Nothing much has happened in the month since the kidnapping attempt.  It is a ritual to hold a funeral service for the dead here, but nobody gets buried.  Cremation is the usual funeral ending and have their ashes scattered.  It seems to stem from the belief that most in this empire view as correct.  Creation of the body from mana and so the body burns to release the mana while the soul departs after they died.

I gave my apologies to the family that was mourning the loss of their loved one.  His name was Bryan Everheart, and he wanted to serve our family because we are one keeper of peace.  He very much viewed himself as a bodyguard who would give his life for his job if need be.  The only thing I could offer was flowers, and it still makes me feel terrible that someone gave their life for mine.

After the solemn nature of the funeral was a return to reading, I learned about the differences between humans in my old world and demons.  Demons in this world have the magic crystal behind the sternum and horns that allow us to gather magic quicker.  The horns help convert mana from ambient mana into always-accessible self-controlled magic.  

This is how mana manipulation helps increase the rate of magic recovery.  Mana manipulation also makes it easier to contort your own magic, helping with spells, so it is one of the most important skills to get to become a magician.  Anyways, even though the body of the demon has a long lifespan; growth rate compared to humans is the same.  The demon population is a lot less fertile though, and it also seems that light mana and level can affect how long people can live.

Anyways, since I know quite a bit about mana from Tina, and most of the biology of from my major.  I wonder what types of plants are in this book? Oh, I have one of the level 3 plants "Glowing Sundrills" and the rainbow petaled plant isn't listed, I wonder where Tina got it.  Anyways, Tina got a temper when she returned.  It was about having to wear a top hat and monocle everywhere she went yesterday because she couldn't get the mana to disperse.  

I dispersed them after I had my fill of chuckling while looking a cute little fairy pout.  It has been my running gag with her since I first did it a month ago.  I did it as she was leaving yesterday so she wouldn't notice.  Tina also now allows Ellie to join us sometimes even though it ticked her off that Ellie found her out.

I've been trying to ask Ellie and mom what type of magic they use, but each of them is keeping mum.  All I recognized was of a spatial dimension and water snakes she twiddles around her fingers.

Anyways, today is my birthday and even though this year has been more tumultuous than any other year I have been in this world.  It has also been a year where I learned far more about myself than I have in a long time.  Also emotions suck, but love doesn't.  I love my family and friends; I can only hope that everything in my next year of life is far more laid back.  

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Back to Tina after she stopped pouting she pulled out a gift wrapped in some interesting leaves. I opened it with gloves though because Tina has an odd sense of humor.  She sometimes puts paralytic on things she gives me.  Truthfully, I would also laugh at myself considering how obvious it is, and that she heals it right after, but this prank war has just started and I will win.  

Anyways, as I peal off the leaves she clicks her tongue like I avoided her trap.  Inside is a bracelet that has a monster core of every type of magic other than death.  It is awesome and I grab the little fairy and give her a hug.  Awww, she turned bashful, it's adorable.  Oh, Ellie sneaked in while I was opening it and she has a smirk directed at Tina.

I probably should ask Ellie what she's doing.

"Hi Ellie, what are you doing?"

"Well mistress, I would remind little fairy here that she should say it was from both of us."

Oh, so that was the reason for the smirk, that and Tina's uncomfortableness.  I wonder if Ellie would react the same to a hug.  Probably not, I hug her all the time, but I want to so no harm to it.  So I run up to Ellie while saying, "Thank you too Ellie" and give her a hug.

I guess they let me sleep in until noon that is why it felt so late.

After Ellie helped me get dressed, I headed to the dining room.  I happily smiled as I mom, dad, and my friends surprised me.  

They all said in unison, ""Happy Birthday, Ally!!""

I go up and give everybody a hug. Sometimes you just have to accept a happy situation.  Then we ate.  A birthday is usually just celebrated by people you are close to in this world, and at least in my case followed by a buffet.  As we were keeping ourselves from passing out from a food coma, my dad and mom gave me a present of an extra dimensional ring.

The ring was special and held more value because it was mom who created it.  It also has a size that could hold all the stuff that would fit in my room, so that just makes it giant.  Kylie, Rose, Kade, and Tristan got me a pup that was the size of a bear cub.  My eyes sparkled, and my mind turned giddy because it meant that my parents had approved of letting me take care of an animal.  It was a rank four monster based on what my mom said.  As I picked her up, she snuggled into my chest with her snow white fur with a short tail.  Her parents were of the wolf monster family.  I couldn't think of a name on the spot so I left it for tomorrow.

"Thank you everyone, you are the best"

Rose responded "Of Course."

Kylie smiled brilliantly while both Tristan and Kade said, ""You're welcome""

Mom and dad gave me a hug and everybody then bounded off as the maids cleaned up everything.  It was a fun day and I hope that the little pup will like me as an owner.  I was running through the motions as I was petting my pup, I ended up auto piloting into bed.  Hopefully, I can figure out a name fitting of her.  I whispered, "Night Ellie, Night Tina, Night mom, Night dad, Night little pup."

As I closed my eyes Ellie whispered as she closed the door, "Night Ally, you really needed a break."