The torch of light in the sky was shining upon the town of Imrys. There was not a single cloud in sight that could hinder its light from reaching the townspeople below, and they could not have prayed for a more perfect start to celebrate the Summer Sun. It was truly a sign from the gods promising that this year's autumn would be gentle, and the harvest bountiful. After all, last year the festival had started with thunderous rain, and the following harvest had been some of the worst in decades. This year, however, the farmers were confident. Thus, they gave in to the celebrations, joyfully prancing around the festival grounds as if all their worries had been swept away by the calm wind.

  Even compared to the chaotic preparations of yesterday, the town was packed with people on every corner. It was a miracle that Isaac could even navigate the streets without losing sight of the ones he meant to follow. The market stalls especially had been busy, with people all struggling to get their hands on the most exotic goods before the merchants ran out of stock. Though he had tried, Isaac had not managed to spot the products on display due to all the strangers blocking his vision. Emryn, who had a much better view from the top of Kit's shoulders, had been equally unsuccessful. Thus, the family had decided to move on to something else in the meantime and would head back to the market once things had quieted down. The daughter soon agreed on what she wanted to try out first: The swings she had seen the day before. Kit happily took her over and set the pendulum in motion. Meanwhile, the other two were sitting on a bench nearby, chatting.

  "You look a bit under the weather, Isaac. Are you feeling alright?"

  "Hm? Oh, yeah, I'm good," Isaac answered Elyse. "I just haven't been around such a packed crowd before. It's a little overwhelming."

  The woman put a hand to her chin, her eyes drifting towards her daughter as she soared the skies in childlike bliss.

  "I can't say I understand the feeling," Elyse reflected, thinking back on her years living in the city. "Although to be honest, I'm surprised you were the one to react to the busyness."

  Isaac followed her gaze and watched Emryn giggling happily as the swing brought her higher and higher up in the air with each push.

  "Maybe she's just so excited that she forgot about her shyness? No one is paying her any mind, so it's probably easier for her to not focus on them."

  "That might be it. Although, if you can keep an eye on her, that would greatly help."

  "Of course. I promised, didn't I?"

  The mother took her eyes off her daughter, and her vision met Isaac's. She simply nodded and smiled. Then, after a few seconds, her eyes drifted past him. It seemed like something had caught her attention.

  "Excuse me for a moment, Isaac."

  She stood up and walked towards where her eyes had landed. The boy followed her with his eyes and noticed a face he had seen before, not far off. It was Lynn, the priestess whom the two had met at the temple the day before. She was not wearing her uniform today, instead opting for a casual outfit. Elyse walked up to her, and the two started talking.

  Shifting his gaze back to the massive tree, Isaac continued watching Kit and Emryn with a smile.

  She seems to enjoy the swing. Could it be her first time trying it out? We don't have a swing back at the farm, so maybe.

  Then suddenly, the mood turned.

  As the pendulum reached higher with each swing, Isaac could see that Emryn's giggle quieted down. She had been looking towards the sky, but just as she raced back up after a swing, her eyes fell downward, pinned to the ground. Her eyes opened wide, and her smile vanished instantly. As her reaction to her sudden height dawned on her, Isaac could feel his heart beating loudly in his eardrums. Time slowed down around him.

  Emryn's grip on the swing vanished, and her head and torso leaned forward, tipping the scales of her weight. Her seat flipped. Gravity was now pulling her down to earth.

  Isaac instinctively looked towards Kit, who had noticed as well. He immediately jumped in to catch her. However, he would not be able to reach her in time.

  As the little girl reacted to her change in trajectory, her mouth opened and her eyes closed. She had not been falling from a great height, but it felt infinitely higher now that she was falling. Isaac's heart drowned out all the noise. Without hesitating, he sprang up from the bench, his right arm raising, reaching for the girl. She was too far away. He would not make it.

  Just then, the mark on his wrist started reacting. A dim, purple glow erupted around Emryn. Slowly, her descent slowed. Isaac could not make her slow down entirely, but he had given enough time for Kit to reach his daughter. His arms caught her and went to one knee as the weight of her began taking its toll.

  With a sigh, Isaac tumbled onto his knees, hands on the grass. His heart was still beating loudly, but he could now hear the world around him again. The crowd gasped, all looking at the scene before them. Elyse rushed over to her daughter and helped her husband up from his kneel. He was breathing rapidly, his smile had vanished, and he was distressed. However, soon, his strength waned once more, and his nerves calmed. Emryn was okay.

  Isaac looked up at the crowd. Most of their attention was on the girl, but he could feel someone was watching him. After looking around, he found the culprit.

  At the exit to a small alley, he saw bright orange eyes staring into his. The person they were attached to was someone he had never seen before. However, one feature of hers rooted itself in his brain. This person had pointed ears, pointing outwards from a mane of long, ivory hair.

  Her skin was lightly tanned, and her somewhat revealing outfit seemed to be some sort of armor, possibly made of leather. In her hair was an orange flower that matched her eyes. Most notable, though, was the thing on her right shoulder. Isaac had seen something similar nearly every day and recognized it instantly. It was a divine symbol. More specifically, it was the same symbol he had seen the day before on the banner decorating the office building of Father Quillon.

  He got to his feet and meant to follow her. However, as he did, she turned her back and walked away. She disappeared so quickly, he was sure he couldn't catch up to her even if he ran.

  That's when he remembered about Emryn and rushed to her and the parents. Kit looked at him and spoke quietly:

  "Isaac, I..."

  He took a breath, and looked back down at his daughter for a moment. With a sad smile, he continued:

  "I don't know what to say... Thank you."

  "You kept your promise," Elyse said. It looked like she wanted to say more, but the words wouldn't come out.

  Isaac looked at the parents and smiled. Both their eyes were glistening as they returned a smile to him.

  Kit especially seems quite emotional. I'll be honest, it's a bit disturbing seeing him not smiling.

  He looked down at Emryn, who was in her father's arms. Her eyes were closed, and she was breathing calmly. She looked like she was going to be okay.

  After a little while, her eyes started opening. She looked up to the sky in a daze before finding the faces of her family.

  "Wh... What happened?"

  "You fainted while on the swing, sweetheart. We were quite worried."

  "Hm?"

  Emryn looked at her mother as she answered, confused. Apparently, she didn't remember her fall. Then, she looked at Isaac, and her face flushed a little. Kit sat her down, and she struggled to stand. Her legs were shaking, and she stumbled. Isaac quickly caught her and supported her until she regained her strength again.

  "Think you can walk, Emryn?"

  The girl nodded at Isaac's question, and the two looked at the parents. A silence lingered, and the crowd around them soon lost interest and turned away.

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  "Alright, I think enough time has passed now," Kit said. "How about we go check out the market again?"

  All three nodded. Thus, the family headed towards the market once again. As they walked, Isaac could feel a tug in his sleeve, slowing him a little. He saw Emryn holding onto his shirt and trying to keep up with his pace. He slowed down to match hers, strolling side by side while the parents led the way. Isaac, however, had only one thought in his head:

  Who was that?

  The market was still busy, but enough people had dissipated that everyone could browse the stalls without standing in line. The wares were varied, with so many different products being sold that Isaac couldn't decide on where to look first. To make matters worse, there was no system for the market either. One stall could sell fruits from a faraway kingdom, and the next would sell trinkets or charms made of metal. Then, looking across, you could find a merchant selling bundles of velvet, and just next door could be a person claiming to sell miracle cures and tonics far cheaper than what the temples provided. Overall, though, most of the stands were selling edible products. That being said, if there was anything that could be sold at a market like this, someone was bound to have it on display somewhere.

  After a glance around, the family had decided it would be more effective if they split into two pairs. Kit had suggested that Elyse should take the daughter with her, and he would take the boy. However, that idea had been swiftly forgotten when Isaac felt a warm sensation touching his left hand. Looking down, a small, yet firm grip had seized him, and the girl it belonged to clung to him like she had only done to her father before.

  So it was decided. The parents would go together, and they entrusted their daughter to him.

  As Isaac led the way, he made sure to keep Emryn close. Occasionally, she would stop to look at something, but quickly changed her mind and continued following him. Isaac was looking for stalls that might sell something interesting, but he also had another goal.

  I want to find that person from before. She has to be a blessed child, so maybe she could guide me. And those ears... Could she be?

  On top of the ears and her mark, though, there was one more reason why he was so eager to find her: Her stare. He was sure it meant something, though he had no idea what.

  Emryn and he continued traversing the market for several minutes before Isaac decided to switch his focus back to what he was there to do.

  Besides, her symbol is the same as the one Father Quillon has specialized in, so I can ask about her when Elyse and I visit him on Water's Day. For now, I'll try enjoying the festival together with Emryn.

  Without thinking, his eyes glanced her way. She did not meet his gaze. Her eyes were looking around everywhere, trying to find something that caught her interest. After a short while, she found it. Or rather, a sound from nearby guided her to it.

  "Come come, gather 'round! We bring the finest treasures from the elf continent. You will only find them here, believe me!"

  Isaac's attention was seized at the mention of an 'elven land', and noticed one stall that had gathered a particularly sizable crowd. Without thinking, he walked over with Emryn in toe.

  "Yes, pleasure doing business with you. This relic is very fragile, so take good care of it!"

  The stall where the people had gathered was different from the others in the market because there were no sheets of cloth or beams fastened to the ground. Instead, the stall seemed to be a horse/drawn wagon with a large opening cut out on its side. It reminded Isaac of an ice cream truck.

  Two men were manning the stall. One of them, a tall and lanky figure, was gathering the people nearby, shouting words in an attempt to draw their interest. Meanwhile, the other, shorter one, was busy handling the sales. Like most sellers in the market, they weren't dressed in fine garments like what Mykal had worn, nor did they wear the brooch with the insignia of the Rikarian Trader's Guild. In fact, these two had clothing that looked even worse for wear than what most of the townsfolk were wearing. Even so, something had drawn the crowd to them, and they were no doubt making sales.

  As Isaac and Emryn approached the rabble, the tall merchant looked their way and spoke:

  "You there, young lady. Would you like to see some real treasures from the elven world?"

  Emryn, embarrassed she was being addressed directly, jumped behind Isaac, hiding. She looked at the ground as she nodded in silent answer.

  The tall man nodded back with a gentle grin and gestured the two to come forth to look at their wares. The crowd parted, and let them have a gander at the items on display. As soon as Emryn took notice of them, she jumped out from behind Isaac and started surveying all the wares in awe.

  The boy, however, was not sold on these so-called 'treasures'. They all looked polished and pretty, but there was something about them that made him suspicious. He picked up one of the smaller items from the counter and studied it. Then, looking at the one handling sales, he asked:

  "Excuse me, how much is this crystal?"

  The merchant looked towards Isaac, and his lips curled upwards.

  "Ah! That right there is a real gemstone from the Kingdom of Ailenti! Despite its size, it is quite valuable, so I would maybe say... Hmm..."

  He paused, rubbing his hand on his chin while pretending to ponder the price.

  "How about one silver," the other merchant proposed. "That would be a more than fair price, wouldn't you say brother?"

  "Indeed, brother. One silver and the gem is yours."

  "A whole silver? For this little thing?"

  The first nodded, and the second one tried to explain himself:

  "As you can see, young sir, we only have a few of these stones left. They sell like wildfire, so we can't go any lower than that I'm afraid."

  Isaac, mimicking the merchant's movements earlier, pretended to contemplate the price as he looked down at the object in his hand. It barely weighed a thing, and was the same as the six remaining on display. He assumed, however, that the traders likely had a whole box full of them, which would be back on display tomorrow. Someone tugged at his sleeve, and he noticed Emryn looking up at him, awaiting his answer. The merchants too looked eager for Isaac to buy the stone, but he had his mind made up before he had even studied it.

  If this is how they want to do it, I guess I should call them out on it.

  He looked up at them with confidence in his eyes, and suggested his price:

  "Tell you what, how about we do... one copper?"

  The smile on the traders dropped, and they looked at the boy in bewilderment. The crowd around them too seemed to quiet down. The short salesman spoke:

  "A single copper? For that valuable crystal?"

  "No, for all of them, including the ones you have behind the counter."

  The crowd's eyes shifted to the boy, the small chatter that had remained vanished as if sound had been snuffed out completely. Emryn's eyes were wide as she looked at Isaac, while the merchants were too taken aback to speak. The short man manning the stall quickly glanced behind him, confirming the assumption Isaac had made earlier. Thus, the boy lifted the stone, tapping it before looking through its translucent core with one eye.

  "This is a Vitra, correct? From the sea elf kingdom?"

  It has to be. It's the exact same coin Mykal showed me.

  The tradesman gulped and gave a hesitant nod. The other one gave him a reflexive thud to his shoulder, but nervously looked at the boy, trying to regain his composure. He seemed about to explain himself, but Isaac spoke up again before he could utter a word.

  "Then you know the value of these things is pretty much nonexistent, right?"

  His interruption must've triggered a nerve in the lanky figure, because he spoke up forcefully, his formalities from earlier gone.

  "Worthless, you say? I'll tell you this, boy. We bought these coins for five coppers a piece!"

  "Then you got scammed, which I guess you figured," Isaac shrugged, ignoring the merchant's frustration. "Even so, if you're trying to extort a whole silver out of people in exchange for this piece of plastic, who knows what the rest of these wares you sell are worth?"

  The anger in the tall man's face seemed to grow by Isaac's accusation, but he looked around and realized the spotlight had landed on him and his brother. The jig was up, and the crowd quickly dispersed, no longer interested in what this stall had to offer. The short seller tapped the other's shoulder and spoke calmly:

  "Come on, brother. Let's just pack up and try a different town. If we leave now, we may still make it before tomorrow starts."

  The angry merchant grumbled but quickly resigned himself with a nod. This had clearly not been their first time getting caught for trying to scam their customers, and it most likely wouldn't be the last. Without a word, and in a defiant motion, he spread his arms wide and grabbed the sides of the hole in the wagon that served as their counter. His face was soon obscured by two wooden panels which now covered the opening.

  Isaac shrugged to himself and pocketed the Vitra still in his hand.

  Guess they don't want it back...

  Then, he looked at the girl still next to him. Her eyes were full of excitement and awe, and Isaac felt he could read the 'so cool' filling her thoughts.

  "Sorry about that, Emryn. How about we try and find a different stall?"

  The little girl smiled and nodded. Isaac grabbed her hand, and they continued their journey to find the real treasures in the market.

  Once again decided to split the chapter into multiple parts. This part has been done for a while, but I didn't know how much of the festival I wanted to write, but I've decided on doing one part per day. The festival lasts for three days, so there you go. It's possible the last part will be shortened, though, or combined with the return journey home. Even so, we're not staying in Imrys for too much longer.

  I may have underestimated how much is left to write for this volume, but I guess that's a good thing. Next chapter is halfway done, but I've had to take a break due to catching an illness and being bedridden for a week. I'm getting better now, though, so back to writing.

  As always thanks for reading.