Twisted Wonderland 2

Courage

You and the boys walk outside the assembly hall and along the path. The cold air making it so you can see your breath. Grim trots beside you, his paws making little pitter patter noise as he goes.

Jade smiles. "I'm rather excited for this tour."

"I'm starvin'." Grim complains.

"All right, I'll make sure you get something good." Epel moves towards the well. "But before we eat, there's one thing we absolutely have to do. It's non-negotiable."

"Oh?" Jade tilts his head. "What's that?"

"Some sort of Harveston custom?" Sebek asks.

Epel smiles excitedly. "We're gonna... wash our hands!"

You can't help but laugh at the unexpectedness. "What?"

Sebek folds his arms. "I would say that's to be expected."

"Yup!" Epel nods. "I know it's normal to wash your hands before you eat, but we take it very seriously here. The miners that used to live here stopped getting sick once they started washing regularly with soap and water. ...According to our folktales, anyway. So the townsfolk have always been real sticklers about it."

"Is there some historical context around that tale?" Jade asks.

Epel rubs the back of his neck. "I'm just spitballin' here, but Harveston's a pretty remote place. We don't have much in the way of hospitals or doctors. So if someone gets sick and wants to get checked out by a doctor, they have to go down the mountain. And I bet that was way harder to do back in the day before modern transit. I think that's why hand washing has historically been such a big deal here, for disease prevention."

Idia shrugs. "Yeah, I'd buy that."

Epel continues to the well. "On that note, let's go wash our hands at the well over there."

Idia's eyes widen. "WAT. It's already freezing out, and now you want us to plunge our hands into icy water? Doesn't the assembly hall have hot water? Can't we just use that?"

"Don't be a chicken, Idia!" Epel laughs.

Sebek smirks. "Yeah, show some courage!"

"Okay, Sebek." Idia grins. "If you're so brave, then let's see you do it."

Sebek hesitates.

"You can do it, Sebek!" You encourage.

Sebek smiles to you. "Yes, I know. I won't back out! Here goes!"

Sebek walks to the well and takes off his gloves. He stares into the icy waters warily, taking a breath and readying himself. He can't back out and look like a fool in front of you. Sebek shoves his hands into the frigid water and quickly washes his hands, taking them out just as fast and placing his gloves back on.

"So cold!" Sebek shivers. "There, my hands are washed! It's your turn, Idia."

Idia walks to the well with a groan. "Guess there's only one way outta this. Here goes... nothing..." He takes off his gloves and dunks his hands into the water, his eyes going wide. "Dude, this is like sub-zero!"

Idia quickly takes his hands out and puts his warm gloves back on.

Jade tilts his head curiously. "Is it really? Let me try."

The twin washes his hands in the well but doesn't seem to bothered by the cold like the other boys.

"It feels rather warm to me." Jade chuckles. "I don't see what all the fuss is about."