Embroiled in Merry Celebration , the Town of Esquire was a sight to behold by uninitiated onlookers. Swathes of People entangled in heaves of dancing figures, jukes and String Quartets offering a rhythm for their steps, as the cascade of Ambeltreuse Wreathes adorned every surface that could manage them. Storefronts and Homesteads adorned with the brightly colored growths gave the village an ephemeral atmosphere. Those not busying their feet were just as busy happily conversating and drunkenly ruminating amongst their peers, looks of sublime joy plastered on everyone's faces.
Hardly a surprise, given the momentous occasion. A Yearly vigil given in remembrance of our fallen comrades. Moreso a reminder than anything. Of a bygone war for bygone people. That's how it was always described to me as. But at the end of the day, people will take any excuse to drink in public. I was always meant to look at the proceedings from afar, as is the way of my people, but today in particular extracted a heavier toll than any other.
My current task was manning the Pastry Booth bequeathed by my Master. Simple enough work, given the fact that all of the sweets were made in advance. Tarts and Eclairs dappled with sweet looking syrup that forced me to look away every time I made eye contact with them. Not to mention the heavenly scent they were wafting off. I've been made to stand in a solitary position for long breadths of time before, but putting temptation directly in front of me makes the task all the more difficult.
"How much?" The sudden question shook me free of my useless train of thought, giving my full attention to the Man in front of me. Not bothering to make eye contact, I nodded towards the stand to his left that clearly advertised pricing. The Man, dressed ambiguously in a Pale shirt and Slacks, took a Sweet roll whilst simultaneously tossing the change onto the counter. Without even a look to the contrary, he left towards a group of equally plain looking individuals waving for his attention deeper in the Pavilion.
As my eyes subconsciously loomed towards the group, I corrected myself almost instantly, my expression returning to the work(?) I had at hand. If they had seen, surely a stern talking to by my Master would be the least of my concerns. The Festivities drew in people from all of the Neighboring Cities and Villages, which meant the likelihood of running into more impatient people would likely skyrocket.
I remained unscathed, however. It seemed the group of Liveries hadn't recognized who, or rather, what I was, and took no offense to my glance. There have been many instances where I haven't been so lucky, and my paranoia is a direct symptom of that.
As I stood palely observing the festivities happening just a few dozen meters away, I couldn't help but feel my thoughts go to darker places. Of the unfairness of everything. Why I was here and they were there, Laughing and Dancing their lives to the fullest. Combined with the sickly sweet smells of Desert Treats before me, I was beginning to feel nauseous.
That was until she came.
"Jovin, huh?" The nostalgic sound of her Voice wasn't particularly loud, especially over the commotion all around us, but I could still manage to parse it through anything.
Turning slightly to my right, I was able to bask in her full presence. Hair as Golden as the Setting Sun that kissed the Horizon, and a Jovial expression tinged with a hint of mischievousness in her auburn-colored eyes. Iona.
Siding closer to the Booth as she spoke, Iona gave me an impish grin before resting her palms on the edge of the Counter, eyeing me pensively as she did so.
"You know, this only happens once a Year. No hurt in getting around a little, right?" Her head tilted childishly to the side as she asked the painfully obvious question. Against my better nature, or rather, subconsciously so, I answered as inconspicuously as I could manage.
"You know how it is, Iona. Better for me to be here than out there." I gave her a slight smirk in response, even if my heart wasn't in it. While her company was appreciated, as It always was, today was one where I'd rather be left alone. For others' sake more so than my own.
"Screw that. Who'd be devilish enough to enforce the Division on the Day of Flowers? Actually..." Iona raised her glance upwards in apparent thought, her thin hands still placed on the Countertop, oblivious to the fact that she had crushed a Pastry to a pulp in her contemplation. I offered her a napkin from the collection I stored underneath the Booth Frame, but she waved it away with a flick of her sugared hand.
"It's Fine. I was gonna buy one anyways." She said, as she took the remnants of the smashed Pastry in her hand and shoveled it into her mouth like she was starving, licking the tips of her fingers free from the Glaze that made them so delicious. I don't know if she was doing that to tempt my rumbling stomach, or if it was simply one of her innate quirks. I was leaning towards the Latter. Iona didn't have a single hating bone in her body, after all.
"Just, enjoy the festival. No harm in being caught, right?" Iona pondered naively. I hope she wasn't being serious. The consequences would be dire enough to dispel any such thoughts from most people. But not her. It was one of the reasons I liked her so much. But it was dangerous all the same.
"It most certainly is Harmful. For you and Me both."
"Let's just go. Everyone's too drunk to want sweets anyways. No one will miss you." Iona pleaded with her tendered eyes, drawing me into her desire even with Years of Conditioning pulling me back. I wanted to, obviously. Food, Drink and Dancing were my People's calling, way back when. It was our solace when times were tough, which was almost always. But someone had to be the Mature one.
"I'm not going, Iona. I'm sorry." I answered her pleading eyes with a stalwart look of immobility.
Before she could respond in a manner of which she always did, her eyes widened as she perceived something behind me. Over the Commotion of the festivities, I couldn't hear the Footsteps approaching, and only felt His Prescence when it was too late.
"Am I intruding?" A Grinding Voice emanated behind me, causing my back to stiffen in abject fear. Iona too began to grow pale as she became aware of what was about to happen. I turned around to see the Figure of My Master standing Robustly besides me, placing a hand on my shoulder before continuing.
"I'd consider myself a Man of Virtue. But there are some things I can't abide." His Flecked Beard combed with the aftermath of heavy drinking and Eating ruffled under his words, piercing my heart like thorns.
"Mr. Darian, It was my fault. He wasn't gonna do anything." Iona collected herself once more, fixing the amber colored sundress she wore as she straightened her posture in an attempt to emphasize her meaning. It meant not to my Master.
"It'd be best if you go girl. You've caused enough trouble. You're lucky I don't report you to the Guard. Now get." My Master gave Iona a simmering gaze, his Crimson eyes almost Igniting with hidden anger. Iona turned pale once more, before eyeing me apologetically. If she had spoke in that moment, surely it would be ample apologies and nothing else, the sweet girl that she is.
Turning Tail, she Wondered off abjectly towards the Crowd in front of us, who were unaware of my current predicament. Hardly a surprise, considering the heavy aroma of liquor wafting from them.
My Master removed his hand from my shoulder and Painfully grabbed hold of my right wrist, forcibly bringing me close enough to his face that I could smell the residue of Spirit and Meats from his heated breath. He was a Handsome man, looking at him from such a close proximity. But that didn't take away from the sheer terror he could instill in me.
"I give you a simple task. A very simple one, in fact. Just stand in one place and don't speak. And you can't even do that."
"I-" Before I could give him my excuse, he gripped my arm tighter, immediately ending my attempt to rationalize my behavior.
"No. Not another word. Even the ones you shared with that Girl of yours were more than enough. I thought I taught you better, boy. I know I did. Which means you've intentionally disobeyed my order." His order. How Hilarious. Talking as if he hasn't been exercising his freedoms as a Liverie just minutes prior. As if the doctrines he upholds isn't just the status quo.
"For now, return home. Ill see to it the Shop is manned by someone with the sense to follow elementary instructions." Darian poignantly exclaimed, letting go of my calloused arm before casting his glance away from me in apparent indignation. Stifling my intent to give some sort of excuse as to what had happened, I simply wandered towards the direction of our abode. A route I've taken countless times over the years. But this time left a mark unlike any other.
Surrounded by merriment and celebration, confined to the rules set out by People long gone, I couldn't help but feel like I was going insane. Like my own soul was being contorted into obedience by the Environment that surrounded me. It was a familiar feeling, but stung all the more now that Iona had become involved. Knowing Darian, he would surely have a word with her Parents at the least. At least, that was what he did in the past when he caught us together.
In my heart, I know his stern demeanor comes from a place of care. He wouldn't've offered shelter and security to an Arlean Orphan if that wasn't the case. I know that. But the abject unfairness of it all still hurt regardless. It always did.
Even in my own squabbling thoughts, I couldn't help but admire the Scarlet hue of the Setting sun intermingling with the Townhouses and Storerooms adorned with Ambeltreuse Wreaths that marked Amber Boulevard as the one I've come to know. Every year the sight proved to me that beauty still existed in this world, among other instances. It didn't take away from the fact that the people who inhabited such a picturesque town and beyond held cruelty that diametrically opposed such a tranquil scene.
The roads were clear, as the Townsfolk inhabited the market square during the festivities, but stragglers still remained. Couples looking for their own privacy, drunkards stumbling back home, children playing alongside the Candlelit Street. Those that noticed me either couldn't bother to acknowledge my unique presence, or were too inebriated to make the effort.
As I trounced forward in my barely hidden malaise, I was suddenly thrown forward by a force against my backside. Catching myself before my face met the pavement, I looked behind me as my Senses heightened in preparation to defend myself. However, to my surprise, it wasn't a braggard trying to start some shit, but the last person that ought to be seen around me at this point.
"Oof, sorry. I was just trying to startle you a little bit." It was Iona, completely absent of her previous disdain she showed at the Pastry Stand.
"What-Why are you here?"
"Well that's awfully rude. I just wanted to check up on you is all." Iona remarked cutely, quelling the rising anger that grew inside me at her sudden appearance, replacing it with the all too familiar sense of comfort. However, the interaction we just had with Darian was of course still fresh on my mind, and I meant to make it known to her.
"We just got told off, Iona. Not too mention we shouldn't even be meeting like this in the first place."
"What's the worst he can do? If push comes to shove, I'll have my Father intervene." The Mention of her Father astounded me. As if bringing him into it could change the fact that our relationship was a Blasphemy according to the Highest Court. The Anger I felt came roaring back. Not a directed at her, but at the state of affairs my life was embroiled in.
"That's besides the point, Iona! I couldn't give a damn about what happens to me, but if you're caught seeing me again, especially without Darian to back us up..." I felt the onset of tears begin to heat my eyelids. It took everything not to let them free in front of the Girl I admired more than anything.
It seemed she caught on against my better wishes, her confident gaze melting into one filled with consolation. She enclosed the distance between us before taking me in a calming embrace, one we've shared countless times under the dusk of hidden eyes.
"It's gonna be okay, Yovi. No matter what, we'll be okay."
"How can you say that? How.. How can you be so sure?" Without my own admittance, the tears that were building began to shed as she held me. The Warmth of her Figure bled into my wilting consciousness, almost as if she was passing on her assuredness to me. Even still, after all the things I've seen and experienced, the Trauma of my Lineage still remained.
Iona looked deep into my eyes, a confidence I could never hope to replicate lighting her irises before she quietly responded.
"Because Love always finds a way." Her cheeks grew alight with a scarlet hue as she spoke. Hearing such a declaration from her caused my own face to heat up exponentially. We had never spoken the word, even though we both felt the same. What a travesty. I was completely enamored with her, and from the way she looked at me, I could tell she was of a similar mind.
Lost in the bliss of our burgeoning emotions, I hadn't noticed Iona reach her hand towards the Horns that Adorned the crown of my head, short protrusions that acted as a telltale sign of my Race. The Bane of my Existence, and yet the pride of my People. Or so I've heard. Those that held sympathy for my kind such as Iona knew we were extremely cagey about them being touched, but when she gently and lovingly caressed them, that inhibition was the last thing on my mind.
"St-stop. That tickles." I shyly remarked, to which she responded with a light giggle.
"Sorry. I've always wanted to, though. They're beautiful." She continued her soft caresses before I batted her hands away in obvious embarrassment. She simply answered with another chirp of laughter. The last thing I would consider my Horns as were beautiful, dark ivory stalks that barely reached a few inches in height, but seeing Iona's fascination, I began to ruminate on the possibility of what she saw in them.
"W-well... thanks, I guess." In my reluctance, and in the calm of Iona's arms, I acknowledged her vision in my Heart. If she could see my Horns as Beautiful, maybe I could learn to love their Prescence as well. Take pride in them, like my ancestors did.
My Hopeful Pondering was cut short by a sudden phantom grip forcing it's way around my throat. Initially thinking I had something lodged in my trachea, I heartily coughed in the hopes of dislodging it. Loud enough for Iona to become worried.
"Yovi, you okay? What's wrong?" Too involved to answer her, I was limited to kneeling under the growing pain of not being able to breath. I backed away from her, coughing and sputtering while grasping my throat.
"Yovin! What-" Iona's pleading was cut short as she looked behind me before acknowledging something I was too distracted to take notice of. Her next words illuminated the Despair I would soon be met with.
"Father? Father, please don't!"
Before I could turn to meet the source of her disquietude, the Force stealing my ability to breathe collapsed my Consciousness, leaving me swallowed by an endless dark, the last sensation I could parse was Iona's hysteric pleas to an immutable third party.
"Disgusting"