Anju's Grandmother

Oh, Tortus. I've already had lunch.

Grandmother...I am Anju! Tortus was my dad...

And you haven't had lunch yet!

I've already had lunch. Now be quick and take that away.

Not eating is bad for you. Please eat...

Didn't I say that I already ate lunch, Tortus?!? Impossible child!

Then don't eat my food. I give up...

Whew!

"Whew?"

Er... W-W-Whewwwould you like me to read you a story?

Oh, Tortus, you're late...

Tomorrow is another early day, so good night. I'll read you a story tomorrow.

Oh, Tortus. Did you finish helping father?

Then let mother read you a story.

Now, which story would you like to hear?

I'll pass
Carnival of Time (2 hours)
Four Giants (Til morning)

The Carnival of Time, is it?

The carnival is almost here, so it's good for you to learn its meaning. It's a little long, but I'll read it with some enthusiasm. Ahem...

"The Carnival of Time." Each year, the season of harmony begins when the sun and moon are in alignment.

Paying homage to the way that both nature and time are tirelessly in the process of progressing...

the Carnival of Time is when the peoples of the four worlds celebrate that harmony and request fruitfulness for the year.

For ages, people have worn masks resembling the giants who are the gods of the four worlds.

Now, it has become a custom for each person to bring a handmade mask to the Carnival of Time.

It is said that if a couple united on the day of the festival and dedicated a mask as a sign of their union, it would bring luck.

The centerpiece of the carnival is the clock tower, and on the eve of all the festivities, the doors to its roof are opened...

From atop the clock tower roof, a ceremony to call the gods is held and an ancient song is sung.

All of these festivities for the Carnival of Time are held so that we may ask the gods for a rich harvest in the year to come!

You did a good job! That's all for Tortus!

Now, when does the clock tower roof open?
On the eve of the festival
I dunno

Well in that case, you try again with mother.

You did a good job remembering. That's the boy I'm proud of.

I'll give you some candy as a prize.

Oh, are you awake?

I guess that story was a little boring for Tortus, wasn't it?

Don't give up. Try again sometime.

The Four Giants, is it?

This is quite long, but it is a good story for you to hear, so I'll read it with some extra gusto. Ahem...

"The Four Giants." This tale's from long ago when all the people weren't separated into four worlds like they are now.

In those times all the people lived together, and the four giants lived among them.

On the day of the festival that celebrates the harvest, the giants spoke to the people...

"We have chosen to guard the people while we sleep..."

"100 steps north, 100 steps south, 100 steps east, 100 steps west."

"If you have need, call us in a loud voice by declaring something such as, 'The mountain blizzard has trapped us.'"

"Or 'The ocean is about to swallow us.' Your cries shall carry to us..."

Now then...There was one who was shocked and saddened by all this.

A little imp.

The imp was a friend of the giants since before they had created the four worlds.

"Why must you leave?"

"Why do you not stay?"

The childhood friend felt neglected, so he spread his anger across the four worlds. Repeatedly, he wronged all people.

Overwhelmed with misfortune, the people sang the song of prayer to the giants who lived in each of the four compass directions.

The giants heard their cry and responded with a roar. "Oh, imp. Oh, imp. We are the protectors of the people."

"You have caused the people pain. Oh, imp, leave these four worlds! Otherwise, we shall tear you apart!"

The imp was frightened and saddened.

He had lost his old friends.

The imp returned to the heavens, and harmony was restored to the four worlds.

And the people rejoiced and they worshiped the giants of the four worlds like gods. And they lived happily...ever after...

Good job! Wasn't that fun, Tortus?

What did the people do to call the giants?
Sing a song
I dunno

Oh, really? But you listened hard, so mother is happy.

I'll give you some candy as your prize.

That's right, but you couldn't just sing that song anywhere.

100 steps north, 100 steps south, 100 steps east, 100 steps west.

The spot at which those giants parted is right in the middle of this very town.

Oh, are you awake?

I guess that story was a little hard for Tortus.

But don't give up. Try again later.

Oh, Tortus, are you ready?

It's been a long time since we've had a picnic at Romani Ranch, hasn't it?

Isn't her bridal dress lovely?

We promised each other when we were children that we'd marry on the day of the Carnival of Time.

...But my promise... I couldn't keep it.

I...I have met you before.

What a familiar scent. Long, long ago...Yes. We were still young. We made a promise... Didn't we?

The masks of the sun and the moon...

We were to exchange them on the day of the Carnival of Time...