The Black Iron Glory
New year's night

Chapter 82

New year's night

Claude came home with ten catties of whales that night. The meat comes from the tail of the first whale, a gift from Eriksson. It was supposed to be the best part of the whole whale; pure muscle and quite sought after by tourists.

Eriksson's return gives Claude at least one friend for the new year. The three roam around the city looking for an opportunity to have fun during the festivities. They even secretly took Eriksson's boat for one lap at a point to fish. They get nothing. The surface water of the lake is arid during the winter.

Arbeit returned shortly before the new year. Claude hasn't seen him since their father chased him six months earlier. He's at least more mature. He did not glare too much at Claude, although the boy could still see the hatred in his eyes.

Angelina and Bloweyk treated her like a stranger. Enraged, he at one point kicks a puppy who is now no longer a puppy. The family looked at him without saying a word. Things that were no longer small had become much loved, so no one had come to Arbeit's rescue when the dog turned around and tore his pants to shreds.

Their mother only goes in once the puppy starts chasing his own feet. Arbeit nearly cries when he realizes he has been replaced by the dog. It's dog! Even if they like pests, they should not punish him for kicking an ordinary dog! Even his father comforted the dog, not him!

His family forgave him, but the dog never did. From that day on, it growled at him every time they passed the path.

The new year came a few days after the return of Arbeit and the families of the city spread various holy places. Some went to the temple of the war god, some to the earth goddess 'temple, and some to the moon goddess'.

Everyone does it too. The townspeople went to the temple of their guardian god and waited for the new year's bells to ring. Morssen dragged Claude to the temple of the war god. Madam Ferd and her sisters went to the earth goddess temple, of course the dog went with them. Most young people and their mothers go there too.

Teenagers and singles go to the moon goddess temple to pray for romance and friends. It was a very popular choice for teenage girls and young women, who dreamed of meeting their destined one in the new years. The couple formed on that night are said to be bound by fate and will never break up.

Arbeit is one of the young men who go with the same goal, though not all intend to find as many wives as the mistress. Claude had to return his laughter when he saw a peacock coming out of his long, empty room. He swore to pray a bird at it at the worst possible time.

For all his ages, this is Claude's first new year since his arrival. He had no lack of memories, but none of them were his, so they all had no sense of authenticity of their own.

He was pleased that one of the ways this world differed from its original history was that religion never had a strong understanding of the population. The churches never gained the strength that the old Catholic church had on earth, perhaps because the magi would never allow such an institution to challenge or question their position at the top of the world, even with the gods. The religions themselves, which have remained largely unchanged since the time of the magi, who were probably designed as they were by the magi themselves, were very tolerant and accepted competing beliefs. Most of that, he thought, was the way each god was given a very specific and definite role in religions. Each god had a particular place and purpose, and it was not uncommon to find a priest or priestess of one temple, or temple, sending someone to another temple when their prayer does not match the purpose of the temple in questionable divinity.

The war god temple was the largest of the three, but it was also the most popular, so, despite its size, the temple was already overcrowded by the time Claude and his father arrived. The small square outside the temple's main entrance was decorated with flags and tents and there was a continuous flow of humans.

The tents are mostly temporary makes of shops hoping to earn extra money from serving pilgrims, many of whom are not from the city itself, but it came from the surrounding farmland and small towns for the event. They had to pay rent for those spaces, and the money was split equally between the temple, the government, and the guards on duty.

The plaza also had a giant pile of wood in the middle sending tongues of fire into the night along with the voices of the participants as they chatted around it.

Claude's father isn't here for bells and celebrations. He went straight to the temple entrance with his son and was escorted inside by a number of priests. Claude realized how exclusive the inside of the temple was for this occasion when he only saw the bigshots of the city inside. Everyone greeted him and his father with the same respect and some even stayed for a few words with him. He knew his father was important and famous, but he never realized how much he was actually a celebrity.

Baron Robert, mayor of Whitestag was among them, as was the principal of – a loner man – chief treasurer, chief inspector, and an equally important number of people from neighboring towns. His father may be tall enough in standing to sit among them, but he is clearly still their junior, as he was the one who first greeted. They started at the bottom of the unspoken hierarchy and worked until Baron Robert. Claude followed his father bowing to the nobility before taking their seats on the bench at the side.

Smothering atmosphere. Claude felt as if his every move was being scrutinized. He prayed everything would be over soon, or they wouldn't have to stay for the entire event otherwise. He had just settled down when he heard someone say hello to 'Sir Fux'. Everyone in the room, including Baron Robert, stood up and turned to the door, suddenly smiling on their faces, a smile that did not all reach their eyes.

Someone laughed cheerfully. Claude turned to the man and saw that it was the most senior priest in the temple. He disappeared under a ball of robes and spoke to Sir Fux.

Another greeting fight occurs when the night top dog enters the wings. Sir Fux is full of smiles and replies to every greeting with grace practiced that will envy the statesman. Claude had to admit, however, he was amazed at how well the old man could remember the information. He not only knew every person who greeted him by his name, but asked peaceful questions about their family, a sick nephew, a withered parent, he said, or a worried wife with greater accuracy and better timing than even the greatest hunter. Even the experienced Baron Robert was not immune to the shots and a friendly and sincere smile bloomed on his face as he made small talk with Sir Fux.

Claude was in the middle of trying to put back his jaw when he heard a familiar voice calling out his name gently. He turned around and saw Eriksson sneaking around the corner, waving at him as gently as the boy could. He pulled his father's arm silently, and the man nodded without taking his eyes off Sir Fux.

The two disappeared as fast as they could and slid out of the temple.

Eriksson explains that his father had dragged him into the main hall and he slipped away when he saw Claude and his father disappear into the elite wing. He couldn't just go in to look for Claude; he didn't have a social standing, so he had to join Sir Fux's gang.

Claude finally realized how much he was actually the young master. Even his friends were standing on a mountain lower than him. So that's class division. Rich like any civilian, they can never be on equal footing with a government official, and none of their – government officials who are not noble nor – who can stand on par with the nobility, he said, no matter how high up in government they are .

"Let's go to the moon temple. Welikro was there too. I'm sure Kefnie was there too ~" Eriksson teased, but Claude ignored her.

"Welikro was there because his father told him to keep an eye on his sister, we can't distract him" Claude punished.

Claudeval, Welikro's intelligent sister, wanted to get married for a long time. But his rugged physique and rougher personality meant that there was no good-natured young man with choices that even looked up to him. She's so desperate lately she'll be satisfied even just for pinky promises.

Both are headed to the temple. The square, and the wooden pile inside, were somewhat smaller than those belonging to the temple of the war god. However, the atmosphere was much more lively than the war god square, and music and songs accompanied the flames to the night sky.

Yes, Claude thought, this place is much more suitable for young people like him.

"Let's go," Eriksson pulled him over, pointing at the pink tent at one corner of the square.

"That's a tavern, right? We are under age. Why do we go there? After all, they won't sell us anything."

Taverns are not above sales to minors, but only behind closed doors. This is too common, so they will not risk the problem.

"They don't just sell alcohol there. They also drink milk tea and hot fruit juice. Not to mention the snack ..." Eriksson half-screamed, almost pulling Claude off his leg, "Come on! You'll be surprised ~ "