11 - Vineria Festival

The heat is rising, and we've started wearing summer uniforms. I walk through the corridors, sunlight pours through the tall windows in bright, unforgiving streams, casting long shadows across the stone floor. 

I've walked this corridor so many times now, I almost forget how beautiful it is, royal blue below and white above, a golden seam between them. 

We’ve already taken our exams, in Theoretical, Practical and History of Magic. And today is the results announcement.  The students have already gathered around the notice board. I make my way toward Felix and Sara who are already in the crowd. 

The moment I stepped into the crowd, all eyes turned to me. Why? I deliberately held back to avoid drawing attention, or maybe my grades are just that low- THIRD PLACE? 

"Rei you got third place, that’s awesome! As expected from my assistant" Felix beamed. 

I scan the ranking, the third place behind the prince and Arenberg. I'll admit, I got a bit too excited while solving the exam, but I didn't expect it to be THIS much. 

Beatrice got the eighth place, as expected from her. I smiled proudly. 
I can hear them gossip, time to leave. I slipped away as Felix and Sara followed me. Felix got the tenth place and Sara the twelfth, not bad at all. 

"Did you hear? There's a festival next week. Let's go together!" Felix suggests eagerly. 

Vineria Festival, a celebration for the founding of both Vineria Town and Academy by Vinerius himself. 
"I’d like to see it too" Sara says softly. 
"Alright, we'll go together.”

… 

At the Vineria Festival, people are supposed to wear mages' cloaks, so I pull on a deep purple one and head to the academy's gates. 

Felix and Sara are standing there. Felix is wearing a red cloak, and Sara a green one. 

"You're late" Felix commented. 

"My bad" I spent time reading again. 

We step onto the streets, and the lampposts stretch along the path. The tiny lights drifting through the air, each one pulsing with a soft amber radiance. Cloaks of every color swirl around us. Though it's night, the square seems to push the darkness itself, filled with chatter and laughter. 

"Whoa!" Felix exclaimed. 

We wander through the lights, golden specks drifting around us like tiny stars. The scent of roasted meat and chestnuts fills the air. I look at the stalls then I roll my eyes. Felix is already gone, I catch up to find him at a shooting booth. 

"Welcome! Use this staff to hit the target you want."

Felix took the small staff, aimed precisely at the star shaped target. And shot. 

"You got it buddy!" 

The man picked the star from the ground and tossed it lightly to Felix, who caught it with both hands, smiling proudly. 

"What is this?" Sara asks. 

"Fireworks! They were invented by the Cold Wicked Witch herself" he isn't wrong. 

"Whoa" she cheers, impressed. 

"Let's eat now!" 

Felix hurried to another stall, a sweets shop. We followed him. 

"These staff-shaped sweets look good! Let's get them."

We bought the staff-shaped sweets. I held mine and took a bite. The sugary crispy shell melted on my tongue, so I took another bite. 

We finally reached the fountain square, where we're supposed to launch the fireworks. I look at Felix, who has already charged his star with a fire spell. 

"It's time” he announced.

 

He releases it. Then, the star soars into the sky alongside the other fireworks, reaches its peak– and explodes. 

The fireworks burst into dazzling streams of light, painting the dark sky with brilliant shimmering shapes, flowers, stars and hearts. The breathtaking spectacle unfolded above us, carving an unforgettable image into the night, followed by thunderous echoes of explosion. 

"So this is the festival Vinerius created" Sara raised her head, amazed. 

"Vinerius? The one we studied in Magic History right?"

"Yes, he invented magic and built this town and academy so that everyone in the kingdom could learn magic” Sara answered.

"Well, actually humans used magic before, but it was only a simple magic like lighting fire. The one who established the concepts and foundations of magic for humans fifty years ago was Vinerius."

"So other races like elves and demons used magic superior in it?"

"Exactly. Human mages were rare and only learned from elves or half-monsters."

"After he created the foundations, he defeated all demons in the Great Demonic War!" That's the only part he remembers from the story I think. 

"Let's go back to the academy now."

After the fireworks faded and the crowd thinned, we walked back to the academy, satisfied with the day. The night air was cool against my face, a refreshing contrast to the warmth of the festival.

"Thank you for today" Sara said quietly. "It was... really nice."

“What are you saying! there's no need to thank us” Felix replied quickly. 

"And no, no need to thank me. I didn't do it for you” I added, I don't want her to misunderstand me. 

She looked at me confused then smiled softly. Weird. 

We reached the academy gates, the familiar building rising before us in the light of the mood. Felix headed to the boys’ dormitory, and I walked with Sara to the girls' dormitory before leaving her at her door. 

After parting ways with Felix and Sara, I enter my room and light the lantern on the nightstand. I look at the book I was reading, open on my desk, the History of the Royal Family.

 

Seventeen years ago, the previous empress died during her pregnancy. Months later, the emperor's concubine gave birth to his first child and ascended to the empress's position, her son is the current crown prince, Edwin Ellis Cerellion.

 

I close the book and head to my bed. Well, I really don't care about any of that. Only curiosity led me to read it. And the most important thing now is Arenberg's plans, and what they will do to our kingdom. I should stay alert.