POV Elizabeth
They couldn't make out the words, each voice was the same as the last, but they knew WHO they were hearing. The hairs on their bodies stirred, and Lizzie felt the hairs on her head stand on end. But strangely, her heart wasn't racing, her head was aware that she was scared, uncomfortable with the voices of the dead, but her body was fine. A glance at the neighbors. People were scared, but no one was in a hurry to turn gray.
— The sun has gone down, night is coming! — Sora's exclamation broke the silence, and the sounds returned, shaking the people. — The year is ending! — A gentle sweep of the open fan, and the fire released new sparks that rose somewhere very high up. — The spirits and kami of these lands, humans and ayakashi, yokai and fae, beasts and birds, and all living things greet the dark season! — and the fires burst into a high but cold flame a few meters high and then fall down again. — Come! Come and see what the Light Season has brought! — A stomping sound was heard, and seconds later sheep came out from behind the trees, and Sora pointed gently to the large baskets of fruit and vegetables by the fire, jars, baskets. — I testify: Hunger will not reap its harvest!
— I TESTIFY! — repeated all those present in unison.
The wind picked up again, wolves howled, and the cries of birds and animals could be heard. Once again, goose bumps ran up and down my body, for the beasts were very close. Meanwhile, the sheep were spread out in a wide circle around the torches.
— May those whose feast is today share in the common meal! May we greet the new dawn together, as we do today! — With a sharp swish of a folded fan, the necks of the sheep and rams were cut.
The wool of the wounds was darkened, but not a drop of blood fell to the ground — it melted in the air and individual drops flew upward. The bloody carcasses were magically picked up by the men outside the circle and dragged somewhere in the shadows to be slaughtered.
— We know! Remember! Honor!
The boy dipped his hand into the jar and tossed the grain up. Not a grain touched the ground. The big apple burst into flames, scattering blue sparks. The people standing in the circle, led by the girls, moved slowly toward the great fire. Each person added something to the fire from the basket they had brought or from one of the baskets prepared by the teenagers.
Time after time, grain was thrown up, and vegetables, fruit, and bread were thrown into the fire, which always disappeared and turned into sparks. When the last man had passed, the noise of the wild forest resumed, the branches of the trees swayed, the dry grass rustled, and the voices of animals and birds that had not been seen could be heard. It was frightening, and I wanted to grab my wand, but I had to stop myself.
— And they will come! — The boy's voice came again, loud and raspy. — And they will set foot on the lands of the Undermoon! And they will drink fresh water and eat nourishing food! — The boy continued his gentle dance, turning in different directions all the time, making graceful swings of the fan. — And the wheel will make another turn! And life will continue its flow!
The girl's throat tightened, and her blue eyes widened in astonishment. In another flash of fire, countless translucent beings with glowing eyes, spirits of beasts, birds, snakes, and dragons, appeared all around. Some looked like ordinary animals, some were very different, many were surrounded by a mist of power and magic. Literally everything around was occupied by otherworldly beings watching. The sky was filled with flying ghosts. A huge snake with a golden bone crown on its head and golden glowing eyes towered over the hissing tangle of flexible bodies. There was also a huge wolf, a brown one covered with grass and moss, with huge fangs, and a deer with horns several meters long, from the silver wool of which lettuce sparks were falling.
— And they will be revealed to the world! And grasses and flowers will bloom in their footsteps! And they will burn our weaknesses and diseases with fire! And their warmth will warm us in the cold! And dispel the darkness!
The paper fan burst into a huge fire, and then Sora jumped into the flames, which turned a delicate salmon color. The girl's heart clenched with fear, but then she exhaled — he was unharmed. The next to jump into the salad fire was a blonde girl with a sweet face and a slightly dreamy smile — Luna. The moment she touched the flame, red and dark green sparks appeared around her. She stood next to the guy with a big smile, her eyes covered and without a single burn. Next, the people walked in a line.
Multicolored sparks of dark hues appeared around them all, but the darkest were thick purple sparks around the brunette with glasses, dark blue around the Greengrass family, and purple around the Malfoys. Elizabeth, flying through the fire, felt her soul become lighter, her sighs deeper, as if the flames had torn away the rigid corset she hadn't noticed before. It was getting very good, she wanted to laugh, to sing, to dance, her mind was gripped by an intoxicating euphoria.
And then everything seemed to merge into a single stream with obvious gaps. Everyone took hands and began to sing some unknown songs in an unknown language, circling around the fire. Here people roasted meat on an open fire and ate it immediately, along with fresh bread, fruits and vegetables, and drank hoppy drinks. Here the wizards dance again to rhythmic music, and around them fly many mystical creatures and fairies and beasts.
Here they all eat and drink together at the table, and around them is the incessant noise of animal and bird voices. Here they are again burning gifts in the fires. Here they walk in the forest full of light and music and ride on wonderful animals. Again and again, waves of light spread around the area, gusts of wind come from the center of the clearing.
The image of Sora, with a pack of translucent wolves, big cats and a flock of fairies circling around him, and the largest and brightest glowing fairy sitting on his palm, is clearly etched in his mind. A light-filled unicorn eats from his other hand. Here they are, tired but happy, all together, greeting the dawn.
The lights in the clearing have gone out and the ghosts are invisible again. A hot palm touched her hand, bringing the girl back to reality. The applause of the spirits could be heard all around. The feast was over.