The boundary between the mountains and the sky turned slightly white, and navy blue clouds drifted by. Dawn was about to break. The country of the Plains, Plateau, was ending its winter season and welcoming spring. The mornings of this season still held a chill, it was not unusual for the breath to be white.

The gentle sun slowly rose, gradually warming the cold, numb roadways of the plains. Amidst the mystical scenery of the dawn, a lone figure carrying a large load walked silently. The figure was about 18 years old. Though his face still retained the innocence of youth, his quiet and composed demeanour exuded a certain grace. His dark brown hair flowed in the wind.

He arrived at the village almost simultaneously with the sunrise. The small village of Alderwick, with a population of about 200, consisted of buildings made from honey-coloured limestone.

A man preparing for early morning farm work at the village entrance noticed him and waved with a smile.

"Good morning. You’re up early," the boy greeted.

"Good morning, Liber. It’s almost harvest time for the wheat, and there’s also the Light God Festival," the man replied cheerfully. "Isn’t it your sister's rite this time?"

"Yes, it’s in three days," Liber responded.

"Time flies, doesn’t it? Luminita is already sixteen... Anyway, Hestel’s been waiting for you. You’d better hurry up and see her!"

The man's cheerful smile, like the morning sunlight, warmly welcomed Liber, who had returned home tired from his long walk.

***

When Liber opened the door, a familiar scent of home mixed with a sweet, soft fragrance spread through the air. It was a nostalgic smell, reminiscent of a sunny spring day. The scent led him to the kitchen. There, a large woman busily stoked the fire with a poker, while a small girl leisurely stirred flour in a bowl.

"Clara! Mix the flour more gently but quickly! If you do it slowly, it will clump up!" the large woman briskly instructed, Clara leisurely responded, "Okay."

"This firewood just won’t light properly! Oh, come on, Spirit! It’s still cold in the morning, so warm up the room for us!" the large woman called out loudly to the hearth, banging it with the poker.

"Hestel, let’s try opening the window. Recent studies suggest that the power of the wind and air spirits is important for lighting fires. And... the firewood might be too tightly packed. Let’s stack it in a lattice pattern to allow air to flow through," Liber calmly suggested as he observed the kindling.

"Oh my, Liber! You’re already back. Goodness, you’re home so early. I haven’t even finished preparing breakfast!" Hestel exclaimed, hugging Liber tightly.

"Did you walk all the way back again?"

"Yeah... I don’t really like carriages. I try to walk as much as I can."

"I see. Well, put your things in your room. You must be tired, or are you hungry? We’re making some treats, so wait a little while. Clara, help carry Liber’s things once you’ve finished mixing the flour," Hestel instructed, talking rapidly.

Clara put down the bowl she was mixing and ran over, burying her face in Liber’s chest like a puppy, nuzzling her nose against him.

"Well, did you used my clothes to wipe the flour off your face? " Liber said, making Clara laugh with a "hehe."

"Clara! The flour isn’t mixed properly!" Hestel scolded loudly, looking at Clara’s half-finished cooking, but her face looked amused rather than angry.

After the warm moment in the kitchen, Liber headed upstairs to his room with Clara. Clara carried part of Liber’s luggage, carefully picking the lightest items, and followed him.

"Hey, Liber, how long are you staying this time?" Clara asked.

"Well, until Luminita’s rite is over... so about seven days, I think," Liber replied.

"Hmm," Clara responded, then looked at Liber with a gaze that suggested she wanted to ask something.

"What’s up, Clara?"

"Hey, Liber, have you got a girlfriend? There must be lots of stylish and cute girls there, right?" Clara asked, flipping through a book from Liber’s backpack.

Liber looked at Clara again.

Clara, like her sister Luminita, had pale green eyes. As her emotions moved, her eyes subtly sparkled, like little bells, Liber thought.

"I don’t, Clara. It’s only been six months, and I’m there to study the history of Almatria," he explained.

"Love is part of human history too," Clara said, flipping through a book from Liber’s backpack.

"It must be nice. There are so many wonderful people and fun things in the city, and schools where you can study," she mused.

After a moment's thought, Liber stopped what he was doing and looked at Clara.

"Clara, what kind of pictures have you been drawing lately? If you have any new ones, I’d love to see them," Liber said.

Clara half-closed her eyes and looked at Liber.

"Do you really want to see? I wonder..."

"Of course. Clara’s paintings have been getting better and better lately."

"Really, really?"

"Really."

After repeating this a few times, Clara smiled with satisfaction.

"I’ve been painting new pictures lately. I’m using soot from burning oil and painting with a brush. Sheep, rivers... it’s interesting to paint with this. My master taught me. If you really want to see, I guess I can show you," Clara said, pulling Liber by the hand and leading him away.

"But first, let’s eat Hestel’s treats. She said we should eat them wrapped in sakura leaves."

She dashed out of the room but then stopped, thinking for a moment before turning back. She opened Liber’s room door wide open before heading to the kitchen. At that moment, the sweet scent that Liber had felt when came home passed through the place as a breeze.

Sakura blossoms. Liber remembered the scent. In Alderwick, cherry trees planted along the river that ran through the village centre bloomed in spring. It was when Liber and the others first came to Alderwick. Unfamiliar with the new place, they always wore sombre expressions. Hestel, seeing them like that, took them out for cherry blossom viewing. The noble and beautiful pink flowers, and the sweet scent, were unique to these cherry trees, said to have been sent from the Forest Country, Vernal.

When Liber glanced at Clara, she tilted her head and smiled.

Liber found Clara’s actions a bit puzzling but soon headed to the kitchen, following Hestel’s call from downstairs.

***

In the kitchen, Hestel was waiting for Clara with a frying pan and a spatula. The process of making the treats was still ongoing, and Clara slumped, disappointed.

While comforting Clara and making the treats, Liber decided to take care of some errands. He told them he would greet Elder Seron and Master and then left the house.

Walking along the river that ran through the centre of Alderwick, Liber saw children playing barefoot in the water. They were piling up pebbles and using makeshift fishing rods, excitedly trying to catch fish.

"Hey, you little brats! Don’t throw rubbish in the river!" a voice called out. Liber turned to see an old woman waving her cane.

"Oh no! It’s Granny Mara!" one of the children squealed, and some of them stumbled in surprise.

Mara, moving with an agility that belied her age, approached the children at the riverbank and began to scold them.

"This river has supported life for years. Not just us, but the fish, the water plants, and the tiny creatures you can’t even see. Even that bread you’re eating is thanks to this clean water!"

One child tried to hide a piece of bread behind his back, but Mara had already noticed. They had been scolded for eating bread while playing in the river and tossing the crumbs into the water. There were also old rags and wooden toys scattered around.

"When I was your age, I grew up with this river. Sometimes, I could hear the river spirits’ voices or see their forms. If we cherish this river, we won’t get sick, and our wheat won’t fail. Understand?"

The children, looking awkward, received their scolding, but one of them retorted, "I’ve never seen any spirits, and my dad had a cold just last week."

Another child chimed in, "I haven’t seen them, but my brother across the street said he saw a strong spirit the other day!"

"Wow, really? That’s amazing," they began to chatter excitedly about a different topic.

"You can’t see the spirits because you don’t respect them enough. If you take care of nature and listen to your elders, you’ll be able to see and hear them in a few years. Now, clean up the river! You can continue playing after that," Mara brought the conversation back on track.

Reluctantly, the children began to pick up the rubbish from the river, muttering, "Sorry, Old lady!" in unison.

"Who are you calling Old lady? And don’t apologise to me! Understand?"

"Yesss," they responded unenthusiastically but started cleaning the river.

As Liber continued walking, he saw a man setting up an easel and painting by the riverbank. With mustard-coloured hair tied back and wearing paint-splattered clothes, the man was quietly focused on a cherry tree. This was Thaddeus, an artist who had moved to Alderwick ten years before Liber and his siblings arrived and had since painted many of the village’s landscapes.

Liber nodded in greeting, and Thaddeus returned the gesture with a smile.

Passing by, Liber peeked at Thaddeus’ painting. It depicted a cherry tree surrounded by mysterious bands of light, rendered in delicate watercolours.

Further along, on the stone bridge over the river, a young couple was walking hand in hand. They had unfamiliar faces, likely tourists staying at the village’s only inn. They occasionally pointed at the river or the sky, smiling happily at each other.

At the base of the bridge was a small wooden shrine, inside which stood a stone statue of a human figure. An elderly couple, known as the Fenton couple, beloved by the village, placed a bunch of fruit and a flower on a stone plate in front of the statue and knelt in prayer. Their faces, etched with wrinkles, seemed to reflect their serene and deep spirituality.

As Liber walked towards the hill, he reflected on the days he had spent growing up in this village.

Ten years ago, when Liber and his siblings, who were orphans, came to the village, no one had shown them a sour face. They had been warmly, sometimes strictly, accepted as if they had always been part of the village. Now, Liber knew almost everyone’s face and name in the village. For Liber and his siblings, this village might be the only place they could call home.

Liber recalled Thaddeus’ painting of the cherry tree, enveloped in bands of light. What did they see?

Memories of the cherry tree, Luminita, and Clara’s smiles came back to Liber with a sweet fragrance.

"Home..." he whispered.

The morning sunlight reflected on the river’s flow, making the landscape of morning Alderwick sparkle beautifully, like rain of light.

***

Soon, Liber reached the open area atop the hill. There, he saw a tall woman with glossy black hair tied up carelessly and a familiar girl with voluminous brown hair braided.

At a glance, Liber understood that they were in the middle of spirit magic training. Luminita was seated on the ground, eyes closed, trying to concentrate. She sat with her hands open outward, as if to receive something invisible, forming a mudra. Master stood in front of her, arms crossed, silently watching. Between them was a ceramic censer, emitting thin smoke and the faint scent of warm earth.

Liber sensed that this focus was training to feel the presence of spirits from flowing elements like air or wind. At the same time, he knew she would likely fail.

"Luminita, can you feel anything?" asked the black-haired woman, whom Liber and the others called "Master." Master’s black hair was rare in Plateau. She didn’t bother much with hair care and preferred wearing comfortable linen clothes, disliking dressing up. She was competitive, always challenging Liber to rematches in games until she won. Liber secretly thought of her as an "adventurous boy," just like the children playing by the river.

"Something like cloth... no, a warm membrane... seems to be flying around," Luminita murmured, sweat beading on her forehead, eyes still closed.

"I see. Let’s stop for today. We have a guest," Master said, making Luminita sigh with relief, nearly collapsing from relaxation. But noticing Liber, her face brightened, and she ran over.

"Liber, you came!"

"Well, you may not sense the wind spirits, but you sure sense your dear brother quickly," Master teased, making Luminita blush.

"Sorry, Master. I was still in the middle of spirit magic practice."

"It’s alright. I thought you’ve been pushing yourself too hard lately. Let’s call it a day for now," Master said, covering the censer to extinguish the incense. The faint smoke and scent gradually dissipated into the wind.

The three of them sat and chatted for a while. They talked about Liber's school life, recent events in Alderwick, and then the progress of Luminita's training.

"In three days, it’s Luminita’s rite of passage. This year, it’s an exploration of the ruins outside the village. Have you decided who will accompany you?" Master asked.

"I plan to ask Liber."

"I see," Master nodded, understanding why Liber had returned home.

"It’s an old ritual. Just go to the ruins and communicate with some spirit. It might take time, but it’s not a pass-or-fail test. Just take it easy," Master said lightly.

However, Luminita’s expression remained serious. Seeing this, Master continued.

"What is it, Luminita? You haven’t given up yet?"

Luminita nodded quietly. A brief silence ensued, accompanied by the sound of the wind.

"What’s so great about being a Hoshiwatari? Just a wanderer," Master said.

"They brought us to this village and introduced us to wonderful people."

"I’ve heard that story many times."

"I want to help someone, just like I was helped."

Liber knew that when Luminita was this determined, no one could change her mind. Master knew this too.

"Do as you like," Master said with a slight smile.

"Yes!"

"This year’s rite will be at Fourfold Grove. There aren’t large wild animals there, but there are reports of people from outside the village entering. Be careful," Master advised.

After chatting for a bit longer, they decided to head back for breakfast. Master told Luminita, "I’ll borrow your brother for a bit," and Luminita smiled at Liber before heading back home. Once she was out of sight, Master spoke.

"Liber, let’s play a game. If we start now, Hestel won’t have to wait long."

Master set up a wooden board on the ground, preparing a game. She took out a box filled with small, shiny stones and handed one to Liber.

"You’re going to Elder Seron’s place later, right?" Master asked.

"Yes, Elder Seron. He’ll scold me again."

"The old man has a short temper. He’s over ninety but still lively," Master laughed mischievously, then turned serious.

"By the way, a few guests have visited the old man since yesterday. One of them had a familiar tattoo on his arm. A celestial motif. He’s likely a Contezio. We finally found him," she said.

Liber tensed at her words.

A moment of silence followed between them.

"One more thing about Luminita..."

By the time the morning warmth mixed with the wind, their game ended, and they parted ways.

Three days have passed since then.