It was sunrise. The first light of the day began to touch the bathhouse grounds.
Samuel got up from his bed. He had not slept, due to his powers, but he felt an unusual surge of energy, almost unlimited energy. More than usual. Thanks to the Red fruit.
He opened his room door, revealing the dimly lit hallways. He stepped into the corridor, and the door swung shut behind him. The atmosphere in the bathhouse was silent; he was the first one awake.
Samuel made his way to the communal bath area, ahead of everyone else. He stayed in the bath for a while and dried off. Then got out.
On his way back, he saw Lira carrying a towel, heading towards the women's bathroom section. Samuel paused, thinking about whether he should call out to her and talk to her about earlier. The recent tension between them weighed on his mind.
Ultimately, he decided against it and went back to his room. Inside, he pondered what to wear... his hooded vulture-like attire, which he had gotten from the Tree of Longevity or the regular one the people from the bathhouse had given him. After a while of intense pondering, he decided to go with the regular one. It was simpler.
Dressed, he went back outside, into the hallways, then descended downstairs.
As he reached the bottom, Grandma Dotty was already there. "Mr. Samuel, good morning," she greeted him. "How was your night?"
Samuel bowed. "Morning, Mrs. Dotty. Great," he responded with awkwardness.
She smiled. "Breakfast will soon be ready," she informed him.
A cheerful voice then echoed from the hallways. "Grandma Dotty!"
"Lady Lira," Grandma Dotty replied with affection as Lira bounded towards her for a hug.
Lira pulled back. "Grandma," she exclaimed, "please stop with the 'Lady' formalities. We are family."
Grandma Dotty chuckled. "Alright, alright, Lira," she conceded.
Lira smiled, then turned and saw Samuel. Her smile faded, and she simply walked past him, offering no greeting.
Grandma Dotty noticed the clear awkwardness between them. She knew they had recently fought.
They proceeded to the dining area. A palpable silence was present at the dinner table.
Grandma Dotty broke the quiet. "Lira, you came at the right time. The Festival of the Living is taking place tomorrow."
"So you are going to help with the preparations." Grandma Dotty declared...
"Really?" Lira's eyes widened with excitement.
"And also," Grandma Dotty added, "it's your birthday tomorrow. Your 17th birthday, in the Andromeda calendar."
Lira murmured, "I forgot," laughing lightly.
Grandma Dotty rubbed her head in frustration. "Ohh," she sighed.
Samuel sat there in silence, his gaze fixed on his plate of food.
He was experiencing deep pain. The mention of birthdays caused a wave of nostalgia, remembering the last day he spent with his family, his 18th birthday, a memory now tinged with profound sadness.
He felt acutely out of place. He couldn't stop the continuous thoughts coming through his mind.
Then Lira got up first. She turned her head, looking at Samuel sidelong. "Grandma Dotty," she said, "Thanks for the food, it was delicious."
Without another word, she left without saying a word to Samuel.
The food on his plate now tasted blander than usual. Despite this, he managed to finish it and then stood up.
He walked to the balcony of the bathhouse. He stood there, in the shade, avoiding sunlight. Looking at the clouds drifting across the sky.
Then, a voice behind him broke his quiet time. "You have his eyes, my late husband's," Grandma Dotty uttered softly.
Samuel turned around to see her standing there, a steaming hot tea cup in both her hands.
"You know, this was his favorite spot," she began. "Early in the morning, he would come here to bask in the sunlight with only his towel. We argued a lot then. He was a shameless man." She laughed softly, with tears in her eyes.
She looked at Samuel. "Why am I telling you all this? Because life is short. You fought with Lira, right, last night?"
Samuel looked away.
"With how troublesome she can be, I know you didn't do anything wrong," Grandma Dotty continued. "But make up with her. It's important."
Grandma Dotty added, "When Lira was young, she never knew her parents. She was raised by the IRA orphanage administration in IRA City."
"I used to be a member," she revealed. "She didn't live a normal life. She was pressured, and confined. Because of her divine essence, a unique connection to celestial navigation. She became his celestial navigator for the Goddess of fertility...IRA."
Samuel responded, "But Lira is a Sovereign-Born. To be a navigator, you must be connected to a god's divine essence. And her powers aren't connected to the goddess IRA."
"So," Samuel added, "she must have a connection to a different goddess."
Grandma Dotty responded, "Or maybe her connection comes from birth...
Samuel replied so Lira is a child of a Goddess."
"Yes...we don't know the Goddess yet, but we are sure." Grandma Dotty explained while sipping her tea.."
Samuel's eyes narrowed. "It makes more sense," he murmured.
Suddenly, one of the young ladies came. "Grandma Dotty," she said, "someone from the neighboring district, is looking for you."
She replied, "Tell them I am coming."
Before she left, Grandma Dotty turned to Samuel. "So, Mr. Samuel," she called out.
"Samuel is fine," he responded.
She smiled. "Please make up with her. She is currently preparing to go to the market for festival supplies."
"Ponder about everything I have said," she advised.
"Well then, Samuel," she concluded, "I would like to excuse myself." She nodded and left.
Samuel stood for a couple of minutes, letting her words sink in. He then went to the compound's backyard.
Lira was there with a group of girls, laughing and chatting. She glanced up, saw him, and then immediately looked away.
Samuel took a deep breath and called her name. "Lira," he said.
She turned slowly, her lower lip in a pout. "What?" she questioned.
"I want to talk with you in private," Samuel addressed her.
She looked at him for a couple of minutes. "Fine," she finally conceded. She excused herself and walked towards Samuel.
They went back inside, to Samuel's guest room.
She walked directly to the window, her back partially towards him.
"So, what do you want to talk about?" she questioned Samuel.
"I'm sorry," Samuel responded.
Lira looked surprised, but quickly hid it.
"Last night I was insensitive," Samuel continued. "I didn't mean to hurt you or add to your pain."
"I'm sorry..." Before Samuel could utter another sentence, Lira started laughing intensely.
"Samuel," she managed to say between gasps, "I didn't know you could be so cringe! Hahahaha!"
Samuel's eyes narrowed in frustration.
"Listen, I'm not joking," he said.
"I know," she replied, her tone softening. "But your apology is not yet accepted."
Samuel's eyes widened. "What?" he asked.
"Let's go shopping for the festival, then," she proposed, turning to face him. "Maybe then I might forgive you." She smiled as the sun's rays hit her silver hair, creating a beautiful rainbow effect.
Then she walked past him, hands behind her back, moving towards the door. "Come on, they are waiting outside," she responded. "Let's not keep them waiting."
Samuel unintentionally smiled.
She closed the door behind her.
Samuel stood for a while.
Then, he heard "Samuel!" Lira called from just outside.
"Don't keep us waiting, or we will leave you behind!" she warned.
Samuel broke into a wider smile. He hurried to the door...