Episode 29: Gentle rain and fire flowers; festival in another world!

A new day had started. Taro’s reflexes kicked in and he immediately went to work on his holy tasks. The priests and priestesses talked excitedly about the festival that was about to happen, nobody was pestering Taro while he went about his chores, when he went to visit sister Sunny, she was looking way better than yesterday, the morning was basically perfect

Just as he stepped out of the church after he was done, he felt something familiar and nostalgic in the air. The sky was adorned with fluffy white clouds, there was a faint sound all around, he felt the smell of wet soil entering his nose, followed by droplets on his face. he was so used to rain falling under dark clouds, that he was caught by surprise by the gentle sunlit shower

people’s joy was audible, they stepped out of where they were working, the wooden stalls that foreshadowed an elaborate festival, to enjoy the first rain of the raneh season. they cheered, laughed, raised their hands, and even danced

Taro: (back in my world, people hid from the rain and saw it as a nuisance, over here everyone is so happy about it. well, I guess it’s also the type of rain, I’d have to see how they react to the cold and scary dense rain with thunder and wind)

he made his way to the guild office, taking his time to let the rain drizzle over him

guild secretary: my foraging prince!, just in time, I was looking for more hands just now

Taro: goomornin mazter, where all?

guild secretary: they’re all running around preparing the final details for the festival, all I have left is you and Ari now, but that’s all I need heh!

Ari: I think I can carry them all, but we’d have to walk very slo–oh, Taro, good afternoon

Taro: goomornin Ari. Shizuka and Nagye, and Sidra, you see?

Ari: They're busy right now, my father is teaching Shizuka something, and Nagye tagged along because her parents are back in town, helping my father. As for Sidra, I saw her running around with bags and boxes, though I don't know where she is right now. did you need them for something?, I’m also here, you know?

Taro: no no, I just ask, I help you now, with boxes

Ari: oh, thank you, be careful, they’re heavy, I don’t wanna see you shaking like when you had to carry the bags back then, you wimpy brute

Taro: (it’s been a while since she last acted like a brat, I can’t deny I missed this) don worry, I tough now

Ari and Taro followed the guild secretary around town, delivering boxes to various places, while observing the festive atmosphere building up

Ari: I can't believe those guys are already getting drunk, can't they at least wait for the festival to properly start?

The trio of so-called “professional adventurers” were already indulging in florally fragrant booze with dried salted fruit. Their expressions of delight made the things they were consuming all the more tantalizing

guild secretary: give them a break, this season brings memories to all of us

Ari: memories? like what?

guild secretary: painful memories. When those guys were just kids, we had a problem with some rogue soldiers, they were trained professionals so they had the town on their knees. Those kids all lost someone important to them, parents, siblings, grandmas, you name it. I’m not excusing them for drinking so much, but sometimes the pain is too big, you gotta numb it somehow

Ari: …I guess I can understand them a little better now, but as you said, that's no excuse. Besides, didn’t you lose your hand and leg back then as well?, I don’t see you drinking and being a slouch

guild secretary: well, you didn’t even exist to see me drowning in booze back then ha-ha!. We all lost something in that little war, but one day, you gotta end up choosing between numbing the pain, or going a little crazy, like me heh!... I lost so much more than my limbs and my eye…

Taro: more?

guild secretary: just as a little taste, my kids would be as old as you guys by now. I won’t say more, I don’t wanna get emotional, or I might end up joining the boys over there, ha-ha!

They finished delivering all the boxes, and the secretary told them to do as they pleased, so now Ari and Taro just walked around the town, looking at how people gave the finishing touches to the town decorations

Ari: I guess I have been coming across as “uptight” and unsensitive, but it’s not my fault I didn’t know, and nobody told me either, besides, there’s no excuses, if the enemy sees you making mistakes, they won’t stop even if you’re sad… am I being too insensitive again?

Taro: no no, I uhh, I understand you, it hard, to understand people, pain, we don’t see. I too, uhh see them slouches, and jerks

Ari: right? they laugh at everything, not just those three, everyone at the guild!. that’s why I don’t have a lot of friends, I don't like drunkards very much, and almost all the people my age are either drunk, or don't take things seriously, or I just don't like them. You're one of the few people who is not like that, even when you’re sad…

Taro: me? (Hmm, I guess it is true that I’m not laughing all day or underestimating the protocols of survival, and I’m also not into drinking, not after that embarrassing experience drinking alone. not only was it underwhelming, I left a mess in the bathroom, and the hangover was terrible… I wish I didn't remember that)

Ari: yeah, you’re easy to talk to, you listen, you’re kind, respectful, you also work very hard, even when people are bullying you, you just brush them off…

Taro: (huh? when did she notice that?)

Ari took a deep breath and clenched her fists in preparation

Ari: I saw you crying when you were on guard with Shizuka, I wasn't spying or anything! I just woke up to a noise, I also didn’t wanna say anything back there because you sounded so sad, I didn't know what to say. I didn't notice that's how you were feeling. Now I don't know how to tell if you’re feeling sad or serene, you’re good at hiding it, but, y-you don't have to…

Taro: (ahh, another memory I’d rather not remember, now I just worried Ari too) it ok Ari, I, go become more tough

Ari: yeah but, if you’re feeling sad, don't just carry it all alone, I’m always here you know?, you can tell me anything, just like when you wanted to go to the forest alone, I’ll find a way to help, and if I can’t, at least just let me listen to you, at least just let me… you’re special to me, it makes me sad to— what am I even saying?, please forget it

the shakes in Ari’s voice revealed how honest and vulnerable those words were

Taro: tank you, I never forget, in my chest. you are good friend, I cherish you, I always, remember, forever

Ari: f-forever?, what are you even saying brute, “forever” what?, I guess I should teach you words too, so you’re not so confusing

Taro: I teach you words too

Ari: why would I want to learn your brute language?

Taro: -because I like this language more-

Ari: huh?! What did you just say?, translate now!

Taro: uhh, I not know, wurdz, I brute heheh

Ari: Now you’re just teasing me!, tell me or I’ll get it out of you, don’t run away!

they played cat and mouse without realizing the festival had already started, the stalls were up will all sorts of food, trinkets, decorations, games, they didn't realize either when they ran past familiar faces, or when they ran over the heartstrings of Nagye, who was walking with her parents, and felt a discomfort in her chest upon seeing them laughing and running around

they only stopped running when a bright red fireball ascended to the sky and exploded like a flower of fire, followed by smaller fireballs of varying sizes and colors

Ari: the fire flowers!, they’re throwing the fire flowers already, so pretty!

Taro: (I did not expect to see fireworks in another world, this is indeed beautiful, they almost give fireworks from my world a run for their money) very very nice

the townspeople cheered at the sight, which didn’t last long, not many fire flowers were thrown

Ari: hmm, that was way too short. then again, they’re not supposed to throw them this early, they were probably testing. They're gonna throw way more later, they’re huge, they cover the whole sky! I can't wait

Taro: it mana? or, other thing?

Ari: yeah, its explosive mana, its normally not this pretty, but they can turn it into fire flowers. I guess my father was teaching Shizuka how to do it. Since she’s a genius, my father taught her the explosive mana technique, I guess it's natural that he’d teach her more things about it. It's a technique he himself learned from the court mages, which are Nagye’s parents if I’m not incorrect

Taro: (so that explains why they were all busy today, I guess we won't be seeing them to spend the festival together, unless…) where Shizuka and boss?

Ari: They're on the west entrance, where there’s a hill, why do you wanna go there?

Taro: let’s go, buy food, then go to hill

Ari: huh? Wait, where are you going?

They went to every stall that caught Taro’s eye, tasting and trying out all the novel things Taro had never seen before. They played the games and Ari got mad on Taro’s behalf when she thought they were being tricked, only to find out they were just bad at the game.

On the way, they found Sidra, who joined them on their festival tour. when they could not carry more food and trinkets, they went to the west entrance and found the guild master, Shizuka, Nagye, and her parents

Shizuka: heeey! over here!

guild master: what brings you here, do you have news?

Ari: no, it’s just that this brute wanted to bring food to Shizuka and Nagye

Taro: we watch fire flowers, together

Shizuka: oh, most—

Sidra: —wonderful—

Shizuka and Sidra: most wonderful idea ohohoho

The festival continued and intensified. Taro and the girls enjoyed watching the grand spectacle of fire flowers, casted by Shizuka, the guild master, and the court mages. Ari’s descriptions were not exaggerated, the sublime flowers covered the sky like a blanket, lighting up the twilight and night sky