Greyashe chapter 328 is entitled 'White festival.'

Previous chapter 327: Welcome back

Next chapter 329: What you lost

Summary page

-Short summary-

Van and his group partake in local festivities while in Greyashe.

-Long summary-

Roysé wonders how she got into this predicament.

She had awoken after resting for a full day not too long ago, and upon finding out that her ‘brother’ Van had gone out, and this is his hometown she wanted to explore and find him. Before she could however, everyone; (And this literally means everyone.) stopped her because of Greyashe’s weather. As an angel who has very little experience with snow in her own motherland, she doesn’t quite understand the fervor, but relents and asks everyone what she should do?

Several moments and layers of clothes later, the angel is struggling to stand up straight. Humans wear all of this just to go outside? She had always known they were different, (read –more fragile) than her own people, but this is beyond even her wildest expectations. By the time she’d be able to waddle to the door, Van would be back! She’s usually very tolerant of people trying to help her, but this is far too much. Nancy, Colin and Lazaro fawn over how cute she looks in the winter wear which makes it even harder for her to speak up and say she isn’t quite fond of having to wear so much. Nancy and Lazaro are shocked, as they’re just barely staving off freezing. Roysé assures them that she’ll be fine and is soon just wearing her shawl, shorts and boots. (The boots are non-negotiable.) Lazaro continues fawning over her as Nancy shakes her head in disbelief. What is this girl? She doesn’t seem to be bothered by the weather at all, despite wearing so little! Nick grins and says that she’s his type. He likes girls who aren’t overly delicate. Nancy’s fine too but she’s far too old for his liking. Nancy being used to his mouth tactfully ignores him, but Lazaro gives him a glare from across the room that instills the fear of God into the boy. He apologizes for his transgression against ‘his lordship’, and promises he won’t speak out of turn again. Nancy is amazed that Nick could be pacified so easily, while Lazaro nods sagely and deems him as ‘acceptable’ as well as granting him the rank of a serf in his soon to be kingdom.

Colin informs his ‘daughter’ that her ‘brother’ has gone to greet people in town since he was far too depressed earlier to talk to them properly. She might not be bothered by the weather, but it wouldn’t do her much good to get lost since she can’t see. Roysé pouts asking if she’s supposed to just stay cooped up here? Lazaro is enraged at Colin for chaining his ‘lovely’ down, and is about to give the farseer a piece of his mind until Nancy volunteers to find Van and have him come back to the homestead. He’s probably unaware of what day it is since he’s been away for so long. Colin blinks and then he smirks in realization. He could only go by what Anna Rose had told him, but it certainly is that day today isn’t it? Nancy puts on a coat and promises to return with Van before long. Colin suddenly perks up and asks if Roysé can go too? She has important matters to discuss with him too, so it makes sense for her to go along as well. Nancy happily agrees, while the angel looks at Colin forlornly. He gives her a gentle smile and nod, and with that Nancy and Roysé exit. Lazaro realizes that she has once again gone somewhere without him, --and more importantly what is the ‘important’ matter she needs to discuss with Van? He glares at Colin who announces that he has a few errands to run. He grabs a coat bought for him by Mr. Sikes and is gone in a flash. Lazaro fumes, and is about to follow him but Nick asks if he knows how to get around? If not it might be better for his lordship to stay here and wait for them to return before enacting his revenge/smothering with love. Lazaro turns to him and nods slowly in agreement. He might just be court jester material! Nick grins sheepishly to which a nearby Mr. Sikes asks if that’s something to be proud of.

Van waves goodbye as he leaves the house of a friend he talked to often in his youth. Although he spent most of his days with Nancy and Nick, he has other friends that he’d hang out with as well. Considering his mood when the group first arrived in town, Van had neglected to say his greetings to the city that is more than happy to see him back. Evidenced by how many people stop him for a conversation or invite him in to eat and catch up. His stomach and itinerary are full, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

He notices people getting kindle together and setting out food and drink despite it being the middle of the day. He feels like he knows what this might be for, but can’t remember. Although he’s feeling less down, his mind is jumbled due to the agape doing a number on his senses. Still his good mood seems to be staving it off ever so slightly. What is going on in Greyashe today though?

A snowball smacks into the back of his head and he turns to see who threw it. Behind him Roysé is gleefully packing snow into a ball shape as Nancy stifles a laugh. She comments that Roysé is a quick study, and although she wasn’t born here, maybe she’s got some Greyashe in her. Van rubs the back of his head and can’t help but smirk too. He asks Nancy what’s going on? He can tell people are gearing up for some event.

Nancy chides him and asks if he really forgot the ‘White festival’? He was lucky enough to return on the day of the event too! Even though he’s been gone from home a while and has (apparently) been through a lot, he can’t go forgetting things like that! Van’s eyes widen in realization and he smacks his forehead. Of course! He had always looked forward to the festivities each year the day came along. So much so that it’s strange to think that he would have completely forgot like that.

Wait…forgot?

Van makes a face and apologizes to the girls. Along with forgetting about the ‘White festival’, he forgot that he has to meet someone important –which was the reason for him leaving the house to begin with. He had gotten so side tracked with catching up that he had forgotten his promise and has to go immediately if he wants to make it on time. With nary another word Van turns and with another rushed apology runs away. Nancy shouts after him that there’s another important event today that he’s forgetting, but Van is already out of earshot. Nancy sighs and turns to Roysé who’s amusing herself by drawing figures in the snow. If only she could see what it looks like! It must be as pretty as it feels at least, right? Nancy tries to respond, but finds it surprisingly difficult to describe snow to someone who’s apparently never seen it before. She looks up at the tower and notes the time before informing the angel that she has her own business to attend to. She knows where Van will go later, and she has something to prepare for him. The angel says in response that she’ll stay out a while longer and explore. She assures Nancy that she does better learning a city’s layout if she walks around herself, and promises to stay out of trouble. She’s reluctant to leave the angel alone considering how much Colin and Lazaro seem to dote on her, but Greyashe is a safe city. She bids Roysé farewell and asks her to be careful. After listening to her footsteps disappear, Roysé walks slowly forward and cups her hands over her ears. She had ‘memorized’ Van’s particular sound and can single it out with a bit of concentration. Soon she finds his and with moderate speed follows him.

A gentle snow is falling when Van encounters the person he had set an ‘appointment’ with. Anu is talking to a tall elderly man outside of a hardware store when he appears. The man beams when the farseer approaches and gives him a bear hug. With a belly laugh he exclaims that Van has gone and gotten big on him! Why before he up and left, he was a puny little thing. Now he’s a big man isn’t he? Van blushes and replies that he’s still around the same size….though to be fair to those who haven’t seen him for a while he does seem taller and more mature. The old man then gives Anu a sly look and asks without hesitation if she’s Van’s girlfriend? Van surprises him by smiling gently and replying that she’s just a friend. The old man seems disappointed as he loves it when the kids get flustered. Anu explains that Van promised to tell her more of Greyashe once he met with his friends at home. She’s interested in this festival that is the talk of the citizens, and wonders how it all came about?

The old man and Van exchange glances, and Van nods approvingly. The old man grins and says that he’s an all right guy. All old fogies like him get to do nowadays is talk so he’d like to take the floor whenever possible. Van says he doesn’t mind, plus he’s fuzzy on the details too. The old man launches into another belly laugh and starts his explanation.

A long time ago the ‘White Festival’ was an event marking the beginning of the winter months. As hard as it is to believe, there were other seasons beside winter in Greyashe and the northern continent. Before it became a festival however, it was more a signal for the people in the North to change from trade and farming to gathering people together to keep warm for the winter months. Many of the people in the Northern continents are actually part of huge familial clans who would separate during the winter months for business or farming. Sometimes a family wouldn’t see each other until the winter, and that became a reason to celebrate, hence the ‘White Festival’. Eventually the northern continents –especially Greyashe got to a point where they only have one season per year, but people are funny like that. They’ll celebrate anything as long as they’re together. So that is why even today the ‘White Festival’ is a big event. It was and always will be about people returning home to their families. It’s for that reason that fate brought Van and his pappy here right?

Anu turns to Van and asks what people do during a White Festival? The boy is slow to answer as he’s processing the old man’s statement. Fate? That he and his father should be reunited and end up here where he grew up? He hadn’t considered that…he then realizes Anu asked him a question and apologizes quickly. The adults have a bonfire in the middle of town –just like the people of long past who used the smoke from the flame to find their way home. Everyone is around now, but it’s tradition to have a fire going and for people to come out and watch the flame through the night. Children might go from door to door together asking for little snacks and treats, as they did in the past to celebrate another year of making it home. Boys wear their best clothes, as do the girls but sometimes they might even dress as Ancasta. More or less though, people just get together and celebrate reunions.

Van glances up at Anu who’s only half listening as something has caught her attention. He follows her eyes and finds that Roysé has found the group and despite being blind seems to have locked eyes with Anu.

Meanwhile as Van had said, the children are making their rounds and come to Mr. Sikes’s home. Mr. Sikes is attending to other matters however, so Lazaro is stuck answering the door to the children. He’s in a bad mood due to his lovely and his enemy abandoning him however, so when a group of children knock on the door he tells them to get lost. One of the boys refuses to do so unless his group is given a snack. Lazaro snarls back that they’d better leave before he smites them with his Godly power, to which the boy responds that he won’t get smitten, because he’ll get Lazaro first. The two glare at each other for a long moment until Lazaro nods and says that he likes those who remind him of himself. He asks the child if he’s interested in being a soldier in his kingdom and the boy responds with a curt ‘I’ll think about it’. Nick who’s watching from inside wonders if Mr. Sikes is right about Lazaro being a bit off kilter, and why the kid got a higher position than him. It is at this point that Nancy arrives home and heads straight to the kitchen. Nick asks what’s the rush, and she reminds him that the day has two significant meanings, both of which she has to prepare for. Nick catches on and asks if they’re going to meet ‘at the spot’? Which illicits a grin from Nancy.

Van nervously asks Roysé why she’s here. He was expecting her to go home with Nancy... The angel blinks and asks if she needs a reason to find her ‘brother’? Van starts to shake his head, but realizing his audience says his answer instead. It’s not like that –he just wasn’t expecting her to find him here when he’s already with a guest…

Anu strides over to Roysé and after a moment asks if she’s the one? Roysé is confused and the ex-goddess clarifies. The one that Dio is looking for so feverently that he had deputized them to assist in his search? The one known as Ambriel? The angel’s empty irises lock onto Anu’s eyes, being enough confirmation for her. Anu explains that she and her ‘sisters’ have been through a lot of suffering because of her and Dio. Yet it is also because of this that they’ve seen so much prosperity. In short they have experienced a ‘life’ they might not—no, definitely would not have experienced had she not existed. She bows and thanks Ambriel. She’s not sure if it’s appropriate, but it’s the only thing she can think to do on her behalf…and her sisters who are both metaphorically and literally in another world. Roysé looks as if she might cry, but she keeps her composure and thanks Anu for her service to the angels while apologizing for her suffering. Van and the old man are unsure of what’s happening, but it seems a possible conflict has been averted…which is good enough for them. Van checks the tower for the time and realizes he should head back, offering Roysé his arm and Anu an invitation. Anu declines as she feels that she’s taken enough of Van’s time already, and says she has a place in town where she’s staying. Van thanks her for cheering him up earlier, and the old man for explaining the White Festival then departs with his ‘sister’.

The sun has almost completely gone down as Van and Roysé head back. Van stops at an unfamiliar building and seems to be thinking something over. Roysé asks if anything is the matter, and he explains that he’s just at an old ‘haunt’ from his past. He was going to bring her home and come back, but he feels bad for abandoning her earlier. Besides, she’s supposed to be his ‘sister’, so why not bring her too? Roysé beams excitedly and asks where they’re going to go? Van grins back and replies ‘To get the best view.’

The bonfire billows into the night as people gather and the festivities commence. Van and Roysé watch from a roof of a large building. Van being the quiet sort had sought out a place to enjoy the festivities and have some peace at the same time. Eventually this place became where the Sikes house would spend their White Festival recounting their own memories of the year. Van’s not sure what the building had been used for before, and according to his trip around town during the day it would soon be a place where sweepers wear is created. For the time being this would be the last time he’d have this place to enjoy, and he’s glad he was able to do so with his ‘sister’.

Nancy calls out to him and Van despite his own words is surprised to see her. She has a bowl of freshly made food in her possession, and asks Van’s help to get on the roof. To his further surprise Nick, Mr. Sikes and Lazaro are also here and all climb on the roof of the building joining Van and Roysé. The farseer thanks them all for coming, and asks Nancy about the food? She replies that it’s his favorite…porridge with a slight hint of cinnamon. The boy blinks and asks for the occasion? Well…besides the White Festival, which while important isn’t exactly a reason to make his favorite dish. Nancy shakes her head and asks if he’s suffering from amnesia? How else would one explain forgetting their birthday?

Van bows his head and laughs out loud. That’s right! The whole reason everyone had gathered up here with him on the roof was to celebrate the ‘White Festival’ and his birthday! Now he’s fifteen. What a difference a whole year makes! Nick jokes with him that they’ll be the same age for a few months so he should bask in the glory. Lazaro could care less about all of that, and asks how his ‘lovely’ is doing. The angel is squinting her eyes in a vain effort to see what’s going on and asks everyone if they could describe it? Everyone exchanges glances amongst each other until Van speaks up and says that it looks like a fond memory of precious people gathered around a precious moment. Looking back at Roysé he asks if she can see it now?

The angel lost in her own memory gazes at the fire with a faraway look and quietly says she can see it perfectly.