Back at the Boroughs, life mostly returned to its usual pace. Both the guild and the townsfolk were so busy assisting with the harvest and preparing for the Wildfire Festival that there was little room for other work. Ferris and Castellar were assigned to separate groups of mages, giving them an excuse to return to their usual distance.
The very day of the festival was no less chaotic. More merchants had arrived than in previous years, each fighting over space to sell their wares. A larger crowd than usual followed them, as if no one in the neighboring territories had anything better to do. More room was needed around the main stage, someone had to review the Borough's security, and people had to be reorganized.
The Guildmaster was beside himself with frustration, already having enough on his plate. It was unlikely that Ferris would see either him or Castellar for the entirety of the day. While she was glad that the skeleton wouldn't have the chance to spoil her fun, another annoyance pestered her as early as that morning as she was getting her hair, she tried to ignore the finger poking at her cheek.
"Ferris… Ferris, look at me!" Iva's sing-song voice teased her. The orange mage was grinning from ear-to-ear, sitting beside her on the bed. "Madame Valda said that you've been using the fire spells I taught you. Aren't you going to thank me?"
The younger woman pursed her lips in embarrassment, turning away, "Drop it, Iva."
"Everyone, including you, said my spells were reckless! They're useful though, aren't they?"
"What do you want? A cookie?"
"If you're offering!" she laughed, then her expression soured a bit, "But isthatwhat you're wearing? It's a holiday. Surely, you want to look nice."
"Nothing is wrong with my clothes." Ferris was unmoved by the other mage's fussing. She was dressed in her usual attire. Honestly, she didn't see the need to trim and prune herself the way her roommates did. They were going to play through the streets, not sit at some royal table. Besides, she would have to take a turn monitoring the Boroughs late in the evening. She didn't want to have to change a second time.
"At least wear a ribbon!" Cradling her womb, Iva pushed herself up from the bed and began rummaging through Ferris' dresser before the latter could stop her. She pulled out a wide, red band and placed in firmly in Ferris' hands. "There! It matches your eyes."
Ferris sighed before giving in. She pulled her hair to one side in its regular style, tying it off with the bright strip of fabric. The pair smiled at each other and exited the room.
Iva's husband was already waiting for her in the common room. Percy's purple eyes softened as he took her by the hand and escorted her out. Once more, Ferris was amazed by how such a strict character could act so gentle. In the first year of Ferris' apprenticeship, Iva had confessed that the two had known each other since they were children. She explained that Percy's caution came from an incident where she'd been attacked and his magic manifested as he was trying to defend her—so began a striking fear for his own abilities and her unflinching affection for him. It took years for him to openly return Iva's love. Aside from family, Ferris couldn't imagine that kind of devotion.
She stayed in the common room a while longer. After several minutes, she heard her master's slow gait and looked up the stairs. Ciara was helping her down. Ferris held her breath. Her little sister was wearing a plain, but nice dress as opposed to the dull tunic she'd gotten a habit of wearing while working on potions, and a violet ribbon was laced through her own hair.
The siblings exchanged glances as Ciara and Madame Valda reached the lower level, some quiet dialogue passing between them. This year, Ciara would also attend the festival.
Even if her little sister wasn't training to become a seer, she possessed the crimson eyes of one nevertheless. It wasn't impossible for her to have some of their abilities. Then again, maybe the inevitable truth was becoming too obvious. As she guided Madame Valda over and the elder broke free from her hold, Ciara's gaze was bittersweet.
"A full day with my favorite girls…" the Head of the Crimson Mages straightened her back and took the lead, "Come! Let's not waste it!"
It was a bit of a walk from the guild compound to the main part of town. Nevertheless, a parade of merchants and entertainers lined the path from the heart of the square to the tourney grounds in the opposite direction. Already, the way was crowded with humans, monsters, and mages of all sorts. Empty plots were turned into complex paths of puzzles and warm scents tickled the air from vendors selling street foods. The bright tents and caravans added splashes of color to the ever-greying background of an approaching winter.
They held off on checking many of the wares for sale. There was nothing in-particular that the sisters and their guardian had their eye out for, and the merchants would stick around for days after the festival officially ended. They could barter at their leisure some other time. The girls would've been content merely to stuff their faces between shows if it weren't for Valda encouraging them to play.
"This game has prizes." Ferris pointed at a sign displayed in front of a millet maze.
"And traps…" added Ciara with noticeably less enthusiasm. She read,"Greed makes one blind. Mind what you find."
The trio looked at some of the people stepping out of the maze. Some were laughing while others were wiping some pinkish-red liquid off their faces. It was likely some kind of thinned berry juice, the way they licked it off their lips.
It didn't deter the older sister, already reaching for her purse, "Shall we give it a try?"
Madame Valda placed a hand on Ciara's shoulder, "We can go in together. And if Ferris goes in first, she can activate some of the traps before we even get to them."
Ferris shook her head at the subtle teasing before paying their way and taking her first steps within the maze. Large stalks immediately surrounded her, breaking into two opposing paths. She picked one at random, unwilling to spoil the fun for herself by using her abilities.
"Don't you cheat either," she called over her shoulder.
She didn't worry about walking too far ahead of her companions. The millet wasn't tall enough to completely block her view of them or the other now and then, a familiar face would pass her just above the stalks. Both the prizes and traps, however, were well-hidden and there were bales of grain that made for extra obstacles.
At the center of the maze was Starecrow, the Boroughs' most notorious sentry. From what Ferris had been told, he was a ghost that possessed a scarecrow's body—not that she'd ever confirmed the story from the supposed specter himself. He never said a word, to the point where, for the longest time, she'd wondered if the other mages were playing a joke on her.
They were not. He was just an eerily silent person. Even Castellar was apparently unnerved by him, quick to hurry on his way anytime they crossed paths. Ferris never felt that same degree of unease: She was just annoyed that she could never get away with anything with him around.
Don't look at me. I'm playing nice today…Stumbling upon a dead end, she began to move backward toward the last break in the path.
She backed into someone. Ferris turned around to face a goliath of a hybrid. His humanoid form had a stony quality to it, as if he were a living statue, and gold dust sprinkled across his cheeks reminiscent of freckles. Gem-like eyes glance down at her with a soft, apologetic look.
"Excuse me, miss, I—" the stranger cut himself short, blinking at her, "Are you… Ferris?"
Ferris didn't immediately respond, struggling to place a name to this face. If he were from the Boroughs, she felt confident that she would've recognized him. She felt herself bashfully squirm when his eyes lit up as if he were seeing an old friend.
"You really are her, aren't you? And you really did become a mage!" he leaned closer, beaming, "I'm Kobalt! Don't you remember me? From the caverns!"
He was so vague that, for a moment, Ferris still didn't have the slightest clue where they'd met. Was he a childhood friend, a former fellow street urchin... did she ever steal anything from him? There were so few places she'd explored in her past though that she eventually came to the right answer. As her own eyes widened with recognition, Kobalt laughed.
Somehow, he was even taller than the last time they'd met. While still on the skinnier side, he had to rival some of the largest monsters. More of his golem traits had begun to show, his features sharper and more geometric and hairline cracks etching along his body.
"I'm glad to see to again. How have you been?"
"I've... been fine. Small world..." Ferris tried not to show how awkward she felt about the encounter. When they'd first met, she'd tried to gain his sympathy to save her own neck. She knew he'd developed a quick soft spot for her and used it to get any advantage. She didn't think they would meet again, nevermind that he'd remember her.
Kobalt looked at her with such a puppy-like affection that it was hard not to feel at leastsomewhatguilty.
"What about you?" she asked, "What have you been up to?"
"I'm actually working to become a merchant," he answered before lowering his voice, "Not bad for someone from a den of runaways and thieves, am I right?"
Hearing this, it was impossible for Ferris to hold back a laugh. She thought back on what small semblance of a plan she'd made for herself those five years ago. She remembered how tempted she'd been by the other's company to ask to stay with him and his family of runaways. To think that things could fall so perfectly into place all too late...
Kobalt responded to her sudden fit of giggles with a confused smile, "What's so funny?"
"It's nothing," she replied once she could catch her breath, "I'm just glad you're doing well."
She really meant it. Lovers across borders, humans with magic, monsters with human traits... The world could be unforgiving toward anyone, but those who dared cross between its firmly-kept lines always had it hard in their own way. She was happy that, like her, he was making a good life for himself despite the world's burdens.
"And how has your mother been? Is she alright?"
Ferris regretted asking almost immediately. Kobalt's expression became sheepish and strained as he struggled to find the words. She placed a gentle, if uncertain hand on his arm to let him know he didn't have to say anything. It had gone on for a long time, but these stories never ended happily. Whether or not Durga was dead or dying or otherwise was irrelevant. She'd done what was forbidden and now, however it happened, he was bound to lose at least one parent if he hadn't already.
Kobalt captured her fingers in his own and gave her an appreciative nod. He pulled her along after him, recovering some of his earlier energy, "Since we're here, why don't we search the maze together? I have some time before I have to get back to work."
"I'd like that."