Winter Festival Pt. 3

"So cute..."

Quelurillian's foot missed a step.

Cute? Never in her life had anyone deemed her cute. Majestic? Domineering? Yes. But never cute. Just rehearing Crescent's words in her mind tickled her chest, filling it with an uncomfortable tingle that permeated throughout her. Even her heart betrayed her, pounding louder than a stampede of Calfenell that drowned out the crowd around her.

"Cute…" Quelurillian mumbled, eyes locked forward. She pulled her scarf over her face to hide any peculiar expressions she might make. When had Crescent become so bold? Where had the cowardly human from a month ago disappeared to?

"Are you alright?" Crescent asked, bouncing her head playfully off of Illia's arm. "It's not like you to lose your balance."

"I-It is nothing to concern yourself over. The weather merely has me out of sorts."

"Hmm?" Crescent's hazel eyes shimmered in the afternoon light and she looked into Quelurillian's eyes with a grin. "If you say so."

"The girl toys with me! What madness has overtaken me that would cause me to lose my composure to such childish coquetry? Did I mislead her to believe my kindness was a show of romantic affection? And why does my body respond to her in such a way? Perhaps if I commandeer the conversation I might rid myself of these peculiar feelings."

"In regards to your cousin, he reminds me a great deal of William."

"The Bird? How?!"

Quelurillian smirked behind her scarf, pleased her attempt bore fruit. "Both believe themselves to be your guardians and neither is quite that bright."

Crescent's mittened hands covered her mouth as she giggled. Eyes like a golden forest sparkling like blinding suns kindled an inexplicable tenderness within Quelurillian, forcing her to turn her gaze. How had it gotten to this? Surely Crescent knew that her affections could never be requited. How could they? Ignoring how instinctually repulsed Crescent was around her, she knew Quelurillian intended to return to Ilsia Habia post haste. They would be strangers forever after, mere memories that would fade with each setting sun. So what purpose did Crescent's feelings serve?

"What purpose do my own? More importantly, what should I do about her bothersome kin? He repeatedly looks at me with disdainful eyes. Were he not so dear to Crescent, I might take offense. I suppose I should forgive his ignorance; to him I am just a strange human who his dearest cousin seems smitten with."

"Your cousin is quite diligent," Quelurillian said, staring Ian down until he turned away. "Perhaps if you had a brief conversation with him it would alleviate whatever anxieties my presence has caused."

"I don't want to interrupt Vianna's time with him. They revealed their relationship because they trusted me not to sabotage them. Being clingy will only make me seem jealous and drive a wedge in our relationships."

A large man suddenly collided with Crescent, knocking her into Quelurillian. Remembering the child who had injured themself running into her, she caught Crescent in her arms while she and the man apologized to one another.

"Are you injured?"

"I'm fine," Crescent laughed. "But where are the others?"

Quelurillian scanned the crowd. She was taller than most of the festival goers, but even with her advantage she was unable to locate Crescent's companions.

"I cannot find them. Should we rest so you may contact them?"

Cress traced the ground with the tip of her boot. "…No. I think this is fine. Let's wander around by ourselves for a bit. We can always meet back up later."

"As you wish. I will enjoy escorting you around the festival."

"Weren't you already doing that?" Crescent said, looking over her fogged spectacles.

"I-I suppose that is true," Quelurillian replied. Her face felt like she'd been wandering the dunes of the Southern Sands for a day and she found it difficult to focus. The feeling was quite unnerving.

Together the pair shared idle chatter while wandering the festival's stalls and tents, marveling at the artisans' works. The festival reminded Quelurillian of the lower caste's bazaar, though the merchants were much more docile, leaving the patrons to drift into their tents rather than usher them in. It seemed like poor business sense to Quelurillian, but humans of Earth were peculiar creatures.

"What do you think of this?" Crescent asked. She held up a strange short sword with the majority of the blade cut out. It was clearly mass produced garbage, but Quelurillian could not bring herself to ruin Crescent's excitement.

"It is quite a unique weapon. I am surprised we found a weapon vendor in such a peaceful world."

"Most people just collect them because it makes them feel cool," Crescent laughed, turning the blade over in her hands. "They're nothing like your sword, but I have a few knives in my room myself."

"I sincerely hope there is never an instance where she requires them. If they are of comparable quality to these, I fear the blades will snap before she can defend herself. Or perhaps I am thinking too deeply about this. Many collectors have galleries of impractical artifacts."

To Crescent's dismay and Quelurillian's relief, they had inadequate funds to purchase the weapon. Though she detested lying, Quelurillian feigned disappointment, alleviating Crescent's disillusionment. She could easily fabricate a superior blade with her silk and the fleeting thought alarmed Quelurillian. Why would she do that?

"I need to reflect on my emotions more than I thought. They are impairing my rationale."

As if to prove her point, Quelurillian instinctively wrapped her arm around Crescent's shoulder, pulling her close just before another festival attendee rammed into her. She didn't release the girl even after the danger had passed and slowed her pace to synchronize her steps with Crescents.

"Have you noticed anything interesting?" Crescent asked, leaning closer to Quelurillian than necessary. They're arms rubbed one another with each step they took and a jittery feeling jolted through the soft innards of Quelurillian's body. It quartered her chest, melding with her skittish stomach.

"A few knickknacks have drawn my interest, but like much of the merchandise we've appraised, they are of unsatisfactory quality. I do not mean to be rude, but your craftsmen are a disappointment."

Crescent didn't argue and shrugged. Maybe she considered the crude crafts of the peddlers cheap "luxury" goods.

"I'm sorry you're not enjoying yourself… We should see what the others are up to."

"I didn't mean it like that," Quelurillian said as an infant in a baby carriage muted her words.

With the opportunity to explain gone, Quelurillian allowed Crescent to guide her to her friends. The dark haired Kirian was engrossed with her mate, as was the brilliant Vianna with Crescent's kin.

"Maybe we shouldn't have come back," Crescent sighed. "Talk about making a girl feel out of place."

"I remind you that you are not alone." She didn't know why, but hearing Crescent so downcast vexed her. "Or am I an inadequate escort?"

Crescent shook her head with a radiant smile that threatened to steal Quelurillian's breath. Her body was being quite rebellious.

"Haven't you four ever heard of PDA?" Crescent called to her friends.

"PDA shcmeediaye. We're not hurting anyone, Croissant. It's not my fault my handsome JJ is so yummy!"

"You're just taking it too far, Kir. There are small children running around and all the parents are giving us dirty looks because of you two. Be more subtle like me and Ian."

The bespectacled woman's voice was soft yet assertive, effectively disarming Kirian. The dark eyed Jeong's eyes narrowed in disapproval, but he refrained from protesting. It was refreshing to see a male who knew his place.

"She's right, Kirian," Crescent chimed. "Why don't you two head out? You said you were bored in the group chat anyways."

"Fine!" Kirian said, crocodile tears in her eyes. "Since my best friends don't want me, I'll just leave!"

"Stop being a brat," Crescent rolled her eyes and walked to Kirian, inserting herself between Jeong and her friend. She embraced Kirian tightly, pulling her head to her chest. "No one is forcing you to go. Why don't we plan for a girl's night soon?"

"You promise? Really promise?"

"We promise," Vianna said, sitting next to Kirian and embracing her from the opposite side. "Now stop whining and go do Kir things with your boyfriend."

"Okay…" Kirian sniffled. She reminded Quelurillian of the children earlier. "But we better hang out soon or I'll have my dad buy your café and fire both of you!"

The trio laughed without a care in the word, a sight Quelurillian still found unnatural. In her world, every day was a fight for survival. Whether predatory monsters, other races, or political conflicts with her sisters, Quelurillian seldom had the opportunity to lower her guard. It was the only perk of being marooned on Earth. But that would come to an end soon. Each passing day sapped her energy and her natural mana regeneration failed to keep pace. Already she had lost a noticeable amount of weight and her chitinous skin felt loose around her.

"I wonder what Crescent would do if I revealed the truth. She worries far too much for someone so vulnerable, though her compassion is not an unattractive quality. Under less complicated circumstances perhaps we could have courted."

The thought caught in Quelurillian's throat and she scrunched her six closed eyes tight. She detested what ifs. Even then, the thought of convincing Crescent to come with her to Ilsia Habia festered in her mind, despite the fact Crescent would not survive an hour in the Southern Sands. The young woman had made significant progress with her phobia, but her resolve would undoubtedly break if she were surrounded by the Quelurillian's kin.

The slew of contradicting thoughts pestered Quelurillian while the humans made several minutes of small talk and gave farewells until the free-spirited Kirian departed with her male companion. Unsurprisingly the other two women seemed relieved and discussed what the remaining… couples should do next.