"Don't keep us waiting, or we will leave you behind!" she warned.
Samuel broke into a wider smile. He hurried to the door...
A genuine smile played on his lips...
The young girls who were also going to the market, for the festival, were already assembled in the bathhouse courtyard, their baskets and satchels ready.
The morning air was warm, filled with the distant sounds of people waking up and the promise of the upcoming festival.
The road to the market parted through the Andromeda-residential streets before opening into their town's square, a wide, cobbled-up space now transformed into a bustling hub of activity.
The market has a vibrant mix of sights, sounds, and smells. Stalls overflowed with colorful things, fresh fruits and vegetables piled into a neat bowl, and small, The air carried the sweet scent of roasted nuts mingling with the sharpness of different exotic spices. The constant chatter of vendors calling out their wares, and shoppers bargaining filled the space, it was a lively chorus of commerce and community.
Samuel paused at the entrance of the market, a glimpse of apprehension in his eyes. He hadn't been to such a large public gathering in a long time. The sheer number of people, and the pressure of bodies moving in every direction, was overwhelming at first. But Lira, now several steps ahead of him, seemed completely at home, navigating the crowds with ease. She moved with a lightness that belied her young age, her silver hair swaying with each step she took.
"We need fresh herbs for the Grandma Dotty stew," Lira called back, pausing at a stall overflowing with bunches of green leaves. She pointed to a basket filled with dried, dark berries... "And some of those dried berries for the sweet bread."
Samuel watched her interact with the vendor, an older woman with kind eyes and quick hands... Really good at what she was doing..., Lira's voice was firm and at the same time polite as she negotiated a price, her knowledge of the market evident. He noticed how easily she spoke with strangers, how she knew exactly what to look for among the piles of goods... Samuel had felt like an outsider.
"Are you going to help, or just stand there?" Lira teased, turning to him with a playful look. Her eyes, the same colors as the sky, light blue.. she held a mischievous glint.
Samuel cleared his throat, pushing down his initial discomfort. "What do you need me to do?"
"Just carry this," she uttered quietly, handing him a basket that was quickly filling with their purchases. It felt strangely heavy in his hands, not from its weight, but from the novelty of the task. "And try not to get lost." She winked at him, a gesture that made him almost smile.
They moved from stall to stall, collecting items for the festival. Lira explained what each ingredient was for, detailing the various dishes that would be prepared for the Festival of the Living. It was a celebration of remembrance and renewal, honoring those who had passed while celebrating the life that continued. Samuel listened, absorbing the information. He found himself looking at things more closely than he would have on his own...the lively expressions on the faces of children running past him. The market was a world in itself, full of life, and Lira was a natural, vibrant part of it.
As they walked past a vendor selling brightly colored ribbons and flowers, Samuel's gaze lingered on a small, intricately carved wooden bird. It reminded him of a bird his younger sister, Emma, used to cherish, a small, wooden sparrow she'd found in the backyard of their old home. He gripped the basket tighter...The laughter and chatter around him faded, replaced by the hollow voices, he tried to suppress. His eighteenth birthday. The last day. The faces of his family and the joy of the market became a cruel counterpoint to his mental suffering.
Lira, sensing his sudden quietness, glanced at him. Her smile softened. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice unexpectedly gentle, cutting through the noise of the market.
Samuel quickly averted his gaze from the wooden bird. "Fine," he murmured, his voice rougher than he intended.
Lira didn't press him. Instead, she took a small, bright red ribbon from the vendor's display. "This will be perfect for the memorial lanterns," she responded, her voice thoughtful. "We place them on the river at sunset, each one carrying a memory of someone we've lost..."
He watched her, her fingers deftly tying a small knot in the ribbon. The casual mention of loss, was a small gesture of understanding, a subtle acknowledgment of his pain without directly confronting it. It was unexpected for Lira, who usually met his brooding with playful gestures.
"The festival takes a lot of preparation," Samuel exclaimed, changing the subject, needing to ground himself in the present task. "Does the whole town get involved?"
"Mostly," one of the girls following them replied, stepping forward as they reached a stall selling various baked goods. "Everyone contributes something, big or small. It's about community, about sharing burdens and joys. It's especially important for those of us who… are still alive."
Lira nodded, then turned to the group. "Alright, let's double-check the list before we move on. We need to make sure we haven't missed anything crucial for the festival. Mara, did you remember to cross off the dried apricots?"
"Already done, Lira!" Mara, a girl with a cheerful grin and bright yellow hair, confirmed, holding up a small parchment. "And I found that special sweet spice you were looking for, the one from the eastern region. It was hidden behind a pile of regular cinnamon."
"Excellent work, Mara!" another girl, chimed in. "That means we can make the Fire Blossom cakes even more spicy this year."
"Just don't drop them on the way back, like you did last year with the candied nuts!" a third girl, teased, elbowing the other one gently. Laughter rippled through the group of girls.
Lira joined the laughter, then refocused them.
"Alright, everyone. One girl uttered, Last few items on this side of the market, then we'll swing by the fabric vendors for the last of the lantern materials."
They continued their shopping, the conversation shifting to lighter topics. Mara's stories of market vendors and quirky townspeople were surprisingly entertaining. Samuel found himself chuckling at one point, a sound that felt foreign and a little rusty in his own ears. He admitted. It was a fleeting moment of ease.
After a long search for a particular type of rare incense needed for the evening ceremony, Lira finally found it tucked away in a dusty corner of an old merchant's shop. She emerged victorious, holding a small, wooden box.
"This is the last of the main items," they declared, their eyes bright with satisfaction. "Now, we just need to get festival attire."
Samuel tensed. "I thought the bathhouse would provide us with ones."
Lira shook her head. "For visitors, yes. But you're staying. And for the Festival of the Living, everyone dresses in something special. It's part of the celebration.
Samuel uttered internally...
Look at her talking like she is an expert.
Lira continued..."And since your apology is still pending, consider this your next test." She grinned, a playful challenge in her eyes.
He watched her, a mix of exasperation and something akin to reluctant amusement growing inside him. His initial intention was to maintain a detached silence around her was proving difficult. Her directness, her playful defiance, chipped away at his composure.
"Fine," he responded. "Where do we go?"
Mara stepped in clapping her hands together, a youthful excitement lighting up her face. "Follow me! I know just the place."
She led them through a maze of smaller, less crowded stalls, eventually stopping in front of a shop filled with an array of brightly colored clothes. It was a place for festive wear, unlike the practical clothes he was used to. The fabric dropped from the ceiling, shimmering in the sunlight, and the air was thick with the scent of new cloth and subtle perfumes.
Samuel hesitated at the entrance. He doesn't want to draw attention, and these clothes seemed designed to do just that. Lira, however, plunged right in. "Something with a bit of flourish, I think," she uttered, running her hand over the clothes. "Not too much, but enough to show you're embracing the festive spirit." She turned to him, with a knowing look in her eyes. "Unless, of course, you want to show up in a battle wear."
Samuel narrows his eyes..she busts out in laughter.
By the time they returned to the bathhouse, the sun was beginning its descent, casting long shadows on the courtyard.
The courtyard was already bustling. Grandma Dotty, along with the girls and several other merchants from Andromeda, had started the preparations. Tables laden with ingredients were set up, and the air was filled with the sounds of chopping, stirring, and cheerful chatter.
Samuel found himself drawn into the activity. He was given a large bowl and a long wooden spoon, and tasked with mixing a thick, aromatic dough for the festival bread. His hands, usually accustomed to different, more solitary motions, found a new rhythm in the kneading and stirring of the dough.
Lira and the girls moved around him, humming festive tunes and offering instructions. Grandma Dotty oversaw everything, her presence a steady anchor in the organized chaos...
The night was filled with laughter. The bathhouse, usually so quiet in the evenings, vibrated with a joyful energy. The aroma of spices and baking food filled every corner. But deep down, Samuel knew it wouldn't last long. Soon he had to leave. The joy was a fleeting thing, a temporary reprieve from the underlying sorrow that always lingered in him. He looked at Lira, laughing with Mara and the others, He wished his sister was here. Emma would have loved this experience, the smells, the sounds, the shared laughter. The thought tightened his chest, a sharp pain of absence... amidst the celebration, the festival of the living...