32 A Man?

Lucian freezes as a surprisingly familiar face stands, just a few feet away.

"Layla?"

Layla stands before Lucian, beaming such a beautiful smile that the rest of the world fades away.

"Wow." Lucian blurts out.

'She's changed so much.'

Layla now stands a few inches taller than Lucian. Her hair, now platinum blonde with small curls fluttering from her trademark pigtails. Her skin is a smooth white contrasting her eyes. Her irises now shine with an alluring pink hue. The curls of her hair flow smoothly down the outline of a black laced off-shoulder dress.

Lucian blushes as he slowly loses himself in Layla.

'If I was just a bit younger, I would say she is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.'

Layla's voice quickly snaps Lucian out of his daze.

"Do you like it?" She coos, twirling around to show off her dress.

Lucian gulps.

"It looks...great." He replies at a loss for words.

Layla pouts at his disappointing response.

"That's all..." she trails off.

Layla elegantly snaps out of her pouting and grabs Lucian by the arm.

"Huh!?" Lucian yelps in surprise as he's dragged away.

He looks to Harald in a plead for help.

Harald smiles, giving him a wink. Mouthing the word "surprise."

Lucian is dragged off towards the center of the hall, where a large banquet table has been arranged. Familiar faces stand around the table, chatting away happily.

Of these familiar faces, Lucian is slowly approaching one in particular.

"Mom! Look, Lucian's changed too!" Layla exclaims.

Frida turns from her conversation with Lilith, looking to Lucian now.

"Uh...Hi, Frida." Lucian says awkwardly.

Frida looks him up and down with a surprised look.

"Boy, you really have changed!" She exclaims while pulling him in close for a hug.

"Mmph!" Lucian muffles a cry as Frida nearly suffocates him.

Her hold lasts for a few more moments before she releases him.

Lucian gleefully gasps for air as he escapes from her clutches.

"You're muscular for your age! Though, still not as strong as a single mother!" She jokes, giving him a wink.

"Thank you?" He replies, questioning the depth of her compliment.

Frida points to Layla.

"I think she's changed a bit more than you thought. My little girl has become a totally different person after her awakening."

Lucian pauses and looks over Layla again.

"It makes so much sense now. I honestly wouldn't have recognized her if it weren't for those pigtails."

Frida nods.

"Yes, she still refuses to do anything but pigtails. I wish she would style it to something more mature." She replies with a sigh.

"Hey! My pigtails are cute!"

"Why do I have to change them!?" She exclaims with a rebellious scowl.

Layla turns to Lucian with a puppy-eye look.

"You like them, right Lucian?"

'Oh god. Why do I have to be the one to answer this.'

"Yes...they're cute," Lucian says, faking his best smile.

Layla lights up with his compliment.

"See!" She shouts to Frida, victorious.

'So she's awakened. I wonder what kind of affinity she has. Pink is such an ambiguous color.'

"Layla, do you know what kind of magic you can use?"

Layla's victorious smile instantly fades.

"No...All I know is that I'm an awakened. Mother and I didn't only come for your birthday. We also wanted to ask the Marquis if he would take me on as an Apprentice too."

Lucian's expression turns to surprise.

'If I think about it. It does make sense. I'm just worried about what that means for me if she becomes his apprentice too. I'll never escape her clutches again...'

Lucian shakes his head, trying to put those thoughts out of his mind.

"Clink! Clink! Clink!"

Harald taps his wine glass with a spoon, causing the hall to go quiet.

"Everyone has been gathered here today to celebrate my apprentice Lucian's 10th Nameday. The day that he has finally become a man."

Harald raises his glass high in the air, looking to Lucian.

'A man? I guess things progress quicker here.'

"A toast to Lucian!"

Everyone else in the room follows suit.

"To Lucian!" A choir of voices shouts.

Lucian is stunned by the praise.

Noticing his discomfort Layla pulls him close.

"Smile!" She exclaims in his ear.

...

With the toast settled, everyone has taken their seats at the table as food is served.

'Of course, Layla is sitting right next to me.'

Lucian looks to Layla on his left, devouring the food on her plate.

To his right is a 6-year-old Talia. She has grown much over the past 6 years, probably due to her voracious eating habits, much worse than Layla's. Her hair is similar to Lilith's, bearing the same Ashen white color. Her eyes follow suit with a blue comparable to the summer sky.

(Author's Note: Talia was born Octus 8, 893)

Talia's priorities in life are food and toys with a side of Lucian. A side effect of Lucian spending too much time doting on her in hopes of developing a good relationship. In a way, he has achieved more than good. However, that depends on how much time one likes to be forced to spend with their loved ones. As Talia is very similar to Layla in her greed for Lucian's time.

'This looks really good. I'm surprised they know what my favorite foods are.'

Lucian looks down at the tall stack of venison and mashed potatoes on his plate, initiating the first forkfuls of face-stuffing.

...

"You're so much softer now Siegfried. I remummber when you were the shtrongest soldier in our regiment." Jorgen slurs, jabbing at Siegfried's new life.

"I think you've had a bit too much to drink, Jorgen."

Jorgen slams his fist down on the table.

"Have nawt!"

'This guy is drunk as a skunk. Though he does make me wonder what kind of man Siegfried was like before.'

"What was my father like back then?" He asks.

Jorgen is delighted with Lucian's interest and takes a deep breath to sober up.

"Your father was the best soldier the North could've asked for."

...

A multitude of minutes passes by until Jorgen finishes his tale.

'Wow. I never thought that Siegfried was once a candidate to be a knight. I'm not surprised to hear that he really did cleave men in two back in his day. But, he gave it all up for Lilith.'

"Maybe you'll realize why I gave everything up for her when you get a woman of your own, Jorgen." Siegfried says in response to Jorgen's tale.

"I just haven't found the right one..." Jorgen trails off.

"Clink! Clink!"

Harald taps his glass once more.

"I think it's time for dessert!"

As if eagerly awaiting his call, Baldwin suddenly appears with a slew of maids, a cake in hand with plates in tow.

Baldwin struts towards Lucian, the candles of the cake illuminating his features.

"Congratulations, young master."

He places the cake in front of Lucian taking up much of the space in front of him.

"I see a bright future ahead of you. Watching you grow under my watch has been a wonderful experience. I hope you remember a simple old man like me when you make your mark on the world." Baldwin expresses with a humble sense of kindness.

"I could never forget you, Baldwin. You've saved me from one too many of Harald's scoldings." Lucian replies.

Lucian turns to the cake, wondering what to do next.

"Make a wish." Layla whispers in his ear.

'A wish?'

Lucian pauses, his eyes watching the candles flicker.

'What do I wish for?'

Suddenly, his wish comes to mind.

'I have everything I could ever ask for right here.'

With one gust of air, Lucian blows the candles out.

...

'I wish things.'

'Stay like this.'