Chương 63: Brothers and Sisters

"Of course. He visits us every year." Enel stared into Hadd's eyes, waiting for him to laugh or say that it was only a jest. But even after seconds had passed, he just stood there with a smile on his face. Enel looked at the others, and they were just as bewildered as he was. He also waited for them to ask Hadd questions, but even Guinevere seemed to be at a loss for words. And so, Enel took it upon himself to speak.

"You have seen Valir, truly?"

"Yes." Hadd slightly bowed, still smiling warmly.

"Once every turn of the seasons, without fail—we all prepare a feast for him. Or rather, he prepares a feast for us." Enel squinted, then took a step back as he looked at Guinevere.

"Have you… truly not heard of Valir?" he asked, and Guinevere only shook her head in response. And so, he turned to the expert on their party.

"Sir Bernard?"

"I only know that they worship him, M'lord. As for whether he is real… I cannot say."

"Oh. I assure you, Valir is as real as the other gods." Hadd laughed.

"I do not mean to question your belief, Sir Hadd," Enel quickly said.

"It is just startling to find that you have seen an actual god. What does he look like?"

"Like us," Hadd said.

"Like… humos?"

"Yes. Very much like us." Hadd nodded.

"Though, the last he showed himself, he felt quite older. Perhaps there is a disturbance in the realm." Enel's brows lowered.

"Gods are not supposed to look like men. Are they not supposed to be taller than mountains?"

"Taller than mountains?" Hadd laughed again, waving Enel off.

"Valir does not make himself to be so grand—he limits himself to talk to us, unlike the other gods. The Veil provides."

"Huh…" Hadd led them deeper into Valir's Crescent after that. All the streets and roads of the sanctuary were connected to the wide main road which led to the mouth of the mountain… and everything truly looked immaculate. The roads were clean to the point that their boots were the ones leaving dirt on them. The water was so clear and clean that they could see their reflection. People greeted Hadd as they passed, while some bowed their heads to Enel and Guinevere. And all of them wore the same clothes.

Whether they were adults or children, they all wore white robes, and most, like Hadd, wore small crowns of flowers.

"Oh…" Enel had to stop walking as a group of children crossed in front of him, and Lamb had to hold his arm so that he would not trip forward. The children then ran in circles around them, waving ribbons attached to their wrists. Hadd had to shoo them away before they scampered, their giggles fading into the alleys. They then passed by a large open area where a group of children was all seated on the ground, along with several adults.

A woman was in front of them, standing beside a large stone tablet with words on it.

"They… are teaching them how to read," he whispered.

"Of course," Hadd said proudly.

"We want all of our brothers and sisters to be able to read and write. To better serve our lord."

"Huh…" Lamb crossed her arms.

"What?" Tiny asked.

"This place…" Lamb walked closer to him and whispered.

"Does it not feel odd to you? When the witch told us about the people who worshipped the Veil, she made it sound so… dreary. This just feels—""Too good to be true," Tiny cut her off.

"Ulric once told me that if a deal feels too good to be true, then someone is probably robbing you." They continued to walk across the main road, moving closer and closer to the Veil.

"Please, the feast is already happening. We need to hurry, or else all the good stuff would be gone." Hadd hastened his pace, and they could hear him huff with each step.

"A feast, huh…" Lamb narrowed her eyes as she walked closer to Enel.

"Be careful, M'lord… the food might be poisoned." But then… Hadd brought them to a wide open square near the center of the sanctuary. And there were dozens of villagers gathered there, all seated on the ground with several long stone tables in front of them. …And they were all already eating. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"What…" Lamb watched as a child ran past them, carrying a plate filled with meat and vegetables. Her eyes then went toward the center of the feast, where a circular table held all of the food, and there were people serving and even slicing meat in the middle.

"Ah! My favorite is almost gone!" Hadd gasped. He was about to leave the group, but then turned as he gestured toward the buffet.

"Please. Eat as much as you like. Everything here is for everyone."

"You all eat here?" Enel asked.

"Most days. Some prefer their homes. Some bring food to those who cannot walk far. But yes, when the bells ring, everyone may come."

"And no one pays?" Tiny asked, his eyes narrowing even further. Hadd blinked.

"Pays?"

"Yes." Hadd only laughed again.

"Oh, no. No one pays to be fed by Valir." Tiny looked at Lamb, and Lamb looked at Enel, who looked at Guinevere… who was just writing in her book and not paying attention to them at all. And so, Enel looked at Bernard instead, but he just had his head down.

"Please! Eat. Eat!" Hadd soon left them, his fingers dancing in the air as he approached the buffet. The three stared at each other for a while… but then Lamb shrugged and followed Hadd.

"I will make sure the food is not poisoned," she said, rushing toward the carving section. Tiny followed immediately after her, saying he would also inspect the food. Bernard looked around.

"I will go find us a place, M'lord."

"Oh. Thank—" Enel turned to him, but the old man was already walking away. Guinevere also walked away, but not toward the tables, but instead toward the water fountain next to the feast. Enel was left there standing alone, watching this different ensemble of people gather together so peacefully like this. It… felt nice.

"Enel!" Lamb screamed at him.

"I already got you a plate! Just join the old man!"

"Oh…" Enel glanced at her for a moment, and she was waving a piece of bread. He nodded, then joined Bernard, who found a table close to the water fountain where Guinevere was.

"Go get something to eat, Sir Bernard," Enel said.

"I will guard our table."

"I… will eat once all of you are done, M'lord."

"It is fine. You are a member of the party, Sir."

"That…" Bernard glanced at him and blinked.

"That is very kind of you to say, M'lord. Then… if you will excuse me." Bernard left for the buffet and soon returned with Lamb and Tiny carrying several plates. Guinevere also joined them soon after. Enel tried to eat slowly, but it was hard. The food here was almost at the same quality as his banquet back on Widow's Wall, and he could even admit the meat was better seasoned. He looked around again while he ate, and everyone truly was interacting with each other normally.

There was no separation here at all—no nobles on one side, no commonfolk on the other. Just… people. He was about to take another bite when a small hand touched his sleeve. Enel looked down and saw a girl with feathers near her ears staring up at him. She held a crown of yellow flowers.

"For you," she said.

"For… me?"

"Yes. You are going to be part of our family soon, right? I like you."

"O-oh." Enel lowered his head at once.

"Thank you."

"Ooh. Careful now," Lamb smirked at Guinevere.

"You might have some competition, M'lady."

"Competition?" Guinevere tilted her head.

"What sort of competition?"

"A comp—ack. Never you mind." Lamb waved her off in frustration.

"It loses appeal if I have to explain it." The girl placed the crown carefully over Enel's golden hair. Then another child appeared with flowers for Guinevere, then another for Tiny, then several more for Lamb.

"No," Lamb said.

"Yes," a little boy said.

"No."

"You have to."

"I do not."

"B-but…" Lamb stared at him, and the boy's eyes turned wider and wider as they glistened. And a few moments later, Lamb sat with white flowers crooked over her bandana while Tiny tried very hard not to laugh.

"Ah," Tiny muttered.

"The mighty Sword of Enel, defeated by a child."

"At least I am not almost as short as a child."

"We are almost the same height!" Guinevere touched the flowers on her head, then wrote something down. Enel watched her for a moment before his eyes moved across the square again. That was when he saw a girl, sitting by herself near the fountain Guinevere was at earlier. She was young, perhaps seven or eight, with long dark hair and a flower crown resting neatly on her lap instead of her head, with an untouched plate of food beside her. Enel could not help but stare at the girl…

because aside from her hair that touched the floor, she looked exactly the same as the girl who put a flower crown on his head. But… she looked incredibly sadder. A few children glanced at her, but looked away quickly. Enel stood up to approach her, but the girl stood up and walked away from the square, taking her plate with her. And when Enel saw she was heading toward the cave, he followed her, keeping enough distance that she would not feel chased. The streets became quieter the closer they came to it.

The sound of the feast remained behind them, and the pale fog between the pillars slowly grew clearer. It moved, almost as if the mountain itself was breathing. The girl stopped before the pillars, kneeled down, and then placed her plate in front of her before she clasped her hands together. Enel stepped forward at once.

"My lady," he said gently.

"Please do not go closer. It may be dangerous." The girl turned to him, confused.

"Who… oh. You are one of the guests." Enel was slightly taken aback by the tone of the girl's voice. She did not sound like her age at all.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"And… what is dangerous?"

"Forgive me for following you." Enel bowed.

"But the Veil is dangerous."

"Why… would it be dangerous?" she muttered, looking at the cave, then back at him.

"The Veil is not dangerous—and I am not going inside. I came here to pray."

"Oh." Enel paused.

"I apologize."

"It is fine." She turned back to the cave and bowed her head in prayer again. Enel quietly stood beside her, then slowly sat down. He did not pray, however, and only stared at the fog. But soon, he heard a muffled whimper from the girl.

"What… is the matter? Are you sad?"

"N-No."

"Then why are you crying?" The girl's fingers tightened around each other.

"Because… I am happy."

"Why are you not with the other chi—something is coming."

"Huh?" The girl's eyes widened as Enel suddenly moved in front of her.

"What… are you doing, brother?"

"Something is coming from the Veil."

"Yes…? But what are you doing?"

"Huh?" Enel looked back at her, and she looked genuinely confused by his confusion. And soon, something did come out from the cave and the fog. But it was not a vemon as Enel expected… but a woman. She carried a basket against her chest, filled with food. And then… another person came out behind her, then another. All of them, carrying a basket filled with food. Bread, fruit, jars of milk, vegetables, and meat—everything that was being served back at the buffet.

"Food?" Enel muttered.

"They are bringing out food… from the Veil?"

"What do you mean, brother?" the girl looked up at him, seemingly amused now as she had a smile on her face.

"Where else would the food come from?"

"Huh?"

"Everything we need…" the child looked him in the eyes.

"Valir provides."