As the afternoon slowly melted into evening, most of the people were heading to the same spot to witness the attraction of the night.
The Sky Parade.
Families, tourists, Hunters, and performers alike flowed toward a wide grassy hillside overlooking the riverbank. Blankets were spread across the slope, children climbed onto their parents' shoulders, and conversations filled the air with quiet excitement.
Odd Jobs found a comfortable spot halfway up the hill. There was just enough room for everyone. Some sat. Some laid back against the grass. Others continued finishing the festival food they had bought on the way over. A calm settled over the crowd. Thousands of people. Yet somehow… It was quiet. Then the music began. A deep orchestral note echoed across the sky, followed by strings that slowly built into a triumphant melody.
Everyone looked up. From beyond the horizon, a formation of colorful airships glided gracefully toward Hanabi Island. Each carried enormous banners representing one of Shioto's districts, while flowers, lanterns, and performers decorated their decks. Cheers rippled through the audience. Confetti drifted lazily from above, carried by the evening breeze until it scattered across the hillside. Jeremiah's daughter reached up, trying to catch a handful. Esmarie laughed as several pieces landed in her hair. The orchestra swelled. Behind the airships came thousands of enormous lantern balloons. Koi fish. Dragons. Phoenixes. Whales. Cranes. Fox spirits. Each one glowed softly from within, their colors shimmering beautifully against the darkening sky. They floated together like a second world suspended overhead, moving so gracefully that it almost felt like watching living creatures. Children pointed excitedly. Even the adults found themselves staring upward in quiet amazement.
One by one, the lanterns drifted overhead until the next performance arrived. A team of aerial acrobats appeared between two of the airships, suspended by nearly invisible cables. Drones were filming them in the sky that connected to projectors still in the air but closer so the crowd would be able to see them more clearly. They swung effortlessly through the air before launching themselves into flips and graceful dives, catching one another at impossible distances before continuing into perfectly synchronized routines. Gasps spread through the crowd every time someone let go. Every landing earned applause.
Not long after, another group emerged from above the clouds. Performers wearing winged gliders soared over the bay, trailing long ribbons of crimson, gold, sapphire, emerald, and violet behind them. From below, it looked as though giant paintbrushes were streaking across the sky, each movement blending into the next until enormous swirling patterns stretched overhead.
As daylight continued fading, floating platforms drifted into view. Each carried a lone performer. One by one, they ignited their staffs. Fire spun through the air in glowing circles, spirals, and arcs that illuminated the performers against the evening sky. Every movement matched the orchestra perfectly, creating the illusion that the music itself controlled the flames. The crowd erupted into applause.
The music softened.
Hundreds…
Then thousands…
Of drones rose silently from behind the parade.
They spread across the sky before gathering together into a single glowing image.
A Hunter standing before a frightened family.
The image shifted.
Another Hunter.
Then another.
Then dozens.
The hillside fell completely silent.
Then a round of applause.
It continued until the final silhouette slowly dissolved into countless drones that looked like stars. The orchestra reached another crescendo. Flower petals began falling from above. Not confetti. Real petals. Pink. White. Gold.
The next float immediately stole everyone's attention. A massive mechanical dragon emerged from behind the leading airships. Its articulated body stretched across nearly the entire length of the parade, scales shimmering beneath carefully hidden lights. Smoke poured gently from its mouth while glowing eyes scanned the crowd below. Its wings slowly opened. Children lost their minds.
Everything grew quiet again. One last melody began. Slow. Hopeful. Majestic.
Then…
The phoenix appeared.
Its enormous golden wings remained folded as it floated gracefully across the sky. The orchestra reached its highest note. The phoenix spread its wings. Hidden fireworks erupted from behind it. Golden feathers exploded across the heavens, cascading outward until the entire sky glittered with light. The display continued seamlessly into another barrage of fireworks, each burst larger than the last, painting Hanabi Island in gold, crimson, emerald, sapphire, and violet. The finale lasted several minutes. When the final firework faded, applause spreadeverywhere. People slowly relaxed again, conversations naturally returning as everyone admired what they had just witnessed.
Diego let out a long whistle: "…That was worth the trip."
Beatrice: "That was stunning."
Nicholas smiled: "I don't think I'll ever forget that."
Miku: "It was like a dream."
The others quietly agreed.
Chifuyu continued looking toward the sky long after the last spark disappeared. A small smile crossed his face: "What a beautiful sight."
He looked around at everyone gathered beside him.
His friends.
Their families.
People who had become family.
Chifuyu looked at Ariel as he laughed quietly: "How long has it been? Over a year and a half?"
Ariel: "And this is only the beginning."
Chifuyu: "I wonder what kind of ending is in store for us."
Ariel: "You already know the answer to that."
Chifuyu: "True that."
Ariel: "Say, what do you think's more important. The journey, or the ending?"
Chifuyu took a second to think: "I believe the journey and the ending are equally as important as each other." He turned toward Ariel. "Moments like this are what really make me grateful for that night you saved me."
Ariel: "Reminiscing are we?" She lightly nudged his shoulder. "Save that for when you're an old man."
Chifuyu laughed. His eyes drifted back toward the sky: "The two of us are gonna stay partners for years to come, right? No matter what happens?"
Ariel answered without hesitation: "Of course. We're partners for life."
The breeze rolled gently across the hillside.
Somewhere overhead, the last flower petals continued drifting through the night.