Chapter 45: Reunion Before the Celebration
The early morning sun bathed Sujin Village in a soft golden light, gently waking the villagers. A fresh breeze danced through the air, carrying with it the subtle scent of blooming flowers and dew-drenched grass. Birds chirped with unusual cheerfulness, as if they, too, were excited about what was to come.
Today was not just any ordinary day. The once-every-five-years Sujin Festival was only a few days away, but more importantly for the villagers, it was the day Yue would celebrate her birthday. She would turn fifteen. The village was buzzing with preparation, laughter, and conversation. The gang had already started teasing Yue about how she was the "oldest fox" among them.
Yue, wearing a simple sky-blue hanfu, sat on the wooden steps outside her home, sipping fresh goat milk her mother had just brought her. Her long, silky blue hair shimmered in the sunlight, while her gem-blue eyes scanned the open fields with a soft smile. Her father was tending to the twins, Li Wei and Zhao Xun, who were now four years old and full of life, dashing around the house with magical bursts of speed and occasional flight.
"Zhao Xun! Come down here before you break your skull again!" Yue's father shouted as the little girl hovered near the roof.
Yue chuckled. "She's more stubborn than I was at her age."
"Says the queen of mischief herself," her mother teased as she passed by, balancing a basket of yams on her head.
Inside the village, groups of women were sharpening swords, fixing bamboo training dummies, and practicing forms in unison. Boys and men continued their daily meditation and clean diets, some groaning at the lack of meat and others sneaking bites of fruit behind their instructors' backs. Despite their efforts, none of the adults had awakened powers, and it remained a source of slight jealousy, especially as the gifted children grew stronger by the day.
After breakfast, Yue met up with her gang near the large central tree. Chika was already bouncing with energy, Shu Fen had brought sweet rice cakes, and Tao Lin looked unusually serious.
"So... what's the plan for today, birthday fox?" Mei Qui asked.
Yue stretched lazily. "Avoiding pranks, receiving gifts, and maybe staring into the sky dramatically while contemplating life."
"Sounds like a Yue thing," Jia said, earning a round of giggles.
Just then, a small group of villagers rushed past them, shouting, "The city people are coming back! The city people are back!"
Yue blinked. "Wait... city people?"
Chika suddenly gasped. "You don't think it's them, right?"
Within moments, the gang sprinted down the hill toward the village gate, hearts pounding with anticipation. As they reached the entrance, they saw the crowd parting, making way for wagons and groups of villagers who had lived in the city returning for the grand festival. Their clothes were modern, their shoes clean and shiny, and some even brought handheld gadgets powered by small solar crystals.
Then Yue saw them.
Five teens walked behind one of the carts, chatting and laughing—two girls and three boys. One of the girls had short purple hair with gold streaks and wore a cropped jacket over a tunic. Another had braids and sparkly sunglasses. The tallest of the boys had silver hair and an easy smile that Yue remembered too well.
"Hey..." she whispered. "It's them."
Tao Lin's mouth dropped open. "No freaking way. That's Aru, right? And that girl...she's Kael!"
The five city kids looked toward them just as they were being called by their relatives. Recognition flashed in their eyes, and for a moment, both groups stood there, wide-eyed.
Then Kael squealed. "Yue! Tao Lin! Chika! It is you!"
The reunion was explosive.
Hugs, shouts, and even a few teary eyes filled the air. The village kids and city kids crowded together in laughter, their memories of the one incredible week five years ago rushing back all at once.
"I remember when you fell into the river and blamed the fish spirits," Riko pointed at Aru.
"It was the fish spirits!" he insisted.
They all burst out laughing.
Later that afternoon, Yue's family prepared a modest gathering in their courtyard for her birthday. Her mother grilled skewered meat over a crackling fire, and her father helped the twins write a birthday poem. The gang, now joined by their city friends, surrounded Yue with presents—handmade bracelets, a hairpin carved from forest jade, and even a music crystal that played cheerful festival songs.
As the girls laughed and talked over bowls of honey-glazed fruits and roasted nuts, Kael found herself sitting beside Tao Lin again. She watched Tao Lin speak confidently about their sparring progress and couldn't help smiling.
"You've gotten even stronger," Kael said, nudging her with her elbow. "I still remember how you beat up those bullies back then like it was nothing."
Tao Lin smirked. "You mean the ones who cried after one punch?"
Kael laughed. "Exactly! I've been training hard too. I want to be as dependable as you."
Tao Lin looked at her with a raised brow, then gave a small nod of approval. "You've always had it in you. You just needed a reason to show it."
There was no awkwardness—only mutual respect. They clinked their wooden cups together, promising to spar later and push each other harder.
"You're still our leader," Chika declared, placing a makeshift paper crown on Yue's head.
"I never signed up for monarchy," Yue replied dryly.
But her smile gave her away.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the party slowly quieted, and they all lay together in the grass, staring up at the stars. The city kids began talking about the academies and guilds they'd heard about. One of them had even seen a real awakening battle in the capital.
"It's different out there," Kael said. "Big and scary and amazing. But here... it feels like home."
Yue nodded. "It is home."
Tao Lin leaned over. "We still have the festival before anything changes. Let's enjoy it like we're kids again."
Everyone agreed.
And though tomorrow promised more mysteries, today belonged to friendship, laughter, and the golden moment of reunion that only happened once in five years.