"No it's..." I began to say, offended at the implication her words had. I was strong enough to pick it on my own. Dad's Little Va was going to see this through. This was my responsibility and I would be the one to do it.
Yet, I could not move, seeing that lily flower had done something to me. I was frozen as if I was about to die, yet, I was safe as I could ever be. My strong, courageous friend was right next to me, how could it possibly be fear? What was there even to be scared of!?
"Here, would you like to carry it?" Einervaene asked as she handed me over the flower. And, I felt angry when this happened.
"I WAS MEANT TO PICK IT! IT WAS FOR MY DAD, NOT YOURS!" I suddenly screamed at her before I hid my face. Yet, I had not angered her, I only ended up drawing a hug from her. One I did not return at all as I carefully held the flower. All while I steadily watched as my tears pooled up between its mostly pink, red-spotted, white-rimmed petals.
"It's alright, Vadei. I'm sorry for getting ahead of myself." my friend said to me as her soft, gloved hands patted down my back fur. It even tickled slightly as some furs were getting trapped between the small gaps in the fabric.
"Let's just get this over with..." I muttered bitterly as I stood up and forced my way out of her grip. And I knew full well I wasn't strong enough to actually force my way out. She was just standing aside for Pathetic Little Va...
"Vadei! Slow down!" she called out to me as I walked at a strictly fast paced. Then, I broke out into an open sprint and hid in an alleyway so I could be on my own.
"I can't do this..." I whimpered to the flower that I contemplated throwing away. But, each time I even moved to do anything with it but carry it... I just froze up again. So I was left staring at it with an indescribable frustration.
I had failed him, and I would have to live with that for the rest of my life. Yet, he would not want me to give up on what I was doing either. He'd want me to see it through to the end. To get it done.
After all, he was much the same. He never really cared for presents on his own birthday or his anniversary. He only cared if you put thought into what you did get him. No matter how simple it was.
It's why I always liked his presents more on my birthdays. He always paid so much attention to each thing I talked about and all my interests. He kept them in his mind no matter how bad our money situation was or how long he'd be working. Even if it was just a fleeting interest, he still invested his time into figuring out something.
And here I was, with one final present that would mean so much to him. And I couldn't even muster the willpower to go and give it to him. I did not want to see that day come... I should just take his body and hide it somewhere safe.
"No, I can't do that... He'd be so alone if I did that." I whimpered as my body shook. Nin's story and life had given me a new respect for the gods and goddesses. I was never apathetic to them, to start with. But to know that they really were real made me worry for Dad.
Moving his body would mean he was wandering the mists for longer. It has already been so long since he has died as well. Undwote must've been chasing him all this time and each time I would be making it harder. The God of Friendship needed to find him.
"There you are! Don't scare me like that!" Einervaene said as she came up to me after finding me. I didn't even really think about how she managed to find me. I just slowly stood up and walked past her without saying a word. I didn't even speed off again.
I just kept walking as she asked me some questions which I ignored and did not answer. There was no point to them, what happened had happened. And I had a lily flower to take care of. Fortunately, my other friend had arrived to distract Einervaene.
"Found you!" she cheerfully declared as she finished her series of hops and bounces. A light, rain-like effect follows her all the way here. Much to the annoyance of anyone older than ten-years-old.
"Where's the money?" Einervaene then asks her, and, as Larishazza did not do anything. I assumed that she was going to get the money another way. Or, she had a very good explanation.
"I'm not carrying it about until we need it!" the blue-haired girl declared as she flexed her hands.
"You better not say because it is heavy..." Einervaene said in what seemed to be a needlessly bothered tone. If there were other means to get the money, then there'd be no problem.
"But, it is..." Larishazza giggled out as she collapsed to the ground with deceptive motions. She even used her strength to keep up the facade when Einervaene tried to force her to her feet.
"Get up! We got to get moving!" Einervaene demanded as Larishazza's eyes moved over to my lily flower.
"Ooooooooooooo!" she let out as she hopped to her feet, "A water flower!" she then cheered.
"Yeah, it means a lot to me and... Dad." I said before I sighed before mentioning the one I got it for.
"That's good, the best kind of gifts are always-"
"The ones that have the most thought put into them." I interrupted while keeping my eyes on the delicate plant. Despite what we had just done to it, it was still strong-looking. And, soon, Larishazza likely made it stronger.
"There, now it will be fine on the way back." Larishazza told me as the flower suddenly felt heavy. I could feel what she had done to it. In more ways than just the fact it suddenly felt denser. She herself even looked drained now.
"Thank you." I muttered quietly as I moved the flower into both of my dipping palms. Holding it in an open position was all I could manage right now. I was not going to hand it over to either of these two. I would carry it alone...
It was my gift, after all...
"Alright, so, the brewery is not far, shall we get going?" Einervaene asked as she pointed at the artificial, alcoholic river going down the mountain.
"We going to get smashed!?" Larishazza joked with distinct tiredness in her voice.
Einervaene then snorted, "You couldn't even handle a cup of juice in that state."
"Could too..." Larishazza mumbled back in reply as she leaned on Einervaene for support.
"Honestly, stop being so reckless with your magic. I get what you have just done, and I like it, but seriously. Come on now." Einervane complained.
"It was for a good cause so I don't care!" Larishazza confidently said with an equally confident smile as her head went side-to-side.
"Yes, but now if I need magic for the trip back, we would have no means of quickly refilling my reserves!" Einervaene explains loud and clearly.
"Well, find one then, Lightning Bolt." Larishazza says with her usual cocky grin.
"Alright, then, get off me. You can find your own way back." Einervaene orders as her prior concerns were used against Larishazza.
"Now that's just cruel, and right after I was so generous. Harumph I say! Harumph!" Larishazza says back to the annoyed one with a sharp pout.
"Don't worry, I'll weep for you." Einervaene sarcastically comments as we finish walking to the base of the brewery. And, going by how many people were here, it was a popular site. There was even a makeshift waterpark made for adults. As it seems they intentionally let the downslope crash at the bottom.
"So what're we doing here?" Larishazza asks as she stares mostly at the adults playing in the alcoholic rain. I, however, stared at the body of liquid until my gaze reached the very top. Right when it is just mountain water at first. To some extent, I might have giggled at that fact.
Dad's prized drink from the humans was just flavoured water run down a messy mountain. He even liked it unsieved if I remember correctly, so that meant he enjoyed dirty booze water. Yet, I could not even muster a smile at such an amusing revelation. I just continued to frown with a miserable gaze.
"Alright, do you want to wait here or do you want to start heading up while I help Larishazza with the money?" Einervaene asked me to which I used actions as my reply. I started going up the mountain slowly and with the support of the stair railings. They were a mixture of manufactured metal ones and ones carved into the stone.
And, to my right, there even seemed to be some kind of challenge route. If I was in better spirits, I might have taken it as I enjoyed climbing. It was something Dad had taught me after I fell into a hole. He always tried to make sure I knew how to help myself just in case.
Even if he was always there for me and helped out regardless if I could do it on my own. Even when I was about my current age, he still held out a hand for his daughter if I fell or tripped. And I really wished he was here right now to offer such help. I wasn't strong enough to hold onto the railing and move this flower.
To say nothing of the pressure that came with being at the front of a growing queue of impatient people. Some barged on past me and others just stared their annoyance into my skull. But, I really wanted to not care. They were here for a drink and I was here for Dad.
Even as insults and pinches came my way, I chose to ignore them. But, I still moved over as far as I could when the option arose. I was suffering bad enough without people violating what I treated with care. But, as my hands were occupied, my tail was forced to endure a lot until I finally reached an open spot.
"Still not at the top..." I muttered as the stairs had finished at a building that had been set up on a carved-out section. The rest of the stairs up to the top of the brewery were locked off and blocked off. Even the mountain itself had a multi-layered fence to stop people from going up. And, it would seem I would have to live up to the gate guards warnings, I would need to cause trouble.
I was not going to reach the top of this brewery if I did nothing. Luckily, the guards this place had were neither armed nor seriously equipped. They were just burly men in simple uniforms keeping the crowds in order. And, they were all over there by the main entrance.
So, it was a simple task to wander into some partial isolation so I could ponder a plan. And, to make sure I wasn't causing any suspicion, I sat down near the end of this carved-out section. If my magic was strong enough, I might be able to use my claw spell to cut into the fence or door lock. Or, I could climb around the edge of the fence.
Main problem with all these plans, however, is that I'd be easily spotted. I was not energetic enough to move through this quickly. I was slow and sluggish right now and not even my tail being pulled at did anything. I just did not want to see it through yet I also did.
"Please, help me, Dad." I said to the flower before I caught something sparkling in it. Some of Larishazza's water had not been absorbed into the plant's arcane biology! I could bolster my strength with it! So, that is what I did, I drank what I could from the flower in order to gain strength.
It wasn't much, but it was enough to make it seem like the flower had changed weight again. This time, however, it was because I was stronger, not the other way around. Then, I slowly got up and looked at the fence and gate once again. And, when I sensed an opening, I cut open the fence with my claws.
Not enough to tear it off, just enough to bend it around before I snuck through my hole. A hole I had the foresight to close up again in case they wanted to see where I got in from. And, I would have to rely a lot more on the strength of one arm for this bit. I could not safely get up this mountain if both hands cupped the flower.
Yet, despite how much it hurt to carry such a heavy thing, I kept ongoing. Crying in both physical and emotional pain as I slowly dragged myself up the mountain. Each step and stone grabbed on the way being one more step closer to my goal. Even the cries of alarm behind me did not stop me.
I just kept on going until I reached the top of the mountain. I also probably spent longer than I should have staring at the guards fumbling with the gates down below. I was running out of time and I needed to get this over with. And, I then tried to slow them down by crushing the lock into its slot.
I did not do much damage, but it was surely enough to make sure this door was secure. It would take a lot more effort to get through now. And, with that small bit of peace in my mind, I carried on moving towards the downslope's source. Carefully moving over various pieces of equipment and stone blocks until I was standing above the water.
I was here now, all I had to do was place the flower into the stream and let it flow all the way down. I could then pick it up from the bottom or save it if I got too worried for it. Magic coursed through this flower now, a lot of it. But that did not mean it was no longer a flower.
Yet, oddly enough, its tremendous weight, for a flower, gave me confidence. It put me somewhat at ease that it would just break its way through the obstacles. Even then, however, I could not muster the will to let it go. And I just quietly stared at it to the tune of a controlled river.
"So, how's it going?" Einervaene asked me after she suddenly crashed into the mountain. Larishazza was also with her, but there was no money with them. Not that it mattered I guess, I forced my way up here. And now, so did these two.
"I don't know if I can do this..." I quietly said as I let my tears drip into the core of the flower.
"Of course, you can! You made it this far." my friend encouraged as she held an arm around me. The other one soon joined in as well but she was just as equally seeking support for her weak body.
"Einervaene, they're coming." Larishazza then pointed out.
"Alright, help her, okay? I'll hold them off." Einervaene said to our friend as she walked off. The sound of men being shocked unconscious or dead followed just after. It didn't matter how Einervaene dealt with them, we weren't coming back to this town again, after all.
"So what's the problem?" Larishazza then asked me as her arm went around my back and onto the other shoulder. It then coiled up and played with my left ear and hair. Her other hand, however, went down to my wrist and held it gently.
"I don't want to do this, okay!?" I let out quickly and harshly as my frustrations boiled up.
"Then why did you come all this way?" she asked me bluntly as her head leaned on me. And while she could not direct my body, she was encouraging us to rock back and forth.
"Because... Because... It's what Dad would have wanted if I was to get him something." I wept as my body slowly curled in on itself. I tried to hide my face with my tail, but, her hand moved to stop it.
"Then see it through. Make him happy in the way only you know how." she told me before she moved to more properly hug me.
"I- I- I ca- I can't do it!" I stuttered out tearfully as I held onto the flower still. Yet, now I was testing how strong it was by attempting to crush it. Thankfully, however, Larishazza's magic proved true and the flower was unchanged by my attempts to crush it.
"Yes you can, Vadei. You very much can." Larishazza whispered to me softly as her hand moved onto mine. And, soon, Einervaene came over and did the same with the other.
"Vadei, it's alright, we'll make sure it stay safe, okay? You've done enough, let us help." my other friend offered with a sweet tone as they both massaged my hands. And, eventually, despite the fit of tears I was also enduring, I lowered the flower. I lowered it into the water and I watched it somehow stay afloat as it raced down the mountain.
Then, true to her word, Einervaene used her magic to destroy any obstacles in its way. Despite what it was she was doing, making sure my gift for Dad survived was more important. And so it kept on flowing down the mountain to the backdrop of melting metal. The people down below screamed but I slowly started to smile.
"Thank you..." I let out before I returned the hug to my friend. Clutching onto her tightly as I continued to shake and shake in her grip.
"You're welcome." was all she said before she started to run her hand through my hair. Then, all of a sudden, she nudged us down into the water and we were soon racing down the slope like my flower. Even Einervaene joined when we got near her. And I was soon surrounded by the joyous tears of my friends.
I even started to smile as we chased after the flower in increasingly more alcoholic water. The colour began to change but it was a lot different now. The machines that did whatever were now gone so we were going down something else entirely. Dad's flower, however, kept on going with the last reserve of this brewery's finest.
And, just before it hit the very end and was sucked away. Larishazza mustered a drop of magic to get it flying. Then, with a heavy thud in my lap, I caught it before Einervaene took us into the sky. We kept on going until we crashed down onto a lonely mountain with a hidden garden of its own making.
After all that, though, I just kept quiet. The other two were discussing how much fun that was. Einervaene was regretting what she did among other things. But, I was happy to have my gift for Dad ready.
"I just know you're going to love it, Dad!" I whispered with a smile and sniffle as I held its strong-smelling form by my nose. I did not like the smell of alcohol, but this was his last present from me. One final comfort before Undwote takes him elsewhere for the time of his life.