Thoughts of the heart
<< Some time later, After Alex Had Disappeared from the House >>
Helstea Mansion
ꟷHappy Birthday, Arthur!ꟷ several voices exclaimed in unison, as enthusiastic applause echoed through the spacious courtyard of the mansion. Today was a special day: Arthur was turning nine years old.
ꟷThank you all for being here to celebrate another year with me,ꟷ Arthur said, bowing gratefully to all the guests who had come to mark his special day.
The celebration was in full swing, with laughter filling every corner of the courtyard. Conversations blended with murmurs and gossip, creating a lively buzz in the air.
Little Eleonor darted back and forth, her childish giggles ringing out as she played with Sylvie and Lilia, creating a whirlwind of energy amidst the crowd.
Moments later, a group of servants began to arrive in the courtyard, carefully placing trays piled high with delicious dishes on the central table. The eyes of the guests widened in amazement as they took in the array of dishes, each more luxurious than the last, shimmering under the sunlight.
ꟷEveryone, let's sit down and enjoy the feast,ꟷ Tabitha invited, snapping everyone back to reality. They all took their seats and began to indulge in the sumptuous spread.
The atmosphere grew increasingly jovial, especially as the beer began to take its toll on those who had imbibed the most.
ꟷDurden, do you remember that time when the back of your pants caught fire and you had to walk back to the city covering your bare bottom?ꟷ Adam said, his face flushed with the effects of the alcohol, which only made his voice sound more animated.
Laughter erupted instantly among the guests, while Durden shrank in embarrassment, trying to hide his face. But the fun didn't stop there.
ꟷIt seems you've forgotten the time when a horned mole snuck up underneath you while you were on watch in a dungeon,ꟷ Jazmin chimed in, cutting a piece of meat from her plate. ꟷIf I recall, you were so scared that you fell on your back and wet yourself.
Her words triggered an even louder wave of laughter.
Adam could only chuckle nervously, feeling the heat rise up his neck and color his cheeks. Though he was embarrassed, he couldn't help but join in the laughter that filled the air.
The day continued with jokes and memories, the festive atmosphere wrapping everyone in a warm embrace.
However, amidst the bustle and joy, Angela and Helen noticed something that made them frown. They exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes sweeping over Alice, Reynolds, and even the Helstea family.
None of them mentioned what both women knew was missing, as if they were making a deliberate effort to ignore it.
One person was missing from this birthday celebration.
Despite the assumptions beginning to form in their minds, Angela and Helen decided to stay silent. They looked at each other, and with a slight nod, agreed to keep their thoughts to themselves for the moment.
After all, the smiles lighting up the courtyard were genuine, and the festive atmosphere was too precious to spoil with their words.
As the afternoon gave way to twilight, the sun began to sink below the horizon, painting the sky in golden and pink hues. Feeling the chill in the air, the mansion's fireplace was lit, and everyone moved inside, where the celebration would continue with the same warmth that had characterized the day.
ꟷNow that we've finished dinner and Adan has been thoroughly humiliated,ꟷ Reynolds announced with a satisfied grin that drew laughter from everyone, ꟷit's time to move on to the gifts.
With a cheerful gesture, Reynolds produced a small box wrapped in shiny paper and handed it to his son.
ꟷHappy birthday, little Art. This gift is from me, your mother, and also from little Ellie,ꟷ he said, his voice filled with paternal affection.
ꟷThank you, Dad,ꟷ Arthur replied, eagerly taking the box. As he opened it, his eyes lit up at the sight of a beautiful black gauntlet adorned with three softly glowing gems, casting a subtle and magical light.
ꟷThis gauntlet contains three healing spells,ꟷ Alice, his mother, explained as she moved closer to point out the gems. ꟷYou can use them only three times, so save them for emergencies when you become an adventurer.
The Helstea family also had a special gift for him and his mother. They presented a pair of simple yet elegant rings with a smile.
ꟷThese rings are enchanted,ꟷ Vincent Helstea, the patriarch of the family, explained. ꟷThey allow Alice to monitor Arthur's mana levels. If they drop to a dangerous level, the ring will emit an alert.
Alice accepted the gift with visible relief on her face. Her son's safety had always been her greatest concern, and this gift provided her with a peace of mind she deeply valued.
The Twin Horns, recognizing that Arthur was now strong enough to fend for himself, gifted him a sound communication scroll. This artifact would allow him to send a message to his family about his status at least once, a valuable tool for a young adventurer.
Finally, Arthur thanked everyone once more for the generous gifts. His gratitude was evident, but the surprise was far from over.
Suddenly, Ellie's excited voice cut through the murmur of conversations.
ꟷLook, brother! Sylvie also brought you a gift!ꟷ she exclaimed with joy, drawing everyone's attention to the little dragon fluttering restlessly by her side.
As Ellie had said, all eyes turned toward the small mana beast, which was struggling to drag a box slightly larger than herself. The sight was somewhat amusing but also piqued the curiosity of all the guests.
Sylvie, with great effort and determination, managed to pull the box over to Arthur, who received it with a mix of surprise and delight. Inside, he found a finely decorated crystal tablet along with a carefully folded letter. The crystal's shine immediately captured his attention, and his mind buzzed with questions.
ꟷVincent, have you seen anything like this before?ꟷ Reynolds asked, breaking the silence with a tone of curiosity.
ꟷNo, it's the first time I've seen something so unusual,ꟷ Vincent replied, furrowing his brow as he examined the object from his place.
A sense of uncertainty spread through the room, and Reynolds turned his gaze to the former members of the Twin Horns group. However, they all shook their heads, indicating that none of them had ever seen anything like it, nor did they know how it worked.
ꟷBut the letter should explain how it works, right?ꟷ Jazmín interjected, nodding toward the sealed envelope in Arthur's hands. All eyes turned to him, waiting for him to open the letter and reveal the mystery.
With the same curiosity as the others, Arthur broke the seal and unfolded the letter, reading aloud for everyone:
{Dear Little Art,
If you're reading this letter, it means that little Sylvie managed to give it to you on your birthday. I hope you've had a wonderful day surrounded by your loved ones.
The function of this tablet is simple, yet quite special. When you infuse it with mana and then break it, it will create a mana shield around you capable of defending against attacks, even from powerful mages or mana beasts with strength equivalent to a White Core.
This shield can only be used once, so I advise you to save it for a moment of true necessity.
I know you will become a great adventurer, and if fate allows, perhaps we'll cross paths on a mission. If not, I look forward to seeing you again at Xyrus Academy.
Sincerely,
Alex}
—Thank you for delivering the gift, Sylvie —Arthur said, gently stroking the little mana beast's head, causing it to emit a soft purr of satisfaction.
As he read the letter, a mix of amazement and surprise swept over all the guests. The functionality of this small object was as extraordinary as it was rare, something never seen before.
However, along with the surprise, a sense of discomfort began to surface among some of the guests, whispering in their thoughts.
ꟷOh, right, I haven't seen Alex...ꟷ Adan began to say, but before he could continue, a quick tap on the back of his head interrupted him, courtesy of Jazmín.
She had immediately noticed the tension beginning to settle in the room, the complex emotions reflected on Reynolds and Alice's faces. The Helstea family also seemed uncomfortable, and although the Twin Horns were seasoned warriors, none were oblivious to the sensitivity of the situation.
Something had happened, and it was clear that not everyone was aware of it.
ꟷIt seems Alex is doing well, which is what matters...ꟷ Alice said, trying to lighten the atmosphere with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
ꟷYes, yes, after all, he is still the nephew of the Elf King,ꟷ Reynolds added, attempting to keep the mood light, but his words only deepened the discomfort.
Helen and Angela exchanged a look of understanding. Both had grasped what was happening but were unsure of what to say.
It was natural for both Alice and Reynolds to feel uneasy remembering Alex's true family—a lineage that made them feel somewhat inferior. However, they also knew the boy well enough to understand that he was never concerned with wealth or status.
Why were they so sure of that? Because they had known him as a child, and in the time leading up to the grand auction, they had shared several conversations with him. Alex had always treated them as part of his family, which made them grow fond of him, especially the two of them.
Helen, being half-elf, had found a rare connection with Alex. Apart from Alex's mother, he was one of the few of his kind who had treated her with genuine kindness.
Although Helen had never let herself be affected by others' prejudices, she had come to see young Alex as a close nephew, a figure that brought her peace.
On the other hand, Angela had spent a lot of time with Alex when he was with the Twin Horns. She had never fully understood why the little boy liked to hug her so much, but she always accepted it with a smile, returning his embrace warmly.
Over time, she had grown deeply fond of the child of her old friend.
This bond was crucial for both women, as the relationship with Alex's mother had been very special. When it was decided that Alex would stay under Alice and Reynolds' care, both knew that even though they couldn't be by his side constantly, the choice had been the right one.
Alex's own mother had entrusted them with his care, and that gesture gave them the assurance that the boy would be in good hands.
Despite this, Helen and Angela couldn't help but feel saddened and somewhat troubled by Alex's departure. They didn't know the exact reason for his leaving, but they could guess, which caused them to frown in silence.
Alex wasn't naïve; he might have sensed the discomfort in Alice and Reynolds' behavior and chose to leave before the tension in their relationship grew worse.
Although they wanted to say something about it, they knew this wasn't the right time. Their barely audible sighs blended with the distant murmur of conversations.
The cheerful voice of little Ellie soon interrupted their thoughts, drawing everyone's attention and gradually easing the lingering tension in the air.
Vicent seized the opportunity to give Arthur advice on prudence for the future, and each of the Twin Horns also offered him guidance and warnings for his upcoming life as an adventurer.
Alice, in her most tender and concerned tone, simply asked Arthur to take care of himself. For her, his health and well-being were the most important, and she made this clear.
Gradually, night fell over the Helstea mansion, and the celebration came to an end. Wisely, no one brought up Alex again, leaving behind that brief uncomfortable moment in a day that had otherwise been wonderful.
That night, Arthur lay in bed, his mind flooded with conflicting thoughts. On one hand, he was genuinely happy to feel that he finally had a family that loved him. On the other hand, he couldn't stop thinking about Alex.
He wasn't naïve; he knew that his parents didn't quite know how to handle someone who, overnight, had gone from being an ordinary child they treated as their own to becoming the prince of the elves.
ꟷLet's not think about it right now,ꟷ he told himself, trying to push those thoughts from his mind. He knew that the next day he would become an adventurer and needed a good night's rest to be prepared.
Meanwhile, in another room, Alice also couldn't sleep. Her mind kept replaying the events of the day, trapped in a cycle of guilt and worry. Eventually, a bitter, self-pitying smile spread across her face.
ꟷWhy worry? After all, he found his true family,ꟷ she said to herself with ironic detachment, as if trying to convince herself that everything was alright. ꟷI'm sorry, Isabella, but your little Alex finally found his place.
The weight of those words settled heavily in her heart, leaving her with a bitter sense of consolation.
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Note:
Sorry for the delay. With the subject of that girl and the arrival of exams, I haven't had the time or the courage to write. But I'm over that girl and my exams are over (at least most of them).
So I will continue with the story, I reread all the previous chapters, as well as the ideas of the plot that I had written down, I made some small modifications to what I had written for the future.
THIS FANFICTION IS NOT DEAD!
I'm sorry if there are any mistakes in the translation, I wrote it in a hurry today.