The main plaza is already packed to the near limit of its capacity, it is hard to believe that all these people live here – given how desert and dead the village has felt ever since your arrival –. There is a stage at the centre, where a strings quartet and a harpsichord fill the air with cheerful music as a – rather large – group of people dance happily at the free space in front; to dancer’s left is the banquet, luxuriously presented in a series of long wooden tables set with richly embroidered towels and separating the dishes – on equally exquisite silver plates and trays – by courses, having kitchen helpers on a continuous loop of taking away the empty trays and bringing back new ones, filled with freshly prepared and delicious food. However, in an exceedingly contradictory manner, to the right side of the stage – at about the same distance from it, as well – there is a memorial to the victims of the Beast, covered by a mountain of flowers to its feet and the Beast’s head impaled on a spear above.

  Though both your own past experiences as well as the pained impression the flowers give off urge you to continue hating the – now dead – creature, something deep inside the depths of your mind feels too uncomfortable about the proposition of seeing it as a mere mindless demon, whose only purpose was to kill and bring more suffering to the world… Really, you almost grow angry at how its head is being displayed – practically – as a trophy.

-        Hmm… Orion? Orion?

  Jorge waves his hand before your eyes, extinguishing the dark feelings that threatened to take over you. Then he proceeds to tease, masking his troubled expression – even if not quite successfully –:

-        Are you alright? Now, don’t tell me you are scared of crowds? Hahaha.

-        Wha-What? N-No, no, I’m… fine. Just fine.

-        Look! Lady Marie is about to start her speech, let’s come closer.

  Thaís points out as the music fades to a pause and all begin approaching the stage, anxious for their esteemed Lady’s words.

  From within the agglomeration, somehow you come by Lord Édouard. After greeting both Thaís and Jorge in his usual stern-yet-friendly manner, his words are directed at you in the same tone but, also, with a slight touch of urgency:

-        After this, there is something I must discuss with you.

-        Oh, o-ok!

  Nodding a little more vigorously than necessary – as his tone caught you off guard – your body responds before your mind may process everything and, quickly after, you translate curiosity into words again without thinking things through:

-        Umm… Shou-Shouldn’t you be up there too?

-        There’s no need for that…

  The lord’s tone is to-the-point and uncomplicated, giving you the impression that he most likely has other – maybe, more pressing – matters to attend now rather than any type of celebration yet. It makes you want to ask more, yet at the exact moment your lips make way for words to echo, Lady Marie begins her speech:

-        A few months ago…

  However, as interesting as it might be, all of your attention is unexpectedly taken by an abrupt jump in your heartrate, a jump much akin to those of when adrenaline floods its chambers during a life-threatening situation. You try to not make a scene by steadying all of your muscles and maintaining some composure, however it soon grows difficult to breathe; the stage’s torches blindingly bright; even the most minute of sounds, deafening enough to shatter glass and, finally, a hollow growing darkness sinks within your stomach.

  Potentialising your misery to even greater intensity, those “discomforts” prove themselves to be mere symptoms, as an “urge” peeks once you realise that someone is watching you: At about three to four metres southeast from you, Maebh stares your way in a defensive manner, almost as if she is aware and scared of what is going on with you… However, when your eyes meet, her defensiveness fades into malice and a wicked smile shapes her lips as her eye seems to undress you of all defences, all lies, all restraint and suppression, finally revealing something- Something strange. An once forgot part of you… Nay! Actually, it is a part of you that was – and, to some extent, continues – dormant.

  Precisely when you are about to find out exactly what is it that she is seeing, another adrenaline-driven jump in your heartrate causes your gaze to break contact from hers. Barely a second later, she has disappeared, turned invisible amongst the crowd like a ghast amongst the mist.

-        … Thanks to mon fils, Thaís, Jorge, Orion and Sigmundo, as well as all the others that gave their lives to fight off the Beast, we may finally live in peace once again. May the Nameless God bless their brave souls and our village! Amén. Enjoy the festivities!

  Right when you are about to begin looking for Maebh, Lady Cœur D'Argent’s voice echoes even louder, bringing all the people to clap and cheer in joy, once again dispersing your attention. However, you do manage to make a mental note to ask Lord Édouard about her before giving up on your search.