The winner of the cooking contest has been decided.
An elf lady won last year, but this year, it’s a lady that came from the Kingdom of Migha.
I had some of her cooking too, and it was really good.
It’s nice being able to taste so much tasty stuff. I’m glad Alice looks like she’s having fun too.
“You’re going to participate in something too, right Lerunda?”
“Yes. I’m going to sing.”
The spirit festival is always fun, but I like watching people sing and dance for the spirits.
Watching people sing and dance is really fun. It’s pretty, and gets me excited, so I’m happy that Alice gets to see it too.
“The spirits like when I sing, and everyone’s happy too. It’s really fun.”
I say with a smile, and Alice smiles back.
Now that I think about it, it will be my first time singing to family that’s related to me by blood.
Miss Lan told me before that parents and siblings watch things like kids’ recitals. When I was living with my family, it was all about Alice, and I never had the opportunity to sing to anyone. I just lived without thinking about anything.
But now, Alice wants to hear me sing. It feels weird, but nice.
The elves’ songs praising spirits are incredible as always. They’re songs they make just for the spirits. They have more songs every year, and I haven’t heard any of the ones they’re singing this year.
The elves give me singing lessons all the time, so it’s incredible that there’s so many I didn’t know about.
The village itself keeps having new things, and there are more things I don’t know about every day.
It’s fun seeing more and more things appear like this as more people come to the village.
“There are so many songs I’ve never heard.”
“Fufu, there are lots of songs created here in the village. But there are a lot that the elves passed down through generations too.”
“I see. There are a lot of things that only exist here. It’s great getting to see them.”
Not a lot of people get to come to this village, but Alice’s reaction really shows how there are a lot of things in this village that are either rare or can’t be found anywhere else.
Maybe I’ll feel that even more, as more people from the outside come here like Alice.
Not a lot of people know about this village to begin with, but if we can turn it into the kind of place we want it to be… Maybe more people will get to come.
I think about that as I hear the elves sing. Watching different people show their songs and dances is really fun.
Next, it’s Phyto’s turn.
Her dancing is beautiful as always. Actually, I think it’s getting even greater every year. Her light steps are really beautiful.
Sometimes she does things that make me wonder how she can even move like that. There’s something about her dancing that really draws people in.
The spirits really like her dancing too, and fly around.
“That dance is so beautiful.”
“Phyto’s dancing really is beautiful. She’s the best here at singing and dancing.”
Phyto loves singing and dancing, and she’s been doing it for a long time, so it feels like she’s always practicing when she has the time. I think it’s really lovely to think that that’s what makes what we’re seeing possible.
It’s incredible how she can dance all by herself and fascinate everyone watching.
“And she’s about our age… Incredible. I feel like all the kids in this village are really independent. Everyone’s doing their part. You said they do things like hunting too, right?”
“Yes. If we don’t hunt for ourselves, we don’t eat. I go out hunting with the gryphons too. The food that was prepared earlier was made with ingredients we all put together.”
“I think that’s great. A lot of the kids and women look like they can fight too.”
Now that she mentions it, I think she’s right.
There are a lot of people in this village who aren’t human. Most of them are of fighting races, so maybe that’s why even kids can go out and hunt. And there aren’t that many people here, so we do it out of necessity too.
I don’t think people in a place like the Kingdom of Migha hunt for themselves. People that have specific jobs sell food in stores, and people go there to buy it.
From Alice’s point of view, the way we live here is probably strange in lots of different ways.
Alice and I talk while we listen to the songs and watch the dancing, until it’s my turn.
“See you in a bit, Alice.”
“Yes. Good luck, Lerunda.”
I say goodbye for now, and step on the stage.
—Girl and the third spirit festival – Part ten
(The miko and her sister chat while enjoying the singing and dancing.)
