Two orange-red fireballs crossed paths in midair, tracing two elegant arcs like a distorted cross, or a pair of sharp scissors.
The firelight fell.
Blazing flames instantly rose from the woodpile, illuminating the previously dim venue in brilliant light. Dark-red light flickered, reflecting off the bizarre masks like a mottled, strange Impressionist watercolor.
The dense crowd surrounding the woodpile suddenly spread outward, leaving an extremely conspicuous ring of open ground between themselves and the pyre.
Dongdong drums began sounding from somewhere unknown, making the bonfire tremble and shudder.
Accompanied by a desolate, peculiar ballad, a group of figures dragging fluffy tails appeared hand in hand. They circled the bonfire and began an ancient shamanic ritual dance.
The black cat's eyes widened at once. It could not help stepping forward, nearly tumbling headfirst from the tree.
Then it realized that those figures dragging fluffy tails were not fox wizards, but merely people in costume, like everyone else tonight.
"Is it really this grand?"
The black cat could not help doubting reality—though it had mentally prepared itself in all sorts of ways, it had originally assumed tonight would just be a carnival of fanatics in masks.
Not solemn speeches, grave ritual dances, and an air of proper ceremony permeating everything from beginning to end.
"Grand?"
The Sin Eater tilted his head and glanced at the black cat. "Every Halloween celebration is like this... It used to be more popular only among Atlas and Alpha, but this year Jiuyou and Starry Sky joined in, so it seems livelier... But if you're talking about grandeur, it's nowhere near as grand as it was decades ago... Back then, school professors took part in Halloween! Sigh, these days, every holiday feels less and less festive."
The black cat paid no attention to the wizard's later complaints.