Throughout the bustling streets of Nuha, people were making the most of the occasion, relishing their right to show off their heritage and their uniqueness, without any fear of suppression.
For it was the unwritten rule of the Shan dynasty, "Never bully the weak, nor cower before the strong."
The lantern festival is wrapped around this rule; where for one day in the lunar calendar, the weak needn't fear the strong. Even the evil king didn't dare go above this rule and risk angering his ancestors.
Amidst the hustle, one young girl was dressed in particularly colorful clothing. Along with her pretty looks and bright gaze, she armed herself with her most bewitching smile and set about her business.
The business? Charming and flirting her way into making the oldest and even the shrewdest merchant favor the little girl, and beguiling them into unfavorable bargains. Unfavorable for them, that is.
Nothing satisfied her more than the sound of gold coins clinking in her pouch as she wandered the marketplace looking for more opportunities. Akka will surely be pleased, she thought.
She was quite delighted with herself, daydreaming of the handsome reward she would get from her only companion and sister Zoe, who herself was quite unfortunately spending the festival crouched up in some tree.
Lost in blissful thought, Ethwa realized too late the sudden feeling of danger and whirled around, just in time to sense Zoe's cold glare aimed at her from her hidden vantage point.
She stood frozen with fear for an instant before remembering she had other duties apart from earning money.
She hurriedly shook herself from her thoughts. Huffing about getting the short end of the stick, she found her way to the workers who were getting organized for an exploration quest.
It was to be headed by the dark prince Min, who was rumored to be an adopted orphan of doubtful origins and proven to be the cruelest cunning bloodthirsty beast, one who wouldn't bat his eyelashes before unleashing terror upon those who irked him.
As of now, all the able-bodied folks of Nuha were being forced to provide their assistance to His Highness and his fierce warriors.
They trembled in fear for they had been announced to be heading towards the sacred Seven Stones, lying in the heart of the willow woods.
Many brash youths, lost travelers, and greedy treasure hunters had lost their lives and souls in this damned forest.
Only a handful have ever returned but never soundly in body nor mind.
Surrounded by mystery and hidden by everlasting mist, filled with savage beasts of all kind and grade, spiritual and otherwise, the menacing woods posed too much of a death sentence to the pitiful folks, who had no choice but to grind their teeth and march forward into the darkness.
The dark prince Min, shrouded as always in black robes, coldly snorted on witnessing these fools.
If you succumb to fear itself before even venturing out, you might as well build your own coffin. These are Shan Ru's moral and wise people?!
No matter what, he was sure of his path. He might as well use them to soften the troublesome trial for the legendary sacred Seven Stones.
His scornful breath made even his fierce warriors shudder in silence.
In unplanned unison, each and every one of them lit a candle in his heart for the poor ignorant souls...