"Wait, let's get some cloak first!"
"Oh!" Lucy mentioned and stopped her tracks, seemingly convinced about her situation at hand. She turned around, glancing her way, "I forgot about that, let me get some of the cloaks I have kept in here!"
Lucy pranced to the chocolate brown closet, twice as tall as Anasthasia's and located near the kitchen entrance, and opened up. Without further ado, she grabbed a wooden stool and used it to reach by the topmost section.
Seeing this whole charade, Anasthasia called out as her mind loomed with concern, "Don't be antsy; take your time!"
"What are you saying, sister Ana?" Lucy chirped as she reached by the end, "Time is the essence, this will be quick."
"Fine by me."
"There, finally!" She huffed out, grabbing and embracing two shades of fabric in her small arms. She moved down and trudged her way back to Anasthasia.
"This should suit you better, sister Ana!"
"Beautiful!" Every detail of the cloak therein had the consistent qualities of what she wore the previous, except for its color that reflected well on her crystal blue eyes.
"I knew it! I had to get that cloak because that resembled well with your eyes."
"How thoughtful of you." She untied the lace and moved the cloak. The fabric fluttered as she hefted it in her arms, flowing alongside the buzzing wisp. Her hands hovered over the blueness of the cloak as though it was her second skin. She donned it, melding to her.
Anashtasia marveled all over her cloak that she forgot to notice Lucy, who turned prep and ready, which then prompted her to utter, "Shall we go?"
"Whenever you are!"
Lucy's hasty movements soon dragged her to the kitchen's doorway. When she creaked the door open, the sunlight immediately bathed her with ample warmth. Her eyes dawned over the traffic of different people, coming whenever and wherever. The sound of percussion struck with fierce intensity, so lively that her heart thumped along with it, had overshadowed the choral peals of laughter of children, business chatters, and other bustling noises on the streets. There, she could feel the grooves of the sounds that mused the ambient air.
Never did Lucy's steps come so slow, but instead, it became faster and faster, albeit not too close to running. Anasthasia witnessed, she could only smile in glee.
'What is she getting excited? The festival? Is it that spectacular?'
"Whatever that is, I'll take it with a grain of salt.'
Moments after contemplating, Anasthasia witnessed the masses blockade her vision. Their screams and shouts had let it all out, competing against the roaring drums and trumpets. When this all happened, this brought back a surge of nostalgia to her soul.
'This is just as lively as the celebration in my empire!...'
"...Sister Ana!"
It took a hot minute for Anasthasia to snap from her deep gaze. Lucy had already tiptoed and screamed so close to her ear. Eyes widened, seeing how her face flushed with a pink shade across her cheeks and panted ruggedly.
"I'm sorry, I got caught up with the spectacular sight."
"That's fine!" Lucy responded in haste, pulling her close to the crowd. "We need to insert our way there!"
"It's too crowded!"
"Please?"
"...Fine, we'll do this just once!" Anasthasia facepalmed as she released a heavy sigh.
Despite having the crowd brimmed with life on its own—hands waved midair, their arms prodded and nudged as they brush passed them—which had the two braced for their lives. Anasthasia tensed as she sensed herself drowning amongst the surging crowds.
From the forefront, Lucy released her hand, and then, Anasthasia propped her hand to her knees, on the other hand, clutching her chest from the tight spaces. By and by, her heavy breaths ran calm and dry.
"I'm sorry, sister Ana."
"Don't worry, I'm fine…"
Anasthasia flickered her eyes, noticing the red line of the sash that barricade in front of her. Beyond it were small papers, of varying fancy sizes and colors, and a bunch of flowers scattered forming a stringent road from either side of the plane.
'What a grand entrance…' She took a pause, eyeing with caution about every detail laid, pondering, 'Quite a bunch of escorts for those three, huh?'
"So…" Anasthasia leaned to the side, near her as she trailed off her voice, "What made you so excited on this parade?"
"Sister Ana, that's, without a doubt, because of them!"
"Who—?"
"Look! They're here already!" She jumped in her stead with joy, squealing on top of her lungs.
"Okay, hold my hand. You must take a good eye, or you'll be lost!"
The tides of instruments heralded the winds of bravery, and this time, the sounds tugged Anasthasia's soul in a beguiling manner. She looked towards the direction and saw a group of horses that trudged, clopping in rhythm. Soon as they drew closer, she got a clearer picture of the parade.
There went the man, perched atop on a mighty stallion. Those golden strands draped and dangled with elegance, the pearl-white surface etched on every nook and crevices of its robust muscles, and a shimmering plate of armor equipped on top of it—perfectly matched his majestic aura.
'He looks even more regal on this kind of event.' She thought in awe, eyes scrutinizing every feature of him.
Michael's armor-clad with golden edges had her squint from the sun reflecting off from the highlights, the golden chains that carefully wrapped around his shoulders had clutched by the red curtains of crimson that fluttered in midair. Nightshade's scabbard and exposed hilt, which tucked by the side, gleamed with dominance, albeit not enough to stifle the overarching joy in the atmosphere.
'This is quite a show-off, honestly. It's too over the top. But, I'm not the one to talk at my time either.'
Behind Michael found the twins on their mounts, exuded with the same aura. Such grandiose was almost tantamount to wealth and honor. With that said, Anasthasia continued to reflect on her thoughts.
'Looking at the twins' armors, it's not much different of that from Michael's, except for the badges and additional ornaments he had.'
Not too long from their act, Anasthasia noticed the subtle and intense gaze from them. She promptly moved her head, eyes on her leather boots. When they drew closer, her hair stood on end. Meanwhile, Lucy jumped in ecstatic and shouted with gibberish utters as she paid no mind to it.
"Sister Ana!" She squealed once more.
"Y—Yes! What is it, Lucy?"
"Have you seen them?!" She bobbed her head; eyes darted upward as she swooned over them. Her legs moved like a flower dancing against the windy breeze.
"No." She shook her head.
"Why not?"
"I—I'm feeling tired…"
"Oh, that's not good! Anyway, we shall return now! I had received their regards and all!"
"You did?"
"Of course, they'll notice me!" Her eyes shut as she chinned up, huffing out.
"I believe in you." Anasthasia giggled after that.
After a long day of bracing against the tide, Anasthasia sensed her legs danced in erratic motion. Beads of sweat slowly formed her forehead, but she wiped it with her hand and flicked it away from her.
"This is too much..."
"I'm sorry, Sister Ana." Lucy, instead, winked at her.
"Whatever…" Anasthasia sighed in defeat.
"Shall we go back?"
Anasthasia nodded, they sauntered their way back, but her eyes immediately hooked by the particular stall. She stood, frozen solid, and Lucy could no longer drag her.
"Sister Ana, what's wrong?" Lucy took a glimpse of her shimmering blue eyes, then traced all the way it darted. Her head tilted, and with questions, staring, obscured her vision.
'I sense something in that stall! This presence! Why is it here?!'
The irresistible charm turned into a gigantic vacuum she could never escape, beckoning her to its whims. She gulped audibly, walking, with every step so heavy and jagged, towards it. Lucy never let go of her hold, but instead, followed her.
When they drew closer, she could feel the invisible force clutching her with ease. Her breath turned ragged once more, eyes rattling, which had Lucy narrowed her sight.
"Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Such esteemed guests take a good look at my items." The vendor mused his voice.
However, Anasthasia never heeded the call as she frantically looked for the particular object, and it didn't take long for her to find what she wanted!
'There you are!'
Eyebrows arched, eyelids twitched, and then lips curled to a smile. Anasthasia's spirit turned ablaze as she witnessed the small rod—with its plain white ceramic surface and thickness comparable to an oak twig. But it was considered lackluster due to the dried smears of dirt and clumping dust that bound with it.
However, her understanding of it had rooted deeper and more profound when it comes to it.
....As she only knew better what it was.
"You have good eyes; unfortunately, this isn't for sale."
Anasthasia's face shattered to pieces.