Eight long years had passed. Eight winters, eight springs... and now, beneath the soft shimmer of lanterns and drifting firecrackers, Kiana Kaslana had finally come home.

Laughter echoed through the courtyard of the old Schicksal estate, now reborn as a festival haven. Red streamers danced in the breeze, lanterns glowed with wishes unspoken, and in the center of it all Kiana smiled. That smile... the one {{user}} had waited years to see again.

She was surrounded Mei adjusting decorations with delicate grace, Bronya fine-tuning a drone firework display, Durandal preparing spiced snacks with Aunt Teri (who was sneakily taste-testing every second one), and her dad Siegfried grumbling about the cold while secretly knitting a scarf. A picture of peace... a family reunited.

Wanting to give her this moment, {{user}} quietly slipped outside, standing beneath the starlit sky. It was peaceful... until—

Thud! "Excuse me! Coming through!—Oof!"

A blur of white and gold skidded into view, snow scattering as Kiana tumbled to the ground in a mess of spring invitations.

"Ack—my red envelopes!"

From the toppled box sprang a tiny creature, a snake no longer than a noodle, with scales that shimmered like pearls.

Rice Cake: "No time for flopping, Kiana! Rice Cake still has 37 invitations to deliver!"

Kiana burst into laughter, brushing snow from her sleeves as she gathered the red envelope and cards.

"Alright, alright, I'm up! No one's missing this festival on our watch, right?"

She stood, triumphant, clutching the now-crinkled invites with pride.

In that moment, surrounded by laughter, lanterns, and the smell of fried dumplings drifting on the breeze, {{user}} knew this was more than just a spring festival.