Darksteel

Chapter 23; Unspoken secrets and Harvest Festival sketches.

The next day was filled with busy activity as the boys and professors alike decorated Adalain Academy for the Harvest Festival. They hung bright ribbons here, lanterns there, and put pumpkins on nearly every available space. And while Asta enjoyed the time spent with his Guild mates as they decorated, he was most looking forward to the Masked Ball.

For one, his date had replied; something that he'd doubted would happen. But mostly, he was excited to see Nico's face when he and Adar would present her with the gown.

As of now, they were draping orange ribbons from the trees in the library — all while the librarian and her owls watched them warily.

"It's not like this around Yuletide," Jeremiah remarked suddenly, roping a new strand of ribbon through another branch, "We don't have to decorate then. We just go to sleep one night and when we wake up, everything looks like it's been doused in pine, glitter, and mistletoe."

Asta raised an eyebrow at this. "Do the professors do it then?"

"We think the gnomes do it." Jin butted in, wiggling his eyebrows, "They cook our meals, why WOULDN'T they decorate for Yuletide?"

Asta nearly fell off the tree, "Gnomes make our food?!"

 "Of course! How do you THINK it gets here? Magic?"

 They had a good laugh over that, then continued the rest of their work in pleasant silence, with only the nervous hooting of the owls to reach their ears.

                               ..................................

Adar had snuck off not long after the decorating had started; what with all the laughter and happiness and pumpkin painting, such festivities nearly drove him mad.

Yet it wasn't as if he didn't like work. No, he would build his own kingdom up stone by stone if it would annoy his father enough.

But all the noise, the way Asta kept making moon eyes at Nico, and Jin wrapping himself up in the ribbon... it was all simply getting on his nerves. He needed some time to himself.

Wandering the gardens, he paused to sit on a stone bench near a hedge. Yet as soon as he did so, he heard whispering coming from the shrubbery. Odd, for it's not every day one comes across a whispering hedge.

Leaning in, Adar held his breath as he listened-- years of eavesdropping experience finally being put to the test! Why, this was marvelous, and certainly better than listening from a wardrobe! Still, the voices must have sensed something, for soon the bush rattled and out stepped Kyrin and his two forgettable friends, their eyes immediately locking on the prince.

For a moment, Adar felt a brief flicker of fear, but just like with all his other emotions, he pushed it aside and put on a cocky grin.

 "Enjoying your time in the hedge, boys?" the prince asked innocently.

 One of Kyrin's friends glared at him. "How much did you hear?"

"You know, you're not the first to ask me that question." Adar stood suddenly, his fists clenching, "But I have been meaning to ask YOU a question, mainly about why you threw Asta in the lake."

Kyrin stepped forward, "That's none of your business!"

"Oh, no? Well, unless you have a Weakness Potion on you to numb my powers, I would be happy to fight you for the answer." Adar's violet eyes flashed, "My Guild mate, my business."

Yet for all his words of valor, in that moment Adar was not entirely certain WHY he was standing up for Asta. Though, now that he considered it, perhaps it was because about what the boy had said yesterday, about Adar being a good person. Or maybe because he treated the prince like a friend. Or perhaps it was because he had fought Kyrin all those weeks ago when Adar had been in trouble. Either way, he decided, maybe Asta was worth all this trouble.