The Inner Sector shimmered like a world of its own the whole city alive with festival cheer. And in the middle of it all… Astra and Seiya gawked like two lost villagers.
People passing by slowed to stare, some whispering behind their fans.
Astra's eyes lit up like a child spotting treasure, and before anyone could react, she seized Seiya by the wrist.
"Seiya! A once-in-a-lifetime treasure—come on!"
"Eh? Wait—what treasure—" Seiya stumbled after her, barely keeping his balance as she yanked him into a relic shop.
The shelves were stacked with jade talismans, bronze bells, and strange artifacts humming faintly with spiritual energy. Seiya's gaze darted from shelf to shelf until— clang! His elbow knocked over a carved incense burner. It hit the ground, split neatly in half, and rolled to the shopkeeper's feet.
Seiya froze, then slowly turned his head toward Astra. "…Astra. On the count of three, we run."
"Three?!" Astra was already gone, darting straight into the bustling crowd with a burst of speed, her voice cracking as it echoed back through the shop. "Idiot, RUN NOW! Unless you want to sell yourself to pay for it!"
Seiya blinked once, staring at the empty space where she'd been. "…You really do know how to flee, don't you?! Ahhh—wait for meeee!" Then he spun on his heel and sprinted after her, the two of them screaming as they tore down the street.
Meanwhile, Shion and Seirou stood frozen at a distance, jaws slack as the chaos unfolded.
"…These two idiots," Shion muttered darkly, dragging a hand down his face. "Prison. We're definitely going to prison."
The shopkeeper's roar shook the shelves. "GUARDS! THIEVES! Someone call the guards!" He jabbed a finger toward the door, barking at a worker to run.
Before it could spiral further, Shion strode forward. He slapped a pouch of gold on the counter, teeth grinding. "They're not thieves. Just idiots. Take the money and keep the change."
Shion turned on his heel, scanning the festival street with sharp, narrowed eyes. "Where did they run off to now?" he muttered darkly.
Seirou tipped his chin toward the crowd, voice flat. "…If we don't catch them soon, who knows what disaster they'll drag onto us next."
Shion groaned, dragging a hand down his face as he stalked forward. "Seirou… let's move before those two manage to bring the entire Inner Sector down in flames."
Meanwhile, Astra and Seiya had already darted half a dozen streets away, weaving through vendors and revelers until their legs burned. They finally staggered to a stop, gasping for breath under the glow of hanging lanterns.
Astra whipped her head toward him, still panting. "Why did you do that?!"
Seiya wheezed, pointing an accusatory finger. "Me?! You're the one who yanked me in there!"
"You should've watched where your elbows were going!" she snapped.
He glared. "So now it's my fault?!"
"Whose else?!"
They locked eyes, sparks crackling between them, before simultaneously turning away with a sharp hmph. Passersby slowed, their curious stares lingering like gnats.
Unbothered, Astra leaned over and snatched a candied lotus from a vendor's tray, biting into it with wide-eyed delight. "Mm! It tastes like heaven!"
Seiya's jaw dropped. "You didn't even pay for that!"
"I'll pay after I confirm it's real!" she retorted through a mouthful of sticky sweetness.
Once again, the two of them turned away from each other with twin scowls—each pretending the other didn't exist.
But the street had its own rhythm. Acrobats flipped through the air, musicians played lilting melodies on guzheng and flute, and the crowd swayed in a slow, joyous dance.
"Look at that!" she whispered, tugging Seiya by the sleeve. "They're dancing! We should join them!"
Seiya smirked, brushing his hair back. "Huh? You always wanted to be part of the group, isn't? Let's see if you can actually attract the crowd."
Astra blinked, then grinned. "Challenge accepted!"
Seiya held up a finger. "Wait—first, put a veil on. I don't want to be punished for your antics again."
Astra rolled her eyes but complied, draping a lightweight veil over her face. With a wink, she joined Seiya in the center of the dancing crowd.
The music swelled, and Seiya spun with exaggerated flair, attempting to impress the onlookers. Astra followed, her movements hesitant at first, then gradually flowing with the rhythm. Step by step, twirl by twirl.
Astra's body moved like fluid, effortless, yet full of intention. Each step was a brushstroke across the cobblestones, her feet barely seeming to touch the ground. Her arms arched gracefully, then fell in gentle curves, guiding the air around her like a soft wind. She twirled, spun, and leaped, her veil trailing behind like a ribbon of silver fire, catching the light with every motion.
Her movements were both delicate and powerful, a mesmerizing balance of control and abandon. Every sway of her shoulders, every tilt of her head, told a story—joy, mischief, and a defiant spark that drew every eye. The crowd leaned in, captivated, murmuring in awe, unable to look away as she danced with the kind of freedom that made even the stars seem to pause and watch.
"See?" Astra panted, glancing at Seiya with a victorious gleam in her eyes. "I'm a better performer than you!"
Seiya huffed, shaking his head, but kept trying, attempting wild flips and spins, pushing himself to keep pace. But as the sun dipped lower, painting the street in hues of gold and crimson, his energy began to wane.
By the time twilight settled, the crowd had grown thick, all eyes glued to Astra as she danced with a fluidity that seemed to command the wind itself. Seiya finally collapsed onto a nearby crate, breathing heavily, defeated.
Astra, cheeks flushed and eyes shining, laughed quietly to herself. "Guess it's just me now." She twirled once more, letting the rhythm carry her, utterly alive in the music.
From a shadowed corner, someone watched. Their face was hidden beneath a dark cloth, only two emerald eyes gleaming through the fabric. A faint smile curved beneath the veil.
"It's been quite a long time… hasn't it?" the figure muttered, voice barely above the whisper of the wind.
—————
Shion and Seirou weaved through the throngs of festival-goers, eyes darting in every direction. The music, laughter, and chatter blurred around them, but they were focused on finding the two runaway troublemakers.
Suddenly, Seirou halted, shoulders tense, breathing shallow. Shion glanced at him sharply. "Seirou… is everything all right? Something wrong?"
Seirou met his gaze and shook his head slowly. "Everything's fine… at least, until now."
Shion's expression tightened, the words sinking in. "…I understand. Then let's not waste any more time. We need to find them." With that, they pushed forward, weaving through the crowd with renewed urgency.
——————
Astra sneezed at nearly every stall they passed, the sound startling nearby vendors and making small children jump. Seiya, on the other hand, seemed incapable of restraint—grabbing glowing dumplings with one hand, lotus candy with the other, and even a fried spirit-fish that wiggled faintly in the pan.
"Aha! Seiya, don't eat everything you see!" Astra warned, swiping at his hands.
"Relax! I'm… sampling for the festival's honor!" Seiya declared, biting into a bizarre-looking pastry. Almost immediately, his eyes went wide, and his steps grew wobbly. "Whoa… everything's… spinning? Hey! The lanterns are… laughing? Hehehe?"
Astra groaned, grabbing his arm to keep him upright. "I told you not to eat everything! Focus, Seiya! You're embarrassing me in public!"
But Seiya was already half-lost in a sugar-induced haze. His face lit up, and he waved a candied lotus at her. "Astra… your dancing… it's like… like the wind mixed with… the stars! You have to join our play! Everyone would—" He hiccuped violently. "—they'd all love you!"
Astra rolled her eyes but couldn't help smirking. "Seiya, you're ridiculous. Focus, or we'll get kicked out of the here."
"I don't care! You—you twirl like the moon, you leap like… like a phoenix! I… I want to be on stage with you!" He leaned in, nearly toppling over. "No, Ryoma… he won't understand… but I do! You're amazing!"
Astra groaned and grabbed his arms, trying to stop him from staggering into a lantern stand. "Seiya! You're about to start a fire!"
He blinked, then pointed at a passing street performer. "And the crowd! They'd love your dancing even more than… than those acrobats! You could—" Another hiccup stole his words. "…rule the festival!"
Before she could stop him, he stumbled into the path of a moving carriage. "AHHHH!" he yelped. The rider shouted back, brandishing a whip. "Watch where you're going, boy!"
Astra, exasperated, finally guided him to a quiet corner of the street. "You wait here," she instructed, pushing him gently onto a low bench. "I'll bring some water to splash on your face. Don't move, don't eat anything else, and don't compliment me anymore."
Seiya, half-dazed, hiccuping, and still holding a half-eaten candied lotus, nodded solemnly. "Uh… okay…"
Astra huffed, adjusting her veil, and muttered under her breath, "Managing a grown man who acts like a sugar-addled child should be illegal…" before darting off to fetch water.