Chapter IV

The Festival of Autumn originated four hundred years ago, during the reign of King Jesse. His wife, Lady Celine, was a great appreciator of nature. During her time she would travel all over the lands just to admire rare species of plants and animals and enjoy the exotic sceneries of the Four Lands. However her favorite scenic place was right at home – the Uland Woods. She loved the beauty of the falling copper-bronze leaves of the woods in autumn so much that she decided to hold a celebration on the first day of autumn every year in honor of its beauty. That day became the Festival of Autumn, a day where every citizen of Durante would stop work to enjoy the celebration.

Unfortunately she died young to a strange illness. King Jesse thus built the Sky Garden, breeding the most beautiful flowers in the lands, in memory of his beautiful and kind wife. The best botanists were employed to maintain the garden, which four hundred years later, still looked as eye-dazzling as ever.

Year after year the festival would start off with the opening ceremony which is a spectacular dance segment, consisting of nearly a hundred dancers that were carefully selected from the Durante Academy of Fine Arts. One would be chosen among them to lead the dance segment and it was the biggest honor that a dancer could get in Durante. The role of the flower girl.

***

Adelaide was with the rest of the dancers at the doorsteps of the Academy of the Fine Arts, awaiting for Kalyan Summer, their dance instructor to give them a final brief about the performance later on. The dancers were all dressed in beautiful green silk costumes, looking ravishing and stunning. However the princess stood out among all of them with her fiery red costume, the symbol of color representing the Flower Girl. There was a tiara sitting on her crown, sparkling brightly under the rays of the beaming sun. In all she looked like an angel that had descended from the heavens, truly pretty and angelic.

She took in a deep breath. It has finally come, she thought to herself. An hour more to the start of the Festival of Autumn.

All the months of preparations and rehearsals… It all boils down to this moment.

She took in another deep breath to calm herself down. The words of her brother sprang into her mind.

You are the most fantastic sixteen year old girl dancer in the land…

She smiled. Though her brother could be irritating and arrogant at times, he had always been there for her. So was her father. She felt blessed to have received so much love from her family. Throughout her life she had always been pampered, eating the most mouthwatering cuisines, wearing the most elaborate dresses. She was able to satisfy her love for dancing by joining the Academy of Fine Arts. She had everything.

At the cost of freedom.

“My, how lovely you looked.”

Adelaide turned around. It was her father, King Hammond. “Father!” She immediately ran towards the king and gave him a hug.

The rest of the dancers stopped their conversations and bowed in the king’s presence. King Hammond acknowledged with a sweep of his hand.

“Father, why are you here? This is such a surprise,” Adelaide spoke, her face visibly happy.

“I came by to wish you all the best in your performance, my dear daughter,” King Hammond looked at Adelaide and gave a tender smile. “Your brother was unable to come- he is busy organizing the security for the big occasion. But he sends his regards to you too.”

The King looked up into the sky. “If your mother was still alive to witness this special moment,” he sighed. “She will be so proud of you.”

“Father, I’m sure mother is up in the heavens looking at us right now,” Adelaide spoke as she gave her father another hug. “Thank you father for your well wishes. I feel much less nervous now.”

“I will perform to my best and will not let the people of Durante down.”

***

Flo stood at the city gates of Durante. He looked at the disciplined sentry guards, and the tall and sturdy looking stone walls that surround the city and doubted if anyone could successfully laid a siege against it. He remembered the first time that he came here he was overwhelmed by the size of the city. It was a bustling city filled with lots of people engaging in all sorts of activities, exuding an energy that was the complete opposite of his mundane village. They all had a face that beamed with contentedness, thriving under the peaceful rule of King Hammond and proud to be citizens of Durante.

“Hey! Why are you standing there like a statue?”

A young man, about the same age as Flo, came up to him and started to drag him into the city. “We need to get in soon to get a good space to watch the festival!”

Flo followed, trying to keep up with the fast pace of the young man. “Ron! There is no need to hurry. It is still an hour before the start of the festival.”

“We need to get the best view to look at those pretty dancers!” The man replied, his face beaming with enthusiasm. “And there is your lovely little princess too…”

Flo shook his head. Ron was the one who had dragged him along to the city to watch the festival, even though he was not very interested, with or without the princess’ participation.

He looked at Ron and wondered why they became the best of friends. Personality-wise they were the extreme opposites. He was shy and quiet while Ron was outgoing and loud. Maybe it’s because they were the only eighteen year olds in the village. Or maybe it’s because of his friend’s sunshine character that endeared to him. Ron’s happy-go-lucky nature always brought about a feeling of positivism to the people around him. And sometimes troubles too. He thought of the countless troubles they had gotten into before, thanks to the multitude of ideas that often came out of his best friend’s head.

He was deep into his thoughts and lost his awareness as he bumped into a cloaked figure. “Oh sorry,” Flo apologized. The cloaked figure did not say a word and walked away.

Flo realized he had lost track of Ron and quickly went to look for him.

***

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