Submission (#6444) Approved

“So much to do, so little time,” Luzia thought to herself. Sigh. “At least the Christmas tree got done yesterday with Hikaru.” 

Luzia flitted around humming to herself, having so much fun thinking of different Christmas gift ideas for Hikaru. It took her a long time to think of the perfect one for her new friend, but she eventually settled on what she thought would be an amazing gift for them.

In addition to the gift she was going to prepare, Luzia was also getting the setting perfect for the gift exchange. “There’s so many branches to still decorate groan. But it’ll be worth it in the end!”

Luzia was residing in the region known as Ealei for Christmas, and had decided to decorate the little tree hut and the tree branches around her abode for when Hikaru arrived. 

Elaei was known for its many trees, which were actually all attached to the region’s elder tree Yggrasil. Many of the inhabitants lived in treehouses high up, while others chose to hang out around the mangroves or wharf cities. Luzia preferred being high up in the trees, where she could feel the wind against her fur, and hear the ruffling of leaves throughout the day.

‘Okay! Just a few more branches need the lights….then I can go collect some manaberries for Hikaru’s gift! But I still need to decorate the inside….and add some extra decorations near my door. Arg! There’s so much to dooooo,” Luzia muttered to herself. “Okay, lights first, then manaberries, then other decorations while the manaberries dry with their coated sugar.” It would take some time for Hikaru’s gift to finish, as Luzia was making candied manaberries for them. 

Luzia picked up the last bundle of Christmas lights, and got to work hanging them around the last few branches around her tree home. “Okay done! And it looks so cute and festive! I can’t wait until night time when they’ll glow from collecting sunlight. Okay, off to get manaberries!”

Luzia grabbed her backpack and set off to gather some manaberries, making sure to not deviate from her path or idea, less she gets behind on her tasks for the day. Walking along the woven bridges between trees, Luzia had no issue with remembering to go. She had made sure to remember the path to the manaberry tree, which the locals said was the best for picking from this time of year.

As she rounded the last corner, she came upon the tree, and noticed there were already a few Elnins picking away. “Oh no! I’m so glad I came today, there might not have been any left tomorrow!” Luzia quickly ran up to the tree, and started picking as many as she could fit into her backpack, making sure to make small talk with the other Elnins at the tree. It helped, as they pointed out that some of the manaberries were actually too ripe for making candy with them, showing which ones would be best to use instead. Once her backpack was full, she thanked the other Elnins and bade her farewell, walking back to her tree house home.

Once home, Luzia began boiling some sugar water, making sure to not over boil and burn. Once the temperature was just right, she put 3 manaberries on 6 different skewers, and carefully placed them into the sugar water. Making sure to properly cover each manaberry before placing them in an upright position on a stand. 

“Perfect! These should cool just nicely, and will make a sweet gift for Hikaru! Now I just need to finish decorating the house, and wrap their presents and everything will be ready for gift giving tomorrow!”

Luzia hummed to herself as she decorated the door of her tree home outside, putting a wreath dawned with dried manaberries, cranberries, and other miscellaneous festive pieces. On the floor she placed a mat that said “Merry Christmas to all!”, while she drew little candy canes and presents on her windows with paints. 

Just as she finished the final touches, the sun began to set and her christmas lights on the branches began to glow. “I knew these would be perfect! I guess it’s time to go wrap the present, can’t forget to do that for tomorrow.”

As Luzia stepped into her house, her pomu popped out of her shadow, chirping wildly at her. “Oh, did you want to help wrap the present?” Her pomu nodded excitedly. “Okay! I’d love the help.”

Together the two of them took their time to pick the perfect container to hold the sugared manaberries, as well as beautiful blue shimmery gift wrap, the perfect color to match the manaberries. Lastly, they placed a bow on the top of the wrapped present, before placing it under the Christmas tree, where it waited to be given to Hikaru tomorrow.

“Thanks for helping,” Luzia said to her pomu, booping her nose to the top of the pomu’s head, eliciting a rather happy chirp from her pomu. Yawn. “I think it’s time for bed though, gotta get lots of rest for tomorrow for the gift giving! I hope Hikaru remembers how to get to my house….I know it can be a bit difficult sometimes since all the houses are up in the trees in Ealei. I’m sure he’ll be fine. Right! Off to bed we go!”

With that, Luzia and her pomu dozed off to sleep, dreaming about candy canes, christmas trees, and presents galore. Happy and content with the adventure and joy they had today.