-Break-
Location: The Capital City of Blestemate,Căderea-dracului
ΦRadonitsa, a festival to celebrate those who have passed. A celebration of the dead and the lives they have lived. For people like the Nightmares who were stripped of their humanity by a curse, this is a reminder that their lives have value, that their existences are just as worthy as all the rest.
Each day holds a different surprise, celebrating all the Nightmares have accomplished to not only survive but thrive into one of the world's superpowers. A country made by those who have been rejected by all, who keep love in their hearts as they move forward. So on the final day, the climax of the great event. In every single region, in every single district, even every single corner where one of them stands, they celebrate. They cry, they sing, they dance, they laugh, they love, and they allow all the emotions that bubble up from their heart to rampage as much as they wish.
On this day, all food, all events, all entertainment is free for all, no work or school is expected of anyone for the next three days, and members of Bendicion run around making sure everyone is safe, and the Cursed Heart Army moves in secrecy to defuse any situation before it incurs. As on this singular day, no Nightmare shall worry, no Nightmare shall feel unsafe, no Nightmare shall feel like anything other than royalty.
As decreed by the First Queen of Blestemate herself. 'For this day you shall all feel the exalted wonder that God has placed on your souls.'
A celebration like no other takes place, and far above it, resting at the highest point of the Behemoth of Blestemate; Balaur, the Queen's castle, Soarele Blestemat rests, where each and every Nightmare looks up towards with joy in their heart.
She stands above them all, yet just like a mother, they feel her warmth spread down towards each of them. This bond, this love, is what has kept the wonderful Cursed Country of Blestemate going for centuries on end, and as the feeling of the festival reaches its pinnacle, the people all shout towards the heavens. "SUFLETELE NOASTRE SUNT FRUMOASE!"
"Because even the Devil comes in a beautiful form, so don't be saddened by the curses and destruction they have brought upon your bodies, just remember, through it all yell, Our souls are beautiful!" Were the words given the the Nightmares by the Priest Dante Nightfall.
Location: Soarele Blestemat, Ballroom
Φ Staring at the hallway outside of an open door, Maple takes a few steps forward, but as she moves, she ends up bashing into a wall left of her position, and says, "What the hell. No matter how many times I try to walk towards the door, I keep running into a wall."
From behind her, a member of Blestadrac appears and says, "Is something the matter?"
Turning around, Maple is greeted by someone who bears similarities to Avram and Iancu. "I heard this place was hard to navigate, so I was trying to take a few steps outside."
"I see, but I wouldn't suggest doing that. While this elegant ballroom you see all around you is utterly stunning, this place is on a higher level of Soarele Blestemat, and falls under the defensive system within the castle?"
"A defensive system?"
"This castle was made around the start of our country using a series of Cursed Items, in an extremely interconnective way that can only be rivalled by the three cathedrals, an art form we have unfortunately lost. You see, this entire building is filled with countless ways that mess with your body, mind and soul that constantly overlap with each other. Earlier, you thought you walked forward, but you actually took a left turn and walked right into the wall."
"I didn't even notice."
"That's the point."
"If that's how it works, how do you even know how to get past?"
"The only people who do are the ministers are members of the Cursed Heart Army, like myself. We essentially have to spend the first few decades of our service trying to navigate this castle to reach the Queen. On average, you need to be able to move through about half of the castle to qualify. Only the 1st and 2nd seats, which have been alive since the time of the 2nd Queen, are aware of the insides of the castle enough to move around unafraid. Not even the ministers can do this?"
"Isn't this rather ridiculous?"
"Quite, but it's all in efforts to allow our lovely Queen to be safe, and that's something worth any amount of effort. Though if you want to move around, please ask a member of Blestadrac."
"Right!"
As Maple chats away with the man in front of her, from a distance, Ivana, Gheorghe and Wadim stare at her enviously as the three of them look at the crowd of people in front of them.
A large crowd of Nightmares in clothes worth more than the cursed items that could be made from their flesh swarm the three idiots to their dismay, asking question after question.
"You're Ivana, right? I heard you are currently unmarried. My son is as well, what a coincidence?"
"What giant arms you have, Gheorghe. Those could manhandle me like a maiden if I were younger. By the way, I have some shells in my house if you'd like to visit."
"The 1st son of Vėja, what a wonder it is to meet you. You're siblings are such efficient workers, and whenever I worked with them, they managed to increase the operations of my mining operations. Your family touch is like the hand of God. I know you're only here for a bit, but why don't you all come and see my operations? I can pay well."
The bombardment against them all continues, until in the middle of the crowd, Dumnorix appears and, using both of his arms and his tail, he grabs the chins of the men and women in the crowd, lifting them up.
In a moment, each of them became dazed at the elegant dominance of Dumnorix's control of their movements, with the slightest of touches. As they look up at him, their minds are all completely locked in a daze due to the sensation placed upon them quickly clears, and one says, "Aren't you Dumnorix, the man who shook the entire stadium during your match against the Bloody Marys?"
"Yes, I, am."
As his voice hits their ears, half of them swoon, while the other half stare in excitement. "Seeing you dash over to the other side of the field and using your legacy to constantly smash the ball against those iron faces was the most exhilarating I have felt in years. You're skills are one of a kind! Do you think you could come and join my private tea-."
Grabbing the man's lips, he Dumnorix shushes him like a child, and adds, "Thank you for everything you have done, for supporting and watching me. But I promise you I won't be joining the pitch more, for I have found a battle far more entertaining. You see, my country will be entering a deal with Blestemate soon, and I wish to work hand in hand with you all to help this deal excel to the greatest of heights."
The faces in front of Dumnorix, still caught up in his shining stare at him in wonder, and one woman says, "What country are you fro-."
Placing his tail across her lips, he says, "Wait a moment, we don't want to reveal that surprise too quickly."
Dumnorix clicks his finger, and then moves the three idiots out of the way, and in their position he places Avram and Abbán, who quickly turn their heads around in shock.
Dumnorix quickly wraps his hand around Avram's head and his tail around Abbán's. "To my left, you can see my best friend, Abbán Fuinseog, a doctor and a man who constantly works with countless 'nature enthusiasts' to make new drugs to be used by the common man. Many of these include ones that can completely eliminate pain in one's body. Due to your curses affecting your body, certain drugs don't work the best for, you, I mean us Nightmares. While on my right, you all know of the genius Avram Bogdan, well, you see his genius has been empowered by many new opportunities in our country, along with a gaggle of young geniuses who will one day surpass the abilities of the brilliance in Skydust."
Chatter begins among all those standing in front of the three of them, and Avram says, "You sure know how to sell things?"
"When we were younger, Abbán and I used to do odd jobs, like being door-to-door salesmen. It was a time when Abbán was a lot cuter than the giant big headed bug he had grown up to be."
Slightly peeved, Abbán says, "Not everyone can remain full of childlike wonder. Only high-grade idiots."
"And not everyone can remain as warm-hearted as a tender baby. Only high-grade mosquitoes."
"I am a dragonfly, you idiot."
Avram starts laughing, and Abbán says, "Don't enjoy this, do something about him."
"Sorry, I can't help myself reminds me of the past a bit too much. Do your best to remain friends, alright."
Abbán says, "Dumnorix is going to die young, so that probably won't happen."
"We're dying together partner. I've already given my men instructions to poison you."
"WHAT!"
Retreating to a wall, the three idiots let out sighs of relief, as they stared at the gaggle of people who were once just chatting amongst themselves, pounced on the Dumnorix and Co, showering them in more questions than they could count.
Wadim says, "It's good that we have a series of shields we can use now."
Ivana says, "Hey, don't refer to our friends as shields."
"You can be a friend and a shield, stop being so small-minded!"
"DON'T RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME!"
As the two glare at each other, they both try and use their curses to attack each other, so Gheorghe gets in the middle and says, "I know we are all stressed, by violence isn't the answer!"
"EH-HEM!" A familiar voice shouts over the three of them. Turning their heads, they are greeted by the sight of their parents along with their family members behind them.
Each of the three of them quickly turns and composes themselves. "How are you?" All three of them say as they stare into the void with dark eyes.
Stiprais says, "Really? In public."
Vėja says, "How did they rot your brain so much in that country?"
Veekeeris says, "You are the strongest person there, and you just let that chaos unfold standing in the middle. Take charge for once in your life."
The three drop their heads again, and soon Stelara appears in front of them all and says, "Guys, we need you to start preparing for the speech. It will take some time for everything to spread within Balaur, so we can make the announcement."
The three turn to the family behind them, and after mumbling a few words, the ministers head off with Stelara, and in their absence, Šviesis Ceaușescu, Jūlija Balint, and Marinescu Dumitrescu step forward.
Šviesis, looking at Wadim, says, "Your mother is simply extra stressed; the logistics of Radonitsa fall on our region, mostly, you know how she is."
Jūlija, rubbing Ivana's hair, says, "You know how delicate your hair is, don't try to fight with it, Dad worries a lot about you."
Marinescu, picking Gheorghe up in a bear hug, says, "Brother, you have grown rather tall, but you need to exude how cool you are. If you do, you'd end violence before it begins."
Gheorghe, Ivana, and Wadim, despite all the different things said to them, just lowered their heads with little smiles across their faces. Unable to respond, they just take everything said to them, allowing it to fall upon them until they can find a way to leave, to run, to escape into a world where those who share blood with them can never see their faces.