Cecelia sat watching the people walk by. Her and some other Grendal graduates had been recruited to perform live music during the festival. While Cecelia didn't mind showing off her classically trained abilities she was getting tired of playing the same seasonal tunes over and over. This was surely a waste of her talents. The conductor had called for a break so she decided to get a cup of hot chocolate. It was a lot colder than she had anticipated and she surely hadn't dressed for the occasion. For a moment she was rather envious of the academy students. It seemed everyone at the festival was happy and having a lot of fun while she was stuck playing entertainer. Taking one last sip of her warm beverage she returned to her chair and picked up her violin. It was going to be a long night.
Cecelia's group had just been relieved to join the festivities. She was delicately putting away her violin when a small freshling approached her. The child beamed at her and told her that her music was really pretty, and that she was pretty too. Cecelia wasn't good with children, she found these interactions very awkward. So, she just attempted her best smile and patted the child on the head. The child bounced excitedly and handed Cecelia a lollypop. Before she could refuse the child ran off. It was still in the wrapping so at least it wasn't contaminated with germs. She placed it in her bag candy down with the mug from earlier. Having her bag secured on her shoulder and her violin case in hand, Cecelia headed out to explore the Solstice Festival.
She walked up and down the rows of vendors, nothing really catching her eye. She didn't care much for sweets or those little antlers everyone seemed to be wearing. She had heard there would be book sales but she had yet to find them. Cecelia had all but given up on finding anything worth while here when she stumbled across a jewelry booth. She recognized the girls running it as former classmates from Grendal, most likely from the fashion department based on their clothing. Looking at the bracelets spread across a silk sheet Cecelia was impressed. The sign before her said "Hand Crafted" but these looked entirely professional made. She selected a light blue bracelet labeled Winter's Crystal and paid the girls with the appropriate coin. Maybe this festival wasn't a total waste of her time.
Another row of vendors down, still no books. In retrospect she could just go to the library for reading material but she was on the hunt for one manuscript in particular. Rumor was a few copies where being given out to encourage reading amongst the younger children. The next group of vendors were all game booths. Complete a task win a prize. One of these games was balloon darts. Normally Cecelia wouldn't have thought much of this but her eyes had fallen upon a caramel plush sitting upon the prize shelf. It reminded her of a toy she once owned as a child. She decided to try her luck, if you want to call it that. She paid the vendor for a set of darts and with laser like precision popped five balloons in a diagonal row. "Winner!" shouted the booth owner handing Cecelia her requested plush. She lightly hugged the plush finding some comfort in the familiarity of it. Now if only she could find those books.
Cecelia rounded the corner to find a large group of freshlings gathered around a senior nightmare. She wondered what they were doing and then she saw what the nightmare was holding, a copy of the book she'd been looking for! She stood for a moment in watched as the nightmare sat in a next to a table piled high with books, and began reading to the children. How odd. Cecelia made her way over to the table and inquired that she wanted a copy, to which the Librarian behind table replied. "If you wish to walk away with a book, you have to read a passage to the children. We are trying to encourage them to read and they learn by example" This was a very odd request. Some of these books were hardly freshling appropriate. Nevertheless Cecelia nodded and sifted through the pile until she found her prize, a first edition copy of The Mystery Of The Timepiece, mint condition. She opened the front cover and saw it was signed by the author. She almost actually smiled. When the senior had finished the librarian gestured for Cecelia to sit. Well here goes nothing. With dozens of bright little eyes starring her down, she skimmed to where the senior had stopped and began to read aloud.
It was awhile before someone else came get a book. Cecelia would've left a long time ago but be it her proper nature or all the children staring at her, she stayed and continued reading until a replacement came. If nothing else she got to read the book finally. It was almost amusing to hear the children's reactions to the story. When finally relieved she walked away with her prize in hand. As she was walking away she smiled to herself, she could hear some of the freshlings asking the Librarian for a copy of the book. They wanted to know what happened next.
Cecelia looked at a flyer posted on a nearby piller. It seems as though there would be a late night Solstice Dance for the older nightmares.
She rolled her eyes remembering what her mother had said about the Solstice being romantic. No way anyone would ever meet there soulmate in this place
It was starting to get later and many of the older nightmares had begun to make their way towards the location of Solstice Dance. Cecelia still thought all this romance stuff was foolish but she had not heard anything out of her parents so she may be stranded there all night. She surely wasn't going to carpool. It was highly unlikely anyone she knew personally would be attending this..festivity. Taking this into consideration she decided to attend this dance, at least she would be away from the chaos the younglings brought wherever they went. With her kidden Ruby trotting next to her, head held high, Cecelia followed the crowd towards the glowing lights in the distance.
Cecelia approached the designated location. A large section had been cleaned of vendor booths had been replaced with a wooden dance floor. Decorative twinkle lights were strung around for ambiance. It actually looked rather pretty. Off to the side was a stage for the Grendal performers. Cecelia was almost envious. Surely music for this type of setting would be something other than a cheery christmas tune. Amongst all the musicians she noticed a familiar face. Cecelia approached her former music teacher. "Surprised to see you here Professor, I thought only grads were playing today". Cecelia couldn't think of any other reason for Aiko to be here if he wasn't instructing student to perform. Typically you don't see members from the college at the Academy funded events. It retrospect had been quite a few years since she had seen him, so perhaps Professor was not the best title to address him with.
Cecelia sat down at one of the decorated table. Their was a black iron chair on either side. The table itself was clothed in a shimmery white sheet, on top of which sat a mason jar filled with small glowing orbs. The decor paired well with all the hung fairy lights. It was very quaint to say the least but somewhat charming. She had no clue how her mother could ever see this whole event as romantic. It wasn't like while she was sitting here someone would walk up to her and walk to engage in conversation. Thats highly unlikely and unrealistic given the only intellectuals she came across tonight were hired. How much longer would she have to wait before she could warp home? Cecelia looked down at her crystal. Nothing yet. She sighed and tried her best to get comfortable, crossing her legs like a proper lady. "I wonder if they will serve refreshments.."
She was greeted by a who she could only assume was a waiter of sorts who offered her fresh hot cocoa, or perhaps sparkling cider. She took a glass of the cider and surveyed the room. More nightmares at began to enter the area. She was somewhat relieved to find no one here was below senior in age. It's not that she hated small children, just their behavior. She had no tolerance for a person who was loud and messy and unable to sit still. That pretty much described children in a nutshell. She was rather disappointed at the lack of chimeras here tonight. If nothing else she did enjoy spending time around her own kind, within reason. She set all her things down in the chair next to her, checking her crystal again. No messages. No missed calls. Ugh.
The Grendel musicians had begun to play. Apparently this dance had officially started. There were a few couples who immediately took to the dance floor for some romantic slow dances. Cecelia rolled her eyes and gestured for another cider. It was nonalcoholic of course but she had her fill of hot chocolate for the day. Two songs later Cecelia's train of though was broken when a sound came from her crystal phone. She quickly put away her violin and answered. It was her parents. Apparently they lost track of time with their previous engagement and would send a carriage for her which would arrive within the hour. Typical. Cecelia sighed heavily, of course they had forgotten about her again. Nothing she did was ever good enough for those two. She decided she would just go wait outside the academy for however long it would take. She took her bag and violin case and started her long backtrack to the entrance of the fairgrounds.
