Chapter 6 – The Eve of the Birthday

Part 1

The days passed.

After spending several days bedridden with a cold—entirely my own fault for sitting by the window, a fact Siena never missed a chance to remind me of—my lessons finally resumed.

I was in the study, morning light filtering through the half-open window as I focused on a series of math problems Sebastian had assigned me right after breakfast.

As I wrote the final numbers with a quill that still felt strange in my hand, I couldn’t help remembering that I had never been particularly good at math in my previous life.

I could still recall, with a fair amount of embarrassment, my mediocre grades and all the exams I had passed by copying from someone else.

In this body, however, everything felt strangely different.

Clearer. More orderly. It was as though my mind could focus in a way it never had when I was an adult—perhaps thanks to the complete absence of technology.

I could remember every explanation Sebastian had given during our previous lessons with remarkable precision, almost word for word. In my old life, something like that would have been unthinkable.

Combined with the scraps of knowledge I still retained from my previous life—fractions, simple equations, and the basic logic that had been forced into my head in school—the exercises were surprisingly easy.

Almost boring, if I was being honest. Not that I would ever admit that in front of Sebastian.

I walked over to the desk and handed him my little test. The pages were still slightly wrinkled from how tightly I had gripped the quill.

Sebastian took them and reviewed my work in silence, his eyes moving over every line and calculation. I waited before him with my hands clasped behind my back—a habit I had unconsciously picked up from watching him do the same thing so often.

—Impressive —he said at last, looking up from the page with an expression I rarely saw on him—. In a single week, you have completely mastered the foundations of arithmetic and algebra. Remarkable progress, young master.

—So does that mean we can finally start magic? —I asked at once, unable to hide my excitement as I nearly leaned across the desk.

—I am afraid not quite yet —he replied with that unshakable calm of his, the kind that sometimes drove me mad—. First, you must attend your etiquette lesson. After that, we will begin with the fundamentals of magic. It is time for you to go, young master. It is impolite to keep a lady waiting.

The promise of finally getting closer to magic filled me with energy. Even if I had to endure etiquette lessons first, I hurried out of the room and snatched up my coat.

As I took my first steps down the hallway, I couldn’t help thinking that, at this rate, I would probably stand out quite a bit once I grew older. Maybe even more than Sebastian or any of the maids expected.

When I reached the first floor, I entered one of the largest halls in the mansion. Its high ceiling and tall windows let in the pale morning light. Three maids were already waiting there—Lucía, Talia, and Noor—each wearing a work apron over her usual uniform.

—You look very handsome today, Ren —Lucía said with a smile as she arranged several folded fabrics on one of the long tables.

—Wouldn’t you like to help us sweep? —Talia teased, winking as she pointed toward a broom resting against the wall.

Meanwhile, Noor stepped closer and straightened the collar of my coat with the sisterly care that always seemed to come naturally to her. She even smoothed out a wrinkle I hadn’t noticed.

—What are all of you doing in here? —I asked, looking around. The hall seemed emptier than usual, with some pieces of furniture covered in white sheets and others pushed into the corners.

—Unfortunately, we were assigned to clean this entire place today —Lucía replied with an exaggerated sigh, placing her hands on her hips—. We have to start preparing everything for your birthday.

It was difficult for me to imagine the full scale of the task, but cleaning that hall looked far from simple.

It was enormous—the largest room I had seen in the entire mansion, even bigger than the library—and they couldn’t afford to leave a single corner untouched or a single crystal chandelier unpolished.

And once the cleaning was finished, they would still have to decorate everything with fabrics, flowers, tables, and all the other things required for an event grander than anything I had experienced before.

—I’d like to know what a party is like —I admitted, genuinely curious as I sat on the edge of one of the uncovered tables.

—It is an event where many people close to you can come and visit —Noor explained, briefly sitting beside me before rising again to continue her work—. You might even meet children your own age, though I imagine most of the guests will be adults.

—How many people are coming to my party? —I asked, eyes widening with excitement as I imagined the hall filled with guests, music, and food.

The three of them exchanged uncertain glances, as though the question had caught them off guard.

—A great many nobles from different regions of the country will probably attend —Talia answered after a moment of hesitation—. Some leaders from other nations may come as well, though we cannot be completely certain.

—Your father has probably invited some very important people —Lucía added with a knowing smile—. After all, this is no ordinary occasion. It is the birthday of a hero’s son—and the day of your ritual.

Before I could ask anything else, the hall’s main door opened with a soft creak. Siena entered, warmly greeting the others as she brushed a little snow from the shoulders of her coat.

I seized the opportunity to practice something I had rehearsed over the past several nights. I brought one hand to my chest in an elegant, ceremonial gesture and lowered my head slightly in greeting.

—That was such a noble greeting! —the three maids exclaimed in unison, genuinely surprised as they briefly abandoned their cleaning.

Siena couldn’t quite hide her smile. She crossed one foot slightly behind the other, took both sides of her skirt between her fingers, and raised them evenly as she returned my greeting with a flawless curtsy. The elegance of the motion contrasted sharply with the seriousness she usually wore throughout the day.

The moment I saw her response, satisfaction swelled inside me. After so many days practicing in front of a mirror, I had finally perfected a noble’s formal greeting.

—I’ve been training him very carefully these past few days —Siena said with obvious pride as she approached us.

—Show us something else Siena taught you —Talia requested, setting her broom aside completely.

I straightened my posture, placed one hand behind my back, and brought the other near my collar. Then I swept it gracefully to the side, like a nobleman preparing to address a grand audience—the exact pose Siena had corrected again and again throughout the week.

All three maids gasped in amazement and applauded. According to Noor, those precise noble postures took many children months to master properly.

—He learns unbelievably fast —Noor said, looking at Siena as though hoping for an explanation.

I laughed quietly to myself. A large part of this was already familiar thanks to the absurd number of fantasy series and novels I had consumed in my previous life—knightly bows, imaginary court etiquette, and an entire collection of gestures I had never expected to use in reality.

Naturally, I intended to keep that particular secret to myself.

—It is time for your next lesson —Siena announced, interrupting the moment with a more serious tone, though the warmth never fully left her voice.

I said goodbye to the maids with the same formal greeting, earning one final round of laughter before following Siena toward another room.

As we walked through the corridor, she calmly explained the hierarchy of the nobles who would likely attend my celebration.

—Dukes govern the largest and most important regions of the kingdom —she explained as we passed a window overlooking the snow-covered garden—. Below them are counts, followed by barons, each of whom controls a smaller territory. Your father may not hold a title as high as duke, but he owns these lands and several nearby villages. He commands immense respect throughout the nobility.

—Why? —I asked, though I already suspected part of the answer.

—Because many of them fought beside your father in the war that brought the peace this kingdom enjoys today —she replied, growing more serious as she always did whenever she spoke of that subject—. Some of them literally owe him their lives.

—Others owe him the life of someone dear to them.

—That is why, when your celebration arrives, many of them will want to meet you in person.

—Not merely out of curiosity about a child with your abilities, but because they know exactly who your father was—and what he meant to this entire nation.

I nodded, processing her words with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation unlike anything I had felt before. By then, we had reached the door to the next room.

—Oh, right. It looks like Sebastian is going to start teaching me magic from now on —I told her, my eyes lighting up with excitement.

—Really? That’s amazing! —Siena replied with a smile.

Part 2

Two hours later.

I returned to the study with Sebastian, still exhausted from the lesson I had just finished with Siena.

Posture. Walking. More posture. My entire body felt as though I had been marching in circles for hours, even though it had only been two.

I collapsed into my chair and rested my face directly on the desk, with no intention of moving for the next several minutes.

Sebastian watched me for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh.

—You think like an adult, yet behave exactly like the child you are —he remarked, closing the book in his hands—. Are you ready for what you are about to learn, young master?

I lifted my head just enough to see him raise one hand toward me.

His palm began to glow a deep blue, and a genuine stab of fear ran down my spine. Before I could even think of moving, however, a gentle radiance wrapped around my entire body. When it faded, the exhaustion from the morning simply… vanished.

—There is no need to be afraid —Sebastian said, lowering his hand—. Magic encompasses many different branches of study: defensive, destructive, restorative, and enhancement magic.

—If we delved deeper, you would discover that even summoners require a foundation in magic. Today, however, we will focus solely on destructive and defensive magic, the two great pillars in which most mages specialize.

—Was that healing magic you just used on me? —I asked, still feeling traces of renewed energy flowing through my body.

—Not exactly —he replied—. What I used was enhancement magic. I merely gave you a small boost so you could perform at your best today without your studies suffering.

With that, he placed two thick books on the desk before me and informed me that we would learn as much of their contents as possible that day.

—Shouldn’t we start by practicing something? —I asked, looking at the books with mild disappointment.

After seeing that sphere of fire a few days earlier, I had hoped I would soon be able to try it myself.

—Unfortunately, you cannot practice until you have completed the ritual —Sebastian explained in a tone that made it clear the matter was not negotiable—. For now, you must study theory so that you will be fully prepared should your class turn out to be mage.

—Couldn’t I use magic and a sword at the same time? —I pressed, hoping there might be a way to combine the best of both worlds.

Sebastian shook his head with an almost apologetic expression.

—Unfortunately, that would be a considerable waste of time. If, for example, you became a mage and also tried to learn swordsmanship, your progress with the sword would be severely limited—to the point that you might never truly master it. That is the main reason swordsmen devote themselves entirely to their blades and the various paths their class offers. The same is true for mages and every other class.

—What if I receive a class I don’t like? —I asked with a slight frown—. Is there any way to change it later?

—I am afraid that is impossible as well —Sebastian replied—. When the world selects a person’s class, it examines both mind and spirit. According to the oldest legends, it may even glimpse fragments of that person’s future and grant the ability best suited to the path awaiting them.

That caught me completely by surprise.

—Then… are you a mage? —I asked as the pieces quickly fell into place.

—Correct —he confirmed, a hint of pride entering his voice—. In fact, most nobles receive the mage class. There are exceptions, of course, such as your father, who became a swordsman. But regardless of the result, what matters is taking pride in the class one is given.

A sudden wave of excitement rushed through me.

—Then I’m certain I’ll become an incredibly powerful mage! —I shouted, unable to contain myself.

—I am sure you will —a familiar voice said from the doorway.

I turned and found Siena entering the study with a tray in her hands. A steaming drink rested upon it, probably meant to help me relax after that morning’s etiquette lesson.

I immediately ran over to her.

—I’m going to work as hard as I can! —I declared as I accepted the drink.

Then another question crossed my mind.

—Siena, what class are you?

She paused before answering, a faintly melancholic expression passing over her face.

—Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to undergo my ritual at the proper age —she explained—. Back then, I didn’t have the resources required. I had to wait until I was ten years old—one year before you were born.

—Then you don’t have a class? —I asked, genuinely worried.

She shook her head and gave me a faint smile.

—That isn’t what I meant. I do have a class. I’m a swordswoman, just like the other maids in this house. I only received it later than most, so I’m not as skilled in the different techniques yet. Sebastian is the only mage here. Your father is also a swordsman, while your mother is a summoner—or a caster, if you prefer that term.

The revelation left me stunned. I drank the infusion as quickly as I could, nearly swallowing it in one gulp. Warmth spread through me, and I hurried back to the table, opening the books Sebastian had given me with renewed enthusiasm.

—Now I’m motivated! —I announced, turning the pages with determination.

Deep down, however, I couldn’t deny a trace of disappointment. Part of me had truly hoped to practice something that very day—to feel even the smallest spark of real power in my own hands.

But that would have to wait. Until then, the best thing I could do was prepare myself as thoroughly as possible.

With that thought firmly planted in my mind, I devoted myself to the books, determined to absorb every word.

Part 3

Those three long months felt endless.

Every day was nothing but study, study, and more study. I barely had any freedom compared to before.

I used to stay awake with Siena until late at night, listening to stories and fairy tales.

But now… I didn’t have time for any of that.

Even so, the days somehow flew by. And although it was difficult to believe, my birthday was only two days away.

I sat across from Sebastian in the study, reviewing everything I had learned.

—Three final questions—and the most important ones —he announced as he paced in front of me with his hands clasped behind his back—. What function does a prana stone serve, and which classes benefit from it?

I answered almost automatically. The knowledge felt natural by now, though I made an effort to explain more than was strictly necessary.

—It benefits mages and casters by increasing the amount of mana available to the person using it. A caster can also use one to summon certain familiars. The higher the stone’s quality, the greater the chance of summoning something truly powerful—and the easier it becomes to control that summon.

—Next question —Sebastian continued without stopping—. What abilities can the warrior class develop?

—They can develop Berserk, Bloodlust, and Mass Taunt —I replied—. Of those abilities, Mass Taunt is the most commonly used, especially when someone needs to draw every enemy’s attention, endure high-impact attacks, and protect their allies.

—Final question. Name the different sword styles available to the swordsman class in this world.

—Water Style, Lightning Style, Assassin Style, Beast Style, and the most important of all—the Holy Style —I answered without hesitation—. The Holy Style was the one used by the hero Edric. My father.

Sebastian fell silent. An expression I rarely saw him show so openly crossed his face. Then he stepped closer and, without warning, embraced me with a genuine pride unlike anything I had felt from him before.

—I am proud to have trained you these past several months —he said, his voice slightly deeper than usual—. You are completely ready, young master.

Siena, who had been sitting off to one side throughout the review, approached and hugged me with the same warmth.

—Tomorrow, I’ll stay with you through everything that happens —she promised—. But for now, it is time for you to take a bath and get to bed early.

Before leaving, I couldn’t resist asking one final question.

—What time will Mother and Father arrive tomorrow?

She smiled and fixed a lock of hair that had fallen out of place during the lesson.

—They will probably arrive in the morning. Since spring has already begun, they shouldn’t have any trouble with the journey.

Beaming with happiness, I stretched and left the study, leaving Siena and Sebastian behind as I headed toward my room. Along the way, I remembered everything I had experienced over the past few months—every lesson, every corrected mistake, every afternoon of practice—and felt that all of it was finally about to bear fruit.

Tomorrow would be the day of my ritual. My birthday celebration would follow the day after.

I was genuinely excited about everything to come. From what I had been told, the ritual would take place at around five in the afternoon. The kingdom’s most important nobles would arrive tomorrow alongside my father, traveling in a grand caravan like a procession of dignitaries. To be honest, that thought frightened me as much as it excited me.

I considered all of this while undressing and sinking into the large bath Noor had prepared for me. Truthfully, I was far more focused on the ritual than on the bath itself.

Then I suddenly remembered something I had pushed completely out of my mind.

Choose a partner, huh?

I hadn’t thought about that since the night it was first mentioned. Some of the nobles would surely bring their daughters with them tomorrow.

I could only hope that at least one of them would suit my tastes.

Still thinking about it, I sank lower into the tub until the hot water nearly reached my chin.

Once I finished bathing, I returned to my room and immediately collapsed onto the bed, determined to finally get some rest.

Even so, I couldn’t suppress a certain amount of fear. I would see my parents after so long. Any normal child my age would probably be bursting with excitement, yet all I felt was anxiety.

Would I live up to their expectations?

What kind of person was my mother? And my father? What if they turned out to be bitter nobles who cared only about money and appearances?

There was no way to know what awaited me the next day. All I knew was that I couldn’t be afraid. After everything I had heard about my father during those months, I had to prove that I was worthy of being his son.

I knew he was a good man. I knew they would accept me.

Or at least, I hoped they would.

With that final thought, I drifted off to sleep.

* * *

The next morning, I jolted awake when someone whispered directly into my ear.

—Hey.

I sat up at once, but when I looked around, no one else was in the room. Confused, I checked the time. It was only six in the morning.

What was that sound I just heard?

Still half asleep, I decided to get up anyway. There was no chance I would fall asleep again after that. I dressed in the elegant clothes Siena had prepared especially for the occasion and stepped into the hallway. The mansion was already filling with the sounds of the maids preparing everything for the day ahead.

I couldn’t find Siena anywhere. The other maids insisted that, just for that morning, I should eat breakfast alone. I agreed, of course. It wasn’t as though I was the kind of person who expected everyone else to serve me while I did nothing.

I took a pair of bread rolls filled with meat and cheese, carried a warm cup outside, and sat on the steps before the mansion’s main entrance.

As I ate, I watched the sunrise slowly wash the entire landscape in a soft golden glow.

Nearly an hour passed.

Just as the sun finished rising over the horizon, I spotted a carriage in the distance, traveling along the road toward the mansion.

Mother? Father?

Excitement flooded my mind. I hurried to put away the empty cup and the plate, which no longer held even a crumb, then stood and assumed the exact posture Siena had taught me through so many training sessions.

When the carriage stopped before the entrance, a guard in full armor climbed down from the driver’s seat, where he had been holding the reins, and moved to open the door. I bowed with the elegance I had practiced countless times and began to speak.

—Welcome. I have been waiting for you for a very long time. I may not completely live up to your expectations, but… I promise I will become someone worthy of you…

Just as I was about to say, Welcome home, Mother, Father, I raised my head.

Two girls stepped down from the carriage in front of me. They wore identical, elegant red dresses, and their hair had been arranged in nearly symmetrical styles.

For a moment, I wondered whether something I had eaten had made me sick, because I could have sworn I was seeing double.

Wait… are they twins?

The guard accompanying them announced in a clear, solemn voice:

—Their Highnesses, Princess Aurelia and Princess Wren Sorvain of the Kingdom of Sorvain, cousins to Lady Elira Ashborne.

My heart lurched.

Princesses? My mother’s cousins?

Before I could fully process the information, I quickly connected the pieces. If they were my mother’s cousins, then they were almost certainly my cousins as well.

Royal cousins. From a kingdom I hadn’t even known existed until a few seconds ago.

Both girls wore thoroughly irritated expressions, their arms crossing almost in unison. It looked as though merely stepping out of the carriage had already ruined their morning—and my ridiculous greeting certainly hadn’t improved it.

Damn it. What kind of trouble have I gotten myself into now?