Twenty minutes passed.

Marie, who was standing near the window, was watching as the afternoon light began shifting toward evening.

The gas lamps outside were being lit one by one, their yellow glow growing stronger as natural light faded.

She turned back to the group, her light-gold eyes sparkling with sudden inspiration.

"We should go outside and enjoy the festival!" Her voice carried infectious enthusiasm. "It's almost nighttime, that's when everything really comes alive!"

Klein, who'd been snuggling contentedly in Reinhard's arms, suddenly tensed. His small hands gripped his brother's shirt tightly, and uncertainty flickered across his face. "Outside? With... with all those people when it's nighttime?" His voice was small, hesitant. "What if something happens? What if the curse-"

He stopped himself, but the fear was evident. Reinhard's expression softened as he rubbed Klein's hair.

He knew that many years of living with the Dark Tide curse had taught Klein to be cautious, that he needed to always be in his room, chained up.

Those habits didn't disappear instantly just because the curse was gone.

Brunhilde moved forward with gentle grace, kneeling beside Reinhard and Klein. Her expression was soft as she reached out, placing one hand over Klein's much smaller one.

"The curse is gone, Klein." She said quietly, her voice carrying absolute certainty. "Completely gone. There's nothing left inside you that can hurt you anymore." She smiled, and it transformed her already beautiful face into something even warmer. "You can run, play, laugh as loudly as you want in the night now. You can stay up late watching fireworks and eat whatever foods you like without worrying about the curse appearing again."

Klein's blue eyes were wide, processing this truth that still felt too good to be real.

"You're free." Brunhilde continued, squeezing his hand gently. "And that means you get to experience everything you've been missing. Including the night festivals."

Klein swallowed hard, then slowly nodded. A faint smile began forming on his lips; it was small at first before gradually growing.

Anna and Anasha, meanwhile, had no such reservations. Both girls bounced excitedly, already moving toward the door with barely contained energy.

"Can we get masks?" Anna asked, her crimson eyes shining. "I saw people setting up stalls with amazing masks earlier!"

"And costumes!" Anasha added, her blue hair swaying as she jumped. "I want to see the dancers! And the food! Can we try everything?"

Their enthusiasm was infectious, filling the room with anticipation.

Reinhard chuckled. He looked down at Klein, then around at the eager faces surrounding them. "To celebrate Klein's cure, let's do it then. Let's enjoy the festival properly."

Everyone cheered, and even Klein's nervous expression transformed into excited anticipation.

They filed out of the apartment together, stepping into Nuevo City's transformed streets as evening fully claimed the sky.

…

The festival illuminated the entire Nuevo city and made it come alive.

Where gas lamps normally provided light, now hundreds of colorful lanterns hung suspended between buildings.

They glowed in reds, golds, blues, and greens, all creating a canopy of shifting lights overhead.

Flower garlands wrapped around lamp posts released subtle fragrances that mixed with cooking smells wafting from nearby vendors.

Music filled the air with countless variations that could be found throughout the entire city. Street musicians played fiddles and flutes on the eastern side while drums beat steady rhythms on the west.

People crowded the narrow cobblestone streets, but instead of feeling oppressive, the closeness felt celebratory. Strangers laughed together while children darted between adults' legs, chasing each other in elaborate games.

Their first stop was a vendor selling masks and accessories. Through the stress, voices were calling out from stalls, advertising wares and performances.

Once they reached the areas, they saw how the stall overflowed with options. Masks hung from wooden frames, each one representing a different Phantasm Beasts.

Some were basic wolf or bear designs rendered in papier-mâché and paint.

Others were elaborate works of art, such as dragon masks with actual moving jaws, phoenix masks that seemed to glow, and serpent masks with scales that caught light individually.

Klein gravitated immediately toward a white eagle mask with three painted eyes arranged in a triangle pattern. His small hands reached out tentatively, touching the smooth surface with wonder.

"That one?" Reinhard asked, already reaching for his golden coin purse.

Klein nodded with a grin.

Marie chose a golden mask resembling a seraphim, complete with tiny wing details that spread from the temples. Joseph selected a simpler design, a green mask with wind patterns swirling across its surface.

Anasha picked a bright blue wolf mask that matched her hair. Anna thought extensively before choosing a red phoenix mask with elaborate feather details.

Brunhilde chose an armor mask that was silver with elegant lines and subtle swings stretching out. Celestia giggled as she selected a star-patterned mask that complemented her usual aesthetic.

The vendor also sold cloaks that were flowing in various colors.

Klein chose a dark blue cloak that billowed dramatically when he spun around, making him laugh with pure delight. The sound of that laughter at night, while completely unhindered by pain or fear, made Reinhard's chest tighten with emotion he couldn't quite name.

They moved deeper into the festival, masks on and cloaks swirling around them.

A crowd had gathered near an intersection where performers were putting on a show. Dancers in elaborate costumes moved in synchronized patterns, their movements telling a story without words.

The costumes represented different Phantasm Beasts, such as wolves, bears, eagles, and serpents, all dancing together.

Klein stood transfixed, his eyes wide behind his white eagle mask. Anna and Anasha swayed unconsciously to the music, unable to resist the rhythm. The dance built to a climax, all the performers coming together in a final formation that drew enthusiastic applause from the crowd.

Coins clinked as people tossed them into collection baskets, showing appreciation.

They continued wandering, drawn by different sights and smells.

Food vendors lined entire streets, each one offering something different. The aromas were overwhelming in the best way, the garlic and herbs, roasting meat, fresh bread, sweet pastries, spices from distant continents made them all shiver in delight.

One vendor sold pasta in large portions, the noodles covered in rich red sauce and topped with cheese that melted in the heat. They each got a bowl, eating while standing, utensils provided by the cheerful vendor who seemed delighted by their enthusiasm.

"This is amazing!" Klein declared through a mouthful of pasta, sauce smudging his chin. Anna immediately reached over with a napkin to clean his face, but she was smiling too broadly to scold him properly.

Another vendor offered pizza, which was a flatbread covered in cheese, tomatoes, and various toppings. Marie insisted they try a slice with meat while Joseph advocated for the vegetable option. They compromised by getting both, sharing between the group, and debating which was superior.

The grilled meat vendor had a massive grill set up, flames licking at skewers of chicken, beef, and pork. The meat was seasoned with spices that made Klein's eyes water slightly, but in a good way that made him want more. Reinhard bought enough skewers for everyone to have two each, watching with quiet satisfaction as Klein ate without any hesitation or fear of stomach pains that would have followed before.

They passed painters offering to create quick portraits or caricatures. Marie dragged the group to one, insisting they needed a memory of this night.

The artist worked quickly with charcoal and colored chalk, creating a group portrait that somehow captured not just their appearances but the joy radiating from them.

Marie carefully rolled it up, promising to frame it later.

The ice cream vendor became Klein's new favorite person. The selection was overwhelming with flavors Klein had never seen before, as they only appeared on festival night. They had the normal chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, mint, coffee, but new ones such as rose, pistachio, lavender, and dozens of options in every imaginable color.

Klein chose lavender with sprinkles, and when he finished that one, he chose strawberry next. Then vanilla with chocolate sauce before choosing a new one. Reinhard kept buying more without complaint, watching Klein's face light up with each new flavor.

Anna got a raspberry, savoring it slowly while Anasha chose mint chip, declaring it the best thing she'd ever tasted.

The adults indulged as well, with Marie getting lavender, Joseph trying coffee, Brunhilde selecting rose, and Celestia choosing pistachio.

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