“Oh, it’s nothing,” I replied after a pause. “I’m sure it’ll be way, way more fun if that happens, so I’ll have to work hard.”
“Yes, let’s do our best.”
“Darling! Reinaaa!”
As we chatted, I heard the voices of Tailtiu and Luna calling us from far away. We exchanged smiles, then headed over to them.
“What is it, Tailtiu?” I asked.
“You sure sound happy,” Reina remarked.
“Indeed, because I am very happy right now!”
Tailtiu held meat in both hands, and her face was tinged faintly red, perhaps from excitement. She usually played with Luna, but today she was getting to know the other Divine Beastfolk. The adults seemingly saw the way she looked with her small cheeks stuffed with meat as charming, and they were really doting on her. That wasn’t all—just earlier she had taken on Gaius in a match of Divine Beast Sumo, where she had put on a comparable display of strength. That had gotten the venue even more energized, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that she had become the center of the party.
“I was watching. You were really amazing,” Reina said to her.
“Someone sure is popular, surrounded by everyone,” I said.
“Heh heh heh... I am the most powerful Ancient Dragon, Bahamut, after all! This much is...nothing...”
Tailtiu had been eating tasty food, playing a lot, and smiling around everyone, and she should’ve been enjoying the party to her heart’s content. But despite all that, her expression gradually darkened.
“Tailtiu?” I said.
“It is truly fun...it is... Yet...” The joy rapidly faded from her voice. There were faint tears in her eyes, and she seemed to be remembering something. “This is the first time I have eaten with so many people like this... And the other Ancient Dragonfolk always left me out of everything, so...”
“I see...”
That reminded me of something Elga had once said. Tailtiu was especially strong, even among her fellows, and she was always alone because the others her age ostracized her. I hadn’t noticed it then, but as I looked at Tailtiu now, I realized that her loneliness might have been quite deep-seated.
“It’s strange,” Tailtiu continued. “I’m happy, I’m having fun, but somehow I feel just a bit sad...”
“Tailtiu...” Reina gently hugged her, and the girl buried her face in her chest.
As I watched Tailtiu sob quietly in Reina’s arms, I thought that perhaps right now, everyone’s kindness was something painful, because it made her remember her past with the Ancient Dragonfolk.
“A feast with all the races on the island, huh?” I said to myself. This was a goal I had decided on just a short while ago. But looking at Tailtiu now made me think that maybe this was a more serious matter than I’d thought—as serious as someone like her being ostracized by her own species.
For a while we stood there silently, illuminated by the bonfire’s flames.
“Hm? What’re you guys doing?” Katima asked, looking at us curiously. Her expression looked sleepy, maybe because she had eaten a lot of food. “Seems kinda depressing over here. Seeing as we’re having this fun feast, I think you should enjoy yourselves more.”
“You’re right...”
Despite what I said, I couldn’t get in the partying mood while Tailtiu was crying. This was a matter of her feelings, though, so maybe there was nothing I could do.
“Come to think of it, weren’t the Alfar supposed to be on bad terms with the Divine Beastfolk, Katima?” I asked.
“Yep.”
“Such a direct answer... But you were just eating and drinking with them.”
“What are you talking about, Arata?”
“Huh?”
“It’s a feast, isn’t it? So what if we’re on bad terms? You gotta have fun eating and drinking at a feast.”
I was somewhat taken aback by Katima’s matter-of-fact attitude, and I was at a loss for words. Tailtiu must have been surprised as well, because she raised her face and looked at her.
“I don’t really get why you’re so shocked,” Katima said. “But wouldn’t you rather have fun? I think that if we could all have fun, no one would care about whatever problems we have with each other.”
I paused, then said, “Yeah, you’re right.”
Somehow, I started to suspect that I had been overthinking things. To be sure, the other Ancient Dragonfolk might have been excluding Tailtiu. But if so, I could just hold a feast like this and invite them. If they ate, drank, and laughed enough to where they could no longer do something as ridiculous as keep Tailtiu at a distance because of her strength, then they would certainly understand how small their worries were. Heck, why don’t I invite the Fierce Ogrefolk they’re on bad terms with too?
“Tailtiu!” I said.
“Hnuh?!”
“First off, let’s eat! Then, let’s enjoy the feast!”
“Mm-hmm... Mm-hmm...”
“Then next time, let’s invite those poor Ancient Dragonfolk who couldn’t come today. After all, it isn’t fun to be left out!”
Yes, right now, Tailtiu wasn’t the one being left out—it was the other Ancient Dragonfolk.
“That’s right!” Tailtiu said. “Because right now, I’m not alone!”
“There you go, Tailtiu,” Reina said. “You’re our family, and we’re friends.”
“Reina...”
“Also, those two say they want to get to know you better.” Reina pointed at Zelos and Merlyn, who were coming our way.
They had seemingly been looking for Tailtiu, and they began to talk together about all sorts of things. Although the two were supposed to have had their pride as Celestial Archmages torn to shreds on this island, I honestly thought it was impressive that they were still trying to build a relationship with Tailtiu despite that.
After a while, Luna came over after noticing that we had all gathered together, and the conversation surrounding Tailtiu got more lively. That must have been fun for her, because there was now a smile on her face. It was hard to imagine that she had been crying just a bit ago. As I watched them from a distance, I somehow found myself feeling incredibly happy.