Story Reader / Festival Event Story / The Destined Surprise / Story
Swish swish... swish swish...
Focus, hold your breath, and shake the maracas to the rhythm of the music.
Swish swish... swish swish...
In front of you, Sophia is dancing to the rhythm of the maracas.
The girl is in an elegant coating, her body and face adorned with decorations. She moves gracefully to the music, each movement apparently telling a story from long ago.
At first, you have to consciously follow the music to keep up, but slowly, your hands start moving naturally with the dance.
...And before you know it, the dance has ended.
Thank you, Commandant.
So how did I do? Out of 100?
C'mon, I'm sure I didn't do that well.
You got a message from ACA today not only wishing you a happy birthday, but also inviting you to a celebration.
So you hop on a transport craft that took you to the Asslam. You attend the celebration briefly before following Sophia to her room.
Commandant, I've prepared some performances and services for you... for free, of course, since it's your birthday today.
Sophia's dance just now was part of the program.
Uhm... well, I guess that means I could make the tickets very expensive, then.
And you could help me sell them. We could split the earnings 30-70.
But that would I'd have to learn to dance to a different song.
That one just now was meant for you, Commandant. It's a limited edition.
If you want to see it on any other day, you'd have to pay 100000 Black Cards.
Well, that means I got lucky today, no?
Would you like to see it again?
Ohh, uhm. Well, let's see...
Come and lie down here, Commandant. I'll give you a massage with my mechanical arms. It's part of the birthday service and it's free.
Following Sophia's instructions, you lie down. Soon, the mechanical arms start massaging your shoulders and arms. The pressure is just right, and the accuracy is remarkable. You feel incredibly relaxed.
As you relax, you feel two small hands pressing on your face.
Your head is heavy with thoughts and you frown all the time, Commandant, which is not good.
Here, let me help your facial muscles relax.
Small and warm, Sophia's hands move back and forth on your face. It feels great.
I am Jamilah's guard, and I have to... well, engage in fights sometimes.
So, I have to know which parts of the body do what and where to strike to kill or injure my enemies.
Jamilah told me everything, and I internalized them through actual fights.
Hey, I think your body just tensed up again, no?
...Should have just stayed quiet.
Soon, your body feels relaxed again with Sophia's massage.
Shaking your neck, you notice Sophia has placed a small gift box before you.
A little something I've got you for your birthday, Commandant.
Are you familiar with the 12 zodiac signs?
It's something from the Golden Age. It's got to do with the stars, where everyone has a sign based on their birth date.
Sophia opens the gift box, revealing a delicate item made from what appears to be a precious mineral.
I got this from a merchant. I don't know much about zodiac signs, but I thought you just might be interested in them.
This one here is incomplete, though, because it only has seven of them, and it's missing your sign...
But I'll keep an eye out for the other five and try to get all of them for you.
Don't mention it... Everything I'm doing today is free since it's your birthday today, Commandant, but looking for the missing signs is a future task and you'll have to pay for that.
And as far as the missing five signs go, I'll need ten thousand Black Cards for each of them, and thirty thousand for the one that's your sign.
Actually, there's another way for you to pay.
Jamilah told me that time is money. You can pay me by spending time with me.
I'm fine either way.
