Several days flew by as we continued our stay in Barou. Master continued to visit his contacts throughout the city while I stayed by his side, bored out of my mind. It wasn't until I lingered away that I discovered that it was one of the main reasons he kept us there for so long. Every year, a four-day festival runs from noon to midnight. People around the land who knew of the festival were welcome to participate.
Seeing the stalls and festive decorations brightened the dull gray streets. A multitude of colors and spectacle pieces littered the central square and some outskirts. I watched people walk in costumes and outfits for such an event. Eyes wide with wonder, I took in the sights and the music playing from the various bands who patrolled the streets in preparation.
It wasn't until I heard an angel's voice that I broke my trance. I blinked for a moment and turned to a large stage. Standing there, clad in a bright red-orange gown with a see-through veil, was a young girl, barely older than me, singing her heart out. She was alone; she performed her song and dance to an empty crowd on the unfinished stage. Well, it's not entirely empty. I watched her sway in the gentle breeze back and forth. The notes that were her voice brought the performance to life...
Warm sensations filled my heart as the gorgeous girl sang with the graceful elegance of an angel. In other words, I couldn't explain much about what I saw that day. It ended with her bowing her head, her face red with exhaustion after pouring her heart into the performance despite it being for practice.
The stage echoed the loud sound of my hands clapping. The girl was startled. I wasn't evident from the deep shade; I had only made my presence known after she finished. Her soft voice rang out to me. "I'm sorry; I didn't expect someone to be watching me." Her frame was slim and meek but flexible. I couldn't help but stare.
"I didn't mean to startle you. Quite frankly, you startled me with your performance." Her face soured after hearing that. I cocked my head to the side, confused at her response, until she started to tear up and looked away.
"I know I sucked! I've been practicing all year to perform!" I was taken aback by her immediately. I initially thought she was an airhead who was too weird to talk to, but I didn't turn away from her awkward response.
"It was brilliant."
"Huh?"
"I thought you were shining."
"Wait, what? Stop it!" Flustered cheeks, her cute, awkward self, brought my heart ablaze. I laughed and jumped onto the stage to approach her.
"Will I see even more of you at the festival?"
"I umm... I don't know..."
Without thinking, I cupped her hands and held them close to my chest and looked into her eyes, burning desire flowing from them. "It's only a week away; I want to see you shine again!" I wished I could have slapped myself that day, acting all confident in talking to a girl who drove me mad the moment I laid eyes on her. Instead, the stage owner landed a heavy smack across my cheek. Sending me from the stage onto the cold, hard stone of the streets. Blood trailed down my nose as I stood up.
"W-Who did that..." Dizzy from the ringing in my head, I knelt down in defeat, just barely conscious. The large woman stepped down and approached with heavy steps.
"I won't have you harassing my dear Kayla anymore! Beat it or take a one-way trip to your grave!" Grabbing my collar, I was hoisted up without an issue, gasping for air, trying to speak.
"He isn't one of them, Dela!" Jumping down after her, Kayla stopped her from bashing my face into the stone. Letting me go afterward, Kayla got cold water and a rag to help reduce the swelling in my face.
That was the first time I met Kayla. A misunderstanding got us closer in those twenty-four hours than I had realized. I learned that Kayla had trouble with some local bullies who picked on her for being an orphan. I felt sympathy and could relate as I was an orphan, too. Dela apologized and offered to pay for any treatment, which I refused.
Not long after that, I began to visit her in my free time in the coming days. Master didn't mind it, and seeing as his visit to Barou was to relax and gain intel, he found it no harm to stop training me and letting me explore. I didn't realize it at first, but he knew I had found someone with whom I was beginning to build a solid relationship. Was it my posture? My attitude? The way I spoke or moved? I couldn't tell, but deep down, he knew I was in love. If only I weren't the hot-headed kid who looked for a fight at the worst time.
Several days before the festival was set to occur, I visited Kayla and Dela during one of their practices. They were in the company of other performers reciting a dance together. Whispering the moment I arrived to see Kayla, they gossiped about Kayla and me. Ignoring the masses present, Kayla didn't care, and I did the same. She never had someone she could bond with so quickly. She had been alone in this world far longer than I was, and I gave her something I shouldn't have.
Sitting on a stone bridge across a small water channel, we looked at the night sky; shining stars blinked into existence across the apparent horizon. Kayla was close, and I could feel her warmth enveloped me.
We talked and talked all night. Talking about ourselves, our past, our hopes and dreams, you name it. We were open books, flipping the pages endlessly...
"Gale, can you come see my show at the festival?"
"You mean Dela allowed you to participate this year?"
She nodded with a gleeful hum. Her eyes darted back and forth as she looked at our reflection in the channel before wrapping herself around my arm. I felt my body grow hotter, and I could feel her breath on my neck.
"She said I could have a solo on the first day, but I need to take a break afterward."
"Why did she say that?"
A long sigh escapes her. She looked up at me and wore a sad smile. "Because I've been working too hard. Every day, I didn't stop thinking for a moment that I was pushing myself harder and harder. To the point that I might have trouble using my legs again."
I pulled away instantly. "What do you mean by that?" She chuckled like it wasn't serious but quickly adjusted her skirt to show me.
Dark black bruises and scars covered her legs. The deep sinking feeling in my chest was painful at the sight. She covered her legs quickly, embarrassed about showing me, and turned away.
"My father died trying to pay off his debts; my mother killed herself soon after he did, which meant that the debt went solely to me. I...for years...was used...broken over and over again...until Dela paid off the rest of my debt, took me to Barou, and let me start my life here. But those years of pain left scars deeper than you saw."
I was speechless and only listened as anger continued to fill my fists.
"I guess I haven't fully let my body heal, so after my first and only performance, I'll have to retire. If I try to do anymore, I'll undoubtedly push myself too far that I'll cripple myself. So, I promised her that afterward, I would stop chasing this and let myself heal."
"But-" Kayla cuts me off with her hand on my cheeks, looking me in the eyes.
"That's why... I want you to come see me...the last time I dance."