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Chapter 121:

Arthur's Point of View

Pendragon Estate

I was sitting in my office when I heard the front door open. Normally I'd go and investigate who was in my home, but I didn't care. Shuffling through the papers on my desk and organizing them for Greigh, my office door opened. Looking up, expecting to see one of them, I instead saw Cassidy and Austin once again.

Quirking a brow at them as Austin ran around the room to look around, I spoke. "What're you two doing here? Weren't you just at home?"

Cassidy nodded, but Austin spoke over her as he practically ran into my desk, overly excited. "We came ta get ya! Ya left before we could invite ya over!" He claimed.

Naturally, I was even more confused, and Cassidy sighed. "Tonight's the Festival of Lights."

"Okay?" I said unsurely.

"Austin told us ya didn't get no candles when ya went out shoppin with him. We weren't sure if ya had someone ta celebrate with, so we figured ya could celebrate with us." She told me and then quickly added, "If yer interested."

"I was informed about this holiday when Austin and I ventured into town, but it's not something I celebrate. You don't need to feel obligated about inviting me."

One would think my answer was sufficient, but not to Austin. "We don't!" The redheaded boy replied cheerfully. "This is a day ta celebrate those who meant a lot ta us and those we miss!" He then ran around the desk and grabbed my arm before shaking it. "Come on! The more, the merrier!"

Closing my eyes for a moment, I stood and nodded. "Alright. I'll come."

Doing a victorious fist pump, Austin smiled. "Yes!" He cheered.

Cassidy chuckled and then gestured to the door. "Well, come on! Grandpa's already gettin things set up for us!"

I did want to head to the old capital tonight, but it was something that could wait until I returned. Not like anything would be changed or leaving there in the time I'm away. So, we ended up back on the Reed Family Farmstead, and we chatted about the Festival as we walked. Apparently, it was quite the sight to behold from down here.

"There ya are! Glad Cass and Austin were able ta get ta ya in time!" Augustus called out from the front of the house.

"I didn't know you wanted me to come over." I replied with a shrug. "Otherwise, I would've just portaled back."

"True, but Ah didn't want ta force ya. We also weren't sure what Ayda needed. It could've been important." He informed me as he set up a table outside.

Moving next to him, Cassidy and Austin ran inside as I helped him. "It was important. Got a mission I'm heading out on. Might be gone for a few months."

Grandpa Reed looked at me in surprise. "Your first mission! Ya nervous?" He inquired.

I chuckled at that. "No. This isn't something to be nervous about. I'm mostly going to be treating it as a vacation."

"Ah see."

Cassidy came back outside with Austin with all manner of supplies. "Here ya go, Grandpa!" Austin said happily before setting things down on the table.

The farmgirl then handed me a few supplies with a smirk. "Need help, or do ya think ya can figure it out?"

Rolling my eyes, I sneered back at her. "I'm pretty sure I can figure it out."

"Well, let's get started! We don't want ta be late!" Austin chimed in before grabbing a bunch of different supplies, which made his family members chuckle.

It didn't take us long as we created these small pyres. Candles were involved, but not in the way I expected. Each member of the Reed family moved their pyres to specific locations as I watched them. They asked me to make one, but I was satisfied with just helping or watching. Austin then told me we could share.

"Should be any minute now." Cassidy said as we looked up Helmsforth Mt.

As she suspected, a few spells were launched from the side of the mountain. Lightning spells, fire spells, and many others appeared to be flashy. At that moment, several pyres could be seen all up and down the mountain. It was beautiful.

Grandpa Reed smiled. "Ah've always loved this view. Looks like the entire mountain is dancin." He said as the flames flickered and shifted in the wind. "Come on now. Let's light ours up as well."

The Reeds moved about as they lit their pyres, and I looked towards the top of the mountain. A larger pyre than all the others was at the very tip and shot into the sky. It pulled in the rest of the mountain and the town as light began to emit from The Slums. Truly a sight to behold.

"No Zugal are flying tonight." Augustus told me as they all stood by their pyres. "Spells are being launched from the upper rungs, so no one is allowed to be flying in the vicinity of Helmsforth until tomorrow." He stated and then gestured above me. "Ya got a spell or somethin for this occasion?"

I had conflicted feelings about this holiday, so I shook my head. "No. Sorry." Was my dull response.

Austin smiled up at me brightly as he watched his pyres. "That's okay! Everyone celebrates differently." He said innocently before chuckling. "My dad used to prepare weeks ahead of time and clear out this huge area for this massive pyre he would build every year." The redheaded boy's smile faded. "Said it was for grandma." Another chuckle escaped his lips. "And every year, he would get in trouble."

Cassidy then looked at me with a solemn smile. "It was frowned upon ta build something that big and had the risk of catching other things on fire."

Augustus then added, "And I usually helped him, along with his wife, but Ah'm too old ta do somethin like that now."

Without another word, I began to gather my energy into my right hand. A flicker of a flame could be seen, which caught the family's attention. Before they could ask what I was doing, I pointed my palm up towards the sky as I raised my arm over my head. More and more energy poured into my hand. The flame got bigger and bigger as well.

"Then let's get into a little trouble tonight in their honor." Was all I said in response.

A torrent of flames shot from my palm and into the sky. Illuminating the entire area as it almost appeared as if a sea of flames was over our heads. There was no doubt in my mind that they shot up over the top of Helmsforth. Not that they got close to the mountain in any way. The flames were controlled, but I was positive that my little fire show rivaled the entirety of Helmsforth on its own.

Augustus, Cassidy, and Austin stepped next to me as they looked up at the flames. Memories of close friends and loved ones flooded my mind as I felt my lips quiver. Closing my eyes to ignore and rid myself of their memory, I slowly lowered my arm as the flames died out. Eventually, my arm fell to my side, and the Reed family looked at me. It surprised me that each of them was smiling.

Cassidy gave me a bright smile that could be seen in the flickering light of their pyres. "Feel any better?" She asked me with some tears in her eyes.

"..." I didn't respond.

Little did I know there were a few tears running down my cheeks.