Lively instrumental music from drums and flute along with the variant colors of flame made the Village more festive. Everyone is well-dressed especially the maidens wearing different color dresses and flowery garnitures hoping to charm some of their Village men arriving from their hunt with their Lord Theon.
"How are you feeling?"Luna asked to lying Niah after entering the tent holding a folded pastel violet silk dress with a floral design with a golden lining and a box containing various accessories and garnitures.
"I am somewhat feels okay now, I think these medicated bandages are doing good"she replied.
"That's good to hear, maybe you can join us tonight for the our dinner and mini celebration for the arrival of our village men and our Lord Theon from their monthly hunt"
"Monthly hunt?"
"Yes, they are hunting for those thieves or illegal peddlers that want to enter the shortcut route for the Main Kingdom" Luna explained while putting down what she's carrying.
"Tommorrow before the rose pink light of dawn kiss the sky, the group that will carry your palanquin will arrive to fetch you as you will be accompanied by some of our village men so you can safely pass the Blue Blood River shortcut to reach the palace at the right time. You have to wear this so you will not be hassle for your departure" She expounded pointing to the clothes.
Later on, the party started when the group of women started to dance gracefully in the tune of drums welcoming the arrival of the Village Men. There were fire dancers and magicians performing entertaining some little children and also the adults who were really amazed and amused.
"Lady Niah!" Cora said the moment she saw her walking like a lost child witnessing the joyful celebration. She walked toward her direction to approach her holding the book she want to shared with Niah earlier.
"I thought you are not going to be able to attend here! thats why I am planning to visit your tent good thing I saw you here!" she cheerfully giggled.
"Lets go to the bonfire, my cousin was assigned to distribute meals there so that we can eat and chit chat" she excitedly added as she held Niah's hand dragging her to the direction where the bonfire was being prepared.
After they arrived in that area and found a horizontal stone to seat Cora left Niah for awhile to get some food from her cousin nearby.
"Is that wounded lady being carried by Lord Theon earlier this morning?"murmured by a lady nearby to the another lady
" I think so, look at her .. she doesnt look like a simple lady from Lower Kingdoms"
Her eavesdropping stoppee when Cora arrived holding a barbequed pork meat and two steamed sweetcorn.
"Just tell me if you want more" Cora said then winked before she sat beside Niah.
"Thank you for this" she thankfully replied.
"No worries--oh! by the way I heard from General Alid and Nurse Luna earlier that you will depart later" the kid sadly said.
"You didnt told me youre a princess from a Lysandrius Clan of Lower Kingdom!"she excitedly whispered to Niah.
"L-Ly.. what?"she gave her a perplexed look.
"I actually thought it was a fictional clan in this book"
"What? I dont really get you"
"Well I am not that sure if the mentioned information here in the book is the same as yours, but it looks like because even this scene of bonfire was stated here like it was foretelling what will happen next in your life"
She was astonished and confused hearing her explanation.
"I am so confused, how did that can foretell --"her question to Cora was cut after hearing a loud bang of gong and drums signaling the parade and arrival of men and Lord Theon has started
"They are finally here!" people happily exclaimed.
The first group of men noticeably teenager men wearing a battle gear and their different weapons are marching, and upon reaching the marked line they removed their helmet and waived to the crown that made them cheer. The cheering became louder when the group of horse riding wolf masked men arrived with their battle gear. Meanwhile after reaching the marked line the people slowly bowed down acting like giving honor to the man riding a white horse and wearing white wolf mask. Niah immediately look away to hide her face after recognizing the White wolf masked man as the same maniac man who somehow saved her but also blowed a white powder that made her passed out.
"Everyone! May you enjoy the night and the meals we prepared for everyone of you" he said that made everyone clap and every lady around to scream their lungs out of his charms.
"Lady Niah? are you okay? you look pale" Cora said while looking into a truly pale out of nervousness face.
"I-I am fine, lets go lets continue our talk" diversing the topic so she can slip away from remembering the scent of that white masked man and the green thought that landed in her brain by hearing his words.
After a moment Cora and Niat sat again where they sat earlier and started to eat again while watching the men starting to light the bonfire.
"Hey! finally, I found you!" Luna said when she saw Niah.
"You naughty little girl! you didnt told me youre with her!" but instead of answering Cora just laughed remembering the scene earlier where while shes getting some food Luna asked her if did she saw Niah but instead of saying the truth she lied saying she didnt seen her.
"Can I talk to you for awhile?" Luna asked to Niah where Niah immediately accepted.
"Your departure was moved this midnight, we heard that they are going to ambush you if you will travel to that short cut route later at dawn so you better prepare"
"A-ambush? I dont understand"
"Just be prepared, in an hour the group that was sent by your father to travel with you will arrive" Luna said before acting to leave because of also preparing for facilitating the baggage she will bring later.
"Ask her about Lysandrius!" Cora whispered to Niah.
" W-wait!"
" What?"Luna replied.
"I am a Lysandrius" she simply stated to know the truth from Luna's mouth
"Yes you are, whats the matter about it?"
"W-why are you helping me?" she added after confirming and hearing her needed answer.
"I am not in the position to tell you that, I must leave" Luna said then turned her back from Niah and Cora.
" See! I am right!"
"So that means in that book I can see how can I get out from this world and go back to my own?"
"Maybe yes, maybe no thats why you should start reading it now" Cora excitedly said realizing that the book shes reading is like a written fate of her new friend.
"Look Cora, I am going to leave this midnight and I dont even know where I am going, I dont know what was waiting for me! I dont have enough time to read the book" she hopelessly said while fearfully thinking what are things that will going to happen after she will leave this village if she will not know the content of the book
"But I havent completely read it and if I am going to story tell it to you it must be complete because sometimes written word's ink are missing and you can only see a blank pages, its a magical book that decides whether you can read it or not.
"Please Cora, help me .. just tell all the informations that you know or have read just to have a guidance for what was waiting for me"
Core think for awhile while intently have eye to eye contact to the pleading eyes of Niah
"Okay.. Ill tell you but..lets find a place you can hear me better"
- - -
What is the real reason that village is helping Niah ?
Will the book and the narration of Cora will really help Niah finding her way out?
What are the things waiting for her after she leave the village?
"