I never had an opportunity to join in the celebrations of the Founders Days. On the eastern plains, the servants would have a bit more lenient assignments from Duke Estton and Girem. They would have extra food, maybe some sweets and such, but nothing resembling a festival. And even then, my training gave me precious little time to relax, even as a child.

But here, in Volaris, it was another story entirely. To my eyes, it was as if every wealthy person capable of weaving mana had journeyed to the capital to join in on the celebrations. Even in the summer, the streets had not been so packed. It was practically training in and of itself, trying to weave between people and make my way down a road.

Hundreds packed into the streets, dressed in everything from colorful silken robes with beautifully embroidered edges, to rough-sewn traveling clothing, with thick cloaks pulled tight against the cold. I spotted weapons on hips, swords, and the like, and my senses picked up many more unseen things of magic, bound into objects and hidden under covers.

All along the sides of the roads, merchants had set up temporary stalls, hawking food or crafted wares to any passers-by. They fought for any space they could find between existing shops or bars, and I spotted more than a few breaking into arguments with their competition.

The main square of Volaris itself was the metaphorical 'heart' of the festivities. While the stalls along the roads were somewhat ramshackle, these were far more impressive.

Towering wooden structures jutted up into the sky, easily a few stories tall, with the names of the particular attraction floating above in colorful letterings. Some were made of swirling flames, curving into elegant letters, while others looked like blocky characters made of rock shards. I spotted one that looked made of light itself, reflected from mirrors that gently twisted in place.

A scent traveled in the air that almost burned my nostrils. Some of it was the distinct tang of spices and cooked food. Another part was a sweet tinge of perfumes worn to disguise body odor. And that was yet another element, an unpleasant undercurrent of sweat and dirt.

But what stuck out the most, and what sent my imagination racing, was the sheer variety of mana in the air. I had sensed a few elements throughout my training, but never anything close to this. Sure, there were the typical fire, earth, and water types, but I caught hints of many others I had never encountered. One was a smothering heat I suspected was lava mana. Another felt like water but heavier somehow.

Most disturbing was one which felt more like the absence of mana than anything else. From what I knew, it was likely darkness magic, and I made a mental note to visit that attraction before the day was out.

Strangely, many were unmistakably an element I had sensed before, but they felt off. Just a little different than usual, like fire which burned hotter than expected, or air which seemed to swirl differently than other wind mages. Was it possible that each element manifested differently in each person, or was I imagining things? Questions for Julian, I decided.

If I had my way, I would spend hours passing from attraction to attraction, watching and questioning purveyors to learn what I could. Sure, most people here did not apply magic in combat, but lessons could come from anywhere. What was art in one person's hands might become a deadly weapon in another.

But Leon had already warned me ahead of time that this was not the plan for the day. Instead, he intended to wander about, eat food, see shows and enjoy ourselves the way young nobles might. That left me with precious little chance to explore by myself, but strangely, I did not mind it as much as I should.

Leon's entourage included Simon, Theo, and several other nobles I vaguely recognized from classes and the halls. Of the lot, Simon and Leon greeted me warmly, but the rest were varying levels of disinterested. I felt my eyebrows shoot towards my hairline when Theo, of all people, gave me a brief nod. We had not spoken since our duel, which was fine by me. I had enough to worry about without his foul mood adding to my troubles.

"Where is Sophia?" I asked as we walked the streets. The twins were not always together, but often where one went, the other followed.

"Training," was the reply with a sigh and eye roll, "She is eager to have your duel, I think, and wants to be ready."

After our last interaction, I shared that sentiment. Though I did not have the perspective to identify each rank, I could tell in broad strokes that Sophia's mana was more potent than before, roughly equal to my own.

I had a decent chance of matching her if she remained a Vapor. She was faster and more skilled, but I had larger reserves, and my Aether mana gave me an edge in raw strength. But now, with that advantage lost, my odds had plummeted. Her attacks would punch right through my shields, and I had not learned anything to counter her. Not yet, at least.

I was not surprised, as I had already expected as much from the young noble. Sophia worked nearly as hard as me and was, without a doubt, more talented. Those traits, coupled with familial resources and superior techniques, made it evident that her growth would outpace mine.

But expected or not, that did not mean I was happy. No, my stomach roiled, and heat rose every time I considered it. Too slow. Always too slow. That sentiment made it damn hard to enjoy these festivities, but Leon seemed hell-bent to change that.

"So, where to first?" Leon asked to no one in particular. The others did not respond, and finally, Simon spoke up.

"Well...we could wander and see what catches our eye?" he suggested, barely raising his voice loud enough to be heard, and Leon rubbed his chin for a moment.

"Uncreative and without direction. I like it!"

Over the next few hours, we stopped by dozens of stalls, examining all manner of goods. We tried grilled meats made of spices I had never tried and pastries of flakey doughs that seemed to melt in your mouth. I spotted more than one mage working these attractions, using magic to levitate the food or sear it with a precision that an oven could not match.

One of the strangest we encountered was a candy made of dark chocolate, but with the strangest spicy tang. It was deeply unpleasant to me, but I was not the biggest fan of food that hurt to eat. Simon raised some eyebrows when he purchased an entire box, though he shrugged, explaining, "Father loves spicy foods."

Leon purchased a new cloak for himself that seemed to alter its shading relative to the background. He was an avid hunter, and I considered following his lead before noting that it was likely not worth the investment. With my shields and beam spell, hiding was rarely going to be a concern. Maybe for later hunts, but nothing I was currently considering.

Eventually, as they entered a temporary shop specializing in clothing inspired by the Tinkerers, I had a chance to break away and wander on my own. Near one corner, an older woman called for me, shouting, "You! My young friend. Please, come closer!"

I raised an eyebrow, debating if I should while examining her shop. Dozens of blank canvases hung behind her, but there were no paintbrushes in eyesight as near as I could tell. That drew a bit of my attention, and after a moment, I shrugged, walking closer.

When I was within a few feet, I realized the entire area was blanketed in a spell similar to Traveler's Cloak. It seemed less effective than my own, possibly due to the element used, as I detected hints of water mana. It also appeared to have trapped the overpowering smell of paints.

The woman stared at me for a long few seconds, dark eyes sharp behind reflective glasses. Then, she raised one hand, and I felt her mana flex. Dozens of small containers on a table beside her popped open, and a few streams of colored liquids flowed out.

Her fingers wiggled almost like a conductor, and the streams began mixing in mid-air, forming what looked like a hundred shades. Just as fast, they began splashing against the canvas, layering onto one another in a dizzying flurry. It made my head throb just watching her, and I could not help but admire her precision and control.

It also felt familiar, almost like water mana. But how was that possible? Maybe...

"Finished!" the artist shouted, breaking my thoughts, and I returned my attention to her, nearly laughing at what I saw.

I had confidence in many things, but my appearance was not one of them. The adjective that came to mind was 'average' at best, not handsome and not ugly. But in this portrait, I looked attractive enough to steal someone's breath and practically demand a second and third glance.

My brown eyes typically looked muddy and bored, but here they looked sharp and decisive, with an edge of arrogance. My cheeks and jaw looked more defined than in reality, and my skin practically glowed. Finally, my hair, longer than typical Ferran fashion, was loose and flowing, with a soft shine.

It was impressive work, astonishing considering she had done it in a few minutes, but also wildly unrealistic. Still, it was worth paying her, particularly to satisfy my lingering curiosity. I had an idea what she did but wanted to confirm my suspicions.

"How much for it?" I asked, digging into the pouch by my side.

"Ten gold" was the response, and I paused for a moment before pulling out the coins. I had left most of it in my room, in case of pickpockets, but carried plenty for this. As I moved to hand it to her, I made a show of pausing, examining the portrait behind the woman.

"I apologize if this comes across as too forward, but how did you control the paint? I have an idea, but...well, call it intellectual curiosity. My curse, it seems." I said, trying to mimic Leon's disarming smile.

The woman blinked, returning my look as she responded, "Forgiveness, but I'm not one to share trade secrets."

Girem and Master Julian had both taught me that secrets often had a price, and I just had to find hers. It did not escape my notice that her eyes briefly darted down to my purse before returning to meet my gaze, her smile growing slightly.

"I see. Well, as I said, I am quite curious." I said, pulling out another ten coins and placing them onto the desk in front of her stall.

Her eyes twinkled, and she glanced down at the small pile, again pausing before looking back up.

"I suppose I can give a bit of a hint. You seem trustworthy, I suppose."

That, and we both knew it was not some grand spectacle of mage-craft. Still, twenty gold was a small enough amount that it would not be missed. Not if it could lead to something greater.

The woman's hand rose up towards her chest, and as it moved, a few drops of azure-blue paint followed, gathering into a sphere. It rotated in place, spinning as she spoke.

"Water's water. The paint's dyes and other things, but most of its water, so not much of a jump. Takes a bit more effort to control and took years to get it down well enough to paint."

Interesting. So, as long as an object had some of your element, you could control it? But what was the cut-off? Could they theoretically influence something like plants? And how did that work for something like an ice mage, where it was technically all water, but in a different form?

I opened my mouth to ask her, but before I could, I heard a voice from behind me say, "Not a bad look, Vayne. Might need some work to make that real, though."

Leon followed his joke up with a warm chuckle and an elbow nudge, and I returned his laugh before taking the now rolled-up portrait from the shopkeeper. She briefly informed me that the paint and canvas would not crinkle or tear, another benefit of her magic, and I thanked her before we walked away.

"Are we headed back to the Academy?" I asked, feeling a mixture of relief and disappointment. I had seen a few other bits of magic bound into items or used for convenience, but nothing genuinely eye-opening.

"Not at all!" Leon replied, turning to face me as his smile grew, "I wanted to find you before we started the games?"

"Games?" I repeated, feeling another strange mixture of emotions.

"Of course. What sort of festival would it be without a healthy bit of competition?" was the response, and I could not help but match Leon's grin.