With an iced drink in hand, I soon retired to the shade of a nearby palm tree and began to let myself unwind from everything that had happened today. Though I did not enjoy the prospect of indulging in sustenance, the heat was worsening, almost unbearably so, and I found it more acceptable to drink some foreign concoction than to sit here and boil in my own misery.
While I relaxed beneath the tree and enjoyed my peace, I soon noticed a crowd of people starting to assemble to the right of where I sat. I paid them no mind at first, but when the number of people began to be reflected in the bustling clamour they were creating, I looked over to see what was getting them riled up like so.
It appeared there were performers of some sort putting on an act. They wore garish makeup and were scantily clad in flapping garments, a sight that did little to impress. Regardless, the common people seemed to be engaged in their movements, shouting with approval as they tossed and caught flaming batons. Eventually, I ended up watching on idly, with nothing else to entertain me in the vicinity.
The performers must've been dancers or acrobats of some sort, as they eventually began to engage in various shows of their dexterity, such as lifting each other and creating a towering formation of human flesh as drums sounded in the background. Throughout it all, they kept the flaming batons spinning, as if the small flames on the ends of their sticks were somehow impressive to maintain.
"Oi, fancy seeing you here!"I audibly sighed as I heard Allen's voice ring out amidst the noise.
"What're you looking so down for?" Allen asked as he sauntered up to me, an obnoxious grin plastered on his face. "Have you already given up?"
"I never agreed to partake in this 'competition' in the first place." I said pointedly, placing my drink down. "If Ren wishes to tire herself out with your busy work, I am under no obligation to follow."
"I think he's given up." Layla remarked, appearing in my line of vision with a bag full of what I presumed to be seashells.
"Why don't the two of you go back to collecting your shells, then? To prove whatever point you're so desperately trying to make," I said.
"Hmm...destroying you more in what you called an 'easy' task and rubbing it in your face does sound tempting," Allen laughed. I opened my mouth to retort, but in that moment, a booming voice cut through the sounds of the nearby crowd.
"Friends! For the next act in our saga, we will select a brave soul from the audience to join in," one of the performers announced, holding up some gaudy looking necklace. "Who dares to brave the fires of the Blazing One and become our ally in this time of need? Who will conquer the flames and emerge victorious with the treasured cowry amulet of yore?"
"You're right, Al," Layla said, tossing the bag of shells at Allen, who caught it with ease. "Maybe it'll be a good lesson in humility for Halvatt, to get his ass kicked real bad. I'll be back with that necklace in a flash."
"You two must find some kind of twisted joy in tormenting me," I muttered as I watched Layla approach the troupe of performers, flailing her arms to get their attention.
"The tormenting isn't even the main attraction. The best part is betting on when you'll snap and try to kill us all." Allen sat down next to me, and instinctively, I moved away, which served only to make him chuckle.
"If Father hadn't forbade me from attacking you lot when I took up this responsibility, I would've done so a dozen times over," I said flatly.
"Would that really stop you, though?" Allen asked, a wicked glint in his eyes.
I didn't respond. Instead, I directed my gaze towards Layla, who had begun to twirl the flaming batons in her hands as she joined the performers on stage. Athletic and nimble as she was compared to mortals, she soon garnered the admiration of the crowd as she went along with the troupe's commands, putting on a show that was sure to dazzle anyone who hadn't experienced anything interesting in their meaningless lives.
And then an idea began to form in my head. Staring at the flames burning on the ends of Layla's batons, I began to focus the surrounding kheji on them. Within seconds of my interference, the flames roared to life, flaring up with unnatural ferocity compared to the pitiful fires of its friends. I saw Layla's eyes widen as she realised the fires were growing out of her control, and for a moment, I felt pleased with what I had done. The performers also seemed to pause, as if they had not expected this turn of events.
Unexpectedly, however, Layla continued the performance, swinging and twirling the batons with such speed that they became blurring wheels of flame in her little hands. Much to my displeasure, she did not seem deterred by the little trick I had employed. In fact, the audience did not seem deterred either. They actually seemed to enjoy this spectacle, and Layla seemed to be all the more encouraged because of it.
"You say you don't care, but I know a sore loser when I see one," Allen said, poking me in the back. I stiffened and slapped his hand away.
"Don't speak to me.""No wonder you're so obsessed with magic. You hit like a fly," Allen chuckled. "I can give you some pointers, though, if you'd like."
Grabbing my drink, I stood up and stormed off towards the beach without another word, unwilling to bear another second of that imbecile's antics. I pushed past some people along the fringes of the crowd, who seemed to be annoyed at my intrusion, but quickly let it go once they saw my glowering expression.
"Uh oh, I think I'm losing control!"
I heard Layla half-shout, half-giggle from the scene behind me, and turned around to see if she had finally gotten overwhelmed by the act she was maintaining.
I turned around indeed, just in time to see the fiery baton headed straight towards my face.