Recorded by Finnegan Lionhartt,
Of events which began to take place on the 14th eve of Balendra, and were continuing through the early morning of the 15th day; year of Pinnikle: 1,216.

"Nix of Pinnikle," Lumin reiterated, and paused to wait for jeering. After a moment, he asked a shattering question: "Who among you witnessed Sophia Lionhartt's death, and stood by?"

The crowd looked around dodgingly, unwilling to recall their guilt. They felt embarrassed, and pride rose within them to assure each against any wrong-doing. They did not answer.

After a time of silence, Tryn shouted powerfully, "Answer! Admit your omission!"

"I... I will admit it," I heard a little brave voice.

I could not find the one who spoke among the crowd, but they concluded, "I saw her die, and I did not help," the voice came from Lumin's other shoulder, from Tiko. "You have my deepest apologies," She said, and looked past me, down into Sophie's eyes.

As they shared looks of understanding, Tiko sniffled and lost a little tear to Lumin's chest beneath her.

"Be forgiven, little one," Tryn said delicately, and looked at my friend with loving eyes. "You are only a small nix, the burden of a life lost does not belong to you."

Tiko responded to the bright star, "Still, I was among those who watched. If no one will take the blame, I will - on behalf of the village."

The crowd was clearly not disarmed by Tiko's words, but felt ashamed and threatened in reputation, because they had been represented by someone so small. Trynity turned her gaze back to the crowd, and grew flustered by them. She raised her voice over the silent gawkers, "Who else among you have the wits to admit your omission!? Surely you will follow the example of this child!"

I thought it was harsh of Tryn to pester them, but I supposed they each needed to admit what they had done.

"I,", One said.

"M-me too," said another.

"N' as well," came from one more.

But that was not enough to satisfy Tryn. The nix had only admitted to each other that they had watched Sophie die. They did not lift their eyes to myself, or Sophie. Nonetheless, Tryn and Lumin waited patiently until every nix had confessed to each other.

Once they finished and grew silent yet again, Tryn continued to press them: "Nix of Luca village: For your omission on the night of Sophia Lionhartt's death, know you deserve to have this child and her brother stripped from your responsibility. I have brought the issue to the current queen and king. They have committed to raise these children and see to their safety, if you will not. But we agree on the sense that Sophie and Fin should be brought up in the village of their parents. On that note: who among you have sought after these children's parents, or did you even notice they went missing?"

The crowd was silent again, and again Tiko was the first to respond, though this time she kept her response to a whisper in Lumin's ear. He turned his back to the crowd as he listened, and asked her in a clumsy whisper, "Will you share this with your village, bold one?".

"Yes," Tiko responded in a cute whisper, feeling very honored by the giant.

Lumin faced the crowd who was becoming cantankerous by the second, and addressed them, "One of your little ones will speak on your behalf."

"No, no!" Interrupted the nasally man. "Ignis and Kelora, the tike's paren's - they're not from around here. They're not ours to look after."

"You crude little..." Tryn sneered, "Those two have spent time in every one of your homes. They showed you hospitality, helped with your tinkery, and much more! They were certainly two of your own!"

"No," The nix responded and stepped forward. "They. Were. Not," He stood his ground.

"Family!" Tiko spoke up, "Before the Lionhartt's went missing, many of us littles were plagued by nightmares... None of us saw them after the nightmares ceased. I think they killed the dream beast... But I think their efforts took them as well."

I leaned sadly against Lumin's head, remembering my parents, and the letter from Jack - the last I knew of them... He patted my leg with his heavy hand. Sophie began to sniffle, and Tryn placed the little one atop her shoulders. The star began to float toward the crowd, and pressed them with another question.

"Nix," She addressed them, "You have all admitted your guilt to one another. Now who among you will apologize to this little one for allowing her to know death?"

From the crowd: A high browed woman immediately cracked out, waving a finger in annoyance as she said, "Well such a thing is not my burden, and I will never!"

She pushed herself through the crowd, and began to scream in pride, which turned to self-assured anger, "Ah! You filthy sky soarers! Give us back our child" she screamed as she approached, trying to grab at Sophie.

The woman was knocked into the air as a blast of light exploded from Tryn! The crowd parted as the angry old nix tumbled on the sand in their midst. She braced Sophie by holding her legs and suddenly teleported, appearing directly in front of the proud woman. She scowled down at the haggly nix, taking dominance, and sneered, "Do not take that which you cannot care to keep alive."

Without breaking a glare into the woman's soul, Tryn addressed the entire crowd a second time: "I ask again, Nix of Luca village: Who among you will apologize to this little girl? Who among you will look past yourselves this night?"

A little round man in the crowd behind Tryn hesitantly nudged her back with his fingers. She swung her gaze from the worthless woman to the timid chubby one, and he winced and threw a hand over his face. Mistaking him for a fat child, Tryn's eyes softened a bit, and she said, "Yes little round one, say your piece."

He slowly untensed from the startling bright sight of Tryn's glow, uncovered his face, and squinted up to Sophie through the star's glow saying, "Ah-aye... Y-yes'm... I will be asking your f-forgiveness li'l miss Sophie Lion'artt."

Sophie was afraid, but not of Tryn, or the star's anger. She knew the luminary was trying to keep her safe. She was afraid of the villagers who let her die, even the unthreatening round one seeking forgiveness. Tryn had prepared her for that moment, though. Sometime within the last two weeks, Tryn had coached Sophie through this very instance.

The star looked up toward Sophie who sat atop her shoulders, and encouraged her ever so gently, "And what do we say?"

Lit in rainbow glimmers from below, Sophie looked the man in the eyes. With clear and innocent words, she said: "I forgive you Mr. And I will trust you with my life, until I can guard it for myself."

Tryn glinted in pride and said in a whisper, "Very brave, very good!".

Then, Tryn disregarded the crowd for some untimely instruction with Sophie. She asked my sister: "And why do we forgive?"

"Ahem," Sophie coughed cutely, preparing her answer: "It's so we can live freely, without the weight of unfortunate misgivings that might pull us down to their level; and live without fear."

Tryn spun round, making Sophie giggle. The two forgot the crowd for a moment and the star began, "And if we can forgive one..."

Sophie finished, "...We can forgive all."

"Very good - very bold, little one!" Tryn concluded proudly.

I snickered, along with Tiko from atop the giant, over the river. My sister and her star were so careless and cute to celebrate a step of forgiveness. They were so innocently, abrasively humble amidst the many who welled with pride. Lumin put a finger to his smiling lips. He was proud of Sophie too, but reminded us to be silent - lest we offend the crowd.

Lumin floated down through the crowd in a sauntering kind of glide, behind the round man. His attention was on Sophie and the star, and he did not notice that many cleared away from us, leaving him between Lumin and Tryn.

"Little round child," The giant addressed him, and he jumped around to face us. "I too accept your forgiveness. I admit, I have been leery of you all, yet you are the first to give me hope. In return, I grant you a shard of trust."

The round nix turned clumsily to face Lumin, and looked up at him with wide eyes to say, "Eh-eh-excuse me Mr. giant..."

"Why yes you adorable over-fed ball! What is it?" Lumin chuckled. From his shoulders Tiko and I forced ourselves to frown, trying not to burst in laughter. I knew he was not a child, but only just small and shapely.

The little man stammered, "I-it's j-just that... I'm a... m-m-man! I'm an adult!".

Everyone around belted into laughter, but Lumin and Tryn became appalled at their mistake. They had not meant to cause anyone humiliation.

"Excuse us, crowd!" Tryn said elegantly.

Every cackle immediately halted at the star's regal crystalline voice. Tryn let down her glowing veil before the little man. She touched down to the ground before him, and addressed Sophie, "Little one, learn from me."

Stars are ancient creatures, and as you have gathered: they are very peculiar in their mannerisms. Their timeless regard to chivalry is quite incredible, however their lack of social skills can be very... awkward.

Tryn searched the little man's eyes, bent her knees in a curtsy, and upon rising she asked him: "Good nix, what is your name?".

"M-mah name's... M-Mod" He replied nervously.

"And last name?"

"M-M...M-Midgens," He stammered.

"Mr. Mod Midgens," Tryn said, "It seems Lumin and I have both made the mistake of believing you to be a child, and perhaps you have suffered embarrassment because of it. For that: you have our apologies. Will you forgive us?"

"I-I —" Mod Midgens was cut off by Tryn.

"— One moment sir, I must instruct Sophie," Tryn said, and looked up at Sophie to ask, "What have I just done, little one?"

Sophie thought out loud, "Well... you made sure to respectfully address the man. You've admitted your specific mistake, included Lumin's involvement... and... You asked him to forgive you both."

"I...I—" Mod started up again but was silenced by Tryn's glimmering finger to his lips.

"Another moment please, round one," She said, and looked up toward my sister. "Sophie, what do we do if Mr. Midgens forgives?"

"You trust him, because he's sincerely apologized," She replied.

"And what do we do if he will not forgive us?" Tryn asked.

"You can forgive yourself, and move on. Maybe one day he will let his offense go; but for now you have learned from your own mistake, and do not need to be burdened," Sophie answered.

"And what does it mean when they cannot forgive?" Tryn continued the untimely lesson.

Sophie answered, "They don't have bravery, or they are full of pride. So we should not trust them."

"Very good!" Tryn twirled Sophie around, then faced Mod to say, "Excuse me for taking a moment to teach! None of you will do it," she said the words casually, believing them to be blatant truth, not an insult, "Now, where were we?"

"W-w-well, I see the ch-children mean very much to y-you. A-a-and... I-I-I"...

...Tryn blinked, and leaned forward with pursed lips to stare blankly at Mod, hoping he would find words. For a moment, everyone had forgotten about the strange miracle of Sophie's resurrection. They forgot about the angry woman who still lay on the ground behind Tryn, propped up in annoyance by her palms. All leaned in with the hope that Mr. Midgens was simply going to finish his sentence. Then, all at once he finally blurted out: "I forgive you for mistaking me as a fat child!"

Everyone cheered him on! Even Sophie clapped, and pat Tryn on the head for asking Mr. Midgens for his forgiveness. Even Mod himself chuckled shyly, feeling the freedom of forgiveness. To Midgen's surprise: humiliation and frustration slid off his shoulders, quickly as it had come.

Lumin rose over the crowd, and called them back to the matter at hand: "Nix of Luca, I remind you: every one of you stood by as the sweet little one breathed her last before your eyes. Each of you owes her your own apology, from your own lips. Sophia's little one and her brother need your help until they can guard their own lives, but we cannot let you give it unless you prove you are worthy.

"I remind you: We have spoken to the king about this matter, and concluded: If the children are further neglected, he will raise them personally. From this day forward, these children belong to the king, yet they may remain under your stewardship. He has claimed them as royals, and they are subject to inauguration at the next spectacle of lights. If you fail them... Everyone will come to know. Do not fail them."

I had not known these things, and though I was only seven, I was suddenly thrilled to know the king - the only king of Pinnikle - had claimed Sophie and I as prince and princess. I did not know what the spectacle of lights was, nor did I know what inauguration meant; but it all sounded very good. I became excited, but the feeling did not last. The crowd did not like being spoken to so matter-of-factly by Trynity.