''Autumn Solstice will happen in two weeks. I want to celebrate it inside the Mamono village and invite the inhabitants of Eichenwald to come mingle before everyone retreats to endure our lonely winter.''

The Allied Kingdoms always held four celebrations at the end of each season, once temperatures noticeably changed.

''That's...'' Your mother is the one to comment. ''...a difficult endeavor, but I've seen similar things happen.''

''The women have been out of sight and out of mind for a long time. Eichenwald folks aren't heartless, perhaps a little too easily distracted, and eager to maintain their status quo, but they have good souls... I think if the mercs influence wanes, many would welcome a day of festivities and mingling.'' Augustine interlocks her fingers and keeps her back rigid as she speaks, keeping her turmoil well hidden.

''That would cost a pretty penny.'' Seyraphal comments.

''Indeed, which is why, perhaps, our baron could be open to the idea... otherwise I have a few ideas of my own. Still.'' She awkwardly cleared her throat. ''I've come to live here since Eichenwald inception five years ago. I am an herbalist and will likely stay an apprentice doctor. I want to believe people have come to appreciate me for who I am... but I am no Cleric of the Path, no elf.''

''Had I been the one to flee out of a window and jump into Shigeko arms, the militias wouldn't have mobilized so swiftly.'' She continues. ''I think this celebration can only happen if you help me prepare it, Rey.''

Your eyes wander to your mother.

''Aren't you a grown woman now, Rey?'' She says rather coldly.

''...can I still ask the help of my parents?''

''We haven't even started to get any ideas on how to use this new land of ours.'' Canaan looks away and breaks into a sudden giggle fit. ''Father's Eye, I can't be a cold bitch. Of course, you'll always have our help, darling. You don't need to ask permission for what you want to do, I can't remember you ever doing anything when we were on the road.''

Is it me, or does she sound proud?

Commit to helping Augustine's ambition. A festival like this would do wonders to dispel some of the bad blood that has been brewing.

Remain non-commital. Tomorrow, you'll likely fully understand if Thibault is someone you can count on. A festival like this without the lord help will be... complicated to accomplish.

You cannot commit to such an endeavor. With all the dangerous mysteries in Eichenwald, the walking deads and a sprout of the elemental tree so close to home... Your energy is needed elsewhere.

>Free

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZWd_7Ud-Lc&ab_channel=EroSennin

''I’ve survived in the village for a year now, and that’s the word to describe how people live there. Conditions back then were... okay when Branka’s authority as a leader held some sway with those managing us. The communal sleeping areas were clean, people could cook for the community, we had gardens, and meats could be shared instead of reserved for the Monsters needing them to stay healthy. A few folks could be intimate in functioning houses. A handful of church people came with alms and medicine regularly; there was talk of opening a clinic and a shrine.''

''Baron Bram took a strong managing stance for his city once he was given administrative authority, and that included them. I didn’t stop the people of my flock from helping them; I put a stop to their independence because the young heir told me to.''
Odd. Throughout the Allied Kingdoms, the duty of managing the labor of Mamonos is overwhelmingly left to the city Bishop’s discretion. Kreszenz is the only place outside that norm, and the queen there has made Monsters outright citizens if they willingly join her army.

''Shigeko, continue.'' You choose to ignore the man’s interruption.

''Starving made it pretty hard for me to pay attention, but things have gotten much, much worse with the mercs becoming the... managers? Rulers?'' She shrugs, crosses her arms, and glares at Belmont. ''They only allow a few deliveries of barrels of filth and garbage out of the village, so things have... accumulated. The mercs believe themselves kings.''

Belmont grows increasingly uncomfortable under the glacial glare of the two-meter-tall blue woman. ''Women are being used in ways that would make our gods weep during the night.'' Seyraphal’s voice is glacial as she finds the strength to stand beside her blue friend; her bandaged face looks genuinely frightening as she, too, glares at the man sitting behind his desk. ''I might have been too sick to take care of myself, but I could still see what was going on.''
Cool head, Rey. Cool head.

''I hold no authority over these... miscreants; they are the purview of Thibault, heir to our baron-''
''Need I remind you of what the Survivor King said about ‘callous disregard,’ Belmont? Why have you been so neglectful of the Mamonos? And the people, now, for a year?!'' When you slam your hand on his desk, Belmont jumps to his feet.

''Because I had to!'' He wipes his sweat with his heavy sleeve. ''My duties are to administer the city’s larger communities, arbitrate conflicts, and investigate the surreal. It took a long time to find proper delegates to start the smooth wheel of a new bureaucracy here in Eichenwald. I founded our new labor guild! Baron Bram insisted on handling the Monsters, and I was glad not to worry about that workload.'' He hisses, rubbing his eyes, pacing the small space available to him back and forth. Workload? An entire race is just a workload?