Chapter 172: Transformations
(Arata)
The Great Hall had been completely transformed into a winter wonderland for the evening’s Winter Gala.
Towering arched ceilings were draped in decorations of deep navy blue, interwoven with shimmering red threads that caught the light from the sconces. Elegant white snowflake-shaped lanterns hung from above, carrying blue and red flames inside them. I observed how artistically they had been designed to give a feel of reality.
Beneath the grand chandeliers, decorations like fluffy clouds hung to give the appearance of winter. Artificial machines had been set up to spray fake snow during the event. Crimson ribbons intertwined with sprigs of holly and pine cones dusted with artificial snow were used to add to the grace of this place.
Crystal candleholders decorated numerous walls, holding white and red candles. Tall, frosted branches, wrapped with twinkling blue fairy lights, creating the illusion of a frozen forest, also lined the walls. Velvet drapes in the shade of rich midnight blue framed the windows while delicate snowflake cutouts in white and red were scattered across the glass panes.
Red and white velvet draped the hundreds of seats that lined the hall.
"Check out the ramp." Miranda nudged me, seeing I was lost in the transformation of this place.
In the middle of the hall, a grand ramp was set for the evening’s entertainment. A backdrop of huge flat screens showcased falling snowflakes and winter landscapes. The blue and gold LED lights were sprinkled along the edge to illuminate the path for the models as we took the stage later on. Elegant white and red floral arrangements, accented with icy blue ornaments, added bursts of colour along the stage’s edge.
The company’s logo flashed on the screen, followed by the tagline of Winter Gala. Some helpers were still putting up the last of the decorations, others were placing name tags on the seats, while the tech team was busy testing the sound system.
"Wow! This is epic," I exclaimed to Miranda as we made our way backstage.
"Mr Karsten goes all out for events, and he leads from the front. He doesn’t slack, nor does he let others do so."