The Vaesteri family was among Milirevi's most important families. For generations, they've put their sorcerous prowess at service of the city and in the name of the Daliath religion. Their contributions were so notorious that they earned multiple awards and titles for it. Including the Dal-kanan-Dal (the blessing that multiples blessings), an honor granted to a single digit of families around the known worlds. The family ran a temple that was large, beautiful, a historical landmark, and a shelter to those in need.
"Cool. Let's go then. Well, I should warn you that's a children's movie so the theater will be packed with them. But that can add to the experience."
"Perfect. It's tomorrow after work hours. I and my brothers will get infant herding duty, but I will buy you a pile of snacks."
"Hey, dude. It's no trouble."
The next day the triplets are indeed infant-herding (alongside two other temple staff), each three kids were grouped to a volunteer adult.
Dal-Yora is there giving instructions. She is not going, but she smiles brightly at her grandsons before sending everyone away.
The theater is in walking distance and this is the good part of town. They get there without any trouble.
There is an actual candy shop in cinema's hall. There is some rather unruly distribution of sweets and popcorn (and sweet popcorn).
Parafi stays fairly close to the triplets, and seems utterly perplexed by the candy shop.
The candy shop contains rolls and rolls of colorful bite-sized candy. This is not Earth, they have more fruits and healthier options, but this still is a candy shop. So there is all manner of chocolate covered confections.
They are not the only patrons, though, their group is the largest by far and rather attention grabbing. So it isn't surprising that some people might be looking at the triplets in a non-obvious way.
Fenrad, is, for some reason, smiling a lot while delivering the snacks to children. The adults presents are less happy with the task.
Teronmas gives to Parafi and his charges a bucket of popcorn and a bucket of candy, each. With buckets number nine and ten for himself.
"Thank you," Parafi says gratefully as he accepts them, holding them carefully. (If he notices the looks, he doesn't immediately respond to it.)
"You welcome, dude."
They get in. There is some seating arrangement thing, but the adults get aisle privileges and Teronmas lets Parafi seat on the aisle if he wants to.
The lights go out. There is musical commercial about buying snacks and what to do in case of fire (calmly leave as the wards will handle it).
Parafi would like! Thank you very much, Teronmas.
He listens and watches intently, and sneaks a few bits of popcorn.
There are couple of trailers, one for an animated movie and one for a high fantasy with winged people.
Than the movie starts with the opening sequence showing the birth of the tittle character "Maltadee" being born and being forgotten by the family in their car.
Nova is utterly enthralled, and a little on edge. (It's not the same, not by a long shot, but he can't help but identify with Maltadee.)
Maltadee is growing up. Her family remains awful, but she learns to take care of herself. Here is a montage of her doing things like math while her mother is on the phone complaining about a salesperson being wrong about a discount. And here is a montage of her baking herself cake and enjoying it under the table while her family wonders where that delicious cake smell is coming from.
Then she discovers the wonders of libraries!
Yup. Parafi is very taken with this movie. (He's kind of forgotten he has the popcorn and candy.)
So many books! The family remains awful, but Maltadee can escape into different lives and different worlds. And it's almost like meeting people from ages ago!
In short: books are great!
One day, Maltadee learns that there is a school nearby and decides that she wants to join!
Her parents say "no" seriously misjudging her age.
Parafi is leaning forward in his seat, more and more taken, and utterly invested in Maltadee.
Not all hope is lost! Maltadee sneaks into school. By a window. This confuses her fellow students enough that they don't stop her. The teacher arrives moments later and is a substitute teacher, so they don't immediately notice that Maltadee isn't supposed to be in that class.
Luckily, Maltadee gets every answer right! Impressing the teacher Ms. Honey.
Ms. Honey is very impressed, during recess she tries to ask about Maltadee, but there is no school information about her in the schools files.
Meanwhile, Maltadee befriends a diverse cast of children belonging to a variety of ethical, social and even interdimensional backgrounds. But then everyone goes quiet as a tall, thin woman with sharp nails strides across the campus, followed by Maltadee's father! She looks very angry! And her dad looks very unhappy!
Maltadee hides! The woman stops and appears to catch her scent after a moment, but resumes her walk. She takes Maltadee's dad to her office where she berates him about the car accident and to confirm his contact information through the phone.