Chapter 96: Festival

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · · 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

The following week started with a shift in the academy’s atmosphere. For the first time in days, the tension around Amelia’s rumors was overshadowed by something else entirely: preparations for the upcoming academy festival. Posters went up across the halls, notices were pinned to the bulletin boards, and the student council sent announcements to everyone’s academy tablets.

The festival was a tradition, scheduled every month towards the year ending to showcase the academy’s students in competitions, performances, and displays of talent. Stalls would be set up in the main courtyard, and students could run shops, games, or exhibitions. Other clubs would perform on the main stage. For first years, it was both a chance to enjoy themselves and to show how organized their classes could be.

Class 1-D, however, didn’t seem to care much about coordination. When Mrs. Sarah had explained during homeroom that each class would be given points for their participation, the room filled with groans. The nobles didn’t want to work with commoners, and the commoners didn’t want to listen to nobles. Arios just watched from his seat as arguments started up before the discussion had even properly begun.

"Why should we waste time on this? It’s nothing but a popularity contest!" one of the commoner boys said.

A noble girl scoffed. "That’s because you can’t contribute anything worthwhile. Our houses already bring prestige."

"And yet your prestige didn’t stop us from landing at the bottom in points," another commoner shot back.

The argument went back and forth. Arios glanced to his side at Lucy and Liza, who were equally uninterested. Lucy leaned against her desk with her chin in her hand, staring at the tablet in front of her. Liza absentmindedly spun her pen between her fingers, watching the room without a word.

Mrs. Sarah eventually silenced the room with a sharp clap. "Enough. I’ll say this once. If you choose not to participate, your score will reflect it. Don’t think for a moment that the council or the administration will overlook it. Now, if you want to embarrass yourselves further, continue bickering. If not, start assigning tasks."

The room fell quiet after that, though only begrudgingly.

Lucy let out a sigh, whispering to Arios. "This class is hopeless."

"Nothing new," Arios said.

Later, when the meeting ended, the actual preparations began. Stalls were being constructed in the main courtyard, decorations hung around campus, and the various student clubs scrambled to prepare their own attractions. Arios had barely stepped out of the classroom before Liza grabbed him by the wrist.

"Come on," she said.

He frowned. "Where?"

"The courtyard. We’re checking out the booths."

"I don’t care about booths."

Liza grinned. "That’s why you’re perfect to drag along. I’ll care for both of us."

Before Arios could resist, she pulled him down the hall. Lucy followed reluctantly, muttering under her breath, "Why do I feel like I’m about to regret this?"

The main courtyard was already crowded with students setting up decorations and stalls. Large boards displayed the schedule for the festival— mock battles on the main stage, cooking competitions, magical performances, and even a talent show. Several clubs were running smaller booths along the sides, ranging from food stalls to target games.

Liza’s eyes sparkled the moment she saw the rows of booths being assembled. "This is amazing! Look, they’re even doing a grilled skewer stall. And over there— candied fruit!"

Arios tugged lightly against her hold. "You’re more excited than the people actually running them."

"Obviously," Liza said. "They’re too busy working. I get to enjoy the fun part."

Lucy trailed behind, unimpressed. "This is just a waste of points. They’re charging people to play these games or buy food, and most of the class can’t afford it."

"Then it’s a good thing Arios has points to spare," Liza said cheerfully, looking back at him.

Arios raised an eyebrow. "I don’t recall volunteering."

"You didn’t have to. Your wallet did."

Lucy covered her mouth with her hand, stifling a laugh at Arios’s expression.

The first stall Liza dragged them to was a dart game. Wooden boards with painted targets were lined up, with prizes displayed on the side. A second-year student explained the rules: three darts per game, hit the bullseye for a prize.

"I’m going first!" Liza declared, snatching up the darts. Her first throw landed on the outer ring. The second one missed completely. The third hit somewhere near the center but still far from the bullseye.

Liza pouted. "Rigged."

"It’s not rigged," Arios said flatly.

"Then you try." She shoved the remaining darts into his hand.

Arios sighed but stepped up. His first dart hit just outside the bullseye. The second landed dead center. The third repeated the same.

The booth operator blinked. "Uh... congratulations. You get a prize." He handed Arios a small stuffed animal.

Arios turned, holding it awkwardly. Liza’s eyes lit up. "Mine." She snatched it from his hands before he could object, hugging it to her chest.

"You didn’t win it," Arios pointed out.

"I delegated," Liza said with a smug grin.

Lucy rolled her eyes. "You’re insufferable."

They moved on from booth to booth, Liza dragging Arios along while Lucy made sarcastic comments from the side. At a ring toss stall, Liza missed all her throws again. Arios, without even seeming to try, landed two perfectly. She claimed the prize once more without hesitation.

At a food stall, Liza insisted on trying skewers, candied nuts, and fried bread, all of which Arios ended up paying for. Lucy only shook her head. "You’re enabling her."

"She doesn’t stop either way," Arios replied.

By the time they had gone through half the courtyard, Liza was carrying two small stuffed toys, a paper fan, and several empty food wrappers. She looked completely satisfied.

"This is the best festival prep ever," she said.

"You realize the festival hasn’t actually started," Arios said.

"Semantics."

As the sun dipped lower, the three of them walked back through the courtyard. Liza carried her prizes like trophies, Lucy argued that they should had visited more stalls, and Arios simply walked between them, letting their voices fill the space.

For a brief time, the stress of rumors, confrontations, and points didn’t matter. The academy felt almost normal.