Once, a long, long time ago in the year of Ceres IIV,
Lay a country where humans and fairies lived together in harmony.
Usually, when people hear the word fairies, they imagine pixies, tiny, flowery creatures with leafy wings—but that wasn't what they were. In truth, fairies looked just like me and you, and just like us, they each differed little in body, hair, and skin.
What truly set them apart—what earned them the name 'fairies'—was the gift they held.
Each child born into their tribe possessed a unique talent. Some could make plants grow with a touch. Some could heal wounds with their tears. Some could summon water in barren places, reviving the earth.
Because of these gifts, they were also called the Children of Shire.
Together, the fairies and humans lived hand in hand. Humans, lacking these natural gifts, used their minds—inventing tools and cultivating new methods.
The fairies blessed the land, and the humans nurtured it.
Crops grew faster, harvests were abundant, and hunger became a distant memory.
This era—when both races thrived in harmony—was known as the Age of Ceres, a time when food was plentiful… and peace truly flourished.
"Hhihiihi…" A giggle rang out, catching the boy's attention.
Though still a little disoriented, they scanned with their eyes.
The little girl rushed ahead, dragging the two nauseated boys by their hands. They drifted through the crowd—people sang, spoke, and laughed with one another. Such warmth filled the air; the whole town felt like one big family.
Finally, the dragging stopped—and the girl vanished once more.
"Hey… hey, wait!" Remy called out, but it was all for nothing. She was gone with the wind.
They found themselves standing in front of a garden. There, many flowers grew—roses, tulips, sunflowers, and even some exotic ones whose names were now long lost to history.
"Where… ho—what's going on here?" Chad stammered, his thoughts too jumbled to articulate.
"I think this is the past," Remy said slowly. "There's something we have to see here. Remember what she said—she wants to show us the old August."
"Yeah, but taking us here? Look at their clothes — this must be around five hundred years ago! I can barely manage to shift a minute… Five hundred years is—that's just obscene," Chad said, shaking his head.
"Yeah… makes you realise just how small we are, huh?" Remy murmured.
Before another word could be spoken, a piercing voice echoed through the garden.
"Rosalina! Rosalina, come here this moment, I say!"
The voice was feminine and high-pitched, reminiscent of a cat being strangled.
"Yes, Mother," a soft voice responded. "Coming!"
"My, oh my… The children of now have no sense of duty. You know, during my time—" the lady began but was quickly interrupted.
"Yes, yes, mother… During your time you had to wake up before the sun rose to fetch water—ahaha, I know, Mother."
The young girl laughed, leaning in to kiss her mother. The woman was short and stout, dressed in a simple white gown with a red belt. An ornate golden chest piece shimmered faintly against her brown eyes, and her hair was tied neatly into a circular bun.
"Ha… so you do know," the elderly woman said, crossing her arms.
"What do you need, Mother?" The girl asked gently, her voice tender and soft.
"What do I need, you say? Don't you know what day it is today? It's Saturnalia—the Day of Gifting! It's been five years since the fairies last gave their blessings to one of ours. Do you want to miss your chance to receive a gift?" The old woman bickered.
"Yes, yes… a gift," Rosalina murmured, her tone calm and detached. "I receive a gift every day—waking up to see the sun, and each night when I see the moons and the stars. What better gift is there than that?" she whispered to herself.
"Ha… I've never seen someone so content," Remy muttered, his eyes gleaming faintly. "There's no greed in her—not even a trace."
And indeed, Rosalina was unique. There was a serenity about her—a quiet grace that set her apart. Even the way she moved carried an unspoken gentleness; one might swear she, too, was one of the fairies. There was something in her presence that made people feel… at peace.
"Tik tok, tik tok… The clock ticks for Flos," a children's choir sang somewhere nearby.
The melody echoed softly through the air. The boys turned toward the sound, and before they could react, they felt themselves being pulled forward once more.
Then—silence.
Just as suddenly as it began, the motion stopped. The world had changed again. It was midday now, the sun casting a warm orange glow across the sky, painting the stone roads with soft, golden light.
"Rosalina! I've been looking for you all day!" a voice called.
"Ilex! There you are!" Rosalina replied brightly. "Oh, how I love your hair—it matches your eyes so wonderfully! Who braided it for you?"
Ilex smiled shyly. She was a fairy, her green hair gleaming under the sunlight, perfectly matching her eyes. Her brown skin shimmered faintly with a golden hue. She and Rosalina were inseparable—best friends since childhood.
"Really? You like it?" Ilex asked, beaming. "Thank you! My papa did it for me. Though… I was kind of scared at first. What if Lian doesn't like it? What if—"
"Oh, don't be such a Globia!" Rosalina teased playfully.
(Globia — a small, bunny-like creature known for fainting at the slightest surprise. People who overreact easily are often compared to them. Sadly, the creatures no longer exist.)
"Ha!" Ilex gasped dramatically, pretending to faint, making Rosalina laugh.
"So," Ilex said after a moment, "do you know what gift you'll wish for this year?" she asked, looking up at her friend with wide, curious eyes.
"Mmmhhh… what should I wish for?" Rosalina murmured, tapping her temple like a scholar deep in thought.
"Ah! I know!" she said suddenly, her eyes lighting up. "I'll wish for colour-changing hair! So I can have beautiful hair like yours, then we can be twins—haha!"
Rosalina laughed as she twirled, her steps light and graceful as she headed toward the park.
"Hahaha! That would be brilliant!" Ilex replied, giggling as she followed close behind. "We could even play a prank on Papa!"
Her laughter danced through the air, blending with Rosalina's.
Remy, watching from behind, felt a strange warmth stir in his chest—a feeling he had never known before.