[Third Person PoV]
"Okay, so now presents?" Arthur asked eagerly, his eyes practically sparkling with anticipation.
Nicholas chuckled, arching a brow at the younger man's enthusiasm. "Is someone excitedly waiting to see what they received?" he teased, his tone carrying a hint of playful amusement. Arthur's excitement for Christmas was almost childlike, and it was honestly contagious.
Arthur shook his head, much to Nicholas's surprise. "The best part about Christmas isn't the receiving," he said sincerely, his smile softening. "It's the giving. I can't wait to see the look on your faces when you open what I got you."
Nicholas blinked at him for a moment before bursting into laughter. That—yes, that was exactly the kind of thing Arthur would say. Always thoughtful, always earnest to a fault. "Of course," Nicholas said, still chuckling. "That's a very you answer, Arthur."
Arthur leaned forward slightly, his excitement barely contained. "Can I show you guys what I got you two first?" he asked politely, though his tone made it clear he was practically buzzing to start.
"Go ahead, Arthur," Perenelle said warmly. "Let's see what you've prepared."
"Perfect," Arthur said, standing with an almost theatrical flourish. His earlier energy seemed to settle into a calm confidence as he disappeared upstairs. A few moments later, the sound of footsteps echoed down the staircase. Arthur descended carefully, holding a long, thin box in one hand while two smaller boxes floated beside him, wrapped neatly in silver and gold paper that shimmered faintly with enchantment.
"Now," Arthur said, setting the gifts down with care, "Nicholas, yours first." He handed over the longer box and stepped back with an eager grin.
Nicholas eyed the box curiously, then looked around at everyone else, as if seeking reassurance before he tore into the wrapping. "Alright, you've prepared this time," he said with a chuckle.
The room fell quiet as he lifted the lid. His smile faltered slightly when he reached inside and pulled out a polished walking cane. "A… cane," Nicholas said slowly, trying very hard to sound cheerful.
"I know, right? Isn't it wonderfully crafted?" Arthur said, beaming as though he'd just gifted him the greatest treasure imaginable. His face was so full of genuine pride that Perenelle nearly lost it—her shoulders shook as she bit down a laugh, trying her absolute hardest to maintain composure.
Nicholas, meanwhile, gripped the cane tightly, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "Ah… yes, quite elegant," he managed, offering Arthur a strained but sincere smile. "Thank you, Arthur, my boy. I'll be sure to put it to good use."
That was all Merlin could take. She burst into laughter, clapping a hand to her knee. "Arthur, stop teasing the poor old man and show him his proper gift!"
Nicholas blinked, looking between them in confusion. "Eh? Wait, this isn't my actual gift?"
Arthur snickered and shook his head, motioning toward the cane. "Check the bottom."
Puzzled, Nicholas turned the cane over—and his eyes widened. Etched into the base was a complex transmutation circle, precise and gleaming faintly with power. "Is this… like those gloves of yours?" he asked, astonished.
Arthur's grin widened. "Ohh, yeah~," he said proudly, folding his arms. "Merlin mentioned that a regular cane might not suit all situations, so I made some improvements. That circle allows it to change into other tools—a wand, a sword, even a staff if you need one. And no matter what form it takes, the transmutation circle remains perfectly functional. But," he added with a sly grin, "between you and me, the cane adds a certain style that fits you perfectly."
Nicholas chuckled, shaking his head in amazement. "I have to agree. It does have a… refined air."
He twirled the cane smoothly over his forearm and then tapped it against the floor. Instantly, a ripple of alchemical energy pulsed through the room, spreading from the tip of the cane like waves on water. The wooden planks beneath their feet shimmered, hardening into stone, and the nearby furniture began to transform as well—wood turning to marble, cloth to granite.
"Ah!" Perenelle gasped, stepping back quickly along with the others as the area around Nicholas continued to shift.
Nicholas stared in awe at his handiwork before turning toward Perenelle, who crossed her arms and gave him a deadpan look. "Fix this," she ordered simply.
"Yes, ma'am," Nicholas said meekly, though there was an unmistakable twinkle of amusement in his eyes. He tapped the cane once more, and the energy pulsed backward, undoing the transformations in a smooth, silvery wave. Within seconds, the room was back to normal.
"Now then, for you, madame," Arthur said in an exaggerated French accent, even going so far as to bow dramatically before handing Perenelle a small, neatly wrapped box. His playful tone earned him an amused smirk from Merlin and a fond eye roll from Nicholas.
Curiosity sparked in Perenelle's eyes as she carefully unwrapped the box. Inside, cushioned in velvet, were two elegant rings—silver with faint traces of red and gold light glinting along their edges. "Oh my… they're beautiful," she said softly, her voice full of genuine wonder. But what caught her attention even more were the intricate alchemical arrays engraved delicately onto the inside of both bands.
"When you put them on," Arthur explained, gesturing animatedly, "you're supposed to press them together."
Intrigued, Perenelle slipped one ring onto each hand. She clicked them together as instructed—and immediately jumped back with a startled yelp as sparks burst between them, swirling together into a flickering ball of fire hovering over her palms. The flames danced and twisted, casting golden light across her astonished face.
Arthur grinned proudly as the others broke into laughter at her reaction. "The ring on your left hand creates ignition—it gives you the power to summon fire itself. The one on your right," he continued, pointing, "lets you shape and control those flames. Oh! And if you snap your left fingers, you can release a directional explosion, though I highly recommend you not do that indoors."
Perenelle blinked rapidly, her heart still racing. She dispelled the flame with a gentle flick of her wrist, watching the last ember fade. "Arthur," she began, her tone thoughtful and touched, "not that I don't appreciate these… or find them absolutely incredible, but why give us something so powerful?"
Arthur hesitated for a moment, his playful grin fading into something more sincere. He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes softening. "They're for your protection," he said quietly. "You both already know how dangerous the world can be. And when my identity gets revealed, you'll likely be among the first people targeted because of your connection to me. I just… want to know that you can defend yourselves if you guys are ever targeted."
A silence settled over the room, warm and heavy. Nicholas and Perenelle exchanged a glance—one full of silent understanding and affection. Their expressions softened, and before Arthur could react, Perenelle stepped forward and pulled him into a warm, motherly hug. Nicholas joined in soon after, his large hand resting reassuringly on Arthur's shoulder.
"Thank you, Arthur," Perenelle said softly against his shoulder. "For thinking of us."
Arthur smiled faintly, hugging them both back before clearing his throat. "Ahem, well—don't thank me yet. I still have one more gift."
He turned toward Merlin, holding out another small box tied with a silver ribbon. His confident demeanor faltered just a little, his smile turning sheepish. "This one… took me the longest to figure out," he admitted, scratching his cheek nervously. "I mean, what do you even give someone who doesn't need protecting and can create almost anything she wants? So I decided to go with something a bit more… sentimental."
Merlin's brows lifted, her lips curving into a knowing smile as she accepted the gift. "Oh? Now you've piqued my curiosity," she said, carefully undoing the ribbon. Inside rested a single, exquisite crystal shaped like a blooming cherry blossom, faintly glowing with soft pink light.
Her breath caught as she lifted it. "Arthur…" she whispered, her voice trembling with surprise.
Arthur smiled bashfully. "It's not much, I know," he said quickly. "But during our fight with Ifrit, I noticed how you used those cherry blossom effects in your magic. I figured you must like them, so I made this as a charm you can attach to your wand—or your staff. Something small, but personal."
Merlin stared at the delicate crystal, her expression unreadable for a long moment. Then she looked up and smiled, eyes glimmering. "It's beautiful, Arthur. Truly." Her voice was soft, full of rare emotion. She stepped forward and embraced him gently, catching him off guard.
Arthur hesitated only a second before returning the hug. "You're welcome," he murmured with a bashful grin.
But then his grin returned, that familiar spark of mischief flashing in his eyes. "Oh, that's not all. Try channeling your magic into it."
Merlin blinked, pulling back slightly. "What?"
"Go on," Arthur encouraged, nodding toward the charm.
Raising an eyebrow, Merlin held the crystal up and focused. The moment her magic flowed into it, the charm began to glow brightly. A faint scent—soft and floral—filled the room, and in an instant, light burst outward from her hands.
Everyone gasped as a breathtaking illusion unfolded before them: the image of a great sakura tree blooming right in the middle of the Flamels' living room. Its branches stretched high, bathed in soft pink light, and thousands of delicate petals drifted through the air, carried by an invisible breeze. The fragrance of cherry blossoms filled every corner of the room, nostalgic and serene.
Merlin stood frozen, her eyes wide as she took in the sight. The illusion shimmered gently, petals brushing against her skin before vanishing into light. Slowly, her lips parted in awe.
A faint tremor went through her hands. Then, before she could stop it, a single tear slipped down her cheek.
Arthur's heart skipped a beat, panic rising instantly fearing he might have done something wrong.
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