Perhaps, due to the fact that it had been well over a decade since Mystorica had held its last celebration, by late morning, the village square was already rendered unrecognisable from its usual self, having transformed into a brilliant tapestry of colors, scents and sounds. Games were set up alongside the cobblestone streets, whilst puppet shows drew laughing children into circles. On the edges, some stalls had even spilled from the village square into the nearby street lanes as music rang from fiddle and flutes. It was as if the air itself hummed with joy.

Akako, brimming with infectious energy, dragged General from stall to stall, as if terrified that he might blink and end up missing some part of the festivities. First, they arrived at Grimora’s clothing stall, where an entire collection of spring fashion sets had already been moved from the Phantom Threadworks and were currently being shown off just barely two days after spring’s arrival.

“A vision of rebirth!” Grimora beamed with pride as the fabrics of the tailored pieces shimmered in floral hues, each piece a reflection of his meticulous dedication to his craft. General merely nodded at Grimora’s dramatic bow, though Akako could still nonetheless catch the faintest hint of bemusement in his otherwise impassive face.

Then, they arrived at Maria’s- The Lovelatch Joinery carpenter’s- stall. Maria was surrounded by his woodworks, a combination of sturdy tools, intricate carvings, and whimsical toys, his smile bright and radiant as ever as he fussed over Akako and General, before proceeding to press a polished trinket into Akako’s hand.

“Just keep it, love,” Maria said, with warmth, “I’ve more of those than I know what to do with!”

Finally, they reached Kimiko, the owner of Mystorica’s local blacksmithing shop, the Small Purrculiarities. Though still shy around General, Kimiko walked him and Akako through his display of neatly arranged charms, assorted blades and odd knickknacks, explaining his creations with a soft yet confident tone. The awkwardness of their original encounter from the day before had long since faded, and Akako even noted the way which General had leaned in, studying the detailings on one of Kimiko’s intricate pieces, something akin to genuine interest flickering across his eyes.

And so it went for hours, with Akako’s laughter filling the air, while General’s calm and steady presence remained besides him. By the late afternoon, as shadows were stretching long across the cobblestone floors, the two came upon a strange stall unlike the others before it. This one was draped in silks heavy with peculiar perfumes, charms hanging from its rafters that jingled faintly in the wind. It seemed to exude a sense of stagecraft more than that of entertainment or commerce.

“Ah,” Akako said, once he had peered inside and spotted the individual within, “Cardtsar.”

The Fate and Fortune’s Emporium diviner hid his wry smile behind a manicured hand.

“Welcome, welcome,” Cardtsar drawled, voice low but sprinkled with a tinge of arrogance and pride, “I have foresaw this moment, for your coming has already been foretold.”

“Yeah, right,” Akako rolled his eyes, “You just want to part me with my coin.”

“Sacriledge!” Cardtsar gasped, with feigned shock, the glimmer of amusement in his eyes betraying his delight, “Come now, sit- I insist! The tapestry of fate waits for no man!”

With that, Akako and General settled at the low table across from Cardtsar, the room falling quiet safe for the whispers of spices and rose carried through perfumed smoke as Cardstar shuffled his deck.

“Behold,” Cardtsar said, with deliberate flair, “Watch as I now peer beyond the veil of destiny,”

The first card fell upon the table, revealing an image of a hatching egg.

“Ah, new beginnings,” Cardtsar declared, “Change is in the air,”

“It’s because of the spring,” Akako mumbled, though Cardstar had ignored his scrutiny in favour of drawing a second card.

“A conflict of the gods!” Cardtsar declared, once the second card had fallen to reveal the image of a crescent moon with half its face shrouded, “A calamity looms, and disaster shall follow should it remain unresolved.”

What? Akako tensed upon hearing Cardtsar words. The ongoing threat that hovered over the festival due to Kami’s threat- How did Cardstar learn about that?

“Did Sorine tell you?” Akako asked, a slight hint of panic and unease in his voice, “Or Aria?” Or perhaps, like Kimiko, Cardstar had merely seen Kami’s departure towards the Restkeep Tavern the day before as well, and had ended up putting two and two together?

Cardtsar simply offered a noncommittal smile in the face of Akako’s accusations as he drew a third card, revealing a canary, a mantis, and a cicada in a strange tableau.

“Oh! A reversal of roles,” Cardtsar crooned, “The hunter becomes the hunted. How curious that the weave of fate should be so fickle!”

Akako blinked. This one, unlike the previous two cards, made no sense, the referent entirely lost to Akako. What could it possibly mean? And who could this divination possibly be about? Akako attempted to thread the implications of this third card back to the first two, but before he could ponder upon it for too long, the fourth card had already been drawn and had clattered upon the table; Two mandarin ducks, swimming closely together amongst the lilies.

“Ah- An unexpected love blooms,” Cardtsar cooed as he looked meaningfully between Akako and General, “Unconventional and unshakable.”

Suddenly, abruptly, Akako shot to his feet, nearly overturning the table and all the cards upon it as he stood, face stained a deep shade of red- There was no way- He wouldn’t- He can’t possibly be- But then, Cardtsar leaned back, his previously calm poise instantly melting away into wicked, delightful cackles, and Akako somehow felt his cheeks burn an even deeper crimson in fluster and embarrassment.

“You- You hack!” Akako yelled, stomping a foot in anger and indignation at being tricked even as Cardtsar continued to laugh triumphantly in the face of his humiliation, “Ugh- You’re such a bastard! I swear- I’m never stepping one foot into your shop ever again, or my name isn’t Akako!”

With that, Akako grabbed General’s wrist, all but dragging the other man out, though Akako was still visibly shaking and fuming even as they stepped out onto the street.

“Oh, that terrible, good for nothing little-” Akako kept ranting, words tumbling one after another out of frustration and vexation, “He better not mess with me ever again! Or so help me god-”

Akako continued to seethe and rave for a little while longer, before General’s apparent silence had caught his attention, and he looked up, noting how General was now looking towards the horizon, where the afternoon had long since melted into evening, and the long shadows of dusk were now dragging themselves across the cobbles. Faintly, Akako seemed to hear Sorine’s words from that morning resurface in his mind; “Make sure you show our guest White Lily Lake after the evening. It’s one of Mystorica’s most beautiful sights at dusk, after all!”

“Ah, that’s right!” Akako pivoted mid-rant, catching himself, “The sun’s about to set, and I overheard that they’ll be having a firework show to end off the festival! There’s no way we can miss that!”

And so, Akako tugged General forward once more, towards White Lily Lake, where a small crowd had already gathered in anticipation for the finale.