Guided by the kind-hearted Leah, I’ve found my way inside the big hall. To say that the room was crowded was an understatement. Although foolish, I attempted to count down the ghosts, as numbers rose, my eyes got bigger and bigger. Soon enough, I had to admit my defeat in counting them, as before I reached the number 300, I lost my count. Even in good years, I never saw that many humans gathered for our Festival of Offerings.

As I scanned my surroundings, my eyes got glued down to a particular part of the room: the big stage. 

‘They even have… an orchestra?’

From violins, to beautiful wooden cello’s to flute, clarinet or even a trumpet. This orchestra was clearly well-prepared. It was a blessing to my ears to hear the beautiful sound that the harmonized instruments made. It was symphonic, classical. I dare say it was a sound that could not be compared.

The ghosts danced in pairs of two, and the way the dresses were twirling surely caught my attention. My eyes followed their movement, and I found myself mimicking with my feet their steps. As if I was in a trance, I got lost.

Unknowingly, I spun around, following the beat of the song. Without having a partner, I used my right hand to guide my steps. One, two, one, two. After all the dance lessons I had taken, it was inevitable that I could go unnoticed, even without a partner. 

Under the spell of the music, I forgot the whole purpose I had. It was childish of me to act like this, even for a moment. Yet I couldn’t ignore this chance, even if it lasted a minute — for the first time, my rank, my family, nothing mattered. I could live freely, like I always wished. 

As I danced my way through the crowd, I did not notice a pair of ghosts that approached me and, as I spun around, I stepped onto the girl’s dress, stumbling on my way. If her partner wasn’t quick enough to catch her, the two of us would have met the floor.

My cheeks reddened when I looked at the woman.

‘Use your eyes if you don’t know how to dance!’ The ghost's sharp words were almost yelled out.

Awkwardly, I nodded my head.

‘Excuse me.’

Although I wasn’t ready to admit it, I should have thanked her for bringing me back from the trance. I got so lost in this atmosphere that I didn’t even look for the boy. Closing my eyes for a moment, it was now time to search for him.

Even in a crowd full of ghosts whose appearance I don’t know, I was certain I would be able to find him. From a thousand people, he would still stand out. With his charming red and gray eyes, no one couldn’t recognize him.

Yet, no matter how many times did I look at everyone’s face as I made my way across different parts of the dance floor, it was in vain. He wasn’t here.

Admitting my defeat, I’ve made my way across the crowd, to a secluded area, where I rested my body onto the cold wall. I sighed. 

Maybe if I wait, I’ll see him from here.

Not too long after I came to rest, the orchestra stopped in the middle of their songs. Following it, the ghosts stopped in their dance and turned to look at the conductor. A wave of drums echoed in the room as the conductor cleared his throat.

‘Everyone, please welcome our great ruler, savior of the lost souls!’ the crowd started cheering and clapping. ‘Everyone, bow your heads as you greet our savior, Raon!’

In unison, all the ghosts bowed down their heads, as a tall boy made his appearance at the top of the stairs. His head stood high and his velvet suit shined brightly under the light. 

Although no one dared to keep their heads up, I defied them, as, without realizing, I did not move. As if, my eyes were glued as I looked at the person. With each he took coming down the stairs, my doubts got smaller and smaller, until the point I was certain of who he was.

His eyes of two different colors, his gestures, his presence — he was the one who saved me and the one who could help me change the fate of my destiny. 

Involuntarily, I stood out from the whole crowd. When our eyes locked, I quickly came to notice a grin on his face. Although the distance between us was too far for us to understand each other, as soon as he opened his mouth to talk, only by reading his lips, I was certain what he just said to me.

‘We met again.’