Enchanting Nocturnal Promenade -2-

The two emerged from the forest, their loud laughter accompanying them from one place to another. Eventually, they found themselves on a small rural road. Some loud noises drew their attention, and Yuriy quickly recognized the source of the lively sounds. With enthusiasm, he exclaimed, "That sound, it's Cossack music! It means there's a festival." Yulia reacted with astonishment, "Did you say a festival?" Yuriy took Yulia by the hand and dashed towards the sound, only to be amazed by the huge crowd gathered in that small village.

Wide smiles appeared on their faces, but Yulia seemed even more excited. With eagerness, she asked, "What's happening here exactly? This looks fun." Yuriy responded in surprise, "What? Haven't you attended a Cossack festival before?" Yulia hesitated and then admitted shyly, "Actually..." Without hesitation, Yuriy pulled Yulia away without saying a word, as if he understood everything.

They caught sight of the comedic play being performed nearby, and Yuriy didn't hesitate to introduce Yulia to it. He said with confidence, "Look, it's a play, and I think I know its title. I've attended many festivals like this when I was younger." Amid the crowd, as the townspeople were immersed in the play, Yulia whispered in Yuriy's ear, questioning him, "What's the title of this play?" Yuriy answered with a smile, "The play is called 'Wedding Plans.' It's a funny and entertaining story about a young couple planning their wedding. But things end up in hilarious chaos! Everyone gathers—family and friends—to help with preparations and arrangements. You can't imagine the troubles and funny situations that unfold. Everything becomes complicated, arrangements get delayed, and problems pile up. It's filled with comedic mishaps and challenges that they have to overcome. It's not as straightforward as achieving the perfect wedding plan. They all need to cooperate and communicate to overcome the comedic mishaps and difficulties that come their way. This play showcases many funny situations and amusing dialogues. It humorously portrays the various challenges young couples face while planning their weddings and also reflects social and family aspects within the celebration of marriage."

Yulia's eyes widened as if she was getting into the spirit of the play herself. After a moment, Yuriy took her by the arm, wanting to show her more of the Cossack festivities. "Come with me, there's something you must see." Yuriy led Yulia to a spacious square where equestrian performances were taking place, showcasing the bravery and freedom of the knights. Yulia held tightly onto Yuriy's arm, engrossed in the spectacle. This made Yuriy feel somewhat bashful, but eventually Yulia realized the situation and stepped back apologetically. Yuriy reassured her with a gentle laugh, "It's okay, don't worry. Just be comfortable."

The two of them wandered through the festival square, and the joy on Yulia's face seemed to outweigh Yuriy's own happiness. Perhaps it was the first time she truly enjoyed herself in such a setting. Well, even Yuriy appeared delighted, knowing he had managed to make Yulia feel that way. In his heart, he was well aware that she was going through a tough time after her mother's passing. Yes, their shared experience of losing someone dear had brought them together and made him truly understand her perspective.

As they strolled around, Yuriy noticed a group of children engaging in traditional games that seemed to shift the course of their enjoyment in a completely different direction. He pointed them out to Yulia and then, with a gentle tug, led her towards the source of this new amusement.

Then he began to explain the types of games the children were engrossed in, and among those games, Yulia was particularly drawn to archery more than any other. This didn't mean she wasn't interested in trying out the other games as well. A young girl handed Yulia a bow, took an arrow from the quiver, and all the children watched eagerly for the moment she released the arrow. Even Yuriy, who displayed an encouraging smile, chimed in, saying, "You can do it." Yulia released the first arrow, hitting the target dead-on. Then the second, third, and fourth arrows also hit their marks on her first attempts. The onlookers were left astonished, mouths dropping for a moment, even Yuriy was utterly bewildered. "How did you do that?" he asked in a mix of surprise and awe. With a teasing chuckle, Yulia replied in a tone of playful pride, "Well, I'm a professional archer. I also practice swimming, fencing, and horseback riding." Yuriy responded in bewilderment, "Oh, you sound like a young noblewoman from the Middle Ages." Yulia answered, "Hehe, that's because my father is the strict type who doesn't like to see me wasting my time on nothing."

Suddenly, an elderly woman with a smile on her face approached them, attempting to make Yulia realize that her accurate shots came with a simple reward. She said, "Come here, my dear, and choose the dish you desire. Usually, the winner selects a dish for every two hits. So, you can take two plates from the offerings in front of you." There was a wide variety of dishes laid out before Yulia, but she wasn't familiar with most of them. Seeing her tense up while trying to choose the right dish, Yuriy stepped closer and noticed her unease, prompting him to offer his assistance.

"Oh, it seems the elderly woman has all kinds of delicious popular foods. You can tell by the aroma coming from them. Well, let's start on the right with 'Biryani,' which are meat-filled pastries with minced meat, onions, and herbs. They're one of the most famous popular dishes. 'Varenyky' are dough pockets filled with cheese and fried until they're golden and crispy. They're often served with sour cream. 'Borscht' is a type of soup made from beets, meat, and vegetables. It's served cold and garnished with sour cream and dill. 'Holbutsi' are meat-filled pies with minced meat, rice, and onions. They're a famous main dish in our cuisine. 'Hutsul Cake' are cakes stuffed with raisins, nuts, and honey. They're a traditional dessert in the region."

Yulia turned to Yuriy, truly unsure of what to choose, so she asked for his help. Yuriy, of course, didn't hesitate to offer his assistance. "I recommend the 'Biryani.' It's my favorite, you won't regret it," he replied. Yulia agreed, and thus, she chose two plates of the 'Biryani.' She took the plates and tried some of Yuriy's selections. As she did, the first bite traversed her palate, leaving her astonished by the delightfulness created by the hands of the local women. "Wow, this is really delicious," she exclaimed. With pride, Yuriy responded, "Hehe, didn't I tell you? My taste buds never fail to pick the best." Yuriy's eyes sparkled with the pride of his suggestion as he saw Yulia's genuine enjoyment. She crafted a satisfied smile as she approached the second plate, saying, "This one's for you." Yuriy hesitated in response, "It's okay, you're not obligated to do that." Yulia retorted, "I intentionally asked you which dishes are the most delicious so I can know your favorite among them." Yuriy blushed again, feeling the effect this clever girl had on him. He smiled, took the plate, thanked her, and didn't hesitate to enjoy the pastry himself, on the same wavelength with her. Yulia was thrilled that she managed to provide both plates. She was the kind of person who loved learning various things to be of assistance to others. And surely, she earned those pastries through her archery skills.

The two of them tried other games, like the egg and spoon race, blind man's bluff with the children, and other activities that made them lose track of time.