Chapter 46: Happy New Year

On New Year’s Eve, the town had its first snowfall of the winter.

The snowflakes weren’t big, drifting down from the sky in tiny fragments, landing on the roof tiles and the chimney of the blacksmith’s shop.

Xuanxi stood by the window watching the snowy scene for a while, then wrapped her scarf tighter, pushed the door open, and stepped out onto the street.

She was going to buy a New Year’s gift for Xige today. The market was much more crowded than usual, with stall after stall of New Year goods lining the street.

The stalls were filled with gleaming decorations and all sorts of unnamed sweets and delicacies, packing the entire street.

Xuanxi squeezed through the crowd and finally spotted a silver hair clip at a small stall. On the clip was carved a delicate plum blossom, beautiful and glowing with a silvery-white light. It made her think of Hildegrifa’s hair—the same color, beautiful and silky.

She paid for it, put the clip into a small cloth pouch, and tucked it close to her body. When she reached the street corner, she stopped again.

There was a shop selling Eastern accessories, and in the window display was a dark cyan silk scarf, the same color as her own hair.

Xuanxi stood in front of the window for a long time, imagining Xige wearing this scarf—silvery-white hair paired with a dark cyan scarf. The image was truly beautiful.

She paid again, folded the scarf, put it in her pocket, and quickened her pace on the way back.

When she pushed open the door, the fire in the blacksmith’s shop was blazing brightly, the flames making the whole room warm and cozy.

She heard voices—not just Helasi’s, but another person’s. The other voice was low and even, pleasant to listen to, and it sounded familiar.

Xuanxi walked into the inner room and stopped in her tracks, because she knew that person.

Hildegrifa sat on a wooden chair by the fire, her silvery-white hair loose and flowing. Today she wore a light gray long coat, with a bit of white sweater showing at the collar, and a dark blue scarf around her neck. She held a teacup in her hands—it was the one Xuanxi usually used.

She was sitting there talking to Helasi, her voice not loud but every word clear, her eyes glowing warmly in the firelight.

Helasi sat across from her, also holding a teacup. His expression was much softer than usual. Gone was the silent, hard look he had while forging. There was even a faint smile at the corners of his mouth.

Xuanxi stood at the doorway, unmelted snowflakes still clinging to her scarf, the small cloth pouch with the silver hair clip clutched in her hand.

Helasi noticed her first and waved. “You’re back?”

Hildegrifa turned her head as well, and their eyes met. She looked at Xuanxi, the corners of her eyes curving slightly—a trace of a smile.

“Happy New Year, Xuanxi.”

She said.

Xuanxi took off her scarf, hung it on the hook behind the door, and walked over to sit down next to her. The wooden chair was a little short, so when she sat, their knees touched.

“How did you come?” Xuanxi’s voice was more excited than she expected.

“I told you I’d come find you when I had time.” Hildegrifa took a sip of her tea, her tone carrying a hint of cheerfulness. “My parents went on a honeymoon. There’s no one at home.”

Xuanxi blinked. “A honeymoon? Going on a honeymoon for New Year?”

“Mm. They go out every New Year, but this year they didn’t take me along.” Hildegrifa’s gaze fell back to the fire, the flames dancing in her pupils. “My mother told me that New Year should be spent with someone you like. So I came.”

Xuanxi looked at her profile. The Xige now was completely different from the cold, aloof Young Lady at the Academy. Now she was especially easy to get along with.

Helasi stood up, put his teacup on the table, and dusted the ash off his apron. “I’ll start cooking dinner. You two chat slowly.”

He glanced at Xuanxi. There was an indescribable look in his gray-brown eyes—something like relief, or something else. He didn’t say much, turned, and went into the kitchen.

Soon, the sounds of a spatula scraping and the tap running came from the kitchen, along with the sound of Helasi humming. Xuanxi had never heard Helasi hum before. He was terribly off-key, but he hummed cheerfully.

“What did you say to my dad just now?” Xuanxi lowered her voice to ask.

“That you train very hard at school, that your grades are good, and that you’re popular at the Academy.” Hildegrifa’s tone was flat. “That you’ve made friends, and that your water magic is getting more and more skilled.”

Xuanxi opened her mouth. “That’s it?”

“Also that you don’t know how to take care of yourself, that you’re a picky eater, and that you don’t tell anyone when you’re hurt.” Xige said this with a hint of a mischievous smile.

Xuanxi buried her face in her hands and shook her head helplessly. “How could you tell him all that?”

Hildegrifa didn’t answer. Instead, she reached out and brushed the hair that hung by Xuanxi’s cheek behind her ear. Her fingertips were cool, lightly grazing Xuanxi’s face before stopping at her chin.

“Also that you’re very pretty. This Young Lady likes you very much.”

Xuanxi lowered her hands and stared wide-eyed at Hildegrifa. She couldn’t tell if Xige was joking or serious, because Xige rarely joked.

Before Xuanxi could figure it out, dinner was ready. Tonight’s dinner was especially lavish: roast beef, mashed potatoes, cream of mushroom soup, vegetable salad, and a whole loaf of freshly baked bread.

Helasi had wiped the newly bought solid wood table clean, arranged the knives and forks neatly, and set out the wine glasses. The three small white porcelain cups that had been stored in the cabinet were brought out.

Rumor had it that he used them to drink with friends in his youth. They had been kept in the cabinet for years, and today was the first time he had taken them out.

Helasi poured a cup for each of the two girls, then one for himself. He lifted his cup, his gray-brown eyes looking at the two young people across from him. “Happy New Year!”

“Happy New Year!” Xuanxi raised her cup.

“Happy New Year!” Hildegrifa also lifted hers, moving gently as if afraid to break the thin porcelain cup.

The three cups clinked together with a crisp sound. Xuanxi drank it all in one gulp. Hildegrifa took a small sip, smacked her lips, and then finished the rest.

Helasi didn’t usually talk much at the dinner table. He generally only said “Eat more” and “This is delicious.”

But today he talked a lot. Halfway through the meal, he looked at Hildegrifa, his eyes carrying a seriousness, as if he were about to entrust something.

“Xuanxi was a very good child when she was little. Never cried or made a fuss. She just didn’t talk much. Luckily, after she met all of you at the Academy, she started to open up.”

Hearing this, Xuanxi hid her face behind a piece of bread, using it to cover her shy expression.

“And she’s been a picky eater since she was young. Doesn’t like vegetables.” Helasi continued. “When she was little, I’d mix the leaves into her rice, and she’d still pick them out one by one.”

Hildegrifa glanced at Xuanxi, a triumphant light in her eyes. “I’ll make sure she eats them from now on, Uncle.”

She said.

Xuanxi put the bread down. “Actually, I can eat vegetables now.”

“Then, have some.” Hildegrifa forked a piece of broccoli and placed it on her plate. Xuanxi ate it without hesitation.

Helasi watched this, smiled, picked up his cup, and took another sip. The look of relief in his eyes deepened.

After dinner, Helasi offered to clean up the dishes, telling Xuanxi and Xige to go upstairs and rest.

He said he still needed to stay in the shop for a while, because the fire couldn’t be put out and some iron pieces needed to be hammered while still hot.

But Xuanxi knew he was making an excuse. Before, he used to stay in the shop until very late every night, the real reason being that he was afraid of disturbing her sleep.

But today, the excuse was particularly obvious, because the fire had already been banked before dark.