After Demund separated with Enariss following his training with her, he headed straight back home, took a shower, reviewed his school material, and went to bed. It was his normal routine, but today he felt more excited to begin his dream. The party would be soon—and he still hadn’t gotten a present yet.

He closed his eyes and felt the darkness surround his consciousness. Perhaps he was getting better at falling asleep.

〄 〄 〄

Shaden discreetly counted the coins inside his little cloth pouch that he had received from the musician the day before. He'd had to revisit reality afterwards, but now he was back. He had lacked time yesterday and had returned home early just to make sure, but today, he was free again. Shidey waited patiently beside him.

His mother had already gone out. By now, Shaden could see the piles of items laid out in the kitchen. They were covered in cloth, so he didn’t know their contents. He’d find out sooner or later. Now was the time to obtain a present and establish himself as a super-baby.

He tightened his grip on his little sack of coins and headed out for the streets. He had two silver coins to spare.

〄 〄 〄

What things would his family like?

Shaden filled his mind with questions as he headed towards the streets with shops. The present had to be something that both his brother and father could enjoy. He wasn’t exactly sure who the party was for, so he had to be careful. He only had two silver to spare.

Finally, he and Shidey arrived at a street with various signs sticking out from the walls. Anvils, swords, bows, cookies, dolls—various pictures decorated Shaden’s view. Now he just had to find something that wouldn’t be weird even if a baby gave it.

And he had just thought of the right thing.

Gemstones. Not the ones stuck inside rings or necklaces, but just one single gemstone that would be pretty to look at. If his parents asked, he could just smile and point to the air, as it to say, ‘it dropped from the sky’. He truly would become a miracle baby.

Shaden looked around for a sign with a gemstone on it. He walked through the relatively empty street and scanned the shop windows for something shiny. There were swords on display, mannequins with armor, clothes hung over the glass, necklaces in little boxes…

Shaden decided to go into the shop with the jewelry at the front. Shidey followed on his heels as he pushed open the glass door with a wooden frame and stepped inside. The bell jingled as the door struck against it.

The shop smelled like antique wood. And with a good reason; all the furniture inside the shop, besides the glass parts, was made out of polished wood. Three small but fancy lights hung on the ceiling in a row. They glowed with a yellow-blue magical hue. The counter was on the left, made of glass and also filled with all sorts of jewelry. The lady behind it raised an eyebrow as she saw someone but returned to her newspaper after seeing a child look around.

Crime was low in Danark. The soldiers always caught and reprimanded criminals. This child didn’t seem like a robber.

Shaden walked over to one of the stands and inspected the price.

[Silver Necklace with Onyx Decoration] – 30 silver

Wow. His little sack didn’t stand a chance. He looked over to the left and went deeper into the shop.

[Gold Ring with Emerald Center] – 2 gold 20 silver

Holy crap! Nope, this was the wrong direction. The inner parts of the store contained more expensive items, so he went to the glass stands near the entrance and inspected the goods.

[Rust-Resistant Iron Bracelet] – 4 silver

Shaden clenched his small pouch. This item would have been perfect for either Rother or Garthan! But he only had 2 silver, and this bracelet was double what he had. Shaden opened his pouch and counted his coins. 1 silver Nomier, 11 large copper Nomiers, and 3 copper Nomiers: totaling 2 silver and 13 copper coins.

He looked at the bracelet again. Dark markings were scarred on the metal, along with symbols that gave the whole accessory a mystical feeling. The separate pieces were interlocked like chains. It was a beautiful piece of art. Simple but pretty.

Shaden knew even if he had the money to obtain the item, it would just be too unusual for him to present it to his family. Nevertheless, the item seemed perfect. He at least wanted to try to get it.

Shaden walked over to the counter where the woman was. He was half the size of the table which was inconvenient, so he called out to the receptionist.

“Excuse me!” he squeaked.

The lady put down her newspaper and looked at Shaden. A green cloth was tied around her head, pushing her lush black hair to the back. She put her hands together and smiled kindly to Shaden.

“Are you done sightseeing?”

“Um…yes?”

“Should I pull the door open for you?”

“Not yet. Maybe later.”

Shaden took out the coins from his pouch and brought it up with his hand so the woman could see. She bent over with a curious expression on her face.

Shaden readied himself internally. It was time to play the ‘oblivious but cute boy’ card.

“Um…you know the bracelet over there? The shiny iron one?” asked Shaden sweetly as he pointed his finger towards the front of the room. “Will this be enough to buy it?”

He then brought up both hands and tip-toed in front of the counter. He thought it would look cute. A small boy who cutely asked for a price in a cute way. Who wouldn’t lower their item prices?

Apparently not this woman.

“Sorry boy. This isn’t enough,” she replied after she counted the coins in Shaden’s hand.

Shaden couldn’t give up now. “Really?” he asked again, acting pitiful.

“Yes, really,” stated the woman instantly. “Your coins aren’t enough. Come back when you’re richer.”

Shaden felt a little irritated. He was a little boy, you know? If you had the right heart, you would see a pitiful child desiring a present and lower the price for him. Wasn’t that how acting cute worked?

Maybe he wasn’t cute enough.

“Okay…” he said sadly as he turned his feet to the door. “Let’s go Shidey. We’re too poor. I wanted to get a present for my dad…”

If this final act didn’t work, then nothing would. He’d have to find another shop that sold cheaper things. Truthfully, it was disheartening to see his cuteness not work on someone. It was the first time he had tried so earnestly, and he had failed miserably.

“Wait a moment, boy,” said the lady right as he was in front of the door. “You said you wanted a present for your dad?”

Shaden smiled. It had worked! After adjusting his expression, he turned to the lady with a sad face.

“Yes…it’s his birthday soon.”

“Hmm…then how about this?”

The lady got out of the counter from the side, grabbing the basket on it while coming to Shaden. She then let Shaden see the basket she was holding. It was full of black, square stones with markings on them.

Wait a sec…weren't these dice?

“We recently obtained these from our newest shipment from the west. They’re made with a special volcanic stone that can only be found there. Dice are popular with men. And these are only 1 silver each. Would you like these instead of the bracelet?”

It seemed like his cuteness-cost-reduction plan had failed. However, the dice in front of him did seem enticing. The polished surface of the black material gleamed beautifully. The white markings that represented the numbers looked like they had been carved out from the stone. Shaden reached his hand out and grasped one, balancing it on his hand. The dice felt cold and smooth. It felt right.

“I’ll take two,” he told the receptionist.

“I’m glad you like it,” she replied with a relieved smile.

〄 〄 〄

Shaden sat on the ground and inspected the dice. He rolled them on the ground a few times. Shidey was currently on the windowsill, eyes closed and snoring silently as she enjoyed the afternoon sun.

He picked the dice up and rolled them again. They felt absolutely amazing. He was sure his brother or father would love them. Everything was perfect.

Except for the fact that he had no explanation for where he had gotten the dice.

Shaden grabbed his hair and thought. They would never believe him if he said these dropped from the sky. They would be freaked out if he told them he had gone outside. As simple as the dice seemed, there were so many things he couldn’t explain.

He tucked the dice into his cloth pouch, now empty of coins. He had used the remaining 13 copper coins on buying a meat skewer for Shidey. She was now full and happy.

The explanation could wait. He would think of something by the time the party started. Maybe he could even sneak his present into someone else’s present. Sure, he would lose the chance to become a super-baby, but living happily was better than living with parents who thought their child was roaming the streets when they weren’t home. His crib would surely return if they found out about that.

For now, he would wait. He went into his parents’ room and lied down on the mattress. His mother usually went out for two hours and judging by the clock that hung on the wall, she would return in about thirty.

He closed his eyes for a daytime nap.

〄 〄 〄

So far, nothing notable had happened. Last night, Shaden had been put to bed after enjoying a simple dinner. His family surely had noticed the piles in the kitchen, but none of them said a word. Well, they might have later, but Shaden was sent into the bedroom too quickly. The door had been shut, leaving him to do nothing but lay on his mattress.

Shidey, like the good cat she was, had scratched on the door to be let in. Shaden wasn’t so bored after she came in. Soon after, his mother entered to tuck him into bed. He had fallen asleep under her soft lullaby and head-stroking.

It was morning now and all the piles in the kitchen were gone. They had all been moved somewhere or eaten—if it was food. Shaden became worried for a moment. What if the party happened last night but he had been asleep? His small body was too susceptible to tiredness. He seriously hoped that wouldn’t have been the case. If it was, his family was too cruel.

All he could do now was wait.

He had eaten breakfast already and had sent his father and brother off. His mother didn’t seem to be busy today as she was in the house, looking after him. Shaden just lazed around with Shidey, crawling on the floor or watching the birds fly by out the window. Sometimes his mother would come over and hold him.

“Today is a special day, Shaden~,” she said multiple times throughout the day.

And Shaden knew the party was not yet over. After they ate some lunch, Melsei disappeared into a room next to Rother’s. Shaden had thought that it was the storage room, but apparently not. There was a lot of noise going on inside. He wanted to take a peek, but the door was closed shut. He decided to wait outside. Maybe that room was for a guest?

His mother finally came out. She then took a rag from somewhere and cleaned the house. Afterwards, Shaden saw her take the laundry and hang it by the window in the living room. It always dried fast there. He enjoyed crawling underneath the clothes. It was like cave exploring.

The day continued to go by slowly. At around 4, his mother started to prepare the food. Shaden watched as Melsei mixed eggs, flour, milk, and other ingredients to create a batter. She then created something that looked like the crust of a pie. Putting it off to the side, she sliced some meat into tiny pieces and mixed that with some spices and vegetables.

Along the way, she saw Shaden curiously focused on her cooking.

“Would you like to help too~?” she asked.

Shaden nodded. Melsei smiled and beckoned for him to come over. After wiping her son’s hand with some water, she tied a cloth around Shaden, like an apron. She then set a tray in front of him in addition to the meat mix she had created before. It was only a small portion of it, though.

“Here Shaden, follow me,” she told him.

Melsei then proceeded to roll the meat into small balls. Shaden realized instantly what they were. Meatballs! They were having meatballs for dinner!

Shaden excitedly took a chunk of the meat and rolled it up nicely into a ball just like his mother had done. Melsei looked at her son and was impressed. She never knew that a two-year-old child could make spheres so perfectly.

“You’re very good, Shaden~! Would you like to do the rest?” she asked him.

Shaden nodded with enthusiasm. Melsei was glad that her son was so eager to help. With both her husband and eldest son gone, she just had so many things to do. She wished their next child would be a daughter, a cute girl who could help her out with the housework.

Shaden continued to roll the meat into balls. Doing this was much better than crawling around the house and wasting time. He hoped his mother would ask him to do more things in the future. He had been dying of boredom.

Still, he felt relieved that he had not missed out on the party. By the looks of it, it was today. He rolled the balls and glanced at his mother. She was slicing something up as well as boiling different liquids on the stove. Dinner would be a great feast.

Rother returned home a little past five when Shaden was almost done rolling up the meatballs. His mother then asked him to help her move the dishes and set the table. Rother quickly put down his bag, pat Shaden and Shidey on the head, then proceeded to assist with setting up the party. Only Garthan was left to return home.

The clock struck six.

〄 〄 〄

Melsei, Shaden, and Rother sat on the table as they awaited Garthan’s entrance. Footsteps could be heard ascending the stairs.

The door swung open, revealing Garthan with a long, wrapped package in his hand.

“Welcome home, dear~!”

“Welcome, Dad!”

“Dad!”

They all greeted Garthan as he stepped into the house and closed the door behind him. He smiled and placed his uniform and sword on the side of the entrance, taking his shoes off as he entered. He then set the package he was holding and set it on the windowsill.

Did father get a promotion? Shaden determined that the central figure for this party was his father. He was the one who returned the latest. But what was the package for?

Shaden clenched the dice inside his pocket. He didn’t see any presents in the room besides the one his father just brought in. He was worried how he would have to give it.

“Alright!” said Garthan as he sat down on the table. “Let’s get the celebration started!”

“Who’s going to start?” asked Rother.

“You can~,” said Melsei.

“Okay! Here it goes.” Rother took in a deep breath.

“One, two, three…”

What were they counting for? Shaden had thought this was a party for a promotion.

“Happy birthday to you!”

Birthday? Who’s birthday? Wait, thought Shaden. Why were they looking at him?

“Happy birthday, dear Shaden,” his family sang.

Oh. I see.

“Happy birthday to you!”

Yes, indeed. It was the thirteenth day of the seventh month in Exarria, the day when Shaden was born. The Limen family were currently celebrating their youngest son’s second birthday—who currently was bewildered by the sudden twist of events that was beyond what he expected. Simply, he had completely forgotten all about it.

Nevertheless, Shaden was happy. He clapped his hands and giggled as a baby would. The family took turns hugging and congratulating the small child.

“Now that the celebration is done, let’s start the feast!” announced Garthan.

Without further ado, everyone dug into the piles of delicious food, including Shaden who had finally received his own fork and knife. Melsei happily sliced apart the meat-and-vegetable pie while Rother took large spoonfuls of cream soup into his bowl. Garthan cut the bones off the meat while Shaden beckoned for some meatballs.

For the first time in his life, Shaden could eat whatever he wanted. No one stopped him. Everyone passed him the dish he desired. He bit into the juicy meat, slurped up some soup, and munched on fried bird-legs while scooping up the pie.

This was life. This was what he had wished for. Two long years had been a long time, but he had finally reached the end of it. He was a free man now, free to stuff himself to everything he wanted.

And it was glorious.

Even Shidey enjoyed a fat piece of steak that she gladly ripped into.

〄 〄 〄

Shaden had thought that the wonderful dinner would be the end of it.

He was wrong.

“Do you like it Shaden?” asked Melsei as Shaden glanced around the room. Rother and Garthan watched from behind the door.

His mattress had been moved to the unused room at the end of the hall. The room was packed with various things, including toys, stuffed animals, and…books!

Shaden quickly went over and picked up a book from the ground.

Basic Guide to Chanting Spells.

YESSSSSS!!!!

He went back to his family and jumped in delight. His own room, along with new knowledge—it was the perfect present he could have asked for. He could now experiment without worry, practice without prying eyes.

Truthfully, his parents had planned to give Shaden his own room when he was at least 4 like they did with Rother. Even then, Rother had pleaded to sleep with them in the same room. He had grown out of it after Shaden was born, but the experience remained.

However, Shaden was a special child. He did not cry, nor was he stubborn. He did not make a mess out of everything and knew exactly what was safe and what was not. Simply, he was the perfect baby to take care of.

So Melsei and Garthan had gotten an idea to test their child. They would give him a new room and observe his reaction. He was only two years old, so it was natural he would be scared of being alone. But Shaden wasn’t a natural baby. They wanted to see the extent of his characteristics. They wanted to see if their baby was someone special.

They knew their doubts had been confirmed when Shaden ran towards them with a huge smile on his face. They realized that this baby was not normal at all.

Their baby was a genius.

“Thanks!” said Shaden as he hugged his parents. Melsei patted his head and looked at Garthan. He shrugged, but his proud expression was apparent on his face. His first child with Melsei was extraordinary. Their love had resulted in something very special.

Garthan went and fetched his package from the windowsill. He hadn’t been planning on giving it to Shaden, but seeing his reaction today made it clear. His child would be able to handle it. Well, maybe not now, but allowing him to get used to the item was a big step in the process.

He went back to the room and saw Shaden playing with Rother with some toys. Rother had been the one to donate them, much to Garthan’s surprise. Both his sons had grown so much by the time he had realized it. He placed his arms around Melsei’s waist and gave her a kiss.

“You’ve done well,” he told her.

“I don’t know what I did,” she replied.

They shared a goofy smile. Whatever the reason, their family was happy and stable. Ten years ago, both of them could never have imagined the scene spreading before them. Two sons enjoying toys together with a cute cat inside a comfortable house. They had experienced numerous hardships along the way, but now they were here.

Together as a family.

He left the package next to the door and went back out with Melsei. The boys would play and they would as well tonight.