"Onward to Briarstone Village!" Liam ceremoniously shouted with one fist pumping into the air.

Kina gave a thumbs up in response to both Liam's enthusiasm and his handling of the rope halter. Soon after though, she gasped, pushing Dama back to arms length. "My goodness! I almost forgot! Wait right here Dama darling~! The last part she practically sang.

Kina began to run so fast back into the village, the images of her legs seemed to meld together into a constantly rotating wheel.

As Gus climbed into the carriage and Koul walked up beside Dama, Kina came back as fast as she left. In her hands was a pile of folded clothes. "Here, Dama, I had these tailor-made to your measurements beforehand! In your last check up, you did say you were starting to outgrow some of your clothes back home, right?"

"Oh, uh, yes ma'am, I have." Dama responded whilst tugging on his own sweater's collar. "I've been running out of comfortably fitting clothes for some time. Thanks again, Ms. Alder!"

"No problem darling!" Kina said, giving the clothes to Mumu. "Looks like you guys are all set!"

Koul lifted a finger in the air, interjecting. "Wait, hol' ya horses now. Dama my boy, why don't you change into some of those new clothes at my house? I still have something to talk to lil' miss Kina about over here."

"Little!?" Kina blurted, stomping her foot down with both fists at her side. "I'm only six years younger than you buster!"

"Okay, Mr. Koul! Thanks!" Dama responded, turning to Mumu and Nini shortly after. "Come on you two, I'll need your help."

Now in the Kouls residence, Dama used a spare and furbished room to change with the help of Mumu. Nini, meanwhile, played with Mari in the living room, a room filled with the little girl's constant childish laughter.

Running around in a game of tag, Nini would always be the chaser. Mari squealed with delight as she ducked behind the plush armchair, narrowly avoiding Nini's playful paws. With her tail wagging uncontrollably from excitement, Nini circled around the chair as she tried to catch up with her small human friend.

Giggling as her tiny feet pitter-pattered against the floorboards, Mari dashed past the coffee table. Unfortunately, in her attempt to cut corners combined with her speed, she ended up bumping into it, causing the vase on its surface to topple over and fall.

Nini, ever so observant and who was close behind, dived towards the impact site. Making it in time, the vase landed on Nini's soft snout, making a slight indent. Using her tail, Nini caught at before it toppled over her nose, then put the vase back.

"Jeez! What did I tell you Mari!?" Mari's older sister, Mary, shouted as she entered the room. A tray of warm tea burdening her hands. "You need to be more careful, especially inside the house!"

Immediately stopping in her tracks, Mari looked down in guilt. "Sorry, Mary…"

"Now now," a soft voice sounded from the other side of the room, "no need to fuss at her, Mary. I was watching the entire time, and trusted Nini to make sure nothing happens. Looks like my trust isn't misplaced, isn't that right, you good girl."

As all three looked towards the brown leather couch, the voice's owner came into view. She was a slender and elegant woman, with a red village dress adorning her figure. Most striking features though were her soft facial features, light-brown wavy hair, and a calm, caring aura she naturally exuded. She overall looked like a splitting image of Mary and Mari—or rather, they looked like the splitting image of the woman. It was Tawa Koul.

"However," Tawa continued, "Mari, your older sister is right. Even if Nini is here, try not to be too reckless, alright?"

"Yes ma'am…" Mari said, her voice full of guilt. Her demeanor would soon flip though as Nini coiled her body around Mari, making her giggle.

Mary exhaled audibly in slight frustration. "To be honest, mother, you and father are too lax on her." She said while handing Tawa a cup of warm tea.

Waiting for her daughter to sit down beside her, Tawa looked upwards, reminiscing about Mary's childhood, warmly laughing. "Fufu, don't forget sweetie, you were just like that at her age. Always full of energy and running around. Not to mention always dragging poor Dama into your little games and adventures too."

Mary almost spit out her tea in embarrassment. "C-Come on mom!"

"Point is, we're treating her with the same strictness and respect as we did you, and you turned out to be such a respectable young woman who's only growing more beautiful by the day!" Tawa said whilst interlocking her fingers with each other. "So, I don't see the problem"

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Looking down at her tea, meeting her reflection's gaze, Mary agreed. "Eh, I guess you're right… Maybe I am too hard on her."

Tawa's smile widened a bit as she placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "And there's nothing wrong with that sweetie. You're just taking the role of elder sister seriously, making sure she grows up knowing to do the right things. It's something both me and your father appreciate."

"Yeah…" Mary adopted a smile of her own, still looking at her own reflection. "She's just so aloof and reckless, I don't want her to hurt herself."

Back in the spare room where Dama is changing, he struggled to put on the vest to complete his outfit. After awhile, Mumu came to assist him.

With one final pull down by Mumu, Dama now matched the three men he was about to travel with: a white shirt, green plaid vest, and khaki-colored trousers combo.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Dama smiled at both the comfort and style it provided, his hand feeling the plaid vest. "Would you look at that Mumu! I actually look good in this! It's so soft and fits well, with room for me to grow in it too! Thank you Mumu for helping, I have to make sure to thank Ms. Alder again for these!"

Stepping out and walking into the living room, Dama's new look would catch the attention of everyone.

"Big brother Dama! You look so cool!" Mari squealed whilst on Nini's back.

"My, what a handsome young man you are sweetie!" Tawa exclaimed, clasping her hands together at the sight before turning to Mary. "Don't you agree, Mary?"

"Hm!? Uh, yeah, you look great Dama." Mary said, raising her tea cup in front of her face in an attempt to hide her blush.

Dama blushed himself while also feeling a spark of pride as he walked to Nini. "Thanks everyone! Guess us three are ready to venture out to Briarstone now, huh?"

Getting off Nini's back, Mari ran up to Dama. "Big brother, can you bring back something from your adventure?"

"Of course, anything for you, Mari!" Dama exclaimed, patting Mari's head, causing her to smile from ear to ear.

"Well, do be careful now, and I know I shouldn't be worrying that much, but could you please make sure my husband doesn't do anything reckless, sweetie?" Tawa said, cupping her left cheek in concern.

"Yeah, please, be careful… You, my father, and the other men. Make sure to tell them we said that!" Mary chimed in.

Opening the front door, Dama looked back with a confident smile, his figure silhouetted amongst the sunlight. "Roger! I promise, we'll all come back safe and sound!"

After Mumu and Nini exited first, Dama followed suit, closing the door. With a new rush for adventure beginning to brew within Dama, he couldn't help but to start running back to the front gate, where adventure awaited.

"Come on Mumu, Nini! Let's get back to Mr. Koul and Ms. Alder as soon as poss—!" Dama began to say while his head was turned towards his companions behind him. However, both his words and momentum would be halted from him running into something Dama thought was really soft.

Before he rebounded off whatever he ran into, he felt a pair of arms wrap around him, keeping him stuck close. Blinking, Dama finally register what exactly his face was now buried in as he looked up, seeing the smiling face of his big sister figure. "B-Big sister Moa?" He said after freeing his face from her chest. "When did you...?"

"And where do you think you're going without so much as a goodbye, mister?" Moa teasingly remarked, cocking her head to the side. "Thank goodness I was at the right place, at the right time! Kina told me you were at Koul's house."

Chuckling for a moment, Moa's face then lit up with a realization, then an idea. Releasing Dama from her hug, she then adopted a fake crying voice and expression. "O-Oh, I see, you made sure to say goodbye to your little girlfriend, but not me!" She continued to fake cry, complete with her hands wiping away tears that weren't even there.

Just as Mumu and Nini caught up with Dama, the boy was now in panic mode, thinking he actually made Moa cry. "I-It's not like that, big sister! Honest! I just came to Koul's house to change, I swear!" He desperately pleaded, before a blush formed on his face. "Also, Mary's n-not my girlfriend!"

Moa switched from fake crying to doubled-over laughing in an instant, complete with knee pats and all. "HA! Just a little teasing, my little Dama. Though, your attempt to save face was cute, I appreciate it!"

Dama, realizing he fell for another teasing scheme, making him look like a fool, just sighed in defeat. Mumu, ever so intuned with comedic timing, pat his back.

Standing back up straight, Moa ruffled Dama's hair. "So, champ, heard you're going all the way to Briarstone, right? You ready?"

Perking back up, Dama smiled. "You bet I am!" He replied before looking up at the sky in thought. "Though, I gotta say, I wonder why they didn't choose big bro Jaden for this..."

"Yeha, he knows a thing or two about traveling, I'll give him that much." Moa added, though with a dismissive shrug. "But he went on another one of his merchant trips about a week ago, great timing on his part. That's just Jaden for you, I guess..." She said, the last part coming out with a noticeable tone of longing in her voice and smile she adopted after.

"Really? Can't wait to see what he'll bring back this time! Whether it be trinkets, books, or personal stories, he never disappoints!" Dama said, excited.

Hearing this, Moa smiled with pride as she got behind Dama and patted his shoulders. "Well, I'm more excited to see what you bring back. Make sure to get ore from Briarstone for me, will you? Me and dad's stash is running a bit thin."

Dama looked up at Moa. "Of course, you can count on me!"

Smiling at this, Moa then gave Dama a small push forward. "Alright now, I think I've taken up enough of your time. You be safe now!" She said while walking backwards, then using both arms to point at Mumu and Nini respectively. "You two, make sure to keep my little Dama safe, k? Bye!" She waved.

With waves of their own, Dama, Mumu, and Nini bid farewell, with Dama announcing it for all three. "You too, bye! And thank you, big sister Moa!"

-

(Chapter 27) Onward to Briarstone Village: Part 2

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