The village square throbbed with the pulse of excitement as the people crowded towards the center stage with wide eyes in anticipation for Mystorica’s first real celebration in over a decade, and a hush fell over the murmuring crowd as Aria began ascending the steps of the stage.

“Dear esteemed guests,” Aria spoke, his voice poised and clear, carried throughout the crowd by a subtle enchantment woven into the woodwork of the stage, “Before we begin, it is my honor to welcome you all to Mystorica’s first celebration since the coming of the snow.”

A round of cheers and applause erupted from the crowd, the sound reverberating through the open air like birds finally freed from their cages. Aria waited calmly for the commotion to subside, before he continued.

“For a long while, many of us believed that the snow would never end,” Aria’s eyes swept through the gathered crowd as he enunciated each word, “We began to waver- To despair, and we even began to forget the feeling of spring. But now-”

There was a pause, and Aria’s eyes seemed to glimmer with a combination of joy, relief and anticipation, “Now- Spring has finally returned to Mystorica, and with it, a chance for us to hope again!”

Another cascade of claps and excited shouts rang out. Within the crowd, Akako stood sandwiched between Hanako and General, head tilted upwards on his tip-toes as he attempted to get a better view of the stage over the swarm of bustling people before him.

“Thank god for spring,” Akako muttered to Hanako between claps, “Can you imagine having to live in the winter forever? Ten years was more than enough!”

Hanako’s gaze was still fixed upon the stage, though he gave a small nod of agreement nonetheless.

“Well, I’m sure everyone is more than eager for the celebration to begin,” Aria spoke as the cheers died down once more, “But before that, let us pay homage to those who came before us- And to the beings who had granted us this very world to live in!”

BANG! 

A fire cracker bursted into confetti and smoke. On the stage, a figure leapt forth, wearing a sweeping azure robe, embroidered with silvery waves and a scaled design. The performer’s face was hidden behind an elaborate dragon mask, and he struck a dramatic martial pose as he motioned towards the crowd, “Behold! It is I, the Azure Dragon!”

Applause exploded around the square as more performers followed in quick succession, each erupting from behind the curtains with their own flair or smoke and colour.

“And it is I! The Vermilion Bird!” Cried a robed dander blazing in red and gold, a trail of glittering sparks trailing behind him.

“Behold! The Emerald Genbu!” Called a massive, slow-moving performer draped in green silk and moss-like fringe.

“And I, the White Tiger!” Finished the last performer, masked in white amour that was trimmed with metallic filigree.

Akako had whooped so loudly when the Vermilion Bird entered that a few people had turned to look, and Hanako’s lips had twitched faintly upwards as the White Tiger struck its pose with deliberate flair. Meanwhile, next to them, General appeared visibly disoriented.

“What is this?” General asked, voice low and slightly hoarse with a sort of quiet caution that implied that dancing dragons were the furthest thing from what he was expecting when he had woken up this morning.

“The Primordial Beasts!” Akako exclaimed, eyes still glued to the performers who were now in a pantomiming battle, lunging at each other as they twirled through the air with exaggerated poise and grace, “The ones who were when the world was still void!”

Before General could respond, Hanako continued in a murmur, his voice brimming with anticipation, “Here it comes,”

CRACK!

In another blinding flash of smoke and light, a fifth performer bursted his way onto the stage, draped in full black with purple and crimson claw motifs painted all over, moving with unsettling sharpness as he loomed dangerously over the other performers.

“I am the Stygian Taotie!” He bellowed, voice distorted through the horned, hound-like mask he wore, “Who dares wake me from my slumber?!”

A series of loud gasps rippled across the crowd. In the back, a child bursted into tears. General raised an eyebrow towards Akako and Hanako, evidently baffled.

“That’s the World Devourer,” Akako explained, almost reverent as the four other performers lunged at the Stygian Taotie in a stunningly choreographed clash of silk and light, “He sprang forth from the World Egg to consume the void.”

It seemed as if General was going to ask something else, but he then gave a quiet sigh, head shaking slightly as he turned his attention back towards the stage as the performance crescendoed. With another wild flurry of movement and another dazzling flash of brilliant light, the four Primordial Beasts overwhelmed the Devourer, felling him as he collapsed onto the floor with a dramatic wail. In his place, a large, golden egg prop was gradually set down, round and radiant as it glowed gently. Finally, the crowd roared their approval, descending into one last thunderous cheer as the curtains were drawn and all five actors bowed.

“Thank you all for coming again!” Aria waved towards the crowd as he returned to the center stage with an almost flustered smile, “Alright, everyone- Let the celebration begin!”

The crowd had barely begun to scatter when Akako spun in place, hands still clasped together, practically vibrating with delight and excitement as he squealed, “Did you see that? Those costume designs- They were incredible! Oh, and the Vermillion Bird-” At this, Akako fanned himself with a hand dramatically, cheeks tinged a light pink, “That performance- Those stuns- Ah! Absolutely divine!”

Besides him, Hanako nodded along, offering his usual quiet support as Akako continued on with his colorful commentary, but then, his attention shifted, eyes flickering past Akako to glance at something. Akako was just barely halfway through another excited gush before he took notice of it, and paused mid-sentence, turning to follow Hanako’s gaze to see-

General.

Akako sobered up instantly. That’s right! He was supposed to be showing General around the celebration after the opening ceremony! Sorine had even asked him to! Akako’s cheeks flushed crimson with realization and embarrassment that he would have completely forgotten about such an important task. Hanako, ever perceptive, gave Akako a barely visible smirk.

“Well,” Hanako said, voice dry and nonchalant, “I’ll return to the stall now. See you around the celebration.” With that, he turned and left, leaving Akako and General standing in the aftermath of an awkward silence.

“Um… So…” Akako began, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly as he looked up towards General with an apologetic grin, “Is there anything that you’d like to start with?”

But General didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “Do all residents here treat history as entertainment?”

Akako blinked. “Huh?”

General looked towards the now-empty stage, where bits of confetti were still drifting lazily through the air.

“History should be treated with reverence,” General said, plainly,” Not bastardized and made into spectacle.”

The pointed accusation caught Akako off guard, and the dreamy haze that had clung to him following the performance lifted, replaced with the sting of being gently but firmly rebuked.

“Oh,” Akako murmured, voice soft with just a tinge of reproach as he struggled between disappointment and defensiveness. But then, after a bit more though, Akako spoke again, this time with a tone that reflected contemplation.

“Well… I guess you’re right,” Akako admitted, “I’m sure there are parts of history that deserve seriousness, remembrance and reflection. But…”

At this, Akako tilted his head, a careful balance of seriousness and playfulness as he continued, “Well, if everything about history was treated in such a grim and rigid manner… How many people would still care to learn, or listen?”

Akako paused slightly, allowing the implications of his words to sink in while General remained impassive, his silence unreadable.

“I think… If history really matters,” Akako said, a small smirk now donning his face, “Then, the most important thing is to make sure people hear it. Whether it be in books, songs, or even silly little dances.” He offered a small shrug, “That way, it sticks with people. And who knows? Maybe, one day… It might even begin to mean something to them, too?”

General neither agreed nor disagreed, merely standing with his arms still crossed, watching Akako quietly and intently. Then, sensing the tension beginning to stretch a little bit too thin, Akako cleared his throat and flashed an overly bright smile.

“Anyways!” Akako clasped his hands together, voice abruptly loud and chirpy once more, “Today’s supposed to be a fun day for a celebration, right? So let’s just hit up all the stalls and events to get the full Mystorican experience!”

With that, he boldly reached out to grab General’s wrist and began tugging the larger man along behind him. General, to his credit, didn’t resist. If anything, he appeared to be caught somewhere between bewilderment and exasperation as he allowed himself to be dragged, disappearing along with Akako into the colourful tangle of the celebration.