Event: Bride of the Snow Moon Flower
Prologue
You arrive in Aphros, in the Ephemeral Country, during a time when Aphros is full of love and blessings. You are attending the ancient “Wedding Banquet Ceremony” and have just finished with your official duties. You marvel to yourself at the beauty of the ceremony, which is now over, as you walk through the “Garden of the Colors of the Seasons”. Amidst the four seasons represented in the garden, lovers modestly pledge their love to each other, and you begin to think about marriage.
Even the flower petals fall, dancing as two lovers promising their futures to each other. As you take in the beautiful sight, a sense of longing fills you. However that longing is soon met with a certain sense of anxiety and you let out a small sigh.
At that time, a familiar voice calls out to you, and you turn to see the princes of the Country of Four Seasons, who had also come to attend the ceremony like yourself. Kaede, Mikage, Toya, and Oka are all there. You ask if they’ve come to stroll through the garden as well, and Hikage says they figured since they were already there, they should see it to have something to talk about later. Hikage comments on how the greenery in the garden is from Hourai, and Kaede comments with surprise that Hikage would even know that. Of course Hikage responds in kind with “Don’t make fun of me! Of course I know stuff!” Toya laughs at their predictable behavior, and you try to change the subject by commenting on the beauty of the garden and remarking you’re glad the four of them could see it.
Oka thanks you, and comments on how the beautifully fluttering sakura petals are celebrating the new start for the couple. Kaede mentions that there’s nowhere else you can see the Shrine of the Water Mirror and the banquet. Toya puts in that he was surprised that there are so many gods in Aphros that exist for the sake of the pledges of love, and you were also surprised at that when you heard.
Kaede continues about how it’s recommended that the royalty participating in the wedding banquet visit the shrine, though the recommendation was a little more like strong encouragement. You question Kaede, who says in this country, member of the royal family from all of the other countries hold their ceremonies here.
That’s when you remember the request from an attendant of Aphros. They had wanted you to officiate the wedding ceremony to strengthen the blessing of the gods, and told you that there is great importance in receiving the blessing of love in Aphros. You had hesitated, but as you are lost in your memory, Oka calls your name and looks at you worriedly.
You quickly say there’s nothing wrong. Hikage says holding a ceremony like this is nice and all, but people have different tastes. He thinks you should express your love in a way that feels right to you. Kaede acts surprised that he could say something so romantic-sounding. Hikage lashes back. As the two start fighting again, Oka yells at them and Toya laughs. You think about what Hikage said, and watch the happy couples walking in the garden. Then looking up…
You see snow. It glitters as it falls among the colorful flower petals. Toya and Oka say how pretty it is, and you all stand watching it. Then, in the brilliance of the snow, you see a figure approaching. He calls out to you, and you realize it’s Frost and the other princes from the Country of Snow. You question them about the snow, and Synny says someone had wanted it to snow in the garden, to make it an unforgettable ceremony, so he had granted their wish. As you watch, the people you had seen before address Synny politely, and Graysia comments on how this country has a long relationship with Snowphilia.
Kaede says the garden represents “walking together forever in the cycling of the seasons”, and Toya mentions he of course thinks a winter garden is lovely, but the way the snowflakes mix with the flower petals is truly something to behold. You ponder what Kaede said about the meaning of the garden, and Synny chimes in that he thinks the “Shrine of the Ice Mirror” is better. You ask about it, and Graysia mentions that long ago, an architect from Snowphilia was part of the construction of the shrine. It’s said that couples who look into the mirror will have their memories reflected on its surface. Frost says that when that happens, the two can receive a blessing from the gods of Aphros.
You marvel at the idea of a mirror that shows memories, and at the variety of gods in Aphros. Frost asks if you’d like to go see the ice mirror, and if you so desire, he will guide you. You readily agree, and Hikage, not one to be outdone, asks if they can come along too. Frost agrees and again marvels at the beauty of the garden. Graysia says he was worried about that, and Synny whispers to you that Frost had said something about wanting to make something like this garden back in Snowphilia. Frost asks after what they’re talking about, and Graysia and Synny both say in unison “Nothing!!”
And so you, the 3 princes of Snowphilia, and the 4 princes of Hourai set off for the Shrine of the Ice Mirror. The sky appears solemn, and the air is crisp. You arrive at the shrine, and are welcomed by a mirror that shines with a strange brilliance. Frost says the mirror is made of ice that will never melt, and Graysia says it is a symbol of unshakable love. You consider the phrase “unshakable love” and Synny asks if something’s wrong. You ease his concern by saying you were simply thinking about the cycling of the seasons, the showing of memories, and how the ceremony where two people in love pledge their lives to each other is so very important.
Frost says you’re looking awfully depressed if that’s the case, and Oka also mentions wanting to know what it is that has you so down. You react with shock, having not even realized that’s the kind of expression you were making. They’re all so interested that you decide to tell them about the discussion you had with the attendant from Aphros regarding the wedding ceremony, then say that you know it’s a formal ceremony, but you have no idea how to do it right.
When you finish, Frost asks what you were so concerned about. Of course he’s suited to be your partner for such a thing. Hikage jumps in and asks Frost what he means by that, and Oka says he thinks you’re a good fit for the job, and to do the ceremony the way you think is best. Synny pipes in and says you can have a great wedding ceremony with him. Hikage then turns his attention to Synny while Toya laughs and says he thinks a ceremony full of endless laughter would be good. Listening to everyone, your heart dances.
As you think about Oka’s words and take in the scene before you, you begin to imagine a ceremony full of happiness with the people beside you.