A Sprinkle of Snowflakes: 1-9 The Festival

*Discordant notes have emerged amid the festive holiday atmosphere.*

* **Recommended:** Night of Farewell Set
* **Rewards:** 3,000 , 600 , 1 , 1 , Blueprint: Boring Billion

## Transcript

Expand for script.

* The wooden door quietly opens. Obviously, someone is trying to move as silently as possible.
* I don't look up, but from the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of a small figure gently closing the door and sneaking up behind me.
* I pretend not to have seen anything, and quietly put down the crystal ball I was examining. I mentally prepare myself for the impending impact.
* **Winni:** Miss Dahlia!

* I feel a gust of wind, and small sturdy arms wrap around my neck. I feel her weight on my shoulders.
* I readily steady her, and then place her on the chair next to me.
* **Winni:** Huh? I never manage to surprise you!

* **You:** Do you want to know why?

* **Winni:** Tell me—

* **You:** Because...

* I pause for dramatic effect. Winni waits eagerly, her arms still around me, rubbing her cheek against me.
* **You:** I can read minds!

* **You:** Even if you don't say anything, I know what you're thinking.

* **Winni:** I don't believe that! Martha said that people's hearts are never easy to read! Unless...

* Winni's sparkling emerald green eyes dart about.
* **Winni:** Unless you can tell me what I'm thinking right now!

* Winni covers her mouth.
* **You:** Hmm... let me take a look and see what you're thinking about...

* The child's thoughts are almost written on her face, and combined with the recent excitement of the people of Fort Hawke, it's easy to guess what the little one is thinking.
* But I still make a few mystical-looking gestures, and Winni's eyes follow my hands closely.
* **You:** It seems to be related to the Edith Festival...

* The origins of the Edith Festival are not recorded in writing.
* Elder half-beasts have nostalgically remarked that the ancestors of half-beasts and beasts had already begun celebrating this festival when they lived in the jungle.
* The half-beasts got driven out of the Edith Mountains, and scattered in groups. They were bullied and enslaved, and gradually lost their ancestral tales.
* But in the blood of every half-beast, there flows a love and reverence for the Edith Mountains.
* Now, led by Aaron, the tribe has returned to the Edith Mountains, and the half-beasts can finally worship their forest god once again.
* **You:** So you want to celebrate the Edith Festival with everyone?

* **Winni:** Wow, that's totally right!

* **Winni:** So, what do you think?

* Winni exclaims in admiration and then closes her mouth, staring straight at me.
* **You:** Hmm... it seems we need to go out and buy some supplies for the upcoming festival.

* **You:** Let me see, who should I choose to go out with me?

* **You:** It has to be someone who's strong and able to help out.

* **Winni:** Me, me, me!

* **Winni:** Pick me! I may not be an adult yet, but I'm very strong!

* I smile and rub her horns. She's still young, so her horns aren't rough, and feel like polished stone.
* **You:** Hahaha, yes, who else?

* **You:** Go change your clothes now. We're leaving soon!

* **Winni:** Awesome! I love you the most!

* Winni leaves, bouncing and hopping, completely different from how reserved and fearful she was when she first arrived at Fort Hawke.
* I feel comforted, but my gaze involuntarily falls on the crystal ball.
* **You:** (The crystal ball doesn't seem to be doing anything. How do I complete the task for December Spirit?)

* **You:** (Right now, I have no idea what to do, so it looks like I'll just have to take it one step at a time.)

* My mind is filled with countless thoughts. Soon, I'm interrupted by a light and quick knocking at the door.
* **Winni:** Miss Dahlia, have you changed your clothes yet?

* **You:** It'll be ready soon.

* The once simple underground cave is now completely transformed.
* Against the backdrop of the festive atmosphere, the streets of the small town are bustling and lively.
* Most of the resources are adequate. Humans and half-beasts celebrate each other's festivals without any restrictions.
* Even though the Edith Festival belongs to the half-beasts, the underground humans happily join in by weaving ropes and decorating their homes with animal totem patterns.
* **Winni:** Jack says that when I grow two years older, I can join the Warriors' Tournament! I will definitely be the winner!

* Half-beasts are naturally combative, so their celebration of the Edith Festival doesn't emphasize emotional attachments like human holidays do.
* Apart from worshiping the forest god Edith, they also have their own way of celebrating—hand-to-hand combat, which is how the Warriors' Tournament came about.
* Winni is talking about the Little Warriors' Tournament.
* The energetic cubs, upon learning that adult half-beasts could participate in the Warriors' Tournament, clamored to join as well.
* We had to plan a "Little Warriors' Tournament" for the cubs as well, and set age restrictions for safety reasons.
* **You:** Having confidence is great, but you can't slack off on training just because you underestimate the opponent.

* **Winni:** Aww, you're underestimating me!

* She takes my hand and puts it on her arm.
* **Winni:** Touch my arm. Feel the muscles?

* I squeeze her arm and can't help but marvel at the half-beast's innate strength. After all, Winni is not even ten years old.
* **Winni:** In the future, if I encounter danger again, I can protect myself!

* I know Winni is talking about the incident that happened in the Paquete Kingdom, and that she has been feeling guilty about being a burden.
* **You:** Silly kid, how old are you? You still have a lot of time to grow.

* **Winni:** But I don't want to take it slow!

* **Winni:** Aaron said once that time waits for no one...

* **???:** Don't even think about taking her away!

* It's a hoarse and mournful voice. An old woman with a withered face and tattered clothes stumbles toward us.
* I quickly pull Winni down behind me, but am knocked down by the old woman.
* Ignoring the pain, I push Winni away.
* **You:** Run away, Winni.

* **Winni:** I'm not leaving you.

* Winni tries to help me up, but the old woman grabs her and starts dragging her away.
* **You:** Let her go!

* **???:** I won't let you succeed!

* The old woman looks insane, and my heart races with fear.
* Winni, however, doesn't struggle. Instead, she turns around and signals to me not to worry.
* **Winni:** It's okay. I know Granny Sarah and she won't hurt me.

* **You:** Winni?

* I'm about to ask for more details but Aaron's sudden appearance interrupts me.
* **Aaron:** Dahlia?!

* I've not heard from him in a long while. I was even mentally preparing myself for the possibility that he might not come back. And now he's here.
* But this is clearly not a good time to reminisce.
* **Aaron:** What did she do to you two?

* Aaron's chest is heaving. He seems furious. I can sense the overwhelming aura of a determined half-beast.
* Surprisingly, Sarah is not afraid of him and still doesn't let go of Winni.
* The atmosphere is tense.
* **You:** Take a deep breath and calm down, Aaron.

* **You:** I think there might be some kind of misunderstanding.

* Aaron backs down, and after helping me up, he reaches for Winni again.
* **Sarah:** Don't touch her!

* Sarah holds Winni tightly, like an old mother leopard, ready to fight to the death.
* **Aaron:** Winni, come over to us.

* Winni struggles lightly, and Sarah holds her even tighter.
* **Winni:** Granny Sarah doesn't have any ill intentions.

* Winni looks at me pleadingly, knowing she can easily break free from Sarah's grasp, but afraid of hurting her.
* **You:** Do you know her, Winni?

* **Winni:** Yeah! Granny Sarah is really nice! She even makes little sparrows for me!

* **Winni:** But I don't know why she's like this today...

* **Winni:** Are you hurt, Dahlia?

* I quietly rub my back and shake my head at Winni.
* **You:** If you know each other, perhaps it's just a misunderstanding.

* I walk towards Sarah, trying to comfort her.
* **You:** Thank you for taking care of Winni.

* Sarah doesn't answer, but stares at me with cloudy eyes. I unconsciously clench my fists.
* **You:** Today is a holiday, and Winni agreed to go out with us.

* **Sarah:** Let's go home! We're going home!

* I don't know what angered the old woman, but she grabbed Winni and started walking. Winni stumbled along behind her, too scared to break free.
* I feel heartbroken as I watch and wish I could bring Winni back, but I change my mind when I think of what Winni said.
* **You:** Aaron, keep up with them and make sure Winni doesn't get hurt.

* I am in a hurry to leave, but Aaron grabs my wrist.
* **Aaron:** And what about you?

* **You:** I'm going to find Martha and ask what's up with Sarah.

* **You:** We don't spend much time at Fort Hawke, so Martha should know more than we do about what's going on.

* **You:** Promise me you won't act recklessly.

* **Aaron:** Hmm.

* **Aaron:** Winni really likes her, so I won't hurt her.

* **You:** Martha?

* **Martha Kirk:** Here I am, here I am. Why are you in such a hurry? This isn't like you.

* **You:** Winni has been taken away by an old woman named Sarah.

* **You:** And the old woman looks...

* **Martha Kirk:** Not quite sane?

* **You:** How do you know?

* **Martha Kirk:** I was the one who brought her here.