We live at the Foothills of Dragon Peak.
Ruiseine’s New Year’s Eve.
“Good morning, Lord Sleigsta.”
“Hmm. You are always so polite.”
“Um, Great-Grandpa. Can I climb up?”
“In contrast, you are always so free.”
As soon as we arrived at the Moss Garden, I stopped Pricilla-chan, who was trying to climb on top of Lord Sleigsta’s head, and exchanged morning greetings with her.
The pure morning air filled the entire Moss Garden, cleansing our spirits. While the air in Dragon Peak is clear, the Dragon Forest and the Moss Garden are special.
Is it perhaps because of the Spirit Tree?
Our gazes were naturally drawn to the depths of the Ancient Tree Forest where the Spirit Tree grew.
It has been many days since Elnea-kun went to train at the Spirit Tree for his last trial of the year.
And today.
The last day of the year.
Will Elnea-kun return?
“Lady Ruiseine. I’ve prepared the pots.”
“Both of you, be careful and go.”
“Priscilla is going too!”
“Me too!”
“Rim too!”
“Meow.”
That’s right. We can’t just idly wait for Elnea-kun to return. We’re busy today.
We have to collect the Spirit Tree’s dew to be served at the New Year’s Eve festival.
Nimia-chan has grown big, and Priscilla-chan jumped onto her. Laira-san, on Rim-chan’s back.
Then perhaps, Fiorina-chan for me?
Even though I’m a dragon, I hesitated to ride on the back of a young dragon. I worried if it was okay, but she spread her wings and said energetically, “Leave it to me!”
When I and Laira-san rode on their backs, Fiorina-chan and Rim-chan powerfully ascended into the air.
Nimia-chan followed suit.
Laira-san. Are you sure you can stand on Rim-chan’s back… Rim-chan seems to be having a bit of trouble flying.
Once airborne, we approached the branches and leaves of the Spirit Tree spreading out above us.
Spirit Tree dew is collected from the morning dew that gathers on the leaves of the Spirit Tree.
Before I knew Mistral-san’s transformed form, I wondered how they collected dew from the Spirit Tree far above, but now I understand.
They collected it by flying.
That is certainly a secret method that they couldn’t show us.
They probably harvested the Spirit Tree Fruit in the same way.
However, by learning about Mistral-san’s other form, I was able to take over part of the role she had been solely responsible for.
One of those tasks is collecting Spirit Tree dew like this.
Today, we need to collect more than usual, including the portion for the Mimicho Race. Moreover, we have to return to Mistral-san’s village in the afternoon to prepare for the festival, so we’re busy.
So, Elnea-kun.
I won’t be responsible if you don’t come back soon?
I, Fiorina-chan, Laira-san, Rim-chan, and the pair of Priscilla-chan and Nimia-chan divided into groups to collect the Spirit Tree dew.
The morning dew on a single leaf is tiny, and it’s tough to gather enough to serve many people.
It must have been difficult when Mistral-san collected it all by herself.
Fiorina-chan flapped her wings with all her might, bringing us as close to the Spirit Tree as possible. I stretched out my arm and held the pot beneath the leaf. With a light touch of my fingertip, one or two drops of dew would collect.
Laira-san and Rim-chan’s group drifted to the right and then to the left. They swayed up and down.
Again, Laira-san. Is it really okay for you to stand on the back of young dragon Rim-chan?
Priscilla-chan and Nimia-chan’s group seemed to be having a lot of fun. Priscilla-chan was joyfully hopping around on Nimia-chan’s back. Nimia-chan was mainly, or rather, almost entirely collecting the Spirit Tree dew by herself, but she was in a good mood, meowing happily.
They are truly a close pair.
We can’t afford to lose to these two groups.
Let’s collect diligently.
On the ground, we could see Mistral-san grooming Lord Sleigsta’s fur. The twins, mimicking her, were grooming Lord Asher’s fur, but it was just playing. Lord Asher let out a sigh of exasperation.
Lord Asher will end up spending New Year’s Eve here.
He said, “Dragons don’t have any special feelings about New Year’s Eve. We celebrate it hundreds of times in our lives, you know? I’m getting tired of it,” but Nimia-chan was worried that this couple’s quarrel was more intense than usual.
Will I and Elnea-kun also fight like this one day?
I can’t imagine it. We sometimes get noisy half-jokingly, or I get angry because of Elnea-kun’s carelessness, but it seems unlikely we’ll ever fight. Because he’s always kind and considerate of us.
As I collected Spirit Tree dew while thinking of Elnea-kun who hadn’t returned, it was already noon.
“Gathered a lot?”
“Yes. Fiorina-chan worked hard for us.”
Mistral-san waved from the ground, so we descended. Then on the ground, I received the pots from Laira-san and Nimia-chan and combined them.
“It’s a decent amount.”
“Laira-san, why do you have the least?”
“Flying was tough!”
We all scolded Laira-san while comforting the exhausted-looking Rim-chan.
“Um, well… that’s why…”
Laira-san shrank down and reflected. It would be cruel to bully her too much, and since Rim-chan seemed to have enjoyed herself more than being tired, let’s forgive her for now.
And so, we gathered enough to fill two pots, so we will give one to the Mimicho village.
“All right, after this, we’re going home for a banquet.”
“All right, after this, we’re going home for a drinking party.”
The twins, who had only seemed to be playing on the ground, cheerfully made their remarks, and now they were being scolded by Mistral-san.
“Don’t you two belong in the capital?”
“Mistral is cruel.”
“Mistral is a demon.”
“You are royalty, aren’t you? Last year Elnea told me that royalty has New Year’s Eve customs.”
“I’m not boasting, but I’ve never participated.”
“I’m not boasting, but I don’t know any customs.”
As royalty, is that appropriate…
When they say it with such exaggerated pride, one might almost be convinced. However, as princesses, shouldn’t they have a little more awareness…
Perhaps it’s because of these free-spirited individuals that we citizens of the Armēdo Kingdom, including Elnea-kun, don’t know the faces of our princes and princesses very well.
“Priscilla is staying over today too!”
“Me too!”
“Rim too!”
“Meow.”
However, a stern voice fell upon the children who enthusiastically raised their hands.
“Priscilla, you’re spending New Year’s Eve in your own village this year. I indulged your whim last year, so be good this year.”
“Nimia, you’ll spend it here with me. What do dragons do when celebrating New Year’s Eve with humans?”
“New Year’s Eve is nonsense. Rim and Fio will return with me as always.”
The children’s faces fell into despair at the words of Mistral-san, Lord Asher, and Lady Revalia, who had come to pick them up.
“No, no!”
Mistral-san caught Priscilla-chan, who showed a defiant refusal. Similarly, Nimia-chan was caught by Lord Asher. Fiorina-chan and Rim-chan were caught by Lady Revalia.
“I want to celebrate New Year’s Eve with everyone!”
“I want to try celebrating New Year’s Eve!”
“Elnea Older Brother, help meow!”
Nimia-chan called for help towards the depths of the Ancient Tree Forest. Could it be that Elnea-kun had returned?
All eyes turned to the depths of the Ancient Tree Forest where the Spirit Tree grew.
A rustling, cold, clear wind passed through the ancient trees.
The air, slightly different from usual before New Year’s Eve. It might be reflecting our excited feelings on this once-a-year occasion, the one that bridges the passing old year and the incoming new one.
This is also my first New Year’s Eve outside of temple events since I can remember. And it’s not with humans, but with the Dragon Race in a deep part of Dragon Peak.
It would be wonderful if I could spend this special, first-time day and night with Elnea-kun.
Surely, with the same feelings as mine, we all gazed into the depths of the forest.
“…”
A shadow appeared in the Ancient Tree Forest at the place where we were intently gazing.
“…A deer.”
At Mistral-san’s words, we all slumped in disappointment.
“Hmm. It seems we are too late.”
And so, with Lord Sleigsta’s merciless pronouncement, despair spread.
“Old Man…”
Mistral-san, surprisingly, glared at Lord Sleigsta.
I understand what you want to say!
If Lord Sleigsta hadn’t given Elnea-kun a trial at this time, surely everyone would have had a fun New Year’s Eve.
Elnea-kun would have surely indulged Priscilla-chan and Nimia-chan’s whims.
With Elnea-kun, our only hope, not returning, the younger ones fell into an even deeper despair than the older ones.
Priscilla-chan was crying inconsolably in Mistral-san’s arms.
Elnea-kun. You cause such a commotion even in places you aren’t in.
I won’t be responsible if this commotion continues until the New Year.
So please, come back soon.
The depths of the Ancient Tree Forest appeared to have a different hue than usual. Looking up at the Spirit Tree, I murmured in my heart.
“You know. Priscilla is going to stay up all day today. And watch the sunrise from the mountaintop.”
“This is my first New Year’s Eve without Grandpa!”
“Rim, this is my first time for everything!”
“Victory, meow.”
The children, munching on meat.
To think Mistral-san would give in to Priscilla-chan’s tantrum…
In the end, Mistral-san relented to the crying Priscilla-chan and gave permission for the New Year’s Eve celebration, which led to the decision for all the children to stay over, as they couldn’t be left out.
Mistral-san went to the Mimicho village to apologize for looking after Priscilla-chan for two consecutive years and to deliver the Spirit Tree dew they had just collected that morning.
The rest of us returned together to Mistral-san’s village.
Even though it was only past noon, the banquet had already begun.
Wasn’t the New Year’s Eve festival supposed to start before sunset?
A man who was nicely drunk tried to touch my rear, so I restrained him with Binding Magic and threw him into the barn.
Villagers who are usually away traveling returned with plenty of souvenirs, and travelers who were staying are returning to their own villages.
And so, in Mistral-san’s village, an unusual, intimate festival, with almost no guests, was held all night long on this day.
Usually, the women prepare the food, but on this day, the men also compete with their cooking skills.
And so, with food ranging from peculiar to exquisite dishes that rival those made by women, along with alcohol obtained from the lowlands and strong spirits made on Dragon Peak, a lively festival began.
No, it had already begun.
“Come now, you are all respectable members of our family, so enjoy yourselves to your heart’s content.”
We were welcomed by Cornelia-san, and we, excluding Mistral-san who had not yet returned, also joined the banquet.
Priscilla-chan and the others, whose overnight stay had been decided, hopped around in high spirits, while the twins shared strong drinks with the adults.
How many years has it been since Laira-san experienced such a boisterous New Year’s Eve?
Sitting next to her, who looked unsure of how to behave, we both shared a bitter smile.
In truth, I don’t know how to be rowdy either.
I want to enjoy the festival, but I don’t know how. I don’t regret living a righteous life as a miko, but it’s troublesome at times like this.
“Come now, young ladies. Don’t be shy.”
“This is how the Dragon Race celebrates New Year’s Eve by making a ruckus. We can’t go out much in winter, so we have to enjoy ourselves at times like this.”
Smiling at those who were being considerate, Laira-san and I joined the circle of the banquet.
It was a very tough year, but I was happy to be by Elnea-kun’s side.
Next year, no, I want to continue being happy like this forever.
I offered a prayer of gratitude to the Goddess who bestowed upon me a wonderful destiny, and to Elnea-kun, who guides me, as I reached the end of the year in the depths of Dragon Peak, where the sun had begun to set.
However, we had no way of knowing at that moment.
That something like that would happen to Mistral-san, who was not present here…
