Master Of None

The three wandered down the street admiring the nobles' mansions and high end shops. This was not the area where the main festivities would happen but it was grand nine the less. There were many orange, yellow, and green fabrics and ribbons blowing in a slight breeze. They hung from doorways and windows giving off the bright and cheery feelings. 

This was a tradition that had come to be to signify the winds bringing the changing leaves. Even though the colors had yet to change in their area, the harvested produce would mimic the colors. The days would go on with these brilliant colors until the night would fall. The colors would then brighten up the darkness and scare away the chill in the air, or at least this was what the tradition said would happen. 

"I think it's weird seeing that the noble do the same things we do. But their fabrics are so much brighter than the ones in the lower tier homes." Lisa had expected a lot more than the refined and bright decorations. 

"It's a tradition.. But the real decorations are where we used to be. The market decorates much better because it attracts business. Here it is more of a formality. Too stuffy and boring." Walker made sure to poke Lisa in the side to distract her since they were heading toward the markets. 

The noble markets had some of the best looking gourds and pumpkins along with a few giant ones. But there were no shopkeepers outside in costume shouting to come in or about the specials. Walker couldn't help but feel like it needed a little bit more energy. However, he realized that most of the nobles would end up at parties or other social events so outer decorations and shopping were not popular. This left him glad that he had only been invited to one such party. 

"Look, that horse and carriage are decorated like a fake prison cart. It has paintings of ghosts and other monsters on it." Su thought the cart was a nice twist to the scenery. When it stopped by the inner walls and started to hand out food to the guards it all made sense. 

"So that is what the guards made this year to deliver their lunches and additional supplies. It really fits the season." Walker was appreciative toward the guards who would take their free time to decorate such things to help them get through the long harvest festival shifts. It was always something the guards would mention to passerby's as they worked. 

"I'm just glad it wasn't the cart that has monsters in it and driven by the evil magician that turns people in to monsters." Lisa breathed a sigh of relief. Her most hated fairytale went this way and it had always been stuck in her head. The worst time of year for it was when the harvest festival rolled around. Luckily, Lisa always got over the fear after one of two carts would pass her by or she would speak to one of the drivers. 

" I almost forgot that fairytale. I wonder how many more I forgot?" Walker was enjoying the nostalgia as Su managed to distract Lisa by saying she could borrow the healers' costume longer making things a little better. Walker still felt it was a little funny that his little sister still believed in such stories. 

"Oh! What about the one where the girl comes back every harvest festival looking for a dance partner? She was attacked by a monster on the way and never made it but when her spirit got to the festival no one could hear or see her so she has been a wandering spirit every year. Always trying to dance with someone." Walker recalled this one just as a cool breeze blew by and ruffled all the fabrics along the houses. 

"That one was a lot more normal than others, the merchants will tell it a million times. I remember that there was one about the god of death walking around looking for lost souls at the end of the night to make sure they rest in peace. They say that those who see them will shiver no matter what, even when they are next to the bonfires." Su joined in and the three started to worry a little. 

"It looks so good this year! Everyone went all out and decorated so much more!" Lisa had turned the corner first to see the market and all the glory it came with. There were still a few merchants setting up but every single shop had decorations. Dried flowers, harvest season squashes, and even some corn stalks that survived the fires. 

"Looks like Gil got grabbed before he even got to the square," Walker was pointing to Gil who was speaking to a group of farmers that had yet to dress up. "Gil!" Walker ran a little ahead of the other two. 

"This is my party leader Walker. Walker, these are some of the farmers that lived around my parents. They lost their farm house but said someone is already building a new one. Since no one could have the big fire they usually do out at the fields they came and helped decorate here. It looks amazing, right?" Walker didn't hesitate to admit it looked much more in depth and decorated than the previous years making the farmers very happy. 

They all chatted for a short time before the farmers were pulled away by friends and Gil started to talk to Lia and Su about their costumes since he hadn't paid attention to them as he left in his daze. "So, where the dragon witch go?" Walker didn't see Midnight and Onyx anywhere. However, he knew that they had to be after one thing; food. It was the only thing that could pull them away from the party. 

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