"Master Ace! Master Ace!"
George turned around and stood up as he heard the voice calling for Ace Young, the leader of this village. He quickly went to pat down his clothes and arrange his looks, feeling something was odd he looked down and noticed that his hemp shirt and pants were missing, replaced instead with a smooth high-quality silk. He immediately began to feel all over the silken shirt, tracing the golden dragon embroidered into the shoulder the worked its way wrapping around his chest. The pants were similar but without the dragon imagery.
With a sigh, George began to admire the stitching and how it fits him perfectly. The creator of these two pieces of clothing was a master. Enraptured in the world of fabric and clothes design George failed to notice the man that had walked into the room and was standing in the door frame.
"Cough" The man said, not actually coughing but saying the word. With a start, George looked up as he was snapped back to reality. Standing in front of him was the leader of this village Ace Young, he was tall with long flowing golden hair and a deep blue robe, the same man that declared his birthday while wearing that evil grin.
"Ace sir!" George stood at attention before bowing in respect. One hand placed over his heart and the other behind his back.
"Enough with the over the top formalities George." Ace said with a shake of his head and an exasperated face. Ace walked toward George and placed a firm hand onto his shoulder. "You did a good job earlier George, It is a rare thing for a newly created system user to be able to win their birthday celebration. I have not seen those skills before, especially the one that destroyed my water dragon! I wonder what you..." Suddenly in the middle of his sentence, Ace's face went blank, his eyes losing their light as he froze in place. "Sorry George, I got ahead of my self," Ace said as the light returned to his eyes. "Now let's go get you some food and celebrate your birthday!"
With a sudden turn Ace left through the door he had just entered but with George in tow this time. They left the room and proceded down a white hallway with wooden floors. With some small talk, they continued to walk until they reached a wide double door made of black metal. "Now George I will tell you that Benny is not to keen on you for what you did and might try and cause some trouble with you. I give you permission as the owner of this mansion to defend yourself if needed." Ace said as he turned before the doors and looked at George. "Just don't kill him. But enough of that talk! Let's get you some of Marian's cake she made for you"
With that, he snapped his fingers and the metal doors silently opened. As George followed him through, the doors the closed behind them. They had walked into a giant room with a grand chandelier hanging in the middle, colorful paintings adorned the walls along with fantastical statues of living metal. These living statues walked back and forth between tables carrying trays of drinks and food to guests that lounged around talking amongst themselves.
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Ace picked up a glass from a nearby statue and tapped against it attracting everyone's attention. "Our guest of honor has arrived! let the party commence!" With those words, a cheer went up from all those in attendance. "Now George lets go mingle and chat while the last of the food is being prepared." Ace said as he began to walk towards his wife on the far side of the room.
George just stood there for a minute before grabbing a drink himself and found a seat. With a well-practiced motion, he elegantly sat down into the chair while taking a sip of his drink. As he well practiced placed his glass on the stone table he felt a light pressure on his head. "Hello Kate, He said with a smile"
"Hello, Little George!" Kate the pixie said as she leaned over the front of his head and looked him in the eyes. "Did you have a good rest? You looked all tuckered out earlier" Kate chuckled while patting George between the eyebrows.
"Yes Kate, I had a wonderful rest. Thank you for worrying about my wellbeing." George replied as he took another sip of his drink. "Thank you as well for saving me from falling to my death earlier. Ace went too far on that one I think."
"Oh! you are welcome. I am sure Ace did not mean it, we were all surprised when you managed to destroy his water dragon!" Kate giggled as she flew down to hover in front of Georges' face. "My baby girl almost managed to beat you little George! She still has to learn not to overstress her self though!" With a shudder, George shook in remembrance of Penny.
"Yes she almost did, her powers are still so scary"
"Oh phooey, they are not that scary!" Kate replied with a smile filled with razor-sharp teeth. "Well I better get going I see someone else wants to talk with the birthday boy. I hope you enjoy the party!" She giggled as she drifted away into the crowds.
"So! Birthday boy George got himself a gift did he" Benny said in a smug voice as he walked past holding his head high. "Don't worry I will make sure to get you back for this!"
"George! There you are, mother, wants you to be there when she wheels out the cake so you can cut it!" Vivian ran up pulling on his arm.
Getting up George allowed Vivian to pull him towards the front of the room. He too was anticipating the cake that Marian had made. She truly deserved her title of Master Chef. They reached the front as Marian rolled out a large object covered with a white sheet.
"Ah, there he is! Come, George, Everyone is waiting!" Marian stated with a wide grin. With a single skilled pull, the sheet was removed to reveal a 10-foot tall multi-layered cake. A cheer went up in the crowd at the unveiling of the giant tower of sugary chocolaty goodness. With his mouth salivating at the thought of having some, George quickly picked up the knife and cut himself the first piece. Placing it on a plate he took a bite and was in heaven. All around him, people swarmed to get a piece themselves, but George noticed none of it lost in the flavors and texture of this sweet treat.