97 Dance

Lilith turned and looked back, only to see people walking towards the centre of the square with a paper lantern in hand, faces filled with emotion.

"Come on." Aucuses said quickly, jumping over the counter. "We don't really want to miss this. This is an important part of the festival."

His words made her turn around, but she immediately was greeted by her hand, which she took without a second thought.

Aucuses pulled her closer to him, and they headed for the market area of the town square.

They reached the market area. The shops were already closing as people were walking out with lanterns in their hands

"I shouldn't have lost track of the time." Aucuses grumbled, shaking his hand.

Contrary to his impatience, Lilith looked cautiously down the street and found a bright stall with children in front.

"Calm down, Aucuses." She said, reassuringly pointing to the shop, "I found one. Here it is"

"Let's go." Aucuses said, with sparkling eyes. He dragged her to the shop, without slowing down, much to her chagrin.

Eventually, they reached the shop, which finally calmed Aucuses, much to her relief.

They waited for the children before they finished shopping.

"Aren't they cute?" Lilith asked, smiling. Her eyes softened unconsciously at the sight of the children.

"They indeed are." Aucuses nodded, his tone soft.

A thin smile formed on her lips as she tightened her grip on her hands with Aucuses. They waited.

Finally, it was their turn when the children ran to their parents with lanterns in hand.

Lilith and Aucuses went to the counter with a woman dressed in brown clothes, the proprietress.

The proprietress already had the lantern in her hands. She polity nodded at them.

"Congratulations." The proprietress smiled and abruptly handed them the lantern.

On the paper lantern was an emblem of the sun and the moon, which shone in the presence of Lilith and Aucuses.

The sun and moon lantern was intended for a couple entering their new life. It was a way of wishing for a more stable and happy marriage.

"What?" Lilith asked, bewildered. Then the realization finally hit her when she saw the symbols in the lantern. "No, we are ..."

"Thank you." Aucuses interrupted, earning him a glare, but she didn't refute him in the end, much to his glee.

The proprietress smiled knowingly when she saw their interaction with each other.

"I wish you happiness in perpetuity." She handed them the lantern.

Aucuses took the lantern and tossed a golden coin with his blessing to the proprietress.

The proprietress' face brightened when she saw the golden coin. She looked up after putting it in the counter to find the couple gone.

'They were cute,' she thought, smiling as she shook her head...

Aucuses and Lilith had already reached the centre of the crowded town square.

There were adults chatting, children dancing, worshipers praising the sun, and lovers embracing each other.

The night was alive. The air was filled with an abundance of emotion and warmth. The lights shone on the square and the city. The bell tower's hands tolled ~ tick-tock ~, signalling the start of the festival.

Lilith and Aucuses stood in the middle, hands folded, eyes filled with expectation, hesitation, and confusion.

"We are doing it." Lilith whispered, her eyes looking for assurance in the man in front of her.

"We are." Aucuses said, his eyes as bright as the sun. "We are really doing this. There is no more backing down."

Lilith smiled, brighter and more beautiful than the crimson moon itself. She finally said. "Let's begin, Aucuses."

Aucuses nodded, his smile breaking at her words, and his eyes filled with joy. They held hands in the starlight.

They began. Lilith held the paper lantern as Aucuses lit it with the golden fire of the sun. The lantern was also blessed by Lilith to withstand the fire of the sun.

Soon, the lantern was blazing in the golden sunlight, brighter than any other lantern held by the people around it.

"Nice job getting all the attention," Lilith said, rolling her eyes as she felt the stares on them.

Aucuses just chuckled; obviously, he wasn't going to make their lantern look ordinary.

Just then, an ethereal gong sounded through the city, announcing the arrival of midnight. The lights around the city have gone out and the silence has consumed the city.

"Let's do it." Aucuses said, taking a deep breath to calm his emotions.

Lilith nodded and raised her hand. They held the lantern of the sun and the moon in their hands.

Under the night sky, they both lifted it skyward, keeping their eyes fixed on each other. Eventually they let go of the lantern and let it fly to the cosmos.

With them first, the people around them followed suit, as the atmosphere became serene and still.

The lanterns slowly rose to the sky, like stars illuminating the dark sky of the cosmos. They were like a serenade with the emotions and stories of many.

In the light of the lanterns, Aucuses drew Lilith to him, placing his hands on her hips, bewildering her.

"Up for a dance?" Aucuses asked with raised eyebrows and a challenging tone.

Lilith smiled and calmed down, then abruptly taking his hands in response and answered with a confident smile. "I am."

She pulled him into the crowd as Aucuses snapped his fingers, used his authority. The music comes straight from heaven.

Aucuses and Lilith were dancing, holding each other under the attention of all.

They fell in step, letting the rhythm guide their movements. All the landscapes and people around them have faded. There were only Lilith and Aucuses.

Her crimson eyes sparkled, and a smile appeared on her beautiful face.

Uncontrollable feelings raced through Lilith's body and her fingers tingled with joy. Her hand touched his cheek. Her body acted on its own, with no chain to hold her back from this pure paradise.

Aucuses pulled her close to his chest and wrapped his arms around her neck.

He noticed her golden hair falling over her eyes like a curtain, blocking out the light. He yearned to gaze into those crimson eyes.

Lilith wanted to pull her hand away to push her hair back, but his hand clung to hers. He carefully placed her slender hand on his shoulder. He delicately tucked her lock behind her ear, and her emerald eyes twinkled back at him in surprise.

Her lips travelled to his ear as she whispered ever so softly.

"You know how to be romantic."

She rested her head on his shoulder. They continued dancing, too absorbed in the music to stop. Time passed as thier feet moved in the footsteps of the foxtrot.

At this moment, they were no longer Eternal Blazing Sun and Mother Earth, but simply a man and a woman in love.

"Aucuses ..." Lilith whispered softly, feeling his intense gaze on her lips while they danced.

In the next second, Aucuses leaned forward and held her tightly. He gently planted his lips on hers….