* Kygo - Stranger Things ft. OneRepublic (Alan Walker Remix) *
The sun had already hid behind the magnificent Laurentians, giving the frosty moon a chance to shine brighter in the starry skies.
Cool winds playfully blew among the people gathering in the main square, giving them a chilly rush in their veins.
"Fall is a upon us, and the Laurentians are once again ablaze with colour!" An old man said while the crowd huddling around him listened excitedly, including Raven, Joey, and the rest.
"Tonight marks the first night of our annual Fall Harvest Festival; the Water Lantern Festival!" the man said as the people cheered. "We are honoured to have so many new faces join us in our celebration!" Aside from Raven's group, a lot of other tourists were present.
"Since most of us locals are very familiar with our traditions, what do you say, folks, we help our new friends?" One of the benefits of living in a small city was how easy it was to recognise strangers. And the old man knew exactly how many foreigners were among the crowd.
Being the mayor, he naturally wanted to ensure everyone's satisfaction with the festival.
"It's a season of happiness and excitent, let's all have fun together!" he said as the crowd cheered again, loudly.
The locals were always excited about the fact that they get to share their traditions with new people every year. So most of them were excited to help explain the festival's details.
As such, a bunch of locals tried to approached Raven's group to explain what the festival was exactly about.
However, just as they did, Erika clapped her hands, demanding attention from the group.
"Alright, let's get it together here," she said as the group got closer to eachother. "Ok, so tonight will be the Water Lantern Festival!" she said excitedly as the locals watched in surprise. " The first festival, of many, that go under the title: Fall Harvest Festival!"
The fact that a young tourist spent so ti to study their festival felt honouring to the locals.
"The festival reflects the strong bond the locals share together and with their mountain range and holand, the Laurentians." Erika continued as the locals behind her nodded in satisfaction.
Even though she hasn't noticed yet, so more locals and other tourists started to huddle around the team to listen to her speech.
"For this part, what we're basically doing is writing our own wishes on a lantern each, and once we're all done, we'll release them onto the water of Lac des Deux Montagnes." Erika said as so people nodded again behind her, signaling their understanding and appreciation.
"You might be wondering what do those fancy words an? Well, they an the Lake of Two Mountains. The lake actually supplents about four different rivers, it's very fascinating!" Erika was so excited to share her research about the area that she still hasn't realized that almost everyone in the main square seed to be focused on her.
"Anyway, after all of the lanterns have been released, we just sit and behold the reflections of over a thousand lanterns in the water." she said while cupping her hands over her heart subconsciously, showing how passionate about it she was.
"Plus, many of the locals are experts when it cos to food! They will have many special dishes prepared along the beach for the occasion, I'm pretty sure it'll make this evening a morable one!" She finished, almost drooling. After all, her love for research couldn't beat her love for food.
CLAP!! CLAP!! CLAP!!
Hearing the first round of applause from Raven and the others made her proud. But after realising that she could hear so louder clapping behind her, she was startled and almost jumped out of fear.
"Ehyaa!!" she scread before covering her mouth, and quickly backing up towards her friends.
Realising now that everyone was staring at her made her face turn red in embarrassnt.
Looking at the group with a look of betrayal, she mouthed the words: "Why didn't you tell I was being watched?!" she glared at them. Mike and Remi shrugged while Ainsley had a smug smile on her face.
The rest were mostly laughing and enjoying her suffering. After all, she used to let them train herder day after day. 'Sweet revenge!' most of them thought.
"Hahaha, exactly as the young lady has ntioned! The Water Lantern Festival is a way for us to express our bonds and special connections with eachother and the nature around us, especially the Laurentians!"
The mayor was extrely happy that it wasn't a local who was explaining all of that, but a foreigner. "As for the wishes on the lanterns... who knows, maybe so capable presence would make them co true!"
The people behind him cheered while others chatted with eachother.
'A hero?'
'Yes, I heard that a hero lives here!'
'Oh, maybe the hero can make our wishes co true!'
So other chatter spread across the crowd as well.
"What's your na, young lady?" the mayor asked while extending his hand to shake Erika's.
"My na is Erika," she recovered quickly and said with a smile while shaking his hand professionally. "It is an honour to et you!"
"No, young lady, Erika" the mayor said, "it is an honour to et you!" he said with a smile. "Alright, let's get ready, Let the Lights Shine!"
...
While that was happening, Raven used the situation as a distraction and made so distance between her and the group.
Walking up to a small alleyway, she glanced behind her back to make sure the group hasn't noticed her disappearance.
"I have to leave for a bit, please go back to the group," she said as she knew a specific soone was following her.
"Where are you leaving to? You've been acting really weird!" Rachel said as she ca out from behind the wall she used as a cover. "Please, tell what's wrong?"
*sigh*
"You don't have to worry about it. I want to check sothing out really quick, that's all." Raven replied with a sigh. "I'll be right back."
"Wait," Rachel called for Raven, "what happened yesterday? My dad- he seed scared of you.. please tell what happened!"
"Not now..." Raven shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I need to go."
"Please wait-" before Rachel could finish her sentence, Raven was gone.
'Is it ok to leave her like that?' Tu asked Raven, 'plus, it seems that her father wasn't secretive about what happened.'
'It is ok,' she replied while jumping from one rooftop to the other, and casually using her mana gliding plate as a base for her jumps. 'I will take care of that later.'
After a few seconds, she found herself in the middle of a dark dense forest. The trees were tall and wide, creating a screen that prevented the city lights from reaching farther into the forest.
'The mana was being emitted from this direction.' Raven said to Tu, 'sowhere close...'
She wanted to use her skill 'True Sight', but then decided otherwise. 'With how I'm feeling right now, it's better to use as little mana as possible.' Just like yesterday, a part of her still wanted to randomly kill and slaughter.
'My mission here is just to observe and make sure we're in no danger...' she thought as she took a deep breath to calm herself down.
She had felt a strong mana signal coming from this direction, and thinking that if worse cos to worst, she'd be able to warn the citizens and her friends.
She wanted to avoid any fights if possible since she didn't want to risk turning into a bloodthirsty assassin.
"Ugh-uh"
Hearing a pained moan coming from her right, she realised there was soone hidden in a large tree bark.
Looking at the source of the sound, she found herself looking at a young teenager who was clutching his stomach as blood seeped through his fingers.
Just looking at the boy in this situation made her senses sharpen as though she was ready to cut him in half.
'Raven!' Tu yelled in her mind as she widened her eyes in surprise, she bit her tongue to make sure she stays in control.
Shaking her head, she slowly approached him.
"Who's there?!" the frightened boy yelled in panic as a mana ball was shot out of his extended hand.
Catching the small energy ball with her right hand and instantly crushing it, Raven glared at the boy who suddenly felt death clutching his throat. 'Please don't kill !' he said before almost fainting.
'Oh my- what's wrong with?' Raven yelled in her mind while trying to focus again.
"It's ok, I'm sorry," Raven said with her hands raised up in surrender. "I'm here to help you!" she said with a smile.
The boy didn't believe her, but said nothing nonetheless. Closing his eyes, he was waiting for death while wishing he had listened to his parents when they had warned him about the dangers of the forest.
'Dark creatures live in the forest, never go there!' his dad had told him.
'Listen to your dad,' his mom had said, 'many people have went missing in there!'
'I wish... I wish I never ca here!' he yelled in his mind. But suddenly, he felt a warm hand clutching his own. Instantly after, his pain started to vanish.
His body stopped shaking, his stomach stopped aching, and his mind beca clearer.
Opening his eyes slowly, he found himself staring at the face of the most gorgeous girl he's ever seen.
Even though the forest was supposed to be dark and vision limited, he sohow was able to see everything around him clearly, dyed in a golden light.
Looking at the details of her face in awe, he realised that she was looking down at his bloody abdon.
She was crouching down, holding his hand against his stomach. Her long crimson-purple hair rested on the ground while reflecting the golden rays off of his injury.
'Why is my stomach glowing?' he wanted to say out loud, but his heart was aching from how adorable the girl in front of him looked and so he decided not to disturb her work.
Looking back at her, he found her eyes shining bright gold that made his mind relax and soul warm inside.
He didn't know why, but looking at her breathing heavily like she was, made him want to sacrifice everything he has for her sake. 'I don't want her to be tired like this...' he muttered to himself.
Feeling himself returning back to full strength, he blinked a couple of tis to make sure his eyes and mind weren't playing tricks on him.
Yet, everything stayed unchanged. Everything was real.
"Please, marry !" he whispered, a little too loud.
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