Caught up in the storm~

"Mihak paused, ensuring everyone was listening, then continued, "The main part is the ceremony where the lucky sector is decided by a draw from the kings of each sector. This ceremony is tomorrow, in Sector 23, at the central auditorium near the aristocrat colony on the land," he said while striking the flyer with this information, trying to hide his excitement.

"So, in short, the ceremony is tomorrow. Are we going there?" asked Balloon from the bal-dy pair.                                                                                                                                                           "Don't they have some criteria for inviting or tickets?" Momo inquired.                                             "I want to go too, but tickets are not something we can afford, and neither are we royalty," Mihak said, falling to the ground and stretching his body, disappointment clear in his voice.        "If fi impoffand?" Vel asked while being tied to a pillar in the corner.                                                  "It is important to form connections, meet great people, and we might see people of higher order in person since it won’t be broadcasted aside from the radio," Mihak added. In the ensuing awkward silence, everyone stood up to go back to sleep, with no way of going into it.

As everyone was heading off, Guta very slowly said, "I can tell you the way, but you have to find a replacement for me."                                                                                                                                 "How?" everyone stopped very fast with the instinct of a cat and shouted, as if they already knew this was about to happen and rushed back to sit."You know that royal medallion that Mihak has? It was actually personally awarded by the king, and if such a person uses his authority, you can enter any government’s official event. But let me be clear, I am not going," Guta clarified.

"Is it because of how you look right now, or are you embarrassed to face your colleagues?" Momo asked.                                                                                                                                            "Nope, it is not that simple. Tomorrow, something major might occur. It's just my instincts, and I'm not going," Guta said, to which everyone turned a blind ear.                                                      "What shall I wear tomorrow?" Mihak asked another member.                                                          "I might make a royalty fall for me with my beauty."one of the crew members named Stark Lincoln, who had long hair trying to hide a bald patch, confidently said                                           "I might get a chance to tell stories among the audience," Momo added.                                          "Will they have an unlimited buffet?" Vel asked after breaking her silence.  

The next morning, they all headed to the auditorium. "Will you put me down?" Guta asked Vel, who had abducted him from his sleep, insisting he wouldn't abandon them.                                   Soon, at the entrance, everyone in the group looked in tip-top condition, no less than royals. There was a lot of security checking the way to the entrance, and everyone could tell it was no small event for the upper class. People kept emerging, some from expensive-looking vehicles, some in royal clothes that were minimal but elegant, and others walking. But none compared to Gigi, member of crew and clad in shorts and a coat.                                                                     "Aren't you embarrassed?" Mihak asked Gigi, to which he replied, "You should be thankful I am not naked."                                                                                                                                                   "Isn't that a dog?" Momo pointed out."I heard they are so stupidly expensive," Mihak added. People with the gaze of leaders and responsibilities, with different looks, some even eccentric, entered the hall through security checks.                                                                                          "Mam, could you come this side?" a woman frisker pointed to Vel, to which she laughed, separated from the others, and soon rejoined them. "She called me a ma'am," Vel said, laughing. 

They reached a huge entrance shining with the radiant light of real LEDs, unlike stones."Sir, your invitation, please," said one of the royals named jute hosting the event.                                   "Looks like they don't even give jobs to commoners here," Stark whispered, which the host overheard and laughed.                                                                                                                               "It is just my responsibility as one of the people hosting the event, so I think I should do it myself just like everyone else here," the host explained, melting Stark's heart with her words.

"Here," Mihak showed the medal, feeling embarrassed due to his mates' behavior. The surprised host, with eyes of gratitude, said, "Thank you for your service to the nation," and asked them to register themselves in the attendees list.                                                                   Everyone entered the hall, except Stark, who seemed to have fallen for her.                               The hall was immense, with a stage at the center covered in curtains, behind which the ceremony would start in an hour. They were shown to their respective seats, which were perfectly positioned in the middle of 361 rows. As they took their seats, Mihak noticed that everyone else was missing.

"Vel must be at the buffet section, I bet you," said Guta. He then asked Mihak to bring him juice with a straw if he was going there. Some went to view the interior, while the smarter ones had gone to form connections, and others enjoyed the free food and drink."So this is what they call wine. It’s my first time," said Gigi, drinking with etiquette, while others stared at him. Meanwhile, some were simply roaming around.                                                                                  As Guta was resting with his hat down and both his hands covered in plasters under his coat, a man with long legs and a free spirit greeted him. "Been a while, you depressed bastard," the man said."You’re still alive, you coward," Guta replied."And you’re still alive, barely as usual. Unusual for you to be at this ceremony, and like I care why you showed up," Canon replied. He then laughed and walked away to take his seat.

After a while, a man silently sat behind Guta. "You must be the royal one who was kicked out of the Brigade Military Corps. Looks like that place is falling apart fast. I am Mr. Fox from the Internal Finance Department. Come work for me if you ever want; you are a man with so much value left in you," he said. Guta looked at him and put his hat back and went back to his nap after a while.                                                                                                                                                As the ceremony was about to start, everyone began entering. Soon, the Gya crew also gathered and took their seats. Everyone blended in except for Vel, who entered with a ton of plates to eat from, and the rest carried by Fuzzy Head.                                                                "Stark is missing," Mihak said after looking around for a while.                                                    "Must be flirting somewhere," Momo replied. Soon, the entry gate closed, and the broadcast recorders near the stage were in position. The whole auditorium was filled with excitement. 

As the curtains opened, the excitement quickly turned into fear, sending goosebumps down everyone's spine. The kings were dead. They all had their bellies and throats cut and were lying dead on the chairs, with blood flowing all over.

[^4] The names such as Tiger, Lion, and Owl are considered mythic beasts in this land and are generally given as awards to a person in a high post or for their contributions. Parents may name their children after such beasts, but these names cannot be used officially on government papers.