Chapter 24: Chapter 24

There wasn’t much we could do, but cash out some of the bonds to make up for the loss. Mother is doing much better and is expected to make full recovery; however, doctor’s orders will not allow her back to volunteer at the hospital. I can tell she was pissed but maintained her calm professionalism while trying to convince the doctor otherwise. He doesn't budge, no matter what precautions she promises to make. Secretly, I am glad. Still, it’s sad. Defeated, she comes home and stays home.

No matter how much I insist on staying a little bit longer to help push through this aftershock, my parents do not like it, not one little bit. A couple more days of leave wouldn’t hurt, but they only see it as just another defeat knocking at their door. This one they will not accept and make sure to see me off at the station.

“What’s done is done. All we can do is get back up, brush off the dust, collect our dignity and keep going. It doesn’t have to be hit the ground running. This will be slow and painful, but we can’t stop. We can’t stop moving ahead,” treating it as a family secret, my mother keeps those words of wisdom just between me and her.

She’s right. We got to keep going and keep it going forward. Their forward is here and my forward is to get on that train.

“We’ll be alright, Adrien,” my father squeezes my shoulder.

“I love you, guys,” I give my farewell and board the train back to the Academy.

I hope. I pray. No, I insist that things will get better for them.

“You’re back right on time,” Nina jumps up with excitement in my doorframe.

“I wouldn’t want to miss it for the world,” but I have no clue what she’s talking about.

“How are your parents? I’m so sorry about what happened,” Kai stares at her in disbelief.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Adrien,” she clasps her mouth.

“They’ll be okay. My mother is feeling much better,” I fake a smile.

“I’m so glad to hear that,” Nina is a bit embarrassed.

“So, what is it that I’m right on time for?” I let the bag strap slip off my shoulder and drop onto my bed.

“Petograd's Melting Day Festival. It’s tonight. So, get ready,” with complete trust in the chair behind him, Kai flops in.

“I can’t. I’m not in the mood for any kind of festivities tonight,” it would seem this truth will be obvious to anyone.

“That’s too bad because you don’t have a choice. None of us do.”

His word games begin to irritate me, “Kai, just tell me what going on. Sometimes talking to you is like pulling teeth with a knife.”

“We’ve been called to help with the festival. Our class has been assigned to volunteer as security watchers on the grounds.”

“Assigned to volunteer?” I laugh at the ironic contradiction.

“Yes. Assigned as in being ordered. Volunteer as in giving our services for free," he explained his logic to be very on point.

“I thought that’s what the Royal Guard is for,” I tease.

“We all know how they handled protests in the past strained their public relations. I think our presence might help the civilians feel more at ease.”

“Come on, Adrien. I’ll buy food.”

“I want fried goat cheese,” I set my standards.

“Ew, fine. Let’s go,” he doesn't argue.

I shut my closet and follow my much more energetic friends.

We get there with help from our September, Century, and Marshmallow and after securing them at the stables we enter the festivities. Hundreds of conversations collide with each other and bounce off as cheerful nonsense. The tents and food stands do not fall short; rows and rows of mini-kitchens brought their local cuisine from each of the Domains.

I’m starving after my travels and want my cheese, but the proper way to celebrate this day is by consuming some hot crapes symbolizing the awakening of the earth with spiced butter over them to represent the cold melting away. I keep thinking about what my mother said to me and this holiday proves her to be even more right. We all got to keep going and look forward. Frost no longer visits the grass at night and the melting snow in the mountains is reviving the muddy rivers and creeks. All are ready for rebirth and new beginnings.

From the east side of the tents, we hear the base voices of merchants calling on customers to purchase goods from across the lands while they have the chance. As we walk the grounds with paper bowls filled with steaming sweet and savory treats, our eyes feast on the bright colors across the paintings, jewelry, leather goods, and tapestries.

Up ahead, the horizon is outlined with a valley of rides. The twinkling electricity pulses with a rhythm around their structures. It’s rare to see so many lights spinning, turning, and going up and down altogether. The mechanical wonders are happy to keep sending their riders higher and faster above the ground. The squeals of delight encourage this dizzy dancing to keep going.

Just as I’m beginning to think that I’m glad to be here, a conversation that did not harmonize with the joy made my friend and I stop joking. The tone does not belong here. Kai, Nina, and I are not the only ones to notice that.

“Get out of here! We know you are only going to stir up some kind of trouble around here!” a group of Royal Guards in uniform is facing some civilians.

“We’re not here to demonstrate. We’re here to celebrate the Melting Day just like everyone else,” there’s strength in this sweet voice.

“Sure, you are. Then why are you wearing your red patches?”

“Same reason why everyone from all over the Domains is wearing their symbols and insignias. It’s Melting Day, after all.”

“You and your friends are not welcome here. I’m ordering you to get out of here, right now.”

The debate pauses as the two opposing groups spot us coming their way.

“Your conversation seems to be making everyone around you nervous and this doesn’t seem to be going anywhere for either of you,” their eyes are on us and Nina takes the opportunity to speak first.

“Let’s see if we can help resolve this without escalating the argument,” I back her up.

The Royal Guard who seems to be in charge of this unpleasant spectacle turns around. Well, I’ll be dammed. It’s Noir Jakins.

He too recognizes me and my kind of profession.

“We haven’t done anything. We are here to try all this food...knights,” it takes a second for the accused to realize who my friends and I are.

I remember her too. How can I not remember Lada. This reunion seems like the work of a higher power who has a very strange sense of humor or a taste for trouble.

“Oh, look who we have here. The knights,” Noir's sarcasm isn’t helping.

“What’s going on, Guard Jakins?” it’s unfortunate that I to talk to him.

“These are Red radicals. You can tell by the red patch stitched onto their jackets. They can only mean trouble,” he says.

“Miss, can you tell me what happened?” I ask Lada next, pretending not to know her.

“There are so many people wearing all kinds of symbols and we didn’t want to be left out. We’ve been here for over an hour already and there was no trouble until these Royal Guards spotted us,” her eyes watched us for the next reaction.

“So, nothing happened? No law or peace has been disturbed?” Frowning, Nina turns to the guards.

“Not yet, but we are here to stop their plans,” but, Noir is determined to be right.

“There have been no complaints from anyone and we’ve been here since the beginning and didn’t see or hear any kind of demonstrations, so it seems like there has been a misunderstanding,” Kai tries to sprinkle some sugar on this. He’s being careful not to spill any accelerant into the ambers.

“Look at you guys, biting the hand that feeds you. They’ll have your head on a plate the first chance they’ll get to, not just the kings'. It’s time, you knights to pick a side.”

“We are not here to start a fight, Jakins. Let's not make this worse,” this seems like a waste of time, but I have to try reasoning with him.

“Always playing the mediator,” he pushes me.

“Always playing the mutual party,” pushes me again.

“Always negotiating,” and again.

“I think it’s time you pick a side,” right past any boundaries, he whispers into my ear.

“You want me to pick a side?” smiling, I make eye contact.

“I dare you,” my smile is returned.

“Adrien?” Kai tries to lure me back.

“There is nothing you can do, can you? I’m arresting these hooligans for disturbance and all you can really do is watch me take them to jail.”

“You and I both know this would be an illegal arrest.”

“Guardsmen! Arrest those Reds!” he barks, but a stillness I gently inflict on him stops him in his tracks. Like a statue, Jakins is frozen in place. He tries to speak, but even the mobility of his mouth is compromised.

“Don't even think about it. The arrest is void under Article 15, Section 9,” I motion the rest of the Guards not to proceed.

” Pretty cool toy, huh?” I flash him my silver ring, “The Academy authorized us to use this restraint during our security patrol.”

He can only grunt in response.

“You don’t want to see me pick a side, Jakins. But I’ll be glad to explain to you the entire Section 9 and how this violation can jeopardize your working record,” only he hears this, right before I release him.

“You won’t get away with this interference. You will pay for this, cadet. Mark my words- you will pay,” he glares at me and motions his men to follow him.

We all wait for them to disappear into the crowd. Once they were out of sight, Lada turns her attention to me. Dear lord, why me?

“Thank you. Looks like you’re starting to see what I’ve been telling you,” she comes in close.

“Don’t confuse this as taking your side, Lada.”

“But it seems like you just did pick a side, at least according to Royal Guard you did.”

“Their arrest held no ground.”

“Thank you,” the closer she gets, the quieter her voice gets.

Any responsibility to maintain some distance falls on me, but I fail.

“Thank you, anyways,” her words touch my lips and I’m only millimeters away from danger.

The nostalgia is torturous as I’m reminded of this strawberry flavor, but I forget not to like it anymore. It seems like I’ve been trapped forever in this forbidden paradise. Softly, she lets me go, but only to set a different kind of trap.

“Join us. Join me,” she dares me to fall in.

“I can’t.”

That’s the last we are allowed to say to each other and her loyal friends come to her rescue. Kai and Nina do the same for me. Their pulling hands remind me where I belong and it’s very far away from Lada.