Chapter 293: The Feast Begins
After Lumine, taking a still-shaken Paimon with her, temporarily departed to deal with the "mental trauma" left by the battle, the celebratory atmosphere of the Holy Fire Arena erupted like a volcano, instantly enveloping everyone who remained.
Stelle stood rooted to the spot, her gaze fixed on Lumine's retreating back before it fell to her own hands. The phantom sensation of being filled with the power of a giant seemed to linger, but a completely different emotion was quietly surging in her heart.
Paimon's tearful accusation, like a fine needle, had once again pierced through the elation of victory. It made her vividly recall the moment during Gosoythoth's surprise attack—the dark-red fire sword slashing towards Lumine, and her own failure to react in time.
"I… am still not fast enough, not strong enough," Stelle murmured, a flicker of sharp annoyance and self-reproach flashing in her golden eyes.
If her reaction had been just a fraction of a second faster, if she had anticipated the Abyss's insidious sneak attack, perhaps Lumine wouldn't have had to endure that blow. Perhaps Paimon wouldn't have been so terrified.
This feeling of powerlessness, of failing to perfectly protect her companion, quickly cooled the triumphant heat in her veins. Her desire for more power, for greater strength, once again became an urgent, gnawing need. She knew she needed more abilities, more arduous training, to truly handle the even more perilous crises that the future was sure to hold.
However, Stelle's personality never allowed such negative emotions to fester for long.
Just as she subtly clenched her fists, silently steeling her resolve, a warm hand grabbed her arm.
"Hey! Stelle! Stop spacing out! Everyone's celebrating! Come on!" March 7th's face was beaming, her smile as brilliant and cloudless as a summer sky. She unceremoniously began to pull Stelle toward the liveliest part of the crowd. "Last time we came to Natlan to rescue Kachina, it was just a small-scale celebration. We didn't get a chance to really have fun! This time it's a national celebration! It has to be different!"
Stelle's thoughts were broken. Looking at March's vibrant smile and the ocean of jubilant people surging around them, the gloom in her heart was largely swept away by the fervent atmosphere.
"You're right! Now is the time to celebrate!" She shook her head, temporarily pushing the self-reproach to the back of her mind, and her signature, slightly roguish grin returned.
The last time they were in Natlan, after successfully rescuing Kachina, they had only participated in a small celebration within the arena. It was an event tinged with post-battle fatigue and relief, not a full immersion into Natlan's fiery and unrestrained culture.
This, however, was a true, nationwide celebration of a great victory. Its scale and fervor were on an entirely different level.
The air was thick with the savory aroma of roasted meat, the cloying sweetness of tropical fruit, and the fragrant perfume of a unique local spice. A huge bonfire blazed in the center of the plaza, its roaring flames illuminating every joyful face in shifting shades of orange and gold. The rhythmic, drum-heavy traditional music of Natlan echoed through the sky, its melody seeming to strike directly at one's heart, stirring the most primal urge to dance.
Stelle quickly discovered that, beyond the feasting and delicious food, one of the most important parts of a Natlan victory celebration was dancing.
Regardless of gender, age, warrior, or commoner, everyone gathered around the bonfire. Swept up by the stirring music, they expressed their inner ecstasy and showcased the vitality of life with powerful, wild, and uninhibited dance steps.
How could this Stelle possibly miss out?
She was, after all, the very same person who had astounded everyone during Penacony's Golden Hour, earning the title of "Dance King"—a self-proclaimed honor, perhaps, but her skill was undeniably impressive.
also, as one of the heroes who had, in full view of everyone, transformed into a giant to clash with and defeat the abyssal beast Bakunawa, Stelle's popularity in Natlan was at an all-time high.
She didn't know who it was, but a voice from the crowd shouted first, "Look! It's that giant hero!"
In an instant, countless gazes—filled with reverence, gratitude, curiosity, and pure enthusiasm—focused on her.
Far from being shy, Stelle became even more excited.
She chuckled, pulling her signature top hat from who-knows-where and casually placing it on her head. With a flourish, she performed an exaggerated gentleman's bow to the surrounding crowd.
The next moment, she moved.
Without preamble or warning, her body seemed to merge with the stirring music itself. Her dance steps weren't in the traditional Natlan style, yet they strangely fit the rhythm, carrying a unique charm from beyond the star seas—free-spirited, unpredictable, and crackling with explosive power.
The top hat flew between her fingers as if it had a life of its own; each toss, spin, and catch was precisely timed to the drumbeats, drawing gasps and cheers from the crowd.
She was like a drop of water thrown into hot oil, instantly igniting the already fervent atmosphere to a new, roaring climax.
More and more young Natlan people were drawn in by her infectious dance moves, spontaneously gathering around her. Some tried to imitate her actions, while others engaged her in friendly "dance battles," their laughter ringing through the plaza. The entire central area of the Holy Fire Arena seemed to transform into a giant, joyful, open-air dance floor.
"Stelle! So cool!" March 7th's eyes sparkled with delight, and she couldn't help but pull the somewhat shy Belle and Wise to join the fun.
Belle was a bit reserved at first, but under the influence of Stelle and March, she gradually found the rhythm, a happy, unrestrained smile blooming on her face. Although Wise's movements were a bit stiff, seeing his sister so happy, he also tried his best to sway his body along with the beat.
Hu Tao, on the other hand, was completely in her element. Already mischievous and a quick study, she blended smoothly into the Natlan dance group, her plum-blossom pupils sparkling with excitement as she had the time of her life.
Himeko did not join the young people's revelry. She stood a little further away, holding a steaming drink she'd acquired from a nearby stall. A gentle and gratified smile graced her lips as she watched March and Stelle dancing freely in the crowd, her expression like that of a benevolent elder watching her children play.
However, not everyone was immersed in the sea of celebration.
In this moment of national jubilation, there were always those who needed to deal with the aftermath and wounds of victory, to guard this hard-won peace.
The "parent group," or rather, the "reliable group," consciously took on this responsibility.
Zhongli and Welt exchanged a knowing glance and tacitly withdrew from the noisy crowd.
Zhongli's cor lapis eyes swept over the distant lands that had been severely eroded by abyssal energy during the battle. The ground there was now desolate and lifeless. In a deep, resonant voice, he said, "Celebration belongs to the living, but healing the wounds of the earth is also an urgent matter."
Welt pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and nodded in agreement. "If the residual abyssal energy isn't cleared, it will have long-term environmental effects. That would be detrimental to any reconstruction efforts."
The two said no more. Their figures quietly disappeared from the edge of the plaza, heading out into the wilderness. They prepared to use their respective powers to purify the contaminated land and clear out a truly habitable home for the people of Natlan.
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