Xanthy tapped her cane against the familiar stones laid on the bridge leading from the Imperial Palace to Nanvera. Different from the wooden planks the bridge was made of when Xanthy was first here, when they rebuilt the Imperial Palace, it seemed that the Seelie Court wanted to avoid the bridges getting destroyed so stone, it was.

She glanced at the murky moat reflecting the early morning sun. This was also the same bridge where she first found out June was the Death Knight and the one that led to her untying every string connecting him to the Imperial Palace.

She bit the inside of her cheek and blew a breath. It's a time long gone. She shouldn't worry about it. They're all alive. That's the only thing that should matter.

When she went to Airese earlier, all her mother said to her was, "Get ready for our gifting as a family later tonight. I must be off to do my homage."

Giftings, as they turned out, were a practice popular in the island where people would exchange their gifts with their loved ones in three separate events—one with one's family, one with friends, and one with colleagues. Airese told Xanthy they would be doing the family one tonight but Xanthy didn't know when her friends and colleague giftings would happen. Well, that's why she was out of the palace today. Perhaps Nanvera would offer quite the selection to help her choose things that would prepare her loved ones for the upcoming year.

She glanced down at her trousers flapping against the chilly Lantegian wind as she walked. With Airese out of the picture, Xanthy could finally skip the skirts and just go with whatever she felt comfortable in. Her mother had explained that homages were done to pay tribute to the pillar gods for every aspect of life.

"Vague details," Aries had waved a hand in Xanthy's face when she asked her mother. "Things like passion, peace, joy, love. Doesn't hurt to wish for it though."

Xanthy had raised an eyebrow then. "Wish to the gods, you mean?"

"Yeah, to the gods up there in Calaris," Airese switched between two robes upon laying it over her form. "Which do you think suits me?"

Xanthy remembered rolling her eyes. "Honestly, Mom, everything suits you."

Airese had forgotten the homages and spent the next half an hour talking about Xanthy knowing exactly what her mother wanted to hear. Well, Xanthy got what she wanted anyway. The moment the word "gods" joined the scene, she didn't want anything to do with it. Let those crackheads get their fill from the people who still believed.

Xanthy wasn't really the person to believe in gods and for once, she was glad Airese didn't feel the urge to push her. It's just how it goes for some people. The gods couldn't get each and every admirer available.

So, that's how she ended up alone in the streets of Nanvera, wandering without a specific destination in mind. Her beloved boots, the one that survived with her past the war, clacked with familiar footfalls against the cobbled roads. The same bustle and bumble of merchant carts and people chattering was the music filling everyone's ears.

Without her usual entourage of heirs and her parents, it's easy to disappear into the crowds and pretend she was just among the common folk. Out here, she could at least pretend that she wasn't the High Queen and no one would shatter the illusion. It's...freeing.

Xanthy would have to break it herself whenever she offers Imperial plaques to merchants and traders. Their faces would light up in recognition and would bow profusely, apologizing for not recognizing her. Every time, Xanthy would resist the urge to roll her eyes. To not be recognized—that's exactly the goal.

Sometimes, it sucked to be forbidden to carry the actual versallis. Where in Umazure, then, were her hand-earned money from Vikara's looms and the budget Airene gave her back in Depandes?

The sudden thought of her departed aunt sent a pang of guilt in her gut. Here she was reaping the benefit of the fruit of people's heavy sacrifice and she wasn't even honoring them the way tradition told her to. A sigh escaped Xanthy's lips. Perhaps, it's best to join the pixies in their homage tradition. Rather than thanking the gods who did nothing in the war, perhaps Xanthy should thank the ones who actually died doing something.

Xanthy shook her head as she ducked into another shop filled to the brim with ornamental brooches. Elred would love one of these. Xanthy fixed her bandanna's knot below her hair to make sure it wouldn't suddenly fall off. She worked so hard to tie it, too.

The vendor in charge of the shop leaped to his feet at the sight of her. She wasn't that obvious, right?

"What can I do for you?" the vendor clasped his hands together and partially bowed. Oh, Xanthy was totally failing the be-discreet thing.

Xanthy dropped her hand to her side. "Ah, I was hoping you could help me choose the perfect one for my friend," she gestured to the array of jeweled brooches and other ornaments displayed on racks, tables, and even hung on the walls.

The vendor nodded. "What is your friend like, Your Highness?"

Ah, she was recognized. This man got an eye. Xanthy tapped her chin. "Hmm. I'd say that this friend likes fashion to a fault," she started. "She's clever, strong, and totally pretty. Oh, and she keeps her hair long so maybe a head ornament?"

"I've got the perfect match," the vendor pushed past Xanthy and plucked a specific ornament from a spot in the wall. He held a comb bedecked with sparkling jewels of every color to her face. "Take this. The yakhite and pergan ores used symbolize good luck and prosperity too."

Xanthy raised an eyebrow. "That's...nice," she said. Perhaps, she'd get another from this shop for another friend. "Have you got more?"

"Certainly, Your Highness," the vendor answered.

A few minutes later, Xanthy stepped out of the shop after paying the vendor. She put the ornaments she bought inside the same salvia basket Eldan gave her the other day. This time, instead of sweets and pastry—those have long disappeared Xanthy's gullet—, the heirs' gifts now populated it.

Well, there goes Nyxis's new set of presora glass vials—one that he had been pestering Denara about since time immemorial—, Reeca's needlework kit—the varichria had fallen into a crafts hole recently—, and a new ring for Kymalin that could be turned into a priestal artifact should the banshee wish it. The ornaments for Elred and Canelis were now nestled along with them as Xanthy bounded across the street in search of Seravel and Ariden's gifts. Oh, what should Xanthy give Jonadrin? Could she cheat and give her father and the Dwanzeigian heir the same thing?

After an hour or so, Xanthy was munching on a sticky cake stuck on wooden sticks she bought a while back after passing a random food caravan by. Ferbrete, was this called? Well, whatever. The varichria selling it was nice enough to add another stick despite her buying only two for a small amount of versallis. Of course, the Imperial plaque was always more than enough.

She peeked into her basket and counted the gifts. Hmm. Only June's was left. What should Xanthy give him? A new tunic? He's never one to need new ones on a regular basis. Maybe when they were running for their lives but not now. A new cloak perhaps? June loved his dark cloaks. But...Xanthy wasn't good at eyeing people's sizes. She might get it wrong. Wasting versallis wasn't also ideal.

Boots? No. He still had a working pair the last time Xanthy saw him. Hair dye? What for? He had no need to hide his sparkling hair after the war finished. A new sketching tome, perhaps? Xanthy remembered briefly seeing him draw with his graphite stick. He could do wonders with that. Maybe. That could work. But then again, what if he still hasn't snuffed out his current supply?

"Xanthy, there you are!" Reeca's voice bled into Xanthy's ears. She turned to find the varichria sprinting towards her, her orange wings out in broad daylight. It's been a while since Xanthy last saw her friend. "I've been looking all over for you. Airese said you went out on your own."

Xanthy raised an eyebrow as Reeca bent and braced her knees, catching her breath. "Did you run all the way here?"

"Flew," Reeca straightened, wiping her forehead with a hand. Her silky hair had gotten past her eyes but was still shorn close to her ears. "What are you doing out?" She glanced around and seeing no one familiar with Xanthy, braced her hands on her hips. "And alone, apparently."

Xanthy rolled her shoulders. "Airese was out with her homage thing," she said. "I decided to prepare for our gifting later tonight and for whenever our gifting as friends would be."

"Oh, giftings?" Reeca crossed her arms. Her wings perked behind her. "Good timing, then. Come with me."

The varichria turned and began walking away. It took Xanthy two steps to be able to catch up with her long-legged friend. "Hold on. Where are we going?"

"You are going to choose your own gift," Reeca said without stopping. Xanthy was forced to start jogging alongside her. "I get the magic with giftings remaining a secret and all but if we're going to equip one another for the upcoming year, might as well let the person themselves choose what they want to equip themselves with," she turned to Xanthy and tapped a hand against her chest. "I'll pay."

Xanthy opened and closed her mouth. Well, what more could she say to that? The logic behind that made sense and well...it's so like Reeca. A slight chuckle shook her shoulders. "It's not like I've got a say in it, right?" she said.

"Yeah, you don't," Reeca paused so suddenly Xanthy almost ran into her. "What do you want?"

Xanthy took a breath to answer. "No, it cannot be food," the varichria said, spelling exactly the same thing that first flashed in Xanthy's mind.

Xanthy stuck her bottom lip out. "Well, that just sucks," she reached up and twisted a lock of hair around her finger. It had gotten so soft and silky when the Imperial bath products touched it for almost a year. "I don't know what I want, though. Everything's kind of provided for me in the palace without me even asking for it."

Reeca clicked her tongue. "Hey, I did this so I wouldn't have to spend time and energy thinking of gifts," she said. "Don't throw this back at me."

"Okay, okay," Xanthy bit her lip and scratched her chin. A thing she really wanted? It's...not a thing. Not really. June's face popped into her head. Yeah, if anything, she would want to spend the holidays with him, too. Instead, she shook her head and smiled. "I've got it."

She told Reeca and together, they headed towards the only shop in Nanvera known to sell it. Minutes later, Xanthy was holding a copy of the one and only fictional tome she had dreamed of having since she was first ingrained into the wonderful world of reading.

A small, amused smile was creeping into Reeca's lips as she tucked her purse away. "For the Love of Witches," she said as if almost cursing. "Who knew you're into this kind of...literature."

Xanthy rolled her eyes. "Hey, we've all got our preferences," she said. "Besides, I've been curious to know what this title is about. All the servants have been talking about it."

Reeca snorted. "Shall I tell you?"

"No!" Xanthy put her hand out, stopping the varichria from saying more. "I prefer to find out on my own."

Something about Reeca's smile told Xanthy that she might be going to a point of no return the moment she finished it. Whatever. She'd deal with it when it comes. "Besides, what would you have me read?" she said.

Reeca's eyes sparkled. "Come with me," she ducked inside the printing shop. "It's time I show you real literature."

That's how she ended up with an arm-full of bound tomes enough to last her a few weeks of reading. She frowned at the squiggly Keijula pressed on the cover of the one at the top. Even after a year of learning how to read, she could barely recognize a word. Why couldn't there be a magic koset-learner for Keijula? It sucked that the Ylanenla translations took so long.

"Pirates in the sky?" Xanthy tottered after Reeca into the busy street. "What kind of nonsense is that?"

Reeca knitted her eyebrows. "That's not about the sky," she said. "It's an adventure somewhere far beyond the skies. It's a place of the stars where people could touch them."

"Calaris, you mean?"

Reeca shrugged. "Maybe," she said. "It's fun to imagine what kind of a world awaits us beyond this blue dome. That's what literature does. It tells us what might be out there."

"Or in here, with us," Xanthy jerked her chin to the tome she requested. "Literature is a great way to see the world in a new pair of eyes yet still remains to be yours. It's weird, I know."

"It's not," Reeca said before sighing. "I get what you mean."

"Who knew you're also a reader?" Xanthy bumped shoulders with the varichria.

Reeca scoffed. "I've been one since I was born."

"Fairies aren't born. They bloom," Xanthy said.

"You're suddenly a genius now, huh?" Reeca crossed her arms.

Xanthy chuckled. "That's exactly what one year of study does to you."

For an answer, Reeca merely laughed.