Chapter 104: October 21st

The car rolled through the gates of the Aurelius estate, its headlights sweeping across the quiet grounds before coming to a stop in front of the mansion.

Reinhard looked toward the mansion and noticed that every light was off. "Did everyone go to bed already?"

"Probably."

"You don’t sound convinced."

"I’m tired."

Reinhard studied her for another moment before shrugging. That was probably true. Maki had spent the last few weeks dealing with research, the new mansion, training, and everything else the family had thrown at her. There was no reason for him to think anything of it.

He opened the car door and stepped outside, stretching his shoulders before looking toward the dark mansion. "It’s strange seeing the place this quiet."

Maki stepped out behind him. "You’ll get used to it."

Reinhard gave her a suspicious look, but she had already started walking toward the entrance.

He followed.

The front door opened without resistance, and darkness greeted him from inside. Reinhard stepped over the threshold and looked around. The entire first floor was completely silent.

He frowned. "Why are the lights off?"

Maki shrugged. "Maybe they’re sleeping."

Reinhard looked back at her. "At this hour?"

She gave him the same blank expression.

He shook his head and reached for the light switch.

The instant his fingers touched it, every light in the mansion came on at once.

"SURPRISE!"

Reinhard froze.

For perhaps the first time in a very long while, he genuinely had no response.

The room was filled with people.

Emily stood near the center of the room with a small smile on her face. Yuna was beside her, looking far too pleased with herself for someone who had spent the past few minutes pretending nothing was happening. Lily was practically bouncing where she stood.

Maki simply watched him from behind.

Cassian had one hand in his pocket and looked completely calm. Lucien was grinning. Archon stood nearby with her usual unreadable expression, while the six members of the Nephilim were spread throughout the room.

Rhea looked delighted by Reinhard’s expression. "He actually fell for it!"

Reinhard slowly looked around the room. "Why do the four of you look like you’re being held hostage?"

Maki folded her arms. "We’re not."

Cassian nodded toward the table. "I was told there would be food."

Yuna smiled. "I’m enjoying myself."

Archon gave a small nod. "This is acceptable."

Reinhard stared at them for another second. "You all look miserable."

Lily immediately pointed at them. "They’re bad at birthdays."

That finally broke his expression, and Reinhard laughed as he stepped farther into the room. "I leave for one month and come back to this?"

Lucien walked over and clapped him on the shoulder. "Happy birthday."

Reinhard looked at him. "You brought all of them."

"They wanted to come."

Rhea immediately raised her hand. "No, we were forced."

Mara looked exhausted already. "Rhea."

"What? It’s true."

Seraphine adjusted herself calmly. "We were strongly encouraged."

Rika nodded. "Ordered."

Kael added, "Expected."

Adrian looked confused. "I thought we were invited."

Everyone turned toward him.

Adrian blinked. "What?"

Reinhard started laughing again while Lucien shook his head. "Don’t listen to them."

His gaze eventually settled on Maki. He had already figured out that she had something to do with this. There were too many people here, and Maki was the only one who would have bothered arranging the details.

"You invited all these people?"

Maki nodded. "Yes."

"Why?"

She looked at him as if the answer should have been obvious. "It’s your birthday."

Reinhard was quiet for a moment.

Maki had known he would enjoy having people around. She knew he liked noisy gatherings when the people involved were people he actually enjoyed being around. She had remembered that without him asking.

He smiled faintly. "You really went all out."

"We had two weeks."

Lily immediately cut in. "And I helped."

Reinhard looked at her. "You did?"

"I took you to Marvello."

He raised an eyebrow. "That was your contribution?"

"Yes."

"You dragged me around half the city because you were bored."

Lily grinned. "And you had fun."

Reinhard opened his mouth, then closed it again.

He had.

The shopping, the food, the ridiculous purchases, and the hours they had spent wandering around without any real purpose had been one of the most relaxing days he had experienced in a long time.

Lily folded her arms proudly. "So that’s your gift."

Reinhard smiled. "You didn’t even buy me anything."

"I gave you a whole day."

He looked at her for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough."

Lily’s grin widened. "I knew you’d understand."

Across the room, Lucien had apparently decided that the birthday party was the perfect opportunity to resume an old argument.

He walked over to Cassian. "Cassian."

Cassian didn’t even look at him. "No."

"I haven’t said anything."

"You were about to."

Reinhard looked between them. "What’s happening?"

Lucien smiled. "I’m trying to recruit Cassian."

Cassian sighed. "Again."

Reinhard immediately grinned. "Still refusing?"

"Yes."

Lucien gestured toward the room. "Look around. Eclipse could use someone like him."

Cassian looked at Reinhard. "You’re supposed to be on my side."

Reinhard considered that for a second. "I’m on Lucien’s side because this is funny."

Cassian stared at him.

Lucien laughed. "See? Even Reinhard agrees."

"That is not helping."

Reinhard laughed as Cassian walked away, while Lucien followed after him with another recruitment pitch.

Not far away, Yuna had found something else to occupy her attention. She was standing beside Archon, listening intently as Archon explained something about Awakener development. Yuna asked a question, then another, and another. With every answer, her eyes seemed to shine a little more.

Reinhard noticed them from across the room and smiled.

Yuna leaned slightly closer. "So that means a Gnosis can change its combat application without necessarily changing its fundamental ability?"

Archon nodded. "Correct."

"And that depends on how the Awakener understands their own Gnosis?"

"To an extent."

Yuna’s eyes brightened again. "Then what about—"

Archon looked at her. "You have another question."

Yuna nodded immediately. "Several."

Archon sighed quietly. "Fine."

Yuna looked delighted.

Reinhard left them to it. He knew Yuna could spend hours asking questions once something genuinely interested her, and Archon seemed surprisingly willing to answer them.

The party continued around them.

Rhea had somehow started talking loudly enough for everyone in the room to hear, while Lily had joined her. Rika was quietly eating, Kael stood nearby with his usual calm expression, Adrian was helping with the food, and Mara was doing her best to keep everyone from turning the mansion into a disaster.

Eventually Lily looked toward Archon and asked, "So what’s it like having a Calamity supervising you?"

The entire Nephilim group froze.

Rhea slowly lowered the food in her hand. Seraphine closed the book she had been holding. Rika looked down. Kael suddenly seemed very interested in the floor, while Adrian straightened his posture.

Mara closed her eyes.

All six answered almost together. "Absolutely... great."

Lily blinked. "Why did everyone say that like they were being tortured?"

Reinhard nearly choked on his drink.

Rhea recovered first and immediately turned toward him. "Actually, Reinhard, I’ve been meaning to ask you something."

The others looked at him as well.

Reinhard frowned. "What?"

"Would you consider being our second manager?"

He paused.

"Second manager?"

Mara sighed. "They’ve been asking."

Rika nodded. "Archon is terrifying."

Kael added, "We need alternatives."

Adrian smiled earnestly. "You’re easier to talk to."

Seraphine considered him. "You also understand how we operate."

Reinhard slowly turned toward Archon.

She didn’t even look at them.

Rhea lowered her voice. "Before Archon kills us."

Reinhard burst out laughing. "Well, since you all came to my birthday, I’ll think about joining."

The Nephilim immediately cheered.

Lucien’s lips twitched.

Archon still didn’t glance in their direction.

The party continued for another hour before things finally began to settle down. The noise softened, people started moving around more slowly, and the food on the tables gradually disappeared.

Emily eventually approached Reinhard with a plate in her hands.

He looked down at it and immediately recognized the food.

"You made this again."

Emily smiled. "I told you we’d have another one."

Reinhard looked at her for a moment. The memory of their cooking together came back almost instantly, along with the teasing, the mistakes, and the quiet afternoon they had shared.

"You remembered."

"Of course."

He smiled. "Then I’ll hold you to it."

"You should."

There was no grand declaration between them. They didn’t need one. Emily had remembered something simple, and she had followed through because she wanted to.

Later, when the room had grown quieter, Yuna approached him as well.

She didn’t bring another elaborate explanation. She simply looked at him and said, "I’m glad you liked the relic."

Reinhard understood what she meant.

He thought about the card she had given him and the words she had written. He had already carried them with him longer than she probably realized.

"I did."

Yuna smiled. "Good."

The rest of the evening passed naturally after that.

Cassian eventually left, though Lucien still managed to make one final attempt at recruiting him on the way out. The Nephilim gathered near the entrance, with Rhea asking Reinhard one last time if his answer about being their second manager was serious.

Reinhard laughed. "I said I’d think about it."

Rhea pointed at him. "That’s basically a yes."

Mara grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her toward the door.

Archon gave Reinhard a small nod before leaving. "Happy birthday."

Reinhard returned it. "Thank you."

One by one, everyone left until the mansion finally became quiet again.

Reinhard remained in the main room and thought about how for two weeks, people had been doing things for him that he had never asked for. Not because he needed them. Not because there was some problem that had to be solved.

They had simply wanted to give something to him.

Reinhard slowly smiled.

He could use his abilities to discover almost anything. He could have found out what they were planning, guessed every surprise, or simply asked someone what was happening.

He hadn’t.

And now he realized why.

And strangely enough, he hopes this happens more.

[Investment Opportunity Detected.]