As Dama made his way to the next booth, the sounds of excited chatter and laughter filled the air. He approached the Yono family booth, where Yuyin Yono, a plump but cheerful man with a warm smile, was busy organizing a collection of rocks and plants on a wooden table.

He wore a loose, light brown linen tunic paired with simple, durable trousers. A well-worn leather belt, complete with small pouches for collecting specimens, ties his look together, and his feet are comfortably clad in sturdy sandals. His round glasses caught the sunlight as he adjusted them, his appearance friendly and approachable, akin to Mumu.

Standing beside him was his daughter Moa, tall and slender, her bright pink hair coiffed and curled into perfect symmetry on each side of her head. She also wore the exact pair of glasses as her father. The way everything framed her body made her look as though she had stepped out of a perfectly balanced painting.

When it came to her clothing, she opted for a flowing dress in gentle moss green hues. The fabric is light, perfect for an outdoor day, and adorned with subtle leaf-like embroidery along the neckline and hem. A hand-woven sash cinched the dress, with a simple, red headscarf finishing the look.

Moa greeted Dama with a wave and a grin. "Ah, Dama! Welcome to our booth! Returning the favor, eh?" She winked. "You're just in time to learn all about the natural resources here in Enohay! It's going to be a lot of fun!"

Dama smiled back at her. Moa's eccentric personality was well-known, and it seemed like to him this booth was going to be a lively one.

Yuyin, ever the jolly figure and the one Moa got most of her energy from, beckoned the children closer. "Alright, kids! Gather around! You're about to enter the most exciting part of today's festival—where we uncover the mysteries of the ores, herbs, and plants around the valley!" He paused for dramatic effect. "But first, let me tell you, there are secret dangers lurking all around us. Can you believe that? Plants that look harmless but are actually dangerous—and ores that could be hiding the secrets of the entire valley!"

The children giggled at his playful tone, their eyes wide with curiosity. Yuyin's flair for the dramatic was always a hit, and it wasn't long before the kids were hanging on his every word.

Moa leaned over to Dama, her voice low. "Don't mind him. He's always making up stories about 'secret society of plants' and 'hidden ore conspiracies', jeez." She feigned a disappointed sigh, but then winked, clearly enjoying her father's antics as she walked to his side. "But there's a bit of truth to it all. Some things are a lot more dangerous than they seem!"

Yuyin grinned. "Well, you know what they say, 'Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back!'" He threw his arms wide. "Let's dive in!"

A small hand shot up from the crowd of children. "Mr. Yuyin," a curious child piped up, "what are natural resources?"

Yuyin's eyes lit up with a gentle smile as he leaned forward. "Natural resources are gifts that nature nurtures and provides us—raw materials that we use every day without even thinking about it. They're things like water to drink, soil to grow our food, wood to build our homes, and so much more."

He paced slowly, engaging the group as he continued, "Here in Enohay Valley, we're blessed with many such treasures. First, we have our clear, flowing river and sparkling springs, which provide fresh water for drinking and irrigating our crops. Along the riverbanks, the soft, pliable clay is gathered to shape our everyday pottery!"

Yuyin paused for effect before listing more of the valley's wonders. "Then there's the rich, fertile soil that nurtures our soil, especially the fields of the Alder Farm, giving us bountiful harvests every season! And because of said fertile soil, not far from our homes lie the forests of Enohay, full of the aromatic herbs and wild berries that add flavor to our meals and serve as remedies for everyday ailments. Not to mention full of sturdy timber that villagers, like Himon Koul, use to build everything from simple homes to sturdy tools."

Yuyin then smirked and nonchalantly pointed at Dama, causing the children to look at him. Dama jumped at this before awkwardly waving, of which some of the children excitedly waved back. "Let's not forget the mountains where your big brother Dama lives also has these trees, though of a different variety! Not only that, but the Enohayean Mountains are home to some pretty rad ores and minerals that your's truly tinkers with!" He said whilst jabbing both thumbs to his chest.

The children listened intently, their faces a mix of wonder and understanding. Snickering at this, Yuyin concluded, "Every day, the people of Enohay Village rely on these natural gifts. They remind us that nature is not just something to admire from afar—it's a part of our daily lives, sustaining us in countless ways!"

"In short," Moa picked up where her father left off, "we not only rely on nature—we ARE nature, or at least part of its cycle. Which is why we have to take care of nature, so that we take care of ourselves!"

Moa then picked up a pair of leaves, ones nearly identical in shape and color. "Speaking of whom, here's our first challenge," she said, holding them up, "a task to learn on how to identify the useful from the dangerous in order to protect yourselves! One of these is the Healing Sage, used in teas and healing medicine—you can even apply it directly to your skin to moisturize it! The other? The False Sage! it might look the same, but eat even one leaf, or even rub it on your skin for too long, and you'll fall sick and get painful rashes! Can anyone tell which is which?"

The children whispered among themselves, pointing and debating. After a few moments, Moa smiled and said, "Let's look a little closer." She handed one leaf to a curious student and then added, "This one is the Healing Sage! Notice how the Healing Sage's leaf has a gentle scalloped edge and a smooth, velvety surface? Its veins are fine and evenly spread, almost like delicate brushstrokes. Not only that, but on the underside of the leaves, you can see a faint reddish hue!"

Moa pinched the top and bottom of the remaining leaf in her hand, stretching it out in full display as she continued. "In contrast, the False Sage's leaf, while almost identical in overall shape, has a slightly jagged edge and a subtle fuzz along its surface. On its underside, you can make out a blueish hue! Even the scent is a hint—the Healing Sage carries a mild, herbal fragrance while the False Sage has a faint, bitter tang."

As the children huddled together around the Healing Sage and looked at each other, Moa grabbed two small vials filled with a soft green powder and raised them high. "And here we have the same leaves, just in powder form!" She leaned in close, lowering her voice dramatically as she shook the vial in her left hand. "Some say only a little of the False Sage is used in secret potions—spells that can make people forget things or knock them out cold…oooooohhhhh~" She winked again, and a few children gasped.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Yuyin nodded in mock seriousness. "Moa's right. A little bit of curiosity, and you might find yourself face-to-face with a very dangerous plant. And let me tell you, there's no 'secret society' behind it, just the wild and dangerous nature of our valley!"

Digging into his pockets for a bit, Yuyin brought out two stones. "However, remember nature isn't limited to just plants. Take a look at these two stones." He placed the two similar-looking rocks on the booth counter—both dull and rough, yet still catching the light with a gentle shimmer. "One is a harmless river stone, worn smooth by time and water. The other, a raw fragment of Ember Ore! It might look just as unassuming, but under careful observation, you'll notice differences. The river stone has a pitted, almost ancient texture, while the Ember Ore, although sharing a similar oval shape, reveals tiny red streaks on its underside that dance in the sunlight—little hints of its fiery nature if mishandled."

Moa added, "Isn't it fascinating? Two objects can be so alike at first glance, yet nature whispers secrets in the details if you only take the time to observe!"

After the children nodded in realization, Yuyin piggybacked off Moa's comment, "Sometimes, things appear dangerous but are actually helpful, while others seem harmless yet may be trouble—this includes other people in life. That's why knowing your surroundings and asking questions before making decisions is so important!"

On cue, Moa put down a small tray and revealed a new challenge. On the tray sat two nearly identical flowers, their petals soft and delicate, with a subtle gradient of color, and announced, "Now, let's test your powers of observation! We have two flowers right here: the Sunlit Bloom and the Moonlit Bloom."

Yuyin stepped forward, pointing to each flower. "They share almost every feature—the same petal shape, similar hues that blend warm and cool tones, and even a faint, pleasant fragrance. At first glance, you might be tempted to think one of these has a dangerous secret hidden within its beauty."

Moa's eyes twinkled as she asked, "So, which one do you think is dangerous?" The children eagerly pointed at one flower or the other, debating amongst themselves.

Quickly, the group of children became divided on two different opinions. One side argued it was the left flower due to its more jagged petal tips. The other side countered with the fact the veins on the right flower seemed too visible, hinting at something dangerous.

With a gentle laugh, Moa revealed whilst throwing her hands up, "Surprise! Neither of them is dangerous! Both the Sunlit Bloom and the Moonlit Bloom are perfectly safe."

Taking both flowers into her hands, Moa continued. "Both are actually a recently discovered species by our favorite village doctor and teacher: Liam! So far, we've only found they can be used as tea enhancers, with Liam theorizing some medicinal properties! Other than their colors, the only difference between them is in their names! The Sunlit Bloom only blooms during the day, with the Moonlit Bloom during the night. Amazing, isn't it? Due to their similarities, we classify them in the same family of species."

Yuyin nodded and concluded, "This little trick is our reminder that not everything in life is black and white. Often, things that appear similar can hold entirely different stories—or in this case, both may be harmless. Understanding subtle differences and questioning assumptions are key to truly knowing the world around you. 'The quiet mouse doesn't get fed' as they say!"

The booth's activities continued, with Yuyin and Moa both giving detailed explanations on each plant or rock they had for show. The children laughed as they inspected the plants and the sparkling rocks, trying to pick out the good from the bad.

Yuyin and Moa kept them entertained with exaggerated stories about the plants and minerals, and in no time, the kids were happily guessing which ones were safe and which ones were hazardous.

Finally, concluding the booth was Moa, taking the time to demonstrate how to handle her favorite plant. "These are called 'Soft Touch Lilies.' They're beautiful, but they're also fragile. If you're too rough with them, they won't bloom! You've got to treat them gently." She smiled as the children approached the delicate white, five-petaled flowers, touching them lightly as instructed.

Caera breathed out a sigh of admiration as she and Dama watched on. "My goddess, I know it was the Yono Family's birthsake, but those two are incredibly knowledgeable about the stuff around here, aren't they, Dama?"

"Mhm!" Dama nodded as they both didn't move their heads. "That's big sister Moa and Mr. Yuyin for you! The way they speak with confidence while also making everything feel like a playful mystery is super appealing. Haven't seen the children this engaged and excited."

A child then raised their hand, with Yuyin immediately noticing, "You there, how may I help you?"

The child's hand faltered a bit as they replied, "I wanted to ask big sis Moa, but how were her and your glasses made? Did you make them, Mr. Yuyin, with one of your m...mini...rocks?"

"These?" Yuyin said, pointing at his glasses. "Why yes, I did! Crafted right here by yours truly." He then adjusted the glasses, which shimmered with an almost magical light, before turning to Moa. "These aren't just any old glasses—these are made from a rare type of mineral that's been polished and shaped from a very special ore I found just last year in fact! An ore so special and rare, I couldn't show you guys today!"

Moa raised an eyebrow playfully. "You could've just said they were made from regular glass, Dad. But sure, let's go with the 'rare ore' story, ha!"

Yuyin rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed but chuckling. The children themselves giggled at their banter, with Dama not being able to help but laugh along.

However, a low rumbling sound would soon glide through the atmosphere. Everyone present—from the children to the adults—knew what it signaled. It was time for everyone to head over to the last booth, where Owain would be waiting.

Putting her hands on her hips, Moa snickered as she shook her head before throwing her arms outward again. "Well everyone, seems that's the end of our booth! Time for you all to mosey on over to the Chief's Booth now!"

All the children looked at each other and nodded with excited faces and giggles. But before they could run off, they would be met with Yuyin standing before them all. Confused, the group of children would perk up when Yuyin simply smiled and stretched out an open palm.

It only took the group a second to see what it was. It was an invitation—a challenge—to see who could give Yuyin the best high five.

Some kids went about it in a normal fashion, some did it as hard as they can, with others even doing a fistbump with Yuyin, but their reactions were all the same—pure childish bliss, even Caera when it was her turn.

When it came to be Dama's turn, the two executed a flawless secret handshake, ending with both of them pumping their fists in their air. As both laughed, Yuyin waved everyone off before megaphoning, "Remember, kids! The daintiest little flower can hold the deadliest poison, just like how the cutest child at a glance can hold the darkest secret—and you wouldn't even know. Nature is as tricky as it is serene, just like life. Be careful!"

The group of children giggled, with some of them giving a thumbs up to show they heard him. Caera nodded in agreement, but Dama's reaction was a bit different from everyone else.

For some reason, that quote from Yuyin struck him in a place he didn't even know. Thinking on it for a bit, a rather concerning intrusive thought crept into Dama's mind: "Could Giona be that 'dainty flower'?"

But just as the thought registered, Dama trashed it as fast as it came. "Pfft, what am I thinking? Nothing bad has happened so far. Giona's no danger at all..."

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Next: (Extra Chapter 32) The First Phase's End

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