Fireworks

          The conversation with Tuipa’s grandmother has become less intense. Reioi sets down her teacup. “Thank you for the tea.” She turns her head as Tuipa’s grandfather enters the room, her face then turns pale. The old man who stands in the doorway is most definitely from Hiedoi.

Tuipa’s grandfather smiles. “Sorry I’m late. Something came up at the candy factory.” He notices Reioi. “Miss Bluebell, are alright? You look like you’ve seen an angry ghost.”

Rivhild laughs. “I kind of like not being the one people find strange.”

Tuipa narrows her eyes at her friend and pouts. “Reioi, do you believe anything I tell you.”

“I do now.” Reioi sighs.

The old man chuckles as he sits next to his wife. “Yeah, my genetics apparently weak. Still, I’m glad my granddaughters took an interest in the family’s old trade, Tuipa in particular.”

Reioi gasps. “Wait, Tuipa, are you a trained assassin?”

“I had some training, but I’m not very good at it.” Tuipa admits. “We got caught when breaking into the orc war camp.”

“But you didn’t get caught when we were in the vampire’s castle, and you were able to pick the locks.” Rivhild counters.

“A vampire now?” The grandmother muses. “Those are quite difficult to take down.”

“He was a coward. He ran away so we had to chase him down.” Rivhild tells her.

“Well, you are a goddess, that must have been an elder vampire for him to recognize your divine aura.” The old lady says as she pours some tea for her husband.

Reioi thinks. “I’m guessing he was about a century old. Maybe slightly older.”

“Ah, I see. Any vampire that lives longer then a their natural human lifespan is pretty powerful, don’t sell yourselves short.” The grandmother then picks up her down teacup again.

“So, aside from new friends, did you find anything on your journey?” The grandfather asks.

Reioi pulls a couple books out of her bag and places them on the table. “I found this old sale log in Comaia Town, I plan on giving it to Mister Rialna, and Rivhild got this atlas of the Riatruil realm from the vampire’s castle.” She the pauses, he expression fades from joyful to slight fear. “Wait a minute, we never met until today, how did you know who I was?” She is only met by small smiles from ther friend’s grandparents. “Right, master assassins, espionage…” Her voice trails off as she starts to sweat.

“That’s right dear.” The grandmother coos. “We know everything, about you and your family. I hear that the queen herself has ordered quite a great deal of flowers for an upcoming banquet.”

While Reioi is busy being terrified, Tuipa plops her bag on the table and shows off the fireworks she bought. “I got these at Ranged Town, I thought we could set them off tonight, I’d be fun!”

“Oh yes, that sounds lovely, Tuipa.” Her grandfather agrees. “Your cousin Lotuio was just saying we should have some fireworks soon, we should invite the whole town. It’ll be fun.”

Tuipa smile. “Ah! Really?”

“Yes, really.” He nods. “Why don’t you go take the fireworks to Lotuio, he’ll get them all ready. Peona, why don’t you get some posters made, we’ll start the fireworks an hour after dusk.” Peona nods and then leaves to go do as her grandfather asks.

Tuipa carries her bag of fireworks through the fields of mints with her friends trailing close behind. “Your grandparents seem nice.” Chimes comments.

“Yeah!” Tuipa agrees. “They are the best grandparents ever.” A young man with dark hair who is covered in oil approaches on the path. “Ah! Just who I was looking for! Lotuio! Over here!”

The young man’s face lights up when he sees his cousin. “Tuipa!” He then runs over. “Hey what’s in the bag? Did you find any old machines from the Destroyed realm?”

Tuipa opens the bag as she shakes her head. “No, but I bought some fireworks on the way back, we are going to set them off tonight.”

Lotuio smile vanishes. “Aww. Too bad, the fireworks will be fun though.” He then notices Chimes and Rivhild. “Oh, you made some new friends, with wings…”

“Hi, I’m the goddess Rivhild, and this is my angel; Chimes.” The child introduces herself.

“Oh, a goddess? Like for real?” Lotuio questions.

“Yeah, I actually come from the Destroyed realm.” Rivhild nods.

“Ah! Really? Do you know how to make advanced machines then?” The young man’s smile returns.

The goddess shakes her head. “Nuh uh. I was born when the realm was destroyed, so you know more then I do.”

“Oh.” His shoulders slump.

“We’ll head deeper into the realm and try and find some old machines for you to study next time.” Tuipa pats him on the back.

“You’re sweet, Tuipa, thank you. I’ll get these fireworks all ready for tonight.” Lotuio takes the bag from his cousin.

“Thanks.” Tuipa then turns to her friends. “Come on! I’ll show you around!”

That evening the meet up with Tuipa’s family before the fireworks, this is when her friends finally get to meet her parents. Her mother has features resembling both her parents with the dark eyes of her father and brown hair a shade darker than her mother’s. All while Tuipa’s father has bright ginger hair and blue eyes.

Tuipa’s father speaks. “It’s almost time for the fireworks, uh, but before they start, angel Chimes was it? may we have a word with you?”

Chimes points at himself. “Huh? Me? Sure?”

The parents lead him just out of earshot. Her mother’s face darkens. “We have been watching you all day.”

Chimes keeps his smile, but his eyes match the darkness in the woman’s eyes. “I am aware.”

“Ah, I see, so those weren’t just chance glances. I was suspicious, you are quite preceptive for someone only a few days old. So, young, so immature.” She muses, every syllable dripping with something nasty. “There is no doubt you know how my dear baby has been looking at you, but I must ask, what are your intentions with her, and don’t lie, I know when people are lying.”

Chimes raises an eyebrow. “How she was looking at me? She has just been looking at me like she normally does? And by my intentions with her, they are quite simple, I am to protect her.”

“Don’t play dumb!” Her father snaps.

The mother then touches her husbands shoulder as she speaks softly. “He is telling the truth. Our daughter has a crush on a dummy.”

“Crush!” Chimes screeches as he takes a step back.

“Shut up, we are trying to keep things subtle.” Peona growls.

“Stop trying to sneak up on me.” Chimes pouts.

Reioi, Tuipa and Rivhild gaze over to where Chimes is talking with Tuipa’s parents and sister. Tuipa narrows her eyes. “They sure are having a passionate conversation with him. Wait a minute… I know that look on Dad!” She then whips out her kyoketsu-shoge and before anyone can utter another word, the rope is wrapped around her family and she pulls them away from the angel as she shouts; “We are not courting!” Tuipa approaches Chimes nervously, her face as red as a beet. “Heh, sorry about them… they don’t know what they are talking about. Let’s go watch the fireworks.”

There is an awkward silence, everyone is stealing glances at Tuipa and Chimes, while those two keep their eyes trained on the dark sky. Then, the boom of the first firework shatters the silence and changes the mood entirely. Rivhild’s eyes sparkle with the explosion in the sky. Each firework amazes the young goddess more then the last. While the fireworks light up the sky, Tuipa’s and Chimes index fingers find the others, curling together.

When the fireworks are over Rivhild squeals in excitement. “That was so much fun! The fireworks were so pretty!”

Tuipa’s grandmother laughs. “I’m glad the goddess approves. You must be tired after today. We have some guest rooms you can sleep in, I’m sure even goddesses need rest.”

Rivhild rubs her eyes. “But I’m not sleepy!” She whines, even though she is.