After they finished eating and participating in several other events, they discovered Artero at the knees of another game master. Pleading as though his very life was at stake. But the attendant paid him no mind.
"Have you been playing games this entire time?" Elise asked Artero. "We've been looking for you everywhere."
The Prince's eyes were dead, he muttered to himself.
"I'm never going to financially recover from this."
"You'll be okay, Young Master." Rodrick pulled him to his feet. "We're going to see the closing ceremony."
"Closing ceremony?" He looked shocked. "How long have I been at this?"
"All day it seems." Gwyn held a large stuffed dragon from Elise. "I'm sorry to say, we both lost. Elise is just too good at these games."
Elise shrugged arrogantly.
"It's more knowledge than skill."
Artero wore a sulky expression but held out his hand to Elise.
"The better competitor won."
She stared at his hand and almost appeared bashful for a moment, then reciprocated the gesture.
"Indeed."
Rodrick rolled his eyes.
"Alright, kids, we've got to go, or we'll miss the closing ceremony!"
"W-we aren't kids, Rodrick!" Elise stammered.
Rodrick gave a sly grin.
"Compared to me? You're both still in diapers."
The four of them made their way to an open field with nothing obscuring the sky. Elves in costume were all pushing past one another.
However, the Chosen One felt someone slam into her knee, trying to leave, rather than follow the crowd.
An angry accented voice rose from beneath her.
"Hey, watch where yer—Gwyn?"
"Mr. Keeper!"
Gwyn was overwhelmed with excitement. Mr. Keeper was the last person she expected to see here. The Chosen One knelt down and hugged the small green man.
"Why are ye wearing that?" The Lotmon asked.
"Oh, I heard that we're supposed to wear the attire of our favorite Chosen Ones, so I chose the best one I know." Gwyn did look puzzled for a moment. "How do you keep people from stepping on your cloak?"
Mr. Keeper stood solemnly, not speaking for a moment.
The Lotmon has seldom experienced kindness on Keceo, let alone admiration. In a thousand years, he hasn't seen a single elf wear his trademark outfit without it clearly being intended as an insult.
Seeing the most recent Chosen One, one heavily admired by many, wearing his clothing as if to tell the world, "The Fifteenth is my favorite!" softened his tough exterior just a little.
"Ye look remarkable, Gwyn."
The voice of the Lotmon broke, but only for a moment.
Gwyn, not so humbly said.
"I know." A smile reached her lips. "Do you want to watch the ceremony with us?"
"No, I was just heading home."
Gwyn leaned down and forcefully pulled Mr. Keeper with her.
"No way! You are coming with us."
"Wait, Gwyn! I'm a little guy! Ye can't do this to me!"
Gwyn struggled to pull the Lotman the whole way, but eventually caught up with Rodrick, Elise and Artero.
"Look who I found," Gwyn said, standing aside to reveal Mr. Keeper, sweaty and irritated.
"If it isn't the goblin," Elise said.
"Lotman!"
Despite his always maintaining a hard exterior, his constant scowl wavered for a moment.
A boom erupted from the sky. A dazzling spectacle of colors and light. Gwyn turned her head and saw the night sky illuminate in a manergie of colors, burying the red that hid in the deep recesses of space.
The crowd gawked in awe as Gwyn checked to see if Mr. Keeper was still there, but he appeared to be turning away.
"Where are you going?" Gwyn asked loudly.
"I can't see, I'm too short." A pained expression was hidden. "I'll just go home. I knew comin' out was stupid anyway."
Gwyn frowned, but then was struck with an idea. She quickly ran up to Rodrick and whispered something to him. He nodded and stormed over to Mr. Keeper, scooping him up in one fluid motion and placing him on his shoulders.
"Unhand me ye brute! Do you know who I am?"
Dazzling explosions filled the dark red sky. Even though it's been a thousand years, Mr. Keeper always stayed inside for the festival. He could always hear the commotion, but seeing it for yourself was something else.
Everyone stared at the sky, and it seemed Rodrick had grown a green head and was wearing a crimson cloak, but no one said a word.
Elise looked around. She saw Gwyn, who was staring at the night sky. Elise imagined this was very exciting for the Chosen One. She thought about placing her hand on Gwyn, but the closer she got to her, the harder it felt to be intimate with her.
Elise quickly turned her head and saw Artero. The dazzling colors briefly illuminated his face after every explosion. She thought about how, when they were kids, he had shown her kindness at school, before everyone knew her as the Bloody Princess.
He turned his face, her gaze meeting his, and she quickly turned her head back to the sky.
Artero couldn't help but notice something was off about Elise, but he couldn't tell what it was.
A dazzling spectacle concluded the ceremony, and the crowd cheered loudly.
Gwyn addressed the party after the crowd had dispersed.
"Did you see that dragon fight that warrior? Then those rat things do that dance?" Gwyn asked excitedly.
Rodrick wiped a tear from his eye.
"It gets better every century."
Gwyn confronted Mr. Keeper, who was still upon Rodricks' shoulders.
"What did you think?"
Gwyn could tell he tried to wear an angry expression, but his mouth seemed to betray him.
"Aye, it was... very nice..."
"Nice? No, it was awesome! Right, Elise?"
Gwyn turned to face the Princess, but her expression wasn't one of joy but of sorrow.
"It was a lovely show. I loved what I saw, Gwynevere."
Gwyn narrowed her brows before turning to Artero, who wore a similar expression to Elise.
"Who's ready for some drinks?"
Rodrick pulled the Royals close to one another. They were close enough to kiss, which almost made the awkwardness between them unbearable.
"Now, yer talking!"
Mr. Keeper tugged at Rodricks' hair in the direction of the closest drinking facility.
"Is the festival not over?" Gwyn asked.
"It is, Madam," Rodrick said, swatting at Mr. Keeper. "But now the more... adult activities begin."
Elise suddenly bumped into Artero, and the Royals were at a level of awkwardness that was becoming unbearable.
To Gwyn, they both seemed not to be themselves. She ran up and grabbed both their hands.
"Let's have some fun!" Gwyn shouted. "Although I'm sort of new to this whole... drinking thing."
Artero looked skeptical.
"You've never had a drink? I'm pretty sure I've seen you drink water."
Elise shook her head.
"She means alcohol."
"Ohhh, you've never had a drink, Gwynevere?"
"Well, where I'm from, I'm too young."
Gwyn does acknowledge that it doesn't stop most people her age. She has had the occasional sip of wine, and her dad let her have a beer once, but that tasted awful.
"Nonsense!" Rodrick patted her back. "You're going to save our world, you should be allowed to get wasted."
Gwyn nodded in agreement, agreeing with his sentiment.
"Just don't let me go overboard."