Find New Beginning In Defeat

Huilu managed to entertain and make Irso laugh just as he had done for her, and she carefully dodged the elbow Irso aimed at her side. Huilu in turn gave Irso's shoulder a gentle bap, her mouth in an amused, happy smile. It was strange, being this casual with someone she wasn't related to or hadn't grown up with. But Huilu liked it, very much.

"The hatchlings are doing wonderful. If they did miss me I doubt I would be able to make them say it, teenagers as they are."
Huilu chuckled, Whisp and S'loo might say it if they did miss Huilu, but she doubted Eein would be able to get it out. In fact, Huilu had seen that there was something wrong with Eein. He was already sad and upset over his breakup, but there was...something else now. Huilu had given him few days, in case he'd want to talk about it, but Huilu was preparing to ask him about it.
"I did indeed miss them, I asked my family to look after them while I was gone, but I am a hopeless worrier."
Huilu shook her head a bit, she trusted Eein, Whisp and S'loo but in the end they were dragons and teenagers and at times that combination was very volatile. So she couldn't help but worry.

This time Huilu saw Irso float, just before he touched back down to the ground, and she opened her mouth to ask what the man was thinking about. But just then they both saw the snowball come at them, and as Irso did the motion to swat it away Huilu took control of the ball, and floated it over to herself. She held it between her hands for a short moment, and out of it she created a large, detailed snowflake made out of clear, blue ice. She made sure to make the ice as hard as she could, so it wouldn't be broken while playing. Huilu walked closer and floated the snowflake over to the child, gentle and warm smile on her face.
"Do be careful, small one. It would be such a shame for your beautiful snowball to be destroyed."
Huilu said with a chuckle. The child stared at the snowflake in awe, nodded rapidly and ran over to their friends to show off their new possession. Huilu looked after the child for a short moment, and then returned to Irso's side.

Being called a radiant angel surely was a first, and if Huilu's cheeks hadn't already been red from the cold her blush would've been easily discernible. She let out an embarrassed laugh, and answered Irso's bow with a small curtsy.
"I'm honoured to be called an angel by a genuine angel. Thank you."
Huilu joined Irso in watching as the children enjoyed her newest creation, and she was happy to see how fascinated they were by it. Huilu spared Irso a glance, and her smile turned slightly playful.
"You are fortunate to have an ice angel such as me on your side this day. I'm certain that snowball would've proven a challenging opponent for you."
Huilu chuckled, and behind her back she created some normal snowflakes and directed them to flow on top of Irso's head, forming a small pile that was in a perfect pyramid shape.

Irso truly had missed Huilu. He had mentioned it earlier as well, but it was in some way unbelievable to Huilu. That someone outside her family would say such words to her. But she was gradually accepting it, and it made a small happy smile appear on her face.
"Our kind reaches physical maturity at a relatively young age, and when it comes to celebrations dragons over 16 are considered to be mature enough to participate in the festivities that involve fasting, mock fighting and other such adult activities. But you are not called an adult until you turn 25."
Huilu explained, because she was certain Irso would be interested to hear about this.
"I imagine it was easier for you to miss me, and express it, precisely because you do not live with me. After time spent together individuals do not need words to express all their feelings. And I can tell the children missed me, to some extent."

Huilu was slightly surprised when Irso asked about her teenage years. It wasn't an unusual direction to take, given they were talking about the teenagers living under her roof. And suppose Irso would be interested in such information, and how the younger members of the community lived.
"I imagine I was the opposite. Lively, I did not want to stay still, I wished to do everything I could within the limitations of Akt'Anir. You could say I was...hungry."
Huilu looked up towards the sky briefly, and her mind returned to those times over 300 years ago. A shadow passed over her expression, when she remembered the 5 or so years around when Huilu had been 20. Her father had forbidden her from doing art, and that had brought her to a dark place. But Huilu shed those thoughts quickly, she didn't want this conversation be darkened by the memory of her father.
"As for trouble, I got into plenty. A young mind such as mine could not be brought down by such things as rules. I was creative with my rebellion, and my parents never learned the extent to what I truly broke the rules."
Huilu chuckled at the memories, she had even left the borders of Akt'Anir, which was punishable by banishment back then. But it had been brief, and half-accidental, and no one had ever learned of it.

After explaining Huilu directed a curious gaze at Irso, she was interested in similar things about him. She knew little details of his origins, and had to admit she was curious.
"I imagine you have many more adventures to share as well. If you'd like to share them I'd be delighted to hear."

Huilu was glad to see Irso was willing, if not excited and glad, to share his stories. Huilu was certain there were periods in his long, long life that he'd rather not share. Surely it was the same with many people, at least it was so with Huilu. But whatever Irso was willing to share Huilu wanted to hear, and listened to carefully.

Right off the bat Irso came up with a very interesting story, and Huilu's eyes gleamed with interest as she looked at Irso intently. The story was, to Huilu's mind, a tragic one to some extent, but entertaining as well. Although Huilu did not chuckle when Irso did she had a small amused smile on her face. And in the end she looked thoughtful.
"It must've been...I cannot find a fitting word to describe what kind of experience it must've been. It seems words have failed me."
Huilu chuckled, she had a lot of thoughts surging through her mind, she had to pick one or two.
"I do not know of gods' relationship to their children, but I would've been saddened to see two of my children fight like that. I hope their divine father did not suffer from their conflict."
Of course that was one of the first thoughts in Huilu's mind. That of parenthood and empathy.

"I must admit, they do not quiye reach the lenghts of jumping off this plane of existence."
Huilu laughed a bit as well, and continued.
"Rivalry, and especially sibling rivalry are not unusual within Akt'Anir. I remember the times, when battles to the death were accepted. Now they are forbidden, thankfully."
When Huilu mentioned sibling rivalry she momentarily looked sad. Just that siblings rivalry had driven Shul out of the community, and Huilu would forever regret that she had not been able to stop that.

Huilu had not realized the sadness that passed through her mind had shown on her face, Irso's company made her unwind more than she thought. And as Irso patted her on the back and apologized Huilu looked at him with a slightly puzzled expression.
"You do not bother me, Irso. I enjoy sharing my culture with you, just as I enjoy hearing about you. It gives me insight on your mind and soul, and I want to give you the chance to gaze into mine."
Huilu confessed, and smiled gently up at Irso as she touched her hand to his arm briefly. The last thing she wanted him to do was to start overthinking what he should say or do around her. Huilu was enjoying the air of openness, like the two of them could discuss any topic free of judgement.

Irso would not see any traces of the sadness he had seen before on Huilu's expression. The sadness that Irso had seen had only been caused by a passing thought, and now it was gone. Even the reason for that sadness was now back to Akt'Anir, and Shul was part of the family again. Well, to Huilu's mind he had never left, part of him had always remained with them.

"These death matches were for only the heaviest of reasons, but our ways of dealing justice have changed. I am not for taking life needlessly."
Perhaps it was naive, but Huilu believed in second chances. In fact, she had seen people change from worse to much better. Huilu hadn't wanted for her father to die either, even though he had been a rather malicious person. She had not grieved, but she had thought of it as a shame.
"Our community experienced a large step forward when banning such a custom."

Huilu sipped her tea as well, she did not do so awkwardly but she could tell Irso was slightly tense or bothered. She glanced at him, and could see the small snow pyramid she had put on his head still remained. Huilu hid an amused smile behind her tea cup, and as she turned her eyes to face back forward she sniffed a bit. The cold was making her nose a bit runny.

Huilu could not guess what thoughts were going through Irso's head, she had meant her words as a simply request to want to know Irso better, and for him to know her better. Huilu could not peer into someone's soul, she merely had eyes that could see many things in a person's demeanor and words. All she could do that had anything to do with souls was calm someone's mind, a thing she had not done in a long time now. Perhaps that was a good thing.

The small snow pyramid finally came down, and the look Irso gave Huilu made her laugh and even giggle a bit. Huilu chuckled a lot, but outright laughing was more unusual for her, much less giggling.
"I assure you, I had no such intentions. How can you be certain such construct was not the work of a very localized weather phenomenon?"
Huilu said, still chuckling a bit, and looked at Irso with an innocent expression. But he got his so-called revenge, as Irso conjured something atop Huilu's head. Naturally she couldn't see it, and Huilu pulled out her phone and saw what was on her head. And was surprised, and touched to be able to carry such a beautiful sight on her head. She looked at the crown in awe, and reached up to touch only to find it to be light.

"Certainly there are worse fates than having to bear such a beautiful work of art on my head."
Huilu said with a smile, and put her phone away. She began forming ice between her hands, and in no time there was a small, very intricate ice crown between her hands.
"This can disappear. But..."
Huilu floated the crown on Irso's head and chuckled.
"I would be happy if the two of us could match."