On the eve of the conference, lights blazed throughout the Frost Dragon Fief, bathing the snow in candlelight and fire until it seemed as warm as day.
Asta's manor had been lavishly decorated, with gold-thread tapestries hanging on the walls and ruby chandeliers glittering with cold light.
The nobles of the Northern Frontier stood in the hall, holding stemmed glasses and flattering one another over their estates and ancestry. The air was thick with spices and false laughter.
All of this was in anticipation of Louis's Red Tide fireworks.
At the banquet two days earlier, Louis had offered a small suggestion: "Red Tide fireworks are a new invention. Perhaps they could add a little color to the Northern Frontier's nights. You could come to the banquet and have a look."
Aside from a handful affiliated with Red Tide in the Southeast, these Northern Frontier nobles had never seen anything called "fireworks."
It had been nothing more than an idle remark, but every noble had perked up. After all, who wouldn't want to try something new?
"Fireworks? What are those?"
"I hear they're a marvel from the Red Tide Fief that can set the night sky ablaze!"
And so, this Red Tide fireworks celebration had become the centerpiece of the evening.
Bang!
When the first firework bloomed in the night sky, every noble held their breath.
Purple and gold flames unfurled like a flower in the heavens, illuminating the entire Frost Dragon Fief.
The explosions echoed through the valley, met by one exclamation of wonder after another.
"Heavens... is that fire? It can actually bloom?"
"Those colors... gold, purple, even blue! How did they do it?"
"Is this Red Tide technology? Imagine how impressive it would be to buy a few and set them off at our own banquets!"
Exclamations of