The Festival of Kingdoms was one of the few times when the students of Griffin’s Claw Academy were let off from their studies. Even the strictest teachers were lenient and the school’s Griffin Games team grinned in anticipation. An air of excitement was everywhere and students made eager plans for the occasion.
Risa Rosewalker’s class just ended. She rushed to her room and quickly changed into the fanciest thing she owned, a long brightly colored dress, ill-fitting and worn with age, and sprinted to Griffin’s Claw Accadamy cafeteria where she agreed to meet her friends.
The cafeteria was usually noisy, but that noise couldn’t compare to today’s chatter. Orbs of light were floating across the domed ceiling and brightly colored decorations hung from the once plain walls. Giddy excitement fluttered through Risa as she spotted the numerous stalls representing each kingdom. This is more exciting than last year! She thought, although her memory of last year's festival was a daze: a distant dream, a forgotten memory. She knew it occurred, but couldn’t recollect exactly what happened in those three days of the past year. This time, she was adamant on making it her mission to remember. At the end of each day, she would write down what happened in full detail and instill this wonderful event into her memory.
She scanned the lively cafeteria in awe. Her home kingdom Dedor’s stall was run by some of the honors students from Griffin’s Claw and contained a spectacle of sand structures and hourglasses. She saw beige-skinned Pevenshire students oohing at the desert architecture and trinkets. The Republic of Oman’s stall was similar to theirs, save for the display of fancy food and Sandios, the popular commercialized brand of snacks.
But Risa ignored these stalls. She was looking for a particular one that she missed the year before. After pushing through the vibrant crowds, a stall with blue with green accents caught her eye. An assortment of paper planes floated around it as if they were held up by nothing but air. It was peculiar, almost mismatched, and yet put together at the same time. It stood out among the yellows and oranges of the other stalls, yet it didn’t look out of place.
“Mochios,” The salt and pepper-haired man running the stall called, “ The best thing you’ll ever put in your mouth.”
Mochios? Risa’s eyes widened, The Pevenshire stall? Risa ran over immediately. She remembered her mom mentioning Mochios on that rare occasion that she talked about her home kingdom, Her sad smile in remembrance and hidden tears before abruptly changing the subject. Risa didn’t know much about her mom’s past, and after prying for years, she gave up asking. But maybe this would give her some sort of clue as to what happened. Maybe she could save some Mochios for her mother. Maybe. Maybe.
“Well hello there,” The man at the stall had kind wrinkling eyes as he held out a Mochio to Risa, “what’s your name.”
“Risa,” she said timidly, “you’re from Pevenshire!”
The man raised an eyebrow, “I am! And I’m guessing you’re from Dedor?”
Risa nodded, “I am, but my mom’s from Pevenshire. She doesn’t talk much about it, but I know she misses it. Can I take some of these home?” Risa pointed to the sweets.
“Why, take as many as you’d like,” the man chuckled warmly.
Risa thanked the man and gathered a few, but before she could leave, something caught her eye.
“The paper planes,” she pointed, “I don’t see any strings they are tied to.”
The man blinked, his expression blank, “Are you sure?”
“Maybe, I mean unless it’s somehow invisible…. Or maybe a trick of the light?
The man nodded, “that’s right. Well, I won’t keep you, I’m sure you have better things to be doin--”
“How does it work?” Risa asked eagerly, “did you use clear string? Because it’d still be visible if you did… Are there mirrors? Or smoke? Or…” Risa trailed off still staring at the paper planes searching for a reasonable answer.
The man eyed her curiously, “you did say your mother was from Pevenshire right?”
“Yes, but that has nothing to do with the paper plane.”
The man smirked and waved his hands. One of the floating planes glided down gracefully and landed before Risa. Risa’s eyes widened.
“What if I told you it was magic,” the man said quietly.
Risa blinked, “N-- No…. everyone knows magic isn’t real….”
“Then tell me, how does this paper plane fly?”
“I don’t know… I mean this is supposed to be a festival of spectacle. You could just be pretending magic is real. I mean, that is what magic is right? A spectacle.”
The man put his hand in front of Risa and three orbs of light flickered in his palm. “That’s what they want you to think.”
“You mean….” Risa gasped. She stood in silence for a good minute before asking, “Can I do that too?”
“Maybe. Do you want to try?”
Risa nodded eagerly.
“Close your eyes and imagine yourself holding these lights in your palm. Focus. Feel its warmth and brightness.”
Risa, eager to do this wondrous feat, squeezed her eyes shut and did as the merchant told her. For a second nothing happened, and then a slight tingle went up her spine and she felt a warm glow on her fingertips.
Risa gaped, “I-- This…. Magic?”
The man let out a small laugh and leaned in closer, “Now don’t tell anyone. It could get you into trouble.”
Risa’s head bobbed up and down as she left the stall, a pile of mochios in her hands and a grin spread across her face. She spotted her friends on the other side of the cafeteria and ran over to them.
“Guess what!” Risa exclaimed, “you should check out the Pevenshire Tent.”
A blond girl, a few inches taller than Risa raised a brow, “The Pevenshire tent? Oh, we’ve been there already. I have to say, the plains are dispensed really well! They look like they’re floating.”
“Probably a trick of the light or something,” a Raven-haired girl nodded.
“No! It’s magic! The merchant, he showed me!”
“And guess what I can do magic too.” the Raven-haired girl pulls out a deck of cards and starts shuffling. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
“No! I mean real magic. I saw it myself, I--”
“Oh come on, you’re not actually serious, are you? We all know magic is just a fairytale.”
But Risa knew it wasn’t true. She just witnessed it herself-- No she just conjured it herself! She started to explain when someone tapped her on the shoulder.
“You are being called to The Headmistress's office” a monotone voice spoke.
“Me?” Risa turned around to find a bored-looking honors student, “But why would Tara want to see me.”
The girl shrugged, “I’m just delivering a message.”
There were two reasons people were called to Tara’s office: They were in trouble, or they were being invited to the honors program. And there was no way Risa could be in trouble. She was a model student. All her professors liked her and she did all her homework she had good grades.
Risa’s heart raced. I’m being invited to the honors program! She was about to leave the cafeteria when she spotted a cat. Risa walked over and pet it, its eyes glowing orange. She walked over to the Pevenshire stall to say goodbye to the merchant, but he wasn’t there. Risa shrugged, assuming that he was probably taking a break, said goodbye to her friends, and left for Tara’s office.
***
The Festival of Kingdoms was the one time the students were let off of their studies and Risa Rosewalker was more excited than ever. She rushed to the cafeteria in her fanciest clothes, almost tripping over a cat with glowing eyes, and was greeted by color and chatter from the massive crowds.
She scanned the cafeteria and was disappointed to see the Pevenshire stall was empty. She shrugged and spotted her friends.
“Hey,” Risa waved.
“Oh, you’re back already!” The blond-haired girl chimed, “What did Tara want with you anyway?”
“Tara?” Risa raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean? Why would The Headmistress want to see me?”
The raven-haired girl rolled her eyes, “Nevermind, let’s go explore more of the festival.”
Risa eyed her confused but quickly shrugged it off. It was probably nothing. She hoped whoever was running the Pevenshire tent would return. And maybe, just maybe, there would be Mochios.
This was a little backstory about my D&D character Risa, who is a brainwashed magic user that doesn't believe in magic. And I love this piece and campaign so much. Thanks for reading <3
~Nitya :)
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