“But, we lost!” Dalton did not look as happy as his sisters, never enjoying being handed something without having a sense of earning it. Birthdays, after years of negotiating, was an exception that he allowed.

Natakia shushed him, a finger to her lips, as if her brother might convince me to take back my offer. I shook my head, stepping into a small closet to remove the box I’d hidden inside as they argued.

After Daka had found last year’s birthday presents, a set of magical training weights I had commissioned, I’d found many places where my most rambunctious would not think to look.

“Yay! Presents!” Daka called out as I came back into the room, the oaken box in my arms.

Natakia looked a tad suspicious, “One box, three of us.”

Dalton crossed his arms, looking away.

Kneeling down, I placed the box on the ground between my children and I, “You’re getting these now because you all proved yourself capable and…perhaps, I want some time for you all to all enjoy my gifts before Aunt Penny arrives and once again humbles me.”

Natakia hid a smile behind her daintily raised hand and Daka giggled. Dalton seemed unconvinced, but he was looking at me again with a tiny frown. I’m sure he would be happy he’d paid attention in a moment.

“First,” I said, “Daka, open the box.”

Stars shining in her eyes, Daka dove onto the box, Natakia and Dalton looking on in curiosity. She tore the wooden top off and looked inside, her entire body freezing as she looked inside.

“Is this…?” With as much gentleness as my little warrior could muster, Daka slowly removed her gift from the box, the metal of its tan blade glinting as it reflected the sunlight from the nearby window.

A throwing axe, properly weighted for throwing and close combat, with a strong black wood bound in metal for its handle. It was smaller than my own collection, perfect for my daughter.

I leaned over, helping her keep the axe aloft as I glided my finger over the tan metal of the blade, “It’s crafted from ramlian, found under the plateaus of Rusk. Poor material for enchanting, but…it is considered one of the finest materials for conducting Vitae.”

Daka looked up at me, tears in her bright blue eyes, “My own axe?”

“Yes,” I wiped her tears, “One that I will be properly teaching you to wield, in the same way that I do. Our training will be much harder now and I will no longer be teaching you idle techniques. You will learn those of our ancestors.”

“That…sounds amazing, Dad.” There was a mystified undertone in her voice as she held her axe with reverence.

I let her digest her excitement before I burdened it with my expectations for this training. The time would come for me to speak of the responsibilities and the history of our techniques. Daka could learn things so quickly, I knew I would have to slow her down for her to understand the gravity of what I taught her.

“Ahem,” A small voice got my attention, my eyes going over to Natakia with her arms crossed, looking somewhat peeved.

Smiling, I went to sit with Natakia and Dalton on the couch, letting Daka enjoy the weight of her gift. Dalton was looking at the blade with a calculating look in his eyes.

It was always difficult to purchase things without him finding the records for it, but I’d managed to pull it off for now.

“I don’t suppose there is a nice dress in that box, as well?” Natakia was looking up at me expectantly, making me chuckle at her tone.

I motioned to the box, “No, there is no dress in the box. Instead, I have this for you.”

Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a letter that smelled faintly of roses, the perfume having persisted weeks after I’d received it.

She took it from my hands, haste coloring her usual properness, and opened it with a look in her eyes that was remarkably similar to Daka’s.

Natakia opened the letter up and read aloud as her eyes coasted across the letter, “Dear Lady Natakia Velbrun, you are hereby invited…Rose Gala…and the capital estate of Lord Gren Iriend for… for the annual ladies gathering.”

There was a silence for a moment as she read over the various details more quickly, the dress code, the proper times, the agenda, and other ladies of her age that would be in attendance.

“I never had a debut before…” Tears ran down her cheeks, her bright unrestrained smile a salve on my soul at having made my daughter cry, even in joy.

Hugging her close, I smiled, “I know you haven’t had much chance to speak to many of your age. After your birthday, we’ll all be going to the capital.”

“I don’t, but, I, I-” Natakia struggled with the letter, “I don’t have a dress for this. I need…I need the perfect dress.”

“We’ll buy you one in the capital, as fine as we can find.” I’d been setting aside money for this since my children uttered their first words.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“And…And Macy…”

“Macy can come as well, pending her mother’s approval.” Doh had said yes a week ago, on the condition that she and Dresden come with as well.

She hugged me, her crying face smothered into my chest and I wrapped my arms around her, tightly pulling her against me as she privately thanked me over and over. Another pair of arms, Daka’s, crashed into me.

“This is the best birthday ever!” Daka’s grip was strong and filled with love as she held her sister and I in her embrace.

And yet, I opened my eyes to look at the last of my children. Dalton, his gaze suspicious and yet eager, seemed reluctant to join in on the family hug.

Gently pulling away from Natakia and Daka, and letting them continue hugging each other, I said, “I have one more gift to hand out.”

Standing up and moving over to my son, I held out my hand to stand him up as well. He acquiesced, his features tight as I made no motion, yet, to bring out his gift.

“Dalton, you possess ambition that reminds me of so many that came before you,” I said, holding his gaze with my own, “Sometimes, I am concerned about the way you see people, that you confuse them with the numbers you cling to.”

Dalton frowned, “Father…”

I held up a hand, “And yet, I know that you have, much like your sister, felt constrained by Gelvurt. What you seek and the opportunities to learn important lessons cannot be granted here in full or overnight”

Pulling out the second letter I had in my back pocket, I handed it over to my son. He took it from me, opening the letter to read, but said nothing aloud as his eyes skimmed over the contents.

And yet, his eyes widening was enough for me to know he recognized what was in his hands. Daka and Natakia watched on with interest, neither accustomed to Dalton looking so shocked.

“While the ownership is legally within my hands,” I said, taking my son by the shoulder, “This property belongs to you, with both the business decisions and profit solely within your hands.”

I looked at all of them, turning slightly from facing solely Dalton.

“While we are in the capital, and you are all exempt from your lessons at the academy, I will support all of you as you take the first steps in your journey to adulthood,” I said, my eyes burning, “I…you will have to be kind to my heart. It isn’t…watching all of you grow up will not be easy for m-”

Daka’s form hit me forcefully, throwing me into a hug again as I welcomed gratefully as I wrapped my arms around her, Natakia swiftly coming over to join in on the family embrace. A few moments later, I even felt the arms of my son join us.

“Thank you,” Dalton’s voice sounded strained, almost unfamiliar with its attempt at warmth, “Father.”

My thoughts went to his hidden skills, the spells I’d never noticed him practice or learn, but I decided those questions could wait for another time, another day. They would not be going anywhere and this...this was a moment to cherish.

----------------------------------------

A day later, my children were eagerly waiting beside me on the balcony of our keep, looking out onto the horizon as the sun began to set.

“Do you see them, Daka?” Natakia was squinting her eyes.

Daka’s eyes flared with Vitae, “Uh, not yet. Maybe they got los-Wait! I totally see them!”

“Really!?”

“Oh wait, that was a deer.”

Dalton steepled his fingers over the edge of the balcony’s edge, “I don’t see why we have to wait for them every year, they’ll knock on the door when they arrive.”

“Uncle Shawn loves it when we wave at them,” I reminded my son.

“Wait,” Daka screamed, pointing out towards the forest line, “Now I totally see them!”

And sure enough, breaking through the tree line, was a carriage pulled by brilliant green horses, riding towards the keep faster and smoother than any normal horse could have managed.

I held up my hand, “Alright, kids, wave!”

Daka danced on the balcony, both of her arms wildly waving in the air, as her sister waved at the approaching carriage with a prim and proper raise of her hand. Dalton managed a weak wave, not looking interested.

“I’m gonna go greet ‘em!” Daka jumped up onto the balcony rail before leaping off towards the ground below, sending my heart through my chest even if I’d seen her do it a thousand times before.

I chuckled, calming my pulse, “Your sister has the right idea, let’s go greet them.”

Natakia nodded, walking inside the keep to head downstairs. Dalton followed, sending a glance back towards where Daka had jumped off of.

“She’s going to break her neck one day,” He said.

I took a deep breath, still calming myself, “Not from this height.”

It was only a small relief.