The morning sun was still rising, its light creeping over the rolling hills of Enohay Valley, casting its golden light on the cozy Alder farm. Inside, the farmhouse buzzed with busy excitement.

  In Kina's modest bedroom, filled with the earthy smell of dried herbs, Dama stood awkwardly in front of a full-length mirror, adjusting the sleeves of his festival outfit and feeling his laid-down, combed hair.

  The outfit, painstakingly crafted by Kina, was a blend of vibrant greens and browns, reminiscent of the valley’s lush landscape. Delicate embroidered patterns of animals and plants adorned the fabric, a testament to Kina's attention to detail.

  Kina herself then bustled into the room, her arms laden with a fresh wreath of flowers and a comb in one hand. Her curly auburn hair was tied back with a patterned scarf, and she wore an apron that had seen more than its fair share of flour and soil.

  "Hold still, Dama!" She instructed, her tone somewhere between teasing and motherly. "If you keep fidgeting, the sash is going to come undone~!"

  Dama gave a sheepish laugh, scratching the back of his head with his hand. “Sorry, Kina. It’s just…this feels a little too fancy for me.” He glanced down at his outfit: a neat, tailored vest over a crisp white shirt, paired with brown well-fitted trousers and a green sash tied around his waist.

  "Fancy is the whole point!" Kina replied, turning him around and adjusting his collar. "I don’t want to hear any complaints, mister. This is festival day, and you’re representing the Alder booth! Plus~! You look quite handsome, if I do say so myself! The girls are going to love you!"

  From the corner of the room, Mumu and Nini watched with animated amusement—both of them adorned with their own bowties. Mumu sat on the floor with his stitched mouth curved into a broad smile, while Nini was perched around Mumu’s shoulders, her tail raised in a playful arch.

  As Kina worked on Dama, Nini sprang to action, leaping from Mumu's shoulder and padded to the pair. She nosed at Dama's hair, tugging at a stray lock like she was attempting to style it.

  "Hey, Nini!" Dama chuckled, gently nudging her away.

  Kina laughed. "Looks like I have a style assistant, hm? Alright, Nini, let’s see your handiwork." She leaned in to inspect, feigning seriousness. "Hmm, not bad, but I think I’ll stick with my plan." She said as she placed the flower wreath on Dama’s head, stepping back to admire her work with a satisfied nod. "Now you’re festival-ready!"

  Dama turned to the mirror again, this time smiling, though his cheeks were touched with pink. "Thanks, Ms. Alder, it’s perfect."

  Kina planted her hands on her hips, grinning. "Well, you’re welcome. Now, let’s not forget—you’ve got a booth to help with. We’ll head out soon."

  As Kina gathered a basket of supplies for the festival, Nini, Mumu, and Dama took upon themselves their own baskets or crates of supplies for the booth.

  Whilst each ushered themselves out the room, Dama couldn’t resist glancing back at the mirror one last time. "I think today is gonna be a good day..." he murmured to himself as the quartet stepped outside into the fresh morning air.

  Outside, the warm morning air carried the scent as Dama, Kina, Mumu, and Nini made their way to the bustling heart of Enohay Village. Their, the vibrant energy of festival preparations greeted them, with colorful banners swaying in the breeze and children darting through the crowds, already excited for the festivities ahead as the sounds of their laughter and chatter of today's upcoming events echoed through the valley.

  Kina led the way, her pace steady as she nodded and waved greetings to familiar faces along the way.

  Dama followed close behind, a similar basket hanging from his arm, marveling at the vibrancy of the village’s celebrations. The soft rustling of Nini’s plush fur and Mumu’s large padded feet sounded behind him, the two of them practically bouncing with enthusiasm.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  As they neared the village square, Dama noticed a familiar figure waiting near one of the booths: Mary Koul. She was standing beside a table, which was covered with wooden instruments and small wooden structures. Looking closer, Dama could see she was polishing something, already setting up for the first phase of the festival.

  Noticing Mumu's huge stature out the corner of her eye, she looked up with an immediate bright smile. “Dama? Hey! You look great!" She said with an enthusiastic wave before turning her attention to Mumu and Nini. "You too Mumu and Nini! Nice ties~!"

  Dama waved in kind, preparing to respond, but his words got caught in his throat when he saw what Mary was wearing. She wore a beautifully crafted dress that many thought fairly represented Enohay's rich traditions and festive spirit.

  The dress was made of soft, flowing fabric dyed in shades of deep forest green, symbolizing the lush nature surrounding the village. Its the sleeves were short, puffed at the shoulders.

  The bodice was fitted and intricately embroidered with golden patterns of vines and tiny flowers, each stitch speaking of the care and artistry behind its creation.

  The skirt of the dress flared outward, falling just below her knees, with additional golden embroidery along the hem that shimmered in the evening light.

  Lastly was Mary’s hair, which was left loose, cascading over her shoulders in soft waves, with a single braid woven on one side and adorned with small, hand-carved wooden beads.

  "If it isn't little miss Mary? Gosh, you just grow more beautiful by the day!" Kina said as she smiled and walked up to Mary, clasping her hands together in wonder. "Especially with such a lovely dress! Alexandra's work no doubt! Trying to make every other young girl jealous, are you?"

  "Still not as beautiful as you, Kina." Mary responded, blushing a little from the compliment. Setting down the object she was polishing, she proceeded to play with the edges of her dress. "Also yes, this was indeed made by big sis Alexandra. She really outdid herself, same for you, assuming you're the one who dressed Dama and put those two munchkins in those cute bowties!”

  Kina struck a dramatic pose, including pointing at herself and putting the free hand on her hip. "You know it!" She announced, proud of her styling, before turning to Dama with her eyes closed. "Say, why not I take that basket of your's and get a head start on our booth while you talk to little Mary for a moment?"

  However, she would wait for a suspicious amount of time with no answer. Opening her eyes, she saw a stunned Dama, who was still gawking at Mary's outfit. Surprised, a knowing, mischievous smile slowly blossomed. But, before she could do anything, Mumu, who had waddled behind Dama, nudged him, snapping him out of his shellshock.

  Dama jumped. "H-Huh!? Oh, y-yeah, here, Ms. Alder..." he murmured out of embarrassment, giving the still mischievously smiling Kina his basket.

  Giving a delighted hum in response, Kina hung the basket on her other arm whilst turning to Mumu and Nini. "Alright, you two, lets go setup the booth, shall we?" She said as she gestured to Dama and giving the two plushes a playful wink—a sign that they understood, swapping glances and their own knowing smiles with each other.

  Now left with Mary, Dama grinned in a nervous manner, adjusting the flower wreath atop his head as he walked up to her. “N-Nice booth you have so far, Mary. Where's, uh, where's Mr. Koul and little Mari?”

  Mary cocked her head to the side with a teasing smile. "Wouldn't you like to know? It feels like forever since we've had some time alone together, hasn't it?"

  "I guess it has," Dama said, rubbing the back of his head, "sorry about that. By the way, thank you for the compliment on my outfit...you look good yourself—b-beautiful." He stammered out, the compliment getting stuck in his throat.

  Mary laughed, her dark eyes fluttering as she put a finger on her cheek, both of which were flushed. "My, I can see that took a lot out of you, didn't it~? Either way, thank you."

  As the two of them chatted and laughed, Dama’s attention would be drawn to a woman walking to them. She had a distinct appearance: her pink hair was perfectly coiffed and curled, symmetrical on both sides, and she wore round, thin glasses that added a touch of eccentricity to her appearance. Her bright, wide eyes twinkled with mischievous, childish energy as she approached—something that contrasted her tall and slender frame, giving off a mature vibe.

  “Ah, there you are!” The woman exclaimed, her voice light and full of excitement. “Did you hear? I swear, there’s something fishy going on with the festival preparations. They say the wind is whispering, and I’ve got a suspicion someone’s planning to pull a prank on the chief today! We’ll have to be on the lookout. You two, I'm counting on you to be my," the woman leaned in, putting her arms around Dama and Mary, "mystery-solving partners.”

  Dama blinked in surprise at the woman’s sudden appearance. “Big sis Moa!"

  -

  Next: (Extra Chapter 26) The Enohay Spirit Festival Commences!