Birthday

The next day,

I was lying on the bed reading a book in my room. Grandpa had locked me inside,

"Aah!."

I threw the book onto the bed.

'Today is my birthday, and grandpa locked me up in my room.'

"And these useless books contain nothing I'm interested in,"

After grandpa locked me in the room, I was sure I would die of boredom. However, I soon found some books to read, but I grew bored with them after some time since they repeated the same things repeatedly.

"What should I do?"

As I lay in bed, I looked up at the ceiling.

After pondering for some time,

I sat in a lotus position on the bed, meditating. It was my first time meditating since awakening.

I was again in the same dark space where only a blue lighting ball was visible.

'It's the same blue lighting ball as before,'

My hand extended towards the lighting ball. The moment my hand touched the ball, I was overcome by the same strange sensation.

In an instant, I found myself in a strange place, where people were wearing heavy armor and holding swords, and behind them, I could see dragons flying. It was as if they were preparing for battle. The moment I saw the army, I felt a slight pain in my chest.

'Who are they? And who are they fighting against?'

I turned around and saw no one.

'Wait, there is no one here?'

The moment I turned back to face the army, a spear pierced my back.

I immediately opened my eyes.

"Huff, huff,"

I gasped for air while holding my chest.

"What the hell was that?"

Once I returned to normal, I began to think about my bizarre experience.

"What the heck is going on with me?..."

"...It began with a headache that made me understand this new language, followed by the dark space with a blue lighting ball, and now it was this illusion or whatever it was."

After contemplating for a while, I sighed,

"I should get some sleep now. I'm not sure what will happen if I meditate again."

Within minutes, I had fallen asleep.

Time passed, and it was almost nighttime,

Grandma came into the room holding a set of new clothes in her hand.

She walked near my bed,

"Wake up, sleepyhead,"

Hearing her words, I opened my eyes.

As I awoke, she smiled,

"Are you awake now?"

"Yeah," I nodded while rubbing my eyes.

Seeing me behaving normally, she asked,

"Are you not angry?"

She thought I would be angry for locking me in the room. Well, I would be if I were your typical four-year-old kid.

"Angry for what?" I tilted my head, completely forgetting that I was locked in the room.

"For locking you up in your room,"

"Nah, I'm sure you have your reasons for doing that,"

When grandma heard me, she had a surprised expression, which eventually turned into a smile.

She picked me up and kissed me on the cheek.

"You sure are growing fast, aren't you?"

"I don't know, maybe."

"But grandma doesn't want you to grow up. I want you to stay my little Eethie."

Hearing her word, I said with a smile,

"Don't worry, grandma. I'll always be your little Eethie,"

"Oh. Really?"

"Yup,"

"Enough, chitchat. Put these clothes on. I'm waiting outside."

"Okay,"

Grandma left the room, leaving me with the clothes.

After a few minutes,

I came out of the room wearing a black long-sleeve tunic with gold buttons, a red and black cloak, and black trousers patterned with gold. I looked like a prince.

When grandma saw me, she was amazed. I looked so adorable. My looks were enough to make a maiden commit evil.

'He inherited his beautiful face from his mother. This face of his surely caused many heartbreaks. Poor girls.' She sighs.

As I approached grandma, I smiled brightly

"Grandma, how do I look?"

"Ladykiller,"

When I heard grandma's words, my face turned red.

Seeing my red face, grandma said teasingly,

"Look at our lady killer getting embarrassed,"

"Stop teasing him,"

Grandpa said as he entered the house.

"Why do you have to come right now?" Grandma asked, displeased.

"Everyone was waiting outside since you took too much time."

"Everyone?" I tilted my head.

Grandpa smiled at me,

"You'll know when you're outside,"

"Then let's go," I said as I quickly headed to the door.

Grandpa and grandma also followed me.

As I walked outside, I noticed the birthday cake that was a few feet away from me. I saw about 15 people standing nearby looking at me.

I only knew half of them, including big bro Paul, big sis Iris, her grandpa, father, and mother.

"Here comes our royal highness," An old man. He had white hair and black eyes. He exuded a dominant aura. He is Kieran Ryan, Iris's grandfather.

"Don't call him that," A middle-aged man said.

He had black hair and red eyes. He had a bulky body compared to grandpa. He had a friendly aura around him.

"Hello kid, I'm Olympio Buteo, owner of a bar in the next village and a good friend of your grandfather." He introduced himself.

Following his lead, others who had just met me introduced themselves.

"Hello, I'm Sergius Arminus, a merchant,"

When everyone had introduced themselves, grandma said,

"You guys can talk after the cake cutting,"

"Sure," All of them nodded their heads.

—

After the cake cutting, everyone started bringing me gifts.

"Here is your present," Grandpa said while bringing a small box.

The box contained a ring necklace. The ring was blue with runes engraved on it, while the chain was silver. There was powerful energy emanating from it.

"Turn around," Grandma said as she picked up the necklace.

As I turn around, she puts the necklace around my neck.

"Never take it off and don't lose it, Alright?"

I nodded my head,

Iris' grandfather was the next to give the gift.

"Here, you go, brat,"

Iris's grandpa gave me a wooden box.

'It's heavy,'

"What's this?"

"Open it and see yourself,"

Upon opening the box, I found two daggers inside. They had red and gold blades.

"What do you think?"

"It's beautiful," I said, taking the dagger.

I tried to swing the dagger but couldn't swing it because of its weight.

"I can't swing it, old man,"

"You brat, it's not, for now. You'll be able to use it after you complete your training,"

"Then you should give me something that I can use now, old man."

"Look at this, brat. You should be grateful for the gift,"

"What's the big deal about getting a gift from an old man?" I asked, annoyed.

"You damn brat, who are you calling old man over and over again?" He asked with an angry face.

"Isn't it obvious? It's you, old man,"

"I'm two years younger than your grandpa,"

"Are you sure about that?" I asked as my eyebrows rose.

"This–" Iris's grandpa's face becomes red.

"Puff, hahaha, old man!" Olympio laughs loudly.

Others also began to laugh.

"If you don't want the gift then give it back," Iris's grandpa said with an annoyed face.

"You are shameless,"

"Shameless?" He asked, confused,

"Yeah, aren't you shameless asking a kid to return its gift?"

Iris's grandpa was speechless; he didn't know how to react.

On the other hand, Olympio and the others laughed so hard that tears were forming.

"Hahaha, shameless!"

"Kieran, you can't beat him," Olympio said.

After a few good laughs, everyone calmed down.

"Here you go, young master,"

Sergius(merchant) gave me a basket of fruit.

"Take a bite," Sergius said with a smile.

I took the fruit, it looked like a regular peach, but the flavor was so much different and smelled when I bit into it. I had never tasted anything like this before.

"What is it?"

"It's called Wirin, a fruit found in the black forest, which helps in increasing the strength and mana,"

Other people also began to give me gifts; some brought weapons, clothes, accessories, and so on.

-----

After a few hours,

Iris And I fall asleep, so grandpa brings us to the bedroom.

A serious atmosphere prevailed outside the house as everyone sat silently.

"So, how much time do we have?" Iris's grandpa asked.

"It will take them two to three years," Grandpa said.

"It's earlier than we expected," Olympio said.

"Yeah,"

"Any news about your daughter and son-in-law?"

"Nah," Grandpa shook his head.

"At this point, I'm not certain whether they are alive or not."

"You shouldn't say that," Iris's father said.

"He is right," Sergius said.