Father's Day
The sun slowly rises over the domain Yi, for a new day to come. Kazuki peacefully sleeps in his bed. In the meantime, Tian-Han prepares the breakfast downstairs. The old man put everything on a tray. He gradually gets up the stairs with caution. He enters Kazuki's bedroom and puts the tray on the bed, next to the kid. Gently, Tian-Han puts a hand on Kazuki's shoulder and shakes it.
Kazuki steadily opens his eyes. The light lazily filters bit by bit through the windows, as the sun goes up in the sky, and reaches the face of the young boy. He turns to his master who smiles at the view of his student waking up.
"Good morning, my boy."
Kazuki smiles back to the old man.
"Good morning, Master."
Kazuki takes his time to sit up on his bed. He stretches his arms and the sweet scent of tea reaches his nose. Tian-Han is feeling two cups he brought on the plate with the tea. The water and the plants used to make it spin in the recipients as the old man pours the liquid in it.
"Why did you bring the breakfast to my bed today, Master ? There is no need for it. I didn't have a crisis today. And "
The old man puts back on the plate the teapot he was holding and just smiles again at the student.
"We'll go for a walk today."
Kazuki is pretty confused by this declaration. There doesn't seem to be anything special or a reason for it. As far as he knows, his birthday is not today. He looks at the old with a clear curiosity on his face, frowning.
"- That's all ? Is there something you need me to take when we'll be there ?
- Oh, no. You'll see once we'll be there.
- Can I know where we're going at least ?
- You'll see."
The old man gives a plate to Kazuki, full of scrambled eggs and some bread to eat it with. Both of them eat and drink in silence while the sun sets higher in the sky, stopping tainting the room in orange. After they finish recharging their energy with this hearty meal, they start preparing for the excursion Tian-Han prepared.
Finally, they join each other outside of the temple. Tian-Han took nothing but some money. Kazuki took nothing. Both of them wear the same white kimono. They look like they are related. It makes the old man smile.
Tian-Han heads out of the temple and leads Kazuki among the trees. They take a path going down the mountain where the forest is. Everything is silent around them. They only hear the sound of their feets on the leaves crackling each time they make a step. The trees make a protective barrier around them but also above them. They keep the area of the path fresh and they let the light filter through the branches, piercing the shadows the green mass makes over their head. They get out of the mountain, but still trees make a gigantic endless fence around the Master and the Student.
Finally, they leave the forest. Before them, a green expanse made out of long grass dances to the rhythm of the wind. It extends so much that the only end visible are other forests which are far away and a village on their right.
"This place is so beautiful. What is it? Why didn't I see it the other time you brought me to the village?"
Kazuki adopts a sulky expression and Tian-Han laughs.
"Don't make this face, my boy. You've already been there. The plain of Xiànzhì. It's just that you never saw it during the growth season. Soon, the Yǒujiǎodeshis will come back and eat the grass. Then, it will start to grow all over again. Now, let's go"
A Yǒujiǎodeshi is a giant obese bovine with a lot of horns and a very thick fur. The more horns and fur they have, the older they are. They have very long life expectancy and they are very strong. Those beasts are often used as transports by the local merchants in trips to other places or by adventurers going into the wilderness, searching for resources which they'll sell later to merchants. But they also are a very good source of food. Yǒujiǎodeshi's meat is used a lot in this region, coming right away from the village the old man and his protégé are heading to. It's a specialty over there.
Tian-Han and Kazuki take the path which cuts the long grass field in two, joining the village to the wilderness. Once they arrive, the calm of the plain is replaced by the tumult of the crowd. Tian-Han gives his hands to Kazuki.
"Take my hand. There are a lot of people. Be careful and try to stay with me unless I tell you otherwise."
The kid grabs the old man's hand, pressing it as much as he can. Both of them walk among the people of this village.
This little village is called Fánróng. It is a prosperous place in the region of Píngjìngde. This village, located in a valley, is the stop of many travelers who decide to venture into the surrounding wildlands. They are full of resources for medicine, food or the confection of certain products including cosmetics. The village is known for its local trade, its roaming market and its barter that allows the inhabitants to live.
The old man takes the kid to the central square of the village. There are even more people there. They dance, sing, and laugh. Everyone is smiling and having fun. Kazuki stays close to Tian-Han, a bit afraid by all the agitation but also intrigued. He looks around him, seeing people doing different activities. He didn't know there was a celebration today. Everyone is holding a man's hand or staying close to one. Sometimes, there are also grown women. He even saw some men with older men. He doesn't really understand what's going on.
As Tian-Han hand over to him he just bought to a stand Yǒujiǎodeshi's meat skewers for their lunch, Kazuki can't contain his curiosity longer.
"What is happening? Why are people celebrating?"
Tian-Han smiles at the young boy. He takes him to a less crowded place. They sit on a bench, and the expression of impatience on Kazuki's face makes the old man laugh again. Finally, he reveals why he brought him there.
"It's Father's day."
Kazuki looks at him, confused. He doesn't remember this day. He thinks that maybe he should have. His father isn't there anymore, Tian-Han told him three years ago. He looks at his master, maybe that he'll have more answers.
"Father's day…?"