Hello again, good Reader, I hope you are ready for this next part of the story because there's going to be a lot happening in the city. I would like to take this opportunity to inform you, good Reader, that there are going to be other races being introduced in the festival. I guarantee that they're not going to be the typical kind. So, how about I stop wasting time and start this chapter?

Let us start with the town square, where there's a multitude of people gathered around. However, they're not there for shopping and trading, but for a simple celebration of spring. There's music, dancing, food, and games for all ages. Among the crowds, one could see different kinds of individuals, and I don't base it on their attitudes or social standings. In fact, one could say that they're not even humans to begin with. For example, there's a small group of jugglers using leather balls, which sounds fun, but it's not out of this world. Except for a young woman, who's not only juggling balls, but also spinning plates on sticks. How could that be possible? Did she put a stick on her nose or something? Not at all, she's using only hands to do everything, all four of them.

Allow me to introduce one of the strongest races in the world, and that is the Formica. One look at them would tell anyone that they're humanoid insects with the traits of ants. All of them have two antennae on the top of their heads, four arms and two legs covered in chitin that's stronger than steel. It comes in black, brown, red, or yellow colors, which matches with their hair. The back of the torso and neck is also protected by the same substance. The only areas that look exposed are their human-like faces, front of the torso, forepart of the neck, the pelvic area, and the lower rear. Do not be deceived, while it is soft skin, under it is more chitin forming their structure. Their eyes are as black as onyx, but a closer inspection reveals that they are compound. It makes it surprising that they have clear eyesight, but since their eyes are bigger, they don't suffer blur vision. A unique trait about this race is that their skin is pale because they come from underground colonies in the continent to the north.

Moving on, there's another young lady putting a spectacle in another part of the square. She's breathing fire, creating a dangerous plume of flames. One could say that the flames could harm her, and it would, if she was human to begin with. Introducing the Sávra, the fastest race in the world, capable of running at the same speed, if not faster, than a horse. They're humanoid reptiles, with scales covering their limbs, and a long scaly tail coming out from their lower back. They also posses claws at the tip of their fingers and toes. Another distinct feature about them is that their pupils are vertical slits. They're also recognized by their fiery red hair, the same color as their scaled, and dark skin. Many believe they gained that complexion because they live in the desert continent to the west.

In another area, we have dancers putting a spectacular performance. To draw the attention of the audience around them, they're wearing strapless dresses, and jewelry around the neck. It also helps that their well-maintained feathers look marvelous for the festival. The next race among the crowds are the masters of the sky, the Tsenahale from the mountainous continent to the east. Humanoid birds, with feathers covering their forearms, scaly hands, and their legs are also covered with scales from the knees to their feet. Instead of nails, they have small talons on the tip of their fingers, and bigger ones at the end of their toes. They come in two different species, one of them are known as the Atsá, and the other are the Gáagii. To put it in a simple way, one of them are based on eagles, and the other are ravens. The Atsá have a brown complexion, the same color as their feathers, yellow scales, and white hair. The Gáagii have black hair, feathers, and scales, but their skin is pale.

Helping the group of dancers are skillful musicians, dressed in regular shirts and pants. However, that doesn't hide the fact that their skin colors are not normal for the human mind. They are the Ningyo, humanoid fish that are capable of breathing underwater and endure cold temperatures. They have hair, and they come in all different colors, just like their complexions. They have webbed hands and feet, which are perfect for swimming. They also posses gills at the sides of their heads and torsos. There's another surprising, even unbelievable, characteristic about them, but I prefer to leave it as a surprise.

While the people in the town square are enjoying the festivities, a group of children are hiding behind barrels in one of the many alleys. It's Ava and the other children, watching the festival going on. They're all wearing the same clothes from the previous day because they don't have much variety. Ava is also carrying the same weapons because one never knows what could happen on their way.

“Just as expected, this festival brought lots of nice people,” says David.

“Nice people who are going to give the needy some coins, or the kind that's easy to steal blind?” asks Ava while holding a laugh.

“Now you're just making us sound like a group of no-good thieves.”

“I know, right? What's wrong with me? They're just going to lend us the money without them knowing.” David responds with an eye roll. Wendy gets distracted when she sees Harold sniffing the air.

“What is it, Harold?” asks Wendy while looking at her brother.

“Something smells really good,” answers Harold and he keeps trying to find food with his nose. David leaves the alley and the barrel behind.

“You guys wait here, while we get to work,” says David, and Ava starts leaving both weapons under the care of Wendy. Ava also takes the opportunity to rub Harold's head.

“Just give us a moment, little guy. I'll get you something to eat, and then we'll play something,” says Ava. The two oldest kids stand before a large crowd of people, from the oldest to the youngest, and from the poorest to the richest. However, both children see nothing more than potential targets, and possible dangers.

“Same as always?” asks David without looking at the other child.

“You go left and I go right?” asks Ava.

“Same as always.” The give each other a fist bump, and separate from each other. With experience under their belts, and the cover of the multitude, they start to use their skills to pickpocket unsuspecting victims. They're careful with their nimble fingers as they cut the rope keeping the purses tied to their owners. Making sure that the person is distracted, their hands sneak inside their bags and grab all that they can. All is not as easy as it seems, for there are guards walking the area, but our little thieves know how to keep their actions hidden. The children need no words to communicate with each other, a single look in the eyes says everything.

Once they are done with the stealing, they regroup with the other children behind the cover of the barrels, and show all that was stolen. It's a small fortune, but it will be more than enough for them to enjoy the festival to the fullest.

“Huh, it feels like we got more than before. We must be getting better at this,” says David, while counting the money. Everyone was sitting on the ground, except for Harold, who was keeping watch.

“It's not our first time, and we did get good targets,” responds Ava.

“This should lasts us for a long time, if we avoid wasting it on unnecessary things,” adds Wendy, which grabs her little brother's attention and he turns around to look at his sister.

“We won't get food?” asks Harold.

“I didn't say that. I'm sure we can use some of this money to have some fun.”

“Yaay!” Harold throws his arms into the air as he cheers in delight. David gets up from the floor and looks at every single one of them with a smile.

“Well then, how about we stop wasting time and have some fun?” asks the oldest boy, and everyone agrees with him without a doubt. All of them grab what they need, and join the festival with excitement.

I think that was enough for the moment, and I hope you enjoyed discovering that there was more than just humans in the story. I did promised that it would be a tale filled with magic and wonder, which I believe to have delivered successfully. Come back next time to see the royal family arrive at the festival, and maybe to find something more. Until next time, good Reader.