Chapter art by Fuyu Hoshi: https://twitter.com/fuyuhoshi27
"Celebrate, for suffering has ended!
Celebrate, to welcome the era of peace!
Celebrate, for the Xianzhou Alliance has prevailed!
Mourn, for lives squandered to the darkness.
Mourn, for immortality still plagues us all.
Remember, for the sake of future generations,
Remember, for this is our pledge as the Xianzhou!"
The poem, written by a poet who had survived the Third Abundance War became the basis for the Week of Commemoration - Three days of celebration, two days of reflection followed by the last two days of remembrance.
The Artisanship Commission was responsible for creating and adjusting the mood for the Week of Commemoration on the Luofu during the three different phases of the festival. The first three days of the festival saw lanterns hung from the lamp posts on every street, from trees hung ribbons of multiple colours, posters of the Reignbow Arbiter and the Lux Arrow hung up on doors with the superstition of it bringing good fortune, as the atmosphere on the Luofu was livelier than usual. But the real festivities took place in Cirrus Square, where most of the crowds made their way to during all three days of celebration.
The day for her first date with her partner-now-lover had arrived as the two took a starskiff to Cirrus Square. As they approached the jetty, the noise from the festivities could already be heard from a distance away. The third day of the celebration phase was by far the most eventful, where the main event everyone looked forward to would be the fireworks show, celebrating the birth of the Xianzhou Alliance.
The weather was good and a slight breeze welcomed them as they arrived at the jetty. As they exited the jetty and walked down a large road, the crowds around them became more and more dense as people entered from the adjacent delves. A wide road made of smooth, cut stone led to the first open square surrounded by trees neatly spaced out around it and within were tents set up for various purposes. Her new lover had pointed out one of the tents that were renting a type of traditional Xianzhou dress for women, where a beautiful piece of silk garment was worn and fastened with a coloured sash.
"You want to try one on? I think you'd look stunning in one." Her lover asked. While she was indeed happy that he did call her pretty multiple times on the way to Cirrus Square, she also knew he was trying to butter her up to see her in one of these traditional dresses to satisfy his own desires. Having experienced wearing one before, she would have to undress down to her underwear before putting it on, and the thinness of the silk made her feel uncomfortably exposed. A tiny suspicion crossed her mind that he was having rather perverted thoughts when he suggested she put on one.
"I've tried on one before, the restriction of movement just doesn't sit right with me." She shrugged, turning down his suggestion. She did want to wear one just to get him to obsess over her appearance again, but as a Cloud Knight, she was too used to wearing clothing that allowed freedom of movement and wearing that traditional dress too loosely was frowned upon as being indecent.
As one walked into the main square, one would notice from the square broke off six avenues that fanned out in directions ahead of them with both sides of the avenue lined with makeshift stalls with frames made of wood, selling all sorts of things ranging from food to small trinkets and accessories. There was the occasional path that broke off into other smaller squares and others that connected one avenue to the next.
While exploring what the festival had to offer, there was a moment when the crowds had become a little too dense, and Sushang was almost swept away by the crowd. Catching her by the hand, the two of them continued to check out the festivities, their fingers now intertwined.
It seemed that the crowd had been a little riled up by the appearance of a few iconic figures, particularly those of General Jing Yuan and Master Diviner Fu Xuan. It appeared they too had come to observe the celebrations, and though the Xianzhou residents did not shy away from them, some of them passed by, staring at the two with gazes of awe.
"Fancy meeting you two here." The General greeted. Seeing their hands linked, he smiled as he continued. "So it seems the rumours were true, you two are indeed a couple now."
Perhaps feeling a little shy that news of their attachment had made it to the top, Sushang and her lover gave a nervous chuckle. When her partner had asked the General in return, whispering something into his ear, Jing Yuan laughed as he waved it off.
"No, no. I'm here to ensure our Master Diviner Fu here leaves her seclusion once in a while. Her work tends to get her cooped up within the Divination Commission, and I have to go through the troubles of dragging her out once in a while." Jing Yuan sighed dramatically.
"Well, if you consider it a trouble, I can always return to the Divination Commission myself. There is much left to do, and I'm afraid you dragging me out has only caused more trouble for the diviners." Fu Xuan rolled her eyes at Jing Yuan's remarks. She turned to look at Sushang and her partner. "But these are the lovers that I've been hearing the diviners gossip about." She looked at Sushang and her partner with a suspicious stare for a little while before walking off. "Well then, carry on. Don't let this general or my presence cause disruptions to your date." Finishing her sentence, she walked off, Jing Yuan gesturing a farewell before following along.
Time flew as they had fun together. Eating tasty treats, and engaging in some of the games stalls that had been set up. Before they knew it, the day had turned to evening, and the crowds began to hurry to snatch the best spots in the delve to watch the fireworks. This was Sushang's first time celebrating the Week of Commemoration on the Luofu, and hence she had no idea where the best spots were.
"Come, follow me." Her partner took her hand as the two made their way away from the crowds and to a more sparsely populated area. It appeared a few years ago while wandering the delve alone, he had come across the perfect spot to watch the fireworks. The crowds became thinner and thinner as they moved away from the crowd as he led her to a tall, lone perch tree that stood in the open fields away from the roads.
Great perch trees were rather interesting trees, with protrusions on their very thick trunk and possessing wide branches that grew horizontally at various places, allowing animals to easily climb up and pluck their sweet fruit while standing on its wide branches. This included Sushang and her partner, as the two climbed up the tree with ease, and due to its branches catering for much larger animals to stand on, the space they had to sit on was wide enough that they could even lie down comfortably and let their legs dangle in the air if they wanted to. In all sense of the word, 'perfect' described the spot that her partner had found.
Soon after they had settled comfortably on the tree, the fireworks began. With a view of the fireworks at eye level and a distance that was far enough that the fireworks were audible but not deafening. The two sat together, with hands clasped together they watched as fireworks coiled into the sky and burst with low booms into a vivid display of colour that lit the night sky.
An unmatched view. A myriad of colours in the distance lit up the night sky, softly reflecting off and illuminating their faces. Not a single soul in the vicinity to disturb these lovers and their time together. The smell of the sweet, alluring fruit lingering around them and the sound of the fireworks booming in the distance. The combination of these made the perfect atmosphere for romance. Sushang smiled softly at the scenery as she placed her head on her partner's shoulder. She felt his hand wrap around from behind, pulling her into a gentle embrace.
"Oh, I bought these earlier." Her partner spoke as he recalled something. He pulled out a small box from his pocket and opened it. It held two rings made from platinum from the Yuque, famed for producing the finest metals for both the forging of weaponry and jewellery. The rings were forged by the Artisanship Commission, and the designs on the ring were fine and beautiful, the light of the fireworks reflecting off its silvery surface.
He took her hand in his, and when she did not pull her hand away, he slipped one of the rings onto her ring finger. Feeling as though she should do the same, she did the same. "Something for us to remember our time together." He said with a sad smile as he gazed at the fireworks.
Sushang felt her heart ache when he saw his sad smile. Something sparked within her heart at the thought of having to leave him in two months, and as the romantic atmosphere of that night silently stripped her of her defences, she placed a hand gently on his cheek to turn his face to hers. Their lips slowly inched closer as they gently exchanged their first kiss. Their lips only touched for a couple of seconds before they parted, just a light brush against one another, and yet the spark of passion for those few seconds felt like they could scorch a planet's surface to glass.
His lips were slightly chapped, causing them to prick her lips. She heard rumours that the first kiss tasted like lemons, but his lips tasted of the sweet, burnt caramel from the candied fruit he had eaten. The two parted, gently sighing, their foreheads still touching. He could hear him giggle quietly, a hint of nervousness in his giggle.
"How was that?" He whispered.
"One more time." Seeing that he too was nervous, she also began to giggle.
Her partner complied, gently cupping her cheek in his hand as he leaned in for another kiss and as their lips met once again, she felt his hand tenderly comb through her hair before reaching her back to pull her closer. Feeling her heart set ablaze, she too cupped his cheek into her hand, sliding it back to the back of his neck, pulling him ever so closer.
And so with a renewed hunger to have another taste of the other's lips, the two continued to kiss under the glimmering stars, sparkling fireworks that boomed in the distance and platinum rings around their fingers.