Spring Solstice

Epione was finishing up building the new room for the children with the dryads and making some new bed frames with tree ents. After the task was done it wasn't long before the children were jumping around in the new room. It wasn't too late in the day so there was time for some preparations for spring solstice as Epione went to the mountains past the forest to harvest some pine needles as well as some unripened pine cones to make some mugolio syrup for next year to come. The children wouldn't be able to travel to the distance so she left them in the care of the nymphs and dryads till she returned back. The winds that passed through Epione being was refreshing as it was exhilarating as she traveled high into the mountains where the pine trees were situated.

She began gathering some branches from the trees along with some of the unripened pinecone buds which could be made into a delicious sweet syrup that could be used in any dishes to sweeten things up. As she was harvesting the plant from the trees and multiple roars could be heard from the distance which startled Epione who immediately took to the sky to get a better view. From a distance, she could see a large creature that was very familiar to her. Her body unconsciously began to lead her toward that large beast that had spotted her and began running in her direction. It was at the point the large beast and Epione were at a standstill where they stared at each other. However, the large beast ran over to Epione cuddled against her as if to welcome her back home.

However, the joyous celebration couldn't have lasted when a multitude of metal clanking against each other spooked Epione, "Hey! Chim! Where did you do?" This voice was also familiar to Epione yet she had no memories of who this beast or person was. But, a piercing pain entered her head which caused her to stumble sideways to which the beast quickly came to her aid as she lowered to the ground waiting for the pain to subside. The metal clanking sound came from a person wearing metal clothing who had a facial scar that covered a third of his face with tousled hair from chasing after the beast "Epione." He knew her name. Her heart began to beat furiously but she didn't know whether it was out of joy or fear. But, she couldn't remember anything so she took to the skies and flew away and back to the Forest.

The beast was going to get chased to follow Epione, however, it was halted by tree ents who blocked the beast from approaching the forest's premises, and the dryad created trees to add more protection further. Epione flew away as her heartbeat hammered against her as the wind flew past her as she landed in front of the house where the children ran towards her to welcome her home. Just like that chimera did which put some inkling of curiosity in her mind to find out more of her past but for now it was the spring solstice, "Do you want to help with making something sweet?" The children were excited to celebrate this fun event as it also meant that they would have something sweet at the end. It was very simple to make but it would be time-consuming. It was just sugar and the young pinecone layered on top of each other and waiting for it to ferment.

Thankfully, Epione already had a batch of mugolio which had finished fermenting so all she had to do was to bring it to a boil. The smell of sugary sweet pine cones wafted into the air which caused the children to stare at the thick brown syrup in the pot that was being poured into a jar whilst a cloth was being used to strain the pinecones. The sweet golden brown liquid filled the jar to the brimming still steaming from the heat which made all the children jittery from waiting to have a taste of the syrup. Epione got each of the children a small spoon to have a taste of the syrup so that they would burn themselves if they decide to dip their hands into the still very hot syrup. The children were all gobsmacked to taste something so delicious that they felt that they had swallowed their tongues.

Epione chuckled as she watched the children's expression turn from excitement to gobsmack as they had a small spoonful of the syrup. This syrup was taught to her by Hel as she has taken both Idris and herself to make this syrup for the spring solstice last year though it didn't have to same taste as the one in the magic realm. It was more fragrant and sweeter. Epione didn't mind as she didn't like super sweet things. Epione soon began to rummage through her closet where there was a special dress where there was beautiful white silk that was loose on the figure but the long sleeves were ridiculous lushly which emulated ruffles of a carnation flower as it draped to the ground but had a cut into the sleeve which could allow her arms to show. The skirt of the dress would be adorned with another garment, an outer garment, which was laced from the back as it draped to the ground much like the dress but it was stiff in terms of material, cinching the waistline of the looser dress closer to her body.

The outer garment was embroidered with the outlines of moth wings as it wrapped around her body. There was slight lingering magic from the embroidery that was much more recent compared to the garment which was similar to the matriarch, more so of a blessing rather than anything else. Epione changed into the outfit as it was an outfit appropriate to celebrate the coming spring solstice. Her hair was left down instead of being tied up with a piece of ribbon. It was a normal ribbon. But, it was the only thing that had accompanied her all this time even before her new life. She knew that at least. Though her memories are gone there was a fondness over the green ribbon. Alas, there was no use ruminating over the past if there was nothing that she could do to retrieve it back. All she could do was live the present life that she now had.

She had already premade some new clothes for the children for the spring solstice and enough food for an outdoor picnic while they were out. It wasn't unusual for more magical creatures to be out and about as there was a surge of mana during this time period. The entire group went to a small clearing of the forest near a luminescence pool where they soon began to set a picnic spot where Whilhelm, Aimee, Jules, and Teo soon began to run off into the forest to climb the obstacles in the trees that were made from the dryad whereas the girls and baby remained with Epione. Small sprites emerged from the pool as they went to play amongst the children's hair but they were immediately drawn to Epione who emitted such a powerful energy that had never been here before. It was a nice day where the sun was blazing through the air with its warmth but any excessive heat was dissipated from the shade of the forest's canopy.

Epione remained on the picnic blanket with Vito and Imre. Eloise was cooing at the dryad who created flowery vines to play around with. Soon, the baby began to cry out of hunger Her ponytail soon slipped apart as her ribbon slipped from her hair. But, Vito picked up the ribbon before handing it off to Imre who admired the beautiful ribbon. Vito thus began taking Epione's hair into his hands before braiding her hair and tying it up with a secure knot with the ribbon. Imre began picking some flowers nearby the picnic blanket to decorate the hair which was a fun activity for both Vito and Imre. Whilst Epione enjoyed the nice feeling of someone doing her hair since she only knew how to do the basic ponytail. Something was placed on her head which was a flower crown made by Vito who created it with some of the flowers that the dryad has grown to make the beautiful flower crown.

Epione soon began to gather some of the flowers as well to make flower crowns for the rest of the children, however, her flowers weren't as neat as Vito's but it was still somewhat presentable. Epione was quite embarrassed from her lack of skills in crafting flower crowns but Imre happily took the flower crown and placed it on her head. Epione felt a slight warmth as the children still enjoyed her flower crown though they were the prettiest thing that she ever made so she made another for Vito who made a bracelet for Eloise who cooed at the pretty flower bracelet. From then on, Vito was teaching Imre how to make a flower crown herself as they gifted it to the rest of the dryads, ents, and nymphs who were in their company. It was a lovely day. The day quickly turned dark when Epione quickly gathered the children to return home for the night, tucking them in their beds.

One of the dryads would attend to them as she would continue with the Spring Solstice for the night. Epione placed an enchantment on the door so that no mischievous magic creature wouldn't disturb the children. Epione traveled to the center of the forest where there was a still lake which was occupied by many magic folks who played in the water as well as rested at the water's edge. As soon as Epione enter the vicinity of the lake all those nearby quickly exited out of the water which prompt the rest of the creatures. Epione enchanted the base of her feet so that she could walk on the water which rippled with every step and she stopped once she was at the center there were only the nighttime sounds that accompanied her.

Soon, there was the magic folk with humanoid figures who began conjuring up music to which she began to dance on the water as she use magic to conjure up a performance out of the water that she was dancing on. The water was soon blessed by Epione which was misted on all the magic folk who was watching the performance which energised all who were misted by the blessed water. Ridding them of all aliments and pollutants was a very long time for them since all High Fairies retreated from the mortal realm for a long time. The last High Fairy who was Sir Oskar weakened to an extreme that he couldn't perform the Spring Solstice for the magic folk in the mortal realm. She soon began to lift off into the air where she would do some aerial acrobats to invite in the spring solstice as a flood of mana came rushing through the forest like a tsunami. Engulfing all the magic folk even Epione would feel slightly nausea from the overwhelming amount of mana that came rushing over the entire forest, however, the rest of the magic folk were invigorated by the enormous amount of mana.

Epione could only slowly land on the ground as she went to ease her nausea by washing her face in the lake. She still felt stifled but it wasn't as intense. Seeing all the magic folk joyous over the spring solstice may her happy but she soon when to walk through the forest by herself. She soon reached the border of the forest in the direction where she met the chimera, "Chim?" She inquisitively called out but there was no response not to the surprise of Epione who was about to return to the forest to rest for the night. A roar echoed through the forest where a chimera stood proudly at the cliff of a mountain as there was a person mounted on his back. Jumping off the cliff landing on the ground level where Eipne was before approaching her at a fast pace which scared her so she flew in the sky where it was void of any danger. Epione was surprised that the chimera had answered her call even though it was out of curiosity, "Who are you?" The man covered in metal took off his helm to reveal a handsome face with a noticeable scar that covered at least a third of his face and his hair was disheveled from underneath the helm.

The man jumped off the chimera and began approaching Epione before stopping himself, "Do you remember anything?" He questioned as his expression sadden as if he already anticipated the answer from her which saddened her as well as she could only nod. Confirming his guess that Epione had indeed no memory of anything before she went to the magic realm, "So? What's your reason for visiting?" He decided to make some small talk to help ease the tension between the two of them.

Epione mulled over her reason to come to the mortal realm before she remember Hel's words, "Just sightseeing for the most part." She turned to the forest where she smelled something. Something wrong. It was familiar for some reason. Epione returned back to the forest to which both the chimera and the iron-clad man followed her.