Chapter 129: Drakoria festival

Zafron swung open the door to his house, his body heavy with the day's exertions. He was looking forward to a quiet evening, perhaps with a good book and a cup of tea. However, the scene that greeted him was far from the tranquil respite he'd imagined.Mara and Matilda stood in the living room, their faces alight with excitement. They were dressed in vibrant, eye-catching attire that immediately caught Zafron's attention.

Mara wore a flowing dress in shades of deep blue and teal, reminiscent of the ocean's depths. The fabric shimmered as she moved, creating the illusion of waves rippling across her form. Delicate silver embroidery adorned the bodice, tracing intricate patterns that resembled seafoam.

Her silver coloured hair was styled in an elegant updo, with small, glittering pins that looked like stars scattered across a night sky.

Matilda, in contrast, was a vision in warm, autumnal hues. Her dress was a rich amber color, with layers of gossamer fabric that seemed to float around her. The bodice was adorned with intricate beadwork in shades of bronze and gold, creating a dazzling effect that caught the light with every movement.

Her blonde hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, adorned with a delicate golden circlet that rested on her brow.

Both women looked absolutely beautiful.

Matilda's eyes sparkled as she noticed Zafron's surprised expression. "Zafron! You're just in time. We're heading out to the dance festival. I know you are just coming back but you have to come with us, it will be absolutely magical!" She said, her inner fangirl bursting forth as she bounced at the same spot causing her melons to jiggle in the process.

Zafron blinked, his tired mind struggling to keep up. "Dance festival?"

Mara nodded enthusiastically. "Matilda told me all about it. Apparently, it's quite the spectacle. We simply must go!"

'Ah yes, because what every exhausted bodyguard needs after a long day is a night of revelry and dancing. Perhaps I can pirouette my way into unconsciousness.' he thought sarcastically as he looked at the two women who were absolutely stoked for whatever this dance festival was.

Despite his weariness, Zafron found himself reluctant to dampen their enthusiasm. "I'm not sure I have anything suitable to wear," he said, hoping for a reprieve.

Matilda's grin widened. "Oh, I was way ahead of you on that one. There's an outfit waiting for you on your bed, along with a note. I figured you might be late getting back from work and I didn't want you getting worried looking for us,"

Zafron raised an eyebrow, both impressed and slightly unnerved by Matilda's foresight. 'She's planned for everything, hasn't she? I bet if I said I had a headache, she'd pull out a potion from her purse.'

With a resigned sigh that couldn't quite hide his growing amusement, Zafron nodded. "Give me a few minutes to change, then."

He went upstairs into his room to take off his body guard uniform and retutned dressed in the outfit Matilda seemed to have planned for all along. Perhaps an overkill, this time on Matilda's end?

It was a stylish ensemble in deep burgundy with gold accents that complemented the women's dresses perfectly - he couldn't help but marvel at how his quiet evening had transformed so rapidly.

Soon, the trio was making their way through the streets of Drakoria, which had come alive with the energy of the festival. It was quite surprising how he didn't notice the unusual amount of people on the steets when heading in.

Then again, he was in a cart with Cassandra , one that was like no other. The Lamborghini of carts. And this time around she dropped him off closer to his lodge than usual. Not to mention, he was too tired from having all the fun he did with her in the day to pay any mind to the people walking the streets.

The air was filled with music, a blend of traditional melodies, mostly native to Drakoria. He hadn't heard some of the tunes before in his life but there were certain ones that he recognized.

Performers lined the streets, their costumes a riot of colors. Acrobats twisted and turned in impossible shapes, their bodies glittering with sequins that caught the light of the street lamps. Fire-eaters sent plumes of flame into the night sky, eliciting gasps and cheers from the gathered crowds.

Matilda's excitement was contagious. She pointed out various attractions, her knowledge of Drakoria's culture evident in her animated explanations. "Oh, look at those dancers! They're performing the Drako's Flight. It's meant to mimic the movements of the dragons that once roamed these lands."

Zafron watched as the dancers twirled and leapt, their flowing costumes creating the illusion of wings. 'Dragons, eh? I wonder if they breathed fire or just withering sarcasm like some nobles I know.'

As they moved deeper into the festival, the streets opened up into a large square. Here, the festivities reached a fever pitch. A grand stage had been erected at one end, where musicians played rousing tunes that had the crowd moving in unison.

Mara's eyes widened as she took in the spectacle. "This is incredible! Matilda, you were right about this being magical."

Matilda beamed, clearly pleased that Mara and Zafron who seemed to be taking things in a little slower were enjoying themselves. "Wait until you see the dance-off. It's the highlight of the evening!"

Just as they were about to move closer to the stage, a familiar figure emerged from the crowd. Malachi Vex, resplendent in a midnight blue suit that seemed to absorb the light around him, made a beeline for their group.

'Speaking of dragons,' Zafron thought, his good mood evaporating slightly.

Malachi's gait was smooth and confident as he approached, his eyes fixed on Matilda. He greeted Mara and Zafron with a cursory nod before turning his full attention to Matilda.

"Matilda, what a pleasant surprise," Malachi said, his voice as smooth as silk. "You look absolutely radiant this evening."

Matilda's smile tightened almost imperceptibly. "Malachi, I didn't expect to see you here."

Malachi chuckled, the sound low and melodious. "I never miss the founding day celebrations. It's a perfect opportunity to... reconnect with old friends."

As Malachi continued to engage Matilda in conversation, his focus on her was intense, almost predatory. He seemed to have forgotten the presence of Mara and Zafron entirely.

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