The next day, Shubh returned to Blue Wind City, just as the annual festival was underway. The streets pulsed with life—vibrant colors, cheerful music, and the laughter of children filled every corner. Stalls lined the roads, offering everything from caramelized fruits to fragrant roasted meats, while dancers in traditional attire twirled to the rhythm of drums.
Up on the balcony of the City Lord's Castle, Luna, the current City Lord, stood beside Leon, her eyes drifting over the happy crowd below. The warm lights of paper lanterns reflected in her eyes, but there was a shadow behind them—something quiet and lingering.
"The last time I attended this festival… it was with my father," she said softly, a melancholic edge in her voice. "And now, just a year later… he's no longer with me."
