Author's note: This is a small short that takes place outside of the current arc. Happy birthday Chris! Also, while I haven't updated in a while, I wanted to give this promise: unless I state otherwise, none of my stories are dropped. Life might cause a hiatus, but I'll never completely abandon my stories.
"Haah..."
I let out a breath into the crisp winter air, watching as the fog cloud formed in front of my face. In Heaven, the concept of temperature doesn't really exist. I never felt hot or cold, and the air was always still. And of course, there weren't snowflakes drifting down from the sky like they were this afternoon.
Compared to this, Heaven doesn't even feel like a real place. I feel a little guilty for thinking so, but I'm glad I came down here.
I continued walking along the snowy field. I haven't found any leads to relics recently, so I decided to take the day off and relax.
Many of the citizens of Accelia were playing around just outside the town's walls. The only common monsters around here, the giant toads, are hibernating, so there's pretty much no danger in the fields.
"Yo, Chris!"
"Eh?–!"
I started to turn around in response to the voice, but then my Enemy Detection activated and I reflexively jumped aside as a snowball flew through the spot where my head just was.
"Dammit!"
"You know, Sirius, you shouldn't call out to someone you're trying to ambush."
The tall noble scratched his head sheepishly.
"Well the plan was that you'd turn around and get hit in the face, but I guess my first mistake was trying to ambush a Thief, haha."
"Well, you picked this fight, so no running now!"
I scooped up a handful of snow, made a ball, and pitched it right at his face.
He dodged it easily.
"Come on, you have to do better th– oof!"
Another snowball nailed him in the back of his head.
"Too easy. Not enough wariness."
"Nice one, Pax!"
The spellsword gave me a thumbs up.
"Hey, double teaming is cheating!"
"All fair in war."
"Dammit, I'm not going to that lying down! Take this!"
The battle ended with Sirius's decisive loss. On top of being double teamed, his dexterity and agility were simply too low to compete with Pax and I in a contest of ranged attacks.
Once he yielded, the three of us headed over to the guild tavern for a round of hot neroid. I paid for Sirius's drink to make up for bullying him.
Sip
"Ahh..." x3
There really is nothing like a hot drink on a cold day. Another thing I never experienced back in Heaven.
I took another deep sip, then turned to my companions.
"So, what are you two up to this winter?"
Sirius let out a satisfied sigh after emptying his mug.
"Other than occasionally helping my parents with their duties, not much. There are barely any good quests in winter, after all."
He waved to the waitress to bring him a refill.
Pax nodded.
"Training. Trying learn new spell."
"I see."
I looked around the guild. There weren't many adventurers, and the ones who were here were mostly just drinking and socializing. There were a select few who were desperately looking over the quest board. They must be the ones who hadn't saved up their money properly for winter.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!"
Suddenly, a loud cheer erupted from a couple tables over.
Sirius chuckled.
"Sounds like those folk are having a good time."
They definitely seemed happy. I didn't quite understand what they were celebrating, though.
"Say, what's a birthday?"
Both of my friends did overly dramatic spit-takes.
"You don't know what– say, Chris, where exactly are you from again?"
"Even I know what birthday is."
Eh? Is it really that important!? I thought I knew all of the important human customs from the life records I read of the deceased... though, I guess those were biased since they only included deaths and important karmic events.
Sirius wiped up the neroid on the table.
"A birthday is... well, when you have a birthday, you celebrate being born."
Pax nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes. You celebrate every year on date of birth."
Celebration of birth, huh? ... or, I guess you could also see it as a celebration of living for another year.
Things like birth and age aren't really paid attention to in Heaven, but for mortals with a finite number of years in their lives, I guess they consider each year alive a blessing.
For immortals like me, who live in an empty, unchanging place... are we really alive?
"Say, when were you born, Chris?"
"Me?"
Uh, that's a tricky one. Well, even gods have to be born, but time flows differently in heaven.
Let's see... if I wanted to put it on this world's calendar... ah, wait. I remember something. One of my older senpais who used to govern this world once told me I was born four days after this world's winter solstice. And that would be...
"... ah, it's today, isn't it?"
"TODAY!?!?!?" x2
Sirius and Pax made eye contact, then both jumped to their feet.
"You wait right there, Chris! We'll be back soon with presents!"
"Look forward it!"
The Berserker and the Spellsword raced out of the door, leaving me sitting by myself, a little dumbfounded.
I should probably study human customs more so I'm not caught by surprise again.
Well, now what am I supposed to do?
... I guess since it's my birthday, I'm supposed to celebrate?
"Hey, waitress! Get me some Crimson Beer!"
"Hehehe..."
Crimson Beer really makes you feel warm inside.
I like birthdays. I should have more birthdays. Then I can drink more. I'm a genius.
Wasn't I waiting for something? I hope it comes soon. I'm getting sleepy.
"Chris!" x2
Chris? That's my name. Those voices sound nice. I hope they say my name more.
"Hey, Chris– wait, are you drunk?"
"Oh, hi Shirius. You should get shome beer. It's like the hot neroid but it's cold but stilll makes you hot."
"Holy shit, you really went to town. Well, I guess it is your birthday and all, but you really ought to learn moderation."
"Mhm. Too much alcohol bad. Dangerous."
Oh, Pax is here too. Her face looks red. Maybe she needs some beer to warm up.
"Well, anyway, we got you some last-minute presents. Here, I got you this."
Sirius held out something. It looks soft. I buried my face in it.
"That feels nice."
"It's a scarf. It should help to keep you warm in this weather."
"Ah, thas fine. My clothes are divinely enchanteded, sho they keep warm."
"Eh? How did you– ah, whatever. Just another mystery about you I guess."
I pulled on the soft blue fabric and stretched it out, then wrapped it around my neck.
"... it feels nice. Thanks Shirius, I shall wear it every shingle day!"
"Ah, well I'm glad you like it."
He stepped back, and Pax shuffled closer. Her face was getting even redder.
"You sheem cold, you should get a shcarf like this one."
I leaned forward and threw my scarf around Pax's neck. She seemed very startled.
"A-Ah, n-n-no, I not... no, fine. Here is present."
She put the scarf back around me, then held out something small without looking me in the eye. I grabbed it.
"Yay, a box! I love these! Hehehe."
Boxes are great cause you can tap them in different ways to make different sounds. I like boxes.
"N-No, Chris, please open. Present is inside."
Inside? Oh right, you can also open boxes!
It took me a while to open it, because the opening was hiding from me, but I finally got it open.
There were a pair of small crystals, each with a little chain on the end.
"They are earrings. You never wear accessories, s-so I got something small that won't get in way..."
Earrings...
"I love them. Thanks, Pax!"
I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a big hug.
"Ah, not my birthday, but I get present!?"
I let her go, then laid my head on the table while gazing at my gifts.
"These are really nice gifts. I like birthdays. Ah, you two have birthdays too, right? Sho I can get you presents too! Hehe, what a fun tradition..."
I yawned. My head was feeling warmer and also like it had a blanket over it. It's hard to stay awake.
Why am I trying to stay awake? I should just sleep...
"She really overdid it with the beer, huh? Well, happy birthday Chris. We'll take you to your room so don't worry."
"Happy birthday. Sleep well."
Those voices are really nice. I love them.
"I love you guys."
"L-Lo...!"
"Pretty sure she meant as friends, Pax..."
Listening to those voices is relaxing. I kept listening to them as I drifted off to sleep. Maybe next year I'll drink less so I can stay awake with them longer.