Chapter 4: Festival
The day after Fina and I had our little heart-to-heart, we headed deeper into the village. Honestly, I was still adjusting to the whole "no clothes" thing. People were walking around like it was the most normal thing in the world—completely naked, all carefree, their bodies swaying in the breeze. And here I was, still fully dressed, looking like I had just walked into a completely different dimension.
"So, this festival... The Festival of Freedom?" I asked, trying to take my mind off the nakedness around me. "What’s it all about? Seems like everyone’s pretty... free here."
Fina’s tail flicked behind her as she gave me that mischievous look again. "Oh yeah, it’s all about freedom, Allen. Freedom from the usual stuff. No clothes, no inhibitions. Just pure, unfiltered fun."
I blinked, trying to process that. "Freedom from clothes? So... everyone’s just... naked?"
She smirked, her ears twitching slightly. "Pretty much. But it’s not just about the lack of clothes. It’s about shedding all the rules, letting go of all that... shyness. You’ll see soon enough."
I was starting to get the picture, but I wasn’t sure how comfortable I was with it yet. Fina, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at home. She was completely relaxed, walking through the village like it was the most normal thing in the world, her bare skin glowing in the light of the bonfires.
As we entered the village square, the scene around us looked like something out of a dream—or maybe a very strange nightmare. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meats and the smoke of the bonfires, and the entire place was alive with music and laughter. But more than anything, there were bodies—people dancing, laughing, embracing each other, and just... living without a care in the world. And the best part? Nobody seemed to care about my existence as the only clothed person in sight. I felt like a walking, talking oddity.
Fina, noticing my discomfort, glanced over at me. "You okay, Allen? You’re looking a little out of place."
I nodded, trying not to stare at the dancing people around us. "Yeah, just... not used to this. Back home, festivals didn’t exactly look like this."
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What did they look like?"
I scratched the back of my head. "Uh, you know... fireworks, food, games. Clothes."