Chapter 23: Festival of Chaos

Author's Preface

- The Carnival Games -

The festival didn't just have lights.

It had temptation.

And it waited for them the moment they stepped out of the temple's quiet and back into Chiang Mai's glowing chaos.

The street widened into a carnival lane near the Old City- bright stalls lined shoulder-to-shoulder, lantern light mixing with neon signs and blinking bulbs. Bells rang every few seconds. Vendors shouted cheerfully over the crowd. Prize walls towered above them like colorful cliffs: stuffed animals, plastic swords, glowing wands, cartoon masks, toy crowns, glittery headbands.

It was loud.

It was ridiculous.

It was perfect.

Chen saw it and stopped walking like someone had unplugged his soul and plugged it directly into electricity.

He stared at the stalls with reverence.

Then he whispered, voice trembling:

"...Games."

Mrs. Lang's eyes sharpened instantly.

"No."

Chen turned to her slowly like she'd just committed betrayal.

"Auntie," Chen said in disbelief, "this is culture."

"This is money leaving my purse," Mrs. Lang snapped. "Absolutely not."

Mr. Lang looked around calmly, hands in his pockets. "It's not gambling, Dear."

Mrs. Lang squinted. "Then what is it?"

"It's losing money slowly while your children scream," Mr. Lang answered without hesitation.

Mrs. Lang gasped. "Harold!"

Paola's eyes widened at a stall offering a glitter crown and shouted, "I WANT THAT."

Ping saw a prize shaped like a tiny lantern penguin and made a sound like his heart had been shot.

"NATE-"

Nathan didn't even pretend anymore. "No."

Ping gripped Nathan's sleeve like it was life support. Snowball dangled under his arm.

"But look!" Ping pleaded, pointing with deep injustice. "That penguin is glowing!"

Nathan's gaze followed the point. The lantern penguin sat proudly at the top of a prize shelf like it was mocking Ping personally.

It was absurdly cute.

Ping's eyes shone.

Knight leaned closer, smirking like a demon.

"Oh," Knight murmured, voice sweet with poison. "You want that?"

Ping snapped his head toward him. "Yes."

Knight's grin widened. "Then I'll win it."

Ping's face darkened. "For me?"

Knight blinked innocently. "For Nate."

Ping combusted instantly. "WHY WOULD YOU WIN FOR HIM?!"

Nathan's head turned slightly. "Knight."

Knight smiled like he'd been kissed. "Yes, Nate?"

Ping's jealousy flared so bright it almost had a sound. He tugged on Nathan again like an emergency alarm.

"Nate. Win it. For me."

Knight lifted a brow. "Are you ordering him?"

Ping glared. "Yes."

Nathan tried once more. "No."

Ping's voice broke into dramatic despair. "Then you don't love me."

Nathan paused.

Mrs. Lang inhaled, already emotional. "Oh my God-"

Mr. Lang sighed. "Drama runs in the family."

Ping pouted harder. "It's true."

Knight leaned in closer toward Nathan, voice low and teasing. "He's manipulating you."

Nathan's expression stayed calm, but his eyes flicked toward Knight- sharp, warning, familiar.

"You're enjoying it," Nathan said.

Knight smiled. "Am I? I'm innocent."

Ping shouted, "YOU ARE NOT!"

Nathan exhaled once.

Quiet. Controlled.

Then he stepped forward toward the nearest stall like a man walking toward his own downfall.

"One game," Nathan said flatly.

Ping brightened like sunrise. "YES!"

Chen gasped. "BRO APPROVED FUN!"

Mrs. Lang clutched her chest. "I don't like this."

Mr. Lang patted her shoulder. "We survived worst."

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

🎯 Balloon Darts

The first stall was balloon darts- rows of bright balloons pinned to a board. The vendor smiled like he'd never seen children before.

"Three darts," he said cheerfully. "Try your luck!"

Chen stepped forward so fast he almost blurred.

"Move," Chen said dramatically.

Nathan turned his head. "Chen-"

Chen waved him off. "Bro, I was born for this."

He slapped coins onto the counter like he was paying for an empire.

The vendor handed him darts.

Chen didn't even aim like normal people.

He felt the board.

Then- pop pop pop.

Three balloons exploded in three perfect shots.

Not one miss.

Not one hesitation.

The vendor's smile died slowly.

Chen stared at him triumphantly. "DONE."

Ping's jaw dropped. "WHAT?!"

Paola screamed, "HE IS A SNIPER!"

Jenn, calm and unbothered, watched with quiet interest.

Knight's eyes lit up like fire. "Okay, that's actually impressive. His aim is improving day by day."

Nathan stared at Chen like a tired older brother watching disaster gain confidence.

"Stop," Nathan said.

Chen blinked. "Stop what? Winning?"

"Traumatizing the vendors."

Chen ignored him and grabbed the prize the vendor handed over- a stuffed tiger- and hugged it like he'd just conquered a kingdom.

Then Chen turned and pointed at another stall across the lane.

"That one has targets too," he announced.

Knight's eyes narrowed. "Oh no."

Chen ran.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

🎯 Shooting Gallery

A shooting gallery waited: toy rifles, metal targets, little spinning stars. The vendor shouted, "Hit ten! Win big prize!"

Chen slammed into the counter.

"I will hit fifty," Chen said confidently.

The vendor laughed. "Ten shots only."

Chen nodded seriously. "Ten shots. Fifty hits."

Nathan stepped up behind Chen and rested a hand on his shoulder like a warning.

"Chen," Nathan said quietly.

Chen smiled sweetly. "Yes, Bro."

Nathan: "One stall."

Chen: "I heard 'own this festival.'"

Nathan closed his eyes for half a second like prayer.

Chen grabbed the rifle.

He fired.

The targets didn't stand a chance.

Ping ping ping ping ping-

Metal stars spun wildly. Bells rang nonstop. The stall turned into chaos. People started watching.

Someone whispered, "Is that kid cheating?"

Another whispered, "How is he doing that?"

Chen's grin widened with every hit.

He looked like a firework in human form.

He finished, slammed the rifle down, and spread his arms like a champion.

"Bow," Chen told the vendor.

The vendor, visibly shaken, handed him a huge stuffed dragon.

Chen hugged it and screamed, "I AM UNSTOPPABLE!"

Mrs. Lang shouted, "NO YOU'RE NOT!"

Mr. Lang muttered, "He is."

Jenn took one step closer to the stall.

Chen turned to her instantly. "Jinnie! Watch! You will see greatness!"

Jenn lifted a brow. "I already did."

Chen gasped. "That's disrespectful."

Jenn calmly took the rifle.

Everyone watched.

Jenn aimed once- smooth, controlled- then fired.

Ping.

Bullseye.

The bell rang once, clean and perfect.

Jenn set the rifle down like she hadn't just humiliated the entire booth.

Chen stared at her as if she'd performed witchcraft.

"...What are you?" Chen whispered.

Jenn answered calmly, "Better."

Chen clutched his dragon. "I'M GOING TO TRAIN EVERY DAY."

Jenn's voice stayed flat. "You won't."

Chen's voice cracked. "WHY DO YOU KNOW ME LIKE THAT?!"

Paola laughed so hard she nearly fell into the prize shelf.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

🎯 Ring Toss

Ping marched to the next stall with determination in his body.

"This one," Ping declared, pointing at ring toss. "I will win my own prize."

Knight leaned down toward him. "Sure. Good luck, little prince."

Ping glared. "Stop calling me that."

Knight smirked. "Make me."

Ping huffed and grabbed the rings.

He tossed.

The ring bounced off the bottle like the bottle rejected him.

He tossed again.

Miss.

Again.

Miss.

Ping's face slowly turned into tragedy.

He threw the last ring with his whole soul.

Miss.

Ping stood there in silence like he'd been betrayed by physics.

Then he collapsed dramatically onto Nathan's leg.

"I'm cursed," Ping whispered.

Knight laughed out loud.

Nathan's face stayed calm, but his hand lifted and gently patted Ping's head once.

"You're not cursed," Nathan said.

Ping looked up with watery eyes. "Then why do I fail."

Knight leaned in like the devil. "Because I'm better."

Ping growled. "Flame demon."

Knight's grin widened.

Nathan sighed, took the rings, and stepped toward the stall.

Ping's eyes widened. "NATE!"

Nathan didn't answer. He simply aimed and tossed.

The ring landed perfectly.

Ping screamed like he'd witnessed a miracle. "YES!"

Knight blinked, offended. "Wait-"

Nathan tossed again.

Another perfect ring.

Knight stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "Are you showing off."

Nathan's lips barely curved. "No."

Knight leaned closer. "Liar."

Nathan tossed a third ring.

Perfect.

The stall vendor looked like he was about to cry.

Ping grabbed Nathan's sleeve and shouted at the entire world, "MY NATE WON!"

Knight scoffed. "He won because he practiced with Chen."

Ping turned and jabbed a finger at him. "He won because he loves me."

Knight leaned in toward Nathan, voice low and teasing. "Is that true?"

Nathan didn't look at him. "It's a ring toss."

Knight's grin turned slower. "Answer the question."

Nathan finally flicked his eyes to Knight- sharp ice, quiet fire.

Ping watched them like a hawk.

Nathan said calmly, "Don't start."

Knight smiled like he'd already won. "You started by existing."

Ping shouted, "STOP FLIRTING!"

They both ignored Ping.

Which made Ping angrier.

Nathan collected the prize- a tiny glowing penguin lantern.

Ping gasped, clutching it like it was holy.

Snowball stared at it like he had a brother now.

Ping whispered, "This is the happiest day of my life."

Paola shouted, "IT'S A PENGUIN FAMILY!"

Chen screamed, "I WANT ONE TOO!"

Jenn deadpanned, "No."

Chen instantly accepted it. "Okay."

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

🔔 Strength Bell Booth

A crowd gathered near the strength bell booth- hammer strike, bell ring, win prize.

Knight's eyes lit up instantly.

"That one," Knight declared, pointing like a warrior choosing his battlefield.

Chen screamed, "BRO VS BRO!"

Mr Lang frowned. "No violence."

Chen waved. "It's not violence, it's strength culture."

Knight grabbed the hammer and rolled his shoulders like he'd been waiting for this his whole life.

Ping crossed his arms. "Don't break it."

Knight smirked. "I'll break the bell with my aura."

Nathan stepped closer, unimpressed. "Go."

Knight looked at him, grin sharpening. "You want to see me win, Nate?"

Ping snapped, "NO HE DOESN'T."

Nathan didn't deny it.

Knight lifted the hammer.

He struck.

The weight slammed down.

The marker shot up-

Nearly to the top.

The bell rang loud.

The crowd cheered.

Knight turned dramatically to Nathan. "Tell me you're impressed."

Nathan's face stayed calm. "It was decent."

Knight gasped. "DECENT?!"

Paola screamed, "MY KNIGHT IS AMAZING!"

Ping screamed louder, "MY NATE IS BETTER!"

Knight leaned toward Nathan, eyes bright. "Prove it."

Nathan stared at him.

Then, without reacting, he took the hammer.

Knight stepped closer, voice dropping into a teasing whisper only Nathan could hear.

"If you win, I'll kiss you."

Ping shrieked, "WHAT?!"

Nathan's eyes flicked up slowly, icy and controlled.

"Don't make promises you can't handle," Nathan murmured.

Knight's grin turned feral. "Try me."

Nathan lifted the hammer.

No dramatics.

No showmanship.

Just quiet, controlled power.

He struck.

The marker shot up-

Exactly to the same point.

The bell rang.

The crowd went insane.

Chen screamed like he'd witnessed the birth of a god.

"DRAW! IT'S A DRAW! ICE VS FIRE IS EQUAL!"

Paola jumped up and down. "THEY ARE LEGENDS!"

Ping clung to Nathan's arm triumphantly. "Nate won!"

Knight leaned closer, smirking. "He tied."

Ping glared. "That's winning."

Nathan handed the hammer back, expression calm, but there was a faint glint in his eyes- something amused, something alive.

Knight saw it.

Knight always saw it.

He leaned in closer, voice low.

"You smiled."

Nathan replied, deadpan. "No."

Knight's grin widened. "Liar."

Ping shoved himself between them with pure territorial fury.

"Stop standing like that."

Knight looked down at Ping innocently. "Like what?"

Ping's face went red. "LIKE... LIKE... LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO STEAL HIM."

Knight leaned closer, whispering loudly, "I am."

Ping screamed. "NATE!"

Nathan said calmly, "Knight."

Knight's grin softened as if the name itself soothed him.

"Yeah," Knight murmured. "Nate."

Ping nearly combusted into light particles.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

👑 The Crown

Paola spotted the glitter-crown stall like it had personally called her name.

A wall of prizes shimmered behind the vendor- crowns, plushies, glowing bracelets- and right at the top, perched like royalty itself, sat the crown. Glittery. Golden. Dramatic. Perfect.

Paola's eyes narrowed.

"That," she declared, pointing with sacred authority. "Is mine."

Jenn, walking beside her like a calm shadow, warned quietly, "You have to win it."

Paola tossed her hair. "I will win it."

The game was simple: toss small rings onto bottle necks. Easy.

Paola marched up, slapped coins onto the counter like she was funding a revolution, and took the rings with both hands.

The vendor smiled politely. "Three tries."

Paola nodded confidently. "That's enough."

Everyone watched.

Paola tossed the first ring with dramatic flourish.

It bounced off the bottle, spun in the air, and landed on the ground like it was offended by her confidence.

Paola blinked.

"...Okay," she whispered. "That was a warning shot."

Second toss.

She aimed harder.

The ring flew beautifully-

and landed directly on the bottle... then slid off like the bottle rejected her personally.

Ping made a tiny laugh. Paola whipped her head around.

Ping immediately covered his mouth. "Sorry."

Knight leaned down toward Nathan, smirking. "She's going to explode."

Nathan replied calmly, "She's going to perform."

Third toss.

Paola inhaled like she was about to shoot an arrow at destiny.

She threw.

The ring went wide and hit the side of the stall.

It didn't just miss.

It missed with attitude.

There was a pause.

Silence.

Paola stared at the bottles with stunned betrayal.

Jenn murmured, "You lost."

Paola slowly turned her head toward Jenn with horror.

"I didn't lose," Paola whispered. "The universe... cheated."

Chen, already holding five prizes, screamed, "SUE THEM!"

Paola's lower lip trembled.

Then... the drama began.

She placed one hand over her heart like she'd been stabbed.

Her eyes filled instantly with tears so fast it was honestly suspicious.

She turned toward the vendor, voice quivering with raw tragedy.

"Uncle..." she whispered, heartbreak in every syllable. "I tried very hard."

The vendor blinked, confused. "Uh..."

Paola pressed her palm against her forehead like she might faint.

"I tried my best," she continued, tears spilling now like she was starring in the saddest movie in Thailand. "I used all my strength... all my courage... and still... still... I failed."

Mrs. Lang's eyes widened, impressed. "That's my daughter"

Mr. Lang muttered, "Just like her mother."

Paola sniffled loudly, shoulders shaking. "I wanted that crown so badly... just once... I wanted to feel pretty and magical under the lanterns like the princesses in the parade..."

She took a shaky breath like she was about to crumble into dust.

"But maybe..." she whispered, voice breaking, "maybe I'm not meant to shine."

Jenn stared at her. "You are lying."

Paola sobbed harder. "I AM SUFFERING."

Ping whispered, alarmed, "Is she okay?"

Knight whispered back, "She's winning."

The vendor looked panicked now, glancing at the crowd as if someone might accuse him of harming a child. Then his eyes flicked to Mrs. Lang- who looked seconds away from joining the tears.

The vendor cracked.

"Okay-okay!" he blurted. "Don't cry!"

He reached under the counter and pulled out a small glittery headband crown- tiny, cute, clearly not the grand prize.

"A consolation prize," he said desperately. "For good effort!"

Paola's tears vanished.

Instantly.

Like a switch had been flipped.

She accepted the crown with perfect composure and placed it on her head solemnly.

Then she lifted her chin and turned toward her family like she'd just been crowned queen.

"I forgive you," Paola announced graciously.

Chen screamed, "SHE DID IT!"

Mrs. Lang clapped proudly. "MY BABY!"

Mr. Lang sighed into his soul. "We raised a politician."

Jenn stared at Paola for a long moment, then said quietly-

"That was criminal."

Paola beamed. "That was art."

And with her tiny consolation crown glittering under lantern light like victory itself, Paola strutted away as if the world now belonged to her.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

🎯 Chen's Festival Domination Continues

And then Chen did what Chen was born to do.

He attacked every stall that involved a target.

Every stall.

● Bottle knock-down? Chen demolished it.

● Dartboard? Chen hit center like he was personally insulted by missing.

● Ping pong toss into cups? Chen didn't toss, he executed.

● Spinning wheel throw? Chen won three times and the vendor had to beg him to stop.

Vendors began recognizing him.

One stall owner whispered, terrified, "Not him again..."

Chen arrived like a hurricane anyway.

Nathan tried once. "Chen. Enough."

Chen turned, shocked. "Bro. This is my calling."

Mr. Lang said calmly, "He is going to bankrupt them."

Chen screamed, "I AM A GENIUS!"

By the time they were done, Chen was carrying a mountain of prizes.

Stuffed dragon, tiger, glowing toys, plastic swords, lantern keychains, random adorable creatures that he'd won simply because the universe feared his accuracy.

The family walked behind him like they were escorting a champion warrior.

Ping stared in disbelief. "How do you do that."

Chen answered proudly. "My hands are blessed."

Jenn deadpanned, "It's because you're violent."

Chen turned offended. "I'm not violent! I'm accurate."

Paola shouted, "I WANT A SWORD!"

Chen immediately handed her a plastic sword like a hero granting a weapon.

Paola held it up triumphantly. "I WILL PROTECT THE FAMILY!"

Mr. Lang murmured, "From what."

Paola: "From sadness."

Mrs. Lang clutched her heart. "Oh my sweet baby."

Chen handed Jenn a small prize too- a neat little lantern charm, simple and pretty.

Jenn blinked at it.

Chen said proudly, "For you."

Jenn stared. "Why."

Chen shrugged like it was obvious. "Because you fixed my thread. And you're scary."

Jenn's mouth twitched, barely, like laughter trying to exist.

"...Thank you," she said quietly.

Chen nearly died on the spot.

Then Chen shoved a stuffed animal at Ping too.

Ping hugged it automatically, then looked at it like he'd been blessed by chaos itself.

Chen handed Knight a prize with a smug grin. "For you too, Bro."

Knight took it, amused. "What is this."

"It's a dragon," Chen said.

Knight lifted a brow. "Why would you give me a dragon."

Chen grinned. "Because you're fire."

Knight laughed, genuinely pleased.

Then Chen shoved the biggest prize into Nathan's hands- a massive stuffed creature that was almost too big for Nathan's body.

Nathan stared at it like it was an alien.

Chen grinned up at him. "For you."

Nathan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why."

Chen replied like it was obvious. "Because you paid for everything."

Knight leaned toward Nathan and murmured, voice bright with affection, "You've been bought."

Nathan replied, deadpan, "I've been robbed."

Ping clung to Nathan's side, holding his glowing penguin prize like a sacred victory.

"This is the best night ever," Ping whispered.

Paola twirled with her crown and sword.

Jenn held her lantern charm carefully.

Chen stood proudly like the festival had officially crowned him king.

Mrs. Lang looked at all of them, eyes shining, overwhelmed by love.

Mr. Lang sighed the sigh of a man who knew he'd never know peace again.

And Nathan-

He walked at the center, arms full of absurd prizes, with Ping on one side and Knight on the other, Chen ahead screaming about victory, and the lantern-lit streets of Chiang Mai wrapping them in gold.

For once, Nathan's mouth curved faintly.

Not a smile anyone would call loud.

But the kind of smile that meant-

this chaos was his.

This family was his.

And tonight, under a ceiling of lights, even the most controlled heart couldn't deny it.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

Next in The City of Lanterns

They laughed.

They played.

They thought the night belonged to them.

Until it took something back.