The festival night unfolded in an unbroken rhythm of joy. Beneath the sprawling green canopies, laughter echoed and stories flowed like rivers. People dressed in varying shades of green leaned close to one another, their faces lit with merriment. Their worries, burdens, and sorrows had all but vanished, swept away by the magic of the evening.

Emma moved through the crowd, her gaze flickering from one happy face to another. The warmth of the atmosphere was contagious, and she found herself smiling. It felt like the kind of night that might stretch into eternity, a memory carved in the amber glow of lantern light.

As she made her way toward Anna, her eyes scanned the gathered guests, searching for Vera, Anna’s mother. Despite the mingling villagers and the hum of conversation, she couldn’t spot her. Emma wondered briefly where Vera might be before turning her attention back to the elf girl seated in the front row of the first canopy.

When Emma approached, her eyes caught a small detail that made her pause: a vacant chair next to Anna, set slightly apart from the others.

“You can sit here,” Anna said brightly, patting the empty seat. “I kept it for you.” Her smile was as warm as the festival lights.

Emma’s lips curved into a soft smile as she sat beside Anna. Their gazes met briefly before they both broke into a fit of laughter.

“I was starting to think you wouldn’t come,” Anna admitted, giggling softly.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t show up?” Emma teased, leaning forward slightly.

“Well…” Anna tilted her head playfully. “It was fifty-fifty. But I had a feeling you’d come.”

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The laughter between them quieted, replaced by a moment of easy silence. Emma glanced around the venue again, the magical glow of fireflies casting shifting patterns across the canopy above.

“Oh, by the way,” Emma said suddenly, “I already dropped the green stick as my gift.”

Anna’s face lit up. “That’s wonderful,” she said, her tone as light as her smile.

Emma hesitated before asking the question that had been on her mind since she first received the gift. “What is the green stick, exactly? I mean, why is it so special?”

Anna’s eyes gleamed with a mix of pride and reverence. “It’s one of the rarest magical bamboos from the inner depths of the Enchanted Forest,” she explained. “Legends say that when it’s burned or gifted as a blessing, it emits a healing glow infused with the power of Povia, the goddess of nature. And if you’re lucky, it can even summon magical rain that makes all crops grow abundantly and blessed.”

Emma’s eyes widened in shock. “Something that precious… And your mother just gave it to me?”

Anna laughed, her voice soft and melodic. “My mother always says that a human life is more valuable than any riches in the world. After you helped me all the way home that day, she wanted to give you something special for the Green Festival.”

Emma’s expression softened, and a quiet warmth bloomed in her chest. “That’s… really kind. Thank you.”

Anna shook her head, brushing off the gratitude with a smile. “It’s nothing.”

For a while, they simply sat together, letting the beauty of the festival wash over them. Lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, casting shifting shadows across the canopy fabric. The hum of laughter and the distant notes of a fiddle filled the air.

Anna broke the silence, her voice tinged with wonder. “This might be my first time here, but it feels like this is my birthplace. Even if it’s not where I was born, it’s the kind of place I’d want to stay—a place where happiness flourishes.”

Emma turned to look at her, smiling softly. “Me too.”

Her eyes drifted to the intricate chair Anna was sitting in. It was beautifully crafted, the frame adorned with carved vines that seemed to grow along its edges. But what stood out most were the wheels attached to its base.

“Your chair,” Emma said after a moment, tilting her head curiously. “It has wheels. Is it… moveable?”

Anna laughed lightly. “It is. It’s called a wheelchair—pretty straightforward, right? A chair and wheels combined.”

Emma nodded thoughtfully, a playful glint sparking in her eyes. “In that case… Let’s go exploring.”