Chapter 21: Night Ones Fun662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSc8JyfjyVa
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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.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7zujGgPaZ
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“What’s it say?” Alura asked as she leaned closer in her seat with Marenzo standing at her side.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpV7lJ3WqOE
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“Well it says to me that one future will come to an end as the other will continue anew.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGWLjsZuOi
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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?”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupRrjzLucx
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbaIcpKQFi
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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.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSX2seitCM
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6THFOlOm5
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ktCXSO53c
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“Hahaha, alright, you both go then and enjoy the festival.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtY6qYoy06J
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdywwYkHTV
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBx8fkIyEs
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWF3TwIrmJH
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQGspya3DH
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZl45Feo6T
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1LMad1mue
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQ9t03Iebo
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIHvg8Fq58
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHEn8MkEjD
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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.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrIuR8ypf5
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDiWF7iIgR
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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.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlHRpUN7Jn
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“I will not.” Alura muttered defiantly.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg1bwwg8wo
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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.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56mbA8SpB8
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“That doesn’t make any sense.” Alura pointed out as the woman turned her attention to the last card.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIqjY3fmEk
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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.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHFHQIXmX6
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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.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dptY4TdEx
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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.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sa04mX5bX
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“Are you listening?” he questioned but got no answer.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKvCsL0o3c
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdukvQUflkp
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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.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5ywzJjdS0
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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.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AKUmagogK
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdPKyiIyWv
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrbZ6aruNP
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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?”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlifYynqIXg
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“Sure, what’s up?”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4POqNRhljJ
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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.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbovncVdwI
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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.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWYDxs1SRj
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“Why is it forbidden? Is it because the Goddess can do it?”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrBNZuuDq0
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuI0PhQgn1n
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKJHAEkMd3
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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?”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRW8Tpv4ANE
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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. 662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Gy31xvecR
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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. 662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnbklMTEp3
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrGI7ljPBh
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“…That creature wasn’t my father anymore…and I couldn’t do a damned thing.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xnErkAZzy
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUtW7iJ8EB
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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?”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoIdCd1901
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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.”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshhvx9m0aW
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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?”662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWMNoW1UIS
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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.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITJIYJz9kL
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