__
Night had fallen.
But the field was never dark.
It blazed.
Bright.
As if daylight had been forced to stay.
Spotlights pierced the sky.
White.
Gold.
Pale blue.
Moving slowly.
As if searching for something up there.
Over there—
The stage stood.
A replica of the Parthenon.
Pillars towering high.
The lighting from below made it look... alive.
Long shadows fell behind it.
__
In front of it—
The stoa stretched out in a straight line.
Small lights along the path glowed.
Forming a line.
Like a path leading to an altar.
All around—
Iron fences gleamed in the light.
Small pillars stood at various points.
Everything was pristine.
Everything was orderly.
Tens of thousands of people filled the field.
Packed.
Barely a single gap.
The voices of humanity merged into one.
A wave.
Rising.
Falling.
The air was hot.
Sweltering.
Despite the night.
Operational staff moved quickly.
Slipping through narrow gaps in the crowd.
Police were stationed at key points.
