The eternal night of Vrasnia shimmered with a heightened splendor, the purple moon casting its radiant glow across the sprawling festival grounds. The preparations, meticulously completed by the deadline, had transformed the city into a vibrant spectacle. Crystalline spires refracted light into a kaleidoscope of colors, illuminating food stalls brimming with exotic aromas, bustling stores adorned with glowing signage, and bustling arenas buzzing with anticipation. And the air thrummed with excitement as newcomers and Vrasnian citizens alike gathered, their laughter and chatter weaving a lively tapestry. The first event, the Archery Challenge, loomed an hour away, but the festival had already ignited with life.
Kazimir, Vanessa, Riah, and Neve strolled through the throng, a quartet of commanding presence cutting through the crowd. Kazimir's indigo-blue coat billowed dramatically, his galactic eyes—swirling with stars and a crescent moon pupil—glinting under the moon's light. Vanessa's dark eyes scanning with quiet authority, while Riah's red-and-white striped hair flared like a phoenix's tail, her crimson-red and black eyes sparkling with joy. Neve, with her radiant charm, moved with a dancer's grace, her presence drawing admiring glances. As they passed, the people parted, their faces lighting up with awe and reverence, whispers of "Emperor!", "Empress!" and "Imperator" rippling through the air like a gentle wave.
Neve leaned toward Riah, her voice a playful lilt over the festival's hum. "This looks like it's going to be fun—it's been ages since we had an event to attend to."
Riah nodded, a nostalgic smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, the last time was that amusement park. Now we can have fun again—no violence!"
Vanessa's tone carried a rare warmth as she surveyed the scene. "So far, I'm already liking everything. It's all going according to plan—the first event, archery, starts in an hour."
Neve's eyes gleamed with mischief. "So that means we've got an hour to try everything! I wanna eat my life away!" Her enthusiasm was infectious, her hands gesturing wildly as if conjuring a feast.
Riah arched an eyebrow. "Didn't you say you're trying to maintain your weight?"
Neve's face flushed, her composure cracking as she shot Riah a flustered glare. "Shut up! You wouldn't know what it's like maintaining this goddess of a body I was blessed with—your proportions aren't even big!"
Riah's jaw dropped, her hands flying to her hips in mock offense. "Excuse you, my body is tea, you oversized cow!"
Vanessa, caught in the crossfire, tilted her head with a deadpan stare. "Me and Riah like the same size—does that mean my proportions suck?"
Kazimir, standing in the center of this comedic storm, sighed deeply, his galactic eyes rolling heavenward as if seeking divine patience. Finally, he raised a hand, his voice cutting through the bickering with a calm yet firm edge. "You guys are acting like you wouldn't attract any guy. You're all gorgeous in your own ways, so no need to bicker."
A stunned silence fell, broken only by Neve's sudden blush, her cheeks turning a shade to rival the moon's glow. "Did Kazi just compliment me on my body? That's a first—the heavens finally answered me!" Her voice rose to a delighted squeak, her hands clasping together as if in prayer.
Riah shot her a sidelong glance, her lips twitching. "You're cheesing harder than me, and I'm the girlfriend!"
Neve struck a dramatic pose, her tone dripping with reverence. "Well, admiration from Kazi is like being gazed upon by a god. Since there's no god—and I definitely don't worship Nebula—Kazi is my god, and I worship him!"
Riah's face turned to stone, her eyes narrowing as she deadpanned, "You're such a believer."
Neve grinned, undeterred. "He deserves multiple wives, like the god he is!"
Riah and Vanessa exchanged a look, their expressions a mix of shock and amusement. Riah spoke first, her voice laced with mock authority. "You're not wrong, but I wouldn't mind it—unless I'm the one picking the wives."
Vanessa nodded sagely, her abyssal aura swirling. "I agree. It should be Riah's choice, not Kazimir's—she has to be comfortable."
Neve pouted, crossing her arms. "I guess that's fair."
Kazimir, feeling increasingly like a prop in this divine comedy, raised his hand again, his voice tinged with exasperation. "So, don't I get a say in this arrangement?"
The three women responded in perfect unison, their voices a comical chorus: "No!"
Kazimir turned away, muttering under his breath, "Sheesh, my apologies," as he scanned the festival grounds. His eyes landed on a scratch ticket stall, its neon sign pulsing invitingly. "Look, guys, let's test our luck!" He strode over, resting an arm on the counter with a charismatic lean, smiling through the glass at the vendor. "Four scratch tickets, please," he said, raising four fingers with a flourish, and slid eight credits across.
The vendor, a cheerful Vrasnian with glowing eyes, nodded. "Okay, that'll be eight credits." Kazimir handed over the payment, and she passed him four cards. He distributed them with a grin. "Whoever wins, we split it 50/50."
Vanessa smirked, scratching her ticket with a coin. "You just mean you have to win somehow or the other."
Riah laughed. "Typical Kazimir. We don't even need the money, so it doesn't affect us anyway."
Neve scratched hers eagerly. "Well, let's see who's lucky!"
Kazimir revealed his ticket first, frowning. "I got nothing. How about you?"
Neve pouted. "Haven't won either."
Riah sighed, holding up her card. "Same for me. Seems like even being blessed by Solaris doesn't guarantee luck."
Vanessa, with a sly grin, scratched hers last, then held it up triumphantly. "I won."
The group leaned in, eyes widening as they peered over her shoulder. Kazimir's jaw dropped. "Nice! How much did you win?"
Vanessa's smile widened. "Thirty grand."
Kazimir rubbed his hands together, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Nice—the bill's on you today."
Riah arched an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I thought we were splitting 50/50 just a second ago?"
Neve burst into giggles, linking arms with Riah. "Don't waste your time with him, Riah. He says one thing and does another—very typical of him at this point." Her laughter rang out as they strolled toward the food stalls, the festival's vibrant energy enveloping them, a perfect blend of comedy and camaraderie under Vrasnia's eternal night.