"Woaahh! Slow down!"
She didn't slow down.
We flew down the street, over the many bridges and even jumped one of the canals.
How did we just do that!?
Most surprisingly, the prince was easily keeping up. He even jumped the canal with little effort.
"What're we going to again!?" Liora asked.
"The lantern show! It's the best event in the entire festival, and it's only today!"
"What is it?" I asked.
"It's where everyone reveals the lanterns they made for the festival! Once they're all revealed, the winner's lantern is used in the reenactment!"
We finally arrived at a large crowd and came to a violent stop.
Marielle looked behind us. "Tch."
Was that to the prince? Was she trying to lose him or something? Ha...
"How're we gonna get through? This crowd is huge."
"Usually I just get here first, but I lost track of time..."
"...I might have an idea."
I swallowed.
This might be really stupid...
I walked over to a large, empty wheelbarrow.
Please work...!
I placed both my hands on the wheelbarrow. "Aur y goedwig, cod fi'n uchel; Cysgod a gwynt, agor y nef!"
I felt a chill run down my arms, and the wheelbarrow glowed white for a short moment.
"Everyone, get on."
"What was that?" Marielle asked.
"It's an enchantment. To make this thing... err, fly. Hopefully."
"What!? I didn't know you could do that!" Liora gasped.
I'm not really supposed to use it, but...
I'd been practicing it in secret, along with my other (very) few spells.
I figured if I wasn't learning new spells, I might as well get good at using the ones I already knew.
Marielle and Liora stepped inside, but only the prince remained on the ground.
"...Is it really enchanted? Really? Do it one more time... I wasn't paying attention!" he insisted.
"What, you're scared I didn't do it right? How would you know even if I did it again?"
"Huh!? No! I just... I'm fascinated with magic! After the fight in the tavern, I kind of just assumed you didn't know any spells..."
"Oh. Well get in and you'll see some magic!"
I sound awfully confident for someone who's only recently learned to fly a stick...
I closed my eyes and tugged at the chilly feeling circulating in my chest.
"Woah! No way!"
I opened my eyes and saw the crowd beneath us. The wheelbarrow was steady for now.
I brought it closer to the stage for a better view of the lantern show. We were directly above the crowd now.
"This is amazing, Lin!" Marielle beamed.
That's the first time she's addressed me by name. Cool...
Liora was looking over the edge, down at the crowd, and the prince couldn't contain his laughter.
Me? I was sweating, trying my hardest to keep it steady. I sat criss-crossed, like a monk, focusing on the spell.
It was a lot harder to keep a wheelbarrow in the air than a stick.
It wasn't necessarily the weight, the enchantment practically made it weightless.
It was like manning a ballista with a hair-trigger.
Any small movement in the mana could send it flying and tipping over, sending us falling to the ground.
From below, the show went on:
"Revealing our third place winner, Catrin Silver from The Silver Oar on 12th street!"
The large tarp was pulled away from the lantern. Compared to the previous ones, this one was massive.
It was a large, glowing rectangle. There was some intricacy, but compared to the smaller lanterns, it was a lot less artistic.
"This one only got third for its size. I bet second and first are way better...!" Marielle whispered.
"Revealing our second place winner, Thayne B from... oh, he doesn't work. Anyways..."
The large tarp was pulled away from the lantern. Compared to the previous one, it was a bit smaller.
It was still one of the largest lanterns, and this time, was a large, intricate dragon.
It was beautiful, and glowed like the fire they breathe.
"How is this second place!? What could first place be...?" Liora said in awe.
"Revealing our first place winner, the one who takes it all... Illian Fenwick from Feet-First Tavern! Love that place! Come on up here Illian and do the honors!"
Silence.
"Ahem, Illian? It seems Illian couldn't make it tonight, what a shame! I'll reveal it, then!"
The largest tarp was removed, revealing the largest and most beautiful lantern made.
The crowd barely made a noise as it was revealed, enamoured by its beauty.
It was a leviathan, with tendrils and ribbons that waved in the breeze. Coming from the mouth was a beautiful womanly figure.
It was expertly crafted. It was almost as if a goddess had descended onto earth right there.
In fact, though it was heavily stylized, I could tell at first glance.
That's... that's Bishan!
"Wow... how beautiful. And unique...! This might be the best lantern in the history of the festival. I didn't know Illian was so talented, no wonder he missed work these past few days!"
"What's it supposed to be?" Liora asked.
"I'm not sure... it's definitely a monster of some sort. It's really unlike anything I've ever seen."
Not even Marielle recognizes it? So this isn't a standard representation of Saint Pischt, then... that means Illian must know something!
"I think it's a demon," the prince blurted out.
I sat up. "A demon?"
"It's similar to something I've seen in a book. I don't know how that guy, Illian, would know anything about demons."
"What're you talking about? Demons look nothing like that," Marielle argued.
"Not that type of demon. Well, it doesn't matter. It must be a coincidence, anyway."
A coincidence... I need to find that man, Illian.
The lantern show was over, and I carefully brought the wheelbarrow back to the ground where I found it.
"Haaah," I panted. "Finally... that was stressful."
"That was incredible, thanks Lin."
Marielle gave me a quick hug.
"Please, you call me Linnie," I grinned.
Hehehe....
"That was amazing, thanks Linnie!"
The prince tried to hug me, but I dodged it.
"Don't call me Linnie..." I shivered.
"Mari, is there anything else to do, or are we done?"
"We're done for the night. Today was just the lantern show and the events that were earlier. Tomorrow has the public games. Sunday is the reenactment."
"Games?" I asked as we started to walk back.
"It's a few competitions. Anyone can enter, but they're pretty difficult."
"What's the prize?"
"Money. And you get to take part in the reenactment."
"Hmmm... can I enter?"
"Ehh... I don't think you'd win."
"Why not?"
"They're mostly physical games..."
"What're you trying to say...!?"
I knew exactly what she was trying to say...
Suddenly, I felt something scratching my head. I lifted my hat off my head.
"Nyaaa!"
"Oh, that's where you've been..."
"What!? You had a cat in your hat this entire time!?" the prince marveled.
"I guess... I was wondering where she'd been."
Lady jumped off my head and onto the ground, walking beside us. She had been napping inside my hat the entire time.
"What's her name?" Marielle asked.
"Lady! I named her," Liora butt in.
"What? That's so cute!"
The prince was hunched over, trying to sneakily pick up Lady as we walked.
She, of course, evaded his arms. Why? Because she only let ME pick her up!
We eventually returned to the manor. Waiting for us were a band of worried guards and servants.
"Lady Marielle! You cannot keep doing this! We were worried sick!"
"Ah... my bad. We got lost. Isn't it the guard's fault?"
"You... just head inside. And don't get into any more trouble, for the sake of all of us."
When we entered the manor, we split apart to go to our rooms for the night.
Well, more accurately, Marielle left us, and the prince, Liora, and I walked together to the guest quarters.
"Liora, please don't sleep in that dress..."
"What!? I'm not! It's all torn anyway."
The prince was directly across from my room, and we all bid each other goodnight.
But I wasn't going to sleep. It wasn't like sitting in bed idly was good for anything.
Once I was inside my room, I looked through the windows for the best way out.
"Lady, can you come with me? I might've found a lead on Pischt."
"Nya!"
After I was sure Liora was asleep, I opened the window and scaled down the wall.
I snuck through the garden, avoiding the watch of the guards. I climbed over the large wall that circled the estate, and was back in the city.
Despite the darkness, the festivities were still going strong. In the main street, at least.
I recalled the way we took to that tavern and made my way back there.
The tavern was even rowdier than before, will tons of drunkards playing cards and other sorts of things.
"Aliza?"
"...Hic! is that yoooouuu, Linnie?"
Aliza was sat at a crowded table. She was clearly many, many drinks deep...
"I didn't know you... errr, drank."
"Sorry—hic—Linnie. I tooootally won't remember this at all."
Her entire table roared with drunken laughter.
"Is that yer son!?" one of them asked.
"Nooo... I'm too youuung to—hic—have kiids!"
I don't have time for this... this is too awkward!!
"Uhhh... enjoy your night, Aliza! Liora and I'll come visit tomorrow!"
I ran off to the counter.
"Oh, you're Lady Marielle's friend. What're you doing back here?"
"Your chef, Illian. Have you heard from him yet?"
"Well, no. It's only been a few hours after all."
"Didn't you see the lantern show?"
"No, I was busy here."
"Illian won the first prize."
"Illian did!? There's no way, are you sure it's the same Illian? I never knew him to be an artist..."
"I'm sure. If you tell me where Illian's house is, I can help."
"Why? What're you gonna do?"
"I'll go visit and say you're looking for him. I'm sure you're too busy to go yourself. Plus, I have my own things to ask him."
"Well, you're right about that... alright. Here, let me draw you a map."
Orrick handed me the piece of paper with a simple map on it. I gave him my thanks and left, looking at Aliza one last time.
"Come on, Lady."
We ran through the streets, following the map. By the time we got to Illian's street, we'd long escaped the festivities.
Only the distant sounds of music and cheers could be heard in the dark, quiet streets.
"It's this one...!"
I tried to pull the door open, then push. Naturally, it was locked. So I knocked.
"Hello? Illian? Are you there?"
He wasn't even at the lantern festival. Maybe he really is sick?
"Lady, can you find a way in and unlock the door from the inside?"
I realize this is a lot to ask of a cat. Nonetheless, she followed through.
She entered through a tiny open window, squeezing through. I could barely hear her footsteps as they approached the door.
I heard it click open, and I pushed the door open. Immediately my heart sunk.
"Lady... that isn't what I think it is, is it?"
It was hot and humid within the house, as if there'd been very little ventilation for many days.
Most noticeable was the pungent odor that stung my nose. It was instantly recognizeable.
I explored the house, trying to confirm the source of the smell.
"Nya!"
I followed Lady's voice to the bathroom. What I saw in the bathtub confirmed my fear.
"He's dead..." I explained to the constable. "I'd gone to ask him about his lantern..."
"How'd you know where to find him?"
"Are you seriously suspecting it was me? The body's way too old, he died long before I even entered the city."
"Answer the question, kid."
"His boss at work, Orrick, told me. He hadn't shown up to work in a while, so I went to check on him for Orrick."
"And the door was unlocked?"
"Well, no... I had my cat go in and unlock it from inside."
"...You realize that's breaking and entering?"
"What? I didn't break anything!"
"Sorry, sir constable. This boy didn't mean any harm by it, he's not used to the city life, see!"
I felt an arm wrap around my shoulders and I looked up. Alwyn stood hunched above me.
Alwyn...!
"And who might you be?" the constable scoffed.
"Oh, you don't recognize me?"
"Ha, I'm sorry but I don't keep note of every wizard that passes through here."
"No, that's alright. I haven't sat down to have any portraits made yet... you know, being busy teaching and all."
You haven't taught me anything though!?
"Just get on with it. This boy's your apprentice, then?"
"That's right! And as I said, he really didn't mean any harm by it. He only reported a crime, why are you being so harsh?"
"I'm not being harsh, I'm conducting a proper investigation...! I'm sorry to say, but you wizards are not above thelaw!"
"Okay, what're you charging the boy with? Just charge me instead."
"Heh, alright then. I'm charging you with breaking and entering, burgalry, and first degree murder."
The hell are those charges!?
"Wow, those are some pretty serious charges. Got any evidence?"
"The court'll decide if my evidence is enough. What's your name, then?"
"Ah, it's Alwyn. Are you familiar with the spelling?"
"Alwyn...? That's—no way... please forgive me great wizard, I meant no harm!"
"Yeah, whatever you say. We'll be on our way then?"
"Go ahead!"
Alwyn pulled me away and out of the station. When we got out, he started to laugh.
"That's the second time you've gotten in trouble with the law... and it's only the second city you've ever been to."
"Ha...ha. I didn't mean to."
"What were you doing in that guy's house anyway?" he stopped. "Don't tell me you were..."
"What!? No! I would never! I swear, he was already dead when I got there."
"Ehhh, I believe you. Did you have fun today?"
"Yeah, it was fun. Where were you all day?"
"I have some business to do with the duke. Actually, I'll be gone until Monday. You'll stick around the duke and the lady, okay?"
"What about Aliza?"
Did he see her? That would be embarrassing for her.
"I don't want to burden her. Between you and me, she's pretty sick. Sicker than even she realizes," he sighed.
"Oh... but you can cure her, right?"
"Of course I can! Who do you think I am?" he rubbed my head.
"What the hell is in your hat?"
"Oh."
I lifted my hat to reveal Lady, who was sitting on my head rather than inside my hat's storage.
"Nya!"
"Right... Lin, you don't need to tell me everything. Just focus, alright? Don't cause too much trouble while I'm gone. You're responsible for your own life right now."
"Like that's new..."
"That's why I trust that you won't go dying on me! An apprentice of mine can't go dying before he's even learned any magic."
Who's fault would that be!?
"...I have it all covered."