33 Last day before Departure

I glare at the black accessory brought especially for me, there was even a note saying 'I got you a black one, figured you'd prefer black over white.'

I could hear Arthur chuckling at me from behind.

I guess I just have to go with it.

The mask was pitch black with a royal blue lightning bolt going through the right eye socket.

I place it on my face and am surprised that it sticks on my face without a strap.

"So have you chosen an alias?" Arthur's voice brought me out of my musings.

A name huh? Well since there is a lightning bolt adorning the mask why not, "Bolt"

"Appropriate, I've chosen Note."

I look at him wearing his mask, his one was pearl white with a streak through the left slit, oddly reminiscent of a half note on a musical sheet.

I nod to him as I pick up one of the cloaks, "Alright lets go to sleep, we've got a long day tomorrow."

"Goodnight"

_________________________________________________________________________________

"So....who is it gonna be?" Father asked as we were sitting around the round wooden table. We had just had breakfast in the inn where the twin horns stayed.

Polishing his spear, Adam spoke first, "Unfortunately babysitting is not my forte, so I'll pass. On top of that, with my personality either of your sons might just end up killing me one day."

Highly likely.

Dad nods in agreement, "I was hoping either Durden or Helen would accompany them. I cant offer mush compensation but-"

He was cut off by Durden, "Don't talk like that Rey. We're all family here, I would love to accompany them and watch them grow."

"He's right, you should know we aren't doing this for money. Besides we did manage to get quite some treasure from our last dungeon raid." Helen said shaking her head.

Just then a hand is raised, "I would like to volunteer for accompanying them."

Huh? Well ain't that a surprise.

"J-Jasmine? You want to go with them?" Angela stuttered out.

"Logicly Jasmine is the most viable option to protect them. Durden specializes in defensive area of effect spells and I'm not really that good at protection." Helen said.

"Are you sure about this Jasmine?" Mother seemed worried.

Jasmine responded with a nod, and a thumbs up.

"Just let her go. She's the only elemental  augmentor among us anyways. Besides, she did break through to the light orange stage last year." Adam says as he swirls his spear.

"Hmmm....It's a pity, I would've liked to go but their safety comes first." Durden said, with a slighy sad tone.

"Sorry Durden, maybe next time," Dad tried to console him.

"Thank you Rey."

Meanwhile Arthur went towards Jasmine and spoke, "We'll be in your care then."

I bowed at her in gratitude.

She responded with a smile.

Returning home we saw Lilia meditating.

Apparently Ellie didn't like this, "No fair Lily, training without me!"

The four of us chuckled at this.

"Dad, can we go to the auction house once again to get a sword? We couldn't get it after the incident and I wanted to start practicing." Arthur asked.

"Sure kiddo."

Speaking of swords, I should probably keep practicing lest I get rusty.

So when Father and Arthur went out and Mother started to prepare dinner, I slip away to my room.

Alright, I need to make my attacks as silent as possible if I want to integrate  [Stygian Rift] to my sword style.

Thus I summoned the two ancient blades, Solaris and Shroud.

Lets start.

________________________________________________________________________________

"""""""""""HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"""""""""""

We're finally 9. The Helstea's, twin horns and my family wish us.

"Thank you for taking care of me until now," Arthur bows down.

I reciprocate him, "Thank you for tolerating me all these years,"

The dinner was.....lavish.

Damn they didn't hold back did they!?

Adam made fun of some of the members by recalling their embarrassing moments throughout the dinner.

That was until Jasmine turned the tables, "Adam, have you forgotten the time when a horned mole snuck up on you as you were relieving yourself? I remember you getting so scared that you fell on your back and pissed on yourself, like a fountain."

Arthur tried to supress his laughter, but failed as his snorts could be heard, while the rest laughed openly.

As for me, due to my mental blocks I was able to keep from laughing.

"Y-Y-You! I thought you all were asleep!" Adam slumped his shoulders in defeat.

As dinner ended we made our way to the living room, where presents were already waiting for us from our parents.

"Happy Birthday Arthur and Fayden, These are from your mother and me, abd of course Ellie as well." Father patted us on the back.

I picked up my present, wrapped in blue cover, and opened the lid to reveal a black wrist band with 3 white gems embedded in them.

Looking at Arthur I see a glove with 3 green gems.

"The leather is from a spiked aurochs which your father hunted and skinned himself. The green gems each contain a healing spell imbued by me, and the white gems can enhance one spell each by a factor of 3. It also works alongside the healing gems. I thought it would be a good idea to have some preventive measures." Mother explained.

Arthur bolted up and hugged them saying, "Thank you its perfect!"

"Agreed, it coukd certainly save our lives out there, thank you." I say, still seated.

"Ahem! Next up is us." Vincent says as he gets down to one knee and brings out a small box. He opened it, revealing two silver rings.

Uhhhh is he gonna propose? If so take my condolences in advance. I'm pretty sure Arthur is straight.

"Honey! Stop teasing the boy!" Tabitha says as she whacks Vincent's head.

Crying comedic tears of sadness he said, "Nobody here appreciates a little bit of sportsmanship. Anyways these two rings are for Arthur and Alice each. The plain is for you Arthur, while the one with the red gem is for Alice. This ring keeps tabs on Arthurs mana level, so if it ever decreases to a dangerous level it will light up."

"Other than that they dont do much. We thought it would bring you some peace-" Tabitha stopped halfway as Mother ran up and hugged her, "Thank you so much."

"Now don't worry Fayden, we have a gift for you as well." Vincent says.

Since when was I worried?

He brings out a black wand with blue accents, "I believe there is no need to explain what this is."

"Thank you" I reply, not knowing what else to say.

"So how are you gonna beat that guys?" Adam says.

Durden walks towards us carrying a roll of parchment and...two more wands?

He hands Arthur the parchment and the wands to me.

"We had a similar idea as the Helstea's. Considering what a monster they both are, we couldn't really come up with anything to give. Those are sound transmission scrolls, I'm not going to elaborate on how expensive they were, because they were extremely expe-GAH!" He was stopped mid sentence by a Jasmine who delivered a kick to his shins.

"Anyways, you now have a one-time source of communication. Just Imbue mana into the scroll, Arthur amd you will be able to send a message to the scroll held by Mama Leywin. And once she sends the reply to you, and you hear the message it will turn to dust. Now as for the wands, those aren't actually wands they are tracers. After infusing mana into one of the tracers you will be able to locate the other. So give one to Arthur and you will always find each other if separated. TADA!" Adam said, bowing dramatically.

Arthur went and hugged the Helsteas and the Twin horns, resulting in Lilia turning into 50 different shades of red. While I bowed to them, expressing my gratitude.

As the twin horns left to go to their inn, and the Helstea went upstairs Father spoke up, "Tommorow is the big day, are you excited?"

"Absolutely," I reply.

Looking at his eyes, I realized he was supressing his tears. But Mother couldn't anymore as she hugged us fiercely, while letting her tears flow.

"We'll be fine Mom, Dad. And we'll come home as frequently as we can. You'll be the first to know id anything happens." I say in place of Arthur.

After warning me of the dangers of being an adventurer one last time, Mom and Dad escorted us to our rooms.

As I drifted off to sleep, the only thought on my mind was how I was gonna explain my beast will to Jasmine. I need to train in it so that I donot go berserk while using it.

Sigh.

Guess I'll have to reveal a bit more about me than I had originally planned.