Although Seth had just finished the Aegis yesterday, time didn't wait for him. As much as he wanted to have a day to just sit down and relax, today was a big day, and not just because he had just finished the Aegis.
Pip's Birthday was finally here. The little girl he met at the edge of the green hell in the middle of No Man's Land was coming of age today. With that, the day he would have to keep his word concerning New Hope also got closer. Seth wasn't too worried about that. This was already well within his plans and part of the schedule. What actually made him nervous for today was their special announcement planned for later this evening.
"How are preparations going, Tower Master?" Link asked, as he and a couple of other chefs carried huge plates into the ballroom. They were not going to fully awaken the magical ballroom for a simple birthday, but it still needed the presence of the Tower Master to activate all the gadgets in the room.
"No problems here. The food looks great," Seth complimented. His mouth was watering from the smell wafting from the various dishes the gourmet hunter and his team had prepared.
"Please wait until the party starts, Seth," Link pleaded with the blacksmith not to sneak off with a couple of "samples", like he would usually do.
"Hey, I wouldn't dare and sabotage Pip's big day, okay?" the bard said seriously, but slightly depressed. He had really wanted to sneak off with a bite, but what he said was honest. He would not touch it until the party started, even if it meant he would have to compete with Fin.
"I will believe you on this occasion," the chef joked, placing and decorating the buffet. Today, most members of Minas Mar would be present at the party. Not necessarily because they knew Pip well, but free booze, music, and a happy atmosphere lured in most people.
Since Seth had opened the ballroom and activated the functions, he was no longer needed here. He could leave the rest to the party organizer, meaning he sneakily returned to the workshop. There was one thing he wanted to prepare before the party.
The blacksmith had already prepared the Staff with the help of Tored, but there was one more thing he had prepared. It still needed some polish, so he would make it really shine before the party started.
...
It was her first time entering the massive, brightly lit room. It was shining and glowing everywhere with colorful magic and interesting structures. The massive room was filled with people, all waiting for her. Only here to celebrate her.
She would have never expected this. Back then, when they had to leave Karina, she had no hope left. She had lost her parents, she had lost her master... Although she held it together in front of the others, she had been facing true despair at the time. She never expected to make it this far.
At the time, Pip would have never expected that the uncle she clung to in desperation would offer her such a warm home. She looked into the room filled with people, many she knew, some only in passing, but they were all looking at her with warm, friendly smiles.
Seth had done a lot for her, but the biggest was probably returning her hope for a future that was not full of darkness and suffering. Today, she was going to make her first step into a future she would shape with her own hand.
Pip would gain the strength of the system in addition to the magic Karina had taught her. Finally, she would be able to fight monsters and become stronger. She would raise her level and retake the home that was taken from her with her own hands.
Once she was strong and had a base, she would be able to repay all the favors she had been given in this place. Maybe she could even join the Field Teams in the future? Her goal was to bring peace to New Hope, but her dream was to stand in the same place as people like Monique, Lydia, or Mike.
She wanted to stand among their ranks and help people in the name of Minas Mar. Gathering her courage, she faced the crowd of warm smiles and gave a quick bow.
"Thank you, everyone, for coming to celebrate my birthday and coming of age," she shouted with all her vigor. Her face became bright red as she was filled with embarrassment. However, nobody laughed. Everyone lifted their glasses and cheered for her, melting away the awkwardness.
Since a minor was present, the party was tamer than some others that had happened in this room, but it was a chaotic party with drinking, laughing, joking, and dancing. Everyone she knew asked her for a dance, and she danced until her feet hurt, and then some more.
She started to feel the fatigue, and by the time the buffet had become a devastated battlefield, which bore witness to the struggle between the tower master and his fiancée. Most people had found a seat to recover and relax.
"Since everyone calmed down, I guess it is time for the presents?" someone suddenly said behind her. It was Seth who laid a warm, big hand on her shoulder. "You still have some work to do. You have to open all their presents," he said with a smile she couldn't quite read.
Right, it was her birthday. Her Papa used to give her a small thing he made on her birthday. She swallowed the touch of sorrow that was rising like a lump in her throat. This was not the time
"Yes, I will," she answered with a bright smile and walked over to the mountain of presents that were piled up against the side of the hall.
Pretty much everyone present brought one. Most were small things, like potions, clothing, gadgets, materials, and such. No one dared gift armaments, considering they were up against masters and craftsmen in this department.
"Oh, she finally picked up mine," Orry Abell exclaimed, excited. Although he was technically Seth's apprentice, he was currently the only craftsman-tier goldsmith in Minas Mar. Sivri was a master, so she didn't count.
Pip had picked up a small box. With the goldsmith's exclamation and the size, it was clear it was a ring. What a brave man, gifting a ring when it was clear that Seth, Tored, Wedan, and Hoen were also preparing gifts.
After decimating the wrapping paper, the young woman opened the small black box and revealed the ring inside. It was an intricate ring, made of woven, silvery wires and set with a big, moss green jewel. It was really beautiful.
"The ring is made from
Pip ignored the maker of the gift and put it on, immediately feeling the effects. It was as he said, she instantly felt more attuned with nature and its spirits. It was also easier to sense mana with the ring on. If an epic item could do this much, what would the presents from the tower master and others look like?
She thought of this possibility with anticipation and fear. What if it were something really big and expensive? The ring was already a lot, but could she accept gifts that were even... more? She didn't even get to choose a class yet. Would she be able to-
"Don't worry too much. Just keep opening your gifts and be happy. That is all we are looking forward to," the bard who had stepped behind her at some point whispered to her. It was as if he had read her thoughts, and his words actually helped calm her worries.
"Look at the long one over there, that is from Tored and me, you should open that one next," he added with a mischievous smile.