51

Fel weaved through the crowds of people, feeling overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the festival. The air was thick with the smell of roasting meat and incense, and the colors of the decorations were almost blinding. The noise level was intense, with people shouting and laughing and children running around, but it was the sound of the local drums that caught Fel's attention.

At first, the sound was just a faint beat in the background, but as she got closer to the center of the festival, it grew louder and more insistent. The drums were being played by a group of musicians who were gathered around a large fire, and the rhythm they were playing was infectious.

The beat was primal, with a deep thump that seemed to resonate in Fel's chest. It was like a heartbeat, steady and unrelenting, with no breaks in the rhythm. Fel found herself swaying to the beat, unable to resist the pull of the music.

As the musicians played on, the beat became more complex, with different rhythms layered on