Lighting the Candles

After sitting down at the birthday table Miguel and Emilia approach the Shooting Stars.

Cheering up a little, Rayla exclaims, “Oh, hey. Look guys, it’s a smaller blonde version of Scarlet.”

“Pfft You’re right, she looks just like her. Is that your cousin or something?” John asks.

“Yep, her name is Emilia and that’s Miguel. They aren’t very fond of you guys, do you want me to give you back up or do you want to fend for yourself?”

“Why do you ask? Are they going to attack us?”

“Not physically…At least I think so.”

Rayla answers, “If they’re just going to be mean we can handle that. They’re just kids after all. If they assault us please help us out though, even if we can take em out I feel like that would not sit well with everyone else here.”

“Alright, your funeral.”

As they get there Miguel is the first to pipe up, “You vagabonds are here for barely a few hours and you already made Rose cry. That’s truly motherless behavior.”

“I guess it makes sense though…Sigh,” looking at John she continues, “It’s not like anyone could have taught you, you were completely unloved after all. You poor thing~ It must be tough being the son of an evil person and a mother that hates you,” Looking at Sher Aka she adds, “Especially with a poor replacement like that you never had much of a chance.”

“Perhaps making young children cry is just in his blood. No normal person could be a dirty slaver after all so-”

John interrupts them by laughing loudly.

“What’s so funny?” Miguel asks and Emilia adds in Draconic, “Maybe he is having a mental breakdown.”

“Hahahaha Sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt you. You must have researched hard for these insults, I’m truly honored. Chuckle Please continue, I’m all ears.”

Taking on a theatrically compassionate look Emilia says, “My~ How cute, you must be really attention starved if you think we’d spend any time on you. That was all from things I overheard Rose say.”

“I’m honored you remembered all that, your Grace. Usually a Duchess’ daughter would not care about commoners like me. You must be quite the compassionate person. Or…No it couldn’t be…”

“What?”

“Well, all I can say is I’m honored, your Grace but I’m not interested in you like that. You’re far too young for me.”

“Excuse me!?”

“Ah sorry…Was that not it? I just assumed since you were so interested in my life you might have developed a crush on me. My apologies, I guess I rushed to a conclusion there, please continue.”

Fletching her teeth, Emilia steps forward and presses her shoe on top of John’s, “Don’t be so arrogant. You’re in my territory, boy.”

“You territory, huh…That’s no good, your Grace. When you want to intimidate someone you can’t do it with an obvious bluff. You hold no direct power in your aunt’s castle after all. If anything I hold the same power as you do due to my close connection with the Princess. And if you really wanted to scare me…” John transforms his face into that of a spider and hisses.

“KYAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!” 

Instantly transforming back he continues, “...You need the element of surprise.”

Some guards and Duchess Carmilla then quickly walk over. Putting her arms around Emilia she asks, “What is the meaning of this?”

“I was simply-”

Scarlet interrupts him in Draconic, “Emilia and Miguel tried to start a fight and John outwitted them. That’s all.”

Massaging her forehead the Duchess tells her children, “I know how you feel but don’t cause unnecessary trouble.”

“But mama!” Miguel protests, “They’re obviously bad people and Rose shouldn’t be near them!”

Putting her hand on his shoulder she answers, “I know…But this is what your auntie decided. As much as I’d like to intervene, it's not my call to make.”

Emilia interjects, “But that’s obviously the wrong decision! Mama…We can’t let her go with them…Sniff”

“I…I can try talking to her about it one last time but as things stand she might be gone as early as tomorrow…”

“This is so stupid!”

With tears flowing down her face Emilia runs out of the hall and Carmilla follows behind.

Having understood nothing of what was just said, John whispers to Scarlet, “I’m guessing they got scolded?”

“Yeah…Something like that.”

—--------------------------------------------

“Are you feeling better now, dear?”

“Yeah…Thank you mama.”

“No need to thank me, I’m always here for you whenever you need me, make sure to remember that. Now, how about we eat some food and then cut the cake? Does that sound good?”

“Gao…”

Mama and I then sit down at the table where everyone is already waiting for us. I eat a plate of raw salmon and after enjoying ourselves for another twenty minutes or so mama carries me towards the cake.

“Look Rose, your candles have already doubled. You’re growing so fast!!

“Kikikiki, are you going to make the same joke again in two years, mama?”

“Oh~What joke? Your mama is truly just concerned with how you keep doubling like this. If you keep going like this you’ll soon be older than me!”

Giggle 

Giving mama a kiss I say, “You’re so stupid, mama. I love you.”

“I love you too, dear. Now how about you light the candles and make your wish?”

“Gao!”

Slowly I accumulate my mana in my throat but this time something feels a little off. While it does still grow in my neck it feels different somehow but it’s already too late to stop. I then open my mouth and let it out but instead of fire, a boiling hot stream of water leaves my mouth at a pretty fast speed, knocking the candles off the cake and leaving a steaming puddle of water on the ground.

Confused, I look around where everyone just either stares at me or the puddle in complete shock.

I can feel my heartbeat and breathing fasten as fear and anxiety spread through my body. I feel like I’m about to cry out of shame and disgust at m-

“My~ Look at that you knocked both of them off! You have such good aim, no wonder you learned how to use a bow so well!”

“Huh? B-but-”

Auntie then moves to pick up the candles, “Look, she split em right in two. That must have been quite the pressure on that water.”

A little confused, I cog my head and ask, “Are you not…Disgusted?”

“Why would we be, dear? Oh! Are you afraid that some of the water ruined the cake? Because I’m pretty su-”

“No, that’s not it. I…Isn’t it bad that I couldn’t make a flame? I’m your daughter and I can’t even-”

“My dear little Libella…Have you forgotten already? You only laugh at the flat tail…”

“Until you want to eat clams?”

“That’s right! Isn’t it wonderful that you can do something we can’t?”

“I…I dunno.”

“Well, I think it is wonderful~ How about you manya?”

“I feel the same, Ruby. That was really cool, I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

“You…You liked it?”

“Of course, it’s super fascinating, isn’t that right, Scarlet?”

“Huh? I mean yes! You did great, Rose!”

“Really? You think so too? Even if I can’t make the blue flame you liked anymore?”

“Of course! Also it’s not like we know you can’t do it anymore. You have both fire and water mana now so maybe you can still breathe fire once you learn to split it up.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s true. So it’s not a bad thing?”

“Of course not, dear. Now~ How about we eat some of the yummy cake?”

“Gao!”

—---------------------------------------------

“She’s amazing…” Sher Aka mumbles to herself.

Rayla with a smug smile answers, “Of course she is, Rose i-”

“No, not Rose. The queen. She managed to read the room in an instant, lightened the mood and conveyed to others to be kind to Rose. This could have easily been an event that could have deepened her self loathing but not only did she prevent that she might have even boosted her confidence a little.”

“What? Where are you getting this from?”

John answers, “Sherry is really good at reading people. It helps her with her anxiety to keep an eye on others. To be honest I didn’t see it that way either but I trust her judgment. Do you agree with her, Scarlet? You know your mother best after all.”

“Yep, Sher Aka is right. Though I don’t think it was some thought out thing like Sher Aka is implying. My mother is just good with people, something like this is just second nature to her.”

“Second nature, huh…What a frightening woman…”

—----------------------------------------------------------------

“But what about the wish? It won’t work if I can’t light the candles right?”

“Of course it will, you hit both of the candles after all!”

“I guess that’s true. So my wish is going to come true?”

“Of course, dear. What did you wish for?”

“I wished that I’ll never have to lose any of you.”

“Daaaw, what a beautiful wish. I hope it becomes true,” Mama says, then gives me some kisses, “Now how about we have some cake to celebrate your wonderful Birthday~”

“Gao!”

—------------------------------------------------------