The Daegon's Challenge

Prologue (Part 2)

                                              Dedicated to AngelineAlexandre

The Town Square rested between city's upper and lower rings. The great divide between nobles and commoners. Only brought together by the Acceptance Festival.

The trolley stopped at the edge of the square and we helped Ms. Briggs out. Despite our best efforts, her wheelchair jolted and bumped down each narrow step. Ms. Briggs swore at every failed attempt. The friendly ghost tried to help, but his fingers slipped through the handlebars.

"Apologies," he said. "It's tricky business maintaining a physical form."

I had visited the Town Square before, but never at night. Never with this many people. All laughing, singing, chatting, shouting. Somewhere music played and a small child cried.

Abby grabbed my hand and led me through the entanglement of legs and coattails. We made our way up to the steep bridge that connected the split-level square.

My eyes widened in wonderment. Having once been the epicenter for the wealthiest city in the Eastern Continent, the square was massive. Street lamps cast a dusty glow, catching in ghosts who strolled around like their own little lanterns. With the dead outnumbering the living, the whole square was set aglow.

On the lower level street vendors sold wares and a band of musicians played lively music. A rogue fiddler pranced along the fountain's rim. With a kick of his foot, he sprayed water on the audience and the kids squealed with delight.

In stark contrast, however, the upper level held a larger but much quieter crowd. They stood in front of the temple of a long-forgotten religion. It's weathered stone towers loomed over us like ancient giants. A somber reminder that these festivities come at a price. I shivered under my jacket. That was where the Acceptance ceremony took place.

A singular voice rang out from the temple. Though I couldn't make out the words, it demanded reverent silence from its listeners.

"Come on," I tugged on Abby's hand. "It's already starting."

Abby paid no mind. "That's just Minister Murik rambling."

"Who?"

"You know, the Minster of Otherworldly Affairs. We saw his speech at last year's Harvest Moon ceremony."

I stared blankly at Abby. She sighed.

"He's face looked like a tomato."

"Oh yeah," I said, finally remembering. I couldn't recall what his speech had been about, but he spoke very passionately for many hours about it.

"Trust me," Abby said, leaning over the bridge. "It'll be awhile before it gets good." I stretched onto my tiptoes to see what Abby was looking at. The dried up riverbed was overrun by kids.

"Calvin!" Abby shouted, wildly waving her arms. A mess of red hair looked up and waved back. Ugh, Calvin. I liked most of Abby's friends as they were all nice to me. All except Calvin.

"Let's go," Abby grabbed my hand before I could object. We hurried over and climbed down a rickety ladder.

Calvin waited for us at the bottom. Calvin was a mop stick pretending to be a thirteen year-old boy. His arms and legs were incredibly thin, even skinnier than mine. His unruly red hair brushed over to hid the freckles on his forehead.

"Abby," he said, a wide grin spreading across his face. I didn't like how he looked at Abby, and I definitely didn't like how she smiled back. When he saw me, his face twisted into an impish sneer.