After a few chats with the villagers, I learned that several groups of people were preparing for a journey to the mountain. However, they were planning to stop by the village before heading up. Since our people believed the mountain to be sacred, they were organizing a small festival—not only to boost the adventurers' morale, but also to bring the villagers together. Lia and I, being outside the village, had no idea about these preparations. The fear we felt on the way back to the village now felt meaningless. Instead of feeling surprised when I heard the news, I suddenly felt more at peace. The other villagers were planning this celebration to lift spirits and strengthen their bonds. People would probably hang up banners in the square or something. I was mumbling to myself.
I wanted to take part in the festival where everyone would gather and create a cheerful atmosphere. Though the strange crow at the village entrance still lingered in my mind, I decided not to dwell on it too much. Things were finally starting to settle down, and joining the festival felt like a good opportunity to leave all these negative thoughts behind.
Lia and I joined the villagers in the celebration. With fun games, songs, and lots of laughter, the night passed quickly. The once quiet village came back to life through this celebration. For a while, I let go of everything and simply enjoyed the moment.
In the middle of the festival, the group preparing to climb the mountain arrived in the village. The atmosphere changed in an instant. They looked like a proper adventuring party: an elf, a half-human, two regular humans, and a dwarf. They all looked wealthy—high-quality clothing, gold-trimmed belts, and gleaming armor. It was obvious they weren't just here to climb the mountain; this journey was an adventure to them.
The elf entered the village with graceful steps—always a striking presence due to his elegance and height. The half-human stood out immediately with his tall and strong build. I think he might have been part bear or something—I didn't pay too much attention because he looked like the type who could beat me up. I got the feeling he acted like the group's protector. The two other humans, though more ordinary-looking, had an aura about them—the weapons they carried, the determination in their eyes—it felt like they were on a mission. Lastly, the dwarf, though small, had a sturdy build and completed the group. He smiled warmly, and with every step, it was as if he felt more connected to the earth. Definitely the opposite of the half-human.
Lia, looking a bit closer, said, "Yeah, they definitely look like professional adventurers."
She had suddenly appeared behind me. If she keeps doing that, it's going to get annoying.
"Would it kill you to give a warning before sneaking up on me?" I said, my tone not really harsh.
"Aww, I get it—you're grumpy because you missed your chance to make a dramatic entrance," she teased.
"Could we maybe postpone the banter while there's a festival going on?"
"You're no fun at all," she said, plopping down beside me.
"Why aren't you with your family?"
"They're busy with my little brother," she answered, clearly feeling a bit down.
"Uhhh..." I had no idea what to say to that.
Sensing the awkwardness, she suddenly changed the subject. I think she was trying to avoid bringing up the fact that I was an orphan—a thoughtful move, if a bit delayed.
"Anyway, let's see if these guys actually manage to return safely from the mountain," she said, watching the adventurers.
"They all look like they're in their thirties, so they must be experienced," I replied—saying it more just to say something than out of confidence.
"But no one's made it back before, right?" she said, looking at me.
"Maybe this time will be different," I said uncertainly.
"Right, I'm sure the monsters will just see your face and decide to let them pass out of sheer cuteness," she said sarcastically.
"You've seen a monster on the mountain?" I asked curiously.
"Not exactly, but since no one ever returns, I just assumed," she answered.
"That's fair." I looked back at the group.
I started observing them more closely. Normally, this was a quiet and peaceful village, but the group heading to the mountain had stirred up curiosity in everyone. All because of a single light seen on the mountain? Was it really worth it?
As the group made their way to the village center, the villagers greeted them respectfully. Everyone treated their arrival as something natural, but I still felt a bit off. Could the mystery of the mountain really be that important? Probably not something for me to decide. It was better to leave it to the professionals. After all, they all looked like they had earned the right to be here.
The adventurers didn't seem like they wanted to linger. They were quickly restocking their supplies and getting ready to move out. There was a look of discomfort on their faces—were they wary of us? Or were they just in a hurry to get going? I couldn't tell. But there was definitely something… they didn't seem particularly interested in interacting with us.
The dwarf, however, was different. It was hard to guess his age, but I assumed he was old—his beard was really long. He was having a great time playing with the kids. Despite his age, he was joking around with them, telling them stories. The children gathered around him like he was their grandfather, and he seemed genuinely happy. Unlike the others, the dwarf had a warm, cheerful energy. I could tell from his expression that these moments were what made life worth living for him.
The other group members, in contrast, were busy preparing more seriously. The elf, the half-human, and the others didn't take time to relax. They were focused solely on getting to the mountain. None of them paid us much attention. Each of them was wrapped up in their own world, unaffected by the joy of the small village festival.
Still, the dwarf kept telling stories to the children like an old grandpa sharing tales of his past adventures. Then, the elf—who looked like the leader—walked over to the dwarf. He had a truly admirable presence. I watched from a distance as he leaned in and whispered something into the dwarf's ear. The dwarf stood up, preparing to leave the kids, even though they clearly didn't want to let him go. Smiling, he said something to them that seemed to convince them. The kids let him go, and he walked off with the elf, leaving the festival behind.
Night had begun to fall. The adults were getting a bit too deep into their drinks, their faces flushed. Lia had already slipped away, the younger children had been taken home by their mothers, and only the adults—and me—remained outside. I sat by the fire, my eyes drifting toward the wine. I was hesitant about taking a sip. In the end, I couldn't resist, and when no one was looking, I took a small sip. It tasted better than I expected. After all, the wine was homemade by the villagers themselves. I could easily become addicted. I stared into the cup for a long while, not even realizing how much time had passed.