Elias Leywin POV
"Happy birthday!"
The explosion of sound made me stumble back a step. The dining hall blazed with light, lanterns strung along the walls, candles burning on every surface.
Ellie squealed at my side and bolted forward. She spun in the doorway, skirt swishing, her laughter spilling out bright and clear.
I just stood there, my mouth open, heat rushing to my cheeks.
'Ah, so that's it…'
Dada placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled down at me. "Happy Birthday, Lias, you're getting so big."
My mother joined him and wrapped her arms around me. "My baby boy!" she cried, sobbing into my shoulder, "Go back to being a baby, my little Li!" she continued.
I looked up to my father. He looked down at me with the same awkwardness I wore. He peeled his wife free from me as they walked over to my sister, where her friends crowded her.
"I don't think I've ever seen her like that."
"Me either." Art smiled. "Though I think it's fair she's allowed to be like this today, it is a joint birthday, for her two 'babies'." He mimicked her tone with the last word.
"Fair enough, I suppose," I laughed.
"Enjoy today," he smirked, raising a glass. "Uncle Vincent really pulled out all of the stops. You should really see the Chocolate fountain; it's incredible."
He patted my back and wandered over to a corner where Elijah awaited him.
---
"So that's when I…" Some noble boy, who was the older brother to one of my sister's friends, went on and on about his time at Xyrus Academy.
'I get it, man. You're a mage, Big whoop. You're also weaker than a seven-year-old boy. Congratulations.'
With an exhale, I looked into the teen's chest. A crimson spheroid sat just to the left of his centre.
'He's so weak Uhhhh Please! Someone save me from his torture!'
A hand was set on my shoulder.
"May I borrow this one for a few minutes?" I look at the young man with slicked-back crimson hair. "I promise you can finish your story then."
"O-of c-course Prince C-Curtis!" the bumbling boy stammered out as the prince slung an arm over my shoulder.
"Thanks, man," I whispered to my saviour as he guided us over to a table where there was a mix of alcohol and various fruit juices in wine shoots.
After a quick check, the prince swiped two glasses of what I presumed to be cranberry juice, handing one over to me. I raised it to my lips and took a sip before immediately spitting it out.
"You don't like it?" he questioned as he swirled the liquid in his glass.
"It's wine, Curtis," I murmured as I lowered the glass onto a tray of a passing maid.
He snickered to himself as he raised his own glass to his lips to take a sip, only for the now frozen wine's refusal to budge from the glass.
He let out a sigh, turning to his right as a girl my age held out an arm towards us, her index finger pointing at the glass.
"Seriously, Kat…" he sighed as he set down the glass
"Father asked me to ensure that you didn't drink." She spoke in her usual monotone voice before turning to me with a smile.
"It's good to see you, Lias," she greeted, lowering her head slightly.
I grinned, the awkward tension of the night melting away. "I'm glad to see you, too, Kat."
Her smile lingered for just a heartbeat longer before she lowered her hand, the frost disappearing from the prince's glass.
"You two really saved me," I leaned closer so only she could hear. "I thought I was going to wither away if I had to listen to noble brats brag about such basic magic."
Her lips twitched. For Kat, that was the equivalent of falling out of her chair. "You did look trapped," she admitted. "I thought you were about to start chewing your own arm off."
Curtis snorted into his glass, finally picking up another glass of what looked like orange juice. "You should've seen your face, Elias. I almost felt sorry for you, almost"
"Yeah, right," I shot back, though I couldn't hide my smile.
The music swelled in the background. Nobles chatted and laughed, their jewelled accessories catching the light like sparks.
Clink.
The sharp sound cut through the chatter.
Clink. Clink. Clink.
I stiffened. My stomach sank even before I turned to look.
'Please don't be…'
"Ladies and gentlemen!" my father boomed, his voice carrying much too easily over the now-silent room.
I let out a groan as my clearly tipsy father purposefully gathered the entire hall's attention.
"Before the next portion of the party begins, I would like to thank you on behalf of my precious Children for coming here tonight!"
'Ugh, Dad…'
I held my head in my hands. Heat rose to my face. The relentless slapping of my back by the now laughing prince didn't help my case as my father continued to embarrass my sister and me.
"I've been blessed with so much in this life, but it would bring great joy to see my beloved son and daughter have the first dance!" My father raised his glass higher, his eyes narrowing into a tipsy grin as he requested something that could potentially be disastrous to this party.
"Uuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhh" I let out a long, tired groan as the prince's slaps only seemed to continue.
"Are you okay?" Kat asked as she pried her brother off of me.
"I am…" I turned to look at her, flashing her a smile before I continued, "It's just that…"
"We've danced plenty of times," she stated with a tilt of her head.
'Yes, that's true, Kat, but…'
"How's it any different to dance with your sister as it is to me?"
"It isn't, I guess… It's just embarrassing to do so in front of my family." I sheepishly admitted, rubbing my neck.
'And that my sister… doesn't know how…'
"Just go dance with your sister, idiot," the redhead said with a sigh as I stumbled forward from his push.
I stuck my tongue out at the young prince as I turned on my heel and made my way towards my sister, as she complained to my mother.
Drawing near, my brother placed a hand on my shoulder, "Lias, I can if you-"
"It's fine, Art," I smiled as I turned towards my sister.
"Then do your best not to embarrass her."
"Of course," I laughed back, removing his hand from me.
I continue to my still whining sister.
"El," I began, causing her to turn towards me. I held out my hand to her. "May I have this dance?"
Ellie stared at my outstretched hand, her lips still pursed from whining to our Mum. With a huff, she slipped her hand into mine. "Took you long enough," she said, chin tilted like she was doing me a favour.
I snorted. "You act like you were the one suffering. Did you hear what Dad just said?" I snorted.
Her cheeks flushed pink. "I did," she muttered.
We stepped onto the polished marble floor. Every eye in the ballroom pressed down on us.
"Don't look so nervous," she whispered.
"Shut up," I snapped back, "You know I don't like this sort of attention…"
"But aren't you always going to those Balls in Etistin?" she sneered back.
"That's different," I retorted as I spun her away from me "Kat's the one who invites me, so it's not like I could really refuse"
Ellie twirled back, her dress flaring out like a burst of white petals before she landed neatly in front of me again. Her eyes narrowed. "So you can dance at her parties but suddenly get shy with me?"
My steps faltered for half a second. "That's not what I meant."
"Oh, but I think it is," she teased, tilting her head as we moved in step with the music. "You'd rather dance with other girls than your own sister. How cruel."
"That's not fair, and you know it." I groaned
"Life's not fair," she sang back, clearly enjoying herself.
The corners of my mouth twitch despite myself. "You're enjoying this too much," I muttered.
"Maybe," she said with a shrug, spinning neatly under my arm. "But admit it, you are too."
---
"Thanks," I said as I lifted the lid of another box.
Folded cloth greeted me again. Another dress shirt, pressed so neatly it felt like a joke at my expense. I let it sit there for a moment before closing the lid halfway, my fingers lingering on the edge. It was my third in a row. I set it down to stop myself from doing something stupid to the gift.
Across the room, my brother paused mid-step. His gaze had caught on something behind the pile of opened gifts. A pair of boxes rested near the edge of the table, set apart from the others as if they did not belong.
"Gimme, gimme!" Ellie chirped, already reaching, her hands opening and closing like she could grab them from across the room.
Arthur huffed a quiet laugh and walked over, scooping both boxes up under his arms. They looked nothing like the others. Smooth wood caught the firelight, the surface carved with fine patterns that curled and wove into one another. Each line had been cut with care.
A ribbon held a sealed envelope in place atop each lid. Wax stamps pressed into the parchment sat unbroken.
Ellie leaned forward so far that I thought she might fall off her chair. Her heels tapped against the floor in quick bursts as she bounced in place, eyes fixed on the boxes as if they might vanish.
Arthur set one in front of her, then the other in front of me.
"Careful," he smiled.
Ellie ignored him. Her fingers dug into the ribbon at once, tugging at it with all the restraint of a starving animal. The knot slipped loose under her grip, and she tore the envelope free without a second thought.
I slid a finger beneath the ribbon of my box and eased it apart, careful not to tear the parchment as I set it to the side. The lid lifted with a soft click.
Dark velvet lined the inside. Nestled against it, untouched, rested a sword. I freed it from where it rested and held it up to the light.
The blade reflected the fire in clean, steady lines.
"Incredible," I murmured as I reflected light off the weapon. A blue gemstone embedded in the cross guard shimmered as I did so.
A sharp intake of breath snapped my attention to the side. Ellie had her box open. Both hands wrapped around a bow. Pale wood curved in a smooth arc, polished until it almost glowed under the light. Thin etchings ran along its length, winding patterns that twisted like creeping vines. At the grip, a rose-coloured gem rested, catching the fire and scattering soft reflections that danced across her face.
"Careful, Eleanor. That is not a toy." My mother warned, wagging a finger at her daughter.
"I know, Mum," Ellie said, though her fingers tightened around it, pulling it closer to her chest.
I ran my hand along the dark leather that wrapped the hilt as I pointed the blade to the sky.
"That's quite the fancy sword, Lias," Art smiled, "Do you mind?" he asked. I handed him the blade.
I smiled as my eyes followed my eager older brother, who took it in hand and walked into another part of the room.
I reached for the envelope I had set aside and broke the seal.
Elias, I hope this finds you well.
The handwriting curved neatly across the page. I followed the lines slowly, the room fading out around me.
I want to begin by apologising for not being there today, as I'd like to wait a bit longer to see Art again.
A section had been scratched out. The ink there was heavier, pressed harder into the parchment.
My parents have asked me to return to Elenoir.
Inside this box is a sword I commissioned from the greatest smith of this generation, recommended to me by my grandfather.
(This sword should hopefully be a capable conduit to your mana.)
I give this to you in the hope that you will continue to grow, and that one day you can show up that older brother of yours.
I look forward to seeing you at the start of the spring term.
Enjoy the remainder of your birthday,
Sincerely, your big sister.
I lowered the letter.
"So it's from her," I muttered.
"Who was that from, sweetie?" my mother asked, looking over my shoulder at the now folded letter.
"Art's Girlfriend," I smiled, looking to the pre-teen who was mid-swing with my sword.
"I don't-"
"Oh, that Tess girl?" Mum asked, her hand lifting to her cheek.
Arthur froze. "Wait, you know Tess?" His head snapped between us. "Since when do you- what did he tell you?" he exclaimed, acting his age for once.
After taking a minute to calm down, he disappeared and returned carrying two small boxes in either hand.
"You got us something?" Ellie asked eagerly, taking the box in hand.
I took my own from my brother and opened the small box. Inside, a pendant rested against white silk. At its centre, a teardrop-shaped core glowed with a deep orange light. Thin metal curved outward from it, shaped like feathers that spread along both sides, forming the outline of wings.
"Lias, look!" my sister gasped as she held her amulet in place.
I raised my own and held it by its clasp. "It seems we're matching." I smiled as I held it in my palm.
"I want the both of you to keep these on at all times," my brother said with a proud grin as my sister had our mother fasten it on her.
"Arthur," my father said, edging closer to his eldest, "Where did you even find something like this, let alone afford it?"
"It was a gift from Gideon for hel-"
"Elias Leywin."
My head snapped towards the voice.
A dwarf stood in the doorway, his robes falling in clean white lines. His presence filled the space without effort. I reached for my new sword that rested back in its case. I tore it free and pointed it at the dark-skinned man.
"Olfred," I growled, my grip on the hilt tightening tenfold.
"Please lower that, Elias. I mean you no harm," he said calmly as he pushed away my sword's length with a finger. He inclined his head toward my parents. "Apologies for my late arrival."
"What are you doing here?" I asked, raising my sword again.
"Please lower your blade," Olfred said calmly. He reached into his coat and pulled out a small box. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it toward me.
My blade clambered to the floor as I caught the box.
"Elias!" my brother scolded as he retrieved my blade and returned it to the box. "Don't drop something so sharp you'll hurt someone!"
"Sorry," I murmured as I opened yet another box. Inside lay a plain silver ring. "Is this-"
"It is," he said tiredly, "The ring itself is valued at around 1,500 gold, with the remaining 8,500 gold inside that was promised for your services at the human princess's birthday two and a half years ago"
I slid it onto my right hand's middle finger. It tightened slightly around my flesh, settling into place.
"I was starting to think they forgot," I said, turning my hand to catch the light.
Olfred let out a chuckle. "They needed assurance. They are satisfied. Their first child is expected in the summer."
"Please pass along my congratulations."
"As a show of gratitude, they added ten thousand more," he continued. "Along with their royal house crest."
I blinked. "You're serious?"
"I am."
I let out a breath. "I suppose that makes up for the king having you cut off my arm."
"What!?" my family roared in unison.
"That's what gets you?" I sighed as I turned back to Olfred.
"I have apologised repeatedly for that." He said dejectedly. With a cough, he looked me straight. "His Majesty would like to speak with you regarding future job opportunities."
I looked down at the ring, then back at him.
"If this is the going rate," I smiled, "then pass on my interest."
He nodded once and turned to leave before stopping after three steps. "I am sorry, Elias," he nodded, looking back at me from over his shoulder.
I stared him down, and he left.
A breath that I forgot I was holding tore from me. I grasped my chest tightly, drinking in the air.