Kite woke up and yawned as he got up. He smiled as soon as he opened the door and took a step back.
Liliana jumped and hugged empty air. She blinked and turned to look at him.
"I'm already getting used to your surprise hugs," Kite said, snickering.
She pouted but it was soon replaced by a grin. The girl jumped on him, hugging him. "No one can escape my hugs!"
He yelped as he was thrown the ground. "Liliana..." Hopefully she didn't keep this up when they were older.
Chapter 12: Bonds of Friendship
Kite lay on the ground, momentarily winded but mostly amused. Liliana's laughter filled the air, a sound that seemed to chase away the morning chill. "Sorry, Kite!" she said, offering a hand to help him up. "I guess I don't know my own strength."
He accepted her hand, standing up and dusting himself off. "It's okay. But maybe we can stick to non-tackle greetings from now on?"
Liliana nodded, still grinning. "Fine, fine. But you have to admit, it's a pretty effective wake-up call."
Kite couldn't help but laugh. "Effective, yes. Safe, not so much."
She grinned and yanked his hand. "Come on, let's go eat!"
The two made their way to the kitchen, where the smell of breakfast promised another hearty meal. The rest of the family was already gathered around the table, and Elder Mirrin raised an eyebrow at their disheveled appearance.
"Rough morning?" he asked, a twinkle in his eye.
"Just Liliana's unique way of saying 'good morning,'" Kite replied, taking a seat.
He laughed. "She's just like her grandma. She loved tackling me to the ground too."
"Darian liked doing the same to me when we were kids," Elara said, laughing as she put some cheese omelets on the table.
Kite gulped. The food smelled delicious.
Breakfast was a lively affair, with everyone sharing their plans for the day. According to Darian, the festival preparations were almost done. Kite listened to the chatter, feeling a sense of belonging. It reminded him of his time in the army back in his old life. Except, he didn't have to worry that an enemy would bomb the place at any moment, ending the happiness.
After breakfast, Kite and Liliana headed out to the town square. The festival preparations were in full swing, with colorful banners being strung between buildings and stalls being erected.
"Hey!" Elian yelled, running over to the duo. He had on a blue tunic and beige pants. His clothes looked similar to his usual attire, but there was something different about them. Did the people hear get new clothes during the festival? Back in Kite's world, they had something like that.
"Let's help with the decorations," Liliana suggested, pointing to a group of villagers working on a large floral display.
Elian grinned and raised a fist into the air. "Yeah!"
Kite nodded.
The trio spent the morning weaving flowers into garlands and draping them around the square. The work was light, but the sun was warm, and by midday, Kite felt the sweat beading on his brow.
As they took a break, sitting on the edge of the fountain, Kite looked around at the bustling square. "You know, I never thought I'd find a place like this," he said. "Ald Town is really something special."
Liliana splashed water at him playfully. "Of course it is! And it's even better now that you're here."
Elian grinned and nodded.
Kite smiled, the water droplets catching the sunlight and sparkling like tiny jewels. "Thanks, Liliana, Elian. That means a lot."
Elian wrapped an arm around Kite's neck and laughed. "Come on, Kite. You keep acting like an old man. No need to get all sappy on us."
He laughed nervously. Old man? He had the soul of an eighteen-year-old, but that wasn't old. Well, not by his world's standards. And something told him it wasn't considered old here either. Maybe the war had made him behave older than his original age... He wasn't even sure what normal teens did.
The afternoon passed in a blur of activity, and as the sun began to set, the town square was transformed. Lanterns hung from every corner, casting a soft glow over the cobblestones, and the scent of roasting food began to fill the air.
Kite, Elian, and Liliana joined the others as the festival kicked off. There was music and dancing, games and laughter. Kite found himself swept up in the joy of the celebration, the worries of his past life seeming a world away.
As the night drew on, Kite stood with Liliana, watching the lanterns float up into the starry sky. "This is perfect," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Liliana leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder. "It is. And it's just the beginning! There's gonna be more as the main day of the festival gets closer!"
"Yup," Elian said as he joined down. He sat down beside him and wrapped an arm around his neck. "Say, tomorrow, let's finish giving you the tour of Ald Town."
Kite smiled and nodded.
And as the lanterns rose higher, carrying wishes and dreams into the night, Kite knew that this was where he was meant to be. Eldoria was his home, and these people, his friends and family. Although a small part of him still missed his old world. He couldn't help but worry about their fate.