The rising dragon festival...a holiday celebrated all throughout Edarel to celebrate the passing of a year and the coming of another cycle. A celebration that everyone in Edarel looked forward to, as the dragon god descended upon the heavens to reinvigorate the planet with his bountiful supply of magic, leaving gifts for everyone, before returning to the heavens on wings of fire.
So was what everyone in Edarel knew to be what others would refer to as "Christmas" and "New Years" in others worlds... --- Deep in the forested cave, a large, rounded reptile was busy looking over a very elaborate robe, with colors of black and red. Covering the entirety of his large frame, his tail dragged across the ground, with his legs barely keeping his belly from doing much the same. He walked around impatiently, before finally yelling into the inner areas of the cave in a deep, draconic growl.
"Yori, come on...if we take any longer we'll be late and won't find any good spots!"
Out in the distance, a high pitched voice could be heard, talking back to the dragon's villainous tone. The returning sound was feminine, but annoying. The definition of one that belonged to a cute mascot of some kind, one that made you want to punt whatever it was coming from, but cuddle it in the same breath.
"I'm coming! God, first you drag me around saying you really want to go to this dumb festival...now you're rushing me out. I swear Cultus is gonna burn you if you keep tugging me around."
The response only caused the dragon to groan in a guttural voice, causing the scales upon his throat to move as disapproval rang out from within. Each thump of his large, clawed foot caused a cloud of dirt to form, before making him stop as he saw the hem of the robe get dirty.
"It's once a YEAR, love. We said we would go. If I recall..."Fine I'll go to the dumb festival if you'll buy me this tablet!""
The comment caused a short silence to descend over the cave, before the voice let out a sigh and began to walk out. Sleeved in a blue and silver dress, with a wrap around the waist to bring the eyes down, before seeing it contour to her wide hips, the voice belonging to a small blue raunikayle began to talk back as she did her best to make sure her tail was in pristine condition.
"Ugh...this is called blackmail. B.L.A.C.K.M.A.I.L. Most good husbands don't actually do that sort of stuff."
The comment caused Ixen to roll his eyes, before picking Yori up. He stared her in the eyes, her annoyed expression coupled with a blush from the silly look of a headlong view. Without much warning, Ixen proceeded to pull her chin forward with a claw, holding Yori's tiny body in one hand as he positioned it at her neck.
"And is that how you talk back to the dragon who is so graciously lending his time to help the so-called "greatest mage?""
Yori let out an audible swallow before telling Ixen to stop, kicking at the hem of her dress as the scent of arousal filled the air. Knowing it would waste more time to try and clean it if they got overly excited, Ixen simply ended it with a small kiss over her head, before honing in on the crystal in Odarriya.
"Ugh, you're the one being impatient, and then you go turning me on...stupid reptile."
"Hehe, I love you to, weak little mage."
The comment caused Yori to blush even more, before turning away from him and fidgeting in his arms. Ixen quickly pulled Yori up on his head, before giving her a quick "later." As soon as he said it, the pair vanished into particles, before immediately re-appearing in the now crowded Odarriyan main square.
"Ugh, it's crowded, we need to find a way to get to the viewing grounds..."
Yori didn't say anything, knowing whatever it was she said would no doubt be used against her since the main reason they were behind was indeed on her. Still, the two made their way across town, looking around for a place where they could get a live view of the fireworks when they began. As they wandered, Ixen gradually became disheartened, unsure of where the two could find a place to sit that wasn't taken up.
"Looking for places to go?"
The sudden voice caused them both to turn and see Elsu wearing a loose fitted light blue robe with a black cape around himself. Alongside him was Nivem, who unlike the more understated Elsu, had on a bright, pink gold tunic with pearls fashioned all across the beautifully expensive dress that she wore. Shaking their eyes off the two for a moment, Ixen began to talk, knowing Yori was none to fond of Nivem herself.
"Yes...we are. I don't suppose you two have some suggestions?"
Nivem shook her head before looking over at Elsu, who unfortunately had to do much the same. The pair had been looking for a spot themselves before running into Ixen and Yori. They exchanged how any of the other areas are packed full, and lacked any available space for viewing comfortably. Dejected, Nivem admitted next that they were going to try and find Jasra, who might know of something.
With that, the group of two now doubled to four, made their way to Jasra's home, only to find it empty. It was not surprise to them, with the amber being a bit of a long shot if he was still home. Thus, with no alternative, the group began to make their way to whatever space was available, bunched up with everyone else as they prepared to set up a viewing space. Both pulled out small capsules, with Ixen taking it from his robe and Nivem carrying the other in her dress. With the press of a button, the gemstone capsules materialized into a pair of thick, soft blankets, as they sat themselves down to await the fireworks.
"You four look like a pack of fish wrapped together in the most expensive satin I've ever seen."
Everyone looked behind them to spot a large amber dragon in a golden robe with a glistening yellow band around the neck. The band was clearly meant to hold the robe together, but instead, the robe was left open for the obese dragons stomach to be free of any inhibitions. Having the band tied around the neck still kept things more fashionable, while the gold and tan colors still expressed the definition of "money."
Next to him, a large pearlescent four legged serpent was in a white, glistening gown, strapped over the back and adorned with a multicolored pattern of a sea dragon on the back. Unlike the amber next to him, the pearl dragon was thin and beautiful, almost picturesque in every word, if one could look up the term in a dictionary.
"We heard from the grapevine you were looking for us? Sorry...we were in a private viewing area."
"Private?"
Everyone, Ixen, Yori, Nivem and Elsu all looked at the couple, speaking in unison as the term was presented to them. The uniform reaction took the pearl dragon Aqui, by surprise, while Jasra simply laughed at the comment, trying not to make fun of them.
"Yes private. You didn't really think nobility of "our" prestige would sit around in this place did you?"
"Jasra! Manners!"
Aqui hit Jasra gently on his arm, causing him to laugh as he rubbed it, neither wearing any shield bracelets to soften the blow. Thus, even from a light tap, the pain from the hit was felt, and the physical fragility of even the tougher species was shown. Still, the amber laughed it off all the same, the two high ranking nobles looking down on the other four in what could only be described as condescending. The exchange did little to make anyone feel good, with Ixen being the one to comment on it.
"Look, if you two lovebirds are just here to make fun of us who aren't born into crystal, then kindly leave. I'm sure your prestigious "private spot" will still need to be attended."
The comment left Jasra frowning, though everyone else agreed to an extent with the red dragons words. Aqui, while not pleased by the response either, knew it was only due to Jasra putting them down while flaunting his position and authority over them. Sensing a slight bit of hostility, the amber quickly tried to save face, even if to write it off.
"And here we came over to invite you all there, but I mean if you'd rather NOT hang out with a bunch of us sot scaled nobles in an exclusive viewing area with pre paid food and drink...from every corner of Edarel, sitting in luxury while un disturbed by the crowds then-"
"We get it! Oh kind noble, won't you please grace us with your generosity and kindness on us poor, miserable little commoners...? Sparing a taste of the life that you live everyday, of which only we can dream of?"
The comment back from Ixen was just as insulting and condescending as Jasra's, but the large amber smiled all the same before helping him up and taking them over to a purple crystal, different than the blue ones dotted around the city.
"Hang on...mmm.......done! You can go there and back, just for tonight!"
Jasra's hand had glowed for a bit before sending a small stream of mana over Ixen, Yori, Nivem and Elsu. With that, Jasra and Aqui left through the crystal, with the other four proceeding cautiously. One by one they ported through the beacon that sent them somewhere else in Oddariya, a large viewing area at the top of the dome, with a grassy and snowy field. The amount of individuals here was very sparce, which given the exclusivity made sense. Eramin and his generals, along with Salome, Caeus and the other race leaders were there. Jasra's father Zeme and Aqui's parents, who were the ones in charge of Houville's shipping port, where present as well. Zeme being the amber dragon's racial representative, and Aqui's father being the number one merchant in all of Edarel.
The star studded crowd left the four a bit stricken, unsure if they even deserved to be there. Still, the sight of some familiar faces did help to calm them a bit. Even Silgas was present, something they hadn't fully expected, which helped to calm their nerves significantly. As they looked around at everyone talking amongst themselves, they were quickly interrupted by Jasra once again, this time however, to direct them inside.
"Festival starts soon! Grab what you want, it's all been paid for already. And get comfortable. Now that you're here, me and Aqui are heading out. Find a spot to yourselves and relax!"
With that, Jasra began to leave, with Aqui cuddling up to him and kissing him on the cheek as the two made their way out, leaving the others to find their own way around. Nivem and Elsu were next to head out, finding a spot to sit in the distance. With just Ixen and Yori left, the pair went to the back and found a private spot for the two, leaving them to reform the blanket and sit down.
"One would think the "Hero of Edarel" would have gotten an invite to something like this automatically..."
"Hah, if only. But not being rich does have it's issues you know. Even with the title."
The two had a bit of a laugh together, something Yori was not accustomed to doing in a way that wasn't condescending. Still, Yori made here way down to Ixen's arm, sitting in it as the red dragon rested on the blanket, his fat rounded stomach pressing against the robe as they looked up at sky. In a few moments, the sky before the two lit up brightly, as a roar echoed out over Odarriya. Once so, a massive serpentine dragon began to rise up into the sky, with fire magic bursting into the air in a display of colors and patterns around it. The spectacle lasted for a long while, wrapping and flying around Odarriya for everyone to see, as Ixen and Yori looked at once another, before Ixen pulled her into a hug. Unlike how it would typically go however, Yori leaned in, hugging Ixen's belly and cuddling up to him, watching the sight unfold before them as they watched the dragon dance across the sky.
"I love you, Yori...here's to another year?"
"...Love you two, fat dragon. I wouldn't want to be with anyone else though..." --- Merry Christmas once more to everyone, and I hope everyone had a good holiday!
