Festival of Anthousa

"Don't cry dear," a soothing voice spoke to me, caressing my face with their soft palms. I remember clinging onto it with my hands, the warmth I felt from this person was one I longed for my entire life, yet never got. My head rested on their lap.

I missed it, I yearned for it. A white room filled with blissful feathers, dancing around me and the person that held me, my mother. Her long dark blue hair covered her face in a picture-perfect frame, her beautiful eyes hidden from me, yet… It takes nothing… absolutely nothing, from the image of the woman I admire.

Before I knew it, the scenery changed completely the feathers dyed a midnight blue, stardust twinkled between the cracks.

My eyes widened in awe as I was held in this galaxy-like landscape, I couldn't help but look around, but soon, that beautiful display turned into nothing but flames and darkness.

The flames soon took over us, slowly eating away at my mother yet I remained unharmed. I tried to reach out to her my hand sinking through her pale skin which bursts into feather-like flames. Crackling into the sky, lightly illuminating the area.

"Oh my, seems like our time's up already," She would say, not a hint of sadness within her words, but I couldn't help but tell she too felt an ache in her heart.

"I'm really sad I can't get to see you grow up…"

"Grow up to be a strong warrior, Mihalis."

"Your mother will be by your side, every step of the way."

And with that, she disappeared, my pupils dilating in horror, reliving the events of the past. I remembered…everything, everything in the past—

"Mom…"

"Mom!"

"No! no! no! no! no! no! No!" I started to spiral patting the area in which she sat, in hopes of bringing her back somehow. A single feather floated before me, its bright orange hue reminiscent of the flames that had just consumed her. I reached out, my hand grabbing the feather before it hit the ground.

"Mom!" I screamed, tears pricking the back of my eyes.

 "Don't go!"

"Don't…go?" I heard a familiar voice speak to me, snapping me out of my trance. "Do you really, want me to stay?"

Ayla stood before me, my hand tight around her stopping her from getting up from the chair she once sat in. Her face carried a tint of red, noticing my desperation and the tears that fell from my eyes.

"I–, no…you can go-" I muttered, getting back into the comfort of the bed that held me. Ayla took a minute and nodded, before heading to the door.

"Oh, and Ayla…" I muttered, catching her attention at the door.

"She was nice,"

"Who?" Ayla pondered, turning to me with a look of confusion and intrigue.

"My mom," I sighed, pulling the sheets over me before closing my eyes once more.

"She was nice."

Ayla lets a small smile crack through, before leaving the room and locking the door behind her. The minute I heard the door close, my mind went wild, I couldn't sleep. My thoughts go back to the thing I saw mere moments ago before passing out.

"System survival protocol, huh," I muttered to myself, staring at the ceiling. I can hear mumbling outside and distant footsteps before the door opens once more.

"Oh you're awake," An old man walked in, sitting by the seat next to my bed. He was short and looked relatively frail, his beard was scruffy and wild, his bald head shining from the morning sun.

"Where, am I-" I pondered. The man tried to reach for my arm and I flinched instinctively, giving him a glare.

"Don't worry, I'm just here to replace your bandages." He reassured me, my body calming a bit as he started to unravel the layers of bandages placed on my ribs and arm.

"You're in Anthousa, it's not extravagant or anything, so you might've not heard of us at all." He looked up at me, yet his head was still facing my bandages.

"Although, there is a festival, in case you're interested."

"Not in the slightest," I responded without giving it a second thought, the man letting out a chuckle at my reluctance.

"You sure? Would be a great way to unwind, especially since you've been in this state for three days already."

"Three… days?" I looked back at the man, shocked at this new information.

"Yes, when you came and we started tending to your wounds, even your partner was shocked," He murmured as he took the last of it off, starting to roll the new bandages to wrap around me.

"You certainly are strong, otherwise you would've died a long time ago. You came with sores and cuts, you were frail, and you're malnourished so you weren't healing properly, don't even get me started on the lack of sleep– turn around for me." I did as he said, feeling the bandage wrap around my torso as he lectured me.

"I get that you might be in a hurry to leave, but I suggest you stay for a few more days and see the sights while you're here."

I took a minute and let out a soft sigh and nodded.

"I'll…give it a shot."

The old man smiled at my understanding, finishing up with the bandages that held my torso tighter than the last.

___________________________________________

[Ayla's pov.]

I walked around the city with nothing but my staff by my side, the morning winds blowing through my hair as I wandered aimlessly, feet padding against granite roads, hands running through beautiful petals that let off a delicious aroma throughout the village square.

Wooden buildings stand tall around me and vendors pass by on horses trying to make ends meet. Men in armor wore their village crest in pride, their hands on their swords at the ready for anything that can and will happen during the festival preparations, the festival of flowers.

My mind couldn't help but bring up earlier…seeing him in such a state, grabbing onto my arm when he once seemed to despise me so…

"He was sweating so much in his sleep, I wonder…" My words stopped as I stood on the start of a steep sloap, the grass outstretched for miles, soon reaching a field of colorful flowers that would dance in the gentle breeze of Anthousa.

Parents and children alike kneels down into the flower bed and picked from the massive field. 

"Yo, you're not from around here are you," I heard a voice from behind, the sudden sound startling me, almost making be fall down the sloap but his hands reached out to me.

Getting a good look at him my breath almost stopped, a boy with black hair that shins lightly in the sun, and dark blue eyes the same as the midnight sky, it's almost staring at a polished gem that would be nestled in a deep cave.

"N-no i'm not." I muttered as he pulled me up.

"Sounds like you need a guide then, I'm Fran, nice to meet ya." He gave me a soft smile, and I nodded, looking away as I muttered a response.

"I'm Ayla…"