Chapter Seven: Birthday

Stein and Mali look on as everyone is talking to each other in the party separated as a party of two.

"Iolene has done a great job with Lexi's healing. She is up and walking! Very lucky to have survived." Mali says as he looks up at his old master. Having a small drink of champagne in his hand. "Lexi told me her father died in similar circumstances. A devastating raw red draconium explosion."

"She is a gifted healer. But she worries me... I need to be with her more. But..."

"You have been busy helping with the war effort. Your plan worked! The surprise attack on the dragon claw lake was brilliant."

Stein playfully scoffs as he smiles down on his old apprentice. "Thanks to the water divers from the Light Blue Empire. But I'd rather not talk about it now. I just like to hear people having some fun." Stein looks down at his glass of champagne. Sighing as he doesn't even want to drink, he grabbed it as a habit. His mind silent as he processes his thoughts. Still struggling from his trauma. His strength has returned, but the mental scarring remains. Like Beau, Iolene tries to heal him. But the mind control... Is something that cannot easily be fixed or not at all.

A cold low voice echoes in his head. Steins minds eye black as the void. "Stein... I have you in my grasp... You are now my puppet. Everyone you know is dead! I will find out all of your secrets!" The hairs on his arms straightened as he remembered his voice. That voice... A monster that calls himself an Emperor.

Stein in his mind replied to the monster. "You will never know my secrets! You will control my movements. But the secrets are mine!" To his disappointment, many of his priesthood secrets were discovered. But never the child Laelia bore. His mental state is destroyed by keeping the princess a secret. His gladness that his mental sacrifice is not in vain, she is alive and well.

His concentration breaks as he hears Iolenes sweet laughter. She is laughing uncontrollably at one of Iymps jokes. He couldn't help but smile, it reminded him of Laelia's laugh.

The laughter suddenly stops as the doors flung open revealing a large bull dragon and a large man Standing in an over the top fashion.

"Hello, Frederick and Duryss!" Mali says cheerfully.

"Prince Frederick! Little mouse! How many times do I have to say it." He sharply replies as he looks around the rooms. Mali rolls his eyes and sighs. Really should have kept one of the others. They seemed more friendlier...

"Why was I not invited?!" He shouts intimidatingly.

"Because we don't know you well. It's a birthday party." Lei says in annoyance.

"Oh! A birthday party! For me!?" Fred says happily.

"Uh..." Is all Iolene can muster. She avoids him every chance she gets after their first encounter. Being polite as she could she sidesteps next to Iymp. "Is it your birthday?" She meekly asks. He looks down at the young blonde girl his glowing green eyes scoping every inch of her. Iolene heavily breathes and avoids eye contact. His demeanour brings back the memory of Akvor staring at her in such a way. She shivers at the thought.

"No, but my father has many birthdays..." As he laughs leaving Iolene confused. You are born into this world only once? She thinks to herself.

Lexi shouts out. "No, it's Aaron's birthday. And people like you are not welcome! So shoo!" She points to the door as Fred continues to walk in the opposite direction to her demand.

"Oh, so you are the birthday boy?" He walks confidently to Aaron. Looking down at him. Fred is tall and bulky. His bodybuilder physique could easily scare anyone. But not Aaron he has already beaten him before. Aaron not saying a word as he learned at an early age if you don't like someone you don't say anything at all. His lessons from the whips remain as they never properly healed.

Freds' slanted smile almost looked attractive. "I heard you are a slave though... Slaves don't have birthdays..." He folds his arms as Aaron remains quiet.

"Silence Fred! I will not have you offend my guest under my roof!" using a stern tone Lei glares at Fred with disdain. He never used that commanding voice before. Usually, his brothers and sisters use it. In a weird way, it felt good...

Fred stares back with anger in his eyes. His eyes are a piercing green Lei couldn't help but admire how hypnotising they are. Fred begrudgingly gives in as he faces away and groans loudly. Fucking hell! I was only joking! Sort of... I just want to go home! Getting what I want and doing whatever I want. He thinks in frustration. He has no idea where his siblings are. In a way, he began to miss them... Even the fat oaf Gunter and his over pungent perfume. He shakes away the emotions as he walks to the table and grabs a full wine bottle and chugs the wine in one go.

Stein waves to Fred to come over. Fred rolls his eyes as he plods over. The group stare at him with annoyance as he tries to measure up against the old priest. Stein' couldn't help but chuckle as Fred maybe be large in size but it is all he has. Stein then gestures for everyone to continue celebrating the party. They all turn around and resume their conversations before being interrupted.

"Who the hell are you old man? You and mouse are best friends? Fucking together in the corner?" Fred says sarcastically.

"You really are your fathers' son," Stein states. "I expect no more of this if you are to survive this harsh world. I am sorry for the loss of your father. But now is not the time to be a muck-spout."

"A What?" Fred looks at Stein with bewilderment.

Lexi looks at the three from afar. Standing next to Prince Murray she explains Fred's situation.

"How is Kenneth?" Murray asks.

"He is alive. But miserable... Losing a part of himself so brutally. It'll be hard to get over." Lexi takes a sip of wine. "He has been relegated to being a record keeper and a lecturer in the library. So he teaches the chosen orphans brought in."

"Interesting, at least he is safe and is keeping himself busy." Murray gives a small smile. "What about you? Heard from your family?"

"They are doing well, mother is teaching again. Plamya is still a handmaiden. (leaving out she serves a princess) and Jamil my younger sister is training to be a teacher like my mother." Lexi smiles sweetly, she misses them greatly her youngest sister is the same age as Iolene. She will have to go home to Vulkania one day. But Iolene is her charge now due to Kenneth's demand, she is his eyes and ears and makes sure he knows everything about what is going on.

Beau, Iymp and Ponderrah stand and stare at Duryss. Even though Ponderrah is blind he can feel the tension of the room. Iymp smiles and says hello to Duryss in the human tongue. Duryss snarkily replies the same way. Shocking them. Such a rare gift is given to such a brutish looking dragon. Iymp says flat out "Your human is a massive ass... Can you do something about it?"

"No... He is my ass and he can do whatever bloody well likes..." He looks at Beau and scopes him down. Beau is still under his blue scale disguise he cocks his head. Himself knowing that if his black and gold markings are visible and are known he will be in massive danger. "Got a problem with me?" Beau asks as he can only speak in dragon tongue so it comes out as roars and growls.

"You have such a large head... How do you even balance?" Duryss growls in awe. He has never seen such a dragon-like him before... What is he? Something felt different with that dragon. The look and smell He didn't like it...

"WHAT!?" Beau roars loudly disturbing the party as it felt like the room shook. He was about to pounce on the dragon bull until Iolene stands in front of him. With Stein and Mali pulling Duryss away with Fred laughing in the background. Ponderrah walks backwards and hits the wall causing a massive hole. He remains calm as he has done this many times.

The fight was quickly dismantled as Duryss had to stay with Fred away from the other dragons. The dragons try to resume the night as if nothing has happened.

The night was becoming late as Aaron strolls to Iolene with a large grin. He leans to her ear and whispers thank you. The hairs on her arms raise up as she giggles. No one has whispered to her that way before. Her heart beating fast. She taps Aaron's shoulder playfully "I am glad you like it. I want to celebrate your birthday every year! And it is time for Mali's gift to you."

"Huh?" Aaron raises his eyebrows. Another gift? This is insane... I don't deserve such things.

Iolene gestures to Mali as he is talking to Fred and Stein. He looks up at Iolene and smiles at her then rushes out. In a moment when he walks back into the room. Struggling to carry the massive rectangle box. It was taller than him for his small size, Iolene instantly regretting to help him. It was double Mali's size... But knowing Mali he will instantly reject and be insulted by helping.

It was a specially made box made out of Biru wood that is engraved with dragon patterns. Aaron aids Mali as he easily lifts up the large box.

"WELL GO ON OPEN IT, BOY!" Mali shouts as he huffs and puffs.

Aaron gently places the box on the table. He unclips the lid and opens it up like a chest. A large steel sword, Aaron's mouth agape. The hilt is engraved with a detailed dragon as its wraps itself around the grip, with its head as the pommel. Aaron looks up at Beau as it looked oddly alike. They even perfected the massive head and long chin. The blade is much thinner than his old sword, but the metal is sturdy. It is not as fancy as metal draconium blades used by the priests and the wealthy (Murray carries a light-blue draconium blade same as Iolenes mermaid dagger). But Aaron could tell there is a mystical essence connected to it.

With his fingers, he strokes the hilt as he can feel every scale and detail. The grip felt so comfortable. As Aaron tests with one hand and two, he couldn't wipe the smile off his face even if he tried. "Amazing." He whispers.

After a few soft swings, he turns around and says thank you to everyone. They all cheer and clap for Aaron except for Fred as he picks his right ear and Duryss yawns with boredom. My hammer can very easily crush that toothpick...

After a few hours, the night is over. Lexi needed to rest as Iymp carries her to bed with Beau following close behind. Lei decides to leave as he needed to see his siblings and mother before bed.

"Well, this party was boring..." As Fred and Duryss leave. Iolene follows them out smiling. "Good! Don't annoy us again!" Saying so cheerily and sweet he couldn't help but scoff with annoyance. Fred then turns around to retort but Iolene slams the door in his face.

Aaron covers his mouth as he tries not to laugh out loud. Which now leaves her Aaron, Stein and Mali in the room. They also needed to part as Stein with Murray has a war to plan and win.

"Mali please take the princess to bed and Aaron go to bed. I shall see you all whenever I can." Stein exhausted and weary he strokes Iolenes face and bows to her before leaving the room.

"Well, Aaron I hope you had a good birthday," Mali says with sincerity.

"I did Mali Thank you. Today has been interesting..." Aaron says with mixed emotions. The encounter in the afternoon is not the first and won't be the last...

Iolene gives Aaron a warm embrace to him before leaving with Mali. Aaron's mouths thanks her repeatedly as she smiles gleefully leaving the room.

Aaron sighs as he sheathes his new sword and walks back into the male servant's quarters. Many of the servants went to war or were executed being suspected of being a traitor, so many bedrolls are empty and those who remain are much older and asleep. Placed the sword leaning on the wall next to his bedroll on the edge of the room. Plavcing his head on the pillow, he felt a crunch of paper underneath.

"Huh?" Aaron groans as he sits up and looks at it. A letter? For me? They must know him personally if they know which bedroll is his. He opens the letter and it is written beautifully. He gets up and opens a sliding door to get the moonlight to read.

Meet me in my room as soon as you get this

-Lei