Party
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In Berk, Meshir Bakan currently sets up a crystal ball right next to Rayla’s withered body.
“You’ve done well so far. Here is a little treat, provided you can actually see right now. Thoma Ahad’s birthday is being broadcast to us so you can see it even if you can’t be there.”
Groaning in pain Rayla moves her eyes to the projection and watches with a faint smile on her face.
“So that’s what that cheeky brat really looks like huh…Things make more sense now.”
Meanwhile, underground in the fourth level of Tartarus, Sher Aka is delivering the final blow to a worm-like monster covered in eyes. Her left arm is currently regenerating after it was bit off in a surprise attack.
“Alright, you nearly died again but you’re getting better. You deserve a break.”
“A break…What’s the catch?”
“No catch, it’s my daughter’s birthday today so I want to watch the broadcast, you can join me, I’ll take over the defense until it’s over.”
“So it’s already December…”
At the same time in the jungle of Naturia.
“You look grumpy.”
“Do I?”
“Yes, I don’t recommend that facial expression with those tattoos. Makes you look like you’re about to shank me. Is something bothering you?”
“Sigh I don’t know. I just have the feeling that I’m being left out of something important.”
“Right…Don’t you need to train?”
“I do but ‘Mother’ needs to make more defense runes first so I don’t blow up the village by accident.”
“You just can’t be pleased, can you?”
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Waking up again I find myself in a small room together with mama and Melina and some other maid I don’t know. The ceiling seems to be quite high and one of the walls seems to be made out of red cloth.
“Good morning Rose, did you sleep well?”
“Yawn Gao.”
“That’s great.”
“Hey mama?”
“Yes, dear?”
“What’s with that red wall?”
“You’ll see!” Looking at the unknown maid, mama asks something in Draconic and the maid smiles widely as she answers something back in Draconic.
“Alright Rose, let’s learn something new okay?”
“Okay.”
“I’m going to count down from three in Draconic and you match me, okay?”
“Gao!”
“Three.”
“Th-Three.”
“Two.”
“Tooo”
“One”
“Wan.”
“Now!”
Suddenly the red cloth opens up and moves to the side and many people say in unison,
“Happy Birthday, Rose!!!”
The room is now suddenly really big and colorful. There is a huge table with a giant cake on top of it and different other foods I like. There is also a table full of neatly packed presents and the entire room has many features to represent the six elements, like a fountain, some potted plants, a big fireplace, candles, a small draft from the upper windows and two blankets strung up in the corner for darkness. As for the attendants, there are some maids, uncle, auntie and my cousins, a man with long pink hair and…
“Ser Ulian!?”
Flying out of mama’s arms I almost tackle Ser Ulian to the ground as I give her a hug and start crying, “It’s been soooo loooong!”
Also crying, Ser Ulian hugs me back, “Yeah…I’ve been waiting so loooong!”
“I’m so sorry for not writing any letter recently I…I-”
“I know, your mother sent me letters. She said you got really sick again. She even said you might not even recognize me today….But…But I’m so glad today is a good day!”
We continue to cry a little longer until we both calm down and Ser Ulian says, “But you know what made me a little mad?”
“Hmm?”
“That you hid you were a dragon princess! I know you weren’t allowed to tell me but still… Also how come you’re so smart!? If this is your first birthday it means you are just a baby!”
“I dunno I don’t think I’m that smart.”
“But you are though! Gasp Is that the Barrette I gave you!?”
“Yeah, I’ve been wearing it everyday!”
“I also wore yours everyday! But I thought that since you’re a princess you would just throw it away because it’s so cheaply made.”
“I would never throw it away! I’ve been cherishing it a lot!”
“That makes me really happy, Rose! Hey wanna play catch?”
“I can’t…I can’t walk right now.”
“I see…” Putting me on the ground Ser Ulian turns around and says, “Then let me give you a piggyback ride!”
“Okay!”
Ser Ulian’s mother interrupts, “Uhm…Love, I’m not sure it’s a good idea for someone like us to touch a princess so-”
Mama then puts her hand on the shoulder of Ser Ulian’s mom and answers, “It’s fine. Don’t think about this sort of thing today. You are her guests. Now how about we talk a bit about our kids over a nice cup of tea?”
“O-of course, gladly, your Majesty.”
Getting mama’s approval, Ser Ulian puts me on her back and we go around the table where I introduce her to everyone.
“Those are my aunt and uncle, they’re great! Uncle knows a lot about birds.”
“H-Hello, my name is Ser Ulian, it's a pleasure to meet your Grace.”
“Oh~ So you do have some friends closer to your age too. Hello Ser Ulian, I am Rose’s aunt Carmilla and this is my husband Emillio.”
Uncle adds, “A pleasure to meet you. I sure hope you stay friends long and you do not break her heart, hahaha.”
“That’s right, you’d better not get too used to her lifestyle either. Or your food at home might not taste as good anymore.”
“I’ll…Keep that in mind, thank you, your Grace.”
“Anytime, Ser Ulian.”
“Oh, oh, uncle! Go tell her some fun bird facts!”
“Of course mija. Let’s see…Have you ever heard of the Icarian Yellowtail?”
“No, your Grace.”
“It is a bird that primarily lives in secluded valleys in the Republic of Mondor. They’re very beautiful birds and they often compete to fly as high as possible. The thing that makes them unique is that often, once they leave their peaceful valley in an attempt to fly higher than anyone else and impress the other birds, they get eaten by larger predators. And yet they still keep doing it. That’s why there is a saying in the Republic of Mondor called, ‘Don’t fly too high or you will be eaten’.”
“I-I see…”
“Maybe one day we can watch the birds together, Ser Ulian!”
“Yeah…Haha…Let’s maybe meet with some of your other relatives.”
“Sure! Let’s go meet my cousins next! They’re over there.”
“Okay, I’ll lead you right there your Highness~”
“Pfft Just call me Rose, kikikiki.”
Getting to my cousins Ser Ulian introduces herself again, “Greetings your Grace my na-”
“Oh my! You scared me there, it’s like you have absolutely no presence. Maybe that’s why Rose never mentioned you when we were playing together.” Emilia says.
“Or maybe it was just that we had so much fun, something like that never even crossed her mind.” Miguel adds.
“I’m glad she has a friend though, I just hope she never gets hurt by any of her friends…She had such a hard past already it would devastate her if something like that would happen.”
“And I’m sure you know that as her family we want to avoid something like that happening to our cousin. So make sure to tell any shifty friends she might make in the future that we don’t take kindly to our family being hurt.”
“I’ll make sure to tell them your Grace…”
“Great! Now carry on with whatever you’re doing.”
“Okay! See you later prima and primo!”
Ser Ulian then carries me to an empty seat and we both sit down, “So? How do you like them? They’re great right?”
“They…Definitely care for you.”
“Yeah!”
“It’s just…Nevermind.”
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
Giving me a kind smile Ser Ulian says, “It’s fine. I guess there are just some things where you act your age, hahaha.”
“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing… What’s most important is that we got to meet again today!”
“Yeah! I'm super duper happy too!”
“Also I have to say your wings are really pretty! Also, also, the longer hair really suits you!” “Thank you! Your dress looks really pretty too!”
“Haha, thank you. By the way, is the guy with the pink hair your dad?”
“No, I have no idea who that is. Maybe he works here.”
“Then where is your dad?”
“I don’t know and I don’t want to know. He’s a really bad person.”
“I see…Sorry for asking.”
“It’s al-”
BAM!
Suddenly the door to the room bursts open and Scarlet, drenched in sweat, comes barging through.