23 Age Ten – Celeste Varethe part 1

Soft light peeked through the window curtains of quaint homes as the vermillion moon stood high into the sky. The people of Daerin, awoken by the toll of the city bell, bustled with activity as they got ready to start their day.

At a certain residence, the light slowly inching across the room peeled away some of the darkness to reveal a young girl still fast asleep. On her pillow, strands of long crimson hair untidily scattered; a testament to her messy sleeping habit. Only as the moonlight trickled onto her face and announced its presence did she show signs of waking.

“...Today, I am ten years old. Will you come visit me Papa?”

Her unfolding vision obstructed by her hair, she pursed her lips to blow them aside and revealed a set of glimmering crimson red. She then turned her attention outside the window in deep thought.

There was the moon illuminating the city of Daerin; the bit of warmth it emanated indicated the arrival of a dawn peculiar to this city. It was a morning that would come about, not by the advent of the rising sun, but with the tolling of a bell and the fluctuating radiance of vermillion above.

“Hah...” Celeste gave out a light sigh before leaving her bedroom and heading downstairs. Walking through a dim corridor, she felt heat weaving through the air from an open doorway. Inside, her mother was in front of a brick oven, preparing a humble breakfast.

“You're awake, Celeste?” her mother spoke affectionately.

Attired with an apron accentuating a slender physique, with sturdy movements indicating a well-trained body; her light brown hair was swept behind slightly long and pointed ears, revealing a small, beautiful face with emerald green eyes. Taking the last name of Celeste's father, her name was Stella Varethe.

“Good morning mama,” Celeste replied, and her face brightened at the sight of her mother's brick oven. It was fired up which meant that her mother was in the middle of baking.

The glum mood she had woken up with was no more, as the warm, slightly sweet aroma of fresh bread tickled her nose and beckoned her closer.

Celeste asked, “Mama, can I take one?”

“Go ahead, but be careful, they're hot,” Stella chuckled sweetly, Celeste's face was already by the counter and had in her hand a single roll of bread.

“Mmma—“ the mischievous girl spoke just before a bite, “Wwll whawa bbe aack hohay?”

“Dear, I didn't understand a word. Don't speak with food in your mouth,” Stella scolded.

Celeste hastily chewed, a glint of hope in her eyes as she asked again, “Mama? Will papa be back today?”

Stella sighed lightly before replying with an apologetic smile, “I'm sorry dear, but I don't think papa will be back for your birthday.”

—B-But it's my birthday...

Celeste's shoulders drooped visibly as she paused while taking a second bite; the piece of bread moistening on top of her tongue lost a bit of flavor.

Stella put on an obvious pout, “What's this? Is there something wrong with my bread rolls?”

“Ah! I like mama's bread rolls!” hearing her mother's sly tone, Celeste quickly shook her head and wolfed down the roll of bread, earning her another scolding for eating in haste.

It was only occasionally that her mother would bake. They would usually have meals of only rice and vegetables— meat was a luxury so Celeste never developed a taste— leaving only her mother's baking to be greatly desired.

Stella handed her a cup of milk to wash it down and gazed at her lovingly. Bright Crimson hair and eyes, Celeste's distinct features were inherited from her husband; but her daughter's crumb-filled face, given a couple more years, would surely become as beautiful as hers.

Today was Celeste's tenth birthday; how Stella wished they could've celebrated under better circumstances.

“...Mama, aren't you going to eat?” Her mother falling silent, Celeste reached out a roll of bread— it was a second one that already had an imprint of her teeth.

Stella smiled cheerfully at the clumsy gesture and bit off a small piece, “Let's move everything to the table first, yes? We shouldn't have our meal on the kitchen counter.”

The kitchen and the residence's dining room being in adjacent rooms without a wall— Celeste placed her bread roll atop the tray with the others and brought it to the table. She continued eating once her mother brought the wooden plates, cups, and the milk.

—Sweet! Bread is sweet!

Although baked plainly without filling or any sweetening glaze, the warm fluff and chewy texture she felt within every bite made the bread taste very delicious— even more so as Celeste glanced at her mother's happy expression.

—Although, it sure would taste even better if everyone was here. Father, uncle...

Celeste eyed two vacant seats at the table, expressing longing for their usual occupants. She would see them rarely nowadays as an urgent matter it seemed, had frequently required their presence away from home.

—Wish... My wish...

“If one made a wish on their birthday, it would be more likely to come true,” her mother once mentioned. And along with the fact that a child's tenth birthday held a certain amount of significance in Daerin, Celeste decided to make a simple wish.

—I wish that everyone can eat together on the table.

Celeste's appetite improved after inwardly stating her desire, and she managed to clear almost half the tray of bread herself. Stella tried to warn her of a stomachache if she ate too much, but eventually relented, saying “Well, it's your birthday, after all! Eat as much as you want, I'll make some more later!”

A full stomach later, Celeste fell asleep. Breakfast tired her it seemed, and she was carried over to a long piece of furniture with soft paddings.

“Hah...”Over at the sitting room, Stella sighed while gently stroking Celeste's head laying on her lap. The house was too quiet with just the two of them, but it couldn't be helped.

Stella muttered, “Though the city needs her father... It could also be argued that Celeste needs him the same.” She sighed again and laid her head backward to rest as her tired consciousness drifted off into sleep.

It was about an hour later that the mother and daughter pair woke up and returned to the dining room to finish off the remainder the bread rolls.