Kaus town, Golem Coast.
Within a matter of minutes, the Chief of the town announced to the residents of Kaus that the Young Miss from Athoya clan has visited. Making every person in the town rush to the hall crowding the entire grounds outside in rejoicing, they could hear people chanting songs about Athoya.
Saya noticed that the situation is gone out of control and it was uncalled for, May was under the dark clouds. As she has never been good with crowds, and what's worse the noises made it even harder for her to breathe.
But these people were overjoyed and were indebted to the Athoya legacy furthermore, they only want the good for their savior clan. Saya couldn't think what to do in these kinds of situations, if it was the other way around she would've already made the entire town pay and run out of the place but, the circumstances here are something she never imagined, what more they didn't bring anyone else along, I'd only there was an experienced person around, she thought.
"Young lady, please accept their welcome!" The chief stood up pointing to the crowd outside,
"They are all waiting for you..."
"Umm... is this necessary?
Saya reluctantly asked,
"There has to be a reason why Grandma Athoya never introduced Miss. May to the public?"
"Oh, Miss. Howl! I understand your concern,
The chief replied with a kind smile,
"You may never realize but, these people will give their life if Lady Athoya demanded, and one day they will be of help to Young Miss. May as well!"
He paused and looked at May before continuing,
"And it's only right that they knew who they serve, no?"
May nodded slowly standing up from the seat and reluctantly looked at Saya. She wanted help but she didn't want to disappear this time, she wanted to see these people who claim they are indebted to Athoya, even after centuries. Who are these people and what did her ancestors do for these people?
She had many questions but, for now, she just wanted to go out and see them, and let them see her as well. Her heart was beating louder, a little shaky on the knees, and she tried to smile.
"Well, Miss. May!
Saya convinced herself and looked at the Chief and May,
"It's only right that they knew who they serve- huh?"
She smiled reaching May's hand.
A tiny lightning bolt struck her as she held May's hand, as her arm felt smaller inside Saya's palm as their fingers intertwined slowly, they fit perfectly. It felt like she was holding onto a baby's hand it was so soft or maybe it was the first time she ever held a woman's hand.
Or perhaps it was because it was May's hand, she didn't want to think of an answer, as her heartbeat raced.
May squirm inside with an unknown feeling running inside her stomach, it felt good, it made her want to scream and jump but, instead, she gripped Saya's hand real tight.
After a short pause that nobody noticed, both the woman looked at each other with very unusual expressions and giggled quietly.
"It's suddenly become hot in here!" Saya mumbled as she walked toward the door.
'It is...' May thought to herself in response.
With every second passing Saya's concern and all her attention were drawn to her palms which were holding on to May's.
'Wait did I use perfume today?'
She thought and casually raised her other hand and smelled.
'Thank god!' She sighed, 'Hold on-
What is this feeling? Wait, my palm is sweating!!'
'This is not good what if she's already disgusted by the sweat?'
She tried not to move her palm but for some reason, her fingers started shaking as she kept looking at them.
'Oaaaaahhhhhh this is so embarrassing!!!' Saya screamed internationally biting her lip.
As they stood at the front of the building, the many people cheering outside slowly calmed and curiously looked at the girls waiting for the formal introduction.
"H...hello!"
May couldn't respond without being vague about what she was supposed to say, or how she was supposed to sound. Being she had never been in such a circumstance made it all the more harder.
"Young Miss. Athoya!!! You're so pretty!!!" Some girl in the crowd screamed making the mob go wild along the bandwagon as they all started screaming, praising Miss. May.
Saay frowned but as soon as she saw May laughing she joined her.
The Cheif then introduced the girls and the major figures and the families from the town. It took longer than they expected because despite the size of the place a lot of families were well off and were in important positions in the royal and the knight ranks. Some were even the biggest sailors and merchants. But it was fascinating all the more for both the girls, all of them were kind and loving as they introduced themselves and talked with May, and regardless of their age and status, they treated May as a Lady.
Saya on the other hand was able to connect with a few of her old friends she had already forgotten, all of them were excited when they found out she got to work under Grandma Athoya. They recalled the old days with her Grandpa when she used to visit them.
The crescent moon decorated the night sky, the cold wind accompanying as always, the nightfall came quite earlier, or perhaps the uncalled events made the time move faster. Although they both still remembered the reason for their visit, they couldn't speak about it as the Chief called out the town folks for a feast.
Within hours the entire ground outside the town hall was decorated, there were filled with string lights, paper lanterns, and various types of floral arrangements, and in the middle of it, all was a huge line of tables placed horizontally facing each other.
That the town along with its people seemed like they were preparing a festival, May's eyes teared up as she saw the welcome and the enthusiasm for someone like. As she never acknowledged herself above anyone or anything, this was something she never would've imagined even in her dreams. Saya came up to her and tried to calm her.
"I don't deserve this,
She said,
"I don't even know if I can be of any help to these people-"
"The stars are glimmering more than usual today,
Saya blurted out without thinking, as soon as she saw that May's about to cry,
"But I wonder if the moon is in dismay thinking if she deserves all those stars..."
Saya realized she just spout some more nonsense!
'Oww that was stupid! So stupid! That made no sense!' She thought trying to avoid May's gaze.
After a short moment of awkward silence between them, she started again unable to bear the calmness.
"I mean- the way I see it, you deserve everything!"
She paused and stared blankly at May who went quiet after her bold statements.
Saya didn't know what to say, it wasn't that she didn't know why May deserved everything as she has once already explained before, it was because this was a situation yet again she never foresaw. Not to mention that a teary May almost made her heart leap out of her chest.
"You are pretty.."
The words left her mouth without realizing, and the moment May looked up she hid her face apart trying to change the mood.
"Saya-" and before May could say anything the Chief appeared holding a candle.
"Lady Athoya, please commence the feast!
He handed the candle to May,
"Everyone is waiting!"
May nodded as she started to walk toward the center, while Saya slowly disappeared into the crowd before her eyes. May could notice how flustered she was and how it made herself feel good inside as well. She chuckled within as she followed the Cheif's instructions and lit up a huge paper lantern which they sent floating, written in those were-
'Lady May. Hope. Prosperous. Love.'
"Lady Athoya! Thank you for accompanying us!"
The crowd cheered and showed her seat at the center of the tables, before her was a huge feast that she has ever seen, it was so much for even an entire family. She gulped down as she sat, all of a sudden her eyes caught the person before her staring, it was Saya among the many elders she sat right ahead at the table looking at May trying to say something.
For reasons unknown May couldn't avert her gaze from Saya, she felt different somehow, although nothing about her changed May looked at her like they'd only just met. Both of them felt the sudden urge wanting to close in as the feast of their life commenced.