☕️ Paper and Joy 🕯️

Chapter 4: In This Fated Village

"We'll um, anyway, we're almost there!"

"Where?"

She continued to look forward silently despite my comment. As I noticed her satisfied expression, I looked forward as well. In front of me was a gated village large and civilized, a sight in the trees I thought was only from a fairytale.

...

The forest ahead of me, despite being large, had collected a new set of charm. Houses and shops perched up on large branches like bird houses created the village. On the streets were fancy lanterns that were freshly polished in black. And in front of us both was a large black gate with words engraved in it that read, "Cupa Village, the village of charm."

"Woah..." I gaped, amazed by the beautiful village, "it's so beautiful."

"Hehe, yup! Welcome to Cupa Village!" The blonde haired girl smiled at me. "As a messenger, it is my duty to show wandering travelers around the village."

"Wow, thank you so much- um... what should I call you..?" I looked at her desperately. I can't believe I didn't even ask for her name.

"Oh dear! I'm very sorry, I must have forgotten to introduce myself." She turned around in my direction and slid her hands behind her back, "I'm Lily. And you are..?"

"Tiana." She grabbed my hand and shook it firmly.

"Well Tiana, ready for your tour?"

"Lead the way."

As we walked through the gates, I could feel the happiness of the village beam around me. Everyone seemed in a good mood and very cheery. They waved our direction and Lily waved back, happily.

No wonder she's so cheery.

"If you don't mind, I'll need to register you in the village." She looked at me as she walked still latching on to my arm through the morning crowd, "after all you will be staying, right?"

I smiled and looked at her pleading green eyes, "Well, alright."

"Okay! Then right this way!"

The gripped my arm even tighter dragging me through a small crowd around a tiny booth made of wood. I appeared out of the crowd, Lily still latched on to me in front of the booth where an old woman sat. She was dressed in a floral uniform made of lace and fleece.

"Well hello there, dears" she smiled at us and then turned to Lily, "Dear Lily, who have you got with you now?"

"She's my new friend! Tiana wants to be registered as a visitor." Lily beamed, "She'll probably be staying for a while."

"Thank you dear, I'll get her registered." The old woman smiled at me and wrote something down on a chalky sheet of paper.

"Thank you so much Carol, see you around!"

Carol smiled back at her comment. Lily pulled me out of the crowd again and onto a dirt road that lead deeper in the village. Mothers walked around with baskets of muffins and flowers and men handled supplies carefully at booths along the road. Behind the booths were large cottages with overgrown moss spilling across the roof. The light sound of medieval music filled the roads as I glanced over at a small band on the side of the road.