Dominick inaugurated the festival by lighting the scared lamp in the moon temple. The people gathered in the temple and even outside began singing the prayer they dedicated to the Moon Goddess.
He kept his hands joined in a respectful gesture until the final note faded, thus officially marking the start of the festival.
As he walked out of the temple with Evan, the vibrant energy of the crowd hit him. Stalls were overflowing with moon-cakes, handmade lanterns, and silver trinkets. Yet, even as he watched children laughing in the snow, Dominick couldn't shake a bitter realization. Gridlock was a culturally rich and spiritually deep land, yet beneath the surface, it was rotting with corruption.
The commoners were kind, hardworking people, but he knew that a handful of elites at the top were treating this city like a chessboard, manipulating the very people.
"Where's Jeniva?" Evan asked, his head pivoting as he scanned the vibrant, crowded plaza.
