Elevated above a gentle stream, whose waters were pure to the point of transparency, a plaza is fully occupied with people of various appearances, ages, and even curses. In addition to the crowd that helps to bring an atmosphere of liveliness and celebration, the light stone pavement in tandem with the bright rays of the sun create a glory that can be felt–if not seen. A renowned trait of Fraus, the river continually flows through even the plaza, filling pools of water, fountains and various water sources for its citizens to enjoy.
A breeze blows from the harbor, carrying a scent of saltiness, though not overbearing to the non-sensitive nose. Even so, it could never overtake the medley of pleasurable aromas wafting from the stands of various vendors. As enticing as they may be, even more evident given the reaction of the masses, one man marches onward steadily, seemingly immune to this spell.
"Come try our fresh fish sticks for a special discount! Only one silver for 10!"
Not hungry.
"T-shirts, get your t-shirts here! These are special editions for this year only, first come first serve! Get it while supplies last!"
Not my style.
"Fresh water, straight from the river itself! You sir in the hood, you look famished! Gimme 2 gold in exchange, huh? Hey, don't keep walking! Sir? Sir!"
No need for overpriced water of all things. I've had plenty of that recently anyway.
As Vex continues to walk down the busy streets of the crowded plaza, he passes booth after booth, doing his best to avoid any eye contact with the vendors or even the people in line. Of course, his commitment to noninteraction ironically makes him more of a target.
"Tch…"
Dang it, I managed to "accidentally" get separated from that clingy Endori, just to still be bothered by annoying people. But I can't disengage with the people here completely–I need info about Zateon. He is apparently a reputable icon of Fraus that almost everyone knows about, so I am more than likely already walking past so many potential sources of information…none of whom I want to interact with.
I think there's a main stage at the center of the plaza, at least from what I heard. Logically, that's where he would speak to the masses. Endori and the others were heading down that way, which is why I wanted to search elsewhere first. I ventured well off the path, though if I just head in the direction most people seem to be going towards…
"Ahem, testing testing…"
A mellow feminine voice echoes throughout the plaza, reaching out from the main stage that is right in the center of the plaza.
"Attention everyone, my sincere apologies for the interruption. Apostle Zateon will be arriving on the mainstage soon. Please do not miss the words that he has prepared for us! In the meantime, please enjoy a festive musical performance by FLO."
Following the announcement, a voiceless countdown is quickly drowned out by cheers and chatter that fill the air–upbeat music begins to play. The sound only draws more and more people towards the source like moths to a light.
Right on cue, now that clears up that concern. Though it would be more convenient to encounter Zateon before he arrives on stage–there's no way it'll be easy to meet him right after tonight's events among such a huge crowd.
"...oh."
Vex's brisk walk comes to a halt, his body freezes in place as the world continues to move without changing.
"I can feel it…"
I'm being watched.
There's no mistaking this feeling–any well-trained Dark Mercenary should be able to distinguish the difference between being looked at and being watched. One lacks any meaningful intention, whereas the other…
From the depths of his inventory, Vex swiftly withdraws his eye mask, without a single wasted maneuver. Despite his precise movement, he still has yet to move his body in any direction.
"...let's find out."
"!"
Suddenly, Vex changes from a standstill to a quick dash, skillfully maneuvering his slim figure through the gaps in the crowd. The unidentified eyes watching him release a feeling of astonishment into the air as if sending out electromagnetic waves. Receiving this transmission, Vex smirks.
I hear it, the acceleration of footsteps. This person is hellbent on reaching me–no need to prolong this any further than necessary.
In the short distance ahead, Vex spots a bathroom station with 3 sections: a symbol for men on the left, women on the right, and a neutral sign in the middle.
"How far are you willing to go?"
Vex reaches the bathroom door, confirming its vacancy. He stalls a moment, ensuring that he can see this mysterious figure in his peripheral vision. The second he could see a flash of white in the corner of his eye, he resumed forward, with slightly more pronounced movements.
"Pant…pant…pant...?"
An individual dressed in a white hoodie catches her breath, her lungs desperately begging for relief as though she exerted strenuous force. Her breaths are slightly muffled due to the weight of the mask that covers her lips. As she regulates her breathing, she looks around, confirming where her target disappeared to. Though her facial expression is hidden, a small lump travels down her throat in plain sight.
"Did he really…no, there's no time for second thoughts…"
The figure snaps herself into focus, casting aside any lingering thoughts of hesitation and pushes open the door, ensuring to shut it tightly behind her.
Inside the bathroom, there's a lingering quiet darkness…a vacancy that feels eerie when juxtaposed against a lively plaza just outside.
"I can't see much of anything…where are the lights–?!"
CLICK!
"Hey! What are you doing? W-where are you?!"
"So you were desperate enough to chase me down even into a men's bathroom stall, but have the nerve to ask me such questions?"
The woman, taken by surprise, looks behind herself frantically–desperately trying to identify something, anything within the dark unknown.
"P-please, turn on the lights–this environment is rather unsettling in the dark…especially with a man."
"No thanks, our voices do not need light in order to be heard. In whatever way your eyes adjust is the best you're gonna get. Oh, and nice try trying to project your perversion onto me as though I were the one who followed you into a private area. Now speak–explain yourself thoroughly."
"...is resting your damp…hand…on my shoulder necessary?"
"Just as necessary as you rubbing your tail on my waist. Stay on topic."
Although the lack of lighting makes it difficult to see, Vex could feel the fuzzy sensation rubbing against his waist come to a standstill. In fact, the body to whom it belonged to calmed its jittering as a whole.
"Your body movement indicated that you were searching for a particular person, which caught my attention. After all, I am in a similar predicament myself."
"Why would that matter to you? We are at a large festival with thousands of people, so of course there's bound to be folks searching for others."
"But you are looking for Apostle Zateon, correct?"
"...And how did you come to that assumption?"
"I heard you mumble his name, thus I assumed that he was the man you were searching for. Not to mention that he is the man everyone attending wants to see."
"You were able to pick up my voice specifically amidst all the noise? What are you, some dog?"
"Fox. Though I just happened to be very sensitive to that name…I need to meet Apostle Zateon. I was hoping that since our goals align in this aspect that I could assist you. Am I mistaken?"
"...no. Your assumption is correct, at least, the part pertaining to my desire to meet Zateon. However, the last thing I need is to cooperate with any more strangers–deranged demi-humans or otherwise. What good is it to assist me when neither of us can find him? Absolutely pointless."
"That's true…or rather, that would normally be true, but I know about Apostle Zateon's routine in detail. While I can't pinpoint his exact location at this moment, I know very useful information about him that will likely lead both of us towards finding him."
"Then why would you go out of your way to target me? You clearly don't need me in the equation at all. The existence of alternative motives within you couldn't be more obvious."
"I won't try to hide it–I do have a specific goal in mind that I want to use your cooperation to achieve. This issue of mine is a personal one, and if I could handle it without any outside influence, I would. I know nothing about you nor do I care whether you are a good person or not–as long as we can cooperate to meet Apostle Zateon, that is all that matters. Nothing else is necessary."
Despite the situation she is in, a vulnerable position that would make most women uncomfortable at the very least, the fox woman responds straightforwardly in a transactional tone that bounces off the stalls–her final words linger.
"...you're no novice when it comes to this. I can tell that. Vex, you can call me. And you?"
"...M is fine."
Flick
The lights turn on at long last, finally ending the seemingly indefinite darkness. M wastes no time at all; she turns her body around to bear witness of her mysterious captor–Vex, who is leaning his back against the door, blocking the exit. Now seeing eye-to-eye, mask-to-mask, Vex reaches his hand out towards M. Lifting the bottom of her mask just enough to give her mouth some air…
"Slurp"
M licks her hand, but by the time Vex could process what was happening, she grips his hand with a firm handshake. Vex cringes so hard, the sound of his teeth clenching echoes for a second.
"Is there something amiss? Are you not familiar with this handshake custom?"
"I am now–it's disgusting."
"It's my kind's way of indicating a sincere promise."
"That's not the human way!"
Vex snatches his hand away, attempting to shake off whatever saliva he could feel.
"Hmm? So you are a human male after all. Your cloak made it hard for me to identify, but I am relieved to be sure now. Though I have met several humans who did not mind this custom–in fact, some even encouraged it."
"Yeah, you've met several freaks, go figure…"
In a nonverbal fashion, Vex excuses himself towards the sinks behind M and scrubs his hands vehemently. While doing this, he makes eye contact with M through the mirror.
"Since you know way more than me, I assume that you have the next step in mind."
"Yes, Zateon will arrive soon for his speech. I know the best place to listen from."
Vex, while softly nodding his head, shakes the excess water from his hands and turns towards M once again.
"Lead the way, M."
__________________________________________________________
A platform built like a pseudo island serves as the epicenter of the plaza–short glass bridges are the only things that connect it to the rest of the plaza that surrounds it. When considering its size, structure, and atmosphere, coming to the assumption that this place is a sort of colosseum wouldn't be far-fetched.
A sea of people sit tightly packed in the area surrounding the elevated main stage. The band named "FLO" wraps up their song as the people settle in and dance. The blue-robed MC, a mature woman with the appearance of a religious "elder" (age notwithstanding) returns to the stage, front and center on the large display screens.
"Alright, please give our lovely musicians another round of applause for their outstanding performance!"
A thunderous volume of claps and cheering rumbles the stage and the seats akin to an earthquake. It takes a minute, but the volume eventually settles down to reasonable levels for communication.
"Now, onto the main event! Ladies and gentlemen, my fellow brothers and sisters, it is an honor to introduce the man of the hour, a wonderful servant beloved by us all and the goddess herself, Apostle Zateon!"
The MC gives a big wave towards the screens as the crowd cheers, diverting their attention. Right on cue, a man dressed in a formal robe stands behind a podium with his hands behind his back. To make an apt comparison, his robe is similar to Apostle Nazz's in terms of style, but is contrasted by its black and red hues.
It's none other than the man of the hour, Apostle Zateon.
"Salutations my fellow brothers and sisters and all children of our beloved goddess. It pains my heart that unlike previous years, I could not make a physical appearance during night one of this festival. However, that is for good reason; tonight, I have a special message inspired by the goddess to share with you all. I will keep it brief and succinct, so please do your best to listen attentively until the end."
The various idle, sporadic chatter comes to a halt in obedience to Zateon's request. It is not as though the people feel coerced or intimidated–their hearts are truly captivated, even though an electronic screen separates them.
"As you all know, we gather at the Pristine Festival annually for one major reason–to be purified. Throughout the year, we carry the burden of guilt for the mistakes we've made, the sins we've committed…it weighs down our very soul. Contrary to how we may feel, this is actually a good thing since it indicates that our consciousness is not tainted beyond repair and that we can still be in fellowship with our goddess. All we need to do is wash it all away–allow the goddess to purify you through the pure waters. However, for some of us, that is not sufficient. Some of us were cursed with a vile nature that no matter how much it is suppressed, it eventually unleashes itself, rearing its ugly countenance for the world to see…for the world to be afflicted by."
For a brief moment, Zateon closes his eyes, he takes a deep breath as he walks behind his podium. Once his words were carefully crafted to his liking, he returned to his original stance, with an ever so slightly more intensive glare in his eyes. Not an intensity that ignites fear, but rather a grave seriousness.
"It does not need to be explicitly said, but I am of course referring to our demi-human brothers and sisters. You all have been cursed with this vile nature that cannot be simply washed away for good at ceremonies like these. A more potent method is needed, however is that even possible, you may wonder. A few of you may already be aware, but yes, such a method exists, and it's all thanks to our goddess for bestowing this burden on no one other than myself. There is, however, no need to take my word for it–listen to this special testimony with your own ears. Please step forward for the world to see, Lily."
"Yes, with pleasure!"
The camera that once fit only Zateon into frame zooms out, revealing the special speaker not a single person in the crowd could realistically predict. Lily, proudly donning her new fit, stands on the altar below Zateon's pulpit. With grace shining upon her, Lily bows, wearing a bright and cheerful smile. Without even saying a word, she already managed to change the look of bewilderment into admiration of half the audience.
"Lily, just a while ago, how did you feel deep within your heart?"
"Guilty and dark."
"And why was that the case?"
"The monster inside of me lashed out and harmed many innocent people, including the person I considered my hero."
The crowd gasps softly, in near perfect unison. Their emotions are all unified on one accord.
"But how do you feel now?"
"My heart feels light as ever! I still remember what I did, but I don't feel any darkness anymore–it's like that beast is completely gone!"
"As you can hear, this little demi-human girl feels like a new creature, and she is indeed! Lily will never have to worry about her former beastly nature lashing out against the world just as it has done before. Thank you Lily for your willingness to change and testify; your actions are commendable and inspirational to us all."
As she takes Zateon's gentle hand wave as a cue to be dismissed, Lily politely bows and walks off camera. But just before she fully leaves the frame, she flashes one more bright smile. This was the final push that was more than enough to make the audience erupt with loud cheers–some even going beyond to the point of emotional tears.
"This treatment is not limited to just Lily, children, or demi-human slaves–all demi-humans under the sound of my voice can be freed from this darkness within. My hope is that no one leaves this year's Pristine Festival with the same, heavy heart. I look forward to celebrating with everyone in person starting tomorrow. All honor goes to our beloved goddess. I yield the floor back to elder Ruth."
The broadcast cuts off, the screens shift back to the live stage.
"Wow, I am at a loss for words. Wasn't that an amazing testimony? As we continue to celebrate, let's all be cleansed from our guilt and sin! I look forward to seeing everyone back here tomorrow morning for the day of this incredible fest. Please enjoy the rest of your night!"