After a few minutes of following the stranger while lost in thought, Harou began to notice a change in the crowd that shared the streets.  He saw fur, horns, hooves, long teeth, colorful skin, and pointed ears, among other features of non-human/allied races.  They had arrived.

The sky was a gloomy, overcast gray, in contrast to the sunny day he’d left behind in the city.  He knew the goblin market existed on its own plane of existence, and wondered if it was always overcast here.  The dim gray weather contrasted sharply with the vivid rainbow of striped and color-blocked circus tents and the bright strings of fairy lights draped over every entrance and wrapped around every tent line.  Harou hadn’t really expected the goblin market to be a circus.  He supposed it made sense, though.  It was a good disguise to excuse the presence of so many non-allied-races hanging around in one place if a human found the market by accident, which was known to happen with some regularity.

The sight filled Harou with a mixture of awe and cautious anticipation.  The mysterious hooded man who had guided him thus far now faded into the crowd, leaving Harou to navigate the market on his own.  As he ventured deeper into the goblin market, the vibrant sights and sounds enveloped him. Exotic aromas wafted through the air, teasing his senses with tantalizing fragrances. Vendors, of all races, called out their wares in melodious voices, enticing passersby with promises of rare and magical goods.  Amidst the colorful chaos, he glimpsed performances unfolding within the tents. Acrobats soared through the air, dancers twirled in graceful harmony, and fire-breathers enchanted onlookers with their mesmerizing displays. Harou couldn't help but smile faintly, momentarily forgetting his pain as he marveled at the skill and artistry on display.

One performance in particular stood out from the others.  An impeccably-dressed goblin stood in the middle of a ring in one of the larger tents, barking to the audience about the wonders they were about to behold.  He introduced the next act as ‘Brise, the Breathtaking,’ and stepped back, fading into the shadows of the stage curtains at the back of the tent.  Harou stopped in the doorway to watch.

A sylph descended from the darkness at the tent’s peak.  He was muscular, but slender, almost delicate-looking, but Harou knew he would be deceptively strong.  The sylph wore a skin-tight leotard that left very little to the imagination.  The leotard was opaque from his rib cage to his knees, but the remaining length of the pant legs were sheer, as were the sleeves.  A hole in the chest fully exposed his well-formed pecs.  He looked to be a few inches shorter than Harou.  The sylph’s long white hair was contained in two long braids that floated around his head in a truly ethereal manner.  His bright blue eyes stood out against his pale, ivory skin.

With a grace only a sylph was capable of, he began a performance that was part acrobatics, part ballet, twisting and turning in the air and contorting effortlessly.

Harou couldn't help but appreciate the sylph's perfectly toned physique.  Brise’s vivid blue eyes seemed to hold a spark of mischief and artistry. Harou sensed that this performer possessed not only physical agility but also a deep connection with the elements.  As the sylph began his performance, a mesmerizing blend of acrobatics and ballet, Harou's awe deepened.

Every movement was executed flawlessly, capturing the attention and admiration of the audience. Brise's performance painted a story in the air, evoking emotions and transporting the spectators to a realm of enchantment.

The skill Brise displayed resonated with Harou, reminding him of his own military training, and how similar their exercise routines must be for the sylph to perform like this.  He felt inspiration blooming in his chest, and, as unexpected as it was undeniable, desire unfolded in his belly.  The lycan had enough control of himself to not embarrass himself, but it took effort.  It had been a while since he’d been with anyone, and he couldn’t remember the last time he felt such an intense desire for a particular man.

The audience erupted in applause as the sylph gracefully descended to the ground, bringing his breathtaking display to a close. Harou joined in the thunderous applause, his eyes shimmering with a renewed sense of hope, not just for finding a cure, but perhaps, for finding love.

Harou stepped aside to allow the audience to file out of the tent, but kept his eyes on Brise, his head lifting to try and pick the sylph’s scent out of the crowd.  He wanted to catch the sylph and speak with him, and he aimed to memorize his scent in case he lost track of where he went after the show.

Luckily for Harou, the sylph merely went to the curtained backstage area where the goblin had gone.  Harou followed.  He stopped and hid when he saw the sylph and goblin standing together backstage, talking.

“You put on a good show, Brise,” the goblin was saying.  “Are you up for giving me a private show later?” he asked suggestively, running his hands down the taller man’s hips.

Distaste flashed across Brise’s face, but the sylph quickly masked it.  Harou’s hackles lifted slightly.

“If I must, Master, but I have two more shows to put on and I will be quite exhausted.  I don’t think an after-hours, erm, ‘show’, would be up to the usual standards,” Brise said carefully.

The goblin sighed and waved his hand dismissively.

“Fine, fine, you may rest tonight, but tomorrow I’m cutting your last show so you’ll have sufficient energy to perform for me tomorrow,” the goblin said, stepping close to the sylph and running one hand over Brise’s exposed pecs and squeezing his ass with the other hand.  The sylph ground his teeth and looked away.  The goblin didn’t notice, partially due to his shorter stature, and partially due to his distraction.  Harou felt a mingling of rage and disgust at the goblin’s flagrant abuse, and his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides.  The goblin left, visibly excited, and the sylph sagged in relief and sank into a nearby chair.

Harou stepped out where Brise could see him.

“Are you alright?” he asked softly.

The sylph jolted, looking up at Harou with surprise.  His eyes traveled over Harou’s tall, muscular form and worn, but tidy military uniform.  He didn’t quite relax, but some of the initial tension from being surprised evaporated.

“What are you doing here, sir?  The audience isn’t meant to come here,” he said in a tired tone.  Harou resisted the impulse to close his eyes and soak in the sound of the sylph’s melodic voice.  Harou cleared his throat, feeling a little awkward.

“Sorry, I can leave if you want, I just…” Harou paused, empathy for the sylph welling in his heart.  “But are you alright?  That was,” his eyes trailed in the direction the goblin had gone, “not an acceptable thing he did.  You don’t deserve to be treated like that.”

Brise wavered, looking at Harou intently.

Brise’s bright blue eyes met Harou's, and for a moment, a flicker of vulnerability passed through his gaze. He took a deep breath, composing himself before responding.

"I appreciate your concern," Brise replied, his voice tinged with weariness. "It's been a long day, but I will manage. Thank you for asking."

“Are you going to be alright tomorrow, though?”

Brise didn’t answer for a long time, staring at the floor.

“It doesn’t matter.  I don’t have a choice.  I belong to him.  He can do as he likes with me,” the sylph finally answered.  He held up his arms, showing the thin, silver cuffs around his wrist, that Harou had mistakenly thought were part of his costume, but he now realized they were binding cuffs that enslaved those of the elemental races.