The Sunfall Festival was a riot of color and sound that momentarily made Seth forget the dangers lurking in Matamisan's shadows.
The market square, usually a place of gritty commerce, had been transformed.
Brightly colored ribbons hung between buildings, street performers juggled flaming torches to the delight of clapping children, and the place was thick with the smells of roasting nuts, spiced meats, and sweet pastries.
For the first time since his transmigration, Seth felt a genuine, uncomplicated sensation... enjoyment?
It was quite easy to get infected with joy when you're in a happy crowd.
The simple joy of being part of a crowd, of seeing people laugh and celebrate, was a balm to the soul.
Remielyn walked beside him, wearing a simple white dress with blue linings that fluttered as she moved.
She looked cheerful, her mood lifted by the festival's energy.
"Every year, the town celebrates the Week of Dawn."
She explained as they walked past a group of street performers juggling fire sticks.
"It's meant to honor the day the first light returned to this land after the long eclipse. You can say it's a reminder that light always finds its way back, no matter how dark things get."
"Have you ever attended the previous Sunfall Festival, Seth? I heard other cities and countries celebrate something similar... but they call it the day of Wisdom."
She said before pausing and making a comment.
"Quite an odd name."
'A long eclipse?'
Seth silently thought before nodding lightly.
"I've experienced something similar, but it's not as grand as it is here in Matamisan."
He lied calmly.
They turned a corner, and the crowd thickened around a small, makeshift stage adorned with ribbons and flowers.
On it, a procession of young women, each dressed in brilliant, sunshine-yellow gowns that shimmered in the light, walked gracefully one by one.
They smiled at the applauding crowd, their outfits representing the returning dawn.
Remielyn smiled, the wrinkles in her eyes softening.
"Ah, the Sunfall pageant. It's a tradition in every district, but this one is always popular. Easy to get to, and the best food stalls are always nearby."
She glanced fondly at her daughters.
"You know, Fate used to join these contests when she was younger."
Fate, who had been quietly people-watching, groaned... as though already knowing where this conversation was headed to.
"But she never really won any..."
Remielyn continued, completely oblivious to her daughter's mortification.
She leaned toward Seth conspiratorially.
"I think the judges thought her face was a bit too... common. Not unique enough for a pageant winner."
Seth's smile twitched at the corners.
He glanced at Fate, whose expression had turned thunderous.
'Is she trying to start a fight? That's brutally honest...'
Seemingly on a roll, Remielyn turned her attention to her other daughter.
"Oh, and Phoebe tried once too!"
Seth, trying to be polite and steer the conversation to safer ground, asked a question.
"Oh, and did she win?"
Remielyn shook her head with a sigh, as if lamenting a great tragedy.
"No, she couldn't even qualify for the main stage. The judges said she was too short. She didn't meet the minimum height requirement."
This time, it was Phoebe's face that darkened.
She shot a death glare at her mother's back.
Seth coughed, trying to disguise a laugh as a choke.
The family dynamics were proving to be a dangerous minefield...
"Should we eat before we watch the pageant?"
Fate interjected sharply, clearly wanting to end the embarrassment.
She pointed decisively toward a nearby food stall.
She suggested as the family and Seth walked over.
His stall was a simple wooden cart, but it was impeccably clean.
A small, polished brass grill sizzled with skewers of meat and vegetables, and the vendor, a man with a neatly trimmed beard and a friendly smile, was deftly turning them with a pair of tongs.
A small chalkboard sign read: "Uncle Kael's Famous Spiced Skewers - A Sunfall Tradition!"
The wooden cart was simple, adorned with a tiny monkey toy on the front to attract customers.
"Oh I think I remember this place from last year as well."
Remielyn said, already pulling out her coin purse.
"We'll take four, please."
"Make it three."
Phoebe said quickly.
"I'm not really hungry."
Seth also shook his head.
"Thank you, but you don't need to buy one for me."
He felt uncomfortable accepting more of their generosity, especially knowing their financial struggles.
Remielyn waved off his protest.
"Nonsense! You're our guest. It's the festival! You can't come to the Sunfall Festival and not try skewers. It's bad luck!"
'How do skewers relate to the freedom from the long eclipse?'
Seth silently commented...
She was so insistently kind that Seth found he couldn't refuse without being rude.
The vendor, Kael, flashed them a broad smile.
"A wise choice! My special spice blend is a secret passed down three generations."
He handed over the three skewers, the meat glistening with a dark, fragrant glaze.
They found a nearby bench to eat.
The skewers were as delicious as promised—savory, slightly sweet, and with a subtle heat that built with each bite.
Seth found himself enjoying it immensely.
Remielyn and Fate chatted happily, and even Phoebe seemed relaxed, a small smile on her face as she watched the festivities.
It was only after they had all finished eating, and Remielyn was gathering the used skewer sticks to throw away, that Phoebe went still.
Her smile vanished, replaced by a subtle, focused tension.
Her eyes drifted back towards Uncle Kael's stall.
'I don't know why... but I sense malice from that guy...'
She thought to herself.
As a witch with the Authority of the Sin of Revenge, she could vaguely sense when someone harbored deep, vengeful feelings...
That intent to harm, and the desire for payback was often related to malice.
And to a certain degree, she could vaguely sense such things.
Of course if the desire within one person was that of revenge and not just malice, she would be able to sense it more perfectly.
Because she was only a First Circle witch, the ability to detect malice was weak and unpredictable.
She was silent for a moment.
Her family and Seth began to walk away, discussing what to see next.
Phoebe hung back for a moment, her mind racing.
Her eyes fell on the small pile of discarded wooden skewer sticks... before changing her glance to the small monkey toy that was placed on the front.
The vendor, Kael, was turned away, busy greeting new customers with that same friendly smile that now seemed like a mask.
Acting on instinct, Phoebe casually stepped closer to the stall.
With a movement so smooth it was nearly invisible, she snatched the toy monkey as she kept it in her pocket.