They all walked together as a group to the Nartti village, chatting and passing the time until they approached where the forest gave way to an open field.

“Oh, we’re here!” Sorcha pointed out.

The children’s eyes took in the view before them: the area was dotted with small buildings that looked different from what Elysha had seen before; more stylized and unique to the village itself, colorful. They saw people moving about the village, either talking, working, or just simply passing through the streets.

Sorcha turned to Elysha and to everyone else, tail wagging as she said, “Welcome to Nartti Village! This is where Sorcha lives! What do you think?”

Elysha looked around again, taking in the view and the atmosphere of the village, then replied, “I liked it. It’s my first time here.”

“And it will be your first time to see my family!” she giggled, her excitement bubbling over.

“Are we really going to follow you as you show her around the village and your home?” Huilji asked.

“My momma is here, and I don’t think any of you seen my momma before,” Sorcha stated.

“Except Micah, I have seen your mom before!”

“Sorcha isn’t talking to you.”

As they entered the village, they walked through different streets and saw different sights. As they walked, Elysha kept staring at Micah’s swinging tail, his body size like a living stuffed puppy. Curiosity grew inside of her, and she cannot help but asked, “Micah? Can I ask you something?”

“What is it that you want to ask of me?”

She hesitated a bit but continued, “Um, why do you always looked like that?”

“Look like what?”

“A puppy. Can you, um, change appearance like the others?”

“Well—”

“That’s because he likes it that way,” Sorcha interrupted.

Micah frowned. “Hey, can you not talk over me?”

She playfully stuck her tongue out at him. “But it’s true, isn’t it? You could look all big, cool, and scary-even if you wanted to, but you’d rather be cute and fluffy! Besides, when was the last time you changed into your human form?”

“Uhh, quite a while ago.”

“That’s a vague kind of a while for me.”

Micah sighed dramatically, his ears twitching. “For the record, any Zhivopian can change their appearance whenever they want, however they want. As for me, this form is efficient, comfortable, and undeniably charming.”

“Charming? You’re just a furball,” Sorcha teased. “You just wanted people to look at you, haha.”

“And so what? There are all kinds of benefits to the attention Micah can get.”

“Like this?”

She turned around and crouched down suddenly, her eyes twinkling mischievously, and in one swift motion she scooped him into her arms.

“Wah—! Micah’s ears flattened out as he squirmed in her grasp. “Sorcha! Put me down this instant!”

“Nope! I can’t do that!”

“Why?”

“You said it yourself—attention has benefits, doesn’t it?”

While the two were engaged in their own chatter, Elysha heard a voice from behind. “Ugh…”

“Haha, did you soak your socks in a puddle, Huilji?” Ana asked.

“Why did it have to storm earlier? Now these brand new shoes I bought are ruined” she complained. “Noooo!”

“When did you buy them?”

“Just a few days ago. Ugh, if only if it wasn’t still raining this morning…”

A memory popped into Nevi’s mind and said, “Oh, that reminds me, I heard from my mother that Elder Merakia took care of my father this morning.”

“What? Really?”

Elysha turned her head to look at Nevi, who nodded her head and replied, “Yes, though it happened while I was still asleep. When I woke up to eat breakfast, my mother told me that she had already left.”

“Well, I heard that she has a role to take care of people,” Neliel chimed in.

Nevi turned her eyes and asked, “It was true that the Elder came to visit my parents, wasn’t it, Elysha?”

“I think so, yes.”

As they walked on, they could see a building in the distance, and Sorcha pointed to it and shouted, “There it is! That’s my house over there! Let’s make a run for it!”

She took off like a soaring bird, Billi and the rest of the group began to follow. They all ran fast, as if a race had suddenly begun.

“Last one there is a soggy cookie!” Ana shouted, pumping her arms as she sprinted.

“I’m not losing to you again!” Micah yelled, his tail waving like a fan behind him.

Sorcha laughed, “Hah! Try me!”

As they all ran, Elysha tried her best to keep up, clutching her basket tightly, but her legs couldn’t quite keep up with the others’ speed. Soon the gap widened, and she found herself falling behind. Her steps slowed as she tried to catch her breath, her chest rising and falling with the effort.

“Don’t try too push too hard, it’s just for fun, after all,” said a calm voice behind her.

Elysha turned to see Anjel and Mariju moving at a slow pace, perhaps even walking. Despite the race, they were both unhurried, taking their time like a stroll in the park.

“Okay,” she nodded, letting herself relax and calming her breathing.

“I don’t like running much. It makes my head spin,” Mariju said. “Besides, it’s not a real race.”

“We will catch up eventually,” Anjel added, then noticed something. “Oh, someone else is tired out too.”

Their eyes caught sight of a red-haired boy walking meters ahead of them. Anjel ran up to catch up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. “Are you okay, Neliel?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he exhaled his breath. “I just… underestimated how fast everyone else is.”

“Hehe, then come join the slow people club.”

The four moved together, chatting lightly about various topics as they approached Sorcha’s house. Meanwhile, on the other side, Sorcha and the others stopped suddenly in front of a larger house with gates and walls painted in earth tones. Two guards stood at the entrance, their stance firm as they noticed their arrival.

“Here we are! My house!” she announced, waving her arms dramatically as she stopped and turned around. “I won, haha! Now who’s here?”

Billi ran up to her, and she crouched down and let him jump into her arms. “Yay! Billi! You came in second!”

Micah arrived moments later, panting and looking at Sorcha. His fur was slightly ruffled, his tail swishing in irritation. “You cheated!” he accused. “You had a head start!”

“So? Even if Sorcha didn’t have a head start, you’ll still be upset because my Billi beat you to the finish line!”

“Ehh?”

He looked closely and saw her white rat in her arms, snickering at him. “Kukukukuku….”

Micah’s fur bristled and he yelled, “EHHH??? No way did Micah lose to a rat!”

“Too bad,” she giggled. “Face the truth, Micah, you were beaten by my Billi.” Then she leaned over to give her rat a nose rub. “Right Billi?”

Billi squeaked in what could only be described as triumphant approval, his tiny chest puffing out with pride.

Micah’s face heated up and he muttered, “That little bastard…”

Before he could continue to stew, Ana sprinted up, her face flushed with exhaustion, but smiling. “Third place! Not bad for me!” she exclaimed, her hands on her knees as she caught her breath. Then she looked up to see Micah and Sorcha, “Oh? What’s going on here?”

“You’re not in third place, Micah is,” Sorcha corrected.

At the same time, Huilji and Nevi followed. One of them looked tired and exhausted, while the other looked content, as if she had just gone for a morning jog.

Huilji stopped to catch her breath and gasped, “No… more… running…” She took out her pocket mirror and looked at her reflection. “At least I don’t look hideous from all of these sweats.”

She turned to Nevi who was lightly stretching and asked, “How come you don’t look like you are slowly dying?”

“Hm? Because I like to take care of my body’s heath,” she replied. “Also, I am on the cross-country team. So I tend to run every day for practice.”

“Is that so? I could take another gym class next semester to help keep my body fit and not drain out so bad.”

“Though, I would also suggest that proper nutrition could help. Lack of important nutrients could be the cause of tiring out easily.”

“Lack of nutrients?”

“Yes,” Nevi nodded. “Have you been eating healthily?”

“Umm…”

Huilji quickly looked around and frowned, shouting, “Where the heck is my brother?”

“Looks like he and the others are behind,” Ana said and turned around. “Sorcha, should we wait for them?”

However, she was already engaged in another conversation, this time with two guards standing in front of the closed gate. “Miss Sorcha, bringing guests again?” one of them asked.

“Yeah! Sorcha wants to show them the house! Can you let us all in?”

He looked up and scanned the faces in her party. Then he shook his head and stated, “I recognized their faces, and you’ve already shown them around here before not that long ago.”

“Wow, he remembers,” Micah said.

“Sorry, little miss. But we cannot let your friends in this time without your parents’ permission.”

Her ears twitched, her tail flicking in mild frustration. “Aw, come on!” she complained. “They’re my friends! Sorcha promised we won’t cause any trouble.”

“Last time you and your friends caused a great ruckus in your house, and your maids and butlers had to clean up your mess,” the guard replied. “We have been ordered to be stricter with you, little miss. At your age, you should understand the rules.”

“But!”

“We can’t bend them for you, or else your mother and father will put us into trouble.”

Sorcha’s ears flattened, her face crinkled in frustration. Billi immediately sensed what was about to happen and jumped out of her arms.

“Uh oh. She’s upset now,” Micah said in a loud whisper.

Without further warning, she threw her arms in the air and began stomping her feet on the ground, screaming unintelligibly. “WAAAAAAAHHHHH!”

“Sorcha, please calm down,” the other guard stated.

“IT’S NOT FAIR! IT’S NOT FAIR! IT’S NOT FAIR!” she wailed loudly, her voice echoing through the area. Her tail flailed wildly behind her as she jumped up and down, her eyes glistening with tears. “YOU’RE SO MEAN! WHY CAN’T I JUST TAKE MY FRIENDS IN?!”

Meanwhile, Elysha, Anjel, Mariju and Neliel were approaching the house when they heard a crying sound. Neliel’s ears perked up. “What the…?”

“Was that Sorcha just now?” Mariju asked.

“I think she’s upset,” Anjel said. “We should move faster and see if something has gone wrong.”

The group hurried toward the commotion. As they caught up, they could now see the sights of everyone else. At the same time, there was another person approaching in on behind.

Mariju asked, “Who’s that tall lady?”

On the other side, the guards exchanged glances, and one of them knelt down at her eye level. He spoke softly but firmly, “Miss Sorcha, we understand you’re upset, but your mother gave us strict instructions. We can’t just let anyone in, even if they’re your friends.”

“I DON’T CARE!” she cried, stomping again. “I want them inside! It’s my house too!”

The other guard sighed and folded his arms. “Miss Sorcha, please. Your mother is busy all day today, and we can’t disturb her over this.”

Nevi turned to the group and asked, “What should we do? We can’t just stand here, we have to help them.”

Before they could answer, Nevi’s eyes widened as a person approached from behind the group. Noticing her reaction, they immediately turned to see an older woman walking directly toward them.

“Was busied, to be more accurate.”

The children quickly parted to let her pass, and the guards flinched when they saw her with her arms crossed and her sharp gaze fixed on them.

“What happened here?”

The guards rose and bowed their heads to her. “O’ Narmittari, we did not expect your presence here,” one of them said. “Miss Sorcha brought her friends to visit, but per your instructions, we could not let them in without permission. She… became upset.”

The Narmittari raised a brow, and her eyes flicked to Sorcha, who was now sniffling and looking up before running to hug her. “Momma…”

“Oh, Sorcha, you came back from your adventure?” she smiled and stroked her hair. “You’ve even brought your friends with you.”

“Momma, can you tell them to let me and my friends in?” she begged.

“You want your friends to come over today? But your father is at home right now doing his work. It would be disruptive for you to distract him from his buisness.”

“He’s always focused on his work and not on me,” she rolled her eyes with an annoyed pout, then sulked. “But Elysha…” she sniffed. “I want Elysha to see Sorcha’s house and everything Sorcha loves…”

The Narmittari gazed down at her daughter, then turned to see four more children watching her nearby. Sorcha lifted her face to see the rest of her friends arrive. She waved her arm and called out, “Elysha! Neliel! All of you! Come over here!”

The four stepped forward. Elysha took in the woman’s appearance: she has dark skin, long brown hair, and piercing red eyes. Despite her frightening eyes and aura, she had a welcoming smile on her face. Elysha didn’t know how to describe the outfit she was wearing, but it gave the impression of someone in a position of authority.

Sorcha wiped the tears from her eyes and said, “Momma! This is Elysha! She’s my new friend!”

The Narmittari turned to look at the little girl. “Elysha, is it?”

She flinched, clutching her basket as she shook her head. “Y-Yes, madam. I am Elysha.”

A corner of the Narmittari’s lips curled, and she turned back to the guards and stated, “Open the gates.”

They bowed in unison. “As you wish, O’ Narmittari.”

The guards moved to unlock the gates, their movements swift and precise. Sorcha’s face lit up, her tail wagging with delight. “Yay! Thank you, Momma!” She turned and pulled Elysha closer by the hand. “Come on, Elysha! You’re going to love it!”

Her eyes widened as Sorcha pulled her into the house. The other children followed immediately. Anjel bowed to her and said, “Thank you for letting us in, Madam Narmittari.”

“No need to thank me, child,” she said. “I want my daughter to have a good time with all her friends. At the same time, I want her to take small steps toward understanding the responsibility of her actions.”

When they arrived at the front door, Sorcha turned around and asked everyone, “Ah, from now on we have to take off our shoes. Momma doesn’t want us to wear dirty shoes in the house.”

They nodded and took off their shoes before going inside. As each of them entered the house, Sorcha turned again and held her finger over her mouth and said, “Shh…”

Then she pointed in a certain direction and whispered loudly, “Papa might be here doing his work. We don’t want to bother him.”

The group walked silently down the hallway, past the family photos hanging on the walls, until they reached a door to a bedroom. She opened it and let them all in.

Micah gasped and inhaled before exhaling. “Wooh! Micah held his breath for dear life!”

“What? You didn’t have to go that far in Sorcha’s house,” she gave him a wry look before turning her attention back to the group. “Welcome to Sorcha’s room! This place has changed quite a bit since the last time you were all here!”

Elysha’s eyes took in the details of the room: The room was very pink. There were clothes and stuffed animals and other toys everywhere, and drawings and pictures of Sorcha and her family hung on the walls. Her princess bed was covered with pastel curtains, and there were packages of candy and crayons on the countertops and the table in the center of the room.

“Woah, your room has more stuff since the last time I was here,” Ana said, stepping in and looking around as Huilji ran past her, jumping over objects on the floor to the other side of the room.

“When did you get this vanity?” she asked, her eyes on her own reflection.

“Just recently, haha. Momma got it for me after I passed all my tests before the break. It’s brand new.”

“Seriously? I’m jealous. Your mom is spoiling you right now,” she sighed. “To this day, I still don’t have one of my own.”

Then suddenly, she said, “Don’t tell me your family also owns a hot springs pool.”

Sorcha tilted her head sideways. “Hot spring? What’s that?”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Nevi looked around and touched the fur of the stuffed animals on the counter. “Your room is very cute, Sorcha.”

“Hehe, yeah, I wanted to make my room more cuter and pink,” she replied, then turned her eyes and asked, “What do you think of my room, Elysha?”

She looked at the picture frame of what appeared to be Sorcha’s family. Behind her, Sorcha walked up and said, “This picture has me with all my brothers and my sister and my parents. We were all smiling together for the camera.”

“I see…”

“Do you have a family, Elysha?”

Elysha stared at the photo. The happy smiles in the frame tugged at something inside her, but she wasn’t sure what.

“Hello? Did you heard what Sorcha asked?”

“Um, I... I think so.”

“You think so?”

“Elder Mera… Elder Mera takes care of me. Does that make her my family?”

Sorcha blinked her eyes, then put her hand over and mouth and thought aloud, “Sorcha doesn’t remember if that mage has a daughter or granddaughter or what.”

Then she said, “But in this forest, everyone is family, you know? We all treat each other kindly, like how Sorcha treats my Billi and my brothers and my older sister. That’s what my momma always taught me.”

“I think Micah had told me that before,” Elysha said.

“A-choo!”

Their eyes turned to Micah, who had sneezed on top of the pink bed next to Billi, and he looked around and asked, “Did someone say Micah’s name?”

Sorcha gasped and shrieked, “Hey! What are you doing on my bed, Micah?! Did you sneeze on it?!”

“What? I didn’t mean to sneeze!” he shot back, blinking innocently and drooping his ears slightly. “It just happened!”

“Grr, no one is allowed on Sorcha’s bed except me and Billi! It’s a rule!” she growled, then pointed dramatically at the small sign on her bedside table, which read in messy handwriting: “Sorcha’s Bed: For Sorcha and Billi ONLY!”

“Since when the heck did you even have that?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

Soon after, the group did an activity where they would draw on a large piece of paper, as Sorcha wanted to hang a collective artwork on her wall with everyone’s portraits.

As everyone gathered around the large piece of paper on the floor, each person grabbed a crayon, marker, or pencil and waited for their turn to draw. Sorcha was the first, lying on her stomach, her tail wagging as she began to draw herself in the center.

“Ana, why are you eating a candy from the floor?” Neliel asked.

“Why not? It’s still wrapped so it’s not eaten, so what’s wrong with it?”

Then she blew a bubble out of her mouth, which got big and pink until it burst, and then grinned at Neliel. “See? Tastes just fine! No harm done.”

Everyone took turns until they were satisfied, some going all out and others wanting to be left alone to concentrate on drawing. When the artwork was completed, they all took a step back to observe the finished work. “Aww, look at all of us together!” Sorcha spoke in awe.

The piece was chaotic and colorful. Each character was as unique and expressive of their personality as the person who drew them. “Micah, why did you draw yourself bigger than Sorcha?” she asked.

“Why not? Micah is big because that is what Micah drew.”

She frowned, noticing that her eyes kept looking at his portrait instead of hers. “Grr, maybe next time, I’ll draw myself bigger and stand out!”

“Aw, I looked cute!” Huilji said with a satisfied smile, then looked at her brother who was drawn next to her. “Neliel, how much effort did you put in? You almost look like a nerdy doodle.”

“It’s not like I’m a skilled artist or anything,” he sighed.

“Hm, I should have used more color, but that’s okay, I still looked good,”Ana said, then turned her gaze to the right. “Wow, both Anjel’s and Mariju’s drawings look cute. And Nevi, your drawing looks as pretty and talented as ever.”

“Thanks Ana.”

Huilji turned her eyes at Nevi and she looked away. While they all exchanged words, Elysha’s eyes continued to stare at the artwork that showed everyone smiling together, including herself.

~ ❈❇❈ ~

After spending some time in Sorcha’s bedroom, Neliel suggested that they visit the village shrine as their next activity. In the end, they agreed on that choice and left the house. On the way, they chatted about various topics until Sorcha noticed a familiar face along the street. “Ah! Mairi!”

She ran out, drawing everyone else’s attention as she jumped to hug the person, who caught Sorcha mid-jump and spun her around. “Woah! You’ve almost scared me, Sorcha! How are you?”

“Sorcha never expected to see my sister come back from Candelaria! And I am doing great!”

“You’re as lively as ever, haha,” Mairi smiled as she set her down, then looked back forward. “And who are these new faces I see?”

“Oh! You haven’t met Nevi, Mariju and Elysha yet, have you? They are my new friends!” she replied before turning around. “Say hello to my older sister, Mairi!”

“Hello, I’m Nevi,” she waved. “I’ve only been to this village once before, and it was a memorable visit.”

“I’m Mariju,” she yawned.

Elysha noticed the empty pause after that and offered a shy wave. “Um, hello. I’m Elysha.”

“Welcome to Nartti Village, and as Sorcha said, I am Mairi, her older sister,” she introduced herself, smiling warmly. “Your friend has told me so much about her adventures with all of you. Is there anything you need?”

“We’re just exploring and seeing the village,” Ana replied.

“Well, there’s so much to see, especially with Sorcha as your guide, she just knows everything there is to offer. Are you all going somewhere in particular?”

“To the shrine!” Sorcha shouted. “Sorcha and her friends will go there next!”

“Ah, I see,” she chuckled. “So then, will all of you be praying to the statues?”

“Yeah! We will! That’s the point of going there, or is Sorcha wrong?”

“You’re not wrong. People visit the shrine for many reasons—prayers, offerings, or just to enjoy its peace.” Then, she thought for a second and asked, “Mind if I come along with all of you?”

“Huh? Wait! You want to come with Sorcha and everyone?”

“I have so much free time, and having just returned from Candelaria, why not spend some time with my one and only little sister today?”

“Yes! Come with us, Mairi!” she beamed, grabbing her sister’s hand. “Let’s go, everyone!”

The group continued toward the shrine. The path wound through a quiet part of the village, lined with tall trees at a higher elevation with cooler air and a long flight of stairs.

“Elysha, you looked like you are dying.”

She looked up and saw a fox-moth creature flying above her. Behind her, Micah passed by, turned his eyes around, and said, “Too bad you can’t fly, Elysha.”

“That’s rude. You two have the privilege of flying,” Ana countered.

“What? Are you upset that you cannot transform?”

“If only my theonum core was stronger, but even if I can transform as an Elbijan, I still won’t be able to fly like you Zhivopians.”

“That’s enough, Ana.”

She turned to see Nevi beside her as they walked up the stairs. “Let’s not get into any arguments as we get closer to the shrine. Besides, at least most of us are going up the stairs on our feet.”

Elysha looked around and saw Ana, Nevi, Sorcha, Mairi, Anjel and Mariju coming up the stairs.

“You are an Ilutherjan Elbijan like me, so we should stick together,” Ana said.

“Please, I don’t want to bring race into this, and we’re almost at the top anyway,” Nevi replied.

*bleh*

The sudden noised caused everyone to turn around. “Mariju?”

Their eyes saw her lying on the stone steps next to Anjel, hovering over her vomit. “Mariju… you looked even worse,” Huilji said in concern.

Anjel knelt down and asked, “Are you okay?”

“Sorry… my body is tired and my legs are too exhausted to continue,” she said, heaving. “I feel like passing out…”

“Move out of the way!”

Ana, Nevi and Elysha stepped aside to let Sorcha and her sister pass. At that moment, Mairi transformed into a wolf-like form while Sorcha said, “Mariju, climb on my sister’s back.”

She groaned weakly, tried to sit up and said, “I-I don’t want to burden anyone…”

“Don’t say that to yourself,” Mairi said firmly. “You’re not a burden, Mariju. We’ll make sure you get to the shrine safely.”

Mariju hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Okay… thank you.”

Sorcha crouched beside her and helped her climb onto Mairi’s broad back. “See? My sister is super strong, though not as strong as momma. You’ll be fine.”

“Hold on tight, okay? I’ll take it slow as we go up the rest of the stairs,” her sister said as she helped Mariju steady herself.

They resumed their ascent, and the chatter of the group quieted as they approached the end of the stairs. As they reached the top, their eyes caught sight of the shrine.

The place was nestled, almost blended, into the trees that surrounded it. Elysha’s eyes caught the carvings of creatures and symbols on the walls as they walked forward. A friendly maiden greeted them, and after a brief conversation and handing out small cups of water for each to drink, she gave each person a candle and led them through the place until they reached the center.

Elysha turned her eyes to Micah, who had his candle floating in the air. “How did you do that?” she asked him.

“With my own theonum magic, of course.”

She watched the movement of the floating candle until her gaze returned to hers, unlit and cold from the touch. As they passed an archway into a courtyard, the children’s eyes fell on a tree. It seemed taller and larger than any tree Elysha had ever seen. It looked more than different from the others, not only in size, but in certain details of its appearance.

“Elysha, you know who the Asnoiji is, right?”

She jumped at the sudden question from Sorcha, nodded her head, and replied, “I know who the Asnoiji is. He is the one who created this world, is that right?”

“You are right, but we don’t know what He looks like,” Sorcha said. “You see, throughout history, He has always been represented by a tree like this one.”

“That tree?”

“Yep! That’s why what you see in front of you is one of the oldest trees in this forest. It has a spiritual connection to Asnoiji, so a shrine is built around it so that we can pray and resonate with Him.”

Elysha remembered seeing the statues yesterday morning. Beyond the large pedestals, she remembered seeing trees attached to them.

“It’s not the biggest tree you will ever see, sadly. The one in Illumija is the biggest because that is where the deity now stays,” she added.

Soon after, the shrine maiden instructed them to stand in a circle around the tree. Then she lit each candle in turn until a ring of light formed in the shrine.

“It’s starting,” Sorcha whispered, standing beside Elysha. The atmosphere became solemn and the place fell silent. Then the shrine maiden clapped her hands together, closed her eyes, and prayed.

“O’ Asnoiji, we thank you for this wonderful day. We come to you with gratitude in our hearts, seeking your blessing and guidance. May your light shine upon us as we walk our paths…”

As she spoke the prayers to the tree, everyone else either closed their eyes or lowered them to the swaying of the candlelight. Then the maiden bowed her head, and the group instinctively followed, the tiny fires flickering in the stillness.

After a moment of silence, the shrine maiden raised her head and said, “Each of you standing here today carries your own hopes, dreams, and questions, for the light of the Asnoiji watches over us all. Let His presence remind you of the connection we all share—to each other and to the divine. Let this day remind us of the strength found in unity and the warmth in shared moments.”

Then she said, “Now, each of you may approach the tree and offer your prayer, then place your candles at the base of the tree.”

One by one, the group approached the tree. Sorcha went first, her eyes closed tightly as she whispered, “Thank you for letting me find friends and come to this wonderful place. Please watch over all of us and please keep my friends safe too! Please give Sorcha, Mairi, Billi, Momma and everyone great memories, fun, happiness and love in our forest that is our home—oh, and yummy food and cute things too!”

After saying a few more words, she took a few steps forward and smiled as she put the candle down. Then the next child stepped forward and offered their prayer. As each one took turns saying words and placing their candles, it was finally Elysha’s turn.

She slowly stepped forward, her heart pounding as she felt the eyes of others looking at her. As Elysha stood before the tree, she closed her eyes and thought, ‘I pray…’

A moment of silence followed, and the memories resurfaced in her mind. She remembered the time she had spent today—eating breakfast with Elder Merakia, going into the woods with all the people she had been with, seeing new and familiar faces, and experiencing new places she had never seen before. As she thought about these memories, Elysha formed words into a wistful prayer.

“I pray that, if you are listening… I hoped that every day would be peaceful like today,” she whispered softly. “I pray that everyone would be happy, and that I would make more memories like this with them. I pray that… we would have fun for a very long time.”

She opened her eyes and knelt down to place the candle with everyone else’s at the base of the tree. Then she stood and looked back up at the tree, wondering if the Asnoiji had heard the words she had spoken from her heart.

~ ❈❇❈ ~

Everyone left the shrine when the prayer time was over. The day was starting to settle down and as they were descending the stairs, Anjel turned and asked, “Mariju, will you be okay walking down the stairs like this?”

“Uh, don’t worry about me,” she replied, nodding her head. “I will be all right.”

They continued to descend until they were finally back on the ground. Ana stretched her limbs and remarked, “Whoo! What a long day today. The sun is slowly turning golden.” She let out a big yawn. “So, shall we retire for the day, or is there something else we should all do?”

The others exchanged glances. “Maybe we could get something to eat?” Mariju suggested.

“My mother is cooking dinner for me to eat when I get back home,” Nevi said.

“Our parents are doing the same,” Neliel chimed in.

“So do you think we should call it a day?” Huilji asked. “Because I feel like taking a good shower after all the walking today.”

“Aww, but it’s not that late yet,” Sorcha frowned before her eyes met a familiar face from the distance. “Ah, Momma!”

Everyone’s attention turned as the little Nartti girl’s legs ran up to her mother, the Narmittari, her arms outstretched. “Momma! Look! We went to the shrine, and it was so much fun! Mairi came with us too!”

The Narmittari knelt down to take her daughter’s outstretched arms in a hug. “So, you have just returned from the shrine. Did you have a good time, Sorcha?”

“Yes! We all prayed to the sacred tree, and the shrine maiden was very kind. Oh, and guess what? She even took a picture of all of us together before we left!”

She pulled out a photograph of the group standing together in front of the tree. The Narmittari took it from Sorcha’s hand and studied it. “What a warm memory you, your sister and your friends created,” she smiled. “Look at those bright faces—each of you looks so full of life.”

“We all had so much fun, Momma! Even Mariju, although she got tired on the stairs and even threw up!”

“Why did you have to talk about me?” Mariju sighed.

Mairi stepped forward. “Hello mother, how was your day?”

“My day has been good, busy all morning, but nevertheless productive,” she replied. “As luck would have it, I was passing by to pick up an item when I bumped into Sorcha and her friends.”

Then she asked, “Mairi, I haven’t seen your face since you went to the Kingdom of Candelaria for your sociology studies. How was your time there?”

Mairi smiled at her mother’s question as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Candelaria was... enlightening,” she said. “The culture, the people, the way they live—it fascinates me how different and yet similar they are to us. I learned so much, especially about how communities grow stronger through shared traditions.”

“That sounds like a valuable experience. As your mother, I am proud of you for seeking knowledge outside of our village,” she said. “You have always had an open heart for the social sphere around you.”

“Thank you, Mother,” Mairi said with a slight blush in her cheeks. “Even though I do well in my endeavors, no matter where I go or what I do in my field, I miss home more than anything. There is nothing like the village I grew up in.”

“Aw, Sorcha’s glad you’re back, big sister Mairi!” Sorcha spoke, hugging her sister’s arm. “Now you can spend more time with me and my friends!”

“At this hour, your brothers should be returning home from work soon,” the Narmittari said. “They would probably have many words to share with you.”

Mairi looked up at the colors of the sky, then asked, “By the way, Mother, have you ever introduced yourself to Sorcha’s friends? Since you are the head of the village, they would like to have a good impression of you before the day grows late and they return to their homes.”

“Thank you for reminding me, it would be unpleasant for me to forget who holds the most important position in this village,” the Narmittari said with a smirk before taking a step forward to face the children.

Elysha felt a sudden shiver run down her spine as she saw the Narmittari’s confident posture and almost commanding presence. Her deep red eyes looked at the group. Mariju, feeling the same aura, asked, “What’s about to happen?”

“As most of you probably know by now, I am what the village calls the Narmittari, otherwise my full name is Tallulah Narmittari. It’s always a pleasure to meet one of Sorcha’s new friends.”

She continued, “Since you are all outsiders who have come to our village, it is only fitting that you learn a little about the village of Nartti. We are a community rooted in tradition and resilience. Every task, every gathering, every word spoken here is recorded in the history of our lives and of this world. The core values of our village are the same as those of the forest: treating our neighbors with respect, unity, and maintaining harmony. Everything we do is based on these principles. It is through them that we have thrived for generations.”

Then she pointed her finger and stated, “You there, boy with the red hair, what is your question?”

“What kind of traditions do you have?” Neliel asked.

“Many. Like all the other villages in this forest, we celebrate festivals with dance and song, honor our ancestors with rituals, and of course maintain our connection to the Lord and the deities with offerings at the shrine. There are even some other fun activities we can do, such as displaying our strengths and sharing our artistic talents. Each tradition is a connection to the roots that make us who we are as Narttis.”

Micah’s ears perked up and asked, “Displaying our strengths? Like what?”

The Narmittari grinned. “Ah, would you like to see for yourself?”

The children exchanged excited glances, and Ana said aloud, “Yes, we just wanted to see how strong you are!”

The others nodded their heads, and the Narmittari gestured for them to follow her to a larger area of the village. There, standing at a distance from the rest of the group, the Narmittari stopped and turned around.

“As the Narmittari, I am not only the leader of this village, but also its protector, as some of you may already know. My strength lies in my physicality and in my mastery of theonum—the life force that connects us all to this world and its divine roots.”

“Momma, are you going to show them your fire dance?” Sorcha spoke up, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

She smirked again and turned away before closing her eyes. Suddenly, the air around her seemed to change. “The air is getting really warm!” Huilji spoke up.

A faint glow enveloped the Narmittari’s body, and then flames erupted from her hands, spreading up her arms and across her body. The children gasped in awe. “Woah! She’s on fire!” Ana exclaimed.

“But she’s not burning?” Nevi muttered out loud.

The Narmittari began to move, a powerful, fiery dance, like a scene on a battlefield, defeating enemies in fluid motion. The flames danced with her, spiraling and twisting in sync. She spun, her movements light yet powerful, the fire trailing behind her like a ribbon of light.

The children watched, their eyes fixed on the Narmittari as her movements slowed and the fire around her settled into a glow. She raised her arms and the flames spiraled upward, forming a fiery fountain that stretched toward the sky. Then, with a wave of her hand, the flames dissipated, leaving only the faint warmth in the air.

The clearing fell silent, the children too stunned to speak. Finally, Sorcha broke the silence, clapping her hands and jumping excitedly, “Momma, that was amazing! You are the best momma in the whole world!”

“Thank you, Sorcha,” she said with a trace of sweat on her face. She turned to the rest of the group as Ana took a step forward and asked, “Can you teach us to be strong like you?”

The Narmittari chuckled, “I have all the important things on my schedule, young one. Not only that, but strength takes time and effort. It’s a journey of continuous effort without a direct and linear goal.”

A small disappointed look appeared on Ana’s face, but she just nodded, “Okay, I understand. But maybe one day, when we come back, could you show us again?”

“Perhaps next time, when there is a tournament of strength to showcase potential talents.”

Then, looking at her watch, the Narmittari turned away and said, “Now, children, I must take my leave. My duties call, and as the Narmittari, it is my responsibility to see that the village thrives.”

Sorcha’s face fell slightly. “Must you go now, Momma?”

The Narmittari knelt down to hug her daughter. “Yes, my little spark, but I will be back before the stars fill the sky.” She smiled as she stroked her hair. “Be good and listen to your sister, okay?”

She nodded her head and returned her smile twice as bright. “Okay, Momma. I’ll be good.”

With that, she turned and walked away, her long, dark, curly hair flowing behind her. The children watched in silence until she was out of sight. “I wish I had your mother, Sorcha,” Huilji said.

“No way,” she pouted. “Sorcha’s momma is mine and mine alone—and Mairi’s too, and all of Sorcha’s brothers plus Billi.”

“Your mother is really cool,” Anjel said.

“Sorcha knows! Momma’s the best!” she beamed proudly. “She goes around the village a lot, talking to people and helping to make our home a better place. Momma is a very busy person after all.”

~ ❈❇❈ ~

As the warm light of evening shone upon the forest, it signaled the time for the children to go home before nightfall, and with it came the departure of Sorcha’s friends from the village.

Sorcha sighed and leaned against Mairi’s side as they all walked towards the entrance. “Sorcha wishes the day didn’t have to end so soon,” she murmured, her tail drooping slightly.

“Days like this always feel too short, don’t they?” Mairi asked, ruffling her little sister’s hair.

Ana came up behind her and patted her shoulder. “Hey, don’t look so glum, Sorcha. The festival’s coming up, remember? We’ll have a whole day to play, eat, and make more memories together.”

Sorcha sniffled, then perked up a bit. “The festival! Sorcha almost forgot!” She straightened, her ears twitching with relieved mood. “You’re right. Sorcha feels a little better now.”

“That’s the spirit!” Ana grinned and gave her a thumbs up.

The entrance to the village was visible from a distance, and the mood began to turn bittersweet. “Well, it’s time to head home, isn’t it, Nevi?” Ana said, nudging her friend.

Nevi nodded, her expression calm but warm. “Yes. But we’ll see you soon, Sorcha.”

When they reached the gate, Sorcha and Mairi stood together, seeing their friends as they were ready to leave. Ana turned around and waved first, calling out, “Bye, Sorcha! We’ll see you again soon!”

“Bye-bye! Take care!” Sorcha shouted back, her tail wagging as fast as her hand.

“Bye everyone!” Mairi said. “Travel safely, okay?”

Huijli, holding her brother’s hand, turned and grinned. “Bye, Sorcha! Don’t miss us too much!”

“As if! Sorcha will be too busy planning how to beat all of you at the festival games,” she countered, sticking out her tongue playfully.

Micah raised an eyebrow. “Sure, Sorcha. Keep dreaming.”

As the last of her friends disappeared into the forest, Sorcha stood still and watched until they were out of sight. Mairi placed a hand on Sorcha’s shoulder. “Feeling lonely already?”

“A little,” Sorcha admitted. Then, brightening, she turned to her sister. “But it’s okay! Sorcha has lots to do before the festival. Sorcha’s going to make the best decorations ever!”

Mairi smiled. “That’s the spirit. Come on, let’s head home. I’m sure our mother will be happy to hear all about your day.”

With a bounce in her step, Sorcha followed Mairi, her mind already racing with ideas for the festival.

~ ❈❇❈ ~

Once out of the village, the group walked together down the forest path until they reached a familiar junction where their paths diverged.

Ana stretched dramatically, her teal twintails catching the last rays of sunlight. “Well, Nevi and I will go this way. See you all at the festival!” she said, her cheerful voice ringing out as she waved to the others.

“Take care, all of you!” Neliel called out, waving as he and his sister took their path. Huilji turned to add, “Don’t get lost, all of you!”

“Micah never gets lost! The forest is like a map in Micah’s mind!”

As their figures faded into the distance, Micah turned to Elysha, his fluffy tail flicking behind him. “Looks like it’s just us now, Elysha. Let’s head back before it gets too dark.”

Before they could take another step, a voice called out from behind them, “Wait! Can we come along with you two?”

They turned to see Anjel and Mariju standing nearby, holding hands. Micah tilted his head and asked, “What? Micah thought you two had already left. Don’t you live in Illumija with Ana and Nevi, Anjel?”

“I do,” Anjel said with a nod. “But I want to follow Mariju until we reach her house, then I’ll take my own path.”

Elysha’s curiosity sparked as she looked at Mariju. “You live near us?” she asked.

Mariju nodded, brushing back her long, curly green hair. “Yes, I live not far from Elder Merakia’s place. Anjel visits sometimes. Maybe you’ve seen me around?”

Elysha drew her brows together and thought for a moment before shaking her head. “I don’t think so. I can’t remember, but maybe I just didn’t realize.”

“That’s okay,” Mariju replied with a small smile. “I’m sure we’ll see more of each other now.”

Taking her words in mind, Elysha turned to Micah and asked him, “Micah, do you also live near us?

“The forest is Micah’s home, so Micah sleeps wherever he wants.”

“Even in the bushes?” Mariju asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Sometimes,” he said nonchalantly, his ears twitching. “Bushes, trees, even caves. Micah is not picky. Nature provides all that Micah needs.”

Elysha stared at him but decided not to comment. Instead, she walked beside the group as they made their way home against the backdrop of the golden sun.