Tynesday, 9th of Aprillia, 470th Year of the Fifth Era

  Serena had waved towards Josias while calling out to him when she caught sight of him, though for some odd reason, he was clinging onto his father’s legs. Not dwelling on that thought for too much time after seeing it, when Josias saw her, he immediately rushed over to her with such a giddy expression like that of a child running towards a candy being dangled towards them. Behind Josi, she could also see the other men approach their respective lovers. Some being faster than others in their rush to meet the women. Well all except for Hesekiel that is who only gave Safira a cursory glance and the faintest of smiles. How he managed to attract a girl like Safira, she’d never know. Growing up with the rest of them, Serena wasn’t even too sure if Hesekiel was even capable of showing emotions. But at the very least, a gentle smile proved that he could. Somewhat.

  Josias had rushed in and embraced Serena as he arrived in front of her. Serena couldn’t help but laugh at her over-energetic lover.

  “Hahahahah! Josi! Calm down! You’re like a dog in heat! Honestly, we saw each other this morning.” Serena laughed as she affectionately pushed back Josias’ silly face with the palm of her hand.

  “Alright, Hasian (love). I agree I can be a bit much, but calling me a dog in heat is going a little overboard don’t you think? I’ve never once broken any law of decency with a graceful lady such as yourself…” Josias said in a jokingly serious tone as pulled back before immediately going back to glomping Serena “That, being said tho, I can’t hold myself back from being parted from you even if it was just for a few hours, my love!”

  “Pffft, yea right. You know that would be much more convincing were your eyes only focused and fixated on me!” Serena shot back at Josias’ obviously exaggerated manner of flirty speech.

  “My love, I’m offended you’d even assume I did that!” Josias said as he clutched at his chest, feigning offence.

  “Oh yeah? Look, hasian, just because I don’t possess a warrior’s aura doesn’t mean I’m not capable of detecting mana and I know you heightened your senses to look at the other women here! Honestly, even your friends’ women aren’t safe from those lecherous eyes!”

  “Okay, at this point, I know for sure that you’re purposefully messing with me.” Josias said as he rolled his eyes and raised his hands in defeat “Anyways, I see you’ve brought a basket and… Hrmmm… Is that for me?? Hehehhehe….”

  Josias had sniffed something in the air as his attention was focused onto the basket that Serena was holding. Looking at his pleased expression, Serena couldn’t help but to also smile at the young man.

  “Yup, I made it especially for you! Can you take a guess at what it is?” Serena asked at which Josias furrowed his brow and closed his eyes as he scratched the bottom of his chin while thinking. His nose also looked like it tingled a little as he was trying to sniff out the scent coming from the basket.

  “Alright let’s see here…” Josias started as he looked like he was seriously trying to guess the contents of the basket “So, I can smell but the slightest traces of spices from it. Has a great smoked smell to it, some chilli pepper as well along with… *sniffs*... hmmm…. Soy sauce…? Oooh, don’t tell me… is it??”

  “Is it what?” Serena egged on Josias for an answer

  “Fried rice!” Josias answered as he clasped his hand for a guess, looking into Serena’s eyes to see whether or not he got the answer right. “So, what is it? Did I get it right?? Huh? Huh? Did I, did I?”

  “Pffft, yes, you got it right.” Serena said to which Josias excitedly jumped up, yelling ‘I knew it!’, eliciting a reaction from some of the others there.

  “Honestly, Josi, can you at least try to be less embarrassing?” Serena said exasperatedly before taking his hand and leading him to a place where they could eat “Anyways, let’s eat over there by those rocks! We’d get a great view of the waterfall and the rest of the springs from there.”

  After Josias nodded, acquiescing to her request, the two walked hand in hand with each other as they headed over to the spot where she pointed to. When they had sat down there, Serena could see that the others were also sitting down not too far away from them as they had inadvertently formed a sort of circle.

  Serena saw that Josias’s father, Lord Parulian, was approaching them so she straightened her posture somewhat to greet the elder.

  “You know, son, you should enjoy this while it lasts.” Parulian said to Josias “I remember back then when I was training your mother would also without fail cook for me the most amazing dishes I had ever tasted in my life. Truly wonderful indeed. But look at me now, all of you younglings are getting your food hand delivered to you by absolutely beautiful women, and what do I have? Nothing. Just a fool of a son. Anyways, Serena, allow me to thank you once again for caring for my son like this. Lord knows this idiot doesn’t deserve it.”

  Serena only laughed as she saw Josias wanted to protest but at the same time he looked like he decided against saying anything as he just nodded his head at what his father was saying. It was only a few moments after that did she realise that - indeed - her lover’s father didn’t look like he brought any food with him. After thinking for a while, Serena remembered that she had indeed packed three servings of the food she had prepared.”

  “If it pleases you, amang, I’ve actually prepared three servings. I made this one for you.” Serena handed out the serving of fried rice wrapped in banana leaves to Parulian.

  “Oh, my dear, you’re just such a sweet little ball of sunshine.” Parulian laughed as he gave Serena an affectionate tousle of her hair “But, please, I was only joking. I know you made that second portion for Josias and judging by how he’s been eyeing that portion, he doesn’t seem to be keen on sharing. Even with his own father. Oh, Heavens above, how much I lack in raising my heir!”

  “Josi! Don’t be like that! Greedy even to your own father! Absolutely unbelievable!” Serena had annoyedly shove Josias’ side a little with her elbow which elicited a laugh from Parulian “I’m giving this portion to your father and that’s final!”

  “Ouch! Hasian… That hurt! And I was just kidding, you know! Far be it from me to be stingy towards mine own father.” Josias said “You see, father? How generous and kind this son of yours is.”

  “You know, Jakobus, wouldn’t have even hesitated to offer it first without me even needing to point it out to him.” Parulian laughed as he finally took the wrapped serving from Serena’s hands.

  “Oh Lord, that the day would come where my father would compare me to my brother! What am I to do as the firstborn? Will I be supplanted by my own younger brother whom I love and cherish?” Josias said in a dramatic tone “Such a tragedy! Would it come to be that the night of screams be repeated??”

  As soon as Josias had mentioned the night of screams, Parulian’s relaxed aura immediately turned grave as he instead gave his son a harsh and serious look.

  “You best be careful with your words, boy.” Parulian said curtly to Josias without his usual joking tone “Don’t you even dare make light of that situation, not even as a joke, do you hear me? I taught you to love your siblings and to take care of them, world without end. Do you understand me?”

  Josias looked like he had realised his mistake as he cleared his throat and nodded to Lord Parulian with a slightly guilty look.

  “It was my mistake father, forgive me.” Josias said curtly, not even bothering with his usually relaxed and unserious tone.

  ‘The Night of Screams’ truly does live on in the minds of the Sigumogo clan as one of the worst tragedies and events to have ever occurred. A tragedy that had caused the absolute decimation of Goria’s ruling clan.

  However, luckily enough, Parulian did not seem like he was willing to dwell on such things any longer as he just ruffled Josias’ hair before he turned his attention towards the others who looked like they were about to eat. Serena was curious as to what it was the other girls had prepared for their lovers and she was quite surprised by the fact that there was actually quite a variety when it came to the dishes that were brought.

  Maria had brought Johannes what looked like a large portion of sangsang (bloodied minced meat) with white rice and some andaliman spice. Helena had brought Sadrach babi panggang (roasted pork) with rice as well. Arta had also always been a great cook but interestingly enough, it looked like she had decided to just bring Mateus Manuk Pinadar (bloodied chicken). However, Serena was most curious about what Safira had decided to ‘cook’ for Hesekiel. It appeared as though Safira had brought fried ‘noodles’ for Hesekiel. It was a sort of delicacy that originated from the Far Eastern Lands and Serena could only assume that it was Ruth’s mother who did most of the heavy lifting when it came to cooking such an exotic dish. But regardless, now Serena felt as if she was just being overly vindictive of everything Safira was doing despite the fact that she wasn’t even bothering her.

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  Putting those thoughts aside, Serena finally noticed Parulian clearing his throat as it appeared like he was about to make a speech and everyone at once stopped what they were about to do as they gave the great warrior and future king of the realm their attention.

  “It truly is a beautiful thing to see the youth of our realm, the promising generation, so flourish in the feelings of love like I see here today…” Parulian started as he gestured towards the couples who were there “More so do I know feel oh so old when I realize the children who I once held in my hand as babies have now grown so much that soon enough they might have children of their own. Though of course as old as I feel I am, my years are nothing when compared to my beloved bou (Short for namboru, basically means paternal aunt) Ester here with us.”

  “Hmph! Prissy words from a brute like you, hah!” Ester chuckled at her niece's husband as she took a huff from her smoking pipe.

  “I learn from the best, namboru. Anyways, I'm glad to see that we have ourselves here a sort of impromptu picnic. A feast of thanksgiving for the feelings of love that blossom between our youth. However, I feel that something is missing here. If we just start eating without actually giving thanks to our Lord God, the maker, what would that say about us as Christians? Therefore before we indulge our senses, I invite for all of us here to be united in prayer to our Lord. And who better among to lead us in prayer than my beloved bere (nephew, more specifically the child of a man's sister) Hesekiel! If you would be so kind.”

  When Parulian said that, everyone except Hesekiel himself couldn't help but laugh out loud at the prospect of him actually leading a prayer. Even Serena couldn't imagine what that would look like. But it appears she didn't have to imagine it at all as Hesekiel merely gave a slight frown before nodding and standing up. Without much warning, Hesekiel just went ahead and started leading.

  “...Let us pray. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…” Hesekiel said as he motioned the sign of the cross before starting with prayer followed by everyone else around. The prayer hadn't even started yet the boys couldn't help but shake their shoulders in silence at the thought of the ‘brick wall’ Hesekiel leading a prayer. Regardless, Hesekiel had continued. “God, Thank You for Your Grace for the food in front of us. Bless the food and bless us all here always. In the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

  “Amen…?” Everyone had answered at around the same time Hesekiel had said it but everyone was equally as flabbergasted at each other at the utter brevity of the prayer. It hadn't even registered yet with everyone there that the prayer was already over when Hesekiel had already gotten back to his seat next to Safira. Josias and Serena could only look at each other before they laughed. As if he was the most innocent person in the world, Hesekiel had carried on to eat the food that was prepared for him by Safira.

  Ester could only stare blankly and shook her head at her grandson’s stoic and stalwart behaviour. She immediately took another puff from her smoking pipe while she continued to glare at Hesekiel before eventually sighing when he gave his grandma a look of genuine confusion as to what exactly her problem was.

  “Bahahahahah! Honestly, I didn’t know what I expected. Well at least the form of the prayer was correct.” Parulian said as he shook his head before he dropped down and opened the wrapping for the food that Serena had given to him “Ah, the smell of this is just wonderful! You’d give your namboru (aunt) a run for her money with how good your cooking is!”

  “Thank you for the compliment, amangboru.” Serena laughed as she and Josias opened their own servings of the food.

  Serena had gotten up to the stream to cleanse her hands with the water before she sat back down to eat the food with her hands. As she started to eat, she noticed Josias to her side, only resting his head on his hands as he looked at her with a smile, not even bothering to eat his food. It was such a strange behaviour but considering it was Josias, it really wasn’t all too strange all things considered.

  “Why are you looking at me and not eating the food that I toiled so hard to cook for you?” Serena asked Josias with a raised eyebrow “Wash your hands and eat.”

  “I don’t wanna!” Josias laughed as he folded his arms.

  “...What in the world are you on about now…?” Serena was exasperated at her lover’s behaviour. There was always something he’d ask from her and she didn’t know how outlandish his request would be now “What the hell do you mean you don’t wanna?”

  “Mhm. I want you to feed me… hahahahah!” Josias teased playfully as he leaned in his face to hers which caused Serena to roll her eyes.

  “Open wide!” Without even hesitating, Serena held Josias’ face in place by his jaws before she took a handful of the fried rice from Josias’ portion before shoving it into his mouth. She had laughed a bit when she saw Josias near choke on the rice as he pounded on his chest while coughing violently “Pffft… hahahahaha!”

  “Arghh!! Ptew… Dear God, woman!” Josias was coughing and aspirating as the part of the rice she had shoved into her lover’s throat was on the spicier end “And you’re laughing too! Are you trying to kill me, my love??”

  “Oh please, my darling’s a third star warrior. A little rice in his throat isn’t gonna kill him now is it?” Serena said as she laughed

  “No, but by God was it absolutely uncomfortable!”

  “Bwahahaha!” Parulian could only laugh as he saw the young couple’s antics “Now you’re beginning to remind me of my wife and I when we were young. That’s the fire that Sigumogo consorts need to rein in their husbands! Hahahah!”

  Serena blushed a little at that comment, but was quick to laugh again when she saw Josias get up and eventually wash his hands before eating on his own. He was a little bit sulking and that made Serena feel somewhat bad for him.

  “Alright, alright, now you’re making me feel bad.” Serena said as she gathered another portion of the rice into her hands of a more reasonable size before bringing her hands in front of Josias’ mouth gently this time. “Here, hasian. Come on, open up and say ‘aaaah…’”

  Serena laughed as she saw Josias was staring at her with slight apprehension and caution before he eventually folded and accepted being fed. Eventually the two carried on to eat their food.

  Soon enough, everyone was busy having conversations with their respective partners and generally just enjoying the atmosphere with each other. Some of the couples after they were done eating even sat at the edge of the spring, putting their feet into the waters to feel the warmth upon their skins as they laughed.

  It was in this cordial atmosphere did Serena lay her head on Josias’ shoulders as they were done with their meal.

  “You know, love, it doesn’t hurt to just stay like this forever…” Serena had said “Just the two of us, comforting each other in bliss like this. It’s an absolutely wonderful feeling, hasian.”

  “Forever’s a long time, hasian.” Josias said with a slight chuckle which caused Serena to sit back up and look her lover in the eye fiercely.

  “Are you saying you don’t want to be with me forever?” Serena asked

  “Oh! You saying that just reminded me of something!” Josias suddenly said as he got up and rushed to where his items were laid out.

  “Oy! Josias! Where do you think you’re going?!” Serena was absolutely flabbergasted as she also got up and started shouting at Josias who looked like he was looking for something “Don’t you dare even think of running away!”

  But as if he didn’t heed her, he was still going on to search for… whatever it is he was searching for. As Serena was slowly approaching him from behind in a rather confused mood, Josias had shouted out ‘Found it!’. After that he immediately turned around and cleared his throat as he continued to stare at her intently.

  “Alright everyone, if I may have your attention for but just a quick moment!” Josias said as he called out to everyone else there as their attention was turned towards him. Serena still had not a single clue at what exactly was going on here. “Everyone here knows that my relationship with Serena has lasted for the longest time compared to all of yours… Well except for maybe Lae Mateus and Ito Arta, but besides that, I have felt that I’ve been constantly shown up by you upstarts. Especially by my Lae Sadrach with the whole ‘duel for her hand’ ordeal. But no more! I shall today with this set things finally on their correct paths once more!”

  As Josias said that, he had pulled out from behind him what looked like a small velvet pouch. As he opened it in front of Serena, she could see one of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry she had ever laid her eyes on. A beautifully intricate silver pendant shaped like a heart with what looked like a light blue aquamarine gemstone at its center.

  “Let this be a sign of my everlasting love and devotion to you, Lady Serena Uli boru Rapmasari!” Josias said as he held out the piece of jewelry towards Serena “With this sign of sincerity from me, a piece of art that I had commissioned with wealth that I had earned on my own, do you, my dear Lady… will you make me the happiest man in all of Banuatonga, and marry me, taking me as your husband? Your one and only till death do us part and even beyond that?”

  Serena had always known that her relationship with Josias would of course end up in marriage as a happily married couple, but still, to actually see Josias propose to her like that in front of her… Serena couldn’t help but cover her blushing face as all the emotions within her were welling up like a torrent of an ocean. Tears were in her eyes before she eventually wiped them away. It was inconvenient how the physiology of her body work as her nose was already clogging up, making it difficult for her to breath, but regardless of all that, in a silent but fervent nod, she accepted her offer.

  Not caring for anyone else who was there to witness it, Serena had all but jumped Josias as she hugged him tightly and frantically nodded.

  “I accept!!” She said as she felt all the butterflies start to fly in her, but at the same time, a profound happiness that could not be explained with words was apparent within her as well.

  All the other young warriors there immediately cheered for their comrade while some of the ladies even cried when they saw it. Parulian only shook his head as he saw the stunt his son pulled, but regardless, it was a beautiful stunt, and it was the sign for a start of something new. A new chapter in a young couple’s lives.