Chapter 21: Night Ones Fun726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneiaDpJL5n
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At the fortune teller’s booth, an old man with long droopy elf ears moved his wrinkled hands around a clear ball that rested on a metal dragon’s talon. “Hmm…” he mused as the ball began to darken and become a hazy gray. “This is most unique.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqhnzQhBvh
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“What’s it say?” Alura asked as she leaned closer in her seat with Marenzo standing at her side.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSad01Pewwg
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“Well it says to me that one future will come to an end as the other will continue anew.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8NZA9gCje
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Marenzo blinked baffled by this. “That doesn’t make much sense. Are you sure you’re reading your magic ball right?”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtsaTZ6rDO
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The man nodded as Alura looked to Marenzo. “I wonder whose future ends as the other continues but is new.” Marenzo shrugged at her question.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFQEYQmAWj
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“I don’t have any clue. Fortune telling was not in my lessons in Zento so I’m not anywhere near even a novice at the skill.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJRZCqGhEy
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“Unfortunately the magic isn’t letting me see who will die and who will live with the dead reborn.” The man said sadly as he looked up and rested his hands on the table, allowing the ball to return to its clear state. “If you like me to, I’ll do a free reading for any close events. Such as if either of you find love~” he cooed with a chuckle.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2T00LX5P3
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Both of their faces flushed bright red with this offer. “No! We’re good!” both nearly shouted at once with their hands moving back and forth to indicate no in the air.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGi5wpmqDb
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“Hahaha, alright, you both go then and enjoy the festival.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8R5EnYbHJN
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The pair took this order and left. Alura had begun to fan herself with her hand to try and end the burning red on her face. “Can you believe his second offer?” she asked almost sounding breathless.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNbizqfp9I
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“I know, right? That’s crazy since we’re friends.” Marenzo agreed as one hand was messing with his collar to try helping his heated face.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSb7BHFsBut
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“Yea, nothing more…” she said with her tone trailing off as quickly she slipped the mask back on. “Shall we check something else out?” he nodded and replaced his mask before following after her. They made their way to another stand and took part in a few rounds of darts. After some minutes and the matches ending in a tie, they made their way to the sparing field which was similar in style to fencing.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVhAE5qp47
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They were suited up with a closed vest and a thin, dulled sword. “Now, if both will put their non-dominate hand behind their backs, we will begin!” the event holder announced. Alura put her left hand behind her as Marenzo put his right behind him. “Both stand up straight with swords up in front of your faces.” They both complied as they locked sights. “On the ready!” the two put the swords out to point above the other’s head. “Take stance!” they lowered some with bent knees. “Begin!” he shouted and they swiftly moved towards the other. Their swords clinked and clanked as they met in swings being blocked to avoid being struck on the torso.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0w6ajdkjmg
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One strike after a minute caused that section of Alura’s vest to turn red. “Alura has received one negative point!” called the event host with energy which got a stir from the group of spectators. This exchange of blocks continued until Alura landed two blows to Marenzo and caused the watchers to cheer. Their sparing continued until he landed a final seventh blow to her vest as he still had one spot left untouched. “The winner is Marenzo!” everyone clapped and cheered, a few people chanting his name.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGSoAbIJrX
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He grinned and struck a victory pose before looking to a pouting Alura. “Wanna try again?” he asked with a tone to try tempting her to try for a second round.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmrJsCqbxA
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Alura thought this over then slowly a grin pulled onto her face. “You’re on.” The event holder waved his hand and reset their vests. Once they were told to begin they did and round two was underway.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyPZf4wd7h
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After the third round ended with Alura’s victory, they returned the gear and left to let another pair that had been waiting have a go. They went and took in a magic act by a pair of magicians appearing to try out doing the other. They clapped and enjoyed the comedy and magic behind their choreographed moves. She watched then slowly looked over to Marenzo uncertain and feeling her heart speed up as she saw how the light was reflecting off his features.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEc1xhlCeSB
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They went to another stand belonging to a tarot card reader. Her reddish pink hair was messily minus her bangs. They were left to rest on top of a strip of pale fabric covering her eyes. A few small licks of flames left her fingertips as they neared and she lifted her head to face them. “Welcome, have you come for a reading?” she had a stern yet kind voice.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0GrhVuX5R
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Alura nodded while resisting asking about the fabric painted with green clovers and red flowers over her eyes. “Yes, I’m curious what you can see about myself or my friend Marenzo.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1x9R7jslu5
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The blindfolded woman nodded and allowed flames to slip from her palms, pulling the spread out cards together. She shuffled them carefully and laid them out in a line. The cards then looked to move on their own so they went down at an angle. She flipped over the first card and flames danced over its upside down position to take in its details. It depicted a woman in olden garb sitting in a heart shaped bush. “The maiden of the sole heart does not foresee everlasting love and joy in your future.” She said as she looked up at Alura.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIp1NQVvPV
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This confused the young woman but she stayed quiet as the reader turned her attention to the second card as she flipped it. The sight was of a man surrounded by gold with a crooked crown on his head. As the first time, the flames danced across this upright card. “The lord of wealth foresees you should step lightly when it comes to the gaining of power. You are warned that you will fall to its grasps.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OfsqR1W0j
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“I will not.” Alura muttered defiantly.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMCg5Ju4f6
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The woman seemed to not hear as she flipped the third card that was upside down as her flames danced across it. The image depicted a lone wolf howling at a shattered moon that resembled a boney hand. “The surviving beast foresees death is ever lingering. It longs to claim your evasive soul by any means it can.” She looked up from the cards. “You once seen the face of death yet escaped to breath once more. You are lucky yet ill-fated for fleeing it.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3RssthCpv
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“That doesn’t make any sense.” Alura pointed out as the woman turned her attention to the last card.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUQpeJtCqX
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She didn’t answer. All she did was as she had before. She turned the card over to show a roughly welded together sword that hovered over a pile of ash. On this weapon’s blade was the reflection of a sleeping maiden. The card was upright as the flames danced over its surface. “The trapped maiden of an endless life foresees and tells you will cheat death once more in your life.” She turned her head to look up. “It will be by a hand not so far away and much pain will be had by this coming destiny.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0J6oYRUr8
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“Hold on right there.” Marenzo spoke up as the woman collected the four cards and dealt four more. “Alura isn’t going to die. She has me around and others who will be there to help her.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRBnGjZ3wi
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The woman didn’t seem to be paying attention as she flipped over the first card. It was upright and showed a proud canine like beast defending its family. “You are loyal as the grand beast who protects its kin and brethren alike. But that leads to faulty decisions and danger to all parties.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjorXwmQwz
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“Are you listening?” he questioned but got no answer.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFexX0l670
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She flipped over the second card. It was upside down and showed a woman holding a skull against her chest in regal clothing and broken crown. “The Queen’s death is a strange card. Family struggles is what it is foreseeing and telling me for your history.” She looked up to him and her flames gently touched one of his feet. This resulted in him stepping back from it but she had detected tenseness in him. “It is nothing to fret over, wizard, but it is something you cannot continue to flee from.” He frowned as she looked back at her cards.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7iiUCXd3I
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She flipped the third card which somehow went to lie at an odd angle on its own. She twisted her face with confusion as if this were the first time she had seen this happen as her flames left the card face. “Interesting…” on the card was depicted a shovel resting between two large feathered wings. “The fall from grace is another odd card. Love will be found yet lost and remain out of reach upon its revival.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVCzjbf6Tf
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“What’s that mean?” he asked but only got a headshake for an answer. She began to flip the fourth card when he spoke up. “You know maybe we should go do something else. I think I’ve had enough of fortunes and tarot card readings for one night.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEztqvnXVh
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“You sure you don’t wanna know?” Alura questioned and he nodded, gently taking her hand and lead her away. She waved and the woman waved back.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNB7MoVLFZ
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The woman looked down at the card as she flipped it over to show an upright image of a trio of roses, blooming big and strong against the backing of cupped hands. “The card of growth foresees a healthy family…fore after a storm and pain, comes a beautiful garden.” She said softly and recollected her cards.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXPAaifRyV
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Marenzo was walking and they began to look at the décor while deciding what else to try out. It would feel like several minutes passed by before Alura spoke up. “Hey um…can I ask you a question?”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOZpIK5pGb
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“Sure, what’s up?”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xgJm997Xo
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“Well…I was wondering if…it is actually possible to bring someone back from the dead?” their steps slowed and came to a halt in the middle of the street. She took a breath when there was no answer. “I’m asking because…in the book and in my dreams I…” she sighed, “a Goddess brought mother back to life for father but she was left no memory of her own history.” She turned her blue-brown gaze on him through the mask. “So I was wondering if a normal human or magic user can do it too.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qls2zHt5R
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Marenzo was quiet as he thought this over carefully. He knew the answer but wanted to pick his words carefully so they would be right yet not so in order to possibly disgust her. “…It…is possible.” He said slowly in a quiet, low voice with his attention set on nothing in particular in front of them. “…It’s a forbidden art to raise the dead.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbli5FeSzwF
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“Why is it forbidden? Is it because the Goddess can do it?”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWMgLmkvNs
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“…” he inhaled deeply through his nose which made it flare then released it the same way before answering, still keeping his sights off her. “You take the body and have it placed on an alter with engravings as depicted in an old spell book. You place water around the alter…as well…as three to five people that are pure of heart and innocent of soul.” He choked out the last part in his serious tone. Alura’s eyes widened and her mouth slightly fell open behind the mask.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOusa233sXe
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“Once…” he took a calming breath, “once that is done then you use the spell. The sacrifices are torn apart and their bodies are used to make renewed the dead one.” His hands at his sides began to slowly ball up. “Their bodies and souls are put into the dead one to make it feasible for its soul to be able to rejoin it.” His fists tightened. “After that…you need six more pure and innocent people and one sinfully stained person. You use the next spell and that…their sacrifice is to bring calling back the soul of the dead person if it is not yet reborn in a new body.” He explained with his voice starting to tremble and crack.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OyGY3oMfA
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Alura was at a loss for words and after she had finally processed everything, she reached a hand out and touched one of his trembling fists. “…How do you know this? Why are you shaking?”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUNYCkADma
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Marenzo lowered his head to glare at the ground. “…Because mother tried to bring father back that way but the creature that woke up off that alter…” He closed his eyes as he inhaled a shaking breath. 726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsnHcefF66
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He could still see his father’s body getting up and stumbling. Once he was stable thanks to a maid, he slammed his hand into her chest, ripped out her heart and crushed it in a bloody scene. He yelled at his father to knock it off but could still remember the horrible cry that sounded like more than one soul. The cry was not just his father but many with a sound of pain and agony. His father’s body began to change and in fear he fell back, unable to teleport himself to safety when his father came charging. 726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrU9jFd5J1m
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His elder brother and mother stepped up and destroyed the revived dead man. Pieces of corpse with gore on the walls littered the place. His brother turned to him and offered a hand. “Get up and stop cowering. You are a mage of noble birth, start acting like it and take your studying seriously.” He recalled fleeing from the room in a sweat and could still remember how he felt as he hid in his room out of terror.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatZHUfdsYm
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“…That creature wasn’t my father anymore…and I couldn’t do a damned thing.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUh11K7Oob
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“Marenzo…” Alura got closer, slipped around in front of him and wrapped her arms around him for a tight hug. He hesitated but gently hugged her back. “I’m sorry,” she wanted to help but couldn’t change the past. Damn it, why the hell did I ask that? Now I’ve just gone and hurt him. She felt a tear slip down her cheek.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrt6SwxupJQ
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“Alura?” she slowly looked up to meet his gaze. “Don’t cry, please? I don’t want to see the one I love crying over something that’s my problem.” Shock came across her face as he spoke those words, those three words and her heart skipped a beat. Gently he removed his mask to rest it on top of his head. Next he gently removed her mask so he could look at her real face. “I didn’t scare you, did I?”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYdaSmelGS
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She shook her head and snapped out of her daze. “No, not at all actually, you just beat me to it.” She smiled a little as he blinked in confusion. “I…I was thinking about telling you that I was in love with you tonight.” Her face flushed hotly. “That was until you did it first but um…” she swallowed past the forming lump in her throat. “I…do love you back.”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjK1Q48Tty
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Marenzo’s face flushed red with heat as well. Slowly a smile came back to his stunned expression. “I’m glad. I suppose great minds do think alike sometimes.” Alura nodded in agreement as she looked down then back up to him. “How about we finish looking around and head back for the night before it gets too late?”726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85iRYFXkvp
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“That sounds good to me.” They held hands with their masks replaced on their faces as they looked around at the rest the festival’s first night had to offer. Later on they would head back to the Inn, change and go to bed in each other’s arms.726Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPrz0OWD8c
Penana
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