Please enjoy this crossover adventure with CEWashburn's "Veil Saga" characters. For those unfamiliar with their work, "The Veil Saga" features supernatural romance and action between demons, angels, and all beings in between. We'll be exploring an encounter with the "Devil Gods" Toji and Natsu Kanaki, plus up-and-coming trainee Tristan for this Renaissance Faire journey. This upload is part one of eight, with two parts uploading per week until the story concludes.

A stunning cornucopia of sights and sounds, music and laughter filled the quaint, crowded glen at the heart of the local Renaissance Festival. Miss Iris Alcazar practically skipped toward the ticket line, bright-eyed and eager to absorb the sprawling splendor within. Trailing closely behind her, far more suspicious and on-guard than she was, were a cadre of roommates and friends who’d sought to spend a rare day out with the sickly Summoner.

“Oh look, Byxx!” Iris cried out excitedly, her voice creaking with unbridled joy. “There’s a joust, and a food court, and everything!” 

“Easy there, honey,” the archfiend replied through a stifled chuckle. “We’ll see it all, just hang in there.”

The archfiend followed closely behind Iris, standing tall and proud in his glittering, golden champion armor. Iris had suggested he attend in the same finery Byxx had arrived on Earth with, explaining that it would look “normal” for him to be dressed in such attire. Apparently, it was a custom on Earth to dress in fantastic costumes, wander about the fairgrounds, and enjoy a number of fanciful activities.

Byxx hardly objected to the stares of admiration and ecstatic curiosity that onlookers showered on them. He’d half expected several courageous humans to ask him about the enormous sword at his side, judging by the captivating glances Damocleaver received. Between the gilded archfiend champion and his half-breed Deceiver companion, the roommates had perfect disguises to best enjoy a day at the Faire. 

Alden, Curtis, and Zayne broke the pattern, however, and were casual tourists in their respective informal outfits. This being his first Renaissance Festival, Alden shuddered at his too-tight navy V-neck and jeans clashing with the dresses, flouncy shirts, and breeches of the festival-goers. 

Zayne, too, lamented how “common” he appeared, but there was a certain comfort that came with fitting in with “normal” humans. This way, he could wear one of Iris’s custom-tailored shirts proudly, and guard her over-the-shoulder messenger bag as his Summoner gadded about unencumbered. Aloe-green eyes traced Iris’s every move as she adored all of the cute shops lining the perimeter by the ticket booth.

The only other member of their party to make an effort to blend in was Iris. Wearing Byxx’s billowing “Crit Happens” T-Shirt, belted at the waist like a tunic, and a pair of matching leggings, Iris resembled a plucky youth at her very first Feast of Merkander. Byxx wasn’t the only one whose eyes crinkled from smiling at the cheerful Summoner. Alden, Zayne, and Curtis each took turns chuckling and admiring the ceaseless enthusiasm Iris had for every angstrom of the festivities.

“Do we require invitations to this event?” Khazmine asked off-handedly as her glacier-blue eyes kept watch over Iris and scanned the perimeter.

“Invitations?” Curtis asked as he brought up the rear.

“No, they sell tickets to these things,” Alden chimed in, wallet in hand as he approached the ticket counter. “Let’s see, it’s you, Iris, Byxx, Zay, Curtis, and me. That’s six ‘standard’ adult tickets, please.”

“Four,” the attendant retorted, her eyes glued to the pale-lilac half-breed with immense curiosity. “There’s a discount for cosplayers. Are you two part of the games?”

“Games?” Khazmine asked, her interest piqued at the word.

“Yeah, the tournament games. There’s combat, jousting, and an archery event.”

“I’m down for some exercise,” Byxx added. “Khaz?”

The Augment grinned knowingly, a glint of feisty energy catching in her smile.

“Well, four ‘standard’ and two ‘event’ tickets, please,” Alden chimed in.

A frigid hand found the crook in Alden’s arm and startled the off-duty office manager where he stood. Iris had snuck up behind him and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek before the poor man knew what hit him. 

“Thanks honey, for the tickets,” Iris beamed. Her other arm reached for Zayne’s sleeve, and the eager woman tugged both men along to get them to follow her lead. “Come on, then! The first joust is starting soon, and we’ll want to get snacks and seats.”

“Go on ahead, love,” Byxx grinned as Curtis handed him an event program. Khazmine and Curtis reviewed the catalog with utmost scrutiny before homing in on events of interest. “We’ll be along presently.”

And with that, the enthusiastic party of six made their way to the fairgrounds, hungry for festive foods, thrilling sights, and adventures ahead.

***

Tristan Helman was not impressed. For all the hype Toji gave a Renaissance Faire, looking around them, it looked no different than any other city, outlying village, or bordertown in the Divine Realms or the Veil. Elves, fairies, fawns, and other mythics wandered around freely, dressed in flowing gowns, puffy tunics, feathered hats, cheap hair adornments, and various weaponry. He noticed humans dressed the same way, only more garishly so, and their weaponry was noticeably fake.

Caricatures of supernatural beings, cheap costumes, slapdash props; everything rang hollow with inauthenticity at this sorry excuse for a cultural event. Perhaps it was a holdover from Earth’s past traditions, but none of it appealed to the disinterested Tristan, who’d rather spend his free time practically anywhere else than this gaudy carnival.

Outside of the oddly dressed staff shouting out greetings, singing songs to passing guests, and practically assaulting people with ribbons and flowers, Tristan may as well have been walking the streets of Fornay. A constant loop of “Greensleeves” played on a crude lyre repeated ad nauseum, further grating on the youth’s last nerves.

And they hadn’t even left the ticket line.

Silver jumped onto his shoulders, his tiny monkey paws folding atop Tristan’s thick blonde hair, his tail wrapping around the teen’s neck. “What do you think?” he asked excitedly. “Cool, right?”

“I don’t understand the appeal,” the young god said, shaking his head. “I can see the same thing back home. Maybe more practically dressed, of course.”

Silver sighed. “Spoil sport.”

“Don’t the snobs and snoots at Helman Court dress this way?” Toji asked, his fingers laced behind his head, his messy bright red hair falling over his mismatched red and blue eyes. “They did when I was growing up there.”

“They wear uniforms, suits, and nice clothes,” Tristan said, his ruby red eyes still dancing over the mass of people moving into the large area, laughing and taking pictures with their phones. Some were even using what Natsu called “selfie-sticks,” long plastic handles that held the phone out at a short distance to get a better photo angle. It was yet one more thing to add to the gilded charade. “Even you know fantasy novels and movies get it wrong.”

Natsu, on Toji’s other side, sighed. “You really need to lighten up, Tan,” he said as they made their way sluggishly forward. “These are your last few days of freedom before all the chaos surrounding your graduation and you move permanently to the Fourth Realm. Enjoy it while you can.”

“Besides!” Toji said, lifting his hands in the air and turning to face his nephew, a wide grin on his scarred face. “It’s not really about what people are wearing, it’s what they’re selling.”

“Which would be?” Tristan drawled.

“FOOOOOD!” Toji said with a gleeful growl, his fists clenched excitedly near his chin as he bent forward slightly, meeting Tristan eye-to-eye, the two rings at his neck swaying gently. “It’s all the delicious, tasty yum yum’s the Divine Realms are seriously lacking.”

“The granola bars are good,” Silver said.

“You have no sense of taste,” Toji said, straightening and grabbing the imp by the head, tossing the giggling creature onto his own shoulders. “Like Natsu said, lighten up, kid,” he said, turning back to wrap his arm around his husband, interlacing their fingers at Natsu’s shoulder.

They were drawing close to the ticket counter, Tristan still bemoaning the unimpressive atmosphere while Natsu and Silver contradicted him at every turn.

“If you can make it through the rest of the day without complaining like a little bitch, I’ll get you a nice pretty new sword, how’s that?” Toji said, finally putting an end to his nephew’s griping as Natsu ordered and paid for their tickets from another ridiculously dressed staff member. The attendant only charged them for Natsu and Tristan, nodding appreciatively at Toji as a potential participant for one of the fighting events.

It didn’t hurt she found him to be incredibly hot. Natsu’s glare and thinly veiled threats for her to look away before she regretted it brought her daydreams to an abrupt end.

A small group among the mass caught Toji’s eye as they moved deeper into the venue. It was the big, maroon-colored man with blonde hair that caught his notice, his booming laugh echoing above the sea of bodies.

What the hell is that smell? 

“I can get one in—” Tristan began to argue.

Toji’s sharp glare shut him up quickly.

Tristan stifled a sigh and nodded once. “Yes, sir.”

Toji patted his head. “Good boy.” 

“Eat me,” Tristan mumbled. 

The small group left the line and joined the crowd entering the venue, Toji listing off all the fun foods he was going to try, the strange little group the demon-like being was towering over, forgotten.

***

Tristan handed Silver the rest of his baked potato, the imp now in his teenage form, both of them smiling as they talked about the last performer they saw, some weird guy with whips. Natsu was just happy the young god was in an infinitely better mood. Toji was right; all it took was some food, and—

“Tsu.”

Toji’s deep voice cut through his thoughts, drawing his attention quickly to his husband. Toji’s mismatched eyes were moving over the thinning crowd, his nose wrinkled against a noxious, ozone-like scent that had assaulted his nostrils.

“Do you feel that?”

Tristan snapped to attention as Natsu nodded.

“I thought I sensed it earlier, but I wasn’t sure.”

Toji’s eyes landed on his target and he slowed to a stop. “There,” he said in a low, almost inaudible tone.

“What?” Tristan asked, his gaze following his uncle’s to a small group huddled around a frail-looking woman with purple hair. Compared to everyone else at the Faire, they didn’t look any different. Except…their energies were…

“Off-worlders.” 

“Shit,” Natsu breathed, running a hand through his short black hair. 

Toji narrowed his eyes, fixating on the giant maroon warrior, his hand sliding into his pocket. “Is that him?”

Natsu nodded. “Looks like it. Julian told us he might be in the city, along with two others, but I didn’t think he’d show up here.”

Toji clutched the item tightly, its glass gently warming in his grasp, and he was careful not to break it. 

Zayne had returned from one of the food kiosks with no fewer than five turkey legs, drawing a belly laugh from Iris at his over-full hands and meat clenched in his mouth. There was a brief, uncomfortable flicker in her vision, hardly worth notice, really, until Zayne’s outline blurred right in front of her. Her mouth unexpectedly filled with the taste of burnt copper, and Iris’s knees buckled, sending her tumbling to the ground.

Quick as a flash, the Paxoram abandoned two of his wrapped-up prizes and extended a hand to catch his watch-mate before she hit the packed-earth path below. With two turkey legs still in one hand, and one wedged in his mouth, Zayne tried to ask after her well-being. “Irush? Harr yew okay?”

“S-sorry about your food, Zay,” Iris apologized instinctively. Though wrapped in foil, it wasn’t safe for “normal” humans to eat hot food that had touched the ground, and the Paxoram would have to abandon nearly half of his feast. “I don’t know what happened, I just…”

Zayne flinched without comment and helped Iris settle comfortably on a grassy patch, away from onlookers. Food and games would have to wait until Iris was feeling better, so he stowed the remainder of his treasures safely in her messenger bag. With luck, perhaps Iris could share them with Zayne later.

Alden searched around for anything that might have triggered an attack; an allergen, a stinging insect, anything that could explain Iris’s relapse. Not finding any offenders, Alden crouched in front of Iris, his hand on her knee, the concern growing in his face. “Iris, what is it? What happened?” 

Iris shook her head, her hands shaking as she rubbed her temple. “I-I don’t know,” she mumbled, trying to raise her gaze to his. “I just. I got that…feeling again.” She shut her eyes again, swaying slightly as another wave overtook her.

Zayne placed his hand on her forehead, brushing locks of dark purple hair away to check for a fever. Another relapse meant a trip to the hospital, something Iris could ill afford. Alden would happily pay for any treatment she needed, but getting Iris in an ambulance, or strapped to a gurney? No, Zayne and Alden both knew how poorly that would go for her.

“You look really pale,” Zayne offered. “Do you want some water? We still have a few bottles in your bag. Your meds, too, if you need them.”

That’s not a bad idea, Alden considered. It would be time for her next dose soon, and perhaps he could ensure that she was able to take all of them this time. I know it’s awful, and there are so many of them, but…

Iris slowly shook her head. “M-maybe some water?”

Alden’s frown deepened as he tucked some loose hair behind her ear. “Do you want to go home?”

Iris raised her gaze to meet Alden’s troubled stare. “N-no,” she replied. “No, it’s fine, really. We just got here and everyone is having so much fun. I just need a moment to rest, that’s all.” 

She squeezed his hand and tried to give Alden a reassuring smile. “No need to leave early on my account…” Iris’s grin faltered and she swayed again, slumping into Alden’s embrace.

Alden gave Iris a gentle hug before turning to Curtis and Zayne. “Stay here. I’m going to find an ice pack to cool her down.”

Byxx produced the event pamphlet, which included a map of the fairgrounds, and the amenities it offered. “There’s a healer’s hovel not far from here. I know the way.”

Alden rose slowly, ensuring Zayne had a hold of her before releasing Iris’s trembling arms. “I’ll be right back, all right?”