"Just the ones she didn't pick."Mei-Lin drank deeply."She means well.Sort of.We were lower class for most of my childhood, and Father's business only took off about five years ago.Now that we have money and status, she's determined we marry 'appropriately' to secure it."
"And I'm not appropriate."
"You're on cursed land with unusual magic and no family connections.In her mind, you're a risk."Mei-Lin grinned."I think you're perfect for him, personally."
"I'm not...we're not..."
"Not yet.But you will be."Mei-Lin's tone was confident."I'm lucky, you know.That's my gift.I can feel when things are going to work out.And you and Jin?"She nodded decisively."That's going to work out."
"Your gift is luck?"
"Probability sensing, technically.I just know when odds are good."She gestured at the festival."Like, I knew we'd get paired in the games.I knew Lyra would cause a scene tonight.And I know you're going to be around for a long time."
Before Wren could process that, Kenji appeared, grinning."There you are!They're about to do the lantern lighting ceremony.You don't want to miss it."
"Oh!"Mei-Lin brightened."Come on, Wren.This is the best part."
They followed Kenji back toward the fountain, where the crowd was gathering.Volunteers were handing out small paper lanterns attached to thin wooden frames, the kind you could light and release into the sky.
"Everyone lights one," Mei-Lin explained."You're supposed to make a wish or set an intention as it rises.Romantic, right?"
"Very romantic," Kenji agreed, then looked at Mei-Lin."Want to light one together?For old times' sake?"
"Old times' sake?"Mei-Lin raised an eyebrow."Kenji, you pushed me into a fountain when I was twelve."
"And I apologized!Multiple times!"He was laughing."Come on, I'll make it up to you.I'll even let you make the wish."
"Fine.But I'm holding the lantern.You'd probably set yourself on fire."
They wandered off together, bickering affectionately, and Wren found herself alone in the crowd.
Someone handed her a lantern of delicate paper painted with flowers, a small candle waiting to be lit.
"Need a light?"
She turned.Jin stood there, holding a lit taper.
"Yes.Thank you."
He lit her candle carefully, the flame catching and glowing warm inside the paper.The lantern began to tug upward, wanting to rise.
"Are you alright?"he asked."After Lyra's scene."
"I'm fine.Shaken, but fine."She held the lantern, watching the flame flicker."Does she do that often?"
"More lately.She's always been temperamental, but it's gotten worse."His expression was concerned."If she approaches you directly, let me know."Around them, people were lighting lanterns.The square was filled with warm light as the lanterns began to rise, floating upward like gentle stars.
"You should make your wish," Jin said.
Wren looked at her lantern, thinking.What did she wish for?Safety.Community.To keep succeeding at the pun farm.To make real friends.To...
She glanced at Jin, standing close in the lantern light, and felt her heart do that small flip again.She wanted to figure out what this feeling was.
She released her lantern.It rose slowly, joining hundreds of others drifting into the night sky.The crowd watched in awed silence as the lights climbed higher and higher, turning the darkness into a river of stars.
It was breathtaking.
"Beautiful," she whispered.
