As nightfall gradually descended,
the howling wind and snow that had persisted throughout the day began to subside, as if even the icy winter tempest were intimidated by the warmth of the festive atmosphere, enveloping the entire town in a spirit of celebration and joy.
Along the cobblestone streets, every household had hung colorful lanterns from wooden poles, each symbolizing blessings. For the next five days, townsfolk would continuously replenish the oil within these lanterns, ensuring their flames would burn brightly.
Thus, it would not be until five days later, when the celebrations of the Night of the Goddess came to a close, that these lanterns would be extinguished.
The empty streets were devoid of passersby, yet the sounds of cheer, laughter, and blessings spilling through the cracks of each door seemed to dispel the chill of the winter night.
Each threshold appeared to lead to a distinct world, each filled with its own joy and happiness.
In some courtyards, children gathered, exuberantly shouting and racing about, occasionally colliding with adults who were busy decorating with colorful ribbons, their laughter illuminating the faces of the children and the affectionate exasperation of the adults.
In other yards, due to the stern requests of the elders, children sat somewhat restrained beside their parents, intermittently hearing the laughter from a neighboring courtyard, casting envious glances over the dividing wall, fearful of being reprimanded by the solemn elders performing ancestral rites.
From a distance, amidst the deep and frigid night, the town was shrouded in a serene and lively atmosphere, with various courtyards aglow, reflecting the diverse expressions of joy.
Men laughed and toasted one another, discussing the harvests of the coming year. Women gathered, joyfully sharing tales of everyday life, punctuated by bursts of soft laughter.
Behind every door lay a small world of happiness.
Yet, regardless of the merriment and celebrations outside, it remained disconnected from the quiet little room where two siblings sat closely around a small hearth.
Little Lux, clad in an oversized, tattered cotton coat, hugged her knees as she gazed longingly at a small piece of Tashar meat sizzling over the flames.
Though Tashar meat was delectable, its price of one silver coin per pound was enough to deter the siblings; the money for such a small morsel could have sustained them with bread for nearly a month.
Even on the Night of the Goddess, the siblings could not afford to squander their meager savings for a mere piece of Tashar meat, a reward given to the boy by Baron Kalan Almon for retrieving his lost kitten not long ago.
For the siblings, this was undoubtedly the highlight of their year.
At least the boy felt a sense of relief; this year, they would not be confined to their tiny room, gnawing on dry bread while other families prepared lavish feasts for the Night of the Goddess.
With this small piece of Tashar meat, the evening finally held a semblance of festive spirit.
Watching her brother carefully turn the meat over the flames, Lux inhaled the savory aroma wafting from the Tashar, her mouth watering at the thought of indulging in such a delightful meal, a luxury she had not tasted in years.
Her brother handled the meat with utmost caution, as they lacked proper grilling tools. He treated the precious Tashar as if it were a fragile glass ornament, ensuring the flames evenly kissed every corner of the meat.
"Phew…" With a gentle exhale, Lux tilted her head, contemplating how silly it was to sit idly by the hearth waiting for the meat to cook, knowing it would take time. Tonight was the Night of the Goddess, and surely Baron Kalan would illuminate his estate with beautiful magical fireworks.
The little girl felt a sudden urge to witness the spectacle.
Tilting her head in thought, she dashed across the wooden floor to the corner of the room, retrieving the iron hammer and nails her brother had used earlier to repair the roof. She then scampered back outside, exclaiming, "Brother, I'll return these tools to Grandpa Barton!"
"Uh… alright, but be careful; the snow outside is slippery. Don't hurt yourself," the boy cautioned, watching his sister's frail figure. He added, "Don't linger outside too long; come back soon, or the Tashar meat will get cold and taste less delicious."
"I know, I know." With the soft sound of the door closing, the cheerful voice of the little girl echoed back.
However, before long, just as the boy gingerly removed the Tashar from the fire, his sister returned with an air of mystery, breathless from her hurried run. She approached him and pulled something from her pocket, saying, "Brother, this is for you."
Upon closer inspection, it was a beautifully wrapped Acaro.
"Uh…" The boy took the Acaro in his hands. "Did Grandpa Barton give this to us?"
"Try it!" Lux urged, her eyes sparkling with innocence.
The Acaro, filled with sweet syrupy filling, was a rare treat in their small town, its exquisite packaging suggesting it was quite valuable. Although the boy had seen such delicacies in the shop, he had never imagined he would possess one.
Given their financial struggles, it was unlikely that the frugal Grandpa Barton would have bought it, yet Lux looked at him with eager anticipation, saying, "Eat it, eat it!"
After hesitating for a moment, he tore open the wrapper and broke off a small piece, taking a tiny bite.
"Is it delicious?"
"Mm-hmm," the boy nodded, passing the larger half back to Lux. "Save it for midnight; why do you have it out now?"
"This is all for you; Lux has more!"
With a joyful smile, Lux pulled another Acaro from her bulging pocket, exclaiming, "There are several more…"
"Isn't this from Grandpa Barton? Where did you get it?"
The boy furrowed his brow. Lux, initially eager to boast, faltered under his gaze, her expression shifting to defiance: "It's none of your business!"
"Where did you get it?"
"I said it's none of your business!"
The boy seized her hand, prompting Lux to cry out, pulling back in an attempt to break free. He reached into her bulging pocket, and she screamed, "Ah—" as she struggled desperately.
The boy had the advantage in strength, and with their age difference, it wasn't long before three Acaros tumbled out during their tussle, landing on the floor. Lux, in tears, pushed him down, but he quickly regained his footing, face flushed with anger: "Where did you get this?"
"I took it while the adults were fighting; no one saw me!"
"You stole it!" The boy grabbed her hand again. "We're returning it."
"No way!" Lux clung to the Acaros, "No one saw me!"
"Even if no one saw, it doesn't belong to us!"
"But they all think we're thieves! We… we didn't steal anything! We clearly didn't take anything, yet they still believe we did!"
Lux cried loudly, cradling the Acaros, "And they even hurt my brother! They won't let him work in town, forcing him to chop wood in the mountains and trade it for money at the baron's house. He even got bitten by a poisonous snake! Brother… sob… Brother almost left Lux forever, just like Father did!"
Upon hearing her words, the boy's face turned even redder. After a long pause, he replied, "But… I didn't steal anything! They hurt me, but I didn't steal."
"Wah… they think we're thieves anyway… why can't we steal?"
"Even if they think we're thieves, we still can't steal."
"I won't return it! They already called us thieves, so why can't we steal?" Lux cried, seeking justification. "And you've already eaten! How can we return it?"
"It must be returned!"
"No!"
"Come with me to return it."
"…"
The siblings stood their ground, neither willing to relent. Lux protected the Acaros while the boy attempted to drag her away. In the ensuing struggle, Lux bit his hand, and he retaliated with a slap. Their tug-of-war escalated into a full-blown fight, lasting several minutes. Ultimately, Lux, her hair disheveled and having endured several hits, found herself sitting on the ground, wailing as her Acaros were taken from her.
The boy, faring worse with his sleeve torn and three scratches bleeding on his face, held all the Acaros in a triumphant manner. He pulled Lux up, declaring, "Let's go!"
The more fragile Lux surrendered, allowing him to lead her back, tears streaming down her face. Upon reaching the intersection of the town, the boy inquired about the shop, then sternly instructed, "Stay here!" before turning to return the Acaros.
Lux, still sobbing, grabbed his arm, "Brother, they… they will hurt you."
"It's none of your concern."
"We should go together; let them hurt me instead. We… we won't return the Acaros, okay?"
"I told you to stay here!"
"But you said the Acaros are delicious…"
As her voice trembled, the boy hesitated, glancing at the half-eaten Acaro in his hand. He turned back, pulling it out, his expression darkening: "You take a bite."
Lux shook her head through her tears.
"I said take a bite!" The boy pinched her face, forcibly shoving the Acaro, filled with sweet syrup, into her mouth, prompting her to exclaim, "Why?"
"Father said that Demacians are all honorable people, and Demacian soldiers are honorable soldiers. We are Father's children, so we must be honorable and not bring shame upon him," the boy stated, placing the remaining Acaro back in its wrapper. "You stay here, and don't follow me!"
At last, he strode toward the shop.
With a large bite of Acaro lodged in her mouth, chewing became a challenge. She watched her brother, who seemed hesitant at the shop's entrance, savoring the sweet and tangy flavor while her small fists clenched tightly, bouncing anxiously—an instinctive reaction she displayed when worried.
The shopkeeper emerged, conversing with the boy, who then returned the Acaro, including the one that had been bitten.
Lux clenched her fists tightly, nervously glancing between the two. Fortunately, the anticipated confrontation did not occur; the shopkeeper even offered to give the boy the opened Acaro, which he declined, apologizing before rushing back to Lux, wordlessly pulling her toward home.
This little tale of the Acaro was inspired by a segment from an urban novel, where the protagonists were not siblings, and the little girl had secretly taken a mooncake… I believe that only those who can maintain their moral integrity amidst such adversity are the true paragons of Demacian virtue, like Garen.