“Mr. Liam!” Dama exclaimed, his excitement lighting up his face as he ran up to greet him.

  Liam nodded, a warm smile spreading across his face as he mirrored Dama’s energy. “Hey, Dama! What’s all this wool for?” he asked, gesturing to the bags Mumu was carrying. Before Dama could answer, Liam raised a finger, a knowing look in his eyes. “Wait, let me guess. You were just at Kina’s farm, and now you’re running one of her errands, huh?”

  Dama laughed, nodding. “You got it, Mr. Liam! I’m glad I ran into you, though. Ms. Kina asked me to deliver this wool to Ms. Alexandra, but I’m not sure where she is right now. Since you and Ms. Alexandra are so close, do you know where she might be?”

  Liam chuckled at Dama’s phrasing, running a hand through his blonde hair. “Close is an understatement.” he thought to himself with a grin. “Yes, I know where she is. She’s at my house right now actually.”

  Liam turned on his heel and waved for Dama and Mumu to follow. “Come on, I’ll walk you back to my place. Besides, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something, Dama.”

  Sharing a quick, puzzled glance, Dama and Mumu jogged to catch up with Liam. “What did you want to talk about, Mr. Liam?” Dama asked, curiosity piqued.

  “It’s about the upcoming Enohayen Spirit Festival,” Liam began, keeping a steady pace, “I wanted to see how you’d feel about being a major part of it this year.”

  Before Dama could respond, Liam turned to Mumu. “Hey, Mumu, mind tossing me a bag or two? I can help carry some of this wool.”

  Mumu, seeing why not, tossed two of the bags over to Liam, who caught them with ease. Meanwhile, Dama processed Liam’s words, furrowing his brows whilst thinking. “A major part? Do you mean helping out with the preparation?”

  Liam chuckled softly, shifting the bags in his arms for a better grip. “Nah, no need to worry about that part. The adults have the prep work covered. What I mean is giving you your own station at the festival.”

  Dama came to an abrupt stop, blinking in surprise. “A station of my own at the Enohayen Spirit Festival…?” he repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief. He glanced upward, scratching his head as his thoughts raced. “How would that even look like?”

  Liam simply smiled at Dama’s confusion and waved a hand casually. “The sky’s the limit, Dama. Don’t stress if you can’t think of anything right now. The festival’s still two months away, so you’ve got plenty of time to figure it out.”

  Dama nodded, still letting the idea sink in, with Mumu none the wiser.

  Liam continued, adjusting the bags of wool in his arms. “Chief Owain and Chiefess Tsubasa will have their own station as always. They’ll be talking about Enohay culture—history, traditions, all that good stuff. Kina, the Nurals, even Koul and his daughter, Mary, will have theirs too.” Pausing, Liam rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “If I remember correct…I think they’re working on making handmade wooden instruments, planning to teach folks about music and what can be made with simple hardwood building to encourage creativity."

  Dama couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “That definitely sounds like Mr. Koul.” he said with a grin, fond memories of the man’s creativity coming to mind. His then grin softened as he thought about Mary. "She’ll be there too, I’ll have to make sure to see her station when I get a chance."

  Liam glanced back at Dama, catching his attention again. “If you’re looking for inspiration, though,” he began, “I think a station based on Mumu and Nini would be fantastic. The kids absolutely adore those two.”

  Mumu perked up at that, his ears twitching slightly, while Dama tilted his head in curiosity.

  “Plus,” Liam added, “you could even pair up with Kina. She’s great with animals, and she knows how to make stuffed ones too—both of which fit Mumu and Nini. Between the two of you, you could keep the kids entertained while Kina talks about the joys and dangers of handling real animals.”

  Dama’s eyes lit up as the idea began to take shape in his mind. “That…actually sounds like a lot of fun!” he admitted, glancing at Mumu, who nodded with enthusiasm fueled by the thought of being petted and adored throughout the event. “I think Mumu would like it too!”

  “Well, there you go!” Liam said with a laugh. “Talk to Kina about it next time you see her. You two would make a great team!”

  Dama furrowed his brow, looking at Liam with genuine curiosity. “But…why me?” he asked, his voice soft but sincere. “I mean, to my knowledge, the only people who get stations every year are those who contribute a lot to the village—like Mr. Koul with his building, Ms. Kina with her farming, and especially Gramps Owain and Chiefess Tsubasa with...well, everything they do.”

  Liam paused mid-step, a small scoff escaping him as he shifted one of the wool bags under his right shoulder to free his left hand. Without missing a beat, he reached over and ruffled Dama’s unruly hair, eliciting a surprised squeak from the boy. “Don’t sell yourself short, buddy.” Liam said warmly, his tone both teasing and earnest. “You might not see it, but you do a lot for the residents of Enohay Valley.”

  Dama blinked, perplexed. “I-I do?”

  “Of course!” Liam replied, chuckling in a warm, uncle type manner as he straightened up. “Maybe it’s not the same as Koul’s carpentry, Kina’s crops, or Alexandra’s tailoring, but you’re a little ball of sunshine around here. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard people say in passing how grateful they are for you. You’re always helping with tasks, running errands, and doing it all with that big ol’ smile of yours.”

  Dama’s cheeks flushed a deep red as Liam continued, his words carrying a sincerity that Dama hadn’t expected.

  “And let me tell you,” Liam added, pointing at him for emphasis, “putting smiles on people’s faces, whether they’re kids or adults, is just as important as any of the other stuff. That’s why you’re being given this opportunity. That, and the fact you turned thirteen last year—it’s a good time to start recognizing all you do for the community.”

  Dama couldn’t contain the enormous grin that spread across his face, though he tried to hide it by looking down at the ground, his face still bright red. “T-Thank you, Mr. Liam..." he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Liam laughed with heart, giving Dama’s shoulder a light pat. “No problem, buddy. You’ve earned it.”

  Right after, he turned his gaze forward and spotted the familiar blue roof of his single-story house towering over the wave of villagers going about their day. “There we are!” he said, quickening his steps. He jogged up the porch steps and paused at the door, turning to Dama and Mumu with a welcoming grin. “Been a while since you two stopped by, huh?”

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  Dama nodded, shifting the bags of wool under his arm. “Yeah, it has, Mr. Liam. Thanks for letting us visit!”

  Liam chuckled as he unlocked the door. “Don’t expect much. The place hasn’t changed much since the last time you were here. I keep meaning to spice it up, but, you know...” He trailed off, opening the door and stepping aside to let them in.

  But as the door swung open, his words caught in his throat. Sitting at his dining table was Chiefess Tsubasa, sipping tea with Alexandra. The Chiefess, with her poised elegance, radiated quiet authority, while Alexandra’s warm smile made the scene feel surprisingly casual.

  Tsubasa turned her head at the sound of the door opening, her serene eyes meeting Liam’s startled gaze. “Ah, Liam,” she said, her voice soft and welcoming, “welcome back.”

  Alexandra glanced up and smiled wide. “Liam, you’re back already! Guess who came right when you left!”

  Liam blinked in surprise with Dama and Mumu perking up at the coincidence. “Chiefess Tsubasa? I—uh, wow, I wasn’t expecting you to be here.” He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to process the situation.

  Tsubasa’s lips curved into a slight smile. “I hope I’m not intruding. Alexandra was kind enough to invite me in for tea while we discussed some tailoring requests.”

  “No, no, not at all,” Liam said quickly, “you’re always welcome here, Chiefess. I just didn’t know we had such esteemed company today.” He glanced at Alexandra, who gave him a knowing nod.

  Dama and Mumu, standing by the door, waved, with Dama saying, "Hey Granny Tsu! It's nice to see you already up and about!"

  Tsubasa chuckled softly as she took a sip of her tea. “And you as well, Dama. Mumu.”

  Alexandra stood, wiping her hands on her apron. “Come on in, everyone. Don’t mind us.” She said before she glanced at the bags of wool. “Oh, and what’s all this?”

  “Wool from Ms. Kina!” Dama explained with a cheery tone, holding up one of the bags. “She asked us to deliver it to you!”

  Alexandra’s face lit up. “Ah, perfect timing! Thank you so much, Dama. You’re a lifesaver!”

  Liam smiled, setting down the bags he carried. “Guess we showed up at just the right time, huh?”

  “Why don’t I make you and Mumu something to drink as thanks?” Alexandra offered, which Dama hesitated. He had been wanting to speak with Tsubasa about Giona, but with Liam and Alexandra in earshot, he knew it wasn’t the right time.

  He opened his mouth to politely decline when he caught something out of the corner of his eye—Tsubasa nodding rapidly, staring directly at him. Confused but trusting his gut, Dama changed course. “Um…sure! That’d be nice.”

  Alexandra’s face brightened. “Great! I’ll get right to it!” she said before pausing and tilting her head, studying Dama and Mumu a bit more closely. “Wait a minute, where’s Nini? It’s rare to see her missing.”

  Liam, shocked, nodded in agreement. “Yeah, it’s usually the three of you. Did something happen? I'm surprised I didn't realize that earlier...”

  Dama froze, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. Scrambling for a plausible excuse, he stammered, “Oh, uh… Nini was just really tired today, so she stayed back to rest!” He glanced nervously at Tsubasa, who nodded in a silent approval.

  Alexandra looked up at the ceiling in thought for a brief moment before shrugging. “Well, Mumu and Nini need their rest too. I don’t blame her for sleeping in.” She turned toward the kitchen. “I’ll start on your drinks!”

  As she disappeared into the kitchen, Liam reached over and ruffled Dama’s hair. “Guess that means I’ll take my leave. I need to grab what I originally came out for before I ran into you two.”

  Alexandra popped her head back out of the kitchen, pouting slightly. “You’re leaving? I thought you’d stay for a bit longer.”

  Liam shrugged, but before he could respond, Alexandra strode over and planted a quick kiss on his lips. “Be back soon.”

  Liam, flustered but clearly happy, protested weakly. “A-Alex…we’ve got company.” he whispered out.

  Alexandra, on the other hand, grinned mischievously as she got closer to Liam. “Oh, please, just one tiny peck on the lips?”

  As the two lovebirds continued to joke with each other at the door, Dama couldn’t help but feel a bit amused at their playful banter. But his internal chuckle was interrupted when he felt something brush against his arm. Turning his head, he saw Tsubasa’s bushy gray tail gently tapping him.

  She met his eyes with a calm, knowing look, then tapped the table with a finger, gesturing for him to sit in the chair beside her.

  Understanding the cue, Dama nodded and made his way to the chair. Just as he sat down, he heard Liam and Alexandra exchanging their final goodbyes. The front door closed with a soft thud, and Alexandra immediately dashed back to the dining area, bowing apologetically.

  “Sorry about that!” she said with an embarrassed laugh, her cheeks with a slight flush. But before anyone could respond, she spun on her heel and skipped back to the kitchen, her love for Liam unmistakable in the radiant grin she wore. A cheerful humming followed, echoing through the house as she busied herself.

  Dama watched her for a moment, then turned back to Tsubasa, who had leaned slightly closer to him. “How is Giona?” she asked in a soft whisper, her voice barely audible over Alexandra’s tune.

  Dama straightened his back, careful not to let his reaction betray anything to Alexandra, and whispered back, “She’s okay and safe with Nini watching over her.”

  Leaning in closer, Tsubasa whispered again, her tone laced with concern, "Dama, has Giona had any nightmares or fear-induced reactions since I last saw her?"

  As Dama whispered about Giona’s recent struggles, Tsubasa listened intently, her serene expression revealing a quiet, yet profound concern. "She…she woke up screaming once." Dama began, his voice soft but tinged with guilt.

  "It was the night you came over to explain all that stuff about Soulful, Affinity, and Cursed Techniques. Remember when she freaked out during it? I—I thought she’d be okay after everything, but…" He hesitated, glancing toward the kitchen where Alexandra’s cheerful humming floated through the air, ensuring they weren’t overheard.

  Lowering his voice further, he continued. "That night, she had a nightmare. A bad one. She woke up crying and screaming, and for a second, I didn’t even know what was happening. She kept saying my name, like…like she was terrified. I calmed her down, though."

  Dama paused, his gaze falling to his hand in his lap. "It took a while, but she finally stopped shaking and crying. She even smiled a little before going back to sleep. But…" He swallowed, his voice becoming quieter. "This morning, when we were eating, she accidentally spilled some stew on me. It wasn’t a big deal, but she looked at me like she thought I was gonna yell at her...or worse—like she expected me to hurt her." The memory clearly weighed on him, causing his shoulders slumped.

  Tsubasa, who had been listening with unwavering focus, nodded slowly. Her bushy gray tail gently curled around Dama’s side, a comforting gesture that made him glance up at her. "I would never..."

  "I know that, Dama..." she whispered firmly, her silver eyes meeting his with absolute certainty. "You’ve already shown her more kindness and care than she’s probably known in a long time. That’s why I’m trusting only you with her right now."

  Dama blinked, his lips parting as if to protest, but Tsubasa raised her hand, silencing him with a subtle shake of her head. "Listen," she continued, her voice soft but steady, "Giona has been through things most of us can’t even begin to imagine. It’s going to take time for her to feel safe again, to truly believe that you’d never hurt her. But she will, Dama, that of which I have no doubt. I can already see the difference you’re making."

  Dama stared at her for a moment, his chest tightening with a mix of gratitude and determination, and with a faint smile, he nodded. "Thank you, Granny." he murmured, his voice a little steadier now.

  Tsubasa’s tail gave a reassuring pat against his side before retracting as she leaned back, her calm and composed demeanor returning. "Anytime, my boy," she said, "we'll come back to this once we're out of here. For now, let's enjoy the gift of the present."

  Dama nodded again, a quiet resolve settling within him. No matter how long it took, he was determined to make Giona feel safe and happy again whilst she recovers.

  However, in the same vine of thought, Dama couldn't help but to wonder, "After all is said and done, after we do make her feel safe and happy again—what will happen to her?"

  -

  Next: (Extra Chapter 7) Jaden Dirk The Merchant