Another day means another thing that needs to be done. Today, everyone in Gemhold was celebrating a festival called The Gem Festival. This festival was celebrated to commemorate The Four Gem Warriors that protected the world from doom and later on in their life, settled down and founded Gemhold. All four of their statues can be found on each direction of the city.

From the north avenue, we have Emerald, The Green Gem of Balance. The south avenue, there’s the statue of Ruby, The Red Gem of Life. On the east, Sapphire is The Blue Gem of Inspire. Finally on the west, we have the statue of Quartz, The Yellow Gem of Wisdom. Together all of these four warriors had withheld themselves against the odds and successfully protected the world during their time. Today’s Gems Festival was to commemorate the founding of the city as well as the defeat of The Great Crystal Roc. Yes, The Great Crystal Roc was the very last hurdle before the warriors settled down and founded Gemhold. Without its defeat, they would be no Gemhold today.

And since I am here right now, both Zenith and I have been tasked by the academy boards to join the parade that afternoon. Due to an unforeseeable event, two workers were not able to make it in time for the parade so both Zenith and I had to take their place. Things got a little more complicated when all of a sudden, another 2 other workers ended up injuring themselves this morning. So now, they need to be replaced. There’s only two other people who would take over their place and it was Yumiko and Rose. Rose gladly accepted it but Yumiko seemed reluctant at first until Rose and I coerced her into helping out the parade. Yumiko probably accepted it because she got tired of me talking about the historical value of this festival. I was being rather obnoxious, I think.

“So this is the men’s traditional outfit, huh?” I said so as I observed around my entire body looking at this traditional outfit they called, Changshan.

This outfit was actually originated from Zhongguo. Changshan literally means long shirt. The reason behind why the Zhongguo tradition was chosen because three of the Gem Warriors originated from Zhongguo. The only Gem Warrior that didn’t originated from there was Emerald. Although, some would still theorize that Emerald was a citizen as well considering that he actually lives just outside of the outskirts of Zhongguo’s territory.

“To think that I would be wearing this traditional clothing…” I expressed my happiness as I continued to look at myself on the mirror.

“Kept you waiting, huh?” Rose’s voice can be heard from the other side of the changing room.

Both Rose and Yumiko came out of the changing room. They were also wearing Zhongguo traditional clothing.

“Woah, you guys looked wonderful.” I complimented them.

They were wearing the female equivalent of the Changshan, which is Cheongsam. Cheongsam is also known as qipao. It is a body-hugging one-piece Zhongguo dress for women. This stylish and often tight-fitting cheongsam or qipao that is best known today was created way back in one of Zhongguo’s busiest city and was made fashionable by socialites and upper class women of that era.

“Is it too tight for me, White?” Rose asked me on what I think about the dress.

Innocently, I observed her body and said, “You look great, Rose. Your figure is good enough for that dress.”

Yumiko yawned and said, “Don’t you mean sexy, White? That’s what was going inside your head, right? You were trying your best not to be indecent, am I right?”

“Oh come on, White. You can be honest with yourself. We don’t really mind it. Right, Yumiko?” Rose suddenly joins in the fun with Yumiko.

Yumiko devilishly smiled, “Yeah, look at these legs…Aren’t they lovely? You would wish that these legs will be all over you, right?”

My face gotten red as I turned away from them and said, “Can you please not tempt me, Yumiko?”

“Oh?” Yumiko continued to smile devilishly, “But look at this tight upper part of the outfit, White. Look at these two explosives dynamites that we have.”

“Dynamites?” Rose was confused and replied to her, “But aren’t yours B cu-“

Yumiko cuts her away before Rose was able to finish, “In any case, you should just be glad that you get to see us wear this sexy dress.”

“Can you please stop bothering me, Yumiko?” I was a bit furious but at the same time embarrassed. Then I tried to change the subject and asked, “Where is Zen?”

“Zen? You mean Zenith, huh?” Rose went back and pulled Zenith out from the women’s changing room. “Here she is!”

Zenith’s was surprised as well as embarrassed as she tried her best not to show herself to me.

Zenith was struggling, “Can we not…”

“Woah.” This was my dialog…

Not only Zenith was wearing the cheongsam, she was also wearing a white knee high socks.

“What’s up with the sock, shorty?” Yumiko asked her.

“I’d rather not show any of my skin…and this is the only thing I found here…”

Deep down inside my mind I was wondering that covering herself with a knee high socks doesn’t really help because there’s still a small portion of skin being shown. Plus, that just makes it even worse because it is more…yeah…I’ll stop there…

“Hey, White. You’re not going to say anything to her?” Rose asked me.

I was flustered as I tried to reply to her, “Zen! Well…um…yeah…you are…uh…look…cute? Yes. Cute!”

“I told you he will like it, Zenith.” Rose was happy to know that.

Zenith however flushed down in red.

I continued, “Yes. In fact your petite body looks amazing. Not to mention the…” I stopped for a bit as I finally noticed it, “the…upper body…it’s…fla-“

Time all of a sudden stopped as I was about to finish my sentences. It was cold and chilly. On that day, I learn how it feels like being a frozen pre-historic ice age human for about an hour and a half.

-

Once I finally thawed out from being a block of solid ice, we begin the parade by going through all of the main streets from the main square and through all of the four statues and finally returning back to the middle square.

“This is so exciting; don’t you think so, Zenith?” Rose was happily waving to the crowd.

Zenith nervously replied, “Um…yeah.”

“It’s fortunate that you have to walk while the three of us gets a free ride on this float.” Yumiko mocked me as I was the only one among them who had to walk.

I was kind of annoyed but not because of the standards they have but I was only annoyed at Yumiko. I’m still being respectful to their culture for doing this kind of thing. I don’t really mind if I have to walk. At the very least I get to see all of the main streets in all of its grand glory. I didn’t really have to do much other than walk along the main streets and pose whenever someone asks for a picture or two. The other people in front of me were doing a performance that they call, The Lion Dance.

It was pretty fascinating to say the least. I had a lot of fun. Even Zenith seems to be having fun along with Rose and Yumiko. But for some reason, I can’t help but hear some of the male citizens were arguing about something.

“Big and thick!” one of them shouted.

“No! It has to be the perfect size. Not too big, not to small!” another shouted back at the first one.

Then a third male argued as well, “No! I cannot accept that. Flat is justice!”

As he shouted that, both Zenith and I flustered while Yumiko quietly laughed devilishly. These people…can’t they at least not talk about this nonsense out loud in the public? It’s pretty indecent. Horny men…But then again…I was also flustered each time I tried to look back at Zenith who was still wearing that combination of a cheongsam and a knee high socks. That really shows what kind of person I am…

Everything was going well until all of a sudden, someone screamed out a loud and impending danger that was coming from the sky, “Look! It’s a dragon!”

At first I thought it was just another of Gemhold’s performance but then it becomes crystal clear as soon as I saw the dragon opened its jaw. It wants to burn the parade…

“Incoming!” I stopped the time and went toward the girls. “No question! Save the civilians, now!”

The girls and I spread out from each other while making sure not a single person was in range of the dragon’s flames. I took a quick glance at the dragon and saw a menacing looking silhouette on top of it. It was a person. Someone was riding the dragon. Afterward, time suddenly moved back as I ran out of my Pause limit which was only 5 seconds.

We’ve successfully saved everyone from the first fire blast. However the float was completely destroyed. Everyone flees in terror while the dragon continues to wreak havoc. All of this confusion culminates when I finally get a clear visual of the rider. The rider had an armour that was filled with purple tendrils. It could only mean one thing…

TO BE CONTINUED