Narra approached the temple servant who was guarding the entrance.
"Excuse me, can you tell me where the toilet is?" she asked politely.
The servant nodded and led her down a dimly lit corridor to a wooden door.
"Here it is," he said, gesturing towards it.
"Thank you," Narra replied, stepping inside and locking the door behind her. She took a deep breath, summoning the magical book that allowed her to see her friend, Astrantia.
The pages glowed faintly as they opened, revealing a shimmering image of Astrantia, who was busy tending to her garden. Seeing her friend well brought Narra a sense of relief. She closed the book and stowed it away, feeling more at ease.
After freshening up, Narra exited the bathroom and returned to her family's room. The meeting they were attending had just concluded, and everyone was preparing to leave.
The family went outside, where a waiting carriage was ready to take them to Dillenia's family house. They climbed aboard, the wooden wheels creaking as the carriage descended the cobblestone streets.
It wasn't long before they arrived at Dillenia's family house. The front door swung open, and they were greeted by a chorus of cheerful voices. The whole family of Dillenia stood there, beaming with joy.
"Granpa, Grandma!" the children shouted excitedly, running towards their grandparents with open arms.
"It's so good to see you growing and full of energy, my dear kids," Grandpa said, his eyes twinkling with happiness.
Grandma, with her hands on her hips, looked at the older children and said,
"And what about the five of you? Are you too embarrassed to greet your grandparents?"
Kai, the eldest, replied, "Grandma, we come here every month."
"So what?" Grandma retorted, raising an eyebrow.
"Does that mean you don't want to hug your grandparents anymore just because you've grown up?"
Chico, the youngest tugged at Grandpa's sleeve and said, "Grandpa, it's not good to shout. It'll hurt your throat."
Grandpa chuckled, ruffling Chico's hair.
"You're right, little one. I shouldn't shout."
The family laughed, the sound mingling with the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. It was a moment of warmth and togetherness, a testament to the strong bonds that held them all close.
The five teenagers eagerly ran to their grandparents, wrapping them in warm hugs. The couple followed suit, embracing the elders with affection.
Everyone then made their way into the house. The younger kids were soon being led on a tour by Pinya and Presa, who enthusiastically showed them around. Meanwhile, Kai, Chico, and Maco busied themselves with placing their bags in their respective rooms, ensuring everything was neatly arranged.
In the kitchen
the couple helped their parents prepare the table for the upcoming meal. After a few minutes, the delicious aromas filled the house, and they called everyone to the dining room to eat.
Once the meal was over, Narra approached her grandmother with a hopeful expression.
"Grandma, do you still have some leftover food? I'm still hungry, and I'd love to eat something while walking around town," she asked.
Grandma chuckled, her eyes twinkling.
"I knew you'd be hungry. We have plenty of leftovers, and I'll get the pudding from the cooler room," she replied.
"Thank you, Grandma. Can I also cook some omelet egg rolls?" Narra asked eagerly.
"I'll cook them for you and add more so you just sit in the living room and wait for me to call you, okay?" Grandma said.
"But I want to help you, Grandma," Narra insisted, looking a bit sad.
Grandma couldn't resist her granddaughter's pleading eyes.
"Alright, you can help me in the kitchen," she conceded with a smile.
"Could you please crack the eggs and whisk them while I get the dessert and heat the pan?"
"Yes, Grandma! Where can I find the eggs?" Narra asked.
"The eggs are in the pantry. Call Pinya to show you where it is. I'll head to the cooler room," Grandma instructed.
Narra called out for Pinya, who promptly arrived to guide her to the pantry.
"What do you need the eggs for? Did Grandma permit you?" Pinya asked.
"I asked Grandma if I could make omelet egg rolls because I was still hungry. I'm going to help her cook," Narra explained.
Pinya led Narra to the pantry, and after gathering the eggs, they returned to the kitchen. Upon their arrival, Narra's eyes lit up at the sight of her favorite treats: pineapple juice, two dream cakes, and pudding, all laid out on the table.
"Grandma, this is my favorite juice and cake!" Narra exclaimed, her face beaming with delight.
"I know, that's why I prepared them for you," Grandma said warmly.
"You can eat one of the dream cakes with Pinya while waiting, and take the other to your room. Pinya, bring Philip here to join you."
"Thank you, Grandma," Narra said, gratefully taking the luncheon plates.
Narra cracked the eggs into a bowl and began to whisk them, handing the mixture to her grandmother. Pinya, meanwhile, sliced the dream cake and placed a piece on each plate.
"Pinya, you don't need to give me a slice of cake. I can't handle sweets anymore," Grandma said with a gentle smile.
"Yes, Grandma," Pinya replied.
"Narra, I've sliced a piece of cake for you. Eat with us while we wait for Grandma."
As they chatted and enjoyed their cake, Grandma finished cooking the omelet egg rolls and placed them neatly in a bento box. She wrapped the remaining dream cake and poured the pineapple juice into a thermos.
"Thank you, Grandma. This is so delicious! I'll share this with my friends," Narra said excitedly.
"Friends?" Philip asked curiously.
Narra felt a pang of nervousness, realizing her slip of the tongue. This was her first time visiting, and she hadn't yet made any friends in town.
"Uh, I mean, I hope to make some friends while I'm here," she quickly corrected herself, smiling shyly.
Grandma chuckled, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"I'm sure you will, my dear. Now, go on and enjoy your walk," she said.
Narra nodded, feeling a mixture of excitement and anticipation. She took the bento box, the wrapped cake, and the thermos, heading out the door with a hopeful heart, ready to explore the town and perhaps make some new friends along the way.
"We're not in Kenarapa, Narra," Pinya said, laughing heartily. Philip joined in with a grin.
"I forgot," Narra mumbled, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I hate you two," she added, trying to sound angry but unable to hide her smile.
"Friends, hahaha, dumb Narra," Philip teased, nudging her playfully.
"Grandma, Philip called me dumb," Narra complained, turning to her grandmother with a pout.
"Philip, it's not nice to call your sister names. Apologize to her," Grandma said sternly.
"I'm sorry, Narra," Philip said, his tone sincere though a hint of a smile still played on his lips.
"Hmpp," Narra replied, turning her head away dramatically.
"Grandma, I'm going to walk around the town. Bye-bye," Narra announced, eager to explore.
"Tell your parents first before you go and bring Kai with you," Grandma instructed.
"Yes, Grandma," Narra responded obediently.
She headed upstairs to find her parents, feeling a bit apprehensive. When she found them, she explained her plans and asked for permission.
"You already planned to go out and even had your grandma cook for you before asking us?" Carpus said, his tone calm but tinged with irritation.
"I'm sorry, Dad and Mom, but Grandma insisted on cooking for me, so I let her," Narra explained.
"Honey, you know how Mom is. But Narra, please tell us your plans first before you make any preparations," Dillenia said gently.
"Yes, Mom," Narra agreed.
"Now, Kai will tour you around since we have a meeting at the community hall. Be back before 6 PM sharp, Narra. Understand?" Carpus said firmly.
"Thank you, Dad," Narra replied, feeling relieved.
"Bye," she said, starting to leave.
"You're just going to go without hugging and kissing us?" Carpus called after her.
"I'm sorry, Dad," Narra said, rushing back to hug her parents and pay her respects by asking for their hands and placing them on her forehead.
"See you later, Mom and Dad," Narra said with a smile.
She then went outside to look for Kai. She found him at the left side of the house, carrying a box.
"Kai! Could you please come with me to tour the town? Dad and Grandma said you should come with me and show me around," Narra called out.
"Okay, I'll just put this down in the storage, and then we can go. Could you please wait for me at the entrance, Narra? I'll be quick," Kai said.
"Yes," Narra replied, running to the entrance.
After a few minutes, Kai joined her at the entrance, ready for their tour. Together, they set off to explore the town. As they walked through the bustling streets, Kai pointed out various landmarks, sharing stories and tidbits of local history.
"Over there is the market where everyone buys fresh produce," Kai said, pointing to a vibrant area filled with stalls.
"Wow, it's so lively," Narra observed, her eyes wide with interest.
"And that building is the town hall. That's where Mom and Dad are having their meeting," Kai added.
Narra nodded, taking everything in. They continued their tour, visiting the town square, the park, and even a small library.
"This town is beautiful, Kai," Narra said, feeling a deep sense of appreciation for her new surroundings.
"It is. And you'll make lots of friends here, Narra. I know it," Kai assured her.
Kai brought Narra to the bustling town market, which was alive with the vibrant energy of a week-long festival. Stalls were decorated with colorful banners, and the air was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of street food and the cheerful sounds of people chatting and laughing.
Excitedly, they wandered through the market, buying various souvenirs and sampling the local delicacies. Narra's eyes sparkled with delight as she tried different foods and collected small trinkets to remember the day.
As they continued their exploration, they stumbled upon an antique shop tucked away in a quieter corner of the market. Intrigued, they decided to step inside. The shop was filled with fascinating old items, each with its own story.
Narra wandered around, her gaze landing on an intricately designed antique box and an old lamp. She looked at them in awe, captivated by their beauty and mystery. The shop owner noticed her interest and approached her with a friendly smile.
"Do you want to buy those?" he asked.
"Kai, I want to buy this old box and this lamp. Could you please check them for me?" Narra asked, turning to her brother.
Kai examined the two items carefully, finding no faults.
"Narra, these two are still in good condition. You can buy them," he confirmed.
"Yay! I love them so much; they're so beautiful! Uncle, I want to buy these two," Narra said enthusiastically to both Kai and the shop owner.
"You have a good eye, kid. Come here, and I'll pack those for you," the shop owner said, pleased.
As the shop owner packed the antiques, he explained, "This box doesn't have a key, and I've tried opening it without success. I didn't want to damage it because it's so beautiful, and that's part of its mystery and charm. Even though I can't provide a key, I'll give you something else as compensation."
"No need, Mister. I'm okay with just the box," Narra said politely.
"My name is Kaptan," the shop owner introduced himself, bending down to retrieve something. He handed Narra a brooch.
"This is an antique brooch originally owned by a famous magician who was a Half-Diwata and a Princess of the Sicapoo kingdom. When I had it appraised, it showed signs of magic. Keep this as compensation since the box can't be opened. Consider it my welcoming gift to the daughter of Carpus and Dillenia," Kaptan said warmly.
"Thank you, Mr. Kaptan," Narra said shyly, accepting the brooch.
"Just call me Uncle Kaptan. Your grandfather and I have been friends since we were young. It seems like you will be one of the children to receive a blessing at the temple, right?" Kaptan asked.
"You know my grandpa? It's so nice to meet someone who knows my family! It feels like my family just got bigger. My siblings and I will be attending the blessing ceremony at the temple. Will you be there too, Uncle Kaptan?" Narra asked excitedly.
"Yes, I will be there, along with everyone in the town, to see their children receive their blessings. I'll see you there with your family," Uncle Kaptan said.
"Okay! See you there, Uncle, and thank you for the brooch. Bye-bye," Narra said cheerfully.
"Take care and be safe. Thank you for shopping at my shop," Uncle Kaptan replied.
"Bye, Uncle! Thank you for giving Narra the brooch. Take care of your health," Kai added.
The two siblings continued to walk around the market, enjoying the festive atmosphere. Kai bought Narra some fish-shaped chocolate waffles, which she eagerly devoured.
Narra was amazed by the diverse species and the stunning architecture that looked like it was from ancient times.
"Kai, why don't they have technology here?" Narra asked, curiosity evident in her voice.
"They do have technology here, Narra, and it's more advanced than what we're used to. The technology here doesn't harm nature, and it's only used in designated places. People limit its use since they have gifts here," Kai explained.
"That's cool. They've preserved their culture so well, not like our place, which is so modern," Narra observed.
"Yes, that's true," Kai replied with a nod.
"Kai, is this still Earth, or are we on another planet?" Narra asked, her wonder growing.
"Haha, yes, we're still on Earth. This is the Ancient World, where different supernatural beings live. This place has spiritual blessings, unlike our world, which doesn't. Our world relies on human ingenuity to build everything from scratch because they don't have gifts like the people here. You could say this place is like the spirit of the Earth, the other side," Kai explained.
"That's amazing, Kai," Narra said, her eyes wide with awe.
"Yes, it is. Now, let's head back before it gets dark," Kai suggested.
---
Back At the House
Narra greeted her family, then excused herself and went to her room. Eager to check on the House of Magnolia, she summoned her magical book and said,
"IN."
In an instant, Narra was transported to the House of Magnolia. Astrantia, sensing her presence from the backyard, quickly ran to the front door, her face lighting up with joy.
"Lady Narra, welcome back!" Astrantia greeted her with a respectful bow.
"Hello, Astrantia. How are you doing here? I'm sorry for being late, but I have brought some food and other things with me. Could you please help me bring these inside the house?" Narra asked.
"Yes, my lady," Astrantia replied.
Together, they carried the food and other items to the dining room. Astrantia began to arrange the food on the table, while Narra summoned Carcinus before they started eating. The table was soon laden with pineapple juice, dream cake, omelette eggs, waffles, and leftover beef stew.
"This looks delicious, Lady Narra. This food is different from what you brought this morning," Astrantia remarked, setting the table.
"My grandma prepared some of it for me, and I bought the rest from the market," Narra explained.
"Hey, kid! You brought something interesting today and a new employee, perhaps?" Carcinus said, his eyes twinkling mischievously as he stuffed his face with cake.
"What do you mean? I only brought food; I didn't bring anyone with me, Carcinus," Narra replied, confused.
"The one inside your bag—isn't that a new employee or a customer of yours?" Carcinus said, pointing his spoon at Narra's bag while still munching on cake.
Narra looked puzzled but then remembered the antiques she had bought at the festival. She took out the three items and placed them on the table. Carcinus and Astrantia examined the antiques as Narra explained that the box couldn't be opened.
"You've got good items here, kid. Why don't you wake this one up and have her work here since she's already weak and will fade in no time," Carcinus suggested, shaking the brooch.
"Is a spirit also living inside the brooch? Are there spirits in the other two as well, Carcinus?" Narra asked with concern.
"Yes, there is a spirit attached to this brooch, and she is weakening. The other two are imbued with nature energy. Wake up, kid," Carcinus said, addressing the brooch as he shook it.
Carcinus flicked the brooch with his claw, and a tiny blonde girl was pushed out of the brooch, landing on the table. Narra and Astrantia gasped in shock. Narra quickly took out a napkin to cover the girl, who looked scared and wary.
"Hi! My name is Narra. This is Astrantia, and this is Carcinus. You are inside the House of Magnolia. We will not hurt you; we just want to help you," Narra said gently.
The tiny blonde girl looked around, her eyes wide with fear. She hesitantly reached for the napkin Narra offered, but before she could take it, she fainted, collapsing into a heap on the table.
Narra and Astrantia exchanged worried glances.
"She must be exhausted," Astrantia said, her voice filled with concern.
"We need to help her regain her strength," Narra said.
"Let's make sure she has a safe place to rest." Narra continued
Astrantia nodded and carefully lifted the tiny girl, placing her on a soft cushion in the corner of the room. Narra covered her with the napkin to keep her warm. Carcinus watched with a thoughtful expression.
"She'll need time to recover. Spirits like her are delicate, especially when they've been confined for so long," Carcinus said.
"Thank you for your help, Carcinus. We'll take good care of her," Narra promised.
With the new responsibility of helping the tiny spirit girl, Narra felt a renewed sense of purpose. She knew that the House of Magnolia would become an even more magical place with their newest guest.