>>6076753You quickly put your whole group together, Rubida and Soralisa shielding your sides while Salicera helps you walk, covering you from the many gazes still trying to find you even as new performers — penitents like you? — reach for the pile of pellets to prove their faith and their valour.
“That was the best molten spring I had ever seen!” Soralisa mutters, a grin splitting her face and making her brown eyes shine. “Perhaps the greatest I have heard since year of the Sun 1467, when Caramidio rose such a tide of sparks to cover the entire face of the Temple!”
You nod. At any other times, you would gladly listen to the brunette drone on about her little historical anecdotes. But the hunger in your stomach is a hook that’s twisting, and you need to put something in your mouth. The quick dinner they passed you during the puppet show certainly not enough.
“There’s an empty table there. How about you take her there while Soralisa and I find something to eat and drink?” Rubida points at the isolated orchard you spent time praying in before. The crowd is still mostly drawn to the bonfire and the swelling of sparkles — their cheers still find you, but they seem fainter than before, less excited. Perhaps it’s your pride speaking.
Master used to say that our body gets buried, and our pride follows seven days later.
Perhaps it’s true.
“Sure. I don’t mind,” Salicera grins, her eyes dashing for a moment to your still-exposed chest.
Uhm.
“I-I may need help with—”
“Relax. It’s nothing I have not seen before. You are blessed in more than one way, Argia Candente” Salicera pushes you towards the closest table and you can finally sit on a plank, which creaks under your weight. One hand reaches for your hair, making sure they are all still covered. Wonder what would have happened if you had taken off your cover — right in the middle of the feasting crowd? Would they have cheered for you? Would have they felt betrayed?
Perhaps you'll never know.
[cont.]
