Sora no Ato: Chapter 7
A Festival of Peace: A Present of Friendship
The morning of the Water Sprinkling Festival the platoon gathered in the hall of the fortress.
``Let's decide who will be the Fire Maiden this year,'' said Filicia.
Kureha did not want to draw straws, as she remembered Filicia letting slip last year that she had rigged the drawing. She was afraid that she would be chosen and didn't want to be, whether it was from a fear she could not do as well as Rio had, or whether she was simply embarrassed, or just from sheer orneriness, not even she could say. A word and a look form Filicia shut up any explanation of her disinclination. Filicia proposed rock-paper-scissors and Rio suggested a single round, as she just wanted to get it over quickly.
Kanata was chosen.
Kureha soon dressed her in the robes of the Fire Maiden. She was initially embarrassed to be seen in them, but everyone said they looked good on her. Rio's word meant the most to her, and she blushed when Rio brought out the necklace she had Karl make for whoever played the fire maiden, and put it around her neck. She put a comforting hand on Kanata's head, observing it had been a full year since her arrival in Seize. They both recalled the many events of that year and how each had grown. Kanata even claimed to have found her dream, wanting to follow Rio in hers. Rio granted this, though she thought to herself that Kanata would someday find her own dream—she had to—just as Rio had found her own after following Iliya as her dream as a child.
As they watched the three youngsters head across the bridge, Filicia commented, ``You can almost hear them, the footsteps of a dream, the voice of the future. Go in peace. I will be here, so no matter where you go, you can always come home.''
Rio looked at her and smiled. It was true, she would always have a home here with Filicia to come back to, but then she hoped to also make a new home in the Roman Empire. And Filicia deserved to be more than just a sit-at-home mom. So when the others called back to them, Rio took her hand and ran after them. The five together ran across the bridge, laughing, to take part in the festival together. They would all have fun enjoying life, for life is meant to be enjoyed.
They forwent participating in the water-throwing portion of the events in the square: Kanata was the only one who might have enjoyed it, and she did not want to get her special outfit soaked. Rio joked with her about it. ``At least this time you won't get your uniform soaked ...twice.''
``And,'' said Kanata, ``you should keep your bell safe so it isn't stolen, either.''
Kureha felt the water-throwing was beneath her dignity, and the other three were more interested in looking at the stalls lining the streets and the rest of the festivities than showering each other and their fellow townspeople. The stalls selling trinkets and food were a lot of fun. Kureha spotted and commented on the caramel apples, so Rio bought her one. Then, to be fair, she bought rice-balls for everyone else. Kanata remembered these fondly from her hometown. They all found the selection of masks amusing: animals, actresses, ogres, and such. Filicia smiled gently, pleased that the rest of the girls were all having a good time.
Time came for the second half of the festival, and Kanata boarded the portable shrine. She actually had fun being the fire maiden aboard, sprinkling all the townspeople from her perch atop it as it was pulled through the streets. You are not the ones who killed the original Fire Maidens, she thought as she threw the water. We're all grateful for what they did, that they saved this town. You helped us too, so you should be happy and celebrate this peace we have.
Many townspeople looking on caught her expression and realized in part what she was thinking: the joy in life and the desire to celebrate. While the way Kanata carried herself did not hold the echo of times past and the Fire Maidens of old—that ancient regal touch—that Rio did, she rather carried a hope of joy to come, a youthful expectation of a better tomorrow.
The sun set, and Filicia and the rest of her platoon gathered to watch Kanata in the reenactment of the Fire Maiden's legend. Kureha smiled up at Rio. ``She's doing all right, but she's not as good as you were.'' Her admiration of Rio was still strong.
``I don't know.'' Rio smiled back. ``Kanata is doing very well. And it looks like she's enjoying it too ...more than I did.'' At that moment, Kanata was suppressing a smile as she was showered with water as she held the ``daemon head.''
The play finished without interruption this year, and the townspeople stood silent in thanks to the Fire Maidens for their sacrifice. After a moment in remembrance like this, Kanata took up her trumpet, put it to her lips, and once more played the Sound of the Sky. All were moved by this ancient melody, and a few even recognized old Roman version of the legend with the sound of the golden horn given by the angel bidding the other attacking angels depart. More recognized the song as the one which had bid the armies cease in Nomansland.
And so, the festival literally ended on a note of hope, peace and joy.
ooo OOO ooo
Next morning after breakfast, Rio found Kanata. ``Could you do me a favor?'' she asked.
``Of course, Rio-sempai. What do you want me to do?'' Kanata loved being useful, especially to Rio.
``Would you mind coming into town with me today? I need to get a birthday present for a five-year-old girl, and would appreciate your advice in picking it out. I'll clear things with Filicia.'' Even though this was the day after the festival, there would still be plenty of selection in the town square to choose from. The ordinary merchants would be augmented by those who came in from out-of-town for the festival and stayed to make a few more sales before heading home. Rio and Kanata also wouldn't have to fight the festival crowds, and the merchants would be happy to give them more time.
``Sure. I'd love to.'' Kanata bubbled with joy at the chance to spend time like this with her. ``Who is it for?''
Rio blushed and quietly answered, ``It's for Anna, Emperor Franz Leopold's youngest daughter. Her birthday is in a few weeks, and I want to make sure her present gets there in time. I'm not so good with children, but...'' She trailed off, then continued in another direction. ``So I'd appreciate your thoughts on what she might like.'' She wasn't sure how to put it, but she valued Kanata's childlike innocence and joy in life and hoped she would have a better feeling what a five-year-old would like.
Kanata understood, at least what Rio wanted her help for, if not all of her reasons for asking specifically. ``And you want her to like you, since you're going to end up her step-mother, right?''
Rio nodded, grateful for Kanata's perceptiveness of that reason. ``I'll go check with Filicia. Then we can change and head into town.''
``Yes, Rio-sempai.''
.
As expected, Filicia was glad to approve this outing, and the two soon changed out of their uniforms and headed across the bridge together into Seize. As they walked up the narrow streets toward the market, Kanata asked, ``So, do you have an idea what you're looking for? What is ...Anna like?'' She had to pause to remember Anna's name, but Rio gave her full credit for actually remembering and calling Anna by name.
``Well, I haven't met her personally, but from talking to Franz Leopold she sounds like a cheerful and fun girl.'' Rio proceeded to relate some of the stories of Anna which he had told her. ``Oh, and I can actually show you her picture.'' Rio stopped, took the family photo she had received out of the envelope she was carrying, and showed it to Kanata. ``I brought this along as I also need to find a frame for this to go on my desk.''
Kanata carefully studied the picture. ``So this is Anna?'' she asked, pointing to the youngest girl. ``And this is the Roman... Emperor Franz Leopold?''
``Yes, and yes,'' Rio answered. She pointed out the others in the picture. ``And these are his other daughters, Elanor and Theresa, and his late wife, Maria.''
``They look like a nice family.'' Kanata was ever the optimist, but she really did think they looked nice. And she understood why Rio would want this picture on her desk, though she didn't think about that explicitly.
At Kanata's urging, Rio proceeded to tell more about Franz Leopold and his family.
.
The two had a great time looking at the various stalls at the market. One or the other would spot something and point it out to the other to look at and comment on. Some things, like the shirts with amusing sayings, just brought a laugh from both of them, but others were real possibilities for Anna's present. Some of the glass sculptures from Windmill were very nice, and Anna might well like one, but they were fragile and might be difficult to ship. Rio would keep them in mind for later, though.
As they walked the market many folks recognized Kanata and Rio and were very happy to see them here.
``Missy, thank you for bringing the Princess with you this time.
``Princess Rio, please take one of these.''
``Missy, Princess Rio, thank you for the peace.''
``Princess, Missy, you did a wonderful job as the Fire Maidens for our Water Sprinkling Festival, last year and this. Thank you.''
Kanata was used to being friends with all the townspeople, and accepted these greetings naturally. Rio was still working on getting used to them, but she soon learned to answer back in a similar friendly way to Kanata and to accept those gifts which she would like to have from the people. She was still trying to get used to being called Princess, so this was good practice.
They finally found a pretty pendant patterned after wisteria blossoms. ``Don't these remind you of the flowers at that old fortress where you flew the balloon?'' Kanata asked.
``Yes they do.'' Rio amiably ruffled Kanata's hair. ``And I'll always remember that flight and that dawn, and these flowers were a part of that too.''
``So they're special in their own way, right?''
Rio nodded, then held up the pendant for a closer examination. The violet enamel showed the delicate shades of the petals and the metal backing did well forming the other parts of the flowers. It would stand up to both shipping back to Rome and also a five-year-old's wear and tear.
``It's too bad this isn't also a bell like yours,'' Kanata commented, noticing that Rio still wore the bell Shuko stole from her on her first day in Seize. Rio pulled out her bell, looked at it and the wisteria-blossom pendant, and thought again of her sister Iliya. When Kanata added, ``I hope Anna will similarly treasure this,'' Rio decided. This was the present. She would also write Anna some of the reasons it was special to her and why she chose it.
They walked back, carrying a small box with the pendant and a pair of frames for Rio's pictures: the family portrait and the engagement photo. Now Rio's desk would also have them, just like Franz Leopold's did.
``Thank you for helping me pick these out, Kanata. I hope you had a good time.''
``I did! I did, Rio-sempai.'' Kanata's joy was palpable. ``Did you have fun too?''
Rio was slow to answer, but as she thought a smile grew on her face. ``Yes ...I did. Thank you.''
A thought came to Rio as they were crossing the bridge back to the Timekeeping Fortress. ``I should see if Kureha would like to spend a day together like this sometime too. Do you think she would?''
``That'd make her really happy,'' Kanata answered, ``though I don't know if shopping is her favorite thing. Ask her.''
``I will.'' Rio smiled, thinking on her relations with people and how she continued to learn about them. ``I should spend time with each of you individually while I'm back here.''
Kanata nodded, agreeing but saddened by the reminder that Rio had not come back to them permanently. Her natural cheerfulness asserted itself as she realized she should rather be happy for the gift of Rio's time back with them. ``We should thank Emperor Franz Leopold for letting you come back here,'' she observed.
Rio smiled quietly back, agreeing with Kanata. She said nothing as her own emotions were still unsettled with regard to him.