Encantadia: Songs of Beyond

One.

C A S S A N D R A

Cassandra strolled around the city that ringed the castle. The gold and red banners of the Sapiryans danced in the gentle wind, atop erected poles on both sides of the street. Cobblestone paths were lined with food stalls and entertainment kiosks, queues getting longer and more packed as minutes passed with the arrival of more encantados from all over the realm. She span in a circle, breathing, taking in the bustle of the people around her. A smile graced her face. Her country had never been so alive and animated.

In the 39 years since the reestablishment of Sapiro under the reign of Rama Ybrahim, it had never seen a grander feast than what was laid about the kingdom today. Or so Cassandra heard. She had yet to exist in the first half of the period and as the earliest memory she had of another festival was from 14 years ago—when they had celebrated her 6th Name Day—comparisons were quite futile for the next ones that followed were few and far in between, and mostly exclusive only to royalties and nobilities of Encantadia. Her ilo had once told her that his priority was to rebuild his war-torn nation, and so they would have to cut the needless expenditures these lavish events brought. With the Rama's announcement a few weeks prior about throwing a kingdom-wide festivity came the unspoken acknowledgment that Sapiro had finally welcomed a new era of prosperity and harmony.

Before she even knew it, her feet had carried her to the plaza. A sea of colors filled her vision. The monotonous brown, with only a slight touch of red and blue and green and gold, had been the sight of her everyday life. Today, however, robes and garments and tunics and trousers were in various other shades, some she had rarely seen worn even by the aristocrats. Cassandra felt her spirits lift up. It should have overwhelmed her as she wasn't used to this kind of crowd, but for some reasons unknown it didn't. If anything, she was elated. It was as if she was always meant to be a part of grandeur of this level.

Applause and roars of appreciation suddenly erupted across the square. Joining in, she turned her attention towards the raised platform on which a band of musicians stood, hands linked, bowing before the spectators over and over again. The five of them were dressed in all kinds of colors, too, Cassandra noted. She wondered which races each of them belonged with.

"Mahal na Sang'gre..." The dama popped up behind her, exhaustion apparent in her voice. Letting out a light chuckle, Cassandra asked "Why were you running?" With breaths finally steadied, Wena replied, "You disappeared, Mahal na Sang'gre." Now that her dama mentioned it, she realized she had indeed been separated from her. "It seems I am enjoying myself too much. Won't happen again." Wena always saw to it that she did her job seriously. As the only dama in Sapiro, she was tasked to attend to the Sang'gre's needs. Since they were of Lirean customs, her ilo had originally dismissed her from service, for Sapiryans took care of themselves. But her ada, Lira, insisted that she be provided one as she was a diwata as well.

A new group of performers entered the stage. She would have liked to stay a bit more, but her Ashtis and Ilas and Aldo should be arriving soon, and she wanted to greet them when they did. "Let's go back, Wena." Tracing her steps back the way she came, Cassandra noticed how the crowd was opening up a path for them as they walked. They also weren't trying to hide the gazes they were giving her. "It is better if you just ivictus, Mahal na Diwani," the dama suggested in a whisper, but the Sang'gre said "No, this is alright." She had hoped to experience the festivity once more with the common folks, hence her preference to travel on foot instead of teleportation. It slipped her mind that being out in the city meant exposing herself to the public; something she had never done before. Most of her life was spent inside the walls and grounds of the castle. There she was trained to be a warrior and groomed to be a monarch. The only places she ever got to visit were the palaces of Lireo and Hathoria, and the little village in Adamya where her Aldo Gael—Hara Alena's son—resided. Mingling with the denizens, being amongst them; they're all a first time for her, just as it was theirs to have finally laid eyes on the crown princess.