Chapter 3-1: A Look Around
Sometime later, everyone arrives with a place called Topsy-Turvy Square, full of flag streamers, tents, vendors, benches of people with food and drinks, and even some people performing or giving entertainment.
"Is this where we're supposed to meet up? Everybody better be here," Grim asks.
Soon, the separate group of Night Raven students arrive to meet them.
"Ah, there you are," Malleus says.
"Did all of us actually arrive on time? Now that's a rare occurrence,' Azul asks.
Idia groans, "Ugh... Took you guys long enough. The crowds have been totally overwhelming…"
"Well, this IS the central square for the festival. There are bound to be crowds," Trein says, "Aren't the decorations impressive? The main event will be held on that stage. Now this festival is a particularly important ritual in Shaftlands history, said to date back to before the advent of magic…"
Ruggie sighs, "Here we go, another interminable lecture."
Soon, Grim, Sereia, and Trinket notice a stage up ahead.
"Is that tent over there the stage? The biggest one?' Grim asks.
"There are also a lot of smaller tents as well," Sereia says.
"The smaller ones had little performances and merch and stuff," India says.
Ruggie turns to the professor, "Saaay, Professor Trein? Since we're doing fieldwork and all, could we take a look around the square?"
"Well... I don't see why not. We have a bit of time before the show starts. All right, everyone can go observe the festivities," Trein says.
"Nice!" Deuce says, and turns to Briar and the others, "Hey, guys, are there any tents you wanna check out?"
"Not sure. There's so much different stuff," Tanzanite says.
"I'm not sure whether. There's so many places to look," Briar says.
Then Malleus says, "If you look to the right, there's a most fascinating sight."
Soon, India notices, "Oh, hey... What's that over on the left...?"
"See what on the left?" Sereia asks.
The group looks over and are surprised to see a dog with humans.
Grim says in shock, "Whaaat, there's a dog on its hind legs leadin' around a human on all fours!"
"A dog walking its owner...at least, that's the costume idea," Idia says, "Well, it's less of a costume and more of a full-on mascot outfit. And there are tons of others. A 'two-tailed' horse whose head is a second rear, a crawfish preparing to cook a chef, a ship being chased by fish…"
"What an odd lineup," Jasper says.
"RIGHT? You'd think if people were gonna go to the trouble of dressing up, they'd be superheroes or popular characters…" Idia says.
Then Idia says, "...Ooh, I get it. They're all role reversals. So then... If a dog walking its owner counts… Couldn't you two get into the show if you swapped roles? Whee hee."
"I dunno... I wouldn't want Briar or the others leadin' me by the collar even if it was for a show," Grim says.
"Hm? Wait a sec. If YOU'RE the one being led, then... Huh?" Idia says, confused.
"He clearly meant the opposite, Grim," Deuce says.
Sereia soon notices, "Hey guys, look at the right."
The group turns to the right to see a tall person walking on stilts.
Grim cries out, "Ack, monster alert! And it's got super long legs!"
"Those aren't legs, those are stilts," Jasper says.
"Indeed," Malleus says, "That is almost assuredly an ordinary human in costume. The human climbs on top of the poles and then walks on them to make themselves look exceedingly tall."
"Huh. So if I used those things, I'd be taller than you, Tsunotaro!" Grim says, surprised.
"Why are you trying to compete with Malleus...?" Deuce asks.
Malleus calmly smiles, "Oho. Care to try me? Were I to give it a proper effort, I doubt someone of your stature could tower over me even with the aid of stilts."
"Whaddaya mean, a proper effort? Can you make yourself grow taller or somethin'?" Grim asks.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Malleus replies with a smirk.
Grim frowns in response, "What's with that smirk? You're gettin' real cheeky, Tsunotaro. In that case, I'll make Briar get on the stilts, and I'll ride on top!"
"Grim, don't. It's rather dangerous, and I've never been on stilts before," Briar says, panicking.
"Agreed. I suggest you avoid endangering yourself unnecessarily, since it wouldn't help you anyway," Malleus says.
Then Grim says, "If I still couldn't win, I'd throw Deuce in too."
Deuce then turns to Briar, "It's so busy here. There are so many different showcases, I doubt I could catch all of them. Briar, let me know if there's anything else you're interested in."
"Okay," Briar says.
Soon, Azul says, "Oh, I just saw something curious come out of that tent way over there…"
And Grim calls out, "Hey, guys! Let's go check out that tent up front!"
"What's going on with the tent over there?" Briar asks.
The group soon sees a tightrope performance.
Grim is amazed, "Whoa! What's that guy thinkin'?! He's walkin' across a rope that's way high up!"
"It's called tightrope walking. I've never seen someone do it in the middle of a city!" Deuce says.
'I've heard of such performances, but I've never seen one before. Balancing a long pole in both hands while walking across a single piece of rope… It's patently absurd. Walking on the ground isn't enough for them? They have to walk in the air too?" Azul says.
"That sounds scary," Briar says.
"Absolutely. I don't see any safety nets down below. What if they fell?" Azul says, Then again, there's a trick to every show. Surely they have safety equipment that's just not as obvious…"
He then says, "But even with that knowledge, my palms are still getting sweaty just watching this…"
'The wind's blowin' hard, too... Now the rope's wobblin'..." Grim says, but then cries out, "AH! LOOK OUT! He's gonna fall!"
"Oh no!" Sereia cries out.
"I simply don't understand it. How can someone rely so heavily on their legs when they only have two of them? And with no suction cups to boot!" Azul says.
"Azul, Sereia, and Grim are both equally absorbed watching this… That's not something you see every day," Deuce says with a sigh.
Briar notices, "Hey guys, look over there."
Briar and the others walk over to find a bundle of people playing instruments.
"They've got a drum, some kind of...violin-ish thing...and a bugle. I was wondering where the lively music was coming from. Looks like we found it! It's so loud, it's hard to believe just three people are playing," Deuce says.
"I wouldn't mind singing and dancing to the music," Briar says.
"Me too," Briar says.
"Yeah! I was just gettin' into the groove too!" Grim happily says.
Soon, Grim and Sereia begin dancing together, Lah-lah-lah! Lah-la-lah…"
As Sereia and Briar say, "Hum-hum-huuum, myah-nah-nah…"
"You must be really into the music if you're singing along with Grim, girls," Deuce says.
Grim says, "Looks like everybody around the tent is dancin' with their arms locked together."
"They seem so friendly. Do they all know each other?" Deuce says.
Soon, Trein says, "No. This festival has always made an effort to ensure everyone from all walks of life can enjoy themselves."
Soon, everyone hears cheering.
Azul notices, "Hm? Those people in front of the tent over there... I think I've seen them before."