Adrian and Isabella settled comfortably at their corner table, basking in the tavern's warm ambiance and the delicious aroma of their meal.
Adrian took a forkful of roasted chicken and offered it to Isabella with a playful smile.
"Care for a taste, my beautiful wife?"
Isabella chuckled softly, leaning forward to accept his offering. She savored the rich flavor of the spiced chicken, her eyes lighting up with delight.
"Umm it's delicious," she said as she ate the chicken offered by Adrian.
Adrian's gaze softened, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I guess I should make a habit of spoiling my wife more often."
Isabella blushed, glancing away for a moment before meeting his gaze again. She picked up a piece of vegetable, offering it to him in turn.
Adrian leaned forward, taking the bite from her with a grin.
They exchanged quiet laughter and smiles, feeding each other in turns and stealing gentle, flirtatious glances as they enjoyed their meal.
As they lingered over their food, Adrian reached across the table, intertwining his fingers with hers. "You know," he began, his tone soft, "days like these remind me of how much you mean to me. It's like I can leave everything else behind for a while and just be with you."
Isabella's eyes glistened as she squeezed his hand. "And I wouldn't trade this for anything," she replied, her voice warm with sincerity. "No titles, no responsibilities—just us. I feel living like this is not that bad."
After finishing their meal, they left the cozy tavern and wandered through the town once more.
Eventually, they came upon a bustling square where a traveling circus had set up camp. Colorful tents were pitched in a wide circle, vibrant banners fluttered in the wind, and the sound of laughter and applause filled the air.
Adrian's eyes brightened as he noticed the entrance sign proclaiming, The Grand Awakening Circus.
He glanced at Isabella, and she grinned. "I've heard about this! They say the performers are all Awakened and use their abilities in the acts."
"Then let's see what kind of magic they can do," Adrian said, pulling her toward the entrance. They paid for tickets and joined the crowd, the excitement bubbling between them.
The tent was enormous, with a grand circular stage in the center, surrounded by rows of seats that stretched up toward the ceiling.
They took their seats just as the lights dimmed, and a hush fell over the crowd.
A spotlight illuminated the center stage, where a woman with silver hair and strikingly bright eyes stood, clad in flowing robes that shimmered like starlight.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen," she announced, her voice echoing through the tent. "Tonight, the Grand Awakening Circus will transport you to a world of magic, wonder, and awe!"
The crowd erupted into cheers as the first act began. A pair of tamers entered, each wielding a staff imbued with a faint glow.
They gestured grandly, and suddenly, several creatures—monstrous yet majestic—bounded onto the stage.
Instead of traditional animals, these were magical beasts: a three-headed fox, a feathered creature with scales that shimmered like gems, and even a sleek, cat-like beast with blue, glowing eyes.
One of the tamers raised her hand, and with a flourish, the beasts began leaping through hoops of flame, executing graceful acrobatics as the crowd watched in awe.
Adrian and Isabella gasped as the creatures twisted and turned, seemingly dancing with fire as if it were an extension of their own bodies.
Next, an aerial act took the stage. A young woman and man, each with a shimmering aura, ascended high into the air, manipulating the very wind around them.
They twisted and spun, suspended by invisible threads of air, their movements fluid and effortless.
At one point, they entwined in mid-air, spiraling down together before soaring back up, leaving trails of sparkling dust in their wake.
Isabella leaned into Adrian, her eyes wide with wonder. "I've never seen anything like this," she whispered.
He smiled, slipping an arm around her shoulders as they continued watching in awe. "It's amazing. The way they use their abilities, turning them into art... it's like nothing I've seen."
The finale act was even more spectacular. A group of mages conjured illusions of vast landscapes—forests, oceans, even starry skies—on the stage, creating the illusion that the audience was being transported through realms.
One mage, with flames dancing in his eyes, summoned a fiery dragon that soared through these landscapes, its scales glistening with each flap of its wings.
The crowd gasped, leaning forward as the dragon roared, sending sparks through the air. Adrian held Isabella close as the heat of the flames reached their faces, creating a thrilling tension that had everyone on the edge of their seats.
Finally, the dragon vanished into a burst of golden light, and the mages took a bow, the crowd erupting into applause.
Adrian and Isabella joined in, their hands clasped as they cheered along with the others.
As the applause died down, a sense of calm settled over the circus tent. However, the tranquility was short-lived.
Suddenly, the three-headed fox, which had performed so elegantly earlier, let out a low, guttural growl.
Its eyes glowed an ominous red, and it snapped its jaws, jerking the chain that held it. The trainer, sensing the change, tried to calm the creature with soothing words and gentle gestures. But the beast wasn't listening.
In an instant, it lunged at the trainer, snarling and swiping its massive claws. The trainer barely dodged, stumbling back in alarm as the audience gasped and began to murmur in panic.
The beast let out a howl that echoed through the tent, sending shivers down everyone's spine.
The other animals began to stir uneasily, and the crowd quickly grew chaotic as people started to push and shove, desperate to escape.
Adrian, sensing the danger, immediately moved to shield Isabella, pulling her close as people surged toward the exits. He whispered to her urgently, "Stay close. I'll handle this."
She gripped his arm, her expression tense but trusting. "Be careful, darling."