02 Age Ten – Yearning of Innocence part 2

Daerin, a large city built beside a lake surrounding two prominent mountains. A vast expanse of farmland stretched out past its borders, reaching far off into the distance and stopped at the foot of a massive stone wall. Encircling everything, the mountains, the lake, and the farmland; all but the southern half of the city of Daerin were covered with walls.

In between the gap, erected right at the middle was a mysterious structure reaching high up into the clouds. Past the mysterious structure and behind the absence of the wall, there was nothing but a sheer cliff dropping down a great distance, extending endlessly into white mist.

From the top of the massive wall to the east, the sun spilled its first light around an area of the city where the people were currently congregating. At the main road, a wide strip of stony pavement stretched from one end of the city to another, with its surroundings decorated by colorful flags, lanterns, and music.

The city was in a festive mood. After all, today was the Harvest Festival.

"Today's the day!" Urie announced from his bed.

The boy with ashen grey hair and blue eyes ran along the corridors of the large mansion. A bit of drool hung from his charming face as he hastened to the dining room.

"Good morning mother!” he shouted with excitement, ”Today's finally the day I get to use magic!" still wearing his sleepwear, Urie entered.

The gentle lighting coming from the windows enhanced the dining room's traditional style. From the slightly swaying white curtains, the ornately-clothed dining table, and the simple-gowned woman casually drinking tea—everything was a picture of elegance.

"Ah! Urie, dear! You're making trouble for those two again. Go back and get dressed before you have breakfast," the woman scolded with a gentle voice, gesturing to the two maids behind him. If Urie had been born a girl with blonde hair, he surely would have grown up a spitting image of the beautiful lady. Her name was Rivelle Vinney, the wife of the head of the Loeth House and the mother of Urie.

Urie saluted in a joking manner and did an immediate about-face. He ran back towards his room with one of the maids following after him. A few minutes later, he came back and plopped down next to his mother with a smile.

"Mother, today's the Harvest Festival! Will father and my older brothers come back to celebrate?" he started picking food from the table to put on his plate.

"Good morning, Urie dear, " Rivelle gently flicked him on the head, and with an affectionate tone, she answered, "Your father won't be able to come, unfortunately, but both of your brothers did write that they would return today."

“Father isn't coming home?“ he whispered.

His father often visited when Urie's older brothers were still here. He had also been here for both of their Harvest Festival ceremonies. Urie was disappointed. It had been a while since he last saw his father. The most recent was right before his brothers left with him to go to the northern wall.

—I'll see father again. Once I can use magic, I will also help out at the wall!

Though once he started these thoughts, he soon diminished them. Even if he could use magic, he still had to attend a few years at the academy. His mother wouldn't let him run off to the wall that easily.

—At least older brothers would be returning today.

Urie looked forward to their return and directed a smile at his mother, "What time would they be back mother? Will they be here to attend?"

Rivelle replied, "I'm not sure, dear. If they don't make it, then I hope they at least get here in time for dinner.”

His mother knew something complicated was going through his mind, so she placed a hand on top of his shoulder and reassured him, "Don't worry, dear, mother is enough to cheer you on! Patty and Ersha over there will also help me! Haha!" Rivelle gestured to the two maids at the side, both showing forced smiles in response.

“Alright, mother," Urie replied, sounding a little bit happier.

He began stuffing his face with food while asking his mother some questions about the festival. A little while later, they finished breakfast and began preparing to go out for the event.

In his bedroom, before a large, wood-framed mirror, Urie examined himself. He poked at his bare chest and remembered the answers he was given over breakfast to sate his curiosity, slowly closing his eyes and focusing his attention.

On his chest, he could see— not with his closed eyes but through careful visualization of his consciousness, an incredibly small, rounded ball of light. It was a seed, not that of a plant's, but a seed made up of what they called mana.

His mother had a slip of the tongue and said that it was usually colored white and that it would only change into a different color after forming its roots. The small seed within Urie's chest, however, wasn't white.

—Red? It's like a ball of fire... Father... Mother... Do they know?

Urie felt himself building up anxiety again.

Hurriedly putting on the clothes set out on his bed, Urie sorted his appearance. He added a strained smile to his face when he saw in the mirror the fancy-looking attire that one of the maids had prepared for him. Looking at it somehow lessened his concerns.

“Wah... Patty really likes it when she has the chance to dress me up.”

Patty was one of the maids attending to them at breakfast. She and the other maid, Ersha, were already in the service of the Loeth house when Urie was born.

Patty's taste was clearly defined from the design of the clothes she had picked out for him. A bright, ornate red coat and a white shirt. Although it was a bit eye-catching, he didn't mind.

Urie left his room and went downstairs. He took a peek at the lounge room, where he saw his mother and the two maids enthusiastically decorating a large piece of cloth.

“Urie, dear?” his mother called out, “Come help us tie this up before we leave for the parade.”

—The cloth? I wonder what it's for?

Urie walked over and saw the large fabric rolled halfway through.

—Will they bring this along? Wouldn't it be a hassle to carry this thing around during the parade?

Well, it didn't matter. They had a reservation on the second floor in one of the tea houses beside the main road. It had the perfect view for spectating the parade.

—They could just leave the rolled-up cloth there.

“One, Two, Hupp—!” After securing the knots, the two maids lifted up the cloth with each of them at one end of the roll. The roll was raised higher on one side and lower on the other. It looked like Ersha, the maid in front, was carrying the whole thing while Patty, the maid behind, served only to support her.

“Well then, off we go!” Rivelle declared, as she led the way out of the house and into a carriage waiting for them by the street.

They went on their way to the entrance of Daerin where the parade was set to start. Along the road, Urie peeped outside of the carriage windows with anticipation on his face.

People were bustling with activity across the streets. Some had set up stalls while others were looking for good spots to watch the parade. At the sidewalks, there were children dressed in white heading for the same direction as their carriage.

“Ah... There sure are a lot of people, mother.” Urie said.

“Don't be nervous, Urie dear. You'll be with the other children so stand tall and make sure I can see you, alright?” Rivelle answered as she came closer to his seat to ruffled his hair.

“Yes, thank you, mother. Although, I don't think you have to worry about not seeing me, haha—” Urie unfolded his arms and presented himself to his mother.

Rivelle rubbed her chin while carefully scrutinizing his outfit. “Good job!” she said, and flashed a thumbs up towards Patty. The maid then grinned and returned the gesture with both hands. Laughter began to fill the carriage as it made its way through the crowded streets.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the city gates.