While Angeline was thinking about dropping her bags off at home, Sasha and Seren walked out of an unfamiliar building.
“Angeline!” Seren said, racing over. “You’ve all come!”
“Oh...” Angeline gently patted her on the head. “Have you gotten used to Turnera yet, Seren? Are you going to live here now?” she asked.
Seren smiled. “Yes, it looks like I’m going to spend the winter here this year. Sir Belgrieve is helping me out so much, and so is everyone else. Somehow or another, I think I’ll be all right.”
“I see. That’s good,” Angeline said, and she meant it. She looked up at the new building. It was Seren’s manor and the new center of government in Turnera. It was a splendid building with whitewashed walls, made in an architectural style unlike any other building in the village. It occurred to Angeline that she could spend a lot more time with Seren if she stayed the winter. The idea was growing more tantalizing all the time, and her determination was wavering. She began to wonder if she might put off returning to Orphen until spring.
Helvetica exited the carriage next. “Seren, you look like you’re doing well for yourself. Are you managing your workload properly?”
“Yes, sis—somehow, with everyone’s help.”
Come to think of it... In her father’s letters, he had mentioned founding and managing the guild alongside Seren. Perhaps she could find him here now. “That’s right—is dad here?” Angeline asked.
“Sir Belgrieve? No, he mentioned going up the mountain today.”
“Huh? He’s not in?” Helvetica whined, her shoulders drooping.
Angeline shrugged. She was a little disappointed to not see her father right away after such a long journey, but there was nothing she could do about that. “If he went up the mountain, he’ll probably be back by evening.”
“Hmm, I thought I could get another lesson from Master,” Sasha said, her arms folded.
“My granduncle’s still around. Probably,” Marguerite suggested, casually clasping her hands behind her head.
“Oh! Then to Graham we go!”
Seren shook her head. “Calm down, Sasha. You only just got here.” Angeline and her friends giggled at her.
Changing gears, Angeline turned to Helvetica. “I’m going home... Could I get my things?”
“Right, I’m sure you want to see your mother. I’ll prepare some tea, so please come back later.”
“Okay!”
As they unloaded the carriages, Lucille—who should have been off shopping—came up to Angeline and whispered in her ear. “I’m sure of it now. Mr. Ishmael smells different.”
“Really...? But what’s wrong with that?”
“My nose is good enough to sniff out differences in mana... It used to be subtle, but I think the difference is gradually growing. Is that person really Mr. Ishmael?”
“I mean, he remembered all the things we did on our adventure together...”
“Well... It could just be my imagination. But be careful, Ange. As the people of the past once said, ‘prepare for the worst.’”
“Yeah... I’ll keep that in mind.”
Lucille trotted back over to the vendors. Angeline recalled how Ishmael had become quite scary the night before they’d left Orphen, but she shook her head. He was just drunk at the time. There can’t be more to it than that.
Angeline and her party members headed for her home with their bags slung over their backs. Just looking at the hedges and shrubs on the road home put her mind at ease. The feeling of coming home was in her very bones now.
“Still the same,” said Marguerite. “Well, I guess that’s no surprise.”
“It’s only been half a year. It’s not going to change that much... Well, the path’s a lot tidier though,” Anessa observed.
“Yeah, and Seren’s manor was so pretty. I wonder what it’s like inside,” Miriam wondered.
The weather was splendid, with only a few small clouds in the sky. They could still hear the music from the square behind them. The roaming folk were in high spirits; most of them were playing an instrument or dancing to the music. Having them around always made the festival more fun.
The mingled aromas of livestock, straw, and smoke, among other things, were all characteristic of the air of Turnera, and Angeline was delighted to bask in it. It was more frigid than it had been in Orphen or Bordeaux, but that just made every breath feel invigorating.
Though she looked forward to seeing all of her friends and family waiting for her at home, she still felt something would be missing. “Dad...hurry and come home,” she muttered. No matter what else happened, seeing her father was always what was best for Angeline.
Angeline giggled. It’s strange—we’re the ones visiting, and yet now we’re going to wait for dad to return. She mulled over what she would say when Belgrieve finally came back. “Welcome home” was the proper thing to say when welcoming someone who had gone out, but that seemed off to Angeline.
“No... Not exactly ‘off,’ but...” I want dad to welcome me home, not the other way around.
“What are you mumbling about?” Marguerite poked her in the back.
“It’s... It’s nothing.”
“Phew, the air sure is nice and clean,” Miriam gushed, stretching her back as they walked.
“Even though this isn’t my home, it’s calming, somehow...” said Anessa.
Angeline peered into her face. “Really? It’s pretty much your homeland by now, isn’t it?”
“Huh, um, w-well...maybe...?” Anessa said, bashfully scratching her cheek. Miriam giggled at her.
Angeline gazed up at the nearby mountain. I wonder what part dad is on? Angeline wondered. Her eyes lingered on the forest dyed in vivid autumn hues, and she was suddenly reminded of cowberries.
I think I’ll head out first thing in the morning. I’ll take Char, and Mit, and Hal and Mal. There are so many cowberries you can pick as many as you want, and we’ll fill all our baskets. Just thinking about it caused her expression to soften.
They chatted idly all the while. Before long, a familiar house was in view. Laundry fluttered on the line in the yard, and near the well, Angeline could see her mother stooped down and working on something. She was driven by overwhelming joy and practically flew over to her mother’s side despite the heavy bags on her back.
Satie heard the pounding footsteps and turned around. As soon as she was in the yard, Angeline tossed the bags aside and latched on to Satie.
“Mom! I’m home!”
“Whoa there!” Satie was staggered by the sudden charge, but she just managed to keep her balance without tumbling over and hugged Angeline back, smirking. “What a mischievous girl. Don’t surprise me like that.” She gently rubbed Angeline’s back with one hand and patted her head with the other.
They were about the same height, but Angeline still felt reassured in her arms. She laughed and nuzzled her mother with her cheek.
Satie smiled. “Welcome home, Ange. Have you been good?”
“Yeah! So, you know, I mean, there are lots of things I want to talk about...”
“That’s quite all right. No need to hurry. Everyone’s out right now. Are you going to stick around this time?”
“I don’t know. I’ll be here until the festival is over, at least... Is dad out too?”
“Yes. He left for the mountain with a packed lunch, so I think he’ll be back in the evening... He really does have the worst timing.”
Anessa looked at the pair of them standing before one another. “They really don’t look like mother and daughter...”
“Yeah,” Miriam concurred. “They’re more like sisters.”
“Hey, Satie. We’re here too,” Marguerite said, tactlessly interrupting their reunion. “You got anything to eat?”