The sound of laughter and cheers could be heard. Winter has ended, and a pleasant spring now awaits the people of Nutaarvik.
I'm standing in the village plaza, along with almost all the villagers.
Tables are filled with food, some people are dancing in the dance area, which echoes with the sound of music, and the village priest gathers the parishioners for a prayer, honoring our ancestors.
The end of winter has finally arrived. It felt as though a voice in my head was telling me how much time was left before it ended. Now that it's over, I feel calmer. Tomorrow morning, I will begin my dangerous journey.
For now, I'm just enjoying the food. There are various delicious desserts on the tables that would normally be too expensive to buy. It's not gluttony if you're contributing to the feast, right?
As I nibble on some marzipan, the mayor comes up to me. He looks to be in his 50s and has a sophisticated vibe. His face is sharply defined, telling of countless hours of deep thought.
"Hey, Ailan. I heard you brought us some deer. Did you hunt it yourself?" he says.
"You bet, it was easier than usual," I reply, pulling a handkerchief from my sleeve to wipe the food and drink residue from my mouth.
"Are the rumors true? Are you really leaving us?"
Normally, I'd crack a joke or something, but I can't disrespect the mayor. "I'm afraid so," I say.
"Why do you insist on pursuing your dream of becoming a warden? When the priest taught you to read and write, I tried to convince him to tell you to give up on that dream."
I look around at the people gathered in the plaza; they seem to be enjoying themselves. "I thank you for all the work you've done for this village, the village where I was raised. But sadly, I've decided that I want to spend some time in my life doing things that can't be achieved if I stay here."
He joins me in looking around the plaza. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm truly happy staying here, or if I would have been happier had I been born somewhere else." He pauses for a moment before continuing. "But the truth is, happiness comes from within. If you rely on achieving a dream to find happiness, even when you achieve it, you'll eventually feel that things aren't as great as you expected."
"In my humble opinion, happiness comes from being able to fulfill all your wishes and desires."
He looks a bit disappointed. "When I was a child, I wanted to become mayor. I did everything I could to learn from the mayor before me and try to get on the good side of the villagers. It was my dream, and I worked hard to achieve it. But when the day came and the villagers elected me as the new mayor, I wasn't happy. I was just relieved—relieved that I made it." He continues, jokingly, "And I quickly got tired of all that paperwork." He laughs politely.
"Do you ever regret becoming mayor?" I ask, genuinely curious.
"No, I don't," he says, motioning toward the joyful villagers. "I found my happiness in the well-being of the village, in seeing everyone content."
"You are truly a great mayor," I say, nodding to myself with a sense of admiration.
He laughs at that. "Thanks, I try my best," he says.
"Your words are really inspiring. But I also won't regret becoming a warden. It's something I feel I have to do."
"I understand," he says, nodding with a polite smile. "But don't forget—you'll always be welcomed here."
I bow respectfully. "I will be sure to keep that in mind."
He then leaves me to talk to another villager. I take a moment to contemplate the scenery some more.
Just as I'm lost in thought, a young lady I don't recognize approaches. She seems to be in her teens.
"Ailan, are you sure you'll be able to make it to the capital on your own? By horse and without resting, it should take about eight days to get there. And you'll need to rest—you could also get lost or run into many dangers along the way."
"If I don't come back, it's because I didn't make it."
"If you want some adventure, you could come along with me. I'm going to a nearby city when the next caravan shows up. We could travel together."
"Are you a friend of Astrid?"
She jumps up with excitement, but after a brief moment, she looks away, blushing with embarrassment. "I'm... uh, yeah, a friend of Astrid, your sister. Why do you ask?"
Feeling confused by the way she behaved, I hesitated before replying, "Nothing, she just brought you up for a second, that's all."
"I see," she says, a slight pause before she adds, "Well, would you mind dancing with me?" She extends her hand, a soft smile playing on her lips.
Dancing with a pretty girl? I can't say no to that!
I extend my hand to hers with careful courtesy, escorting her to the dancing area. The sounds of music and the laughter of others become more pronounced. Her gaze meets mine with a shy, almost hesitant look. It seems she may not be accustomed to such an intimate gesture as a man taking her hand.
We engage in a dance to the melody of the music, both of us lacking in refined dancing skills. As a result, our movements resemble more of a playful exchange than a formal dance, a lighthearted activity that we both seem to enjoy.
Once we grew tired, we departed from the dance area and exchanged our farewells. As she uttered her goodbyes, there was a subtle yet discernible melancholy in her expression.
As time passed, even the musicians grew weary, and the music eventually stopped. The mayor stood before the crowd, offering a brief but heartfelt speech, acknowledging the people gathered in the square. And with that, he declared the festival over, bringing the lively celebration to a close.