[Hilda's POV]
"That boy... he is horrible!" (Carrot)
"Shut up! You are the one who raised him." (Cabbage)
"If I knew this will happen to me one day..." (Carrot)
"It was our fault anyway. Let's receive the punishment silently!" (Cabbage)
"Punishment? I am an Arch-Wizard for Mara's sake! Why should I accept this treatment?" (Carrot)
"Well, you are the one who said it's okay as long as you get to play with children!" (Cabbage)
"Play with children means to sit down and gather them around me then tell them children stories, not getting beaten up by them in this... what did he call it?" (Carrot)
"Mascots." (Cabbage)
"Yes, mascots! Why should we wear this silly stuff in front of people?" (Carrot)
"Well, no one can recognize us at least!" (Cabbage)
"... look! Children are coming! Wave for them!" (Carrot)
This... she was complaining about the things we are wearing just now!
These things are some strange clothes Jon made us wear as a way of an apology for the scheme we made during the match. It seemed harmless at first but he got us good.
If I remember correctly, he said we just have to watch for the children playing around during the 'New Life Festival'. Nurina fell to the trap without noticing what she got us into.
I also didn't realize that Jon would be this vengeful!
He added that we will be wearing certain customs to get along with the kids. We never thought it would be that silly.
I, Hilda of Clan Firemane, am a Cabbage.
And she, Arch-Wizard Nurina Aren, is a Carrot.
I am not sure how to play with children like this but Nurina who was complaining all the time is playing with kids just fine and they are all gathered around her.
I guess children don't like cabbage after all.
I kept looking around at the place, the town is lively and all the old broken buildings got removed. Many wooden houses are still under construction and there is a stone building being build in the style of Solitude too, this seems to be the Dare Dragon Company Headquarters.
It is a really interesting idea to build a company under the category of investment company, it can just invest in whatever it wants and manage it from the shadows. Jonhild used the principal to manage the whole hold from the shadows that way.
To tell the truth, I am worried! Jonhild has offended the Bloodsail Clan and caused them a lot of damage. I am not worried about Jonhild himself since he could already become a Bright-Star Aura Master at such age. His birthsign sure is useful when it comes to manifesting the Aura.
The thing I am worried about is the town and his friends. He may be protecting them like that but he can't protect them forever.
He needs to learn how to be a leader rather than a savior. People lose their way when they lose their saviors.
"Hey, let go of me..."
Hm? What is that?
A fight?
"I told you, tell me where you keep the money or you will not go out again."
"Let go of me! This is Reme's money, not your booze money!"
"I am the one who gets to decide what the money is for? Tell me where did you hide it!"
A fight between a man and his wife was taking place in public. From what I could tell, the woman saved some money for the small girl hiding behind her and her husband wants the money to drink.
Now they are making a fuss about it in public, the man is overpowering the woman and it seems that she is very afraid of him.
I looked around and saw the children around the playing park are getting scared from the scene.
"Give me the money or else!" The man raised his hand and was about to beat up the woman.
Well, not on my watch!
I held the man's arm and pulled him away from the woman.
"Huh? What are... let me go! I said let me go, you freak!" He said.
"Freak? I am a Cabbage as you can see." I was completely covered in the Cabbage custom so let's play it that way. "Can you please go shout somewhere else, you are scaring the kids here."
"I don't care what are you or where is this, let go or..."
"Fine!"
I let him go... flying!
The man fell on the snow and glared at me then went away.
Weakling!
"Are you alright, sister?" I looked at the woman who seems to have got scared of me.
"Is he, is he fine?" She was asking about the man as it seemed.
"Well, if I were you, I would look after that crying kid first. You shouldn't get scared of him like that, sister!"
"Thank you ..."
I and the woman consoled the girl, Reme, until she stopped crying! A cute little angel.
I talked to the woman and it seemed she needed some mental push to prevent her useless husband from taking all the money for drinking. It went well in the end.
Once she left and I returned to Carrot, I mean Nurina, I found many children looking at me and smiling.
"Cabbage! So strong!"
"Cabbage! That was amazing!"
"Cabbage! Send my brother flying too!"
The kids moved from Carrot's side to me.
Hehe! It seems all of them are now excited about the Cabbage and will eat it to become strong.
"That was Reme's father! You should beat him once again, Cabbage!" One of the children said.
"You know Reme?" I asked.
"Yes! She used to come with us but her father started yelling at her every time she comes to play." Another kid said.
How horrible!
"Yes! Some time ago, the Boss caught him beating Reme and yelled at him."
"Jon did?"
"Yes, the Boss was so angry! But when the Boss disappeared for half a year, he started doing it again."
I see!
It is like that.
I played with the kids until night came and everyone had to go for their homes.
I started thinking about Jonhild once again. He can save as many people as he can but he still can't teach them how to save themselves on their own. Once he leaves, everything may go the way it used to be.
I guess I can at least teach him that. If he is going to lead a town, he should lead it right.
I think I can't do a naive thing like choosing something for him anymore. That time has long since run out. But I can at least teach him a thing or two.
"Good job today, Carrot, Cabbage! You have done great!"
But for some reason, I can't stand how smug he can be.
"Jon! Don't ever think you can get away with this!" Carrot said in a threatening tone.
"Haha! How about some Spiced Wine that just arrived from Solitude?" Jon raised his hand making a peace offer.
I don't think a wine bottle will make such a humiliation pass...
"Oh! Good kid. Give me a crate."
... but it did.
"Just which one of you did raise the other?" I wondered!
"Me!" "Him!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Jon's POV]
"Happy new year, everyone!"
I said as I sat on the head of the table. The owner of the house and all that.
Wulfur, Jull, Nefertiti, Alina, Carrot, and Cabbage were all her. We all exchanged congratulations and sat to eat dinner.
Everyone was busy managing with the celebration all day and I was cooking in peace alone.
Mammoth Kabab, Shawarma, some rice that I imported from Cyrodiil was here too, and many other delicacies that I bought only for this gathering were all on the table.
"That smells so good!" Nurina was on the verge of diving into the soup.
"Ah! To think I will eat my son's cooking before he eats mine." Hilda was touched.
"Auntie, don't get any funny ideas like that. Last time you almost poisoned a clan in one go!" Alina said something dangerous.
"Annoying Cat! Don't eat from my plate, go eat with that hammers lover!" Jull was fighting over food with Nefertiti again.
"Hooman! She is bullying meow!"
"Jon, it has been a year since I ate that Shawarma! Good job, bro!"
Hehe! That's one lively scene.
I put the last plate on the table and sat together with the bunch.
Wulfur and I have talked last night about my origins and I told him everything. I also apologized for not telling him before as I was not sure of many things. He was overjoyed with what he heard and his reaction was the best. He also could finally understand the previous interactions between me and the Firemanes.
"Jull, how was your day?"
"Great! Alina and I took the annoying cat and hunted together. Then we practiced the Signature Atronach spells you made."
Aha! I gave Alina the permission to learn my personal version of the Flame Horse Atronach which is far superior to the one I provided to the College.
"Cabbage and Carrot! Please watch out from the salad or you guys will be regarded as cannibals."
Hilda and Nurina looked at me with cold eyes. Hehe! Their expressions are priceless.
"By the way, Hilda! When is that Coming of age Ceremony thing?"
"It is one week from now, we need to move tomorrow or the day after at the very least!"
"Good! I have nothing to do from now on so let's do it tomorrow. Can Jullanar participate with us?"
"Eh? Me?" Jullanar was taken aback.
"Yes! Both Wulfur and Alina are participating." I said.
"Jon! Are you sure about that?" Hilda said.
"Something wrong?"
"Well... the Clan may see her as the one who tried to kill you once, so..."
"Everything tried to kill me at least once! She didn't stand a chance from the beginning." I said.
"I'll take your words for it then."
"Thank you! Jullanar is my shadow! No man lives without his shadow." I said and Jullanar smiled.
Hilda laughed and shook her head.
"So, what will I be expecting in that Ceremony? Will I hunt an Ice Wrath?" I asked.
Hunting an Ice Warth is a common tradition in the Coming of Age ceremonies around Skyrim.
"Well, you all have to hunt one each! The ship will take you as well as the rest of the Clan's kids to hunt them in a usual spot."
Oh! I think I have an idea where is that.
"Then?"
"After that! For Wulfur and Jullanar, they will receive their War Paints and will be considered done with it. For you and Alina, however, this is merely the beginning."
"Fufu! I am interested now!"
"Hehe! It is not easy! You too will need to awaken your bloodlines."
"Awaken? More than that?" I asked pointing out my height.
"Haha! No, you won't get taller. It will be a trail using some herbs and the extraction you take from the Ice Wrath. It will cause you to see hallucinations but an adult will get to share these hallucinations with you so you don't get lost in them. That will be me for sure!"
Oh! Oh my! I will smoke weed with my mother!
"What is the point of these hallucinations?" Wulfur asked.
"They will make the Jon reach his Mind Realm and get to recognize his Guardian Beast!"
Okay! Mind Realm? Like the one from Sheogorath quest when the player enters the mind of a dead emperor? And a Guardian what now?
"Haha! I am sure Jon's Guardian Beast is a Cat!" Wulfur said.
I also laughed! It is already decided so no need to do it anyway.
"... there are no cats among the Guardian Beasts!" Hilda dropped a bomb.
"What?" I was shocked.
"The beasts are Fox, Hawk, Dragon, Bear, Snake, Whale, Moth, Wolf, and Owl!"
Wait a minute!
"Aren't those the Ancient Nordic Gods? Shor, Kyne, Alduin, Tsun, Orkey, Stuhn, Dibella, Mara, and Jhunal."
"Oh! You know them? That's true!"
Wait a second here!
This is not simple!
This is the Ancient Nordic Pantheon, the one that originated from the northern continent of Atmora thousands of years ago.
Does it still live between the hidden clans?
Interesting!
But still...
"... I can't accept not having a Cat Guardian Beast!"
"Suit yourself!" Hilda said.
"So, what will happen depending on the result?" Jullanar was curious.
"The Titanborn blood or the Fireborn blood or both shall be awakened into Jon and he will get all the benefits of being a Firemane Adult! Of course, Jon's case is special so he will get a different treatment than the others!"
"As long as I don't get tied above a bonfire and you guys dance around it then I am okay!"
"Haha! That's the spirit! You will get to choose the beast you want from the clan if there is any that suits you!"
"I am already fine with Nefertiti!"
"Come on! You can have a big wolf or a bear! You can ride those!"
"Let's see if you have something that can match what I have! Hehe."
I don't think any beast will be as awesome as a Flame Atronach Beast.
"Will see! The last couple of things are the face paint and a small hunting celebration!"
Seems fun!
"If you wish to stay in the clan after that, you can build a house there. We have our little house, me and your father."
"Oh! My father! I guess I'll get to meet that guy too."
To be honest! I am not good with fathers. Past life thingy.
"Well, he is a prankster and a mage just like you so you guys will get along!"
Well, I hope.
But I want to eat now! The Shawarma is just too good.
"Senior! What do you call that?" Alina asked.
"Oh! That's Kofta, you have to try it with that Tahini over there, also the french fries with them makes it a complete deal."
Alina did as I said and made an appointment nod.
"Senior, where is that food originated from?"
"My past life!" I said.
"Eh! ... past what now?"
"Sigh! Ever heard about Dragons?"