Once Aqasha and Mei, the leading stars of the performance, had been safely escorted to the stage, the Second Paladin decided it was time to seek out his esteemed guests. It was a matter of pride for him to be the one to escort them to the theater, especially with the special seats that had been arranged thanks to his standing in the city.
The capital of Akasa, ever vibrant, bustled with Luxian and Ardenian children playing together with their magic, the stalls scattered around the capital filled the air with the scent of delicious freshly cooked meals from both cultures. There was no shortage of distraction, but it did not take Ayzat long to find them in one of the bustling squares. A smirk curled the corner of his lips as he strode toward them with the confident gait of a man accustomed to authority.
"Greetings, my esteemed guests," he said, his voice smooth as silk, laced with the kind of charm that came naturally to him. "I trust our High-Priest managed to give you a tour of the capital worthy of your expectations?" His eyes found Aren, his friend, and with a slight nod, he acknowledged the alicorn.
Leyla, however, did not share in the easy camaraderie. She stood apart, her eyes fixed on Ayzat with suspicion, her body tense as if ready to spring. There was no chance for her to voice her concerns, though, for Masha, ever eager, spoke up with enthusiasm. Though she did her best to remain stoic, she could not stop her face from tightening at the sight of Masha so at ease with the Second Paladin.
"The Festival is incredible! There's so much to take in—so much I'm learning about Ardenia and Luxia," she exclaimed, her excitement hardly contained.
Ayzat let out a low chuckle, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I see you've been enjoying yourself, Masha. Tell me, have you tasted any of the Ardenian snacks yet?" His tone was knowing, as if he had anticipated her answer.
Masha's face flushed crimson at the reminder, her cheeks burning as hot as the fiery snack she had struggled with earlier. The group chuckled softly at her embarrassment, all except Leyla, who remained stone-faced, her distrust of Ayzat evident in every glance she cast his way.
"I may…havehadaveryveryhotspicysnack," Masha rambled, the words spilling out quickly, almost as if she hoped they'd vanish into the air unnoticed.
Ayzat laughed heartily, a sound that echoed in the square. "Ah, our Ardenian flames are still too much for Fulmenian tongues, I see!" His laughter trailed off as an announcement rang out across the City of Flames, carried on the wind like a herald's call. The queens would be arriving soon, and the theater had opened its doors to the public.
"That is our signal to head toward the theater, where you shall soon see your esteemed daughter, Aqasha, and your lovely sister, Mei," Ayzat said with a smile, bowing his head in respect to Aren, and casting a warm smile toward Yua. His manner was smooth, his words measured as ever.
"Then let's move, and thank you for the greeting, Ayzat," Leyla replied, gesturing to the group, eager to get them moving toward the theater—preferably without Ayzat in tow. But before she could take more than two steps, Ayzat's voice rang out again.
"I couldn't possibly allow you to go alone," he said with that ever-present smile. "I have arranged special seats for our honored guests, and it would be my pleasure to guide you there."
His words held the weight of his rank, and Leyla knew all too well that his station as Second Paladin outstripped hers. It was a challenge she couldn't refuse without causing offense, much as she would have preferred to.
"We do have reserved seats, don't we?" Aren chimed in, his words settling the matter as he turned to the young ones. At the mention of special seating, Masha and Yua lit up with excitement.
"Mom, can we please sit in the special seats?" Masha's voice was full of hope, her wide eyes pleading with the innocence only a child could muster.
Leyla gazed down at her daughter, her heart softened by the sight of her eagerness, and she let out a small sigh. With a nod, she gave in. "Alright, it seems we'll have to trouble the Second Paladin to lead us to those special seats," she said, turning back to Ayzat.
Ayzat, ever anticipating, was already smiling, a gesture that barely concealed the satisfaction of having won this little bout. He motioned for them to follow him, and together they began their walk toward the theater.
Their progress was slow, however, as Ayzat was frequently stopped by young Protectors, awestruck at the sight of him. With a joyful air, he addressed them each time, but never without directing attention back to Leyla. "Did you know I'm not here alone today?" he would say, his voice ringing with good cheer. "I'm accompanied by none other than Leyla the Lightning, our venerable Third Paladin!"
Leyla suppressed a sigh, the weight of unwanted attention pressing down on her. She had hoped to remain unnoticed, but Ayzat, it seemed, had other plans. Still, she offered polite greetings to the Protectors, who now turned their wide-eyed admiration toward her.
Not content to stop there, Ayzat glanced at Masha, a knowing gleam in his eye. "Your mother deserves more of the spotlight. Wouldn't you agree, Masha?" he asked with a smirk.
Masha, caught in the moment, nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah!" she agreed, though perhaps not fully understanding Ayzat's game.
"Then let's make sure she gets it," Ayzat continued, his voice smooth as ever. "Shall we?"
Masha, eager to play her part, didn't hesitate. As they walked, she began eagerly telling any Protector they passed about her mother's identity, further fueling the attention Leyla had hoped to avoid. Leyla, for her part, could only smile faintly and endure the spotlight Ayzat had so craftily cast upon her.
"Leyla the Lightning, the Third Paladin, is at the Festival!" The rumor spread like wildfire through a dry forest, igniting excitement among the young Protectors. As more and more of them swarmed the group, Masha, oblivious to the sharp glares from her mother, excitedly fanned the flames. She seemed thrilled to be drawing so much attention to Leyla, her mother's exploits becoming the center of every conversation.
Behind the commotion, Kolibry stuck close to Aren and Yua, his discomfort with the growing crowd evident in the way he tried to disappear behind them. "I don't think Leyla wanted this kind of attention," he murmured quietly as they continued forward, pausing every few steps for someone new who sought a signature or had a question for one of the Paladins.
Yua nodded in agreement, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "Masha's too caught up to notice. And Ayzat, well…he's enjoying every second of it," she added with a soft chuckle, watching how the Second Paladin basked in the attention, subtly encouraging Masha to keep stirring the crowd.
Just then, Momo, the small coatl, flitted over to Masha, its light flickering beside her in an attempt to catch her attention. At that moment, Masha was engrossed in a conversation with a cluster of Protectors, regaling them with tales of her mother's past feats. It wasn't until Momo's light flickered brighter beside her that she looked up—and that's when she caught sight of Leyla's icy glare.
Her ears flattened against her head, her enthusiastic smile melting into something sheepish as the realization dawned on her. She had ignored her mother's wishes entirely. Leyla had made it clear from the start: this trip was about the Festival, not about her. But under Ayzat's skillful influence, Masha had unwittingly made her mother the star of the moment.
Fortunately for Masha, they soon reached the Grand Theater, where they were able to separate from the crowd of alicorns, making their way to their reserved seats. The tension began to dissipate, and an announcement filled the air as musicians struck the first notes, signaling the grand entrance of the queens.
The theater fell into a hushed darkness, and as the music swelled, a radiant warmth began to spread, washing over the alicorns like sunlight through storm clouds, settling on their fur and sinking into their bones. Light enveloped the venue as the two queens, regal and resplendent, walked side by side into the hall, their presence commanding every eye in the audience.
The fire of Ardenu crackled with a restrained power, filling the theater with its warmth, though the Queen of Flame kept it well in check. Across from her, the radiant form of Luxoah bathed the room in a soft, glowing light, the two forces of flame and brilliance perfectly balanced. The two queens exchanged a knowing smile before Ardenu stepped forward, her voice carrying effortlessly over the hushed crowd.
"Welcome to Akasa, children of Flame and Light, and honored guests from the other kingdoms of Equestera," Ardenu proclaimed, her tone strong and welcoming. "It is my hope that the Festival of Sorority has brought joy and warmth to your hearts once again. Today, our nations stand united as we celebrate the bonds between Flame and Light, sharing in each other's customs and splendors. But now, I will pass the honor to my dear friend, Queen Luxoah," she said, turning her head toward the shining Queen of Light, whose presence seemed to illuminate the very air around her.
Luxoah met Ardenu's gaze with a smile as warm as her radiance, and her coatl, a creature of pure light, nuzzled affectionately against Ardenu's neck in a gesture of friendship. Taking a step forward, Luxoah addressed the assembly, her ethereal white mane flowing like starlight in her wake.
"My beloved children of Flame and Light, and our dear friends from distant lands, I welcome you all to this magnificent edition of the Festival of Sorority, here in the heart of the Flame Capital: Akasa," she began, her voice like a gentle breeze—soft, yet carrying the warmth of a mother's embrace. Her light gray eyes gleamed as they swept over the crowd, filled with alicorns eager to witness the play that marked the culmination of the Festival. "I am honored to stand alongside my cherished friend and host, Queen Ardenu, as well as in the company of Xuefeng the Weaver, our Fifth Paladin, whose daughter will take the stage today with one of Akasa's esteemed Flame Priestesses. The High-Priest of Light remains in Luxia to oversee the celebrations there. I look forward to witnessing this year's performance, and I am filled with anticipation for what this Festival's play will bring."
As Luxoah finished, she turned once more to Ardenu, her halo casting a soft, otherworldly glow upon the Queen of Flames. They shared a look of deep understanding and mutual respect, their smiles reflecting their unshakable bond.
With that, both queens unfurled their majestic wings and rose gracefully into the air, ascending to their thrones high above the theater. Once they were seated, the lights dimmed, plunging the room into darkness. The first strains of the play's opening music swelled through the air, echoing across the capital as the stage came to life.