Nyxara
Mama, I mean Nimra is really going the sentimental route with her gifts. Makes me wonder if Grey was distant with her or they just simply weren't close. Placing the journals and letter to the side, I pull out the last item from the pouch. An elegant glyph-stitched shawl pools into my hands. It feels so luxurious that I immediately know this will be a prized possession. Having removed my wrap jacket, I pull the shawl around my shoulders. With surprise, I realize this is a hooded shawl. Curious, I pull the hood up—and immediately, I feel more attuned to the ebb and flow of essence around me.
"Wow, Nimra, this shawl is amazing. I love the glyphs stitched into it, even if I don't know what they mean yet. Is this a rainbow effect? It shifts colors when I move." I stand up to check out how the fabric flows. The shawl goes down to just barely covering my butt. The tassels seem to hold enchantments with the way they faintly glow. This gift is feeding my inner magic-loving geek.
"I'm pleased that you like the shawl. I created it especially for you. It's a ritual shawl, so while wearing it, all Essencecraft you do will be more intuitive. You can see and manage the essence you are working with more effectively. Your talent in seeing essence is enhanced to a higher degree while you are wearing the shawl, that is why you can so clearly see the hidden glyphs and the essence I weaved into it.
Brilliant—simply brilliant, my daughter. At Ember tier lvl 3, it's remarkable you can see my glyph work so clearly." Nimra praised me so well, making me feel so proud of a talent that just manifested that I almost missed the important fact that she created this shawl.
"This is your work? I did a bit of research on you, Nimra, and it is said that since you became CEO of Ajeivara Holdings, you haven't publicly created a piece in years." I realize I'm fangirling a bit over my own mom, but this is a big deal. My mom is known worldwide for her superior mastery and implementations of glyphs. She is considered elite among her peers. Her works span multiple mediums. To have a ritual piece made by her is close to priceless.
"Nimra, you truly do know me best. I can't wait to start my lessons and see what I can really accomplish with this shawl." Excitedly, I hugged my mom while squealing.
I didn't miss the smug look she gave my two dads, but I didn't call her out on it. "Since the shawl does pull on your own essence in conjunction with the essence thread tassels to fuel its functions, you can put it into dormant status until you want to do some Essencecraft. The shawl still works great as a comfortable fashion piece to just wear whenever." She showed me which glyph on the shawl to make it go dormant. I pulled the hood down, but I did not take the shawl off. I did a little giddy wiggle in my chair at feeling like someone who could do magic now.
"Your Nimra behaved the same way when she got her first Essencecraft shawl. You are bringing so many happy memories to mind today." Azrail commented wistfully with a quiet calm. His melancholy smile made me want to ask him about those memories, but in a blink, he was grinning as if his melancholy was an illusion. "Now the best has been saved for last. Go ahead and show these two what amazing gifts I got you."
Letting myself be distracted, I reached into the large open part to pull out a jewelry box. Inside, it was a braided choker with a beautiful amethyst-looking stone in the center. I could sense the essence signature of each member of my immediate family circle woven into the braids. I looked up to find Azrail standing beside my chair with a serious expression I hadn't seen on him before now. "This choker will be a reminder that you are never alone. We are always with you and supporting you. The amethyst isn't an essence stone, but it does well to help facilitate the emotional grounding, healing, and protection from manipulation glyphs I embedded into the choker itself." He took the choker and fastened it around my neck comfortably.
Then he picked up Korran's charm necklace and placed it around my neck as well. "This will work well in tandem with this protective charm. They will amplify each other's functions. They are both proof against most things, so you don't ever have to take them off. A simple illusion spell or sigil can change their appearance if you need to make them look like they go with whatever you are wearing." So I could examine how I looked, Nimra conjured what could only be described as a mirror. I really liked how the choker and charm necklace seemed to fit the look I wanted to project: mature, elegant, and powerful.
Curious and pleased, I pull out the next item. It's a sleek obsidian-forged dagger with a strange essence I haven't encountered yet. As I give the dagger a thorough look over, I feel a metaphysical poke from it. "Why is it poking me?" I ask him, a bit weirded out.
"It wants to link with you so only you can use it to its full potential. I can help you link with it. The essence you are sensing is my own particular brand. I made this from skills I learned from Davi and Mal over the years. This is my best creation of this type so far." He placed a hand on my shoulder, and I could feel his essence guiding me in how to bond with the dagger. "I want you to always have a blade handy for self-defense. It's not made for long battles, so this is a disable and run or finisher type of weapon."
The moment the link was established, the blade turned into smoke, and it sank into my skin. A realistic dagger tattoo appeared on my inner arm. The knowledge of the blade in my soul makes me feel steady, anchored. These gifts are beyond amazing—I feel powerful, protected… badass. My grin was probably manically wide at this moment. A similar grin was mirrored on Azrail's lips. "You can summon it by touch and intent; otherwise, it's a hidden ace that will protect you when you need it most." His hand was still on my shoulder, and his tone was serious. He is giving me the tools to protect myself. They all are, but him especially. All of this must have been harder on him than I realize. He is the parent I know the least, but somehow I feel he is the most protective one out of the three.
Nuzzling his hand on my shoulder, I pull out my last gift. Calf-high combat boots that look like they are made of a material I don't recognize the feel of. Korran lets out an appreciative whistle. "You created them. You have been busy these weeks, Azairan'veth. You win. I didn't think it could be done, but you did it like promised. If we can mass-produce these with even 50% of its functions for the elites, it will be worth the cost. Try them on, Emberling. I want to see if your Azrail really solved the alchemy synthesis issue."
Very intrigued by his interest, I change into the boots. Nimra's eyes are glowing as she examines the boots. "You really did it, Vaelorith. Chaos-Tread boots. Her steps are simply undetectable now, but over time, the boots will become attuned to her and will pick up aspects of her abilities. Brilliant, Vaelorith. Simply brilliant. You will have to walk me through your process later so we can see how to mass-produce them. I hope you made pairs for all of us. I certainly want a pair." Her enthusiasm was contagious, and it appears I've acquired another prized possession.
The boots fit perfectly. They can be casual or training wear. Inspecting the tongue of the boots, I notice there is writing that at first I couldn't read, but then the writing seemed to blur before coming back into focus in words I could read.
Certified Problem Child—Ajei Property, Return at Your Own Risk.
I loved the humor. It felt like a secret message just for us, so I kept the message to myself. My parents were all discussing how to mass-produce a lesser version of my boots. I cleared the table of my gifts by putting everything away into my new satchel. It was while I was listening to them talk that I noticed a waitstaff poke his head through the curtain. He signaled asking if we were ready to eat, to which I nodded.
He smiled, and our second round of breakfast was served. I completely enjoyed the rest of our meal together. They told me stories and asked me questions. It was exactly the kind of fresh start I would have wished for if I had ever dreamed this situation was possible.
After the third round of food, which was a bit more lunch than breakfast, we left, and my parents took me shopping upon my request. They showed me pictures of my suite and wardrobe—not my style and I doubt they were Grey's either. I could see Minette's influence, and I wasn't going to allow it to stay.
With their approval to do a complete renovation, we shopped for everything I needed. Retail therapy is one of the best parts of healing. That is the only motto of Earth Minette's I can agree with. Everything was sent to our estate, and they never let me see how much everything totaled out to be.
It's been a long time since I have felt so immensely loved. I'm going to cherish these moments and embrace every opportunity to create more. I lost them once, and I will never take them for granted again. I even have another parent to love and be loved by, so I feel especially strong about making every moment matter.
"Azrail, I love you, but I'm not going to have an alchemy lab in my suite. I'm not interested in alchemy. I will, however, let you help me design my study. I like what you did with yours." It was only by luck that I caught him trying to put an entire alchemy lab in my cart via the store order tablet.
Korran and Nimra were so wrong for abandoning me with him. Saying we deserve one on one bonding. The man is so chaotic. I swear if those two are messing around with each other while I'm left to manage this man, we are going to have words. The only saving grace is that the store is only open for us, and the staff are out of sight until we call for them. "Hey. Hey! Azrail, are you a child? Get out of that plushie bin right now!"