"That was anti climatic.." Kincade sighed

Fabian ran around to tend the unconcious rebels. When he saw the prince face had swollen really bad, he looked at Rein and shook his head.

The guards rounded up all the rebels and tied them, Rein then heard a commotion and saw Laylah barged in, ready to attack, but she was surprised to see them there.  Kincade approached her, he gave Laylah a pat on her head and praised her. Her cheek turned red and she quickly covered her face with her hair.

The girl helped the Emperor to stood up, he was badly wounded. Fabian went to treat the Emperor, the Empress was fortunately not hurt, however she was mad at prince jiaom for betraying the empire. The Emperor ordered the guards to immediately execute all the rebels including prince Jiaom and Consort Xuqing.  

The girl however asked the Emperor to gave them some lenience, she suggested stripping them of their title and banished them to the countryside, while the other rebels including general Tahu were subjected to forced labour. The Emperor seemed mad, but after calming down, he agreed with the princess and ordered the guard to bring them to dungeon.  Prince Jiaom and Consort Xuqing cursed at them as they being led away by the guards.

The ministers and the other ladies entered the palace. The dragonfly old lady knelt in front of the Emperor, she requested a severe punishment because her niece have tarnished the empire. The Emperor told her to stood up as she was not responsible for her niece action, he asked the maids to bring the dragonfly lady back to her chamber to rest.

"Now for our savior." the Emperor turned to face Rein and his companion.

He and everyone at the palace bowed their heads at them.

Rein was embarassed. "Your majesty, we were only helping the princess."

"Nevertheless, as a thank you for the empire and me, i will reward you fifty thousand silling and some of our national treasure of your choosing." said the emperor

"Your majesty.. but we have to decli-"

"I insist." The Emperor bowed at them again. "Guards, bring their companion to the palace."

The girl approached them and thanked them. She looked at Fabian "thank you for saving my life, and.. if possible may i see the face of my savior."

"I am sorry my lady, but that is impossible." He glanced at Rein "i have a reason to not showing my face."

The girl nodded, she once again thanked Fabian, then at Rein and the other before returning to the Emperor side. The Emperor ordered his guards and ministers to repaired festival area in preparation for tonight star goddess sky lantern event.

Rein heard the door opened and saw Leena and the others entered the palace, escorted by the guards. Leena approached Rein and asked why they were being summoned. Rein explained to them that the Emperor had prepared a gift for them for saving the empire.

One of the minister asked them to followed him to the treasury.  When they arrived there, they were awed to see all kind of intricate items. The minister told them to chose one for each of them. Rein didn't knew what to chose, the other also looked confused.

Rein whispered at his companion "let's pick the simplest looking one."

"Hmm.. I'll take this one then." Garland took a small bird sculpture made of transparent red gemstone

"i'll take this." Rose hugged a doll wearing ancient clothing "So cute!"

Leena chose a piece of embroidered fabric; Fabian picked an old book; Kincade took a blue metal bar, Laylah also chose the same metal bar; Sierra selected an antique coin; while Dianna chose an animal shaped whistle.

After some thought, Rein decided for a small green marble. They shown all their chosen item to the minister. His only comment was they all have really good eyes because all of their chosen item were the empire most priced treasure. Rein awkwardly laughing. The minister also told them that the Empress dowager gifted each of the girls a dress.

The minister escorted them outside the palace. Rein sighed in relief when they finally left the palace, because along the way, the palace resident kept bowing their heads at them.  

"I'm exhausted, how about we go to the bathhouse?" Rose suggested at the girls

"Agreed!" Leena  beamed "i want to try out our new dress."

"Allright then, in the mean time we will wait at our stall." said Rein

"Let's find some drink." suggested Kincade

"No." ordered Fabian "you two smells rotten, go take a bath!"

Garland snorted. Rein and Kincade sighed as they followed the girls to find a bathhouse. They found a bathhouse that looked grandeour than the other bathhouse, they decided to pay extra to reserved the whole place. Rein waved at the girls and went to the men section. The bathing area was a spectacles, it was mostly made of carved stone with animal design and the mist covered the pool. After cleaning himself with herb powder, Rein jumped to the pool, Kincade followed soon. They stayed in the pool for quite sometimes, the pool was warm.

"This is refreshing."

"Hey! they serve free drinks." Kincade took a sealed jug made of wood from the cabinet, he threw one at Rein.

Rein failed to catch it and it fell in to the pool. Rein quickly dived to retreived it, forntunately it's not spilled. He opened it and took a sip "It taste like an ice cream."

"You're right!" Kincade quickly gulped the whole jar, he then took another one.

They couldn't stopped drinking and emptied the entire cabinet. After drying themselves and wore their disguise. Rein gave extra coins to the clerk for the drinks. It seemed the girls still haven't finished yet, so they leave  and returned to their stall. They passed several blocks, the locals were busy making lantern.

"Shall we make one?"  

"What for?" asked Kincade

"It seems fun." Rein stared at the kids and their parents

Kincade laughed "Yeah, let's go buy the material then."

They went to the shop and bought all the materials they needed before heading back to their stall. Rein saw Fabian and Garland sitting on the ground (Fabian was reading his gift from the palace, while Garland doodling on his book).

"What are those for?" asked Garland when Rein put the materials on the ground

"We're making a lantern."

"A lantern?" Fabian examined the materials "We could buy one from that stall over there."

"I think.. it more fun if we make it by ourselves."

"Heh.." Garland rubbed his beak "okay then! i'm going to make one also."

"But we only bought enough for one."

"I'll go buy more materials." Garland quickly left

Rein and Kincade began making the frame for the lantern, while fabian coloring the the fabric. A few minutes later, Garland returned with huge pile of materials. 

He started making the frame for his lantern, however Rein noticed the frame were resembling a bird, definitely much more sophisticated than their simple dome lantern which were similar with the one made by the local.

"Is that a challenge, Gar!" yelled Kincade "I'm going to get more materials! we'll  make a cooler lantern than him!"

Kincade ran to the shop, leaving Rein dumbfounded, Fabian shook his head. Rein then saw the girls, he waved at them.

"Rein, what are you doing?" Leena wondered

"We're joining the lantern festival."

"A lantern?" Rose looking at the frame

"It will fly when we attached this stone on to this stone device." Rein explained

"Isn't that similar with the stove used for cooking?" Sierra intrigued

"Really?"

"Won't it liters the environment?" asked Leena

"Uh- I- i have no idea.." Rein suddenly realized

"I already asked Amala." explained Garland "these fabric are made of grass and the dye are from grinded petals."

"by the way, where's Cade?" asked Rose

"He is buying more materials." said Fabian

 "Wow.. is that a bird?" asked Dianna

"Sounds fun!" Sierra gushed "let's make ours too."

Leena and Rose nodded;  Dianna happily raised her hand. Laylah didn't seemed interested so she stayed behind while the girls left to bought the materials. A while later, they all returned along with Kincade.

They were all busy making their lanterns, the girls decided each of them will make their own Lantern. When they finally finished, they unveiled their creation. Rose was making flower Lantern; Dianna's a butterfly; Lenna's lantern was a star; Sierra was holding a spaceship.

"Eh! why you make that!" Rein appalled

"oops.. too excited." Sierra waving her hand

Rein sighed, the others were laughing. Rein then unveiled his Lantern. They were making a palace (not as good as they hoped so). Rein heard Garland snorted, he was holding a majestic bird shaped lantern.

"It's our lost.." Kincade felt on his knees. Laylah patted his shoulder

"Hahah.. at least we tried our best." cheered Rein

After a while, they heard a gong, signalling the start of the festival. They stored their lanterns inside their carriage and enjoyed the festivals. When the time was almost midnight, they heard another gong, the Emperor and his entourage came out from the Palace, as always, carried by the people. The Emperor announced that the sky lantern event will began shortly.

They returned to their carriage and took their lanterns. Rein saw the locals began releasing their lanterns. Rein attached the stone on to the device and it quickly radiating heat.

They released their lanterns, and it caused quite a ruckus because their lanterns were more striking compared to the locals.

"Mommy! look!" a child pointing at their Lanterns

"Is that a flying house?"

"That gave me an idea for the next year festival." muttered one of the Merchant

Rein saw the butterfly girl awed looking at their lanterns. The lanterns flew higher to the skies, as if joining the stars. With that, the festival had finally ended, and it's time to continued with their journey.

They went back to their stall. Sierra took off the anti grav device from their carriage, and Rein offered their carriage to a nearby merchant. They then returned back to their lodge to stay for another night. Along the way, they met with the owner and her daughter. The daughter was jubilant and asked to teach her how to make their lanterns.

Back at their lodge, the owner made a large bowl of soup that were only reserved for the new year. The nearby locals also came and they party the entire night, they also teaching the daughter to make a butterfly lantern.

The next morning, Rein thanked the owner and her daughter for their hospitality. Rein gave all their coins they earned from selling the merchandise and the gift coin from the emperor to them, which after some back and forth, she finally accepted. The daughter asked them if they will visit again.

Rein didn't knew how to answer it, but Rose knelt beside her and said they promised they will visit again in the future, a promised that they might not be able to fullfil. They waved at the owner and the daughter.

They walked passed the entrance gate and after looking around, they bolted towards their transport craft. Rein was surprised when he saw the ship was actually parked really closed to the town, it was a relieved no one stumbled upon it.

They boarded the transport craft and returned back to their ship. When they arrived, they went to the bridge and Kincade ignited the generator. The ship hovered and flew to the sky. Rein looked at town from the window and smiled. After they flew above the clouds, Kincade pushed the thruster at maximum power and left the planet. Their off to their next destination.