New Year's Festival
I arrived at our meeting spot, but Fei was nowhere in sight.
Is she not here yet?
Look over there! People are flying through the air like falling leaves!
Stay back!
The Idle Hundreds and the Layabouts are fighting. You don't wanna get caught up in that!
Really? But something looks off...
Doesn't it look like one person is beating the rest of them up?
...Huh, you're right. Who is she?
You've got to be kidding...
Aaaaargh!
Cowards...! You called in a mercenary?!
Who is this chick?!
Mercenary...?! If that were true, would she be beating us up too?
Ma'am! Please! What's it about this time?!
The Idle Hundreds and the Layabouts.
I heard two sects were facing off, so I came to see for myself.
Sects?
Ma'am, we're just street gangs...
Silence! That's not the point!
A contest of pure skill...!
Would the Celestial Sect miss out on something like that?
That's why I joined in. And I proved it!
A martial art that seizes the initiative at every stage of combat!
Well? Isn't the Celestial Art incredible?!
The... Celestial Art? What kind of name is that?
You mocking us or something— Aaaaargh!
...Did you just insult the Celestial Art? How dare you!
Back to positions!
Back to positions!
Ma'am! We didn't say anything!
The Celestial Art... Aah...! Just hearing the name alone makes me want to cry!
Excellent...!
You two, step back. The rest of you... Hmm?
My other half! You're here!
You mean Captain, not your "other half."
Are you busy?
No, I'm almost done. Just wait a little bit—
What are you doing?! Run!
The Idle Hundreds...? You're helping us Layabouts?!
Just this once. Don't get the wrong idea!
...Hmph!
These guys make no sense...
...Ugh, that got weirdly touching and now I feel queasy.
I could catch up if I chased after them, but we have a place to be, so I'll let them off the hook.
Lead the way, my beloved.
Captain. Just call me Captain.
After that, I walked around the festival with Fei.
We enjoyed rare sights along with foods brought all the way from the Eastern Continent, and spent a delightful time together.
The New Year's festival of the West is full of diversions, I see.
But it's a bit...
...Wanna go somewhere quieter?
Hmm...
I feel much better now. Feels like I'm back in the East.
The festival's fun, but it's noisy. I just needed a break.
Captain, you always know what I need, even if I don't say it.
Want to try the swings? I'll push you.
Nah, I wanted a break too.
Haha! Sounds like you were just as worn out.
...They hold a New Year's festival in the East too.
Different atmosphere from NOA's, but just as lively.
Funny. I never thought I'd miss something that used to be so familiar.
...Do you want to go back?
I have to.
Once I complete the Celestial Art, I need to go back and ask for forgiveness.
...Was this the same spot where I asked the heavens before?
Maybe this time, I'll get a different answer.
What do you say, o' heavens...?
Am I, Fei, on the right path?
The sky was clearer than usual, but once again, only the moon and stars twinkled overhead.
...Heh.
Same as ever.
And then, something changed.
Smoke billowed up, followed by a roar and a cascade of fireworks lighting up the night sky.
Fei's eyes widened as she looked up at the sky.
...Fireworks?
Haha! That surprised me!
For a second I thought the heavens really were answering me!
What a beautiful sight...
Thanks for inviting me to the festival, Captain.
I sat beside Fei on the playground, watching the fireworks disappear into the night.