"Come on, Aiden!"
"Take it easy, Princess."
Today is a special day: it's the Harvest Festival, a celebration held throughout the country. According to the legends of Cintra, this kingdom was once very arid, almost lifeless. But a dryad queen, moved by the plight of this land, used her powers to restore life to the barren soil. This event was called the Revival of the Dead Land, and, over time, it became the Harvest Festival.
The streets of the capital were crowded. The stalls were overflowing with food and colorful items, and the air was saturated with scents: the smell of grilled meat mixed with that of fresh bread and honey, while herbs and spices scented the air with their peppery aromas. All around us, we could hear laughter, musicians playing the flute and lute, children shouting with joy as they ran in all directions, and even the sound of ponies' hooves hitting the cobblestones. The sounds and smells created a lively, joyful atmosphere that seemed to wrap around the entire city.
"Aiden, look over there!" Ciri shouted, her eyes wide with excitement.
She was pointing at the luminous explosions in the sky, each burst of color forming ephemeral shapes: animals, flowers, stars. The fireworks weren't ordinary but created by mages' magic. For generations, they had mastered this art, turning the night into a display of enchanting lights. People regarded these mages with a mix of fear and admiration—everyone knew their power could both dazzle and destroy, and the mere presence of their enchantments inspired instinctive respect.
For ten minutes, the sky was ablaze with colors, and I felt a spark of wonder run through me, as if I were as young as Ciri. Then the silence returned before cheers erupted throughout the capital.
"That was amazing!" Ciri exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Yes... truly amazing."
"Aiden, are you okay? Why are you crying?" she asked, noticing my teary eyes.
I touched my face and found tears on my cheeks. They weren't tears of sadness but of pure emotion, the kind that come from a happiness you thought was impossible.
"Don't worry, Princess, I'm fine," I said, smiling. "I was just… thinking about my parents."
"Tell me about them! You never talk about them," she said, her curiosity piqued.
I let out a small smile. "My mother was an incredible person. Always there for me, ready to sacrifice anything for my well-being. She gave me so much, and I never had the chance to repay her."
I took a breath before continuing. "My father was a craftsman. He carved little wooden figurines for me… animals, warriors. It was magical; he could bring the wood to life, almost like the mages tonight."
"They must have been wonderful," Ciri murmured, her eyes shining.
"Yes… they were," I replied, a bit lost in my memories. Seeing all these families together, these parents and children sharing moments of laughter and tenderness… I felt an emptiness that I knew all too well. Moments like these with family—I'd never really had them. Warmth and tenderness were things I knew only through faint memories. Maybe one day, I could have that too. A family of my own. Maybe…
But I shook my head to push those thoughts away. "Enough about me, Princess. You didn't drag me out of the castle just to see fireworks, did you?"
"Exactly! Come on, there are food stalls I want to show you!"
We headed to the food stands. The air was filled with tempting aromas of grilled beef, roasted pork, and smoked rabbit. Piles of colorful vegetables were stacked here and there, but…
"Princess, why not eat some vegetables?" I teased with a smile.
"Yuck! Meat is way better!" she replied, a piece of meat in her mouth.
I shook my head, laughing. "I really wonder who the noble is between the two of us."
Ignoring my remark completely, she grabbed my hand and pulled me to another stall. Her eyes lit up as she spotted a basin where fish swam, surrounded by wooden rods.
"Aiden, look!"
"Do you want to try catching a fish, Princess?"
"Yes! It looks so fun!"
"Haha, all right."
I approached the woman managing the stand. "Excuse me, ma'am, can we try?"
"Of course! Take a rod and give it a go!" she said with a welcoming smile.
I let Ciri try. Despite her efforts, she couldn't catch a single fish. Her face scrunched up, and I, along with the other onlookers, couldn't help but laugh.
"Aiden, stop laughing and help me!" she pleaded, her cheeks flushed with frustration.
Behind us, a few voices offered encouragement.
"Go on, young man!"
"Do it for your little sister!"
"I bet he won't catch one either!" joked a passerby.
I smiled, amused, and rolled up my sleeves. I watched the fish for a moment, patient, and when an opportunity presented itself, I lowered the rod and caught one in a swift motion, drawing cheers from the crowd.
"Wow, Mom, he caught one!" exclaimed a child next to us.
"That boy's got skills," another voice remarked.
"Aiden, you did it!" Ciri cried, jumping with joy.
"All for the princess," I replied with a wink.
After putting the fish in a small water-filled bucket the woman offered us, we continued our walk. Suddenly, I felt Ciri tug on my sleeve, pointing to a group of children riding ponies.
"Can I try?"
"Of course, but I'll stay close."
She walked over but quickly realized she needed help getting on. Without a word, I lifted her and gently set her down on the pony's back.
"Thank you, Aiden!" she murmured, her eyes full of excitement.
I stayed by her side as she enjoyed herself, laughing with the other children her age. She boasted about my skills, proudly telling the others what I'd done, which made the nearby mothers laugh and left me feeling a bit embarrassed.
We continued our stroll until we reached the main square, where the crowd danced to the music, livelier than ever. Without even realizing it, Ciri and I were swept up in the whirl of the dance.
As the music played and laughter filled the air, I watched Ciri trying to copy my steps, a look of adorable concentration on her face. I flashed her a smile, and she burst into laughter. This kind of bond… it was rare and precious.
"You're a good dancer, Princess," I joked.
"You too, Aiden! You should smile more! You look nicer like that," she said, laughing, her eyes sparkling.
It was magical. For the first time, I felt alive. Seeing all these smiles, these adults dancing, friends and families reuniting… A simple, genuine happiness. As if, tonight, nothing else mattered. I turned my head toward Ciri, who was laughing out loud.
"Ciri."
"Yes?" she replied, breathless but beaming.
"Thank you… thank you for everything," I said, pulling her into a hug. She returned my embrace warmly.
We danced, ate, and laughed late into the night. A few girls my age tried to come over and talk, but Ciri stayed close to me, giving a slightly wary look to anyone who came too near. She held my hand tightly, as if to show everyone that I was there for her and no one else.
On the way back to the castle, Ciri fell asleep on my back, exhausted but with a smile on her face.
"Thank you, Ciri. Without you, I would never have experienced something so beautiful and vibrant."
Under the moonlight, our silhouettes stood out against the night. The moon, round and gentle, lit our path as if to carve this night into our memories forever, a memory of innocence and simple happiness.