Despite their advanced 'thermal management' technologies, winters in the Kingdom of Atlas were still incredibly fucking cold. More often than not, the morning would begin with a thin layer of snow on the ground at the very least. Although, I know for a fact that winters in Mantle are worse than in the City of Atlas. That first winter I was in Remnant was spent in a shitty motel in Mantle with barely any heating, hunkering down under half a dozen blankets.

Thankfully, that was behind me now. Now I could actually enjoy the time of year.

Year's End (or as I had called it the first year I was here 'Not-Christmas'.), was one long celebration. Entirely unsurprisingly, it took place on the last day of the year. Parades and markets and family gatherings during the day, along with actual religious services in the early evening. And at midnight, the New Year was welcomed in by fireworks. (Frankly, most festivals involved fireworks or fire of some kind in Atlas. I'm almost convinced it's an excuse to play with explosives to be honest.)

Gifts were exchanged, although they were rarely extravagant. That sort of thing was actually reserved for one's Birthday. Instead, most of the costs of the celebration went on the food and decorations (but I will confess, the absence of a decorated Tree still hit me hard).

I had woken up early, so much so that it was still dark outside. After a quick breakfast of toast and coffee, I set to work. I'll be damned if Cinder's first Year's End in an actual safe environment is a poor one.

Now, time to get to work.

Cinder Fall had woken that day to a sweet smell in the air.

A small smile crossed her face as she all but launched herself out of her bed. Sometimes, Mister Casper would bake in the mornings when he wasn't working. If she was awake, he would even let her help! She pulled on her fluffy dressing gown and ventured out of her room. Her room! It was hers! Before, she was lucky if Mama let her have a box to sleep in. But now, Mister Casper trusted her with a room. With a bed and a wardrobe and a bookcase!

She didn't really understand what the decorations that were around the place she called home were for, but Mister Casper had put them up, so they had to be important. Mister Casper had explained it to her, but maybe she was too small to understand it.

Mister Casper greeted her with a smile. He stepped towards her, and gently ruffled her hair. "Good morning, Little Cinder. Happy Year's End."

"Good morning Mister Casper!" She smiled.

The man glanced back to the oven, and whatever sweet treats that were cooking, before he nodded and spoke again.

"Come on." He said, offering a hand which she eagerly took. "I think I can let you have a gift before breakfast."

He led her across the main room, and sat her down on the couch. Cinder watched with curious eyes as he picked up something wrapped in colourful paper. He handed to to her with the words. "There we go, Little Cinder. Why don't you go ahead and open that."

"But..won't that break the paper?" She had questioned, but Mister Casper had waved away her concern.

"That's what you're meant to do with it." He had reassured her. So she tore open the package, just as you were supposed to. Mister Casper wouldn't guide her wrong.

Cinder's eyes lit up, and she let out a happy gasp at the sight before her. It was a scarf. Fluffy and warm and red! She held it up to her cheek and sighed contentedly. She liked being warm, and the scarf was warm. It was with some reluctance that the small girl put the scarf down and proceeded to throw her small arms around the now smiling Mister Casper.

"Thank you!" She cried. "I-I..uhm...Happy Year's End, Mister Casper!"