For Morgan and Arthur, the Spring Festival was the worst day of the year. They had to endure hours away from the comfort of home, trapped among strangers, with no privacy or personal space during the raucous celebrations.
The festival was the village's attempt to forget their daily struggles. Decorations, food, and drinks were all courtesy of Count Lark, the benevolent lord who sponsored the event to maintain his reputation as a fair and approachable leader. By mingling with the villagers, he ensured they saw him as more than a faceless tax collector.
The festival had three parts:
Morning: The villagers worked as usual while foreign merchants and performers set up their stalls.
Evening: Families gathered to browse the stands, hunting for trinkets or jewelry to enhance their daughters' dowries.
Night: The festival's main event—a beauty contest to crown the "Spring Maiden," followed by a grand banquet and a ball.
The Spring Maiden contest, open to girls aged fifteen and sixteen, was more akin to a debutante ball than a beauty pageant. The aim was to display their beauty and virtues, hoping to attract suitors. The judges were always Count Lark, the village chief, and Nana.
For Morgan and Arthur, each segment of the day brought its own torment. The morning's anticipation was dull but tolerable, as they weren't allowed to roam freely. The evening was a nightmare of sitting through performances and enduring long hours perched on their father's shoulders, staring at little girls they didn't care about. The night was marginally better, as it meant their parents would tire quickly and take them home early.
This year, however, things were different for Morgan and Arthur. With some money of their own, they decided to explore the carnival games, hoping to win prizes. Armed with spirit magic, Morgan and Arthur rigged their own success: a stuffed bear for Tista from a ring toss, a silver comb for Rena from a crossbow shooting gallery, and a silk ribbon for their mother from a spinning wheel game. The carnies were left flabbergasted but dared not complain in front of Count Lark and the villagers.
After distributing the prizes, Morgan and Arthur sought out Nana, intrigued by her reputation as a powerful magician. They found her resting on a bench near her home.
"Hello, Nana. How are you?" they greeted.
"Hello, little imp. My, you're growing fast!" Nana chuckled, her sharp gray eyes twinkling. Morgan and Arthur had indeed grown taller and more robust than their peers, thanks to their unique magical abilities.
"Are you a strong magician, Nana?" they asked, their curiosity genuine.
Nana straightened proudly. "I was, once. I even graduated from Lightning Griffon Academy, one of the most prestigious magic schools. But bad choices left me alone, with nothing but my skills. I chose freedom over submission and became a healer."
Her words made Morgan and Arthur uneasy. The thought of losing everything despite hard work was a sobering reminder of life's uncertainties. Nana patted their shoulder, smiling warmly. "Enough gloomy talk. Let's enjoy the festival."
A Noble Encounter
Later that evening, Count Lark introduced the villagers to his guest of honor, Ricker Trahan, a young mage from a noble family. Ricker's haughty demeanor grated on everyone, including Nana, who saw through his arrogance. When the Count requested a magic demonstration, Ricker fumbled the spell, barely managing to knock a lettuce off a stump. The villagers' muttered disappointment contrasted with Count Lark's applause.
Nana seized the moment. "When I was his age, I could hit targets without hand signs or incantations," she remarked, her tone icy.
Count Lark, eager to showcase talent, turned to Nana's apprentice—Morgan and Arthur.
Morgan and Arthur were confused but played along. With simple chore magic, they broke a stick with precision, hit a lettuce dead center with an ice dart, and effortlessly executed spells that left the crowd in awe.
To end the evening on a high note, Nana performed a dazzling display of magic. She split a lobbed lettuce into four precise pieces with conjured ice darts and lowered the fragments gently with spinning vortexes. Her flawless control over simple magic left the audience—including Morgan and Arthur—speechless.
"Now I understand why the village respects her so much," Morgan and Arthur thought, realizing that Nana's quiet strength was the foundation of Lutia's peace.