When he got a chance to open his eyes, he saw that it wasn\u2019t a tombstone, but a chair; HIS chair. He looked around to see that he was back in his apartment! Malnar opened her eyes to see the apartment\u2019s ceiling instead of a dark, cemetery sky. \u201c…I\u2019m home?\u201d asked Droka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo it would seem,\u201d mused Malnar. Droka then dropped to his knees and clasped his hands in prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will keep the Solstice with all of my heart!\u201d he promised again. \u201cI will live in the past, present, and future! The Divine Ones that showed me what those aspects mean shall strive within me! I will not ignore the lessons taught on this journey! The Heights and the Solstice be praised! I swear this on my knees, Calna! On my knees!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think it would do you any good if you tried to make amends on your knees,\u201d joked Malnar, hope for her uncle rising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cQuite right!\u201d cheered Droka as he got up from the floor. \u201cI must start! But…what day is it? I don\u2019t know how long the Divine Ones brought us on that journey! I don\u2019t know anything! I\u2019m a newborn!\u201d He opened his window and looked outside. A Dwarf boy passed by the apartment building. \u201cExcuse me!\u201d he called. \u201cYoung man!\u201d The boy looked up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMe, Sir?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, my fine fellow!\u201d confirmed Droka. \u201cWhat\u2019s today?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s…it\u2019s Solstice Morning,\u201d replied the boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still the Solstice!\u201d whispered Droka. Malnar heard that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…All in one…well, they ARE the Divine Ones, they can bend time as they wish,\u201d mused Malnar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy boy!\u201d called Droka to the Dwarf boy again. \u201cDo you know if the Prize Turkey was sold yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe one twice my size? No, not yet,\u201d the boy replied. \u201cI should know, my father\u2019s the butcher.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcellent!\u201d cheered Droka. \u201cDon\u2019t go away! I have something for you to do!\u201d The Dwarf boy was confused as Droka disappeared from the window. After a minute, he returned. \u201cCatch!\u201d he called. He tossed down a bag of something and the boy caught it. \u201cGo on, look inside!\u201d urged Droka. The boy shook the bag first and it made a jingling noise. He then opened it and his eyes widened at the amount of Golds in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s twice the Prize Turkey\u2019s price!\u201d he called up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTell you father,\u201d directed Droka, \u201cthat I\u2019m buying the Prize Turkey! Whatever remains is yours! If you and your father come here with the turkey in five minutes, I\u2019ll refill the bag with the price of the turkey and all of that is yours!\u201d The boy sprinted quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s the turkey going?\u201d asked Malnar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo Twelmek\u2019s, of course!\u201d cheered Droka. \u201cThey need a fabulous Solstice dinner!\u201d During the five minutes they waited, Twelmek got dressed and used the mana scraps he had to mend all of his clothes to look nice. The door chime rang. \u201cRight on time!\u201d chuckled Droka. He and Malnar bundled up and headed to the door. The butcher was there with the turkey in hand and his carriage was outside the building. \u201cExcellent turkey!\u201d praised Droka. \u201cHow much was it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c500 golds, sir,\u201d replied the butcher, his beard barely hiding his confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSplendid!\u201d answered Droka. He handed 500 to the boy. \u201cAs promised!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you, sir!\u201d bid the boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, you DID buy it?\u201d asked the butcher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI did, indeed!\u201d confirmed Droka. \u201cI need you to deliver it to 96 Hillside Road, on the eastern edge of town! Make sure it gets there in time for Solstice Dinner! Don\u2019t let them know I bought it for them. It\u2019s an anonymous gift for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will, indeed, sir,\u201d promised the butcher as he set the turkey back in the carriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBefore you go,\u201d called Droka. He handed 100 Golds to the butcher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA tip?\u201d asked the butcher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd a Solstice present!\u201d replied Droka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you, sir!\u201d praised the butcher as he got into his seat. \u201cHappy Solstice!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHappy Solstice!\u201d returned Droka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re going to love that,\u201d chuckled Malnar. \u201cWhen will you tell Twelmek?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter I give him his long-overdue raise,\u201d replied Droka. \u201cI think five times his usual amount will help his family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019d certainly get them a bigger house,\u201d agreed Malnar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Have you ever noticed how wonderful the Solstice is?\u201d sighed Droka happily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEvery time it rolls around,\u201d chuckled Malnar. \u201cYou know, the invitation to dinner still stands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Even after the load of nonsense I pulled yesterday?\u201d asked Droka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve changed,\u201d replied Malnar. \u201cYou look happier. I would like to help you continue being happy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, I\u2019d be a fool for not accepting, wouldn\u2019t I?\u201d chuckled Droka. \u201cThis year, I accept.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, then!\u201d cheered Malnar. I must say, it was quite the surprise when everyone met Droka. He joined in the fun, taught everyone another game as well as participating in similes, and told them about the journey that made him change his heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Twelmek was running, and I do mean RUNNING, to the bank the next day. He was puffing the instant he got into the building and lit his candle before hearing someone clear their throat. \u201cWhat do you mean by coming in at this time?\u201d grunted Droka in his old manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, sir,\u201d gulped Twelmek. \u201cI didn\u2019t pay enough attention to the time.\u201d Droka then stepped forward and handed him a piece of paper. Twelmek winced and looked at it…only to find that it WASN\u2019T a notice of Termination of Employment, it was a compensation note. \u201c…Sir, I think you gave me the…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLong overdue raise you needed to aid your family?\u201d interrupted Droka. \u201cI did, indeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Sir?\u201d asked Twelmek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA Happy Solstice to you!\u201d cheered Droka. \u201cI will raise your salary and assist your family in all of its struggles! I will see to it that Teegar can walk with no aid and will ensure she has the best possible life! …Well, what are you standing there, gaping for?! Go stoke up the fires and get some warmth in this place!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cY…Yes, sir!\u201d stammered Twelmek, wondering if it was a dream. Outside, Malnar had heard the news. Droka DID donate to help the poor, to the same collectors that visited him two days ago, and saw to it that he would donate the same amount of money throughout every time of the months ahead, until his own death. Malnar smiled warmly, her heart made lighter with the knowledge that change was always possible. She walked down the street and did some thinking by herself until she was stopped by Balmo again. She dashed into an alley to talk to her and a Flame Elf woman that looked familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour uncle is true to his word,\u201d chuckled Balmo. \u201cHe now understands how to keep the Solstice in his heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd to Teegar, who will NOT die,\u201d continued the woman as she pointed to herself, revealing herself to be an older Teegar from the future with both of her legs working, \u201cgets the operation needed to save her. Arsha\u2019s CMO did that and your future with all of your lovers is safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGo Marshii!\u201d cheered Malnar. \u201cMay all of divinity bless us on this and every day!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe certainly will,\u201d agreed Balmo. \u201cFarewell, Malnar Emboramii!\u201d She and Teegar\u2019s new future faded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA Happy Solstice,\u201d called Malnar to the heavens, \u201cand a happy new year!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When he got a chance to open his eyes, he saw that it wasn\u2019t a tombstone, but a chair; HIS chair. He looked around to see that he was back in his apartment! Malnar opened her eyes to see the apartment\u2019s ceiling instead of a dark, cemetery sky. \u201c…I\u2019m home?\u201d asked Droka. \u201cSo it would […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1462,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[463,466],"tags":[318,502,528],"class_list":["post-2649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-standalones","category-ttr","tag-christmas","tag-malnar-emboramii","tag-stave-5"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2649"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2785,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649\/revisions\/2785"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2649"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}