Christmas One-Shot, 2022

The Day Before Christmas

Enter a wintry Las Aminour, where Simon Ulcrates walks down the street. Dalabrac quickly catches up to him.

"Well, look at who it is," Dalabrac says. "Say, seeing as how its the middle of Winter out here, how about you come over to my family's place for the holidays? It'll be fun."

"That won't be necessary," Simon says sternly to Dalabrac. "Don't waste a seat or any kind of meat on me."

"But you're part of the Conclave now, least that's what I heard down the grape vine. It just won't do for you to be home alone for Christmas."

"Christmas doesn't do wonders like people say it does," Simon says. "It can never undo what I've done."

"Well, if you change your mind, the door's always unlocked. Except for at night. Don't want the homeless sneaking in."

"I'm pretty sure the homeless are the least of your problems," Simon scoffs. He wanted to say the real problem is the infestation of people praying for unsolvable problems, but he held himself back and took a breath of the cold Winter air.

Simon walks down the road a bit, and he sees Galinndan Eldarin, the man that Renhetsbad had attacked on the street. He's sitting on a street corner, gesturing to a sign that is next to him. "The yoriki stripped me of my possessions because they thought I was a thief. Please help?"

Simon takes the sign and kicks it down. "Please! A yoriki thief? Your family doesn't need your gifts anyways. You couldn't even capture a poor person, let alone steal. The escape is enough for dishonor."

Galinndan runs down the alleyway, and disappears. Eventually, Simon makes his way to the inn he's staying at.

"Someone was asking about you down here," the innkeeper says. "Then they went up to your room, be careful."

"They don't know what they're getting into. Thank you anyways." Simon responds, and hurries up the stairs.

He sees the door open, and proceeds cautiously. As he pushes the door open, he sees Teff with a package in his hands. "Well, son, happy holidays."