A Birthday banquet with unusual gate crashers

While Chu negotiated at the table with a group of men old enough to be his grandparents, Miki and the others enjoyed a meal on the third floor. At the end of the afternoon, Chu left the Blue Eatery with a very satisfied, smiling face. His birthday plans could never have been better.

"From your smug face, it seems like it went very well."

Miki twirled in front of him while stepping backward. She lowered her playful face close to his.

"I think it went pretty well. Before we leave the city for the villa, I need you to run an errand. I want you to invite your friend called Sakura for our birthday celebrations."

"Nuh-uh, forget it Chu. She moves too high and mighty. I don't want her."

Chu paused while reaching his hand out grabbing her little nose, pulling her closer.

"Do it and I'll return that big bag of coins to you. Or do you want to scrape by on a measly allowance?"

***

"This is the largest one I could find within the month. You don't know but a large piece such as this, free from impurities is very rare."

"Many thanks, Master Klin. The academy recommended me to your Blacksmith workshop because you're the best. Remember, you need to grind and polish it for the thickness to become even. Please use molten silver since I have no idea about this process. Hopefully, it should turn out fine."

Chu nodded and had a small discussion with the hulking blacksmith before leaving the shop. Miki and Dyna had left for the Academy. Master Klin had provided him with the polished lens which he gifted to Mage Norivak. That day when he browsed the shop, Chu had noticed something which sparked an idea for a great birthday gift.

"Ming, I'll need you to handle something for me..."

***

When the four of them collected their horses at the city gate and rode home, they met Sakura sitting near the balcony of her room while scribbling on a scroll. She had long finished copying the few pages from the book and returned it to the hiding place. At the moment she browsed through Chu's translation work while filling in the pages.

Lucy sat on the bed in the room peeling and eating fruits with her knife. On the balcony, a large wolf lay sunning itself while yawning to display its fangs. Since he planned on making a trip into the city, he left Lucy home as insurance. With her here, his secrets remained undoubtedly safe.

"Amanda is with Mrs. Thomas in the parlor. Clod sent us a chest and a letter which a Merchant from the Trading Post delivered. John from the Trading Post in the village also sent you a letter."

"Oh, how are they? What did he send?"

"Clod says everything is fine and on schedule. The fields have turned out great, and the windmill works fine. It seems that Toll has taken a contract to grind flour for some merchants in the village. As for the barrels in the warehouse, he has a load ready. The chest contains clothes that Ms. Sherry completed."

Lucy reported as she threw another grape up and then pierced it with the tip of her dagger. The move generated some cheers and chatter as Miki placed a small melon on the table and began demonstrating her knife-throwing skills.

"I swear I need to find some hobbies for you guys..."

Chu muttered while leaving.

The next two days, Chu and Ming constantly rode back and forth from the villa to the city. As far as the family knew, he had succeeded in making a reservation for lunch at one, if not the best restaurant in the city as he called it. Since Clod had sent a timely gift, Mrs. Thomas had been busy having the girls try on the dresses and make the necessary adjustments.

On the evening before their birthday, a decorated carriage rolled into the villa. A blond-haired girl stepped out with the air of a high noble. Before and after her, walked a few lady servants escorted by a dozen guards. She sat in the hall with the other girls while the armed guards stood like sculptures near the entrances and arched windows.

"Miki invited me over for your birthday tomorrow Lucy. I've brought a gift for you."

"Hey, hey, it's my birthday and coming of age too. Don't try to ignore me, Sahara."

Chu watched the guards and maids stiffen while making wry faces. It seems like they had at least become familiar with these girls from the academy. During his meeting with the Clan leaders that day, he understood this girl called Sahara belonged to an influential family. At that time he never inquired too deeply since he had enough headaches and dealings with nobles. Ming did give him a shock when they met later.

"Remember the old man with the whiskers and the muscular guy standing next to him in the hall?"

"U-huh. I didn't stay long since I left after the introduction."

"Well, both of them are Sersen. The guard at the stable said the old man is their captain."

Sahara ended up spending the night at the villa after Miki displayed her dress and jewelry. Chu, Ming and Mr. Thomas ended up sleeping downstairs in a makeshift bedroom as the guards and maids refused to allow the male members access to the second floor. For the greater part of the night squeals and yells echoed through the large villa.

The next day, Chu and Ming dressed in the stables. In embroidered gowns with a vest and a sword buckled at the waist, they looked the part of nobles. When they entered the hall to wait on the others, Chu experienced a jaw-dropping experience.

Sakura and Dyna walked down the wide, stone staircase, both dressed in a single piece pink dress decorated with lace and silver threads. With their combed hair resting on their little shoulders, and the tiaras glittering on their heads, they appeared like princesses from a fairytale.

Lucy wore a light blue dress, lined with silver patterns circling around the bottom. The silver tiara perched on her head sparkled with blue gems, marching the color of her eyes. Her jade white face turned pink on seeing his expression while standing down below. When she cracked a smile, Chu felt his heart skip.

At the side of her walked a girl of similar size but with wavy blond hair and gray eyes. Apparently last night Sahara had won the right to wear one of these original dresses and jewelry never seen before. The pair looked like angels descending from the heavens.

"Hey Chu, I hope you're not gawking at that pest besides Lucy you know. She only looks good because she's wearing one of my dresses."

At the top of the landing, Miki stood in a pure white dress with Amanda. Gaping at the two well-dressed beauties, he could only muster a gulp. Luckily he was not the only person wearing this reaction since even both the Sersens beside him remained gawking.

Sue, Bella, and Sally all followed Mrs. Thomas dressed in white. With her hair combed and tied in a bun, simple bracelets and tiaras glittering with gems, she reminded Chu of a queen. At his side, Chu saw Mr. Thomas lips quiver. When she arrived, Mr. Thomas embraced her as she then wiped his eyes.

Chu led these people who were dressed to kill, to the Blue Eatery by the carriages. When they arrived, he arranged them to walk inside with the smallest ones first. A pair of lady ushers who waited at the entrance especially for them led them to the fourth floor.

"Greetings on your coming of age birthday celebrations!"

When the doors opened, a loud cheer caused their hearts to flutter. Chu silently thanked the heavens, Lucy and Miki didn't walk with weapons. Good thing he allowed the two Sersens to enter earlier for inspection or else it would have led to a different surprise.

The guest inside came from their friends in the academy, younger generations of the nobles from Limerock and of course, the leaders from the influential clans of Limerock. Chu led them to the table on the stage. After an introductory speech and some words from Mrs. Thomas of the coming of age for young girls, the feast began.

"Class Monitor Amanda, you look so beautiful. You're like a fairy."

"Miki, since when did you wear a dress, I thought you said dresses were for wimpy girls? Wow, can I see that bracelet, it's divine!"

"Thank you for inviting us to your birthday celebrations Dyna. Your sisters look so pretty, like fairies!"

With jewelry, dresses and a large group of girls, the conversations after the meal never stopped. The food had been delicious, with wine and different fruit juices served afterward with a variety of desserts. The young noblemen filtered through the hall, laughing and making light conversation with them before departing from the stage.

Chu had to thank Sahara for this since she served as a natural deterrent for those men who would have ordinarily swarmed the girls. Of course, the two stiff-looking Sersen standing behind them helped as well.

In the evening, the Clan leaders opened the large doors as servants arrived and shared gifts for all the guests. From small gold rings to carved swords, the hall became lively with cheers and chatter. During the gift-giving ceremony, Patriarch Long walked along with his grandson still carried on the small bed.

"This is a thousand root sunflower root and a six hundred year ginseng. Both have been authenticated from the herb masters of the academy. Placing it beside the bed allows one to sleep free from any form of discomfort. They are excellent for driving away from the aches from wounded bones."

Patriarch Long stood at the bottom of the stage while his grandson sat up on the bed and held up the small jade boxes with both hands. Chu nodded on seeing the gift. He had convinced the Patriarch that this could help alleviate the threat his clan faced.

"Elder Long, we accept this kind gift. Let bygones remain bygones."

Amanda rose and clasped her hands while talking. She knew Chu chose this gift for her father and mother. Sitting on the chair she glanced at Sahara who occupied the large chair at the center. The wavy blond appeared as if none of this was her concern until Lucy elbowed her from the side. Only then did she nod.

The old Sersen behind her stepped out and led Patriarch Long outside. It seems that with a little compensation, the worried man could sleep well tonight.

Chu presented the last gift. On a table at the side, he uncovered a cloth, revealing a carved, wooden stand holding a removable flat object. Oval in shape, it was no larger than six inches.

"The shiny copper mirrors cannot display your true beauty, and neither can all of us dress near a bright pond. I gift this mirror to you, for this coming of age birthday."

"Ah Chu, this is the best present ever!"

Miki shouted while gazing at her reflection. In the Empire, the reflective surfaces of polished metals served as mirrors. Chu had the blacksmith create this mirror from a flat polished, clear quartz, coated with a film of silver dipped on the back. Even though he couldn't manufacture clear glass, he could improvise with natural resources.

"Greetings, Pillmaster Sue, Pillmaster Dyna. Sorry, we arrived late, the clerks in the Guild seemed to have misplaced out invitations."

"Chu, but I never went there with any..."

"Forget it, forget it, haha, no matter we have arrived. Please receive these pills and medicaments on behalf of the Alchemist Guild."

Grandmaster Bing cut across Ming while having an apprentice hand over the small box filled with vials and pills.

"Grandmaster Bing, you ungrateful old coot. I was the one who told you about this reservation for the birthday today. Yet you sneaked out as if the Church Union would steal from you."

A voice sounded from the entrance as Priest Silas entered, accompanied by some Healers. Hot on his heels, came Elder Shi.

"You wretches, did you think you could steal away people from our academy? The Tower has eyes and ears all over Limerock. Don't think I haven't heard you've been trying to modify cauldrons on your own..."

****