The weather was sunny and the sun was shining brightly, the street of Kal-shushu was indeed extraordinarily busy today. All the streets and alleys showed scenes bustling with noise and excitement. The vendors were starting to arrange their stalls with colorful lanterns and displayed their best merchandise. The restaurants and taverns were starting to get full of adventures. Tonight would surely be lively.
"Master Sandal, I got the three mythical flowers," kaswal kong sabi sa Head Alchemist nang pumasok sa kanyang Potion Shop. Ang matandang alchemist ay kasalukuyang may ginagawa sa kanyang medicinal cauldron.
"You found the three mythical flowers?!" Excited na sabi ng Alchemist. Makikita sa kumukutitap nitong mga mata ang kasiyahan habang tinitignan ang mga bulaklak. "Give them to me."
"Don't disturb me for a week." Aalis na sana ang matanda pabalik sa kanyang laboratoryo ngunit pinigilan ko ito.
"But, Master! You forgot to give me a reward!" Sabi ko sa kanya at saka hinarang ang sarili sa daan.
"Reward? Yes, yes a reward. How about a lifetime discount to all of my potions—wait, that's not enough," sabay kapkap ng kanyang sarili. "I always have it with me—oh, there it is! Here, take this. That thing is very powerful, be careful with it. Bye!" sabay pasok sa loob ng kanyang laboratory room.
[Dead Branch – A twig that contains the mysterious power of eternity; it can summon a living creature.]
Congratulations!
Nightingale acquired: Mysterious Branch. [Unidentified]
SYSTEM NOTICE!
Intimacy with Head Alchemist Sandal has risen to 'Loyal Friend'. After your selfless acts of kindness to him, Head Alchemist Sandal has complete faith in you.
Head Alchemist Sandal is prone to give favor to any of your requests.
Umalis na ako sa Potion shop at masusing pinag-aralan ang binigay na reward ng Master Alchemist. Mukha itong sanga ng isang patay na puno. Kung nandito si Momo masasabi n'ya agad sa akin kung anong klaseng item ito at ano ang nagagawa nito. Dahil wala akong idea sa reward item ko, nilagay ko muna ito sa aking inventory.
Sunod na pinuntahan ko ay ang center park, kung saan naroon ang fountain. Nakita ko ang isang magandang babae naka-suot ng magarang Hanfu. Masaya itong kumakaway sa mga tao at players na dumaraan. Marahil s'ya ang Event Manager na sinasabi ni Mr. Elf.
Matapos ang mahabang explanation ng Event Manager tungkol sa lantern festival na hindi ko naman talaga inintindi, sunod na kinausap ko ay ang Chinese lady na prenteng nakaupo sa isang magarang caravan na puno ng mga Chinese treasure box, silks and fabrics.
"Happy Lantern Festival to you, sister. What a great day, is in it? My name is Yun Weiwei. My family owns the best Hanfu shop in all of Utopia! Since we are celebrating the Lanterns Festival, I and my sisters are giving away our Hanfu designer cloths to all the adventurers of Utopia for free! Awesome, right?" Sabay abot sakin ng isang damit na nakabalot pa ng red silk.
"If only those naughty Jellybeans didn't steal our cart full of precious hairpins, I'd also give you one. So unfortunate! I'll tell you what, kill those things for me and I'll buy all the hairpins you can find."
"Anyway, there are three kinds of hairpin inside our cart. The most common and cheap hairpins are worth 10 golds, the rare hairpins are worth 100 golds and lastly, the exquisite hairpin which is very few are worth 1000 golds. So, do we have a deal? I'll stay right here until the festival ends. Better hurry!"
Nice! Ito ang kailangan kong quest! Since bago pa lang ang game. Hirap akong makalikom ng maraming gold.
Sa kanang bahagi naman ng central park makikita ang isang lantern stall. Pinalilibutan ito ng makukulay at magagandang lanterns. Binabantayan ito ng isang lalaking nakasuot din ng Hanfu.
"Happy Lantern Festival my lady. Do you want to buy a lantern? My lanterns are available for 100 golds. But if you want your lantern to be custom made. I can make one for you. Just bring me the items needed to make a lantern and add 50 golds for the service fee."
My god! Lanterns are so expensive!
♠♠♠
Sa labas ng town, pinagmamasdan ko ang vast land na nasasakupan ng Kal-shushu. Ayon sa quest, ang Jellybeans ay nagre-respawn sa buong Vana'Diel (buong Utopia actually). So, kailangan ko itong libutin para maghunt ng maraming Jellybeans. Pero paano ko naman gagawin 'yon nang hindi naliligaw? Baka mamaya sa kaka-hunt ko, hindi na ako makabalik sa Kal-shushu hanggang matapos ang festival.
Habang malalim na nag-iisip. Napatingin ako sa paparating na wooden tour boat. Meron kasing malapit na lake dito sa kaliwang bahagi ng Kal-shushu. Isang mahabang lake na pumapalibot sa buong Kal-shushu prefecture. Ginawa ang mga wooden tour boats na ito sa mga players na gustong mamasyal sa Newbie Area. Ang boat na ito ay umiikot sa Kal-shushu town, Flower forest, Mt. Peak, Green hill at kung saan-saan pang mga low grinding areas.
Kaagad akong tumalon at sumakay sa wooden tour boat. Sa normal na mga araw, ang tour boat na ito ay isa lamang ordinaryong traveling boat. Lamesa at apat na upuan na parehong gawa sa kahoy, iyon lang ang makikita sa loob at labas ng bangka. Pero ngayon, may mga nakasabit ng makukulay na lanterns at pulang mga bandiritas. Meron ding Guzheng na maayos na nakaset-up dito sa labas ng bangka. Sa loob, ang dating simpleng lamesa ay balot na ngayon ng magandang red and gold table cloth na merong lighted candles sa gitna. Wala pa ring taong nagpapaandar ng bangka at ito'y patuloy paring umiikot at naglalayag sa lake.
Since wala sa araw na ito si Momo, ang aking overall guide, nag-hunt ako ng Jellybeans gamit ang wooden tour boat. Pag nakakita ako ng Jellybeans sa daan, kaagad ko itong pinapatay at bumabalik muli sa bangka. Kung napatagal naman ako sa area na iyon, kailangan ko lang naman maghintay ng susunod na tour boat. Meron naman dumadaan na tour boat kada labing-limang minuto. Ngunit sadya yatang mailap sa akin ang swerte. Tirik pa ang araw nang magsimula ako at ngayong pagabi na, wala pa rin akong nakuhang hairpin kahit isa. Marami naman akong na patay na Jellybeans, pero kahit isa, walang nag drop ng hairpin! Ganoon ba ako ka-malas pagdating sa loots?
Feeling dejected, ipinasya kong bumalik na lang sa town at ibuhos ang frustration ko habang umiinom ng honey bear ale sa tavern.
Pagbaba ko sa tour boat, ang armor ko ay biglang napalitan ng isang magara at overcomplicated hanfu. The white dress covered in pale red muslin, a beautiful belt with one big red Poppy flower. The skirt and cuffs is embroidered with red threaded peach flowers with white fluffy fox skin. Kahit ang buhok kong naka-ponytail ay naging hair bun secured with red ribbon. So it's already 6pm, I guess the lantern festival is now starting.
Mainit na hangin ang sumalubong sa aking pagpasok. Sa entrance pa lang, dagsa na ang mga tao at dahil ang kalye ay overcrowded naging mainit ang paligid. I could only feel the continuously heat-wave in my face and with the hanfu clothes I'm wearing. I felt that there was already a layer of sweats all over my body.
Although the night became darker, the lanterns released light, turning the black sky red. It also illuminated the smiling faces of the people enjoying the lanterns.
Not far from where I am, I saw Mr. Elf, standing quietly at the street, surrounded by ladies who are mesmerized by his looks this evening.
I lost my breath a minute there. I've seen him a lot of times but never in this fashion. That silvery hair, that purple robe, and that peerless face, it's no wonder every girl in Kal-shushu was head over heels with this Elf!
When he saw me, he smiled and came closer.
"You're here."
He's wearing a purple white gown. The collar and cuffs had delicate ornaments embroidered on them. A light purple belt and a jade crescent moon with small purple Poppy flower hairpin. His smiling face was really charming. He had long silver hair and a nice pair of golden eyes. It's just that when that pair of eyes looked at you, it can shot icy chills making your heart feel cold.
"You're waiting for me?" nagtatakang tanong ko.
"Hmm," he said, nodding. "I was waiting for you and there is something that requires your help." He took a deep breath before speaking.
"Okey," remembering how he helps me this morning, I quickly agreed.
Mr. Elf walked to my side and paused as if thinking, then he reached out the strand of my hair that is actually blocking and irritating my eyes and tucked it behind my ears. He took out a hairpin with three red Poppy flowers and gently inserted it to my hair.
"This hairpin goes well with the clothes you're wearing."
I was in shock and unconsciously reached the exquisite hairpin in my hair. I looked at Mr. Elf, thinking why he's being nice and generous tonight. But before I could even ask, I felt chills from the eyes of the ladies who are busy looking at him and now looking at me! Eyes full of resentment, jealousy, and hatred! Some even cursed me before they disappeared one by one!
Is this the help you're asking? To become your woman repellent. Mr. Elf, your guts are BIG! I laughed angrily.
"Anything else?" Seeing all the ladies are gone after receiving all their hate and becoming the women's enemy. I asked mockingly. "If nothing else, I'll be on my way."
Suddenly, Mr. Elf grabs my hands. "Let's go together." I saw true fear in his eyes.
The hands that wrapped around mine were cold. Actually, it felt good since the atmosphere tonight is hot. Yet, I struggled to break free but didn't expect that his grasp was so tight that I can't breakaway.
Napaarko ang kilay kong tumungin sa kanya. "Hands off!" Still trying to free my hands.
"Just for tonight, until the fireworks end," kaswal na sagot nito sa akin. "Come with me."
Aba, mukhang gagawin pa akong overnight women repellent. "I didn't know that Mr. Elf like festivities!" sarkastikong sabi ko sa kanya.
"I don't. But I want to get the festival reward."
"Festival reward?"
"Everyone who attended the lantern festival until the fireworks will receive one dragon pill. Dragon pill when consumed will give the player an additional 30% experience and 30% drop rate for the next 24 hours."
"Oh?" Meron pa lang ganoon? Hindi kasi ako nakikinig sa explanation ni Event Manager kanina. "Ok, I'll be your repellent. Just for tonight and this hairpin is now mine!"
♠♠♠
Mga magaganda at makukulay na lanterns, kaliwat-kanang mga food and item stalls, mga festival games tulad ng riddle game, dart game, fishing game at kung anu-ano pang mga usual na nakikita tuwing fiesta 'noong unang panahon' ang makikita ngayong gabi.
Sinong mag-aakala na ang mga modern rich kids ng United Nations ay marunong din pala mag enjoy sa ganitong klaseng festival? Well, hindi na pala sila kids, dahil ang age requirement ng game ay 18 and above years old.
Ang mga players ay masayang sinusubukan ang mga laro, ang iba naman ay busy sa pag sho-shopping. Syempre, patok pa rin ang mga food and beverage stalls kahit all face and no substance lang ang mga ito. Lalo na ang cotton candy na pinagkakaguluhan ng mga kababaihan.
Dahil fully-booked lahat ng taverns and restaurants at wala kaming matambayan ni Mr. Elf, pinasya nalang naming dalawa na mamasyal at mag ikot-ikot sa festival. Naglalakad sa mahabang kalye, tatlong malalakas na 'gong' ang pumukaw sa attention namin ni Mr.Elf. Nanggaling ang ingay sa training barrack kung saan kami kasalukuyang naglalakad.
"To all the Ladies and gentlemen, good evening! Tonight we are celebrating the lantern festival. For this occasion, the barrack will be holding a shooting game! The mechanics of the game are simple. Using this bow and arrow, aim the picture of your desired prize. When you hit the picture, the item will be yours!"
I followed the direction of the man was pointing and saw ten bamboo poles planted on the ground. The first pole is at least 30 yards and the last pole was 100 yards. Even though its night, we could still see the pictures attached to each pole perfectly.
"One arrow cost 1 gold. You can aim all the prizes and shoot as many as you want! There is no limit," pag tatapos ng Event host.
"But who in the world knows how to use a bow?" sabi ng isang lalaking player sa kanyang kasama.
"It's so far. It's impossible to hit it," sabay kamot ng ulo.
"I'll try it out," I said looking at the 100-yard target which is a folding fan. I really need those!
I took out 1 gold and handed it to the game host. Without further ado, I aimed for the 100-yard target and hit the bulls-eye mark.
The people present were all struck dumb with awe.
Except for the host who was clapping with joy. "What an excellent bow skill!"
"Master, my price please," nagmamadaling sabi ko.
Nang mai-abot sakin ang pamaypay kaagad ko itong binuksan. Red ang kulay nito at may drawing na tatlong makukulay na poppy flowers.
"That fan is no ordinary fan. When the owner feels hot, the fan will let out cool air but when the owner is cold, it will give warm air. Congratulations."
Ginamit ko agad ang napanalunang folding fan. Malamig na hangin ang dumapo sa aking mukha na kaagad nagparelax sa buo kong katawan.