Time passed and on the fifth day, the victory celebration officially began. People came from across the Zino Kingdom, sometimes travelling a week or two in advance, to partake in the celebrations. The lines of carriages trying to enter the city stretched into the horizon! The city guards were overwhelmed, forcing the army to step in. When the thousands of soldiers arrived, they swiftly suppressed the chaos. However, the situation inside the city was no less chaotic! Firecast might have been the capital, but it fundamentally had a limit to how many people could be inside at once. And currently, every inn, tavern, and restaurant were over-reserved. Rooms that would normally hold five might cram in ten or fifteen people now. Naturally, some business owners took advantage of the desperate travellers by raising their prices two or three times. When people learned they were being exploited, things took a turn for the worse. Fights broke out everywhere. The situation across the city was rapidly degrading! If it was not addressed soon, then the city might fall.
Elizabeth thought she would need to step in, but thankfully, the Celestial Council expected this. The Sages and Ten Auroras quickly issued their orders. They prohibited sudden price increases for businesses, set a maximum occupancy on rooms, and opened private areas to the public. For example, the First Celestial Magic University had its gates opened to accommodate travellers. Some Hochlaegen and Engelsheft were also opening their doors, though many were performative. Thousands of tents were erected outside the city, thanks to the army. Meanwhile, strict traffic controls were implemented to direct crowds. People could only go in one-direction, and not back. Gliders delivered squadrons to rooftops, so they could oversee the situation. Arcania made communication between groups smooth, and soon, the situation gradually calmed down.
She was happy to see her assistance was not required in the end. After all, it would have been somewhat embarrassing if the Zino Kingdom could not even handle this. By late morning, the number of visitors was estimated to be upwards of two hundred thousand! Elizabeth was startled. That was around the same number of soldiers the Alzar Kingdom had during their Siege on Yongtein. It was a massive amount! She could not understand. Was there really a need to come all the way over here? If she knew that the number of visitors attending the celebration in the Alzar Kingdom's capital was over one million, she would have been pale with fright! In comparison, the Zino Kingdom's celebration was small.
Today was the grand opening for the ten-day long celebration. It started at noon sharp. Banners fluttered, music played, and a thunderous applause deafened the world. There was a vast sea of people in the main city square. Families squeezed in with their children, fighting to find the best vantage point. It was hard to breath, much less move about. The extreme density made the air hot, humid, and reeking of sweat. The sick or elderly struggled to stay afloat, their bodies swaying with dizziness. Some even collapsed and required people to carry them out. However, nobody left. Everyone stood their ground! Their stubborn, and possibly suicidal, determination served to baffle Elizabeth even more. Was there really a need to go this far? It was… almost scary to see!
A horn sounded, which ushered silence. Everyone looked forward, where a large platform was set up. First Sage Pannark Winhelm and his wife Second Sage Alana Lanark appeared and greeted the crowds. They prepared a short introductory speech. Thanks to Arcania, their voices were projected throughout the entire city. People could listen in from anywhere they were! Normally, the task of initiating the celebration would have fallen upon the Conquestian, but he was still in the Xingyuu Empire, dealing with the aftermath of the war. He could not attend. After a brief applause, the Sages vacated the stage. Standing underneath the stage, Elizabeth smiled nervously. Although she had experience with addressing large crowds, it was still nerve-racking every time. She was introverted by nature. Shirley patted her on the shoulder. Elizabeth looked back and saw her friends standing there. Their smiles calmed her heart down. Taking a deep breath, they walked onto the stage together. She took centerstage and withstood the burning intensity of tens of thousands of gazes.
"Hello, everyone. I am Princess Elizabeth Etuvel Reindel, the new Royal Ambassador for the Zino Kingdom. I was also the former heir apparent and the Royal Army General for the Alzar Kingdom. Next to me are Sir Benedict Hawken and Lady Shirley Adonina, both Royal Guards and my Protectors. Finally, there is Lord Freon Adnire, a future Ten Dawn."
It was a simple introduction, and one that she thought would not elicit much reaction, yet… the crowds went crazy! There was no Martial or Magic Energy involved, and everyone was a Rank 1 Mortal, but their thunderous explosion of clapping, cheering, hollering, and stomping shook the heavens and earth! The air churned, while the platform trembled. Elizabeth could feel her lungs and bones shaking. She felt deeply uncomfortable. Likewise, this development alarmed Benedict, Shirley, and Freon, who reached for their weapons. They thought it was an enemy attack! Fortunately, they were quick to realize it was not hostility, but ravenous excitement! Everyone was overwhelmingly excited to see them! Elizabeth and her friends were stunned. What did they do to deserve this reaction?
They never would have thought that stories about their exploits in the war would have grown out of control. People claimed Elizabeth was the shining light that ended the war. Her cunning and wisdom forced the Imperial Empresses and the Imperial Council to submit. And when she stepped onto the battlefield, she was like an angel bringing divine judgement on her enemies! Nobody could survive her wrath! For that reason, she was called the 'Guardian Angel' of the Alzar Kingdom.
Benedict was also said to be a supreme master of the sword, being the Sword King's direct disciple. Thousands attacked him, but he faced them calmly and cut everyone down with equal measure. One swing could cleave an army! His new title was the 'Sword Prince'.
Shirley gained acclaim for her wild and unpredictable way of fighting, freely mixing combat styles on the move. Her monstrous combat instincts and aura allowed her to overcome the greatest hurdles. She was a little monster on the battlefield! They nicknamed her the 'Crazed Demon', much to her chagrin.
Freon was seen as a master of fire magic, capable of conjuring massive walls of flame to devastate his enemies. People believed his power eclipsed the Ten Dawns to stand on a level of his own. He was one of the most powerful Arcanists in the world! He was called the 'Ash Bringer'.
The Guardian Angel, the Sword Prince, the Crazed Demon, and the Ash Bringer… These names were being continuously yelled by the crowds, embarrassing Elizabeth and her friends. It was the first time they heard these nicknames. They were unsure how to respond. Elizabeth awkwardly waited until the crowds settled down before continuing. Thanks to that interruption, her tempo was thrown off, which people falsely took as her regality shining through. It somehow managed to inspire more respect from everyone. She needed a minute to recompose herself and remember her speech.
Raising a hand, she said, "We appreciate your enthusiasm, everyone. I will declare the celebration's opening soon, but before that, I have a few words to say." She closed her eyes, as a solemn air took hold. "One hundred and eighty thousand. That is how many casualties we sustained in the war against the Xingyuu Empire. Of those hundred and eighty thousand, a hundred and forty belonged to the Alzar Kingdom, and forty to the Zino Kingdom… Let us have a moment of silence to honor those who fought, bled, and died for our victory."
Everyone mourned quietly. Although the fighting lasted less than a year, it involved hundreds of thousands of people from across the world. From the capital cities, where millions lived, to the tiny villages, where hundreds survived. From the royalty who reigned the world to the lowest who scavenged scraps. Everyone, regardless of location or background, had their lives affected by the war in one way or another! Even a princess like Elizabeth had battled on the frontlines, though there were special reasons for it. This showed how far-reaching the war was! Many people in the crowd cried, while others clenched their fists. They would never forget the sacrifices they made. Their wounds would take a long time to heal.
After ten minutes, Elizabeth smiled and spoke again. "Thank you. I wouldn't want to ruin the mood any longer. I hereby declare our victory celebration begin!" A thunderous applause replied!