Chapter 14 : The First Laugh
Ashvale's spring fair had two flavors: over-salted food and underwhelming illusions.
A makeshift banner reading "ANNUAL FRIENDSHIP FESTIVAL" sagged over the town square like it, too, had given up on making friends. Streamers drooped. A trio of musicians valiantly butchered a local folk song. And somewhere, a fire juggler set his own pants alight.
Elias chewed a suspiciously crunchy candied apple and eyed the situation with mild dread.
"This might be a mistake," he muttered.
Beside him, Rhea stared in open-mouthed wonder. Her small fingers gripped the hem of his cloak like it was the only thing tethering her to reality.
Her cloak swished behind her. Her red eyes darted from booth to booth. A sugar-glazed twist of bread stuck out of her mouth like a cigar.
"Best. Mistake. Ever," she mumbled around it.
Elias sighed. "Try not to threaten any vendors this time, okay?"
"I didn't threaten them. I implied consequences."
He gave her a side glance. "You turned a man's root vegetables into snakes."
"He yelled at you."