Chapter 31
Night finally pay his visit on Payon. This year festival will be held in the guild residential area. Almost every building have been decorated by the people of Payon. The festival will be started with a pray lead by Sohee in the biggest temple in the city. After that the festival will truly start, the festival's ground will be filled with lights and musics. Many stands were line up for games, food, and even fortune telling. The festival will also have a folk dance and fireworks. There will be a lot of people there.
Elraven was dressing inside his room. Tonight, he wears a white dress shirt, white tie, white suit and white coat. Add a white FurFelt hat (in case u don't know, FurFelt hat is a hat used by The Undertaker of WWE). "There. Hope, I'm good enough for her like this" He said while putting his purple glasses on his eyes. "I hope she can give me some private time with her later" Elraven muttered as he picked his wallet and put it in his pocket.
He walked out from his room and head to the meeting point, a gate near the festival praying. There he met Frea, who had a white hanbok on her. Her white haired tresses loose and free. Elraven stood and stared in awe to the soul linker who giggled and asked, "What are you doing Angel of Darkness in white? Enjoying the view?". "Uh...what to say? You look absolutely Gorgeous! You're like a goddess, Miss Frea" The gunslinger boldly responded.
"Why, thank you. And you look like a gentleman, Elraven" Frea replied with a charming smile. "And don't call me Miss Frea anymore, Frea will be alright" She continued. "OK...Frea" Elraven said nervously but Frea gave him another smile, calming him. "Oh, by the way. Your white clothes are alright, but I don't think that glasses suits you" Elraven touched his purple glasses and politely responded, "Thank you for your opinion. But, I think this glasses is...my style, Frea".
The both gave a little laugh before they heard someone say, "Wow, we have a couple here!". It was Wendy who walked along with Kirigi and her drops Willy. "Oh, it's you two. Do wee look like a couple?" Frea teased her two members but Wendy came up with an unexpected answer, "Yes, leader! You're only missing a baby!". Elraven and Frea laughed hearing her respond, but Kirigi whispered to Wendy, "Wendy, is that something you should say to your leader?!". Wendy gave a chuckle, "Don't be so serious, Kirigi! I only tried to encourage our leader, she needs to get laid sometime!!" the stalker whispered back. Kirigi dropped his jaw listening the answer.
"Get laid? They are going to dance, not making out!!" The ninja whispered again. "After they finished dancing in the festival, they will have their own private dance in our leader's room", another shocking whisper from the stalker. "Are you joking me?! Wait a second, wait a second!! How do you know all this?" Kirigi seemed displease with the stalker's guess, "It's called a woman intuition" Wendy whispered with smile.
"What are you two talking? Can we join? It seems fun" Frea suddenly appeared between them. "No,no,nothing! We were just wondering whether Elraven's friends from Sagaramore will join the festival or not?" Kirigi was quick to find a good reason much to Wendy's sigh. "Oh. They said they will come up later" Kirigi faked a nod hearing the answer from Elraven.
"Frea, let's go to the prayer ground then. Maybe people have gathered there. We can't miss the pray, right?" Elraven asked the gorgeous soul linker who replied, "Absolutely". Elraven offered his arm out to Frea. Frea took it and the two began walking to the praying ground. Kirigi and Wendy followed them from behind.
"Now, look at them. Can you still say they will not make out after this?" Wendy smirked as Kirigi replied, "No. I believe both Elraven and our leader are gentle. They won't just make out after one dance, that would be weird! They are adults, not a love sick lusty teens!!".
"Well, that may be right. But there's no denying they are attracted to each other. You know that just by looking, right? If that the case, I don't have a reason why they will not do 'it'. Got me, Kirigi ?" The ninja stood silent after listening the stalker. "Well...yeah. Maybe the will do 'it' someday, but I'm sure they're not going to do 'it' tonight" The ninja finally have some proper reply to the stalker.
"OK, let's stop talking about making out. Let's make a bet, I bet they will kiss tonight!" Wendy challenged the grinned Kirigi, "I bet they won't! 100,000 zenny, deal?" Wendy nodded and the two secretly followed Frea and Elraven.
Frea and Elraven arrived in front of the main temple, where they saw Sohee. "Sohee!" Elraven called the lead prayer. "Oh, Elraven!" Sohee joyfully approached him and asked, "Who is this beautiful lady? Are you on a date?". "Well, this lady was the one who helped you back there in the dungeon" Sohee mouth formed an 'O' and she quickly bowed, "Oh, thank you. Thank you. I'm sorry I didn't recognize you faster. Thank you, I....". "It's ok. Your thank is welcome, sister" Frea happily responded. Sohee smiled and noticed something, "Elraven, where is Fio and the others? Aren't they coming with you?". "Well, they still have something to do. They say they will catch up later. The pray will start son right, I guess we'll take our leave here. By Sohee" Elraven and Frea waved their hands as they walked.
Sohee waved her hands too, but Elraven suddenly remembered something and shouted, "Sohee, did you remember our talk in the village? That's not your fault. You don't need to feel guilty, move on!", as he goes. Sohee formed a confused face, but she suddenly remembered and whispered, "Thank you". "What kind of talk, Elraven?" Frea curiously asked the gunslinger which he replied, "Life talk".
After that, the pray finally started. The people of Payon peacefully attend the ceremony. They gathered in front of the main temple as Elraven and Frea joined them. The main temple has a golden gong in the middle of the temple's tower. Payon's people start closing their eyes while Sohee pick a mallet and start sounding the gong. After the first sounding, suddenly an aurora appeared on the sky.
The people of Payon raised their hands as if they were trying to get the blessing from gods. "Wow, beautiful..." Elraven said in awe seeing the view. "What's happening, Elraven? Tell me!" Frea asked him,which Elraven responded with, "Well, a..glowing light is appearing in the sky and...it's giving us a...snow light...I guess! Raise your hands, Frea. Raise your hands!".
The two raised their hands as they felt their hands touching the snow light. "Can you touch it, Elraven?" Frea asked the gunslinger. "No, it's a light, you can't really touch it after all" Elraven tried to enjoy the moment as well. "Wow, I wish I could see this lights. Too bad I can't. It's hard even just to touch it" Frea's words make Elraven think of something and stood silent. "Elraven? Elraven what happened? It's my words, isn't it? I'm sorry if.." Frea's words was suddenly stopped as Elraven touched her eyes. "Elraven? Elraven what are you doing?" The soul linker was surprised, but made no attempt on stepping backwards.
"No, I was just...trying to feel your eyes. I'm sorry if my words made you feel uncomfortable" Frea didn't give any respond for a moment. "I should be the one to apologize, not you" She finally said. "Well, let's say we're even, then. Let's go, there's still time before the dance starts" Elraven grabbed her hand and they slowly walked to the stands.
Elraven noticed some game stands have a nice dolls as a prize when they reached the stands area. "You want some dolls? I can win it for you, if you want?" The gunslinger sweetly asked the soul linker, "What dolls? Although I can't see the dolls, I always like cute dolls". "Cute? OK, what about poring dolls? Or do you prefer some other dolls?" The gunslinger asked again, "Um, I don't find Poring cute as a doll. I prefer human shaped dolls".
"OK, the Alice doll, then" Elraven approached the stands where the owner was waiting for a challenger, "Hey, pops. I want the Alice doll!". Elraven threw 1000 zenny coin to the stand owner. "You see the heaped cans in the long candle, take these 3 balls to take all of them down" Elraven received the three balls, and quickly threw one to the lowest can in the middle of the heap, making 80% of the cans dropped. "Not bad, but still a long way to go" The owner tried to encourage him. Elraven threw the other ball, but not to the cans. He threw the ball to the candle holding the cans, making him look horizontally to the cans, and finished the game by throwing the last ball, dropping all the remaining cans.
"Wow, amazing, kid! I never though you could do it like that. Here's your doll!" Elraven received the Alice doll and gave it to Frea. "Wow, thank you! Judging by the owner's reaction, you used some tactics to win this, right? Cool" Elraven rubbing the back of his head hearing the praise, "Oh, c'mon. You flatter me! Let's get something to eat, shall we?" Elraven took Frea's arm and the two young adults wandered somewhere else.
They didn't realize Kirigi and Wendy still secretly followed them from behind. "Kirigi, I'm on the lead for hundred thousand zenny richer" Kirigi put on a grumpy face and looked at his comrade, "Not so fast, Wendy. They haven't kiss yet!". "Who's going to kiss?" Felicia suddenly appeared between them. Wendy and Kirigi shocked to find the paladin almost flee backwards.
"Oh, paladin-san! Uh, no. We were talking about Elraven and our leader!" Kirigi nervously replied. The ninja and the stalker also found Fiorentin, George, Olivia, Devi, and Salvador behind the paladin. "Oh, Alexandria and Sagramore, It's an honor to meet you!" Wendy greeted the entire group. "Thank you, it;s that your drops? Can I borrow him?" Alexandria asked Wendy who replied with a nod."Devi, Salvador. Why don't you play with the drops?" Fiorentin asked the two monsters, who slowly approached Willy and the three of them ran towards one of the stands. Wendy seemed so happy seeing her pet with the other two, "Thank you. Willy have friends now".
Wendy quickly noticed George was quite silent, unlike when she first met him. "George? What happened? You look so gloomy?" George tried to deny, "No. I was just tired". "This is a festival. Don't be so gloomy. Come with me to the stands, and let's dance after that!" Wendy asked him, but George blushed and said, "No, no. I don't" But Wendy quickly grab George's hand and pull him away from the group, literally kidnapping him as the other four was left watching.
Kirigi (with a red face) approached Felicia and asked, "Paladin-san, would you mind to go to the stands and...dance with me tonight?". "He's blushing. How cute!" Felicia though as she accepted and the two goes, leaving Olivia and Fiorentin alone. "So, what are we going to do, Fio?" Fiorentin smirked as she replied, "Let's watch that insensitive prick on his date".
Elraven bought Frea an ice cream and the two sat on a chairs not far from the dancing ground. "So, what kind of dance are they going to have?" Elraven asked the white haired as they enjoying the taste of the ice creams. "Ballroom dance. Although, they will held it on the ground in front of the temple" Frea nicely replied. "Well, doesn't matter then. I'm quite confidence I can pull off a good dance" Elraven ensured his dance partner.
"Glad to hear that. Since you're going with me, who's going to dance with the princess?" Elraven surprised to hear the question, "Fiorentin? Well, I don't know. Maybe George or someone else. Why did you ask me that?". "Hm, what to say? When I first met you two, I though you were a couple having in fight, you know?" Elraven chuckled hearing the respond, "Me and her? A couple? Wow, that's surprising! I never imagined what kind of guy could be her lover, Frea" Now it's the turn for Frea to be surprised, "What? How could you say such things? I couldn't see her face, but she has a strong aura inside her. I can tell she is a good girl. Don't be too harsh on her. What do you think, Elraven?" Elraven giggled, "OK, OK. Sorry. It's not that I hate her you know. I mean, she is pretty, strong, and has a great charisma. She takes a great burden even though she's very young. No wonder even you were impressed by her, but....".
"But?" Frea tried to encourage the gunslinger to continue until Elraven finally continued, "But I found her hard to be understood. Sometimes, she could be so sensitive but she didn't tell what was on her mind. So that makes my acts seemed wrong. She is strong willed, but more like stubborn. But deep inside, maybe that's because she cares too much for others. That's what I think". Frea smiled listening the opinion and responded, "Well, each of us has our own uniqueness. I'm glad you can understand her that much. She will be a fine adult someday". Elraven chuckled again, "Well, someday maybe. But for now, she is a bratty little princess".
"I'm what, Elraven?!" A voice from behind made Elraven jumped from his seat and Frea turned her attention. "A, Alexandria?! Olivia? You're here?! What are you doing on my back?!" Elraven was very surprised to find the former princess glared at him. "Well, I wanted to greet you two before. But I heard Elraven called me...bratty?" The vicious glare almost made Elraven fainted, "No, no! Who's bratty? I didn't call you bratty! I called you...pretty? Yes, that! Pretty! Tell her I 'm telling the truth, Frea!".
Frea giggled, "Well, yes princess. He literally told you the truth. He called you pretty, once". The words from the soul linker was more than enough for Fiorentin to stop her glare, sparing Elraven's life. "Uh, where are George and Felicia?" Elraven slowly asked the lord knight. "We separated when they met Frea's underlings called Kirigi and Wendy" A short answer from Olivia.
"Oh, I see. So, who's going to dance with you tonight, Alexandria?" Elraven insensitively asked the two friends, but Frea punched his shoulder, telling him to shut up. "No one. I'll just watch" Fiorentin grab Olivia's hand and the two goes, leaving the couple. "Elraven, you're sooooooo insensitive!!! No wonder you said it's hard for you to understand her!! You didn't even understand what were you saying!!" Frea shouted with glare to the gunslinger, who sweat dropped and fell in silent.
"I'm sorry..." Elraven said with a sad face making Frea couldn't angry anymore. "Well, same here. Sorry for shouting. Let's go to the dancing ground. The dance it's about to start. After that, you can go and apologize to the princess" Frea took Elraven's arm and the two goes to the dancing ground.
A lot of people have gathered there, making the dance merrier. The music group who will lead the song gathered inside the front gate of the temple. As the music started, the dance started. Elraven and Fiorentin moved as it seemed they just had a shouting earlier. During the promised dance, Elraven and Frea locked each other's eyes, feeling a sensation as the dance progressed. To be exact, they felt something intimate between them. Somewhere else on the ground, Felicia-Kirigi and Wendy-George were enjoying their time, too. Especially George, who's gloomy mood slowly disappear.
After the dance, the people quietly left the ground as the monks preparing the fireworks. Elraven felt this was the right time to talk privately with Frea. "Frea, let's go to the top of the hills back there. There's an abandoned temple there. We need to talk" Frea nodded as the two goes to the mentioned hill. When they reached there, they sat on the floor of the temple to wait for the fireworks to start.
"What are we doing here? Don't you want to see the fireworks?" Frea asked the gunslinger who responded with smile as suddenly the sky was filled with many beautiful colors. "I can enjoy the fireworks pretty much like this".
Frea giggled as without her noticing, Elraven looked deep inside her eyes. She returned the look and feel Elraven was trying to say something, but he couldn't. "If you want to say something just say it, Elraven. Your words are welcome anytime" The soul linker tried to encourage the gunslinger, who finally came up with, "Have you ever lived or remembered something about...a temple in the sky?".
Frea's face suddenly changed serious as Elraven fell silent. "Temple in the sky? A...what are you talking about?" Elraven could feel her shock by looking at her blind eyes, "I...am probably the sole survivor from The Fall of Rachel. I said probably because I lost my memories during my early life. All I could remember was a temple in the sky. I lived there with a woman, she looked just like you. Gloom Under Night mentioned that he was once the guardian of Rachel dungeon and he has seen you before. I wonder if...you really are the goddess I saw at the temple".
The two fell quite for a minute. "Elraven, ever since the fall of Rachel I...don't remember my early life too. Much like you" The answer made Elraven widened his eyes, "She has an amnesia too!? And it was caused by the Fall of Rachel? God, what kind of destiny you are showing me?".
"I couldn't really recall what happened during the day of that terrible disaster. All I remembered was, I couldn't see anything ever again since that day. If what Gloom Under Night said was true, maybe I lived at Rachel sometimes during my early life. But, I swear I didn't remember anything other than that. I don't know whether I have met you before or not, whether I lived in a temple or not. I...".
Frea's words was cut short when suddenly Elraven hugged her. Frea was a bit surprised at first, but she returned the hug as the fireworks continues. When the fireworks finally finished, the two break the hug and stared into each other. "I have never imagined I would find another survivor from Rachel here. I'm truly grateful we met, Frea" Elraven expressed his feelings, "Me too. Some people found me somewhere in the middle of canyon near Veins 6 years ago, already in my current state. I wish to regain my memories, that's why I created Palamedes in the first place. Hoping by getting myself to the ongoing war I'll somehow know something. And it happened" Frea also expressed her feelings.
"This may not be a good news for you. Especially since we just learned our problems are the same, but would you mind to listen to me first? I'll tell you everything I know regarding the Fall of Rachel" Frea nodded as the sign of agreement for Elraven's offering. Frea listened quietly as Elraven told everything he knew so far about Rachel. He told her everything about Beelzephir the chaos, his connection with Valdomir, Ktullanux, about Beelzephir defeating the gods, and about some gunslinger resurrected Beelzephir.
Frea fell quite the moment Elraven finished his story. She couldn't believe so many things happened behind one disaster. Elraven sighed, he could understand how hard it feels to learn painful truths, especially if the truths were connected to yourself. After some moment of silent, Frea stood up and start saying, "It's surprising. If what you said is true, then I have no more doubt that we have to stop Valdomir Kingdom. Whatever they are planning, I'm sure it's not good. And above all others, Beelzephir The Chaos must be stopped. My decision was right to join Sagramore, after all".
Elraven gave a big smile to the soul linker, "Sometimes I wonder what kind of destiny awaits me. Will I live long enough to see the whole truth? Deep inside my heart, I'm afraid of knowing my past. What if it turns out to be something bad? Yesterday, Gloom Under Night said I'm already dead. I don't know what does that mean, but I feel that is not good. If I can't find happiness in my past, I hope to find my happiness in the present. And if I can't find my happiness in this lifetime, I hope I can find my happiness in another lifetime".
Frea surprised hearing Elraven's words. It sounds almost like a pray. It's as if, Elraven was praying to the transcendent, God. The one stood above all others. The soul linker felt sympathize to the gunslinger. She slowly walked closer towards Elraven. Elraven looked at her as she stood in front of him and recited,
On the other side of darkness, far
away there shines a light,
A light to end all sorrow,
A light
to be ever free,
A light for a new tomorrow
A light for you
and me
On the other side of darkness, far away there shines a
light,
A light which gives out joy,
A light which is made of
love,
A light which minds employ,
That light in heaven
above
On the other side of darkness, far away there shines a
light
A light which bathes mans mind
in the wisdom of eternal
flame
That which will redeem mankind
And make the highest
truths plain
As Frea finished her poem, Elraven stared at her with amazement. "Wow, that's...that's beautiful, Frea. Is that a poem?" Frea slowly touched Elraven's face. She caressed his right cheek as they intimately looked at each other, " It's a poem about us. Don't be afraid of knowing your past. You're not alone, I'll be with you. I'll walk alongside you. I can't see light, but I can feel it. Be my light, Elraven. Feel me, so I can feel you".
As Frea finished talking, she could feel Elraven's lips on hers. It was a gentle kiss. Frea quietly returned the kiss as both of them enjoying the moment. That night was quite a calm night. But for the the two of them, that night was rather sleepless. Nature works its own way as their instincts do the rest of job.
And then they make.....you know what happened, right? ^^
****
Meanwhile in the dancing ground.....
The rest of the usual group (plus Wendy and Kirigi) gathered in a small food stand while enjoying some dinner. "I wonder where is Elraven and Frea?" Felicia started the conversation. "Oh, yeah. Come to think of it we haven't finished our bet, Kirigi" Wendy looked at the the ninja, "Oh, forget it. Maybe they already kissed or maybe not, we don't know. I have no interest on continuing the bet anymore. Sorry" Kirigi replied smoothly.
"Well, same here. I think it's not proper to bet on something private like that" Wendy finally admitted the mistake of the bet. "I bet that insensitive prick is doing something private with your leader right now" Fiorentin let out a shocking comment to the group. "Wow, can't imagine the two doing it" Olivia responded with a burning face. "Oh, come to think of it. Elraven once told me he's not a virgin anymore" George nervously chuckled.
The group feel quite for a minute after heard George's saying the magic word. "That means they are enjoying their time right now" Fiorentin cynically continued, but the only respond she got was from Felicia saying, "Fio, be careful of what you wish for".
****
Well, that's it for this chapter. Sorry if I couldn't write a romantic chapter, but I gave my best here!! Oh, I'm a novice and I have a lot of things to learn!! Please forgive me!!
The next chapter will be about Valdomir Kingdom. The battle will come up again after next chapter. As for Elraven and Frea, I couldn't write what were they doing back there since this story is rated T, not R or X. But, I bet you know what they were doing, right? ^^
OK. TQ for reading. Hope u enjoy the story. See u next chap!!