"Lucas I have one question to ask you, and it's an important one." Ashly says and Lucas turned to her giving her his full attention "How are we going to enter as I don't have any identification?"
"Oh don't worry about that Ashly, we can just lie a bit." Lucas responded, "Just say you lost yours alright, you don't seem like a dangerous person on the outside at least." Lucas then pulls out his identification. "I'll just lie saying we are close, and if not then we will go the relative route."
"Yeah that's not going to work at all, the two people who I tried to use it against were idiots. Or atleast I thought they were idiots, and other than having the same hair color there is almost nothing similar about us." Ashly said.
"Yeah you're right, we can say we are distant relatives. Besides why did you say they were smart in the first place even when they weren't?" Lucas asked.
"Oh that's what I believed or was told by everyone but that turned out to be a lie." Ashly said which made Lucas widen his eyes. "Yeah me and someone else found out that they were all idiots, and that we were being lied to. They made a deal of some sort, and I almost lost my life because of it."
"What? Why would they do such a ridiculous deal with them? I thought they were both enemies, or am I not seeing the full picture?" Lucas asked.
"It was to maintain confrontations at a very low level. It was also for other reasons, but this was the biggest one or so I remember. It's quite good in a way as from the details I heard as well." Ashly said but she stays silent for a while.
Lucas is about to say something but then, "Wait no! Fuck that, that deal almost cost me my life. I was dying because of it, and I think it was a good plan." Ashly says with anger.
"Wow, that's very interesting Ashly, so this is more complicated that just rivalry." Lucas says, "I want to know more about the interactions, and agreements they made."
"Lucas, have you told anyone about the gang and anything related. I mean if you did then it would stir up a bunch of trouble for myself even if I did run away." Ashly says.
"Of course not Ashly, I'm scared of what will happen. What if they all find out I snitched on them, and they all try to kill me?" Lucas says with a worried tone.
"Lucas you idiot, of course you wouldn't be in any form of danger. You live inside the district, the safest place in the world. You should of said something, and I would of been saved much earlier. If they tried to go after you they would be found out, or they would have realized how difficult it would be to get to you." Ashly said.
"Listen that wasn't the full reason as to why I didn't say anything. You would of been arrested with them as well. Like it or not you worked for them, and that makes you just as guilty as they are." Lucas says.
"Yeah that's true, but come on would they really think that. I'm a woman and why would they suspect me of any wrongdoing?" Ashly said confidently.
"Yeah I guess you're right about that, they might not think about you. To think the gender you were born as would change things…it's interesting." Lucas says.
They make their way to the entrance, it's quite different from Iriage. There seems to be more people in the watch, and they don't seem like they are tired of this job. They seem like they are always ready to jump in action if something happens. Lucas then pulls out his identification, and explains the fake story of Ashly loosing her identification.
"I'm here to meet someone, and to see the festival of course." Lucas says with a fake smile which fails as he looks too tired to try harder. "I will then be leaving after the festival is over at the earliest."
"Well then have a great stay, and take your time. After all the festival just started, I can understand that you're tired after a journey so come in." The gaurd said with a smile, "I'll let your gloomy attitude pass as it's understandable, and please put on a genuine smile."
"Since your friend lost her identification usually we would have to reject her." The guard said. "But since I'm in a great mood, and you showed me yours I'll let it pass."
"Thank you a lot sir, I really appreciate this." Lucas says with a smile that seems genuine, and full of relief. "We don't need to do this long journey back home now."
They both walk pass the gates ,and Ashly looks back a bit then whispers to Lucas. "That was easy, I guess you were right. I feel a bit stupid for not believing in you at all." Ashly said still feeling a bit bad.
Lucas notices how much she ain't feeling well. "Don't be Ashly, I myself was being doubtful the entire time. I just managed to keep my cool, and I'm glad I did." Lucas say, "Hey Ashly, try putting on a fake smile you look out of place." Lucas says as he looks around.
Ashly tries to but she is too tired, and still feels guilty for what she said to him. "Yeah I can't, I'm tired right now, and I don't want to try if I know it won't work." Ashly said as she puts on a normal blank face which is better than a gloomy one.
"Well don't worry about that Ashly, there are masks that you can wear. Just put it on when we are in areas with a bunch of people." Lucas says as he points at some people wearing masks.
Ashly and Lucas both make it to a stand that sells masks. "Oh, why does the pretty lady look a bit sad?" The shop owner said, Lucas is barely holding onto his smile which makes him just look tired and not sad for now.
"Oh it's not that she is sad, she is just tired right now. We had a long journey and she wants to rest a bit, but she doesn't want to ruin the mood. We had a two week travel from Iriage to here that's why." Lucas says.
"Oh that's very understandable, I guess she still wants to participate in the festival. That's sweet, I'm glad people are still trying to be in the mood even when they are tired." The man said with a big smile.
"Yeah don't worry, I bet you she will be back with a smile in an hour or two. She needs a mask for now until then alright." Lucas says.
"Yeah that's very considerate of you two, just give me a moment." The man said as he hands Ashly a mask that seems to be full of flower patterns ."That will be 28 metal coins, I know it's a bit expensive, but it's because it's made from a rare material. They are ment to be durable, and be reused for multiple years."
"Yeah of course that makes a lot of sense, I guess it's based on what the man wore that one time." Lucas said, "I don't remember much about the mask, but I did take history class. I feel a bit embarrassed for not remembering it at all."
"I do remember making one when I was child, that was fun." Lucas says which the man then asks what he meant. "Oh yeah I didn't tell anyone, but I originally was from this district. When I said I went to school I ment it as more of some communal things."
"It's a long story but I'm glad I'm back to where I was originally from. Well more so closer, but still I'm happy to be here." Lucas says.
Lucas and Ashly then leave, and after a short walk make it to an area that seems to be a bit spacious. "Ashly, want me to tell you the story of the man that this festival is honoring?" Lucas asked and Ashly nods.
Lucas then clears his troat. "There is this book which tells his story, I remember reading it when I was little. The story was called "[Ceborati the Ingenious]" Lucas says as he tries to give Ashly the exact size of the book with his hands.
"Alright, the story starts with Adam Ceborati the now we'll known government official. He was a poor young man from a village that sadly got destroyed. It happend when he was 17 years old, it was an earthquake, and luckily he was the only survivor. Well not too lucky."
"Adam was know to be a smart man, and thanks to that he was acknowledged by the government. He was then given the position of an agrologist, and one day while he was doing some work he found interest in some land. The government gave him the opportunity to do something with this piece of land due to how huge it was."
"It was very far a way from other districts which was the main reason as to why no one was interested before him. At first Adam tried to turn it into farming land, but it wasn't fertile enough to grow any crops. Ceborati would spend days trying to convince others to help him out but they didn't. Many people especially the government wanted to turn it into some form of trading port which many agreed upon."
"Adam would then spend a full year trying to find a way to turn it into farm land but everytime he fails. Fortunately one day he tested something, he planted some radishes and it worked. What he found out was that it was because of worms that helped make the land fertile. Adam then wrote it down, and shared this knowledge with the government. With the help of the government they managed to turn it onto the biggest farming village at that point in history."
"This helped a bunch of farmers who were poor at the time. Eventually with the abundance of farmers, and crops they managed to make a bunch of revenue. Due to this large amount of revenue a new district was build. This district of course is now known as Ethneal, and it's all thanks to Adam that Ethneal was build. Ethneal had the biggest diversity of crops because of how perfect the weather was to support multiple crops."
"But sadly one day, Ceborati decided to go on a trip many years later. This trip was his last as Ceborati just disappeared from existence. He just vanished and no one knew where he went, and many thought that he was a person who wasmade up. Thankfully the government kept records of Cebotari and made this festival, and book to honor and remember him."
"Cebotari was an amazing man who sadly disappeared from everyone. He was one of the most influential men in history, and his legacy still lives on. I wish I saw a photo of him, but none were taken of him which I do find strange." Lucas says with a bit of a sad face.