Chapter 102: The Beginning of the Festival III

Chapter 101: The Beginning of the Festival III

The moment Orion’s final words left his lips, the square erupted. Cheers rose along with shouts and the square became even more noisy than it was before. Sophia had no idea how.

People with lanterns lifted their lanterns high, their light swaying around the now dark of the night and then people began to disperse, breaking off into smaller groups.

Conversation resumed as if they had not all Ben quiet just minutes ago while listening to the speech. The drums softened onto a steady beat now.

Sophia stayed still for a moment, watching as the crowd surged and parted like water. Voices overlapped, some laughing, some already calling out names of relatives they’d go visit, others whispering quiet prayers as they clutched charms.

"...heading to my brother’s grave first..."

"...have you seen the new pastry on display this year?.."

"...I’m going to drink until I burst..."

Fragments of their words drifted to her as she adjusted her cloak.

When she turned her gaze back to the dais, she blinked in shock.

Orion was gone.

She had no idea when he even left. She didn’t even take note if sounding footsteps except the ones surrounding her by people who were making their way to various destinations.

Sophia frowned slightly, scanning the square again, but he was nowhere in sight. Maybe he had work to do. It wasn’t like he was less busy like she was after all.

Lysander’s voice drew her back. "You’ve stressed yourself enough for one day," he was saying quietly to Brynhild, who sat upright in her wheelchair, shoulders squared. "You need to rest."

"I’m fine," Brynhild replied, waving him off with a flick of her hand. "Don’t start fussing, Lysander. Not now. I want to show Sophia around for a bit first."

Sophia shook her head before Lysander could argue again. "Don’t worry about me. You can take the time to rest and besides Orion already promised to show me around."

Both Lysander and Brynhild stilled, then exchanged a look.

"He promised you that?" Brynhild asked her and she nodded.

"Yes. Is there an issue?" She asked them.

Brynhild turned to her husband then back to Sophia. "Not really. It’s just that...before he comes, who’s going to show you around?"

"Ronan." Sophia said.

"Ronan?" Brynhild and Lysander asked together with a frown.

Ronan who had not been paying attention to them suddenly stared with rapt attention. "What’s happening?" He asked them.

"You will be showing me around until my guide arrives." Sophia told him.

Ronan smiled. "Oh, you’ve come to the right person."

Lysander muttered something under his breath, his expression darkening. "Great. Because Ronan’s version of ’showing someone around’ usually involves drinking until you can’t stand."

Brynhild didn’t even blink. She leveled a glare at Ronan so sharp it could’ve cut stone. "Don’t you dare."

Ronan raised his hands in mock surrender. "You wound me. Truly. You think I’d get her drunk her first time seeing the festival?"

"Yes," Brynhild said flatly. "And she doesn’t need it."

Sophia pressed her lips together, fighting a laugh. "All of you need to stop treating me like I’m a child. I’m not. I don’t need to be coddled." She crossed her arms and looked directly at Brynhild and Lysander. "You’ve spent enough time with me already today...keeping me company, making sure I have company but it’s time you guys rest okay? Both of you."

Brynhild’s brows pinched, but Sophia continued before she could argue. "You’ve done more than enough. And you especially," she added gently to Brynhild, "need to relax. Stress isn’t good for you. Not right now."

Brynhild hesitated, her fingers tightening faintly on the armrest of her chair. Her eyes flicked to Ronan, then back to Sophia. "You don’t know him," she said at last, voice low but firm. "He’s a drunkard who will likely get you drunk later."

Sophia smiled faintly, shaking her head. "Then I’ll just have to outsmart him. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine."

Ronan smirked, clearly enjoying the exchange, but for once he didn’t add fuel to the fire. He only shrugged, as if to say what can I do?

For a long moment, Brynhild seemed to weigh her options. Finally, she sighed and glanced up at Lysander. "Fine," she said. "But if he does anything..."

"I’ll behave," Ronan cut in smoothly. "Beta’s honor."

Brynhild snorted. "Like you have any honour."

Sophia reached out and touched Brynhild’s shoulder lightly. "Go. Please. You’ve done enough for me today. I promise, I’ll be okay."

Lysander still didn’t look thrilled, but his hand came to rest on Brynhild’s shoulder, squeezing gently. "Come on," he murmured to her. "Let’s get you home."

With visible reluctance, Brynhild nodded. "All right. But be careful," she said, her sharp gaze flicking to Ronan again. "And you...don’t try it."

"Wouldn’t dream of it," Ronan said with mock solemnity.

Sophia could see the tension in Brynhild’s frame, but she also saw the exhaustion creeping into the other woman’s face. She was tired already, the faintest shadow of strain at the corners of her mouth. This was the right choice.

"Thank you," Sophia said softly. "For everything today."

Brynhild gave her a small smile. "Enjoy the festival, Sophia."

Then Lysander began to wheel her away, their figures disappearing slowly into the flow of festival-goers heading toward homes and family tables. The air around them seemed to shift with their absence, leaving Sophia and Ronan standing together amid the hum of voices and the scent of burning herbs.

For a heartbeat, neither of them spoke.

Then Sophia exhaled, loosening her cloak. "Well...that went well."

Ronan grinned, easy and mischievous again now that Brynhild and Lysander were out of earshot. "As well as it can get when it comes to Brynhild’s over protective streak."

Sophia chuckled then turned to him, leveling her gaze on him. "So? Where’s our first stop?"

His grin widened. "We’re going to meet my best friend first."

Sophia’s heartbeat increase d at the thought of meeting Orion first. She never thought she would get to see him this early due to how busy he would be. And besides, if she meets with him then she would have no need for Ronan as a guide.