Akako tugged General along with the energy of someone who had waited ten years for the snow to melt- which, in truth, he had- and the tavern doors clattered shut behind them. For the first time in what felt like forever, warm sunlight spilled generously over the cobblestone streets of Mystorica. All around them, residents were emerging from their homes, blinking like animals waking from hibernation, murmuring in awe as they tilted their faces up toward the clear sky. Children squealed, chasing each other down the narrow paths still dusted with snowmelt, while vendors peeked out of shuttered stalls with wonder in their eyes.

Akako turned to beam at General, eyes gleaming, “See? I’m not the only one excited! It’s like the whole village is remembering how to breathe again!”

He led the way down the gently sloped path from the tavern, where the sun cast shimmering reflections across the lake’s thawing surface.

“This is White Lily Lake,” Akako announced. Then, he pointed towards the distance, “And that over there- Across the water? That’s the village square,” There was a slight pause, punctuated with a wry grin and a tilt of his head, “I bet you anything, that’s where tomorrow’s celebration will be.”

Akako glanced once more across the lake, eyes brimming with eager anticipation, but a thought occurred to him, and something in his gaze shifted, his voice soft when he spoke once more, “Oh- It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen lily pads. I’d almost forgotten what they’d look like…”

There was a beat of pause. But then, Akako caught himself, and with a brisk shake of his head, he snapped out of his melancholy and brightened, “Ah- But now that the snow’s passed, I’m sure we’ll see plenty of them again soon! Come on, there’s still the rest of Mystorica to show you!”

For the remainder of the morning, Akako took General as they wandered through winding paths of Mystorica, his pace quick and enthusiastic as he pointed out places such as the Enigmatic Vault, the Lovelatch Joinery and the Fate and Fourtune’s Emporium with the zeal of someone flaunting their precious heirlooms. Though General didn’t speak throughout the tour, his eyes moved with quiet interest regardless, and that was more than enough for Akako to cock his head up, raising his chin like a peacock swelling with pride.

Then, just as they reached the crossroads between Lakeview Path and Seren Road, a familiar voice rang out.

“Akako!”

A blur of pale caramel bounded towards him, and Akako nearly toppled over as Kimiko slammed into Akako’s side in a full hug.

“Can you believe it?” Kimiko laughed breathlessly once he had finally let go of Akako and took a step back, “The sun’s out, and everyone’s outside again!”

“I know,” Akako laughed, too, “Feels like we’ve been living in a snow globe for years!”

Kimiko grinned, but just as his eyes drifted, he caught sight of General standing nearby.

“Ah- Sorry,” Stepping half behind Akako, Kimiko continued in a small voice, “Um- Who’s this…?”

Akako beamed, “This is General!” He said, proudly, “He’s a visitor to Mystorica! Arrived just last night, actually.”

“Oh!” Surprise sparkled in Kimiko’s eyes once the realization set in, and he dipped into a shy curtsy, “Well- It’s nice to meet you, General.”

General gave a nod in return- No smile, but there was an easy, quiet courtesy in the gesture nonetheless. Then, suddenly, his expression shifted, General’s eyes narrowing sharply as his gaze snapped to fix upon something beyond Kimiko. 

Akako followed his gaze, and sure enough- Standing at the edge of the alleyway was Kami, watching them carefully with a disdainful glare, lips further twisting downwards into a full blown scowl once he realized that his presence had been noted. With one last sneer, Kami turned, and disappeared into the shadows.

“Don’t mind him,” Once it was clear that Kami had indeed left, Akako turned towards General as he explained with a sigh, “He thinks he’s the reincarnation of some god or something, and he treats everyone else like they’re beneath him.”

“Yeah,” Kimiko added, his expression regretful, “I had to go find Sorine the moment I saw him leaving towards the tavern from my workshop window yesterday. I was worried he might do something.”

“You did?” Akako blinked, “Wow- Thank you! You probably saved us a lot of bruises and broken furniture!”

Then, Akako motioned to General with a smirk, “Ah- But Kami got shown up, anyways. The moment he wanted to fight, General blocked his attack like it was nothing!”

“Really?” Kimiko’s eyes widened, shimmering with tentative admiration and hesitant doubt, “You did that?”

General didn’t answer, but his calm expression didn’t deny it, either.

Tilting his head in wonder, Kimiko’s eyes gradually drifted to something behind General’s back, “Ah- Mister! Is it okay if I just… Have a look at your spear?”

Akako looked and indeed, there it was, General’s spear still strapped onto his back with a sling. Akako hadn’t even realized that General still had his weapon with him.

General paused, hesitating for a moment in consideration, before he unslung the weapon and held it out to Kimiko.

“This material…” Kimiko murmured as his fingertips glided with gentle care over the gilded handle. Gone was his earlier shy and uncertain demeanor, and in its place, was the knowledgeable contemplation of a master studying a particularly interesting craft, “...It’s not just rare; Even if you somehow managed to get your hands on it, only a few master blacksmiths in the world would know how to shape it. And the craftsmanship- This marking-”

Pausing mid-sentence, Kimiko looked back up, his eyes now full of reverence and suspicion.

“Mister,” Kimiko asked, slowly, “Just who are you, exactly?”