The streets were decorated, and there were more light balls than usual Brightest star festival in Zerah town, even though it was early morning the roads were filled with hustle, bustle and a festive feeling surrounded the town it was evident that the organized carnival was a success,
But as if untouched from the festiveness outside, there was an air of despair in Ryu's household even though no one pointed it out and the house was decorated. It was evident on their faces as this was the very day; they left Epnir, Ralph, and many things behind as they escaped,
Ryu was sitting at the dining table waiting for the breakfast that Lina was preparing. Aiena was making a more cheerful face than usual, which made Ryu think.
'She is trying hard' Ryu is not supposed to know or remember the past that is why everyone at home tries their best to look festive and cheerful on the day, but due to Ryu clearly knowing what everyone had gone through it was easy for him to notice the sign of sadness on everyone's face,
"Big brother!! Let's go to the carnival together!!" Jue exclaimed as he entered the home.
"Good morning Jue," Lina said from the kitchen.
"Ahh sorry I forgot the greetings, Good morning, Lina auntie!! Happy brightest star festival everyone!!" Jue wished cheerfully, and everyone returned the greetings,
"Big brother, let's go to the carnival together," Jue said excitedly as he sat on a chair and added,
"Also tonight you will take me to the forest for seeing the brightest star you promised last time" seeing him so cheerful Ryu for once thought,
'Ignorance is a bliss indeed' before Ryu could answer Jue, Lina, who was bringing breakfast, spoke,
"Tonight we all will go together to the forest to see the brightest star. "
Ryu who heard it got a confused expression as he saw Lina every year crying alone in her room at night praying to the Light goddess as the brightest star forms in the sky, Ryu always took a look at it before going to the forest as seeing his mom's tears was something that flamed his motivation to bring that time when the holy knight, cable and high priest suffer,
'Is mom really saying she'll go with us?... Did the sunrise from the west this time!?" Ryu wondered and seeing his confusion Lina answered in a serious tone,
"I have some things that I need to tell Ryu, and this is the best day to do so. "
"Lina big sister isn't it too soo…." Aiena tried speaking but before she could complete Lana interrupted.
"It is alright Aiena, Ryu is an adult it is about time" it wasn't hard for Ryu to get what they all were talking about,
'I can't just say surprise I know it all… now, can I?' Ryu thought and nodded, Lina, patted his head and spoke.
"You can go to the carnival with Jue, I doubt in the morning anyone would notice…" Ryu was very pleased with this as even though he didn't say this, he want to see the first carnival that was organized in Zerah town.
"Thanks, mom!!!" Ryu cheerfully smiled and ate his breakfast, seeing him this cheerful for the first time in the day Aiena, Lina, and Lana smiled genuinely.
Finishing his breakfast fast, Ryu spoke.
"Thanks for the meal!! I will be back before the afternoon" after saying that he and Jue went out of the door but Ryu was baffled as soon as he stepped out, [Instantaneous detection] notified him rapidly thrice and he quickly changed his and Jue's place and was confused Jue got jumped by two kids a year smaller than him,
"How?" the first triplet asks in confusion.
"Big brother always knows when we are jumping" the second one pouted as he grabbed Jue's neck tighter.
"This is cheating even though we are out of church today!!" the third one said with a disappointed look. It turns out that he didn't even try jumping, as he knew something would happen.
"You guys are a few decades too early, trying to catch me," Ryu said mockingly and Jue, who had a kid hanging on his neck and another on his torso, speak irritatingly,
"Now what will you take to leave me!!" and shakes his body, making them fall on their bum and the kids replied irritatingly,
"Knucklehead, idiot!!"
"Knucklehead!!" both said respectively, and this flared up Jue's anger and he was about to say something before Ryu patted his shoulder and says with the kindest smile he could muster,
"Jue, don't get too angry. They are just kids" even though Ryu said this he was grinning inside happily thinking,
'You did good kids!! This bastard used to throw dirt in my eyes and be arrogant just cause of being smaller than me… karma is real!!' but Jue was inspired thinking,
'After all, big brother meant that soon on adventures, we will find a lot like these. I can't always be angry,' and calmed down,
Ryu asked those three while getting down on his knees,
"So why were you here at this hour?" the three looked at each other and with a sneaky grin nodded and the middle one spoke as their representative,
"Big brother, we got pocket money from priestess sister this morning and were given a time till evening 6 pm to enjoy carnival… so we three decided to go around with you!!" before Ryu could answer Jue interrupted,
"No!! big brother is coming with me!!" and Ryu tried speaking again but these times kids attacked Jue.
"Knucklehead always monopolizes brother!!"
"He is our big brother, too!"
"We even saved money!!" the third one says with a lowered voice, and Jue thought,
'I won't let them spoil my carnival time!! I was the first one to ask!!' but before Jue could open his mouth again, Ryu karate chopped his head from behind and spoke,
"We all can go together, right? Nothing stopping us from that" Ryu said this with a kind and caring brotherly smile but in his head, he thought,
'Nothing could be more relieving than seeing Jue being poked by them!! Wish they would throw dirt too… of course, I will scold them' Ryu's smile widened as he thought that, and just like that he, Jue, and the triplets all went around the carnival together,
Ryu was surprised at the quality of the stalls and also the games. There was even a small wooden merry-go-round, various sellers, and game stalls as Ryu prompted the children to ride on the merry-go-round. Jue denied it as he says,
"I am mature big brother, I am not a kid" even though he said this he was constantly stealing glimpses at the merry-go-round, and seeing his wanting gaze Ryu spoke,
"Jue, if I was in your place, I would've ridden it a thousand times," Jue tilted his head,
'Why would big brother ride it a thousand times?' he wondered and seeing his questioning gaze Ryu answered,
"See this ride doesn't let those over 13 rides, so it means it is the last time you can ride it… if I was in your place I would've ridden as much as possible," Ryu answered with a serious look, and Jue replied,
"After all, what big brother said makes sense…. I would ride 20 times at least" and went to the ride. As Ryu followed him, he saw that the other kids from the orphanage were standing there too.
"Big brother!!"
"These three are betrayers!!"
"They didn't tell us,"
"Happy brightest star festival,"
They all spoke rapidly, seeing them so cheerful Ryu got an idea and give 2 silver coins to the merry-go-round man and said with a generous look,
"Let each one of them ride 4 times" and Merry go round man nodded,
"Thanks, big brother!!" 1st triplet says cheerfully
"Big brother is best," a little girl said, they all were saying thanks and praising him Ryu really enjoyed being with orphanage kids he was smiling pridefully hearing all of their praises when a name entered his ears shifting his whole consciousness towards it and he said to Jue,
"Jue, take care of everyone for a while. I will be back in 10 mins or so," Jue didn't need another word and nodded instantly as he thought,
'Big brother relied on me!! After all, killing it was a good choice'
Ryu moved towards the source of the voice where he heard the name from.
'It said Snow, right?' he thought as he entered the book store which hadn't changed much since the settlement of Zerah town, he remained near the gate hearing what a lady dressed in a long skirt, a shirt who he had never seen in town before speaks,
"Did Snow of snow flake's party used to visit this store?" she asked the shopkeeper, who nodded as he faintly remembered Snow who used to buy books once in a while and came with Lana.
And the lady who asked seemed cheerful seeing the nod and asked further with a voice brimming with curiosity.
"Do you know her relatives? Her house or anyone she uses to teach," Ryu thought, alarmed,
'Who is she!?' but the answer was going to present itself before Ryu sooner than he expected as the shopkeeper pointed towards him at first. The lady asked,
"Why are you suddenly pointing towards me?" the shopkeeper answered,
"Behind you" as she turned Ryu knew the escaping won't do any good as she will eventually knock on their door and walk towards them, the shopkeeper spoke.
"He is Ryu. He was a student of Snow and her relative…"
The lady seemed to be scanning Ryu by looking up and down as Ryu spoke to the store owner.
"Good morning, happy brightest day festival" and the shop owner nodded with a wrinkled smile and say politely,
"Good morning, Ryu. Is Lana doing well?" and Ryu nodded to which he said,
"If you and Lana could help tomorrow with setting new books, that would be huge help… of course, I got some nice books as a reward,"
"I will inform her for sure!!" Ryu said as he stared at the lady who was still looking at him up and down, making it hard to talk, and suddenly, she fixed her gaze on his crotch with almost a longing expression, which made him shout out,
"Hey miss, my face is here!!"