelia and began pulling the dress over her head, "Hurry up and change, Celia. The festival's already begun."
After changing into the dreadfully itchy dress, Lucelia sulked behind Aisha who practically danced the entire way to the main street and to the heart of the festival.
"Celia, have you not heard a single word I just said?" Aisha stopped in her tracks and turned to face Lucelia.
"No, I have not," Lucelia stated bluntly. Lucelia has always been the kind to speak her mind and she certainly wasn't going to stop doing so simply because she feared upsetting Aisha.
"I said Tidetamers believe the veil between realms is thinner at this time. So the purpose of the festival is to celebrate the water spirits that keep Marinisle alive and well. Lord Tiago was kind enough to allow asylum seekers to witness the main event."
"And what is this main event you speak of?" Lucelia interupted Aisha.
"The mages summon a deep sea serpent and Marinisle's Elite fight alongside the two Lords and the Lady as a display of their power and willingness to defend Marinisle against all enemy forces," her eyes were wild and alive as she spoke rapidly.
Lucelia dreaded any and all festivals. She told herself it was the mingling with people aspect that she hated, but it was much more deeper than that. Ever since Uly was taken, a hatred so deep and true began to take root within her, rotting her heart until it stripped her of her ability to feel any joy.
Yet, her obvious lack of interest in the festival was not getting across to Aisha so she opted for changing the subject, "Shall we try some of this sweet bread?" Lucelia pointed to the stall next to the center stage that was brimming with mouthwatering pastries.
Aisha glanced in the direction Lucelia was pointing in and began to practically drool at the sight of the pastries. Grasping Lucelia's hand, Aisha dragged her in the direction of the stall and began bargaining for two pieces of bread. The merchant, however, was not having any of it.
After what seemed like cycles of arguing, the merchant, having had enough of this back and forth with Aisha, slammed his hand on the wooden table, "If you can afford such beautiful dresses, you can surely afford to pay full price for two delicious pieces of bread."
Lucelia snorted. Seeing that the toothless man was not going to budge, she decided to step in, "Do you have daughters?" she asked the old man who nodded in response.
"Then how about a trade?" she said gesturing to the delicate chain adorning her neck. Father had gifted it to her many cycles ago and it held immeasurable value to her, but so did her other jewels. Either way, Father will surely gift her jewels worth much more once she returns to Imitha and tells him all she has managed to uncover.
Aisha gasped, "Celia, you cannot trade such a treasured piece of jewelry. It is worth way more than some bread. Here, good sir, take my headpiece instead," she carefully removed her headpiece and held it out for him to take.
Lucelia grew increasingly annoyed at Aisha's kind gesture as a strange yet familiar feeling began coursing through her—respect and admiration. They had known each other for less than two days and here was Aisha willing to trade her admittedly beautiful headpiece for two measly pieces of bread.
The old merchant eagerly snatched the headpiece from Aisha and handed each of them a piece of steaming sweet bread. "Enjoy," was all he said as he ushered the two girls away from his stall, eyeing the headpiece he was to surely resell for thrice the price it was truly worth.
"Aisha, you shouldn't have—"
"Tsk, tsk. Anything for a friend," Aisha said as she brushed her off with a wave of her hand and devoured the piece bread in her hand.
Me? A friend? Lucelia could not help but feel dumbfounded given that she was not acting like a friend. Although, in her defense, it has been quite some time since she knew what having or being a friend entailed.
"Hurry, Celia, the play is about to start," Aisha said running to find a spot for the two of them in the audience.
Having caught up with Aisha, they both made their way through the packed audience and stood near the center stage.
From behind a curtain stumbled a drunken man with a frightening appearance. The skin on the left side of his face was grotesque and appeared to be melting off of his face, showing the decaying tissue underneath. He wore a pathetic excuse of a crown and indigo and coal colored royal attire made from cheap material. And that's when it clicked.
The man didn't stumble onto the stage because he was drunk.
He stumbled because he had a limp.
Just like Father.
His skin appeared to be melting and decaying because he was sick.
Just like Father.
He was supposed to be Father.
Lucelia's breath hitched and her body tensed in preparation as it dawned on her: the play was about Father.