The End of Year Festival

A joyful song could be heard reverberating through the complex network of caverns that made up the city of Aure. Ui, now hiding her hair under a white wig, was walking in the direction of the music, together with Cro and Elder Adari.

She couldn’t contain her excitement as she walked slightly faster than the other two.

The Udari walked their cities barefoot. They believed themselves to be an extension of the land they lived on. As such, severing contact from it was disrespectful, for outsiders and locals alike.

Because of that, the three walked through the streets barefoot, respecting the local traditions, despite the three of them having different opinions about them.

And the ground showed the result of these traditions: the stones and clay that paved the subterranean cave were treated and smoothened to be comfortable to the touch—both in texture and temperature. They called them the pathstones, and they maintained them lovingly. The citizens would sweep, clean, and even polish the pathstones connected to their home, just like they maintained their leaflights.

But well-insulated and colorful, decorated homes and streets were not the only things Aure was known for. They had also learned how to raise animals, farm mushrooms, and even grow some berry plants within their caves. The water that nourished the city would also flow through as it willed, with channels and springs carefully created with as much thought for the water’s freedom as the needs of the people living within the caves. It wasn’t unusual for the main caverns to have streams of clean water on their sides.

The trio walked through the main tunnels, invigorated by the festival’s music, filling the city with even more life than it usually had.

On one of the city’s noticeboards they spotted the same wanted poster that Cro had shown Ui.

Wanted. A criminal known as “Lullaby” or “Suinum”.

1,000 silver coins reward for any information.

Responsible for the illegal destruction of Uman mining equipment.

“Cro, Look—” Ui ripped off the poster announcing her bounty and pointed at the picture. “Does this really look anything like me?”

“Well…”

The Elder laughed at their genuine interaction, as Ui bounced emotions onto Cro, who barely reacted to her.

The music grew louder as they approached one of the larger underground areas of Aure. A songmage was taking the stage, her voice spreading the joyous nature of the End of Year festival.

“I need to get ready for my speech. You two, enjoy yourselves while you still can.” Elder Adari smiled and shook both of their hands. “Have a safe trip back to the capital. You’re always welcome here. Ul maes nouirs lus etregs.” The Elder and Ui bowed, which prompted Cro to bow as well.

Ui and Cro stood far away from the stage where the songmage sang. The girl on stage wore a traditional dress much like Ui’s. She was younger, and slightly shorter than Ui. Unlike Ui, her hair was sky blue, and her eyes were an even paler version of her hair.

The songmage’s dazzling, colorful hair and performance made Ui touch her white, Uman wig. It felt nothing like her true hair.

“Ui, can you sing like that?” Cro asked.

Ui got excited, he never asked questions like those. “Of course! It’s the Song of the Seasons!” She remained silent for a few seconds. “I can—” Ui paused, thinking while she looked at the songmage from afar. “But I don’t know what could happen.”

The songmage’s performance was received with a sustained applause and joy from the listeners, including Ui. The songmage bowed gracefully before getting off the stage, and then walked past Ui and Cro.

“Fojinsou…” She said dismissively, almost walking past them with disdain. She then stopped when she noticed Ui’s attire. “You don’t deserve to wear our traditional dress.” The songmage, with her light blue eyes, looked at Ui directly, ignoring Cro. “Not someone like you, who hasn’t fulfilled their duty as songmage.”

Ui looked down for a few seconds before addressing the songmage’s aggressive behavior. “It was… a beautiful song. Thanks for lifting our hearts. We’re just travelers, we didn’t mean to disrespect your traditions.” Ui’s words were warm, and polite.

Ui and the blue-haired songmage looked at each other until the songmage turned her head and walked away. Ui breathed a sigh of relief from all the tension that had built up.

“What’s her problem? Do you know her?” asked Cro.

“Yes… But it was long ago, and I doubt she remembers me.”

“What did she say in Udari?”

Ui knew it was a word for foreigners, and not exactly a nice one. “You don’t want to know.”

“Why do you help them if they treat you like this?”

“Hey, not everyone is like that. Besides…” Ui pointed at Cro and poked his chest. “You grew up on this island… You could say we’re your people, too, in a way. Be proud of your culture!”

Ui, true to her words, spent the next hour enjoying the festival among the crowds local and foreign. They enjoyed food together from the food stands, bought souvenirs, and danced to the many instruments and songmages. The previous interaction with the songmage quickly faded away the more laughs and smiles she exchanged with Cro.

“Want to go outside for a little before we leave, Cro?” Ui turned towards Cro with a large smile.

“We’ve been inside long enough…”

◆

The pair walked up a specific cave to reach the higher cliffs of Auremaru. A large, rocky wall met directly with the ocean which produced beautiful sights and calming sounds as waves gently crashed and dissipated into that side of the island. There were several flowers growing along the cliff, including Ui’s favorite light pink flower: the Aure rose.

It was nighttime, and the stars lit their encounter as they walked to the higher parts of the cliff. The ridges were slightly uphill, and for a while they both remained as quiet as the night.

But Ui never let silences run uncomfortably long. “So, we go back to the capital tomorrow, huh?”

Cro nodded. “Would you stay in Aure if you could?”

Ui realized he had been listening to the whole conversation with Elder Adari. “I’ve really never thought about it.” She crouched to play with the petals from the Aure roses. “Hey Cro… do you really think this island still needs Lullaby?”

“I’m sure some people do.” His voice always had a strange effect on Ui. While his flat tone made it difficult to understand what he truly felt, it also calmed her down immensely. Ui got up, and wrapped one of Cro’s arms inside of hers. It felt better that way. They kept walking uphill for a little longer.

“Do you really think peace is possible without me?” Ui’s tone and her steps were weighed down by a future she couldn’t imagine.

“There must be a way, even if you can’t see it now.”

The pair arrived at one of the higher peaks of the cliff. It was Ui’s favorite place in all of Aure, maybe even in the entire island. Ui hummed a song, clearing the night silence with her melody. They both looked at the moon rising on the horizon while she finished her song.

“Remember this place?” Ui pointed at a row of fishing rods hanging from the cliffs.

“How could I forget?”

Ui remembered the lonely days of her childhood. “Nobody in the city came to check these fishing lines, so I came here every day to fetch the fish.”

“Ui, they—”

“But then we met here one day…” Ui took a moment to enjoy the starry night from the edge of that cliff. “Cro…” They both remained silent. “Cro… if you don’t care about the Udari, then why are you helping me?”

Ui’s eyes grew larger the more honesty they demanded from Cro, and she really desired honesty. Cro was unable to reply, and the silence grew tense. He eventually bridged the growing gulf between them.

“Ui it’s not just about the Udari, it’s—” he looked at Ui with sincere eyes “—bigger…” Ui’s eyes were now fixed on the beautiful moonlight bouncing its light onto them. “Smaller… than that.”

Ui’s face lit up; her mind wandered in the middle of the conversation. “I got it!” Ui shouted, breaking the mood. “I’m sorry Cro, I have to go write something!” Ui happily skipped on her way back towards the nearest entrance to Aure. She looked over her shoulder and smiled at Cro for a few seconds before she entered the caves.

Cro stood still, contemplating the starry night, still deep in thought on that familiar cliff.

The stillness was interrupted by Ui peeking from the cave and shouting one last time. “Don’t sleep too late! Remember we travel back home tomorrow!”

With the moon illuminating the faint smile on his face, Cro left those cliffs behind along with the passing year.