1.12 KMAS: End of the day's adventure

The audience began filing out after the play ended. While the volunteers and Appreciation Society members tried herding all the tiny skeletons and zombies together to hand them over to their mothers, Tilly Butterfield, president of the Meridian Kyros Magnus Appreciation Society, once again took the stage.

"Thank you for your participation in today's meeting. While leaving the auditorium, please maintain order and decorum that the Great Mage would expect you to observe. Madam, please take care of your child; he is eating that other kid's hair. And as you exit, you will find counters where you can purchase membership for the Appreciation Society and buy a subscription for our newsletter. Membership comes with perks such as free posters designed by Appreciation Society artists every month, with no shipping or postage charges. Three free tunics for men and women, featuring the Great Mage, Lady Liriel, and the Queen. They come in a variety of sizes and colors. Membership also gives you early access to the play and musical scripts, poems, short stories, and paintings which might be presented at future meetings. You will also get the opportunity to participate and promote your own artistic creations about the Great Mage. Please take into account that your memberships, subscriptions, and donations from some generous benefactors are the only things keeping the Appreciation Society functioning as it is, with free entry, free meals, and free shows for all fans of the Great Mage. And as you exit the auditorium, you will also find stalls where we sell various handcrafted plushies, which are definitely worth the purchase."

Sera looked at Liriel. "Generous benefactors, I wonder who they are?" she said. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about this, would you Liri?"

Liriel acted like she had not heard the question. "Did you hear that they are selling plushies? I want to take a look. Come on, Esme, let me buy you a gift." Liriel took Esmeralda's hand and the two of them went looking for plushies, leaving Sera behind.

"Hey, wait for me, you two," the Queen yelled out, and ran after them.

Meanwhile, Tilly's speech on stage continued, "... fan mail and complaint letters are very welcome, and some of the better ones will be featured in the newsletter. But please limit them to one letter a week, per person. This is in particular for any High Elven Princesses who might get a report of this meeting at a later time. Please send only one letter a week. And please restrict your letter to five thousand words or less. No one has time to go through fifty pages of complaints and corrections. What is that child doing?...Someone, please don't let her climb that. Volunteers, anyone? Yes sir, please handle that situation."

When Liriel finished buying a Kyros and an Elara plushie for Esmeralda (she really wanted Nazoga, but Nazoga is a copyrighted character from the Magnus Chronicles Comic book series), and a couple of plushies for herself, the girls heard a voice calling out Esmeralda's name.

"Mom, I am here," the little girl cried out.

A woman in her late twenties, who looked like a grown up version of Esmeralda, came out of the crowd and ran to her daughter. She knelt down and hugged Esmeralda tightly, her eyes showing deep relief and gratitude. But the warmth did not last, as once she was sure that her daughter was safe, the scolding began.

"Where did you run off to, you irresponsible girl? Why didn't you tell me you were coming here? Do you know how much I searched for you? I have told you so many times to not wander off alone. What if someone had kidnapped you?"

"Mom, don't make a scene," Esmeralda said, not wanting to look uncool in front of Lady Magnus and the Queen. "I just came to have lunch. I was going to come back, but the play was very good, so I stayed and watched. And I wasn't alone. Liri and Sera were with me."

The mother noticed the human and half-elven pair for the first time and immediately became a bit self-conscious. She stood up and dusted off her clothes and put on her best smile. "I am sorry, ladies," she said. "I did not notice you there. Thank you for taking care of my Esme. I hope she didn't trouble you too much."

"It was no trouble at all, madam," the half-elf said. "We are Liri and Sera. I am sorry, I did not catch your name."

"Oh, where are my manners? I am Mildred. I run a flower stall in the market district, and as you already know, I am this little monster's unfortunate mother."

Liri gave the woman a warm smile. "It's a pleasure meeting you, Mildred," she said. "I hope you take good care of Esmeralda. She is a very smart girl. I can see a bright future for her."

"Thank you for your kind words, madam. If only she would pay more attention in class and listen to her teachers. Then half my troubles in life would end."

"Pay attention in class, brat," Sera said. "Or I will tell your teachers to give you extra punishment."

Esmeralda stuck her tongue out, and a horrified Mildred gently struck her daughter on the shoulders. "Don't stick your tongue out at your elders, you disobedient child. Apologize right now."

Esmeralda made no attempts at an apology.

"It's alright, Mildred. An apology is not needed. She is just a..." Liri was saying, but she was cutoff midway by Sera.

"No, no, Liri. I agree with Mildred. I want an apology. Such bad behavior should be nipped off in the bud."

Esmeralda still did not apologize, prompting another mild thwack on the shoulders from her mother.

Finally, the little girl gave in. "I am sorry," she said half-heartedly.

"What's that?" asked Sera, pretending not to have heard it.

"Apologize properly," Mildred told her daughter.

"I am sorry, Miss Sera, for sticking my tongue out at you," Esmeralda managed to say.

Sera gave the child a smug smile, while Esmeralda looked at her in disdain. And when Mildred was distracted by the plushies Esmeralda was holding, Sera stuck her tongue out at the little girl.

"Ohh, I did not see the toys. Madam, how much did they cost? I will reimburse you," Mildred told Liri upon noticing the plushies.

"No need, Mildred," the half-elf said.

"But..."

"A few hours ago we made good money after selling our goods in the capital. Buying little Esme a toy will not harm our bottom line. Please, think of it as a gift from me."

"As...as you wish, madam," Esmeralda's mother said. "Once again, thank you both for taking care of my daughter. Now if you don't mind, we need to be getting back home."

"Of course. We wouldn't want to keep you from your work. Bye bye, Esme. Come and talk to me if you see me again, okay?"

"I will, my la...Ms. Liri. Bye bye."

"Bye bye, brat."

"Bye bye, Sera."

When the child and mother had gone far enough, the little girl could be heard asking, "Mom, can I have a boy-toy?"

"What?! Where did you hear that word?!"

"Umm... I heard Bertie saying it."

"Don't say such words again. It's not for decent folk. And stay away from that boy."

"So, can I have it?"

"Absolutely not!"

"Did you enjoy it, Liri?" the queen asked, as the two friends walked hand in hand through the crowd.

"A little bit," Liriel admitted.

"Only a little?"

"Maybe a bit more."

"Come on, I know you loved it. All those people praising your Kyros. Don't tell me that didn't give you tingling sensations in all the right places."

"What are you saying?"

"I am saying that Lady Magnus might be feeling lonelier than usual tonight."

"Sera!" gasped a scandalized Liriel. "You are so bad. I can't believe you would say that."

"Oh, don't act like a nun, Liri. Shall I remind you that just an hour ago I had to stop you from describing your husband's waist?"

"That's...different. I was just caught up in the moment, that's all."

"More like caught up in your husband's waistline."

"Would you let that go already?" Liriel said, smiling.

"Fine, fine. But seriously, Liri, if you are feeling lonely, we can do something together."

"Do you want to hang out at night?"

The queen slowly crept closer and wrapped her hand around Liriel's waist, and in her most seductive tone, she said, "No, I want to keep my secret lover company. Since Lord Magnus is away, I will keep you warm."

A giggling Liriel tried pushing her away, but Sarah held on tightly and started tickling her friend.

"Sera...no...not in public...let go of me...oh my gods..." Liriel blurted out, laughing hysterically from the tickles.

"Not a chance," Sera said, without letting go of Lady Magnus.

Finally, Liriel somehow managed to push Sera away and ran while still giggling.

"Come back here, my love," Sera yelled out before running after her best friend. "Liri, come back. I am sorry for tickling you. Can you ask Aunty Mable to cook something for me? I am getting a little hungry."