"So Grandma Farhah is still the same after all this time" [Diana].
"It's reassuring and not reassuring at the same time. I can definitely come and say hello to her and she will still treat me the same way she used to. That's a good thing, of course, but considering who she is now, it's a bit worrying, especially with that stupid Iligast! I still can't believe her parents forced my sweet older sister to marry such a bastard! What in the name of the Goddess were they thinking back then?" [Falmer]
"Looks like you really care about Grandma Farhah. I'm glad! Why don't we go and say hello after all this is done?" [Diana]
"Alright. It's been a while. It's just the right motivation to get to the top and come out alive" [Falmer].
Apparently it's not a blood bond when she says she's Grandma Farhah's little sister. It's more like a junior-senior relationship, but they're close. Even though Miss Falmer is a snow elf, she was still accepted into a sort of apprenticeship in the Elven Kingdom, and that's where she met Grandma Farhah. Grandma Farhah, who, as usual, does not give much thought to the differences between classes and races, befriends everyone. It didn't take long for their relationship to become like that of Neloufa and me. Ohh! That's the better description, I suppose. I think of Neloufa as a member of my family and even other Vars think the same. The only difference is that Grandma Farhah is older than Miss Falmer, in which case...
"Grandma Falmer?" [Diana]
"S I S T E R F A L M E R" [Falmer]
"At your age, you're her grandmother... Even ancestral" [Nar]
"Excuse me, Sir Hero, but could you kindly repeat that, otherwise someone might accidentally get lost on their way up" [Falmer].
"Right... I'm sorry" [Nar].
"See. It's not hard to be nice to an elder, is it?" [Falmer]
"You're basically saying you're old" [Randy]
"Hmm?" [Falmer]
"I'm sorry..." [Randy]
I suppose Elven women are very sensitive about age. I still remember how Sister Farhana got angry when I called her Auntie Farhana for the first time. On the other hand, I remember some elves who are proud the longer they live. It's like a symbol of their overflowing vitality. Good health and long life is a blessing when you have both. That's what Grandmother Farhah preaches in one of her sessions.
As we illegally navigate our way into the crowd and begin our climb to the summit, Falmer recounts her experiences. Chronologically, she first met Grandmother Farhah before deciding to settle here, and then later helped the first prince of the time to conquer the summit. Although it's not an official record, many locals actually knew about this fact, and for some outsiders it wouldn't even be hard to look for her if they were really serious about conquering Mount Olympus, which begs the question.
"You're not on good terms with the royalty here?" [Diana]
"Not really. While I behave like other citizens, my status as a long-lived elf means that everyone turns to me for almost everything, and with age came wisdom as I was able to help them with numerous things. From scarce food supplies to the defence of our country during war. It's obviously beneficial, but for some nobles and royalty, it's just a source of headaches. [Falmer]
"I can understand that. For one thing, they will rely on you more, and some people will begin to wonder why they bother having a royal and paying taxes when all their problems can be solved by you. Not only that, someone like you, if not in the grasp of a Tyrant, will definitely be a thorn that's difficult to remove." [Nar]
"I see. Kinda like our relationship with some of the nobles houses" [Diana]
"That is true. Still, I am jealous of Vars family. From what I heard, your relationship with Her Highness Queen Amleth is solid. How I would like to have a relationship like the Vars family and Amleth" [Falmer].
"Then you can come and live with us" [Diana]
"Meow" [Fie]
"Thank you, but this is where I was born and where I intend to die" [Falmer].
"A sentiment most can get behind" [Randy].
"True. Even this old bone wanted to die in his own bed in his own house" [Joseph].
"I can sort of understand it if those barbaric Aru villagers weren't around! As far as I am concerned, the Vars family and Amleth are my home" [Diana].
We wait for our turn like most other and when it comes to our turn to start our journey of climbing the summit, a guard station there notice us. He approaches us and then...
"Ahh Miss Falmer and them... Ooh look, what nice weather today. I hope my leaving this post doesn't result in anyone trespassing"
And just like that, we successfully begin our climb to the summit. I can really see how everyone really respects them. I guess it's like she said, with age comes wisdom. She must have helped so many people in Bhutan that everyone is really nice to her and feels indebted to her, which is why not a single guard is trying to stop us.