Father's day
The sun slowly rises over the domain Yi, for a new day to come. Kazuki peacefully sleeps in his bed, dreaming about that mysterious inner world and what adventure it could lead to. In the meantime, Master Yi prepares the breakfast downstairs. The smell of the tasty hot meal fills the hair. The old man put everything on a tray. He gradually gets up the stairs with caution, in order to not spill the tray on the ground nor wake up Kazuki too soon. He enters Kazuki's bedroom and puts the tray on the bed, next to the kid. Gently, Master Yl puts a hand on Kazuki's shoulder and shakes it to wake him up.
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."
His eyes get accommodated to the morning light in his room. He smiles back at 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. Master Yi is feeling two cups he brought on the plate with the tea, from where the scent is coming. The water and the plants used to make it spin in the recipients as the old man pours the liquid in it. The young boy looks at his master, visibly surprised and a bit confused.
"Why did you bring the breakfast to my bed today, Master ? There is no need for it. I didn't have a crisis today."
The old man puts back on the plate the teapot he was holding and just smiles again at the student. He announces with enthusiasm the surprise which brings him to his room this morning.
"We'll go for a walk today. I'm taking you somewhere."
Kazuki is even more 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. There is also not a single celebration he knows taking place 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 Master Yi prepared.
Finally, they join each other outside of the temple. Master Yi 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.
Master Yi 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. This walk is a moment appreciated by both.
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. Kazuki seems to recognize the village from afar.
"- You're taking me to Fánróng? It's been a while. You never take me there unless you need my help or during some celebration. And not only for Fánróng!
-That's exact. And I don't take you there because last time you came here, you ended up in a fight
-But it wasn't my fault and you know it! I didn't even hit them!
-I know but still. My priorities are your safety and your health.
-But you told me that I don't have to fear anything as long as you are here. You said to me so many times that there is no greater security than that.
-And what if I'm not around?"
The question is left unanswered, as none of them wants to know the outcome if his master isn't around in an unknown place like this one. Kazuki looks at the village far away and his gaze turns to the field of long grass expanding almost indefinitely.
"Oh wow! This place is so beautiful. What is it? Why didn't I see it the other times you brought me to the village?"
Kazuki adopts a sulky expression and Master Yi laughs out loud, trying to relax Kazuki but it only reinforced his expression.
"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.
Master Yi 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. A lot of people bumped into them and Kazuki is able to stay with his master only by grabbing his kimono. Master Yi gives his hands to Kazuki, so he is sure that he stays with him.
"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. He also feels the hand of his master holding his own firmly. Both of them walk among the people of this village, trying to find a way towards something or at least towards a least crowded place.
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, it seems. But despite this good feeling, Kazuki stays close to Master Yi, 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 Master Yi hand over to him Yǒujiǎodeshi's meat skewers he just bought to a stand for their lunch, Kazuki can't contain his curiosity longer.
"What is happening? Why are people celebrating?"
Master Yi 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. It should be an important day, in which you take time with your father to have fun together, offering him some things as a thanks or something like that. His father isn't there anymore, Master Yi told him that three years ago. He looks at his master, maybe that he'll have more answers.
"Father's day…?"