The summer season, when I first met Richt passed pretty fast. It's winter now and also the time when Richt will hit his adulthood. Today is Richt's birthday. The whole mansion is busy with the preparation. A lot of things have changed since then. Richt and I are now best friends. Well he still have a reserved personality but being introverted is not a big deal. Also, it's not like he doesn't know how to talk with others. His aura is on a different level and he he is strong too. He even grew taller than me. He is like a bamboo tree with lot of muscles now. His control over magic also increased a lot.

"..... Noah, come down and eat something." Richt called out Noah who was in his crow form and was flying high.

"Coming" I landed fast with a swish sound on Richt's arm that he was holding out. He patted me as he smiled. His long fingers brushed through my crow fur.

'Damn... It feels so good.'

"You can fly really well now." Richt commented as he carried the bird Noah near the window of the library. For a year now, it was like their favorite spot. The window of the library room was huge and connected to a backside garden that no one visits after Richt's mother died. It then became a practice ground for Richt and Noah.

"Of course, not only the appearance but my ability somehow copied the instincts of a crow. See, didn't I told you that it's a really cool ability."

"Was that also why you almost ate an earthworm. Out of crow instincts, that is."

I flied out of Richt's arm and transformed back to my human form.

"Ahem, everything have it's own downplay, you know."

"Sure, sure."

"Don't smirk you jerk. Even you can't transform into a crow, you wannabe wizard."

"Of course, a low life like me can't have such cool ability like yours afterall."

"...... Jerk"

"Okay, okay. I am sorry. Don't sulk, I will let you braid my hair today as an apology."

"For real"

"When did I ever lie to you?"

I love playing with his long and silky hair. At first he was edgy when I first offered to tie his hair, but then he started liking it too. He doesn't like when others touch his hair, so his hair were never tied. I tied his hair in a bun and pony but never braided them. He thought he will look funny with braids, so he always said not to braid his hair. But, today is different. Damn, I even bought a pink hairclip with a cute pig face on it, from a street vendor. My lips twitched when he said he would let me braid his hair.

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"Then sit tight dear customer."

"Heh.... Looks like I am going to regret my decision sooner than I expected."

"Shut up" Richt chuckled as he sat on the chair while facing the window. I picked a comb and started brushing his hair. It was quite as I brushed and then started braiding his hair with a serious face. Richt smiled faintly as he fed Noah the chips and fruits. He liked it when Noah play with his hair. His long hair were like a nightmare to him but not anymore.

Richt was born by adultery between his father and his mother who was a pub dancer. When his mother got pregnant with him, his father took responsibility for it and married her. But, a marriage without love doesn't last long. Even though his father never had any other women, he stopped paying attention to his wife after some time and immersed himself in work as the household started growing stronger. That's also why his mother started abusing him. His mother never let him chop his hair. Apparently, when she first met his father he also had such long and beautiful white hair.

"Hey it's done, look." Noah put a mirror in front of Richt.

'Oh my... He looks like Elsa.' Noah's lips twitched as he looked at his masterpiece.

'I wonder who Elsa is.... Hmm. Elsa seems like a girl's name. Well he did say that he is gay, so she isn't a crush then a friend. I thought I am his only friend though....tsk'

"I would rather stick to a bun or pony."

"I agree, you look funny." Richt's eyebrows twitched.

"Oh I have a gift for you." Noah grinned slyly as his eyes curved in crescent moon.

"Oh my.... I can't wait to find out what it is?" Noah took out the pig faced cute pink hairclip and clipped it on Richt's hair.

"Ho...... Do you really want me to keep it."

"It's a gift. You decide." Nonetheless Richt didn't remove the hairclip.

"Hey, what do you want for your birthday?"

"Well, I don't specifically need anything."

"Still it's your birthday."

"Umm.... Then how about you bake some cookies for me."

"Well that's easy."

"Did you decide what course you will be taking at the academy. We will be going there after a month."

"Huh... Dunno. I suck at magic control and I have no intentions of learning something dangerous like swordsmanship and all. The battle tactics class consume too much brain cells. So, I will pass on that too. I was thinking about culinary."

"Culinary?"

"Yup, I want to open my own restaurant anyway. So, why not?"

"Will I get a discount when you become a restaurant owner."

"You will have to pay double. If you become the magic tower master then you will have a lot of money. So, no discount for you."

This past year Richt took a major decision. He declared that he don't want to be the next Duke and will compete to be the next Magic Tower Master. So, he asked his father to pass on the title of the Duke to his cousin. His father didn't rebel and accepted Richt's decision.

"You sure are stingy. What if I fail to be a tower master?"

"Then, I will feed you in exchange of you being our ambassador."

"Sounds good to me." We were chatting among ourselves when the butler entered the room.

"Young Master Richt, Young Master Noah, all of the guests have arrived. So, the Duke asked me to call you two over." The Butler's jaw dropped after seeing Richt's appearance, but he quickly regained his professional self.

"Are you going there like that, young master."

"Well.... Why not?"

"..... Yes" The butler looked at me as if saying 'please stop him'. Well I can't ignore a person in need, being a benevolent person I am.

"Ho.... Are you serious. I mean yeah you do look kinda cute but what about your serious slash powerful image."

"So?"

'Aigoo..... I personally won't mind if he goes to the party like this. He will look funny and I will have something to tease him for a whole year. But, it's his birthday and there will be a lot of kids of his age. They are also the ones who will join the academy with us. I can't make him a laughing matter like that.'

"Now, now stop being an idiot and sit your tall ass down." Noah pulled Richt to sit on the chair and fixed his hair. He didn't tie them and left them open. Richt was wearing a black outfit and blue earrings.

'Damn.... He looks hot.' Richt's lips twitched after hearing the compliment that Noah never spoke out loud.

"Shall we go"

Richt nodded his head and took the lead.

'Those bastards will be here too.' Richt's eyes turned cold and his smile disappeared as he walked closer and closer toward the hall.

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